cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of Population Structure and Size on Aggregation Behavior of Cimex lectularius (Hemiptera: Cimicidae)

The bed bug, Cimex lectularius L. (Hemiptera: Cimicidae), occurs in aggregations until the conditions are no longer beneficial, leading to dispersal. Active and passive bed bug dispersal causes migrations from main aggregations either within a room, from room to room within a building, or from building to building. Because bed bug movement is an important factor in the spread of infestations, we wanted to determine how population structure and size affect bed bug aggregations. Engorged bed bugs were placed in glass petri dish arenas at varying densities, sex ratios, and population compositions. Nymphs had a high tendency to aggregate, varying between 94 and 98%, and therefore were not the likely dispersal stage of the bed bug. At densities of 10 and 40 adults at a 1:1 sex ratio, there were significantly more lone females than lone males. When the population composition was varied, the percentage of lone females was significantly higher than that of males and nymphs at population compositions of 40 and 80% adults. When the sex ratio of adults was varied, there were significantly more lone females than males in arenas with 20, 50, and 80% males. Females, being found away from aggregations significantly more often than any other life stage, are potentially the dispersal stage of the bed bug. Active female dispersal away from main aggregations can potentially lead to treatment failures and should be taken into account when using control methods.
Coparenting Mediates the Association Between Relationship Quality and Father Involvement

The study of adolescent childbearing is a major public policy concern, and father involvement is a particular focus. Previous research with married couples has found that coparenting may be a better predictor of father involvement than relationship quality. The current study examined 94 primiparous African American and Latino parents to determine whether coparenting expectations during pregnancy better predict concurrent father involvement secondary to a mediation effect. Results were mixed; simple mediation was supported, but structural equation modeling (SEM) results suggested a better fitting model for mothers than for fathers. For mothers, relationship quality predicted coparenting. For fathers, relationship quality and coparenting predicted father involvement, but relationship quality did not predict coparenting. This examination suggests that both relationship quality and coparenting are important for father involvement in unmarried adolescents but to differing degrees for mothers and fathers. Pregn...
Wind Tunnel Testing of Jets and Tabs for Active Load Control of Wind Turbine Blades

Small, actively controlled tabs that deploy normal to an airfoil’s surface (microtabs) and actively controlled jets that blow normal to the surface (microjets) have been proposed as potential mechanisms to provide aerodynamic load control on wind turbine blades. This paper describes the results of wind tunnel tests of each device, installed in the same airfoil model. Microtabs and microjets were located at 90% chord on the suction surface and 95% chord on the pressure surface of the airfoil. The devices were tested under steady flow conditions at a Reynolds number of one million, as well as being deployed during simulated wind gusts. Microtabs were found to mitigate the increase in lift caused by a 10 mph gust. Effectiveness, time response, and operational considerations are compared for both devices.
Magnitude Estimation of Velocity in the X, Y, and Z Axes

The present study examined the perception of velocity along different axes. Participants viewed the movement of two small circles on a computer display and gave verbal responses for the perceived velocity of one of the circles relative to the other using the psychophysical method of magnitude estimation. Stimuli were presented along the x, y, and z axes. Other variables included direction traveled, time and distance constant, and velocity. Movement in the z axis was represented through angular expansion. As expected, results indicated that velocity judgments increased with increases in stimulus velocity. Perceived velocity was expected to be higher for vertical as compared to horizontal stimuli. The results provided partial support for this hypothesis. Estimates for velocity along the z axis were qualitatively different than for the other two axes. Further, velocity estimates depended upon whether the time or distance was held constant and suggest that the perception of velocity is tied to both spatial an...
Some Asymptotic Results and Exponential Approximation in Semi-Markov Models

Consider a continuous-time parameter semi-Markov process {X t , t ≥ 0} with the random variables involved defined on the probability space (Ω,A, P θ ) and taking values in the finite set {1,2,…, m}; θ is a k-dimensional parameter belonging in an open set θ the parameter space. For T (greaterthan) 0 let P T, θ be the restriction of P θ to the б -field generated by the random variables {X t , 0 ≤ t ≤ T}. Under suitable regularity conditions, the log-likelihood ratio, log(dPT,θ* /dPT,θ), exists for all θ and θ*, and for parameter points θ* tending to θ at a specified rate, as T (ARROW) ∞, the corresponding log-likelihood ratio assumes a certain expansion in the probability sense. The asymptotic distribution of the log-likelihood ratio is also determined, as is the asymptotic distribution of a k-dimensional random vector closely related to the log-likelihood ratio in the sense of probability. These results hold both under a sequence of probability measures depending on a fixed parameter point, as well as under a sequence of probability measures contiguous to the former sequence. Also, it is shown that, in the neighborhood of a parameter point 0, the underlying family of probability measures may be approximated, in the sup-norm sense, by an exponential family of probability measures. These results may be used for carrying out statistical inference with asymptotically optimal properties.
CT density analysis of the medial cuneiform

