cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Building national estimates of the burden of road traffic injuries in developing countries from all available data sources: Iran

Objective: To use a range of existing information sources to develop a national snapshot of the burden of road traffic injuries in one developing country—Iran. Methods: The distribution of deaths was estimated by using data from the national death registration system, hospital admissions and outpatient visits from a timelimited hospital registry in 12 of 30 provinces, and injuries that received no institutional care using the 2000 demographic and health survey. Results were extrapolated to national annual incidence of health burden differentiated by age, sex, external cause, nature of injuries and institutional care. Results: In 2005, 30 721 Iranians died annually in road traffic crashes and over one million were injured. The death rate (44 per 100 000) is the highest of any country in the world for which reliable estimates are available. Road traffic injuries are the third leading cause of death in Iran. While young adults are at high risk in non-fatal crashes, the elderly have the highest total death rates, largely due to pedestrian crashes. While car occupants lead the death count, motorised two-wheeler riders dominate hospital admissions, outpatient visits and health burden. Conclusions: Reliable estimates of the burden of road traffic injuries are an essential input for rational priority setting. Most low income countries are unlikely to have national injury surveillance systems for several decades. Thus national estimates of the burden of injuries should be built by collating information from all existing information sources by appropriately correcting for source specific shortcomings.
Interactions between Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. tracheiphilum and Meloidogyne spp. in Vigna unguiculata. 1. Effects of different inoculum densities on Fusarium wilt

The effects of chlamydospores and conidia of Fusarium oxysporum I sp, Ircuheiphilum at different initial spore concentrations were compared in the wilt-susceptible cowpea cultivar California Blackeyc No, 5 (CB5), In glasshouse experiments with one inoculum density of either \fcl(ii<l(igyne ineognita or \f javanica, chlamydospores resulted in greater ineidence and severity of Fusarium vsilt than conidia at the same inoculum densities. Wilt symptoms also increased on wilt-resistan t cultivar rB3 as inoculum densities of M. javaniea were increased. When three cultivars were infested with moderate or high densities of both F. o. traeheiphilwn and M.javanua. only CB5 developed severe wilt at either inoculum density. The wilt-tolerant cultivar Grant had mild uilt symptoms in most plants at moderate inoculum densities, and a tenfold increase in inoculum did not increase wilt ratings, CB3, however, had higher incidence and severity of Fusarium wilt symptoms at high inoculum densities, although 60% of the plants survived for 9 weeks.
Effect of large-scale kinetic power extraction on time-dependent estuaries:

AbstractAn open and important question in tidal in-stream energy conversion is the level of kinetic power extraction that is possible without unacceptable environmental degradation. In general, the effects of large-scale kinetic power extraction on estuary-scale fluid mechanics are not well understood. In this paper, these effects are quantified for an idealized estuary using a one-dimensional, time-dependent numerical model. The numerical domain consists of a long, wide inlet and basin connected by a constricted channel. Kinetic power densities within this constriction are suitable for in-stream energy conversion. Modelling shows that the extraction of kinetic power has a number of effects, including: (a) reduction of the volume of water exchanged through the estuary over the tidal cycle; (b) reduction of the tidal range landward of the array; and (c) reduction of the kinetic power density in the tidal channel. These impacts are strongly dependent on the magnitude of kinetic power extraction, estuary geo...
Death, detritus, and energy flow in aquatic ecosystems

SUMMARY 1. Pelagic trophic structure and energy fluxes are evaluated predominantly on the basis of ingestion of particulate organic matter by living organisms and the effects of consumption on the population dynamics of trophic levels. 2. Population fluxes are not representative of the material and energy fluxes of either the composite pelagic region or the lake ecosystem. Metabolism of particulate and especially dissolved organic detritus from many pelagic and non-pelagic autochthonous and from allochthonous sources dominates both material and energy fluxes. Because of the very large magnitudes and relative chemical recalcitrance of these detrital sources, the large but slow metabolism of detritus provides an inherent ecosystem stability that energetically dampens the ephemeral, volatile fluctuations of higher trophic levels. 3. The annual time period is the only meaningful interval in comparative quantitative analyses of material and energy fluxes at population, community, and ecosystem levels. 4. Non-predatory death and metabolism by prokaryotic and protistian heterotrophs dominate. Continued application of animal-orientated relationships to the integrated, process-driven couplings of the aquatic ecosystems impedes understanding of quantitative ecosystem pathways and control mechanisms.
SIR-C/X-SAR: An Advanced Radar

