cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A genetic algorithm for generating RF circuit models from calibrated broadband measurements

A genetic algorithm has been developed to generate circuit models from calibrated broadband measurements of coaxial and on-wafer devices under test (DUTs). The algorithm randomly builds a population of circuit models from lumped as well as distributed elements and compares the simulated scattering parameters for those models with calibrated measurements. The genetic approach iteratively culls the circuit models that agree most closely with calibrated measurements. In order to “test-drive” this approach, the genetic algorithm was applied to calibrated measurements of several two-port 1.85 mm coaxial DUTs. The resulting circuit models are reasonable and their simulated response agrees closely with the measurements. Subsequently, the algorithm was applied to calibrated measurements of a two-port, on-wafer nanowire device. This algorithm automates exploration of potential circuit models for yet-to-be-modeled devices, including those that incorporate nanowires.
Sexual signals reflect telomere dynamics in a wild bird

Telomere dynamics in natural populations have been linked to survival, reproduction, and energetic investment. Given their putative role in mediating life-history trade-offs, telomeres are also a likely candidate for maintaining honesty in sexually selected signals; few studies to date, however, have demonstrated a correlation between sexual signals and telomere dynamics. Here, we show that plumage coloration in male common yellowthroats (Geothlypis trichas) is correlated with both relative telomere length and with the rate of telomere loss between years. Elevated antioxidant capacity is also associated with reduced telomere loss, but only among older males. Previous work in this population has demonstrated that males with brighter plumage are in better condition, have higher reproductive success, and are more likely to survive over winter. Thus, the signal attribute associated with mate choice in this system also conveys reliable information about telomere dynamics. At present, it is unclear whether telomere maintenance plays a causal role in maintaining signal honesty or whether the correlation arises due to underlying variation in individual resources or genotypes. We suggest that subsequent work should consider the possibility that fundamental trade-offs between signal investment and cell-level processes that influence aging and reproductive senescence may provide a foundation for understanding the maintenance of sexual signal honesty.
Using Aggregate Market Data to Estimate Patent Value

Intellectual property and its protection is one of the most valuable assets for entrepreneurs and firms in the information economy. This article describes a relatively straightforward method for measuring patent value with aggregate market data and the BLP model. We apply the method to United States smartphones. The demand estimates and recovered marginal costs produce sensible simulations of equilibria prices and shares from several hypothetical patent infringements. In one simulation, the presence of near field communication on the dominant firm’s flagship smartphone results in a 26 percent increase in profits per phone. This estimate provides a starting point for establishing a reasonable royalty between the patent holder and the dominant firm in a hypothetical negotiation.
Valuing Young, Start-Up and Growth Companies: Estimation Issues and Valuation Challenges

Young companies are difficult to value for a number of reasons. Some are start-up and idea businesses, with little or no revenues and operating losses. Even those young companies that are profitable have short histories and most young firms are dependent upon private capital, initially owner savings and venture capital and private equity later on. As a result, many of the standard techniques we use to estimate cash flows, growth rates and discount rates either do not work or yield unrealistic numbers. In addition, the fact that most young companies do not survive has to be considered somewhere in the valuation. In this paper, we examine how best to value young companies. We use a combination of data on more mature companies in the business and the company’s own characteristics to forecast revenues, earnings and cash flows. We also establish processes for estimating discount rates for private capital and for adjusting the value today for the possibility of failure. In the process, we argue that the venture capital approach to valuation that is widely used now is flawed and should be replaced.
Morbidity and mortality in children undergoing bronchoscopy for foreign body removal

Objectives/Hypothesis Analyze morbidity and mortality among children undergoing bronchoscopy for foreign body removal. Study Design Multicenter retrospective review using the American College of Surgeons Pediatric National Surgical Quality Improvement Program from 2014 and 2015. Methods Patients were identified using Current Procedural Terminology code 31635. Demographics, time to surgery, operative times, hospitalization time, and complications were collected. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify predictive factors for major adverse events. Results Three hundred thirty-four patients were included (mean age 3.7 years, 59.0% male). Preoperative sepsis syndrome was present in 5.7% of patients and 8.1% had asthma. Of the patients, 5.1% percent of patients had a tracheostomy. Bronchoscopy was performed by an otolaryngologist (65.4%) or a pediatric surgeon (33.1%). Mean operative time was 27.4 minutes, whereas mean total operating room time was 54.6 minutes. Airway foreign bodies were located in 269 patients (80.5%), with 62.5% being located in the mainstem bronchus. Operative time was longer when foreign bodies were in the mainstem bronchus or distal to it. Mean time to surgery from admission was 0 days, and mean duration of hospitalization was 1 day. One patient (0.3%) required reoperation for respiratory reasons, and three (0.9%) required readmission for related reasons. No patients remained hospitalized at 30 days. Two (0.6%) had a postoperative pneumonia, and two (0.6%) required reintubation. One patient death (0.3%) occurred within 2 weeks of bronchoscopy. No significant differences were identified in operative time, time to surgery, or hospitalization time based on age, gender, presence of a tracheostomy, or surgical specialty. Conclusions Bronchoscopy for identification and removal of airway foreign bodies had minimal morbidity in this group. Level of Evidence 2b Laryngoscope, 2017
A robust calibration and supervised machine learning reliability framework for digitally-assisted self-healing RFICs

