cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nonlinear model predictive control of an aircraft gas turbine engine

The feasibility of constrained nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC) with state estimation is investigated and applied to a high-fidelity turbojet aircraft engine model. Strong nonlinearities are present in turbojet aircraft engines due to the large range of operating conditions and power levels experienced during a typical mission. Also, turbine operation is restricted due to mechanical, aerodynamic, thermal, and flow limitations. NMPC is selected because it can explicitly handle the nonlinearities, and both input and state constraints of many variables in a single control formulation. Due to the computational requirements of NMPC and the fast dynamics of aircraft engines, a Simplified Real Time Model (SRTM) is created that captures all of the relevant dynamics while executing quickly. An Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) is applied to estimate the states in the presence of noise and limited sensor data. This output feedback controller is tested on a high-fidelity model of a military aircraft engine, showing that NMPC based on the simplified model has the potential to achieve better performance than the production controller.
PANAL: an integrated resource for Protein sequence ANALysis.

Summary: We present PANAL, an integrated resource for protein sequence analysis. The tool allows the user to simultaneously search a protein sequence for motifs from several databases, and to view the result as an intuitive graphical summary. Availability: PANAL can be freely accessed on our World Wide Web server: http:// mgd.ahc.umn.edu/ panal/ . Source code is available upon request to non-profit organizations.
Demonstration of an imbalance between coronary perfusion and excessive load as a mechanism of ischemia during stress in patients with aortic stenosis.

Patients with aortic stenosis are susceptible to myocardial ischemia during hemodynamic stress, which may be caused by two mechanisms. First, vascular abnormalities inherent in myocardial hypertrophy may impair coronary vasodilation, limiting the ability to increase coronary blood flow to meet increased metabolic demands. Second, aortic stenosis itself may cause an imbalance between oxygen supply and demand during hemodynamic stress by decreasing aortic pressure (decreasing coronary perfusion or oxygen supply) and increasing left ventricular pressure (increasing oxygen demand). By decreasing aortic valve gradient without immediately altering ventricular hypertrophy, aortic balloon valvuloplasty offers the opportunity to distinguish these mechanisms. We hypothesized that aortic valvuloplasty would improve the balance between myocardial oxygen supply and demand, especially during isoproterenol infusion. Nine patients undergoing aortic balloon valvuloplasty were assessed at baseline and during isoproterenol infusion (5 +/- 2 micrograms/min, mean +/- SD) before and after valvuloplasty. Valvuloplasty increased myocardial oxygen supply. After valvuloplasty, isoproterenol decreased diastolic pressure time index (DPTI) less and increased coronary sinus blood flow more than before valvuloplasty (-630 +/- 367 vs. -292 +/- 224 mm Hg.sec/min, p = 0.02 and 53 +/- 137 vs. 179 +/- 145 ml/min, p = 0.001, respectively). Valvuloplasty also decreased oxygen demand, decreasing systolic pressure time index (SPTI) from 4,135 +/- 511 to 3,021 +/- 492 mm Hg.sec/min (p = 0.0002). Valvuloplasty improved the balance between myocardial oxygen supply and demand, increasing baseline DPTI:SPTI, decreasing aortocoronary sinus oxygen content difference (0.51 +/- 0.15 to 0.68 +/- 0.14, p = 0.005 and 96 +/- 14 to 78 +/- 15 ml O2/l, p = 0.002, respectively), and decreasing myocardial lactate production during isoproterenol infusion (mean lactate extraction fraction, -0.26 +/- 0.40 to 0.14 +/- 0.17; p = 0.01). We conclude that aortic valvuloplasty improves the balance between myocardial oxygen supply and demand during hemodynamic stress induced by isoproterenol infusion. We speculate that the clinical improvement, which often occurs in these patients after valvuloplasty despite persistence of hemodynamically "critical" aortic stenosis, is in part attributable to immediate improvement in the myocardial oxygen supply:demand ratio.
Total knee arthroplasty in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome

The Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) are a rare group of connective tissue disorders characterized by severe joint hypermobility and instability. Ten patients with 12 primary knee arthroplasties were identified. Average age at time of surgery was 43.3 years, with follow-up data acquired at an average of 65 months after surgery. Primary indications for surgery were tibiofemoral or patellar instability (n = 8) and arthritis (n = 4). Knee Society Functional scores averaged 29.6 before surgery and 51.3 at time of interview (P<.005). Knee Society Knee scores at time of follow-up evaluation averaged 70. Tibiofemoral and patella stability were significantly improved. Arthroplasty appears to be an effective option for knee arthritis and instability in EDS patients, although results and satisfaction are lower than that reported for conventional arthroplasty indications.
How Pedagogy 2.0 Can Foster Teacher Preparation and Community Building in Special Education

