cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Smart E-O targets as versatile, self-contained instruments

Current Electro-Optical (E-O) testing requirements have demanded a shift to reduced cost, off-the-shelf technology. While Hughes Technical Services Company (HTSC) has worked toward developing downsized collimators to meet this demand, this proves to be only part of the solution. Highly versatile, self-contained, replaceable E-O targets are also required to meet this need. The Depot and Test Systems Division within HTSC has developed a standard for replaceable E-O targets. These Integrated Target Assemblies (ITA) must test such various systems as: FLIR, Near Infrared (NIR) tracker, Visual Telescope, TV Video, and Laser LRF/LTD. Smart targets have been designed which are interchangeable; can perform built in tests (BITs); contain their own calibration data stored electronically; correct their performance using sophisticated DSP algorithms; as well as automatically correct their own boresight alignment. A suite of such targets would be invisible to the user and would act in concert as versatile instruments containing all the functionality required for testing any number of prime systems.
Enabling router-assisted congestion control on the Internet

Enabling communication between routers and endpoints has long been sought after as an approach to congestion control in the Internet. However, the narrow-waist of TCP/IP has complicated the deployment of such communication. In this paper, we present Kick-Ass1, a congestion control mechanism that enables explicit rate congestion control protocols to be deployed within the TCP/IP stack. The key idea is to utilize packet lengths as a vehicle to communicate fine-grained explicit rate and other information from routers to endpoints and vice versa. Given that our approach (i) requires no explicit coordination among Kick-Ass routers, (ii) no explicit coordination among Kick-Ass routers and endpoints, and (iii) is effective on paths that include legacy routers, it provides a practical road towards a faster Internet, today. Using large-scale simulations, testbed experiments, and wide-area Internet evaluations, we demonstrate that (i) a basic explicit-rate protocol using the Kick-Ass mechanism improves flow completion times by up to an order of magnitude and outperforms endpoint-based approaches, including CUBIC and PCC. (ii) Kick-Ass is incrementally deployable on the Internet. (iii) Deploying Kick-Ass at end-hosts and edge routers can enable the above performance benefits, without waiting for universal adoption. (iv) Our packet-fragmentation mechanism is well behaved on the Internet.
The configurable cloud - accelerating hyperscale datacenter services with FPGAs

The Catapult project has brought the power and performance of FPGA-based reconfigurable computing to Microsoft's hyperscale datacenters, accelerating major production cloud applications such as Bing web search and Microsoft Azure, and enabling a new generation of machine learning and artificial intelligence applications.
Survey of Bivalve Molluscs for Bonamia spp. and Other Parasitic Pathogens in Florida East Coast Lagoons

A 2007 study of Suminoe (Crassostrea ariakensis) and eastern (Crassostrea virginica) oysters exposed to Indian River Lagoon (IRL), Florida waters revealed the presence of Bonamia spp. in exposed oysters. In 2010, a survey of oysters and other bivalves (n = 721, 18 species) was conducted in the southern IRL (10 sites) and in the more southerly Lake Worth Lagoon (LWL, 3 sites). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to assess the prevalence of three oyster parasites, Bonamia spp., Perkinsus marinus, and Haplosporidium nelsoni, in collected samples. Histology, fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and standard H&E staining, was used to confirm PCR-positive Bonamia results. Bonamia spp. was detected in eight species (Brachidontes exustus, Crassostrea virginica, Geukensia demissa, Ischadium recurvum, Isognomon alatus, Isognomon bicolor, Mercenaria campechiensis, and Ostrea stentina). The prevalence was 17.3% in the IRL and 9.9% in LWL with 66% of PCR-positive samples subsequently identified as either Bonamia exitiosa or Bonamia perspora. The presence of Bonamia spp. was confirmed by FISH in C. virginica, O. stentina, I. alatus, I. bicolor, and G. demissa, although only C. virginica and O. stentina showed evidence of infection. The presence of P. marinus was detected in eight species (Atrina rigida, B. exustus, C. virginica, G. demissa, I. recurvum, I. alatus, I. bicolor, and O. stentina). The prevalence was 12.4% in the IRL and 7.7% in LWL. The presence of MSX was not detected in any of the collected bivalves. This study confirms the presence of Bonamia spp. and P. marinus in Florida east coast waters and widens the described geographic range for Bonamia spp., and provides further evidence that MSX is unlikely to be found in Florida waters
Anti-viral cytotoxic lymphocyte response in hamsters with parainfluenza virus type 3 infection.

