cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Injuries to the Neck and Upper Extremities of Dancers

In general, injuries to dancers involving the cervical spine and upper extremities are quite mild and cause only limited disability. When such injuries do not involve specific elements of the musculoskeletal system, their origin may be in the more subtle neurovascular structures of the neck. The importance of a thorough examination is emphasized.
Biodistribution of inhaled metal oxide nanoparticles mimicking occupational exposure: a preliminary investigation using enhanced darkfield microscopy.

Inhalation exposure to engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) may result in adverse pulmonary and/or systemic health effects. In this study, enhanced darkfield microscopy (EDFM) was used as a novel approach to visualizing industrial metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) (silica, ceria, or alumina) in multiple tissue types following inhalation in rats mimicking occupational exposures. Advantages of EDFM over electron microscopy (EM) include reduced cost, time, and ease of sample preparation and operation. Following 4–6 hour inhalation exposures at three concentrations (3.5–34.0 mg/m3), lungs and secondary organs were harvested at 24 hours or 7 days post-exposure and prepared for brightfield (BF) microscopy and EDFM. NPs were visualized within the lung and associated lymphatic tissues and in major organs of excretion (liver, spleen, kidney). EDFM also revealed NPs within pulmonary blood vessels and localization within specific regions of toxicological relevance in liver and kidney, indicating pathways of excretion. Results demonstrate the utility of EDFM for rapid direct visualization of NPs in various tissue types and suggest the potential for metal oxide NPs to distribute to secondary tissues following inhalation exposure. Confirmation of the composition, distribution, and relative abundance of inhaled NPs will be pursued by combining EDFM with hyperspectral imaging (HSI) and mapping.
Interventions to Reduce Loss to Follow-up During All Stages of the HIV Care Continuum in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review

The continuum of care for successful HIV treatment includes HIV testing, linkage, engagement in care, and retention on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Loss to follow-up (LTFU) is a significant disruption to this pathway and a common outcome in sub-Saharan Africa. This review of literature identified interventions that have reduced LTFU in the HIV care continuum. A search was conducted utilizing terms that combined the disease state, stages of the HIV care continuum, interventions, and LTFU in sub-Saharan Africa and articles published between January 2010 and July 2015. Thirteen articles were included in the final review. Use of point of care CD4 testing and community-supported programs improved linkage, engagement, and retention in care. There are few interventions directed at LTFU and none that span across the entire continuum of HIV care. Further research could focus on devising programs that include a series of interventions that will be effective through the entire continuum.
Electrical Detection of Quantum Dot Hot Electrons Generated via a Mn2+-Enhanced Auger Process

An all-solid-state quantum-dot-based photon-to-current conversion device is demonstrated that selectively detects the generation of hot electrons. Photoexcitation of Mn2+-doped CdS quantum dots embedded in the device is followed by efficient picosecond energy transfer to Mn2+ with a long-lived (millisecond) excited-state lifetime. Electrons injected into the QDs under applied bias then capture this energy via Auger de-excitation, generating hot electrons that possess sufficient energy to escape over a ZnS blocking layer, thereby producing current. This electrically detected hot-electron generation is correlated with a quench in the steady-state Mn2+ luminescence and the introduction of a new nonradiative excited-state decay process, consistent with electron-dopant Auger cross-relaxation. The device’s efficiency at detecting hot-electron generation provides a model platform for the study of hot-electron ionization relevant to the development of novel photodetectors and alternative energy-conversion devices.
Intranasal oxytocin increases facial expressivity, but not ratings of trustworthiness, in patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls

Background Blunted facial affect is a common negative symptom of schizophrenia. Additionally, assessing the trustworthiness of faces is a social cognitive ability that is impaired in schizophrenia. Currently available pharmacological agents are ineffective at improving either of these symptoms, despite their clinical significance. The hypothalamic neuropeptide oxytocin has multiple prosocial effects when administered intranasally to healthy individuals and shows promise in decreasing negative symptoms and enhancing social cognition in schizophrenia. Although two small studies have investigated oxytocin's effects on ratings of facial trustworthiness in schizophrenia, its effects on facial expressivity have not been investigated in any population. Method We investigated the effects of oxytocin on facial emotional expressivity while participants performed a facial trustworthiness rating task in 33 individuals with schizophrenia and 35 age-matched healthy controls using a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over design. Participants rated the trustworthiness of presented faces interspersed with emotionally evocative photographs while being video-recorded. Participants' facial expressivity in these videos was quantified by blind raters using a well-validated manualized approach (i.e. the Facial Expression Coding System; FACES). Results While oxytocin administration did not affect ratings of facial trustworthiness, it significantly increased facial expressivity in individuals with schizophrenia (Z = -2.33, p = 0.02) and at trend level in healthy controls (Z = -1.87, p = 0.06). Conclusions These results demonstrate that oxytocin administration can increase facial expressivity in response to emotional stimuli and suggest that oxytocin may have the potential to serve as a treatment for blunted facial affect in schizophrenia.
Demarcated glioblastoma multiforme and prolonged angiographic tumor stain

