cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Utility-based QoS Brokering in Service Oriented Architectures

Quality of service (QoS) is an important consideration in the dynamic service selection in the context of service oriented architectures. This paper extends previous work on QoS brokering for SOAs by designing, implementing, and experimentally evaluating a service selection QoS broker that maximizes a utility function for service consumers. Utility functions allow stakeholders to ascribe a value to the usefulness of a system as a function of several attributes such as response time, throughput, and availability. This work assumes that consumers of services provide to a QoS broker their utility functions and their cost constraints on the requested services. Service providers register with the broker by providing service demands for each of the resources used by the services provided and cost functions for each of the services. Consumers request services from the QoS broker, which selects a service provider that maximizes the consumer's utility function subject to its cost constraint. The QoS broker uses analytic queuing models to predict the QoS values of the various services that could be selected under varying workload conditions. The broker and services were implemented using a J2EE/Weblogic platform and experiments were conducted to evaluate the broker's efficacy. Results showed that the broker adequately adapts its selection of service providers according to cost constraints.
Deep Symmetry Networks

The chief difficulty in object recognition is that objects' classes are obscured by a large number of extraneous sources of variability, such as pose and part deformation. These sources of variation can be represented by symmetry groups, sets of composable transformations that preserve object identity. Convolutional neural networks (convnets) achieve a degree of translational invariance by computing feature maps over the translation group, but cannot handle other groups. As a result, these groups' effects have to be approximated by small translations, which often requires augmenting datasets and leads to high sample complexity. In this paper, we introduce deep symmetry networks (symnets), a generalization of convnets that forms feature maps over arbitrary symmetry groups. Symnets use kernel-based interpolation to tractably tie parameters and pool over symmetry spaces of any dimension. Like convnets, they are trained with backpropagation. The composition of feature transformations through the layers of a symnet provides a new approach to deep learning. Experiments on NORB and MNIST-rot show that symnets over the affine group greatly reduce sample complexity relative to convnets by better capturing the symmetries in the data.
History as Self-Representation: The Recasting of a Political Tradition in Late Eighteenth-Century Eastern India

If power is mediated by knowledge, then the early decades of British colonial rule in India were indeed, as Ghulam Hussain Khan Tabatabai, the intellectual and historian par excellence of those times wrote, a time of ‘half-knowledge’.The decades between 1757 and 1772 witnessed the implantation of this colonial regime in Eastern India through the transformation of the English East India Company from a mercantilist trading corporation into the paradoxical status of ‘merchant-sovereign and the sovereign merchant’ at the same time. The role of sovereign thrust upon the officials of the company the far from easy task of administering this society in ways that were most conducive to the extraction of the largest possible surplus from it for its new masters.
A Comparison of Bromus tectorum Growth and Mycorrhizal Colonization in Salt Desert vs. Sagebrush Habitats

Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) has recently invaded marginal low-elevation salt desert habitats across the Great Basin. We tested the hypothesis that cheatgrass seed produced in populations from the more stressful salt desert vs. upland sagebrush habitats should grow differently in salt desert soils compared to adjacent upland sagebrush soil, and vice versa. We evaluated growth, incidence of flowering, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonization of plants grown in the soils from which their seeds were collected vs. in the reciprocal soils from the nearest sagebrush or salt desert site in three large basins in northern Nevada. Simultaneously we measured nutrient cations, available nitrogen and phosphorus, percent carbon and nitrogen, texture, and dry-down characteristics in all soils. We found that salt desert soils were generally more nutrient poor and more saline than their upland (sagebrush) counterparts; salt desert soils also generally had a higher percentage of sand compared to their upland counterparts and were consistently drier. The most dramatic plant responses to soil and seed source were 1) lower aboveground biomass of mature plants in most salt desert soils compared to sagebrush soils, or lower biomass in plants grown from salt desert seed; 2) lower root:shoot ratios in plants grown in salt desert soil across two of three basins, irrespective of seed source; 3) a higher percentage of flowering individuals from salt desert seed sources at harvest, irrespective of soil source; 4) depressed AMF colonization of plants in salt desert soils; and 5) strong influence exerted by seed source on AMF, whereby sagebrush-originating plants grown in sagebrush soils had greater AMF colonization compared to salt desert soils but salt desert-originating seedlings had very low AMF colonization rates irrespective of soil source. These results suggest that both population level and soil-based controls are important as this widespread weed moves into marginal habitat.
The Transfer of Resources From Middle-Aged Children to Functionally Limited Elderly Parents: Providing Time, Giving Money, Sharing Space