The Syrian hamster is a useful model for experimental studies of immunity to agents causing acute respiratory disease because it is susceptible to several significant human pathogens, including influenza A viruses, parainfluenza virus 3 (P3), and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. The importance of cell-mediated immune mechanisms in respiratory virus infections remains an unresolved issue. A developing body of clinical experience suggests that cellular immune competence is required for resolution of respiratory syncytial virus, influenza A, and parainfluenza 3 infections in man. Prolonged infections with these agents have been identified in children with inborn and acquired disorders of cellular immunity (1). Recent studies of influenza A infection in mice suggest that a local cytotoxic T lymphocyte response may contribute to termination of intrapulmonary virus replication (2). Determination of the relative and quantitative significance of the cellular response, however, has proven difficult. Futhermore, since most studies of influenzal immunity employ “mouse-adapted” alveolar-tropic strains of virus, conclusions reached from these studies may not be directly applicable to other viral agents that infect the lung. We have examined the pulmonary cellular immune response of hamsters to P3 infection in order to develop a better understanding of immunity to viral infection of intrapulmonary airways (3).
Personalised medicine in asthma: time for action: Number 1 in the Series "Personalised medicine in respiratory diseases" Edited by Renaud Louis and Nicolas Roche.

Asthma is a heterogeneous disease comprising several phenotypes driven by different pathways. To define these phenotypes or endotypes (phenotypes defined by mechanisms), an unbiased approach to clustering of various omics platforms will yield molecular phenotypes from which composite biomarkers can be obtained. Biomarkers can help differentiate between these phenotypes and pinpoint patients suitable for specific targeted therapies – the basis for personalised medicine. Biomarkers need to be linked to point-of-care biomarkers that may be measured readily in exhaled breath, blood or urine. The potential for using mobile healthcare approaches will help patient enpowerment, an essential tool for personalised medicine. Personalised medicine in asthma is not far off – it is already here, but we need more tools and implements to carry it out for the benefit of our patients.
We're Not Rich, But We're Definitely Not Poor: Young Children's Conceptions of Social Class

Abstract Relative deprivation theory suggests that perceived socioeconomic standing has implications for multiple aspects of life. Early childhood is critical for later development and concern about effects of rising inequality on children has grown along with inequality in recent decades. However, one of the key requirements for relative deprivation to matter for child outcomes is that children must have a sense of social class and their socioeconomic standing. Because the voices of children are often lost among current debates, this paper poses two questions: 1) How do young children conceive of social class and their standing in the distribution in the context of high inequality; and 2) How do these conceptions develop over time? We conducted longitudinal, semi-structured interviews with 44 young children (ages 5–6), who attend the same three elementary schools in a small Midwestern city. By following the same children over two years, this study is uniquely able to shed light on how conceptions of class develop over time. We found that, as children got older, they increasingly associated money with differences in quality, became more likely to assign value judgements to money, and became less reliant on verbal proof of wealth. Although many children misreport their own socioeconomic standing, our findings suggest young children are aware of social class inequality and may therefore experience relative deprivation. Reducing inequality could mitigate potential implications of relative deprivation for child development.
Current Practices in the Management of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Patients Requiring Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: Results of an International Survey of Pediatric Surgeons.

Abstract Introduction: There is little consensus on optimal management for congenital diaphragmatic hernia extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (CDH ECMO) patients. Meaningful comparisons of the var...
The hydraulic lift of early states societies

The trajectory of social complexity is hardly a linear progression, with twists and turns precipitated by unintended consequences, consequences that can be advantageous or deleterious to a society and the biophysical environment that society inhabits. The article by Liu et al. (1) provides clear evidence for a complex set of environmentally altered landscapes principally designed to accommodate sizable populations investing in water management infrastructure and the presumed intensification of paddy field rice production. Of critical merit for an understanding of the social conditions affecting the early archaic state, the site area of Liangzhu concentrates human-modified landscapes, productive resources, and the supporting labor responsible for the initiation of East Asia’s earliest known experiment in truly complex sociopolitical order. At 5,300 y ago, the authors reveal a very different level of social organization, unlike that identified from other regions of East Asia (2) or really anywhere else at a comparable time (3). The monsoonal “wet” setting for neolithic Liangzhu culture (3300–4300 BP) was a gravitational pull, preadapting the society to a water-abundant region that required a different kind of investment in landscape engineering (4) compared with the much better-known water infrastructure reported at the other end of the continent—the Near East—and its “dry” environmental context (5). Although several forces beyond water management combine to precipitate the myriad of emergent social orders that result in social complexity, settings with either an overabundance of water or its sparse availability likely influenced the manner in which the archaic state was manifest. Within these contexts, the uncertainty associated with the severity of acute flooding compared with long or frequent drought-like conditions both resulted in landscape modifications and complicated spatial relationships, … [↵][1]1Email: vernon.scarborough{at}uc.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
MEASURING PRESSURE FROM SHORT LASER PULSES

Vapor-deposited ytterbium gages were used to measure the surface pressures produced by a pulsed laser on an aluminum target. The surface pressure histories measured by the gages were improved over previous measurements through careful design of the gage package. Analysis of the two-dimensional response of the gage package showed that pressures can also be measured at late times when edge effects dominate response.
Puppeteer: De-centralized platform for connected-yet-autonomous educational toys

