cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Solid-Liquid-Vapor Etching of Semiconductor Nanowires.

The vapor–liquid–solid (VLS) mechanism enables the bottom-up, or additive, growth of semiconductor nanowires. Here, we demonstrate a reverse process, whereby catalyst atoms are selectively removed from the eutectic catalyst droplet. This process, which is driven by the dicarbonyl precursor 2,3-butanedione, results in axial nanowire etching. Experiments as a function of substrate temperature, etchant flow rate, and nanowire diameter support a solid–liquid–vapor (SLV) mechanism. An etch model with reaction at the liquid–vapor interface as the rate-limiting step is consistent with our experiments. These results identify a new mechanism to in situ tune the concentration of semiconductor atoms in the catalyst droplet.
CPK-MB isoenzyme: use in diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction in the early postoperative period

The diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the early postoperative period may be quite difficult in certain patients. Electrocardiograms fail to be diagnostic of AMI in as many as one third of patients with myocardial injury found at autopsy. Enzyme patterns commonly used to diagnose AMI in patients admitted to coronary care units are obscured by muscle injury, medications, cardioversion, surgical manipulation, and blood transfusion. The MB isoenzyme of creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) has been described as a specific indicator of myocardial injury. Therefore the CPK-MB isoenzyme level was evaluated as a potential aid in the diagnosis of AMI in the early postoperative period. Thirty patients undergoing cardiac surgery and 7 patients undergoing thoracic surgery not involving the heart were studied. CPK-MB isoenzyme was present in the serum in 10 of 30 patients after cardiac surgery but in none of 7 patients after thoracic surgery. The presence of CPK-MB isoenzyme was found to be a valuable adjunctive indicator in the diagnosis of AMI in the early postoperative period.
Effect of vagotomy on the quantitative histological distribution of histamine and histidine decarboxylase in the rat stomach.

Determinations were made of the quantitative histological distribution of histamine and histidine decarboxylase in the body of the glandular stomach of fed and 14-hr fasted rats subjected to pyloroplasty and to pyloroplasty with vagotomy for comparision with untreated rats. Pyloroplasty on fasted rats had no significant effect on the concentration of histamine which was localized predominately in the chief cell zone. However, the superimposed vagotomy was associated with some increase in the concentration. With the fed rats, the concentration was essentially unchanged from normal in either group of operated animals and it also was about the same as that in the normal fasted group. Histidine decarboxylase activity, which was also localized predominately in the chief cell zone, underwent an increase in concentration following pyloroplasty of the fasted rats; no additional effect was observed with added vagotomy. The higher concentration of the enzyme activity in the fed rats was markedly further elevated in both groups of operated animals but these groups did not differ significantly from one another. An explanation of the elevation of histidine decarboxylase activity following pyloroplasty requires further investigation, but the lack of effect of the superimposed vagotomy on the enzyme activity would appear to rule out direct vagal control as the sole factor in determining the enzyme function at this site.
The Inconclusiveness of Dialectic

… if [the poet] had genuine knowledge of the things he imitates he would far rather devote himself to real things than to the imitation of them (Rep. X, 599B)
Analysis and Valuation of Privately Held Firms

This chapter discusses in detail the hazards of dealing with both limited and often unreliable data associated with private firms. This chapter then focuses on how to properly adjust questionable data as well as how to select the appropriate valuation methodology and discount or capitalization rate. Considerable time is spent discussing how to apply control premiums, minority discounts, and liquidity discounts in valuing businesses. This chapter also includes a discussion of how corporate shells created through reverse mergers, and leveraged employee stock ownership plans are used to acquire privately owned companies and how PIPE (private investment in public equity) financing may be used to fund their ongoing operations.
Start Your Class with a 'What Do You Know?' Survey

