cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Measurements of Saharan Dust in Convective Clouds over the Tropical Eastern Atlantic Ocean

Mineral dust particles have been shown to act as cloud condensation nuclei, and they are known to interact with developing tropical storms over the Atlantic downwind of the Sahara. Once present within liquid droplets, they have the potential to act as freezing ice nuclei and further affect the microphysics, dynamics, and evolution of tropical storms. However, few measurements of mineral dust particles in tropical convective clouds exist. This study indicates that about one-third of droplets sampled in small convective clouds in the tropicaleasternAtlanticcontained dust particles,and dust was thedominant residualparticle type sampledin ice crystals from anvil outflow. However, estimated number and mass concentrations of dust in anvil ice were small compared to the amount of dust available within the Saharan air layer itself.
Influence of adaptive multicoding on mutual information and channel capacity for uncertain wideband CDMA fading channels

We consider the problem of adaptive modulation for broadband DS-CDMA fading channels with imperfect channel state information. The goal is to adapt the dimension and geometry of the signal constellation within the subspace spanned by a collection of random spreading codes (multicoding) in order to improve system performance in the presence of uncertainty regarding the true state of the channel.
A hybrid cryotron technology: I--Circuits and devices

The hybrid cryotron technology is explained as an effective technique for batch fabrication of large numbers of interconnected devices. Fabrication of large arrays of active devices is made practical by the fault tolerant properties of the cryotron device and the advantages of combined stencil masking and photoetching techniques. Several assemblies have been given extensive operational and temperature cycling. These assemblies included five substrate cryotron computers and four substrate content addressed memories. Details of circuit and logic design, device characteristics, and fabrication yield are described. Present work on arrays of 10 000 interconnected devices on a single substrate is reported. Fabrication yields of 99.98 percent and time constants of 10 ns are expected in the near future in arrays of this size through improvements in fabrication process control and device utilization.
On the Fourier spectrum of symmetric Boolean functions with applications to learning symmetric juntas

We study the following question: What is the smallest t such that every symmetric Boolean function on k variables (which is not a constant or a parity function), has a non-zero Fourier coefficient of order at least 1 and at most t? We exclude the constant functions for which there is no such t and the parity functions for which t has to be k. Let /spl tau/(k) be the smallest such t. The train contribution of this paper is a proof of the following self similar nature of this question: If /spl tau/(l) /spl les/ s, then for any /spl epsi/ > 0 and for k /spl ges/ k/sub 0/(l, /spl epsi/), /spl tau/(k) /spl les/ ((s + 1)/(l + 1) + /spl epsi/)k. Coupling this result with a computer based search which establishes /spl tau/(30) = 2, one obtains that for large enough k, /spl tau/(k) /spl les/ 3k/31. The motivation for our work is to understand the complexity of learning symmetric juntas. A k-junta is a Boolean function of it variables that depends only on an unknown subset of k variables. If f is symmetric in the variables it depends on, it is called a symmetric k-junta. Our results imply an algorithm to learn the class of symmetric k-juntas, in the uniform PAC learning model, in time approximately n/sup 3k/31/ hash . This improves on a result of Mossel, O'Donnell and Servedio [2003], who show that symmetric k -juntas can be learned in time n/sup 2k/3/ (the main result in [11] is much more general, giving a bound of n/sup 0.7k/ for learning juntas). Technically, the study of /spl tau/(k) is equivalent to the study of 0/1 solutions of a system of Diophantine equations involving binomial coefficients. As a first step, we simplify these Diophantine equations by moving to a representation of Boolean functions, which is equivalent to their Fourier representation, but seems much simpler for the application of number theoretic tools. Once this is done, we reduce these equations modulo carefully chosen prime numbers to get a simpler system of equations which we can analyze. Finally, we combine the information about the equations over the finite fields in a combinatorial manner to deduce the nature of the 0/1 solutions.
Periodic communication logics for the decentralized control of multi-agent systems

This paper studies a system consisting of several dynamical subsystems (agents) that coordinate their actions by broadcasting their local state information over a communication network. It is assumed each agent can only observe its local state and that the medium-access control (MAC) protocol guarantees collision free broadcasts. Finally we assume that all agents have an internal dynamical model of their neighbors, so it is possible to estimate the neighboring agent's state between consecutive broadcasts from that agent. This paper examines open-loop communication logics that seek to minimize the entire group's aggregate state estimation error while minimizing the average broadcast rate. This paper's main result shows that open-loop communication logics requiring periodic broadcasts are optimal with respect to the aforementioned performance measure
XPS comparison between nanocrystalline γ-alumina and a new high pressure polymorph

