cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Survey Study to Understand Industry Vision for Virtual and Augmented Reality Applications in Design and Construction.

With advances in Building Information Modeling (BIM), Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies have many potential applications in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry. However, the AEC industry, relative to other industries, has been slow in adopting AR/VR technologies, partly due to lack of feasibility studies examining the actual cost of implementation versus an increase in profit. The main objectives of this paper are to understand the industry trends in adopting AR/VR technologies and identifying gaps between AEC research and industry practices. The identified gaps can lead to opportunities for developing new tools and finding new use cases. To achieve these goals, two rounds of a survey at two different time periods (a year apart) were conducted. Responses from 158 industry experts and researchers were analyzed to assess the current state, growth, and saving opportunities for AR/VR technologies for the AEC industry. The authors used t-test for hypothesis testing. The findings show a significant increase in AR/VR utilization in the AEC industry over the past year from 2017 to 2018. The industry experts also anticipate strong growth in the use of AR/VR technologies over the next 5 to 10 years.
Neuropathological Features of Covid-19.

Brain Autopsy Series in Patients with Covid-19 Eighteen brains of patients who died 0 to 32 days after the onset of symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection showed hypoxic–ischemic changes but no encephali...
The impact of travel and timing in eliminating COVID-19

While the spread of communicable diseases such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is often analyzed assuming a well-mixed population, more realistic models distinguish between transmission within and between geographic regions. A disease can be eliminated if the region-to-region reproductive number—i.e., the average number of other regions to which a single infected region will transmit the disease—is reduced to less than one. Here we show that this region-to-region reproductive number is proportional to the travel rate between regions and exponential in the length of the time-delay before region-level control measures are imposed. If, on average, infected regions (including those that become re-infected in the future) impose social distancing measures shortly after experiencing community transmission, the number of infected regions, and thus the number of regions in which such measures are required, will exponentially decrease over time. Elimination will in this case be a stable fixed point even after the social distancing measures have been lifted from most of the regions. Large-scale containment measures that reduce the spread of COVID-19 have proven to have too large an impact on both the economy and our mental health to be sustainable in the long term. Here, the authors show that travel reductions between geographical regions and timely local control measures can reduce the region-to-region reproduction number below one, thus eliminating the epidemic and preventing recurrent waves without the need for long-term lockdown measures.
Strength of stochastic fibrous materials under multiaxial loading

Many biological and engineering materials are made from fibers organized in the form of a stochastic crosslinked network, and the mechanics of the network controls the behavior of the material. In this work we investigate the strength of stochastic networks without pre-existing damage which fail due to crosslink rupture. Athermal networks ranging from approximately affine to strongly non-affine are subjected to multiaxial loading and the strength is evaluated using numerical models. It is observed that once the stress is normalized by the strength measured in uniaxial tension, the failure surface becomes approximately independent of network parameters. This extends the relation between strength and network parameters previously established in (S. Deogekar, M. R. Islam, R. C. Picu, Parameters controlling the strength of stochastic fibrous materials, Int. J. Solids Struct., 2019, 168, 194–202) to the multiaxial case. The failure surface depends on both first two invariants of the stress. Strongly non-affine networks behave somewhat different from the affine networks under loadings close to the hydrostatic and pure shear loading modes, while the difference disappears in the first quadrant of the principal stress space. The results are compared with experimental data from the literature.
Rural poverty, violence, and power: Rejecting and endorsing gender mainstreaming by food security NGOs in Armenia and Georgia

Abstract Gender mainstreaming (GM) is a strategy to empower women and promote gender equality. Using mixed-methods, this study draws on perspectives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Armenia and Georgia to investigate NGOs’ resistance to, versus embrace of, GM in rural development and agriculture (electronic surveys, 215 NGOs; in-person interviews, 53 NGOs). Applying Bourdieu's theory of field-habitus, and intersectionality as critical praxis, we suggest that NGO leaders' social belonging along with field-related experiences explain how GM is understood and endorsed. In Armenia and Georgia, GM without intersectionality – the critical inclusion of rural women’s empowerment and equality -- enforces a reductionist interpretation of social classifications. Analysis reveals that social belonging of NGO leaders is a determinant for choosing constituents: female NGO leaders include rural women; male leaders, rural men. Field practices are pivotal for formal adoption of GM (e.g. adhering to funders’ requirements, affiliation to international NGOs, engagement in feminist activism). Concurrently, internalization of social power structures grounds NGO leaders' thinking about gender equality. Respondents express three distinct narratives on GM urgency depending upon leaders' gender and organizations' self-reported feminist orientation. First, only female leaders of self-identified feminist NGOs support GM necessity in response to economic and political shocks that reinforce patriarchal dynamics. For feminist NGOs, violence against women intertwines with other rural livelihood threats. Intersectionality as critical praxis guides addressing gender-based rural inequalities. Second, female leaders of non-feminist NGOs employ GM primarily to improve rural households' wellbeing by targeting women in unpaid and new ventures. Rural household vulnerability outweighs gender-based inequality concerns. Third, interviewed male NGO leaders do not identify as feminist. They grudgingly accept GM as funders’ burdensome requirement that, given other rural challenges, overemphasizes women’s equality and engagement. Beyond discussion of “how to do” gender or equality mainstreaming, this study emphasizes agents' identity and orientation.
Task Sequencing in Frame-Based CPS

