cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A higher level ab initio quantum-mechanical study of the quadrupole moment tensor components of carbon dioxide

Abstract The quadrupolarity of carbon dioxide has been studied with higher level ab initio methods. Carbon dioxide exhibits {− + −} quadrupolarity in all directions and an explanation is provided of the origin of the sign of the diagonal elements Q ii . The quadrupole moment tensor has been computed using restricted Hartree–Fock theory, second-order Moller–Plesset perturbation theory and quadratic configuration interaction theory. A variety of basis sets have been employed up to basis sets of the type [5s, 4p, 2d, 1f] (23s, 8p, 2d, 1f). The quadrupole moment tensor component Q ∥ of carbon dioxide falls in the range between −18.5 and −20.5 Debye A. The quadrupole moment tensor components Q ⊥ of carbon dioxide are smaller, ranging from −14.5 to −15 Debye A, and they are less sensitive to the choice of the theoretical model. The correlated methods consistently predict an increase of Q ∥ while they predict a more modest reduction of Q ⊥ . It is for the opposing electron correlation effects on Q ∥ and Q ⊥ that the average values of the diagonal elements, 〈 Q ii 〉, are essentially independent of the method and exhibit only a small variation depending on the basis set. On the other hand, the anisotropy of the quadrupolarity, the quadrupole moment Θ , is affected most by the opposing electron correlation effects on Q ∥ and Q ⊥ . The accurate reproduction of the measured quadrupolarity Θ =−4.3 Debye A requires a theoretical model that employs both a good method and a good basis set. The results suggest that the use of second-order Moller–Plesset perturbation theory in conjunction with well-polarized triple- ζ basis sets provides a cost-effective and quite accurate method for the estimation of correlation effects on quadrupole moments.
Quaternion attitude estimation for miniature air vehicles using a multiplicative extended Kalman filter

Utilizing the Euler-Rodrigues symmetric parameters (attitude quaternion) to describe vehicle orientation, we develop a multiplicative, nonlinear variation of the Kalman filter to fuse data from low-cost sensors. The sensor suite is comprised of gyroscopes, accelerometers, and a GPS receiver. Our filter states consist of the three components of an Euler attitude error vector. In parallel with the state time update, we utilize the gyroscope measurements for the time propagation of the attitude quaternion. The accelerometer and the GPS sensors are used independently for the measurement update portion of the filter. For both sensors, a vector arithmetic approach is used to determine the Euler attitude error vector. Following each measurement update, a multiplicative reset operation moves the attitude error information from the state into the attitude estimate. This reset operation utilizes quaternion algebra to implicitly maintain the unity-norm constraint. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our attitude estimation algorithm through flight simulations of aggressive maneuvers such as loops and small-radius circles.
Non-classical MHC-E (Mamu-E) Expression in the Rhesus Monkey Placenta

The aim of this study was to characterize the expression of the rhesus HLA-E ortholog Mamu-E, particularly at the maternal-fetal interface. Mamu-E expression was confirmed by locus-specific RT-PCR in the placenta as well as in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and other organs. We evaluated the utility of antibodies recognizing HLA-E (MEM-E/06 against native HLA-E, MEM-E/02 against denatured HLA-E) to detect Mamu-E by flow cytometry/immunofluorescence, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Western blot analysis of cells and selected transfectants confirmed the recognition of Mamu-E but not Mamu-AG by antibodies MEM-E/06 and HC10 but not MEM-E/02. Immunohistochemical staining of frozen sections of rhesus placenta with the MEM-E/06 antibody demonstrated expression in most populations of rhesus monkey trophoblast cells, including villous cytotrophoblasts (strong positive staining), apical membrane of syncytiotrophoblasts (light to moderate staining) and extravillous cytotrophoblasts (moderate to strong staining, especially endovascular trophoblasts in early pregnancy). Expression was not trophoblast cell-specific, especially at term, when endothelial cells in both the chorionic plate and placental villi showed strong staining for Mamu-E. Staining of rhesus extravillous trophoblast cells suggested the co-expression of Mamu-E and Mamu-AG (the rhesus HLA-G homolog) on these cells. MEM-E/06 was shown also to react with differentiating rhesus placental syncytiotrophoblasts in primary culture, detecting intracellular and weak surface expression of Mamu-E. We conclude that the gestation-dependent co-expression of Mamu-E with Mamu-AG in villous and extravillous trophoblast cells suggests important and perhaps complementary but distinct roles of these two non-classical MHC class I loci in pregnancy at the maternal-fetal interface. In addition, the MEM-E/06 antibody will be useful for the detection of Mamu-E at the maternal-fetal interface in the rhesus monkey.
Filtered Energy Dispersive Detector (EDD) arrays: Superior detectors for EXAFS from very diluted solutions

Abstract EXAFS fluorescence detectors are considered as general filters and a distinction drawn between fine filters, whose effective count rate is linear in sample concentration, and coarse filters, which are quadratic. A generalized model is developed to compute and compare the capabilities of EDD arrays, Stern/Heald, and Barrel detectors, For solution concentration between 3 mM and 30 μM, EDD arrays are superior detectors, offering real gains of up to 2 orders of magnitude.
A new computational method for the X and Y functions of radiative transfer