Introducing the course in the first session can be challenging. This chapter suggests an interactive intervention to address this issue better. The intervention is for the students to answer a short survey of well-chosen questions or short cases, on the first day of the class, that are based on the topics covered in the course. In addition, the students will be asked a question that will reveal their learning styles. On the last day of the class, they will revisit their answers to this survey.This intervention achieves four aims: 1) it introduces the subject of the course to the students directly and sets clear expectations about the course, 2) it gets the students involved in class from day one by offering experiential evidence on the value of the course in their career or daily life, 3) it provides a data point of the knowledge level of students before taking the course; at the end of the semester these data can be revisited to reveal how much the students learned, and 4) it identifies students learning styles on day one.The effectiveness of this intervention depends on the quality of the survey. This chapter offers a step-by-step guide on designing the right survey for any course. It provides several examples and discusses how to implement the survey.
A novel preoperative inflammatory marker prognostic score in patients with localized and metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Objective Several inflammatory markers have been studied as potential biomarkers in renal cell carcinoma (RCC), however few reports have analyzed their prognostic value in aggregate and in non-clear cell histologies. We hypothesize that a combination of specific inflammatory markers into an RCC Inflammatory Score (RISK) could serve as a rigorous prognostic indicator of overall survival (OS) in patients with clear cell and non-clear cell RCC. Methods Patients undergoing nephrectomy for RCC were queried from our institutional database. Primary outcome was OS. Our exposure was RISK, based on a combination of preoperative C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), corrected calcium, and aspartate transaminase to alanine transaminase (AST)/(ALT) ratio. RISK was developed using grid-search methodology, receiver-operating-characteristic (ROC) analysis, and sensitivity-specificity trade-off analysis. Prognostic value of RISK was analyzed using the Kaplan–Meier method and Cox proportional regression models. ROC and chi-square analyses were performed to compare the predictive accuracy of RISK to Size, Size, Grade, and Necrosis (SSIGN) score, UCLA Integrated Staging System (UISS), and Leibovich Prognosis Score (LPS). Results Among 391 RCC patients treated with nephrectomy, area under the curve (AUC) for RISK was 0.783, which was comparable to SSIGN (AUC 0.776, p = 0.82) and UISS (AUC 0.809, p = 0.317). Among patients with localized disease, AUC for RISK and Leibovich Prognosis Score was 0.742 and 0.706, respectively (p = 0.456). On multivariate analysis, we observed a step-wise statistically significant inverse relationship between increasing RISK group and OS (all p < 0.001). Conclusion RISK is an independent and significant predictor of OS for patients treated with nephrectomy for clear cell and non-clear cell RCC, with accuracy comparable to other histopathological prognostic tools.
Age and the fuzzy edges of embolic stroke of undetermined source: Implications for trials.

After an acute ischemic stroke, clinicians pursue further diagnostic assessment to identify the most plausible causes and tailor secondary prevention strategies. Available treatments with a high level of evidence for reducing recurrence stroke risk might include long-term oral anticoagulation in patients with a major-risk cardioembolic source (atrial fibrillation, prosthetic valves, etc), carotid endarterectomy in minor ischemic stroke related to moderate to severe internal carotid artery atherosclerotic stenosis, and best-practice medical management in those with lacunar stroke due to cerebral small vessel disease.1 However, ≈25% of patients who have had ischemic stroke (an estimated 300,000 new strokes per year in North America and Europe) have no cause identified.2 These strokes, usually called cryptogenic (i.e., of unknown cause), typically include nonlacunar infarcts without an identified cardioembolic source or occlusive atherosclerotic disease. Compared to all other major stroke subtypes, little progress has been achieved in the secondary prevention of this common but obscure entity, and the optimum antithrombotic prophylaxis regimen remains undefined.
Reliability of Metal Gate / High-k devices and its impact on CMOS technology scaling

MG/HK was introduced into CMOS technology and enabled scaling beyond the 45/32nm technology node. The change in gate stack from poly-Si/SiON to MG/HK introduced new reliability challenges like the positive bias temperature instability (PBTI) and stress induced leakage currents (SILC) in nFET devices which prompted thorough investigation to provide fundamental understanding of these degradation mechanisms and are nowadays well understood. The shift to a dual-layer gate stack also had a profound impact on the time dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) introducing a strong polarity dependence in the model parameter. As device scaling continues, stochastic modeling of variability, both at time zero and post stress due to BTI, becomes critical especially for SRAM circuit aging. As we migrate towards novel device architectures like bulk FinFET, SOI FinFETs, FDSOI and gate-all-around devices, impact of self-heating needs to be accounted for in reliability testing. In this paper we summarize the fundamentals of MG/HK reliability and discuss the reliability and characterization challenges related to the scaling of future CMOS technologies.
Bibliotecas fantasmas, reconstrucción virtual y conocimientos coloniales. Transmutaciones de la biblioteca personal del ilustrado americano Manuel del Socorro Rodríguez

Este articulo es producto de una investigacion asociada a la constitucion del Fondo Manuel del Socorro Rodriguez en la Biblioteca Nacional de Colombia. Presenta un seguimiento de las donaciones de libros, periodicos y manuscritos realizadas por el mestizo cubano Manuel del Socorro Rodriguez de la Victoria a la Real Biblioteca Publica de Santafe de Bogota. Se documenta la identificacion, caracterizacion y recuperacion de las apariciones y desapariciones de una biblioteca personal del siglo XVIII americano. Tambien se presenta la reconstruccion virtual de la biblioteca personal de un sujeto subalterno, caracterizando los conocimientos por ella representados en el contexto de la Ilustracion colonial. Se proponen elementos conceptuales y metodologicos para la reconstruccion de bibliotecas y conformacion de fondos especiales.
How likely am I to find parking? – A practical model-based framework for predicting parking availability

