cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hexameric GFP and mCherry Reporters for the Drosophila GAL4, Q, and LexA Transcription Systems

The ability to distinguish cells and tissues of interest is critical for understanding their biological importance. In genetic model organisms, a prominent approach for discerning particular cells or tissues from others is the use of cell or tissue-specific enhancers to drive fluorescent reporters. This approach, however, is often limited by the brightness of the fluorescent reporter. To augment the ability to visualize cells or tissues of interest in Drosophila melanogaster, homo-hexameric GFP and mCherry reporters were developed for the GAL4, Q, and LexA transcription systems and functionally validated in vivo. The GFP and mCherry homo-hexameric fusion proteins exhibited significantly enhanced fluorescence as compared to monomeric fluorescent reporters and could be visualized by direct fluorescence throughout the cytoplasm of neurons, including the fine processes of axons and dendrites. These high-sensitivity fluorescent reporters of cell morphology can be utilized for a variety of purposes, especially facilitating fluorescence-based genetic screens for cell morphology phenotypes. These results suggest that the strategy of fusing monomeric fluorescent proteins in tandem to enhance brightness should be generalizable to other fluorescent proteins and other genetic model organisms.
Dynamic camera calibration

A close range camera calibration scheme can be divided into a static scheme and a dynamic scheme. The static scheme is used to calibrate single camera by applying bundle adjustment on multiple digitized images of a calibration block. The dynamic scheme calibrates the stereo cameras using camera parameters derived from the static calibration even after unknown motion of the cameras and change of focus. An unknown object can be used as the calibration block. After the cameras are dynamically calibrated, scaled dimensions of the unknown object can be determined as well. As additional conditions, prior knowledge of the object can be integrated into the bundle adjustment of the dynamic scheme to increase the accuracy.
Is evaluating ethics consultation on the basis of cost a good idea

Despite the fact that ethics consultations are an accepted practice in most healthcare organizations, many clinical ethicists continue to feel marginalized by their institutions. They are often not paid for their time, their programs often have no budget, and institutional leaders are frequently unaware of their activities. One consequence has been their search for concrete ways to evaluate their work in order to prove the importance of their activities to their institutions through demonstrating their efficiency and effectiveness.
Interaction of sodium alkyl sulfates with everted rat small intestinal membrane

Abstract The effect of sodium alkyl sulfates (C 6 ‐C 14 ) on the loss of protein from the everted rat small intestine was measured. At a surfactant concentration of 10 m M , a peak effect on protein release was noted with sodium decyl sulfate (C 10 ). Measurement of protein release as a function of sodium lauryl sulfate (C 12 ) concentration resulted in the observation that the effect appears to be due to the mi‐cellar phase of the surfactant solution. At concentrations of C 12 above the CMC, the loss of protein from the intestinal preparation increased as the concentration of surfactant was increased. There may be a maximum amount of protein that can be released from the everted rat small intestinal sacs by surface‐active agents. At equivalent mi‐cellar concentrations of C 8 ‐C 14 (12.5 times the CMC), there was no difference in the amount of protein released in the presence of the individual alkyl sulfates. The effect appears to be due to the micellar phase of the alkyl sulfate solutions. Other studies on salicylate transfer across the everted rat small intestine indicate that permeability changes occur with anionic and cationic surfactants but not with nonionics.
The uses, gratifications and political knowledge young adults obtain from watching network newscasts and late night comedy shows

Media observers have warned that late night comedy shows to which many are now drawn can make impressionable young adults cynical about the political process. Do late night comedy shows have informative effects? This study examines how college students use and obtain gratifications from two TV news program genres (regular network news and late-night comedy shows), which of these two program types contribute more to political knowledge, and what is the influence of other antecedent variables (including exposure and attention to news content, attitude toward politics, involvement with politics) and demographic characteristics on political knowledge. A post-test only quasi-experimental design was conducted to gather data. Four hundred undergraduate students were randomly assigned to two experimental conditions, one group watched a CNN news segment and another saw a clip of The Daily Show. Both treatments discussed presidential candidate Barack Obama’s visit to the Middle East at about the same running length. These experimental stimuli, embedded within an online questionnaire, were followed by a 15-item knowledge quiz. The results show that audience members were able to identify specific media content that will satisfy specific needs, and that their media choices were goal-directed. More importantly, those who watched the CNN news segment gave lower knowledge scores than those who watched The Daily Show clip. The subjects said they watch late night comedy shows mainly to be entertained, but also to satisfy their information needs. The findings suggest that learning, a secondary use and gratification sought from exposure to comedy, happens in the process of being entertained. A positive correlation was found between attention paid to political news content
What if Astyanax had survived? War, children, and youth.