BACKGROUND A cannulated lag screw inserted through the medial cuneiform into the base of the second metatarsal is often utilized to reduce the diastasis and aid healing of Lisfranc injuries. Also procedures such as a midfoot or a Lapidus arthrodesis require adequate implant-bone purchase in the medial cuneiform. The medial cuneiform contains cancellous bone of varying density. Knowledge of density variation may be helpful for implant usage and manufacturing of area specific implants. METHODS In 60 randomly selected patients, mean computed tomography (CT) intensity in Hounsfield units was measured at 12 sampled locations within the medial cuneiform and served as a proxy for bone density. The patients' age, gender, and race were recorded. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) assessed the effect of age, gender, race, and sample site on bone density. Statistical testing assumed 95% level of confidence. RESULTS ANOVA showed age, gender, and sample site had significant effects (P < .001) on bone density, though race had no significant effect (P = .28). The distal-dorsal-lateral (DDL) site was significantly denser than all other sites (P < .001) except the middle-dorsal-lateral (MDL) (P = .53). The proximal-plantar-lateral (PPL) site was significantly less dense than all other sites (P < .001) except the middle-plantar-lateral/medial and the proximal-plantar-medial sites (P < .14). A general trend of density increasing in the distal and dorsal directions was evident, and within the dorsal sites there was a trend of increasing density in the lateral direction. CONCLUSION This is the first study to date to measure density of the medial cuneiform using living subjects. The sample size of 60 patients was also the largest of any study measuring density of this bone. We conclude that the densest area of the medial cuneiform is the most anterior, dorsal, and lateral portion. CLINICAL RELEVANCE The findings of this study may indicate the most optimal area for implant purchase in the medial cuneiform when reducing the diastasis between the base of the second metatarsal and medial cuneiform and for stabilization of the medial column.
Cerebral Toxoplasmosis in an Immunocompromised Host: A Precise and Rapid Diagnosis by Electron Microscopy

In immunocompromised patients with cerebral toxoplasmosis, the tachyzoite forms rather than cystic and bradyzoite forms of the protozoon are commonly seen. These tachyzoites are minute, scattered among cellular debris, sometimes lodged inside macrophages and neutrophils, and difficult to visualize by light microscopy, even with special stains. Immunodiagnostic tests may be falsely negative due to inability of the host to produce appropriate antibodies. Isolation of the organism is dangerous because Toxoplasma gondii is highly infective. In this situation, transmission electron microscopy (EM) may be a diagnostic tool of choice. It demonstrates the fine definitive features of the protozoon and can be expedited to give results in five hours. Further evaluation of EM for diagnosing possible toxoplasmosis in immunocompromised patients is indicated.
About the Mutual-remedy Relations between the Ideological and Psychological Education

Considering the importance of psychological education and its organically combining with ideological activities,this paper expounded the mutual-remedy retations between two of them.
The De-Epithelialized Flap and its Influence on Hypospadias Repair

Since its introduction in the 1970s the addition of a complete covering layer over the newly constructed urethra has positively influenced the outcome of hypospadias repairs. Originally applied by Smith during the second stage of a planned 2-stage repair and then to fistula repairs, the de-epithelialized flap has contributed to a marked reduction in post-hypospadias repair complications. The influence of this contribution as well as its application to a variation of the pedicle onlay hypospadias repair is reviewed.
Biological monitoring for occupational exposures to ortho-toluidine and aniline.

Epidemiological evidence that occupational exposure to o-toluidine and aniline is associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer led to efforts to identify biomarkers of workplace exposures to these aromatic amines. For the determination of o-toluidine and aniline in worker urine specimens, a method using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) followed by electrochemical detection was developed. The limits of detection were 0.6 μg/l and 1.4 μg/l for o-toluidine and aniline, respectively. Recovery of o-toluidine and aniline from spiked urine averaged 86% and 93%, respectively, over a range of 4-100 μg/l. Reproducibility in the range 2-100 μg/l for analyses of split field samples was 13% (average RSD) for o-toluidine and 16% (average RSD) for aniline. Application of this method to pre- and post-shift samples collected from potentially exposed and unexposed workers indicated elevated concentrations of o-toluidine and aniline in urine from exposed workers. To develop methods for biomarkers of internal dose, o-toluidine binding to the blood proteins hemoglobin and albumin was investigated utilizing in-vivo (rodent) and in-vitro (hemoglobin and albumin) studies. Base-hydrolyzable protein adducts were analyzed by HPLC (fluorescence) and/or GC/electron capture (EC). The methods were compared for sample preparation requirements, selectivity and sensitivity. While the GC/EC method was more sensitive than HPLC, the presence of interfering peaks limited the utility of this approach. Results from these studies suggested that the HPLC method could be useful for determination of o-toluidine exposures in individuals acutely or chronically exposed to high levels.
Characterizing Non-linear Fatigue Crack Growth and Size Effect in Plain Concrete Beams with a Hybrid Effective Crack and Cohesive Zone Model