We introduce a simple figure-of-merit (foM) to schedule task executions in frame-based CPS workloads. The objective is to more effectively harvest slack released by early task completions. The foM is derived based on task execution time probability density functions (obtained by profiling). A nominal voltage/frequency is assigned to each task based on its activity factor; the aim is to keep power consumption reasonably steady. Simulation results show that this approach lengthens battery lifetime and reduces thermally-induced processor aging.
Comparison of linezolid step-down therapy to standard parenteral therapy in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections.

ABSTRACT Data supporting oral step-down therapy in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infection (BSI) are sparse; linezolid offers potential in this setting. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness and safety of oral step-down linezolid compared with standard parenteral therapy (SPT) in MRSA-BSI. This was a retrospective cohort performed in adults receiving step-down/outpatient linezolid or SPT (vancomycin, daptomycin) for MRSA-BSI from 2011–2019. Primary outcome was 90-day infection-related re-admission (IRR) from clinical worsening/relapse or infection recurrence. 215 patients included (54 linezolid, 161 SPT). Infection sources were skin (34%), bone/joint (15%), endocarditis (13%), other (32%), multiple (6%). Patients receiving SPT more commonly had complicated bacteraemia (72% vs. 41%; P
Invisible Plastic Optics: High Performance Fluoropolymer Anti-Reflection Coatings

We demonstrate graded index nanoporous fluoropolymer anti-reflection (AR) coatings for plastic optics that enable <0.5% reflectance from acrylic plastic over the 0.4-2 µm wavelength range for incidence angles up to 40o. Coatings tailored for the visible spectrum yield <0.1 % luminous reflectance, effectively rendering double-side coated plastics invisible under room lighting conditions. Adhesion to most optical plastics, pliability that prevents cracking, outstanding chemical and environmental durability, and compatibility with commercial vacuum coating systems should enable this AR technology to find widespread practical use.
The knowledge gap on social media: Examining roles of engagement and networks:

The knowledge gap hypothesis predicts that information inequity will be amplified rather than attenuated by the media. Previous research has focused on the role of mass media exposure and has not e...
Risk of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) acquisition during ambulance transport: A retrospective propensity-score-matched cohort analysis.

Objective To estimate the relative risk (RR) of developing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) colonization or infection within 30 days of ambulance transport. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients with a principal diagnosis of chest pain presenting to our emergency department (ED) over a 4-year period. Patients were included if they presented from and were discharged to nonhealthcare locations without being admitted. Encounters were stratified by arrival mechanism: ambulance versus private vehicle. We performed propensity score matching and multivariable logistic regression to estimate the RR for the primary outcome. Results In total, 321,229 patients had ED encounters during the study period. After applying inclusion criteria and propensity score matching, there were 11,324 patients: 3,903 in the ambulance group and 7,421 in the unexposed group. Among them, 12 patients (0.11%) had the outcome of interest, including 9 (0.08%) with MRSA and 3 (0.03%) with VRE. The 30-day prevalence of MRSA or VRE was larger in the ambulance group than in the unexposed group: 8 (0.20%) and 4 (0.05%), respectively (P = .02). Patients who presented to the ED via ambulance were almost 4 times more likely to have MRSA or VRE within 30 days of their encounter (RR, 3.72; 95% CI, 1.09-12.71; P = .04). Conclusions Our cohort study is the first to demonstrate an association between ambulance exposure and pathogen incidence, representing the first step in evaluating medical-transport-associated infection burden to eventually develop interventions to address it.
Measuring Clinical Legal Education's Employment Outcomes

This Article examines evidence of a possible link between learning opportunities in law school and J.D. employment outcomes. It responds to a paper by Jason Yackee that finds, using 2013 data from top 100 ranked schools, “not much evidence” that law clinic opportunities are likely to improve a school’s graduates’ employment outcomes and suggesting that those opportunities may even harm employment prospects. The Article reexamines Yackee’s methodological approach and then looks beyond both law clinics and his statistical models. The expanded empirical analysis finds it is not possible to draw any reliable conclusion from his models about the likely effects of law clinic courses, or other activities like law journal and interschool skills competitions, on employment outcomes, and surely not any negative suggestion about clinic opportunities or participation. The most realistic conclusion from available data is that nationwide models provide inconclusive results, as they do not achieve statistical significance and yield both positive and inverse relationships depending on the year of graduation, control variables, and outliers. In fact, other evidence shows that law clinic experiences are important to potential employers and do aid some students in securing employment.
Two new approaches toward linkage heterogeneity of FAD : two-locus models and age of onset as a discriminator

