cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The qualitative revolution and psychology: Science, politics, and ethics.

Growing interest in qualitative research methods and methodological pluralism in psychology since the 1990s is placed in the historical contexts of long-standing philosophical and scientific rationales and the more recent “qualitative revolution” in other social sciences that began in the 1970s. An examination of areas in which qualitative methods have become most strongly established—applied, feminist, and multicultural psychologies—suggests practical and social motivations as primary and as energizing renewed expression of previously ignored ontological, epistemological, and scientific reasoning in the turn to qualitative methods. Methodological diversification in the arenas of human suffering, women's issues, and cultural politics is traced to psychologists' deeply rooted ethical obligations. The existential philosophy of Emmanuel Levinas articulates an implicit ethics at the heart psychology's increasing acceptance of qualitative methods and provides an understanding of how the emerging methodological...
Are Cognitive Skills Context-Bound?:

Effective problem solving, sound decision making, insightful invention—do such aspects of good thinking depend more on deep expertise in a specialty than on reflective awareness and general strategies? Over the past thirty years, considerable research and controversy have surrounded this issue. An historical sketch of the arguments for the strong specialist position and the strong generalist position suggests that each camp, in its own way, has oversimplified the interaction between general strategic knowledge and specialized domain knowledge. We suggest a synthesis: General and specialized knowledge function in close partnership. We explore the nature of this partnership and consider its implications for educational practice.
Finite-difference time-domain modeling of dispersive nonlinear Fabry-Perot cavities

Numerical simulations of ultrafast time-domain optical fields in nonlinear Fabry–Perot cavities are described. Thin-film cavities formed of dispersive metals and nonlinear dielectrics are modeled, and pulse-discriminating absorption is examined.
Lynx web services for annotations and systems analysis of multi-gene disorders

Lynx is a web-based integrated systems biology platform that supports annotation and analysis of experimental data and generation of weighted hypotheses on molecular mechanisms contributing to human phenotypes and disorders of interest. Lynx has integrated multiple classes of biomedical data (genomic, proteomic, pathways, phenotypic, toxicogenomic, contextual and others) from various public databases as well as manually curated data from our group and collaborators (LynxKB). Lynx provides tools for gene list enrichment analysis using multiple functional annotations and network-based gene prioritization. Lynx provides access to the integrated database and the analytical tools via REST based Web Services (http://lynx.ci.uchicago.edu/webservices.html). This comprises data retrieval services for specific functional annotations, services to search across the complete LynxKB (powered by Lucene), and services to access the analytical tools built within the Lynx platform.
Simplifying SoC design with the customizable control processor platform

We describe the customizable control processor (CCP) platform based on PowerPC/spl reg/ 440 processor with a target frequency of 533 MHz as well as its design methodology. The hardened region of the chip contains cores and features found in many control and communications applications. The custom area of the chip allows for each application of CCP to be personalized with cores from the IBM core library or with unique logic implemented in IBM ASIC standard cell. A predefined logic template (customer logic file) with a set of standard CoreConnect/spl reg/ ports can be personalized with any function that can be implemented in the IBM ASIC technology. The customer logic file is synthesized placed and wired in the custom area of the chip. The custom area of the chip could be configured with approximately 2 M gates of logic. With all mask levels being personalized other configurations could include SRAM, and embedded DRAM incorporated in the custom logic. There are around 263 pre-assigned I/O for the hardened portion of the chip as well as around 177 I/O sockets available in the custom region to personalize. The CCP provides a flexible platform and design environment that effectively reduces the design effort, design time, and the design cost of systems on chip.
The impact of point thermal absorbers in ablation of poly(methyl methacrylate)

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are used to study the interactions of photons with a poly(methyl methacrylate), or PMMA, substrate and point thermal absorbers. The point thermal absorbers are embedded within the polymer matrix which can be excited and transfer energy to the surrounding particles through an internal vibrational mode. Using a fluence above the ablation threshold, two excitation channels are studied—one includes a direct heating of the polymer and the other includes the excitation of the thermal absorbers. Although the yield of ejected particles is similar for both simulations, the plume composition differs. For the simulation of the excitation of the point thermal absorbers, the plume consists of a greater number of smaller substrate fragments due to local high temperature regions.
Hemodynamic effects of intrathecal sufentanil compared with epidural bupivacaine in laboring parturients