Abstract High surface area, nano-phase materials exhibit many interesting properties quite different from their bulk counterparts, and are the focus of much technical investigation and engineering development based on these properties. Earlier experiments using X-ray diffraction have indicated that a new phase of alumina exists upon non-hydrostatic compression of 67 nm particles of γ-alumina to above 35 GPa and quasi-hydrostatic compression to pressures over 50 GPa. This phase is quenchable on decompression to 0 GPa, allowing for additional analysis that are unmanageable in the diamond anvil cell (DAC). For the present paper, imaging X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), which is ideally suited for surface chemistry measurements of the small samples required in the DAC, is used. The collection of Bremsstrahlung excited Auger electrons in combination with photoelectrons allows for a better comparison of chemical shifts, through the Auger parameter. No dramatic change was observed, as is the case with many alumina polymorphs, but slight differences between the gamma phase and the new high-pressure phase are noted, supporting the earlier X-ray results. Additionally, an extremely low adventitious carbon level was observed on a γ-phase sample and is discussed.
A method for introducing soft sources in the PSTD algorithm

This paper presents a method for introducing a soft source in the pseudospectral time-domain algorithm. In this method, a scalar weighting term /spl zeta/ is introduced in the total field/scattered field approach in computational electromagnetics. Using our modified version of Maxwell's equations, soft sources can be introduced simply by adding incident terms in the 8-10-cell connecting region between the total field and the scattered field. One-dimensional (1-D) and two-dimensional (2-D) examples of soft source generation and a 2-D scattering study of a dielectric cylinder are given.
Statistical Delay Modeling in Logic Design and Synthesis

Manufacturing disturbances are inevitable in the fabrication of integrated circuits. These disturbances will result in variations in the delay specifications of manufactured circuits. In order to capture the impact of these variations on the delay behavior of these circuits we propose a pair of statistical delay models for use in logic design. These models abstract the real variations from the process level and can be used for statistical delay analysis and optimization in logic design and synthesis while offering an efficiency vs. accuracy tradeoff.
The performance of simple instruments in detecting geriatric conditions and selecting community-dwelling older people for geriatric assessment

Background comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) appears to be less effective when performed in outpatient clinics than in hospital settings. The effectiveness of outpatient CGA might be improved by selectively targeting frailer community-dwelling elderly people. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical performance of rapidly-administered standard screening measures for geriatric syndromes in selecting community-dwelling older people for outpatient CGA. Methods urban-dwelling older people were screened for CGA at community sites using a self-administered questionnaire containing standardized measures for each of four geriatric target conditions: depression, urinary incontinence, falls and functional impairment. The study sample included all 150 consecutive subjects who were screened, failed on one or more of the four target criteria and completed community-based, academically administered CGA. Diagnostic accuracy of the screening instruments was assessed using CGA diagnoses as the 'gold standard'. In addition, patients' potential for benefiting from CGA was determined by whether they received major medical recommendations for further evaluation or treatment. Results after completing CGA, 60.2% of those failing on functional impairment, 53.5% of those failing on depression, 30.7% of those failing on falls and 92.7% of those on urinary incontinence, were confirmed as having these or highly related conditions as clinical problems. Overall, 81.3% of the subjects completing CGA received the least one major recommendations for further medical intervention; most of these recommendations (79.5%) were for a target-related condition and the further remainder (20.5%) addressed another significant medical condition. Conclusion simple screening instruments used in community settings have variable degrees of accuracy, but may be markers for frailty and thus can identify older people likely to benefit from geriatric assessment.
Exploiting task-level concurrency in a programmable network interface

Programmable network interfaces provide the potential to extend the functionality of network services but lead to instruction processing overheads when compared to application-specific network interfaces. This paper aims to offset those performance disadvantages by exploiting task-level concurrency in the workload to parallelize the network interface firmware for a programmable controller with two processors. By carefully partitioning the handler procedures that process various events related to the progress of a packet, the system can minimize sharing, achieve load balance, and efficiently utilize on-chip storage. Compared to the uniprocessor firmware released by the manufacturer, the parallelized network interface firmware increases throughput by 65% for bidirectional UDP traffic of maximum-sized packets, 157% for bidirectional UDP traffic of minimum-sized packets, and 32--107% for real network services. This parallelization results in performance within 10--20% of a modern ASIC-based network interface for real network services.
Time-dependent friction and the mechanics of stick-slip

Time-dependent increase of static friction is characteristic of rock friction undera variety of experimental circumstances. Data presented here show an analogous velocity-dependent effect. A theor of friction is proposed that establishes a common basis for static and sliding friction. Creep at points of contact causes increases in friction that are proportional to the logarithm of the time that the population of points of contact exist. For static friction that time is the time of stationary contact. For sliding friction the time of contact is determined by the critical displacement required to change the population of contacts and the slip velocity. An analysis of a one-dimensional spring and slider system shows that experimental observations establishing the transition from stable sliding to stick-slip to be a function of normal stress, stiffness and surface finish are a consequence of time-dependent friction.
OF ELEPHANTS AND BLIND MEN: DEER MANAGEMENT IN THE U.S. NATIONAL PARKS

