cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Current research in robotics and automation-robotics research at USC

A number of projects are described, and the breadth of these activities is indicated. The projects concern: skill transfer from human to robot; telerobotics; knowledge-based control of robot grasping; hand-eye coordination; robot sensors; control of flexible robot arms; low-cost robots for pick-and-place operations; and simulation of material-handling components in manufacturing cells. >
Hageman Factor (Factor XII) Deficiency in Marine Mammals

Hematologic and coagulation studies were conducted on Atlantic bottlenose dolphins and killer whales. Hematologic values were similar to those in man. These animals differed from other mammals in that the Hageman factor (factor XII) was absent and this absence caused marked prolongation of coagulation. Levels of factors VIII and V were high and those of VII and X were low compared with levels in man.
Revisiting the uniqueness of simple demographics in the US population

According to a famous study [10] of the 1990 census data, 87% of the US population can be uniquely identified by gender, ZIP code and full date of birth. This short paper revisits the uniqueness of simple demographics in the US population based on the most recent census data (the 2000 census). We offer a detailed, comprehensive and up-to-date picture of the threat to privacy posed by the disclosure of simple demographic information. Our results generally agree with the findings of [10], although we find that disclosing one's gender, ZIP code and full date of birth allows for unique identification of fewer individuals (63% of the US population) than reported in [10]. We hope that our study will be a useful reference for privacy researchers who need simple estimates of the comparative threat of disclosing various demographic data.
Time-Resolved Spectroscopy For Detailed Studies (X/ Ax > 1000) Of Weak X-Ray Emitters In Laser Plasmas

A conically-curved crystal x-ray spectrograph of a design proposed previously has been implemented, and combined with an x-ray streak camera to produce a streak spectrograph. The spectrograph design differs from more common curved crystal designs in that it collects a solid angle of x-rays and produces a line focus spectrum perpendicular to the axis from the source. Initial efforts using a mica crystal have produced a time-resolving spectrograph of especial interest to time-resolution of weak laser-plasma emission, having moderate spectral resolving power (λ/Aλ 600-1000), collection efficiency 50-100 times that of a comparably deployed planar crystal spectrograph and streak camera, and time resolution of 20-40 ps. The device is demonstrated in experiments time-resolving the temperature and density of thin aluminum signature layers isolated in spherical plastic targets.
Loan-Portfolio Quality and the Difiusion of Technological Innovation ⁄

We study the economic forces that drive innovation in credit-risk assessment and the role of regulators in fostering technological progress. Recent regulatory proposals base capital-adequacy standards on banks' own internal systems and call for regulators to establish a set of best practices for the industry. We find that the dissemination of innovations mandated by this approach generates a tension between lowering aggregate banking-system risk ex post and providing banks with incentives to innovate ex ante. Moreover, this tension arises purely from regulatory concern for bank safety and not from any interest in promoting competition. We show that achieving the optimal level of innovation requires that regulators restrict the diffusion of technology. If regulators are unable to commit to specific dissemination policies, it may be beneficial to let banks assert intellectual property rights through, for instance, the patenting of their innovations.
Concentration and particle size distribution of particulate matter inside tunnel-ventilated high-rise layer operation houses

Particulate matter (PM) is a criteria pollutant emitted from animal feeding operation (AFO) facilities, especially from poultry operation buildings. Fundamental data regarding AFO PM either do not exist, or are not representative of different animal production systems or housing types. This field study investigated particle size distributions (PSDs) and concentrations of total suspended particulate (TSP) in a tunnel ventilated high-rise layer house under different operational conditions. Six low-volume (1 m 3 h �1 ) TSP samplers were used to collect PM samples on two floors of the high-rise layer houses across four seasons through day/night sampling protocols. The day/night sampling design was to examine animal activity impact. The PM samples were analyzed by a multi-wave length laser diffraction particle size analyzer (LS13 320) for PSDs characterized by mass median diameters (MMDs) and geometric standard deviations (GSDs). It was discovered that the mean TSP concentrations ranged from 1.0 � 0.5 mg m � 3 to 5.33 � 0.36 mg m �3 (meanSD). TSP concentrations in winter were higher than in summer; concentrations on the 2nd floor were higher than that on the 1st floor; concentrations of daytime samples were higher than those of nighttime samples. Animal activity (represented by day/ night samples) had the highest impact on TSP concentration as compared to other influential factors (spatial, seasonal, ventilation). No significant seasonal variations of MMD and GSD were observed in most of samples. Majority of day/night MMDs and GSDs demonstrated no significant differences. Thus the impact of animal activity (day vs. night) on MMD and GSD were not significant. Mean MMDsSDs
Financing Local Government in the 1990s

This article summarizes the proceedings of a conference on state and local finance issues held under the auspices of Taxation, Resources, and Economic Development (TRED) during October 1991.
A Strategy for Investigating Autism as a Prelinguistic Disorder of Social Development

