cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Single-Scan Stem Reconstruction Using Low-Resolution Terrestrial Laser Scanner Data

Despite the active research, terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) has remained underutilized for forest structure assessment due to reliance of processing algorithms on high-resolution data, which may be costly and time-consuming to collect. Operational inventories, however, necessitate maximizing sample size while minimizing time and cost. The objective of this study was to assess the performance of a novel technique that enables stem reconstruction from low-resolution, single-scan TLS data in an effort to satisfy performance criteria against operational acquisition constraints. Instead of utilizing the curvature of the tree stem, e.g., by circle or cylinder fitting, we take advantage of the sensor-object geometry and reduce the dimensionality of the modeling to a series of one-dimensional (1-D) line fits. This allowed robust recovery of tree stem structure in a range of New England forest types, for tree stems which subtended at least an angular width of 15 mrad—the beam divergence of our system. Assessment was performed by projecting the three-dimensional (3-D) data onto two-dimensional (2-D) images and evaluating the per-point classification accuracies using manually digitized truth maps. Manual forest inventory measurements were also collected for each ${\bf{20}} \times {\bf{20}}\;{\bf{m}}$ plot and compared to measurements derived automatically. Good retrievals of stem location ( $R^2 = 0.99$ , ${\bf{RMSE}} = {0.16\;{\bf{m}}}$ ) and diameter at breast height (DBH) ( $R^2 = {0.80}$ , ${\bf{RMSE}} = {6.0\;{\bf{cm}}}$ ) were achieved. This study demonstrates that low-resolution sensors may be effective in providing data for operational forest inventories constrained by sample size, time, and cost.
A design method for crossed-field electron guns

A design method for crossed-field guns based on a space-charge-flow solution in crossed fields is given. By using the method of analytic continuation in the complex plane, it is shown that it is possible to find the exact form of the electrodes required The design results in a gun similar to the French "short gun" with the great advantage that the current emitted from the gun and the current density at the cathode can be predicted. It is also shown that by making certain approximations to the exact space-charge-flow solution, a new type of gun can be designed, a "long gun" which can have extremely high convergence. The theory for this latter gun is extremely simple and the electrode shapes can be given entirely in analytic form.
Guest Editorial: Microlithography

This PDF file contains the editorial “Guest Editorial: Microlithography” for OE Vol. 32 Issue 10
Role for glia in synaptogenesis.

Nearly one-half of the cells in a human brain are astrocytes, but the function of these little cells remains a great mystery. Astrocytes form an intimate association with synapses throughout the adult CNS, where they help regulate ion and neurotransmitter concentrations. Recent in vitro studies, however, have found that astrocytes also exert powerful control over the number of CNS synapses that form, are essential for postsynaptic function, and are required for synaptic stability and mainte- nance. Moreover, recent studies increasingly implicate astrocytes in vivo as participants in activity-dependent structural and functional synaptic changes throughout the ner- vous system. Taken together, these data force us to rethink the role of glia. We propose that astrocytes should not be viewed primarily as support cells, but rather as cells that actively control the structural and functional plasticity of synapses in developing and adult organisms. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Measurement study on wireless camera networks

Transporting camera surveillance data using wireless networks has benefits of reduced cost and increased flexibility. In this paper, we report a measurement study of wireless camera networks using IEEE 802.11 standards, which are pervasively adopted and supported by a large number of vendors. We studied two testbeds deployed in real-world environments, one in a residential house and the other in an office building. We configured these testbeds with both one-hop star and multi-hop mesh topologies and we also compared the application-layer performance over these camera networks using different physical-layer protocols and MAC-layer configurations. We found that the 10-node single-hop camera network in the residential house provided reasonable application quality, if hidden-terminal protection mechanism is used. On the other hand, the 15-node multi-hop camera network in the office building suffered throughput unfairness across cameras, leading to unacceptable application performance for the cameras that are more than one hops away from the server. One possible solution is to use multiple radios on individual cameras, as our experiments showed great performance improvement. We observed that the suitable choices of several network parameters are often dependent on the radio environment, and network-layer throughput is not sufficient to predict the performance of camera applications. These results suggest cross-layer joint network optimizations must be tailored to meet the specific requirements of the applications using distributed cameras.
Asymptotic decomposition of systems of ordinary differential equations with a small parameter

Consider the system of ordinary differential equations $$\frac{{dx}}{{dt}} = \omega (x),\quad \quad x({t_0}) = {x_0},$$ (3.1) where $$x = col\left\| {{x_1},...{x_n}||;\omega = } \right.col\left\| {{\omega _1}(x),...{\omega _n}(x)||;{\omega _i}(x) \in D(G),i = \overline {1,n;} {G_0} = I \times G \in {R^{n + 1}},G \in {R^n},t \in I} \right.,$$ is the domain of the existence and uniqueness of the solution of the Cauchy prolblemn of system (3.1); D(G) is the manifold of the analytical functions determined in G.
Trends in electrochemical CO2 reduction activity for open and close-packed metal surfaces

