cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Smart wireless antenna arrays

Summary form only given. The antenna is indispensable in wireless communications. An antenna array is well known for its power in harnessing spatially distributed radio energy for more reliable data reception. Current trends in smart antenna technology primarily focus on mobile environments where fast channel fading is predominant in limiting channel capacities. We present a new frontier in signal processing for wireless communications, which we call smart wireless antenna arrays or, more briefly, wireless antennas. Most (if not all) current antennas are wireless on one end but wired on the other. Wired antennas of large apertures are not always convenient for users. Therefore, we have endeavored to develop smarter antennas that have no wires. Our wireless antennas (or virtual antennas) are a number of wireless mobile relays distributed around a destination receiver (or a set of destination receivers). These relays could be embedded in any wireless mobile device. We show a signal processing framework for wireless antennas.
Whitetopping and Hot-Mix Asphalt Overlay Treatments for Flexible Pavement: Minnesota Case History

In 1993, two hot-mix asphalt and four whitetopping overlay test sections were constructed on low-volume road TH 30 in southern Minnesota. A study was undertaken to examine the performance and costs associated with the test sections after 9 years of service. The field testing and evaluation are described, and the costs incurred through 2001 are tabulated. The hot-mix asphalt overlay test sections are performing up to their design expectations. Routine preventive maintenance has been applied to both hot-mix asphalt test sections, adding to their long-term cost of operation and ownership. The whitetopping test sections are performing very well at the midpoint of their design lives of 20 years. Most distresses to date are related to poor construction and materials rather than inherent design features. Some random longitudinal cracking has occurred in areas of the whitetopping control section. The doweled test section has numerous distressed transverse joints caused by dowels near the surface of the slabs. There is virtually no faulting of the transverse joints, and the ride quality has stabilized. No maintenance has been performed on the whitetopping sections through 2001. As of 2002, the most economical overlay design in this study is a 6-in.-thick bonded whitetopping. On the basis of recent observations, it appears that whitetopping performs well and is an economical option for rehabilitation of low-volume roads in Minnesota.
Self-organized nanotemplating on misfit dislocation networks investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy.

Self-ordering growth of nanoarrays on strained metallic interfaces is an attractive option for preparing highly ordered nanotemplates. The great potential of this natural templating approach is that symmetry, feature sizes, and density are predicted to depend on the interfacial stress in these strained layers, which can be adjusted by changing the substrate-thin film composi- tion, temperature, and adlayer coverage. This bottom-up approach of growing nanostructured two- dimensional ordered arrays of clusters on the misfit dislocation networks of strained metallic thin films and surfaces requires a detailed understanding of the nucleation and film-adsorbate interac- tion processes. Here we show how high resolution, large scale, variable temperature scanning tun- neling microscopy imaging can improve our understanding of these self-assembly processes. Microsc. Res. Tech. 70:547-553, 2007. V C 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Has Management Strangled U.S. Unions

The view that decline unionization is a disinctive U.S. development different from the experience of our structurally similar neighbour, Canada, and different from the experience of the most advancement industrial countries in Europe and the alleged distinctiveness of U.S. experience supported the search for a cause in U.S. institutions 20 years ago, what now appears as a broad social trend almost as ubiquitous as unions themselves argues for explanations that cross international borders. Structural change is an appealing candidate, for the comparatively high income elasticity of demand for products and services produced in sectors where unions are sparse render declining union density from heavily unionized to lightly unionized sectors are only a minor source of the fall in aggregate unionization rates in most countries.
Legible Simplification of Textured Urban Models

Most of the algorithms used for research in mesh simplification and discrete levels of detail (LOD) work well for simplifying single objects with a large number of polygons. For a city-sized collection of simple buildings, using these traditional algorithms could mean the disappearance of an entire residential area in which the buildings tend to be smaller than those in commercial regions. To solve this problem, we developed a mesh-simplification algorithm that incorporates concepts from architecture and city planning. Specifically, we rely on the concept of urban legibility, which segments a city into paths, edges, districts, nodes, and landmarks. If we preserve these elements of legibility during the simplification process, we can maintain the city's image and create urban models that users can understand more effectively. To accomplish this goal, we divide our algorithm into five steps. During preprocessing, it performs hierarchical clustering, cluster merging, model simplification, and hierarchical texturing, at runtime, it employs LOD to select the appropriate models for rendering.
Clinical and Biomarker Outcomes of the Phase II Vandetanib Study from the BATTLE Trial