A research strategy is presented that uses the siblings of autistic children to investigate the possibility that autism involves a social deficit that can be detected prior to language development. Underlying the strategy is the assumption that a social deficit is reflected in the failure of the infant sibling and his or her mother to establish coordinated interpersonal timing, i.e., to mutually influence the temporal patterns of each other's vocal behaviors. The measurement of such mutual influence is accomplished by an automated microanalysis of the interactive behavior, the results of which are subjects to a time-series regression analysis. Various implications and limitations of the strategy are discussed.
Hepatitis E, a Vaccine-Preventable Cause of Maternal Deaths

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a major cause of illness and of death in the developing world and disproportionate cause of deaths among pregnant women. Although HEV vaccine trials, including trials conducted in populations in southern Asia, have shown candidate vaccines to be effective and well-tolerated, these vaccines have not yet been produced or made available to susceptible populations. Surveillance data collected during 2001–2007 from >110,000 pregnancies in a population of ≈650,000 women in rural Bangladesh suggest that acute hepatitis, most of it likely hepatitis E, is responsible for ≈9.8% of pregnancy-associated deaths. If these numbers are representative of southern Asia, as many as 10,500 maternal deaths each year in this region alone may be attributable to hepatitis E and could be prevented by using existing vaccines.
Auditory Detection of the Human Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response

The human brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) is a far-field electrical potential recorded from the scalp in response to transient acoustic stimuli. Typically, voltage measurements are obtain...
Interferon-Stimulated Gene 15 Upregulation Precedes the Development of Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption and Cerebral Edema after Traumatic Brain Injury in Young Mice.

Abstract Recent studies show that myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) plays a pivotal role in development of cerebral edema, a known complication following traumatic brain injury (TBI) in children and a contributing factor to worsened neurologic recovery. Interferon-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) is upregulated after cerebral ischemia and is neuroprotective. The significant role of ISG15 after TBI has not been studied. Postnatal Day (PND) 21 and PND24 mice were subjected to lateral closed-skull injury with impact depth of 2.0 or 2.25 mm. Behavior was examined at 7 d using two-object novel recognition and Wire Hang tests. Mice were sacrificed at 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, and 7 d. ISG15 and MLCK were analyzed by Western blot and immunohistochemistry, blood–brain barrier (BBB) disruption with Evans Blue (EB), and cerebral edema with wet/dry weights. EB extravasation and edema peaked at 72 h in both ages. PND21 mice had more severe neurological deficits, compared with PND24 mice. PND24 mice showed peak ISG15 expr...
Comparison of Transcranial Doppler Ultrasonography and Transesophageal Echocardiography to Monitor Emboli During Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

Background and Purpose Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD) is the standard technique for monitoring emboli in the cerebral circulation. Embolic signals have been detected with the use of this technique in most patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery. We previously reported that the majority of emboli are detected after release of aortic cross-clamps and partial occlusion clamps. In this study we compare the intraoperative use of TCD with transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) to monitor cerebral emboli. Methods We simultaneously monitored 20 patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery with TCD and TEE. All patients also underwent routine TEE examination of the aorta. Results Embolic signals were detected in all patients by both techniques. Mean total number of emboli was 535±109 by TEE compared with 133±28 by TCD. We found correlation between numbers of emboli detected by the two techniques at clamp placement and release (r=.65, P=.002). Clamp placement and release accounted for 84% of a...
Uptake and rapid transfer of fluorescent ceramide analogues to acidosomes (late endosomes) in Paramecium.

SUMMARY The ciliated protozoan Paramecium incorporates sphingolipids into its cell membranes. However, it is still unclear if these sphingolipids are metabolically synthesized in the cell or if their precursors are taken up from exogenous materials. Here we studied the route of uptake of fluorescence-labeled analogues of ceramide. Fluorescent ceramide was taken up rapidly independent of phagosome formation. Cold treatment caused a decrease in uptake, while reduction in the amount of cytosolic ATP induced by NaN 3 and deoxyglucose resulted in accumulation without internalization of fluorescence at the plasma membrane. These results suggest that uptake of fluorescent ceramide occurs at the plasma membrane, that it is an ATP-dependent process, and that it is not a result of simple diffusion. At first intracellular fluorescence appeared principally in the posterior half of the cell and then spread throughout the cytosol. In particular, a high accumulation of fluorescence occurred in association with acidosomes (late endosome or multivesicular body-like vesicles) that bind to the surface of nascent and young phagosomes. Therefore, in the Paramecium cell a significant proportion of ceramide apparently enters the cell by endocytosis and is quickly relayed to acidosomes along the endocytic pathway before becoming part of the digestive vacuole (phagoacidosome) membrane. (J Histochem Cytochem 52:557‐565, 2004)
Immunotherapy for Pediatric Leukemia