We present a theoretical analysis of trends in overpotentials for electrocatalytic CO2 reduction based on density functional theory calculations. The analysis is based on understanding variations in the free energy of intermediates and mapping out the potential at which different elementary steps are exergonic as a measure of the catalytic activity. We study different surface structures and introduce a simple model for including the effect of adsorbate–adsorbate interactions. We find that high coverages of CO under typical reaction conditions for the more reactive transition metals affect the catalytic activity towards the CO2 reduction reaction, but the ordering of metal activities is not changed. For the hydrogen evolution reaction, a high CO coverage shifts the maximum activity towards more reactive metals than Pt.
Correlates of Psychosocial Adjustment in Deaf Adolescents With and Without Cochlear Implants: A Preliminary Investigation

The number of children who have received cochlear implants (CIs) has increased dramatically in the past two decades. In view of potential concerns about their psychosocial adjustment, our aim was to assess the effect of implants on the adolescents' psychosocial functioning among a group of 57 deaf adolescents with and without CIs, using published and validated measures completed by the adolescents themselves, their parents, and teachers. Adolescents with CI tended to be more hearing acculturated, whereas those without CI tended to be more Deaf acculturated. Despite some differences in background characteristics between the two groups, there were no differences between them on the psychosocial variables assessed in this study, regardless of the reporting sources. Rather than having a direct effect on the psychosocial outcomes assessed in this study, it is through the mediating effect of acculturation and school setting that CI status exerts an influence over many of this study's outcomes. Recommendations for future research are made in light of our findings.
Plasma fluctuations, local partial Saha equilibrium, and the broadening of vacuum-arc ion charge state distributions

Charge state distributions (CSD's) of Fe, Co, Zr, Nb, Hf, Ag, Pt, Au ions produced at vacuum arc cathode spots are investigated without often-used averaging procedures. Statistical results are used to evaluate the contribution of fluctuations to the broadening of averaged CSD's. Calculations of Saha equations in the Debye-Huckel approximation are often successful in replicating experimental CSD's even when using the simple model of "instantaneous freezing". This allows us to use charge state spectrometry as a plasma diagnostic tool for the dense plasma near the cathode spot. Typically, total heavy particle (atoms and ions) densities and electron temperatures of 10/sup 24/ 10/sup 26/ m/sup -3/ and 3-4 eV have been measured this way at the transition zone from equilibrium to nonequilibrium, the "event horizon." It was also found that CSD's for some elements such as Co, Ag, and Hf could not be accurately simulated with the assumption of instantaneous freezing. Here, a more gradual transition to nonequilibrium occurs, This transition can be described by the model of partial local Saha equilibrium. Finally, an axial magnetic field was found to soften the transition to nonequilibrium thus causing broadening of experimental CSD's.
A characterization of the 0 -basis homogeneous bounding degrees

We say a countable model si has a 0-basis if the types realized in si are uniformly computable. We say si has a (</-) decidable copy if there exists a model 38 9* si such that the elementary diagram of 38 is (d-) computable. Goncharov, Millar, and Peretyat'kin independently showed there exists a homogeneous model si with a 0-basis but no decidable copy. We extend this result here. Let d < 0' be any I0W2 degree. We show that there exists a homogeneous model si with a 0-basis but no ^/-decidable copy. A degree d is 0-basis homogeneous bounding if any homogenous si with a 0-basis has a </-decidable copy. In previous work, we showed that the nonlow2 ^ degrees are 0-basis homogeneous bounding. The result of this paper shows that this is an exact characterization of the 0-basis homogeneous bounding ^ degrees. ?
Design and implementation of a SIP-based VoIP architecture

The emergence of the session initiation protocol (SIP) promises simple and efficient handling of multimedia sessions among multiple users. We present the design and implementation of a VoIP system based on SIP. Our SIP-based VoIP system provides a wide range of services multipoint call, multiple audio encoding formats, and complex functionalities such as call muting and call-hold facilities, and personal mobility support.
Incremental exploration of the combined physical and behavioral design space

Achieving design closure is one of the biggest headaches for modern VLSI designers. This problem is exacerbated by high-level design automation tools that ignore increasingly important factors such as the impact of interconnect on the area and power consumption of integrated circuits. Bringing physical information up into the logic level or even behavioral-level stages of system design is essential to solve this problem. In this paper, we present an incremental floorplanning high-level synthesis system. This system integrates high-level and physical design algorithms to concurrently improve a system's schedule, resource binding, and floor-plan, thereby allowing the incremental exploration of the combined behavioral-level and physical-level design space. Compared with previous approaches that repeatedly call loosely coupled floorplanners for physical estimation, this approach has the benefit of efficiency, stability, and better quality of results. For designs containing functional units with non-unity aspect ratios, the average CPU time improved by 369 %, the area improved by 14.24 %, and power improved by 4 %.
Anaerobic glycolysis in fortified cell-free homogenates of tapeworm tissue.

