cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multivariate Polynomial Fundamentals for Multidimensional Systems

The subject of multidimensional systems is concerned with a mathematical framework for tackling a broad range of paradigms whose analysis or synthesis require the use of functions and polynomials in several complex variables. Its applications, which may range from the processing of spatial and temporal signals of diverse physical origin to the design of linear discrete multidimensional control systems, are already plentiful. The areas of image processing, linear multipass processes, iterative learning control systems, lumped-distributed network synthesis, nonlinear system analysis via multidimensional transforms and geophysical signal processing have benefited from the tools available in the theory of multidimensional systems [2, 6]. Progress towards the use of the theory in problems of very recent origin like multidimensional convolutional coding for communications has been increasing at a rate which is becoming increasingly difficult to track because of the wildly scattered nature of the voluminous publications by researchers from several disciplines, who are contributing to this area. This book aims to promote interaction between a broad spectrum of scientists and engineers so that not only are theoretical results developed to their fullest possible extent but also clear exposition and interpretation are provided for these results to become useful to practitioners in distinct but related disciplines. The presentation is intended to be concise but complete.
A Generative Approach to Chinese Shanshui Painting

The Shan Shui in the World project recreated Manhattan, New York, in the style of traditional Chinese shanshui paintings by using a generative algorithm to transform its buildings into mountains. This project revisits the ideas implicit in Chinese literati paintings of shan shui: the relationship between urban life and people's yearning for nature and between social responsibility and spiritual purity. Shan Shui in the World was made possible by the growing ubiquitousness of data and the development of data visualization techniques, especially generative art.
Biomechanical properties of crystalline lens as a function of intraocular pressure assessed noninvasively by optical coherence elastography

Many ocular diseases such as glaucoma and uveitis can lead to the elevation of intraocular pressure (IOP). Previous research implies a link between elevated IOP and lens disease. However, the relationship between IOP elevation and biomechanical properties of the crystalline lens has not been directly studied yet. In this work, we investigated the biomechanical properties of porcine lens as a function of IOP by acoustic radiation force optical coherence elastography.
HPV vaccines – A review of the first decade

Pre-adolescent girls (9-15years) have the option of receiving a two dose HPV vaccine series at either a six month or one year interval to provide protection from HPV 16, the most prevalent type associated with cervical cancers, as well as several other less prevalent types. This series of vaccinations is highly likely to protect her from HPV infection until she enters the routine screening program, whether that be primary HPV testing or a combination of HPV testing and cytology. The two dose program has been recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) since 2015. For women 15years and older, the three dose vaccine schedule is still recommended. The past ten years of Gardasil use has provided evidence of reduced HPV 16/18 infections in countries where there has been high coverage. Gardasil9 has replaced Gardasil. Gardasil9 has the same rapid anti-HPV 18 and HPV45 titer loss as Gardasil did. Cervarix remains equivalent to Gardasil9 in the prevention of HPV infections and precancers of any HPV type; Cervarix also has demonstrated sustained high antibody titers for at least 10years. One dose of Cervarix provides protection against HPV 16/18 infection with robust antibody titers well above natural infection titers. This may offer the easiest and most cost effective vaccination program over time, especially in low and lower middle income countries. Cervical cancer screening must continue to control cancer incidence over the upcoming decades. Future studies of prophylactic HPV vaccines, as defined by the WHO, must demonstrate protection against six month type specific persistent infections, not actual cervical cancer precursor disease endpoints, such as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 (CIN 3) or adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS). This simplifies and makes less expensive future comparative studies between existing and new generic vaccines.
Atomic In-place Updates for Non-volatile Main Memories with Kamino-Tx

Data structures for non-volatile memories have to be designed such that they can be atomically modified using transactions. Existing atomicity methods require data to be copied in the critical path which significantly increases the latency of transactions. These overheads are further amplified for transactions on byte-addressable persistent memories where often the byte ranges modified for data structure updates are significantly smaller compared to the granularity at which data can be efficiently copied and logged. We propose Kamino-Tx that provides a new way to perform transactional updates on non-volatile byte-addressable memories (NVM) without requiring any copying of data in the critical path. Kamino-Tx maintains an additional copy of data off the critical path to achieve atomicity. But in doing so Kamino-Tx has to overcome two important challenges of safety and minimizing NVM storage overhead. We propose a more dynamic approach to maintaining the additional copy of data to reduce storage overheads. To further mitigate the storage overhead of using Kamino-Tx in a replicated setting, we develop Kamino-Tx-Chain, a variant of Chain Replication where replicas perform in-place updates and do not maintain data copies locally; replicas in Kamino-Tx-Chain leverage other replicas as copies to roll back or forward for atomicity. Our results show that using Kamino-Tx increases throughput by up to 9.5x for unreplicated systems and up to 2.2x for replicated settings.
Abstract NS2: Factors That Affect Health Promotion Behaviors in Urban Black Women