Overabundant populations of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are becoming common in the eastern United States. Faced with burgeoning deer populations in eastern parks, the National Park Service (NPS) formulated policy based on its long experience with ungulate management in western parks. That the NPS failed to find a management solution acceptable to its many constituencies was inevitable. Like blind men touching different parts of an elephant and disagreeing about its form, those engaged in the debate about deer management in parks are viewing different parts of the ecological system. None has seen the entire system, and consequently, there is neither common agreement on the nature of the problem nor on the solutions. We explore the quandary of deer management in eastern parks by addressing three questions: (1) Can the National Park Service reconcile its management goals with those of its neighbors? (2) Can thresholds be identified for determining when to intervene in natural processes? (3) Is...
Linac Particle Tracing Simulations

A particle tracing code was developed to study space-charge effects in proton or heavy-ion linear accelerators. The purpose is to study space-charge phenomena as directly as possible without the complications of many accelerator details. Thus, the accelerator is represented simply by harmonic oscillator or impulse restoring forces. Variable parameters as well as mismatched phase-space distributions were studied. This study represents the initial search for those features of the accelerator or of the phase-space distribution that lead to emittance growth.
Feasibility of NIRS in the Neurointensive Care Unit: A Pilot Study in Stroke Using Physiological Oscillations

Introduction Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a non-invasive, real-time bedside modality sensitive to changes in cerebral perfusion and oxygenation and is highly sensitive to physiological oscillations at different frequencies. However, the clinical feasibility of NIRS remains limited, partly due to concerns regarding NIRS signal quantification, which relies on mostly arbitrary assumptions on hemoglobin concentrations and tissue layers. In this pilot study comparing stroke patients to healthy controls, we explored the utility of the interhemispheric correlation coefficient (IHCC) during physiological oscillations in detecting asymmetry in hemispheric microvascular hemodynamics.
Beyond the job Ad: Employers and library instruction

Many content analyses of job ads have revealed the skills and experience needed in academic library jobs and show that library instruction is an important job duty. This study moves beyond the content of the job ads and surveys the employers themselves (in the person of the supervisor). The survey revealed that supervisors highly value library instruction. Other findings relate to the types of instruction duties the new employee will engage in and the ways that these employees learn how to do library instruction, as well as how much time the employee spends on instruction-related duties.
Worker incentives to learn in gatekeeper systems: lessons for the implementation of knowledge management systems

Behind most KM initiatives is the desire to make knowledge possessed by some employees of a firm more widely available to other employees of the film. Such a diffusion of knowledge can lead to the spread of useful skills and concepts for repeated application throughout the firm and can increases the likelihood of innovation. The assimilation of knowledge requires its application and if complex requires the employee's commitment to developing their experience with the new skills and engaging in a process of learning. To the degree that a worker cannot immediately successfully apply the knowledge drawn from the KMS successfully, they are making a 'long-term' investment in the development of their own human capital by using the KMS. This implies that the usefulness to the firm of a KMS will be dependent upon the incentives provided to employees to invest in their own human capital. In this paper we develop a model of the role a KMS can play within an organization and the decisions impacting learning made by employees that would draw upon the KMS to develop their own human capital. We build a conceptual model around the learning behavior of gatekeeper workers with general knowledge who control the flow of work to 'specialists' who have a more specialized body of knowledge. We then, as an example, formulate a mathematical model of the patient referral process in a managed care organization (MCO) in which primary care physicians (PCPs) serve as gatekeepers to specialists. Using this example from the healthcare industry we demonstrate how a firm must adjust incentives to take into account decisions about learning done by individual employees.
Diet Overlap and Predation between Smallmouth Bass and Walleye in a North Temperate Lake

ABSTRACT Walleye (Stizostedion vitreum vitreum) and smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) diets from Big Crooked Lake, Wisconsin were examined to assess the degree of diet overlap and predation occurring between these species in an attempt to determine whether walleye influence smallmouth bass recruitment, which is consistently low compared to proximal lakes that do not have walleye. Of 389 adult walleye stomachs examined from June 1999 through March 2000, a total of 879 prey fish was found, but only one was identified as a smallmouth bass. In 303 smallmouth bass stomachs examined, 55 prey fish were found and no cannibalism was evident, nor were walleye preyed upon. Dietary overlap using the Schoener resource overlap index was 0.416, 0.293 and 0.205 for the months June, July and August 1999, respectively, indicating that there was not a significant dietary overlap during summer months. Because neither diet overlap nor predation appeared substantial in Big Crooked Lake, additional research on interactions...
The (classical) Realist vision of global reform