We present two new approaches to the problem of genetic heterogeneity encountered in linkage analysis of familial Alzheimer's disease. We used two-locus models to represent the possible existence of two disease genes while allowing for intrafamilial heterogeneity, and modeled the occurrence of the early onset form of the disease with epistasis. We developed a mixture model of heterogeneity where the early and late onset family types can be either linked to chromosome 19, 21, or unlinked, and where it is not necessary to arbitrarily preclassify a family into an early or late onset family type
Postsettlement Changes in Natural Fire Regimes and Forest Structure: Ecological Restoration of Old-Growth Ponderosa Pine Forests

Heavy livestock grazing, logging, and fire exclusion associated with Euro-American settlement has brought about substantial changes in forest conditions in western forests. Thus, old-growth definitions based on current forest conditions may not be compatible with the natural conditions prevalent throughout the evolutionary history of western forest types. Detailed analysis of data from two study areas in the southwestern ponderosa pine type suggests that average tree densities have increased from as few as 23 trees per acre in presettlement times to as many as 851 trees per acre today. Associated with these increases in tree density are increases in canopy closure, vertical fuel continuity, and surface fuel loadings resulting in fire hazards over large areas never reached before settlement. In addition, fire exclusion and increased tree density has likely decreased tree vigor (increasing mortality from disease, insect, drought, etc.), herbaceous and shrub production, aesthetic values, water availability a...
Classification of interacting electronic topological insulators in three dimensions

A fundamental open problem in condensed-matter physics is how the dichotomy between conventional and topological band insulators is modified in the presence of strong electron interactions. We show that there are six interacting electronic topological insulators that have no noninteracting counterpart. Combined with the previously known band insulators, these produce a total of eight topologically distinct phases. Two of the six interacting topological insulators can be described as Mott insulators in which the electron spins form spin analogs of the topological band insulator. The remaining phases are obtained as combinations of these two "topological paramagnets" and the topological band insulator. We prove that these eight phases form a complete list of all possible interacting topological insulators and discuss their experimental signatures.
ECoG Based Brain Computer Interface with Subset Selection

We describe an adaptive approach for the classification of multichannel neural recordings for a brain computer interface. A dual-tree undecimated wavelet packet transform generates a structured redundant feature dictionary with different time-frequency resolutions computed on multichannel neural recordings. Rather than evaluating the individual discrimination performance of each electrode or candidate feature, the proposed approach implements a wrapper strategy combined with pruning to select a subset of features from the structured dictionary by evaluating the classification performance of their combination. The pruning stage and wrapper combination enables the algorithm to select a subset of the most informative features coming from different cortical areas and/or time frequency locations with faster speeds, while guaranteeing high generalization capability and lower error rates. We show experimental classification results on the ECoG data set of BCI competition 2005. The proposed approach achieved a classification accuracy of 93% by using only three features. This is a marked improvement over other reported approaches that use all electrodes or require manual selection of sensor subsets and feature indices and at best achieve slightly lower classification accuracies.
The Restoration Remembered: The First Whigs and the Making of their History

(2002). The Restoration Remembered: The First Whigs and the Making of their History. The Seventeenth Century: Vol. 17, No. 2, pp. 213-234.
Intertextual stancetaking and the local negotiation of cultural identities by a binational couple1

Recent approaches to stance emphasize the dialogic nature of stancetaking, drawing attention to turn-by-turn negotiation of stance. This study expands that view by focusing upon cases where the stancetaker responds not to a stance in the immediately prior turn, but to prior stances in the ongoing relationship between interlocutors, to construct distinct identities. The data come from a sociolinguistic interview conducted with a couple who constructed contrasting identities through stances related to cultural differences. I examine the linguistic strategies this couple uses to take divergent stances: constructed dialogue; verb tense; and time adverbials. I introduce the term constructed stance in parallel with constructed dialogue. Analysis of stances taken by attributing a stance to oneself or another through constructed dialogue supplements previous research by demonstrating how a longitudinal dimension can be introduced even with a single interaction as data source. This underscores how local stances can contribute to more enduring identities.
Regulation of Exocellular Proteases in Neurospora crassa: Role of Neurospora Proteases in Induction