The Spaceborne Imaging Radar-C/X-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SIR-C/X-SAR) is the most advanced civilian spaceborne radar yet flown. It is the world's first spaceborne multifrequency, multipolarization system and incorporates a number of advanced capabilities and innovative features and modes, including SCANSAR and interferometry. SIR-C/X-SAR was successfully flown twice in 1994 aboard the Shuttle Endeavour as part of an international imaging radar mission. The United States' SIR-C operates at L- and C-bands, each with multiple polarization, utilizing an active phased array antenna. The German/Italian X-SAR operates synchronously with SIR-C at X-band with a single polarization to collect data over common sites. Over the two flights, a total of 143 hours (93 terabits) of SAR data were digitally recorded on tape for subsequent processing in the U.S., Germany, and Italy. This advanced, multifaceted system has produced a rich data set for Earth science and remote sensing utility development and has the potential for additional flights.
The Innate Immune Sensor LGP2 Activates Antiviral Signaling by Regulating MDA5-RNA Interaction and Filament Assembly

Cytoplasmic pattern recognition receptors detect non-self RNAs during virus infections and initiate antiviral signaling. One receptor, MDA5, possesses essential signaling domains, but weak RNA binding. A second receptor, LGP2, rapidly detects diverse dsRNA species, but lacks signaling domains. Accumulating evidence suggests LGP2 and MDA5 work together to detect viral RNA and generate a complete antiviral response, but the basis for their cooperation has been elusive. Experiments presented here address this gap in antiviral signaling, revealing that LGP2 assists MDA5-RNA interactions leading to enhanced MDA5-mediated antiviral signaling. LGP2 increases the initial rate of MDA5-RNA interaction and regulates MDA5 filament assembly, resulting in the formation of more numerous, shorter MDA5 filaments that are shown to generate equivalent or greater signaling activity in vivo than the longer filaments containing only MDA5. These findings provide a mechanism for LGP2 coactivation of MDA5 and a biological context for MDA5-RNA filaments in antiviral responses.
The detection of ethyl chloride using photofragmentation

Abstract We propose measuring chlorinated hydrocarbon emissions from hazardous waste incinerators by fragmenting molecules in the exhaust stream with high powered UV laser light, then measuring the subsequent concentration of the CCl fragment via laser induced fluorescence. We have shown that one of the chlorinated hydrocarbons, C2H5Cl, can be efficiently fragmented by 193nm ArF excimer laser under the necessary conditions of atmospheric pressure and elevated temperatures, and in mixtures with air, H2O, and CO2. When a delayed pulse of light at 271.4nm is added to the 193 nm pulse, fluorescence from CCl generated by the fragmentation process can be detected. The CCl fluorescence can be easily distinguished from O2 emission excited by the 193 nm laser due to the time interval between the different colored laser pulses. The level of CCl fluorescence is strongly dependent on the C2H5Cl concentration for the range of concentrations measured, 3 to 300 ppm. Conversely, CCl fluorescence could not be detected fol...
Near-Surface Sensor-Derived Phenology

“Near-surface” remote sensing provides a novel approach to phenological monitoring. Optical sensors mounted in relatively close proximity (typically 50 m or less) to the land surface can be used to quantify, at high temporal frequency, changes in the spectral properties of the surface associated with vegetation development and senescence. The scale of these measurements—intermediate between individual organisms and satellite pixels—is unique and advantageous for a variety of applications. In this chapter, we review and discuss a variety of approaches to near-surface remote sensing of phenology, including methods based on broad- and narrow-band radiometric sensors, and using commercially available digital cameras as inexpensive imaging sensors.
Sovereignty and Illiberalism

Liberalism struggles with an ancient paradox. That is, it must navigate the sometimes treacherous course between individual autonomy and pluralism's accommodation. In this article, Professor Riley argues that this philosophical tension has manifested in very concrete intrusions on American Indians' tribal sovereignty. On the one hand, tribal sovereignty guards Indian nations' inherent right to live and govern beyond the reach of the dominant society. This measured separatism embodies liberalism's commitment to the accommodation of pluralism. On the other hand, however, critics charge that imposing liberalism onto Indian nations is necessary to prevent infractions of individual rights by tribal governments. For these scholars, individual autonomy must always be given preference above Indian nations' continued existence. Scholars concerned with illiberal practices perpetrated by tribal governments are increasingly calling for an expansion of federal civil rights laws into tribal communities. But these urgings are rarely accompanied by a thorough and thoughtful analysis of American Indian tribal sovereignty. In fact, most scholars writing in this area fail to acknowledge that expansion of such laws into tribal communities would potentially eviscerate tribal sovereignty and wipe out Indian differentness altogether. Accordingly, based on a detailed examination of tribal sovereignty - both as embodied in American law and as experienced by Indian nations on the ground - Professor Riley concludes that the United States' own theory of Indian sovereignty supports the perpetuation of Indian nations' autonomous existence. Further, it mandates that internal tribal decisions regarding Indian culture and tradition be left to Indian tribes, even when those decisions are inapposite to Western liberal ideals.
Nurturing Student Feedback of Skill Development? An Empirical Argument for the Use of Active Learning Teaching Techniques