The ubiquity of toys viz-a-viz children and their close relationship have been leveraged by academics and industry alike to provide applications and services through these toys. Many domains such as healthcare, medical intervention, entertainment, education have all benefited from smart toys which could sense their context and/or perform actuation tasks such as conversations, support etc. However, state-of-the-art toy systems lack connected-yet-autonomous behavior and hence are unable to perform coordinated tasks which could facilitate complex interactions especially in education. Few such activities that require complex multi-toy coordination and interaction are teaching social skills such as social etiquettes, morals and group conversations; as well as cognitive skills such as counting, pattern identification, grouping etc. This paper is a first effort towards generating interest and discussion around this interesting area of using multiple connected toys for learning. In this paper, we propose Puppeteer, a decentralized orchestrator platform to enable coordinated yet autonomous multi-toy behavior which provides seamless coordination between toys, and a declarative mechanism to author and adapt learning scenarios for enactment. We evaluate this system through simulations and real-world prototype experiments, and report its performance.
The Effect of Cigarette Smoking on Wound Complications After Single-Level Posterolateral and Interbody Fusion for Spondylolisthesis.

Objective To evaluate the impact of cigarette smoking on the development of wound complications, including wound dehiscence, superficial infection, deep infection, or organ space infection, within the first 30 postoperative days in patients undergoing surgery for spondylolisthesis. Methods The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database for the years 2012–2014 was used to identify adult patients who underwent single-level posterolateral fusion (PLF) or interbody fusion for spondylolisthesis. Wound complications occurring within 30 days were compared between current smokers and nonsmokers. Results A total of 1688 patients who underwent single-level PLF or interbody fusion for spondylolisthesis were identified, among whom 271 were current smokers (16.1%). The overall wound complication rate was 3.3% for smokers versus 1.8% for nonsmokers (P = 0.095). When stratified by operative technique, the rate of wound complications was not significantly different between smokers and nonsmokers undergoing PLF (2.4% vs. 2.6%; P = 1.00); however, smokers who underwent interbody fusion were more likely to experience a wound complication compared with nonsmokers undergoing interbody fusion (3.7% vs. 1.3%; P = 0.028). On multivariate analysis, smoking was an independent predictor of organ/space infection irrespective of fusion technique used (odds ratio, 15.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.34–175.4; P = 0.028). Conclusions The rate of wound complications was not higher in smokers undergoing PLF alone, but was significantly higher in smokers who underwent interbody fusion. However, multivariate analysis identified smoking as an independent predictor of organ/space infection irrespective of fusion technique used.
Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury Alters the Gastrointestinal Microbiome in a Time-Dependent Manner.

ABSTRACTThe microbiome is defined as the collective genomes of the microbes (composed of bacteria, bacteriophage, fungi, protozoa, and viruses) that colonize the human body, and alterations have been associated with a number of disease states. Changes in gut commensals can influence the neurologic s
Adsorption Sites on Pd (110): Bridge and On- Top CO

The adsorption of CO has received much attention because CO is a participant in important industrial process such as the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and because it has proven to be relatively easy to examine experimentally. Adsorption of CO on Pd is of particular interest because of the use of noble metals, including Pd, in automobile exhaust catalysts to reduce pollution emissions. An understanding of catalytic reactions on metal surfaces requires a knowledge of the surface sites, their geometries and differing energies of interaction with adsorbates. Here our interest is in delineating these factors which cause one site to adsorb CO more tightly than another.
Presurgical Planning for Hepatobiliary Malignancies: Clinical and Imaging Considerations

There are many considerations in the evaluation of liver malignancy before planned surgical treatment. This article focuses on interpretation of MR imaging of the liver for surgical treatment planning of hepatocellular carcinoma, colorectal cancer metastases, and hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Clinical status, anatomic variants, future liver remnant, and underlying liver disease are all important factors in the decision to proceed with liver resection. The primary objective of preoperative imaging is to correctly identify patients who are candidates for curative intervention and to accurately stage their disease. Treatment planning for these complex patients is best done with a multidisciplinary team approach.
Ventricular tachycardia in the absence of structural heart disease.

### Learning objectives The earliest recorded description of ventricular tachycardia (VT) is credited to Sir Thomas Lewis in 19 091. VT is defined as a rhythm originating in the ventricles ≥3 beats duration, with a heart rate of ≥100 beats/minute.2 It is often associated with structural heart disease (SHD), from any disease process affecting ventricular myocardium, including acute or healed myocardial infarction and cardiomyopathies often associated with reduced ventricular ejection fraction and myocardial scar. Less frequently, VT occurs in the absence of SHD. These may be associated with a defined electrophysiological abnormality that is often genetic or may occur with no definable electrical or structural abnormality in which case they are often referred to as idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias (IVT). Detection and characterisation of underlying SHD and recognition of sudden cardiac death (SCD) risk is a critical component of management. In this article, we review salient features of various types of VTs seen in patients with structurally normal hearts, including some associated with inherited arrhythmia syndromes, and provide an overview of therapy. VT can be classified according to its duration and morphology (figure 1): Figure 1 Classification of ventricular tachycardia in the absence of structural heart disease.
Radiologic imaging utilization of small cell lung cancer staging and treatment.

e20079Background: Over the past several decades, first line therapy recommendations for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) have remained relatively unchanged. Additionally, the National Comprehensive Ca...
3D Control of Rotating Millimeter-Scale Swimmers Through Obstacles

