cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vibrational echoes: Dephasing, rephasing, and the stability of classical trajectories

The experimental observables in coherent, multiple pulse infrared spectroscopic measurements can be calculated from the nonlinear response functions describing the nuclear dynamics of molecular and condensed phase systems. Within classical mechanics, these nonlinear response functions can be expressed in terms of the monodromy matrices that quantify the stability of classical trajectories. We use an ensemble of noninteracting, anharmonic oscillators to examine the effects of the divergence in time of the classical stability matrix on the analytic properties of the third-order response function, relevant to vibrational echo spectroscopy. The twopulse echo measurement is designed to rephase a macroscopic variable, that is, to reverse the effects of destructive interference among the dynamics of microscopic systems characterized by a static distribution of energies. Within classical mechanics, this rephasing is shown to preserve the growth with time of the nonlinear response function that is the signature of the divergence of nearby trajectories. For systems with nearly classical nuclear motions, the vibrational echo measurement may then be interpreted as a probe of the stability of atomic trajectories. I. Introduction Observables in nonlinear infrared and Raman measurements 1-7 of nuclear motions may be computed from nonlinear response functions characterizing the material system. The challenges posed by computing nonlinear response functions for large anharmonic systems with time-dependent quantum mechanics has motivated the analysis of these quantities within classical mechanics. 8-17 Nonlinear response functions of a classical mechanical system may not be calculated directly from a conventional, equilibrium molecular dynamics simulation, because their computation requires knowledge of stability matrices, 8 which quantify the effects of small deviations in initial conditions on classical trajectories. An alternative to simulating nonlinear response functions, which obviates the need to compute stability matrices, is to perform a nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulation of the material system in the presence of an electromagnetic field and to evaluate numerically the appropriate low-field limit. 15-17 The relevance of stability matrices to nonlinear optical measurements is intuitively clear.
A case-study of the evolution of polar-cap currents and auroral electrojets during polar geomagnetic disturbances with IMS magnetometer data

The development of the polar cap current and the relationship of that development to the evolution of auroral electrojets during individual polar geomagnetic disturbances is studied using 1 min average data from US-Canada IMS network stations and standard magnetograms from sites on the polar cap and in the auroral zone. It is found that even when the auroral electrojet activity is weak, polar cap currents producing fields of magnitude approximately 100-200 nT almost always exist. A normal convection current system exists quasi-persistently in the polar cap during extended quiet or weakly disturbed periods of auroral electrojet activity. After one such period, some drastic changes occur in the polar cap currents, which are followed by phases of growth, expansion, and recovery. Polar cap currents cannot all be completely ascribed to a single source mechanism.
Response class interference in STM

In this experiment, we investigated why the performance decline across a series of Brown-Peterson trials, using a constant short (30-sec) intertriai interval (ITI), is reversed by increasing the ITI on the subsequent trial. One interpretation is that the increased time serves as a marker that emphasizes the succeeding trial and its information, resulting in better recall. In the present experiment, we increased the ITI by presenting a word matrix to be read during the added time interval. For different groups the matrix was of the same semantic material as the memory triads, was quite similar, or was quite different. The amount of improvement on the next trial was a function of the degree of semantic disparity between the matrices and the memory triads. Mere presentation of the matrix was not sufficient to influence performance on the subsequent trial, but the semantic nature of the matrices did exert such an influence.
Modeling of a large‐scale magneto‐rheological damper for seismic hazard mitigation. Part II: Semi‐active mode

SUMMARY Magneto-rheological (MR) dampers are a promising device for seismic hazard mitigation because their damping characteristics can be varied adaptively using an appropriate control law. During the last few decades researchers have investigated the behavior of MR dampers and semi-active control laws associated with these types of dampers for earthquake hazard mitigation. A majority of this research has involved small-scale MR dampers. To investigate the dynamic behavior of a large-scale MR damper, characterization tests were conducted at the Lehigh Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation equipment site on large-scale MR dampers. A new MR damper model, called the Maxwell Nonlinear Slider (MNS) model, is developed based on the characterization tests and is reported in this paper. The MNS model can independently describe the pre-yield and post-yield behavior of an MR damper, which makes it easy to identify the model parameters. The MNS model utilizes Hershel–Bulkley visco-plasticity to describe the post-yield non-Newtonian fluid behavior, that is, shear thinning and thickening behavior, of the MR fluid that occurs in the dampers. The predicted response of a large-scale damper from the MNS model along with that from existing Bouc–Wen and hyperbolic tangent models, are compared with measured response from various experiments. The comparisons show that the MNS model achieves better accuracy than the existing models in predicting damper response under cyclic loading. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Scholarly Activity and Research Requirement at the Paul L. Foster School of Medicine