A robust calibration and supervised machine learning reliability framework has been developed to aid the circuit designer in the design and implementation of reliable digitally-reconfigurable self-healing RFICs. For calibration algorithm performance and reliability validation, we advocate the use of surrogate modeling, a supervised machine learning technique, which offers a significant reduction in the required computational complexity relative to relying solely on the execution of expensive circuit simulations. An RF phase rotator test case is used to show the robustness and utility of the developed self-healing reliability framework.
Crash me inside the cloud: a fault resilient framework for parallel and discrete event simulation

The adoption of cloud computing has increased over the years due to its pay-as-you-go model. The other important feature that cloud provides is scalability achieved through virtualization. The dynamic burst of users is served through virtual machines. The cloud data center comprises of pool of commodity hardware systems used to provide computing capacity on request. The use of commodity hardware increases the failure rate. Therefore, the execution of Parallel Discrete Event Simulation (PDES) over fragile cloud environment can lead to erroneous simulation results. Moreover, simply replacing faulty VMs is not the possible solution for PDES. In this paper, we exploit the execution of PDES codes over cloud environment and propose a fault resilient framework that dynamically handles the VM failure without restarting the entire simulation. Our benchmarking results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed protocol, compared with the widely used and traditional PDES protocol i.e. Time Warp.
Driving Performance Deficits Despite Concussion Symptom Resolution: A Case Report

Driving performance prior to concussion is not commonly available to help clinicians identify when deficits return to a preinjury status. This case report examines driving performance prior to and following concussion in a 20-year-old male college student. He initially volunteered as a control for a separate driving performance study. He sustained a concussion 18 months later, and was asked to complete the same driving tasks as previous testing once he was asymptomatic. Poor driving simulator performance and subtle cognitive deficits in complex attention and processing speed were evident despite being symptom-free. Our findings may be useful when considering readiness to drive postconcussion.
Svetlana Aleksievich’s Voices from Chernobyl: between an oral history and a death lament

As in the rest of her Nobel Prize-winning prose, in Voices from Chernobyl, Svetlana Aleksievich uses oral history to create polyphonic reflections on an unprecedented event in Soviet history. The n...
Magnitude of Neck-Surface Vibration as an Estimate of Subglottal Pressure During Modulations of Vocal Effort and Intensity in Healthy Speakers

Purpose This study examined the relationship between the magnitude of neck-surface vibration (NSVMag; transduced with an accelerometer) and intraoral estimates of subglottal pressure (P′sg) during ...
Do Excellent Surgeons Make Miserable Exegetes?: Negotiating the Sunni Tradition in the ǧihādī Camps

This article is an attempt to explore how ǧihādī authors make use of the Sunni tradition to bolster their case. Islamicists have rarely embarked on such a discussion, given the tendency to a priori chastise extremist authors for their untenable misrepresentation of Islam. Similarly, ǧihādī arguments are frequently tossed aside as an already familiar rehashing of an insignificant, isolated stream of thought that stretches directly from Ibn Taimīya via Muḥammad b. ʿAbd al-Wahhāb to Saiyid Quṭb. In revisiting this claim, I employ a close reading of the crucial ǧihādī manual al-ʿUmda fī iʿdād al-ʿudda li-l-ǧihād fī sabīl Allāh (The Essential Guide of Preparation for ǧihād on the Path of God), written in the mid-1980s in the context of Afghanistan by an influential ideologue who is widely known as Dr. Faḍl. After presenting and evaluating a selection of the religious sources and authorities on which the author draws, the article enters into a discussion of his political thought. I argue that Dr. Faḍl makes a convincing case for a political project in the camps that is deeply embedded within the Sunni tradition. Reading Ibn Taimīya faithfully, Dr. Fadl does not turn him in into a proponent of violence against the ruler. Rather, the author sticks to the profound quietism the Damascene scholar is known for, thereby questioning supposedly established, clear-cut paths of reception.
Can a twelve-week intervention reduce barriers to bicycling among overweight adults in low-income Latino and Black communities?

