cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Can robots recognize common Marine gestures

This paper provides a different method for humanrobot interaction and further encourages communication between human users and their robotic counterparts. The focus of our work is to develop a human-robot communication system that is not easily detectable and increases stealth when necessary. The human-robot interaction system we propose involves hand signals. Hand gestures are a common modality of communication humans use with each other. Likewise, hand commands are used by the Marine Corps to convey information to each other without speaking. We analyze common Marine gestures so that similar commands can be used to direct a robot out in the field. In this paper, we have selected important hand or body gestures used by the Marine Corps. We then identify distinguishable features for the different gestures. This includes position of joint variables as well as velocity and acceleration terms. Once ideal models of the gestures are designed, experimental data is gathered. Presently, we are comparing two different machine learning methods that can be used to identify a specific gesture. The two methods we are comparing are Bayesian networks and neural networks. This paper provides the background and structure of our experiments. Then, both models are discussed and experimental results are included. Finally, we make a comparison of the effectiveness of the two methods of interest.
Gamma-phage lysin PlyG sequence-based synthetic peptides coupled with Qdot-nanocrystals are useful for developing detection methods for Bacillus anthracis by using its surrogates, B. anthracis-Sterne and B. cereus-4342

Previous reports of site-directed deletion analysis on gamma (γ)-phage lysin protein (PlyG) have demonstrated that removal of a short amino acid sequence in the C-terminal region encompassing a 10-amino acid motif (190LKMTADFILQ199) abrogates its binding activity specific to the cell wall of Bacillus anthracis. Whether short synthetic peptides representing the10-amino acid PlyG putative binding motif flanked by surrounding N- and C-terminal residues also selectively bind to the bacterial cell wall has not been evaluated. If such peptides do demonstrate selective binding to the cell wall, they could serve as bio-probes towards developing detection technologies for B. anthracis. Furthermore, by using B. anthracis (Sterne, 34F2), an animal vaccine and B. cereus-4342, a γ-phage susceptible rare strain as surrogates of B. anthracis, development of proof-of-concepts for B. anthracis are feasible. Using four different methods, we evaluated six synthetic peptides representing the putative binding motif including flanking sequences (PlyG-P1 through P6) for the bacterial cell wall binding capacity. Our analysis identified PlyG-P1, PlyG-P3 and PlyG-P5 to have binding capability to both B. anthracis (Sterne, 34F2) and B. cereus-4342. The peptides however did not bind to B. cereus-11778, B. thuringiensis, and B. cereus-10876 suggesting their specificity for B. anthracis-Sterne and B. cereus-4342. PlyG-P3 in combination with fluorescent light microscopy detected even a single bacterium in plasma spiked with the bacteria. Overall, these studies illustrate that the short 10-amino acid sequence 'LKMTADFILQ' in fact is a stand-alone bacterial cell wall-binding motif of PlyG. In principle, synthetic peptides PlyG-P1, PlyG-P3 and PlyG-P5, especially PlyG-P3 coupled with Qdot-nanocrystals are useful as high-sensitivity bio-probes in developing detection technologies for B. anthracis.
Hip angle induced modulation of H reflex amplitude, latency and duration in spinal cord injured humans.

Abstract Objectives : To investigate the modulation of the soleus H reflex in spinal cord injured (SCI) subjects resulting from imposed changes in hip angle and to establish whether changes in H reflex amplitude co-vary with changes in reflex latency and duration. Methods : H reflexes were recorded using conventional methods in 7 SCI subjects in the supine position. The right leg was secured by a leg brace and positioned at various angles of hip flexion (30°, 40°) and at 10° of hip extension. Results : We found that imposing 10° of hip extension resulted in a significant facilitation in the size of the soleus H reflex in all of the SCI subjects tested (200% of control reflex; recorded at 10° of hip flexion). In contrast, positioning the hip at 30° and at 40° of flexion resulted in a significant reduction of the H reflex in 6 of 7 SCI subjects tested. In the remaining subject, an increase in the H reflex amplitude was observed. Modulation of H reflex amplitude coincided with shifts in both H reflex latency and duration. The reflex latency was prolonged when the reflex amplitude was reduced following hip flexion, while hip extension shortened the reflex latency. In contrast, the H reflex duration was prolonged with hip extended and shortened with hip flexed. Conclusions : When changes in static hip joint position are imposed in SCI subjects, changes in afferent feedback from hip proprioceptors are capable of promoting a switch between excitatory and inhibitory pathways. Associated changes in H reflex latency and duration are consistent with the hypothesis that oligosynaptic inputs contribute to the hip angle-induced H reflex modulation. Possible mechanisms for these effects are discussed.
A Capillary Microgripper Using Electrowetting