What, then, might have happened to Astyanax had he survived? He might have become a Greek slave and accepted his lot, or he might have felt loyalty and an obligation to his Trojan ancestry and organized acts of revenge. Depending on his personal characteristics and the people and the community that raised him, a number of outcomes are possible. The fact that after 3000 years we know little more than did the Homeric bards, however, gives us reason to be humble. There is evidence that each experience of loss or violence is additive and reduces coping ability. Although the psychologic disturbances of children and youth exposed to war do appear less intense than might have been expected, as Garmezy and Rutter noted in 1985, it is impossible to know the cost, the vulnerabilities that have been veiled, and what might have been. Perhaps the most remarkable thing is how some children seem able to transcend their misfortunes and even to be steeled by them. Coles has recorded how a 6-year-old, African-American girl, initiating school desegregation in New Orleans in the face of mob violence and daily threats to her life, told him that if she managed to get through with some success, she had an explanation: "It will be because there is more to me than I ever realized."
Rights in places: An analytical extension of the right to the city

Abstract Following recent scholarship on place and place-making, we identify key challenges for contemporary empirical research using the “Right to the City” as an analytic. We seek to distinguish between the aspirational “right” articulated as a political and conceptual call to arms on one hand, and the “actually existing rights” that are carved out through both formal and informal mechanisms (including political protest) in the everyday city on the other. Actually existing rights are defined not through fiat or via momentary revolutionary acts, but through the durability of relationships between multiple actors, including residents, citizens, states, and corporate agents. We re-articulate urban rights as actually contingent and agonistic properties of the relationships that citizens have with places. This paper uses the historic conflict over community gardens in New York as an illustration of how thinking of rights regimes as multiple, overlapping, and placed helps better illuminate potential political interventions. Thinking of rights and places as plural, overlapping, and contingent is analytically productive because it highlights (rather than overwriting) conflicts between competing articulations of rights and privileges in cities.
Analysis of Patterns: The S-P Technique

For a parsimonious solution to questions about test structure and student behavior, one could start from a highly constrained position — one in which without fail every respondent supplies one of exactly two choices (say, right or wrong) to every test item. Additionally, one must assume that each piece of data supplied by each respondent is equally useful — no prior scaling or weighting of scores is included. Fortunately, this position often holds in its entirety for simple right/wrong classroom tests, and does not represent an onerous burden from the point of view of test design. More specifically, given the constraints are met, a technique exists which provides quick and readily interpretable solutions. Its advantages lie in both intuitive appeal and computational simplicity. It shares a number of features with the Rasch model, though with much reduced mathematical and psychometric elegance. Since it can be used in classrooms with small numbers of students, and since it generates a variety of useful pieces of information, it seems a worthwhile first step in the analysis of tests and test performance in the classroom.
Recent Survey of Cytotechnology Training Programs

This survey study was designed to assess the status of cytotechnology training programs, address the issue of student recruitment, and elicit suggestions for improved programs from cytotechnology educators. Questionnaires were completed by 56 program directors/educational coordinators of accredited cytotechnology programs. While practical guidelines for existing cytotechnology training programs are available, the results of this survey confirm the need for more information and discussion regarding the changes needed to strengthen the future of educational programs for cytotechnology professionals.
The Religious Ethic of the Protestant Ethnics

18th Century Protestants were less universalistic than Max Weber thought. In effect, the Protestant sectarians had created an ethnic economy within which they gave preference to co-religionists. This was often a justifiable business decision because co-ethnics were known and trusted.
Cushing's syndrome.

Cushing's syndrome remains one of the great diagnostic challenges to internists and endocrinologists. Urologists have the primary role in the treatment of many of the forms of Cushing's syndrome, especially adrenal tumors and micronodular hyperplasia. As we continue to gain experience with Cushing's disease treated with pituitary surgery and with etopic ACTH syndrome and the other forms of Cushing's syndrome, urologists are likely to become even more involved in the therapy of all types of Cushing's syndrome.
Compression of tunable broadband mid-IR pulses with a deformable mirror pulse shaper

To improve the utility of ultrafast infrared spectroscopy experiments, we have developed and actively compressed a tunable broadband mid-IR (BBIR) source. The octave-spanning BBIR source is generated by a filamentation process of 800 and 400 nm pulses in a pressurized gas cell. To correct the higher-order dispersion effects in BBIR pulses, we have introduced a deformable mirror grating compressor, which uses an iterative genetic algorithm with optical feedback. Compression yields nearly transform-limited BBIR pulses of 21 fs, or ∼1.4 optical cycles at the center frequency, as measured by cross-correlation frequency resolved optical gating.
Efficient trust node aware routing in ZigBee communication network of smart grid

ZigBee plays a crucial role in the smart grid communication system primarily due to its low cost when transmitting information. Ad hoc On-Demand Distance Vector (AODV) Routing protocol has been used in ZigBee Network layer. As complicated structures are deployed in the smart grid, a secure communication network environment is needed for facilitating effective data communications. Trust nodes can be added to ZigBee for monitoring the network traffic for malicious attacks. In this paper, two approaches are proposed for adding trust nodes to the AODV hop-by-hop routing algorithm. Scenarios of route searching in mesh networks with different sizes are simulated by including at least one trust node in each route. Evaluation results indicate both security and efficiency could be ensured by adding the trust nodes into the ZigBee communication network.
Key research problems in NoC design: a holistic perspective