Abstract Parking availability information (or occupancy of parking facility) is highly valued by travelers, and is one of the most important inputs to many parking models. This paper proposes a model-based practical framework to predict future occupancy from historical occupancy data alone. The framework consists of two modules: estimation of model parameters, and occupancy prediction. At the core of the predictive framework, a queuing model is employed to describe the stochastic occupancy change of a parking facility. While the underlying queuing model can be any reasonable model, we demonstrate the framework with the well-established continuous-time Markov M\M\C\C queue in this paper. The possibility of adopting a different queuing model that can potentially incorporate the parking-searching process is also discussed. The parameter estimation module and the occupancy prediction module are both built on the underlying queuing model. To apply the estimation and prediction methods in real world, a few practical considerations are accounted for in the framework with methods to handle variations of arrival and departure patterns from day to day and within a day, including special events. The proposed framework and models are validated using both simulated and real data. Our San Francisco case studies demonstrate that the parameters estimated offline can lead to accurate predictions of parking facility occupancy both with and without real-time update. We also performed extensive numerical experiments to compare the proposed framework and methods with several pure machine-learning methods in recent literature. It is found that our approach delivers equal or better performance, but requires a computation time that is orders of magnitude less to tune and train the model. Additionally, our approach can predict for any time in the future with one training process, while pure machine-learning methods have to train a specific model for a different prediction interval to achieve the same level of accuracy.
Abstract 5099: Evaluating Ago2 as an oncogene in Kras-dependent lung carcinoma

Background: Lung cancer is the deadliest malignancy in the United States. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 85% of cases, and is frequently driven by activating mutations in the gene encoding the KRAS GTPase (e.g. KRASG12D). Our previous work demonstrated that Argonaute 2 (AGO2)—a component of the RNA induced silencing complex (RISC)—physically interacts with KRAS and stabilizes it at the protein level. In NSCLC cell lines, AGO2 knockdown reduces KRAS protein level and attenuates cell proliferation. We hypothesized that AGO2 acts as an oncogene in KRASG12D-dependent NSCLC in vivo. Methods: To test the hypothesis, we generated a NSCLC model by intercrossing mice harboring a stop-floxed KRASG12D allele with animals containing a tamoxifen-responsive Cre recombinase gene driven by the (clara cell-specific) CCSP promoter. These animals, which frequently die within 10 weeks of tamoxifen treatment, display pulmonary lesions including hyperplasia, adenoma and frank adenocarcinoma. We evaluated whether concomitant ablation of one or both copies of (floxed) AGO2 influenced the NSCLC phenotype. After tamoxifen administration, we monitored mice daily and harvested tissues when mice were clinically moribund or reached 16 weeks of post-treatment. We harvested lungs for gross/ pathological examination and gene/ protein expression analysis. Results: While pathologically discernable adenocarcinoma was detectable in AGO2+/+ and AGO2f/+ animals, AGO2f/f mice were free of these lesions. Despite this, deletion of AGO2 had no impact on frequency or extent of hyperplastic or adenomatous lesions. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated absence of AGO2 in tumor tissue of AGO2f/f mice. Conclusion: AGO2 promotes progression but not initiation of cancerous lesions in a mouse model of KRASG12D-dependent NSCLC. Citation Format: Andrew E. Goodrum, Lisha Wang, Alice Xu, Kristin M. Juckette, Arul M. Chinnaiyan, Jean C. Tien. Evaluating Ago2 as an oncogene in Kras-dependent lung carcinoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5099.
Approccio anteriore e posteriore alla colonna cervicale

Riassunto La colonna cervicale puo essere raggiunta da diverse angolature, a seconda del tipo di patologia e del suo livello. Per l’esposizione anteriore del tratto superiore della colonna cervicale si utilizzano l’approccio transorale, retrofa-ringeo anteriore e laterale, mandibolare e da divisione linguale. Le principali indicazioni sono biopsie, tumori, ascessi e lussazioni C2-C2. Questi interventi tecnicamente impegnativi si associano a un’alta incidenza di complicanze, come infezione o paralisi nervosa. Si puo raggiungere una lesione della giunzione cervicotoracica per via trans-sternale. Frequenti complicanze di questo accesso sono rappresentate da danno vascolare, ematomi retrosternali, asfissia. L’accesso antero-laterale e indicato per la patologia a carico dei corpi vertebrali e dei dischi da C2-C3 fino a C1-T1. Con un’estensione prossimale e distale, questa metodologia consente un accesso a tutti i livelli della colonna cervicale. Bisogna porre attenzione a evitare lesioni del nervo laringeo ricorrente, del nervo ipoglosso e delle strutture vascolari e viscerali. L’approccio posteriore, che consente l’accesso all’osso occipitale e agli elementi posteriori della colonna vertebrale, e indicato in caso di fusione, decompressione midollare, per la riduzione e stabilizzazione delle instabilita vertebrali. Le complicanze dell’approccio posteriore sono dovute a lesione dell’arteria vertebrale o degli elementi nervosi.
Early detection and monitoring of chronic wounds using low-cost, omniphobic paper-based smart bandages.