A new type capillary force microgripper that can pick up and release micro objects by electrowetting is presented. Electrowetting was utilized to dynamically change the contact angle between the liquid bridge and the gripper surface to control the capillary lifting forces. A coplanar interdigitated gold electrode pair was employed to simplify the microfabrication. The lifting force generated by the microgripper was experimentally characterized. The pick and release routine were successfully demonstrated for various micro glass beads whose weight ranges from 77 muN to 136 muN. The design, microfabrication and testing of the microgripper are presented.
From Nubia to Egypt – and beyond: of the contribution of Dr. Cheikh Anta Diop

African history has been neglected. The goal of the European colonial administrations was not only to exploit African resources (both natural and human) but also to erase the cultural and historical contributions of Africa to Western Civilisation. Dr. Cheikh Anta Diop, a Doctoral student at the Sorbonne, was the first writer to thoroughly investigate into this topic. The Sorbonne jury refused to award him the title of doctor in Philosophy. Their reasoning was that “…this thesis will destroy the foundations of our colonial institutions and end the colonial enterprise. It shows that we (the Europeans) come from Africa; that they are just as human as we are…” Cheikh Anta Diop was forced to re-apply for a second doctorate (in literature) with a different topic. Once he acquired his doctorate, he returned to his first PhD topic and published it as a book, The African Origins of Western Civilization. His task was not only to convince the Europeans but also the Egyptians. Ramses II was a Black man. Dr. Diop saw Ramses mummy in Egypt before it was taken to France, where he found that French and Egyptian ‘scientists’ have bleached Ramses II mummy into a White man. Dr. Diop continues to remind us that Black Civilisation was the foundation of Egyptian, Greek, Roman and Western Civilisations.
Association of dementia severity with cortical gray matter and abnormal white matter volumes in dementia of the Alzheimer type.

Objective: To examine associations between dementia severity and quantitative magnetic resonance imaging measures of cortical gray matter volume and abnormal white matter volume in 52 patients diagnosed with probable Alzheimer disease. Design: Analysis of the relationship between magnetic resonance imaging volume measures and dementia severity using multiple regression and Pearson correlations. Setting: Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, University of California, San Diego. Participants: Twenty-three men and 29 women with probable Alzheimer disease (average age, 71.7 years; average education, 13.3 years). Main Outcome Measures: The Mattis Dementia Rating Scale (MDRS) and the Mini-Mental State Examination. Results: Using simultaneous multiple regression, magnetic resonance imaging volumetric measures of cortical gray matter and abnormal white matter were independently associated with dementia severity measured by either the MDRS or the Mini-Mental State Examination. Cortical gray matter volume and abnormal white matter volume also made independent contributions to performance in 4 of 5 cognitive domains assessed by the MDRS. Regional analysis indicated that limbic cortical gray matter volume and nonlimbic cortical gray matter volume were also correlated with the MDRS score; however, in the regression analysis the individual gray matter measures were not independently associated with MDRS performance. A similar analysis revealed statistically independent relationships of limbic gray matter volume and abnormal white matter volume, but not nonlimbic cortical gray matter volume, to Mini-Mental State Examination performance. Conclusions: Quantitative magnetic resonance methods provided strong evidence that cortical gray matter volume, which may reflect atrophy, and abnormal white matter volume are independently related to dementia severity in probable Alzheimer disease: lower gray matter and higher abnormal white matter volumes are associated with more severe dementia.
Factors Influencing Fungal Activity in Low Moisture Poultry Feeds

Abstract Feed samples were collected from the feed mill and four growers from each of two commercial broiler companies. Two sets of samples were collected from the first, middle, and last feeders in each poultry house. Feed samples were analyzed for mean particle size, respiratory CO2, moisture, percent fines, and zinc concentration. A significant (P
Critical temperature and superfluid density suppression in disordered high-T c cuprate superconductors

that methods traditionally employed to determine the suppression of Tc by impurities are inadequate for the high-Tc cuprates. It has also been suggested that perhaps the effects of disorder on the transition from the rather peculiar and poorly understood normal state cannot be satisfactorily described within the framework of a simple BCS-like mean field theory. 17 In the present article we show that one can, in fact, formulate an adequate description within mean-field theory, if the spatial variations of the order parameter caused by random disorder are accounted for in a fully self-consistent manner. We present a simple argument for the breakdown of the conventional AG-type theory ~which enforces a uniform gap averaged over disorder! in superconductors with very short coherence lengths such as the high-Tc cuprates. This argument is then given substance by numerical calculations within the Bogoliubov‐de Gennes ~BdG! framework, carried
The Effects of Photoelectron Emission on a Multiple-Probe Spacecraft near the Plasmapause

Measurements of the potential difference between a pair of symmetrical, spherical, floating probes (14-cm diam, 5-m baseline) flown on the S 3 — A (Explorer 45) spacecraft (launched November 1971, with apogee 5.2 R E, perigee 222 km, and inclination 3.6 deg) have shown a complicated response to sheath potentials in the region near and inside the plasmapause. Typically, with increasing altitude (1) the sunward sphere will first assume a more negative potential than the antisunward sphere, (2) the polarities of the probes in the region L = 2 to 4 may switch, sometimes several times, until finally, (3) the detector output may saturate (△o > 125 mV) with the sunward sphere more negative again.
Laughing at death.

