cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The putative niche requirements and landscape dynamics of Microstegium vimineum: an invasive Asian grass

The theoretical foundations of population and community ecology stress the importance of identifying crucial niche requirements and life history stages of invasive species and, in doing so, give insight into research and management. We focus on Microstegium vimineum, an invasive grass which is causing marked changes in the structure and function of US forests. We describe M. vimineum’s life history and habitat characteristics, infer its niche requirements and synthesize this information in the context of population dynamics and management. Based on the results synthesized here, M. vimineum’s crucial niche requirements appear to be light (reproductive output), soil moisture (reproductive output, seedling recruitment) and aboveground coverage by leaf-litter and competing species (seedling recruitment and survival). These data suggest a source-sink dynamic might allow M. vimineum to disperse and thrive along sunny, and sometimes wet, edge habitats and, in turn, these populations might act as source populations for adjacent shady forest habitats. By evaluating M. vimineum in the context of its stage-specific requirements, we highlight potential weaknesses in its life history that provide strategies for effective management.
Involvement of multiple genetic determinants in high-level methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus.

Abstract A methicillin-susceptible, novobiocin-resistant strain of Staphylococcus aureus (RN2677; methicillin MIC, 0.8 micrograms/ml) was transformed with DNA prepared from highly and homogeneously methicillin-resistant S. aureus strains (methicillin MIC, greater than or equal to 400 micrograms/ml) or from heterogeneous strains in which the majority of cells had a low level of resistance (methicillin MIC, 6.3 micrograms/ml). All methicillin-resistant transformants showed low and heterogeneous resistance (methicillin MIC, 3.1 micrograms/ml) irrespective of the resistance level of DNA donors. All transformants examined produced normal amounts of the low-affinity penicillin-binding protein (PBP) 2a, and methicillin resistance and the capacity to produce PBP 2a showed the same degree of genetic linkage to the novobiocin resistance marker with both homogeneous and heterogeneous DNA donors. Next, we isolated a methicillin-susceptible mutant from a highly and homogeneously resistant strain which had a Tn551 insertion near or within the PBP 2a gene and thus did not produce PBP 2a. With this mutant used as the recipient, genetic transformation of the methicillin resistance gene was repeated with DNA isolated either from highly and homogeneously resistant strains or from heterogeneous (low-resistance) strains. All transformants obtained expressed high and homogeneous resistance and produced PBP 2a irrespective of the resistance level of the DNA donors. Our findings suggest that (i) the methicillin resistance locus is identical to the structural gene for PBP 2a, (ii) although the ability to produce PBP 2a is essential for resistance, the MICs for the majority of cells are not related to the cellular concentration of PBP 2a, and (iii) high MICs and homogeneous expression of resistance require the products of other distinct genetic elements as well.
Service Encounters as Rites of Integration: An Information Processing Model

We propose that service encounters the interaction between customers and employees can be conceptualized, and managed, as rites of integration. Rites of integration are defined as planned social interactions that have the objective of achieving "a temporary sense of closeness" between customers and service providers. We argue that such rites help to establish the appropriate level of psychological involvement or the appropriate degree of psychological closeness between the service provider and the customer. Psychological involvement facilitates a the sharing of information by customers and employees that is necessary for service production and b the favorable evaluation, by customers, of the service delivery process. We describe and give examples of different types of rites that result in varying levels of involvement. We conclude by offering propositions for the consequences associated with customers having their expectations of involvement confirmed or disconfirmed. These consequences include the importance of a "zone of indifference" around individual expectations of levels of involvement and the negative effects of too much closeness between the employee and customer.
Benchmarking the Connection Machine 2

The Connection Machine 2 (CM-2) made by Thinking Machines Corporation is a massively parallel, single instruction multiple data machine with potential for computational rates in the range of several billions of floating point operations per second. A two-dimensional shallow water equations model was run on a CM-2 to obtain an estimate of its performance on atmospheric and ocean sciences problems. C* and *LISP versions were developed and the performance of these codes on the CM-2 is compared with the performance of a FORTRAN version run on a Cray X-MP/48.
Adaptive routing in Clos networks

We describe a method of controlling a three-stage Clos nonblocking switch where "speculative" self-routing over the Clos fabric is augmented with reservations over a control network that connects controllers in the input and output stages of the switch. The effect is that most connections succeed over the speculative path while those subject to contention are processed over the control network. We present simulation result which indicate that the inclusion of a control network yields significant benefits under heavily nonuniform traffic conditions.
SCTP multihoming support for handoffs across heterogeneous networks

Next-generation mobile terminals are expected to provide users with seamless, uninterrupted network connectivity while moving across wide geographic locations. Achieving continuous network access is made possible by exploiting multihoming in mobile nodes and providing support for several heterogeneous network interfaces. Efficient mechanisms are required to enable mobile nodes to connect to various available networks to improve connectivity and provide network resilience. Stream control transmission protocol (SCTP) has been proposed as a potential candidate for facilitating multiple network support to achieve smooth session continuity while moving across different types of networks. This paper analyses the design and performance of proposed SCTP implementations for multihoming purposes. We present an empirical evaluation of SCTP while performing handoffs by conducting experiments in a real multi-network environment. We also identify the benefits and limitations of user and kernel-level implementations of SCTP.
Dysfunctional KEAP1-NRF2 interaction in non-small-cell lung cancer.