We use regression analysis to measure the impact of student exposure to active learning teaching techniques on academic achievement in economics. Pre and post testing was used to determine the value added of a one semester Principles of Economics course. We find that students who participate in classes taught with a combination of traditional lecture and active learning exercises perform better academically than their colleagues who were exposed solely to traditional lecture methodology. Furthermore, by controlling for learning style differences, we find that performance varies depending upon the interaction of learning style with exposure to active learning techniques. In accordance with much of the education literature, our empirical results suggest that there are indeed benefits to introducing a variety of techniques in undergraduate economics courses.
Effect of Soaking on Nitrate Concentrations in Teff Hay

Abstract Soaking can affect respirable dust particles and the concentrations of some nutrients in alfalfa and cool season grass hays. However, the effect of soaking on nitrates in hay has not been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of soaking on teff hay, a warm season annual grass, that contained high concentrations of nitrate (>2.0%). Six bales of teff hay were used for the study. Six 0.5 kg samples were taken from each bale and assigned to one of six soaking treatments: no soaking (control), cold water immersion for 10 seconds, warm water immersion for 10 seconds, cold water soaking for 1 hour, warm water soaking for 1 hour, and cold water soaking for 8 hours. After soaking, hay was dried, ground, and submitted to a commercial laboratory for analysis. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance as a block design. When the main effect of treatment was significant (P
Update to core reporting practices in structural equation modeling

Summary This paper is a technical update to "Core Reporting Practices in Structural Equation Modeling." 1 As such, the content covered in this paper includes, sample size, missing data, specification and identification of models, estimation method choices, fit and residual concerns, nested, alternative, and equivalent models, and unique issues within the SEM family of techniques.
Medical comorbidity and distress in patients with irritable bowel syndrome: The moderating role of age.

Abstract Objectives Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects people across the age spectrum and is highly comorbid with other medical conditions. The aim of this study was to determine the moderating effect of age on the relationship between medical comorbidity and health outcomes in IBS patients. Methods Patients ( n = 384) across the age spectrum (18 to 70) completed questionnaires regarding medical comorbidities, anxiety, depression, IBS symptom severity, and IBS quality of life (QOL). Results The mean age was 41 ( SD = 15). Age interacted with medical comorbidities to predict anxiety, F (7,354) = 5.82, p = 0.009, R 2 = 0.10. Results revealed significant main effects for education, β = − 0.16, p β = − 0.15, p β = 0.25, p β = − 0.15, p Conclusion Distress among IBS patients with medical comorbidities varies with age, with higher levels of anxiety and depression among younger adults than their older counterparts. Medical comorbidity may have a more selective impact on psychological distress as compared to IBS symptom severity and quality of life for younger adults with IBS. Distress may increase IBS burden for these patients and complicate its medical management.
Empirical Evidence of Irrationality

Whereas the previous two chapters responded to philosophical challenges to our scientific knowledge this chapter explores a more practical threat to scientific knowledge. This challenge comes from research which suggests we are subject to a number of biases and irrational processes when forming our beliefs. Numerous studies have seemingly shown that people are prone to make systematic errors of reasoning in particular kinds of cases. Some take this evidence of human irrationality to undercut our knowledge in general, and hence, our scientific knowledge as well. This chapter argues that this challenge does not pose a significant threat to our scientific knowledge. Although there is evidence for human irrationality, we have ways of keeping this sort of irrationality contained so that it does not “infect” all of our beliefs. So, while we are prone to make systematic errors in certain cases, we are aware of our proclivities, and we can take steps to counteract our natural shortcomings.
Color and Multispectral Image Representation and Display

Publisher Summary This chapter emphasizes the problems and differences in treating the color dimension of image data. Understanding of the basics of uniform sampling is required to proceed to the problems of sampling the color component. The phenomenon of aliasing is generalized to color sampling by noting that the goal of most color sampling is to reproduce the sensation of color and not the actual color spectrum. The calibration of recording and display devices is required for accurate representation of images. While the fundamentals of image recording and display are well understood by experts in that area, they are not well appreciated by the general image processing community. It is hoped that future work will help widen the understanding of this aspect of image processing. At present, it is fairly difficult to calibrate color image I/O devices. The interface between the devices and the interpretation of the data is still problematic.
Computational Human-Robot Interaction

We present a systematic survey of computational research in humanrobotinteraction HRI over the past decade. Computational HRI isthe subset of the field that is specifically concerned with the algorithms,techniques, models, and frameworks necessary to build roboticsystems that engage in social interactions with humans. Within thefield of robotics, HRI poses distinct computational challenges in eachof the traditional core research areas: perception, manipulation, planning,task execution, navigation, and learning. These challenges areaddressed by the research literature surveyed here. We surveyed twelvepublication venues and include work that tackles computational HRIchallenges, categorized into eight topics: a perceiving humans andtheir activities; b generating and understanding verbal expression;c generating and understanding non-verbal behaviors; d modeling,expressing, and understanding emotional states; e recognizing andconveying intentional action; f collaborating with humans; g navigatingwith and around humans; and h learning from humans in asocial manner. For each topic, we suggest promising future researchareas.
Tiebout Sorting and Competition