Substantial progress has been made in the treatment of leukemia in childhood. Despite this, leukemia remains a leading cause of pediatric cancer-related mortality and the prognosis is guarded for individuals with relapsed or refractory disease. Standard therapies are associated with a wide array of acute and long-term toxicities and further treatment intensification may not be tolerable or beneficial. The curative potential of allogeneic stem cell transplantation is due in part to the graft-versus-leukemia effect, which provides evidence for the therapeutic capacity of immune-based therapies. In recent years there have been significant advances in the development and application of immunotherapy in the treatment of leukemias, including the demonstration of activity in chemotherapy-resistant cases. This review summarizes immunotherapeutic approaches in the treatment of pediatric leukemia including current results and future directions.
Inter‐habitat variation in the benthos of the Upper Missouri River (North Dakota, USA): implications for Great River bioassessment

We examined inter-habitat variation in benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages in the 180-km Garrison Reach of the Upper Missouri River, North Dakota (USA) in 2001–2003. The Garrison Reach is unchannelized with a mostly rural setting. Flows are regulated by Garrison Dam. We sampled benthos from three habitats defined a priori: channel, shoreline, and backwater. Benthic assemblages were different in each habitat. Average Bray-Curtis dissimilarity in assemblage composition ranged from 89% for backwater versus channel habitat to 70% for backwater versus shoreline habitat. There were distinct intra-habitat groups within a priori habitats: channel assemblages included moving-sand assemblages and other-substrate channel assemblages; backwater assemblages included connected (to the river channel) and unconnected backwater assemblages; shorelines assemblages varied between natural (unprotected) and riprap (rock revetment) shorelines. Abundance and taxa richness were lowest and spatial variability highest for moving-sand channel assemblages. Abundance was highest in backwaters. Taxa richness in backwaters and along channel shorelines were similar. Assemblages in all three habitats were dominated by Nematoda, Oligochaeta and Chironomidae. Taxa in these groups comprised at least 80% of mean abundance in all three habitats. Taxa that discriminated among habitats included the psammophilic chironomid Chernovskiia for moving-sand channel substrates versus all other habitats; Hydroptila (Trichoptera) for riprap vs natural shorelines, Aulodrilus (Oligochaeta) for connected versus unconnected backwaters; and Nematoda for backwater versus channel and shoreline versus channel. Based on overlap patterns in benthic assemblages among habitats, we concluded that sampling main channel shorelines should also capture much of the natural and stressor-induced variation in connected backwater and channel habitat exclusive of moving-sand channel habitat. Published in 2006 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mast cell regulation of inflammation and gene expression during antigen-induced bladder inflammation in mice

Mast cell numbers are significantly increased in bladder disorders including malignancy and interstitial cystitis, but their precise role has been difficult to determine. We characterized the role of mast cells on gene regulation associated with antigen-induced bladder inflammation in mice. For this purpose, we examined the responses in mast cell-deficient (Kit(W)/Kit(W-v)), congenic normal (+/+), and Kit(W)/Kit(W-v) mice that were reconstituted with bone marrow stem cells (BMR) to restore mast cells. All mice were actively sensitized and challenged intravesically with either saline or specific antigen. Bladder inflammation occurred in +/+ and BMR but not the Kit(W)/Kit(W-v) mice. Gene expression was determined using mouse cDNA expression arrays. Self-organizing maps, performed without preconditions, indicated gene expression changes dependent on the presence of mast cells. These genes were upregulated in bladders isolated from antigen challenge of +/+, not altered in Kit(W)/Kit(W-v), and were upregulated in BMR mice. Taken together these results demonstrate an important role for mast cells in allergic cystitis and indicate that mast cells can alter their environment by regulating tissue gene expression.
E‐type asteroid spectroscopy and compositional modeling

[1] We present near-infrared spectroscopic observations (0.8–2.5 μm) of E-type asteroids. We combine these observations with visible wavelength spectra obtained by other researchers and perform Hapke theory mixing model simulations of E-type asteroid spectra in order to constrain possible compositions. Aubrites were originally suggested as the meteorite analog for the E-type asteroids because of their similar visible wavelength colors and high albedos. The designation “E” was originally linked with the mineral enstatite, common in aubrite meteorites. More recently, the sulfides troilite and oldhamite have been suggested as possible components of E-type asteroids. We tested the suggested compositional interpretations of aubrite meteorites and/or aubrites enhanced with sulfides. We also tested compositions of aubrites mixed with low-iron silicate minerals. We find that E types can be separated into three groups on the basis of inferred composition: “Nysa-like” E types are consistent with silicate mineralogy higher in iron than the mineral enstatite; “Angelina-like” asteroids are consistent with silicate mineralogy, including a sulfide such as oldhamite; and “Hungaria-like” E types are not inconsistent with aubrites. Our results indicate that some E-type asteroids may be composed of materials that are not sampled by meteorites.
A 1 kW, 500 kHz front-end converter for a distributed power supply system