Death anxiety is the first cause of laughter. As self-conscious creatures we live deeply rooted in incongruity: the knowledge that we die. Our sense of humor enables us not only to exist in this predicament but also to play with it to our advantage. The existential joke is on all of us, but usually we use humor to ostracize, even savagely, as we project death’s curse onto others. We can, however, become self-realized as we appreciate the denial of death that is built into the fabrications of our cultural belief systems. We become able to view our illusions ironically. Humor in the service of faith and grace can be affiliative rather than ostracizing, and serve to disarm fundamentalism.
Shield count minimization in congested regions

With worsening crosstalk in nanometer designs, it is becoming increasingly important to control the switching cross-coupling experienced by critical wires. This is commonly done by adding shields adjacent to these wires. However, the number of wires requiring shields in high frequency designs becomes extremely large, resulting in a large area impact. We address this problem at both the methodological and algorithmic levels in this paper, integrating the traditionally separate steps of power and signal routing in a safe manner to minimize the number of shields required to satisfy all shielding constraints. We postpone the power routing in middle metal layers to after critical signal nets and their shields have been laid out (with maximal shield sharing), and then try to construct a fine-grained power grid out of the already routed shields. Given a routing on a metal layer, our adaptive power routing algorithm adds provably fewest new power lines to complete the power grid on that layer. Our approach has proven highly effective while designing some high frequency blocks of a commercial gigahertz range microprocessor.
Towards Accountable Mobility Model: A Language Approach on User Behavior Modeling in Office WLAN

Modeling mobile users' behavior can lead to crucial applications in accountable mobile computing such as casual authentication and anomaly detection. We introduced a language approach to model mobile users' behavior from heterogeneous sensor data. By converting temporal and spacial features generated from WiFi RSS trace into symbols and fusing them into a 1-dimension ``language'' representation, we were able to leverage algorithms developed for statistical NLP to build accountable user mobility models in an office WLAN environment. We explored the continuous n-gram and skipped n-gram models to detect anomaly of mobile user's behavior, such as device theft. We have collected data from network infrastructure in an corporate office environment over 5 days. The proposed model only needs to observe the users for 8 hours to build a reliable behavior model which can detect 86% of device theft cases. We have also evaluated the effectiveness of using the n-gram models to predict the future location of the user.
Itchy, a Nedd4 ubiquitin ligase, downregulates latent membrane protein 2A activity in B-cell signaling.

Nedd4 family ubiquitin protein ligases (E3s) specifically associate with latent membrane protein 2A (LMP2A) of Epstein-Barr virus. Our previous studies analyzing LMP2A function in vitro have suggested that Nedd4 family E3s regulate LMP2A function. To determine the role of Nedd4 family E3s in LMP2A B-cell signaling, LMP2A transgenic (LMP2A+) mice were crossed with mice with the Itch-deficient (Itch−/−) background. Itchy, a mouse homologue of human AIP4, is a Nedd4 family E3 and is also the most abundant Nedd4 family E3 found in LMP2A affinity precipitates from B cells. There were significantly fewer B-cell receptor-positive B cells in spleen and bone marrow B cells in LMP2A+ Itch−/− mice than in LMP2A+ mice. In addition, LMP2A+ Itch−/− bone marrow B cells formed larger colonies in cultures treated with interleukin-7 (IL-7) than control bone marrow B cells did. Finally, there was a dramatic increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of LMP2A and Syk in IL-7-cultured LMP2A+ Itch−/− B cells. These results indicate that Nedd4 family E3s, in particular Itchy, downmodulate LMP2A activity in B-cell signaling.
A Major Light-Harvesting Polypeptide of Photosystem II Functions in Thermal Dissipation

Under high-light conditions, photoprotective mechanisms minimize the damaging effects of excess light. A primary photoprotective mechanism is thermal dissipation of excess excitation energy within the light-harvesting complex of photosystem II (LHCII). Although roles for both carotenoids and specific polypeptides in thermal dissipation have been reported, neither the site nor the mechanism of this process has been defined precisely. Here, we describe the physiological and molecular characteristics of the Chlamydomonas reinhardtii npq5 mutant, a strain that exhibits little thermal dissipation. This strain is normal for state transition, high light–induced violaxanthin deepoxidation, and low light growth, but it is more sensitive to photoinhibition than the wild type. Furthermore, both pigment data and measurements of photosynthesis suggest that the photosystem II antenna in the npq5 mutant has one-third fewer light-harvesting trimers than do wild-type cells. The npq5 mutant is null for a gene designated Lhcbm1, which encodes a light-harvesting polypeptide present in the trimers of the photosystem II antennae. Based on sequence data, the Lhcbm1 gene is 1 of 10 genes that encode the major LHCII polypeptides in Chlamydomonas. Amino acid alignments demonstrate that these predicted polypeptides display a high degree of sequence identity but maintain specific differences in their N-terminal regions. Both physiological and molecular characterization of the npq5 mutant suggest that most thermal dissipation within LHCII of Chlamydomonas is dependent on the peripherally associated trimeric LHC polypeptides.
Adaptive piezoelectric energy harvesting circuit for wireless remote power supply

