cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Monopoly as a Markov Process

The limit frequencies of the positions in the game of Monopoly are calculated on the basis of Markov chains. In order to make the process Markovian some minor modifications in the rules are necessary. A parameter is introduced so that by varying this parameter we can determine how distorted our mode is compared with the actual game. The convergence properties of Markov chains are so nice that it was feasible to use hand computation. A neat trick with power series played an important role in determining how the limit frequencies depend on the parameter. A method for determining higher eigenvalues is illustrated. These eigenvalues yield a good estimate on the rapidity of convergence to the limit frequencies: to within one percent after 20 turns. Finally, expected income from the bank and expected rents on properties are calculated from the limit frequencies. This allows us to give a quantitative estimate of the relative value of the various properties.
Effect of Cover Mode on Dry Matter Accumulation of Aerobic Rice

Rice cultivar P88S/1128 was used as material to study effect of two cover modes,film mulching and rice straw mulching,on photosynthate accumulation of aerobic rice with bare cultivation as control.The results showed that cover mode had significant effect on dry matter accumulation.Dry matter accumulation under cover cultivation was significantly higher than that of control.They were 136.31 g/hill and 123.69 g/hill in film mulching and straw mulching treatments,respectively.And dry matter in panicle was increased by 26.46% and 14.49% than control respectively.Meanwhile,chlorophyll content in leaf was effectively improved and yield was significantly improved by cover.
Hepatitis C Treatment: Clinical Issues for Psychiatrists in the Post-Interferon Era.

Background Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a widespread and costly cause of morbidity and mortality globally and in the United States. The treatment of HCV has been revolutionized with the recent development of direct-acting antiviral medications. These new treatments are substantially better tolerated and more efficacious than previously used interferon-based therapies. Despite these innovations, sustained virologic response has remained low, hovering at approximately 9% of all infected persons. The reasons for this failure include lack of screening, low rates of linkage to care, cost of direct-acting antivirals, and barriers in access to care for patients. Psychiatrists work with patients at a disproportionately high risk for HCV infection yet many do not currently assume an active role in the HCV epidemic. Objective The purpose of this clinical review is to familiarize psychiatrists with currently available hepatitis C treatments and discuss the remaining treatment challenges, including the high cost of treatment. Methods The authors used information from the Centers for Disease Control and Food and Drug Administration on the most current estimates of HCV epidemiology, risk factors, and approved interferon-free treatments. PUBMED was searched for examples of HCV treatment in community psychiatry settings. Conclusions The mental health community is well-positioned to take on a more active role in HCV treatment and engage patients׳ trust in the treatment process. However, many barriers still exist. We encourage psychiatrists to assume a collaborative role in caring for psychiatric patients infected with HCV.
Building and Sustaining School-University Partnerships in Rural Settings: One Approach for Improving Special Education Service Delivery

School-university partnerships have been offered as possible solutions for many contemporary educational challenges. These relationships are generally well accepted by university and school personn...
Microstructural Evolution and Defects in Ultra-thin SIMOX Materials during Annealing

The microstructure of ultra-thin SIMOX depends strongly on implantation dose, energy and annealing conditions. We used TEM combined with AES and RBS to determine the microstructural evolution of SIMOX wafers subjected to various temperatures during annealing. We found that an optimum dose window to produce a continuous buried oxide layer without Si islands is 3.0-3.5×1017 O+/cm2 for 100 keV. The thickness of the silicon overlayer and BOX layer produced in this dose window was about 170 nm and 75 nm respectively. RBS analysis showed that a high quality crystalline Si layer was produced after annealing at 1350 °C for 4 hrs. The defect density was very low (< 300/cm2) for all samples implanted at 100 keV.
Improving coronary artery bypass grafting readmission outcomes from 2000 to 2012 in the Medicare population.

Abstract Objective The study objective was to examine trends in 30-day readmission after coronary artery bypass grafting in the Medicare population over 13 years. Methods The study included isolated coronary artery bypass grafting procedures in the Medicare population from January 2000 to November 2012. Comorbidities and causes of readmission were determined using Internal Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification diagnostic codes. Results The cohort included 1,116,991 patients. Readmission rates decreased from 19.5% in 2000 to 16.6% in 2012 ( P = .0001). There was significant improvement across all categories of admission status, age, race, gender, and hospital annual coronary artery bypass grafting volume that were analyzed. Adjusted odds of readmission in 2000 compared with 2012 was 1.28 (95% confidence interval, 1.24-1.32). Median length of stay for the readmission episode was 5 days, which improved to 4 days by 2012. Hospital mortality during the readmission episode was 2.8% overall and declined to 2.4% in 2012 ( P = .0001). The most common primary readmission diagnoses were heart failure (12.6%), postoperative wound infection/nonhealing wound (8.9%), arrhythmias (6.4%), and pleural effusions (3.7%). Readmission for wound infections/nonhealing wounds decreased significantly over time, from 9.8% to 6.5% ( P = .0001). Conclusions In a large cohort of Medicare patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting over 13 years, there was a significant decrease in 30-day readmission rates, a reduction in readmission for wound infections, and reduced mortality during the readmission episode, despite an increase in patient comorbidities. The improvement in readmission rates was seen regardless of patient variables examined.
Effects of Computer-Keyboard Teaching on the Symbolic Communication of Severely Retarded Persons: Five Case Studies