The transfer of resources from middle-aged children to their functionally limited elderly parents is addressed from the perspective of the children who may allocate time to caregiving, share household space, and give money to parents. A simultaneous-equations model estimates the extent to which the three modes of transfer are interdependent, given the parents' needs for resources and the children's ability to provide them. Caregiving is the primary mode of resource transfer and is of overriding importance for individuals who depend daily on help from other persons. Coresidence and financial assistance complement direct human assistance and, at the margin, have a substantially large effect on caregiving time. It is, therefore, relevant to consider all modes of transfer in order to better understand how families accommodate the needs of their frail and disabled members.
Absorption of Iron by Enzymically Isolated Leaf Cells

Iron uptake was studied using cells enzymically isolated from green tobacco leaves. Absorption was increased both by light and succinate as probable energy sources. Bicarbonate in the incubation mixture was inhibitory, and citrate also reduced absorption presumably by chelation with the metal. Absorption of iron was temperature sensitive and optimal at 25°C. Temperature coefficients and activation energies suggested that absorption was energy mediated. NaN3 and DNP inhibited uptake at concentrations of 10-3M and 10−4M, respectively. The inhibition caused by DNP was not negated by an external supply of ATP. The results suggest that iron absorption is an active metabolic process in cells enzymically isolated from green tobacco leaves. Cells from Fe-chlorotic leaves of PI 54619–5–1 soybean absorbed less iron than those derived from healthy leaves of the same variety, while leaf cells from the variety Hawkeye showed no such differences.
Sensor Localization under Limited Measurement Capabilities

In this article we survey the latest progress on sensor localization, focusing on distance measurement techniques and localization algorithms for a sensor to determine its own location. We illustrate why inaccurate distance measurements, arising from tight hardware design constraints, raise challenges in sensor localization and how proposed approaches strive to overcome these challenges. We conclude that sensor localization algorithms must be designed to accommodate different application requirements in terms of costs, energy consumption, and localization accuracy
Lady Huntingdon's reformation

Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon (1707–1791), was a central figure in the eighteenth-century religious revival that swept across England and Wales. A faithful daughter of the Church of England, Lady Huntingdon became a “Methodist” when that term described a style of piety rather than denominational affiliation. She was a pivotal figure in early Methodism, around whom the Calvinistic and Arminian wings of the movement revolved. Selina frequently described herself as being engaged in “this present Reformation” of England. A close examination of her piety—which stressed justification by faith—and her many ministerial works suggests that Lady Huntingdon was indeed a significant religious reformer; this examination offers a divergent path to the complicated roots of early Methodism.
Supporting queries with imprecise constraints

In this paper, we motivate the need for and challenges involved in supporting imprecise queries over Web databases. Then we briefly explain our solution, AIMQ - a domain independent approach for answering imprecise queries that automatically learns query relaxation order by using approximate functional dependencies. We also describe our approach for learning similarity between values of categorical attributes. Finally. we present experimental results demonstrating the robustness, efficiency and effectiveness of AIMQ.
Assessment and Self-Injury: Implications for Counselors

This article provides readers with an understanding of self-injury assessment. The article begins with a critical review of a number of self-injury assessments. The latter section of the article introduces a comprehensive two-tiered approach to accurately assessing self-injury. Implications for counselors related to the assessment of self-injury are also provided.
Globalization, Development and Ordinary Cities: A Review Essay

What are the underlying spatial assumptions about the world that renders some cities exemplars of modernity and innovation, while others are cast as being behind, and worse yet, forgotten places? This is a key question that has emerged in geography and sociology, and is addressed in Jennifer Robinsons book Ordinary Cities: Between Modernity and Development. The purpose of this essay is two-fold in that it provides a review of Robinsons book and it also uses her text as a vehicle to interrogate the geo-politics of urban theory development. In particular, scholars have voiced concern over the manner in which world cities and then global cities have the power/knowledge e?ect of reifying the idea that there is one world system that can be measured objectively.
Growth and New Intuitions: Can We Meet the Challenge?