Networks-on-Chip (NoCs) have been recently proposed as a promising solution to complex on-chip communication problems. The lack of an unified representation of applications and architectures makes NoC problem formulation and classification both difficult and obscure. To remedy this situation, we provide a general description for NoC architectures and applications and then enumerate several outstanding research problems (denoted by P1-P8) organized under three topics: communication infrastructure synthesis, communication paradigm selection, and application mapping optimization. Far from being exhaustive, the discussed problems are deemed essential for future NoC research.
«La dialéctica de los puños y de las pistolas»: una aproximación a la formación de la idea de Estado en el fascismo español (1931-1945)

The article focuses on the formation and evolution of the Falangist’s notion of the State. In this respect, we analyse the theorization process which took place since the creation of the first Spanish groups inspired by Fascism, leaded by Ramiro Ledesma Ramos, Onesimo Redondo and Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera, who established the doctrinal roots of the movement. Then, we study its development during the Spanish Civil War and the first postwar years, period which marked the culminating point of the single party’s political hegemony project. Finally, we look at the situation at the end of the Second World War, when Falangist’s ideologist faced up the need of moving away from the totalitarianism positions. At the same time, we point out its degree of equivalence with the doctrine and path followed by the Fascist and Nazi movements, as well as its presence in the organic laws of Franco’s dictatorship.
Binding of NAD + -Glycohydrolase to Streptolysin O Stabilizes Both Toxins and Promotes Virulence of Group A Streptococcus .

The globally dominant, invasive M1T1 strain of group A Streptococcus (GAS) harbors polymorphisms in the promoter region of an operon that contains the genes encoding streptolysin O (SLO) and NAD+-glycohydrolase (NADase), resulting in high-level expression of these toxins. While both toxins have been shown experimentally to contribute to pathogenesis, many GAS isolates lack detectable NADase activity. DNA sequencing of such strains has revealed that reduced or absent enzymatic activity can be associated with a variety of point mutations in nga, the gene encoding NADase; a commonly observed polymorphism associated with near-complete abrogation of activity is a substitution of aspartic acid for glycine at position 330 (G330D). However, nga has not been observed to contain early termination codons or mutations that would result in a truncated protein, even when the gene product contains missense mutations that abrogate enzymatic activity. It has been suggested that NADase that lacks NAD-glycohydrolase activity retains an as-yet-unidentified inherent cytotoxicity to mammalian cells and thus is still a potent virulence factor. We now show that expression of NADase, either enzymatically active or inactive, augments SLO-mediated toxicity for keratinocytes. In culture supernatants, SLO and NADase are mutually interdependent for protein stability. We demonstrate that the two proteins interact in solution and that both the translocation domain and catalytic domain of NADase are required for maximal binding between the two toxins. We conclude that binding of NADase to SLO stabilizes both toxins, thereby enhancing GAS virulence.IMPORTANCE The global increase in invasive GAS infections in the 1980s was associated with the emergence of an M1T1 clone that harbors a 36-kb pathogenicity island, which codes for increased expression of toxins SLO and NADase. Polymorphisms in NADase that render it catalytically inactive can be detected in clinical isolates, including invasive strains. However, such isolates continue to produce full-length NADase. The rationale for this observation is not completely understood. This study characterizes the binding interaction between NADase and SLO and reports that the expression of each toxin is crucial for maximal expression and stability of the other. By this mechanism, the presence of both toxins increases toxicity to keratinocytes and is predicted to enhance GAS survival in the human host. These observations provide an explanation for conservation of full-length NADase expression even when it lacks enzymatic activity and suggest a critical role for binding of NADase to SLO in GAS pathogenesis.
Secure dynamic authentication of passive assets and passive IoTs using self-powered timers

A major limitation in authenticating passive and remotely powered sensors, tags and cards (for e.g. radio-frequency identification tags or credit cards) is that these devices do not have access to a continuously running system clock. This obviates the use of SecureID type authentication techniques involving random keys and tokens that need to be periodically generated and synchronized. In this paper we present a dynamic hardwaresoftware authentication approach for passive assets using zero-power timers and synchronization circuits. The timers are shown to achieve robust temporal synchronization due to the self-powering and self-compensating physics of Fowler-Nordheim (FN) quantum transport of electrons tunneling onto a floatinggate. The output of the timers are then used to seed a pseudorandom number generator which produce random and synchronized authentication tokens. We validate the proposed approach using prototypes fabricated in a standard 0.5μm CMOS process where we demonstrate synchronization accuracy greater than 40dB. Compared to conventional static authentication methods that are currently used for passive sensors, tags and cards, the proposed dynamic approach should provide enhanced security and make it more immune to counterfeiting and data theft.
Booming from the Mists of Nowhere: The Story of the Greater Prairie-Chicken