Computer-keyboard technology and training procedures utilized with nonhuman primates in language-relevant research were adapted for use with severely language-impaired mentally retarded persons. Five severely language-impaired persons, previously unsuccessful in speech-language treatment, were taught language skills within a communicative context. They demonstrated linguistic achievements ranging from a small symbol vocabulary to generalized conversational skills. Focus on keyboard usage skills and symbolic communication were critical components of the success of this language teaching program.
Secure Seamless Bluetooth Low Energy Connection Migration for Unmodified IoT Devices

At present, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) is dominantly used in commercially available Internet of Things (IoT) devices–such as smart watches, fitness trackers, and smart appliances. Compared to classic Bluetooth, BLE has been simplified in many ways that include its connection establishment, data exchange, and encryption processes. Unfortunately, this simplification comes at a cost. For example, only a star topology is supported in BLE environments and a peripheral (an IoT device) can communicate with only one gateway (e.g., a smartphone, or a BLE hub) at any given set time. When a peripheral goes out of range and thus loses connectivity to a gateway, it cannot connect and seamlessly communicate with another gateway without user interventions. In other words, BLE connections are not automatically migrated or handed-off to another gateway. In this paper, we propose SeamBlue 1 1. A preliminary version [1] of this paper has been published in a conference. , which brings secure seamless connectivity to BLE-capable mobile IoT devices in an environment that consists of a network of gateways. Our framework ensures that unmodified, commercial off-the-shelf BLE devices seamlessly and securely connect to a nearby gateway without any user intervention.
Design and Analysis of Built-In Testers for CMOS Switched-Current Circuits

This paper presents the design and analysis of a built-in tester circuit for MOS switched-current circuits used in low-voltage/low-power mixed-signal circuits/systems. The use of the tester can reduce the test length significantly. The developed tester is comprised of a current comparator, a voltage window comparator, and a digital latch. The current comparator is required to have high-accuracy, low-power consumption, simple structure with small chip area, and moderate speed. Results show that the developed current comparator circuit is developed with a small offset current, 0.1 nA, low power consumption, 20 μW, and a layout area of 0.01 mm^2, where the circuit is simulated with the MOSIS SCN 2 μm CMOS process parameters and 2 V supply voltage.
Oncologic and functional outcomes of pretreatment tracheotomy in advanced laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma: A multi-institutional analysis.

Abstract Objectives Describe the influence of pretreatment tracheotomy and treatment modality (surgical versus non-surgical) on oncologic and functional outcomes. Materials and methods Retrospective study of previously untreated advanced-stage laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients at two academic tertiary care institutions from 1995 to 2014. Results Primary outcomes evaluated were disease-free survival, disease-specific survival, and overall survival of pretreatment tracheotomy versus no pretreatment tracheotomy cohorts. Functional status, measured by tracheotomy decannulation and gastrostomy tube placement/removal, was assessed. Of the 226 patients, 31.4% underwent pretreatment tracheotomy. Five-year disease-specific survival was 72.9%, and overall survival was 48.8% for entire cohort. There was a statistically significant decrease in overall survival (p = .03) and disease-free survival (p = .02) for the pretreatment tracheotomy group compared to no pretreatment tracheotomy, which was largely explained by primary tumor stage. Pretreatment tracheotomy was associated with gastrostomy tube placement and was an independent predictor of worse odds of gastrostomy tube removal. Disease stage, distant metastasis, and age independently conferred worse odds of gastrostomy tube removal. Conclusion Patients undergoing pretreatment tracheotomy for primary T4 laryngeal cancer had decreased overall survival compared to patients without pretreatment tracheotomy. There was no difference in local recurrence rates based on tracheotomy status. Organ preservation with chemotherapy and radiation did not result in better functional outcomes than surgery in the pretreatment tracheotomy group as nearly half of patients treated with organ preservation remained tracheotomy dependent. Based on this data, pretreatment tracheotomy may impact oncologic and functional outcomes in advanced disease, and it should be a consideration in an informed decision-making process.
Collagen-Based Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering Applications