We have encountered four pathologically verified glioblastomas, all of which on angiography were associated with a prolonged tumor stain. In one case the neoplasm was mistaken for a meningioma by the neurosurgeon and in two others the surgeon's impression was that of a well demarcated lesion. Tissue from the fourth case removed en bloc permitted a satisfactory neuropathological examination which demonstrated good demarcation. — This observation of the association of demarcation and persistence of tumor stain, although by no means a pathognomonic sign, should alert one's attention to the possibility of more radical resection in glioblastoma surgery.
On the Helix Propensity in Generalized Born Solvent Descriptions of Modeling the Dark Proteome

Intrinsically disordered proteins that populate the so-called “Dark Proteome” offer challenging benchmarks of atomistic simulation methods to accurately model conformational transitions on a multidimensional energy landscape. This work explores the application of parallel tempering with implicit solvent models as a computational framework to capture the conformational ensemble of an intrinsically disordered peptide derived from the Ebola virus protein VP35. A recent X-ray crystallographic study reported a protein-peptide interface where the VP35 peptide underwent a folding transition from a disordered form to a helix-β-turn-helix topological fold upon molecular association with the Ebola protein NP. An assessment is provided of the accuracy of two generalized Born solvent models (GBMV2 and GBSW2) using the CHARMM force field and applied with temperature-based replica exchange dynamics to calculate the disorder propensity of the peptide and its probability density of states in a continuum solvent. A further comparison is presented of applying an explicit/implicit solvent hybrid replica exchange simulation of the peptide to determine the effect of modeling water interactions at the all-atom resolution.
Primary care providers' prescribing practices of opioid controlled substances.

Objective: Prescription opioid abuse poses a significant public health concern. House Bill 1 (HB1) was enacted in 2012 to address prescription drug abuse in Kentucky. The authors investigated the impact of HB1 on primary care providers’ (PCPs) prescribing practices of Schedule II controlled substances. Design: Retrospective evaluation of PCPs’ prescribing practices in an adult outpatient setting. Methods: A review of the prescribing practices for Schedule II controlled substances written by 149 PCPs. The number of prescriptions for Schedule II controlled substances written by 149 PCPs was compared to the top 10 PCP prescribers. Attention was focused on providers who wrote for oxycontin and/or opana and prescriptions with > 90 pills dispensed. Results: The top 10 PCP prescribers accounted for 38.4 percent of the Schedule II controlled substances and 47.8 percent of the Schedule II controlled substances with > 90 pills dispensed. Of the 60 PCPs who prescribed opana and/or oxycontin, the average number of prescriptions was 14.7 compared to 51.0 for the top 10 PCP prescribers. The average percentage of Schedule II controlled substance prescriptions compared to the total number of prescriptions was 27.9 percent for the top 10 PCP prescribers and 7.05 percent of all PCPs. The average percentage of office visits with Schedule II controlled substance prescriptions compared to total office visits was 24.8 percent for the top 10 PCP prescribers versus 7.7 percent for all PCPs. Conclusions: Further scrutiny is warranted to more closely analyze provider opioid prescribing habits and ensure that the providers at our Institution are prescribing Schedule II controlled substances in compliance with HB1.
On the transient response of organic electrochemical transistors

Abstract We present a universal model for the transient drain current response in organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs). Using equivalent circuits and charge injection physics, we are able to predict the drain current in OECT devices upon application of a gate voltage input. The model is applicable to both plain and membrane-functionalized devices, and allows us to extract useful physical quantities such as resistances and capacitances, which are related to functional properties of the system. We are also able to use the model to reconstruct the magnitude and shape in time of an applied voltage source based on the observed drain current response. This was experimentally demonstrated for drain current measurements under an applied action potential.
The Development of Academic Self-Regulation: The Role of Cognitive and Motivational Factors

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the role of cognitive and motivational factors and the development of academic self-regulation. The development of the capability to self-regulate cognition, motivation, affect, and behavior is an important developmental task. This chapter focuses on self-regulated learning that takes place in classroom settings. This chapter focuses on the development of self-regulatory capabilities in school-age children. This chapter also discusses some of the personal cognitive characteristics and motivational characteristics that might facilitate or impede the development of self-regulation. This chapter addresses the developmental questions at two levels. First, there is the traditional age-graded maturational developmental perspective. The second perspective reflects an expertise or task-domain-specific approach that describes the purpose of self-regulation expertise that might evolve over the course of different phases of doing a task or activity. This chapter concludes by discussing the implications of a strength model of self-regulation that can play an important role in the waxing and waning of self-regulation activities as one engages in a task over time.
An agent based model for joint placement of PV panels and green roofs