Review of: "Booming from the Mists of Nowhere: The Story of the Greater Prairie-Chicken," by Greg Hoch.
Reliability, validity, and clinical utility of the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders Axis II scales: Depression, non-specific physical symptoms, and graded chronic pain

Aims: To analyze the reliability, validity, and clinical utility of the depression, non-specific physical symptoms, and graded chronic pain scales comprising the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) Axis II. Methods: Data resulting from independent longitudinal and cross-sectional epidemiological studies as well as randomized clinical trials conducted at the University of Washington and the University at Buffalo were submitted to descriptive, correlational, and inferential statistical analyses to evaluate selected psychometric properties of the RDC/TMD Axis II scales. Results: Analyses of available data from both TMD clinical centers revealed good to excellent reliability, validity, and clinical utility for the Axis II measures of depression, somatization, and graded chronic pain. Specifically, data were presented comparing the RDC/TMD depression scale to the Beck Depression Inventory and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale; these data supported concurrent validity of the RDC/TMD measure and its use as a depression screening tool. Its clinical utility lies in its demonstrated usefulness for alerting TMD clinicians to potentially noteworthy depressive symptomatology in TMD patients. Others have shown that elevated somatization, the tendency to report non-specific physical symptoms as noxious or troublesome, is a predictor of poor TMD treatment outcome. The present analyses demonstrated that the RDC/TMD Axis II non-specific physical symptoms scale has acceptable reliability and that severe levels of somatization can potentially confound interpretation of the Axis I clinical examination. The graded chronic pain scale was demonstrated to have clinical utility for tailoring TMD treatment to levels of a patient's psychosocial adaptation. Conclusion: The major RDC/TMD Axis II measures demonstrate psychometric properties suitable for comprehensive assessment and management of TMD patients.
Metabolic Supply of Heat

For birds and mammals heat is of obvious importance in arctic life. The preservation of warmth, however, is a requirement in all climates. As air warms in desert and tropical situations toward the temperatures of birds and mammals, their problem of existence becomes one of losing heat. In the arctic climate the conspicuous problem of warmblooded life appears to be the retention of heat. In cold, this problem can be regarded in somewhat simplified physiological terms that allow some general views understandable through common experience. Large differences between internal warmth and environmental cold provide correspondingly large scales for viewing the essential processes of production of animal heat and its adequate retention.
Spectra of Certain Large Tridiagonal Matrices

Abstract We characterize the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of a class of complex valued tridiagonal n by n matrices subject to arbitrary boundary conditions, i.e. with arbitrary elements on the first and last rows of the matrix. For large n, we show there are up to 4 eigenvalues, the so-called special eigenvalues, whose behavior depends sensitively on the boundary conditions. The other eigenvalues, the so-called regular eigenvalues vary very little as function of the boundary conditions. For large n, we determine the regular eigenvalues up to O ( n − 2 ) , and the special eigenvalues up to O ( κ n ) , for some κ ∈ ( 0 , 1 ) . The components of the eigenvectors are determined up to O ( n − 1 ) . The matrices we study have important applications throughout the sciences. Among the most common ones are arrays of linear dynamical systems with nearest neighbor coupling, and discretizations of second order linear partial differential equations. In both cases, we give examples where specific choices of boundary conditions substantially influence leading eigenvalues, and therefore the global dynamics of the system.
Can differences in linear energy transfer and thus relative biological effectiveness compromise the dosimetric advantage of intensity-modulated proton therapy as compared to passively scattered proton therapy?

Purpose: To investigate the effect of differences in linear energy transfer (LET) and thus the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) between passively scattered proton therapy (PS) and pencil-bea...
Noise and hearing loss in firefighting

Since the NIH received a request to investigate the high degree of hearing loss in a fire department in 1980, hearing loss among firefighters has become an area of increased investigation. The author identifies the sources of occupational noise in firefighting, looks at audiometric testing and recent research in firefighting noise, and presents guidelines for implementing hearing conservation programs.
The Role of Competition in Zooplankton Succession

Debates over the role of competition in natural communities often consider two broad alternatives. The first view, based on the Lotka Volterra model, is that populations are consistently food-limited, and species that coexist in nature do so by virtue of niche partitioning (Schoener, 1982). In this and related equilibrium models, temporal changes in environmental conditions and poulation sizes are assumed to be unimportant. In contrast, nonequilibrium models emphasize the role of changing conditions in stabilizing species’ coexistence (for reviews of nonequilibrium concepts see Chesson and Case, 1986; DeAngelis and Waterhouse, 1987). Most commonly, environmental fluctuations or predation are considered to keep populations at low densities, where exploitative competition is unimportant (Wiens, 1977; Strong, 1986). As pointed out by Hutchinson (1961) in his discussion of the “paradox of the plankton,” however, changing environmental conditions could cause shifts in competitive ability, thus promoting species’ persistence despite continuous resource limitation and consistently strong competition.
Early Weightbearing After Arthrodesis of the First Metatarsal-Medial Cuneiform Joint: A Systematic Review of the Incidence of Nonunion