Over the past three decades, bone tissue engineering (BTE) has garnered significant interest as a potential alternative to autografts and allografts for the repair and regeneration of damaged or diseased bone. BTE entails the use of a viable scaffold, cells and chemical factors to stimulate the formation of functional bone tissue. While a plethora of different materials have been investigated to develop scaffolds for BTE applications, collagen type I is the most extensively studied because it is highly biocompatible, biodegradable, and presents a natural environment to the cells. In this chapter, we present a brief background on BTE and highlight the advantages and limitations of using collagen type I as a biomaterial for BTE applications. Further, we describe the most common scaffold fabrication methodologies that have been employed for the synthesis of collagen-based scaffolds for BTE applications. In vitro and in vivo findings from some of the key studies in the literature that use collagen-based scaffolds for bone repair and regeneration are highlighted. Additionally, advantages and limitations of FDA approved collagen-based scaffolds that are currently used in the clinic for bone applications are also discussed. Finally, some of the current challenges associated with the use of collagen-based scaffolds for BTE applications are identified and areas of future research that have the potential to address these challenges and aid in the development of biomimetic collagen-based scaffolds for the repair and regeneration of functional bone tissue are discussed.
Modified Manchester modulation format for high-speed optical transmission systems

A novel advanced modulation format based on Manchester signalling is proposed and assessed for high-speed optical communication systems. The new advanced modulation format known as modified Manchester derived from the combination of Manchester and vestigial sideband (VSB) techniques. Its performance assessed and compared in terms of spectral efficiency, chromatic dispersion tolerance and receiver sensitivity against conventional Manchester, return-to-zero (RZ) and non-RZ (NRZ) (with the same spectral width). The optimisation of the optical filter that performed the VSB filtering on the Manchester signal and its detuning frequency results in the compression of the spectral width of the Manchester signal and thereby enhanced the spectral efficiency of the modified Manchester to about 31.3%. This results in the improvement of dispersion tolerance to ~140 ps/nm. In comparison with conventional modulation formats, the proposed system can improve the dispersion tolerance by three times more than conventional Manchester, which is 44 ps/nm, and twice more than NRZ, which is 51.8 ps/nm and has a better dispersion tolerance of 31 ps/nm than RZ with dispersion tolerance of 109 ps/nm at a bit-error-rate of 10 -9 . The improvement in the proposed modulation performance achieved without utilisation of any dispersion compensation module or electronic equalisation.
A Survey of Patient and Partner Outcome and Treatment Preferences in Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Background The patient-centered movement in health care is increasing efforts to design studies and interventions that address the outcomes that matter most to patients and their families. Research has not adequately addressed Alzheimer's disease patient and caregiver preferences. Objective To survey the outcome and treatment preferences of patients and caregivers who had completed a multicomponent behavioral intervention for mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods Extending prior work, we conducted an online survey regarding outcome and intervention preferences. Participants were patients with MCI and partners who completed the HABIT Healthy Action to Benefit Independence & Thinking ® program. Results Both patient and partner respondents ranked patient quality of life as the highest priority, followed by patient self-efficacy, functional status, patient mood, and patient memory performance. Distressing behaviors and caregiver outcomes (burden, mood, and self-efficacy) had low rankings. Regarding the importance of HABIT ® program components, memory compensation training was ranked highest and wellness education lowest by all groups. Conclusion Additional research should compare patient preference for patient reported outcomes, traditional neuropsychological and clinician outcomes, and modern biomarker outcomes.
Stress Urinary Incontinence in Women with Neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction

The purpose of this review is to discuss the pathophysiology of neurogenic SUI in the female patient, examine the evidence supporting surgical and non-surgical treatment options, and outline our recommendations for the care of this population. AFPVS appears to be more efficacious than MUS for this group; however, almost all patients will require self-catheterization after surgery. MUS have a higher probability of maintaining spontaneous voiding but also care the risk mesh complications and higher failure rates. Bladder neck AUS placement may also be considered, but most studies show high reoperation rates and have only a few female subjects. In severe refractory cases of SUI or in the setting of urethral erosion, bladder neck closure has been shown to have good continence outcomes. SUI in the setting of neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction is often more severe and harder to address than non-neurogenic SUI, due in part to the high rates of ISD in this population. Patients should be screened for other causes of urinary incontinence with UDS prior to any invasive interventions. AFPVS is an appropriate first-line therapy for these patients, particularly in individuals who already perform self-catheterization. Finally, in the setting of moderate to severe urethral erosion, bladder neck closure or urinary diversion should be strongly considered.
Impaired Myofilament Contraction Drives Right Ventricular Failure Secondary to Pressure Overload: Model Simulations, Experimental Validation, and Treatment Predictions