This paper describes an approach to harvesting electrical energy from a mechanically excited piezoelectric element. A vibrating piezoelectric device differs from a typical electrical power source in that it has a capacitive rather than inductive source impedance, and may be driven by mechanical vibrations of varying amplitude. An analytical expression for the optimal power flow from a rectified piezoelectric device is derived, and an "energy harvesting" circuit is proposed which can achieve this optimal power flow. The harvesting circuit consists of an AC-DC rectifier with an output capacitor, an electrochemical battery, and a switch-mode DC-DC converter that controls the energy flow into the battery. An adaptive control technique for the DC-DC converter is used to continuously implement the optimal power transfer theory and maximize the power stored by the battery. Experimental results reveal that use of the adaptive DC-DC converter increases power transfer by over 400% as compared to when the DC-DC converter is not used.
Change in effective bulk modulus upon fluid or solid substitution

Gassmann’s equations, which are frequently used to predict the change in elastic properties of fluid-filled rocks upon substitution of one pore fluid with another, are not applicable for solid-filled rocks, i.e., when the pore material has nonnegligible shear modulus. Examples of such naturally occurring solid materials are heavy oil, cold bitumen, kerogen, clay, etc. Using volume averaging, we derived an exact solid substitution equation for isotropic effective bulk modulus for porous media with solid-filled pores. This exact equation generally requires an additional stiffness, which might not be directly measured or known. However, we established rigorous inequalities between this additional stiffness and other measurable effective stiffnesses. An exact expression had previously been obtained for the effective bulk modulus of solid-filled rocks by invoking a heuristic parameter. We clarified the physical significance of this parameter. We found that the approximate solid substitution equation previously suggested was limited to rocks such as those with identical stiff ellipsoidal pores, and its predictions do not always fall within Hashin-Shtrikman bounds. This is so because this approximation implicitly assumes homogeneous pore pressure and no change in pore-filling shear modulus upon solid substitution. We proposed new solid substitution approximations that provide a better match with numerical simulations and laboratory data, and we provided a step-by-step recipe for practitioners.
Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Why Hearsay Testimony May Be a Necessary Evil in Child Sexual Abuse Cases

ABSTRACT In a criminal case where a child is the alleged victim, the legal system has grappled with the issue of whether he or she should be subjected to testifying on the stand or whether “hearsay testimony” (i.e., testimony that is provided by a person who has interviewed the child, rather than the child himself or herself) is a reliable alternative. In essence, the legal system has been contending with choosing the lesser of two evils. This commentary addresses the mainstay criticisms against hearsay testimony and then discusses the problems that arise when children testify in court. In the first section of the commentary, it is argued that the emotional damage resulting from allowing a child to testify far outweighs any criticism of hearsay testimony. Additionally, research shows that a child's ability to accurately recall details declines more quickly than that of an adult, thus raising concerns about unreliable testimony. In the end, it is argued, that allowing hearsay testimony would not only reduc...
Outcomes of Gamma Knife surgery for craniopharyngiomas

Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) has emerged as a valuable adjuvant treatment modality for recurrent or residual craniopharyngioma. However, prognostic factors pertaining to progression-free survival (PFS) remain poorly understood. A study was conducted to address this issue. A total of 37 consecutive patients undergoing 39 sessions of GKS procedures targeting the solid portions of the tumors at our institution between 1989 and 2005 were analyzed. Twenty-one male and 16 female patients comprised this study. Median age at GKS was 36 years (range, 4–78). Median tumor volume was 1.6 cm3 (range, 0.1–18.6), median marginal dose was 14.5 Gy (range, 6–25), and median maximal dose was 30 Gy (range, 15.6–60). Median follow-up was 50 months (range, 8–212). Univariate and multivariate analyses using Cox proportional hazards model were employed to identify the potential prognostic factors including tumor volume, marginal dose, gender, age at GKS, and status of visual field defect (VFD) in terms of in-field PFS. The actuarial 3- and 5-year in-field PFS were 84.8 and 67.0%, respectively. On univariate analysis, absence of VFD at GKS was a favorable prognostic factor (hazard ratio: 0.279; 95% CI, 0.085–0.913, P = 0.035), whereas on multivariate analysis, absence of VFD at GKS, tumor volume ≤1.6 cm3, and marginal dose >14.5 Gy related to a longer in-field PFS. GKS may offer reasonable control of recurrent or residual craniopharyngiomas. There was a consistent correlation between absence of VFD at the time of GKS and in-field PFS.
Multiplexed sensing using optical low-coherence reflectometry