Background Nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 (NRF2) is a redox-sensitive transcription factor that positively regulates the expression of genes encoding antioxidants, xenobiotic detoxification enzymes, and drug efflux pumps, and confers cytoprotection against oxidative stress and xenobiotics in normal cells. Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1) negatively regulates NRF2 activity by targeting it to proteasomal degradation. Increased expression of cellular antioxidants and xenobiotic detoxification enzymes has been implicated in resistance of tumor cells against chemotherapeutic drugs. Methods and Findings Here we report a systematic analysis of the KEAP1 genomic locus in lung cancer patients and cell lines that revealed deletion, insertion, and missense mutations in functionally important domains of KEAP1 and a very high percentage of loss of heterozygosity at 19p13.2, suggesting that biallelic inactivation of KEAP1 in lung cancer is a common event. Sequencing of KEAP1 in 12 cell lines and 54 non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) samples revealed somatic mutations in KEAP1 in a total of six cell lines and ten tumors at a frequency of 50% and 19%, respectively. All the mutations were within highly conserved amino acid residues located in the Kelch or intervening region domain of the KEAP1 protein, suggesting that these mutations would likely abolish KEAP1 repressor activity. Evaluation of loss of heterozygosity at 19p13.2 revealed allelic losses in 61% of the NSCLC cell lines and 41% of the tumor samples. Decreased KEAP1 activity in cancer cells induced greater nuclear accumulation of NRF2, causing enhanced transcriptional induction of antioxidants, xenobiotic metabolism enzymes, and drug efflux pumps. Conclusions This is the first study to our knowledge to demonstrate that biallelic inactivation of KEAP1 is a frequent genetic alteration in NSCLC. Loss of KEAP1 function leading to constitutive activation of NRF2-mediated gene expression in cancer suggests that tumor cells manipulate the NRF2 pathway for their survival against chemotherapeutic agents.
Rabbit VX2 Tumors as an Animal Model of Uterine Fibroids and for Uterine Artery Embolization

Purpose To determine the suitability of the rabbit VX2 tumor animal model for uterine fibroids and uterine artery embolization (UAE). Materials and Methods The authors implanted and grew one uterine VX2 tumor per rabbit in six rabbits. UAE was performed by using 100–300 μm embolic particles and confirmed with x-ray digital subtraction angiography, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, and necropsy. Unenhanced and contrast medium–enhanced MR images of VX2 tumors were obtained before and after UAE. Relative MR signal-to noise-ratio (SNR) was measured in the uterine VX2 tumor and in normal uterine tissue before and after UAE and compared by using a paired t -test ( P = .05). Results VX2 uterine tumors were successfully grown, and both VX2 tumor presence in the uterus and UAE were seen angiographically and confirmed with necropsy in all six rabbits. Statistically significant reductions in relative SNRs were measured in tumors (SNR before UAE, 15.3 ± 5.15; SNR after UAE, 3.84 ± 3.94; P P = .63 for the right uterine horn and P = .93 for the left uterine horn). Conclusion Rabbit VX2 uterine tumors may be a suitable animal model of uterine fibroids and UAE.
Plasmodium knowlesi infection: a diagnostic challenge

Plasmodium knowlesi malaria is an uncommon, but highly prevalent parasitic infection in parts of Malaysia. This is the case of a 14-year-old Singaporean boy presenting to our emergency department with an 11-day history of fever following a school trip to Malaysia. Hepatosplenomegaly was the only clinical finding; laboratory tests showed thrombocytopaenia, lymphopaenia, mild anaemia and liver transaminitis. Specific malaria antigen tests were negative, but the peripheral blood film showed plasmodia with atypical features, with a parasite load of 0.5%. PCR confirmed the diagnosis of P knowlesi. The patient was successfully treated with chloroquine. The clinical course of P knowlesi malaria is indistinguishable from that of Plasmodium falciparum. This case highlights the importance of taking detailed travel history, careful examination of malaria blood films and judicious use of molecular techniques. Antigen tests alone may have missed a malaria diagnosis altogether, while blood film examination may wrongly identify the species as Plasmodium malariae or P falciparum. Third-generation PCR assays can be used to reliably identify P knowlesi.
Developmental genetics of the Drosophila egg. I. Identification of 59 sex-linked cistrons with maternal effects on embryonic development.