Introduction: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) causes pressure overload leading to right ventricular failure (RVF). Myocardial structure and myocyte mechanics are altered in RVF but the direct impact of these cellular level factors on organ level function remain unclear. A computational model of the cardiovascular system that integrates cellular function into whole organ function has recently been developed. This model is a useful tool for investigating how changes in myocyte structure and mechanics contribute to organ function. We use this model to determine how measured changes in myocyte and myocardial mechanics contribute to RVF at the organ level and predict the impact of myocyte-targeted therapy. Methods: A multiscale computational framework was tuned to model PH due to bleomycin exposure in mice. Pressure overload was modeled by increasing the pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and decreasing pulmonary artery compliance (CPA). Myocardial fibrosis and the impairment of myocyte maximum force generation (Fmax) were simulated by increasing the collagen content (↑PVR + ↓CPA + fibrosis) and decreasing Fmax (↑PVR + ↓CPA + fibrosis + ↓Fmax). A61603 (A6), a selective α1A-subtype adrenergic receptor agonist, shown to improve Fmax was simulated to explore targeting myocyte generated Fmax in PH. Results: Increased afterload (RV systolic pressure and arterial elastance) in simulations matched experimental results for bleomycin exposure. Pressure overload alone (↑PVR + ↓CPA) caused decreased RV ejection fraction (EF) similar to experimental findings but preservation of cardiac output (CO). Myocardial fibrosis in the setting of pressure overload (↑PVR + ↓PAC + fibrosis) had minimal impact compared to pressure overload alone. Including impaired myocyte function (↑PVR + ↓PAC + fibrosis + ↓Fmax) reduced CO, similar to experiment, and impaired EF. Simulations predicted that A6 treatment preserves EF and CO despite maintained RV pressure overload. Conclusion: Multiscale computational modeling enabled prediction of the contribution of cellular level changes to whole organ function. Impaired Fmax is a key feature that directly contributes to RVF. Simulations further demonstrate the therapeutic benefit of targeting Fmax, which warrants additional study. Future work should incorporate growth and remodeling into the computational model to enable prediction of the multiscale drivers of the transition from dysfunction to failure.
A 3-State Analysis of Black-White Disparities in Diabetes Hospitalizations Among Medicaid Beneficiaries.

Introduction:Although diabetes is one of the leading chronic disease in the country, efforts in primary care and patient self-care management could prevent most of the diabetes-related hospitalizat...
Elemental Considerations in Validity

Validity is a term that is often invoked in decisions to use neuropsychological tests. Unfortunately, the context of this use is usually negative, as when a test is cited as invalid. The use of the term implies that a test can be determined to be either valid or invalid. Of course, most clinical neuropsychologists agree that a test that is “valid” for one population may be “invalid” for another. If this is true, can a test ever be evaluated as universally valid or invalid? A second question relates to how a test is evaluated as valid or invalid. This is a question of both method (How do we evaluate a test?) and of epistemology (How do we know what we know?). Although method may be discussed separately from epistemology, the obverse is not necessarily true. That is, how we know something is highly related to how we investigate that something. This chapter discusses general issues in the relationship between epistemology and method, and Chapter 5 discusses the methodological issues more directly.
The Cambridge Introduction to Milton

Preface Chronology 1. Life 2. Contexts 3. Prose 4. Poetry 5. Afterlife Further reading Index.
Optimality of training/test size and resampling effectiveness in cross-validation

Abstract An important question in cross-validation (CV) is whether rules can be established to allow optimal sample size selection of the training/test set, for fixed values of the total sample size n . We study the cases of repeated train–test CV and k -fold CV for certain decision rules that are used frequently. We begin by defining the resampling effectiveness of repeated train–test CV estimators of the generalization error and study its relation to optimal training sample size selection. We then define optimality via simple statistical rules that allow us to select the optimal training sample size and the number of folds. We show that: (1) there exist decision rules for which closed form solutions of the optimal training/test sample size can be obtained; (2) in a broad class of loss functions the optimal training sample size equals half of the total sample size, independently of the data distribution and the data analytic task. We study optimal selection of the number of folds in k -fold CV and address the case of classification via logistic regression and support vector machines, substantiating our claims theoretically and empirically in both, small and large sample sizes. We contrast our results with standard practice in the use of CV.
Abstract TP100: Angiotensin Type 2 Receptor Stimulation With Compound 21 Improves Stroke Outcome in Female Rats: Possible Role for Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor Gamma

Introduction: The angiotensin type 2 receptor (AT2R) agonist, compound 21 (C21), has been shown to be neuro-protective, pro-angiogenic and anti-inflammatory after stroke in male rats. Here we aimed...
Participatory spaces in online media: Half-opening the gates to users:

This gatekeeping theory-based study investigates ongoing practices that most prominent news media organizations employ to enable user participation. A thorough analysis of 20 top news websites in t...
Modeling and Implementation of Yaw Disturbance Rejection Control for an Instrumented Armoured Vehicle to Minimize the Effect of Unwanted Recoil Force

External disturbance acting at the center of gravity (CG) of an armoured vehicle due to firing impact is one of the distraction to the lateral performance of the vehicle. Firing impact while in dynamic condition creates massive disturbance at the CG of the armoured vehicle causes unwanted lateral force and yaw moment. In order to overcome the impact after the firing, an active safety system namely Yaw Disturbance Rejection Control (YDRC) is developed in this paper using two feedback loop namely yaw and estimated lateral force. The developed YDRC system is used to minimize the unwanted yaw moment as well as to reduce lateral acceleration which can improve the lateral displacement of the armoured vehicle after the firing. The YDRC system is designed initially using a validated 15 DOF armoured vehicle model and the implemented on instrumented 4×4 armoured vehicle using Integrated Measurement and Control (IMC) data acquisition system via Application Program Interface (API)
Synchronous Development of Multicentric Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors: Institutional Review.