Abstract Study Objectives: To provide information on the central hemodynamic effects of intrathecal sufentanil after a standard intravenous preload using thoracic bioimpedance monitoring to obtain noninvasive measurements of cardiac index (CI), stroke index (SI), and systemic vascular resistance (SVR). To compare hemodynamic parameters after intrathecal sufentanil labor analgesia to those after a standard dose of epidural bupivacaine in laboring parturients. Design: Randomized, double-blind study. Setting: Labor and delivery unit in a university hospital. Study Design: 40 ASA status I parturients were randomized into two groups receiving analgesia with combined spinal-epidural technique. Group SUF received 10 μg of intrathecal sufentanil followed by 12 ml of saline through an epidural catheter; Group BUP received 2 ml of intrathecal saline followed by 12 ml of 0.25% epidural bupivacaine. Heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), and thoracic bioimpedance monitoring were recorded. Pain scores, fetal HR, and side effects were noted. Measurements and Main Results: No significant changes from baseline were seen in CI, SI, or SVR index. Mean arterial pressure was lower in Group BUP at 10 and 20 minutes after induction of analgesia. Mean HR was lower in Group SUF at 20 and 30 minutes after induction. Two patients in Group SUF and four patients in Group BUP experienced hypotension requiring ephedrine. Pain scores were lower in Group SUF at 10 minutes after induction of analgesia; subsequent pain scores and duration of analgesia were similar. Fourteen patients in Group SUF experienced itching. Conclusions: No significant differences in CI, SI, or SVR index were seen after either method of analgesia. A few patients in both groups experienced hypotension requiring treatment with ephedrine. Both techniques of labor analgesia appear to provide effective pain relief but care must be taken with either method to monitor maternal BP.
Child maltreatment and hypertension in young adulthood.

Background: Maltreatment during childhood and adolescence has been associated with chronic conditions in adulthood including cardiovascular disease. However, less is known about the effects of childhood maltreatment on cardiovascular risk factors prior to development of cardiovascular disease, or whether these effects are evident in young adulthood. Furthermore, few studies have examined sex differences and most studies have relied on self-reported outcome measures that are subject to misclassification. Methods: We examined the relationship between child maltreatment and hypertension in young adulthood in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, a nationally representative school-based sample of US adolescents. Participants retrospectively (mean age 29.9, n = 11384) reported on their experiences of child maltreatment prior to the 6 th grade (prior to age 11) during follow-up. Child neglect, physical and sexual violence as well as a measure of social services visits to the home were examined. Blood pressure was measured during an in-home visit. Hypertension was defined as measured SBP of at least 140 mmHg or DBP of at least 90 mmHG measured in adulthood, or self-reported use of antihypertensive medications. Results: In adjusted models, women who experienced sexual abuse in early childhood had a higher prevalence of hypertension (Prevalence Ratio (PR) 1.43 95% CI 1.00, 2.05) compared to women who did not experience sexual abuse. Among men, experiencing sexual abuse was not statistically significantly associated with hypertension. Experiencing neglect, physical abuse or having visitations by social services at home during childhood was not associated with hypertension among either women or men. Conclusion: Sexual abuse in early childhood is associated with hypertension in young women.
A hypothesis testing approach to blind DS-CDMA user identification and detection via code-constrained successive cancellation

A code-constrained inverse filter criterion based approach was recently presented by J.K. Tugnait and Tongtong Li (see IEEE Trans. Sig. Processing, vol.SP-49, p.1300-9, 2001) for blind detection of a desired user in asynchronous short-code DS-CDMA (direct sequence code division multiple access) systems over multipath channels. The method proposed therein works well for low-to-moderate loading; however, it can converge to an undesired user under high loading. We augment this method with a binary hypothesis testing approach for extracted user identification (whether the desired user is acquired/extracted) and for successive user cancellation (if an undesired user is extracted, cancel its contribution and repeat). An illustrative simulation example is presented.
Stochastic Properties of Synaptic Transmission Affect the Shape of Spike Time–Dependent Plasticity Curves

Theoretical studies have shown that calcium influx through N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors is a sufficient signal to account for various induction protocols of bidirectional synaptic plastici...
Detecting man-made features in SAR imagery

A method for detecting man-made features in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery is described. The method is based on matching the local histogram against a family of Weibull densities. The Weibull density is defined by two parameters, the median and the skewness (Weibull parameter). Regions containing man-made objects have Weibull parameter values that are smaller than those containing natural features. In experiments performed with aircraft SAR imagery, man-made features are effectively discriminated from natural features using this method.
Bacterial Proteins Can Be Processed by Macrophages in a Transporter Associated with Antigen Processing-Independent, Cysteine Protease-Dependent Manner for Presentation by MHC Class I Molecules

MHC class I molecules present peptides derived primarily from endogenously synthesized proteins on the cell surface as ligands for CD8+ T cells. However, CD8+ T cell responses to extracellular bacteria, virus-infected, or tumor cells can also be elicited because certain professional APC can generate peptide/MHC class I (MHC-I) complexes from exogenous sources. Whether the peptide/MHC-I complexes are generated because the exogenous proteins enter the classical cytosolic, TAP-dependent MHC-I processing pathway or an alternate pathway is controversial. Here we analyze the generation of peptide/MHC-I complexes from recombinant Escherichia coli as an exogenous Ag source that could be delivered to the phagosomes or directly into the cytosol. We show that peritoneal and bone marrow macrophages generate peptide/MHC-I complexes by the classical as well as an alternate, but relatively less efficient, TAP-independent pathway. Using a novel method to detect proteolytic intermediates we show that the generation of the optimal MHC-I binding peptide in the alternate pathway requires cysteine as well as other protease(s). This alternate TAP-independent pathway also operates in vivo and provides a potential mechanism for eliciting CD8+ T cell responses to exogenous Ags.
Folate and colorectal neoplasia: relation between plasma and dietary markers of folate and adenoma recurrence.