Photovoltaic panels generate electricity directly from sunlight, making them a favored renewable technology. Green roofs are rooftops covered with vegetation, which provide a variety of benefits, namely, reducing stormwater runoff, improving air quality, and biodiversity. Green roofs are capable of improving the efficiency of Photovoltaic panels, as shown by the recent studies. Optimal placement of Photovoltaic panels and green roofs is a challenging problem due to the complications imposed by uncertainties associated with future climate conditions, specifically due to climate change. An agent based model to optimally place Photovoltaic panels and green roofs is developed in this study. We propose a tabu search metaheuristic algorithm to solve the developed model. Then, a real-world case for a mid-sized city in the U.S. is solved as a case study for the model. We further conduct numerical analysis and provide insights.
Toward Effective Polypeptide Structure Prediction with Parallel Fast Messy Genetic Algorithms

Publisher Summary The protein folding problem (PFP) involves the determination of the 3D structures of proteins given only their amino acid sequences. One reason for the significant interest in general and efficient techniques to solve this type of problem is that such knowledge would facilitate understanding of the tremendous amount of genetic information produced by the Human Genome Project. This chapter refers to efforts aimed at identifying in vivo structures of naturally occurring proteins or structures of arbitrary polypeptides in arbitrary environments. In particular, it looks at the general problem of identifying three-dimensional structures of arbitrary polypeptides in arbitrary environments, and focuses on a particular kind of evolutionary algorithm (the messy genetic algorithm) for use on this task. It concentrates on improved effectiveness through the exploitation of domain constraints (i.e., dihedral-angle constraints inspired by the Ramachandran plot) and the exploitation of prior secondary structure analysis. The work described is performed on high-grade parallel and heterogeneous computing resources.
Error Exponents for Decentralized Detection in Tree Networks

We consider the problem of decentralized detection in a sensor network consisting of nodes arranged as a tree of bounded height. We characterize the optimal error exponent under a Neyman-Pearson formulation, and show that the Type II error probability decays exponentially with the number of nodes. Surprisingly, the optimal error exponent is often the same as that corresponding to a parallel configuration. We provide sufficient, as well as necessary, conditions for this to happen. We also consider the impact of failure-prone sensors or unreliable communications between sensors on the detection performance. Simple strategies that nearly achieve the asymptotically optimal performance in these cases are also developed.
The Relationship Between Erythrocyte Phosphate Metabolism, Carbon Dioxide, and pH on Blood Oxygen Affinity in Birds

In recent years, we have become increasingly aware of the remarkable diversity in the different organic phosphate compounds in erythrocytes, many of which have been shown to modulate hemoglobin oxygenation. For example: 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate (2,3-P2-glycerate) previously considered a characteristic only of mammalian erythrocytes, has been observed as a major constituent of the red cells of embryos of birds and reptiles and in the red cells of the armored catfish (Borgese and Lampert 1975; Isaacks and Harkness 1975, 1980); inositol tetrakisphosphate (inositol-P4) was found to be the major organic phosphate in erythrocytes of the mature ostrich (Isaacks and Harkness 1980); inositol pentakisphosphate (inositol-P5) previously considered a characteristic of avian erythrocytes has been observed in erythrocytes of several species of fishes and sea turtles (Bartlett 1980; Borgese and Nagel 1978; Isaacks and Harkness 1980; Rapoport and Guest 1941); inositol bisphosphate (inositol-P2) has been found in erythrocytes of the South American (Lepidosiren paradoxa) and African (Protopterus aethiopicus) lungfish (Bartlett 1980; Isaacks and Harkness 1980), but its role as a modifier of hemoglobin function has not been verified; and in some of our very recent studies the red blood cells of monotremes, the egg-laying mammals (echidna and duckbill platypus), were found nearly devoid of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) (Kim et al. 1981; Isaacks et al. 1984), only traces were present (0.03 and 0.06 mM, respectively).
Relaxation of Impurity-Defect Complexes in Fluorite Crystals

This paper summarizes recent contributions to the understanding of the structure and the reorientation kinetics of various impurity-defect complexes in alkaline earth fluroides. For the most part the relevant investigations involve relaxation of electric polarization as revealed by the ionic thermo-current (ITC) method on CaF2, SrF2 and BaF2 crystals doped with a variety of trivalent rare earth (RE3+) ions. In the absence of contaminating oxygen the extra positive charge is compensated by an interstitial fluoride ion (Fi -) which except at elevated temperature forms a complex with the In CaF2 the (dominant form of the complex as revealed by EPR and ITC is tetragonal with the Fi - located in the nearest neighboring interstitial site (Type I complex). In BaF2 the dominant form is trigonal with the situated in a next nearest site along a ‹111› direction (Type II complex). In SrF2 both Type I and Type II complexes are clearly evident in the ITC relaxation peak structure. In a crystal of CaF2:Gd3+ treated to introduce oxygen the Type I relaxation at 131 K is replaced almost quantitatively by a new peak at 166 K. Comparison with EPR behavior reveals that the new peak is associated with the relaxation of the CaF2:Gd3+O4 complex (Type T1) which had been previously identified by ENDOR.
Second Malignancies and Other Long Term Effects in Retinoblastoma Survivors