Abstract This pilot study summarizes perceived barriers to bicycling among overweight adults in two low-income communities of color and evaluates the impact of a bicycling intervention on these perceived barriers. A randomized controlled trial with 38 total participants from one predominantly Latino and one predominantly Black neighborhood in Milwaukee, Wisconsin was conducted during summer 2015. The twelve-week intervention consisted of group bicycle rides and bicycling instruction. Several barriers identified prior to the intervention declined significantly among intervention group members soon after it was completed: not feeling healthy enough to bike, being physically uncomfortable while biking, not having a bicycle to use, not having other people to bicycle with, not knowing the best routes to use, not feeling safe from crime, not feeling safe from car traffic, and worrying that neighbors do not think it is normal for an adult to ride a bike. Eight weeks after completion, the intervention group reported significantly greater reductions than the control group with respect to the barriers of not feeling healthy enough to bike and not feeling safe from car traffic. In addition to decreasing barriers, qualitative analysis suggested that increasing support from family and friends as well as emphasizing personal health benefits could help motivate people to bicycle.
Parental Chronic Mental Illness

This article provides an overview of the effects of parental chronic mental illness on parenting and on the development and well-being of infants and young children. The article describes various types of chronic mental illness and discusses how illness symptoms can contribute to parenting risk. A model for understanding how chronic parental mental illness can effect child development is then presented followed by a synthesis of findings on the outcomes of young children who are reared by a parent with a chronic mental illness. Attention is given to maternal mental illnesses in the peripartum period.
Solution of Large Scale Stochastic Programs with Stochastic Decomposition Algorithms

Stochastic Decomposition (SD) is a randomized version of Benders’ decomposition for the solution of two stage stochastic linear programs with recourse. It combines a recursive sampling scheme within a decomposition-coordination framework in which the algorithm alternates between a master program and. a subprogram. The master program represents a piecewise linear approximation in which each cut is obtained by solving one linear subproblem, and then performing a series of updates based on previously generated outcomes. Using recursive updates, we devise an efficient computer implementation that allows us to address very large two stage stochastic programs with recourse. We report our computational experience with some very large stochastic programs that arise in aircraft fleet scheduling and telecommunications network planning.
Do Job Advertisements Reflect ACRL's Standards for Proficiencies for Instruction Librarians and Coordinators?: A Content Analysis

Abstract This study investigates the extent to which the skills and proficiencies mentioned in ACRL's Standards for Proficiencies for Instruction Librarians and Coordinators are represented in a current sample of instruction librarian job advertisements. Advertisements from U.S. academic institutions posted on the American Library Association's JobLIST site were collected over a period of six months. Results from a content analysis of these advertisements as compared to the Standards reveal trends in those skills which are in-demand. These results add support for the importance of collaboration, instructional design, leadership, and subject expertise as they relate to instruction and demonstrate that not all skills identified as crucial for instruction librarians within the Standards are typically indicated within the content of a job advertisement. This research will be of interest to library science students, job seekers, LIS faculty, and employers hoping to attract qualified candidates to fill library instruction-related positions.
Triggering peptide-dependent translation arrest by small molecules: Ribosome stalling modulated by antibiotics

Nascent peptide-dependent translation arrest controlled by macrolide antibiotics represents a broad phenomenon of regulation of protein synthesis by small molecules that alter the functions of the ribosome. Investigation of antibiotic-controlled ribosome stalling provides insights into principles of recognition of the stalling cofactor, the nature of ribosomal sensors, signal relay pathways, and the molecular mechanisms of translation arrest.
600.33 Predictors of Prolonged Hospital Stay in Patients Undergoing Trans catheter Valve Implantation in An All Comers Real World Population

Patients who undergo transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) are typically elderly and frail who have associated co-morbid conditions. As TAVR indications continue to evolve and its utilization has expanded to lower-risk cohorts, it is important to understand the factors that predict prolonged
Unforced Errors: ISIS, The Baath Party, And The Reconciliation Of The Religious and The Secular

ABSTRACTThe need to bridge the perceived gap between religious and secular allies—individuals or movements incorrectly understood to be in tension with one another—presents a serious challenge for ...
Subsurface Clay Soil Application Improved Aggregate Stability, Nitrogen Availability, and Organic Carbon Preservation in Degraded Ultisols with Cover Crop Mixtures

Coastal Plain soils of the southeastern United States are highly degraded, with low soil organic carbon (C), meager soil fertility, and poor soil structure. We tested the effectiveness of clay soil amendment to promote the formation of soil aggregates, improve organic C stability, and enhance nutrient availability in field. Subsurface clay soils (B horizon, 25% clay) were applied (∼25 T ha–¹) to the top of the soil surface, followed by the planting of winter cover crop mixtures. Crop growth and nutrient uptake and relevant soil biogeochemical properties were analyzed at the end of the winter season. Additions of subsurface clay soils prompted the formation of water-stable macroaggregates (250–2000 mm) from 32 to 54% and increased mean weight diameter of the aggregates from 390 to 592 mm. Additions of subsurface clay soils increased clay content from 1.5 to 3.8% but did not change soil texture, pH, water holding capacity, and bulk density. The stock of dissolved organic nitrogen was not affected by the amendment, whereas nitrate leaching from field was reduced by 61% because of clay soil application. Clay soil additions inhibited the activities of C-cycling (N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase, β-d-cellubiosidase, β-glucosidase, and β-xylosidase) and N-cycling (leucine aminopeptidase) enzymes but did not modify soil microbial community level substrate utilization patterns, resulting in a 63% reduction in C turnover rate and 19% increases in concentrations of labile organic C. Our results indicated that subsurface clay soil amendment can improve soil structure, nutrient availability, and the stability of labile C in the field, at least in the short term, and may be a promising management alternative to enhance the productivity and sustainability of the degraded Coastal plain soils.
Demonstration of Nimbus: Model-based Pricing for Machine Learning in a Data Marketplace