Abstract The growing socio-economic burden of chronic skin wounds requires the development of new automated and non-invasive analytical systems capable of wirelessly monitoring wound status. This work describes the low-cost fabrication of single-use, omniphobic paper-based smart bandages (OPSBs) designed to monitor the status of open chronic wounds and to detect the formation of pressure ulcers. OPSBs are lightweight, flexible, breathable, easy to apply, and disposable by burning. A reusable wearable potentiostat was fabricated to interface with the OPSB simply by attaching it to the back of the bandage. The wearable potentiostat and the OPSB can be used to simultaneously quantify pH and uric acid levels at the wound site, and wirelessly report wound status to the user or medical personnel. Additionally, the wearable potentiostat and the OPSBs can be used to detect, in an in-vivo mouse model, the formation of pressure ulcers even before the pressure-induced tissue damage becomes visible, using impedance spectroscopy. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of using inexpensive single-use OPSBs and a reusable, wearable potentiostat that can be easily sterilized and attached to a new OPSB during the dressing change, to provide long term wound progression data to guide treatment decisions.
Localization of complement factor H gene expression and protein distribution in the mouse outer retina.

Author(s): Smit-McBride, Zeljka; Oltjen, Sharon L; Radu, Roxana A; Estep, Jason; Nguyen, Anthony T; Gong, Qizhi; Hjelmeland, Leonard M | Abstract: PurposeTo determine the localization of complement factor H (Cfh) mRNA and its protein in the mouse outer retina.MethodsQuantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) was used to determine the expression of Cfh and Cfh-related (Cfhr) transcripts in the RPE/choroid. In situ hybridization (ISH) was performed using the novel RNAscope 2.0 FFPE assay to localize the expression of Cfh mRNA in the mouse outer retina. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to localize Cfh protein expression, and western blots were used to characterize CFH antibodies used for IHC.ResultsCfh and Cfhr2 transcripts were detected in the mouse RPE/choroid using qPCR, while Cfhr1, Cfhr3, and Cfhrc (Gm4788) were not detected. ISH showed abundant Cfh mRNA in the RPE of all mouse strains (C57BL/6, BALB/c, 129/Sv) tested, with the exception of the Cfh(-/-) eye. Surprisingly, the Cfh protein was detected by immunohistochemistry in photoreceptors rather than in RPE cells. The specificity of the CFH antibodies was tested by western blotting. Our CFH antibodies recognized purified mouse Cfh protein, serum Cfh protein in wild-type C57BL/6, BALB/c, and 129/Sv, and showed an absence of the Cfh protein in the serum of Cfh(-/-) mice. Greatly reduced Cfh protein immunohistological signals in the Cfh(-/-) eyes also supported the specificity of the Cfh protein distribution results.ConclusionsOnly Cfh and Cfhr2 genes are expressed in the mouse outer retina. Only Cfh mRNA was detected in the RPE, but no protein. We hypothesize that the steady-state concentration of Cfh protein is low in the cells due to secretion, and therefore is below the detection level for IHC.
Umwelt- und Naturschutzrecht

Das Waldeigentum ist seit jeher einer Vielzahl umweltrechtlicher Beschrankungen ausgesetzt. Hierbei spielt das Naturschutzrecht traditionell eine hervorgehobene Rolle, da die damit verbundenen Regelungen typischerweise im Bereich land- und forstwirtschaftlich genutzter Flachen ansetzen. Dabei tritt das Naturschutzrecht haufig in eine Konfliktstellung zu den Vorgaben des Waldrechts, das als Spezialmaterie grundsatzlich abschliesende Regelungen zur Art und Weise der Waldbewirtschaftung wie auch zu den Modalitaten der Begrundung und der Beseitigung von Wald enthalt. Da die Waldgesetze naturschutzrechtliche Aspekte aber verstarkt betonen, dabei sogar haufig ausdrucklich auf die Belange des Naturschutzes und der Landschaftspflege hinweisen, ohne hierfur eigenstandige Regelungen oder gar Konfliktlosungen bereitzustellen, hat auch das Waldeigentum vermehrt mit den Restriktionen des Naturschutzrechts zu kampfen.
Nursing students’ knowledge about Alzheimer’s disease

Objective: Every 66 seconds a U.S. resident develops Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Future nurses will be caring for the rapidly escalating number of adults turning 65, yet information regarding nursing students’ knowledge about the age-related disease of Alzheimer’s is limited. The purpose of this study was to examine 102 Florida baccalaureate nursing students’ basic and advanced AD knowledge. Methods: A descriptive design using two AD knowledge measures and analysis using paired samples t -test were employed. Results: Although the setting was a region of the U.S. with the highest percentage of older adults, knowledge deficits regarding age-related Alzheimer’s disease were striking. Students’ basic knowledge was significantly higher than their advanced AD knowledge ( t (101) = 2.28, p = .027). Only 31% of students identified that high cholesterol may increase risk. Just 20% of students correctly answered that exercise does not prevent AD. About 25% correctly responded that the average life expectancy after the onset of AD is 6-12 years. Only 2% of nursing students correctly identified that persons with AD experience stress from disease-related symptoms. Overall, less than 50% of students correctly answered any item on the measure designed for use among health care providers. Conclusions: To better prepare nursing students to care for the increasing numbers of older adults facing risk of AD, updated curricula targeting dementia-related illnesses are essential. Information is offered regarding current state of the science resources of benefit to faculty, students, and practicing nurses, such as experiential learning and Hartford Institute of Geriatric Nursing collaborative programs.
Perceiving Imperceptible Harms (with other Thoughts on Transitivity, Cumulative Effects, and Consequentialism)