Most Realists today oppose far-reaching global reform on the grounds that it represents unrealistic and potentially irresponsible ‘utopianism’. An earlier generation of mid-century Realists, however, not only supported serious efforts at radical international reform but also developed a theoretically impressive model for how to bring it about. They considered the possibility of post-national political orders and ultimately a world state as desirable long-term goals, but only if reformers could simultaneously generate the thick societal background (or what they called ‘supranational society’) required by any viable order ‘beyond the nation state’. As they fail to engage constructively with proposals for global reform, present-day Realists betray their own intellectual tradition. By reconsidering the subterranean legacy of Realist reformism as advanced by mid-century international thinkers (e.g. E.H. Carr, John Herz, Hans Morgenthau, Reinhold Niebuhr, and Frederick Schuman), the essay provides a revisionist reading of the history of twentieth-century international theory, while also highlighting its significance for ongoing debates about global reform.
Limiting the risks of radiation exposure in diagnostic imaging.

THIS REPORT BY THE JOHNS HOPKINS’ GROUP discusses the development that multiphase computed tomography (CT) as becoming a favored imaging modality for complex parathyroid localization. The article cites delineation of hyperfunctioning parathyroid tissue from other structures by relating density on unenhanced CT to the rapidity of enhancement following contrast injection. The ‘‘fourth dimension’’ (4D) of perfusion over time has excellent predictive power for localization. The additional ‘‘washout phase’’ has been cited to increase reader confidence. In this article, Noureldine et al recommend eliminating $1 aspects of serial scans to decrease the effective radiation dosing. We support decreasing radiation exposure to the patient using an informative and responsible risk–benefit strategy. To understand the risk, a basic knowledge of radiation dosage terms is needed. Effective dose is a probabilistic estimate of the total amount of radiation absorbed at different doses by the tissues exposed (Table I). Measured in Sieverts (Sv) and used mainly to evaluate radiation risks in patients, effective doses are difficult to calculate because they depend largely on estimating absorbed doses from CT. Although estimating effective dose has many limitations, such as not being specific to patient size or gender, it is commonly used for medical imaging examinations involving radiation. Exposure is the ionization produced in a specific volume of air as radiation waves strip electrons from air molecules. Absorbed dose is
The Biodiversity Crisis

We are now in the midst of a biological extinction event that rivals the great events of prehistory. Unlike previous events, however, the current threats to biodiversity are related to human activities, including habitat loss, degradation, fragmentation, and the introduction of invasive species. Along with scientists from other disciplines, geographers have contributed to a variety of studies on the geography of nature reserves and natural areas in fragmented landscapes. These contributions range from early descriptions of habitat destruction effects to subsequent theoretical advances such as island biogeography theory to recent technological developments in remote sensing, modeling, and geographic information systems (GIS). Geographers continue to be central in clarifying the effects of habitat change on species patterns and persistence and in helping to develop ways to mitigate impacts associated with habitat loss and fragmentation.
Simulation II: Preparing for Biodisasters

Publisher Summary The aim of this chapter is to apply principles of designing and to produce simulation scenarios. It deals with the identification of technical and personnel resources, required for a successful biodisaster preparation program. During a real biodisaster, confidence in one's own competence as well as in the abilities of the rest of the team is a vital prerequisite for any expectation of a successful response. Engaging in scheduled simulated disasters gives treatment-center personnel invaluable learning experiences for improbable biodisasters. The disasters can be overwhelming tsunami-like invasions. The product of their great size and very rapid onset characterizes the magnitude of their power for devastation. Formal didactic instruction and on-the-job experiential learning during “normal” situations are inadequate preparations for disasters, especially those that are intentionally created. Simulation in various forms can reveal the gaps in the current disaster preparation and can provide methods for exploring the various new approaches to fill those gaps.
The Effects of Ambient Water Quality and Eurasian Watermilfoil on Lakefront Property Values in the Coeur d’Alene Area of Northern Idaho, USA

Amenity value of water resources has become a major driving force of recent population growth in the region centered on Coeur d’Alene Lake in northern Idaho, USA. Despite regulatory measures aimed to protect lake water quality, surface water quality is increasingly threatened by lakefront development and invasions of Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum), a non-indigenous aquatic plant species. We used hedonic modeling to estimate the effects of ambient water quality and the presence of Eurasian watermilfoil on lakefront property values of single-family homes in the Coeur d´Alene area. We find that property values are positively associated with Secchi depth (a proxy of water quality or clarity), and negatively related to the presence of watermilfoil. Results of spatial regime analysis indicate the geographical variations of these associations. The presence of watermilfoil was related to a 13% decline in mean property value, corresponding to $64,255 USD, on average, lower property sales price. Our study demonstrates that proactive mitigation approaches to cope with potential environmental degradation in lake ecosystems could have significant economic benefits to owners of lakefront properties and local communities.
Artificial Neural Networks Based Chemistry-Mixing Subgrid Model for LES