Abstract Over 60 years ago, Charles Tiebout hypothesized that decentralized provision of public services (such as public schools) through local governments can result in efficient levels of such services (Tiebout, 1956). His key insight was that residential mobility of households might provide a sufficient disciplining force (analogous to typical market forces) to insure efficient provision of local public services. With sufficient local competition, there would be no room for local governments to engage in excessive political rent seeking, and enough variety in local tax and service packages would emerge to satisfy different consumer tastes. In the case of public education, however, serious issues related to equity and equal opportunity also emerge, suggesting a tradeoff between the promise of Tiebout efficiency and the emergence of inequities in educational opportunities for children of different income classes and different races.
Femtosecond two-photon laser-induced fluorescence of krypton for high-speed flow imaging.

Ultrashort-pulse (femtosecond-duration) two-photon laser-induced fluorescence (fs-TPLIF) of an inert gas tracer krypton (Kr) is investigated. A detailed spectroscopic study of fluorescence channels followed by the 5p′←←4p excitation of Kr at 204.1 nm is reported. The experimental line positions in the 750–840 nm emission region agree well with the NIST Atomic Spectra Database. The present work provides an accurate listing of relative line strengths in this spectral region. In the range of laser pulse energies investigated, a quadratic dependence was observed between the Kr-TPLIF signal and the laser pulse energy. The single-laser-shot 2D TPLIF images recorded in an unsteady jet demonstrate the potential of using fs excitation at 204.1 nm for mixing and flow diagnostic studies using Kr as an inert gas tracer.
Anti-Biofilm Activity of a Self-Aggregating Peptide against Streptococcus mutans

Streptococcus mutans is the primary agent of dental cavities, in large part due to its ability to adhere to teeth and create a molecular scaffold of glucan polysaccharides on the tooth surface. Disrupting the architecture of S. mutans biofilms could help undermine the establishment of biofilm communities that cause cavities and tooth decay. Here we present a synthetic peptide P1, derived from a tick antifreeze protein, which significantly reduces S. mutans biofilm formation. Incubating cells with this peptide decreased biofilm biomass by approximately 75% in both a crystal violet microplate assay and an in vitro tooth model using saliva-coated hydroxyapatite discs. Bacteria treated with peptide P1 formed irregular biofilms with disconnected aggregates of cells and exopolymeric matrix that readily detached from surfaces. Peptide P1 can bind directly to S. mutans cells but does not possess bactericidal activity. Anti-biofilm activity was correlated with peptide aggregation and β-sheet formation in solution, and alternative synthetic peptides of different lengths or charge distribution did not inhibit biofilms. This anti-biofilm peptide interferes with S. mutans biofilm formation and architecture, and may have future applications in preventing bacterial buildup on teeth.
Improvement of Post-hypoxic Myoclonus with Bilateral Pallidal Deep Brain Stimulation: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Background: Post-hypoxic myoclonus (PHM) is a syndrome that occurs when a patient has suffered hypoxic brain injury. The myoclonus is usually multifocal and generalized, often stemming from both cortical and subcortical origins. In severe cases, pharmacological treatments with antiepileptic medications may not satisfactorily control the myoclonus. Methods: We present a case of a 23-year-old male with chronic medication refractory PHM following a cardiopulmonary arrest related to an asthmatic attack who improved with bilateral globus pallidus internus (GPi) deep brain stimulation (DBS). We review the clinical features of PHM, as well as the preoperative and postoperative Unified Myoclonus Rating Scale scores and DBS programming parameters in this patient and compare them with the three other published PHM-DBS cases in the literature. Results: This patient experienced an alleviation of myoclonic jerks at rest and a 39% reduction in action myoclonus with improvement in both positive and negative myoclonus with bilateral GPi-DBS. High frequency stimulation (130 Hz) with amplitudes >2.5 V were needed for the therapeutic response. Discussion: We demonstrate a robust improvement in a medication refractory PHM patient with bilateral GPi-DBS, and suggest that it is a viable therapeutic option for debilitating post-hypoxic myoclonus.
On the Ropes: Knock Out! Panties