The Paul L. Foster School of Medicine (PLFSOM) is the newest of nine allopathic medical schools located in Texas, welcoming its inaugural class in 2010. The basic — clinical science curriculum during the first two years is based on a highly integrated, clinical presentation model that blends basic science materials into a continuum that disrupts classical boundaries and allows the students both a better grasp of basic principles and retention of material. In parallel to the highly dynamic, active-learning core curriculum, a Scholarly Activity and Research Program (SARP) has been implemented that requires the students to identify a mentor and develop an independent research project early in their training. Considerable flexibility is designed into this SARP requirement, along with an expectation that the students, under guidance by their mentor and the SARP faculty will foster self-directed learning skills and behaviors that will serve them well during their medical careers.
EFFECT OF GRINDING ON STRENGTH OF TETRAGONAL ZIRCONIA AND ZIRCONIA-TOUGHENED ALUMINA

Abstract The effect of grinding-induced damage, on the strength of a yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (Y-TZP) and a zirconia-tough-ened alumina (ZTA) was investigated. The four-point flexure test was used to measure fracture strength as a function of grinding conditions. Flexure bar specimens were prepared by surface grinding transverse to the tensile stress direction in flexure testing. Two series of grinding experiments were performed. In the first series, four wheels with diamond particle sizes ranging from 25 to 180 μ,m were used to grind specimens at a fixed depth of cut. The strength of the Y-TZP decreased slightly with increasing diamond particle size. For ZTA the strength loss was increased as diamond particle size was increased. In the second series, one grinding wheel with a diamond particle size of 180 μm was used to grind specimens at a depth of cut per pass ranging from 2.5 to 100 μm. The Y-TZP showed a slight decrease in strength when the depth of cut was increased. However,...
An assistive navigation paradigm using force feedback

As computer technology advances and facilitates an increased amount of autonomous sensing and control, the interface between the human and autonomous computer systems becomes increasingly important. This applies in particular in the realm of service robotics where robots with increasing levels of autonomy are constantly interacting with human users and where it is paramount to have an efficient way to convey user intentions and commands to the robot system and indicate robot control choices to the user in a "natural", intuitive way. This paper introduces technologies aimed at facilitating the integration of autonomous path planning capabilities with intuitive human control using a force-feedback interface not just as a tool for obstacle avoidance, but also as a tool for guiding the user to their goal. This is seen as a preferable alternative to completely autonomous performance, as users prefer to maintain some level of control. To this point, harmonic function path planning has been integrated to create a new, more robust force­ feedback paradigm. A force-feedback joystick has been used to communicate information from the user to the robot control system which uses this to infer and interpret the user's navigation intentions as well as from the harmonic function-based autonomous control system to the user to indicate the system's suggestions. To demonstrate and evaluate its capabilities this new paradigm has been implemented within the Microsoft Robotics Studio framework and tested in a simulated mobile system, with positive results.
A layered video object coding system using sprite and affine motion model

A layered video object coding system is presented in this paper. The goal is to improve video coding efficiency by exploiting the layering of video and to support content-based functionality. These two objectives are accomplished using a sprite technique and an affine motion model on a per-object basis. Several novel algorithms have been developed for mask processing and coding, trajectory coding, sprite accretion and coding, locally affine motion compensation, error signal suppression, and image padding. Compared with conventional frame-based coding methods, better experimental results on both hybrid and natural scenes have been obtained using our coding scheme. We also demonstrate content-based functionality which can be easily achieved in our system.
Rethinking Legal Pluralism: Local Law and State Law in the Evolution of Water Property Rights in Northwestern Spain

In recent years, approaches to legal pluralism have shifted dramatically. One shift comes from within a school of fieldwork-oriented anthropologists, historians, and sociologists known as the law-and-society movement.The Law and Society Review, and to a lesser extent, Law and Social Inquiry, are the main outlets of the movement. Studies of legal pluralism are published in these journals and increasingly so, since its founding in 1981, in the Journal of Legal Pluralism. Before the turn, law-and-society scholars viewed local, national, and transnational legal systems as coexisting but essentially separate. Criticisms of the inherent stasis of this formulation and its failure to explore interactions between the systems or power inequalities among them motivated the shift (Griffiths 1986; Starr and Collier 1994; Merry 1988, 1992). The new legal pluralism, as it is called, now includes an expanded range of normative ordering systems, often labeled private governance, found in all societies, not only those with colonial histories but also those produced by transnational processes (Galanter 1981; Merry 1992). It addresses the dialectic, mutually constitutive relations of these systems rather than their separateness (Arthurs 1985; Benda-Beckman andStrijbosch 1986; Fitzpatrick 1983; Henry 1985; Vanderlinden 1989).
A review on inductive charging for electric vehicles