Various domains such as business intelligence and journalism have made many achievements with help of data analytics based on machine learning (ML). While a lot of work has studied how to reduce the cost of training, storing, and deploying ML models, there is little work on eliminating the data collection and purchase cost. Existing data markets provide only simplistic mechanism allowing the sale of fixed datasets with fixed price, which potentially hurts not only ML model availability to buyers with limited budget, but market expansion and thus sellers' revenue as well. In this work, we demonstrate Nimbus, a data market framework for ML model exchange. Instead of pricing data, Nimbus prices ML models directly, which we call model-based pricing (MBP). Through interactive interfaces, the audience can play the role of sellers to vend their own ML models with different price requirements, as well as the role of buyers to purchase ML model instances with different accuracy/budget constraints. We will further demonstrate how much gain of sellers' revenue and buyers' affordability Nimbus can achieve with low runtime cost via both real time and offline results.
The Path Forward from Shelby County v. Holder

of the United States 1965, 86th Annual Edition (1965), available at http://www2.census.gov/prod2/statcomp/documents/1965-01.pdf (last visited November 1, 2013). In 2012, 27.2% of Blacks live in poverty, as compared to 9.7% of Whites. DeNavas-Walt, et al., supra note 27, at 13. 38 U.S. Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2012, Labor Force, Employment, and Earnings, available at http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/labor_force_employment_earnings.html. 39 In 1965, the unemployment rate was 4.8% for White and 8.51% for non-White. U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Statistical Abstract of the United States 1965, 86th Annual Edition (1965), available at http://http://www2.census.gov/prod2/statcomp/documents/1965-01.pdf (last visited November 1, 2013). In 2010, the unemployment rate was 7.5% for White and 13.4% for Black. U.S. Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2012, Labor Force, Employment, and Earnings,
IGFBP-3 suppresses angiogenesis through inhibition of FGF-2 expression

253 Background: Angiogenesis, the generation of new blood vessels, is an essential step in the transition of a tumor, malignant growth and also a multiple process including endothelial membrane degradation, cell migration, branching, and proliferation. The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system9s possible role in stimulating angiogenesis has emerged recently with the discoveries showing induction of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) by IGF-1 and the synergistic stimulation of angiogenesis by IGF-II and EGF. IGFBP-3 has shown antiproliferative effects on vascular endothelial cells. On the baasis of these findings this study was conducted to investigate action mechanism of IGFBP-3 in inhibiting angiogenesis in non-small cell lung cancer cells (NSCLC). Methods: The anti-angiogenic activities of IGFBP-3 were evaluated in vitro and in vivo by testing the effects of IGFBP3 on vascular endothelial cell proliferation, capillary tube formation, endothelial cell sprouting from chick aortic arch and vessel formation in the Matrigel. The effect of IGFBP-3 on the expression of angiogenic factors was assessed in a subset of NSCLC cell lines using luciferase assay, RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, northern blot and western blot analyses. Results: We found that IGFBP-3 inhibited tumor growth and angiogenesis. Overexpression of IGFBP-3 suppressed the FGF-2 gene expression at the level of transcription. In addition, knock down of IGFBP-3 expression by the use of siRNA activated the FGF-2 expression in NSCLC cell lines. Conclusions: These results suggest that IGFBP-3 has anticancer activities by suppressing FGF-2 -mediated tumor angiogenesis. IGFBP-3 has a strong potential as a therapeutic agent targeting angiogenesis. Supported by the National Institutes of Health Grants R01 CA109520-01 (to H-Y. Lee) and CA100816-01A1 (to H-Y. Lee), National American Cancer Society, RSG-04-082-01-TBE 01(to H-Y. Lee).
Type 3 Von Willebrand Disease with Alloantibodies and Its Challenging Management During Episode of Bleeding