This paper describes how one teacher educator used action research methodology to investigate the feasibility of using Web 2.0 technology to build a virtual professional learning community (PLC) in special education to support the preparation of highly qualified special education teachers. Study participants included 218 pre-service and in-service teachers who joined the virtual PLC over a four-year period. Data were collected using two Web 2.0 tools, wiki and Ning, and analyzed to evaluate the degree to which the virtual community met the essential characteristics of a PLC. The results showed that 200 of the 218 graduate students who joined the PLC as graduate students continued their membership after graduation but participated in community work as observers only, rarely if ever contributing anything to community growth and development. The implication of the results are discussed with respect to the importance of preparing teachers for service in today’s modern 21st Century academically diverse, inclusive learning communities.
Geospatial distribution of alcohol-related violence in Northern Virginia

This paper establishes a modeling framework for alcohol abuse that allows evaluation of interventions meant to reduce adverse effects of alcohol overuse without the financial, social and other costs of imposing interventions that are ultimately ineffective (or even simply not cost effective). The framework is ecological (individual agents and their activities are represented), stochastic (neither individual behavior nor consequences of interventions are certain) and flexible.
The Limits of Cost-Benefit Analysis in the Development of Database Privacy Policy in the United States

Most of the academic and policy debates have assumed that privacy law in the private sector should be driven by utilitarian concerns, and this inevitably reduces, in practice, to cost-benefit debates. In this paper, I explain why the costs of data proliferation will seldom be readily identifiable and why the benefits of data protection will seldom be quantifiable. I argue that cost-benefit analysis (CCBA) has only limited value in privacy debates, and that it should be de-emphasized and relegated to a 'helpful but not determinative' status.
The Effects of Previous Negotiators’ Performance, Negotiation Self-Efficacy, Cognitive Style, and Goal Orientation on Negotiators’ Risk Taking

While risk is an integral part of our lives, little is known about the factors that affect risk- taking behaviors in negotiations. To address this deficiency we designed an experiment to examine the effect of information about previous negotiators’ performance, negotiator self-efficacy, negotiator goal orientation, and negotiator cognitive style, upon negotiators’ risk-taking behaviors. We found that negotiators who were given information that past negotiators were roughly divided to two-those who achieved a high outcome and those who achieved a low outcome, took more risks that those who were given information that past negotiators achieved a moderate outcome. We also found that negotiators with lower negotiation self-efficacy, a performance-approach goal orientation, and an intuitive cognitive style, took more risks in the negotiation compared to other negotiators. We hope that this study gives direction for future research in this field that would help scholars to better understand what influences negotiators’ risk taking. The results may also assist negotiators in making better decisions about taking risks in negotiations.
Apparatus for Simultaneous Determination of Locomotor Activity in Multiple Treatments of Boll Weevils

An apparatus is described that was designed to simultaneously determine with replication the locomotor activity of multiple groups of Anthonomus grandis grandis Boheman. In evaluation of the effects of the variables time for response, number of boll weevils per replication, time of day of test, age of weevils, and cleanliness of test cages; optimum time for response was 20 min, optimum number of weevils per replication was 20 or less, and time of day of test, age of weevils, and cleanliness of test cages had no effect.
ON THE USE OF RIGGING ANGLE AND CANOPY TILT FOR CONTROL OF A PARAFOIL AND PAYLOAD SYSTEM

Controllable parafoil and payload aircraft are controlled with downward deflection of left and right parafoil brakes. Lateral control is obtained by differential deflection while longitudinal control is created by collective deflection of the left and right side parafoil brakes. The work reported considers an alternative method to control parafoil and payload air vehicles by tilting the parafoil canopy for lateral control and changing rigging angle for longitudinal control. Using a nonlinear 9 degree of freedom simulation model, it is shown that canopy tilt provides a powerful lateral control mechanism and rigging angle provides a viable longitudinal control mechanism. p p r q p , , : Components of angular velocity of parafoil in parafoil reference frame ) ( p . p b m
Abstract 711: In Hospital Complications After PCI After Insertion of DES versus BMS in the United States

Background: We evaluated the potential differences in patient complications and in-hospital mortality for patients who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with insertion of drug-eluting coronary artery stent (DES) versus those with insertion of bare metal stent (BMS) in the United States. Method: We used the Nationwide Inpatient Sample to examine differences in all-cause in-hospital mortality between DES versus BMS patients with a principal diagnosis of STEMI, NSTEMI and Coronary atherosclerosis ICD-9 codes. Bivariate and adjusted logistic regression analysis were used to identify any associations with DES versus BMS with increased subsequent complications and in-hospital mortality. Results: We identified 9140 admissions with PCI as a primary intervention, of which 85.03% native coronary artery stenosis, 5.9% presented with NSTEMI, 4.9% had STEMI, and 4.0% revascularized due to graft stenosis. Patients with graft stenosis and STEMI had the highest rates of BMS insertion (62% and 49%...
Engagement in knowledge production, authentication, and empowerment: A community-based participatory research project with Moroccan immigrants in Spain:

As frontline service providers, social workers need in-depth knowledge about Muslim immigrants to provide culturally and religiously informed services. The dynamic collaboration of Spanish social w...
Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor: signals for its mRNA accumulation

Granulocyte-monocyte colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is an important hematopoietic growth factor. Mesenchymal cells produce abundant GM-CSF in response to tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF). We wished to determine (1) what cellular pathways enhanced levels of GM-CSF mRNA, and (2) if TNF used any of these pathways. Modulation in levels of GM-CSF mRNA in human fibroblasts (WI-38) was studied by using Northern blot analysis. Markedly increased levels of GM-CSF mRNA occurred in these cells after exposure to sodium fluoride (NaF) and the effect of NaF was slightly enhanced by aluminum chloride; these results suggest that accumulation of GM-CSF mRNA can occur by activating a G-binding protein. Stimulators of protein kinase C dramatically increased levels of GM-CSF mRNA; however, blockade of protein kinase C activity did not attenuate accumulation of GM-CSF mRNA stimulated by TNF and NaF. Exposure to ouabain increased levels of GM-CSF mRNA and this effect was prominently enhanced in the presence of low concentrations of extracellular K+ and was almost abolished in high concentrations of extracellular K+. A monovalent ionophore (monensin) also increased levels of GM-CSF mRNA. Both ouabain and monensin can increase intracellular Ca++ concentration (Cai++) through Na+-Ca++ exchange. A calcium channel blocker (diltiazem) blocked the increased levels of GM-CSF mRNA mediated by ouabain, but could not block the stimulation mediated by TNF alpha. Ca++ ionophores also increased levels of GM-CSF mRNA and rapidly increased levels of Cai++. TNF did not increase Cai++ and, moreover, was able to stimulate accumulation of GM-CSF mRNA in the absence of extracellular Ca++. Taken together, we have found that several different cellular pathways can lead to prominent accumulation of GM-CSF mRNA in mesenchymal cells including (1) activation of protein kinase C, (2) increase in Cai++, and (3) stimulation of G-binding protein. Our studies show that TNF appears to increase levels of GM-CSF mRNA independent of protein kinase C activity or levels of Cai++.
Sacral Root Stimulation for Controlled Micturition: Prevention of Detrusor-External Sphincter Dyssynergia by Intraoperative Identification and Selective Section of Sacral Nerve Branches

Abstract Electrical stimulation of the S2 nerve root can be used to produce detrusor contraction and voiding in patients with spinal cord injury, but concurrent stimulation of the external urethral sphincter causes detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia. This has been managed with a second surgical procedure, peripheral transection of the pudendal nerve. In this study, performed in dogs after spinal cord transection, laminectomy and ventral foraminotomy permitted tracing of the S2 root into the pelvis, where its branches were identified by electrical stimulation and urodynamic recording. The pudendal (somatic) branch was sectioned; the autonomic branch innervating the detrusor was preserved. Electrical stimulation of the proximal S2 root then produced detrusor contraction without contraction of the external urethral sphincter. This approach, which requires a single operation and spares pudendal nerve functions mediated by nerve roots other than S2, may enable a neurostimulator to provide effective voiding, without detrusor-external sphincter dyssynergia, in man.
Medullary Endocannabinoids Contribute to the Differential Resting Baroreflex Sensitivity in Rats with Altered Brain Renin-Angiotensin System Expression

CB1 cannabinoid receptors are expressed on vagal afferent fibers and neurons within the solitary tract nucleus (NTS), providing anatomical evidence for their role in arterial baroreflex modulation. To better understand the relationship between the brain renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and endocannabinoid expression within the NTS, we measured dorsal medullary endocannabinoid tissue content and the effects of CB1 receptor blockade at this brain site on cardiac baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) in ASrAOGEN rats with low glial angiotensinogen, normal Sprague-Dawley rats and (mRen2)27 rats with upregulated brain RAS expression. Mass spectrometry revealed higher levels of the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol in (mRen2)27 compared to ASrAOGEN rats (2.70±0.28 vs. 1.17±0.09 ng/mg tissue; P < 0.01), while Sprague-Dawley rats had intermediate content (1.85 ± 0.27 ng/mg tissue). Microinjection of the CB1 receptor antagonist SR141716A (36 pmol) into the NTS did not change cardiac BRS in anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats (1.04±0.05 ms/mmHg baseline vs. 1.17±0.11 ms/mmHg after 10 min). However, SR141716A in (mRen2)27 rats dose-dependently improved BRS in this strain: 0.36 pmol of SR141716A increased BRS from 0.43±0.03 to 0.71±0.04 ms/mmHg (P < 0.001), and 36 pmol of SR141716A increased BRS from 0.47±0.02 to 0.94±0.10 ms/mmHg (P < 0.01). In contrast, 0.36 pmol (1.50±0.12 versus 0.86±0.08 ms/mmHg; P < 0.05) and 36 pmol (1.38±0.16 versus 0.46±0.003 ms/mmHg; P < 0.01) of SR141716A significantly reduced BRS in ASrAOGEN rats. These observations reveal differential dose-related effects of the brain endocannabinoid system that influence cardiovagal BRS in animals with genetic alterations in the brain RAS.
Association of Crossed Fused Renal Ectopia and Multicystic Kidney