Problem: Black women have been shown to experience higher rates of morbidity and mortality as a result of stroke, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes and overweight and obesity than women of other races/ethnicities. Creating an understanding of the various factors that impact individual health promotion behaviors to reduce risk, such as health literacy, self-efficacy and readiness to change will support effective interventions to reduce health care disparities in this vulnerable population. Method: 132 urban Black women in Midtown Manhattan in the service region of an academic medical center with a diverse population was chosen for this descriptive correlative study. Participants completed a questionnaire containing a demographic profile and survey instruments measuring health literacy, self-efficacy and readiness for change, and a detailed report of current health promotion behaviors. Results: Black urban women between 30 - 64 y (M = 45, SD = 9.72) participated. 72.6% completed high school, 25% had achieved a college degree. Pearson correlation showed positive correlation at the 0.01 level (2-tailed) between health literacy (r2 = .25), self-efficacy (r2 = .31) and readiness for change (r2 = .44) to health promotion behaviors. Self-efficacy was positively related to participation church organizations (r2 = .31) and a high body mass index (BMI) (F=25, p Conclusion: Future research interventions geared to reduce health care disparities in Black women may be more effective in reducing modifiable conditions if performed in collaboration with community church organizations rather than from a health care provider alone.
Evidence for a scale invariant relationship between the incumbency advantage and the nationalization of US House elections 1866–2014:

In a recent article, Jacobson examines the rise and fall of the incumbency advantage from 1952 to 2014. He shows that the incumbency advantage over this period rose as elections became more localiz...
Chapter 33: Comments to session on electrophysiological aspects of cholinergic mechanisms

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the postsynaptic cholinergic response, and the demonstration and characterization of this response constituted an important component of the proof of the cholinergic transmission. The important concept of interaction between and the modulation of the postsynaptic responses were also formulated prior to the Skokloster Symposium. Thus, Eccles discovered the interaction between the E and I responses at a single postsynaptic membrane and Thesleff and Karczmar demonstrated the phenomena of desensitization and sensitization, respectively; these phenomena are instances of modulation; more is stated about the interaction and modulation in these comments. Notwithstanding a few refinements, at the time of the first Symposium in Skokloster, the cholinergic transmission was envisaged as a one-to-one relay system, involving ACh, its two receptors and the electrical response, with no need for additional intermediaries. This picture has dramatically changed in the course of the past seven Symposia.
Titanium diboride–silicon carbide–boron carbide ceramics with super‐high hardness and strength

Triplex particulate composites composed of boride and carbide ceramics were found to have high strength, hardness, and fracture toughness values. Two compositions consisting of 70:15:15 and 1:1:1 volume ratios of TiB2, SiC, and B4C were produced from commercially available powders by hot-pressing. The 70:15:15 ceramic exhibited a strength of ~1.3 GPa, while the 1:1:1 ceramic had a strength of ~0.9 GPa. These strengths are comparable to super-strong Y2O3-PSZ and β-SiAlON based composites. The Vickers’ hardness values of these ceramics were ~32 GPa for indent loads of 9.8 N. Hardness increased as indentation load decreased. The 1:1:1 ceramic had a hardness of ~53 GPa at an indentation load of 0.49 N, higher than values reported for so-called “super-hard” ceramics, and comparable to c-BN. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Building damage assessment using airborne lidar

The assessment of building damage following a natural disaster is a crucial step in determining the impact of the event itself and gauging reconstruction needs. Automatic methods for deriving damage maps from remotely sensed data are preferred, since they are regarded as being rapid and objective. We propose an algorithm for performing unsupervised building segmentation and damage assessment using airborne light detection and ranging (lidar) data. Local surface properties, including normal vectors and curvature, were used along with region growing to segment individual buildings in lidar point clouds. Damaged building candidates were identified based on rooftop inclination angle, and then damage was assessed using planarity and point height metrics. Validation of the building segmentation and damage assessment techniques were performed using airborne lidar data collected after the Haiti earthquake of 2010. Building segmentation and damage assessment accuracies of 93.8% and 78.9%, respectively, were obtained using lidar point clouds and expert damage assessments of 1953 buildings in heavily damaged regions. We believe this research presents an indication of the utility of airborne lidar remote sensing for increasing the efficiency and speed at which emergency response operations are performed.
Whole brain reconstruction from multilayered sections of a mouse model of status epilepticus