This case traces the thought process and decisions Knock out! Panties founder Angela Newnam must make in establishing her company. Excerpt UVA-ENT-0187 Rev. Mar. 13, 2012 On the Ropes: Knock out! Panties At 3:00 p.m., Angela Newnam turned off her computer monitor and laced up her walking shoes. She tucked her iPhone and headset into her pocket as she opened the front door of her Dupont Circle home and inhaled the clean spring air. By 4:00 p.m., all three of her kids would be home from school, and Newnam wanted to make the most of what would be her last hour of quiet until the kids were in bed. She paused at the door, and, rethinking, pulled the phone from her pocket, setting it on the entryway table. Usually she used her power walks as an opportunity to make a few phone calls, but today, Newnam could use the uninterrupted time to weigh a decision about the future of her start-up. “I had never planned to be an entrepreneur,” thought Newnam, “but looking back, I guess it's not that surprising. If you're a mom and you have three kids, run a house, take care of a husband, volunteer, and have a job at the same time…. If you can do that, you can run a business.” For the past six months, Newnam had devoted herself not only to getting her family settled in a new city, but also to developing a new lingerie concept, Knock out! Panties. She envisioned a product that would combine feminine styling with the performance technology typically only found in exercise gear. After months of research, testing, and design, Newnam believed she had the best textile technology to meet the performance gap her research with friends had revealed. It seemed Knock out! Panties could become a reality, and Newnam's mind was racing with ideas and questions about marketing, production, and business models, but the most pressing question was how she might acquire the necessary technology. Newnam needed the right to use a technology patented by a textile giant that was in the final stages of Chapter 7 liquidation; should she attempt to license it from another buyer or purchase it outright? How much was the patent worth? Could Knock out! Panties grow quickly enough to cover that expense? As Newnam began her customary walking loop around the neighborhood, she began to recall the long road that had led her to this juncture. . . .
Brittle-ductile Behavior and Caprock Integrity

Abstract Leakage from damaged caprock will depend on fracture properties in which we expect a difference between brittle and ductile deformations modes. We conducted experiments using integrated x-ray tomography and triaxial coreflood methods to characterize fracture-permeability behavior of shale as a function of the confining pressure at which fractures are created as a means of exploring the brittle-ductile transition. The experiments were conducted using a triaxial direct-shear coreflood system that creates through-going fractures for permeability measurements. Fracture characteristics were examined using 25-μm resolution x-ray computed tomography in both ex situ and in situ modes. At low confining pressure (3.5 MPa), permeability of fractured Utica shale was strongly dependent on fracture interactions with bedding planes and varied from 10s to 100s of mD (calculated with respect to the total sample area). Fracture systems propagating perpendicular to bedding planes resulted in tortuous paths with lower permeability. Fracture systems propagating parallel to bedding had substantially elevated permeability with some ex situ apertures greater than 500 μm. This behavior contrasted with fractures developed at high confining pressure (22 MPa). In situ x-ray tomography showed that localized deformation occurred on sub-resolvable fractures (less than 25-μm aperture) much smaller than apertures formed at low confining pressure. Permeability of the fractures formed at high confining pressure was less than 0.1 mD and about 3 orders of magnitude lower than the low confining pressure case.
Preliminary Evidence for Disrupted Nucleus Accumbens Reactivity and Connectivity to Reward in Binge Drinkers.

Aims Dysfunctional brain reward circuitry, particularly in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc), has been proposed as a risk factor for alcohol use disorder (AUD). This risk factor may be evident in binge drinkers (BD), who are at high risk for developing AUD. We examined whole-brain and NAcc reactivity to reward in BD compared to non-binge drinkers (NBD), hypothesizing that groups would differ in their neural reactivity and connectivity. Methods Healthy BD (N = 27) and NBD (N = 23)-none meeting AUD criteria-completed a reward-guessing game, the 'Doors' task, during functional magnetic resonance imaging. We conducted an exploratory whole-brain search for group differences, but given our a priori hypotheses, we also extracted activation from the NAcc to examine reactivity during reward (Win > Loss) and functional connectivity (FC) to the prefrontal cortex. Results Compared to NBD, BD exhibited greater activation in both the right and left NAcc during reward relative to loss. Additionally, NBD drinkers exhibited positive FC between the NAcc and dorsal anterior cingulate (dACC) whereas the BD showed negative FC between these regions. Furthermore, less NAcc-dACC FC was related to more past month alcohol use. Conclusions Our results provide preliminary evidence that BD exhibit greater NAcc activation during reward receipt relative to loss. This is consistent with the broader AUD literature and suggests aberrant neural reactivity may precede disorder onset. In addition, BD exhibited less NAcc-dACC FC, perhaps reflecting deficient regulation of activation to rewards compared to losses. This profile of reward brain circuitry could represent neural correlates of vulnerability for AUD. Short summary Healthy binge drinkers, at risk for alcohol use disorder, exhibited greater nucleus accumbens activation during reward relative to loss. In addition, binge drinkers exhibited reduced connectivity between the nucleus accumbens and dorsal anterior cingulate, which was associated with more past month alcohol use.
#MaybeHeDoesntHitYou: Social Media Underscore the Realities of Intimate Partner Violence.