Many writers believe there can be cases which satisfy the following description: starting from an initial state of affairs, it is possible to make a series of changes, none of which alters the value of the state of affairs in any way, but such that the final state of affairs that results from the series of changes is worse than the initial state of affairs.1 I shall call the claim that there can be such cases the “ex nihilo” claim, since in a sense it asserts that the bad effects of the complete series of changes arise ex nihilo. Proponents of the ex nihilo claim — ex nihilists, as I shall call them — usually advance the claim as part of an argument against act-utilitarianism.2 If there were cases such as the ex nihilist imagines, then it would be possible to construct variants in which act-utilitarianism unequivocally required behavior which in the aggregate produced sub-optimal consequences. We could construct the sort of case I have called (while denying its possibility) an “act-utilitarian prisoners’ dilemma”.3 Act-utilitarianism would be, in Derek Parfit’s phrase, “directly collectively self-defeating”.4
Insecticidal Activity of a Recently Described Bacterium, Chromobacterium sphagni1

Abstract Several isolates of the recently described bacterial species Chromobacterium sphagni Blackburn et al. were obtained from water collected from Sphagnum bogs in West Virginia and Maine. Bacterial isolates were cultured in a liquid medium and applied to artificial insect diets in the laboratory. The new isolates were toxic to larvae of the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.), and the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), but were not toxic to larvae of the seedcorn maggot, Delia platura (Meigen), or adults of the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst).
Game Theoretic Security Framework for Quantum Key Distribution.

In this paper, we propose a game-theoretic model of security for quantum key distribution (QKD) protocols. QKD protocols allow two parties to agree on a shared secret key, secure against an adversary bounded only by the laws of physics (as opposed to classical key distribution protocols which, by necessity, require computational assumptions to be placed on the power of an adversary). We investigate a novel framework of security using game theory where all participants (including the adversary) are rational. We will show that, in this framework, certain impossibility results for QKD in the standard adversarial model of security still remain true here. However, we will also show that improved key-rate efficiency is possible in our game-theoretic security model.
Increased glucose variability is associated with atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass.

BACKGROUND Elevated preoperative hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is a predictor of poor outcomes following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), but the role of increased postoperative glucose variability (GV) is unknown. We hypothesized that short-term postoperative GV is associated with an increased risk of postoperative atrial fibrillation following isolated CABG. METHODS Multicenter retrospective study of 2073 patients who underwent isolated CABG from January 2012 to March 2018. Postoperative GV in the first 24 hours was measured by standard deviation, coefficient of variation, and mean amplitude of glycemic excursions. Multivariate logistic regression assessed the independent association of GV with postoperative atrial fibrillation. RESULTS A total of 2073 patients met the study criteria, and 446 patients (21.5%) developed postoperative atrial fibrillation. Using multivariate logistic regression to adjust for covariates, postoperative atrial fibrillation was associated with increased 24-hour GV (odds ratio [OR] = 1.16, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-1.27, P < 0.01) and increased 24-hour mean glucose (OR = 1.14, 95% CI, 1.08-1.21, P < 0.01). Thus, for every 10% increase in 24-hour GV or 10 mg/dL increase in mean glucose, there was a 16% or 14% increased risk of postoperative atrial fibrillation respectively. CONCLUSIONS Increased 24-hour GV and mean glucose are predictors of atrial fibrillation after CABG. Preoperative HbA1c is not a risk factor for postoperative atrial fibrillation after adjusting for postoperative mean glucose and GV. Further investigation is needed to determine the relationship between adherence to strict glucose control and adverse events following CABG.
Detecting Sea Ice From TechDemoSat-1 Data Using Support Vector Machines With Feature Selection

In this paper, a framework that employs support vector machines (SVMs) is proposed for the classification of TechDemoSat-1 delay-Doppler maps (DDMs), specifically, for separating DDMs of sea ice from those of seawater. DDM data were first operated with a general data preprocessing procedure, which included noise floor subtraction and normalization. In addition, a simple and effective feature selection (FS) was devised so that the input size was significantly reduced (from 128 × 20 to 20) while the classification accuracy was enhanced. To be specific, the feature was selected as the mean value along the delay-axis (128 in length) at each Doppler bin (20 in all). Here, expected classification labels (sea ice/seawater) were obtained based on reference sea ice concentration data collected by multiple passive microwave sensors. In practice, this trained SVMs-FS algorithm showed improved accuracy but less data storage demands than the existing neural networks (NNs)- and convolutional neural networks-based methods. In addition, the designed FS was also proven to be effective for both SVMs and NNs.
Using Models for Communication in Cyber-Physical Systems