The mathematical sciences have changed significantly during the past few decades. The most obvious change is the enormous growth of mathematics. However, the most exciting and potentially beneficial movement may well be the extensive mathematization of many traditional as well as newly emerging disciplines. The consequent influx of rich new ideas and alternative intuitional sources can greatly rejuvenate and invigorate mathematics itself. It would thus appear that mathematics should, for some time into the future, exhibit a truly great scientific advance that would bring reasonable prosperity to both its individual practitioners and its supporting institutions. Nevertheless, there is ample evidence to indicate that these possibilities are not being realized, and the prospects for the future are much less encouraging. The most obvious illustration of this is the gross mismatch between the mathematics that students are currently being taught and the skills that are marketable to most current users of the subject.
SPONGES FROM THE PARK CITY FORMATION (PERMIAN) OF WYOMING

Abstract A new small twiglike anthaspidellid sponge, Virgaspongiella ramosa new genus and species, and an incrusting lithistid sponge have been recovered from silicified residues of etched limestone blocks from the Middle Permian Franson Member of the Park City Formation in western Wyoming. Virgaspongiella n. gen. has a skeleton of upwardly and outwardly divergent trabs formed of merged tips of runglike dendroclone spicules in ladderlike series. One to a few oxeas function as coring spicules in the trabs and project as fine spines from the dermal surface, and other monaxial spicules project from pores of the canals. The incrusting sponge, Incrustatospongia superficiala new genus and species, forms a distinct, thin, uniform lithistid skeletal layer, composed largely of X-shaped dendroclones, incrusted on both the inner and outer surfaces of productoid brachiopod valves. Separated monaxial spicules locally protrude from the sponge's dermal surface apparently as spinose defensive elements.
The Interaction of Stock Returns between Different Segments of a Factor

It is the literature consensus that firm size and book-to-market equity ratio (B/M) play important roles in explaining the return rate of stocks. The objective of this paper is to investigate the detailed relationship of stock index returns between different segments of the size factor and the B/M factor, namely the direction, strength and periodization of the interaction. Geweke’s procedure is performed to decompose the interaction on frequency domain. To further specify the feedback between returns series, nonlinear MARS-VAR model are developed on the US and Chinese stock market indexes. The direction and frequency of the feedback have been found. These methodologies are applicable to portfolio management.
Metabolic changes in rats during a continuous infusion of recombinant interleukin-1

The effects of recombinant interleukin-1 (IL-1), given as a continuous infusion for 6 days, on host responses were determined in rats. The development of fever, change in food intake and body weight, and key components of the acute-phase response in energy and protein metabolism were assessed. The effects of IL-1 were compared with those observed in a matched pair-fed group (semistarved), to distinguish the contribution from anorexia, and in a group that received IL-1 for 4 h acutely. IL-1 significantly increased core temperature, plasma levels of IL-6, and acute-phase protein production and decreased food intake and the circulating zinc level. The catabolic effects of IL-1 on nitrogen loss and muscle protein breakdown were independent of, and additive to those from malnutrition. The changes in energy expenditure, cumulative urinary nitrogen, and hydroxyproline excretion in the chronic IL-1 group were increased over semistarved animals. Finally, changes in muscle protein kinetics were only seen with chronic IL-1 infusion, and the changes in acute-phase protein were greater.
Abstract 480: Increased Expression of Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 in Atherosclerosis: A Role for TLR4/MyD88 Signaling

OBJECTIVE: Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) is a ubiquitously expressed peptidase with high levels of expression on innate and adaptive cell populations. DPP4 expression is upregulated in a number of conditions associated with inflammatory activation of macrophages. In this study we attempted to understand the mechanisms by which DPP4 is regulated in atherosclerosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: We compared DPP4 expression on patients with stable established cardiovascular disease (SCVD, n=20) and compared them with control subjects without atherosclerosis using flow cytometry. Compared to healthy controls, SCVD patients had increased DPP4 expression on peripheral monocytes (4.22 ± 0.44 vs. 5.76 ± 0.44, in control vs. SCVD, p=0.037) and T cells (27.46 ± 2.67 vs. 48.06 ± 1.96, control vs. SCVD, p<0.0001). DPP4 expression on T cells and monocytes correlated with plasma non-HDL level (R2=0.153, p=0.036 and R2=0.244, 0.012 respectively). In cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) stimulated with LPS, DPP4 expression increased 4-fold compared to control cells. Increased DPP4 with LPS was abrogated by Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-specific siRNA knockdown. Macrophages deficient for MyD88, an adaptor protein for Toll-like receptor signaling, displayed reduced expression of DPP4. Consistent with that, MyD88-/- mice demonstrating improved post-prandial glycemia to oral glucose challenge. CONCLUSIONS: DPP4 expression is up-regulated in atherosclerosis and involves TLR4-MyD88 dependent activation. Our result suggest a role for this pathway in metabolic dysregulation and inflammation in atherosclerosis.
Fast FinFET Device Simulation under Process-Voltage Variations Using an Assisted Speed-Up Mechanism