AbstractA male newborn presented with mild azotemia, an abdominal mass and non-visualized right kidney on excretory urography. Evaluation, including ultrasound and surgical exploration, revealed the simultaneous occurrence of crossed fused renal ectopia and multicystic kidney.
Second-Order Systems

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the second-order system in detail, primarily utilizing the general second-order, rapid-response process controller. Expressions for its response to several common types of perturbation and measurement error are derived and, where appropriate, comparisons are made to those of the first-order, rapid-response process controller. The chapter also discusses a few specific second-order control decision rules. A second-order system is, by definition, a system which can be represented by a second-order difference equation. Therefore, a second-order, linear, time-invariant system is represented by a second-order, linear difference equation with constant coefficients.
Competition and Direct Access in New Zealand’S Electricity Market

Electricity markets are being radically transformed throughout the world. Starting with the pathbreaking restructuring of Chile’s electricity sector in 1982, several countries, including Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Colombia, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, and the UK, have undertaken reforms introducing commercial incentives into the generation, transmission, distribution and retailing of electricity, with, in many cases, large efficiency gains.1 These transformations have been undertaken against entrenched believes about network security and stability, economies of scale, and so on, that were the code-names of the engineering approach to electricity sector design. Instead, now the code-words are markets, forward contracts, power exchanges, ISO, and more recently direct access. As discussed in Bergara and Spiller (1997), a main component of the more radical reforms is the ability of consumers to have direct access to energy suppliers, or direct access, for short. In the absence of direct access distribution would remain a franchise monopoly. As such, the standard problems with regulated monopolies will persist, even where more enlightened regulatory structures may be developed for the distribution side of the industry. Regulated franchise monopolies, however, limit customer choice, innovation and the introduction of new products. Direct access, on the other hand, brings the potential of eliminating final price regulation, and focusing, instead, on the regulation of wires. This is a much simpler undertaking, and one where, as in telecommunications, regulating the negotiations between the wires company and the energy supplier could be sufficient to generate reasonable incentives at the distribution level, without having to grant any type of monopoly franchise.
Access granted: The imperative of innovation and standardization in information security

The management of digital identities, despite its potential to generate business value, creates significant engineering challenges for modern firms. In this paper, we first provide an architectural overview of identity and access management (IDAM) technologies along with an analysis of patenting activities to establish that the IDAM market segment dominates the information security sector. An empirical study, based on data pertaining to public firms with a significant share of the IDAM market, shows that regulations and the frequency of malicious attacks are strongly correlated with increasing demand. While demand for identity and access management products has been exponentially increasing, innovation has only been moving at a moderate rate after declining near the end of the market bubble of 2000. The stock market's valuation of IDAM firms, while controlling for overall market conditions, has consequently been fairly static since 2001 and has followed similar trends in other segments of the IT industry. We therefore propose a two-pronged strategy involving: (i) standardization efforts on the engineering front; and (ii) additional regulations to stimulate innovation by IDAM firms.
Universal sensor array for highly selective system identification using two-dimensional nanoparticles

A typical lock-and-key sensing strategy, relying only on the most dominant interactions between the probe and target, could be too limiting. In reality, the information received upon sensing is much richer. Non-specific events due to various intermolecular forces contribute to the overall received information with different degrees, and when analyzed, could provide a much more powerful detection opportunity. Here, we have assembled a highly selective universal sensor array using water-soluble two-dimensional nanoparticles (nGO, MoS2 and WS2) and fluorescent DNA molecules. The array is composed of 12 fluorescently silent non-specific nanoreceptors (2D-nps) and used for the identification of three radically different systems; five proteins, three types of live breast cancer cells and a structure-switching event of a macromolecule. The data matrices for each system were processed using Partial Least Squares (PLS) discriminant analysis. In all of the systems, the sensor array was able to identify each object or event as separate clusters with 95% confidence and without any overlap. Out of 15 unknown entities with unknown protein concentrations tested, 14 of them were predicted successfully with correct concentration. 8 breast cancer cell samples out of 9 unknown entities from three cell types were predicted correctly. During the assembly of each nanoprobe, the intrinsic non-covalent interactions between unmodified 2D nanoparticles and ssDNAs were exploited. The unmodified 2D materials offer remarkable simplicity in the layout and the use of ssDNAs as probes provides limitless possibilities because the natural interaction of a ssDNA and 2D surface can be fine-tuned with the nucleobase composition, oligonucleotide length and type of 2D nanomaterial. Therefore, the approach described here can be advanced and fine-tuned indefinitely for meeting a particular sensing criterion. Though we have only studied three distinct elements, this approach is universal enough to be applied to a wide-range of systems.
TEAM: A Low-Cost Alternative to ATLS for Providing Trauma Care Teaching in Haiti