This research concerns confocal fluorescence microscopy imaging of the whole brain of C57BL/6 mice with single-cell resolution. These brains are too large for specimen holders in available 3D microscopes, so this research develops a set of volume reconstruction methods to reproduce a whole brain from multilayered, thin sections of the brain imaged using a confocal microscope. As the sections are in solution during imaging, their shapes warp differently, and their structures no longer align. The proposed two-stage reconstruction procedure consists of single-section correction and section-to-section alignment, towards producing a whole brain volume. In the first stage, the proposed method carefully unwarps the distorted shapes of each section. The second stage aligns prominent features between the layers of neighboring sections. This paper also newly considers how these stages influence each other in the broader context of whole brain volume reconstruction. Experimental results portraying each stage with real image data suggest that the proposed approach can produce consistent 3D volumes and largely correct the observed distortions.
Abstract 18037: Cardiac Myosin Binding Protein-C Phosphorylation Decreases the Super-Relaxed State of Myosin

Introduction: Cardiac myosin exists in three populations: the active, the disordered relaxed (DRX) and the super-relaxed (SRX) states. The latter represents an economical reserve that is not immedi...
Relegated to chronic poverty: financial difficulties faced by people with mental illness in the United States

This article is about the financial difficulties faced by people living in the United States who are poor and have mental illness, and a pilot programme seeking to help them. Millions of people in the United States cannot afford to meet their basic needs, and levels of unsustainable debt are high, given low incomes and a relatively high cost of living. People with mental illness are disproportionately represented among this group, even those who receive financial assistance from the government. The pilot project focused on helping people understand and make the best use of financial services, and worked with local banks and the government to try to improve locally available financial services. The United States has a great deal to learn from the experience of global microfinance. In addition, the benefits system must be reformed to increase people’s incomes, and reduce disincentives to saving and finding employment.
Securing Pride: Sexuality, Security and the Post-Apartheid State

This paper explores the contestation that emerges between state security providers and communities in hybrid security situations. Rather than focusing on the failures of the state, the article explores how communities use contested (in)securities to create forms of security for themselves. The article argues for Soweto Pride as an example of vernacular security for black LGBT+ populations in Johannesburg. Ultimately, what is enivisioned is an expansive concept of security that considers cultural practices, space making, and communal formations as central to its formation.
Spatiotemporal distribution of river water stable isotope compositions and variability of lapse rate in the central Rocky Mountains: Controlling factors and implications for paleoelevation reconstruction

Abstract Stable isotope-based paleoaltimetry is the most widely used approach for paleoelevation reconstruction. Interpretations of stable isotope data in continental interiors, however, are undermined by surface water isotope compositions that are influenced by multiple factors. Here we present a stable isotope dataset of modern river water samples collected over two summers and one spring from the central Rocky Mountains (Rockies) and the adjacent Great Plains. By examining the spatial and temporal variations of river water δ 18 O, δD and d-excess values, and their relationships with climatic and geographic parameters, as well as through back trajectory analysis of moisture sources, we elucidate the influences of elevation and climatic parameters on the spatiotemporal variation of river water isotopic values. In the Bighorn River drainage, a typical intermontane drainage in the central Rockies, the isotopic difference between highland and lowland rivers is small, which we attribute to highland precipitation that dominates lowland river discharge. In the North Platte River drainage across the central Rockies and Great Plains, the river water δ 18 O values show poor correlation with elevation west of 105°W (central Rockies), but increase as elevation decrease east of 105°W (in the western Great Plains). This eastward increase across the western Great Plains leads to an average oxygen isotope lapse rate of −2.3‰/km, which we interpret as being caused primarily by condensation temperature-controlled isotopic fractionation at various elevations, and secondarily by evaporation in the upper reaches of streams that contribute to the North Platte River plus direct contribution of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico in the Great Plains. In this continental interior setting, multiple moisture sources, including recycled continental moisture, contribute to surface water, and evaporation influences river water isotope values to various degrees depending on the relative humidity within an individual river catchment. These results suggest that paleoclimate and atmospheric circulation pattern must be carefully evaluated when applying stable isotope-based paleoaltimetry in continental interiors. Our findings have implications for paleoelevation reconstruction in the study area, including that 1) within the central Rockies, the isotopic difference of river water and unevaporated basinal precipitation can be used to infer paleorelief of the Laramide ranges with respect to the basin floors; 2) along a regional transect crossing the central Rockies and Great Plains, the modern isotope lapse rate of the North Platte River drainage can be used to constrain the paleorelief between the two regions in semi-arid climate.
Power, politics, and health spending priorities.