Sex-linked mutations to recessive female sterility were induced, sorted for egg-laying, mapped within broad regions and grouped by complementation tests into cistrons. The mutations have also been partially characterized for their temperature sensitivity and pleiotropic effects. Altogether 59 cistrons have been identified, including five allelic with previously known loci: cin, fs(1)N, mk, sn, and r. All of the genes make maternal contributions to developing embryos. In some instances mutant defects are recognized in the egg envelopes; in the remainder the defects are presumably in the egg cytoplasm. For mutations in twenty-two genes, including cin, mk, and r alleles, the lethality of the maternal effect is reversed and the embryo is "rescued" by the action of a wild-type, paternal allele. The mutant strains are potentially important for the study of developing egg envelopes and for furthering the analysis of causation in embryogenesis and its origins in oogenesis.
Concluding Thoughts: Summary and Integration, Models, and Research Agendas

In the concluding chapter of this book, we consider the emergent themes arising from the different research teams and also focus on the key questions we identified at the outset. As such, we examine both commonalities and differences in how forgiveness is defined. We observe that there is considerable agreement about the multidimensional nature of forgiveness but that some dimensions have less well developed research bases than do others. We note that the stress-and-coping model of forgiveness is a commonly used conceptual framework from which to organize and guide continuing research in the area of forgiveness and health. Other useful models are developed throughout the book, and we offer a reciprocal-effects forgiveness-intersections model as a flexible model for the area. We conclude with items we believe are important for research agendas of investigators moving forward in the study of forgiveness and health.
CO_2+O_2 Mixed GMAW Welding Gray Cast Iron

Gray cast iron was repair welded useing CO2+O2 mixed gas metal arc welding(GMAW), reasonable welding process was obtaimed by testing and a case of gray cast iron parts was repair welded, welding quality is good.
Durability of the reproductive axis in eumenorrheic women during 1 yr of endurance training.

Menstrual cycle (MC) alterations occur in some endurance-training women. We hypothesized that a prospective running program would evoke alterations in MC phase lengths and in the physiological frequency of pulses of luteinizing hormone (LH) and/or diminish 24-h integrated serum LH concentrations in some women. In addition, we postulated that women who train more intensively (above the lactate threshold) would show alterations in gonadotropin release earlier in the training program or to a greater degree. To test these hypotheses, we examined the effects of different exercise intensities on physiological and endocrine responses. Twenty-three healthy eumenorrheic gynecologically mature (postmenarchal age 17.8 +/- 0.9 yr) untrained women undertook a 1-yr training program at one of two exercise intensities, one at a velocity corresponding to the lactate threshold (LT) and the other halfway between that of LT and peak running velocity, or served as controls. Training distance was the same in each exercise grou...
The Power and Possibilities for Understanding Teaching in these Times with Ethnodramatic Inquiries into Teacher Stories: Two Reviews

The following is a review and commentary on two of Charles Vanover’s ethnodramatic performances of the ethnographic interviews of two teachers. At two sessions at two educational conferences, Charles staged verbatim excerpts from each interview to open conversations with teacher educators about the challenges faced by two teachers in Chicago Public Schools. With this review, I explain the structuring behind each performance and the ensuing conversations about teacher challenges and needs in these times. I illuminate how educators can use ethnodramatic inquiries into teacher stories to deepen their understandings of teacher education and to re-write narratives that scapegoat teachers as the problem.
CP violating z t tbar and gamma t tbar couplings at a future e+ e- collider

The effect of new operators that give rise to CP-violating couplings of the type Ztt(bar sign) and {gamma}tt(bar sign) are examined at future electron positron linear colliders (FLC). The impact of these CP violating interactions over standard model predictions was studied for the process e{sup +}e{sup -}{yields}tt(bar sign) with the subsequent decays t{yields}bl{sup +}{nu}{sub l} and t(bar sign){yields}b(bar sign)l{sup -}{nu}(bar sign){sub l}, called the dilepton mode, and t{yields}bl{sup +}{nu}{sub l} and t(bar sign){yields}b(bar sign)q(bar sign)q{sup '} or t{yields}bqq(bar sign){sup '} and t(bar sign){yields}b(bar sign)l{sup -}{nu}(bar sign){sub l}, called the single lepton mode, where the final leptons are l{sup {+-}}=e{sup {+-}} or {mu}{sup {+-}}, and the final quarks are q(q{sup '})=u(d) or c(s). A polarized electron beam and CP observables and asymmetries are used to impose bounds on the anomalous couplings. (c) 2000 The American Physical Society.
Single crystal small core semiconductor optical fibers for all-fiber optoelectronics

Recent development of fabricating small core single-crystal silicon and germanium optical fibers using a visible laser crystallization technique is reviewed. These fibers have potential applications in fiber-based nonlinear optical devices and optoelectronic applications.
Laparoscopic Heller Myotomy Versus Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM) for Achalasia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Objective:To compare the outcome of per oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) and laparoscopic Heller myotomy (LHM) for the treatment of esophageal achalasia.Background:Over the last 2 decades, LHM has become the primary form of treatment in many centers. However, since the first description of POEM in 201
Chronic Fructose Ingestion as a Major Health Concern: Is a Sedentary Lifestyle Making It Worse? A Review