The scarce supply of fossil fuel in the mere future has driven the development of electric vehicles (EV) worldwide. Plug-in connectors have been commonly proposed for EV charging, however, these systems have disadvantages such as safety, esthete, and operation in snow. Therefore, a new method to inductively charge the vehicle without any physical contact has been proposed. This paper presents a state of the art literature review on the recent advancements of Inductive Power Transfer (IPT) technology used in EV charging. A possible future technology to solve the inherent range anxiety problem is also presented using roadway electrification and in-motion power transfer concepts.
Visual Resource Reference: Collaboration Between Digital Museums and Digital Libraries

The Information Institute of Syracuse at Syracuse University is engaged in a project designed to build collaborative digital museum and digital library reference services. To that end, the project team is currently developing, testing, and evaluating procedures and mechanisms that will enable museums and libraries to work together in providing reference assistance over the Web to support patrons' image information needs. The user-centered project is based upon a successful model for digital reference that has been widely embraced in the digital library community. This approach is expected to yield new insight into users' image seeking behavior that will help museums and libraries provide transparent access to visual resources across collections and institutions. This article presents an overview of the project and discusses the challenges involved in helping users find appropriate images on the web.
El cine y las relaciones culturales entre México y Estados Unidos durante la década de 1930

Examina el papel que el cine desempeno en las relaciones politicas, ideologicas y culturales entre Mexico y Estados Unidos en la epoca en que se consolidaron las bases para el desarrollo de vinculos de colaboracion estable entre ambos paises en los anos cincuenta.
Data services for E-tailers leveraging web search engine assets

Retail is increasingly moving online. There are only a few big e-tailers but there is a long tail of small-sized e-tailers. The big e-tailers are able to collect significant data on user activities at their websites. They use these assets to derive insights about their products and to provide superior experiences for their users. On the other hand, small e-tailers do not possess such user data and hence cannot match the rich user experiences offered by big e-tailers. Our key insight is that web search engines possess significant data on user behaviors that can be used to help smaller e-tailers mine the same signals that big e-tailers derive from their proprietary user data assets. These signals can be exposed as data services in the cloud; e-tailers can leverage them to enable similar user experiences as the big e-tailers. We present three such data services in the paper: entity synonym data service, query-to-entity data service and entity tagging data service. The entity synonym service is an in-production data service that is currently available while the other two are data services currently in development at Microsoft. Our experiments on product datasets show (i) these data services have high quality and (ii) they have significant impact on user experiences on e-tailer websites. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper to explore the potential of using search engine data assets for e-tailers.
Clostridium Difficile Infection in the Hematopoietic Unit: A Meta-Analysis of Published Studies

Abstract Hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients are at high risk of contracting Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). We systematically searched the PubMed and EMBASE databases through March 2014 and performed a random-effects meta-analysis to estimate the prevalence and trends of CDI over time. Among 48 eligible articles that included 12,025 patients at risk, we estimated that 7.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.5% to 9.5%) of HSCT patients are diagnosed with CDI during the peri-transplantation and late post-transplantation periods, an estimation that is relatively consistent across studies (τ2 = .032). Prevalence of CDI is significantly higher among the 5120 allogeneic patients (9.3% [95% CI, 7.0% to 11.9%]), compared with the 4665 autologous patients (5.2% [95% CI, 3.8% to 6.9%]) (P = .02), and as many as 1 of 10 allogeneic transplant recipients are expected to be diagnosed with CDI compared with 1 of 20 autologous transplantation patients. However, this difference did not reach statistical significance when stratified data from the same centers were examined (P = .11). Importantly, we found an increasing trend of CDI diagnosis both worldwide (P = .02) and across studies conducted in North America (P = .03) over the last 34 years. Notably, studies with a follow-up period that extended through the late post-transplantation period (after day +100) had a similar prevalence of CDI as those that followed patients only during the peri-transplantation period (up to day +100) (P = .94). In summary, CDI is common in the hematopoietic transplantation setting and the majority of infections occur in the peri-transplantation period. The prevalence is almost 9-times higher than that reported among all hospital stays, with an increasing trend over time.
Interaction and Behavior in Web-Based Shared Virtual Environments

VRML has already become the standard for the exchange of static 3D scenes on the Web. However, several approaches were recently made to extend it by behaviors and interactions in order to support interactive 3D applications on the Internet. Most of these approaches including the current VRML 2.0 draft specification apply to single, isolated users, browsing through virtual worlds. But already in the near future, large numbers of users will share a single virtual space and par- ticipate at virtual events. To support this kind of applications, a more flexible approach is required. In this paper we will present our approach to support interac- tions of multiple users as well as behaviors in shared virtual en- vironments, based on VRML by using a flexible and distribut- able event and message passing model.
Universal controllers with nonlinear integrators