The analysis, design, and performance are discussed of a prototype high power-density converter suitable for use in the front-end of a distributed power supply system. The system delivers 1 kW to a regulated 40 V distribution bus from the rectified utility line. Its switching frequency is 500 kHz, and it uses a phase-shifted pulse-width modulation technique to avoid primary-side switching losses. The converter's topology is a standard power MOSFET H-bridge that drives a transformer. The output of this transformer is rectified by a full bridge of Schottky diodes. The switches of this forward converter are operated in a fixed-frequency PWM mode. The dominant parasitic elements are the transformer's leakage inductor, the MOSFETs' output capacitors, and the rectifiers' junction capacitors. Of these three groups of parasitic elements, only the leakage inductors do not result in a direct switching loss. To avoid MOSFET switching losses, the converter is controlled with a special gate-drive pattern that permits full recovery of the MOSFETs' capacitive energy. At the same time this drive scheme gives zero-voltage switching for the MOSFETs. The converter's efficiency at full load approaches 90%. >
Participation in an ambulatory e‐pharmacovigilance system

Purpose There is growing concern about whether passive surveillance can detect adverse drug events (ADEs). Our objective was to demonstrate the reach of an interactive voice response system (IVRS) to systematically monitor symptoms experienced by ambulatory patients prescribed one of 31 medications, and to document whether there were differences in our ability to contact certain populations. Methods Patients receiving a prescription for a target medication at one of 11 clinics were eligible for a cross-sectional IVRS survey, “e-pharmacovigilance,” with a follow-up survey done 3 months later if the target medication was still listed on the patient's active medication list. Results 902 patients participated, representing 43.3% of contacted and 25.7% of potentially eligible patients with a working phone. After adjustment for demographics and drug class, patients >66 years were more likely to participate than those 56–65 years (odds ratio 1.47; 95% confidence interval 1.19–1.81). Hispanics were less likely than whites (0.56; 0.42–0.76), and those in low-income communities less likely to participate than those in high-income communities (0.69; 0.58–0.82). Patients prescribed asthma, or seizure medications were more likely to participate than those prescribed medications for insomnia. Of patients reached by the system, those prescribed medications were erectile dysfunction and smoking cessation were less likely, and those prescribed seizure medication were more likely to participate. Conclusions IVRS technology can be used to perform ambulatory e-pharmacovigilance for a broad spectrum of patients, particularly older individuals who may at particular risk for ADEs. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Teaching Law Students to Teach Themselves: Using Lessons from Educational Psychology to Shape Self-Regulated Learners

Amidst current concerns about the value of a legal education, this article seeks to identify ways in which law schools and law professors can take steps to maximize the learning experience for their students. The article focuses on cutting-edge strategies that will help a diverse population of law students become self-regulated learners. Drawing on the work of educational psychologists, it describes ways to help students adapt to the demands of the law school learning experience and then outlines specific strategies for teaching students to regulate their motivational beliefs, their resource management practices, and their approaches to mastering the material. Throughout, the article emphasizes the importance of these skills for success both as law students and as lawyers. Finally, checklists are provided to help law professors build a culture of self-regulated learning in their schools.
Women in sport management: advancing the representation through HRM structures

Examines the effects of organizational characteristics, philosophical support, and substantive human resource management (HRM) programs on promoting gender equality within sport management. A questionnaire was developed to collect data on philosophical support and HRM practices within sport organizations and sent to 500 collegiate and professional sport organizations in the USA; 196 respondents (39 per cent) returned their completed survey forms. Findings indicated significant confirmatory paths between experiencing a gender discrimination lawsuit and philosophical support (t = –3.14, p < 0.05), philosophical support and substantive HRM programs (t = 9.56, p < 0.05) and philosophical support and representation of female managers (t = 2.36, p < 0.05). Concludes that philosophical support of top managers leads to the development of substantive HRM programs to promote gender equality in sport management and greater female manager representation.
Trypanosome trans-splicing utilizes 2'-5' branches and a corresponding debranching activity.

The 5' ends of trypanosome mRNAs consist of an identical sequence of 39 nucleotides which is derived from a discrete transcript of approximately 140 nucleotides (medRNA). It has been proposed that generation of chimeric mRNAs in trypanosomes occurs by the process of trans-splicing involving medRNA and an acceptor RNA. Part of the basis for this suggestion comes from the ability of HeLa cell extracts (known to contain debranching activity) to catalyze the release of the intron portion of medRNA (minRNA) implying a Y-branched intermediate in the splicing process. Here we provide direct chemical analysis that miniRNA is attached to higher mol. wt RNA molecules by a 2'-5' phosphodiester bond (i.e. as a branched structure). We also demonstrate that trypanosomes have substantial amounts of debranching activity which is similar in nature to that of HeLa cells. These results provide further evidence for trans-splicing in trypanosomes and highlights its similarity to cis-splicing in other eukaryotes.
Regeneration versus fibrosis in skeletal muscle.