Obesity contributes to metabolic abnormalities such as insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and glucose intolerance, all of which are risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome. The growing prevelance of metabolic syndrome seems to be an end result of our current lifestyle which promotes high caloric, high-fat foods and minimal physical activity, resulting in a state of positive energy balance. Increased adiposity and physical inactivity may represent the beginning of the appearance of these risk factors. Understanding the metabolic and cardiovascular disturbances associated with diet and exercise habits is a crucial step towards reducing the risk factors for metabolic syndrome. Although considerable research has been conducted linking chronic fructose ingestion to the increased prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome risk factors, these studies have mainly been performed on animals, and/or in a post-absorptive state. Further, the magnitude of the effect of fructose may depend on other aspects of the diet, including the total amount of carbohydrates and fats in the diet and the overall consumption of meals. Therefore, the overall aim of this review paper is to examine the effects of a diet high in fructose on postprandial lipidemia, inflammatory markers and glucose tolerance, all risk factors for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Moreover, an objective is to investigate whether increased physical activity can alter such effects.
Preparation and performance features of wristband samplers and considerations for chemical exposure assessment.

Wristbands are increasingly used for assessing personal chemical exposures. Unlike some exposure assessment tools, guidelines for wristbands, such as preparation, applicable chemicals, and transport and storage logistics, are lacking. We tested the wristband’s capacity to capture and retain 148 chemicals including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides, flame retardants, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and volatile organic chemicals (VOCs). The chemicals span a wide range of physical–chemical properties, with log octanol–air partitioning coefficients from 2.1 to 13.7. All chemicals were quantitatively and precisely recovered from initial exposures, averaging 102% recovery with relative SD ≤21%. In simulated transport conditions at +30 °C, SVOCs were stable up to 1 month (average: 104%) and VOC levels were unchanged (average: 99%) for 7 days. During long-term storage at −20 °C up to 3 (VOCs) or 6 months (SVOCs), all chemical levels were stable from chemical degradation or diffusional losses, averaging 110%. Applying a paired wristband/active sampler study with human participants, the first estimates of wristband–air partitioning coefficients for PAHs are presented to aid in environmental air concentration estimates. Extrapolation of these stability results to other chemicals within the same physical–chemical parameters is expected to yield similar results. As we better define wristband characteristics, wristbands can be better integrated in exposure science and epidemiological studies.
Quantifying and visualizing language diversity of Hong Kong using Twitter

The wide penetration of location-aware mobile devices and location-based services renders the location-based social media as a reliable proxy to study the real-world geographic space. Language diversity is an important indicator of a city's internationalization level. People communicate using different languages in the cyberspace of social media as they do in the geographic space. The location-based social media therefore provides an innovative set of lens to map the language diversity and study the internationalization of cities. In the enclosed graphics, based on a collection of geo-tagged Twitter posts, we generated a fine resolution map of language diversity index in the area of Hong Kong to illustrate the potential of location-based social media in city research.
Performance Evaluation of Two 25 kW Residential Wood Pellet Boiler Heating Systems

A significant increase in the use of wood pellets for residential space heating has occurred over the past decade. The performance of two modern residential wood pellet boilers [designated Parishville boiler (PB) and West Potsdam boiler (WPB)] were evaluated, including boiler thermal efficiency, thermal energy storage (TES) tank discharge efficiency, and system efficiency. A correlation applicable to both systems between the boiler thermal efficiency (ηth, %) and the boiler output load (χ, %) was found in the form of ηth = 52.69 ln χ – 137.7, with r2 = 0.79 (for 25 < χ < 75). This equation provides an easy, accurate estimation of the boiler thermal efficiency in field operations. The boiler thermal efficiency decreased with time, and this decline was determined using a Mann–Kendall trend analysis with Sen’s slope. This decrease was primarily the result of fouling in the heat exchanger, and thus, this analysis identifies the need for manual cleaning of the heat exchanger tubes to restore maximal system per...
In the Dark: Sex, Lies, and Fake News in Sam Gold’s Othello

Sam Gold’s production of Othello explores the interrelated themes of war and the cultural construction of identity by foregrounding the play’s encounters between Christianity and Islam. Instead of ...
Case 3-2018: A 5-Month-Old Boy with Hypoglycemia

An Infant with Hypoglycemia A 5-month-old boy was admitted to the intensive care unit for evaluation of suspected hypoglycemia after several episodes of tachypnea in association with fasting. Examination revealed growth failure, doll-like facies, and a protuberant abdomen. A diagnosis was made.
Do stereotypes of veterans affect chances of employment

The purpose of this study is to determine how hiring managers perceive applicants who have U.S. military job experience (i.e., military veterans) and how these perceptions affect ratings of perceived job fit. The study was conducted using an experimental design in which participants reviewed a job d
On elementary, generalized elementary, and liouvillian extension fields