We consider a single-input single-output minimum-phase nonlinear system which has a well-defined normal form. To improve the transient performance, universal integral controllers with nonlinear integrators are proposed. We prove regional stability as well as semiglobal results. Simulation results are presented showing the improved overshoot and settling time.
Determination of three-dimensional object location and orientation from range images

A technique for determining the distortion parameters (location and orientation) of general three-dimensional objects from a single range image view is introduced. The technique is based on an extension of the straight-line Hough transform to three-dimensional space. It is very efficient and robust, since the dimensionality of the feature space is low and since it uses range images directly (with no preprocessing such as segmentation and edge or gradient detection). Because the feature space separates the translation and rotation effects, a hierarchical algorithm to detect object rotation and translation is possible. The new Hough space can also be used as a feature space for discriminating among three-dimensional objects. >
Medication Use in the Treatment of Pediatric Insomnia: Results of a Survey of Community-Based Pediatricians

Objectives. To examine clinical practice patterns, beliefs, and attitudes regarding the use of both nonprescription and prescription medications by community-based pediatricians for children with significant difficulties in initiating and/or maintaining sleep. Methods. A survey was mailed to 3424 American Academy of Pediatrics members in 6 US cities. Results. The final sample ( n = 671) consisted of practitioners who identified themselves as primary care pediatricians. Three percent ± 7% of visits in the respondents’ practices were for pediatric insomnia, although there was a wide range in the numbers of children identified during a typical 6-month practice period. More than 75% of practitioners had recommended nonprescription medications, and >50% had prescribed a sleep medication. Specific clinical circumstances in which medications were most commonly used were acute pain and travel, followed by children with special needs (mental retardation, autism, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder). Antihistamines were the most commonly reported nonprescription medications for sleep. Melatonin or herbal remedies had been recommended by approximately 15% of the respondents. α-agonists were the most frequently prescribed sleep medications (31%). The likelihood of prescribing medication for sleep was 2- to 4-fold greater in respondents who treated children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder for daytime behavioral problems or nocturnal sleep problems, respectively. Practitioners expressed a range of concerns about sleep medication appropriateness, safety, tolerance, and side effects in children. Conclusions. The practice of prescribing or recommending sedatives and hypnotics for pediatric insomnia is common among community-based pediatricians, especially among special needs patients. An empirically based approach to the use of these medications is needed.
Evaluating the precision of static reference analysis using profiling

Program analyses and optimizations of Java programs require reference information that determines the instances that may be accessed through dereferences. Reference information can be computed using reference analysis. This paper presents a set of studies that evaluate the precision of two existing approaches for identifying instances and one approach for computing reference information in a reference analysis. The studies use dynamic reference information collected during run-time as a lower bound approximation to the precise reference information. The studies measure the precision of an existing approach by comparing the information computed using the approach with the lower bound approximation. The paper also presents case studies that attempt to identify the cases under which an existing approach is not effective. The presented studies provide information that may guide the usage of existing reference-analysis techniques and the development of new reference analysis techniques.
Efficacy of candidate chemicals for preventing attachment of zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha)

Forty-seven chemicals having potential for preventing the attachment of zebra mussels Dreissena polymorpha were identified and tested. For each chemical, 15 zebra mussels (5–8-mm shell length) in each of two replicates and six treatments were exposed for 48 h followed by a 48-h postexposure period in untreated water. Eleven of the chemicals inhibited the reattachment of zebra mussels after the 48-h exposure; eight had EC50 values ranging from 0.4 to 5.4 mg/L, and three had EC50 values ranging from 19.4 to 29.0 mg/L. Based on an analysis of chemical cost, solubility in water, anticipated treatment concentrations, and potential hazards to humans or the environment, three of the most promising chemicals, all antioxidants, (butylated hydroxyanisole [BHA], tert-butylhydroquinone, and tannic acid) were tested on nontarget fish (bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus; channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus; and rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss). These chemicals were not selectively toxic to zebra mussels; only the tests with bluegill and BHA and with channel catfish and tannic acid had 48-h LC50 values greater than the concentrations effective for preventing the reattachment of zebra mussels. Although the attachment of zebra mussels can be prevented with selected antioxidants, an alternative formulation should be investigated to minimize effects on nontarget organisms, such as fish.
Impacts of ENSO on Snowfall Frequencies in the United States

Abstract Changes in the frequency of occurrence of snowfall during El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events are presented for the continental United States. This study is motivated by the need to improve winter climate forecasts for government agencies (i.e., U.S. Department of Transportation and Department of Energy) and winter entertainment facilities and the need for climatological studies. Daily snowfall data from 442 stations in the U.S. Historical Climatology Network are utilized. Selected stations each have more than 20 yr with 15 or more snowfall events per year during a 97-yr (1900–97) period of study. Three categories are created for each ENSO phase, based on the magnitude of daily snowfall amounts (in millimeters)—light: (0–50.8], moderate: (50.8–152.4], and heavy: (152.4–304.8]. Differences between neutral and cold or warm ENSO winters are created to show regions with increased or decreased occurrences in each snowfall category. Statistical tests are applied at each station to provide confid...
Selective estrogen receptor modulators and betulinic acid act synergistically to target ERα and SP1 transcription factor dependent Pygopus expression in breast cancer