Objective Trauma resuscitation protocols have unified the care of trauma patients and significantly improved outcomes. However, the success of the Advanced Trauma Life Support course is difficult to reproduce in developing countries due to set-up costs, limitations of resources, and variations of practice. The objective of this study is to assess the Trauma Evaluation and Management (TEAM) course as a low-cost alternative for trauma resuscitation teaching in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMIC). Design As part of the Team Broken Earth initiative, TEAM course was provided to the health care professionals in Haiti. At its conclusion, participants were asked to complete a survey evaluating the course. Qualitative and quantitative data were analyzed to evaluate the perception of the course. Setting The course was provided in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Participants A total of 80 health care professionals participated in the course. Response was obtained from 69 participants, which comprised of 32 physicians, 10 Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT), 22 nurses, and 5 medical trainees. Results The course was well received by physicians, nurses, and EMT with an average score of 90.6%. Question analysis revealed a lower satisfaction of physicians for the course manual and teaching materials, and information related to decisions for transfer of patients. EMT consistently felt that the course was not tailored to their learning and practice needs. Written feedback demonstrated several areas of weaknesses including need for improvements in translations, hands-on practice, and educational materials. Conclusions Overall, the TEAM course was well received. Analysis demonstrated a need for adjustments specific to LMIC including a focus on prehospital assessment, increased nursing responsibilities, and unavailability of specialist’s referrals. Team Broken Earth intends to take these findings into consideration and continue to provide the TEAM course to other LMIC.
Detection of c-di-GMP-Responsive DNA Binding

Modulation of signal transduction via binding of the secondary messenger molecule cyclic di-GMP to effector proteins is a near universal regulatory schema in bacteria. In particular, direct binding of c-di-GMP to transcriptional regulators has been shown to alter gene expression of a variety of processes. Here, we illustrate a pull-down-based DNA:protein binding reaction to determine the relative importance of c-di-GMP in the binding affinity of a target protein to specific DNA sequences. Specifically, the pull-down-based assay enables DNA binding to be analyzed with differing concentrations of c-di-GMP in the absence/presence of specific and nonspecific competitors.
SiGe HBT Profiles With Enhanced Inverse-Mode Operation and Their Impact on Single-Event Transients

The doping profile of silicon-germanium heterojunction bipolar transistors (SiGe HBTs) is modified to enhance inverse-mode (IM) device operation. Device improvements are presented in this paper, along with the impact the alterations have on the radiation effects response. This investigation represents the first published occurrence of a radiation-hardening-by-process approach in a SiGe HBT technology. Results show that improving IM performance can degrade the radiation tolerance of the structure. Total ionizing dose and single-event transient (SET) results are provided along with an analysis that utilizes TCAD simulation. An additional profile modification using an implanted vertical superjunction is included in this paper to expand upon how nonradiation specific device modifications can impact SETs.
Coefficient of friction between Carboxymethylated Hyaluronic acid-based polymer films and the ocular surface

Purpose Hyaluronic acid-based polymer films are emerging as drug-delivery vehicles for local and continuous drug administration to the eye. The highly lubricating hyaluronic acid increases comfort, but displaces films from the eye, reducing drug exposure and efficacy. Previous studies have shown that careful control of the surface interaction of the film with the eye is critical for improved retention. Methods In this study, the frictional interaction of a carboxymethylated, hyaluronic acid-based polymer (CMHA-S) with and without methylcellulose was quantified against ovine and human sclera at three axial loads (0.3, 0.5, and 0.7 N) and four sliding velocities (0.3, 1.0, 10, and 30 mm/s). Results Static coefficients of friction significantly increased with rate (P < 0.003), ranging between 0.18 ± 0.08 and 0.46 ± 0.13 for 0.3 to 30 mm/s, respectively. Friction became more rate-dependent when methylcellulose was added to CMHA-S. Kinetic coefficient of friction was not affected by rate, and averaged 0.15 ± 0.1. Methylcellulose increased CMHA-S static and kinetic friction by 60% and 80%, respectively, but was also prone to wear during testing. Conclusions These data suggest that methylcellulose can be used to create a friction differential on the film, but a potentially increased degradation rate with the methylcellulose must be considered in the design.
Poisoned Praise: Discounted Praise Backfires and Undermines Subordinate Impressions in the Minds of the Powerful

High-power people frequently receive compliments from subordinates, yet little is known about how high-power people respond to praise. The current research addresses this gap in the empirical literature by testing the primary hypothesis that high-power people discount others’ praise more than equal- and low-power people. Secondary hypotheses also tested whether high-power people’s tendency to discount positive feedback would paradoxically heighten negative perceptions of others. Evidence from two experiments (one preregistered) reveals that high-power participants discounted feedback from others more than low- and equal-power participants. However, high-power people’s tendency to discount feedback only produced negative partner perceptions when positive feedback, but not neutral feedback, was discounted. These results suggest that compliments may sometimes backfire and lead high-power people to discount praise and form negative impressions of subordinates.
Efficiently Sampling Probabilistic Programs via Program Analysis