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a new proof of Singer's result that a relatively algebraically closed differential subfield of a generalized elementary extension field is itself generalized elementary, together with a number of new results and extensions of old results on the three types of field in question. By A differential field means a field, together with an indexed family of derivations (of the field. The given derivations of a differential extension field have the same index set and extend the original derivations. This chapter discusses a number of propositions to prove Singer's result through a number of new results and extensions of old results.
Erectile Dysfunction and Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular risk factors are commonly associated with erectile dysfunction and should be identified and treated. Patients with cardiovascular disease should be assessed and counseled regarding their fitness for sexual activity. Sexual activity is associated with a small risk (0.9% attributable risk) of an adverse cardiovascular event. The PDE-5 inhibitors, the most commonly prescribed treatment for erectile dysfunction, are effective and safe in most patients with stable cardiovascular disease. The PDE-5 inhibitors are absolutely contraindicated in patients receiving nitrates for cardiovascular disease or individuals using recreational amyl nitrite/nitrate (“poppers”). Published recommendations such as the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) and Princeton Consensus Guidelines provide a logical approach to the management of patients with cardiovascular disease and erectile dysfunction.
The family team approach to fitness: a proposal.

Abstract Disseminating health information to parents from school-based programs is beneficial in at least four ways: children need the support of their parents if they are to implement the behavior changes they learn in school, parents can benefit from the information themselves, adults may be especially willing to learn about promoting health when they have young children in the home, and efforts to promote healthful behavior changes among children may be more effective if interventions are aimed at attitudes and habits of the family rather than those of individual persons. In this paper are summaries of published research on influencing parents in youth-directed health education interventions, including recent data collected in the Minnesota Heart Health Program. Following the review of the literature is a plan for an in-home nutrition and physical activity intervention that could maximize the impact on the eating and exercise patterns of the parents and their children. Very little research has been reported on how important parents are as participants in the health promotion efforts directed to their children. Funding this proposal would help researchers to learn more about maximizing the impact of primary prevention interventions by studying a process for improving eating and exercise patterns of the family unit--the children and their parents--that could serve as a model health promotion program.
Price of Liberty or Never Again: Americans’ Views on Preventing Mass Murder

Shortly following the mass murders at a concert in Las Vegas, NV and at a church Sutherland Springs, TX, a national sample (n = 1,000) was surveyed in December 2017 regarding gun control policies. ...
Comparison of temperature change and resulting ablation size induced by a 902-928 MHz and a 2450 MHz microwave ablation system in in-vivo porcine kidneys.

Introduction: Microwave ablation (MWA) uses heat to ablate undesired tissue. Development of pre-planning algorithms for MWA of small renal masses requires understanding of microwave-tissue interact...
Validation of the Modified Frailty Phenotype Measure in Older Mexican Americans.

OBJECTIVES Develop and validate a modified frailty phenotype measure for older Mexican Americans participating in the Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiological Study of the Elderly (H-EPESE) and related studies. DESIGN Expert-based panel evaluation of content validity, cross-sectional analysis of construct validity, and longitudinal analysis of criterion validity for a modified version of the frailty phenotype measure. SETTING Five southwestern states. PARTICIPANTS A total of 1833 community-dwelling Mexican Americans aged 67 years or older. MEASUREMENTS Frailty was assessed using the frailty phenotype measure (weight loss, weakness, exhaustion, slowness, and low physical activity) and a modified frailty phenotype measure (replacing "low physical activity" with "limitations in walking half a mile"). Each individual was classified as non-frail, pre-frail, or frail based on both frailty measures (original vs modified). Expert panel consensus was used to examine content validity. Spearman correlation, κ, weighted κ, and bootstrapping κ examined construct validity (n = 1833). Generalized linear mixed models, odds ratios, Cox proportional regression models, hazard ratios, and C statistics were used to analyze criterion validity (n = 1446) across four outcomes: hospitalization, physician visits, disability, and mortality from wave 3 (1998-99) through wave 8 (2012-13). RESULTS The original and modified frailty phenotype measures had a strong correlation (r = .89; P < .000) and agreement (κ = .84; 95% confidence interval [CI] = .81-.86; weighted κ = .86; 95% CI = .84-.88; bootstrap κ = .84; 95% CI = .81-.86; bootstrap-weighted κ = .86; 95% CI = .84-.88 with 1000 bootstrapping samples). Four outcome models showed similar risk predictions for both frailty measures, with the exception of physician visits for frail participants. CONCLUSION "Limitations in walking half a mile" can be used as a substitute criterion for "low physical activity" in assessing frailty. The modified frailty phenotype measure was comparable with the original frailty phenotype measure in H-EPESE participants over time. Our results indicate the modified frailty phenotype is a useful longitudinally frailty measure for community-dwelling older Mexican Americans. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:2393-2397, 2019.
Sensitivity Analysis and Controller Design of High Power LCC-LCC Compensated Wireless Battery Charging For Electric Ship Applications