A new method of calculating the X and Y functions of radiative transfer is presented. This new method involves the solution of an integral equation rather than coupled differential equations. A numerical comparison with previously published data shows this method to be quite accurate. The advantages of this technique over the method of coupled differential equations are discussed.
Acquired Cerebral Trauma Additional Educational Issues

Editor's Comment:In the October 1987 issue of the journal, we began a series of articles on acquired cerebral trauma. These articles have generated and continue to generate a good deal of discussion in the field. Drs. Mary Mira and Steven Colson from the University of Kansas Medical Center discuss several additional issues regarding the education of individuals with these types of learning disabilities.--JLW
In Vitro Bond Strengths of Resin Modified Glass Ionomer Cements and Composite Resin Self-cure Adhesives: Introduction of an Adhesive System with Increased Bond Strength and Inhibition of Decalcification

Abstract This study evaluated the shear bond strength and adhesive remnant index of 5 self-cure adhesives to comparatively evaluate a new adhesive system. Extracted human incisors were randomly divided into 7 test groups of 20 each. Incisor mesh-backed brackets were bonded to the tooth specimens in each group with their respective adhesive according to the manufacturer's instructions. The specimens were thermocycled for 2 weeks at temperatures from 5° to 55°C to simulate oral conditions and debonded using an Instron machine. Acceptable bond strength parameters were present with the Contacto No-Mix (composite resin containing glass ionomer 8.75 MPa) and Fuji Ortho SC with acid conditioning (6.98 MPa). Contacto No-Mix had a higher bond strength (11.2 MPa) when microetching and Megabond were employed than when these adjuncts were not employed. When FUJI Ortho SC specimens were conditioned with polyacrylic acid, they showed a higher bond strength (6.98 MPa) than when bonded to unetched teeth (5.41 MPa). In te...
Regulatory Compliance and the Ethos of Quality Enhancement: Surprises in Nuclear Power Plant Operations1

Regulatory Compliance and the Ethos of Quality Enhancement: Surprises in Nuclear Power Plant Operations Todd R. La Porte Department of Political Science University of California, Berkeley Working Paper SO^EHNMENTAL > iimm FcB 1 0 1994 INSTITUTE OF GOVERNMENTAL STUDIES UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT BFRKFLFY
Trust, betrayal, and whistle-blowing: reflections on the Edward Snowden case

Is every act of whistle blowing, by definition, a betrayal of trust on the part of the whistle-blower? If so, are employees who blow the whistle, by implication, untrustworthy employees? Assuming that they are, would employees who blow the whistle (presumably on the grounds of moral obligation) also be willing to concede that they are not trustworthy employees, by virtue of carrying out their whistle-blowing act(s)? In answering these questions, we first propose some working definitions of whistle-blowing, trust, and trustworthiness. We then ask whether some instances of whistle-blowing are morally permissible (and perhaps also morally required), even if it turns out that an employee's act of whistle-blowing always violates ("betrays") the trust relationship between that employee and his/her employer. Next, we examine a framework that purports to differentiate between acts of whistle-blowing that are morally permissible, and those that are morally required. Finally, we apply that model in our analysis of a recent case involving Edward Snowden, an employee, who intentionally leaked sensitive US-government information to the press.
Expression of Carcinoembryonic Cell Adhesion Molecule 6 and Alveolar Epithelial Cell Markers in Lungs of Human Infants with Chronic Lung Disease

The membrane protein carcinoembryonic antigen cell adhesion molecule (CEACAM6) is expressed in the epithelium of various tissues, participating in innate immune defense, cell proliferation and differentiation, with overexpression in gastrointestinal tract, pancreatic and lung tumors. It is developmentally and hormonally regulated in fetal human lung, with an apparent increased production in preterm infants with respiratory failure. To further examine the expression and cell localization of CEACAM6, we performed immunohistochemical and biochemical studies in lung specimens from infants with and without chronic lung disease. CEACAM6 protein and mRNA were increased ~4-fold in lungs from infants with chronic lung disease as compared with controls. By immunostaining, CEACAM6 expression was markedly increased in the lung parenchyma of infants and children with a variety of chronic lung disorders, localizing to hyperplastic epithelial cells with a ~7-fold elevated proliferative rate by PCNA staining. Some of these cells also co-expressed membrane markers of both type I and type II cells, which is not observed in normal postnatal lung, suggesting they are transitional epithelial cells. We suggest that CEACAM6 is both a marker of lung epithelial progenitor cells and a contributor to the proliferative response after injury due to its anti-apoptotic and cell adhesive properties.
The static security analysis in power system based on Spark Cloud Computing platform

This paper proposes a novel Map-Reduce based N-1 analysis (MRNA) algorithm for solving the static security analysis problem, which uses Spark Cloud Computing platform. First, the MRNA algorithm utilizes the Resilient Distributed Datasets (RDD) concept in Spark to generate the parallel equipment disconnection case enumeration vector. Second, DC power flow algorithm is embedded in the Map phase to calculate the active power of the network for every equipment disconnection state in the RDD. Third, the result of each Map task is reduced based on Hash algorithm in the Reduce phase. Fourth, the result of Reduce task is written into the Hadoop Distribute File System (HDFS) so as to judge whether the power flow in the network excesses its limits. Finally, numerical simulation results based on well-known benchmarks demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed MRNA algorithm.
Effects of methionine-enkephalin on intestinal circulation and oxygen consumption.