A novel multiplexed optical sensor permitting absolute length measurement in remote reflective sensor arrays is proposed. Based on optical low-coherence reflectometry, this technique has been used to demonstrate length measurements to within 10 /spl mu/m for 6-m sensor cables situated 70 km from the receiver. >
Neyman-Pearson classification under a strict constraint

Motivated by problems of anomaly detection, this paper implements the Neyman-Pearson paradigm to deal with asymmetric errors in binary classication with a convex loss. Given a nite collection of classiers, we combine them and obtain a new classier that satises simultaneously the two following properties with high probability: (i), its probability of type I error is below a pre-specied level and (ii), it has probability of type II error close to the minimum possible. The proposed classier is obtained by minimizing an empirical objective subject to an empirical constraint. The novelty of the method is that the classier output by this problem is shown to satisfy the original constraint on type I error. This strict enforcement of the constraint has interesting consequences on the control of the type II error and we develop new techniques to handle this situation. Finally, connections with chance constrained optimization are evident and are investigated.
Hybridizable discontinuous Galerkin projection methods for Navier-Stokes and Boussinesq equations

Schemes for the incompressible Navier-Stokes and Boussinesq equations are formulated and derived combining the novel Hybridizable Discontinuous Galerkin (HDG) method, a projection method, and Implicit-Explicit Runge-Kutta (IMEX-RK) time-integration schemes. We employ an incremental pressure correction and develop the corresponding HDG finite element discretization including consistent edge-space fluxes for the velocity predictor and pressure correction. We then derive the proper forms of the element-local and HDG edge-space final corrections for both velocity and pressure, including the HDG rotational correction. We also find and explain a consistency relation between the HDG stability parameters of the pressure correction and velocity predictor. We discuss and illustrate the effects of the time-splitting error. We then detail how to incorporate the HDG projection method time-split within standard IMEX-RK time-stepping schemes. Our high-order HDG projection schemes are implemented for arbitrary, mixed-element unstructured grids, with both straight-sided and curved meshes. In particular, we provide a quadrature-free integration method for a nodal basis that is consistent with the HDG method. To prevent numerical oscillations, we develop a selective nodal limiting approach. Its applications show that it can stabilize high-order schemes while retaining high-order accuracy in regions where the solution is sufficiently smooth. We perform spatial and temporal convergence studies to evaluate the properties of our integration and selective limiting schemes and to verify that our solvers are properly formulated and implemented. To complete these studies and to illustrate a range of properties for our new schemes, we employ an unsteady tracer advection benchmark, a manufactured solution for the steady diffusion and Stokes equations, and a standard lock-exchange Boussinesq problem.
Identification of Sulfur-Tolerant Bimetallic Surfaces Using DFT Parametrized Models and Atomistic Thermodynamics

The identification of sulfur-tolerant alloys for catalytic applications is difficult due to the combinatorially large number of alloy compositions and surface structures that may be considered. Density functional theory calculations (DFT) are not fast enough to enumerate all the possible structures and their sulfur tolerance. In this work, a DFT parametrized algebraic model that accounts for structure and composition was used to estimate the d-band properties and sulfur adsorption energies of 370 transition metal-based bimetallic alloy surfaces. The estimated properties were validated by DFT calculations for 110 of the surface structures. We then utilized an atomistic thermodynamic framework that includes surface segregation, the presence of adsorbates, and effects of environmental conditions to identify alloy compositions and structures with enhanced sulfur tolerance that are likely to be stable under the environmental conditions. As a case study, we show how this database can be used to identify sulfur-...
Substrate-Dependent Effects on the Response of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs to 2-MeV Proton Irradiation

AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors grown on Si, SiC, and sapphire substrates were exposed to 2-MeV proton irradiation in incremental fluences up to 6 × 10 14 cm -2 . The devices were characterized initially and after each irradiation by Hall and dc I-V measurements to probe the mechanisms associated with radiation-induced degradation and failure. It was determined that defects created at the AlGaN/GaN interface introduce scattering centers near the two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG), which result in degraded mobility. Additionally, charged traps in the structure serve to screen the 2DEG resulting in reduced sheet carrier density. These two effects are responsible for degraded I-V behavior, including reduced saturation current and transconductance, increased ON-resistance, and positive threshold voltage shift. Interestingly, the sample with the most pre-existing defects was the most tolerant of radiation-induced damage.
The Natriuretic Peptides and Fat Metabolism