Cells of Neurospora crassa strain 74A, grown on sucrose for 12 h and transferred to a medium containing protein as sole carbon source, would not produce exocellular protease in significant amounts. When a filtrate from a culture induced to make protease by normal growth on a medium containing protein as principal carbon source was added to an exponential-phase culture in protein medium, exocellular protease was made in amounts similar to those made during normal induction. The material in the culture filtrate that participated in the induction process was identified as protease by its heat lability, molecular weight, and the dependence of induction rate on units of proteolytic activity added to the exponential-phase culture. Induction of the formation of exocellular protease by exponential-phase cells appears to require a protein substrate, added proteolytic activity, and protein synthesis. The protease produced by induced exponential-phase cells was as efficient in promoting induction as normally induced enzyme, whereas constitutive intracellular enzyme was only 50% as efficient. The bacterial protease thermolysin was able to induce exocellular protease at 90.7% of the rate observed with added N. crassa exocellular protease.
Transplantation: Pediatric kidney donation after cardiac death

A Dutch study has evaluated the outcomes after transplantation of kidneys from pediatric patients after cardiac death. Such programs instigate ethical debate regarding the classification of donors, and raise questions about the suitability of protocols for determining when an individual can be declared dead, and thus, can donate their organs.
Ground-state of the linear anisotropic antiferromagnetic Heisenberg chain with nearest and next-nearest neighbor interactions

Abstract Using a modified Lanczos scheme, we evaluate the ground state properties of a sixteen-site one-dimensional spin- 1 2 Heisenberg antiferromagnet. We consider the case with nearest-neighbor antiferromagnetic interactions and next-nearest-neighbor ferromagnetic interactions as well as anisotropy. Comparisons are made with other exact results in the appropriate regions of parameter space.
The role of progesterone in regulating human granulosa cell proliferation and differentiation in vitro

To further elucidate the role of progesterone in regulating granulosa cell function, human granulosa and luteal cells were obtained from follicular aspirates of women undergoing in vitro fertilization and placed in culture. Cells plated at 5 x 10(3) cells/mL doubled after 3 days. In contrast, cells plated at 50 x 10(3) cells/mL did not proliferate, but differentiated, secreting high levels of progesterone. Cells plated at 5 x 10(3) cells/mL and cultured with spent medium from cells plated at 50 x 10(3) cells/mL did not increase in number over 3 days of culture. The growth-inhibiting action of the spent medium was removed by either RU 486 (a progesterone receptor antagonist) or charcoal extraction, but not by heat inactivation. The addition of progesterone to fresh medium also prevented cell proliferation. Progesterone's ability to inhibit cell division was attenuated by either RU 486 or aminoglutethamide, which blocked progesterone synthesis. Further, epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulated cell proliferation, and continuous exposure to progesterone blocked EGF-induced mitosis. When progesterone was added 2 h after EGF, it did not block EGF-stimulated cell proliferation. Progesterone also increased the percentage of granulosa cells and decreased the percentage of large luteal cells present after 3 days of culture, indicating that progesterone inhibited differentiation. Progesterone's effect on differentiation was dose dependent, reversible, and could be overridden by hCG or 8-bromo-cAMP. These observations suggest that progesterone acts directly on granulosa cells through its receptor to inhibit mitosis and that progesterone mediates its antiproliferative effects within 2 h of mitotic stimulation. Progesterone also blocks differentiation, but this effect of can be overcome by hCG or cAMP analogs. These data indicate that progesterone plays a major role in controlling the number of luteal cells that ultimately develop within a corpus luteum by regulating both granulosa cell proliferation and differentiation.
Anisotropic phonon-dislocation scattering in deformed LiF

By direct imaging of ballistic phonons having equivalent temperatures near 4 K in LiF, we have found that a subset of fast-transverse phonons can propagate without scattering even in heavily deformed samples. The highly anisotropic phonon-scattering cross section is consistent with the concept of fluttering dislocations. The magnitude of the scattering cross section has been obtained for the first time. For small plastic deformation the measured cross section agrees with that calculated theoretically using a measured dislocation density. However, at large deformation the calculated cross section is too small, supporting the speculation that a larger density of dislocation dipoles may provide the dominant scattering. Also consistent with the concept of fluttering dislocations, $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ irradiation reduces the phonon scattering created by deformation, presumably by pinning of the dislocations. It is demonstrated that the method of phonon imaging used here provides details of phonon scattering processes which are not available from conventional thermal-transport measurements, especially when the scattering is anisotropic.
Homogeneous curves that contain arcs

Abstract The author has classified atriodic, homogeneous, one-dimensional continua that contain arcs— they are precisely the solenoids. This paper begins the study of homogeneous, one-dimensional continua that contain an arc and a triod.
Proton structure functions in an infinite resonance O(4, 2) model

Abstract The proton electromagnetic inelastic structure functions have been explicitly evaluated in a noncompact O(4, 2) model for the spectrum of hadronic states, using the Barut-Corrigan-Kleinert infinite component wave equation. The resulting structure functions exhibit nontrivial scaling behavior in the Bjorken limit and give qualitative agreement with observation. They also satisfy exactly the Callan-Gross relation.
Paying Attention and Feeling Puzzled: The Analytic Mindset as an Agent of Therapeutic Change