SummaryLactate production and phosphate esterification were followed in dilute cell-free homogenates of the rat tapeworm, Hymenolepis diminuta. The system was fortified with bicarbonate, magnesium chloride, nicotinamide, diphosphopyridine nucleotide, adenosine‘triphosphate, hexose diphosphate, pyruvate, and glucose. Fluoride was used to inhibit phosphatase activity. Semi-optimal conditions were determined. The data support the idea that glycolysis in tapeworms proceeds by processes similar to that in vertebrate tissues.
Reproductive Ecology and Habitat Use of Pacific Black Scoters (Melanitta nigra americana) Nesting on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska

Abstract. Abundance indices of Black Scoters (Melanitta nigra. americana) breeding in Alaska indicate a long-term population decline without obvious cause (s). However, few life history data are available for the species in North America. In 2001–2004, information was collected on nesting habitat and reproductive parameters (i.e. components of productivity) from a population of Black Scoters nesting on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska. A total of 157 nests were found over four years. Primarily, nests were among dense vegetation in shrub edge habitat, predominantly dwarf birch (Betula glandulosa) and Alaska spiraea (Spiraea beauverdiana), an average of 58 m from water. Females initiated nests from 11 June and 17 July across years. Clutch size averaged 7.5 eggs and did not vary annually. Nest success was highly variable among years and ranged from 0.01 to 0.37. Duckling survival to 30 days old varied among years, and ranged from 0.09 – 0.35. Nest success was poor in three of four years, likely due to preda...
Grid-Size Dependence in the Large-Eddy Simulation of Kolmogorov Flow

Through the use of both an a priori analysis of direct numerical simulation data and experiments with large-eddy simulations, a non-Smagorinsky grid-size dependence is established for the Smagorinsky subgrid scale model for low numbers of resolved scales. It is shown that an increase in the Smagorinsky constant as the grid size is increased permits successful large-eddy simulations for cutoffs approaching the energy-containing range of length scales. A detailed comparative analysis is made of the second-order turbulence quantities as determined by the differently resolutioned large-eddy simulations
Impact of Pulsatile Flow on Hemodynamic Energy in a Medos Deltastream DP3 Pediatric Extracorporeal Life Support System

The Medos Deltastream DP3 system is made up of a novel diagonal pump and hollow-membrane oxygenator that provides nonpulsatile and pulsatile flows for extracorporeal life support (ECLS). The objectives of this study are to (i) evaluate the efficacy of the hemodynamic energy provided by Medos Deltastream DP3 system in nonpulsatile and pulsatile mode and (ii) to evaluate the pulsatile mode under different frequencies. The experimental ECLS circuit was used in this study, primed with Ringer's lactate and packed red blood cells (hematocrit 35%). All trials were conducted at flow rates of 500, 1000, 1500, and 2000 mL/min with modified pulsatile frequencies of 60, 70, 80, and 90 bpm at 36°C. Simultaneous blood flow and pressures at the pre/postoxygenator and pre/postcannula sites were recorded for quantification of the pulsatile perfusion-generated energy-equivalent pressure (EEP), surplus hemodynamic energy (SHE), and total hemodynamic energy (THE). The experiments showed that under pulsatile flow conditions, at all flow rates and frequencies, (i) the EEP, SHE, and THE were significantly higher when compared with the nonpulsatile group and (ii) the pressure drop was minimal at lower flow rates and lower pulsatile frequencies but was significant when either the flow rate or the pulsatile frequency was increased. The Medos Deltastream DP3 System can provide nonpulsatile flow and physiologic quality pulsatile flow for pediatric ECLS. When the Medos DP3 pediatric ECLS system is used with pulsatile flow, there is more surplus hemodynamic energy and total hemodynamic energy than nonpulsatile flow.
An extensible differential equation solver

We describe a method for solving linear second order differential equations in terms of hypergeometric and other (less well known) special functions. Intended as a method for computer algebra systems, the solver described in this article uses a database of functions to construct an anstatz for the solution. A user may extend the solver by appending functions to the database. An overview of a Macsyma language implementation, with sample calculations, is given.
Concepts of Mental Activities and Verbs in Children of High and Average Verbal Intelligence

In order to understand the contribution of increased cognitive abilities to children's naive theories of mind, children of high and average verbal intelligence rated their understanding of the interrelationships between and among mental activities and verbs. In Study 1, participants rated the similarity of pairs of prototypical mental activity scenarios according to the "way you use your mind" in each one. The scenarios represented the categories of list memory, prospective memory, comprehension, selective attention, inference, planning, comparison, and recognition. In Study 2, participants rated the similarity of cognitive and affective verbs (e.g., decide, memorize, love, worry). Multidimensional scaling and clustering analyses indicated very similar organization and structure of concepts in children of high and average verbal intelligence in both studies. These results add to the growing body of literature suggesting that metacognitive development and its association with intelligence differ depending ...
An overview of microprocessor applications

Microprocessors have become important tools for the electronic designer. Prime motivators for their success have been the advantages they offer in cost reduction and design flexibility. These and other microprocessor advantages are discussed in this paper. Typical microprocessor-based applications are described as well as the direction of future trends.
Activation of mGluR5 modulates Ca2+ currents in retinal amacrine cells from the chick.