The mechanical response of concrete is largely influenced by the interlocking coarse aggregate, which supplies the cement matrix with a resisting cohesive crack bridging force. Under low and high cycle fatigue loading, the cohesive stresses can influence the crack growth rate and the structural load capacity. A new method used to quantify the cyclic cohesive zone properties and effective crack resistance in three point bending single edge notch plain concrete specimens of different sizes under both low and high cycle fatigue loading is presented here. For validation, three point bend concrete specimens of two different sizes were tested under crack mouth opening displacement controlled low cycle quasi-static loading and force controlled high cycle fatigue using constant, variable, and random amplitude loading sequences. The results indicate that the cohesive stress-dependent cyclic crack resistance can be quantified and used to effectively characterize the high cycle fatigue non-linear crack growth and size effect.
A scaling law for the shear-production range of second-order structure functions

Dimensional analysis suggests that the dissipation length scale ( ) is the appropriate scale for the shear-production range of the second-order streamwise structure function in neutrally stratified turbulent shear flows near solid boundaries, including smooth- and rough-wall boundary layers and shear layers above canopies (e.g. crops, forests and cities). These flows have two major characteristics in common: (i) a single velocity scale, i.e. the friction velocity ( ) and (ii) the presence of large eddies that scale with an external length scale much larger than the local integral length scale. No assumptions are made about the local integral scale, which is shown to be proportional to for the scaling analysis to be consistent with Kolmogorov’s result for the inertial subrange. Here is the rate of dissipation of turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) that represents the rate of energy cascade in the inertial subrange. The scaling yields a log-law dependence of the second-order streamwise structure function on ( ), where is the streamwise spatial separation. This scaling law is confirmed by large-eddy simulation (LES) results in the roughness sublayer above a model canopy, where the imbalance between local production and dissipation of TKE is much greater than in the inertial layer of wall turbulence and the local integral scale is affected by two external length scales. Parameters estimated for the log-law dependence on ( ) are in reasonable agreement with those reported for the inertial layer of wall turbulence. This leads to two important conclusions. Firstly, the validity of the -scaling is extended to shear flows with a much greater imbalance between production and dissipation, indicating possible universality of the shear-production range in flows near solid boundaries. Secondly, from a modelling perspective, is the appropriate scale to characterize turbulence in shear flows with multiple externally imposed length scales.
Evaluation of Renal Transporter Inhibition Using Creatinine as a Substrate In Vitro to Assess the Clinical Risk of Elevated Serum Creatinine

Creatinine is a widely accepted biomarker for renal toxicity, but its renal clearance via transporter-mediated active secretion is significant. For a given new chemical entity, therefore, elevations in serum creatinine (SCr) can be caused by the inhibition of renal transporter(s) without renal toxicity. In the present study, an effort was made to assess the correlation between the inhibition of renal transporters in vitro and elevations in SCr. A total of 15 compounds were chosen based on their known effect on SCr and minimal impact on glomerular filtration rate. Their inhibition potencies against the major creatinine renal transporters, including organic cation transporter 2, organic anion transporter 2, and 2 forms of multidrug and toxin extrusion (MATE1 and MATE2K), were assessed in transporter-transfected cell lines using creatinine as a probe substrate. Collectively, the data suggest that the observed elevations in SCr can be attributed to the inhibition of renal transporter(s), but inhibition of renal transporters does not necessarily lead to elevated SCr. Thus, renal transporter inhibition data can be used to rationalize SCr changes. Additionally, differing renal transporter inhibition potencies using creatinine and metformin as probe substrates suggest that substrate-dependent inhibition exists for some compounds.
A Health Profile of Senior-Aged Women Veterans: A Latent Class Analysis of Condition Clusters.

Background and objectives This study characterizes the multiple morbidities experienced by senior-aged women Veterans so that the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and other healthcare systems may be better prepared to meet the healthcare needs of this growing cohort. Research design and methods Using the VHA's Corporate Data Warehouse (CDW), we conducted a retrospective observational study of the 38,597 female veteran patients who were at least sixty-five years old and received care in the VHA during 2013 and 2014. We use a latent class analysis model to cluster diagnoses associated with inpatient and outpatient events over the years. Results The senior-aged women Veterans are characterized by six major classes of disease clusters. We defined these classes as: Healthy (16.24% of the cohort); Ophthalmological Disorders (13.84%); Musculoskeletal Disorders (14.22%); At Risk for Cardiovascular Disease (37.53%); Diabetic with Comorbidities (9.05%); and Multimorbid (9.12%). The patterns and prevalence of these condition classes vary by race, age and marital status. Discussion and implications Each of the six clusters can be used to develop clinical practice guidelines that are appropriate for senior-aged women Veterans. Consistent with past literature, the most common conditions in this cohort are hypertension and hyperlipidemia; together they form the most common class, "At Risk of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)". Results also show evidence of race-related disparities, with Blacks being more likely to be in the highest risk classes. Also, members of the cohort who are currently married having improved chances of being in the healthy class. And finally, we see a "healthy survivor" effect with the oldest women in our cohort having low overall rates of disease.
Bridge Processes: A Solution for LCI Datasets Independent of Background Databases.