Probabilistic programs are intuitive and succinct representations of complex probability distributions. A natural approach to performing inference over these programs is to execute them and compute statistics over the resulting samples. Indeed, this approach has been taken before in a number of probabilistic programming tools. In this paper, we address two key challenges of this paradigm: (i) ensuring samples are well distributed in the combinatorial space of the program, and (ii) efficiently generating samples with minimal rejection. We present a new sampling algorithm Qi that addresses these challenges using concepts from the field of program analysis. To solve the first challenge (getting diverse samples), we use a technique called symbolic execution to systematically explore all the paths in a program. In the case of programs with loops, we systematically explore all paths up to a given depth, and present theorems on error bounds on the estimates as a function of the path bounds used. To solve the second challenge (efficient samples with minimal rejection), we propagate observations backward through the program using the notion of Dijkstra’s weakest preconditions and hoist these propagated conditions to condition elementary distributions during sampling. We present theorems explaining the mathematical properties of Qi, as well as empirical results from an implementation of the algorithm. Appearing in Proceedings of the 16 International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Statistics (AISTATS) 2013, Scottsdale, AZ, USA. Volume 31 of JMLR: W&CP 31. Copyright 2013 by the authors.
Non-reciprocal photonics (Conference Presentation)

In this talk, we discuss our recent progress in the area of non-reciprocal photonics, discussing approaches to break reciprocity without magnetic bias, using temporal modulation schemes or nonlinearities. We will discuss our progress in the synthesis of non-reciprocal devices based on these principles, and arrays of them to enable topological bandgaps with non-reciprocal response.
Object Discovery and Localization Via Structural Contrast

This paper explores structural contrast of object proposal for unsupervised object discovery. In this paper, an object proposal is considered as distinctive to the others in an image based on the structural uniqueness and distribution. A symmetric Kullback-Leibler (KL) distance metric is proposed to measure the difference between the distributions of structured edges. The computation of this distance metric is fully unsupervised, without any image level annotation or any labeling of visual semantics. Inspired by the pixel-level saliency filtering, a contrast-based saliency assignment is introduced to model the uniqueness and distribution distinctiveness of an object proposal as structural contrast. Visual objects can be discovered and localized by the proposals with the highest ranked structural contrast. Experiments evaluated on PascaiVOC07 demonstrate that the proposed unsupervised method outperforms the state-of-the-art unsupervised and weakly-supervised methods.
Listeriolysin O: A phagosome-specific cytolysin revisited.

Listeriolysin O (LLO) is an essential determinant of Listeria monocytogenes pathogenesis that mediates the escape of L. monocytogenes from host cell vacuoles, thereby allowing replication in the cytosol without causing appreciable cell death. As a member of the cholesterol-dependent cytolysin (CDC) family of pore-forming toxins, LLO is unique in that it is secreted by a facultative intracellular pathogen, whereas all other CDCs are produced by pathogens that are largely extracellular. Replacement of LLO with other CDCs results in strains that are extremely cytotoxic and 10,000-fold less virulent in mice. LLO has structural and regulatory features that allow it to function intracellularly without causing cell death, most of which map to a unique N-terminal region of LLO referred to as the proline, glutamic acid, serine, threonine (PEST)-like sequence. Yet, while LLO has unique properties required for its intracellular site of action, extracellular LLO, like other CDCs, affects cells in a myriad of ways. Because all CDCs form pores in cholesterol-containing membranes that lead to rapid Ca2+ influx and K+ efflux, they consequently trigger a wide range of host cell responses, including mitogen-activated protein kinase activation, histone modification, and caspase-1 activation. There is no debate that extracellular LLO, like all other CDCs, can stimulate multiple cellular activities, but the primary question we wish to address in this perspective is whether these activities contribute to L. monocytogenes pathogenesis.
Equal Rights Amendment

In 1972, a proposed amendment to the national Constitution was approved by Congress and submitted to the states. The proposed provision, which was popularly known as the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), declared that “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.” The ERA has been depicted as an indispensable tool in the campaign to eliminate gender differentiations in the law of the country and in the facets of social life (e.g., employment) to which this law is applied. The present chapter contends, with supporting demographic data, that the ERA did not become part of the Constitution because during the period (1972–1982) when states were deciding whether to ratify it, the societal place of women differed materially from the societal place of men. Although substantial movement toward convergence was occurring in the social position of women and the social position of men, American society as a whole had not yet undergone much of the gender-relevant societal change that took place after the midpoint of the twentieth century.
Sparse Regression and Adaptive Feature Generation for the Discovery of Dynamical Systems