Arthrodesis of the first metatarsal-medial cuneiform articulation is a reliable and effective surgery for correction of hallux abducto valgus deformity. However, one potential relative contraindication to the procedure is the extended period of non-weightbearing immobilization that is typically associated with the postoperative course. The objective of this investigation was to perform a systematic review of the incidence of nonunion after early weightbearing in patients who underwent arthrodesis of the first metatarsal-medial cuneiform articulation for correction of a hallux abducto valgus deformity. We performed a review of electronic databases with the inclusion criteria of retrospective case series, retrospective clinical cohort analyses, and prospective clinical trials with 15 or more participants; a mean follow-up period ≥12 months; a postoperative early weightbearing protocol (defined as ≤2 weeks); a clear description of the fixation construct; and a reported incidence rate of nonunion. Eight studies met our inclusion criteria, with a total of 443 arthrodeses analyzed. Of these, 16 (3.61%) were described as developing a nonunion. This would likely be considered an acceptable rate of nonunion when considering this procedure and might indicate that the Lapidus procedure does not always require an extended period of postoperative non-weightbearing immobilization.
An exploratory study of retail sales employees’ service sabotage: Examining the impact of emotional exhaustion and organizational support

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how emotional exhaustion may increase the likelihood of a retail salesperson’s usage of service sabotage. This paper also investigates how perceived orga...
Predictors of Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) treatment initiation and engagement among patients with opioid use disorder across 7 health systems.

AbstractBackground: The prevalence of opioid use disorder (OUD) has increased rapidly in the United States and improving treatment access is critical. Among patients with OUD, we examined factors a...
Assessing the effects of post-acute rehabilitation services on health care outcomes for people with multiple sclerosis.

Abstract Background The impact of post-acute rehabilitative services provided in skilled nursing facilities (SNF) on a particularly vulnerable, disabled subgroup, namely persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS), is unknown. Objective The objectives of this study were to (1) describe the use of post-acute rehabilitative services in SNFs, and (2) examine the association between the use of physical and occupational therapy (PT/OT) and (a) successful community discharge and (b) functional improvement for PwMS. Methods We retrospectively selected PwMS newly admitted to a SNF from the hospital between January 2008 and September 2012. Using the Minimum Data Set (MDS), we examined the receipt of PT/OT and categorized the receipt as high and low intensity PT/OT according to median hours/week. We assessed the association of high vs. low PT/OT with successful discharge to the community and functional improvement using propensity-matched logistic regression. Results A total of 26,412 PwMS had valid OT/PT values in the MDS during the study period, among which 24,410 (92.4%) used PT/OT for some time in the SNF. Median PT/OT use was 9.7 h/week. Use of rehabilitation services was higher in patients with less cognitive and functional impairment. Overall, two-thirds (67.3%) of the propensity matched cohorts for Objective 2a (n = 8204/group) were successfully discharged to community; and one-third (33.6%) of the matched cohort for Objective 2b (n = 6803/group) had improved function. Higher PT/OT therapy was associated with successful discharge [odds ratio (OR) 1.20; 95% CI 1.12–1.28] and functional improvement (OR 1.21; 95% CI 1.13–1.30). Conclusion PwMS used post-acute rehabilitation services at SNFs for a median of ∼10 h/week. Those who used more rehabilitative services in the post-acute care setting were more likely to be successfully discharged to the community and experience functional improvement after adjustment for major confounders.
Complex Stent Reconstruction for the Treatment of Intracranial Aneurysms

The endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms has significantly evolved over the past two decades, demonstrating a rapidly improving level of safety and efficacy. In fact, coil embolization with or without device assistance has become the first-line treatment for aneurysms in many centers, especially for aneurysms with a favorable dome-to-neck ratio (>2). However, wide-necked aneurysms are harder to be treated by primary coiling and usually require balloon remodeling or stent reconstructions to adequately cover the aneurysm neck and to avoid coil protrusion and possible compromise of the parent vessel. Stent reconstructions should be individually considered based on cerebral vasculature, aneurysm characteristics, armamentarium available, and neurointerventionalist experience over other technical alternatives. The aim of this chapter is to describe technical nuances and clinical experience with complex stent reconstructions such as Y-stenting, X-stenting, waffle-cone technique, and T-stenting for the treatment of wide-necked aneurysms located at bifurcations. Also, a brief description regarding new technologies for this particular subset of aneurysms is included.
Comparative Efficacy and Generalization of Two Word-Reading Interventions with English Learners in Elementary School.