New platforms are emerging that enable more data providers to publish life cycle inventory data. Providing datasets that are not complete LCA models results in fragments that are difficult for practitioners to integrate and use for LCA modeling. Additionally, when proxies are used to provide a technosphere input to a process that was not originally intended by the process authors, in most LCA software, this requires modifying the original process. The use of a bridge process, which is a process created to link two existing processes, is proposed as a solution. Benefits to bridge processes include increasing model transparency, facilitating dataset sharing and integration without compromising original dataset integrity and independence, providing a structure with which to make the data quality associated with process linkages explicit, and increasing model flexibility in the case that multiple bridges are provided. A drawback is that they add additional processes to existing LCA models which will increase their size. Bridge processes can be an enabler in allowing users to integrate new datasets without modifying them to link to background databases or other processes they have available. They may not be the ideal long-term solution but provide a solution that works within the existing LCA data model.
Understanding and Embracing Contradictions: An Exploration of High School English Teachers' Beliefs about Whole-Class Discussion.

ABSTRACTDespite the effectiveness of dialogic instruction and whole-class discussion, it does not happen with regularity in the English Language Arts classroom. To examine this discrepancy, this st...
Microfinance participation and contraceptive use and intention in Bangladesh

This study assessed the association between microfinance participation and contraceptive use and intention among 46,639 women between the ages of 15 and 49 years from the Bangladesh Demographic and...
Early diagnosis and screening

Carcinoma of the bladder continues to be a common and serious healthcare problem. In 2001, 56,500 new cases of bladder cancer were diagnosed in the United States, and 12,600 people died of this disease.1 Bladder cancer is the fourth most common solid tumour in men and the eighth most common in women, ranking seventh and tenth, respectively, among causes of cancer death.1 The term ‘bladder cancer’ encompasses all primary malignancies of the bladder, but transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) is by far the most prevalent and well studied, and for these reasons is the focus of this chapter.
Red and White Table Wines

There are several aspects of wine fermentations that are of general interest and these will be considered in detail before consideration is given to the major wine types. The addresses of equipment companies mentioned in this chapter can be found in Appendix I.
A Complex Phenomenon: The Human Mind

On behalf of San Jose State University, I am honored to welcome you to the Third Woodward Conference, sponsored by the Center for Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, the Department of Physics and the Society of Archimedes.
ASSESSING THE ECONOMICS OF UNDERGROUND GAS STORAGE

The economics of underground gas storage depend upon the regional geology, market demand, construction methods, available alternatives to the gas industry, and legal, institional, and public acceptability. For a given project the interactions among these factors typically lead to several potentially feasible sites and designs for underground storage. It remains for management to select the most economical underground alternative for comparison with other options for storage or peak shaving. This paper outlines methods developed to account for the interrelationships of the above factors in calculating the costs of underground storage. For clarity these methods are presented in two steps. The first step relates to the estimate of cavity construction cost as a function of local geology, construction cost as a function of local geology, construction method, and cavity size and depth. The second relates to identifying the most economical cavity location and depth, considering construction, maintenance, and operational factors. L'economie du stockage souterrain de gaz depend de la geologie regionale, de la demande du marche, des methodes de construction et des solutions alternatives qui son a la disposition de l'industrie. Cet article decrit des methodes qui prennent en consideration les interrelations entre ces divers facteurs pour arriver au couts du stockage souterrain. En premier lieu le cout de construction est determine en fonction de la geologie, de la methode de construction de la profonder et des dimensions de la cavite. Deuxiement il s'agit d'identifier la solution la plus economique quant a la location et la profondeur de la cavite en prenant en consideration le cout de construction determine au paravant, le mode d'operation, la situation de la cavite par rapport au pipeline et la demande globale et maximum du marche. Die Wirtschaflichkeit unterirdischer Gaslagerung hangt von der regionalen Geologie, von der Nachfrage, von der Nachfrage, von den Baumethoden, und von den Alternativen, die der Gasindustrie zur Vergugung stehen. Der vorliegende Artikel beschreibt Methoden, die das obenerwalinte Zusammenwiorken verschiedener Faktoren berucksichtigen und dann die Kosten unterirdischer gaslagerung bestimmen. Zuerst werden die Bauhosten in Abhangigkeit von Geologie, Baumethoden und Kavernengrosse und tiefe ermittelt. Im zweiten Schritt wird die wirtschaftlichste Lage and Tiefe der kaverne bestimmt, wobei die im ersten Schritt orhaltenen Baukosten, die Betriebscharakteristiken die lage der Kaverne relativ zu Haupt Gasleitung und die Gesumt-und spitzennach frage berucksichtigt werden.
Optical properties of ZnO/ZnS and ZnO/ZnTe heterostructures for photovoltaic applications.