AbstractThe effects of intra-arterial administration of Met-enkephalin upon intestinal blood flow, oxygen consumption, intestinal motor activity, and distribution of blood flow to the compartments of the gut wall were measured in anesthetized dogs before and after blockade of opiate receptors with naloxone. Blood flow to a segment of distal ileum was measured with an electromagnetic blood flow meter and intestinal oxygen extraction was measured spectrophotometrically. Oxygen uptake was calculated as the product of oxygen extraction and total blood flow. Changes in blood flow distribution were estimated from the distribution of radiolabeled microspheres. Motor activity was monitored from changes in intraluminal pressure. In dogs prior to blockade of opiate receptors, Met-enkephalin induced a dose-related increase in mesenteric blood flow, oxygen extraction and consumption, and intestinal motor activity. A significant increase in blood flow to the muscularis was also observed. The intestinal vasodilator, me...
Dissimilarities in the Biology of the Pea Aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Homoptera: Aphidae), on Alfalfa and Peas in New Mexico

Seven clones of the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris), collected on alfalfa in southern New Mexico, were reared under greenhouse conditions on peas (variety Perfection) and alfalfa (variety New Mexico Common). Growth and reproduction were generally higher on alfalfa than on peas. Furthermore, pea seedlings were more susceptible, whereas alfalfa seedlings were more resistant. As the plants aged by several weeks, aphids grew and reproduced somewhat less on peas but definitely more on alfalfa. No “aphid conditioning” toward peas occurred even after 7 months of continuous rearing on this host plant. These variations in plant susceptibility to aphids indicate that the age and growth stage of the host plants must be carefully standardized for adequate evaluation of resistance or susceptibility to aphids. Since all clones behaved somewhat similarly, they represent a homogeneous sample from the aphid population occurring in the Mesilla Valley.
Longitudinal Zipping/Unzipping of Self-Assembled Organic Tubes

Stimuli-responsive organic tubes are an attractive supramolecular assembly which has potential applications as a controlled release vehicle. We synthesize a smart organic tube by the coassembly of lithocholic acid (LCA) and taurolithocholic acid (TLCA) in aqueous solution. The coassembled LCA/TLCA tubes can be longitudinally unzipped into flat sheets by capillary force after being dehydrated on substrates. Consequently, the encapsulated guest molecules are released from the unzipping tubes. After the release of guest molecules, the flat sheets can be zipped back into hollow tubes upon hydration with aqueous solution. The zipping/unzipping LCA/TLCA tubes provide a new type of delivery vehicles, which may have potential for surface decontaminations.
Acute Respiratory Failure in Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease and Its Treatment

Controlled administration of oxygen is the cornerstone of “conservative” treatment for acute respiratory failure in patients with chronic obstructive lung disease. As little as a 4 to 10 percent increase in inspired oxygen concentration usually will raise arterial oxygen pressure to an acceptable level.
Treatment of Hypoxic-ischemic Brain Injury in Neonatal Rats with Monosialoganglioside

Objective:To probe into the therapeutic effect of monosialoganglioside (GM1 ) in the treatment of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HIBI) in neonatal rats. Methods:54 7-day-old SD rats were divided into 3 groups: sham-operating group (6 rats, in which the right common carotid artery was separated but not ligated); GM1 treated group(24 rats, in which the right common carotid artery was separated and ligated. 1/2 hr after the operation, the animals were kept in a hypoxic chamber for 2 hr. These rats were then given each an intraperitoneal injection of 10 mg·kg-1 of GM1 immediately after they had been taken out of the chamber and every 24 hr until they were sacrificed); HIBI group (24 rats, after being rendered ischemic and hypoxic as in rats of the GM, group, animals of this group were given each an intraperitoneal injection of 0.9% sodium chloride solution). The SOD, NO and ATPase levels in the brain tissue were monitored at different time periods. Results: The SOD and ATPase levels in the brain tissue of rats in the GM1 treated group were significantly higher than those of the HIBI group( P 0.01). The NO level, however, was apparently lower in rats of the GM1 treated group( P 0.05). Conclusion: GM1 was shown to have a good therapeutic effect in the treatment of HIBI in neonatal rats.
Horizontal trench system effects on leachate recirculation in bioreactor landfills