We study the performance of sparse regression methods and propose new techniques to distill the governing equations of dynamical systems from data. We first look at the generic methodology of learning interpretable equation forms from data, proposed by Brunton et al., followed by performance of LASSO for this purpose. We then propose a new algorithm that uses the dual of LASSO optimization for higher accuracy and stability. In the second part, we propose a novel algorithm that learns the candidate function library in a completely data-driven manner to distill the governing equations of the dynamical system. This is achieved via sequentially thresholded ridge regression (STRidge) over a orthogonal polynomial space. The performance of the three discussed methods is illustrated by looking the Lorenz 63 system and the quadratic Lorenz system.
Porosity and carbon dioxide storage capacity of the Maryville–Basal sands section (middle Cambrian), Southern Appalachian Basin, Kentucky

The middle Cambrian Maryville–Basal sands in the interval of 4600–4720 ft (1402.1–1438.7 m) in the Kentucky Geological Survey 1 Hanson Aggregates well (i.e., muddy sandstones separated by sandy mudstones) were evaluated to determine effective porosity (φe), clay volume (Vc), and supercritical CO2 storage capacity. Average porosity and permeability measured in core plugs were 8.71% porosity and 2.17 md permeability in the Maryville sand and 10.61% porosity and 15.79 md permeability in the Basal sand. The φe and Vc were calculated from the density log using a multiple-matrix shaly sand model to identify four formation lithologies: muddy sandstone, sandy mudstone, dolomitic mudstone, and dolomitic claystone. Average φe and Vc calculated in the Maryville sand were 8.9% and 35.3%, respectively, and an average of 8.7% and 41.2% in the Basal sand, respectively. Calculated φe exhibits a good match with porosity measured in core plugs. Prior to step-rate testing, static reservoir pressure was 2020 psi (13.9 MPa), representing a 0.435 psi/ft (9.8 kPa/m) hydrostatic gradient, which is consistent with other underpressured reservoirs in Kentucky. The interval fractured at 2698 psi (18.0 MPa), yielding a fracture gradient of 0.581 psi/ft (12.7 kPa/m). Pressure falloff analysis suggests a dual-porosity/dual-permeability reservoir consistent with core data. Estimated 50th percentile supercritical CO2 storage volume supercritical CO2 storage volume, using 7% porosity cutoff for determining net reservoir volume, is 0.538 tons/ac (1.33 t/ha). Thin reservoir sands, low porosity and permeability, and low fracture gradient, however, preclude the Maryville–Basal sands as large-volume deep-saline CO2 storage reservoirs in this area.
Synthesis of N‐Substituted Carbonylamino‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridines as Potential Antiinflammatory Agents.

A series of novel tetrahydropyridinesis prepared following 2 slightly different synthetic strategies with pyridinium ylides (III) and (VII) as key intermediates.
Progressive Renal Failure with Lymphopenia

Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is an X-linked disorder characterized by increased susceptibility to infection, combined immunodeficiency, thrombocytopenia, and eczema X-linked thrombocytopenia (XLT) is a milder form of the disease characterized by congenital thrombocytopenia and mild eczema Immunodeficiency in WAS and XLT varies greatly, and abnormalities include impaired T cell function, decreased NK cytotoxicity, abnormal immunoglobulin levels, and impaired IgG2 response to polysaccharide vaccines The confirmatory tests for WAS or XLT is through WAS protein flow cytometry and genetic analysis of the WAS gene for mutations For patients with classical WAS, HLA-matched HSCT is the treatment of choice and is considered curative Choice of HSCT for XLT is dependent on the individual case, specific genetic mutation, and disease burden Emerging treatments include gene therapy
Associations between social media displays and event-specific alcohol consumption by college students.

Background The Mifflin Street Block Party is a yearly Wisconsin event known for high levels of alcohol consumption and previous negative outcomes. This study investigated displayed Mifflin references on Facebook and their association with alcohol consumption at the block party. Methods Participants included first-year college students who were enrolled in a longitudinal study involving Facebook profile assessments and interviews. We identified a subset of participants who were interviewed within 28 days following the Mifflin St Block Party. Participants were categorized as "Mifflin Displayers" or "Non-displayers" based on Facebook profile content. Interviews included the timeline follow-back method to assess alcohol use in the past 28 days. Analysis included logistic and linear regression. Results Among the 66 participants included in this study, 45 (68.2%) were female and 38 (50%) were Mifflin Displayers on Facebook. Among the Mifflin Displayer participants, 18 (27.2%) displayed prior to Mifflin, 11 displayed the day of Mifflin (16.7%) and 19 (28.8%) displayed after. Some participants displayed in more than 1 time frame. A total of 40 (60.6%) reported alcohol use on the day of the Mifflin Street Block Party. The mean number of drinks reported on the day of Mifflin was 8.8 (SD = 6.1), with a range of 1 to 35. Displayed references to Mifflin on Facebook were positively associated with reporting alcohol use at Mifflin (OR = 20.9, 95% CI 5.6-78.8). Conclusion Displaying Facebook references to Mifflin was associated with alcohol consumption on the day of the event. Future prevention efforts could consider creating Facebook advertisements with safety messages triggered by Mifflin displays.
Metaphors for social media‐enhanced foreign language teaching and learning