Although ZnO and ZnS are abundant, stable, and environmentally benign, their band gap energies (3.44, 3.72 eV, respectively) are too large for optimal photovoltaic efficiency. By using band-corrected pseudopotential density functional theory calculations, we study how the band gap, optical absorption, and carrier localization can be controlled by forming quantum-well-like and nanowire-based heterostructures of ZnO/ZnS and ZnO/ZnTe. In the case of ZnO/ZnS core/shell nanowires, which can be synthesized using existing methods, we obtain a band gap of 2.07 eV, which corresponds to a Shockley−Quiesser efficiency limit of 23%. On the basis of these nanowire results, we propose that ZnO/ZnS core/shell nanowires can be used as photovoltaic devices with organic polymer semiconductors as p-channel contacts.
Dietary Sodium Restriction Reduces Arterial Stiffness, Vascular TGF-β-Dependent Fibrosis and Marinobufagenin in Young Normotensive Rats

High salt (HS) intake stimulates the production of marinobufagenin (MBG), an endogenous steroidal Na/K-ATPase ligand, which activates profibrotic signaling. HS is accompanied by a blood pressure (BP) increase in salt-sensitive hypertension, but not in normotensive animals. Here, we investigated whether HS stimulates MBG production and activates transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) profibrotic signaling in young normotensive rats, and whether these changes can be reversed by reducing salt to a normal salt (NS) level. Three-month old male Sprague–Dawley rats received NS for 4 and 8 weeks (0.5% NaCl; NS4 and NS8), or HS for 4 and 8 weeks (4% NaCl; HS4 and HS8), or HS for 4 weeks followed by NS for 4 weeks (HS4/NS4), n = 8/group. Systolic BP (SBP), pulse wave velocity (PWV), MBG excretion, aortic collagen 1α2, collagen 4α1 and TGF-β, Smad2, Smad3, Fli-1 mRNA, and total collagen abundance were measured at baseline (BL), and on weeks 4 and 8. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA. SBP was not affected by HS (125 ± 5 and 126 ± 6 vs. 128 ± 7 mmHg, HS4 and HS8 vs. BL, p > 0.05). HS increased MBG (164 ± 19 vs. 103 ± 19 pmol/24 h/kg, HS4 vs. BL, p < 0.05) and PWV (3.7 ± 0.2 vs. 2.7 ± 0.2 m/s, HS4 vs. NS4, p < 0.05). HS8 was associated with a further increase in MBG and PWV, with an increase in aortic Col1a2 80%), Col4a1 (50%), Tgfb1 (30%), Smad2 (30%) and Smad3 (45%) mRNAs, and aortic wall collagen (180%) vs. NS8 (all p < 0.05). NS following HS downregulated HS-induced factors: in HS4/NS4, the MBG level was 91 ± 12 pmol/24 h/kg (twofold lower than HS8, p < 0.01), PWV was 3.7 ± 0.3 vs. 4.7 ± 0.2 m/s (HS4/NS4 vs. HS8, p < 0.05), aortic wall Tgfb1, Col1a2, Col4a1, Smad2, Smad3 mRNAs, and collagen abundance were reversed by salt reduction to the BL levels (p < 0.05). HS was associated with an activation of TGF-β signaling, aortic fibrosis and aortic stiffness accompanied by an MBG increase in the absence of SBP changes in young normotensive rats. The reduction of dietary salt following HS decreased MBG, PWV, aortic wall collagen and TGF-β. Thus, HS-induced aortic stiffness in normotensive animals occurred in the context of elevated MBG, which may activate SMAD-dependent TGF-β pro-fibrotic signaling. This data suggests that a decrease in salt consumption could help to restore aortic elasticity and diminish the risk of cardiovascular disease by reducing the production of the pro-fibrotic factor MBG.
Optimal Configuration of An Annular Sector Duct Filled With Porous Media

In the current study, optimal configuration for finned annulus, filled with porous media, have been investigated to maximize the convective heat transfer and minimize the friction effect subject to constant heat flux boundary conditions. Genetic Algorithm (GA) has been employed to find out the optimal geometry out of vast choices of geometrical parameters; ratio of radii of the inner to outer pipe and sector angle of channel. Finite Difference Method (FDM) is applied to solve the governing mathematical model. Chilton-Colburn’s j factor is employed as the objective function and numerical solutions of the momentum and energy equations are used as function values to the optimizer. The results indicate that for a fixed Prandtl number (Pr) the optimal geometry transforms with the variation in permeability of the porous media which is in line with the physics of the problem.
Experimental ecosystem accounting for coastal and marine areas: A pilot application of the SEEA-EEA in Long Island coastal bays

Abstract Recent international efforts have focused on the development of metrics to supplement or adjust Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to better account for the broader environmental and social impacts of economic development. In this regard, the United Nations System of Environmental-Economic Accounting, through its Experimental Ecosystem Accounting (EEA) work, is developing a standardized approach to accounting for the value of ecosystem services generated by ecosystems and documenting the relationships between ecosystem services and economic activity. Limited examples exist of the application of the EEA approach to coastal and marine habitats. The purpose of the current paper is therefore to develop a pilot process for applying the EEA within a coastal area, using South Shore Long Island Bays as a case study. Indicators of ecosystem condition and ecosystem services are proposed, data are compiled for the study site, and population of EEA tables as proposed by the United Nations is undertaken. Results indicate significant data gaps for marine and coastal areas that may limit the immediate ability to compile these ecosystem accounts. However, based on identified data gaps and implementation challenges, the process undertaken at the pilot site also provides guidance for potential future research activities.
High power widely tunable optically pumped semiconductor lasers