The setting of priorities for funding research is often powerfully influenced by disease-based advocacy groups, politicians' personal experiences with illnesses, and the perception of whether those with a particular disease are deserving.
Primate Social Organization, Ecology, and Genetic Variation

The remarkable similarity in the biology and the behavior between humankind and the rest of the primate order has long intrigued members of our own species. Yet, it was not until this century that scholarly and scientific attention began to center on the behavior and, more specifically, social structure in its broadest sense, of nonhuman primate societies. It is still not uncommon to see references in the literature to the early, classic work of Zuckerman (1932) on baboons, Yerkes (1943) and Nissen (1931) on the chimpanzee, or Carpenter (1934) on howler monkeys. Much has changed, however, since these early workers began describing the behavior and social relations of various primate groups.
Piecewise-Defined Difference Equations: Open Problem

We consider difference equations of the form $${x}_{n+1} = {f}_{n}({x}_{n},{x}_{n-1},\ldots,{x}_{n-k}),\ \ \ n = 0,1,\ldots,$$ where k ∈ { 0,b 1, …}, f n is piecewise defined and f n : D k + 1 → D, D ⊂ R, whose behavior of solutions is limited to that of being either eventually periodic or unbounded. There exist numerous examples of difference equations that are both piecewise defined and characterized by having every solution either eventually periodic or unbounded. We briefly describe four such cases. However, not all piecewise-defined difference equations have solutions with this behavior, and we point out some of these exceptions. We then present some properties that our sampling of eventually periodic or unbounded piecewise-defined difference equations have in common. We follow up with an open problem, asking for an explanation as to why certain piecewise-defined difference equations have eventually periodic or unbounded solutions, and others do not.
How an Islamic State Rejected Islamic Law

How do states transitioning to democracy, including newly independent states emerging from colonialism or war, decide on their legal systems? In particular, why would a fledgling Muslim-majority state choose to uphold the legal system of its European colonial master rather than publicly enact Islamic law? Drawing on archival and interview data I gathered in Sudan, this Article shows how English common law emerged from colonialism as a default option that helped local elites bridge deep social, ethnic, and political divides. Because democratic-minded intellectuals were unable to agree on a common implementation of Shari’a (roughly translated as Islamic law), English common law provided a less satisfying but (to them) more practical basis to form a new state. Choosing common law over Islamic law allowed intra-elite conflicts, particularly among political parties and ethnic groups, to lay dormant during the transition to independence. But it also marginalized progressive Islamic jurists who had sought to create a democratic state built on Islamic principles of justice and equality. By unearthing Sudan’s remarkable legal history, this study reveals the contested nature of common law and Shari’a within Muslim-majority states. This Article ultimately demonstrates how debates over the place of religion shape democratic development and how colonial politics creates legal discourses that survive into the independent state.
Thermally Persistent High-Spin Ground States in Octahedral Iron Clusters.

Chemical oxidation and reduction of the all-ferrous (HL)2Fe6 in THF affords isostructural, coordinatively unsaturated clusters of the type [(HL)2Fe6]n: [(HL)2Fe6][BArF24] (1, n = +1; where [BArF24]− = tetrakis[(3,5-trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate), [Bu4N][(HL)2Fe6] (2a, n = −1), [P][(HL)2Fe6] (2b, n = −1; where [P]+ = tributyl(1,3-dioxolan-2-ylmethyl)phosphonium), and [Bu4N]2[(HL)2Fe6] (3, n = −2). Each member of the redox-transfer series was characterized by zero-field 57Fe Mossbauer spectroscopy, near-infrared spectroscopy, single-crystal X-ray crystallography, and magnetometry. Redox-directed trends are observed when comparing the structural metrics within the [Fe6] core. The metal octahedron [Fe6] decreases marginally in volume as the molecular reduction state increases as gauged by the Fe–Feavg distance varying from 2.608(11) A (n = +1) to 2.573(3) (n = −2). In contrast, the mean Fe–N distances and ∠Fe–N–Fe angles correlate linearly with the [Fe6] oxidation level, or alternatively, the changes observed...
Two resistance nodulation division-family efflux pumps in Chromobacterium species and their role in antibiotic resistance and tolerance