Aims Estrogen and progesterone hormone receptor (ER and PR) expression in invasive breast cancer predicts response to hormone disruptive therapy. Pygopus 2 (h PYGO2 ) encodes a chromatin remodelling protein important for breast cancer growth and cell cycle progression. The aims of this study were to determine the mechanism of expression of h PYGO2 in breast cancer and to examine how this expression is affected therapeutically. Methods hPYGO2 and ER protein expression was examined in a breast tumour microarray by immunohistochemistry. hPYGO2 RNA and protein expression was examined in ER+ and ER− breast cancer cell lines in the presence of selective estrogen hormone receptor modulator drugs and the specificity protein-1 (SP1) inhibitor, betulinic acid (BA). The effects of these drugs on the ability for ER and SP1 to bind the h PYGO2 promoter and affect cell cycle progression were studied using chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. Results hPYGO2 was expressed in seven of eight lines and in nuclei of 98% of 65 breast tumours, including 3 Ductal carcinoma in situ and 62 invasive specimens representing ER-negative (22%) and ER-positive (78%) cases. Treatment with either 4-Hydroxytamoxifen (OHT) or fulvestrant reduced hPYGO2 mRNA 10-fold and protein 5–10-fold within 4 h. Promoter analysis indicated an ER/SP1 binding site at nt −225 to −531 of h PYGO2 . SP1 RNA interference and BA reduced hPYGO2 protein and RNA expression by fivefold in both ER- and ER+ cells. Further attenuation was achieved by combining BA and 4-OHT resulting in eightfold reduction in cell growth. Conclusions Our findings reveal a mechanistic link between hormone signalling and the growth transcriptional programme. The activation of its expression by ERα and/or SP1 suggests hPYGO2 as a theranostic target for hormone therapy responsive and refractory breast cancer.
Abstract TMP21: The Increased tPA Utilization in Recent Years has Disproportionately Benefited White Men.

Intravenous tPA utilization has increased in the United States across the last decade. Gender disparities in tPA use are recognized. While blacks are at a disadvantage with regards to tPA use, little is known about stroke care among hispanic patients. We tested the hypothesis that the rise in tPA utilization differentially affected race and gender subgroups. Data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) for the years 2001 through 2009 were analyzed. The data represents a 20% sample of all inpatient hospitalizations in the United States. Patients discharged with a diagnosis of Ischemic stroke were identified using ICD-9 codes. The code 99.10 was used to identify patients who received tPA. Trends in utilization were compared between race and gender subgroups. The NIS had 1,003,533 ischemic stroke discharges over 9 years. Race data was available in 757,238 patients. All races demonstrated significant increase in tPA utilization between 2001 and 2009: 1.15% to 4% among whites; 0.83% to 3.30% among blacks and 0.72% to 2.91% among hispanic (p for trend
Animal Cruelty, A Crime Against Public Order and Decency: Why the Model Penal Code Should Be Revised to Change this Outdated Misconception

The Model Penal Code needs to be revised to eliminate “Cruelty to Animals” § 250.11 under “Offenses Against Public Order and Decency” and instead implement a separate category under Definitions of Specific Crimes, “Offenses Against Animals” following the format of the Michigan state statute. This modification will promote the seriousness of crimes against companion animals and help eradicate the notion that animal cruelty is a victimless crime, acting as a revised modernized guide to states that are in need of statutory revision.
Literature and Politics: Understanding the Regime

gime and, in particular, the classical understanding of it. As a concept encompassing public and private life, the regime is the point at which politics and literature meet. The choice of the word regime to translate the Greek term in question (politeia) is debatable, but it helps highlight what Plato and Aristotle mean by the term.1 A regime is a government, a specific form of government. The word calls attention to the actual person or groups in power, the one or ones who in fact rule (thus we name regimes after particular rulers-the Franco Regime, Brezhnev Regime, or Castro Regime--or after ruling parties-the Communist Regime, Nazi Regime, or Sandanista Regime). But the word regime also has the sense of a regimen, a way of doing things, a way of life. The way the English word regime encompasses this range of meanings from public to private life reflects the semantic range of the Greek word politeia2 and thereby points to a fundamental principle of the political science of Plato and Aristotle. Their key question of a political community is always: who rules? And with this concentration on forms of government goes the idea that these forms are formative: they shape the way of life of the citizens living under them.3 Thus, if the many rule, we are dealing with a democracy, and this distinctive form of government will produce a characteristically democratic way of life in its citizens. In Plato's classic formulation
Early Infantile Autism