The bandwidth of an optically pumped semiconductor laser (OPS) is determined by the bandwidth of the material gain, the bandwidth of the longitudinal confinement factor (LCF), and the bandwidth of the Distributed Bragg Reflector (DBR). For a typical OPS structure at 1064nm, the bandwidth of the DBR is the largest among them. In this work, we demonstrate a tunable OPS structure with broadened material gain and LCF, so that the bandwidth of the OPS is close to the bandwidth of the DBR. The laser outputs more than 2W, tunable in a wavelength range of 1035 – 1100nm.
A Robust Road Region of Interest Identification Scheme for Traffic-Video Data Mining

Traffic video data mining applications demand a road region of interest be identified. Typically, the region of interest is drawn manually, thus making it challenging to design large scale data mining applications utilizing widely available open access live stream traffic cameras since diverse scenarios require diverse region drawings. This paper presents a novel algorithm to identify road region of interest, therefore, automating the otherwise a manual process and making it applicable to diverse traffic live stream scenarios encountered in practice. The algorithm utilizes problem domain property of vehicle mobility constraints. Through experimentation, we show that algorithm is robustly resistant to the wide variety of cases of camera resolution, traffic volume, light condition, camera shakiness etc. The algorithm aims to simplify the overall design of large scale open camera traffic video mining task to aid next generation transportation-data-as-a-service based applications.
Hemoglobin A1c Levels During Pregnancy and Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Offspring.

This cohort study uses electronic medical record (EMR) data to examine the association between maternal hemoglobin A1c levels during pregnancy and risk of autism spectrum disorder in offspring.
Subtraction: Regrouping with Flexibility.

С Students are often unsuccessful in subtracting multidigit numbers with one or more zeros in the minuend because they are not able to regroup numbers successfully. When students are able to be more flexible in the regrouping there are fewer opportunities for errors. As an example of flexibility in grouping, let's examine a case of linear measurement in the metric system. A measurement of 2 meters, 3 decimeters, 5 centimeters can be grouped as 2.35 meters, or 23.5 decimeters, or 235 centimeters. The same flexibility can be applied to understanding place value for the purpose of regrouping in subtraction. For example, 5002 means 5 thousands, 0 hundreds, 0 tens, 2 ones; or 50 hundreds, 0 tens, 2 ones; or 500 tens, 2 ones; or even 5002 ones. In the subtraction example
Obesity in the Workplace: a Systematic Review of Barriers and Facilitators to Healthy Lifestyles

Workplace health promotion has become a major focus for many organizations, but for these efforts to be effective, they need to recognize that there are barriers to individuals choosing and participating in healthy nutrition and physical activity behavior. This systematic review seeks to identify, classify, and discuss several of these barriers, as well as facilitators, integrate important theories that explain their effects on behavior outcomes and provide scientific evidence for their existence and importance in employee health behavior choices. Our search identified 14 articles that sought specifically to identify barriers and/or facilitators to healthy choices in the workplace. An analysis of these barriers and facilitators determined that they could be classified into one of four categories: physical, personal, social, and organizational factors. Suggestions for best practices for utilizing this information for health promotion and future research avenues are also discussed.
Mercury Biomagnification Through Everglades’ Food Webs and the Resulting Risk for Environmental and Human Health: A Synthesis

This chapter attempts to synthesize information presented in Chaps. 7 through 11 of this volume. It examines the influential factors that control the amount of methylmercury that enters and is subsequently biomagnified through the food web to top predators. It begins with a summary of current risk to both wildlife and humans from mercury exposure in south Florida.
Improving access to domestic violence services for women of immigrant and refugee status: a trauma-informed perspective

This study is based in a mid-size city in New York State, where the immigrant and refugee population is steadily growing as a result of the U.S. federal resettlement program and secondary migration...
Quantification of phospholipid degradation products in liposomal pharmaceutical formulations by ultra performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS)