The emergence of nonplanar Fin FETs as an alternative to planar CMOS has necessitated a fresh look at process and device simulation. However, process and device simulation times for characterizing Fin FETs have become a major bottleneck in this effort because of the structural complexity of these transistors. In prior work, it has been shown how process simulated Fin FET structures can be derived, at a one-time process simulation cost, that can then be used to perform 3D device simulation. Though this improves CPU time by an order of magnitude over process simulation, 3D device simulation remains quite CPU time-intensive due to the need to thoroughly characterize the device and logic cell library under process voltage (PV) variations, which requires a huge number of device simulations. To address this major problem, we show that the states obtained from quasi-stationary (QS) device simulation of a nominal device can assist simulation of similar devices under variations in gate length (LG), fin thickness (TSI), and gate-oxide thickness (TOX). We show that both the off-current (IOFF) and on-current (ION) of an n/pFin FET can be obtained without any compromise in accuracy, under PV variations, using the proposed assisted mechanism at 5-22× lower simulation time depending on the parameter of interest, through 3D device simulation. It has been shown earlier that 3D device simulation can be sped up significantly by performing 2D device simulation on the Fin FET cross-section using a gate under lap adjustment methodology, with a minor compromise in accuracy. We now show that combining the proposed assisted mechanism with adjusted 2D cross-sections enables us to characterize Fin FET devices very fast (244-8654× lower simulation time) with only a minor loss in accuracy (0-4.93% error), depending on the variation type and parameter of interest. We also demonstrate that this mechanism remains viable for obtaining leakage data of Fin FET logic gates under PV variations. We observe 10742-16560× reduction in simulation time with an 0.45-3.87% error range for obtaining leakage data of Fin FET inverters, NAND and NOR gates of various sizes.
Sex differences in reinstatement of alcohol seeking in response to cues and yohimbine in rats with and without a history of adolescent corticosterone exposure

Women represent a vulnerable and growing population with respect to alcohol abuse. Elevated glucocorticoid exposure in adolescence increases addiction risk and stress sensitivity in adulthood. However, little is known about sex differences in ethanol craving-like behavior. This study characterized sex differences in ethanol-motivated behavior following ethanol-paired cues and/or acute stimulation of the HPA axis in male and female rats with or without exposure to chronically elevated glucocorticoids in adolescence. Adolescent corticosterone-treated (Experiment 1) or naive (Experiment 2) male and female rats were trained as adults to self-administer ethanol paired with a cue, and tested for the effects of this cue, alone or in combination with yohimbine, on the reinstatement of ethanol seeking. Females showed elevated ethanol self-administration and seeking compared to males. In Experiment 1, corticosterone exposure in adolescence augmented cue-induced reinstatement of ethanol seeking in females only, and females were more sensitive to yohimbine in promoting reinstatement. Experiment 2 replicated these findings and showed that exposure to both yohimbine and alcohol-related cues enhanced the reinstatement of alcohol seeking, producing additive effects in females. Corticosterone levels were higher in females and in yohimbine-treated rats, and corticosterone and estradiol correlated with responding during reinstatement. Chronic manipulations in adolescence and acute manipulations in adulthood of the HPA axis increase cue-induced reinstatement of ethanol seeking to a greater degree in females than in males. Elucidating the mechanisms that underlie these effects may lead to the development of sex-specific interventions aimed at mitigating alcohol relapse risk in females.
A serological investigation of viral hepatitis among immigrant workers in three large construction sites