Wireless power transfer (WPT) system is emerging in the marine application as more ships are becoming battery-powered. In this paper, a control method is proposed for a high-power wireless chaging system for charging electric ship. In the marine application, the ship is subject to continuous horizontal and vertical misalignment due to sea waves. Battery charging time is another challenge, especially in time-demanding mission-critical operations. To address these new issues, the sensitivity of a WPT system to the variation of magnetic coupling and load has been analytically investigated, and a new adaptive control method has been proposed. The analytical model has been verified through the simulations that emulate the variation of the mutual inductance in marine applications. The proposed control has been experimentally validated using a 5 kW prototype wireless charging system under the electric ship’s horizontal and vertical misalignment conditions.
Learning about Growth and Democracy

We develop and estimate a model of learning that accounts for the observed correlation between economic development and democracy and for the clustering of democratization events. In our model, countries’ own and neighbors’ past experiences shape elites’ beliefs about the effects of democracy on economic growth and their likelihood of retaining power. These beliefs influence the choice to transition into or out of democracy. We show that learning is crucial to explaining observed transitions since the mid-twentieth century. Moreover, our model predicts reversals to authoritarianism if the world experienced a growth shock the size of the Great Depression.
Impact of ATD-2 Tools on Human Factor Metrics at Charlotte Douglas International Airport

New decision support tools were introduced at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) as part of NASA's Air Traffic Demonstration 2 (ATD-2) project. ATD-2 is based on concepts which enable integrated arrival, departures, and surface (IADS) operations in a metroplex environment. Metrics on environmental benefits from ATD-2's surface metering at CLT have shown impressive reductions in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Questions have remained on 1) the human factors impact of these new ATD-2 tools and surface metering and 2) the users' perceptions of how these tools affect operations. To address these questions, post-bank surveys were designed for the four types of users of the new tools at CLT: Ramp Controllers, Ramp Managers, Tower Traffic Management Coordinators (TMCs) and Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) TMCs. These surveys were administered during five-day blocks at three different times. Three types of banks were compared: No ATD-2 tool use, ATD-2 tool use, and ATD-2 use plus surface metering. Results indicate that higher workload or decreased situation awareness was not significantly associated with ATD-2 tool use more than no ATD-2 tool use‐‐in fact for many users the opposite was true. Also, acceptability and operational efficiency measures indicate that the users did not perceive that banks with ATD-2 tools were significantly less acceptable or less efficient than banks without ATD-2 tools.
El aire y la piedra

Me la paso observando las calles vacias durante la cuarentena de 2020: los negocios cerrados, las hojas de los periodicos volando por las veredas sin que nadie las recoja; las ratas que estan de fiesta y corren con total libertad. Es cierto que estas son las duenas de las vias ahora que los humanos se han ido. Pero, hacer acto de presencia de este concierto en gris mayor no provoca la alegria. De hecho, la caminata es incomoda; se respira la soledad. Apuro la vuelta a mi casa donde prendo la television a la espera del teleperiodista que me cuente los desastres del dia: el numero de muertos, el numero de contagiados, el numero de colegios que van a cerrar sus puertas para el inicio del ano escolar. El presidente (a quien me niego a nombrar) repite por television que todos estamos bien, que Estados Unidos es el mejor pais del mundo y que todo esta bajo control; odio la monotonia de su voz, su mal humor, su falta de etica, su infatigable estupidez. No veo la hora en que se vaya. Cuento los dias que le quedan hasta las elecciones de noviembre. Asi yo tambien disfruto, a mi manera, de cierta fe en los numeros; en este caso, son el tamano de mi esperanza.
Developmental exposures to perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) impact embryonic nutrition, pancreatic morphology, and adiposity in the zebrafish, Danio rerio.

Abstract Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) is a persistent environmental contaminant previously found in consumer surfactants and industrial fire-fighting foams. PFOS has been widely implicated in metabolic dysfunction across the lifespan, including diabetes and obesity. However, the contributions of the embryonic environment to metabolic disease remain uncharacterized. This study seeks to identify perturbations in embryonic metabolism, pancreas development, and adiposity due to developmental and subchronic PFOS exposures and their persistence into later larval and juvenile periods. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to 16 or 32 μM PFOS developmentally (1–5 days post fertilization; dpf) or subchronically (1–15 dpf). Embryonic fatty acid and macronutrient concentrations and expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) isoforms were quantified in embryos. Pancreatic islet morphometry was assessed at 15 and 30 dpf, and adiposity and fish behavior were assessed at 15 dpf. Concentrations of lauric (C12:0) and myristic (C14:0) saturated fatty acids were increased by PFOS at 4 dpf, and PPAR gene expression was reduced. Incidence of aberrant islet morphologies, principal islet areas, and adiposity were increased in 15 dpf larvae and 30 dpf juvenile fish. Together, these data suggest that the embryonic period is a susceptible window of metabolic programming in response to PFOS exposures, and that these early exposures alone can have persisting effects later in the lifecourse.
Artificial Intelligence in Colorectal Polyp Detection and Characterization.