Large Eddy Simulations (LES) of a non-premixed, planar, syngas/air flame is performed with special emphasis on speeding-up the sub-grid chemistry and mixing computations using the Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) approach. The focus of the current study is spent to generate multi-dimensional look-up tables based on the stand-alone 1-D Linear Eddy Mixing (LEM) model calculations of turbulent flames, and use them in ANN for the LES. The test case for LES validation is selected in accordance with a previous Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) study, which was reported to exhibit considerable local extinction and re-ignition type of complex physics. It is shown that the thermo-chemical database created through LEM computations for ANN training is representative of the actual physial process since the turbulence information is fed through turbulent stirring. Hence, LES computations using ANN can detect the same physics pointed out by the DNS study on a computationally much affordable way, with reasonable accuracy.
Effects of Weather on Capture of Stable Flies (Diptera: Muscidae) by Alsynite Fiber Glass Traps

Clear fiber glass panels have been extensively used for constructing traps for stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.). Numbers of stable flies trapped on clear Alsynite fiber glass panels, covered with plastic film and adhesive, during 1-h periods at cattle feedlots, were related to concurrent measurements of air temperature, solar radiation, relative humidity, and wind speed. Temperature appeared to have greater effect on the trap collections than other weather variables, with maximum responses occurring between 25 and 31°C. Increasing radiation and increasing relative humidity both increased trap collections. Wind speed had no detectable effect. The differing effect of radiation on trap collections and on feeding activity of stable flies may account for previously noted differences between trap counts and counts of feeding flies for estimating population size.
The podocyte as a direct target for treatment of glomerular disease

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates more than 10% of adults in the United States, over 20 million Americans, have chronic kidney disease (CKD). A failure to maintain the glomerular filtration barrier directly contributes to the onset of CKD. The visceral epithelial cells, podocytes, are integral to the maintenance of this renal filtration barrier. Direct podocyte injury contributes to the onset and progression of glomerular diseases such as minimal change disease (MCD), focal segmental glomerular sclerosis (FSGS), diabetic nephropathy, and HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN). Since podocytes are terminally differentiated with minimal capacity to self-replicate, they are extremely sensitive to cellular injury. In the past two decades, our understanding of the mechanism(s) by which podocyte injury occurs has greatly expanded. With this newfound knowledge, therapeutic strategies have shifted to identifying targets directed specifically at the podocyte. Although the systemic effects of these agents are important, their direct effect on the podocyte proves to be essential in ameliorating glomerular disease. In this review, we highlight the mechanisms by which these agents directly target the podocyte independent of its systemic effects.
Birds and Frogs

S ome mathematicians are birds, others are frogs. Birds fly high in the air and survey broad vistas of mathematics out to the far horizon. They delight in concepts that unify our thinking and bring together diverse problems from different parts of the landscape. Frogs live in the mud below and see only the flowers that grow nearby. They delight in the details of particular objects, and they solve problems one at a time. I happen to be a frog, but many of my best friends are birds. The main theme of my talk tonight is this. Mathematics needs both birds and frogs. Mathematics is rich and beautiful because birds give it broad visions and frogs give it intricate details. Mathematics is both great art and important science, because it combines generality of concepts with depth of structures. It is stupid to claim that birds are better than frogs because they see farther, or that frogs are better than birds because they see deeper. The world of mathematics is both broad and deep, and we need birds and frogs working together to explore it. This talk is called the Einstein lecture, and I am grateful to the American Mathematical Society for inviting me to do honor to Albert Einstein. Einstein was not a mathematician, but a physicist who had mixed feelings about mathematics. On the one hand, he had enormous respect for the power of mathematics to describe the workings of nature, and he had an instinct for mathematical beauty which led him onto the right track to find nature’s laws. On the other hand, he had no interest in pure mathematics, and he had no technical skill as a mathematician. In his later years he hired younger colleagues with the title of assistants to do mathematical calculations for him. His way of thinking was physical rather than mathematical. He was supreme among physicists as a bird who saw further than others. I will not talk about Einstein since I have nothing new to say.
The use of an embedded microcomputer-based force plate system for accurate sow lameness identification