1prospectively obtained serum and tumor core biopsies and randomized 255 chemorefractory non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients into four phase II trials: erlotinib, erlotinib-bexarotene, vandetanib, or sorafenib. Herein, we report the clinical and biomarker results of the phase II vandetanib trial. Results: Fifty-four patients received vandetanib. The 8-week disease control rate was 33%, median progression-free survival (PFS) 1.81 months, and median overall survival (OS) 6.5 months. No demographic subgroups had PFS or OS benefit. Eight patients with EGFR mutations had a trend for higher 8-week disease control rate (63% versus 31%; p = 0.12) but worse OS (5.9 months versus 9 months; p = 0.8). Patients with EGFR gene amplification (n = 6) had a worse OS (3.9 months versus 9.5 months; p = 0.04). KRAS mutation patients (3.9 months versus 9.5 months; p = 0.23) also had a worse OS. For the serum biomarker analysis, patients with below the median serum expression of interleukin 9c (p = 0.019) and eotaxin (p = 0.007) had a shorter PFS. A trend toward a shorter PFS was also seen in patients with higher than the median neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (p = 0.079) and lower than the median TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (p = 0.087). Conclusion: Our trial results are largely consistent with the literature in unselected pretreated NSCLC patients. Although vandetanib improved median PFS in EGFR mutation patients with epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor–resistance compared with EGFR wild-type, there was no OS advantage. Although vandetanib is no longer in development in NSCLC, identification of a molecular phenotype that responds to dual epidermal growth factor receptor and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor inhibition would contribute to the field.
Variation of field intensity over irregular terrain within line of sight for the UHF band

Late in 1950 the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) was faced with the problem of having to allocate television (TV) broadcast stations in the ultra high frequency (UHF) band from 300 to 900 mc/s. In order to make an intelligent allocation, some knowledge was necessary of the extent of television service to be expected for these UHF channels. Consequently, a series of statistical studies was made of the available data to derive some empirical propagation formulae and curves upon which the UHF allocation might be based. One of these studies was that of the variation in field intensity over irregular terrain which will be discussed in this paper. Of necessity a great many of the details of the study cannot be included here. Thse who desire these details are referred to the original FCC report. The variation of field intensity over irregular terrain within line of sight for the UHF-band has been studied. The factors which affect these variations and the relative reliability of these factors have been investigated, leading to resultant distributions of field intensity over irregular terrain, as described by figure 9. In addition, this distribution has been compared with that for the VHF band and it has been possible to extrapolate the results to cover the whole UHF television band from 300 to 900 mc/s. by using the distribution of Fig. 9 and correcting for frequency the overall median deviations from a reference [Fig. 11].
APPLICATION OF THE EXTREME LOW-SHEAR REGIME OF SIMULATED MICROGRAVITY TO INSECT-CELL CULTIVATION

There is a shift from necrosis to apoptosis when batch cultures of Spodoptera frugiperda are grown in the extreme low-shear regime of NASA's High-Aspect Rotating-Wall Vessel (HARV) versus a shaker flask. The NASA vessel was developed for the cultivation of animal cells in an environment that simulates microgravity on earth. Fluorescence microscopy with the DNA stains acridine orange and ethidium bromide showed 33% of S. frugiperda cells were apoptotic in the HARV when the viability was 50%, while cells grown in shaker flask had no more than 11% apoptotic cells at the same viability. We believe that the shift to apoptosis in the HARV is primarily the result of reduced hydrodynamic forces.
Insoluble particles in hail and rain

Abstract Varying concentrations of different sized, solid, water-insoluble particles in rainwater and hailstones collected during thunderstorms indicate the existence of several scavenging mechanisms of micron-size particles. It is shown that Stefan flow is probably the predominant mechanism of in-cloud scavenging of particles 1.5–5 μ in diameter when solid (ice crystal) and liquid (supercooled cloud droplet) phases are present simultaneously. Particles larger than 5 μ in diameter were scavenged primarily by impaction. On many occasions, concentration of particles larger than 100 μ diameter in rainwater was found to be inversely proportional to rainfall intensity. Studies of spatial distribution of solid particles in hailstones should be supplemented by isotopic analysis.
Deer Density and the Abundance of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae)

The abundance of Ixodes scapularis Say (Ixodes dammini Spielman, Clifford, Piesman & Corwin), the vector tick of the Lyme disease spirochete and other human pathogens, is related to the presence of its primary reproductive stage host, white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus Zimmerman). However, this relationship has not been quantified in terms that would guide wildlife management in areas in which the public is, or is likely to become, exposed to infected ticks. In this study, deer density and tick abundance were measured in an emergent area for Lyme disease at three spatial scales using estimation methods appropriate for each. Simple linear regression was used to relate (1) the number of ticks found on deer at tagging stations in southern Maine to harvest-derived estimates of the density of deer within the towns in which they were killed, (2) tick densities estimated from fall flagging counts to deer densities estimated from pellet group counts made within multiple transects distributed through 5.2-km2 study sites, and (3) tick counts to pellet group counts within the individual transects. At the broadest scale, ticks on deer decreased with elevation and distance from the coast and increased with deer density, although deer and tick presence were only weakly related. Among the 5.2-km2 study sites and within individual transects, tick abundance related more strongly to deer pellet group counts. Few ticks were collected at deer densities <7/km2.
EFFECTIVE DYNAMIC STIFFNESS MODEL AND ITS EFFECTS ON ROBOT SAFETY AND PERFORMANCE