The Relational turn has affirmed emotional interaction without losing sight of the complexities of the internal world, thus reforming psychoanalysis. This paper, however, is concerned that this well-justified enthusiasm for interaction may be distracting us from opportunities offered by analysts’ special aptitude for an open, quiet, focused mind in the midst of intense emotional and interpersonal activity. This special orientation is considered in relation to the analyst’s tolerance for ambiguity and even confusion. The effects of the analyst’s reflective concentration as a change factor in the analytic field are discussed, using nonlinear dynamic systems theories and a phenomenological perspective.
Quantum stabilities and growth modes of thin metal films: Unsupported and NiAl-supported Ag(1 1 0) and Ag(1 0 0)

Abstract We present density functional theory (DFT) analyses of the stability of Ag thin films versus film thicknesses for various surface orientations. We include benchmark results for freestanding films, but consider in detail Ag(1 1 0) films supported on a NiAl(1 1 0) substrate, and Ag(1 0 0) films supported on a NiAl(1 0 0) substrate. The supported films exhibit an almost perfect lattice-match between film and substrate surface unit cells, so one can assess film stability in the absence of significant lateral mismatch strain. We also provide a characterization of film growth modes for these NiAl-supported Ag films based on DFT results for the relevant energetics.
Electronic states of ASF2 and AsF2

Abstract Spectroscopic constants and potential energy curves of 15 electronic states of AsF2 and ASF2+ have been investigated using the complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) followed by multireference singles and doubles configuration interaction (MRSDCI) methods that included up to 1.8 million configurations. These states include X 2B1, 4A2, 2A1(I), 2A1(II), 2A2, 2B2(I), 2B2(II), 2B1, 2B1(II) for AsF2 and 1A1, 3B1, and 1B1 for AsF2+. The bond dissociation energies of AsF and AsF2 as well as the adiabatic ionization energy of AsF2 are computed.
Instrument for measuring bind strength of restructured and emulsion-type meat products

A sensitive and inexpensive penetrometer is described, consisting of a mounted rod and polished steel ball that may be advanced downward at variable speed through meat slices mounted on a plexiglass cylinder. The slice + mounting cylinder was placed on a top-loading balance, tared to zero, and centered under the penetrometer rod. Bind strength was measured as the peak force (g) required for the steel ball advancing at 2.0 cm/min to penetrate the meat slice. Data points (grams force versus time) were collected and plotted using an IBM-compatible personal computer and printer. Since the balance collected gram values continuously, a QuickBasic program was developed, allowing the user to specify the time interval (1,2,5 s, etc.) between recorded values. Bind strength of turkey rolls was increased by finely chopping the emulsion (vs. coarsely-ground samples), and by inclusion of 3% nonfat dry milk. Whey protein concentrate (3%) increased bind strength of finely chopped, but not coarsely ground rolls.
Synchronisation based adaptive parameter identification for permanent magnet synchronous motors

High power and high performance applications of permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSM) are increasing. PMSM models with accurate parameters are required for precise control and fault diagnostic systems. An adaptive synchronisation based parameter identification method for the PMSM with a nonlinear structure is proposed. During the identification, the PMSM's dynamic response is synchronised with another system of similar dynamic structure. The algorithm is different from the commonly known adaptive estimator. A globally converged feedback control is applied to the reference model. Lyapunov function analysis and LaSalle's invariance principle are used to assure performance. To validate the proposed identification approach, both simulation and experiments are performed for the identification of motor parameters in a PMSM servo system. During experiments, the method is further improved to counteract voltage measurement problems brought by high frequency switching devices. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach.
Measurement of Optical Constants at High Temperatures

A new method for accurately measuring the optical constants of metals at high temperatures is described. Data for single-crystal tungsten, molybdenum, and columbium are presented.
Development of a high-content screen for the identification of inhibitors directed against the early steps of the cytomegalovirus infectious cycle.