Longstanding gaps between the reading achievement of English learner (EL) students and native English speakers highlight the need for evidence-based reading interventions validated for EL students. This study compared the efficacy of two flashcard-based interventions, incremental rehearsal (IR) and strategic incremental rehearsal (SIR), for teaching EL students high-frequency words. Using an adapted alternating-treatments single-case design, 8 students were exposed to IR, SIR, and a control condition. Participants were Spanish-speaking students in the elementary grades. Short-term (next session) retention, generalized text reading, and long-term retention (1–4 weeks) of words were assessed. Findings indicated that both approaches improved word reading over the control condition; however, the extent to which IR and SIR differed in their efficacy varied across each outcome and participant. The most consistent finding was that students’ long-term retention of words taught with SIR was higher than words taught with IR. Results have implications for the implementation of SIR with EL students. Limitations and future directions for research are discussed.
High Speed Modeling for Grid Fins Using a DNN Approach

For flight dynamics modeling of a missile system to predict trajectories, very efficient aerodynamic models with at least conceptual design level fidelity are required because of the extreme diversity in flight conditions encountered. This paper presents a Deep Learning Neural Network (DNN) based approach for predicting 5 missile aerodynamic coefficients (dependent variables). This approach has been implemented for a diversity of grid fin equipped missile configurations. For this paper, no canards are incorporated in the training data sets. For this demonstration effort, a lower order physics model for the aerodynamics has been used to generate training and validation data. A single center body geometry has been considered in this analysis with a full range of grid fin semi spans, cell sizes, Mach numbers, incident angles, and angles of attack have been considered (a total of 8 predictor variables). In this investigation, techniques were developed for selecting an appropriately small subset of the data for training DNNs and using the larger remainder of the data for testing. Results presented in this work point the way toward modeling aerodynamics of grid fin equipped missile systems with high fidelity using a very limited set of high resolutions computational fluid dynamics solutions.
Tibiofemoral helical axis of motion during the full gait cycle measured using biplane radiography.

Abstract The helical axis of motion (HAM), which describes the simultaneous multiplanar translations and rotations that occur within a joint, has been proposed as a single measure to characterize dynamic joint function. The objective of this study was to determine the tibiofemoral HAM during 5 discrete phases of gait. Thirty-nine knees from 20 healthy adults were imaged using high-speed biplane radiography during treadmill walking. The primary outcome measures were the intersection of the HAM with the sagittal plane of the femur, and the direction of the HAM. The intersection point translated an average of 12.7 ± 5.5% of femur condyle depth in the anterior-posterior direction and 28.6 ± 13.3% of femur condyle height in the proximal-distal direction during gait. The anterior/posterior and proximal/distal components of the HAM vector were greater during stance (5.6°±3.8° and 11.1°±5.0°, respectively) than during swing (2.0°±1.1° and 6.4°±3.8°, respectively) (p
Donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA) for detection of allograft rejection in pediatric kidney transplants.

In pediatric transplantation, acute rejection is a major contributor of graft failure. Current approaches include kidney biopsy in response to graft dysfunction and/or the emergence of donor-specific HLA antibodies (DSA). However, biopsy is associated with potential complications. Thus, there is a need for non-invasive diagnostics. Detection of donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA, AlloSure) > 1% is associated with rejection in adult kidney transplants. Here, we evaluate the utility of dd-cfDNA for identifying allograft rejection in pediatric patients. Between 10/2017 and 10/2019, 67 patients, who underwent initial testing with dd-cfDNA as part of routine monitoring or in response to clinical suspicion for rejection, were included. Biopsies were performed when dd-cfDNA > 1.0% or where clinical suspicion was high. Demographics, dd-cfDNA, antibody status, and biopsies were collected prospectively. Data were analyzed to determine predictive value of dd-cfDNA for identifying grafts at risk for rejection. 19 of 67 patients had dd-cfDNA testing as part of routine monitoring with a median dd-cfDNA score of 0.37 (IQR: 0.19-1.10). 48 of 67 patients who had clinical suspicion of rejection had median dd-cfDNA score of 0.47 (0.24-2.15). DSA-positive recipients had higher dd-cfDNA scores than those who were negative or had AT1R positivity alone (P = .003). There was no association between dd-cfDNA score and strength of DSA positivity. 7 of 48 recipients had a biopsy with a dd-cfDNA score 1% was diagnostic of rejection with sensitivity of 86% and specificity of 100% (AUC: 0.996, 0.98-1.00; P = .002). dd-cfDNA represents a non-invasive method for early detection of rejection in pediatric renal transplants. Our study shows dd-cfDNA to be highly predictive of histological rejection and superior to other indicators such as graft dysfunction or antibody positivity alone. Further studies are necessary to refine these initial observations.
“We are children of God”: White Christian teachers discussing race