Abstract Identification and quantification of excipient related degradation products in the liposomal formulation is important, as they may impact the safety and efficacy of the drug. Phospholipids are one of the major excipients in liposome drugs composing the lipid bilayer, and they are vulnerable to oxidation and hydrolysis reactions. Since phospholipids with saturated fatty acid chain were preferred in most of liposome drug products, the major degradation pathway of phospholipids in liposome formulations are limited to hydrolysis of phospholipids into free fatty acids and lysophospholipids. These hydrolyzed degradation products may form during manufacturing and/or long-term storage of liposomal formulations. Herein, we report development and application of accurate and sensitive methods that can be utilized for the quantitation of saturated free fatty acids (FFA 18:0 and FFA 16:0), lysophosphocholines (LPC 18:0 and LPC 16:0), and lysophosphoglycerol (LPG 18:0) in liposomal formulations. The free fatty acids were separated using a C8 column whereas the LPCs and LPGs were separated using a C18 stationary phase upon direct injection without the need of lipid extraction process. Each analyte was quantified by Q-TOF mass spectrometry. This method was validated according to USP compendial procedures and has been applied to the analysis of four commercial liposomal pharmaceutical formulations. The limit of quantitation (LOQs) of FFA 16:0, FFA 18:0, LPC 16:0, LPC 18:0 and LPG 18:0 are 5 ng/mL, 5 ng/mL, 6.5 ng/mL, 7.0 ng/mL, 10 ng/mL respectively. Compared to CAD (Charge Aerosol Detector) and ELSD (Evaporative Light Scattering Detector) detection methods in ppm levels, this ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC)-Mass Spectroscopy (MS) method displays precise determination of lysophospholipids in the liposomal formulations with higher accuracy and sensitivity.
MixML: A Unified Analysis of Weakly Consistent Parallel Learning.

Parallelism is a ubiquitous method for accelerating machine learning algorithms. However, theoretical analysis of parallel learning is usually done in an algorithm- and protocol-specific setting, giving little insight about how changes in the structure of communication could affect convergence. In this paper we propose MixML, a general framework for analyzing convergence of weakly consistent parallel machine learning. Our framework includes: (1) a unified way of modeling the communication process among parallel workers; (2) a new parameter, the mixing time tmix, that quantifies how the communication process affects convergence; and (3) a principled way of converting a convergence proof for a sequential algorithm into one for a parallel version that depends only on tmix. We show MixML recovers and improves on known convergence bounds for asynchronous and/or decentralized versions of many algorithms, includingSGD and AMSGrad. Our experiments substantiate the theory and show the dependency of convergence on the underlying mixing time.
Prevalence of Bullying Among Youth Classified as LGBTQ Who Died by Suicide as Reported in the National Violent Death Reporting System, 2003-2017.

This cohort study uses data from the National Violent Death Reporting System from 2003-2017 to assess the prevalence of bullying among youth classified as LGBTQ who died by suicide.
Cross-tier personal gains in mixed electoral systems

We extend the research on contamination effects in mixed-member electoral systems by considering the impact of “dual candidacies” in systems that combine SMD and open-list PR rules. We make three c...
GT-SAGA: A fast incremental gradient method for decentralized finite-sum minimization

In this paper, we study decentralized solutions for finite-sum minimization problems when the underlying training data is distributed over a network of nodes. In particular, we describe the GT-SAGA algorithm that combines variance reduction and gradient tracking to achieve both robust performance and fast convergence. Variance reduction is implemented locally to asymptotically estimate each local batch gradient at each node, while gradient tracking fuses the local estimated gradients across the nodes. Combining variance reduction and gradient tracking thus enables linear convergence to the optimal solution of strongly-convex problems while keeping a low periteration computation complexity at each node. We cast the convergence and behavior of GT-SAGA and related methods in the context of certain practical tradeoffs and further compare their performance over a logistic regression problem with strongly convex regularization.
Sonographic abnormalities in pregnancies conceived following IVF with and without preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A)

To report the rate of fetal anomalies detected on anatomy ultrasound in pregnant patients who underwent IVF with preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) compared to patients who conceived following IVF with unscreened embryos and age-matched patients with natural conceptions. Retrospective cohort study at a single maternal-fetal medicine practice. Patients with singleton pregnancies who had a mid-trimester anatomy ultrasound between January 2017 and December 2018 were screened for inclusion. A total of 712 patients who conceived after IVF with or without PGT-A were age-matched with natural conception controls. The primary outcome was the rate of fetal and placental anomalies detected on mid-trimester anatomical survey. Secondary outcomes included the rates of abnormal nuchal translucency (NT), second trimester serum analytes, non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), and invasive diagnostic testing. There were no differences in the rate of fetal anomalies in patients who underwent IVF with PGT-A compared to patients who conceived following IVF with unscreened embryos and age-matched patients with natural conceptions. Rate of abnormal NT, high-risk NIPT, and abnormal invasive diagnostic testing were also similar. Patients who conceived after IVF with or without PGT-A had higher rates of abnormal placental ultrasound findings and abnormal second trimester serum analytes compared to natural conception controls. The use of PGT-A was not associated with a difference in risk of fetal anomaly detection on a mid-trimester anatomical survey. The results of this study highlight the importance of improved patient counseling regarding the limitations of PGT-A, and of providing standard prenatal care for pregnancies conceived through ART, regardless of whether PGT-A was performed.
Noradrenergic signaling disengages feedforward transmission in the nucleus accumbens shell