Due to the limited control bandwidth of pneumatic artificial muscles, joint stiffness characteristics and their effects on safety and performance of human-friendly robots should be considered in the frequency domain. This paper introduces the concept of effective dynamic stiffness and validates its model with the Stanford Safety Robot. Experimental results show that the dynamic stiffness demonstrates limited effects on the impact acceleration given the same impact velocity and controller gain, whereas it significantly affects control performance of position tracking due to pressure-induced non-linearities. A stiffness optimization strategy for safety and performance is discussed as a design guideline of human-friendly robots.
Progression of diabetic nephropathy: A focus on arterial pressure level and methods of reduction

It is well accepted that a reduction of arterial pressure to levels of less than 140/90 mmHg will slow the decline in renal function among patients with diabetic nephropathy. More recently it is appreciated that the reduction of arterial pressure to levels much below 130/85 mmHg provides even greater levels of protection against the progression of renal disease. Given that the achievement of blood pressure reduction to such a level requires more than one medication and that the patient's compliance is best with a once-daily medication, it makes sense to combine antihypertensive medications so as to maximize the benefit. In this way, fixed dose combination medications yield synergistic effects on blood pressure reduction while providing, in some cases, maximal benefit to preservation of renal function. Such a combination is the verapamil/trandolapril combination. This paper discusses in great detail the advantages of blood pressure reduction and the types of medications that may achieve both protection against diabetic nephropathy progression as well as blood pressure reduction.
Cyclic Response of Precast Bridge Piers with Novel Column-Base Pipe Pins and Pocket Cap Beam Connections

Prefabrication of structural elements is the integral part of accelerated bridge construction (ABC). Providing constructible beam-column and column-foundation connections that can tolerate inelastic cyclic deformations is the primary challenge for ABC in seismic regions. This study developed pipe pins to simulate hinge supports at the column-footing connections and pocket details to make moment connections between the columns and pier caps. The pipe pins consisted of two steel pipes to transfer the shear and one threaded rod to transfer the uplift forces. The pocket connection was formed by extending the column into a prefabricated pocket in a precast cap beam and grouting the space between the column segment and the pocket. The primary objectives of this research were to investigate (1) the seismic performance of the proposed connections, (2) the cyclic behavior of a two-column bent utilizing column-footing pipe pins at the base and pocket connections at the top joints, and (3) the performance of engineered cementitious composites (ECCs) in the pocket details and plastic hinge zone of column. Comprehensive experimental studies of the connections and their components, including cyclic load studies of a large-scale two-column bent model, were conducted. Test results showed that the proposed pipe pin detail resisted the force and deformation demands under high drift ratios with minimal damage. Furthermore, the precast cap beam remained essentially elastic, and the pocket detail behaved similarly to a monolithic moment connection in hinging the column when conventional concrete was used in the embedded region. Study results also recommend that ECC not be used in the embedded portion of the column in the pocket.
Next-Generation Sequencing of Pulmonary Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma Reveals Small Cell Carcinoma–like and Non–Small Cell Carcinoma–like Subsets

Purpose: Pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) is a highly aggressive neoplasm, whose biologic relationship to small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) versus non-SCLC (NSCLC) remains unclear, contributing to uncertainty regarding optimal clinical management. To clarify these relationships, we analyzed genomic alterations in LCNEC compared with other major lung carcinoma types. Experimental Design: LCNEC (n = 45) tumor/normal pairs underwent targeted next-generation sequencing of 241 cancer genes by Memorial Sloan Kettering-Integrated Mutation Profiling of Actionable Cancer Targets (MSK-IMPACT) platform and comprehensive histologic, immunohistochemical, and clinical analysis. Genomic data were compared with MSK-IMPACT analysis of other lung carcinoma histologies (n = 242). Results: Commonly altered genes in LCNEC included TP53 (78%), RB1 (38%), STK11 (33%), KEAP1 (31%), and KRAS (22%). Genomic profiles segregated LCNEC into 2 major and 1 minor subsets: SCLC-like (n = 18), characterized by TP53+RB1 co-mutation/loss and other SCLC-type alterations, including MYCL amplification; NSCLC-like (n = 25), characterized by the lack of coaltered TP53+RB1 and nearly universal occurrence of NSCLC-type mutations (STK11, KRAS, and KEAP1); and carcinoid-like (n = 2), characterized by MEN1 mutations and low mutation burden. SCLC-like and NSCLC-like subsets revealed several clinicopathologic differences, including higher proliferative activity in SCLC-like tumors (P Conclusions: LCNEC is a biologically heterogeneous group of tumors, comprising distinct subsets with genomic signatures of SCLC, NSCLC (predominantly adenocarcinoma), and rarely, highly proliferative carcinoids. Recognition of these subsets may inform the classification and management of LCNEC patients. Clin Cancer Res; 22(14); 3618–29. ©2016 AACR.
Schwannomas provide insight into the role of p75 NTR and merlin in Schwann cells following nerve injury and during regeneration