ABSTRACT Very little is known of the antibiotic resistance mechanisms of members of the Chromobacterium genus. In previous studies of Chromobacterium subtsugae (formerly C. violaceum) strain CV017, we identified a resistance nodulation division (RND)-family efflux pump (CdeAB-OprM). Here, we show the cdeAB-oprM genes are widely distributed in members of the Chromobacterium genus. We use antimicrobial susceptibility testing with a CV017 cdeAB-oprM mutant to show the products of these genes confers resistance to a variety of antibiotics including ciprofloxacin, a clinically important antibiotic. We also identified a related RND-family pump, cseAB-oprN, in the genome of CV017 and other C. subtsugae species, that is not present in other members of the Chromobacterium genus. We demonstrate that CdeAB-OprM and CseAB-OprN are both transcriptionally induced in CV017 cells treated with sub-lethal antibiotic concentrations and they are important for induction of tolerance to different antibiotics. While CdeAB-OprM has a broad antibiotic specificity, the CseAB-OprN system is highly specific for a ribosome-targeting antibiotic produced by the saprophytic bacterium Burkholderia thailandensis, bactobolin. Finally, we use a previously developed B. thailandensis-C. subtsugae CV017 co-culture model to demonstrate that adding sub-lethal bactobolin at the beginning of co-culture growth increases the ability of CV017 to compete with B. thailandensis in a manner that is dependent on the CseAB-OprN system. Our results provide new information on the antibiotic resistance mechanisms of Chromobacterium species and highlight the importance of efflux pumps during competition with other bacterial species. IMPORTANCE This study describes two closely related efflux pumps in members of the Chromobacterium genus, which includes opportunistic but often-fatal pathogens and species with highly versatile metabolic capabilities. Efflux pumps remove antibiotics from the cell and are important for antibiotic resistance. One of these pumps is broadly distributed in the Chromobacterium genus and increases resistance to clinically relevant antibiotics. The other efflux pump is present only in Chromobacterium subtsugae and is highly specific for bactobolin, an antibiotic produced by the soil saprophyte Burkholderia thailandensis. We demonstrate these pumps can be activated to increase resistance by their antibiotic substrates, and that this activation is important for C. subtsugae to survive in a laboratory competition experiment with B. thailandensis. These results have implications for managing antibiotic-resistant Chromobacterium infections, bioengineering of Chromobacterium species, and for understanding the evolution of efflux pumps.
Conceptions of teaching in and through noise: a study of experimental musicians’ beliefs

ABSTRACTCritical analyses of experimental music and free improvisation have uncovered multiple educational benefits embedded within this broad collection of genres. However, by rooting this work pr...
Audio-Based Bayesian Model for Productivity Estimation of Cyclic Construction Activities

AbstractConstruction heavy machines often perform their routine tasks in the form of cyclic operations (e.g., cycles of digging, swinging, and dumping for a hydraulic excavator), and forecasting th...
An Evaluation of Fidelity of Implementation of a Manualized Social-Play Intervention

In this study, we evaluated three lessons from a manualized social play skills intervention, Play20. Play20 is a focused intervention that is designed to improve early social skill development in children with autism spectrum disorder through naturalistic play. First, we evaluated the procedural fidelity of instructor implementation of Play20, and we also evaluated the effects of an added instructor self-monitoring checklist in further improving instructor behavior. Finally, we evaluated the effects of Play20 on child play outcomes. Instructor procedural fidelity increased in the presence of the Play20 lessons, and further improved in the presence of the instructor self-monitoring checklist. Child outcomes moderately improved as well. Implications and future directions are discussed.
Time to Authorized Clearance from Sport-Related Concussion: The Influence of Healthcare Provider and Medical Facility.

Context Return-to-play following sport-related concussion(SRC) requires authorized clearance from a healthcare provider(HCP). Variability in HCPs and facilities where athletes seek care may influence return time. Objective Determine the initial examiner, HCPs that authorize clearance, and medical facilities authorizing clearance among high school student-athletes following SRC, and compare authorized clearance time by HCPs and medical facilities. Design Prospective Cohort Study. Setting High school. Patients or other participants Student-athletes(n=16,001) with SRC participating in STATE-XXX High School Athletic Association(XHSAA)-sponsored athletics. Main outcome measure(s) Frequencies of initial examiner and authorized clearance for each HCP(Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine(DO), Doctor of Medicine(MD), Nurse Practitioner(NP), Physician Assistant(PA)) and medical facility (Neurologist's Office, Team Physician, Primary Care Physician or Pediatrician's Office(PCP), Hospital, Urgent/Ready Care) for each SRC case. Kaplan-Meier curves and Peto tests evaluated differences in median time to authorized clearance between HCPs and facilities. Only cases with a follow-up authorized clearance date(80.3%, n=12,856) were included in authorized clearance and time to return analyses. Results An athletic trainer was at least one of the initial examiners for 71.3%(n=11,404) of cases; 80.2%(n=12,990) had only one initial examiner. There was an association between initial examiner and medical facility providing clearance for athletic director(χ2=52.6, p≤.001, V=.06), athletic trainer(χ2=172.0, p≤.001, V=.12), coach(χ2=161.5, p≤.001, V=.11), DO(χ2=59.4, p≤.001, V= 07), and NP(χ2=10.0, p .03, V=.12). The majority(n=8,218, 63.9%) received clearance by an MD; 70.8%(n=9,099) were cleared at a PCP. Median time to authorized clearance varied by facility(Urgent/Ready Care: 7 days[4,11], Hospital: 9 days[6,14], PCP: 10 days[6,14], Team Physician: 12 days[8,16], Neurologist Office: 13 days[9,20]; p ≤ .001). Conclusions Clearance was frequently provided by an MD and at a PCP. Median time to return to unrestricted participation following SRC varied by HCP and medical facility. Future research should elucidate why differences exist and determine why athletes seek care at different medical facilities.
The legal and empirical case for firearm purchaser licensing