The nucleus accumbens shell (NAcSh) receives extensive monoaminergic input from multiple midbrain structures. However, little is known how norepinephrine (NE) modulates NAc circuit dynamics. Utilizing a dynamic electrophysiological approach with optogenetics, pharmacology, and drugs acutely restricted by tethering (DART), we explored microcircuit-specific neuromodulatory mechanisms recruited by NE signaling in the NAcSh of parvalbumin (PV)-specific reporter mice. Surprisingly, NE had little direct effect on modulation of synaptic input at medium spiny neurons (MSNs). In contrast, we report that NE transmission selectively modulates glutamatergic synapses onto PV-expressing fast-spiking interneurons (PV-INs) by recruiting postsynaptically-localized α2 adrenoreceptors (ARs). The synaptic effects of α2-AR activity decrease PV-IN-dependent feedforward inhibition onto medium spiny projection neurons (MSNs) evoked via optogenetic stimulation of cortical afferents to the NAcSh. These findings provide insight into a new circuit motif in which NE has a privileged line of communication to tune feedforward inhibition in the NAcSh. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The nucleus accumbens (NAc) directs reward-related motivational output by integrating glutamatergic input with diverse neuromodulatory input from monoamine centers. The present study reveals a synapse-specific regulatory mechanism recruited by norepinephrine (NE) signaling within parvalbumin-expressing interneuron (PV-IN) feedforward inhibitory microcircuits. PV-IN-mediated feedforward inhibition in the NAc is instrumental in coordinating NAc output by synchronizing the activity of medium spiny projection neurons (MSNs). By negatively regulating glutamatergic transmission onto PV-INs via α2 adrenergic receptors, NE diminishes feedforward inhibition onto MSNs to promote NAc output. These findings elucidate previously unknown microcircuit mechanisms recruited by the historically overlooked NE system in the NAc.
Modeling high-speed gas-particle flows relevant to spacecraft landings: A review and perspectives

The interactions between rocket exhaust plumes and the surface of extraterrestrial bodies during spacecraft landings involve complex multiphase flow dynamics that pose significant risk to space exploration missions. The two-phase flow is characterized by high Reynolds and Mach number conditions with particle concentrations ranging from dilute to close-packing. Low atmospheric pressure and gravity typically encountered in landing environments combined with reduced optical access by the granular material pose significant challenges for experimental investigations. Consequently, numerical modeling is expected to play an increasingly important role for future missions. This article presents a review and perspectives on modeling high-speed disperse two-phase flows relevant to plume-surface interactions (PSI). We present an overview of existing drag laws, with origins from 18th-century cannon fire experiments and new insights from particle-resolved numerical simulations. While the focus here is on multiphase flows relevant to PSI, much of the same physics are shared by other compressible gas-particle flows, such as coal-dust explosions, volcanic eruptions, and detonation of solid material.
RDF and its serializations

Graphs and Semantic Web graphs represent a continuum between simply representing data and indicating that there is some relationship among entities in the data set, and a formalized way of representing those entities and specifying those relationships. This chapter delves deeper into RDF and modeling information using RDF. It then introduces the notion of serializations. RDF is an abstract model, a general specification for modeling data for the Semantic Web. Serializations are the actual manifestation of RDF in a particular format, stored in a text file. We look at several serializations including Turtle, N-triples or Notation3 (N3), RDF/XML, the new Javascript object data format JSON-LD, and the microformat RDFa, which can be embedded into Web pages.
The Economic Logic for Conditioning Bell Entry into Long Distance on the Prior Opening of Local Markets

One of the most important and most contentious issues for regulation and competition raised by the 1996 Telecommunications Act is when to authorize the regional Bell companies to offer long-distance services. The Department of Justice (DOJ) adopted a standard requiring that a Bell’s local market must first be irreversibly open to competition. This paper analyzes the competitive benefits and costs of authorizing Bell entry, explains the DOJ’s standard, and argues that the incentives created by this standard will help achieve the Act’s competitive goals more efficiently and rapidly than other standards, ultimately reducing the need for intrusive regulation.
FIR compensation filter for the zero order hold D/A converter using the frequency sampling method

This paper presents a digital FIR filter for compensating the frequency response caused by the D/A's zero order hold (ZOH) characteristics at no cost of additional hardware. The FIR compensation filter is designed using the frequency sampling method. This FIR filtering is shown to adequately correct the ZOH's frequency response by the simulation results and by the DSP hardware implementation. The compensation filtering is shown to be an effective method of correcting the limitations introduced by the DSP hardware without increasing the sampling rate and without introducing the phase distortion.
Bilingual Pre-Teens: Competing Ideologies and Multiple Identities in the U.S. and Germany

Selected Contents: 1. Introduction: Bilingual discourse, identities and ideologies 2. Normative monolingualism in the USA: immigrant bilingualism and the stigmatization of Spanish 3. Amigos amid Americanos: a linguistic ethnography of a Spanish-English transitional bilingual education classroom 4. Language ideologies in Berlin, Germany: normative monolingualism and elite bilingualism 5. Speaking your mother tongue in the fatherland: a linguistic ethnography of a German-English dual language classroom 6. Conclusion