Publisher Summary Autism is a behaviorally defined syndrome. Symptoms become evident by three years of age and include atypical social interaction, disordered language and cognitive skills, impaired imaginary play, poor eye contact, and an obsessive insistence on sameness. Perseveration, repetitive, and stereoptypic behavior and a restricted range of interests may be present in some cases. In physical appearance, a significant number of autistic individuals exhibit hypotonia, dyspraxia, and a disordered modulation of sensory input. Some clinical features of autism have been reported in conditions such as tuberous sclerosis, phenylketonuria, and fragile X syndrome; however in most cases, a specific etiology cannot be identified. With the introduction of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), morphometric analysis of specific brain structures became the focus of neuroimaging research in autism. These studies have largely concentrated on the cerebellum. Consistent microscopic abnormalities were observed in the brains of nine autistic individuals that were confined to the limbic system and cerebellar circuits. The findings in the cerebellum and related inferior olive suggested that the process, which resulted in these morphologic changes, occurred or had its onset before birth.
Student use and assessment of System on Chip (SOC) prototyping resource

The Purdue SOC Educational Resource (PSOCER) is an online design and prototyping resource created to accelerate undergraduate prototyping of SOC designs using the DE2i-150 FPGA/Microprocessor development platform. The resource consists of a set of tutorials and design examples that students can use as templates for their own SOC applications on the DE2i-150. The initial release of this resource was announced in spring 2015 [1], but fall 2015 was the first semester for the full resource to be available to students. This paper highlights a design from fall 2015 of a Mandelbrot set rendering engine which exploits many features of the online prototyping resource as well as identifying opportunities for improvement.
Money, or the Real Universality of Commodities

Every product of labour inasmuch as it is produced as a commodity and so long as it remains a commodity is a value-equivalent: an exchange- value. As we likewise saw above, however, this is in the first instance only so ‘ideally’ or in principle.1 In reality and in fact, the product remains just that particular sort of good which it happens to be. A definite portion of the total social product can be measured and is indeed implicitly measured in units of the particular product, viz. on the assumption that the latter is exchangeable with all other products in regular proportions. But this does not guarantee that some given specimens of the product will in practice be exchangeable for anythingat all. The actual exchangeability of the latter can only be confirmed by the ‘realization’ of the exchange-value they ideally represent: viz. through their sale.
More Than Meets the Eye: An Exploration of Literature Related to the Mass Media’s Role in Encouraging Changes in Body Image

Until recently, there has been little research on the mediated messages that may help fuel Americans’ obsession with losing weight. This chapter is an interdisciplinary look at the impact of the mass media on body image. Bringing together work from the fields of psychology, psychiatry, and sociology, this review explores seminal body-image research and then looks critically at communication research that tries to link consumption of media messages with body-image deterioration. The chapter concludes with the suggestion that researchers study mass-media messages and their effects on body image with a new array of methodological tools, including ethnography and diaries.
Examination of Enterotoxin Production at Low Temperature by Yersinia spp. in Culture Media and Foods.

Sixteen of 27 (59%) cultures of Yersinia spp. produced enterotoxin measured by the suckling mouse assay at 25°C in aerated broth culture media. Only one of 15 of these cultures, which was identified as Yersinia kristensenii , produced enterotoxin at 6°C. No enterotoxin was detected in water and methanol extracts of 6 food slurries inoculated with this toxigenic culture after incubation at 9.8°C for 4 d.
Distributed Decision-Making and Best Matching

This chapter presents fundamental definitions of distributed systems of operations and decisions, the trade-off between collaborative and competitive behaviors in such systems, and different system architectures in terms of distribution of decision-making authorities. Several examples and illustrations are presented to show the implications of those concepts in the context of best matching. The purpose is to demonstrate the concept with the notion of distributed decision-making and best matching as well as the nature of interactions in such environments.
Taking a Step to Identify How to Create Professional Learning Communities—Report of a Case Study of a Korean Public High School on How to Create and Sustain a School-based Teacher Professional Learning Community