Background: Over the past 20 years, the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning (DL) has allowed for fast sorting and analysis of large sets of data. In the field of gastroenterology, colorectal screening procedures produces an abundance of data through video and imaging. With AI and DL, this information can be used to create systems where automatic polyp detection and characterization is possible. Convoluted Neural Networks (CNNs) have proven to be an effective way to increase polyp detection and ultimately adenoma detection rates. Different methods of polyp characterization of being hyperplastic vs. adenomatous or non-neoplastic vs. neoplastic has also been investigated showing promising results. Findings: The rate of missed polyps on colonoscopy can be as high as 25%. At the beginning of the 2000s, hand-crafted machine learning (ML) algorithms were created and trained retrospectively on colonoscopy images and videos, achieving high sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of over 90% in many of the studies. Over time, the advancement of DL and CNNs has allowed algorithms to be trained on non-medical images and applied retrospectively to colonoscopy videos and images with similar results. Within the past few years, these algorithms have been applied in real-time colonoscopies and has shown mixed results, one showing no difference while others showing increased polyp detection. Various methods of polyp characterization have also been investigated. Through AI, DL, and CNNs polyps can be identified has hyperplastic/adenomatous or non-neoplastic/neoplastic with high sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. One of the research areas in polyp characterization is how to capture the polyp image. This paper looks at different modalities of characterizing polyps such as magnifying narrow band imaging (NBI), endocytoscopy, laser-induced florescent spectroscopy, auto-florescent endoscopy, and white-light endoscopy. Conclusions: Overall, much progress has been made in automatic detection and characterization of polyps in real time. Barring ethical or mass adoption setbacks, it is inevitable that AI will be involved in the field of GI, especially in colorectal polyp detection and identification.
Robust, Fiducial-Free Drift Correction for Super-resolution Imaging

ABSTRACT We describe a robust, fiducial-free method of drift correction for use in single molecule localization-based super-resolution methods. The method combines periodic 3D registration of the sample using brightfield images with a fast post-processing algorithm that corrects residual registration errors and drift between registration events. The method is robust to low numbers of collected localizations, requires no specialized hardware, and provides stability and drift correction for an indefinite time period.
“And it never happened”: Leaving the War Behind

In this chapter, the eight women represented in this work discuss feelings of disillusionment, anger, isolation, and the legitimacy of the Vietnam War. Women also speak about the difficulties transitioning from the military to civilian life, their dissatisfaction with civilian nursing, and their pursuit of higher education. This chapter documents the effects of the war on the personal and professional lives of the women and draws attention to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other health issues specific to female veterans. And finally, the women in this study reflect on their lives and careers post-Vietnam War.
Outcomes in Lung Cancer Surgery: Capturing Reliable Metrics

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND Measuring variation in perioperative outcomes to accurately discriminate performance between surgical providers may be limited by reliability. We aimed to evaluate reliability estimates of metrics associated with lung cancer resection. METHODS We performed a retrospective cohort study utilizing the 2015 National Cancer Database to identify patients undergoing lung cancer resection. Primary outcomes were reliability estimates for perioperative outcomes and for measures of adherence to clinical benchmarks, generated through hierarchical multi-level modeling techniques. RESULTS We identified 27,300 patients undergoing resection. Overall risk- and reliability-adjusted 30- and 90-day mortality rates were 1.7% and 3.3%, respectively; 61.0% and 41.1% of eligible patients received stage-appropriate adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapy. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) was performed in 59.6% of cases with clinical stage I disease. The mean reliability of 30- and 90-day mortality was 0.11 (standard deviation (SD) 0.09) and 0.22 (SD 0.15), respectively; for performing VATS for stage I disease, 0.97 (SD 0.04). When stratified by hospital volume quartile, the mean reliability of 30-day mortality was 0.04 (SD 0.03) in the lowest and 0.20 (SD 0.10) in the highest quartile. Only 14% of hospitals met an established 0.7 reliability benchmark for 30- and 90-day mortality, but over 97% of hospitals exceeded these benchmarks for providing stage-appropriate systemic therapy and performing VATS for stage I disease. CONCLUSIONS Metrics used to compare lung cancer surgical performance between providers have varying levels of reliability. Reliability should be considered when profiling providers, which will become particularly important as lung cancer treatment under screening programs continues to expand.
With great power comes great responsibility: inquiry into the social roles and the power dynamics in human-AI interactions

As machines are becoming more interactive, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) agents, the importance of interactions between humans and AI increases as a new type of communication. However, unlik...
Behavioral Teratogenesis Resulting from Early Cadmium Exposure