Abstract Abstract 1405 Type 3 Von Willebrand Disease (VWD) is the most severe and least common of the three VWD types. The incidence varies by ethnicity ranging from 0.1–5.3 cases/million. 8.5% of patients develop alloantibodies to Von Willebrand Factor (VWF), becoming non-responsive to treatment or prone to life threatening reactions. Predisposing factors include extent of previous exposure to VWF and mutations causing a null-allele gene. Variability of the clinical course is attributed to different antigenic specificities and potency of the antibodies. Management of these patients during events of bleeding is challenging. We report 2 cases of girls with type 3 VWD. The first was diagnosed at birth and had her initial VWF transfusion as a neonate. The second was diagnosed at 4 years of age. Both were frequently treated with VWF and developed alloantibodies. The clinical course, severity and circumstances leading to the diagnosis were different in both cases. Life threatening anaphylactic reactions like hypotension, bronchospasm and tongue edema was noticed in the first. The second showed poor factor recovery and response to treatment with urticaria. She continued to tolerate therapy but failed tolerance induction. Peak antibody level was 84 BU compared to 3 BU in the first. Novel VWF gene mutations were detected in both. Recently the first patient was managed for profuse bleeding post extensive dental procedure. Recombinant Factor VIII infusion was administered every 3 hours with monitoring of aPTT and Factor VIII levels. Based on peak and post 3 hour levels of Factor VIII, we concluded the half life of Factor VIII could be as short as 2 hours in patients with type 3 VWD. Post infusion peak level might approach 200% in some instances. Due to persistent bleeding despite adequate correction of Factor VIII and aPTT, platelet transfusion was cautiously administered which proved to be not only effective in controlling bleed but was also safe and not associated with any anaphylactic reaction. In conclusion, patients with type 3 VWD and alloantibodies can be successfully managed with aggressive frequent therapy with recombinant Factor VIII infusions. Platelet transfusions during episodes of severe bleeding can also be safe and effective.Administration of Factor VIII by continuous infusion could be an option if high post infusion peaks are to be avoided. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Using Eye-Tracking Technology to Examine the Impact of Question Format on Reading Behavior in Elementary Students

Reading comprehension assessments often include multiple-choice (MC) questions, but some researchers doubt their validity in measuring comprehension. Consequently, new assessments may include more ...
Evaluation of an Emergency Department and Hospital-Based Data Exchange to Improve HIV Care Engagement and Viral Suppression.

Background: Emergency department (ED) visits and inpatient (IP) admissions may provide an opportunity to re-engage poorly engaged people living with HIV (PLWH) and facilitate viral suppression. In 2015, Public Health Seattle and King County (PHSKC) partnered with University of Washington Medicine to implement a real-time data exchange to identify virally unsuppressed PLWH seen at the ED/IP hospital and re-engage them in HIV care. We evaluated the impact of the data exchange on care engagement and viral suppression. Methods: PHSKC received a text alert on weekdays 8AM-6PM for ED/IP patients previously diagnosed with HIV with a most recent viral load >200 copies/mL. We compared viral load testing <3 months and viral suppression <6 months after an alert-eligible visit in the two years post-intervention and the 7-30 months pre-intervention. To account for secular trends, we used difference-in-differences models to compare patients with alert-window visits to patients with visits outside the alert window pre- and post-intervention. Results: Patients with visits within the alert window in the post-intervention period were 1.08 (95%CI: 0.97-1.20) times more likely to have a viral load test within 3 months after an ED visit/IP admission and 1.50 (95%CI: 1.27-1.76) times more likely to achieve viral suppression within 6 months than patients in the pre-intervention period. However, care engagement (difference-in-differences RR: 1.00; 95%CI: 0.84, 1.18) and viral suppression (difference-in-differences RR: 1.01; 95% CI: 0.84, 1.20) trends were similar among patients with visits outside the alert window. Conclusions: Real-time data exchange with ED/IP hospitals was associated with improved viral suppression, but not increased care engagement. However, our results may reflect secular trends resulting from diverse interventions, of which ours was only one. More efforts are needed to improve the effectiveness of relinkage interventions guided by real-time data exchange.
The Role of Advanced Imaging in Spinal Metastases

Accurate diagnosis and assessment of spinal metastases are of critical importance for cancer patients because the spine is the most common site for skeletal metastases. Conventional imaging methods such as bone scan, positron emission tomography (PET), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computed tomography (CT) are commonly utilized for diagnosing and monitoring treatment of spinal metastases. However, differential diagnoses and treatment response monitoring currently remain difficult with these methods. The development of advanced imaging techniques offers promising advantages to conventional methods through considerations of diffusion, perfusion, and other tumor microenvironment characteristics. These advanced imaging techniques include dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE MRI), which shows great potential for improving the management of spinal metastases by assessing tumor vascularity, as well as diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), dual-energy CT, and CT myelography. This chapter will discuss how these techniques can be specifically utilized throughout a patient’s treatment timeline to enhance clinical care.
Surveillance on prevalence of human metapneumovirus in population with acute respiratory infections in Beijing,2011 to 2013

为探讨北京地区人偏肺病毒(hMPV)流行规律,本研究在北京市18个区县选择城乡有代表性的区县建立监测哨点,对急性呼吸道感染病例中hMPV感染状况进行连续性监测.1.对象与方法:(1)标本来源:2011年1月至2013年4月选择北京市东城区隆福医院、第六医院、朝阳区垂杨柳医院、丰台区东方医院、通州区潞河医院和顺义区医院作为哨点医院.每家哨点医院每月采集10～20份急性呼吸道感染病例的鼻咽拭子、痰液样本标本,送北京市疾病预防控制中心实验室检测.6家哨点医院3年共采集合格鼻咽拭子、痰液标本1963份. 关键词：人偏肺病毒;监测;急性呼吸道感染
Delivering Business Analytics Competencies and Skills: A Supply Side Assessment