Abstract Background: Public intimate partner violence (IPV) discourse emphasizes physical violence. In May 2016, the Twitter hashtag #MaybeHeDoesntHitYou generated a public conversation about abuse beyond physical IPV. Because of the often-disconnect between IPV research and what survivors struggle to name as abuse in their daily lives, we sought to understand how IPV discourse was unfolding as a result of the #MaybeHeDoesntHitYou hashtag. Materials and Methods: NCapture was used to collect publically available Twitter data containing the hashtag “#MaybeHeDoesntHitYou” from May 10, 2016 to May 17, 2016. Using the Duluth Power and Control Wheel (a range of tactics used by abusers to control and harm their partners) and the Women's Experience with Battering (WEB) framework (emotional and behavioral responses to being abused), we analyzed 1,229 original content tweets using qualitative content analysis. Results: All dimensions of the Power and Control Wheel and five of six dimensions of the WEB framework wer...
CHAPTER 5 – LINEAR STATE-SPACE MODELS AND SOLUTIONS OF THE STATE EQUATIONS

This chapter presents linear state-space models and describes some simple familiar physical systems in state-space forms. Very often, the mathematical model of a system is not obtained in first-order form; it may be a system of nonlinear equations, a system of second-order differential equations, or partial differential equations. It is shown how such systems can be reduced to the standard first-order state-space forms. The computational methods for the state equations are then considered both in time and frequency domains. The major computational component of the time-domain solution of a continuous-time system is the matrix exponential e At . Some results on the sensitivity of this matrix and various well-known methods for its computation: the Taylor series method, the Pade approximation method, the ordinary-differential equation methods, and the methods based on decompositions of the matrix are described in the chapter in details. A comparative study of these methods is also included. The Pade method (with sealing and squaring) and the method based on the Real Schur decomposition of a matrix are recommended for practical use. The problem of computing the frequency response matrix for many different values of the frequencies is considered in the chapter. The computation of the frequency response matrix is necessary to study various system responses in frequency domain. A widely used method based on the one-time reduction of a state matrix to a Hessenberg matrix is described in the chapter in detail, and the references to the other recent methods are given.
Optimization of Large-Scale Reacting Flows using MPSalsa and Sequential Quadratic Programming

An rSQP optimization algorithm has been linked to the MPSalsa parallel reacting flows code. The goal is to developSAND (Simultaneous Analysis aNd Design) methods for use with large-scale PDE simulations. MPSalsa is a unstructured grid finite element code that uses a fully coupled Newton method to solve the PDEs governing fluid flow, heat transfer, and non-dilute mass transfer. In this paper, we present results for optimization of a Chemical Vapor Deposition reactor for growing thin films of Gallium Nitride. In particular, we address issues of inexactness in the Jacobian matrix and of solution multiplicity.
Graphs for Use in Testing Equality of Two Correlation Coefficients

Graphs are presented to provide quick and accurate 5% and 1% tests of the quality of two correlation coefficients based on equal-size samples. For unequal samples, the harmonic mean 2n1n2/(n1 + n2) provides a good compromise sample size for using the gr..
Polyion Charge Ratio Determines Transition between Bright and Dark Excitons in Donor/Acceptor-Conjugated Polyelectrolyte Complexes

There is substantial urgency to create artificial light-harvesting systems that are relatively inexpensive and capable of absorbing a significant fraction of the solar spectrum. Molecular materials possess a number of attractive characteristics for this purpose, such as their light weight, spectral tunability, and the potential to use self-assembly to form large structures capable of executing multiple photophysical processes required for photoelectric energy conversion. In this work, we demonstrate that ionically assembled complexes composed of oppositely charged conjugated polyelectrolytes (CPEs) that function as excitonic donor/acceptor pairs possess 10 significant potential as artificial energy transfer antennae. We find that, upon complexation in water, excitation energy is transferred from the donor to the acceptor CPE in less than 250 fs—a timescale that is competitive with natural light-harvesting antennae. We further find that the state of CPE chain extension and thus spatial delocalization of th...
Mapping near-real-time power outages from social media

ABSTRACTSocial media, including Twitter, has become an important source for disaster response. Yet most studies focus on a very limited amount of geotagged data (approximately 1% of all tweets) whi...
A countermeasure to remedies: a review of Transgender People in Education

While there has been a veritable explosion of popular press and media work focusing on transgender people over the past few years, it is no exaggeration to say that descriptive scholarship in educa...
Building Global Health Capacity at a Minority-Serving Institution in the Bronx: The Potential Role of PhotoVoice and the Geo-Social Pathway Framework in This Endeavor.