Background Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are rare soft tissue sarcomas, with approximately 50% occurring in patients diagnosed with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1). NF-1 occurs in approximately 1/3000 individuals, and given that the lifetime prevalence of MPNST is estimated at 8%–13%, synchronous development of separate MPNSTs is plausible. We sought to report the incidence of synchronous MPNST in a cohort of pathology-proven cases since 1994. Methods Records since 1994 were queried and identified 192 patients with pathology-proven MPNST. Medical records of these patients were reviewed to search for patients with synchronous MPNSTs. Results Retrospective review of 192 patients treated for MPNST at our institution (including 71 patients with NF-1) revealed only 1 patient with synchronous MPNSTs. A 48-year-old woman with NF-1 presented with progressive right upper and lower extremity pain and radicular symptoms. Biopsies of right sciatic and median nerve lesions revealed high-grade MPNST, and she underwent radiotherapy and complete resection of both masses. Due to initial nonspecific biopsy results and patient preference, treatment of the median nerve lesion was delayed by 8 months. She did not have recurrence of her disease at the 18-month follow-up. Conclusions Synchronous development of MPNST is unusual, with an incidence of 1.4% in our cohort of NF-1 patients with MPNSTs. Given the reported incidence of synchronous MPNST, the rate of malignant transformation in NF-1 may be overestimated. However, heightened suspicion for malignant transformation should continue in patients harboring a diagnosis of MPNST.
Light-absorbing impurities in snow: a personal and historical account

The ability of light-absorbing impurities (LAI) to darken snow had been known for decades, even inspiring practical applications, but quantification of the radiative forcing awaited radiative-transfer modeling in 1980 and measurement of soot in Arctic snow in 1983-4. Climate-modeling interest in this forcing began in 2004, spurring a modern explosion of research on several topics: methods to measure black carbon (BC) and other LAI, Arctic air pollution, measurement of BC mixing ratio in snow over large areas, and radiative transfer modeling of this forcing and its climatic and hydrological effects. The BC-content of snow in large remote regions of the northern hemisphere is on the order of 20 parts per billion, causing albedo reductions of ~1-2%. This reduction is climatically significant but difficult to detect by remote sensing, so quantification requires fieldwork to collect and analyze snow samples. This review is a personal account of early research at the National Center for Atmospheric Research and the University of Washington, followed by a brief summary of recent work by the author and his colleagues.
Proceedings of the Third International Workshop on Data Mining and Audience Intelligence for Advertising

Global advertising is projected to exceed half-a-trillion dollars by the year 2010. Although online advertising is currently only a small part of this large enterprise, it is growing at a rapid pace. The explosion in the number of participants in the online advertising marketplace has generated large volumes of data and exciting data mining problems. Earlier research on search logs, web pages, social network and blogs had focused on information organization, retrieval and understanding. Recently there has been strong research interest in the advertisement angle to all these information sources. Researchers have tackled several challenging problems on online monetization like sponsored search, contextual advertising for web pages, understanding user intent and user demographics for advertisements, mining user reviews for product pricing, predicting click-through rates for ads, just to name a few. Further, the on-line and offline advertising worlds are fast converging; for example, digital marketplaces are migrating from the online world to TV and radio, and audience understanding work from offline media is trickling into the online realm. Since data mining researchers and practitioners in all these areas come from different communities, there is strong need for a single forum to bring together people involved in all aspects of digital advertising. We are addressing this need with the Workshop on Data Mining and Audience Intelligence for Advertising. The goal of this workshop is to not only increase communication between researchers working on seemingly different pieces of the advertisement pie, but to encourage data mining researchers to bring new ideas from related areas to solve the numerous challenges faced by the rapidly changing digital advertising industry. We want to bring together auction theorists, social network researchers, natural language researchers, information retrieval experts, audience understanding researchers, television advertisement analysts and many others, to promote a fruitful exchange of ideas to advance the field.
Spatial Equilibrium, Imperfect Competition, and Calibrating Models

Spatial models of trade among regions require a burdensome series of information: Commodity demand and supply functions for each region and bilateral unit transaction costs. Even when this formidable amount of information is available, the trade flow matrix resulting from the model solution is typically very different from the exchanged trade flow that was realized in a previous economic cycle. This discrepancy may be attributed to two sources: incorrect measurement of transaction costs and imprecise knowledge of demand and supply function parameters. To remedy the undesirable result, we assume that the matrix of bilateral trade exchanges is observed—by the researcher—together with the realized demand and supply prices. With this additional information, we discuss the calibration of three categories of spatial models—(a) cartel behavior on the supply and export markets: This model corresponds to monopsony and monopoly behavior; (b) Nash-Cournot behavior on the supply and export markets: This model corresponds to oligopsony and oligopoly behavior; (c) perfect competition on both markets. The calibrating approach presented in this contribution is in the spirit of positive mathematical programming and its prescription: To achieve satisfactory results, it is important to use all the available information. The empirical part of the contribution is divided into two sections. First, we use only the observed matrix of bilateral trade flows to reveal the necessary adjustments to the unit transaction costs and achieve a calibrating model. Second, the observed demand and supply prices are used to reveal the adjustments to the intercepts of the demand and supply functions that correspond to a more general calibrating model.
Numerical simulation and experimental validation of joint performance in aluminum-steel lap welds formed by friction stir dovetailing