This study investigates the high speed 3D navigation of rotating millimeter-scale swimmers. The swimmers have a spiral-shaped surface to ensure propulsion. The rotational movement is used for propulsion and, in future work, could provide the power needed to remove blood clots. For instance, an abrasive tip could be used to progressively grind a blood clot.An algorithm to perform 3D control of rotating millimeter-scale swimmers was implemented and tested experimentally. The swimmers can follow a trajectory and can navigate without touching the walls inside a tube having a diameter of 15 mm. This diameter is smaller than the average diameter of the distal descending aorta, which is the smallest section of the aorta. Several swimmers designs were built and tested. The maximum velocity recorded for our best swimmer was 103.6 mm/s with a rotational speed of 477.5 rotations per second.
Novel splicing and open reading frames revealed by long-read direct RNA sequencing of adenovirus transcripts

Adenovirus is a common human pathogen that relies on host cell processes for production and processing of viral RNA. Although adenoviral promoters, splice junctions, and cleavage and polyadenylation sites have been characterized using low-throughput biochemical techniques or short read cDNA-based sequencing, these technologies do not fully capture the complexity of the adenoviral transcriptome. By combining Illumina short-read and nanopore long-read direct RNA sequencing approaches, we mapped transcription start sites and cleavage and polyadenylation sites across the adenovirus genome. The canonical viral early and late RNA cassettes were confirmed, but analysis of splice junctions within long RNA reads revealed an additional 20 novel viral transcripts. These RNAs include seven new splice junctions which lead to expression of canonical open reading frames (ORF), as well as 13 transcripts encoding for messages that potentially alter protein functions through truncations or the fusion of canonical ORFs. In addition, we also detect RNAs that bypass canonical cleavage sites and generate potential chimeric proteins by linking separate gene transcription units. Our work highlights how long-read sequencing technologies can reveal further complexity within viral transcriptomes.
Correction: Lithium dendrite growth mechanisms in polymer electrolytes and prevention strategies

Correction for ‘Lithium dendrite growth mechanisms in polymer electrolytes and prevention strategies’ by Pallab Barai et al., Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2017, 19, 20493–20505.
Nominal and verbal number in Bilugu Opo

Opo (a.k.a. Opuuo, Tʼapo [lgn]), a Koman language spoken in Ethiopia and South Sudan, has complex and interesting systems of both NOMINAL NUMBER and VERBAL NUMBER. This paper provides a description and analysis of these systems as found in the Bilugu dialect of Ethiopia, using Corbett's (2000) model of number systems as a theoretical framework. In Bilugu Opo, NOMINAL NUMBER marking is divided along the animacy hierarchy into two systems. The TOP SYSTEM, encompassing all human referents, marks singular ~ plural opposition via a variety of morphological strategies (lexical, derivational, and inflectional) and patterns (marked plural, marked singular, and both marked). The SECOND SYSTEM, encompassing all non-human referents, encodes GENERAL NUMBER. In the Opo verb system, VERBAL NUMBER (Corbett 2000) or PLURACTIONALITY (Newman 1990) is attested for just under half of verbs. These verbs can be organized into two groups: a large group which derive a plural stem through morpho-phonemic means (tone modification, vowel gemination, and reduplication) with unpredictable semantics, and a small group which derive a plural stem through lexical means (suppletion and stem alternation) with more predictable semantics.
Optogenetic stimulation of the basolateral amygdala-medial entorhinal cortex pathway after spatial training has sex-specific effects on downstream activity-regulated cytoskeletal-associated protein expression

Abstract Previous work from our laboratory suggests that projections from the basolateral amygdala (BLA) to the medial entorhinal cortex (mEC) are a critical pathway by which the BLA modulates the consolidation of spatial learning. Posttraining optogenetic stimulation of this pathway enhances retention of spatial memories. Evidence also indicates that intra-BLA administration of memory-enhancing drugs increases protein levels of activity-regulated cytoskeletal-associated protein (ARC) in the dorsal hippocampus (DH) and that blocking ARC in the DH impairs spatial memory consolidation. Yet, whether optical manipulations of the BLA-mEC pathway after spatial training also alter ARC in the DH is unknown. To address this question, male and female Sprague-Dawley rats received optogenetic stimulation of the BLA-mEC pathway immediately after spatial training using a Barnes maze and, 45 min later, were sacrificed for ARC analysis. Initial experiments found that spatial training increased ARC levels in the DH of rats above those observed in control rats and rats that underwent a cued-response version of the task. Optogenetic stimulation of the BLA-mEC pathway following spatial training, using parameters effective at enhancing spatial memory consolidation, enhanced ARC protein levels in the DH of male rats without affecting ARC levels in the dorsolateral striatum (DLS) or somatosensory cortex. In contrast, similar optical stimulation decreased ARC protein levels in the DLS of female rats without altering ARC in the DH or somatosensory cortex. Together, the present findings suggest a mechanism by which BLA-mEC stimulation enhances spatial memory consolidation in rats and reveals a possible sex-difference in this mechanism.
6 – Computational Simulation, Multi Scale Computations, and Issues Related to Behavioral Aspects of HSREP