A recent study adds to growing evidence that natriuretic peptides, secreted by the heart, influence fat metabolism. Mice with impaired clearance of these peptides had reduced fat mass and a metabolism shifted toward the consumption of excess calories.
Research on the Applicaion of Humanistic Nursing in Post-Anesthesia Care Unit(PACU)

The physiological function of patients during recovery period of general anesthesia have not been fully restored,thus humanisic and more detailed nursing care is in great need for those particular patients.Application of humanistic nursing in post-anasthesia care unit can dramatically decrease patients′ negative moods such as anxiety and fear,decrease the incidence of unfavorable mursing,and increase patients′ satisfaction for nursing care.
On the Role of Web-based Anti-corruption in the Course of Corruption Fighting and a Clean Government Construction

Fighting corruption and building a clean government has not only played an important role in the present party construction,but also is a strategic task under the new circumstances.Web-based anti-corruption,as part and parcel of the anti-corruption campaign,takes its right place in promoting the course of it.In combination with the actual development of the web-based anti-corruption in recent years,this thesis aims to state that web-based anti-corruption has extended the ways for combating corruption,made much progress for the insufficiency of the traditional systems,promoted the culture of building a clean government and improved China's socialist democracy.
The Intertwining of Government and Industry: the Case of the Transportation System

Japan is a country in which it is literally impossible to tell for certain where its government leaves off and its private sector begins. This chapter will attempt briefly to describe this interrelationship primarily from the perspective of the deployment of government power and how that power creates conditions in which government and private companies are parts of a complex matrix in which almost no decision can be said to be made solely by one or the other. Even a superficial examination of the role of the government shows a power so great that one becomes aware that it could be dictatorial and corrosive if improperly exercised. This creates the need to understand if possible why it is not, and how the interplay of forces has taken place to produce results which must be considered both effective and reasonably democratic.
Designing a ruggedisation lab to characterise materials for harsh environments

Designing products for use in developing countries presents a unique set of challenges including harsh operating environments, costly repairs and maintenance, and users with varying degrees of education and device familiarity. For products to be robust, adaptable and durable, they need to be ruggedised for environmental factors such as high temperature and humidity as well as different operational conditions such as shock and chemical exposure. The product characterisation and ruggedisation processes require specific expertise and resources that are seldom available outside of large corporations and elite national research labs. There is no standardised process since product needs strongly depend on the context and user base, making it particularly onerous for underfunded start-ups and academic groups. Standardised protocols that identify essential lab testing regimens for specific contexts and user groups can complement field-testing and accelerate the product development process while reducing costs. This article synthesises current methods and strategies for product testing employed by large corporations as well as defence-related entities. A technological and organisational framework for a service-for-fee product characterisation and ruggedisation lab that reduces costs and shortens the timespan from product invention to commercial launch in harsh settings is presented.
How do we understand the determinants of health? An exploration of distributed knowledge and interprofessional health sciences education.

ABSTRACTIt is acknowledged that interprofessional communication and teamwork are foundational for high-quality, safe medical practice. The theory of distributed knowledge posits that each person has unique knowledge and experiences that can contribute to a broader group perspective. Patient care can be positively influenced by a robust and interprofessionally shared understanding of the complexities of health and illness. One would expect a variety of perspectives to be evident in all healthcare providers, including incoming health science students from different professional fields. To examine this notion, medical, nursing, and pharmacy students (n = 24) at the start of an interprofessional training experience were asked to write an essay on factors that contribute to health and/or illness. Their essays were thematically coded to generate a list of factors considered key to health/illness and compare responses across fields to better understand how knowledge is distributed across entering learners. Resul...
Generic Proofs of Consensus Numbers for Abstract Data Types.

The power of shared data types to solve consensus in asynchronous wait-free systems is a fundamental question in distributed computing, but is largely considered only for specific data types. We consider general classes of abstract shared data types, and classify types of operations on those data types by the knowledge about past operations that processes can extract from the state of the shared object. We prove upper and lower bounds on the number of processes which can use data types in these classes to solve consensus. Our results generalize the consensus numbers known for a wide variety of specific shared data types, such as compare-and-swap, augmented queues and stacks, registers, and cyclic queues. Further, since the classification is based directly on the semantics of operations, one can use the bounds we present to determine the consensus number of a new data type from its specification. We show that, using sets of operations which can detect the first change to the shared object state, or even one at a fixed distance from the beginning of the execution, any number of processes can solve consensus. However, if instead of one of the first changes, operations can only detect one of the most recent changes, then fewer processes can solve consensus. In general, if each operation can either change shared state or read it, but not both, then the number of processes which can solve consensus is limited by the number of consecutive recent operations which can be viewed by a single operation. Allowing operations that both change and read the shared state can allow consensus algorithms with more processes, but if the operations can only see one change a fixed number of operations in the past, we upper bound the number of processes which can solve consensus with a small constant.
Hybrid propositional encodings of planning