Global health training programs for undergraduate students are expanding in the United States, which includes Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs), but capacity building is needed at MSIs to develo...
Effect of injector swirl number on near-field spray characteristics of a novel twin-fluid injector

Compared to liquid jets/films from conventional air-blast injectors, flow blurring (FB) injection has generated fine sprays immediately at the injector exit, resulting in the clean combustion of various fuels including viscous oils. The FB atomization involves primary atomization by bubble bursting of the bubbly internal two-phase flow due to the dramatic pressure drop at the injector exit and the secondary break-up of droplets/ligaments by Rayleigh–Taylor instability. Recently, a novel swirl-burst (SB) injector has been developed to further enhance the secondary atomization, which has resulted in less lifted and cleaner flames by integrating swirling atomizing air with the FB concept. The present study investigates the effect of injector swirl number (ISN) on spray characteristics including droplet velocity and size distributions in the injector near field (8 mm × 4 mm) using particle image velocimetry and shadowgraph imaging for the SB injectors with diameter, D, of 1.5 mm. The study investigates four ISNs from 2.0 to 3.5 with an increment of 0.5, corresponding to various swirl vane angles. Results show that all the ISNs have achieved a short break-up length (~ 1.67D) and fine atomization with final droplet diameter ranging from 12 to 40 µm and SMD around 25 µm. Droplets are evenly distributed at each axial plane for all the ISNs. Increase in the ISN results in enhanced secondary atomization and hence finer droplets within 1.67D downstream of the injector exit. Spray angles are typically narrower at the increased ISN. Regardless of the variations within the injector near field and the different spray angles, the break-up length and final droplet size are nearly independent of the ISN.
Individual brain organoids reproducibly form cell diversity of the human cerebral cortex

Experimental models of the human brain are needed for basic understanding of its development and disease1. Human brain organoids hold unprecedented promise for this purpose; however, they are plagued by high organoid-to-organoid variability2,3. This has raised doubts as to whether developmental processes of the human brain can occur outside the context of embryogenesis with a degree of reproducibility that is comparable to the endogenous tissue. Here we show that an organoid model of the dorsal forebrain can reliably generate a rich diversity of cell types appropriate for the human cerebral cortex. We performed single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis of 166,242 cells isolated from 21 individual organoids, finding that 95% of the organoids generate a virtually indistinguishable compendium of cell types, following similar developmental trajectories and with a degree of organoid-to-organoid variability comparable to that of individual endogenous brains. Furthermore, organoids derived from different stem cell lines show consistent reproducibility in the cell types produced. The data demonstrate that reproducible development of the complex cellular diversity of the central nervous system does not require the context of the embryo, and that establishment of terminal cell identity is a highly constrained process that can emerge from diverse stem cell origins and growth environments.
Building Community One Structure at a Time: A Partnership between Social Work and Landscape Architecture Students.

Experiential learning is invaluable when promoting interdisciplinary approaches to teaching complex issues. This article reports on a five-week collaboration between undergraduate students in social work and landscape architecture courses, project impetus being a common-reading text. Students (n=54) constructed three-dimensional models of children’s playgrounds and prepared academic posters describing restorative interventions based on their service-learning experiences with community partners. Projects were displayed at university-sponsored workshops. Participation in common reading programs has promising implications for interdisciplinary collaboration.
Spectrum-splitting photovoltaic system using bifacial cells for high energy yield

In this paper a spectrum-splitting photovoltaic system is proposed that uses bifacial silicon solar cells to maximize total energy yield. The system is unique in its ability to convert direct sunlight with high-efficiency (<30%) while simultaneously converting diffuse and rear-side irradiance. A volume holographic lens array is used to divide the solar spectrum into spectral bands optimized for conversion by wide-bandgap and bifacial silicon solar cells. An approach for simulating the energy yield, optimizing the holographic lens array, and analyzing the effect of concentration ratio, aspect ratio, and illumination characteristics is described. Design examples for two different solar cell combinations are provided. A GaAs and bifacial silicon combination achieves an energy conversion efficiency of 32.0% and a MgCdTe and bifacial silicon combination achieves a 31.0% energy conversion efficiency. Additional solutions are provided when constraints on concentration ratio and aspect ratio are applied, allowing the designer to balance energy yield with cost and size considerations. The performance of the proposed system is compared to conventional monofacial silicon, bifacial silicon, and monofacial spectrum-splitting modules, and show that improvements in energy yield of over 45%, 25%, and 10% can be achieved, respectively.
The Eleventh Rib Transcostal Incision: Technique for an Extrapleural Approach

The transcostal extrapleural flank approach to the kidney requires an understanding of thoracic and abdominal wall anatomy to prevent injury to the pleura and subsequent pneumothorax. Isolation of the intercostal neurovascular bundle, division of the lumbodorsal fascia inferior to the rib bed and simultaneous dissection of the diaphragmatic insertion along the superior and posterior aspects of the 12th rib toward the lumbocostal arch are necessary surgical maneuvers before release of the diaphragm, exposure of Gerota's fascia and positioning of a flank retractor. Pneumothorax usually results from attempts to separate the pleura from the diaphragm, dissection within the intercostal space rather than along the diaphragmatic insertions and failure to release the diaphragm fully as far as the lumbocostal arch before placement of the retractor. Precise appreciation of the pericostal anatomy allows the urological surgeon to remain extrapleural during this commonly used flank incision.
A Study on Accelerating Average Consensus Algorithms Using Delayed Feedback.