Abstract Friction stir dovetailing (FSD) is a new dissimilar material joining process that simultaneously forms a mechanical interlock and metallurgical bond at the dissimilar material interface. This work presents development of a modeling and simulation approach to predict mechanical performance of FSD thick section aluminum to steel joints. A finite element analysis (FEA) was carried out in order to predict the load-carrying capacity and failure location for aluminum thicknesses between 12.7 mm and 50.8 mm with different numbers of dovetails. The numerical results and corresponding experimental investigation are in agreement and suggest that the developed methods can be used effectively for design and analysis of FSD joints using standard FEA tools.
Neurofibromin regulates metabolic rate via neuronal mechanisms in Drosophila

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a genetic disorder predisposing patients to a range of features, the most characteristic of which include areas of abnormal skin pigmentation and benign tumors associated with peripheral nerves, termed neurofibromas. Less common, but more serious symptoms also include malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors, other malignancies, and learning disabilities. The NF1 gene encodes neurofibromin, a large protein that functions as a negative regulator of Ras signaling and mediates pleiotropic cellular and organismal function. Recent evidence suggests NF1 may regulate metabolism, though the mechanisms are unknown. Here we show that the Drosophila ortholog of NF1, dNf1 regulates metabolic homeostasis in fruit flies by functioning within a discrete brain circuit. Loss of dNf1 increases metabolic rate and feeding, enhances starvation susceptibility, and decreases lipid stores while increasing lipid turnover rate. The increase in metabolic rate is independent of locomotor activity (grooming), and maps to a subset of neurons in the ventral nervous system. The feeding and metabolic rate effects are due to loss of dNf1 in the same set of neurons, suggesting that increased feeding may be a compensatory effect driven by the increase in metabolic rate and lipid turnover. Finally, we show that the Ras GAP-related domain of neurofibromin is required for normal metabolism, demonstrating that Ras signaling downstream of dNf1 mediates the metabolic effects. These data demonstrate that dNf1 regulates metabolic rate via neuronal mechanisms, suggest that cellular and systemic metabolic alterations may represent a pathophysiological mechanism in NF1, and provide a platform for investigating the cellular role of neurofibromin in metabolic homeostasis.
Decolonizing religion and the practice of peace: Two case studies from the postcolonial world:

Based on extensive field work focused on interreligious peacebuilding practices in Kenya and the Philippines, this article argues that decolonial accounts of peacebuilding, in line with decolonial ...
Quantitative determination of short-range order in magnetostrictive Fe-12.5 at. % Ga alloy single crystals

FeGa alloys are an important class of magnetostrictive materials for use in actuators and sensors. Quantitative determination of short-range order is critical for a fundamental understanding of the correlation of thermal history with magnetostriction in these and other α-Fe based alloys. This paper presents quantitative assessments of short-range order (SRO) from the diffuse peaks in the high-resolution x-ray diffraction scan data of as-grown and high-temperature annealed Fe-12.5 at. % Ga alloy single crystals. The peak analyzed was the diffuse peak in the forbidden (100) peak region of the diffraction pattern of bcc Fe-12.5 at. % Ga alloy single crystals. The [001]-oriented Fe-12.5 at. % Ga alloy single crystals were obtained using the vertical Bridgman technique. To quantitatively assess SRO in these alloy single crystals, the x-ray scattering intensities obtained were converted to absolute intensity in electron scattering units. To do this, reference scans were performed on a fully dense polystyrene sample. A Python language based code was used for the analysis of short-range order, and the values for the SRO coefficients up to the seventh shell were determined. These values agree with the type of ordering indicated by (111) scans of these crystals.
Voltage Regulation in Distribution Systems using Distributed Energy Resources

There has been a growth in the development of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) in recent years. However, further penetration of DERs is being limited by voltage rise problems caused by reverse power flows. The IEEE 1547 standard, the national standard for interconnection of DERs to the distribution grid, was amended in 2014 to allow DERs to provide voltage/ frequency regulation, which has led to the development of smart inverters with inverter reactive and frequency control modes. Due to the original IEEE 1547 standard's enforcement, most DERs still employ the unity power factor control strategy, and the voltage capability of DERs has not been widely used or studied. Therefore, this study evaluates the different reactive control modes and ranks them based on the Voltage Regulation Index, Overvoltage Instances, Maximum and Average Voltages, and the impact on the distribution system PV hosting capacity. The analysis is performed on a modified IEEE 13 bus distribution system, through six hundred seconds of quasi-steady-state simulation with a second-time step size using a changing irradiance profile. The simulation is carried out with the CYME software. The simulation results show that the Volt- VAR (Vars Precedence) control mode provides the best performance. In contrast, the Unity Power Factor control strategy provides the worst performance for all selected metrics.
The current landscape of lipoprotein(a) in calcific aortic valvular disease.