Background: The results of epidemiologic studies indicate that higher intakes or blood concentrations of folate are associated with a lower risk of colorectal neoplasia; however, only one study assessed the role of homocysteine. Objective: We assessed the relation between biochemical and dietary markers of folate status and colorectal adenoma recurrence. Design: Analyses were conducted in 1014 men and women aged 40 – 80 y who had undergone removal of all colorectal polyps. Diet and supplement use were ascertained through a food-frequency questionnaire administered at study entry. Blood collected at baseline was used to measure plasma folate and homocysteine concentrations. Unconditional logistic regression was used to assess the odds of recurrence associated with the intakes of folate, methionine, and vitamins B-6 and B-12 and with plasma folate and homocysteine. Results: Relative to subjects in the highest quartile of plasma homocysteine, those in the lowest quartile had an odds ratio (OR) of adenoma recurrence of 0.69 (95% CI: 0.47, 1.02; P for trend 0.02) after adjustment for confounding factors. Lower odds of recurrence were shown for higher plasma folate (OR: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.46, 0.97) and higher total intakes (dietary plus supplemental) of folate (OR: 0.61; 0.42, 0.89) and vitamin B-6 (OR: 0.65; 0.45, 0.94). Slightly weaker and nonsignificant associations were shown for dietary folate, methionine, and total vitamin B-12. Conclusions: A lower recurrence of colorectal adenomas was shown in subjects with higher intakes and plasma concentrations of folate. Additional markers involved in folate metabolism, including lower homocysteine and higher vitamin B-6 intake, were also associated with lower odds of recurrence. Am J Clin Nutr2004;79: 691–7.
Cardiovascular Imaging Research: Time to Think Beyond Risk Prediction?

“If we produce food that no one eats, we need to consider different crops.” [(1)][1] Hardly any other topic than the role of cardiovascular (CV) imaging in how we manage our patients generates passionate debate among health care stakeholders. Despite this, CV imaging continues to play a major
Humility, Autonomy, and Birth as a Site of Politics

Western political thought, from the classical Greek era to our own time, is notorious for its relegation of bodily and family matters to the private sphere. Contemporary feminist and critical political theorists have taken measures to counter this impulse. Yet even as these discourses acknowledge the centrality of the body, vulnerability, and relationality for social and political theory, they continue to functionally disavow giving birth as an important cultural institution in which to engage political and ethical questions.
High Q diamond hemispherical resonators: fabrication and energy loss mechanisms

We have fabricated polycrystalline diamond hemispheres by hot-filament CVD (HFCVD) in spherical cavities wet-etched into a high temperature glass substrate CTE matched to silicon. Hemispherical resonators 1.4 mm in diameter have a Q of up to 143 000 in the fundamental wineglass mode, for a ringdown time of 2.4 s. Without trimming, resonators have the two degenerate wineglass modes frequency matched as close as 2 Hz, or 0.013% of the resonant frequency (~16 kHz). Laser trimming was used to match resonant modes on hemispheres to 0.3 Hz. Experimental and FEA energy loss studies on cantilevers and hemispheres examine various energy loss mechanisms, showing that surface related losses are dominant. Diamond cantilevers with a Q of 400 000 and a ringdown time of 15.4 s were measured, showing the potential of polycrystalline diamond films for high Q resonators. These resonators show great promise for use as hemispherical resonant gyroscopes (HRGs) on a chip.
Hispanic Immigration and Spanish Maintenance as Indirect Measures of Ethnicity: Reality and Perceptions

Many supporters of official English have accused U.S. Hispanics of refusing to learn English and rejecting the traditional assimilationist model by clinging to their ethnolinguistic identity. An analysis of U.S. Census data from the last thirty years refutes these claims. The picture of U.S. Hispanic maintenance of ethnolinguistic identity has evolved. Here we show that while adult Spanish loyalty has decreased, youth Spanish loyalty has increased; however, Spanish maintenance does not occur at the expense of English proficiency. Once recent immigrants are subtracted from the Hispanic population, U.S. Census figures show clearly that long-term limited English proficiency has decreased substantially. This analysis clearly supports the conclusions of experts who have noted that Hispanic youth are embracing a bilingual model, one which allows them to maintain their ethnolinguistic identity while acquiring the English skills necessary for success in the United States.
Polyriboinosinic:polyribocytidylic acid enhances rabbit slow-wave sleep.