Abstract Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a latent and persistent virus whose proliferation increases morbidity and mortality of immune-compromised individuals. The current anti-CMV therapeutics targeting the viral DNA polymerase or the major immediate-early (MIE) gene locus are somewhat effective at limiting CMV-associated disease. However, due to low bioavailability, severe toxicity, and the development of drug resistant CMV strains following prolonged treatment, current anti-CMV therapeutics are insufficient. To help address this shortfall, we established a high-content assay to identify inhibitors targeting CMV entry and the early steps of infection. The infection of primary human fibroblasts with a variant of the CMV laboratory strain AD169 expressing a chimeric IE2-yellow fluorescence protein (YFP) (AD169 IE2-YFP ) provided the basis for the high-content assay. The localization of IE2-YFP to the nucleus shortly following an AD169 IE2-YFP infection induced a robust fluorescent signal that was quantified using confocal microscopy. The assay was optimized to achieve outstanding assay fitness and high Z ’ scores. We then screened a bioactive chemical library consisting of 2080 compounds and identified hit compounds based on the decrease of fluorescence signal from IE2-YFP nuclear expression. The hit compounds likely target various cellular processes involved in the early steps of infection including capsid transport, chromatin remodeling, and viral gene expression. Extensive secondary assays confirmed the ability of a hit compound, convallatoxin, to inhibit infection of both laboratory and clinical CMV strains and limit virus proliferation. Collectively, the data demonstrate that we have established a robust high-content screen to identify compounds that limit the early steps of the CMV life cycle, and that novel inhibitors of early infection events may serve as viable CMV therapeutics.
Prediction of northern summer low-frequency circulation using a high-order vector auto-regressive model

A data-driven, high-order vector auto-regressive (VAR) model is evaluated for predicting the Northern Hemisphere summer time (May through September) low frequency (>10 days or so) variability. The VAR model is suitable for linear stationary time series, similar to the commonly used linear inverse model (LIM), with additional temporal information incorporated to improve forecast skill. The intraseasonal forecast skill of the 250/750 hPa streamfunction is investigated using observational data since 1979, which shows significant improvements in high-order VAR models than the first-order model LIM. Furthermore, the tropical diabatic heating is found to significantly improve the forecast skill of the atmospheric low frequency circulation when included in the VAR model. The forecast skill of 250 hPa streamfunction at Arabian Peninsula is particularly enhanced for up to 5 weeks lead-time through circumglobal wave propagation associated with the persistent tropical eastern Pacific and equatorial Atlantic heating anomalies and the intraseasonal evolution of the tropical Indian Ocean and western Pacific heating anomalies.
The ARICE Framework: Augmented Reality in Computing Education

Augmented Reality (AR) is a term for a live direct or an indirect view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are augmented by computer-generated sensory input and output including sound, graphics or haptic input and feedback mechanisms. It has been reported that the use of AR for educational purposes provided opportunities for reflection, capabilities for multiple representations, and co-design of personalized learning experiences which contribute to promote active learning. However, most of the reported applications are for students at the elementary or high school level. There are no reported formal studies on AR application on a college/university level. Based on this lack of information, several questions arise: Are the benefits unique to the elementary and high school students? If AR is used in college classrooms, will it show similar benefits? This paper proposes an Augmented Reality in Computing Education (ARICE) framework for using an AR educational system in undergraduate computing education to improve student performance, retention and learning outcomes. A research plan on how to evaluate the framework has also been presented.
Additional routes to Staphylococcus aureus daptomycin resistance as revealed by comparative genome sequencing, transcriptional profiling, and phenotypic studies.

Daptomycin is an extensively used anti-staphylococcal agent due to the rise in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, but the mechanism(s) of resistance is poorly understood. Comparative genome sequencing, transcriptomics, ultrastructure, and cell envelope studies were carried out on two relatively higher level (4 and 8 µg/ml−1) laboratory-derived daptomycin-resistant strains (strains CB1541 and CB1540 respectively) compared to their parent strain (CB1118; MW2). Several mutations were found in the strains. Both strains had the same mutations in the two-component system genes walK and agrA. In strain CB1540 mutations were also detected in the ribose phosphate pyrophosphokinase (prs) and polyribonucleotide nucleotidyltransferase genes (pnpA), a hypothetical protein gene, and in an intergenic region. In strain CB1541 there were mutations in clpP, an ATP-dependent protease, and two different hypothetical protein genes. The strain CB1540 transcriptome was characterized by upregulation of cap (capsule) operon genes, genes involved in the accumulation of the compatible solute glycine betaine, ure genes of the urease operon, and mscL encoding a mechanosensitive chanel. Downregulated genes included smpB, femAB and femH involved in the formation of the pentaglycine interpeptide bridge, genes involved in protein synthesis and fermentation, and spa encoding protein A. Genes altered in their expression common to both transcriptomes included some involved in glycine betaine accumulation, mscL, ure genes, femH, spa and smpB. However, the CB1541 transcriptome was further characterized by upregulation of various heat shock chaperone and protease genes, consistent with a mutation in clpP, and lytM and sceD. Both strains showed slow growth, and strongly decreased autolytic activity that appeared to be mainly due to decreased autolysin production. In contrast to previous common findings, we did not find any mutations in phospholipid biosynthesis genes, and it appears there are multiple pathways to and factors in daptomycin resistance.
The many facets of HCI

In the last ten years HCI, the study and practice of usability, has emerged as a multidisciplinary, multifaceted field. HCI is an essential knowledge area that pervades the computing field and should be included in every computing professional's education. Computing professionals need to create software, and other technologies, so that users will want to use them and will be able to effectively use them. User advocacy distinguishes the Information Technology discipline from the other computing disciplines. Graduates need to understand the many facets of HCI. These include not only understanding the design of the interface, but also the broader issues of the user experience, process and business concerns, challenges of distributed computing, the emergence of supportive technologies, and the impact of ubiquitous computing. This paper will introduce the key HCI concepts, and discuss the challenges, issues and future developments of the field that will drive Information Technology curriculum development.
Polylactide membranes in the treatment of segmental diaphyseal defects: animal model experiments in the rabbit radius, sheep tibia, Yucatan minipig radius, and goat tibia.