Retinoblastoma is a cancer in the very young, and patients are very susceptible to the long term effects that the disease and the treatments administered may have in organ development and function. More importantly, patients with bilateral retinoblastoma are born with a germ-line mutation of the RB1 gene, probably the most potent tumor suppressor gene, and are at risk of developing cancers throughout their lives; in this regard, retinoblastoma may be just the beginning.
Characterization of Mitochondrial YME1L Protease Oxidative Stress-Induced Conformational State.

Abstract Oxidative stress is a common challenge to mitochondrial function where reactive oxygen species are capable of significant organelle damage. The generation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species occurs in the inner membrane and matrix compartments as a consequence of subunit function in the electron transport chain and citric acid cycle, respectively. Maintenance of mitochondrial proteostasis and stress response is facilitated by compartmentalized proteases that couple the energy of ATP hydrolysis to unfolding and the regulated removal of damaged, misfolded, or aggregated proteins. The mitochondrial protease YME1L functions in the maintenance of proteostasis in the intermembrane space. YME1L is an inner membrane-anchored hexameric protease with distinct N-terminal, transmembrane, AAA + (ATPases associated with various cellular activities), and C-terminal M41 zinc-dependent protease domains. The effect of oxidative stress on enzymes such as YME1L tasked with maintaining proteostasis is currently unclear. We report here that recombinant YME1L undergoes a reversible conformational change in response to oxidative stress that involves the interaction of one hydrogen peroxide molecule per YME1L monomer with affinities equal to 31 ± 2 and 26 ± 1 mM for conditions lacking or including nucleotide, respectively. Our data also reveal that oxidative stress does not significantly impact nucleotide binding equilibria, but does stimulate a 2-fold increase in the rate constant for high-affinity ATP binding from (8.9 ± 0.2) × 105 M−1 s−1 to (1.5 ± 0.1) × 106 M−1 s−1. Taken together, these data may suggest a mechanism for the regulated processing of YME1L by other inner membrane proteases such as OMA1.
Environmental impacts of wheat-based vodka production using life cycle assessment

Abstract Food waste is a major issue in the United States, with over 30–40% of food produced being wasted. It may be possible to utilize food waste streams to generate other end products, for instance using expired baked goods to produce distilled spirits such as vodka. To examine the possible benefits, a comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed, comparing the potential environmental impacts of vodka generated from expired baked goods to those of craft and premium mass-produced vodka generated from virgin wheat. The results showed the largest normalized potential environmental impacts in the categories of human toxicity, agricultural land occupation, freshwater eutrophication, freshwater ecotoxicity, and climate change. These impacts stem both from the production of the wheat and the glass bottles used in storage. Vodka production using expired baked goods has lower environmental impacts across all considered categories than production processes using virgin wheat. A sensitivity analysis that considered local bottle manufacturing, recycled bottle glass content, process water recycling, distribution distance, and the use of organic wheat showed that, even in the worst case, vodka produced from expired baked goods had the lowest environmental impact. For this case to have a comparable environmental impact, the vodka would need to be shipped airfreight across the US, indicating that this novel production process has potential for significant reductions in environmental impact.
Learning-Based Methods with Human-in-the-Loop for Entity Resolution

This tutorial is intended for researchers and practitioners working in the data integration area and, in particular, entity resolution (ER), which is a sub-area focused on linking entities across heterogeneous datasets. We outline the ideal requirements of modern ER systems: (1) capture domain knowledge via (minimal) human interaction, (2) provide as much automation as possible via machine learning techniques, and (3) achieve high explainability. We describe recent research trends towards bringing such ideal ER systems closer to reality. We begin with an overview of human-in-the-loop methods that are based on techniques such as crowdsourcing and active learning. We then dive into recent trends that involve deep learning techniques such as representation learning to automate feature engineering, and combinations of transfer and active learning to reduce the amount of user labels required. We also discuss how explainable AI relates to ER, and outline some of the recent advances towards explainable ER.
Estimating the Focus of Expansion in Analog VLSI

In the course of designing an integrated system for locating the focus of expansion (FOE) from a sequence of images taken while a camera is translating, a variety of direct motion vision algorithms based on image brightness gradients have been studied (McQuirk, 1991, 1996b). The location of the FOE is the intersection of the translation vector of the camera with the image plane, and hence gives the direction of camera motion. This paper describes two approaches that appeared promising for analog very large scale integrated (VLSI) circuit implementation. In particular, two algorithms based on these approaches are compared with respect to bias, robustness to noise, and suitability for realization in analog VLSI. From these results, one algorithm was chosen for implementation. This paper also briefly discuss the real-time analog CMOS/CCD VLSI architecture realized in the FOE chip.
Using art to improve visual diagnosis: a review