One of the main components of cyber-physical systems (CPS) is the underlying communication mechanism that enables control and decision-making. Communication has traditionally taken the form of sensing a physical phenomenon, or a cyber process, and then transmitting the sensed data to other entities within the system. With CPS being in general much more complex than a single physical or cyber process, the requirements on communication and data content are high. Therefore, communication of all the required information for control of a CPS may become a challenge. In this chapter, we present a new paradigm in communication which utilizes communication of models and model updates rather than raw sensed data. This approach, which transforms overall communication structure, has the potential to considerably reduce the communication load, and provide a mechanism for richer understanding of the processes whose data is being received over a communication link. We take the example of a vehicular CPS that relies on communication for collision avoidance and demonstrate the effectiveness of the model-based communication (MBC) concept.
Assessing the Quality of Mobile Apps Used by Occupational Therapists: Evaluation Using the User Version of the Mobile Application Rating Scale

Background: The continuous development of mobile apps has led to many health care professionals using them in clinical settings; however, little research is available to guide occupational therapists (OTs) in choosing quality apps for use in their respective clinical settings. Objective: The purpose of this study was to use the user version of the Mobile Application Rating Scale (uMARS) to evaluate the quality of the most frequently noted mobile health (mHealth) apps used by OTs and to demonstrate the utility of the uMARS to assess the quality of mHealth apps. Methods: A previous study surveying OTs’ use of apps in therapy compiled a list of apps frequently noted. A total of 25 of these apps were evaluated individually by 2 trained researchers using the uMARS, a simple, multidimensional analysis tool that can be reliably used to evaluate the quality of mHealth apps. Results: The top 10 apps had a total quality score of 4.3, or higher, out of 5 based on the mean scores of engagement, functionality, and aesthetics. Apps scored highest in functionality and lowest in engagement. Apps noted most frequently were not always high-quality apps; apps noted least frequently were not always low-quality apps. Conclusions: Determining the effectiveness of using apps in clinical settings must be built upon a foundation of the implementation of high-quality apps. Mobile apps should not be incorporated into clinical settings solely based on frequency of use. The uMARS should be considered as a useful tool for OTs, and other professionals, to determine app quality.
Abstract P272: Associations of an Epigenetic Biomarker of Aging and Healthspan With BMI Status and Metabolic Health in Adult African Americans: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

Introduction: Individuals with obesity are thought to be protected against some chronic disease as long as they do not incur metabolic health (MH) conditions. A new epigenetic biomarker of accelera...
Trust and Political Ignorance

We often hear claims that there is too much political distrust—so much so that society has become deeply divided and democracy itself may be imperiled as a result. At the same time, many also argue that citizens are too ready to believe “fake news,” conspiracy theories, and other dubious material on political issues, thereby also potentially threatening the viability of democracy. These complaints are in some tension with each other. How can people be both lacking in trust, and highly gullible at the same time? But the tension is more apparent than real. The two problems are rooted in common dynamics of political ignorance and irrationality. Part I outlines the basic logic of rational political ignorance, and the related phenomenon of “rational irrationality”—biased evaluation of evidence. Part II applies this logic to current concerns about “fake news” and distrust of experts. In Part III, I explain why some substantial degree of deference to experts is desirable, and probably unavoidable. The key question is whether people can find the right information sources to trust. A number of strategies can help address this, but it seems unlikely many voters will adopt them without a change in incentives. Finally, Part IV outlines how we might have better incentives to assess facts and claims to expertise well if we make fewer decisions through ballot box voting, and more by “voting with our feet.”
RAC1mutation is not a predictive biomarker for PI3'-kinase-β-selective pathway-targeted therapy.

Mutational activation of RAC1 is detected in ~7% of cutaneous melanoma, with the most frequent mutation (RAC1C85T ) encoding for RAC1P29S . RAC1P29S is a fast-cycling GTPase that leads to accumulation of RAC1P29S -GTP, which has potentially pleiotropic regulatory functions in melanoma cell signaling and biology. However, the precise mechanism by which mutationally activated RAC1P29S propagates its pro-tumorigenic effects remains unclear. RAC1-GTP is reported to activate the beta isoform of PI3'-kinase (PIK3CB/PI3Kβ) leading to downstream activation of PI3'-lipid signaling. Hence, we employed both genetic and isoform-selective pharmacological inhibitors to test if RAC1P29S propagates its oncogenic signaling in melanoma through PI3Kβ. We observed that RAC1P29S -expressing melanoma cells were largely insensitive to inhibitors of PI3Kβ. Furthermore, RAC1P29S melanoma cell lines showed variable sensitivity to pan-class 1 (α/β/γ/δ) PI3'-kinase inhibitors, suggesting that RAC1-mutated melanoma cells may not rely on PI3'-lipid signaling for their proliferation. Lastly, we observed that RAC1P29S -expressing cell lines also showed variable sensitivity to pharmacological inhibition of the RAC1 → PAK1 signaling pathway, questioning the relevance of inhibitors of this pathway for the treatment of patients with RAC1-mutated melanoma.
The Unsafe Lab Practical

The idea of a practical examination in a subject is an old and established one in many fields, within chemistry, in widely differing areas of academics, and in many on-the-job training scenarios. In a dedicated course on chemical safety, we have found that “the unsafe lab practical” makes for a thought-provoking and yet fun final examination. This paper discusses the steps in making and executing such a practical examination and points out where such an examination can be delivered.
The ethnographer and the algorithm: beyond the black box