Purpose of reviewThis review evaluates recently published literature examining various muscle tissue cells and their modulators that determine whether injured skeletal muscle will fully regenerate or become fibrotic.Recent findingsMuscle regeneration is a complex process involving several interactin
Platelet-derived acid phosphatase isoenzyme in the serum in thrombocythemia.

Acid phosphatase is present in platelets and is released during the clotting process. In thrombocythemic conditions, this may increase seruin enzymatic activity. An illustrative case in which the determination of plasma enzymatic activity suggested a platelet origin of elevated serum levels, confirmed by isoenzyme fractionation on disk polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis is presented. It is concluded that in the presence of thrombocytosis a plasma sample is preferable to a serum sample for determination of acid phosphatase activity.
The simple bread tag-a menace to society? More warnings in our digital era.

To the Editor: We read with great interest the article on the public health issue of 'The simple bread tag - a menace to society?' in the May 2015 issue of the SAMJ. We are delighted that the authors have directed the medical fraternity to one of the most common public health problems in early childhood, and agree that these bread tags should be removed from use.
Mass Transfer of LDL Based on Wall Shear Stress From FSI Simulation in Atherosclerotic Human Carotid Artery

Wall shear stress (WSS) distribution and low density lipoprotein (LDL) mass flux are simulated using a fluid-structure interaction (FSI) approach. T2 weighted black blood MRI images of a human left carotid artery are used for the arterial model construction, and the boundary conditions for FSI simulation are derived from phase contrast (PC) MR data. The endothelium is treated as a shear stress dependent, three pathways pore model for LDL particles. The computational results demonstrate that the region distal to an atherosclerotic plaque in the internal carotid artery experiences both low WSS and high mass and volume flux, which are hypothesized to be essential factors in progression of atherosclerosis.© 2010 ASME
Genetic Analysis and Gene Mapping of Pale Green Leaf Mutant HM14 in Rice

The pale-green leaf mutant HM14was isolated from an EMS-induced IR64mutant bank.The mutant showed a stable pale-green leaf phenotype throughout the whole life cycle.The plant height of HM14decreased significantly while other agronomic traits were largely similar to the wild-type IR64.The chlorophyll content of HM14reduced notably at tillering stage when compared with IR64.The net photosynthetic rate of HM14was significantly lower than the wild-type IR64at filling stage while the transpiration rate was raised significantly.Genetic analysis showed that the pale green leaf phenotype was controlled by a single recessive gene.To determine the location of the gene,bulked segregant analysis was carried out using both the mutant and wild-type DNA pools.The gene pgl HM14 was finally delimited to a region of 299kb between SSR markers RM1812and RM26092on the short arm of chromosome 11.
Genetic Alternations in Common Cancers

Each of the roughly 100 types of human cancer is caused by the activation of proto-oncogenes and the loss of tumor suppressor genes. Although cancer genomes are complex, some clear mutational patterns are apparent. Several cancer genes are observed very frequently in some types of cancer, but rarely found in other types. Other cancer genes are much more widespread across many types of cancer. Analysis of many cancer genomes has shown that nearly 150 genes are recurrently altered by mutations to provide tumor cells a selective growth advantage. These studies have shown that there are many potential combinations of cancer genes that can cooperatively allow the growth of different types of neoplasia.
Novel High-Temperature, High-Power Handling All-Cu Interconnections through Low-Temperature Sintering of Nanocopper Foams

Direct Cu-Cu bonding has been pursued by the semiconductor industry as the next interconnection node, for its superior power-handling capability, thermal stability and reliability as compared to traditional solders. However, manufacturability of Cu interconnections has so far been severely limited by the relatively high modulus of Cu, requiring costly planarization processes to address non-coplanarities and warpage to enable bonding in solid-state. This paper introduces a new class of all-Cu interconnections formed by low-temperature sintering of low-modulus nanocopper foams. The physical properties of these foams are tunable with their nanostructure and morphology, giving design flexibility. The proposed nanocopper interconnections have the following advantages: 1) fabrication compatible with standard semiconductor infrastructures and processes, 2) sub-20GPa elastic modulus pre-sintering providing tolerance to non-coplanarities and warpage in assembly, 3) densification at temperatures below 250°C to form high-density all-Cu interconnections, with excellent electrical and thermal properties, and 4) wide applicability from ultra-fine pitch to large-area interconnections for high-power devices. This paper reports the fabrication, characterization and first proof-of-concept demonstration of sintering of such nanocopper interconnections. Nanocopper foams were first synthetized by co-sputtering 2µm Cu25Si75 (at%) thin films on Si(100) substrates, and then electrochemically dealloying the thin-films in hydrofluoric acid under a range of applied voltages. Imaging of the foams by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed that they consisted of 45nm-sized uniform copper ligaments. Further, native oxides present in the as-synthetized samples were effectively removed with a short etching step in acetic acid, as confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis, without affecting the foams' nanostructure. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) characterization indicated an exothermal peak at 180°C, beyond which coarsening may initiate. Finally, isothermal aging of the nanofoams was carried out in N2 atmosphere at 100 and 300oC range for 180-900sec. No sintering was observed after aging at 150oC, as expected from DSC results, while sintering was confirmed after only 180s at 300oC, with observed densification and shrinkage of the foam, successfully demonstrating the proposed concept. In conclusion, a novel nanocopper foam interconnection technology is demonstrated with the potential to address manufacturability, scalability and cost across consumer, high performance and automotive applications.
Disaggregating input–output tables in time: the temporal input–output framework