BACKGROUND Elective visual arts-based courses for trainees in the health professions may, amongst other things, help improve visual diagnostic skills. An emphasis on the careful observation of visual art and medical images and the co-teaching of such courses by both medical faculty members and local art educators seem to be particularly important elements for the successful implementation of such courses. LITERATURE REVIEW At least 12 studies to date suggest that guided observation of visual art (e.g. paintings and photography) can enhance the quality and/or quantity of visual observations. More research is needed regarding optimal course structure and assessment, but existing evidence supports the development of visual arts-based coursework for health care trainees using strategies such as 'visual thinking skills' and engagement and processing in groups. TAKE-HOME MESSAGE The arts or 'medical humanities' are increasingly used in the education of health professionals, and growing evidence exists that visual arts-based coursework, in particular, can enhance the observation skills of participants. Notably, the expertise and experience of trainees in specific disciplines are likely to influence specific learning goals and course structure in each context; however, unique arts-based teaching strategies (e.g. 'visual thinking skills') can be used across all settings. There is no more difficult art to acquire than the art of observation … William Osler, 19031.
Underwater sediment trap used on a neutral buoyancy seeking lagrangian float

MBARI has developed and field tested a small underwater sediment trap capable of being transported on Autonomous Underwater Vehicles and Lagrangian profiling floats performing multiple dives. A programmable controller allows for multiple time variant sample collection with sealed storage capability. The trap was mounted on a Coastal Profiling Float and routinely collected samples at depths ranging from 10-130 meters offshore of Monterey, CA. Samples were processed for methylmercury and environmental DNA.
Scope of the Problem and Operational Considerations: Logistics, Surge Capacity, Organizing a Response, Sustainment Issues, Resource Utilization

Mass casualty incident (MCI) events have the potential to overwhelm the capabilities of a regional trauma system. The challenge of explosive-associated MCI events is their inherent potential to inflict numerous casualties, each with the potential for multiple significant injuries. The threat of this scenario is further compounded by the fact that few providers or medical facilities have experience with events in which human and material resources can be rapidly overwhelmed. Several operational challenges impact the surgical response to MCI, including lack of information (or even disinformation), limited human resources, blood and blood product resuscitation resources, operating room availability, and materiel resources.
A Review on Eye-Tracking Metrics for Sleepiness

Sleepiness that can arise from sleep deprivation can increase human errors in task performance and create workplace hazards and accidents. Hence, it is critical to detect sleepiness to minimize hazards and human errors. This paper provides a review of the literature on eye tracking metrics that can be used to detect sleepiness. These metrics include blink duration, blink frequency, saccade latency, saccade peak velocity, saccade accuracy, smooth pursuit velocity gain, fixation rate, pupil size, and latency to pupil constriction.
The Changing Terrain of the Suburbs: Examining Race, Class, and Place in Suburban Schools and Communities

Suburban school districts in the United States (U.S.) have experienced major demographic shifts in recent decades and vary substantially in their student populations. More than half of Asian, black...
Obesity as a Possible Risk Factor for Pediatric Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Objectives/hypothesis Childhood hearing loss impacts linguistic, academic, social, and psychologic development, and may have lasting implications for future workforce performance. Current evidence for obesity as a pediatric sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) risk factor is intriguing but equivocal. We hypothesized that obesity is associated with a higher risk of SNHL. We additionally examined whether underweight is associated with a higher risk of SNHL. Study design Retrospective database review. Methods A single-institution audiologic database from 2015 to 2020 was queried for audiograms with type-A tympanograms from children aged 5 to 18 years old. Comorbidities known to be associated with hearing loss were excluded. We then examined both for sub-clinical (≥15 dB) high- or low-frequency hearing loss, and for clinical (≥21 dB) hearing loss, with the aim of examining the association between obesity and SNHL. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to adjust for age, gender, diabetes mellitus, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and autism. Results A total of 3,142 children were included. Obesity was not associated with risk of SNHL (adjusted OR 0.82; 95% CI: 0.60, 1.12). Underweight children had a higher risk of SNHL than normal weight children (adjusted OR 1.78; 95% CI: 1.08, 2.95). Autism was significantly associated with increased risk of sub-clinical SNHL only (adjusted OR 2.00; 95% CI 1.34, 2.98). Conclusions No association was found between obesity and pediatric SNHL. Underweight children may represent a higher-risk population for SNHL. There appears to be an increasing risk of SNHL as children approach adolescence. Further study of systemic risk factors for SNHL is indicated. Level of evidence 3 Laryngoscope, 131:1416-1419, 2021.
Waste-to-Energy reclaimed sands as lightweight aggregates for internally cured self-consolidated precast concrete