In the inner plexiform layer, amacrine cells receive glutamatergic input from bipolar cells. Glutamate can depolarize amacrine cells by activation of ionotropic glutamate receptors or mediate potentially more diverse changes via activation of G protein-coupled metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR5). Here, we asked whether selective activation of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 is linked to modulation of the voltage-gated Ca 2+ channels expressed by cultured GABAergic amacrine cells. To address this, we performed whole-cell voltage clamp experiments, primarily in the perforated-patch configuration. We found that agonists selective for mGluR5, including (RS)-2-chloro-5-hydroxyphenylglycine (CHPG), enhanced the amplitude of the voltage-dependent Ca 2+ current. The voltage-dependent Ca 2+ current and CHPG-dependent current enhancement were blocked by nifedipine, indicating that L-type Ca 2+ channels, specifically, were being modulated. We have previously shown that activation of mGluR5 produces Ca 2+ elevations in cultured amacrine cells (Sosa et al., 2002). Loading the cells with 5 mM BAPTA inhibited the mGluR5-dependent enhancement, suggesting that the cytosolic Ca 2+ elevations are required for modulation of the current. Although activation of mGluR5 is typically linked to activation of protein kinase C, we found that direct activation of this kinase leads to inhibition of the Ca 2+ current, indicating that stimulation of this enzyme is not responsible for the mGluR5-dependent enhancement. Interestingly, direct stimulation of protein kinase A produced an enhancement of the Ca 2+ current similar to that observed with activation of mGluR5. Thus, activation of mGluR5 may modulate the L-type voltage-gated Ca 2+ current in these GABAergic amacrine cells via activation of protein kinase A, possibly via direct activation of a Ca 2+ -dependent adenylate cyclase.
Plasmodium inui shortii: studies in old world and new world monkeys.

Plasmodium inui shortti was studied in monkeys (66 Macaca mulatta, 2 M. fascicularis, 12 Saimiri boliviensis, 4 Aotus lemurinus griseimembra, and 1 A. nancymaae). Prepatent periods for 30 sporozoite transmissions by Anopheles stephensi, An. dirus, and An. maculatus mosquitoes ranged from 10 to 48 days with a median of 15.5 days. In rhesus monkeys, mean maximum parasite counts for intact animals were 181,970/μL; for splenectomized animals, the mean maximum parasite count was 1,167,890/μL.
Neoliberalism, Grievances, and Democratization: An Exploration of the Role of Material Hardships in Shaping Mexicos Democratic Transition

This article explores the relationship between neoliberalism and democratization in Mexico. For decades the Mexican state maintained the one-party rule of the PRI (Partido Revolucionario Institucional) through a complex arrangement involving corporatist and clientelist practices. The onset of neoliberalism  including the 1982 peso crisis and the imposition of structural adjustment policies  realigned state policies with the result that the Mexican state transformed from a populist provider for many Mexicans to the instrument of their severe hardships. The state did little to protect people from nation-wide declines in wages and increases in unemployment, while withdrawing a range of subsidies necessary for daily survival. The size, scope and density of the resulting hardships, in turn, united a multi-class coalition that for the first time was able to work together to demand political change. Multiple demands emerged, corresponding to different sectors of society and different hardships, but in the end the demand for democracy became the unifying strategy. A decade after the end of one-party rule in Mexico, we can evaluate how hardships united people to demand change, even as that change has been more procedural than substantive.
Jus Soli, Jus Sanguinis and Jus Tempus

Jus soli and jus sanguinis have been the traditional starting points for any discussion of birthright and state sponsored citizenship. Inextricably linked to any discussion of how citizenship is bestowed, achieved, or acquired, is a third element: that of time. This paper will analyze how specific periods of time, dates in history, and thresholds serve as significant a role in determining whether an individual or group will be considered citizens. The paper will consider topics ranging from the starting point of Anglo American citizenship law, Calvin's Case (in which people born before the union of the English and Scottish thrones were distinguished form those born afterwards) to the assumption of tacit consent at the moment of constitutional conventions, to amnesties granting legal status to people living in a country during specific time periods.
Sustainable Solvent Systems for Use in Tandem Carbohydrate Dehydration Hydrogenation

Monophasic separation-friendly solvent systems were investigated for the sustainable acid-catalyzed dehydration of fructose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). The HMF selectivity depends on both fructose conversion, temperature, and the amount of cosolvent present in the aqueous solvent mixture. Use of HMF-derived 2,5-(dihydroxymethyl)tetrahydrofuran (DHMTHF) or low-boiling tetrahydrofuran (THF) as co-solvents results in increased selectivity (>70%) to HMF at fructose conversions of ca. 80%. Analysis of the fructose tautomer distribution in each solvent system by 13C NMR revealed higher furanose fractions in the presence of these and other protic (tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol) and polar aprotic co-solvents (DMSO) relative to water alone. Formation of fructosides and/or difructose anhydrides in the presence of the co-solvents causes lower selectivity at early reaction times, but reversion to fructose and dehydration to HMF at longer reaction times results in increasing HMF selectivity with fructose conversion...
Morphologic heterogeneity of the Mycoplasmatales.