Peripheral nerve injury leads to Wallerian degeneration of severed axons, leaving the Schwann cell (SC) sheath behind. Denervated SCs may then either survive and remyelinate a regenerating axon, or they may undergo cell death. Because SCs provide trophic support and guidance cues to regenerating nerve fibers, SC loss severely hampers nerve regeneration (Hall, 1986). Thus, significant work has sought to characterize the molecular mechanisms underlying SC fate following peripheral nerve injury. A deeper understanding of these mechanisms has recently been derived from a somewhat unexpected source; cell survival signaling in benign schwannoma tumors has yielded insight into survival signaling in denervated SCs. This recent evidence implicates a pathway involving the single transmembrane neurotrophin receptor p75NTR and Moesin-ezrin-radixin-like protein (merlin, also known as schwannomin or neurofibromin 2), a membrane-cytoskeleton scaffolding protein linking the cellular membrane to the actin cytoskeleton.
Structural Determinants of Misfolding in Multidomain Proteins.

Recent single molecule experiments, using either atomic force microscopy (AFM) or Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) have shown that multidomain proteins containing tandem repeats may form stable misfolded structures. Topology-based simulation models have been used successfully to generate models for these structures with domain-swapped features, fully consistent with the available data. However, it is also known that some multidomain protein folds exhibit no evidence for misfolding, even when adjacent domains have identical sequences. Here we pose the question: what factors influence the propensity of a given fold to undergo domain-swapped misfolding? Using a coarse-grained simulation model, we can reproduce the known propensities of multidomain proteins to form domain-swapped misfolds, where data is available. Contrary to what might be naively expected based on the previously described misfolding mechanism, we find that the extent of misfolding is not determined by the relative folding rates or barrier heights for forming the domains present in the initial intermediates leading to folded or misfolded structures. Instead, it appears that the propensity is more closely related to the relative stability of the domains present in folded and misfolded intermediates. We show that these findings can be rationalized if the folded and misfolded domains are part of the same folding funnel, with commitment to one structure or the other occurring only at a relatively late stage of folding. Nonetheless, the results are still fully consistent with the kinetic models previously proposed to explain misfolding, with a specific interpretation of the observed rate coefficients. Finally, we investigate the relation between interdomain linker length and misfolding, and propose a simple alchemical model to predict the propensity for domain-swapped misfolding of multidomain proteins.
Promotion of Positive Parenting and Prevention of Socioemotional Disparities

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to determine what effects pediatric primary care interventions, focused on promotion of positive parenting through reading aloud and play, have on the socioemotional development of toddlers from low-income, primarily immigrant households. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial included random assignment to 1 of 2 interventions (Video Interaction Project [VIP] or Building Blocks [BB]) or to a control group. Mother–newborn dyads were enrolled postpartum in an urban public hospital. In VIP, dyads met with an interventionist on days of well-child visits; the interventionist facilitated interactions in play and shared reading through provision of learning materials and review of videotaped parent–child interactions. In BB, parents were mailed parenting pamphlets and learning materials. This article analyzes socioemotional outcomes from 14 to 36 months for children in VIP and BB versus control. RESULTS: A total of 463 dyads (69%) contributed data. Children in VIP scored higher than control on imitation/play and attention, and lower on separation distress, hyperactivity, and externalizing problems, with effect sizes ∼0.25 SD for the sample as a whole and ∼0.50 SD for families with additional psychosocial risks . Children in BB made greater gains in imitation/play compared with control. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the efficacy of VIP, a preventive intervention targeting parent – child interactions, for enhancing socioemotional outcomes in low-income toddlers. Given the low cost and potential for scalability of primary care interventions, findings support expansion of pediatric-based parenting programs such as VIP for the primary prevention of socioemotional problems before school entry.
Discuss on the safety of cosmetics

The safety and the history background of cosmetics were related. The "Cosmetic Hygiene Standardization" which will be actualized by Ministry of Health was analyzed combined with the realm practice. Some questions concerned the cosmetic safety such as high concentration of Hg, hair dying agent and also the forbidden substances etc. were put forward. It was point out that developing cosmetic safety raw materials was the main trend in cosmetic industry.
A wavelength-dispersive instrument for characterizing fluorescence andscattering spectra of individual aerosol particles on a substrate