Abstract Waste-to-Energy incinerator plants in the United States provide a sustainable solution for significantly reducing the volume of solid waste and decreasing landfill use. Reclaimed Waste-to-Energy sands have a high absorption capacity and desorb water, which makes them suitable for use in internally cured concrete. This work explores the use of reclaimed sands from the York County Solid Waste Authority (York, PA) in internally cured self-consolidating precast concrete. Concrete mixes are evaluated for strength and durability through compression, split-tension, freeze-thaw, rapid chloride permeability, and autogenous shrinkage. Mixes are also evaluated through Scanning Electron Microscopy analysis. It is found that all of the reclaimed sand mixes have more strength than the control samples. The effect of autogenous shrinkage is seen on internally cured mixes through expansion after set, but a significant reduction in overall autogenous deformation was not observed. In addition, the reclaimed sand mixes showed reduced rapid chloride permeability, but exhibited poor freeze thaw resistance.
Connection issues: a study on the limitations of knowledge transfer in Huawei’s African training centres

Huawei has built several training centres across Africa. This study establishes the purpose of these centres in Kenya and Nigeria and presents original data on their success based on their objectiv...
Real Exchange Rate Determinants in Nigeria: An Application of Cointegration and Error Correction Model

The study examines the elements of real exchange rate in Nigeria. The ADF and KPSS stationarity tests were employed to examine the stationary process of each series and it shows that the macroeconomic variables under study have no stochastic trends, hence, are stationary in leves. The result from Johansen cointegration showed a long-run relationship between real exchange rate and the five explanatory variables. R2 of the estimated Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS) model shows that about 73.39% of the total variability in real exchange rate has been explained by the independent variables and it further revealed that inflation rate and government expenditure contribute more to exchange rate volatility. Our model adjust its prior periods dis-equilibrium at a speed of 56.98% annually with the ec(-1) coefficient value -0.5698; also to achieve long term equilibrium stable state, the VECM shows a significant speed of correction of about 56.98% for adjusting dis-equilibrium annually. The VECM is well specified and its parameter coefficients are not biased because the ARCH test indicates that it is free from serial correlation and heteroscedasticity. Finally, the strong forces that influence real exchange rate fluctuations in Nigeria as revealed bythe Granger causility test are: government expenditure, money supply growth, inflation and real interest rates.
Abdominal Spasm Induced Urinary Incontinence in a Patient With Cerebral Palsy: The Diagnostic Utility of Urodynamics in Neurological Disorder Management.

The presentation of incontinence in a patient with complex neurological disorders can vary substantially and depend on the location and nature of neurological injuries. In this case report, a 53-year-old female with cerebral palsy presents with recurrent episodes of catheter discharge and incontinence due to presumed bladder spasms. However, urodynamics (UDS) study reveals the spasms to be abdominal in origin. This unique case illustrates the diagnostic utility of UDS and important considerations when evaluating patients with complex medical and neurological disorders.
The art of the pitch: More promise for entrepreneurship research and practice than meets the eye

The act of entrepreneurial pitching has achieved global recognition through popular media in television shows like Shark Tank and Dragon’s Den, online pitching platforms such as Global Pitch, Kicks...
Doing the math: Calculating the role of evolution and enculturation in the origins of geometrical and mathematical reasoning

Abstract In this paper I review broadly embodied, phenomenological and evolutionary conceptions of the origin of mathematics. I relate these conceptions to Husserl's work on the origins of geometry, and recent research into the notion of extended expertise and the role of enculturation as they relate to mathematical reasoning. I suggest that the concept of ‘affordance space’ – the (abstract) range of possibilities provided by any change in body or environment – is a useful construct in working out the contributions of evolution and enculturation to mathematical reasoning.
Bicuspid Aortic Valve

The prevalence of a congenital bicuspid valve (BAV), 1–2 % of the general population, is high enough to warrant attention during auscultation of the heart. BAV occurs as a result of the congenital fusion of the coronary cusps, with the right and left coronary cusps most commonly fused. BAV is most commonly asymptomatic. However, symptoms of BAV are related to the pathologies closely associated with the anomaly, including aortic regurgitation (AR), aortic stenosis (AS), and other aortopathies. An ejection click associated with S1 is most frequently associated with BAVs. In general, clicks that are late, loud, non-varying, and/or apical are likely to be BAV. AR can result and is associated with younger age (less than 40 years of age), while AS is more likely as a patient ages, especially after 50 years of age. To definitively diagnose a BAV, the patient requires an echocardiogram. First degree relatives of an affected individual should be screened for BAV and other thoracic aorta abnormalities.
The impact of third parties on strategic decision making: Roles, timing and organizational outcomes