one is the heterogeneity of the methods used to prepare cells and the other, the heterogeneity of interpretation of the results. These difficulties, compounded by the heterogeneity of the organisms under discussion, inevitably lead to confusion and, as all of us know, confusion still exists. Unsubstantiated interpretation of morphology based on evidence derived from a single plane of sectioned cells is still practiced, and it is particularly bad in the case of reproductive forms (elementary bodies). These have been calculated to range in size from 80 nm to 330 nm or so, without regard to the problems of converting two dimensions into three or of whether or not there
Orientation Dependence in C60 Surface-Impact Collisions

The effect of molecular orientation on collisions between C60(buckminsterfullerene) and a solid surface was studied by carrying out simulations based on the Tersoff potential for the C−C interaction and modeling the surface by a structureless wall. Simulations were run with initial molecular kinetic energies of 100 and 300 eV, at impact angles relative to normal incidence of 10°, 20°, and 30°. The simple nature of the simulations permitted the examination of thousands of trajectories with random initial C60 orientations, in contrast to all previous studies, which have been highly limited in this respect. The data obtained included information about the redistribution of energy and angular momentum and about collisional fragmentation. The results are strongly dependent upon the initial molecular orientation and lead to wide distributions of the quantities studied. Since structured surfaces are expected to intensify the orientation dependence, it is concluded that one must use a substantial ensemble of traj...
Leukotriene induction of TxB2 in cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells.

The leukotrienes (LT) are potent mediators of inflammation, capable of inducing plasma leakage from postcapillary venules and vasoconstriction of terminal arterioles. Some microvascular effects may be attributable to LT stimulation of thromboxane (Tx) synthesis. Incubation of primary cultures of bovine aortic endothelial cells with buffer, LTB4 (10−8 M) or LTD4 (10−8 M), resulted in TxA2 production in pg/105 cells to the extent of: 67 ± 20, 571 ± 180, and 333 ± 60 respectively, as measured by radioimmunoassay of the stable metabolite TxB2. Endothelial pretreatment with the LTD4 receptor antagonist FPL55712 (10−5 M) significantly blocked any LTB4- or LTD4-stimulated TxA2 synthesis. Pretreatment with the TxA2 synthetase inhibitor ketoconazole (10−6 M) also prevented LTB4 of LTD4 stimulation of TxA2. Preincubation with DMTU (10−5 M), an hydroxyl radical scavenger, decreased LTB4-induced release of TxA2 (405 ± 40 and 366 ± 20, respectively). These findings suggest that LT may mediate their inflammatory actions in vascular beds by stimulation of Tx release from endothelial cells.
Electronically Passivated Hole‐Blocking Titanium Dioxide/Silicon Heterojunction for Hybrid Silicon Photovoltaics

Carrier-selective heterojunctions are important for low-cost silicon-based photovoltaic applications. A low temperature (<100 °C) chemical vapor deposition technique is used here to deposit ultrathin (n-type) titanium dioxide (TiO2) layers onto hydrogen-passivated surfaces of crystalline-silicon (c-Si). Energy level alignment and chemical composition at these abrupt, interfacial layer-free TiO2/Si heterojunctions are investigated via ultraviolet, X-ray, and inverse photoemission spectroscopy, for c-Si doping ranging from p++(1019) to n++(1019). The interface Fermi level position and device-relevant TiO2/Si band offsets are found to shift monotonically as a function of the Si doping, revealing the absence of Fermi level pinning at the c-Si interface and pointing to simple Fermi level equilibration as the driving mechanism behind the interface energy level alignment. Electrical transport measurements performed on TiO2/Si-based diodes confirm the energy level alignment yielded by spectroscopic measurements and the hole-blocking properties of the TiO2/Si heterojunction, exclude hole conduction in the TiO2 as a transport mechanism, and show carrier recombination at the TiO2/p-Si heterojunction.
Research progress of Getah virus in China

From 1964 to 2006,ten GETV were isolated in China,including M1,HB0215-3,HB0234,SH05-6,SH05-15,SH05-16,SH05-17,YN0540,YN0542,and GS10-2. This paper reviews the isolation,identification,distribution and molecular biology of those strains in comparison with the molecular biology of the foreign GETV and SAGV.
Unsuspected chronic pelvic inflammatory disease in the infertile female

Diagnostic laparoscopy performed during an infertility evaluation identified 80 patients with hydrosalpinges (12% of all laparoscopic examinations performed for infertility). Despite these findings, only 20 (25%) of these patients reported a prior episode of acute pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), and only 18 (22.5%) had complaints of pelvic pain. Compared with a matched group of infertility patients with no endoscopic evidence of prior pelvic infection, those patients with hydrosalpinges were more likely to have used an intrauterine device and were less likely to have used an oral contraceptive. Since "silent" PID is a potential cause of infertility, endoscopic visualization of the female reproductive organs should be considered during the infertility evaluation. Moreover, in view of its insidious nature, the diagnosis of PID should be considered in a young sexually active patient with gynecologic complaints.
AMA Clinical Quality Improvement Forum ties it all together: from guidelines to measurement to analysis and back to guidelines.