ABSTRACTHorizontal trenches (HTs) are constructed during the waste filling for leachate recirculation in bioreactor landfills. Leachate distribution depends on HT configuration (i.e., spacing between successive HTs), leachate injection rate, modes of injection, and hydraulic properties and MSW heterogeneity. Presently, the effects of these variables on the moisture distribution have not been studied systematically. This study provides a systematic evaluation of the effect of the HTs variables on the moisture distribution and pore fluid pressures. A two-phase flow model is used to model a bioreactor landfill having an HT leachate injection system. It quantifies the effects of the unsaturated hydraulic properties and MSW heterogeneity, trench configuration, leachate injection flux, and mode of injection on hydraulic behaviour. The results show that unsaturated hydraulic conductivity and MSW heterogeneity significantly shape the zone of influence and excess pore pressures. Under heterogeneous-anisotropic con...
ON A RECENT THEORY OF RATIONAL ACCEPTANCE

In two recent articles, Mark Kaplan has offered a new theory of rational acceptance within the framework of Bayesian epistemology. In one of them (1981a), he discusses some of the foundational difficulties which confront both analyses of the concept of acceptance and normative theories of acceptance, and he offers an analysis of the concept. In the other (1981b), he reviews some of those considerations and also offers a normative theory of acceptance, a sophisticated elaboration and modification of the confidencethreshold theory of acceptance that is designed to adjudicate correctly between the desiderata of truth and comprehensiveness and also to be immune to the lottery paradox problem - a problem, first discussed by Henry Kyburg (1961) and Cad Hempel (1962), that seems fatal to the naive confidencethreshold view. Here, after a brief discussion of Kaplan's analysis of the concept of acceptance, I shall show that, in fact, Kaplan's revision of the confidence-threshold view is not immune to the lottery paradox problem. Central to Bayesian epistemology is the idea that a rational person's beliefs come in degrees that conform to the probability axioms. Within this framework, therefore, it is natural either to try to explicate 'accepting proposition P' as 'having a "high enough" degree of confidence in P' or to reject the idea of acceptance altogether, supposing that the relevant epistemological phenomena (e.g., confirmation of scientific hypotheses) may be better understood in terms of degrees of confidence. Richard Jeffrey (1956, 1968, 1970) has elaborated the second alternative by defending the "probabilistic theory of science," according to which scientists neither accept nor reject hypotheses, but only assign probabilities to them. Kaplan rejects the first Bayesian alternative, but, of course, does not endorse the second. One of the reasons Kaplan gives for rejecting the first alternative involves the lottery paradox. Since I shall later show that the lottery paradox presents difficulties for Kaplan's normative theory, it will be worthwhile to see here how the paradox figures
Ultrafast intermolecular proton transfer to a proton scavenger in an organic solvent

Proton transfer reactions are functionally important in numerous chemical and biological processes. To unravel proton scavengers in action with atomistic details, we studied excited-state proton transfer (ESPT) from photoacid pyranine to the weak base acetate in methanol using transient absorption and wavelength-tunable femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy (FSRS). Proton transfer is inhibited in neat methanol, but coherent proton motions and the formation of a charge-separated state occur on the sub-picosecond (sub-ps) timescale, accompanied by chromophore solvation wherein the longitudinal relaxation time of methanol (∼9 ps) dominates. With acetate ions added, bimolecular diffusion-controlled ESPT from the photoacid to acetate occurs on the ∼30 ps timescale, followed by ∼600 ps diffusion-assisted charge separation and solvation in the methanol H-bonding network. Besides intensity dynamics, frequency redshift and blueshift of the transient ∼285 and 1525 cm−1 modes track ESPT after 400 nm photoexcitation. Tunable FSRS exploits resonance Raman enhancement with optimal wavelengths, extends the detection window of excited-state vibrational modes to low frequency, and enables a deeper mechanistic understanding of the proton transfer reaction to proton scavengers in an organic solvent.
A comparison of in-band linearity between element-digital arrays and active electronically-steered arrays

This work analyzes the differences in nonlinear performance between analog active electronically-steered and element-digital array architectures. The differences studied are based solely on receive array architecture. That is, the same low-noise amplifiers and receiver components were assumed in both architectures. The analysis demonstrates that for main-beam interferers the system third-order nonlinearity is worse for the analog architecture because its receive components after the beamformer are subjected to higher signal gain than in the digital array case. In the case of sidelobe interference, the analog beamformer acts as a spatial filter, reducing the power level coming into the nonlinear receiver proportionally to the sidelobe level. For sufficiently low sidelobe levels, the receiver nonlinear contribution is then smaller. However, for the highly-linear receiver chosen for this analysis, the element-digital architecture still maintains a linearity advantage. This allows a relaxation of the receiver linearity required in element-digital arrays to attain system-level linearity equal to that of the analog array. Coupled with an increasing level of integration, this linearity relaxation can balance the cost and power consumption associated with having a receiver in each array element, enabling the flexibility of element-level digitization.
Mathematical creativity and giftedness: perspectives in response

The investigations described in the ten fascinating research studies contained in the current volume of ZDM Mathematics Education evoke some perspectives in response. I consider the articles thematically in relation to a suggested set of important or pressing questions about creativity and giftedness in mathematics education, grouped into four areas: (1) definitions and meanings, (2) learning environments, (3) teacher preparation, (4) educational policies and societal trends. The first three of these areas are addressed most specifically; the latter is given less attention, with much remaining to be researched. In the context of the topics most addressed, possible emphases in studying mathematical creativity and giftedness include cognitive, affective, conative (motivational), social, and behavioral aspects. The studies here focus mostly on the cognitive, social, and behavioral dimensions. I highlight some specific findings, offer comments, and suggest the need for greater future emphasis on affective and motivational variables. My response concludes with consideration of the value of prioritizing mathematical creativity and giftedness (or high ability), noting some troubling policy directions and societal trends that should be taken into serious account and studied.
How to fight corruption.