Drowsiness and fever are common symptoms of many viral diseases. It has been postulated that double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) produced during viral replication may cause these symptoms by direct toxic effects or by inducing interferon (IFN) or other cytokine production. Polyriboinosinic:polyribocytidylic acid (poly I:C), a pyrogenic and IFN-inducing synthetic dsRNA, and polyriboadenylic:polyribouridylic acid (poly A:U), a less effective pyrogen and IFN-inducing substance, were used as models of viral dsRNA to further characterize the physiological response to dsRNA. Poly I:C was injected either intravenously or intracerebroventricularly into rabbits, and electroencephalograph, body movement, and brain temperature were monitored over the next 6 h; blood samples were taken 24 h postinjection. Poly I:C increased slow-wave sleep duration, suppressed rapid-eye-movement sleep, and induced fever but failed to raise plasma Cu. Dose-dependent responses occurred after intravenous or intracerebroventricular injections; minimal effective doses were 0.3 micrograms/kg (iv) and 1.0 ng (icv). Poly A:U failed to alter the sleep or temperature parameters measured. Responses elicited by poly I:C were distinct from those elicited by bacterial products, e.g., endotoxin enhances plasma Cu levels, thus implying different mechanisms. We conclude that poly I:C enhances slow-wave sleep and body temperature without provoking the acute-phase rise in plasma Cu. These effects may be initiated through an IFN-mediated process.
Driving in force: The influence of workplace peers on commuting decisions on U.S. military bases ☆

We investigate the role of social influence in the commute to work. Using instruments to address the endogeneity of commute decisions and a dataset of U.S. military commuters on 100 military bases over the period 2006–2013, we show that workplace peers positively influence one another's decisions to drive alone to work and carpool to work. All else equal, an increase in the fraction of peers who drive alone of 10 percentage points increases the probability of driving alone by 6.05 percentage points. An increase in the fraction of peers who carpool of 10 percentage points increases the probability of carpooling by 5.14 percentage points. To examine whether conventional measures of social status and seniority predict who exerts the strongest influence on others, we disaggregate the dataset into subgroups and identify which subgroups have the greatest influence and which are most susceptible to influence. Results show that in commute decisions, intra-group influence can be more important than inter-group influence. This suggests that workplace travel interventions that seek to shift employees away from driving alone or toward carpooling may be most effective if communicated by one's own peer group.
DIMINISHED MAMMARY GLAND LYMPHOCYTE FUNCTIONS PARALLEL SHIFTS IN TRAFFICKING PATTERNS DURING THE POSTPARTUM PERIOD

Once activated, lymphocytes can regulate both specific and nonspecific immune responses. Alterations in lymphocyte function may increase the host's vulnerability to bacterial infections such as mastitis. Susceptibility to mastitis as well as diminished leukocyte functional capabilities have been shown to be influenced by lactational stage. Therefore, the present study characterized the phenotypes and functions of several bovine lymphoid populations at two points in the lactational cycle. Mononuclear cells were isolated from peripheral blood, supramammary lymph nodes, and mammary parenchyma of mid-lactating and postpartum dairy cows. The phenotypic composition, proliferative ability, cytokine secretion, and cytotoxic activity of isolated leukocytes were assessed with respect to lactational stage and tissue source. Lower percentages of T lymphocytes were consistent with diminished mitogen-stimulated proliferation and spontaneous cytotoxic activity by lymphocytes isolated from postpartum compared with mid-lactating animals. Stimulation with interleukin-2 did not enhance the cytotoxic activity or proliferative ability of lymphocytes isolated postpartum to similar levels observed for those isolated from mid-lactating animals. These data indicate that certain diminished lymphocyte functions observed during the postpartum period may result from shifts in leukocyte trafficking patterns.
Nursing Student Perceptions of Standardized Patient Use in Health Assessment

Abstract Background Peer physical examinations (PPEs) are often used to teach health assessment (HA) skills in undergraduate nursing education; however, the use of standardized patients (SPs) has been shown to have a greater impact on cognitive, affective, and psychomotor learning. Method Survey results from students who completed their HA final head-to-toe assessment evaluation using PPEs versus SPs were compared in this mixed-method descriptive study. Results Students who used SPs indicated their assessment required more critical thinking and less memorization compared with those who used PPEs for their HA final head-to-toe assessment evaluation ( p Conclusion The use of SPs and case-based scenarios is an innovative teaching modality that can improve undergraduate nursing students' critical thinking and assessment skills.
Synthesis and Utilization of Trialkylammonium-Substituted Cyclodextrins as Water-Soluble Chiral NMR Solvating Agents for Anionic Compounds