Purpose of review Calcific aortic stenosis (CAVS) is the most common form of valvular heart disease in developed countries, increasing in prevalence with the aging population. Surgical or transcatheter aortic valve replacement is the only treatment available for CAVS. However, these interventions are typically reserved for severe symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS). The purpose of this review is to summarize the recent literature in uncovering the underlying pathophysiology of CAVS in the setting of lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] and emerging therapies targeting Lp(a) which may help halt disease progression in CAVS. Recent findings Pathophysiologic, epidemiological, and genetic studies over the past two decades have provided strong evidence that Lp(a) is an important mediator of calcific aortic valvular disease (CAVD). Studies suggest that Lp(a) is a key carrier of pro-calcifying oxidized phospholipids (OxPL). The metabolism of OxPL results in a pro-inflammatory state and subsequent valvular thickening and mineralization through pro-osteogenic signaling. The identification of Lp(a) as a causal mediator of CAVD has allowed for opportunities for emerging therapeutic agents which may slow the progression of CAVD (Fig. 1JOURNAL/cocar/04.03/00001573-202109000-00007/figure1/v/2021-08-04T080204Z/r/image-jpeg). Summary This review summarizes the current knowledge on the association of Lp(a) with CAVD and ongoing studies of potential Lp(a)-lowering therapies. Based on the rate-limiting and causal role of Lp(a) in progression of CAVS, these therapies may represent novel pharmacotherapies in AS and inform the developing role of Lp(a) in the clinical management of CAVD.
Perinatal Cardiovascular Physiology and Recognition of Critical Congenital Heart Defects

Understanding the perinatal cardiovascular physiology is essential for timely diagnosis and management of congenital heart defects (CHDs) in neonatal period. The incidence of CHDs is reported in 7 to 9 out of 1000 live births, with around 25% of them being critical congenital heart disease, defined as a congenital heart condition needing surgery/intervention or leading to death within 1 month after birth. Around 50% to 60% of the critical CHDs are detected on fetal anomaly screening. The signs and symptoms of critical congenital heart defects are often nonspecific during early neonatal period. The routine newborn physical examination often fails to detect many of these critical CHDs during the transitional circulation because of lack of signs soon after birth. While routine pulse oximetry screening typically performed at 24 to 48 hours after birth may help in detecting cyanotic heart conditions, noncyanotic CHDs such as coarctation of aorta may go undetected on pulse oximetry screening in asymptomatic infants. Some infants may deteriorate early while waiting for pulse oximetry screening, and this risk is much higher if the pulse oximetry screening is not performed to detect congenital heart conditions. There should be high degree of suspicion of critical CHDs in infants presenting with shock or hypoxia. Delay in diagnosis of CHDs has been reported to be associated with poor outcomes, and hence, it is extremely important to detect them in asymptomatic well-infants. Timely recognition and therapy with prostaglandin E1 infusion can be lifesaving in neonatal cardiac emergencies, and they should be urgently discussed with a pediatric cardiologist. This article reviews diagnosis and management of CHD in the delivery room and before surgery in the NICU.
Event-Related Potentials Elicited by Phonetic Errors Differentiate Children With Speech Sound Disorder and Typically Developing Peers.

Purpose A growing body of research suggests that a deficit in speech perception abilities contributes to the development of speech sound disorder (SSD). However, little work has been done to characterize the neurophysiological processes indexing speech perception deficits in this population. The primary aim of this study was to compare the neural activity underlying speech perception in young children with SSD and with typical development (TD). Method Twenty-eight children ages 4;1-6;0 (years;months) participated in this study. Event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded while children completed a speech perception task that included phonetic (speech sound) and lexical (meaning) matches and mismatches. Groups were compared on their judgment accuracy for matches and mismatches as well as the mean amplitude of the phonological mapping negativity (PMN) and N400 ERP components. Results Children with SSD demonstrated lower judgment accuracy across the phonetic and lexical conditions compared to peers with TD. The ERPs elicited by lexical matches and mismatches did not distinguish the groups. However, in the phonetic condition, the SSD group exhibited a more consistent left-lateralized PMN effect and a delayed N400 effect over frontal sites compared to the TD group. Conclusions These findings provide some of the first evidence of a delay in the neurophysiological processing of phonological information for young children with SSD compared to their peers with TD. This delay was not present for the processing of lexical information, indicating a unique difference between children with SSD and with TD related to speech perception of phonetic errors. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.16915579.
Synchronization for multi-hop distributed MIMO-OFDM