Anticorruption initiatives are often put forth as solutions to problems of waste and inefficiency in government programs. It's easy to see why. So often, somewhere along the chain that links the many participants in public service provision or other government activities, funds may get stolen or misdirected, bribes exchanged for preferential treatment, or genuine consumers of public services supplemented by “ghost” users. As a result, corruption reduces economic growth and leaves citizens disillusioned and distrustful of government ( 1 ). It is tempting to think that more monitoring, stricter sanctions, or positive inducements for suitable behavior will reduce corruption. But every anticorruption or antifraud program elicits a strategic response by those who orchestrated and benefited from wrongdoing in the first place. How can these unintended consequences be anticipated and avoided?
Measuring the Convergence/Divergence of “Serious Crime” Arrest Rates for Males and Females: 1960–1995

It is now almost a quarter of a century since Adler (1975) and Simon (1975)stimulated a debate about the convergence of crime rates for men andwomen. The ensuing debate generated literally dozens of papers. Given theexistence of a series that now extends from 1960 to 1995, this papersuggests an appropriate way to examine the convergence hypothesis usingtime series techniques. These techniques take into consideration the effectsof the following factors: (a) random “shocks” or“innovations,” (b) the potentially lasting effects of suchinnovations, and (c) the autocorrelation that time series oftenexhibit. Using time series techniques on annual data, we examine trends inthe arrest rates for males and females for six Part I crimes (homicide,robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, and motor vehicle theft)for the years 1960 through 1995. We test for convergence, divergence, notrend, and a special condition of equilibrium between series calledcointegration.
Bayesian, Utility-Based, Adaptive Enrichment Designs with Frequentist Error Control

Our improving understanding of the biology underlying various diseases has reinforced the idea that many diseases previously considered homogeneous are in fact heterogeneous collections with different prognoses, pathologies, and causal mechanisms. To this end, the biomedical field has begun to focus on developing targeted therapies: therapies aimed at treating only a subset of the population with a given disease (often derived by the molecular pathology of the disease). However, characterizing these subsets has been a challenge: Hundreds of patients may be required to effectively characterize these subsets. Often information on this many patients is not available until well into large-scale trials. In this chapter we discuss adaptive enrichment designs: clinical trial designs that allow the simultaneous construction and use of biomarkers, during an ongoing trial. We first detail common scenarios where adaptive enrichment designs could be fruitfully applied to gain efficiency over classical designs. We then discuss two classes of adaptive enrichment strategies: Adaptation based on prespecified covariate-based stratification, and adaptation based on modeling response as a potentially more complex function of covariates. We will contrast these strategies with more classical non-enriched biomarker strategies (based on post hoc modeling/testing). Finally, we will discuss and address a number of potential issues and concerns with adaptive enrichment designs.
CIRCE - a runtime scheduler for DAG-based dispersed computing: demo

CIRCE (Centralized Runtime sChedulEr) is a runtime scheduling software tool for dispersed computing. It can deploy pipelined computations described in the form of a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) on multiple geographically dispersed compute nodes at the edge and in the cloud. A key innovation in this scheduler compared to prior work is the incorporation of a run-time network profiler which accounts for the network performance among nodes when scheduling. This demo will show an implementation of CIRCE deployed on a testbed of tens of nodes, from both an edge computing testbed and a geographically distributed cloud, with real-time evaluation of the task processing performance of different scheduling algorithms.
Low-cost, automated inventory control of sharps in operating theaters using passive RFID tag-sensors

We present the design of a UHF RFID tag-sensor to automate the process of counting sharps used in the operating theater with the end goal of minimizing the chance of accidentally leaving a sharp inside the patient post surgery. We demonstrate how our sensor is capable of differentiating between three popular sharp sizes by correlating sharp size to a change in the signal response of the RFID tag. We demonstrate that our sensor works reliably over a read distance of at least 0.4 m and can be easily integrated into existing sharp disposal containers. Lessons learned and future research directions are also discussed.
Optimal Update Rate for NLMS in 3GPP WCDMA Base Station Baseband Receiver

In this note, we investigate the SINR performance of the Normalized Mean Least Square (NLMS) iterative beamforming algorithm as a function of update rate. Here “update rate” refers to the update rate of the antenna weights used to form the combined signal, which is used for demodulation. In general, the faster the update rate the better the performance, but at the cost of increased computation. We show that for 3G Wideband CDMA systems, the antenna weight update rate can be much slower than the control symbol rate without sacrificing system performance.
Parameter Estimation Theory Bounds and the Accuracy of Full Field Inversions