As L2 (foreign and second language) instructors and materials designers are faced with online and distance learning mandates, new perspectives on how to use familiar, everyday technologies that learners can access from home like social media are welcome. Imagining these new uses, however, may require going beyond the traditional computer‐assisted language learning (CALL) metaphors of computer‐as‐tutor or tool, which were established before social media. This article outlines four new metaphors that better capture the new user dynamics of social media: windows, mirrors, doorways, and playgrounds. After a discussion of the brief history of CALL metaphors, these new metaphors are presented with support from research alongside ideas for L2 teaching and learning
A Review of Vitamin D in Spinal Surgery: Deficiency Screening, Treatment, and Outcomes

In this review, we discuss the demonstrated value of vitamin D in bone maintenance, fracture resistance, spinal health, and spine surgery outcomes. Despite this, the effect of vitamin D levels in spine surgery has not been well described. Through this review of literature, several conclusions were drawn. First, despite the fact that a high number of spine surgery patients are vitamin D deficient, screening is not commonly performed. Second, adequate vitamin D levels will not be achieved in a majority of these patients without supplementation. Last, inadequate vitamin D levels may increase the risk of pseudarthrosis. Given these findings, we suggest that many patients undergoing spinal surgery could be treated with vitamin D supplementation prior to surgery without the need for confirmatory testing for vitamin D deficiency. This is a more cost-effective method than screening all patients. However, future randomized trials and cost-effectiveness analyses are needed to determine the ultimate effects of vitamin D supplementation on clinical morbidity and surgical outcomes.
The Social, Political, and Economic Effects of the Affordable Care Act: Introduction to the Issue

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly referred to as the ACA and signed into law on March 23, 2010, was the most significant reform of the American health-care system since the passage of Medicare and Medicaid a half century earlier. As former President Barack Obama noted in his
“Just one person in the middle”: Ethics and political social work practice

Political social workers and other policy practitioners frequently lack explicit guidance from the NASW Code of Ethics as to how to navigate difficult ethical choices. This secondary analysis of qualitative data explores ways in which social work students encounter ethical challenges when practicing in a political setting. Secondary analysis was conducted with data from interviews with social work students. Interviews took place after students concluded an immersive field placement in a Southern part-time state legislature. Transcripts were coded deductively, with the NASW (2017) Code of Ethics’ six core values as an agreed-upon coding schema, using latent thematic analysis. Data also were examined to identify teleological or deontological approaches to ethical decision-making. Themes emerged relating to each of the profession’s core values. These include four themes related to social justice and to competence, three themes related to the importance of human relationships and to integrity, and one theme each related to service and to dignity and worth of the person. Both the absolutist deontological and the morally relativistic teleological approaches were evident in transcripts, with students tending to prefer one. Social work education must better prepare students and practitioners for the ethical challenges of practice in political and policy-making spaces. Challenges that emerge in practice of a political nature should be considered during the next Code of Ethics revisions.
Triglyceride-rich lipoproteins and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk: current status and treatments.

Purpose of review The role of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRLs) in the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is at the forefront of current research and treatment development programs. Despite extreme lowering of LDL-cholesterol there remains a high risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. Recent large epidemiological, genomic wide association studies and Mendelian randomization studies have identified novel mechanisms and targets regulating TRL. This review will focus on recent and ongoing clinical trials that aim to reduce cardiovascular risk by decreasing plasma levels of TRL. Recent findings Ongoing efforts of basic and clinical scientist have described novel TRL regulating mechanism. The concentration on lifestyle changes is key to prevention and treatment guidelines. There is continue evidence that supports previous guidelines using fibrates alone and in combination with niacin to reduce TRLs, in special cases. The recent results from the REDUCE-IT study support the use of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) for risk reduction and ASCVD, but recently presented data from the Long-Term Outcome Study to Assess Statin Residual Risk Reduction With Epanova in High Cardiovascular Risk Patients with Hypertriglyceridemia and Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Elderly Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction studies do not support the use of combination EPA/docosahexaenoic acid. The latter highlights the need for further studies into the pathways regulating ASCVD risk reduction after EPA administration. The identification of novel targets, such as apolipoprotein C3 and angiopoietin-like protein-3, are driving the development of novel treatments, and is the focus of this review. Summary The current management of elevated triglyceride levels and the effect on cardiovascular outcomes is an emerging area of research. New data from fish oil studies suggest differences in EPA vs. EPA/docosahexaenoic acid cardio protection outcomes. The preliminary data from ongoing clinical trials of novel triglyceride-lowering therapeutics are promising. These programs will ultimately provide foundations for future triglyceride-lowering guidelines.