Multi-hop or cascaded distributed multi-input and multi-output (DMIMO) occurs in a series of clusters of singleantenna radios, when the clusters relay to each other, using concurrent transmission one cluster to the next, within a cooperative route. We address the case of no external synchronization, where one cluster derives its transmit synchronization from a packet received from the previous cluster. For DMIMO system based on orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) transmission, frequency offsets between cooperating transmitters or cluster members induce inter-carrier-interference (ICI) in the receivers of the next cluster. Also, the timing offsets between transmitters create additional delay spread potentially necessitating a longer guard interval. Rather than estimating each of the multiple offsets, each receiver estimates just one offset, which implicitly is a channel gain-weighted average, known from our previous work to yield statistically stable synchronization from hop to hop. To effectively suppress the timing and frequency offsets between distributed transmitters, we designed a novel preamble which facilitates this one-step estimation without explicit knowledge of channel gains. The performance improvement of the estimation algorithm is evaluated through simulation as well as experiment on GNU Radio and USRPs.
The effects of chronic intracortical microstimulation on neural tissue and fine motor behavior.

Objective. One approach to conveying sensory feedback in neuroprostheses is to electrically stimulate sensory neurons in the cortex. For this approach to be viable, it is critical that intracortical microstimulation (ICMS) causes minimal damage to the brain. Here, we investigate the effects of chronic ICMS on the neuronal tissue across a variety of stimulation regimes in non-human primates. We also examine each animal's ability to use their hand—the cortical representation of which is targeted by the ICMS—as a further assay of possible neuronal damage. Approach. We implanted electrode arrays in the primary somatosensory cortex of three Rhesus macaques and delivered ICMS four hours per day, five days per week, for six months. Multiple regimes of ICMS were delivered to investigate the effects of stimulation parameters on the tissue and behavior. Parameters included current amplitude (10–100 μA), pulse train duration (1, 5 s), and duty cycle (1/1, 1/3). We then performed a range of histopathological assays on tissue near the tips of both stimulated and unstimulated electrodes to assess the effects of chronic ICMS on the tissue and their dependence on stimulation parameters. Main results. While the implantation and residence of the arrays in the cortical tissue did cause significant damage, chronic ICMS had no detectable additional effect; furthermore, the animals exhibited no impairments in fine motor control. Significance. Chronic ICMS may be a viable means to convey sensory feedback in neuroprostheses as it does not cause significant damage to the stimulated tissue.
Corporate Crime and its Control

Both the scope and magnitude of corporate criminal liability has expanded dramatically in the last decade. This expansion raises important issues about both the origins of corporate wrongdoing and its control. The central theoretical and empirical issues explored in the present analysis are: Why are corporate crimes committed? Are these crimes best deterred by individual liability, corporate liability, or joint individual and corporate liability? When corporate liability is appropriate, should it be strict, duty-based liability or a combination of the two, and what is the appropriate fine structure? Finally, should corporate liability be criminal or civil?
Transcription of genes encoding iron and heme acquisition proteins of Haemophilus influenzae during acute otitis media

Unencapsulated Haemophilus influenzae is the second most common etiologic agent of otitis media in children. H. influenzae requires heme for aerobic growth in vitro and is able to utilize hemoglobin and complexes of heme-hemopexin, heme-albumin, and hemoglobin-haptoglobin and ferritransferrin as sources of iron and heme in vitro. Several of the acquisition mechanisms have been characterized and been shown to be heme repressible in vitro. However, little is known about the expression of heme and/or iron acquisition mechanisms during infections in the middle ear. This study was performed to determine if the genes encoding heme and iron acquisition proteins are transcribed during in vivo growth and to compare these findings with those for samples grown in vitro. Reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) was used to analyze total RNA fractions derived from in vitro- and in vivo-grown H. influenzae. Genes encoding the transferrin-binding proteins TbpA and TbpB, the 100-kDa hemopexin-binding protein HxuA, and the hemoglobin-binding protein HgpA were transcribed during otitis media. Twelve middle ear fluid samples were analyzed by blind RT-PCR to determine the transcriptional status of these genes in H. influenzae during otitis media. Five isolates had transcripts corresponding to tbpA, tbpB, and hxuA. The presence of hgpA transcripts was variable, depending on the presence of hgpA in the genome of the H. influenzae isolate. Samples without H. influenzae gene transcripts contained other etiologic agents commonly causing otitis media. These data demonstrate that H. influenzae iron and/or heme acquisition genes are transcribed during otitis media and suggest that the microenvironment during acute otitis media starves H. influenzae of heme.
Creating an Army of Excellence: Generals William C. Westmoreland and William E. DePuy

Henry G. Gole, General William E. DePuy: Preparing an Army for Modern War. Lexington: University of Kentucky Press, 2008. ISBN: 978-08-131. Lewis Sorley, Westmoreland: The General Who Lost Vietnam....