Casting planning as propositional satisfiability has been recently shown to be a very promising technique of plan synthesis. Some challenges, one of which is the development of hybrid propositional encodings (that combine the important notions from the existing encodings) have also been posed to the community [1]. The existing encodings [3] are either entirely based only on the plan space planning (also known as "causal" or "least commitment" or "partial order" planning) or only on the state space planning. To answer this challenge, we have developed several hybrid encodings. A key difference between state space planning and plan space planning is that state of the world is represented at each time step during the state space planning process and it is never available during the partial order planning process. This also holds for the corresponding propositional encodings. We bridge these extremes of not representing the state at all and maintaining the state at each time step, by controlling the number of time steps at which the state is represented. Our hybrid unifying encoding (Fig. 1) not only represents the world states, but also allows partial order on the plan steps that are "sandwiched" in the "regions" between the consecutive world states. We also developed several other hybrid encodings shown in Fig. 2. Since the hardness of solving an encoding is generally correlated with its size (especially in domain independent planning), computed the number of clauses and variables in each of these hybrid encodings and theoretically proved [2] that no hybrid encoding can have fewer clauses or fewer variables than the currently smallest encoding (state space encoding with explanatory frame axioms [3]). Our future work involves an empirical evaluation of these hybrid encodings as well as their integer linear programming formulations.
Prediction of electrocatalytic activity of boron nanostructures

Abstract The dissociation of O2 and HO2 are important reactions that occur at the cathode of fuel cells producing H2O and use platinum as a catalyst. There is a need to replace platinum with less expensive catalysts. Here the possibility of boron nanostructures as catalysts for the reactions is considered using density functional theory. The calculations show that the bond dissociation energies to remove O and OH from O2 and O2H bonded to boron nanostructures are less than those necessary to dissociate free O2 and O2H indicating that some of the boron nanostructures could be catalysts for the dissociation of O2 and HO2.
Investigating named entity recognition of contextual information in online consumer health text

Online health forums have become a common place for healthcare consumers (e.g., patients, caregivers) to seek information and exchange support. One challenge is that patients may not know how to frame a question properly, especially on what contextual information to disclose that would help the online community better understand the health concerns they have. In this study, we analyzed the contextual information disclosed by users of the Lung and Respiratory Disorders community in a popular online health forum, Medhelp.org. We analyzed both questions and answers to understand what contextual information tends to be often missing from the questions that may hinder communication effectiveness. In doing so, we also compared two different natural language processing approaches: (1) MetaMap developed by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, and (2) IBM Natural Language Classifier (NLC), to examine their respective performance when applied to consumer health text. Our results show that the two methods are complementary, and combining them together would result in a high-performing recognition tool with an overall F-score of 80.4%.
Conformable, Wearable and Scalable Imaging Bands for Assessing Joints Diseases

We have developed highly flexible imaging bands that incorporate light source and detectors for assessing joint diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The resulting low-cost imaging system supports high-fidelity data acquisition, which allows for dynamic optical measurements in the field of diffuse optical tomography (DOT).
Green Building Regulations: Extending Mandates to the Residential Sector

As global warming has garnered significant attention in recent years, sustainability and green campaigns throughout the nation have become more common. Efforts to mitigate the human footprint have led to important developments in sustainable building design and construction. Although much attention is paid to other industry sectors such as transportation, buildings are a major source of greenhouse gases. Green buildings are more efficient and employ a variety of both construction techniques and renewable materials that result in less environmental harm and increased energy efficiency. Municipalities have encouraged largescale green building projects through mandates or tax incentives. However, the residential sector in most municipalities remains free from these mandates and incentives. This Note argues that the residential sector should be subject to green building mandates.
Mechanisms of Legal Effect: Perspectives from Social Psychology

Social psychology plays an important role in explicating mechanisms of legal effect. Social psychological theories offer theoretical constructs that help explain the web of psychological and social causes and mediators of intentions and behaviors that legal processes seek to modify. Social psychology pertains primarily to the “Changes in Behavior” mediator in model of public health law research, positing a number of possible causal pathways by which legal systems and policies may influence behavior. From a social psychological perspective, laws and regulations can be classified according to the type of causal pathway by which behaviors are modified, for example, through changing attitudes, normative beliefs or self-efficacy concerning a specific behavior. We outline plausible pathways for many types of laws/regulations, including: 1) prevention and safety laws; 2) environmental exposure regulations; 3) laws regulating availability of health-enhancing and health-inhibiting products and resources; and, 4) “soft” laws that prompt or inform rather than command the ultimate actor (for example, labeling laws).Given the large number of social psychological theories and the need to structure disparate theories in relation to each other, the theory of triadic influence (TTI) is a comprehensive and integrative model that we use for describing relationships among various theoretical constructs. The TTI posits that laws and regulations influence behavior through multiple causal pathways, from ultimate causes, through distal influences and proximal predictors, all mediated by the proximal influences of attitudes toward, social normative beliefs about, and self-efficacy regarding a particular behavior. Reliable measures for these and other constructs are readily available.
Feminism and Couple Finance: Power as a Mediator Between Financial Processes and Relationship Outcomes