This paper investigates the alignment of the demand side of business analytics (based on advertised job positions) with the supply side (based on the university curricula of U.S. business analytics...
A Bias-Corrected Estimator for the Crosswise Model with Inattentive Respondents

The crosswise model is an increasingly popular survey technique to elicit candid answers from respondents on sensitive questions. Recent studies, however, point out that in the presence of inattentive respondents, the conventional estimator of the prevalence of a sensitive attribute is biased toward 0.5. To remedy this problem, we propose a simple design-based bias correction using an anchor question that has a sensitive item with known prevalence. We demonstrate that we can easily estimate and correct for the bias arising from inattentive respondents without measuring individual-level attentiveness. We also offer several useful extensions of our estimator, including a sensitivity analysis for the conventional estimator, a strategy for weighting, a framework for multivariate regressions in which a latent sensitive trait is used as an outcome or a predictor, and tools for power analysis and parameter selection. Our method can be easily implemented through our open-source software, cWise.
The Superficial Circumflex Iliac Artery Perforator Flap

The superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator (SCIP) flap is a relatively new modification of the traditional pedicled groin flap. The groin flap is an axial flap that utilizes the superficial circumflex iliac artery (SCIA) that lies caudal to the inguinal ligament. The SCIP flap utilizes a perforator from the SCIA that branches off the SCIA usually in the midpoint of the inguinal ligament and travels superior to it. It then courses parallel to the inguinal ligament about 2 cm superior to it. As a perforator flap, it does not sacrifice any muscle and the level of dissection is just below the Scarpa’s fascia. The superficial circumflex iliac vein (SCIV) is usually included in the flap to aid with drainage and the superficial inferior epigastric vein (SIEV) may be incorporated as well if its territory is included in the flap design. The SCIP flap is an excellent option in non-obese individuals for reconstructing distal extremity defects since it is a thin flap that avoids the excessive bulk seen with other reconstructive options. The dissection is relatively easy; however, the pedicle can often be short and the diameter of the vessels small, making microsurgical anastomosis more challenging compared to other more traditional flaps and oftentimes require super-microsurgery techniques for a successful result. We prefer to use this flap in patients with normal BMI who do not have diabetes and do not smoke. Due to the small size of vessels, an end-to-end anastomosis with a named vessel is usually difficult. We prefer to perform an end-to-side anastomosis with a named vessel.
Alcohol-related traffic laws and drunk-driving fatal accidents.

Abstract In the United States, about 28 lives are lost daily in motor vehicle accidents that involve an alcohol-impaired driver. While most states have enacted various traffic laws to address this phenomenon, little consensus exists on the causal impact of these laws in reducing alcohol-induced fatalities. This paper exploits quasi-random variation in state-level laws to estimate the causal effect of alcohol-related traffic laws on the frequency of fatal accidents. This is identified from the discontinuities in traffic laws among contiguous counties that are separated by a shared state border. We present robust evidence that the conventional approaches that are typically utilized in the literature may erroneously estimate the effectiveness of several alcohol-related laws.
Cannabinoid CB2 receptor agonist activity in the hindpaw incision: model of postoperative pain

Abstract The identification of peripherally expressed CB 2 receptors and reports that the selective activation of cannabinoid CB 2 receptors produces antinociception without traditional cannabinergic side effects suggests that selective cannabinoid CB 2 receptor agonists might be useful in the management of pain. In a rat hindpaw incision model, we examined the antiallodynic activity of the selective cannabinoid CB 2 receptor agonists AM1241 (3–30 mg/kg i.p.), GW405833 (3–30 mg/kg i.p.), and HU-308 (0.3–30 mg/kg i.p.). The rank order for efficacy in the hindpaw incision model following a dose of 10 mg/kg, i.p. was AM1241 > GW405833 = HU-308, and the selective cannabinoid CB 2 receptor antagonist, SR144528, reversed the antiallodynic effect of HU-308. Together, these data suggest that selective cannabinoid CB 2 receptor agonists might represent a new class of postoperative analgesics.
Identification and isolation on a large scale of guanylate kinase from human erythrocytes. Effects of monophosphate nucleotides of purine analogs.