Abstract We seek to begin to develop understanding of how White racial discourses and Christian discourses intersect, buffet, and shape one another. In this study, we analyzed White Christian prospective and practicing mathematics teachers’ discourses. We found that participants used derivations of the phrase “we are children of God” in contexts in which they were asked about the intersection of their religious beliefs and their perspectives on race. We drew on Bakhtinian ideas to make sense of how these prospective and practicing teachers were using this phrase and found that the use of this phrase is complicated but is likely perpetuating a colorblind discourse. We describe some implications for teacher educators.
Comprehensive Management of the Lower Extremity in the Homeless Patient

Lower extremity pathology in the general population can pose unique healthcare- and patient-related challenges which are compounded with homelessness. The dire consequences that are faced with delayed diagnosis, severity of pathology on presentation, and the endless barriers present to address lower extremity issues intensify the need for more comprehensive approaches to a multifaceted problem. This chapter aims to identify a few of the most troubling issues that homeless patients and care providers are likely to face. Although its aim is not to provide a detailed management plan, it does define the overall need for particular attention when these problems are identified in this population.
Due Process Versus Data Processing: An Analysis of Computerized Criminal History Information Systems

This article, based on a comprehensive empirical study of New York's computerized criminal history information system and on national surveys of similar systems, concludes that current regulations governing the dispersion of criminal history information are grossly inadequate. Although information drawn from computerized criminal history files is often inaccurate, incomplete, ambiguous or inappropriate, criminal justice officials and judges routinely use such information in making decisions affecting defendants' liberty. This practice is unconstitutional, and the article suggests ways to regulate criminal history information systems that would protect a defendant's right not to be deprived of liberty without due process of law.
Fat water decomposition using globally optimal surface estimation (GOOSE) algorithm.

Purpose This article focuses on developing a novel noniterative fat water decomposition algorithm more robust to fat water swaps and related ambiguities. Methods Field map estimation is reformulated as a constrained surface estimation problem to exploit the spatial smoothness of the field, thus minimizing the ambiguities in the recovery. Specifically, the differences in the field map-induced frequency shift between adjacent voxels are constrained to be in a finite range. The discretization of the above problem yields a graph optimization scheme, where each node of the graph is only connected with few other nodes. Thanks to the low graph connectivity, the problem is solved efficiently using a noniterative graph cut algorithm. The global minimum of the constrained optimization problem is guaranteed. The performance of the algorithm is compared with that of state-of-the-art schemes. Quantitative comparisons are also made against reference data. Results The proposed algorithm is observed to yield more robust fat water estimates with fewer fat water swaps and better quantitative results than other state-of-the-art algorithms in a range of challenging applications. Conclusion The proposed algorithm is capable of considerably reducing the swaps in challenging fat water decomposition problems. The experiments demonstrate the benefit of using explicit smoothness constraints in field map estimation and solving the problem using a globally convergent graph-cut optimization algorithm. Magn Reson Med 73:1289–1299, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Deceleration in the Earth's oblateness

[1] For over three decades, satellite laser ranging (SLR) has recorded the global nature of the long-wavelength mass change within the Earth system. Analysis of the most recent time series of 30 day SLR-based estimates of Earth's dynamical oblateness, characterized by the gravitational degree-2 zonal spherical harmonic J2, indicates that the long-term variation of J2 appears to be more quadratic than linear in nature. The superposition of a quadratic and an 18.6 year variation leads to the “unknown decadal variation” reported by Cheng and Tapley (2004). Although the primary trend is expected to be linear due to global isostatic adjustment, there is an evident deceleration (J¨2=18±1×10−13/yr2) in the rate of the decrease in J2 during the last few decades, likely due to changes in the rate of the global mass redistribution from melting of the glaciers and ice sheets as well as mass changes in the atmosphere and ocean.
Introduction to VLSI Silicon Devices: Physics, Technology and Characterization