[Objective] To know the situation of hepatitis infection among the immigrant workers in the construction sites of Yangpu district Shanghai. [Methods] Three large construction sites were selected.Blood specimens from all the 781 workers were collected.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) were used for detection of anti-HAV IgG,HEV-IgG,HBsAg,anti-HBs and anti-HBc.Enzyme immunoassay(ELA) were used to detect HBeAg,RPR and HIV antibody targets on the surface antigen positive blood specimens. [Results] Among the 781 samples,the positive rate of antiHAV IgG was 72.86%,which was above the average level of the local residents.The anti-HEV IgG was 3.33%.The infection rate of HBV was 55.31%,among which the positive rate of HBsAg and anti-HBc was 7.94% and 24.58%,higher than those of the local residents,3.94% and 7.89% respectively.The positive rate of anti-HBs was 41.74%.The positive rate of HBsAg together with positive anti-HBc was 7.55% while the double-positive rate of HBsAg and HBeAg was 2.18%.Mixed infection existed in all kinds of hepatitis rated 27.14%.Among which 24.32% were infected by HBV together HAV,0.64% by HBV and HEV,1.15% by HBV,HAV and HEV,1.02% by HAV and HEV. [Conclusion] The immigrant workers have different levels of HAV,HEV,HBV infection.Among them,the HAV and HBV infection rate have higher level.Respective departments should develop health examination system for immigrant people.
Common variable immunodeficiency, immune thrombocytopenia, rituximab and splenectomy: important considerations

ABSTRACTCommon variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is readily considered in patients presenting with recurrent sino-pulmonary infections, however this disease has a broad range of clinical manifestations and diagnosis can be delayed by several years. We present the case of a 44-year-old postpartum female who presented with nausea, vomiting and abdominal distension. Four years prior, she was hospitalized for treatment of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) with splenectomy and rituximab followed by two episodes of bacterial meningitis despite immunizations. The recurrent meningitis had been attributed to splenectomy and immunotherapy. During this hospitalization, extensive workup for gastrointestinal pathology was negative and she was diagnosed with intestinal pseudo-obstruction. Her hospital course was complicated by development of severe pseudomonas pneumonia, and subsequent immunoglobulin testing and impaired antibody response to vaccines were consistent with CVID. We review the clinical presentation of CVID, it...
Assessment of Human Muscle Fatigue from Surface EMG Signals Recorded during Isometric Voluntary Contractions

Human muscle fatigue involves both a decrease in the frequency and an increase in the amplitude of a surface electromyographic (EMG) signal. To determine muscle fatigue indices, we break a surface EMG signal into 32-subbands by using a cosine modulated filter bank. The surface EMG signals analyzed during this research were recorded during isometric voluntary contractions. Both the instantaneous mean frequency (IMF) and the instantaneous amplitude (IA) are estimated from the 32-subbands of the filter bank and are used as muscle fatigue indicators. To evaluate the IMF and the IA estimated from the filter bank, two other standard techniques, the spectrogram and the smoothed pseudo Wigner-Ville (SPWV) distribution, were also implemented. A regression-free area ratio was adopted to compute an EMG index from both estimates the IMF and IA. These indices were then classified — by using a joint analysis of frequency and amplitude (JASA) — into one of the four muscle activity regions: muscle increase force, muscle recovery, muscle decrease force, and muscle fatigue. We found that EMG indices derived from the proposed filter bank are equivalent to those EMG indices derived from the spectrogram and the SPWV distribution. Moreover, muscle fatigue indices derived from the filter bank indicated that they could be used as indices to determine human muscle fatigue.
Psychiatric illness and sexual function

Impaired sexual function has been noted to occur in various psychiatric illnesses. In affective disorders, disturbances of libido, erection and orgasm have been reported. Disordered sexual behavior has also been noted in patients with schizophrenia and anorexia nervosa. Clinical speculation suggests that anxiety disorders may also be associated with a higher prevalence of sexual problems.
O073: An outbreak of norovirus strain GII.4 Sydney in a geriatric teaching hospital

In 2012, several countries have reported increased Norovirus (NoV) activity attributable to the emergence of a new variant (strain GII.4 Sydney). We describe an outbreak caused by this strain in a geriatric hospital.
Industrial Symbiosis at the Facility Scale