The Cramer-Rao parameter estimation bounds are derived to evaluate limits on the attainable accuracy for full field inversions. These bounds are applied to several inversion scenarios: i) matched field tomography for both narrowband and broadband signals, ii) broadband, full field tomography for coherent signals and iii) noise tomography. In the case of adiabatic propagation with a mode resolving receiver array these bounds specify the performance limits for full field inversions by both matched field and ocean acoustic tomography and they can be expressed in terms of the phase and group slownesses of the propagation and the mode functions at the source.
Reconstruction of massive tibial defects after resection of adamantinoma with double-level distraction osteogenesis

Adamantinoma is an extremely rare disease that typically involves large portions of the tibial cortex requiring extensive resections, for which a myriad of complex reconstructions have been performed with varying success. Techniques of bone regeneration utilizing internal or external methods are used to manage bone defects in trauma, infection and congenital deformities, but less commonly used for oncological osseous defects. We present four cases of patients diagnosed between 2015 – 2018 with tibial adamantinoma in a background of osteofibrous dysplasia who underwent distraction osteogenesis reconstruction via a double level cable bone transport. In all cases wide resection of the adamantinoma was performed to achieve negative surgical margins and the defect reconstructed by double level bone transport using Ilizarov cables guiding distraction osteogenesis. Bone transport occurred at a combined mean rate of 2 mm per day: 1mm proximally and 1mm distally. Full weight-bearing and ambulation were encouraged immediately. The mean age at time of surgery was 18 years (14 – 25) and the mean size of tibial defect was 23 cm (17.5 – 26). The mean time in external fixation was 8.5 months (6 – 12 months), yielding a mean External-Fixation Index (EFI) of 0.44 month/cm (0.3 – 0.69). The average MSTS score at mean follow time of 20 months (13-27 months) is 28 (26 – 30). At last follow up all patients are infection free and without evidence of disease. Despite typical complications of prolonged external fixation, all four patients have excellent results with an average MSTS score of 28. The mean EFI of 0.44 month/cm is well below the standard EFI of 1 month/cm, suggesting this subset of patients may require less external fixation time than previously considered. The case series supports the hypothesis that double level D.
Exploring the relationship between visuospatial function and age-related deficits in motor skill transfer

Generalizing learned information from one motor task to another is critical for effective motor rehabilitation. A recent study demonstrated age-related declines in motor skill transfer, yet findings from other motor learning studies suggest that visuospatial impairments may explain such aging effects. The purpose of this secondary analysis was to test whether age-related deficits in motor skill transfer were related to low visuospatial ability. Forty-two participants (mean ± SD age: 72.1 ± 9.9 years) were tested on an upper extremity dexterity task before and after 3 days of training on an upper extremity reaching task. Training and control data have been published previously. Prior to training, global cognitive status and specific cognitive domains (visuospatial/executive, attention, and delayed memory) were evaluated using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Backward-stepwise linear regression indicated that the Visuospatial/Executive subtest was related to motor skill transfer (i.e., the amount of change in performance on the untrained motor task), such that participants with higher visuospatial scores improved more on the untrained dexterity task than those with lower scores. Global cognitive status was unrelated to motor skill transfer. Consistent with previous studies showing a positive relationship between visuospatial function and other aspects of motor learning, this secondary analysis indicates that less motor skill transfer among older adults may indeed be due to declines in visuospatial function. The present study highlights the potential utility of assessing older patients’ visuospatial ability within motor rehabilitation to provide valuable insight into the extent to which they may learn and generalize motor skills through training.
Chemical sensing via a low SWaP wearable spectrometer

The threat of exposure to toxic chemicals is of great concern. In order to provide a chemical situational awareness, we are developing a new type of chemical sensor based on a novel fabric spectrometer-based colorimetric chemical sensor that is low size, weight, and power (SWaP). We are exploring the key design principles for photonic transducers to enable a new approach to chemical threat sensing. The fabric spectrometer is based on a functional fiber platform in which the semiconductor-containing fiber is miniature in two dimensions and extendable in the third dimension (along the fiber length). By exploring fibers, and films that can be scaled to a fiber geometry, we will enable a new fiber-based chemical threat detector that can serve in textiles as well as other interesting form factors.
Photochemical crosslinking of caries-affected dentin combined with total- or self-etch systems.