Article-at-a-Glance Background In Chicago October 15, 1998, the American Medical Association (AMA) Department of Clinical Quality Improvement introduced a broadened scope for its Practice Parameters Forum, now retitled the Clinical Quality Improvement Forum. The Forum will now focus on integrating all the components of what the AMA has identified as the quality continuum –clinical practice guidelines, performance measurement, and process and outcomes analysis. Keynote address The address "The Quality Continuum" heralded the ushering in of a third stage known as "clinical integration," which will become medicine's "industrial revolution." Unexplained clinical variation remains the major roadblock to lowering costs, improving quality, and establishing accountability. But several tools, from guidelines to case management, will help us work through our industrial revolution and integrate clinically. Panel I: Guidelines and evidence-based reports The international Cochrane Collaboration, through its Collaborative Review Groups and systematic reviews, and the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, through its Evidence-Based Practice Centers and other programs, are providing the evidence for other groups to use in developing their own guidelines, performance measures, and other tools. But measuring the effectiveness of implementing clinical preventive services remains a difficult challenge. Panel II; Clinical process measurement Presentations on the relationship between guidelines and performance measures, translating guidelines into review criteria/process measures, reasons for non-compliance with guideline recommendations, patient-reported process measurement, and specific process measurement experiences together reflected federal, national medical specialty society, state medical society/peer review organization, and university/health plan perspectives. Panel III: Clinical outcomes measurement If outcomes can be associated with specific processes of care, clinical practice guidelines can be refined. However, outcomes are dependent on factors outside physicians' behavior and control, such as patient compliance, comorbidities, and other risk factors, and consequently consideration of these variables is essential to appropriately interpreting the data.
ESSAYS ON FARMER WILLINGNESS TO PARTICIPATE IN BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN THE KENTUCKY RIVER WATERSHED

OF DISSERTATION ESSAYS ON FARMER WILLINGNESS TO PARTICIPATE IN BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN THE KENTUCKY RIVER WATERSHED This dissertation explores the adoption of Best Management Practices (BMPs) in the Kentucky River watershed. Through a survey of farmers in the Kentucky River watershed, chapter two investigates farmers’ current BMP adoption and their willingness to engage in additional adoption incentivized through a proposed Water Quality Trading (WQT) program. This chapter includes two parts: the first part is to investigate the factors influencing farmers’ current usage of BMPs; the second part is to estimate farmers’ willingness to implement BMPs given different levels of compensation specified in the survey. Farmers’ experiences about BMPs are more likely to persuade them to adopt additional BMPs. The activities of using riparian buffers, fencing off animals and building up waste storage facilities are found to be responsive to the levels of compensation offered. The third chapter discusses farmers’ expected economic benefits from BMP adoption, and addresses the missing data issue. In the survey, of those respondents who indicated that they accept the offered level of compensation, about 20% of them did not answer the follow-up question of how much they would adopt the practice, creating missing data. We compare three methods to handle the issue of missing data: deletion method, mean imputation, and multiple imputation method. Following these methods, we estimate factors affecting how much farmers may engage in BMPs using a Tobit or Poisson model. The results show that increasing the compensation for using BMPs is more likely to encourage farmers to adopt riparian buffers. Results obtained using the method of multivariate imputation by chained equation are more promising than using the deletion or mean imputation method. The fourth chapter examines whether wealth change and local community interaction may affect BMP adoption. Survey data on BMP adoption are combined with the local community data from publically available sources. Results show that the decrease in land values between 2007 and 2012 discouraged the adoption of riparian buffers; the equine inventory in local communities has positive impact on the adoption of animal fences and nutrient management; the more rural the local communities are, the less likely farmers would fence off livestock from water resources.
Noncontact On-Wafer Characterization of Differential-Mode Millimeter- and Submillimeter-Wave Devices and Integrated Circuits

We present a balun-free, pure differential-mode noncontact measurement technique for on-wafer characterization of devices and integrated circuits (ICs). We demonstrate the validity of this novel approach in the ${H}$ -band (220–325 GHz), where there are currently no available alternatives. To date, realization of differential-mode millimeter-wave and submillimeter-wave devices and ICs have been hindered by the lack of characterization tools. With the presented approach, we demonstrate a simple, noncontact and cost effective technique that enables much needed differential-mode metrology capability for current and future high-speed electronic systems.
Clinical Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Safinamide

The symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) reflect disruptions of a number of brain neurotransmitter systems of varying type and degree. Pharmacological agents with multiple neurochemical mechanisms of action are therefore promising candidates for countering these problems and providing comprehensive symptomatic relief for patients. The pharmacological profile of safinamide includes reversible monoamine oxidase B inhibition, blockage of voltage-dependent Na+ channels, modulation of Ca2+ channels, and inhibition of glutamate release. Safinamide is administered once daily at oral doses of 50-100 mg; it is well-tolerated and safe. Clinical trials have found that it ameliorates motor symptoms when added to established levodopa or single dopamine receptor agonist therapy. The future role of safinamide in PD may be that it enables a reduction in the dosage of dopamine replacement therapies, thereby reducing the adverse effects associated with these treatments. The clinical convenience (once-daily administration), safety, and tolerability of safinamide are better than those of dopamine receptor agonists. The introduction of safinamide reflects a change of approach to drug development for anti-parkinsonian agents in that its broad spectrum of action corresponds to the multiple heterogeneous alterations of brain neurochemistry in PD, rather than being targeted at a single receptor type or neurochemical process. Safinamide is a promising new instrument for the effective symptomatic therapy of PD.
The impact of bouldering on rock-associated vegetation

Abstract Many popular sites for recreational boulder climbing lie within protected natural areas, yet no research has assessed whether bouldering threatens associated vegetation – a diverse community regularly including rare species. This paucity of research is disconcerting because 1) bouldering involves removal of vegetation and soil, 2) the sport's popularity is growing quickly, and 3) cliff-climbing has been linked to lowered vegetation diversity. Our study is the first to quantify the impact of bouldering on vegetation. Following global trends of increased development in remote bouldering sites, we sampled such sites in the Shawangunks, New York – a world-renowned climbing destination. We implemented a paired climbed-unclimbed design that successfully removed potentially confounding environmental variation. Thus, bouldering appears to have caused our observed differences in vegetation between pairs. Climbed boulders had lower species richness and cover, with the greatest reduction found on mid-height boulder faces where most climbing occurs. Community composition and species frequency did not differ between pairs. This impact is weaker than that reported in most cliff-climbing studies, but the number of climbers and usage at our sites was lower. Accordingly, while bouldering in these remote sites may not be a major threat presently, the clear impact strongly suggests that even moderate increases in bouldering activity will have a substantial impact on vegetation. We recommend that visitation rates and the proportion of boulders climbed in conservation areas be monitored and kept at low levels.
Binary polarization-shift-keyed modulation for interplanetary CubeSat optical communications

Recent developments for laser communication on CubeSats across interplanetary distances will be presented. A binary polarization-shift-keyed modulation scheme using dual gain-switched diode lasers is developed and demonstrated within an end-to-end link testbed to achieve signal acquisition under extremely poor signal-to-noise conditions (-43.5 dB average signal-to-noise power ratio at a 1-MHz symbol rate) to simulate direct-to-Earth links, while simultaneously targeting a limited SWaP footprint (1.5U envelope). Additional system design and constraints for the compact laser transmitter will be discussed.
When pressure meets light: detecting the photoacoustic effect at the origin

Modern optical microscopy1, including confocal microscopy, two-photon microscopy and optical coherence tomography (OCT), has revolutionized life sciences by providing detailed information of biological samples with cellular and subcellular resolutions, and has become an essential tool for biomedical research labs. However, optical microscopy typically has a limited penetration depth of ~1 mm in biological tissue due to strong optical scattering2, 3. Moreover, with respective contrast mechanisms, confocal and two-photon microscopy usually rely on fluorescent labeling of the samples and OCT still lacks sensitivity to many biological functions. In contrast, optical-resolution photoacoustic microscopy (OR-PAM) has emerged over the last decade as a complementary imaging tool to the existing optical microscopy by taking advantage of its unique optical absorption contrast4. By acoustically detecting the optical absorption in the tissue, OR-PAM has been proven a powerful tool for anatomical, functional and molecular imaging with endogenous or exogenous contrast agents. In particular, using hemoglobin as the endogenous optical absorber, OR-PAM currently represents the most sensitive blood detector and has been widely used for in vivo imaging of the blood perfusion and oxygenation, especially for cancer and brain studies. Nevertheless, the acoustic detection in OR-PAM is a double-edged sword; on the one hand, it provides a relatively deep penetration with one-way optical attenuation and negligible acoustic attenuation, but on the other hand, the acoustic detection typically needs a coupling medium, such as water and ultrasound gel, between the tissue surface and the ultrasound transducer. The need for acoustic coupling has become one of the major factors that has hindered the wide adoption of OR-PAM by biomedical researchers whenever the biological samples are not compatible with an aquatic environment. Therefore, contact-free detection of the photoacoustic signals (that is, without the need for acoustic coupling) has captured the attention of the photoacoustic imaging community and resulted in many exciting advancements. If successful, the contact-free photoacoustic technologies will free up the working space and greatly expand the territory of PAM applications.
Acute liver failure induced by idiosyncratic reaction to drugs: Challenges in diagnosis and therapy