Summary Industrial symbiosis (IS), as a subfield of industrial ecology, is concerned with cooperation among industrial firms in managing resources, particularly by-products, such that the waste of one firm becomes the input of another. This “closed-loop” pattern also lies at the heart of the concept of the circular economy (CE). Both concepts are typically considered at scales ranging from industrial parks to global supply chains, but rarely at the scale of a single facility housing multiple firms. Moreover, both concepts have requirements and implications that reach beyond the tracking and coordination of material flows. These additional requirements include the cultivation of new business models and political support, as well as engagement of local communities and cultures. Thus, both IS and the CE face the challenge of bridging the gap between the technical and sociocultural aspects of industrial development and adapting to the facility scale. We address this challenge by proposing a framework for the development of facility-scale industrial symbiosis (Facility-IS). Facility-IS accounts for the presence of symbiotic interfirm relationships—including, but not limited to, material and knowledge exchange—within a single physical facility. The conditions for planning, facilitating, and growing Facility-IS are outlined, as well as three approaches to implement such projects. Overall, this research forms a Facility-IS framework rooted in existing best practices for understanding the CE at the local scale, tracking business sustainability factors and assessing viable strategies that facilitate IS.
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Induction of Muscle-Derived Stem Cells Enhances Vascular Phenotype While Preserving Myogenic Potential.

BACKGROUND Previous work by our group and other laboratories have revealed that muscle-derived stem cells (MDSCs) may contain both myogenic and endothelial progenitors, making MDSCs a promising option for skeletal muscle regeneration. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induction on the vascular and myogenic potential of MDSCs. METHODS Muscle-derived stem cells were isolated from 4- to 8-week-old C57BL/6J mice using a preplate technique and recombinant human VEGFa was used as the induction agent. Cellular proliferation and migration were assessed using serial imaging and wound healing assays, respectively. Myosin heavy chain staining was performed to assess MDSC myotube formation. Vascular potential of MDSCs was measured by expression of CD31 and in vitro capillary tube formation. RESULTS Vascular endothelial growth factor stimulation led to a dose-dependent increase in MDSC proliferation (P < 0.05) and migration kinetics (P < 0.01). Control MDSCs had low levels of baseline expression of CD31, which was significantly upregulated by VEGF stimulation. Similarly, MDSCs demonstrated a basal capability for capillary tube formation, which was significantly increased after VEGF induction as evidenced by increased branches (5.91 ± 0.58 vs 9.23 ± 0.67, P < 0.01) and total tube length (11.73 ± 0.97 vs 18.62 ± 1.57 mm, P < 0.01). Additionally, the myogenic potential of MDSCs as measured by fusion index remained unchanged with increasing concentration of VEGF up to 250 ng/mL (P = 0.77). CONCLUSIONS Vascular endothelial growth factor induction enhances MDSC proliferation, migration, and endothelial phenotypes without negatively impacting myogenic potential. These results suggest that VEGF stimulation may improve vascularization of MDSC-based strategies for skeletal muscle regeneration.
A study of characterizing crosstalk effects in 3-D vias

This paper reports on 3-D Via crosstalk characterization in three-dimensional integrated circuits. Several physical and environmental configurations are investigated using a 3D electromagnetic field solver. In particular, this work shows a detailed study on the influence of signal-ground 3D-Via locations, distances and their structural configurations on crosstalk. Simulation results are presented using HFSS from Ansoft Corporation and based on the MIT Lincoln Lab for the 0.15μm 3DFDSO1 process technology.
A quasi-resonant bi-directional buck-boost converter for Electric Vehicle applications

A modular quasi-resonant bi-directional DC/DC converter is proposed which can increase the output voltage by using the modular resonant stages. These resonant stages shape the current waveform so that soft switching operation of switches is achieved. The proposed converter provides an inherent characteristic, in terms of reducing the voltage stress of switches using modular resonant stages. The topology is presented to improve the efficiency and power density; so, GaN devices are employed regarding their lower switching losses and small size. The simulation results using PSpice proves that performance of the proposed converter is in line with the theoretical analysis.
The Phoenix Project: Re‐Introducing Group Prenatal Care