A common theme in social science studies of algorithms is that they are profoundly opaque and function as “black boxes.” Scholars have developed several methodological approaches in order to address algorithmic opacity. Here I argue that we can explicitly enroll algorithms in ethnographic research, which can shed light on unexpected aspects of algorithmic systems—including their opacity. I delineate three meso-level strategies for algorithmic ethnography. The first, algorithmic refraction, examines the reconfigurations that take place when computational software, people, and institutions interact. The second strategy, algorithmic comparison, relies on a similarity-and-difference approach to identify the instruments’ unique features. The third strategy, algorithmic triangulation, enrolls algorithms to help gather rich qualitative data. I conclude by discussing the implications of this toolkit for the study of algorithms and future of ethnographic fieldwork.
Intersectionality and Leadership in Context: Examining the Intricate Paths of Four Black Women in Educational Leadership in the United States

There is an emergent body of scholarship about the specific ways in which Black women lead within the context of education. In the United States, women comprise three-quarters of the educational wo...
WaveFunctionCollapse: Content Generation via Constraint Solving and Machine Learning

We describe WaveFunctionCollapse (WFC), a new family of algorithms for content generation. WFC was recently invented by independent game developer Maxim Gumin and has since been adopted and adapted by other game developers. Trends in academic research on content generation have only recently suggested the use of ideas from constraint solving and machine learning, so it is surprising to see these manifested in in-the-wild algorithms developed outside of an academic context. We illuminate the common components in this family of algorithms by way of a rational reconstruction. Through experiments with the reconstruction we probe the impact of design choices made in various adaptations of WFC (e.g. the role of backtracking, search heuristics, or pattern learning strategies). This work highlights a mode of incremental content generation that has been overlooked by past surveys of content generation methods.
Continuous dependence of curvature flow on initial conditions

We study the evolution of a Jordan curve on the 2-sphere by curvature flow, also known as curve shortening flow, and by level-set flow, which is a weak formulation of curvature flow. We show that the evolution of the curve depends continuously on the initial curve in Frechet distance in the case where the curve bisects the sphere. This even holds in the limit as time goes to infinity. This builds on Joseph Lauer's work on existence and uniqueness of solutions to the curvature flow problem on the sphere when the initial curve is not smooth.
Inorganic perovskite solar cells with high voltage and excellent stability against thermal and environmental degradation

We report on the properties and stability of inorganic perovskite CsPbBr 3 fabricated using vapor deposition. We have obtained the highest voltage ever recorded, exceeding 1.6V, in this material. The material was deposited using vapor deposition process, followed by post-deposition anneal at 450 C. Both layer by layer, and sequential anneal processes were sued for growing the material. After growth and anneals, the material was tested for thermal stability at temperatures of 300 C, and the x-ray data showed that there was no degradation of the material even at this high temperature. n-i-p superstrate devices were fabricated on FTO substrates coated with either TiO 2 or n-CdS. The p layer was P3HT or PTAA. The devices showed an open-circuit voltage of 1.62V, the highest ever reported in this material. The devices were exposed to humid room air for 25 days, and showed no degradation at all in its performance. Detailed material measurements such as subgap quantum efficiency and deep defects were measured. The Urbach energy for valence band tails is found to be 22 meV and mid-gap defect density in the range of few 1015/cm3.
Two case studies on impact evaluation of education projects

Primary school enrollment rates in Pakistan are far lower than in countries facing similar economic circumstances. The problem is particularly severe for girls in poor families and rural areas;To address this problem, the Balochistan Education Foundation with technical support from World Bank launched the Urban Girls' Fellowship program in 1994, and the Community Support Program (CSP) in 1992. These programs were instituted in Balochistan Province, the poorest, the least populous, least educated province of Pakistan. The main object of the pilot programs was to increase the enrollment rate for girls;This study evaluates the two programs using experimental and quasi-experimental methods. This study shows that those programs had a positive effect not only on girls' enrollment but also on boys' enrollment, as its possibility was predicted in theory. In addition, those estimates were not sensitive to the methods based on different assumptions. Based upon those results, it can be concluded that the success of expanding those programs is promising.
On the Asymptotic Expansion of the Spheroidal Wave Function and Its Eigenvalues for Complex Size Parameter

We provide a rapid and accurate method for calculating the prolate and oblate spheroidal wave functions (PSWFs and OSWFs), Smn(c; ), and their eigenvalues, mn, for arbitrary complex size parameter c in the asymptotic regime of large jcj, m and n fixed. The ability to calculate these SWFs for large and complex size parameters is important for many applications in mathematics, engineering, and physics. For arbitrary arg(c), the PSWFs and their eigenvalues are accurately expressed by established prolate-type or oblate-type asymptotic expansions. However, determining the proper expansion type is dependent upon finding spheroidal branch points, c mn ;r , in the complex c-plane where the PSWF alternates expansion type due to analytic continuation. We implement a numerical search method for tabulating these branch points as a function of spheroidal parameters m, n, and arg(c). The resulting table allows rapid determination of the appropriate asymptotic expansion type of the SWFs. Normalizations, which are dependent on c, are derived for both the prolate and oblate-type asymptotic expansions and for both (n m) even and odd. The ordering for these expansions is different from the original ordering of the SWFs and is dictated by the location of c mn ;r . We document this ordering for the specific case of arg(c) = =4 which occurs for the diffusion equation in spheroidal coordinates. Some representative values of mn and Smn(c; ) for large, complex c are also given.
A group theoretic criterion for property FA