The objectives of this thesis were: i) to determine the minimum time required to record data from each individual load cell in the force plate system in order to obtain accurate sow weight distributions on each leg to objectively detect lameness, and ii) to develop a lameness detection decision tree from the force plate output collected in a commercial setting. In the first study, lameness was induced in 12 multiparous sows using a chemical synovitis model. Weight applied to each foot was recorded twice per second for 15 min on days -1, +1, +6, and +10 relative to lameness induction. Results suggest that there could be potential data collection problems after 12 min; therefore, 10 min was considered the maximum time required for weight recordings. Utilizing a 30 sec burn-in period to allow sows to become acquainted with the force plate, 30 to 210 sec was the time period that had the best combination of different readings and speed of collection compared to 30 to 630 sec. In the second study, one force plate was installed under an electronic sow feeder (ESF) in a dynamic group sow housing system with 120 multiparous sows for 21 days. Force applied by each foot was recorded once per second after the sow stood squarely on the plate and applied pressure to all quadrants during her first daily visit to the ESF. Sows were visually lameness scored using a four-point scale on a weekly basis. A decision tree was created using the variables that were deemed as more important for accurate lameness detection. The classification tree was 96% similar to weekly visual lameness identification. When comparing the output from the daily classification tree to a weekly visual lameness assessment, the force plate was able to identify lameness almost 5 days before it was visually assessed. Results from this thesis can be used to improve the embedded microcomputer-based force plate use efficiency when evaluating sow lameness and could help to identify lameness before clinical signs become evident.
Morphological Study of Puborectalis and Anal Sphincter in Anorectal Anomaly with Computerized Tomography

Objective This study aims to correlate the morphological changes of puborectalis and anal sphincter with the level of rectal blind end in patients with anorectal anomalies.Methods Twenty nine patients underwent computerized tomography (CT) morphological study preoperatively. The ratios of sphincter width to the distance between ischial tuberosities were measured. A ratio less than 0.13 signified poor muscle development. The distance of blind end of rectum was also measured.Results The muscle development did not correlate with the level of rectal blind end.Conclusions The position of rectal blind end is not predictive of pelvic muscle development. Pelvic CT provides better visualization of pelvic muscle and correlates more to the functional outcome.
Angioplasty and intravascular stents in peripheral vascular disease

During the last decade, there has been a proliferation of new interventional technologies used in the treatment of aortoiliac and distal peripheral vascular occlusive disease. The proper use of these techniques requires experience in patient selection and knowledge of favorable and unfavorable anatomic circumstances. New options in therapy are reviewed along with specific indications for angioplasty and stent placement.
Depressive symptom composites associated with cortisol stress reactivity in adolescents.

Background Altered hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) function is common in youth with major depressive disorder (MDD) but variability in the strength and direction of HPA alterations has prompted a search for symptom-based subtypes with unique neuroendocrine signatures. This study investigated the extent to which depressive symptom composites were differentially associated with cortisol responses to psychosocial stress.
Leveraging lean principles in creating a comprehensive quality program: The UCLA health readmission reduction initiative

Abstract Introduction UCLA Health embarked to transform care by integrating lean methodology in a key clinical project, Readmission Reduction Initiative (RRI). Methods The first step focused on assembling a leadership team to articulate system-wide priorities for quality improvement. The lean principle of creating a culture of change and accountability was established by: 1) engaging stakeholders, 2) managing the process with performance accountability, and, 3) delivering patient-centered care. The RRI utilized three major lean principles: 1) A3, 2) root cause analyses, 3) value stream mapping. Results Baseline readmission rate at UCLA from 9/2010–12/2011 illustrated a mean of 12.1%. After the start of the RRI program, for the period of 1/2012–6/2013, the readmission rate decreased to 11.3% (p Conclusion To impact readmissions, solutions must evolve from smaller service- and location-based interventions into strategies with broader approach. As elucidated, a systematic clinical approach grounded in lean methodologies is a viable solution to this complex problem.
PhotoExam: adoption of an iOS-based clinical image capture application at Mayo Clinic

Background Mayo Clinic developed an internal iOS-based, point-of-care clinical image capture application for clinicians. We aimed to assess the adoption and utilization of the application at Mayo Clinic. Methods Metadata of 22,784 photos of 6417 patients taken by 606 users over 8040 clinical encounters between 3/1/2015 and 10/31/2015 were analyzed. A random sample of photos from 100 clinical encounters was assessed for quality using a five-item rubric. Use of traditional medical photography services before and after application launch were compared. Results The largest group of users was residents/fellows, accounting for 31% of users but only 18% of all photos. Attending physicians accounted for 29% of users and 30% of photos. Nurses accounted for 14% of users and 28% of photos. Surgical specialties had the most users (36% of users), followed by dermatology (14% of users); however, dermatology accounted for 54% of all photos, and surgery accounted for 26% of photos. Images received an average of 91% of possible points on the quality scoring rubric. Most frequent reasons for missing points were the location on the body not clearly being demonstrated (19% of encounters) and the perspective/scale not being clearly demonstrated (12% of encounters). There was no discernible pre-post effect of the application's launch on use of traditional medical photography services. Conclusions Point-of-care clinical photography is a growing phenomenon with potential to become the new standard of care. Patient and provider attitudes and the impact on patient outcomes remain unclear.
Increasing In-Service Teacher Implementation of Classroom Management Practices Through Consultation, Implementation Planning, and Participant Modeling:

Numerous evidence-based classroom management strategies to prevent and respond to problem behavior have been identified, but research consistently indicates teachers rarely implement them with suff...
BAFT: Binary affine feature transform

We introduce BAFT, a fast binary and quasi affine invariant local image feature. It combines the affine invariance of Harris Affine feature descriptors with the speed of binary descriptors such as BRISK and ORB. BAFT derives its speed and precision from sampling local image patches in a pattern that depends on the second moment matrix of the same image patch. This approach results in a fast but discriminative descriptor, especially for image pairs with large perspective changes. Our evaluation on 40 different image pairs shows that BAFT increases the area under the precision/recall curve (AUC) compared to traditional descriptors for the majority of image pairs. In addition we show that this improvement comes with a very low performance penalty compared to the similar ORB descriptor. The BAFT source code is available for download.
Bacteria in Indoor and Occupational Settings

Bacteria are ubiquitously present in our environment. As such, humans are constantly exposed to a multitude of bacterial species include those that are a part of our natural flora, as well as opportunistic and pathogenic bacteria. These constant challenges may potentially result in development of pathogenic diseases, as well as other adverse health effects. Some of these adverse events include development of respiratory diseases such as Farmer’s lung, subcutaneous and cutaneous infections, and bacteremia. Environmental exposures have the potential to affect all people equally, such as omnipresent endotoxin which may exert both protective and detrimental health effects, particularly in the context of respiratory health. In contrast, occupational exposures affect specific sections of the population. For example, workers in meat industries tend to exhibit a higher prevalence of colonization with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus than the general population. This chapter will examine various environmental and occupational sources of bacterial exposures, as well as the potential health consequences of those exposures.
Cherry-Picking Memories: Why Neuroimaging-Based Lie Detection Requires a New Framework for the Admissibility of Scientific Evidence under FRE 702 and Daubert

Neuroimaging techniques have been in heavy rotation in the news lately. Increasingly, companies have been using neuroimaging techniques - specifically, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) - in an attempt to determine whether an individual is telling a falsehood. More troubling, these companies have proffered factual conclusions for use in jury trials. This article discusses the capabilities and limitations of the technique. In doing so, the article also discusses why the technology will require the Federal judiciary to reevaluate its current interpretation of Federal Rule of Evidence 702 and the Daubert doctrine for admitting novel sources of scientific evidence.
A 100-Year Review: Milestones in the development of frozen desserts

Ice cream has come a long way since the first snow cone was made. Innovations in a variety of areas over the past century have led to the development of highly sophisticated, automated manufacturing plants that churn out pint after pint of ice cream. Significant advances in fields such as mechanical refrigeration, chilling and freezing technologies, cleaning and sanitation, packaging, and ingredient functionality have shaped the industry. Advances in our understanding of the science of ice cream, particularly related to understanding the complex structures that need to be controlled to create a desirable product, have also enhanced product quality and shelf stability. Although significant advances have been made, there remain numerous opportunities for further advancement both scientifically and technologically.
An Evaluation of Youth Mental Health First Aid Training in School Settings

Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) is a training program designed to help adults working with children and adolescents identify and respond to youth who are experiencing mental health problems or are in crisis. YMHFA is being implemented in a number of educational, child welfare, and juvenile justice settings across the country with little evidence of its effectiveness. As part of a broader mental health program implemented in five schools in a southeastern county in the USA, YMHFA was provided to school personnel over a 2-year period. This study presents the results of a pretest/posttest evaluation of the YMHFA training. In general, results provide preliminary evidence of the effectiveness of the YMHFA training. More specifically, results highlight the importance of YMHFA training for personnel who have never received mental health training/education and for those who do not have experience working with vulnerable youth populations.
Non-Motile Primary Cilia as Fluid Shear Stress Mechanosensors

Primary cilia are sensory organelles that transmit extracellular signals into intracellular biochemical responses. Structural and functional defects in primary cilia are associated with a group of human diseases, known as ciliopathies, with phenotypes ranging from cystic kidney and obesity to blindness and mental retardation. Primary cilia mediate mechano- and chemosensation in many cell types. The mechanosensory function of the primary cilia requires the atypical G-protein-coupled receptor polycystin-1 and the calcium-permeable nonselective cation channel polycystin-2. Mechanical stimulations such as fluid-shear stress of the primary cilia initiate intracellular calcium rise, nitric oxide release, and protein modifications. In this review, we describe a set of protocols for cell culture to promote ciliation, mechanical stimulations of the primary cilia, and measurements of calcium rise and nitric oxide release induced by fluid shear stress.
Rhetorical Silence and Republican Virtue in Early-American Public Discourse: The Case of James Madison’s “Notes on the Federal Convention”