We present singlescale and multiscale models of polyurea and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) subjected to high strain rates. The high strain rate polymer behavior is described by a variant of the viscoplasticity model based on overstress (VBO), hereafter referred to as the generalized VBO or GVBO. The singlescale material properties of the GVBO are identified from the experimental data using a combination of global and local inverse methods for various impact loading conditions. The multiscale model of polyurea/HDPE is based on the reduced order homogenization theory, where the unit cell of a polymer is modeled as a heterogeneous material with ellipsoidal inclusions. The reduced order multiscale model has been further enhanced by incorporating dispersive mechanism aimed at capturing reflection and refraction of stress waves at high strain rates that give rise to dispersion and attenuation of waves within the polymer microstructure. We present a one-parameter macroscopic model of distributed damage and dynamic fracture of polymers. Key characteristics of the model include its simplicity and suitability for straightforward and efficient numerical implementation. The damage model can be derived from a micromechanical model of chain elasticity and failure by recourse to optimal scaling methods and fractional strain gradient elasticity. As a result of the optimal scaling analysis, micromechanical parameters can be linked to the material’s critical energy release rate, which constitutes the single material parameter of the macroscopic fracture model. The model can be integrated into numerical simulations of polymeric materials within the framework of material point eigenerosion. The scope and fidelity of the model is demonstrated in an example of application, namely, Taylor-impact experiments of polyurea specimens.
Who plays hard-to-get and who finds it attractive? Investigating the role of attachment style

Abstract Playing “hard-to-get” (HtG) has received limited attention as a research topic. Recently, Jonason and Li (2013) suggested that HtG can be conceptualized as a mating strategy. Attachment theory provides a framework to study how individuals balance mating goals with their goals to self-protect and manage potential partners' behaviors. Further, attachment style has consistently predicted people's sexual motives and preferred mating strategies. Here we investigated whether attachment predicts tendencies to play HtG, and its complement behavior of pursuing HtG others. Across four studies (N = 906), we examined predictive and causal associations between attachment style and both HtG strategies. In Study 1, people higher on attachment avoidance and women (vs. men) reported more playing HtG. In Study 2, people higher on attachment anxiety and men (vs. women) reported more pursuing of HtG others. Using novel measures, we found that playing and pursuing reflected distinct relational and social goals. In Studies 3–4, we manipulated attachment (in)security, and found that primed avoidance led to greater reported likelihood of playing HtG among avoidant heterosexual men, whereas primed anxiety led to greater reported likelihood of pursuing HtG targets overall. These findings suggest that attachment style predicts and shapes HtG behavior, particularly among insecurely attached individuals.
Pedal serotonergic neuron clusters of the pteropod mollusc, Clione limacina, contain two morphological subtypes with different innervation targets.

Each pedal ganglion of the pteropod mollusc Clione limacina contains a cluster of serotonin-immunoreactive neurons that have been shown to modulate contractions of the slow-twitch musculature of the wing-like parapodia, and contribute to swim accelerations. Each cluster has a variable number of neurons, between 5 and 9, but there is no significant difference between right and left ganglia. In experiments with electrophysiological recordings followed by dye-injection (carboxyfluorescein), the clusters were found to contain two subsets of neurons. The majority innervate the ipsilateral wing via nerve n4. Two of the neurons in each cluster send processes out of the pedal ganglion in nerves n3 and n8. The processes in nerve n3 innervate the body wall of the neck region, while those in nerve n8 innervate the body wall of the tail. The baseline electrophysiological activity of the two subsets of neurons was different as “wing” neurons had constant barrages of small synaptic activity, while the “body wall” neurons had few synaptic inputs. The potential roles of the Pd-SW cluster in swim acceleration (wing neurons) and control of fluid pressure in the body and wing hemocoelic compartments (body wall neurons) are discussed.
An Investigation into the Coliform Growth of Digested Manure Solids on a Large Commercial Michigan Dairy

Anaerobic digesters are a potential solution for increasing sustainability while reducing the environmental impact of dairy farms. Many farms utilize the digester's solid waste product as freestall bedding. It provides good cow comfort and is readily available at a low cost to the producer. However, concerns have been raised about the relationship of this bedding to udder health and milk quality. Currently, little is known about the ideal management of digested manure solids, its use as bedding, and its influence on environmental mastitis. We set out to qualify and quantify the levels of coliform bacteria in the bedding, as well as aspects which would influence management in the freestall by measuring changes over time, surface and deep differences, composting and influence of the cow (i.e., inoculation of the bedding).
Beyond the Blaze: The Impact of Forest Fires on Energy Poverty

Abstract There exists limited empirical evidence on the linkage between natural disasters and energy consumption in a developing country setting. This article exploits a plausibly exogenous distribution of fire radiative power over space and time to evaluate the impact of forest fires on energy poverty in Nepal. Results show that an additional unit increase in fire radiative power from last year’s forest fires is associated with a 0.43% decline in energy expenditure and a 0.36% decrease in energy poverty among Nepalese households. Energy poverty induced by forest fires is pronounced among individuals from rural areas and villages with smaller degrees of ethnic fractionalization. Findings indicate that forest fire incidents may differentially alter energy-related responses among individuals belonging to different caste groups. Estimates suggest that individuals likely shifted to alternative energy sources for adequate food consumption in response to forest fire events. These results support the hypothesis that natural disasters may exceed a country’s capacity to recover from economic damages and cause a significant overall decrease in energy consumption.
High Relative Degree Control Barrier Functions Under Input Constraints.