This study intends to identify some key factors in creating and sustaining school-based teacher professional learning communities (PLCs) through a case study of a South Korean public high school. To achieve this, the study identified some essential infrastructure, preparation, and necessary social organization for creating PLCs. The ideal unit and the encouraging/discouraging factors in the implementation process were also investigated. Data were gathered via classroom observations and by analysis of interview transcripts, questionnaire responses, and minutes from PLC meetings. Nineteen participants, including 16 teachers, a principal, an assistant principal, and a facilitator from a city department of education, who assisted the school reform process, completed the questionnaires. Three of the teachers who took the reform initiative participated in the in-depth interview. The study provides a detailed description of the school context before the PLC implementation, challenges that faced the teachers, and two main characteristics of their PLC initiative. The study indicates that participants perceived prepared teacher leaders, building trust and respect among faculty, and securing time for classroom observation and PLC meetings as the most necessary preparation in creating and implementing their PLC. Empowering grade level chairs, increasing teacher proximity, and employing additional administrative assistants were identified as effective administrative support. Participants recognized that each grade level had more advantage in implementing PLCs and thought positive changes of disruptive students and their own instructional practices were the most encouraging factors in overcoming implementation problems. Authoritative leadership of school administration and a city DOE that forcefully mandates PLCs were perceived as discouraging factors in PLC implementation.
IMMUNITY IN MUMPS : IV. THE CORRELATION OF THE PRESENCE OF COMPLEMENT-FIXING ANTIBODY AND RESISTANCE TO MUMPS IN HUMAN BEINGS.

Of 163 persons giving positive complement fixation tests who were exposed to mumps, 1 afterwards developed the disease; of 285 negative reactors similarly exposed, 56 afterwards came down with mumps. Of 78 individuals subjected to intimate exposure to mumps whose tests were originally negative and who failed to develop the disease, 41 per cent gave positive reactions when tested 1 month later. Seventy-seven per cent of complement fixation tests done on the sera of 565 normal adults who admitted a previous attack of mumps were positive. A similar correlation was recorded in tests on the sera of a small group of children with positive histories. Of 356 medical students admitting previous attacks, 80 per cent gave positive tests. Of 386 normal adults who denied previous attacks, 42 per cent gave positive tests; of 85 children giving negative histories, 38 per cent reacted positively. The results of complement fixation tests on the sera of 1665 normal adults (over 17 years) and 679 children (1 to 17 years) are recorded. It has been shown that 63 per cent of the adults and 57 per cent of the children had antibody in their blood which reacted with the virus of mumps. In groups in which exceptionally intense exposure was not known to have occurred in the past, the proportions of positive reactors were: adults, 61 per cent; children, 49 per cent. In contrast to these normal persons, the incidence of positive reactors among permanently institutionalized mental defectives was 38 per cent of 356 adults and 32 per cent of 475 children. In only 2 per cent of 320 normal adults and children did the titer of complement-fixing antibody reach 1–192. In no instance in which the endpoint was determined was a higher titer recorded. The results of complement fixation tests on the sera of mother and newborn infant were essentially the same in 5 instances.
Magnesium oxide supplements for the treatment of post-chemotherapy sleep disturbance.

175Background: While every cancer patient suffers from anxiety and sleep disturbance during cancer treatment, many physicians do not recognize that these problems can continue long after treatment has ended. Many cancer patients feel increased anxiety immediately after treatment ends when they find themselves “on their own,” without the protection of the medical armamentarium. The fear of recurrence, uncertainty about the future, a sense of vulnerability, awareness of mortality, and grief for the loss of a disease-free life all contribute to anxiety and sleep disturbance long term. Magnesium has been used for sleep induction and relaxation for centuries. The primary mechanism by which sleep is enhanced is by muscle relaxation. Magnesium induces muscle relaxation by preventing calcium from binding to troponin, parvalbumin, myosin, and calmodulin, thereby blocking muscle contraction. High levels of free magnesium competitively bind these proteins, and the slow dissociation of bound magnesium provides prolon...
Collaborative Care: A Defining Characteristic for a Pulmonary Hypertension Center

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a complex, life-threatening disease. Development of pulmonary hypertension centers is recommended by pulmonary hypertension best practice guidelines and patient organizations to successfully care for patients. However, very little is published on the characteristics of these centers or the daily management required to care for this complex patient population. This article, written by nurses who have extensive experience in managing patients with pulmonary hypertension, details the collaboration and workflows needed at a pulmonary hypertension center. Cohesive management among PH team members, patients, and caregivers is required for the long-term and successful care of patients. PH centers should have individual team members with clearly defined functional roles, policies and procedures that outline how to address the challenges of managing patients, effective communication between outpatient and inpatient teams, and well-educated staff to accurately diagnose and manage treatments, including accessing pulmonary arterial hypertension medications. Education of patients, concurrent with the support of caregivers and healthcare providers, plays a vital role in improving patients’ understanding of their disease state and treatment options that best suit their lifestyle. PH team members assist patients in developing self-care skills to better recognize and respond to worsening symptoms and manage medication side effects to improve patient outcomes. Defining collaborative care, work flows, and characteristics of a pulmonary hypertension center is essential to optimize care in this complex, chronic patient population. Actelion Pharmaceuticals US, Inc.
ASAP: An Eigenvector Synchronization Algorithm for the Graph Realization Problem