This essay examines the role of “rhetorical silence” as a part of the theorizing about character in the early American republic. The case study concerns James Madison’s deliberate and continuous rh...
The benefit of acoustic beamforming in solving the “cocktail party problem” for persons with acquired aphasia

Acoustic beamforming has been shown to improve identification of target speech in noisy listening environments for individuals with sensorineural hearing loss. This study examined whether beamforming would provide a similar benefit for individuals with aphasia (an acquired neurological language deficit). Persons with aphasia (PWA) are known to exhibit impaired language comprehension abilities; however, most work on language comprehension in PWA has been conducted in quiet settings, and little is known about the impact of competing auditory information on performance. In this study, we measured the intelligibility of target speech masked by other speech or noise for two presentation/microphone conditions: one condition, designated “KEMAR,” provided natural spatial cues via KEMAR impulse responses; the second condition, designated “BEAM,” enhanced the target speech level via a single-channel beamformer. In each condition, subjects heard a target sentence at 0 deg azimuth concurrent with two independent maskers—speech or speech-shaped speech-envelope-modulated noise—from ±60 deg. Threshold target-to-masker ratios were measured adaptively for each subject, with individually-determined modifications in the procedures made for the subjects. Results indicated substantially lower (better) thresholds for the beamformer condition than for KEMAR, providing preliminary evidence that PWA may benefit from the use of acoustic beamforming in complex, multiple-source listening situations.
Joaquim-Francisco Coelho (1938-2019)

Joaquim-Francisco Coelho left this world on September 25, 2019 in the way he inhabited it: quietly and tranquilly, with his loving family by his side. Up to the last, even in fragile health, Joaquim was concerned about the well-being of others, always finding humor in daily existence and offering a joke as a way of putting others at ease and of coming to terms, in some way, with the flux and flow of life itself.
Free-roaming horses disrupt greater sage-grouse lekking activity in the Great Basin

Abstract Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter, sage-grouse) and free-roaming horses (Equus caballus) co-occur within large portions of sagebrush ecosystems within the Great Basin of western North America. In recent decades, sage-grouse populations have declined substantially while concomitant free-roaming horse populations have increased drastically. Although multiple studies have reported free-roaming horses adversely impacting native ungulate species, direct interactions between free-roaming horses and sage-grouse have not been documented previously. We compiled sage-grouse lek count data and associated ungulate observations during spring of 2010 and 2013–2018. We used Bayesian multinomial logistic models to examine the response of breeding male sage-grouse to the presence of native (i.e. mule deer, pronghorn) and non-native (i.e. cattle, free-roaming horses) ungulates on active sage-grouse leks (traditional breeding grounds). We found sage-grouse were approximately five times more likely to be present on active leks concurrent with native ungulates compared to non-native ungulates. Of the four different ungulate species, sage-grouse were least likely to be at active leks when free-roaming horses were present. Our results indicate that free-roaming horse presence at lek sites negatively influences sage-grouse lekking activity. Because sage-grouse population growth is sensitive to breeding success, disruption of leks by free-roaming horses could reduce breeding opportunities and limit breeding areas within sage-grouse habitat.
Yield and Composition of Milk and Weight Gain of Nursing Pigs from Sows Fed Diets Containing Fructose or Dextrose

Yield and composition of milk and growth of nursing pigs in response to dietary treatment were estimated from 25 lactating sows during a 22-d period. Eight sows were fed 6 kg/d of a corn-soybean control diet (C sows). Nine were fed the control diet in which approximately 6.5 g X kg body weight (BW-1) X d-1 of carbohydrate was supplied by fructose corn syrup (F sows) and eight were fed the control diet containing equivalent carbohydrate supplied by powdered dextrose (D sows). Blood samples collected via jugular cannulae were analyzed for plasma concentrations of fructose, glucose and insulin. Concentrations of fructose and glucose from F sows were significantly higher throughout the study than that from D and C sows, while insulin concentration was approximately 2.5-fold lower. Milk yield from F sows on d 14 and 21 was significantly higher and pigs weaned on d 21 were heavier than those from D and C sows. Sows fed the diet containing fructose experienced significant BW loss during lactation. Coefficients of gross correlation across treatments showed milk yield and litter weight gain to be negatively associated with percentages of protein, lipids and total solids in milk, but positively associated with concentrations of lactose and gross energy. Nursing pig weight gain at weaning was more responsive to total yields of milk and milk nutrients than to composition. These data support the hypothesis that source of metabolizable energy (ME) affects milk yield, composition and efficiency at which the sow converts dietary nutrients into milk.