Purpose To develop strategies to implement a sustainable program of group prenatal care (GPNC) in settings with a prior history of failing to sustain GPNC. Research Question What are prior and current barriers to sustaining group prenatal care, and what are key ingredients for successfully sustaining group prenatal care in this community? Significance Despite evidence that GPNC improves perinatal outcomes and racial and ethnic health disparities, sustaining GPNC is challenging. This research is part of a larger project using community-engaged methods to introduce sustainable GPNC programs in a community where 2 GPNC programs providing care to women who have low income and are minorities were discontinued. In community-engaged research, community and academic partners develop collaborative strategies to modify environments and individual behaviors. This research represents the first phase in this project. Methods Using qualitative description, we conducted 16 semi-structured interviews of stakeholders in 4 settings in one community to explore interest in and potential strategies for re-introducing GPNC. Settings were 2 university-affiliated clinics that had provided GPNC (now discontinued) and 2 clinics with flourishing GPNC programs: one clinic providing GPNC and another clinic providing group well-child care. Participants included midwives, physicians, nurses, and administrators. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and entered into ATLAS.ti qualitative software. A priori and inductive coding schemes were developed; code content was compared across individuals, types of professionals, and settings. Thematic development focused on eliciting an understanding of participant perceptions of what might enhance or impede sustainability. Results Stakeholders were universally enthusiastic about using community-engaged approaches to reintroduce GPNC. Participants from settings that had discontinued GPNC identified pitfalls to avoid and potential alternate implementation strategies; these focused primarily around the need for adequate resources, staffing, and robust recruitment strategies. Stakeholders from continuing and discontinued settings identified key ingredients they believed would promote sustainability, including vigorous, opt-out recruitment plans; engaging community health workers in patient recruitment and group facilitation; taking advantage of university resources for clinician training; fostering interdisciplinary education; tailoring existing GPNC models to local population needs; and enlisting sustained and practical buy-in on all levels including top administrators, clinicians, and staff. Discussion A community-engaged approach holds promise for implementing GPNC in challenging settings. We are continuing the community-academic partnership, while increasing consumer involvement; developing plans for piloting GPNC in settings where it was discontinued; developing a GPNC model that meets community needs; and obtaining administrative commitment for resources for initial implementation as well as long-term sustainability.
Neuromorphic visual saliency implementation using stochastic computation

Visual saliency models are difficult to implement in hardware for real time applications due to their computational complexity. The conventional digital implementation is not optimal because of the requirement of a large number of convolution operations for filtering on several feature channels across multiple image pyramids [1], [2]. Here, we propose an alternative approach to implement a neuromorphic visual saliency algorithm [3] in digital hardware using stochastic computation, which can achieve very low power and small area. We show the real time implementation of important building blocks of the system and compare the overall system with its software implementation. Our implementation will be useful for facilitating high-fidelity selective rendering in computer graphics applications using the output of the saliency model, and for communications, where the non-salient parts of an image can be compressed more heavily than the salient parts. Our implementation will find several applications as a frontend co-processor for information triaging, compression and analysis in computer vision tasks. Our proposed SC-based convolution circuit could be a potential building block for implanting deep convolutional neural networks (CNN) on hardware.
Soliton-based applications with plasmonic nanosuspensions

We demonstrate soliton-induced waveguiding and orientational ordering in gold nanorod suspensions. Using a probe beam far away from plasmonic resonance, we observe orientation-enhanced birefringence along the soliton waveguide, indicating optically induced disorder-to-order transition of nanorods.
Flexible mechanism of magnetic microbeads chains in an oscillating field

To investigate the use of magnetic microbeads for swimming at low Reynolds number, the flexible structure of microchains comprising superparamagnetic microbeads under the influence of oscillating magnetic fields is examined experimentally and theoretically. For a ductile chain, each particle has its own phase angle trajectory and phase-lag angle to the overall field. This present study thoroughly discusses the synchronicity of the local phase angle trajectory between each dyad of beads and the external field. The prominently asynchronous trajectories between the central and outer beads significantly dominate the flexible structure of the oscillating chain. In addition, the dimensionless local Mason number (Mnl) is derived as the solo controlling parameter to evaluate the structure of each dyad of beads in a flexible chain. The evolution of the local Mason number within an oscillating period implies the most unstable position locates near the center of the chain around 0.6P<t<0.8P. Moreover, a chain with a...
Behavioral Medicine Approaches to the Prevention of Mental Retardation

Mental retardation is a devastating handicap. Its cost to society in economic terms is enormous, and the costs to the family in emotional terms are immeasurable. Mental retardation is not rare: Approximately 3% of the general population have IQs below 70 (Milunsky, 1975). Several specific causes for retardation have been identified, and knowledge of these causes provides opportunities for the development of preventive approaches.
Variability of arterial vascularization of the human lacrimal gland.