Resorbable polymeric membranes have many potential applications in the treatment of bone loss. A resorbable membrane can be fabricated to have: (1) a custom in vivo life span, (2) specific mechanical attributes, (3) an optimal micro or macro porosity for nutritional diffusion or vascular ingrowth, and (4) carrier properties for the timed delivery of drugs, organic compounds, or inorganic substances, or cells. Because the polylactide class of polymers has a proven record of human biocompatibility as well as a wide range of synthetic characteristics, polylactide membranes have been studied for their utility in regenerating diaphyseal bone defects. Using a variety of animal models, the basic mechanism of bone regeneration has been elucidated. A resorbable membrane functions by: (1) exclusion of nonosseous tissues, (2) maintenance of an intramedullary canal, and (3) the provision of an extralumenal scaffold for periosteum regeneration and revascularization. Microporous membranes have been studied in small defects which do not require stabilization-the rabbit and minipig radius models where the ulna is left intact (1-4 cm diaphyseal defects). Larger defects (4-7 cm middiaphysis) have been studied in the sheep and goat tibia where intramedullary (IM) nailing or double plate stabilization was used. So far the parameters of polylactide composition, biocompatibility, porosity, adjunctive internal fixation, and the suitability of membranes as chemical delivery devices have been investigated in these animal models. Large defects successfully treated with polylactide membranes suggest that the optimum construct will be a perforated, thin, microporous membrane used to span an appropiately stabilized defect.
Experimental Data and Model Structures for the Insulin Molecule

Two recent communications1,2 have described the results of stereochemical model studies of insulin based on the α-helix structure and using the detailed amino-acid residue sequences established by Sanger and his associates3. Both studies were made using identical packing models4 in which the fundamental residue unit (—NH.CH(R).CO—) dimensions are different from those derived by Pauling and Corey5 from experimental studies of amino-acid and peptide structures. The cystine residue bond-lengths and bond-angles recorded by Arndt and Riley2 differ markedly from those found by Yakel and Hughes6 in N.N′-diglycyl-L-cystine. While local deviations in bond-lengths and bond-angles of the residue units and of the hydrogen bonds, brought about by side-chain (R) group interactions, may perhaps be expected along the peptide chain of a native protein, the overall use of dimensions which differ considerably from the experimentally derived values appears to be a purely arbitrary procedure.
Toward a global low carbon fuel standard

A new policy instrument, known as a low carbon fuel standard (LCFS), is a promising approach to decarbonize transportation fuels. An LCFS has several important features: it applies a lifecycle carbon intensity standard, incorporates market mechanisms by allowing credit trading and targets all transport fuels. A harmonized international framework is needed that builds on newly enacted LCFS policies adopted in California and the European Union.
Repeated morphine treatment-mediated hyperalgesia, allodynia and spinal glial activation are blocked by co-administration of a selective cannabinoid receptor type-2 agonist

Spinal glial activation has been implicated in sustained morphine-mediated paradoxical pain sensitization. Since activation of glial CB2 cannabinoid receptors attenuates spinal glial activation in neuropathies, we hypothesized that CB2 agonists may also attenuate sustained morphine-mediated spinal glial activation and pain sensitization. Our data indicate that co-administration of a CB2-selective agonist (AM 1241) attenuates morphine (intraperitoneal; twice daily; 6 days)-mediated thermal hyperalgesia and tactile allodynia in rats. A CB2 (AM 630) but not a CB1 (AM 251) antagonist mitigated this effect. AM 1241 co-treatment also attenuated spinal astrocyte and microglial marker and pro-inflammatory mediator (IL-1β, TNFα) immunoreactivities in morphine-treated rats, suggesting that CB2 agonists may be useful to prevent the neuroinflammatory consequences of sustained morphine treatment.
Simulation of a critical Ising fractal

The results of microcanonical simulation of an Ising model defined on a truncated, lattice-embedded, fractal, Sierpinsky carpet of dimension \ensuremath{\sim} 1.86 are presented. Estimates for a variety of exponents give, via hyperscaling at criticality and via the behavior of the spin-spin correlation away from criticality, consistently, a dimension \ensuremath{\sim} 1.66\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.10.
Compact 90° Bends and Splitters for Silicon Rib Waveguides