1. Resistances and Their Measurements.- 1.0 Introduction.- 1.1 Resistance.- 1.2 Resistivity.- 1.3 Current Density.- 1.4 Electric Field, Mobility, Conductivity and Resistivity.- 1.5 Carrier Concentrations.- 1.6 Sheet Resistance and Techniques for its Evaluation.- 1.7 Line Width and Mask Alignments.- 1.8 The Spreading Resistance Technique.- Summary of Important Equations.- References.- 2. PN Junctions.- 2.0 Introduction.- 2.1 Description of PN Junction.- 2.2 Fabrication of A PN Junction.- 2.3 Characteristics of the PN Junction at Thermal Equilibrium.- 2.4 Forward Biased PN Junction.- 2.5 Reverse Biased PN Junction.- Summary of Important Equations.- References.- 3. The Bipolar Transistor.- 3.0 Introduction.- 3.1 Transistor Action.- 3.2 A Typical Bipolar Process Sequence.- 3.3 Injection Parameters, Wide Base Region.- 3.4 Injection Parameters, Narrow Base Region.- 3.5 The Schottky Barrier Diode.- 3.6 Maximum Transistor Voltage Limitations.- 3.7 High-Current Transistor Characteristics.- 3.8 High-Frequency and Switching Behavior.- Summary of Important Equations.- References.- 4. The MIS CV Technique.- 4.0 Introduction.- 4.1 The Insulator Capacitance.- 4.2 The Ideal MOS System.- 4.3 Description and Analysis of an Ideal Cv-Curve.- 4.4 The Real MIS Structure.- 4.5 Methods to Evaluate CV-Plots.- Summary of Important Equations.- References.- 5. Surface Effects on PN Junctions.- 5.0 Introduction.- 5.1 Ideal Structure without Applied Bias.- 5.2 Ideal Structure with Applied Bias on the Gate.- 5.3 Effect of Insulator Charge and Work-Function Difference.- 5.4 Body-Effect or Substrate Bias Sensitivity.- 5.5 Reverse Current.- 5.6 Effect of Gate Bias on the Junction Breakdown Voltage.- 5.7 Injection of Hot Carriers into the Insulator.- 5.8 Surface Effects on the Junction Forward Characteristics.- Summary of Important Equations.- References.- 6. Insulated-Gate-Field-Effect-Transistor (IGFET).- 6.0 Introduction.- 6.1 Principle of Operation.- 6.2 Fabrication Techniques.- 6.3 Current-Voltage Characteristics, Long and Wide Channel, Uniform Substrate.- 6.4 Non-Uniform Substrate Profile.- 6.5 Second-Order Effects, Device Limits and Design Considerations.- 6.6 Types of IGFETs and Applications.- 6.7 CMOS.- Summary of Important Equations.- References.- Universal Physical Constants.- Conversion Factors.- The Greek Alphabet.
Global Multi-Resolution Topography synthesis

[1] Seafloor bathymetric data acquired with modern swath echo sounders provide coverage for only a small fraction of the global seabed yet are of high value for studies of the dynamic processes of seafloor volcanism, tectonics, mass wasting, and sediment transport that create and shape the undersea landscape. A new method for compilation of global seafloor bathymetry that preserves the native resolution of swath sonars is presented. The Global Multi-Resolution Topography synthesis consists of a hierarchy of tiles with digital elevations and shaded relief imagery spanning nine magnification doublings from pole to pole (http://www.marine-geo.org/portals/gmrt). The compilation is updated and accessible as surveys are contributed, edited, and added to the tiles. Access to the bathymetry tiles is via Web services and with WMS-enabled client applications such as GeoMapApp®, Virtual Ocean, NASA World Wind®, and Google Earth®.
Preventive Genomic Sequencing and Care of the Individual Patient.

We don't know how the knowledge revealed by preventive genomic sequencing will impact the acute bedside care of the individual patient.There are many potential benefits to implementing preventive g...
The α1A-adrenergic receptor subtype mediates increased contraction of failing right ventricular myocardium

For failing right ventricle (RV) myocardium, α1-adrenergic receptor (α1-AR) inotropic responses were increased. Of the two predominant cardiac α1-AR subtypes (α1A and α1B), increased α1-AR inotropy...
Why Students Choose the Branch Campus of a Large University

Fonseca and Bird (2007) ask an intriguing question that relates to university branch campuses: “What happened to all the people who thought online learning would drive traditional education out of ...
Modeling Random Gyro Drift Rate by Data Dependent Systems

A new modeling procedure is presented in which a mathematical model for random gyro drift rate is obtained directly from the original observations without requiring any theoretical conjectures or preprocessing of the data. The adequate model so obtained confirms the presence of a random walk component causing the "steady state" drift and a stochastic component of the nature of correlated noise. It also provides a quantitative measure of the relative contribution of each component, useful in determining the quality of the gyro in guidance over extended periods.
THE CONSEQUENCES OF HEPARIN USE IN PRIMARY PERCUTANEOUS CORONARY INTERVENTION: INSIGHTS FROM THE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF MICHIGAN CARDIOVASCULAR CONSORTIUM (BMC2)

Heparin is commonly used as the sole procedural anticoagulant in patients undergoing primary PCI (PPCI). Use of Bivalirudin compared with platelet glycoprotein IIbIIIa inhibitors (GPI) has been associated with improved survival in this cohort. There are no data on the comparative effectiveness of
A synchrotron radiation study of phase separation in AlZn alloys—II. Scaling

Abstract The time dependent structure function for three concentrations of AlZn binaries was measured using small angle X-ray scattering. The quench positions for each sample correspond to volume fractions of Zn rich phase equal to 0.09, 0.12 and 0.44. The structure function at late aging times was found to obey the Binder-Stauffer-Furukawa scaling transformation in all cases. In addition, a phenomenological model is presented for the scaled structure function in binary systems. The model is based on a description of the radial electron density as measured from the center of a minority phase droplet and requires only one input parameter, namely the volume fraction of droplets. The model shows good agreement with the experimentally measured scaled structure functions.