Abstract. We describe a novel, low-cost instrument to acquire both elastic and inelastic (fluorescent) scattering spectra from individual supermicron-size particles in a multi-particle collection on a microscope slide. The principle of the device is based on a slitless spectroscope that is often employed in astronomy to determine the spectra of individual stars in a star cluster but had not been applied to atmospheric particles. Under excitation, most commonly by either a 405 nm diode laser or a UV light-emitting diode (LED), fluorescence emission spectra of many individual particles can be determined simultaneously. The instrument can also acquire elastic scattering spectra from particles illuminated by a white-light source. The technique also provides the ability to detect and rapidly estimate the number fraction of fluorescent particles that could contaminate a collection of non-fluorescent material, even without analyzing full spectra. Advantages and disadvantages of using black-and-white cameras compared to color cameras are given. The primary motivation for this work has been to develop an inexpensive technique to characterize fluorescent biological aerosol particles, especially particles such as pollen and mold spores that can cause allergies. An example of an iPhone-enabled device is also shown as a means for collecting data on biological aerosols at lower cost or by utilizing citizen scientists for expanded data collection.
Some Applications of the Fundamental Theorem

This chapter deals with three applications of the fundamental theorem of asset pricing. In general, a financial engineer needs to use such approaches when static replication of the assets is not possible. Mark-to-market requirements or production of new products often requires calculating arbitrage-free prices internally without having recourse to synthetics that can be put together using liquid prices observed in the markets. The methods outlined in this chapter show some standard ways of doing this. The applications outlined in this chapter are the Monte Carlo approach, calibration, and quantos.
Intensive Care in the Adult With Congenital Heart Disease.

Objectives:The purpose of this review is to discuss current outcomes for patients with adult congenital heart disease, assess the level of knowledge regarding the impact of comorbidities, and discuss the various models of care with a view to establish the optimal environment for the care of these pa
Respiratory motion compensation studies using a 3D robotic motion simulator and optical/electromagnetic tracking technologies

Respiratory motion can degrade the quality of nuclear medicine images, especially when attempting to identify small abnormalities, make quantitative estimates of activity concentration, or track the time-varying location of a tumor. Thus, we are developing methods for respiratory motion compensation and testing these methods using robotic devices. The testing device is a computer controlled 3-axis motion simulator that can hold activity-filled phantoms or spheres and move them along pre-programmed paths to simulate respiratory motion. The motion of the platform is programmed in advance and can also be monitored using an optical tracking system, thus providing a solid ground truth for the time-dependent activity concentration. Registration between the coordinate space of the PET or SPET scanner and the optical tracker coordinate system is based on a set of common points (mapped out using the motion simulator) that are visible to both systems. We have also used electromagnetic tracking and optical tracking to obtain realistic respiratory motion data from patients and animal models. These data can be transformed into motion simulator paths, thus providing us with breathing patterns that accurately reflect the nonstationary and variable nature of human respiration. The simulator thus provides a highly useful tool for repeatably testing different approaches to motion-compensated image reconstruction or gated acquisition schemes.
Next generation polymer nanocomposite electrolytes for lithium ion batteries

T is a growing shift from conventional liquid electrolytes towards solid polymer electrolytes due to the many advantages of polymers including safety, stability and thin film manufacturability. Nanoscale fillers are known to enhance Li ion conductivity as well as improve the mechanical properties of the polymer electrolytes. We will discuss the role of nanoparticles in enhancing ion conductivity including experimental results as well as insights from our continuum-level model and MD simulations. We’ll also discuss the use of novel nanoscale fillers including hybrid clay-carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in polymer electrolytes. We show that CNTs grown and insulated within clay layers can work as effective hybrid 3D nanofillers and improve Li ion conductivity of PEO electrolyte by almost two orders of magnitude. Furthermore, the incorporation of only 5% clay-nanotube hybrid particles leads to 160% increase in the tensile strength of the polymer electrolyte. The mechanism of ion conductivity enhancement of the hybrid fillers can be attributed to the high surface density of the 3D hybrid fillers and the strong interaction between the CNT’s rich negative electron cloud and positive lithium ions.
Student-Focused Coaching

A recent research report from the International Literacy Association (ILA, 2015) discussed the current challenges facing today’s educators, noting the increasing diversity of students’ backgrounds and needs, coupled with the higher expectations and standards being widely adopted to prepare students for 21st-century skills. The ILA (2015) document stated that due to this combination of circumstances, there appeared to be “both a need for and a benefit from specialized literacy professionals working in schools to improve literacy instructional practices” (p. 4). One important role of a specialized literacy professional is that of coach, commonly defined as a professional educator working to improve classroom instruction by supporting teacher learning. The purpose of this article is to describe one model of coaching currently being used in schools called Student-Focused Coaching.
Taurine Biosynthesis in a Fish Liver Cell Line (ZFL) Adapted to a Serum-Free Medium