This article argues that state government actors concerned about gun violence prevention should prioritize enactment of robust firearm purchaser regimes at the state level. First, the article outlines the empirical evidence base for purchaser licensing. Then, the article describes how state governments can design this policy. Next, the article assesses the likelihood that purchaser licensing legislation will continue to be upheld by federal courts. Finally, the article addresses the implications of this policy, aimed at curbing gun deaths, for equally important racial justice priorities. Taken together, these various considerations indicate that purchaser licensing policies are among the most effective firearm-focused laws state governments can enact to reduce gun deaths within the existing federal legislative and legal frameworks.
A faster diameter problem algorithm for a chordal graph, with a connection to its center problem

Abstract Let G be a non-trivial simple graph with vertices V ( G ) = V and edges E ( G ) = E , and let n = | V | , m = | E | . Computing the diameter of G and the min–max center of G ( C ( G ) ) are both quadratic-time ( O ( m 2 ) ). A problem is strongly subquadratic-time if it is O ( m 2 − ϵ ) for some ϵ > 0 . If either the diameter problem or the center problem is strongly subquadratic-time, then the Strong Exponential Time Hypothesis would be violated. The same is true even for chordal graphs (graphs having no induced n -cycle for n ≥ 4 ). This paper presents an algorithm that is faster than existing algorithms for the diameter problem for all chordal graphs. With α ( C ( G ) ) the size of a largest independent vertex subset of C ( G ) , it is proven here that the diameter problem for chordal graphs is O ( α ( C ( G ) ) m ) -time. The algorithm does not require knowledge of C ( G ) ; nevertheless, it relates the diameter problem to the structure of C ( G ) . Large-radius chordal graphs G are likely to have small α ( C ( G ) ) | E ( G ) | , which suggests the existence of interesting classes of large-radius chordal graphs having strongly subquadratic-time diameter problems.
Antibody response to a single dose of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine in patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases.

The immune response to SARS-CoV-2 messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines in patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMD) is undefined because these individuals were largely excluded from phase I–III studies. To better understand the immune response to vaccination in this patient population, we studied the antibody response in patients with RMD who completed the first dose of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination. Participants with RMD across the USA were recruited to participate in this prospective cohort via social media. Those with prior SARS-CoV-2 were excluded. We collected demographics, RMD diagnoses and immunomodulatory regimens and tested for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies at baseline and prior to the second vaccine dose. Antibody testing was conducted on the semiquantitative Roche Elecsys anti-SARS-CoV-2 S enzyme immunoassay (EIA) which tests for antibodies against the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.1 We evaluated the association between demographic/clinical characteristics and positive antibody response using Fisher’s exact test and Wilcoxon rank-sum test. We studied 123 participants who received their first SARS-CoV-2 vaccination dose between 8 January 2021 and 12 February 2021; 52% underwent BNT162b2, and 48% underwent mRNA-1273 (table 1). The most common reported RMD diagnoses were inflammatory arthritis (28%), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (20%), Sjogren’s syndrome (13%) and overlap connective tissue diseases(29%). Whereas …
Sensor-based image manipulation localization with Discriminative Random fields and Graph Cut

Abstract We present PRNU-based image manipulation localization as a probabilistic labeling task in a flexible discriminative random field (DRF) setup. Instead of reaching local decisions independent of each other, discriminative random fields incorporate local inter-label dependencies while keeping the formulation general enough to make label assignments depend on both local and non-local image characteristics. With an improved form of association potential combining normalized correlation and the deviation of the measured correlation from the expected correlation and an interaction potential defined as the weighted L2 norm squared between intensities of neighboring pixels, we were able to localize even considerably small manipulations on realistic tampered images. We experimented with different combinations of window sizes to capture features to predict the correlation more accurately than already existing algorithms. Experimental results indicate that our algorithm outperforms recent state of the art methods based on multiscale analysis strategies. We also found that for inspecting manipulated images which are JPEG compressed, it helps to train the predictor with JPEG images rather than with uncompressed images and for all quality factors, it is possible to work with two predictors, one trained for images with lower quality factors and another for higher quality factors.
Effects of nozzle inlet size and curvature on the flow development in a bidirectional vortex chamber