Cationic trialkylammonium-substituted α-, β-, and γ-cyclodextrins containing trimethyl-, triethyl-, and tri-n-propylammonium substituent groups were synthesized and analyzed for utility as water-soluble chiral nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) solvating agents. Racemic and enantiomerically pure (3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl)trimethyl-, triethyl-, and tri-n-propyl ammonium chloride were synthesized from the corresponding trialkyl amine hydrochloride and either racemic or enantiomerically pure epichlorohydrin. The ammonium salts were then reacted with α-, β-, and γ-cyclodextrins at basic pH to provide the corresponding randomly substituted cationic cyclodextrins. The (1) H NMR spectra of a range of anionic, aromatic compounds was recorded with the cationic cyclodextrins. Cyclodextrins with a single stereochemistry at the hydroxy group on the (2-hydroxypropyl)trialkylammonium chloride substituent were often but not always more effective than the corresponding cyclodextrin in which the C-2 position was racemic. In several cases, the larger triethyl or tri-n-propyl derivatives were more effective than the corresponding trimethyl derivative at causing enantiomeric differentiation. None of the cyclodextrin derivatives were consistently the most effective for all of the anionic compounds studied.
Obstetric hemorrhage survey: Attitudes and practices of maternal-fetal medicine fellows.

Objective To evaluate experiences related to obstetric hemorrhage and suspected abnormal placentation among first year maternal-fetal medicine fellows. Study design A cross-sectional anonymous survey was administered at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine fellow retreat in March 2013. Fellows were asked about management strategies that reflected both their individual and institutional practices. Results There was a 56% response rate (55/98). In cases of postpartum hemorrhage due to uterine atony, there was variable use of the uterine tamponade device. The median incremental time for balloon deflation was every 5 hours (IQR = 2-12). Compared to the east coast, fellows from the west coast performed more hysterectomies (mean±SD; 2.9±2.4 vs. 1.2±1.2, p = 0.004). During a peripartum hysterectomy, 29% of fellows used a handheld cautery device such as Ligasure® or Gyrus®. Fifty-six percent responded that their institution never recommend planned delayed hysterectomies for abnormal placental implantation. Conclusion There is wide variation in practice among first year maternal-fetal medicine fellows in management of peripartum hysterectomy and postpartum hemorrhage.
Prenatal Diagnosis of Unilateral Hydronephrosis with Early Postnatal Reconstruction

Real-time ultrasound systems, being used extensively now in obstetrical practice for fetal monitoring, are providing the urologist with more opportunities for early recognition and intervention of congenital hydronephrosis. Thorough postnatal investigation to confirm a diagnosis is advocated. An early postnatal surgical repair can be performed successfully.
Memory Reconsolidation: Lingering Consolidation and the Dynamic Memory Trace

Abstract The rediscovery of memory reconsolidation has brought the attention of many investigators to this field because the findings that a stabilized memory can return to a labile state have changed the way we view long-term memory formation and storage. Furthermore, it has provided important information for potentially developing novel therapeutic interventions for psychopathologies as well as cognitive impairments. As with all discoveries that change previous beliefs, many conclusions and interpretations about the novel data have been subjected to a great deal of debates and controversies. However, the studies on memory reconsolidation have undoubtedly led to the understanding that the processes of memory formation and storage are exquisitely dynamic. Elucidating the mechanisms and temporal dynamics of the biological changes that accompany memory encoding, storage, and retrieval is key to understanding many brain functions. In this chapter, we summarize studies from our laboratory that investigated the mechanisms and functions of memory reconsolidation using the inhibitory avoidance task in rats. Based on the results of these studies, we propose the conclusions that memory reconsolidation contributes to a lingering consolidation process and that memory is a highly dynamic process. We then discuss how we can use the knowledge acquired about memory reconsolidation to develop new therapies for weakening maladaptive memories and enhancing memories to combat cognitive decline.
Macroprudential Regulation: A Sustainable Approach to Regulating Financial Markets

Following the financial crisis that began in 2007, Congress and regulators acted to address perceived gaps in the regulation of corporate boards, including boards of large, complex financial institutions. With the goal of improving the stability of global financial markets, regulators have adopted reforms intended to enhance the role of boards, particularly those of financial institutions, as gatekeepers and systemic risk monitors. Arguing that the culture of financial institutions may lead board to govern these businesses less effectively than boards in non-financial sectors, this Article challenges assumptions that conventional regulatory or corporate governance mechanisms will conclusively address systemic risk concerns in the financial sector.
Achieving a 100% Renewable Grid: Operating Electric Power Systems with Extremely High Levels of Variable Renewable Energy

What does it mean to achieve a 100% renewable grid? Several countries already meet or come close to achieving this goal. Iceland, for example, supplies 100% of its electricity needs with either geothermal or hydropower. Other countries that have electric grids with high fractions of renewables based on hydropower include Norway (97%), Costa Rica (93%), Brazil (76%), and Canada (62%). Hydropower plants have been used for decades to create a relatively inexpensive, renewable form of energy, but these systems are limited by natural rainfall and geographic topology. Around the world, most good sites for large hydropower resources have already been developed. So how do other areas achieve 100% renewable grids? Variable renewable energy (VRE), such as wind and solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, will be a major contributor, and with the reduction in costs for these technologies during the last five years, large-scale deployments are happening around the world.
Aperture domain model image reconstruction (ADMIRE) with plane wave synthesis