Although taurine has been shown to play multiple important physiological roles in teleosts, little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying dietary requirements. Cell lines can provide useful tools for deciphering biosynthetic pathways and their regulation. However, culture media and sera contain variable taurine levels. To provide a useful cell line for the investigation of taurine homeostasis, an adult zebrafish liver cell line (ZFL) has been adapted to a taurine-free medium by gradual accommodation to a commercially available synthetic medium, UltraMEM™-ITES. Here we show that ZFL cells are able to synthesize taurine and be maintained in medium without taurine. This has allowed for the investigation of the effects of taurine supplementation on cell growth, cellular amino acid pools, as well as the expression of the taurine biosynthetic pathway and taurine transporter genes in a defined fish cell type. After taurine supplementation, cellular taurine levels increase but hypotaurine levels stay constant, suggesting little suppression of taurine biosynthesis. Cellular methionine levels do not change after taurine addition, consistent with maintenance of taurine biosynthesis. The addition of taurine to cells grown in taurine-free medium has little effect on transcript levels of the biosynthetic pathway genes for cysteine dioxygenase (CDO), cysteine sulfinate decarboxylase (CSAD), or cysteamine dioxygenase (ADO). In contrast, supplementation with taurine causes a 30% reduction in transcript levels of the taurine transporter, TauT. This experimental approach can be tailored for the development of cell lines from aquaculture species for the elucidation of their taurine biosynthetic capacity.
Multifetal Pregnancy Reduction of Trichorionic Triplet Gestations: What is the Benefit?

Objective This study aims to determine the efficacy of multifetal pregnancy reduction (MFPR) in improving obstetrical outcomes for trichorionic triplet gestations. Study Design Retrospective cohort study of patients with multiple gestations delivered by a single maternal-fetal medicine practice from 2005 to 2016. We compared patients with trichorionic triamniotic triplet gestations who underwent MFPR to those with an ongoing triplet pregnancy (TT), as well as primary dichorionic diamniotic twin gestations (DD). Logistic regression analysis was used to control for any differences at baseline. Results There were 42 patients in the MFPR group, 43 women in the TT group, and 693 women in the DD group. Comparing MFPR to TT, the likelihood of preterm birth Conclusion In trichorionic triamniotic triplet pregnancies, our study suggests that obstetrical outcomes may not be as dramatically improved with MFPR as seen in older studies.
Social Constructionism and Entrepreneurial Opportunity

Social constructionism as an underlying philosophical approach offers much potential in entrepreneurship research. This chapter introduces social constructionism, explains the underlying philosophy that guides approaches of this nature and highlights prior approaches using a social constructionist frame of reference. The first part of the chapter aims to introduce the reader to this approach to research and explains its value. In the second part the chapter focuses on one particular area of debate in the entrepreneurship domain and provides a constructionist viewpoint. The focus during this part is to explore how entrepreneurial opportunities are currently conceptualized. The chapter unpicks views about entrepreneurial opportunity based on a ‘discovery’ versus ‘creation’ perspective.
A Report of 2 Cases of Brainstem Hemorrhage After Suboccipital Craniectomy for Chiari Decompression

Background and importance Decompression surgery for Chiari malformation is known to have very low procedure-related complications. There has been no report of post-Chiari malformation decompression surgery development of brainstem hemorrhage. We report 2 post-Chiari decompression surgery brainstem hemorrhage cases with 2-yr follow-up. Clinical presentation Two cases were reviewed in which patients underwent uncomplicated suboccipital craniectomy with expansive autologous pericranium duraplasty for Chiari decompression. Postoperatively, both patients awoke with hemibody sensory and motor deficits. Immediate postoperative magnetic resonance imaging revealed a small hemorrhage within the dorsal medulla in both cases. Follow-up imaging shows resolution along with near complete clinical recovery of deficits. Conclusion These cases demonstrate a rare postdecompression surgery-related complication in Chiari malformation. We hypothesize that these hemorrhages may occur from the rapid drainage of cerebrospinal fluid resulting in a loss of positive pressure, allowing a low-pressure hemorrhage to occur. Given that these hemorrhages are of low pressure, recovery is excellent.
Enhancing PUF reliability by machine learning

Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs) are promising security primitives for device authentication and key generation. This paper proposes a two-step methodology to improve the reliability of PUF under noisy conditions. The first step involves acquiring the parameters of PUF models by using machine learning algorithms. The second step then utilizes these obtained parameters to improve the reliability of PUFs by selectively choosing challenge-response pairs (CRPs) for authentication. Two distinct algorithms for improving the reliability of multiplexer (MUX) PUF, i.e., total delay difference thresholding and sensitive hits grouping, are presented. It is important to note that the methodology can be easily applied to other types of PUFs as well. Our experimental results show that the reliability of PUF-based authentication can be significantly improved by the proposed approaches. For example, in one experimental setting, the reliability of an MUX PUF is improved from 89.75% to 94.07% usmg total delay difference thresholding, while 89.30% of generated challenges are stored. As opposed to total delay difference thresholding, sensitive bits grouping possesses higher efficiency, as it can produce reliable CRPs directly. Our experimental results show that the reliability can be improved to 96.91% under the same setting, when we group 12 bits in the challenge vector of a 128-stage MUX PUF.
A Hybrid Parallel Method for 3-D Nonlinear Periodic Eddy Current Problems With Motions