Abstract Guanylate kinase has been identified and partially purified from human erythrocytes. A simple method has been developed, using calcium phosphate gel and DEAE-cellulose, for the purification of guanylate kinase and several other erythrocytic enzymes such as purine nucleoside phosphorylase, nucleoside diphosphokinase, adenylate kinase, lactic dehydrogenase, pyruvate kinase and phosphoglucose isomerase. The method is adaptable for both small and large scale purification and has been applied successfully to as much as 40 to 50 1. of human blood. Studies with the partially purified erythrocytic guanylate kinase showed that GMP, dGMP, 8-azaGMP and IMP serve as substrates while UMP, CMP and 6-thioIMP do not. 6-ThioGMP was not a substrate but was a competitive inhibitor with GMP with a K 1 of 7·5 × 10 −5 M. Preliminary findings suggest the occurrence of several isozymes of this enzyme. Other kinetic parameters of the enzyme are described.
MPI Must Evolve or Die

Multicore and hybrid architecture designs dominate the landscape for systems that are 1 to 20 petaflops peak performance. As such the MPI software must evolve to effectively use these types of architectures or it will die just like the vector programming models died. While applications may continue to use MPI, it is not business as usual in how communication libraries are being changed to effectively exploit the new petascale systems. This talk presents some key research in petascale communication libraries going on in the "Harness" project, which is the follow-on to the PVM research project. The talk will cover a number of areas being explored, including hierarchical algorithm designs, hybrid algorithm designs, dynamic algorithm selection, and fault tolerance inside next generation message passing libraries. Hierarchical algorithm designs seek to consolidate information at different levels of the architecture to reduce the number of messages and contention on the interconnect. Natural places for such consolidation include the socket level, the node level, the cabinet level, and multiple-cabinet level. Hybrid algorithm designs use different algorithms at different levels of the architecture, for example, an ALL_GATHER may use a shared memory algorithm across the node and a message passing algorithm between nodes, in order to better exploit the different data movement capabilities. An adaptive communication library may dynamically select from a set of collective communication algorithms based on the number of nodes being sent to, where they are located in the system, the size of the message being sent, and the physical topology of the computer. This talk will also describe how ORNL's Leadership computing facility (LCF) has been proactive in getting science teams to adopt the latest communication and IO techniques. This includes assigning computational science liaisons to each science team. The liaison has knowledge of both the systems and the science, providing a bridge to improved communication patterns. The LCF also has a Cray Center of Excellence and a SUN Lustre Center of Excellence on site. These centers provide Cray and SUN engineers who work directly with the science teams to improve the MPI and MPI-IO performance of their applications. Finally this talk will take a peek at exascale architectures and the need for new approaches to software development that integrates arcitecture design and algorithm development to facilitate the synergistic evolution of both.
An analytical study of the dynamics of long tray type distillation column

An analytically derived transfer function matrix is reported for describing the dynamic behavior of the compositions with the rectifying and stripping sections of a long distillation column. First-order lag matrices are shown to describe the column behavior. Large-signal steady-state solutions are derived to provide parametric data for small-signal partial differential equations. Results accord well with the findings of the previous authors. In particular, it has been noted from the simulations carried out that an increase in vapor rate causes top and bottom compositions to separate, whereas an increase in top-product flow causes both compositions to fall. >
High Voltage LEDs

In this chapter, the basic mechanisms, opto-electrical characteristics, variety designs, and development process of the high voltage light emitting diode (HVLED) and alternating current light emitting diode (ACLED) were extensively discussed. Some important issues, such as the efficiency drooping, flickering illumination, harmonic distortion limitation, and lifetime result of the HV/ACLED were also studied. Furthermore, packaging methods, safety considerations, and measurement techniques of the HV/ACLED were mentioned to assist readers in applying the HV/ACLED safely and properly.
Interference-based optical MEMS filters

In this paper we describe tunable interference filters based on arrays of MEMS micromirrors. A simple analytical description of the height distribution of micromirrors needed to create a desired spectral response is presented, and the implications on the design and utility of MEMS interference filters are discussed. Finally we describe two practical filter implementations. The first enables continuous spectral control over relatively broad bands, and the second is designed for wavelength-division-multiplexed fiber optic communication systems.
The Isomerization of Aziridine Derivatives

Derivatives of aziridine or ethylenimine are isomerized by acids, nucleophilic reagents, or pyrolysis. All of the isomerizations reported so far are ring-opening reactions, predominantly involving cleavage of the carbon-nitrogen bond of the ring, although a few isomerizations are known in which the carbon-carbon bond of the ring is broken. Isomerization of appropriate aziridine derivatives provides useful synthetic pathways leading to heterocyclic systems such as oxazolines, imidazolines (and related systems), imidazolidinoes, thiazolines, pyrazolines, and triazolines. Other isomerizations form N-unsaturated amides, anils, and isocyanates.
Development of an online campus map

The online campus map allows users to easily find buildings and rooms on campus. The program displays the location based on user input and location data stored in a database. The project originated from a software design class. Starting with the course's prototype system, our goal was to refine this project to improve its efficiency, maintainability, and interface.
A psychological view of the chronically unemployed: personality and motivation.