This paper presents methodologies for ensuring forward invariance of sublevel sets of constraint functions with high-relative-degree with respect to the system dynamics and in the presence of input constraints. We show that such constraint functions can be converted into special Zeroing Control Barrier Functions (ZCBFs), which, by construction, generate sufficient conditions for rendering the state always inside a sublevel set of the constraint function in the presence of input constraints. We present a general form for one such ZCBF, as well as a special case applicable to a specific class of systems. We conclude with a comparison of system trajectories under the two ZCBFs developed and prior literature, and a case study for an asteroid observation problem using quadratic-program based controllers to enforce the ZCBF condition.
The Chalkboard: Stretching Cyclic Voltammetry to its Potential Limit

Electrochemistry's reach is extensive, from fundamentals, material and commodity synthesis and reactor engineering to energy conversion devices. For most areas of interest, experimental conditions are well controlled. However, in some cases, experimental conditions are significantly more complex because applications are located in the field and exposed to the elements. Sensors and innovations designed to abate corrosion are in contact with the environment. These situations add complexity to design activities and data interpretation. Atmospheric air contains hundreds of species (mostly at trace levels), whereas oceans are effective solvents for ions, inorganic (geological features contact) and organic (biological activity) species. A growing interest in the circular economy will also result in similar and uncontrolled experimental conditions for envisaged electrochemical processes. Nuclear reprocessing of fuel rods to recover uranium involves separating noble, transuranic, lanthanide, and other elements. Battery electrodes recycling by hydrometallurgical processes will lead to multi-component solutions. Polymer recycling in bulk using electrochemical processes is desirable to minimize costs, which will create an assemblage of organic components (diverse polymers, leftover synthesis reactants, dyes, stabilizers, corrosion inhibitors). For process control of electrochemical recycling, effective methods are needed to assess the composition of multi-component solutions.
De la mémoire vive au dire atténué : L’écriture d’Aki Shimazaki

Pour Aki Shimazaki, l’ecriture ouvre avant tout une marche mentale ou se conjuguent, de facon singuliere, pensee, memoire, secret et un dire attenue, presque jamais tout a fait direct dans lequel les intentions sont evasives et fondantes. Elle denonce le role des apparences dans la culture japonaise, tout en se jouant de celles-ci. Dans un jeu de va-et-vient entre la memoire et le dire, l’ecrivaine apprehende un monde complexe ou sont mis en question l’origine, la verite, le mensonge, la culture et la tradition. L’auteure de cet article examine les modalites du passage entre la memoire et le dire. Outre le contexte culturel specifique, l’orientalisme de Shimazaki appartient au meme titre a la litterature mondiale et a la litterature quebecoise, qui s’entrecroisent aux memes preoccupations.
A Review of “Carrots, Sticks, and the Bully Pulpit: Lessons from a Half-Century of Federal Efforts to Improve America's Schools”

Hess and Kelly collect chapters by various contributors to address the historical directions the federal government of the United States has taken to support its nation's schools. The editors addre...
CARNITINE LOSSES IN CHILDREN ON HEMODIALYSIS (HD) AND CONTINUOUS AMBULATORY PERITONEAL DIALYSIS (CAPD)

Hyperlipidemia (HL), particularly elevated triglycerides (TG) is frequently seen in uremic patients undergoing dialysis. Carnitine plays an important role in the utilization of fatty acids and, being a small molecule, its possible losses in dialysis effluent may be a contributing factor to HL. We studied simultaneous concentrations of free carnitine (FC) and total carnitine (TC) in plasma (pre and post HD) and dialysis effluent in 9 HD patients (x age: 18 years) and 5 CAPD patients (x age 10 years). Serum TG were determined in all patients. Results (x ± SD) are summarized in the table (†p <0.01 compared to controls). These results demonstrate: 1) significant removal of TC during dialysis (greater on HD than CAPD), but maintenance of normal plasma TC levels; 2) significant decrease of plasma FC and TC immediately following HD and 3) HL with significant elevation of TG in both groups. It is suggested that cumulative TG losses during dialysis may aggravate HL in these patients.
Protein kinase A-dependent enhanced NMDA receptor function in pain-related synaptic plasticity in rat amygdala neurones