A finite-volume solver is used to describe the cyclonic motion in a cylindrical vortex chamber comprising eight tangential injectors and a variable nozzle size. The simulations are performed under steady, incompressible, and inviscid flow conditions with air as the working fluid. First, we apply a fine tetrahedral mesh to minimize cell skewness, particularly near injectors. Second, this mesh is converted into a polyhedral grid to improve convergence characteristics and precision. After achieving convergence, the velocity components are evaluated and compared to existing analytical solutions. We find that well-resolved numerical simulations can accurately predict the expected forced vortex behavior in the core region as well as the free vortex tail in the outer region. We also confirm that the swirl velocity remains axially invariant irrespective of the outlet radius. Similarly, we are able to ascertain that the axial and radial velocities embody the bidirectional nature of the motion. As for the computed pressure distribution, it is found to agree quite well with both theoretical formulations and experimental measurements of cyclone separators. Then using a parametric trade study, the effect of nozzle variations on the internal flow character, mantle structure, and recirculation zones is systematically investigated. Apart from the exit diameter, we find that the nozzle length and inlet curvature can substantially affect the internal flow development including the formation of backflow regions, recirculation zones, and mantle excursions. Finally, an empirical relation is constructed for the nozzle radius of curvature and shown to effectively suppress the emergence of recirculation and backflow regions.
The ground for the illiberal turn in the Philippines

We know a lot about the new wave of autocrats and how they operate but much less about why so many people, particularly in the developing world, are cheering them on. Case-in-point: How do we make ...
Evidence for Blood Vessels and Physiological Heat Exchange in the Heads of Dinosaurs

Extant diapsids share broad vascular patterns with known roles in thermoregulation, but different clades emphasize different sites of thermal exchange (oral, nasal, and orbital regions). We tested ...
Pictorial Illustrations Still Improve Students' Learning From Text

Research conducted primarily during the 1970s and 1980s supported the assertion that carefully constructed text illustrations generally enhance learners' performance on a variety of text-dependent cognitive outcomes. Research conducted throughout the 1990s still strongly supports that assertion. The more recent research has extended pictures-in-text conclusions to alternative media and technological formats and has begun to explore more systematically the “whys,” “whens,” and “for whoms” of picture facilitation, in addition to the “whethers” and “how muchs.” Consideration is given here to both more and less conventional types of textbook illustration, with several “tenets for teachers” provided in relation to each type.
Key Factors Influencing Health Disparities among African Americans

Despite significant progress in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic diseases, African Americans continue to exhibit disproportionately higher rates of hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and stroke when compared to other racial and ethnic groups in the United States (Adler and Newman 2002). A significant body of literature suggests that racism and or discrimination may be a contributing factor in the misdiagnosis, late diagnosis, as well as, the scope and veracity of treatment once African Americans are diagnosed with a chronic illness or disease (Peterson, Wright, Daley and Thibault, 1994). Additionally, African Americans have a higher mortality rate than white Americans when diagnosed with chronic illnesses and diseases which are curable or at least treatable (Hayward, Crimmins, Miles and Yu, 2000). This paper examines key factors which may impact disparities in mortality rates observed between African Americans and other racial and ethnic groups in the United States.
A rich semantic model of track as a foundation for sharing beliefs regarding dynamic objects and events

Many defense, homeland security, and commercial security objectives require continuous tracking of mobile entities such as aircraft. The systems that perform these functions produce information products called tracks. A track associates observations with the mobile entity and typically includes position, velocity, and other similar attributes. Military systems have sophisticated tracking and track fusion processes, but lack uniformity in syntactic and semantic content, preventing effective sharing of the information. In other domains of interest, such as seagoing surface ships, dangerous cargo and persons of interest, tracking systems are less mature and have marginal performance. It is now essential that we be able to share information across different tracking systems working in related domains. To combine information from different sources, we need a flexible framework that can tolerate and exploit data products from those systems, even though these systems employ different representations and embody different assumptions. The most basic assumptions concern what the information is intended to mean semantics and how it is intended to be used by a recipient pragmatics. In accordance with best practices in the technology areas of the semantic web and knowledge representation, we seek to reduce the barriers to efficient sharing of information. Our approach is to identify a rich semantic model of tracks that can support multiple important functions: 1 represent a wide variety of meanings and support a broad array of pragmatic goals; 2 reduce the time and cost required to implement capabilities to reason about a new, specialized type of track; 3 simplify the understanding and importation of external sources of track information; 4 help operators describe what attributes of tracks they value in performing their tasks; 5 significantly improve our ability to combine multiple sources of track information; 6 provide a stable and evolvable base for key standards and best practices that support information sharing; and 7 improve bandwidth utilization, raising the proportion of communicated information that recipients consider significant, by delivering valued information at the right time VIRT. This paper describes the proposed rich semantic track model and ongoing efforts to share it widely with appropriate communities of interest.
Ángel Palerm: reflexiones sobre el impacto de su trabajo de campo y docencia