In our previous studies, we demonstrated that our aperture domain model-based clutter suppression algorithm improved image quality of in vivo B-mode data obtained from focused transmit beam sequences. Our approach suppresses off-axis clutter and reverberation and tackles limitations of related algorithms because it preserves RF channel signals and speckle statistics. We call the algorithm aperture domain model image reconstruction (ADMIRE). We previously focused on reverberation suppression, but ADMIRE is also effective at suppressing off-axis clutter. We are interested in how ADMIRE performs on plane wave sequences and the impact of AD- MIRE applied before and after synthetic beamforming of steered plane wave sequences. We employed simulated phantoms using Field II and tissue-mimicking phantoms to evaluate ADMIRE applied to plane wave sequencing. We generated images acquired from plane waves with and without synthetic aperture synthesis and measured contrast and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). For simulated cyst images formed from single plane waves, the contrast for delay-and-sum (DAS) and ADMIRE are 15.64 dB and 28.34 dB, respectively, while the CNR are 1.76 dB and 3.90 dB, respectively. Based on these findings, ADMIRE improves plane wave image quality. We also applied ADMIRE to resolution phantoms having a point target at 3 cm depth on-axis, simulating the point spread functions from data obtained from 1 and 75 steered plane waves, along with linear scan at focus of 3 and 4 cm depth. We then examined the outcome of applying ADMIRE before and after synthetic aperture processing. Finally, we applied this to an in vivo carotid artery.
Big data visualization: promises & pitfalls

A few weeks ago, I was having dinner with a friend when a controversial subject came up. My friend had an extremely strong opinion about the harm caused by vaccination, and his argument went something like this: "I've seen the data. There was an infographic laying it all out." He couldn't remember specific numbers from the visualization he'd seen or the author of the article. He couldn't even remember the name of the publication, but the data visualization's overall argument was firmly lodged in his mind. His situation is not unique, and it provides telling insights on how we, as humans, perceive and respond to big data visualization.
Ruptured Angioplasty Balloon

This chapter discusses a case in which an angioplasty balloon ruptured during the treatment of a stenotic lesion and a portion of the balloon was lost. It details how this lost peice was retrieved.
Fully integrated LTE-Advanced band-switchable high-gain CMOS power amplifier

This paper presents a fully integrated multiband high gain CMOS tunable power amplifier (PA) for 760–960 MHz, 1.3–1.6 GHz, 1.7–2.34 GHz, 2.35–2.81 GHz, thus, covering 33 Long Term Evolution-advanced (LTE-a) bands for cellular applications. The 3 mm × 1.5 mm PA chip fabricated using 0.13 um CMOS process exhibits peak output power of 21 dBm / 23.2 dBm / 21 dBm / 23 dBm with maximum gain of 34 dB / 42 dB/ 42 dB/ 40 dB.
Life-Science Experiments Online: Technological Frameworks and Educational Use Cases

We review remote (or “cloud”) lab technologies for life-science experimentation. Compared to other remote labs such as for physics, a particular challenge arises from the variability and stability of biological materials. We describe and compare four biology cloud labs that demonstrate different user interaction modes, i.e., real-time and turn-based interactive, programmed, and augmented batch, respectively, and furthermore regard their underlying hard and software architecture, biological content (“bio-ware”) (i.e., microswimmer phototaxis, slime mold chemotaxis, bacterial growth under antibiotics, RNA folding), and various other features such as the time required for one experiment or scalability to large user numbers. While we generally focus on educational use cases, research applications are included as well. General design rules for biology cloud experimentation labs are derived; open questions regarding future technology and opportunities for wide deployment are discussed. We hope that this review enables stakeholders from the life sciences, engineering, and education to join this relevant and exciting field.
A study on a (2+1)-dimensional and a (3+1)-dimensional generalized Burgers equation

Abstract A ( 2 + 1 )-dimensional and a ( 3 + 1 )-dimensional generalized Burgers equation are investigated. The Cole–Hopf transformation method is used to carry out this work. Multiple kink solutions are formally derived for each equation.
Developing a Novel Gait Training Device Using a Minimally-Required-Assistance Principle

The purpose of this report is to propose a new principle of minimally-required-assistance in the design of assistive devices for sensorimotor training in patients with neurological disorders. We illustrate the implementation of the principle in design and development of a novel assistive device for gait training in stroke survivors. Specific aims of this report are three folds including a brief review of literature on gait training after stroke, revision of movement specifics during gait in the context of task-specific training, and design of a novel assistive device for gait training.Copyright © 2018 by ASME
First-principle electronic properties of dilute-P AlNP deep ultraviolet semiconductor