We report the design, fabrication, and characterization of polymer-filled trench-based 90 degree bends and splitters for silicon rib waveguides. These are used to create compact splitter and bend networks for microcantilever array sensors.
Hydrophobicity: Two faces of water

Oil and water molecules actually attract each other, but not nearly as strongly as water attracts itself.
Intracerebral Hemorrhages and Infarction Induced by a Murine Leukemia Virus Is Influenced by Host Determinants within Endothelial Cells

The strain and developmental parameters that control susceptibility to murine leukemia virus (MuLV)-induced intracerebral hemorrhages and infarction were studied using the endothelial cell tropic MuLV TR1.3. Inoculated animals displayed an absolute age dependence on the development of intracerebral vascular disease; however, other genetic determinants affected the timing and magnitude of susceptibility to neurologic disease. BALB/c mice were susceptible to neurologic disease only when inoculated prior to Day 4 postpartum. In contrast, Swiss/NIH and C3H/HeN mice consistently showed a less virulent phenotype and were only susceptible when infected prior to Day 3 postpartum. These studies demonstrate that susceptibility to TR1.3 murine leukemia virus-induced neurologic disease is regulated by age- and strain-dependent factors encoded within cerebral endothelial cells.
Thoughts about hunting: Some things we know and some things we don't know

This paper explores a number of underappreciated “complexities” in the interpretation of the taxonomic composition, sex ratios, and mortality profiles of archaeological faunal assemblages. Some of these complexities arise from the behavior of the animals themselves. For example, when hunters “disturb” animals such as bison in order to maneuver them toward a trap or ambush, the animals rearrange themselves spatially by age and sex in such a way that the subset of animals actually killed may not be a random sample of the living population. Other complexities arise from the fact that some animals are obligate drinkers, while others are not, making the former much more vulnerable to ambush. Hence, for hunters who rely heavily on an ambush strategy, the taxonomic composition of the kill assemblage will be biased toward obligate drinkers regardless of their actual numbers on the landscape. There are also a host of cultural factors that may affect what gets hunted, when hunting takes place, and the way these events are conducted. For example, hunts may occur primarily for prestige, as part of boys' puberty and initiation rites, as payment of bride price or bride service, in the context of establishing alliances or restoring peaceful relations between competing groups, as part of community-wide calendrical or episodic rituals, and for many other socially-grounded reasons. Most of these cultural factors are not easily approached using models drawn from behavioral ecology and, as a consequence, remain understudied by zooarchaeologists.
Catholic Labor Education and the Association of Catholic Trade Unionists. Instructing Workers to Christianize the Workplace.

Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/ce Part of the Catholic Studies Commons, Curriculum and Instruction Commons, Educational Administration and Supervision Commons, Educational Leadership Commons, Higher Education Commons, History of Religion Commons, Labor History Commons, Other Education Commons, Practical Theology Commons, Social History Commons, Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons, and the United States History Commons
Optimal Control of Methane Conversion to Ethylene

An optimal control methodology is applied to the problem of finding the heat, hydrogen, and oxygen flux profiles for the homogeneous gas-phase conversion of methane to ethylene in a plug flow reactor. The calculations use a detailed reaction model for the oxidative pyrolysis of methane and a model for the growth of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and soot particle nulceation and growth. The reactor designs show that distributed hydrogen and oxygen fluxes along the axis of the reactor improve ethylene yields to a greater extent than co-fed hydrogen and/or oxygen. The axial heat flux is shown to play a major role in the final yields of ethylene. The optimal residence times are 28−31 ms, and the optimal temperature profiles cover a range of 1200−1985 K. The simulation results show that for the conditions considered, C2H2 is formed initially and is converted to C2H4 by a controlled extraction of energy. Hydrogen addition is advantageous at both stages to reduce soot in the first half of the reactor and to sh...
The SEG Multidisciplinary Initiative: Teaching the essence of geophysics

Imagine you are approached by a housing developer who needs to know the extent of a subsurface hazard. She explains that, at the turn‐of‐the‐century, extensive coal mining was conducted in an area now undergoing a housing boom. Some mines ventured close to the surface and, in 1896, a mine flooded and collapsed, killing a dozen miners.
Sex Differences in Maximal Hematocrit Values in the Rat in Response to CoCl2 Administration.

SummaryFollowing injection of CoCl2 for 63 days, intact male and female rats attained significantly different maximal hematocrit values of 66.7% at the end of the seventh week for the former and 59.5% at the end of the sixth week for the latter. Intermediate levels of 64.0% and 63.7% were reached by castrated males and females respectively under the same stimulus, both at the end of the seventh week. Survival time of erythrocytes formed in response to CoCl2 stimulation appears to be normal.