Mechanisms of pain-related plasticity in the amygdala, a key player in emotionality, were studied at the cellular and molecular levels in a model of arthritic pain. The influence of the arthritis pain state induced in vivo on synaptic transmission and N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor function was examined in vitro using whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings of neurones in the latero-capsular part of the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA), which is now defined as the ‘nociceptive amygdala’. Synaptic transmission was evoked by electrical stimulation of afferents from the pontine parabrachial area (part of the spino-parabrachio-amygdaloid pain pathway) in brain slices from control rats and from arthritic rats. This study shows that pain-related synaptic plasticity is accompanied by protein kinase A (PKA)-mediated enhanced NMDA-receptor function and increased phosphorylation of NMDA-receptor 1 (NR1) subunits. Synaptic plasticity in the arthritis pain model, but not normal synaptic transmission in control neurones, was inhibited by a selective NMDA receptor antagonist. Accordingly, an NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic component was recorded in neurones from arthritic animals, but not in control neurones, and was blocked by inhibition of PKA but not protein kinase C (PKC). Exogenous NMDA evoked a larger inward current in neurones from arthritic animals than in control neurones, indicating a postsynaptic effect. Paired-pulse facilitation, a measure of presynaptic mechanisms, was not affected by an NMDA-receptor antagonist. Increased levels of phosphorylated NR1 protein, but not of total NR1, were measured in the CeA of arthritic rats compared to controls. Our results suggest that pain-related synaptic plasticity in the amygdala involves a critical switch of postsynaptic NMDA receptor function through PKA-dependent NR1 phosphorylation.
The DeMarco Factor: Transforming Public Will into Political Power, by Pertschuk, M.

A statewide ban on Saturday night specials and a state a trigger lock bill are passed over the heavily funded opposition of the National Rifle Association. A tobacco tax is passed in a tobacco grow...
Racial fantasies and the primal scene of miscegenation

The primal scene, theorized by Freud in his case history of the Wolf Man, is a fantasy scenario thoroughly embedded in social relations. While pursuing his analysis of oedipal structures in the Wolf Man's case history, Freud overlooked social relations, downplaying the importance of racial and class difference in the Wolf Man's sexual etiology. In this essay, I trace the circulation of two fantasy structures: 'the primal scene of miscegenation' and 'A black man is being beaten,' both of which structure desire in both Freud 's era and our own. I interpret Fanon's work on racial subjectivity alongside Freud 's theory of fantasy to elucidate the interconnected nature of racial and sexual difference in both Freud and Fanon's theories. The racial fantasies proposed in this essay have application to clinical settings, where they may structure transference and countertransference.
Additions to the taxonomy of the Afrotropical Tetramorium weitzeckeri species complex (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae), with the description of a new species from Kenya

This study presents a taxonomic update of the Tetramorium weitzeckeri species group. Tetramorium mpala sp. nov. is described from Laikipia, Kenya, and placed in the T. weitzeckeri species complex. In addition, we also provide an illustrated identification key to the three species complexes of the T. weitzeckeri species group, and an updated illustrated identification key to species of this species complex.
A sinusoidal large cell lymphoma with expression of CD30, CD15, and multiple B-cell antigens: a classical Hodgkin lymphoma with sinusoidal infiltrating pattern or a sinusoidal CD30 positive large B-cell lymphoma with CD15?

Classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) are two distinct neoplastic entities which exhibit substantial differences in clinical presentation, morphology, and immun...
Altering withdrawn and intrusive interaction behaviors of depressed mothers

Un entrainement a l'interaction a ete donne a 44 meres deprimees qui avaient soit un style d'interaction replie ou un style d'interaction importun avec leur nourrisson. L'on a donne aux meres repliees et importunes l'instruction d'imiter le comportement de leur nourrisson ou de retenir l'attention de leur nourrisson. Les resultats ont suggere que le type specifique d'entrainement a l'interaction pour le type specifique de mere deprimee (imitation pour les meres importunes et attraction d'attention pour les meres repliees) ameliorait considerablement leurs comportements d'interaction avec leur nourrisson.
Predicting the risk of pre-eclampsia between 11 and 13 weeks' gestation by combining maternal characteristics and serum analytes, PAPP-A and free β-hCG.

Objective To determine if a simplified model for predicting pre-eclampsia (PEC) can be developed by combining first-trimester serum analytes, pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) and free beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (β-hCG), and maternal characteristics. Methods A retrospective cohort study of patients seen for first-trimester aneuploidy screening from 2003 to 2009. The 5th, 10th, 90th, and 95th percentiles for the analyte multiples of the medians (MoMs) for our population were determined and evaluated for association with PEC. Univariate and backward stepwise logistic regression analyses were performed and the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves [area under curve (AUC)] used to determine the best models for predicting PEC. Results Among 4020 women meeting the inclusion criteria, outcome data was available for 3716 (93%). There were 293 cases of PEC. The final model identified a history of pre-gestational diabetes [aOR 2.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.7-3.9], chronic hypertension (cHTN) (aOR 2.6, 95% CI 1.7-3.9), maternal body mass index (BMI) > 25 (aOR 2.5, 95% CI 1.9-3.4), African American race (aOR 1.8, 95% CI 1.3-2.6), and PAPP-A MoM Conclusion Low first-trimester PAPP-A levels are associated with the development of PEC; however, the model was only modestly efficient in its predictive ability.
Hue discrimination as a function of stimulus luminance