ABSTRACTThe input–output framework has evolved dramatically since its initial formulation. New analytical techniques and extensions have allowed a more comprehensive assessment of the economy and expanded its applicability. Nonetheless, the core of the framework has remained unchanged: an annually compiled input–output table, which conveys monetary flows between sectors in a region in a particular year. Hence, the technical coefficients derived from it are ‘average’ input compositions, neglecting fluctuations in production capacity, seasonality and temporal shocks within that period. This paper develops a consistent methodology to disaggregate the annual input–output table in its time dimension in order to estimate intra-year input–output matrices with distinct technical structures for a particular year. The main advantages in relation to the annual model are to allow seasonal effects to be studied within the input–output framework, to better understand the process of coefficient change and to offer a mor...
Differences between Spanish monolingual and Spanish-English bilingual children in their calculation of entailment-based scalar implicatures

In this paper, we extend investigations of the possible effects of cross-linguistic influence at the pragmatics-syntax interface (Hulk & Muller 2000; Muller & Hulk 2001; Serratrice, Sorace & Paoli 2004), by presenting two experiments designed to probe how Spanish monolingual and Spanish-English bilingual preschool-age children approach the ‘some, but not all’ scalar implicature (SI) associated with algunos (‘some’). We compare algunos and unos (also a ‘some’ indefinite, but one that is not context-linked and does not induce an SI), and algunos and todos (the universal quantifier ‘every/all’). The performance of the children is compared to fluent adult Spanish heritage speakers. Experiment 1 is a variation of Noveck’s (2001) statement evaluation task, also replicated by Guasti et al . (2005). Experiment 2 is a forced-choice picture selection task. Results demonstrate that adults were the only group to consistently calculate the SI associated with algunos – a finding that was expected to some extent, given that our tasks were stripped of the contextual support that could benefit children’s pragmatic reasoning. While bilingual and monolingual children displayed comparable performance across tasks, bilinguals in Experiment 2 appeared to experience difficulty with judgments related to todos – a pattern we attribute (in light of independent findings) to the cognitive overload in the task, not the lexical entry of this quantifier. We conclude that young monolingual and bilingual children confront the same challenges when called upon to deploy pragmatic skills in a discourse context. This article is part of the special collection: Acquisition of Quantification
Effect of metal oxides modification on CO2 adsorption performance over mesoporous carbon

Abstract Porous carbon materials have been modified by various metal oxides (CeO2, CuO, NiO and Mn3O4) with different weight loadings (10–30%). The obtained composite materials were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), N2 adsorption isotherms, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and investigated as sorbents for selective capture and removal of carbon dioxide. The overall CO2 adsorption capacity of AMC decreases upon metal oxides modification due to the reduction in the total surface area of the composite. Interestingly, CO2 adsorption capacity of AMC at relative low pressure range (below 0.4 bar) is increased with high metal oxides loading (30%), especially for NiO modified AMC. This is explained by the increased interaction strength between CO2 and the metal oxides than with the carbon surface. The CO2/N2 selectivity values of the AMC modified with metal oxides are generally higher than the parent AMC, with the 30% NiO-modified AMC showing 72% increase in the selectivity. This enhancement in selectivity is attributed to an increased interaction between CO2 and the introduced metal oxides, which is supported by the increased isosteric heats of adsorption of CO2 after metal oxides modification. The results presented here demonstrate that the adsorption properties including capacity and selectivity of carbon materials are influenced by both their textural characteristics (such as surface area and pore volume) and the surface chemistry, which can be affected by the type and concentration of introduced metal oxides.
MacroBase: Prioritizing Attention in Fast Data