The electronic properties of dilute-P AlN1-xPx alloys are investigated by means of First-Principle Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations, where the phosphorus (P) content is varied from 0% up to 6.25%. Band structure calculations indicate significant modifications of the electronic properties with the introduction of P-atoms, with the possibility of tuning the energy band gap from 6.19eV down to 4.32eV by inserting 6.25% P-content in the AlN-based system. The carrier effective masses and lattice parameters (a and c) were analyzed, and a large bowing parameter of b = 28.3 ± 0.5 eV was found. Moreover, our findings suggest a potential pathway to engineer the valence band crossover between the crystal-field split-off (CH) band and the heavy hole (HH) band by inserting low amounts of P-content (∼1-2%) into the AlN1-xPx alloy. Thus, the dilute-P AlN1-xPx alloys may serve as potential candidates for implementation as the active region material for dominant transverse electric (TE) polarization for deep-UV emitting devices.
General decay of energy to a nonlinear viscoelastic two-dimensional beam

A viscoelastic beam in a two-dimensional space is considered with nonlinear tension. A boundary feedback is applied at the right boundary of the beam to suppress the undesirable vibration. The well-posedness of the problem is established. With the multiplier method, a uniform decay result is proven.
Twenty Year Trends and Sex Differences in Young Adults Hospitalized With Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Background: Sex differences are known to exist in the management of older patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Few studies have examined the incidence and risk factors of AMI...
Revised Status of Epinotia cupressi Heinrich and Descriptions of Two New Species of Epinotia Hübner, [1825], from the Western U.S.A. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Olethreutinae)

Epinotia hopkinsana cupressi Heinrich is elevated to species status, and E. hopkinsana (Kearfott) and E. cupressi are differentiated based on morphological and host plant differences. Two new species of Epinotia Hubner, [1825] are described and illustrated: E. ephemerana, new species, from Plumas and Riverside counties, California, U.S.A.; and E. wrighti, new species, from Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah,Washington, andWyoming, U.S.A., British Columbia, Canada, and Durango, Mexico. The two new species and new status bring the total number of described species in the genus to 187.
Jews and Catholics in the Twenty-First Century: Lingering Shadows and the Road Ahead

The last 50 years have been a period of unprecedented cooperation and mutual understanding between Catholics and Jews but have also been marked by indifference to inter-faith dialogue in significant quarters of the Jewish community. The landmark statement of Nostra Aetate did not so much resolve a long and problematic history of inter-faith tensions as challenge us to reconsider the nature of Catholic-Jewish relations. This chapter sets inter-religious dialogue against the backdrop of dynamics within Judaism, including acute concerns about demography and survival, ongoing intra-Jewish tensions regarding proper observance of the law, and the nature of the secular world vis-a-vis the Jewish community, arguing that Catholics must be aware of these dynamics to understand their partners in dialogue. The author, a Jewish historian, discusses the interplay between the past and the future and outlines some of the key issues upon which Catholics and Jews might reflect in order to move forward.
Sizing of a solar–geothermal hybrid power plant in remote island electrical network

Abstract The rapid increase of world energy demand over the past decades has led to an extensive exploitation of the planet’s natural resources. Given that the population growth will continue for the next decades, there is an urgent need for a switch to Renewable Energy Sources (RES). One of the promising solutions to the energy problem is the geothermal energy which consists of stored energy in the earth in the form of water or steam at high pressure and temperature. Countries located in seismic zones possess a high geothermal potential due to their position at destructive and constructive plate margins. Greece is one of the countries with a remarkable potential in geothermal energy of medium and high enthalpy fields. Interest in the exploitation of geothermal fields for electricity generation is mainly focused on non-interconnected Greek islands, where energy is produced from oil-based generators with high energy cost and low-quality electricity, mainly during the summer months which is a period of high energy demand. In this respect, the present study investigates the possibility of combining a geothermal power plant with a concentrated solar array to provide energy to an autonomous island grid. Since the productivity of geothermal fields is gradually decreasing over the years, the combination of solar with geothermal energy source aims to the extension of the productive lifetime of the field, achieved by reheating the geothermal fluid during reinjection to the injection well. The thermal energy, generated by concentrated solar collectors, increases the temperature of the geothermal brine and reduces the energy degradation of the field. In this study, the energy efficiency of different reheat values are studied in order to achieve the combination of a geothermal power plant and a concentrated solar field that can meet specific targets for lifetime energy production. According to the results, the proposed installation can merely contribute to the energy autonomy of the island grid during periods of low demand and provide energy security in periods of high energy consumption.
Torture and Its Definition in International Law—An Interdisciplinary Approach, by Metin Başoğlu

Torture and Its Definition in International Law—An Interdisciplinary Approach was edited by Metin Basoglu, and written by him and another sixteen experts in the medicolegal aspects of torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment (CIDT/P). The book has 506 pages and 16 chapters, which are organised into four parts: “Behavioral Science Perspectives”; “International Law Perspectives”; “Enhanced Interrogation Techniques: Definitional Issues”; and “Discussion and Conclusions”. The book is for health, legal and human rights professionals, beyond just those just working with victims of torture and CIDT/P, and is of interest to those who work with victims of other violent crimes, such as child abuse, interpersonal abuse, and forced displacement. The book raises many important questions.
Effect of particle length to width ratio on sieving accuracy and precision