Proposes that previous discussions of strategic decision making in the strategic management literature have not effectively addressed the role of third parties including consultants. Offers three roles of third parties, including the consultant as provocateur, legitimizer and expert. Propositions are developed suggesting a contingency approach to the timing and role of third parties in the strategic decision‐making process.
Systems efficiency and specific mass estimates for direct and indirect solar-pumped closed-cycle high-energy lasers in space

Based on expected advances in technology, the maximum system efficiency and minimum specific mass have been calculated for closed-cycle CO and CO2 electric-discharge lasers (EDL's) and a direct solar-pumped laser in space. The efficiency calculations take into account losses from excitation gas heating, ducting frictional and turning losses, and the compressor efficiency. The mass calculations include the power source, radiator, compressor, fluids, ducting, laser channel, optics, and heat exchanger for all of the systems; and in addition the power conditioner for the EDL's and a focusing mirror for the solar-pumped laser. The results show the major component masses in each system, show which is the lightest system, and provide the necessary criteria for solar-pumped lasers to be lighter than the EDL's. Finally, the masses are compared with results from other studies for a closed-cycle CO2 gasdynamic laser (GDL) and the proposed microwave satellite solar power station (SSPS).
A Simple Reactive Obstacle Avoidance Algorithm and Its Application in Singapore Harbor

Autonomous surface craft (ASC) are increasingly attractive as a means for performing harbor operations including monitoring and inspection. However, due to the presence of many fixed and moving structures such as pilings, moorings, and vessels, harbor environments are extremely dynamic and cluttered. In order to move autonomously in such conditions ASC’s must be capable of detecting stationary and moving objects and plan their paths accordingly. We propose a simple and scalable online navigation scheme, wherein the relative motion of surrounding obstacles is estimated by the ASC, and the motion plan is modified accordingly at each time step. Since the approach is model-free and its decisions are made at a high frequency, the system is able to deal with highly dynamic scenarios. We deployed ASC’s in the Selat Pauh region of Singapore Harbor to test the technique using a short-range 2-D laser sensor; detection in the rough waters we encountered was quite poor. Nonetheless, the ASC’s were able to avoid both stationary as well as mobile obstacles, the motions of which were unknown a priori. The successful demonstration of obstacle avoidance in the field validates our fast online approach.
Unified Face Representation for Individual Recognition in Surveillance Videos

Recognizing faces in surveillance videos becomes difficult due to the poor quality of the probe data in terms of resolution, noise, blurriness, and varying lighting conditions. In addition, the poses in the probe data are usually not frontal view, as opposed to the standard format of the gallery data. The discrepancy between the two types of data makes the existing recognition algorithm far less accurate in real-world surveillance video data captured in a multi-camera network. In this chapter, we propose a multi-camera video based face recognition framework using a novel image representation called Unified Face Image (UFI), which is synthesized from multiple camera video feeds. Within a temporal window the probe frames from different cameras are warped towards a template frontal face and then averaged. The generated UFI representation is a frontal view of the subject that incorporates information from different cameras. Face super-resolution can also be achieved, if desired. We use SIFT flow as a high level alignment tool to warp the faces. Experimental results show that by using the unified face image representation, the recognition performance is better than the result of any single camera. The proposed framework can be adapted to any multi-camera video based face recognition using any face feature descriptors and classifiers.
Architectures and implementations of low-density parity check decoding algorithms

Architectures for low-density parity-check (LDPC) decoders are discussed, with methods to reduce their complexity. Serial implementations similar to traditional microprocessor datapaths are compared against implementations with multiple processing elements that exploit the inherent parallelism in the decoding algorithm. Several classes of LDPC codes, such as those based on irregular random graphs and geometric properties of finite fields are evaluated in terms of their suitability for VLSI implementation and performance as measured by bit-error rate. Efficient realizations of low-density parity check decoders under area, power, and throughput constraints are of particular interest in the design of communications receivers.
The Career of an Eighteenth-Century Kapellmeister: The Life and Music of Antonio Rosetti by Sterling E. Murray

Among the many changes that have appeared in our Western society in the last 50 years can be numbered a striking modification in the way music history and biography are done, moving away from posit...
Engineering and Engaged Scholarship at Penn State Part II: The Existing Ecosystem

The objective of engineering education is to educate students who are ‘ready to engineer’. This implies that students should be broadly prepared with not only deep knowledge and understanding of the technical fundamentals, but also the pre-professional skills required to be successful in the engineering workplace of today and tomorrow 1 . Part I of this paper includes a brief rationale and need for ‘Engaged Scholarship’ and the inherent need for a robust ecosystem to support it. Part II details the existing curricular, co-curricular, and extra-curricular efforts which form the core for the engaged scholarship ecosystem in the College of Engineering at the Pennsylvania State University. Curricular, co-curricular and extra-curricular opportunities for students are detailed. Part III provides an overview of how this assortment of minors, certificates, programs, courses, and student organizations is being integrated and institutionalized into a strategic mission for the University.
A new thrust in radar EMC design for the twenty first century