The purpose of this study was to investigate what differences in motivational and personality dimensions exist between 75 chronically unemployed and 75 stably employed Ss. The chronically unemployed was defined as that person who had had at least six jobs in the last 6 mo. and quit each of them before completion of job assignment. Ss were selected from the files of the Texas Employment Commission, and they were paid $5 apiece for their participation. After the chronically unemployed sample was tested, a stably employed group was selected from industrial files and matched for age (within 5 yr.; Ms = 26 yr., ranges 20-68, 20-62), intelligence (Factor B on the 16 PF; Ms = 6, ranges, 2-4), race, and educational level (within 2 yr.; Ms = 11 yr., ranges, 7-14, 7-12). There were 69 whites and 6 blacks in each group. The tests administered were the Motivational Analysis Test (MAT, Cattell, et dl., 1964) and the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16 PF; Cattell, 1962). The MAT purports to measure expressed and unexpressed motivation in career, parents, pugnacity, fear, self, superego, mating, assertiveness, narcism, and sweetheart-spouse needs. Total scores for motivational and conflict were attainable. The 16 PF purports to measure outgoingness, intelligence, emotionality, assertiveness surgency, superego, venturesomeness, sensitiveness, suspiciousness, autia, shrewdness, apprehensiveness, radicalism, self-sufficiency, self-concept control, and tenseness. Dunn's test (1961) for multiple comparisons' was utilized to test the differences between groups. In order for the null hypothesis to be rejected at the .05 level for any one comparison, this statistic must exceed .05 divided by 50 or .001 region of rejection. The findings indicated that the chronically unemployed showed significantly less assertiveness, less expressed self-sentiment, more career conflict, less total motivation, more total conflict on the MAT, and had less self-concept control, were more emotional and apprehensive on the 16 PF than their employed counterparts. Conclusions suggest that the chronically unemployed Ss were generally unable to assert themselves and psychologically in distress. These dynamics may represent a barrier to functioning on a job.
Aeromycology of Cercospora arachidicola on peanut

A diurnal periodicity of conidium release by Cercospora arachidicola was observed with peak catches at 12.00 h. Temperature of 20–24 °C with periods of r.h. > 90% favoured production and release. Few conidia were trapped following periods of high r.h. when temperatures were lower than 17°. Fewer conidia were trapped following rain than under similar temperature and r.h. conditions without rain. Quantitative estimates of lesion numbers per field area permitted analysis of release under different environmental conditions, independent of lesion density. Multiple regression analysis was used to relate conidium release to temperature, r.h. and rainfall. A sporulation prediction model based on a 3-day running average of duration of humidity above 90%, of mean temperature during the high r.h. duration, and rainfall was derived.
STAGE OF REGULAR EXERCISE AND HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE

Abstract Background. Research on cognitive factors and motivational readiness for exercise is important for increasing our understanding of behavior change among those with sedentary lifestyles. This study examines stage of change for regular exercise and self-perceived quality of life. Methods. Data are from 1,387 respondents to a random digit dial survey of health behaviors. Stage of change is assessed with a single item, and individuals are classified with respect to intention and exercise behavior. Quality of life is assessed with the SF-36, a multidimensional measure of health-related quality of life. Results. Exercise stage is associated with self-perceived quality of life. The three areas most strongly related were physical functioning, general health perceptions, and vitality. Physical functioning scores were lowest in precontemplation and highest in maintenance. Vitality and mental health scales were related to exercise behavior, but not to intention. Conclusions. Cognitions about self-perceived quality of life vary across the stages of change, with those who are least prepared to adopt regular exercise reporting the lowest levels of quality of life. These findings suggest that cognitive–motivational messages designed to emphasize quality of life benefits associated with exercise may be useful intervention strategies for people who are less motivationally ready to change.
Temporal patterns of phytoplankton abundance in the North Atlantic

A time series of CZCS images is being developed to study phytoplankton distribution patterns in the North Atlantic. The goal of this study is to observe temporal variability in phytoplankton pigments and other organic particulates, and to infer from these patterns the potential flux of biogenic materials from the euphotic layer to the deep ocean. Early results of this project are presented in this paper. Specifically, the satellite data used were 13 monthly composited images of CZCS data for the North Atlantic from January 1979 to January 1980. Results are presented for seasonal patterns along the 20 deg W meridian.
Blockade of ion channel expression in Xenopus oocytes with complementary DNA probes to Na+ and K+ channel mRNAs.

Abstract Ionic currents were recorded from Xenopus oocytes injected with RNA isolated from chick or mouse brain. Three currents were studied: a rapid tetrodotoxin-sensitive Na + current (I Na ), an early outward K + current sensitive to 4-aminopyridine (IA), and an inward current activated by the excitatory amino acid receptor agonist kainate. Oligonucleotides (60–80 bases long complementary to rat brain Na+ channel sequences were prehybridized to chick brain RNA. These DNA sequences, upon injection into oocytes, specifically inhibited expression of IN, relative to IA and the kainate-induced current in a dose-dependent manner. By contrast, prehybridization of oligonucleotides complementary to sequences either from the Drosophila Shaker locus (which codes for an early K + current in Drosophila muscle) or from a homologous clone from mouse brain did not block the expression of the early outward K + current induced in the oocytes by mRNA from chick or mouse brain. This method provides a convenient means for testing the functional role of cloned DNA species.