In this paper, we study accelerating a Laplacian-based dynamic average consensus algorithm by splitting the conventional delay-free disagreement feedback into weighted summation of a current and an outdated term. We determine for what weighted sum there exists a range of time delay that results in the higher rate of convergence for the algorithm. For such weights, using the Lambert W function, we obtain the rate increasing range of the time delay, the maximum reachable rate and comment on the value of the corresponding maximizer delay. We also study the effect of use of outdated feedback on the control effort of the agents and show that only for some specific affine combination of the immediate and outdated feedback the control effort of the agents does not go beyond that of the delay-free algorithm. Additionally, we demonstrate that using outdated feedback does not increase the steady state tracking error of the average consensus algorithm. Lastly, we determine the optimum combination of the current and the outdated feedback weights to achieve the maximum increase in the rate of convergence without increasing the control effort of the agents. We demonstrate our results through a numerical example.
Nucleotide Status in Erythrocytes of Rats Infected with Plasmodium Berghei

Red blood cells (RBC) as well as plasmodia are not able to synthesize purines; therefore salvage pathways are essentiell for both. The source of purines is plasma adenosine. It enters the plasma membrane of erythrocytes via a specific transport protein which is located in band 4.5 together with the glucose transporter1. The parasites provide a high influx of adenosine into their infected host by altering the expression of the nucleoside transporter. In the erythrocyte adenosine is converted to AMP and to hypoxanthine. Last compound is preferentially translocated into parasites. They are characterized by a high capacity of purine nucleotide metabolizing enzymes including those of the salvage pathways. Parasites use hypoxanthine as substrate for the synthesis of all purine nucleotides. The enzymes of these reactions are associated with the plasmodial membrane. Therefore the question arises which interactions do exist in the purine nucleotide metabolism between the two compartments parasite and red blood cell. Is was our aim to clarify it by an analysis of the purine nucleotide status.
Design, synthesis, and in vitro evaluation of new S1PR1 compounds and in vivo studies of an F-18 labeled radiotracer in rodents and monkeys

484 Objectives: The Sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1PR1) plays an important role in immune-mediated diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), colitis, influenza, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and atherosclerosis. A suitable S1PR1 PET radiotracer will be very efficient for investigating the changes of S1PR1 in vivo for relative diseases. Based on our previous effort for the development of S1PR1 specific compounds, we recently have synthesized more than 50 new compounds, among which several compounds exhibited high S1PR1 binding potency. One of the most potent S1PR1 compounds was further radiosynthesized with F-18 for in vivo evaluation in rodents and nonhuman primates, to explore its potential to be a suitable S1PR1 PET radiotracer. Methods: A library of fluorine-containing S1PR1 specific compounds were synthesized and screened the in vitro binding potency assay. Using radioactive competitively radioactive assay in which different concentrations of each compound was used to compete with [32P]S1P binding with S1P receptor cell membrane. The precursor for F-18 labeling was also synthesized, and F-18 labeling radiosynthesis was carried out by employing a two-step one-pot procedure, incorporating the F-18 isotope and removal of the protection group. The final product was purified by reverse phase semi-preparative HPLC. The biodistribution study was conducted in adult male SD rats to determine the in vivo tracer distribution. Animals were euthanized at 5, 30, 60 min, and 120 min post injection of [18F]TZ67138. Tissues of interest were collected, weighed, and counted on an automated gamma counter. Uptake of radioactivity was calculated as percentage injected dose per gram (%I.D./g). Dynamic microPET study was performed on a male cynomolgus monkey (~10 kg) using a Focus 220 MicroPET scanner. Results: Five of the library ligands possessed good binding potency, with IC50 95%), as well as high specific activity (> 1.0 Ci/µmol, decay corrected to EOS). The biodistribution study in rats revealed that [18F]TZ67138had a rat brain uptake (%ID/gram) of 0.41 at 5 min, 0.21 at 30 min and 0.16 at 60 min. Similarly, the dynamic microPET scan of nonhuman primates showed that this tracer has good washout kinetics from the brain. The biodistribution study in rats indicated that [18F]TZ67138had good brain uptake (%ID/gram) up to 0.41 at 5 min. No defluroation was observed as the bone uptake was not increased from 5 to 120 min. Nonhuman primate microPET also demonstrated its ability to penetrate into the brain, with the mean SUV value of ~1.2. Conclusions: A series of new S1PR1 specific compounds were designed and synthesized. The in vitro binding affinity assay identified five of these compounds exhibited high binding potency towards S1PR1 (IC50