A review is presented of the technical requirements of MIL-STD-469 (Radar Engineering Design Requirements-Electromagnetic Compatibility), and the Radar Spectrum Engineering Criteria (RSEC) of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) both of which are intended to restrict the radiated emissions spectra of defense radars to enhance electromagnetic compatibility, with other cosite communications electronics. Each of these standards contains technically contrasting procedures for determining maximum acceptable limits to radar emissions. In contrast with MIL-STD-469, the RSEC document to NTIA approaches the radar EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) problem from the perspective of relative limits on spectral emission bandwidth. A theoretical examination of compliance difficulties with MIL-STD-469 is presented and contrasted with the RSEC. The analysis uses the method of determining the bounds of the spectrum of a continuous-wave pulse formulated by S.J. Mason and H.J. Zimmermann (1960) together with a modification of this method by P.D. Newhouse (1982) for determining the bounds on the spectrum of an FM (chirp) pulse. >
Staining methods for magnetic resonance microscopy of the rat fetus

Purpose To develop a magnetic resonance histology (MRH) staining and fixation method by immersion to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) with a paramagnetic contrast agent permitting microscopic acquisition within a 3-hour scan time.
Ige antibody responses induced by repeated administration of antigens without adjuvant.

AbstractIt is generally considered that the induction of IgE antibody responses in laboratory animals to parenterally injected antigens requires the simultaneous administration of an adjuvant such as Al(OH)3 gel or Bordetella pertussis vaccine. In this study, we have been able to induce IgE antibody formation in mice to antigens such as heterologous whole serum or ovalbumin by giving multiple intraperitoneal injections of these substances without any added adjuvant. The IgE responses were measured by the passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) test performed in rats. The abrogation of PCA activity by heat treatment of undiluted serum for one hour at 56 ° was confirmed. We propose that this represents an ideal model to study induction of IgE antibody formation.
Accelerometer-based user interfaces for the control of a physically simulated character

In late 2006, Nintendo released a new game controller, the Wiimote, which included a three-axis accelerometer. Since then, a large variety of novel applications for these controllers have been developed by both independent and commercial developers. We add to this growing library with three performance interfaces that allow the user to control the motion of a dynamically simulated, animated character through the motion of his or her arms, wrists, or legs. For comparison, we also implement a traditional joystick/button interface. We assess these interfaces by having users test them on a set of tracks containing turns and pits. Two of the interfaces (legs and wrists) were judged to be more immersive and were better liked than the joystick/button interface by our subjects. All three of the Wiimote interfaces provided better control than the joystick interface based on an analysis of the failures seen during the user study.
“Think Globally, Punish Locally”: Nonstate Actors, Multinational Corporations, and Human Rights Sanctions

The traditional realist paradigm holds that the sovereign nation-state is the principal political and legal unit in the world community. Reflecting this tradition, most studies of economic sanctions are state-centered. They assume that states exercise control over their national corporations to deny economic resources to other states. Within this framework, nongovernmental human rights organizations become involved only as interest groups, lobbying governments to regulate or ban private economic activity with designated malefactor. These groups, however, are generally unable to persuade states to mandate disinvestment from or socially responsible behavior within repressive regimes. As a result, they redirect their energies away from the central authorities and toward corporations-directly pressuring them through boycotts and shareholder activism-and local governments-persuading them to condition municipal contracts on human rights criteria.This essay examines the degree to which these nonstate actors can provide an alternative center of authority to that of the state in imposing human rights accountability on corporate conduct abroad. The first section explains the logic of nonstate sanctions and establishes criteria against which one can judge their challenge to realism. The second section assesses the successes and limitations of the anti-apartheid movement, which is viewed as the role model for such efforts. The third and final section contrasts the South African case with recent campaigns against corporate investment in Burma and Nigeria. These cases have been chosen because most grassroots organizations have pressed for corporate withdrawal rather than for more socially responsible business practices. Each represents an attempt by citizens' groups to impose sanctions against repressive regimes beyond those enacted by governments.
Correction procedures for variable intensity neutron time-of-flight measurements

Abstract For many experimental setups which measure the neutron time-of-flight (TOF) spectrum produced by a pulsed beam, the TOF spectrum accumulated by a time-to-digital conversion (TDC) unit is distorted from the actual TOF spectrum of neutron events at the detector array since only the first neutron event within an experimentally determined time window is accumulated by the TDC unit. If subsequent neutron events occur within a given time window, they are neglected. Correction procedures are derived to convert the neutron TOF spectrum accumulated by the TDC unit to the actual TOF spectrum of neutron events at the detector for the case where the beam pulse intensities vary with time, but where the moments for the distribution of beam pulse intensities are known. The correction procedure has a rather simple form for the case where the beam pulse intensity distribution is Gaussian. The connection between the present work and previous work on this problem is discussed.