The relation between hue discrimination and stimulus luminance was investigated. It was found that discrimination was best at the highest luminance and deteriorated at the lowest, except in the yellow region.
Femoral nerve block as an alternative to parenteral narcotics for pain control after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is associated with significant postoperative pain, usually requiring parenteral narcotics. A prospective study of arthroscopically assisted autograft patellar tendon ACLR was initiated using Winnie's "three-in-one" femoral nerve block (FNB) as the primary means of postoperative pain control. Patient satisfaction and absence of parenteral narcotic use indicated clinical success. Of 24 patients studied, 92% had no parenteral narcotics administered following FNB. Ninety-five percent of patients believed FNB was beneficial and would request another. The average duration of pain control was 29 hours and the majority of patients (79%) believed discharge was possible within 23 hours. There were two patients who failed to respond to FNBs (8%) and no major complications. FNB is a safe, reliable, and effective form of analgesia following ACLR, eliminating the need for parenteral narcotics.
Stress intensity factors for an internal or edge crack in a circular elastic disk subjected to concentrated or distributed loads

Abstract Stress intensity factors for an internal or edge crack in a circular elastic disk subjected to concentrated or distributed loads are obtained using the singular integral equation technique. First, a solution for the uncracked case is obtained using the complex variable method, and then employing the superposition technique the crack problem is reduced to a perturbation problem. By integrating the dislocation solution along the crack, a singular integral equation is obtained, which in turn is solved numerically. The stress intensity factors are calculated for various crack geometries and loading conditions.
The Effect of Machining Induced White Layer on Frictional and Wear Performance at Dry and Lubricated Sliding Contact

A white layer on a machined surface is often produced at abusive machining conditions. However, the effect of white layer on frictional and wear performance has received little attention. This study has shown that the existence of a turned white layer slightly decreases the coefficient of friction (COF), while a ground white layer significantly increases COF at dry conditions. At lubricated conditions, the turned white layer only slightly increases COF while the ground white layer slightly reduces it. The third body wear debris may act as solid lubricants leading to reduced friction.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Low-temperature heat-capacity study of superconducting ternary silicides and germanides with the Sc 5 Co 4 Si 10 -type structure

The results of low-temperature specific-heat experiments on eleven superconducting compounds belonging to the ternary system ${R}_{5}$${T}_{4}$${X}_{10}$ (R=Sc, Y, and Lu; T=Co, Rh, Ir, and Os; X=Si and Ge) are presented. Analysis of the data yields relatively high Debye temperatures for the silicides (300--600 K), as well as large values for \ensuremath{\Delta}C/\ensuremath{\gamma}${T}_{c}$ (2.8--4.9) and the electron-phonon interaction \ensuremath{\lambda} (0.60--0.75) for the high-${T}_{c}$ compounds ${\mathrm{Sc}}_{5}$${\mathrm{Rh}}_{4}$${\mathrm{Si}}_{10}$, ${\mathrm{Sc}}_{5}$${\mathrm{Ir}}_{4}$${\mathrm{Si}}_{10}$, and ${\mathrm{Y}}_{5}$${\mathrm{Os}}_{4}$${\mathrm{Ge}}_{10}$, indicating that these are strong-coupled superconductors. The analysis also indicates that a large contribution of the anharmonic term to the total specific heat in the normal state is present in the low-${T}_{c}$ compounds. It is apparent that the phonon spectra of these ${\mathrm{Sc}}_{5}$${\mathrm{Co}}_{4}$${\mathrm{Si}}_{10}$-type materials are quite complex.
The Structure and Function of the αC Domains of Fibrinogen

The alpha C domains have been localized on fibrinogen and fibrin. Several model systems have been developed to study their functions. Analysis of the amino acid sequence of the alpha C domains suggested that each is made up of a globular and an extended portion. Microcalorimetry confirmed this result and showed that the two alpha C domains interact intramolecularly. Electron microscopy of fibrinogen with a monoclonal antibody to the alpha C domains demonstrated that these regions normally interact with the central portion of the molecule. In the conversion from fibrinogen to fibrin there is a large scale conformational change, such that the alpha C domains dissociate from the central region and are available for intermolecular interaction. Experiments with highly purified and well characterized fragment X monomer, missing either one or both of the alpha C domains, indicate that intermolecular interactions between alpha C domains are important for the enhancement of lateral aggregation during fibrin polymerization. Isolated alpha C fragments polymerized at neutral pH and interacted with the alpha C domains of fibrin monomer to influence clot formation. Several dysfibrinogenemias in which there are amino acid substitutions in, or truncations of, the alpha C domains revealed that these changes can have dramatic effects on polymerization and clot structure. The polymerization of A alpha 251 recombinant fibrinogen, that contains A alpha chains truncated at residue 251, was altered, as were the mechanical properties and the rate of fibrinolysis of the clots. Altogether, these results help to define the role of the alpha C domains in determining the structure and properties of clots.