Purpose To evaluate the effects of collagen crosslinking with riboflavin 0.1% and ultraviolet-A (UVA) 5.4 J on bond strength of total-etch or self-etch adhesives on caries-affected dentin. Methods Sixty human caries-affected molars were randomly divided into three groups: control (C), riboflavin (R), and riboflavin + 3 minutes of UVA (R+UVA). After each treatment, either total-etch or self-etch adhesives were applied following the manufacturer's instructions, and composite stubs were built up on the treated surfaces. They were de-bonded in tension to measure bond strength. Twelve extra molars were used for scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis. Results We observed that R+UVA-treated group yielded significantly higher bond strengths for carious dentin when the total-etch adhesive was applied. For the self-etch adhesive, no statistical differences were observed between the three pretreated-groups. Conclusion Our results, for the first time, are suggesting that etching with phosphoric acid potentialized the benefits of R+UVA crosslinking on carious dentin. R+UVA dentinal collagen crosslinking improves bond strength for caries-affected dentin when using a total-etch adhesive, but did not affect it when using a self-etch adhesive.
“Mother-Warriors”: Queer Motherhood as Resistance in Arundhati Roy’s The Ministry of Utmost Happiness

This article examines the motifs of queer motherhood and womanhood in Arundhati Roy’s novel The Ministry of Utmost Happiness as strategies of resistance against an increasingly totalitarian Indian ...
Developing a Miniature Energy-Harvesting-Powered Edge Device with Multi-Exit Neural Network

This paper describes a miniature edge device that performs neural network inference with different exit options depending on available energy. In addition to the main-exit path, it provides an alternative, early-exit path that requires less computation and thus increase the number of inference operations for given energy. To compensate its degraded accuracy, the proposed device provides entropy as a confidence level for the early exit. The network is implemented with a custom low-power 180 nm CMOS processor chip and a 90 nm embedded flash memory chip and tested by images from CIFAR-10 dataset. The measurement results show the proposed neural network reduces processing time and thus energy consumption by 41.3% compared with the main-exit only method while sacrificing its accuracy from 69.5% to 66.0%.
Comments on "Two Cultures": What have changed over 20 years?

Twenty years ago Breiman (2001) called to our attention a significant cultural division in modeling and data analysis between the stochastic data models and the algorithmic models. Out of his deep concern that the statistical community was so deeply and "almost exclusively" committed to the former, Breiman warned that we were losing our abilities to solve many real-world problems. Breiman was not the first, and certainly not the only statistician, to sound the alarm; we may refer to none other than John Tukey who wrote almost 60 years ago "data analysis is intrinsically an empirical science." However, the bluntness and timeliness of Breiman's article made it uniquely influential. It prepared us for the data science era and encouraged a new generation of statisticians to embrace a more broadly defined discipline. Some might argue that "The cultural division between these two statistical learning frameworks has been growing at a steady pace in recent years", to quote Mukhopadhyay and Wang (2020). In this commentary, we focus on some of the positive changes over the past 20 years and offer an optimistic outlook for our profession.
COVID-19: Anatomy of a Pandemic

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, has more than 82% genome similarity with SARS-CoV and more than 89% similarity with two bat coronaviruses, bat-SL-CoVZXC21 and bat-SL-CoVZC45. The virus went and caused the most recent pandemic in human history with fatality totaling more than 3 million deaths, and cases rising up to 176 million worldwide according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In this paper, a retrospective analysis of the emergence and spread of SARS-CoV-2 around the world are presented.
Nuclear Spectroscopy Using Radioactive Ion Beams from the HRIBF

Exciting opportunities in the study of nuclei far from stability in both the neutron and proton rich side are opening with the recent availability of radioactive ion beams (RIBs) at energies above the Coulomb barrier at the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility (HRIBF). These RIBs provide a unique opportunity for a whole class of measurements that could never before be realized. A recent highlight has been the acceleration of “pure” beams of fission fragments such as 82Ge (T1/2=4.6s) and 132Sn (T1/2=40s). These semi‐magic and doubly‐magic nuclei are important benchmarks within the chart of nuclides, because they are constraints for the shell‐model parameter sets. We are currently developing the required experimental tools and specialized techniques for studies in nuclear astrophysics, reaction spectroscopy, and nuclear structure research with RIBs. I will discuss some of the challenges encountered with examples from selected topical areas with which I have been involved.
Out-of-pocket expenditures for oral contraceptives and number of packs per purchase.

Two potential barriers to use of oral contraceptives (OCPs) are out-of-pocket expenditures and the inconvenience of monthly pharmacy visits. This study used nationally representative data to examine the out-of-pocket costs of OCPs and whether women obtain more than 1 pack per purchase. We used data from the 1996 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Dependent variables were out-of pocket expenditures per pack and the number of packs obtained per purchase. x/2 tests were used to examine the bivariate relationships between the dependent variables and covariates. Regression analyses were used to examine the predictors of OCP expenditures and the number of packs obtained per purchase. Women paid an average of $14 per pack of OCPs and 73% obtained only 1 pack per purchase. On average privately insured women paid 60% of the total expenditures for OCPs. Women who had no prescription drug coverage who were uninsured or who were privately insured but not in managed care plans had higher out-of-pocket expenditures. Women who were without prescription drug coverage or who were in managed care plans were more likely to obtain only 1 pack per purchase. Out-of-pocket costs and dispensing restrictions may be barriers to consistent use of OCPs. Women’s health care providers should consider options to overcome these barriers such as the use of mail order prescription services. (authors)
This is Cinema: The Pleated Plenitude of the Cinematic Sign in David Lynch's Mulholland Dr.