Feminism is rarely used as a theoretical framework for couple finance research. The purposes of the present paper are (a) to discuss couple finance research in the context of feminism to encourage more frequent and explicit use of feminism in couple finance research, (b) to present a gender and couple finances model, and (c) to test this model with longitudinal dyadic data. Using actor-partner interdependence models (APIM) and data from 327 U.S. mixed-gender couples, relational power was explored as a potential mediator between four couple financial processes (earners of money, access to money, management of money, and conflict about money) and two relationship outcomes (relationship quality and relationship stability). Results suggest that couple financial processes are associated with relationship outcomes and with joint management as well as low conflict being key longitudinally. Additionally, although power may not play a mediating role, it appears to be connected to couple financial processes and relationship outcomes concurrently. Gender differences as well as both actor and partner effects are explored. This research has implications for researchers, clinicians, and educators. For example, clinicians may want to encourage their clients to use joint bank accounts, manage their money jointly, and minimize financial conflict. Gender, and therefore power, are inseparably tied to couple finances. When both spouses are involved in financial processes, partners tend to be more empowered, and relationship quality and stability tend to be higher.
Propagation of Endangered Moapa Dace

We report successful captive spawning and rearing of the highly endangered Moapa Dace, Moapa coriacea (approximately 650 individual fish in existence at time of this study). We simulated conditions under which this stream-dwelling southern Nevada cyprinid and similar species spawned and reared in the wild by varying temperature, photoperiod, flow, and substrate in 14 different spawning and rearing treatments in a propagation facility. Successful spawning occurred in artificial streams with the following characteristics: water flow directed both across the bottom gravel substrate into a cobble bed and across the upper water column; 12–14 fish/stream (0.016–0.026 fish/L depending on water level); static water temperature of 30–32°C; photoperiod of 12 h light and 12 h dark; gradual replacement of water from their natal stream with on-site well water; a combination of pelleted, frozen and live food; and minimal disturbance of fish. Nevada Department of Wildlife now uses these techniques successfully to produce fish in a culture setting. Identification of the effective combination of factors to trigger spawning in exceptionally rare fishes can be difficult and time consuming, and limiting factors can be subtle. Sufficient numbers of available test fish, close study and replication of wild spawning conditions, careful documentation, and patience to identify subtle limiting factors are often required to effectively rear and spawn fishes not previously propagated.
Septic Shock Predisposed by an Underlying Chronic Neutrophilic Leukemia with an Atypical Presentation; A Case Report.

Background Chronic neutrophilic leukemia (CNL) is an extremely rare myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN). Due to the difficulty in its diagnosis, the diagnostic criterion was just recently revised in 2016. CNL is defined as: A clonal disorder with sustained primary neutrophilia, with normal neutrophil maturation, that does not meet other MPN criteria, as well as no identifiable mutations of the PDGFRA, PDGFRB or FGFR1 or PCM1-JAK2 genes, and, either, the presence of a CSF3R mutation, or if absent, the presence of sustained neutrophilia (> 3 months), splenomegaly and no other identifiable cause of reactive neutrophilia including the absence of a plasma cell neoplasm, or, if present, demonstration of myeloid cell clonality by cytogenetics. Only about 200 cases have been reported. Case presentation We report a 61-year-old Caucasian male patient who initially presented with unexplained leukocytosis. An outpatient work-up was planned to rule out a myeloproliferative disorder but the patient was acutely admitted for MRSA septic shock. The patient was stabilized prior bone marrow work-up and was then diagnosed with an atypical type of CNL (JAK2 positive, CSF3R negative). The patient refused further treatment due to social circumstances and requested palliative care instead. Conclusion This case aims to present atypical findings of an extremely rare MPN. Even though a recent revision has been made to help in its diagnosis, atypical findings must still be considered. This, in turn, will help to further improve the current CNL diagnostic criteria.
Measures of Treatment Workload for Patients With Breast Cancer

PURPOSEPatients with breast cancer spend a large amount of time and effort receiving treatment. When the number of health care tasks exceeds a patient’s ability to manage that workload, they could ...
Clinical applications of cytometry: 4th annual meeting

Quantitative cytology is undergoing rapid evolution because of dramatic advances in optics, lasers, photochemistry, computers and digital imaging. Novel clinical applications utilizing the latest flow and imaging technology as well as exciting new findings using more conventional methods are the focus of an annual meeting in Charleston, South Carolina. The 4th Annual Meeting, which featured sessions on image cytometry, fluorescence intensity, quantitation, leukemia/lymphoma analysis and transplantation, is summarized here.