Acute liver failure (ALF) requires urgent attention to identify etiology and determine prognosis, in order to assess likelihood of survival or need for transplantation. Identifying idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury (iDILI) may be particularly difficult, but the illness generally follows a subacute course, allowing time to assess outcome and find a liver graft if needed. Not all drugs that cause iDILI lead to ALF; the most common are antibiotics including anti-tuberculous medications, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents and herbal and dietary supplements (HDS). Determining causality remains challenging particularly if altered mentation is present; identifying the causative agent depends in part on knowing the propensity of the drugs that have been taken in the proper time interval, plus excluding other causes. In general, iDILI that reaches the threshold of ALF will more often than not require transplantation, since survival without transplant is around 25%. Treatment consists of withdrawal of the presumed offending medication, consideration of N-acetylcysteine (NAC), as well as intensive care. Corticosteroids have not proven useful except perhaps in instances of apparent autoimmune hepatitis caused by a limited number of agents. Recently developed prognostic scoring systems may also aid in predicting outcome in this setting.
Supervisor Bashing: Round 1

Teacher Evaluation: Educative Alternatives is reminiscent of the many popular books of the sixties and seventies that “bashed” American education and offered romanticized alternatives such as A.S. Neill’s Summerhill. The new bashing mania focuses on supervisors, or more specifically, all those who evaluate teachers.
US open data policy: advances and recommendations

The Federal Government in the United States has a long tradition in promoting citizen access to information. In the last years, and promoted by strong support from the Executive, Federal Government Agencies have engaged in understanding, cataloguing and publishing their data assets. Beyond the exercise of cataloguing data assets, Federal Agencies have also worked on specific projects in their own domain, and sometimes across domains or national borders. The main purpose of this paper is to assess current progress of the Open Government Data (OGD) policy in the US Federal Government, identify enablers and current challenges, also providing some recommendations to move forward with the vision of OGD.
Factor Structure of Parent- and Adolescent-Perceived Functional Impairment

Impairment of adaptive functioning is a critical criterion in the diagnostic process for mental disorders, as well as clinicians’ preferred target when treating clients. At the same time, clinical research with youth overemphasizes mental health symptoms and undervalues measures of adaptive functioning. Moreover, there is a dearth of comprehensive assessments of functioning that are practical and validated for use with both youth and parents in clinical outpatient settings. The current study addresses these issues by examining the factor structure of both youth and parent versions of a measure of functional impairment. This study used an archival dataset of adolescents aged 11–19 years (87% Caucasian, 50% female) receiving services at a semi-rural community mental health clinic in Northwest Ohio. To determine the factor structure of functional impairment, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted separately on youth and parent versions of the Ohio Scales Functioning Scale. Prior to analyses, the final sample of 1080 adolescents was randomly split in half in order to perform principal axis factoring on one half and confirmatory factor analysis on the other half. Overall, youth and parent Functioning Scales tapped into five domains encompassing youths’ school, social-emotional, recreation, self-care, and responsible behavior. However, there were slight differences in the item compositions of some domains, suggesting that youth and parents view certain behaviors as indicators of different aspects of functioning. Results support that youth adaptive functioning is a multi-dimensional construct, and the Ohio Scales may offer a more comprehensive assessment of functional impairment than other measures.
Testing competing explanations for graphic warning label effects among adult smokers and non-smoking youth.

Abstract Rationale The United States courts have blocked the implementation of graphic warning labels on cigarette packages (GWLs). This decision was based, in part, on the premise that GWLs are unnecessarily emotional and are meant to scare rather than inform consumers about smoking's health effects. However, research in judgment and decision-making suggests these relationships are more complex. Objective In this article, we draw on several theoretical frameworks that lead to competing hypotheses about the relationships between negative affect, health risk beliefs, and quit intentions (among adult smokers) or susceptibility to start smoking (among non-smoking youth). Method We tested these competing mediation models using data from two experiments with two populations each—adult smokers (Ns = 313 and 238) and primarily non-smoking middle-school youth (Ns = 340 and 237). Using mobile recruitment methods, we focused specifically on individuals from socioeconomically disadvantaged communities in rural and urban areas of the Northeastern United States. Results The best fitting model across all four datasets was one in which label-induced negative affect (a) directly predicted intentions/susceptibility but also (b) indirectly predicted intentions/susceptibility via risk beliefs. Although mediation analyses did not demonstrate significant serial mediation effects of label exposure on intentions/susceptibility through negative affect then risk beliefs, there was some evidence that label exposure indirectly promoted adults' quit intentions through negative affect. Additionally, negative affect consistently mediated the indirect effect of label exposure on strengthened risk beliefs among adults and youth. Conclusions These results speak to the importance of negative affect in directly motivating adult smokers' quit intentions but also serving an informational function, directing adult smokers and non-smoking youth to accept the health risks of smoking.
Nonlinear modeling and PWM-based sliding-mode control of DC-DC buck converter for CCM

The DC-DC converters interface energy sources with loads to provide a constant voltage. The converter function is not possible without a proper controller design. In this paper, a large-signal non-ideal averaged model of DC-DC buck converter is introduced and implemented using s-function. Additionally, a PWM-based sliding-mode controller with constant ramp voltage is designed. The nonlinear model of buck converter is validated via MATLAB and Saber simulations. Finally, the nonlinear control system is simulated in MATLAB to test the tracking and regulation performance under line and load disturbances.