There are secrets but they are not the secrets of the filmmakers; the whispers remain inaudible to all: *Silencio*. The significance of _Mulholland Dr._ will be revealed indirectly, in a kind of articulate silence, like Kierkegaard\'s incognito Jesus
Fossil that fills a critical gap in avian evolution

Despite the discoveries of well-preserved Mesozoic birds, a key part of avian evolution, close to the radiation of all living birds (Aves), remains poorly represented. Here we report on a new taxon from the Late Cretaceous locality of Ukhaa Tolgod, Mongolia, that offers insight into this critically unsampled period. Apsaravis and the controversial alvarezsaurids are the only avialan taxa known from the continental deposits at Ukhaa Tolgod, which have produced hundreds of fossil mammals, lizards and other small dinosaurs. The new taxon, Apsaravis ukhaana, is the best-preserved specimen of a Mesozoic ornithurine bird discovered in over a century. It provides data important for assessing morphological evolution across Avialae, with implications for, first, the monophyly of Enantiornithes and Sauriurae; second, the proposition that the Mesozoic sister taxa of extant birds, as part of an 'ecological bottleneck', inhabited exclusively near-shore and marine environments; and third, the evolution of flight after its origin.
The Preparation of 3,4‐Dihydroisoquinolines and Related Compounds by the Bischler‐Napieralski Reaction

The frequent occurrence of the isoquinoline nucleus in alkaloids has led to considerable interest in the synthesis of isoquinolone derivatives. Many methods have been developed, but only three have enjoyed popularity. One of them, the Bischler-Napieralski reaction is discussed in this chapter. The reaction consists in the cyclodehydration of beta-phenethylamides to 3,4-dihydroisoquinolines by heating to high temperatures with phosphorus pentoxide or anhydrous zinc chloride. Yields were not given for the original reaction, but later studies proved that the yields were low. Modifications using lower temperatures and milder condensing agents improved the reaction. The most important variation was introduced by Picet and Gams, which eliminates the dehydrogenation step. The classical synthesis of papaverine by Pictet and Gams is discussed. Keywords: Bischler Napieralski reaction; 3,4-dihydroisoquinolines; cyclization; ring closure; side reactions; condensing agents; related compounds
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Physical Abuse Reporting and Child Protective Services Interventions in the United States

Background Minorities are more prevalent than the general population in the child protection system; however, racial/ ethnic disparities in physical abuse and child protective services interventions are not understood. Methods Bivariate and multivariate analyses evaluated racial/ethnic differences in reported and substantiated physical abuse, physical abuse deaths, and interventions provided in all reported maltreatment from the 2006 National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System. Results In bivariate analyses, African American (25%), Asian/ Pacific Islander (21%), and multiracial children (21%) have a higher prevalence of substantiated physical abuse than whites (20%). Native Americans (0.21%), African Americans (0.15%), Asians/Pacific Islanders (0.12%), and Latinos (0.11%) are more likely to die from physical abuse than whites (0.09%). African Americans have higher odds than whites of reported (odds ratio [OR], 1.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11-1.14) and substantiated (OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.23-1.31) physical abuse. Latinos have higher odds of reported physical abuse (OR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.16-1.20) and lower odds of substantiated physical abuse (OR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.90-0.96). Native Americans have lower odds (OR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.49-0.56) and Asian/ Pacific Islanders higher odds (OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.26-1.44) of reported physical abuse vs whites. Latinos have significantly lower odds than whites of receiving support services. Conclusions Compared with whites, African Americans are at increased risk. Latino, Asian/Pacific Islander, and multiracial children have greater odds of reports, and Native Americans have lower odds of reports for physical abuse. Significant disparities exist in interventions provided to minority families. Understanding these disparities has the potential to improve reporting, prevention, and interventions.
Application of line-spectrum pairs to low-bit-rate speech encoders

A low-bit-rate speech encoder must employ bit-saving measures to achieve intelligible and natural sounding synthesized speech. Some important measures are: (a) quantization of parameters based on their spectral-error sensitivities (i.e., coarser quantization for spectrally less sensitive parameters), and (b) quantization of parameters in accordance with properties of auditory perception (i.e., coarser quantization of the higher frequency components of the speech spectral envelope, and finer representation of spectral peaks than valleys). The use of Line-Spectrum Pairs (LSPs) makes it possible to employ these measures more readily than the better known reflection coefficients. As a result, the intelligibility of an LSP-based, pitch-excited vocoder operating at 800 bits/second (b/s) can be made as high as 87 for three male speakers (as measured by the Diagnostic Rhyme Test (DRT)) which is only 1.4 below that of the 2400-b/s LPC. Likewise, the intelligibility of a 4800-b/s nonpitch-excited vocoder is as high as 92.3 which compares favorably with scores from current 9600-b/s vocoders.
Genetic Algorithms for Vlsi Design, Layout & Test Automation

This book provides details about some of the EDA applications where GAs have been used. These applications include partitioning, automatic placement and routing, technology mapping for FPGAs, automatic test generation, and power estimation. One chapter is devoted to each of these topics. The objective is to provide examples where GAs have been successfull applied in the past so that the reader will be able to apply similar techniques in solving his/her own problems.