This paper describes a highly robust and efficient hybrid parallel computing method for periodic eddy current problems considering motions. This hybrid parallel approach is composed of two levels of parallelization, with distributed memory parallel based on message passing interface at the higher level and shared memory parallel based on multi-threading at the lower level. Application examples will be presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of this method.
Listening to images

How would one construct a “radical visual archive” of the African diaspora that includes histories of images produced under the auspices of violent subjection, whose purpose was to order, catalog, ...
Abelian networks IV. Dynamics of nonhalting networks.

An abelian network is a collection of communicating automata whose state transitions and message passing each satisfy a local commutativity condition. This paper is a continuation of the abelian networks series of Bond and Levine (2016), for which we extend the theory of abelian networks that halt on all inputs to networks that can run forever. A nonhalting abelian network can be realized as a discrete dynamical system in many different ways, depending on the update order. We show that certain features of the dynamics, such as minimal period length, have intrinsic definitions that do not require specifying an update order. We give an intrinsic definition of the \emph{torsion group} of a finite irreducible (halting or nonhalting) abelian network, and show that it coincides with the critical group of Bond and Levine (2016) if the network is halting. We show that the torsion group acts freely on the set of invertible recurrent components of the trajectory digraph, and identify when this action is transitive. This perspective leads to new results even in the classical case of sinkless rotor networks (deterministic analogues of random walks). In Holroyd et. al (2008) it was shown that the recurrent configurations of a sinkless rotor network with just one chip are precisely the unicycles (spanning subgraphs with a unique oriented cycle, with the chip on the cycle). We generalize this result to abelian mobile agent networks with any number of chips. We give formulas for generating series such as \[ \sum_{n \geq 1} r_n z^n = \det (\frac{1}{1-z}D - A ) \] where $r_n$ is the number of recurrent chip-and-rotor configurations with $n$ chips; $D$ is the diagonal matrix of outdegrees, and $A$ is the adjacency matrix. A consequence is that the sequence $(r_n)_{n \geq 1}$ completely determines the spectrum of the simple random walk on the network.
Femtosecond laser writing of 3-D NLO structures in glass

Femtosecond laser pulses have been used to precipitate 3-dimensional LiNbU3 structures in supersaturated glass for second harmonic generation (SHG). Measurements for successive layers with parallel and antiparallel optical axes compare nicely with calculations.
A Brief History of Research on Agrobacterium Tumefaciens: 1900–1980s

The study of tumorigenesis on plants as a result of their infection by Agrobacterium tumefaciens has resulted in enormous advances in our understanding of interspecies genetic transfer. This chapter seeks to trace the earlier studies (from the early 1900s up to mid 1980s) that were involved in defining the biology, genetics and molecular biology of this system. The analysis of these studies will be carried out with the objective of understanding how Agrobacterium has become not only a model system in bacterial pathogenesis but also a key player in both basic plant molecular genetics and agricultural biotechnology.
Multifactorial Origin of Exertional Rhabdomyolysis, Recurrent Hematuria, and Episodic Pain in a Service Member with Sickle Cell Trait

Individuals with Sickle Cell Trait (SCT), generally considered a benign carrier state of hemoglobin S (HbAS), are thought to be at risk for exertional rhabdomyolysis and hematuria, conditions that can also be caused by various other acquired and inherited factors. We report an SCT positive service member with an exertional rhabdomyolysis event, recurrent hematuria with transient proteinuria, and episodic burning pain in the lower extremities. Clinical and genetic studies revealed the multifactorial nature of his complex phenotype. The service member was taking prescription medications known to be associated with exertional rhabdomyolysis. He carried a pathogenic mutation, NPHS2 p.V260E, reported in nephropathy and a new variant p.R838Q in SCN11A, a gene involved in familial episodic pain syndrome. Results suggest that drug-to-drug interactions coupled with the stress of exercise, coinheritance of HbAS and NPHS2 p.V260E, and p. R838Q in SCN11A contributed to exertional rhabdomyolysis, recurrent hematuria with proteinuria, and episodic pain, respectively. This case underscores the importance of comprehensive clinical and genetic evaluations to identify underlying causes of health complications reported in SCT individuals.
The Presentation of a Dynamic Model of Trust

Organizational trust scholars are becoming increasingly interested in the growth and development of trust as well as the repair of trust when there is a decrease in trust. Yet, even with this inter...
Geographic variation in the treatment of proximal humerus fracture: an update on surgery rates and treatment consensus