Abstract The physical, hydrological, and physico-chemical properties of horticultural substrates are influenced by particle shape and size. Sieve analysis is the predominate method utilized to characterize the particle size distribution of horticultural substrates. However, the effect of particle length on sieve analysis results have only been speculated. Laser cut particles with eight different length to width (L:W) ratios were sorted by sieves for agitation times ranging from 1 min to 5 min. To quantify the effect of L:W ratio and agitation time, the means (mid-point) and standard deviations of particle distributions were compared. Particles with a 1:1 L:W ratio were the most accurately sorted particles, containing midpoints most similar to true sieve size. As particle length increased, distribution midpoints and standard deviation increased. Elongated particles, 2:1 L:W ratio and greater, may cause the particle size distribution to skew positively. Increasing agitation time influences the probability of a particle and open sieve aperture converging in an orientation which allows it passage and can improve sieve accuracy and precision. By improving the consistency of sieving protocols, the accuracy of sieve analysis could potentially be improved. However, alternative instruments should be evaluated to improve the characterization of horticultural substrates. If, in the future, the characteristics of elongated or complex-shaped particles are desired, it may prove more beneficial to refine engineering practices than rely on sieving to precisely sort and isolate them.
Definitions and Classifications

A thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysm is defined by dilatation of the aorta to a diameter that is at least 50%greater than the expected normal diameter at the diaphragmatic hiatus, with varying degrees of thoracic and abdominal extension. Because thoraco-abdominal aortic diameter varies from its most proximal section (just distal to the left subclavian artery) to its most distal section (which includes varying sections of the abdominal aorta), one must assess aortic diameter relative to nearby healthy sections of aortic tissue while accounting for the effects of age, sex, and body size. Thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysms should be interpreted in the context of their causes, the two most common of which are medial degeneration and aortic dissection. Aneurysms caused by aortic dissection can be further classified in terms of the extent of aortic involvement, acuity, and type of aortic wall disruption. For more than three decades, thoraco-abdominal aortic aneury sm repairs have been classified according to the extent of aortic replacement; the Crawford classification system facilitates risk stratification, helps surgeons plan the surgical approach and select protective adjuncts, and facilitates standardized reporting of results.
Accumulation of Carboxylate and Aromatic Fluorophores by a Pest-Resistant Sweet Sorghum [ Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] Genotype

The sugary juice from sweet sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] stalks can be used to produce edible syrup, biofuels, or bio-based chemical feedstock. The current cultivars are highly susceptible to damage from sugarcane aphids [Melanaphis sacchari (Zehntner)], but development of new cultivars is hindered by a lack of rapid analytical methods to screen for juice quality traits. The mechanism of aphid resistance/tolerance is also largely unknown, though the importance of defense phytochemicals has been suggested. The purpose of this study was to develop low-cost methods sensitive to fluorescent fingerprints in sweet sorghum juice, which is a complex mixture of saccharides, carboxylates, polyphenols, and metal ions. Of primary juice components, tryptophan and trans-aconitic acid were the highest intensity contributors to the overall fluorescence and UV/visible absorbance, respectively, while tyrosine and polyphenols contributed to a less extent. In a test of 24 sweet sorghum cultivars, tryptophan and tyrosine contents were the highest in the aphid-susceptible hybrid N109A x Chinese, while sucrose, trans-aconitic acid, and polyphenols were the highest in the resistant line No. 5 Gambela. This suggests that the accumulation of carboxylate (trans-aconitic acid) and polyphenolic secondary products in No. 5 Gambela may contribute to its aphid resistance, thus allowing it to maintain sucrose production. Rapid detection of these chemical signatures could be used to prescreen the breeding material for potential resistance and juice quality traits, without analytical separation required for metabolomics.
Adaptive Resonant Energy Realization in FB-ZCS DC-DC Converter Using Dual-Capacitor Circuit

This paper presents a current-fed full-bridge zero-current-switching (FB-ZCS) dc-dc converter with adaptive resonant energy, realized using dual-capacitor resonant circuit. In existing FB-ZCS converters, transformer leakage inductance and a resonant capacitor form the L-C resonant circuit to achieve smooth current commutation and soft-switching. Two types of resonant capacitor configurations are proposed in literature: shunt-connected across the transformer-secondary and series-connected with the transformer-primary. Shunt-connected capacitor has the drawbacks of constant resonant energy and large duty-cycle loss. While series-connected capacitor realizes adaptive resonant energy and reduces duty-cycle loss, it suffers from increased peak-voltage stress for primary-side components and insufficient resonant capacitor voltage at light-loads. This paper presents a dual-capacitor resonant circuit to realize adaptive resonant energy and address the aforementioned limitations. Operation of proposed converter is explained and validated through simulation and experimental results.