, en el aeropuerto de Nueva Orleans, cuando estaba por salir de la ciudad. Fue un enorme placer encontrar-lo. Como estudiante de George Foster —quien fun-gio como director del Instituto de Antropologia Social en Washington, D. C., antes de ser profesor de antropologia en la Universidad de California en Berkeley—, estaba al tanto del trabajo que Palerm habia desarrollado al lado de Isabel Kelly entre los totonacos del Tajin en las decadas de 1940 y 1950 (Kelly y Palerm, 1952). Nuestra breve platica sirvio para que el se enterara de mi proyecto de trabajo de campo entre los migrantes de Tzintzuntzan en la ciudad de Mexico, asi como de mis mas amplios in-tereses en los temas de urbanizacion y migracion. Se percato de inmediato de que pasaba la mayor parte de mi tiempo en el Distrito Federal y antes de abordar el avion me invito a impartir un seminario de antro-pologia urbana en la Universidad Iberoamericana (Ibero) en el semestre de primavera de 1970 que se avecinaba.
Determining the source characteristics of explosions near the Earth's surface

We present a method to determine source characteristics of explosions near the Earth's surface. The technique accounts for the reduction in amplitudes as the explosion depth approaches the free surface and less energy is coupled into the ground. We apply the method to the Humming Roadrunner series of shallow explosions in New Mexico where the yields and depths are known. Knowledge of the material properties is needed for both source coupling/excitation and the free surface effect. Although there is the expected trade-off between depth and yield, the estimated yields are close to the known values when the depth is constrained to the free surface. We then apply the method to a regionally recorded explosion in Syria. We estimate an explosive yield less than the 60 t claimed by sources in the open press. The modifications to the method allow us to apply the technique to new classes of events.
Transposable Elements in Mendelian Populations. II. Distribution of Three COPIA-like Elements in a Natural Population of DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER.

ABSTRACT Twenty X chromosomes isolated from a natural population of Drosophila melanogaster were surveyed using in situ hybridization to determine the number and cytogenetic location of three families of transposable elements: copia, 412 and 297 . We found no sites of insertions in high frequency; in fact, frequencies of specific sites for all three elements were so low that each insertion could be interpreted as being unique. This suggests that rates of transposition and deletion for these elements are very high. Our data also show a higher than expected rate of the co-occurrence of different elements at the same site on the same chromosome.
Infants' long-term memory for a serial list: recognition and reactivation.

Serial lists contain information about item identity and item order. Using a task designed for nonverbal animals, we previously found that 3- and 6-month-olds exhibited a primacy effect after 24 hr, remembering both item identity and item order. Presently, we examined their memory of list information after longer delays. In Experiment 1, the serial-position curve reverted to a U-shape after 1 week at both ages, revealing that the common practice of attributing primacy and recency effects to long- and short-term memory, respectively, is flawed. In Experiment 2, a precuing procedure confirmed that 6-month-olds' memory still contained order information after 1 week, but 3-month-olds' reactivated memory contained none. Experiments 3A and 3B confirmed that increasing the complexity of information that was learned shortened the delay after which it could be retrieved. Testing infants after delays longer than have previously been used with animals or human adults sheds new light on an old phenomenon.
Therapy of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis with cyclosporine A

Six patients with biopsy-documented focal segmental glomerulosclerosis were treated with cyclosporine A (CyA) a new and potent T-cell suppressant. Dosage was adjusted to maintain trough levels between 100 and 300 ng/ml (whole blood radioimmunoassay). Patients were treated for 6 weeks or until unacceptable drug toxicity occurred. In one patient proteinuria was significantly reduced. This same individual was the only patient treated within 6 months of diagnosis. Therapy was discontinued in two patients at week 4, one because of worsening renal failure and one because of hypertension. These complications occurred despite trough CyA blood levels of less than 300 ng/ml. The results suggest that further and controlled studies of CyA are warranted in the therapy of nephrotic syndrome associated with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, especially when used early in the course of disease. The data also suggest enhanced toxicity of CyA in patients with active nephrotic syndrome.
Loneliness and Suicidal Ideation in Drug‐Using College Students

The college years are marked by social changes and behavioral experimentation which may increase risk of suicidal ideation. We propose a novel pathway for the development of suicidal thoughts between two established suicide risk factors, loneliness and drug use, which have not been examined in a nonclinical sample. Data were collected from 207 undergraduate drug-using students at a large southeastern university. As hypothesized, suicidal ideation was positively correlated with both loneliness (r = .40) and drug use (r = .29). After controlling for several demographic variables, social desirability, and anxiety sensitivity, drug use was tested as a potential mediator in the loneliness-suicidal ideation link using a single-mediator model. Results indicated a significant indirect (mediated) effect of loneliness on suicidal ideation via drug use (ab = 0.09, 95% CI: 0.02-0.18), suggesting that loneliness may contribute to suicidal ideation through increased drug use among college students. Identification of and intervention with students reporting loneliness and drug use may be a promising suicide prevention strategy on college campuses.