Cadmium is a pollutant of considerable concern, not only in the industrial setting, but also in the environment. In addition to the acute and chronic toxicities associated with its use in industrial and manufacturing processes, cadmium (Cd), because of its exceptional ability to accumulate in living organisms, also represents an increasing hazard for the population in general.
Report on the Status of the Indiana University Cyclotron Facility and Preparations for Initial Experiments

The IUCF accelerator consists of three stages (see Fig. 1). The preinjector and injector cyclotron were constructed in the main physics department building and operated there for the first time in May, 1972. They were moved to the new accelerator building in late 1972 and brought into operation again with some modifications and improvements in October, 1973. Assembly of the main cyclotron began in December, 1971 soon after the new accelerator building became available for occupancy and continued in parallel with the reassembly and testing of the small cyclotron. Rough vacuum was first obtained on March 6, 1975, high vacuum on April 2 and first rf voltage on May 15. A beam of 10 MeV protons was injected into the main cyclotron for the first time on June 13, 1975. The present goal is to achieve acceleration in the main cyclotron and extraction during the summer and beam on target in September, 1975. This will allow the first experiments to begin in the late fall of 1975.
A life cycle comparison of disposal and beneficial use of coal combustion products in Florida

Currently, only 40%, or 44.5 million metric tons, of coal combustion products (CCPs) generated in the United States each year by electric utilities are diverted from disposal in landfills or surface impoundments and recycled. Despite promising economic and environmental savings, there has been scant attention devoted to assessing life cycle impacts of CCP disposal and beneficial use. The objective of this paper is to present a life cycle inventory considering two cases of CCP management, including the stages of coal mining and preparation, coal combustion, CCP disposal, and CCP beneficial use. Six beneficial uses were considered: concrete production, structural fills, soil amendments, road construction, blasting grit and roofing granules, and wallboard. Primary data for raw material inputs and emissions of all stages considered were obtained from surveys and site visits of coal-burning utilities in Florida conducted in 2002, and secondary data were obtained from various published sources and from databases available in SimaPro 5.1 (PRe Consultants, Amersfoort, The Netherlands). Results revealed that 50 percent of all CCPs produced, or 108 kg per 1,000 kg of coal combusted, are diverted for application in a beneficial use; however, the relative amounts sold by each utility is dependent on the process operating parameters, air emission control devices, and resulting quality of CCP. Diversion of 50% of all CCPs to beneficial use applications yields a decrease in the total raw materials requirements (with the exception of gravel and iron) and most emissions to air, water, and land, as compared to 100% disposal. The greatest reduction of raw materials was attributed to replacing Portland cement with fly ash, using bottom ash as an aggregate in concrete production and road construction in place of natural materials, and substituting FGD gypsum for natural gypsum in wallboard. The use of fly ash as cementitious material in concrete also promised significant reductions in emissions, particularly the carbon dioxide that would be generated from Portland cement production. Beneficial uses of fly ash and gypsum showed reductions of emissions to water (particularly total dissolved solids) and emissions of metals to land, although these reductions were small compared to simply diverting 50% of all CCPs from landfills or surface impoundments. This life cycle inventory (LCI) provides the foundation for assessing the impacts of CCP disposal and beneficial use. Beneficial use of CCPs is shown here to yield reductions in raw material requirements and various emissions to all environmental compartments, with potential tangible savings to human health and the environment. Extension of this life cycle inventory to include impact assessment and sensitivity analysis will enable a determination of whether the savings in emissions reported here actually result in significant improvements in environmental and human health impacts.
The impact of vocabulary normalization

Software development, evolution, and maintenance depend on ever increasing tool support. Recent tools have incorporated increasing analysis of the natural language found in source code, predominately in the identifiers and comments. However, when coders combine abbreviations and acronyms to form multi-word identifiers, they, in essence, invent new vocabulary making the source code's vocabulary differ from that of other software artifacts. This vocabulary mismatch is a potential problem for many techniques imported from information retrieval and natural language processing, which implicitly assume the use of a single common vocabulary. Vocabulary normalization aims to bring the vocabulary of the source in line with that of other artifacts.
Evaluation of fungal growth on cellulose-containing and inorganic ceiling tile

Buildings with poor indoor air quality (IAQ) frequently have many areas with surface fungal contamination. Studies have demonstrated that certain fungal genera (e.g., Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Stachybotrys) are able to grow on building materials such as wallpaper, drywall, and ceiling tiles, particularly after water damage has occurred. Due to the increasing awareness of sick building syndrome (SBS), it has become essential to identify building materials that prevent the interior growth of fungi. The objective of this study was to identify building materials that would not support the growth of certain fungal genera, regardless of whether an external food source was made available. The growth of three fungal genera (Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Stachybotrys) was evaluated on cellulose-containing ceiling tile (CCT) and inorganic ceiling tile (ICT). Both types of ceiling tile were exposed to environmental conditions which can occur inside a building. Our results show that ICT did not support the growth of these three fungal genera while CCT did. Our data demonstrate that ICT could serve as an ideal replacement for CCT.