As data volumes continue to rise, manual inspection is becoming increasingly untenable. In response, we present MacroBase, a data analytics engine that prioritizes end-user attention in high-volume fast data streams. MacroBase enables efficient, accurate, and modular analyses that highlight and aggregate important and unusual behavior, acting as a search engine for fast data. MacroBase is able to deliver order-of-magnitude speedups over alternatives by optimizing the combination of explanation (i.e., feature selection) and classification tasks and by leveraging a new reservoir sampler and heavy-hitters sketch specialized for fast data streams. As a result, MacroBase delivers accurate results at speeds of up to 2M events per second per query on a single core. The system has delivered meaningful results in production, including at a telematics company monitoring hundreds of thousands of vehicles.
Safety of open ventral hernia repair in high-risk patients with metabolic syndrome: a multi-institutional analysis of 39,118 cases

Abstract Background Metabolic syndrome (MetS) entails the simultaneous presence of a constellation of dangerous risk factors including obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. The prevalence of MetS in Western society continues to rise and implies an elevated risk for surgical complications and/or poor surgical outcomes within the affected population. Objective To assess the risks and outcomes of multi-morbid patients with MetS undergoing open ventral hernia repair. Setting Multi-institutional case-control study in the United States. Methods The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was sampled for patients undergoing initial open ventral hernia repair from 2012 through 2014 and then stratified into 2 cohorts based on the presence or absence of MetS. Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate preoperative co-morbidities, intraoperative details, and postoperative morbidity and mortality to identify risk factors for adverse outcomes. Results Mean age (61.0 versus 56.0 yr, P P P P P P P P P P P P P =.008). Conclusions The presence of MetS is related to a multitude of unfavorable outcomes and increased mortality after open ventral hernia repair compared with a non-MetS control group. MetS is a useful marker for high operative risk in a population that is generally prone to obesity and its associated diseases.
PARP Inhibitors in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer.

Background Ovarian cancer remains the most common lethal gynecologic malignancy. The therapeutic gains with the use of traditional cytotoxic chemotherapy in advanced stage disease remain limited, reflecting the need for novel therapies. Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors have recently demonstrated a significant therapeutic effect in patients with recurrent, high grade serous ovarian cancer, both in the treatment of existing disease and in prolonging the disease-free interval. Objective The purpose of this article is to discuss PARP inhibitor use in patients with advanced stage ovarian cancer, and to extensively review the existing clinical literature and related patents. Methods A comprehensive PUBMED literature review was conducted to identify all published phase 2 and phase 3 clinical trials involving PARP inhibitors in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer. Further, several patents related to PARP inhibitor use, companion diagnostic tests, and the development of biomarkers to predict PARP inhibitor responsiveness are described. Results PARP inhibitors have demonstrated significant clinical activity in both BRCA deficient and wild-type patient cohorts, with all three FDA-approved PARP inhibitors demonstrating efficacy irrespective of BRCA mutation status in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer. Conclusion PARP inhibitors have emerged as an exciting new drug class in the treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer. Ongoing studies are aimed at improving our ability to identify ideal candidates for PARP inhibitor therapy, as well as to identify and target mechanisms of drug resistance, and novel combinatorial approaches.
Cerebrovascular Accidents During Mechanical Circulatory Support: New Predictors of Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Strokes and Outcome

Background and Purpose— Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have emerged as an effective treatment for patients with advanced heart failure refractory to medical therapy. Post-LVAD strokes are an important cause of morbidity and reduced quality of life. Data on risks that distinguish between ischemic and hemorrhagic post-LVAD strokes are limited. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of post-LVAD ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes, their association with stroke risk factors, and their effect on mortality. Methods— Data are collected prospectively on all patients with LVADs implanted at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. We added retrospectively collected clinical data for these analyses. Results— From 2007 to 2016, 183 patients (median age, 57; 80% male) underwent implantation of HeartMate II LVAD as a bridge to transplant (52%), destination therapy (39%), or bridge to transplant candidacy (8%). A total of 48 strokes occurred in 39 patients (21%): 28 acute ischemic strokes in 24 patients (13%) and 20 intracerebral hemorrhages in 19 patients (10.3%). First events occurred at a median of 238 days from implantation (interquartile range, 93–515) among those who developed post-LVAD stroke. All but 9 patients (4.9%) were on warfarin (goal international normalized ratio, 2–3.5) and all received aspirin (81–325 mg). Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were more likely to have an ischemic stroke (odds ratio, 2.96; 95% confidence interval, 1.14–7.70). Dialysis-dependent patients showed a trend toward a higher risk of hemorrhagic stroke (odds ratio, 6.31; 95% confidence interval, 0.99–40.47). Hemorrhagic stroke was associated with higher mortality (odds ratio, 3.92; 95% confidence interval, 1.34–11.45) than ischemic stroke (odds ratio, 3.17; 95% confidence interval, 1.13–8.85). Conclusions— Stroke is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients on LVAD support. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease increases the risk of ischemic stroke, whereas dialysis may increase the risk of hemorrhagic stroke. Although any stroke increases mortality, post-LVAD hemorrhagic stroke was associated with higher mortality compared with ischemic stroke.
Human marrow erythropoiesis in culture. I. Characterization of methylcellulose colony assay