We review a recent algorithm for localization of points in Euclidean space from a sparse and noisy subset of their pairwise distances. Our approach starts by extracting and embedding uniquely realizable subsets of neighboring sensors called patches. In the noise-free case, each patch agrees with its global positioning up to an unknown rigid motion of translation, rotation, and possibly reflection. The reflections and rotations are estimated using the recently developed eigenvector synchronization algorithm, while the translations are estimated by solving an overdetermined linear system. In other words, to every patch, there corresponds an element of the Euclidean group Euc(3) of rigid transformations in \({\mathbb{R}}^{3}\), and the goal is to estimate the group elements that will properly align all the patches in a globally consistent way. The algorithm is scalable as the number of nodes increases, and can be implemented in a distributed fashion. Extensive numerical experiments show that it compares favorably to other existing algorithms in terms of robustness to noise, sparse connectivity and running time.
Intra-Individual Comparison between 2-D Shear Wave Elastography (GE System) and Virtual Touch Tissue Quantification (Siemens System) in Grading Liver Fibrosis.

Ultrasound-based shear wave elastography (SWE) has recently gained substantial attention for non-invasive assessment of liver fibrosis. The purpose of this study was to perform an intra-individual comparison between 2-D shear wave elastography (2-D-SWE with a GE system) and Virtual Touch Tissue Quantification (VTTQ with a Siemens system) to assess whether these can be used interchangeably to grade fibrosis. Ninety-three patients (51 men, 42 women; mean age, 54 y) with liver disease of various etiologies (hepatitis B virus = 47, hepatitis C virus = 22; alcohol = 6, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis = 5, other = 13) were included. Using published system-specific shear wave speed cutoff values, liver fibrosis was classified into clinically non-significant (F0/F1) and significant (≥F2) fibrosis. Results indicated that intra-modality repeatability was excellent for both techniques (GE 2-D-SWE: intra-class correlation coefficient = 0.89 [0.84-0.93]; VTTQ: intra-class correlation coefficient = 0.90 [0.86-0.93]). Intra-modality classification agreement for fibrosis grading was good to excellent (GE 2-D-SWE: κ = 0.65, VTTQ: κ = 0.82). However, inter-modality agreement for fibrosis grading was only fair (κ = 0.31) using published system-specific shear wave speed cutoff values of fibrosis. In conclusion, although both GE 2-D-SWE and Siemens VTTQ exhibit good to excellent intra-modality repeatability, inter-modality agreement is only fair, suggesting that these should not be used interchangeably.
Radiology Reporting: Current Practices and an Introduction to Patient-Centered Opportunities for Improvement

OBJECTIVE. As health care evolves, the radiology report must also change to satisfy referring physician and patient expectations. Knowledge of the issues and controversies regarding a patient-centered approach to reporting practices is important. This article will aid the radiologist in this endeavor by summarizing key facets of radiology reporting, including current reporting standards and emerging patient-centered concepts in report language, formatting, and delivery. CONCLUSION. Future efforts to improve radiology reporting practices need to account for the needs of an increasingly heterogeneous audience that includes patients. Radiologists must exploit information technologies to craft and deliver meaningful patient-centered reports. A modern radiology report will be a powerful, flexible document that strengthens the connection between the radiologist and the patient.
Overview of Infections Complicating Pediatric Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

Hematopoietic cell transplantations (HCT) are increasingly being performed in children for the treatment of malignant and nonmalignant diseases. Infections remain an important cause of morbidity and mortality after HCT, where the type and timing of infection is influenced by host, transplant, and pathogen-related factors. Herein, an overview of the epidemiology of infections is presented and organized by timing before and after HCT, understanding that infection may occur at any time point until there is successful immune reconstitution.
Design Process for an Ergonomic Solution to the Police Duty Belt

Police officers carry various devices on their duty belts for use during patrols. The weight of a loaded belt can range from ~25–35 lbs. Such loading can lead to overexertion and associated injuries (e.g., low back pain) as well as reduced officer performance leading to injuries from violence. In addition, the distribution of the load can compromise officer balance, leading to slips and falls. The objective of this research was to identify design issues with current duty belts and to develop a design framework for police department use in creating custom ergonomic configurations of equipment on a belt. The study was divided into three phases: a literature review, a field study, and design of the ergonomic belt configuration. The resulting design framework for duty belt equipment configuration may serve as a design guideline for police departments and may reduce the incidence of officer musculoskeletal injuries.
S1P-2 Receptor

S1P2 is a member of a family of G protein-coupled receptors, termed lysophospholipid receptors, which are activated by the high-affinity ligands, sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) or lysophosphatidic acid (LPA). S1P2 was originally cloned by two independent groups and given the names AGR16, after a rat gene from the cardiovascular system …