Using a larger, more comprehensive sample, and inclusion of the reverse shoulder arthroplasty as a primary surgical approach for proximal humerus fracture, we report on geographic variation in the treatment of proximal humerus fracture in 2011 and comment on whether treatment consensus is being reached. This was a retrospective cohort study of Medicare patients with an x-ray-confirmed diagnosis of proximal humerus fracture in 2011. Patients receiving reverse shoulder arthroplasty, hemiarthroplasty, or open reduction internal fixation within 60 days of their diagnosis were classified as surgical management patients. Unadjusted observed surgery rates and area treatment ratios adjusted for patient demographic and clinical characteristics were calculated at the hospital referral region level. Among patients with proximal humerus fracture (N = 77,053), 15.4% received surgery and 84.6% received conservative management. Unadjusted surgery rates varied from 1.7 to 33.3% across hospital referral regions. Among patients receiving surgery, 22.3% received hemiarthroplasty, 65.8% received open reduction internal fixation, and 11.8% received reverse shoulder arthroplasty. Patients that were female, were younger, had fewer medical comorbidities, had a lower frailty index, were white, or were not dual-eligible for Medicaid during the month of their index fracture were more likely to receive surgery (p < .0001). Geographic variation in the treatment of proximal humerus fracture persisted after adjustment for patient demographic and clinical differences across local areas. Average surgery rates ranged from 9.9 to 21.2% across area treatment ratio quintiles. Persistent geographic variation in surgery rates for proximal humerus fracture across the USA suggests no treatment consensus has been reached.
THE “WEEKEND EFFECT” IN HEART FAILURE ADMISSIONS

Some studies have shown that patients admitted for heart failure (HF) on a weekend experience adverse outcomes compared to those admitted on a weekday. However, there is a lack of large, nationally representative studies to support this association. We queried the 2013-14 National Inpatient Sample
E-027 Independent evaluation of an FDA approved computational simulation system for deployment of flow diverters in intracranial aneurysm treatment

Introduction/purpose The braided design of flow diverters (FD) can sometimes result in challenges with their deployment for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms (IAs), particularly when there is vast discrepancy in parent vessel diameters at the proximal and distal landing zones and when there is significant vascular tortuosity. Appropriate selection of device sizes and landing zones is extremely important for success with FD in such cases. Herein, we present preliminary results from our independent evaluation of a computational simulation (CS) system, which models the deployment of FDs in a small series of IAs. Materials and methods CS of FD deployment was performed in a series of 4 IAs (3 in the anterior circulation and one in the posterior circulation) using commercially available SurgicalPreview® (EndoVantage, USA) software. CS was performed retrospectively in 2 of the IAs, and prospectively before FD placement in 2 others. For CS, pre-procedure CTA mages were segmented and then reconstructed to form computational models of the anatomy. A library of virtual flow diverting stent models, which have been validated against physical devices, was then used to simulate deployment of the same devices into the vessels. The results from CS were compared with the clinical results from FD deployment for each of the IAs. Results All IAs were treated using Pipeline Flex (Medtronic, USA) as the FD. There was good qualitative agreement between CS results and the actual clinical deployment in terms of final length and configuration of the FD as well as IA neck coverage (figure 1). Conclusion Out initial experience suggests that CS of FD deployment has the potential to accurately predict the actual behavior of FDs during the treatment of IAs and can serve as a useful adjunct tool for appropriate device and landing zone selection in the treatment of complex IAs. Disclosures B. Jagadeesan: 1; C; Microention, Medtronic. 2; C; Microvention, CvRx. H. Tore: None. S. Moen: None. C. Quinn: None. S. Male: None. A. Grande: None. R. Tummala: None.
Seeing the Wellness in Our Patients and Ourselves Through the 2020 Lens of Pediatrics

* Abbreviation: AAP — : American Academy of Pediatrics With the start of each new year, we as editors like to reflect on our journal and share with you our thoughts on how Pediatrics can best align with the needs of children while also supporting the many pediatric health care professionals who also strive to meet those needs. This year, the issues facing pediatric health care professionals are as challenging as they have ever been. As illustrated in articles we have published in 2019, reducing disparities in health outcomes, the intertwining of genetics and the environment, and the integration of behavioral and mental health into virtually all aspects of pediatric care have become increasingly important areas of study. In 2020, we hope to publish even more research studies on issues and controversies that clinicians, patients, and their families encounter every day (eg, vaping, firearms, mental health and well-being, vaccine hesitancy) with a diverse array of article types. Our goal is to publish studies that could change the way you practice but also to describe the health issues that we face as pediatric … Address correspondence to Lewis R. First, MD, MS, Editor-in-Chief, Pediatrics, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, 89 Beaumont Ave, Given Courtyard S250, Burlington, VT 05405. E-mail: lewis.first{at}uvm.edu