We examined the morphological and functional characteristics of human marrow erythrocytes cultured with a recently developed methylcellulose colony assay technique. Erythrocytic cells in various stages of development were observed, and a significant degree of maturational synchrony within individual colonies was noted. By light microscopy, colonies consisting of late normoblasts appeared compact, had an orange hue attributable to their hemoglobin, and demonstrated pseudoperoxidase activity, whereas colonies composed of early erythroblasts grew less compact or in clusters of smaller cell aggregates and showed no reddish tinge. Colonies possessing intermediate features were also observed. Maturational synchrony of individual colonies was confirmed using ransmission and scanning electron microscopy. The ultrastructure and cytochemistry of most immature cells were normal. The mature erythrocytes, however, were severely microcytic and hypochromic and contained one to several Heinz bodies. These defects in the cytoplasmic maturation of erythrocytes corresponded with impaired granulocytic maturation in culture, which we observed previously, and suggest environmental or nutritional defects in culture. Linearity of the method was confirmed using five normal bone marrows. Erythropoietin dose-responses observed in ten normal marrows were comparable to the previously reported results and revealed significant variation in individual plating efficiencies.
Computed Tomography and Gross Anatomy of the Abdominal Wall (Including Planes for Mesh Hernia Repair)

A comprehensive understanding of abdominal wall anatomy, both gross and radiographic, is essential for any surgeon who plans to perform ventral herniorrhaphy. As the volume and complexity of ventral hernias increase, hernia surgeons must be well versed in the correlation of physical exam findings with imaging study findings to most effectively plan for operative intervention. This chapter provides a focused review of gross anatomy for hernia surgeons. It also reviews the importance of computed tomography imaging in the diagnosis and surgical management of ventral hernias and provides images and identifies key findings on interpretation. Finally, it describes the major classification systems of hernia location and mesh implantation to improve communication and research among surgeons who perform ventral herniorrhaphy.
Latinx/Chicanx Students on the Path to Conocimiento: Critical Reflexivity Journals as Tools for Healing and Resistance in the Trump Era

Anzaldua’s concept of conocimiento guides our analysis of Latinx/Chicanx students’ Critical Reflexivity Journals (CRJ) produced in an Ethnic Studies classroom at a predominantly-white institution. Through a thematic analysis procedure of students’ CRJ entries, which we describe as written testimonios, we discerned how Latinx/Chicanx students’ writings engaged their identities, reflexivity, healing, and resistance on a path toward conocimiento. Grounding our theoretical and empirical analysis in Anzalduan thought, conocimiento is characterized by a deep reflexive critical consciousness that unfolds across seven interconnected stages. Conocimiento builds toward a liberatory transformation that Anzaldua describes as spiritual activism, the seventh and final stage of conocimiento. The sociohistorical, culturally relevant, and student-centered curricula purported in Ethnic Studies is the focus of much scholarly writings. Our work contributes to this growing theoretical, empirical and pedagogical scholarship by specifically focusing on conocimiento. Through an Anzaldua centered analysis of Latinx/Chicanx students’ CRJ we demonstrate how reflexive writings can facilitate students’ process of identity formation, reflexivity, healing and resistance from colonial forms of knowledge and oppression. This is especially important when considering the racist and violent sociopolitical context under the Trump Administration.
T-ONS a swift transportable and user friendly integrative model of the North Sea for decision support

Abstract The trade-offs North Sea (T-ONS) model is presented. This is centred upon a simple multispecies Schaefer model where the long term steady state yield of each species is approximated by quadratic functions of fishing mortality rate of all species. To this are added the main mixed fishery constraints and the available economic, social and ecosystem consequences of concern to Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management (EBFM). For ease of transportability this model is written in EXCEL. It can swiftly emulate the long term behaviour of more complex age based North Sea multi-species models and is broadly similar to, but has a wider range of outputs than similar models presented in earlier years and differs from them in how it treats mixed fisheries. The essence of how it fits the ICES age based SMS multi-species fisheries model and uses the STECF fishing effort data series to mimic multi-fleet constraints is explained. In addition to the fishery outputs, the model provides economic and social outputs both overall and on a fleet by fleet or country by country basis. It also provides an as yet restricted set of good environmental status (GES) indicators. It is designed to be user friendly and so to empower managers and stakeholders to personally explore how different management approaches would affect the trade-offs that are of most concern to them. It also allows managers to see how acceptable their solutions would be to the different interest groups of stakeholders. The T-ONS model is also the basic tool of the Mareframe decision support framework for the North Sea. It may be used either as a decision support tool by itself or used to provide inputs to formal decision support tools such as multi-criteria analysis (MCA).