We give group-theoretic conditions on a set of generators of a group G which imply that G admits no non-trivial action on a tree. The criterion applies to several interesting classes of groups, including automorphism groups of most free groups and mapping class groups of most surfaces.
Knowing when to hold ’em and fold ’em

This article furthers understanding of the tacit knowledge of school administrators and provides a fresh look at the issue of boundedness in the superintendency. The tacit knowledge of a group of Ohio superintendents was examined in light of superintendent classification as place‐bound (rising through the ranks in one school district) or career‐bound (assuming the superintendency in multiple districts across the span of a career). Tacit knowledge items were culled from interviews conducted with the superintendents. The 469 items were sorted by an expert panel and then cluster analyzed to determine categories of tacit knowledge for place‐bound and career‐bound superintendents. A total of 21 categories describe the tacit knowledge across the superintendent group. Differences in categories and amounts of tacit knowledge were found between the place‐bound superintendents and the career‐bound superintendents.
Automation Under Service-Oriented Grids

For some companies, information technology (IT) services constitute a fundamental function without which the company could not exist. Think of UPS without the ability to electronically track every package in its system or any large bank managing millions of customer accounts without computers. IT can be capital and labor intensive, representing anywhere between 1% and 5% of a companyʼs gross expenditures, and keeping costs commensurate with the size of the organization is a constant concern for the chief information officer (CIO)s in charge of IT.
Role of Vortex Rossby Waves on Tropical Cyclone Intensity

Abstract : The long-term goal of this project is to improve the prediction of tropical cyclone (TC) genesis and intensity changes through improved understanding of the fundamental mechanisms involved. Accurate prediction of TC intensity changes is critical to Navy mission and civilian activities. Significant gains have been made in the TC track prediction over the past three decades. The intensity forecast, however, has shown very little improvement during the same period. A main factor contributing to the lack of skill in the prediction of TC intensity is the inadequate understanding of complicated mechanisms involved. These mechanisms include internal dynamic and thermodynamic processes, external forcing, and scale interactions. Only after we understand these processes, are we then able to tackle the weaknesses in the model simulations and forecasts.
Building America Performance Analysis Procedures for Existing Homes

Because there are more than 101 million residential households in the United States today, it is not surprising that existing residential buildings represent an extremely large source of potential energy savings. Because thousands of these homes are renovated each year, Building America is investigating the best ways to make existing homes more energy-efficient, based on lessons learned from research in new homes. The Building America program is aiming for a 20%-30% reduction in energy use in existing homes by 2020. The strategy for the existing homes project of Building America is to establish technology pathways that reduce energy consumption cost-effectively in American homes. The existing buildings project focuses on finding ways to adapt the results from the new homes research to retrofit applications in existing homes. Research activities include a combination of computer modeling, field demonstrations, and long-term monitoring to support the development of integrated approaches to reduce energy use in existing residential buildings. Analytical tools are being developed to guide designers and builders in selecting the best approaches for each application. Also, DOE partners with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to increase energy efficiency in existing homes through the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program.
Indirect presentation of antigen-coupled cells mediates specific CD4+ T cell tolerance by PD-L1 for the prevention of type 1 diabetes (BA14P.207)

Antigen coupled to the surface of cells using ethylene carbodiimide is a potent inducer of tolerance in multiple models of autoimmunity including Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). Yet, the mechanisms contributing to the induction of T cell tolerance in vivo during T1D are unclear. We used the BDC2.5 T cell receptor transgenic T cell transfer model to study how p31-coupled cells inhibit T cell function in vivo. Antigen-coupled cells that were either deficient in MHC class II or MHC-mismatched induced tolerance similarly to MHC class II-sufficient matched cells, suggesting that indirect presentation of coupled cell antigens is required for tolerance induction in vivo. We also show that BDC2.5 T cells predominantly encounter coupled cell antigen that has been ingested by host antigen presenting cells, and that the inhibitory receptor PD-L1 is required on the host but not the coupled cells to induce tolerance, further highlighting an indirect mechanism of tolerance induction. These data add to our current understanding of how antigen-coupled cells induce tolerance and aid in the translation of this therapeutic into the clinic.
Analysis of Contact Formation and Surface Layers on Semiconductors

This is a review of MeV He ion backscattering and channeling effect measurements used to analyze surface layers on semiconductors. Backscattering techniques provide both mass and depth resolution, channeling effects provide structural information and a determination of lineshapes for analysis of amorphous layers on crystalline substrates. Examples are given for analysis of the composition of dielectric layers, diffusion through passivating layers on GaAs, low temperature migration of Si in metal films and alloying behavior of Au on GaAs.