In all investigated cases the lacrimal artery originated from the ophthalmic artery. In most cases it was a single trunk.
Evidence for the Formation of Hippuryl Chymotrypsin during the Hydrolysis of Hippuric Acid Esters

The formation of an acyl enzyme derivative as an intermediate in the enzymic hydrolysis of esters was first suggested for the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (1). This theory offers a ready explanation for a number of diverse phenomena including transacylation reactions (l), oxygen exchange between acids and water (2-4), the existence of a noncompetitive component in the reversible inhibition produced by substituted ammonium ions (5, 6), and substrate inhibition (6, 7). It explains the formation of phosphoryl @-lo), carbamyl (ll), and sulfonyl enzyme derivatives (12, 13). It suggested the means of reactivating the alkyl phosphate-inhibited enzyme (10). In the case of chymotrypsin, several acyl enzymes have been demonstrated after reaction with p-nitrophenyl esters or other anhydrides and some have been isolated (14-18). The important studies that report on these enzymes do not quite settle the question because p-nitrophenyl esters are active acylating agents, and it has been found that the mechanism of the general basecatalyzed hydrolysis of anhydrides differs from that of ordinary esters in that acyl transfer is involved with the anhydrides (19). Although it is hydrolyzed by chymotrypsin, p-nitrophenyl acetate, for example, is about lo4 times less rapidly acted upon than the esters of suitable amino acid derivatives (20, 21). There might be, therefore, some question as to whether the compound is acting as an acylating agent or as a substrate. There might be some question whether the same site is involved and if it is, some doubt whether normal substrates react in quite the same manner. Some recent work has shown that. esters of cinnamic acid, which are substrates for chymotrypsin, though very poor ones, react with the enzyme to produce spectral changes that, with the arguments and other evidence presented, strongly indicate the formation of a cinnamoyl enzyme derivative (22). The body of evidence for the formation of an acyl enzyme intermediate in chymotrypsin-catalyzed reactions is thoroughly reviewed by Bender (23). The earlier evidence from acetylcholinesterase-catalyzed reactions is reviewed in The Enzymes
A 25.1-27.6 GHz Tunable-Narrowband Digitally-Calibrated Merged LNA-Vector Modulator for 5G Phased Arrays

This paper presents a compact differential quadrature generation scheme using transformer coupled-resonators for use in scalable 5G phased-array architectures. In this work, quadrature generation is seamlessly integrated with the load of an LNA gain stage, thus obviating the need for an explicit quadrature hybrid in the vector modulator. A 25.1-to-27.6 GHz phased array channel employing the proposed scheme is implemented in 65 nm CMOS. The merged LNA-vector modulator is demonstrated to be digitally tunable across 2.5 GHz, and achieved greater than 430 MHz bandwidth (quadrature error ≤ ±6.4°), small RMS phase error (≤ 2.6°), while occupying a composite area of only 0.123 mm2. An on-chip calibration scheme to achieve quadrature locking at a desired frequency is also presented.
MFG-E8/integrin β3 signaling contributes to airway inflammation response and airway remodeling in an ovalbumin-induced murine model of asthma.

Asthma is the most common chronic childhood disease worldwide, characterized by airway remodeling and chronic inflammation, orchestrated primarily by Th2 cytokines. The aim of the current study was to explore the influences of milk fat globule epidermal growth factor 8 (MFG-E8)/integrin β3 signaling involved in airway inflammation and remodeling in asthma. BALB/c mice were sensitized by intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin (OVA), followed by OVA nebulization. The levels of MFG-E8 expression were declined markedly in the OVA-induced allergy murine model. In addition, administration of MFG-E8 strongly reduced the accumulation of T-helper type 2 (Th2)-associated cytokines (such as interleukin-4, -5, and -13) as well as chemokine CCL11 (eotaxin) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and tissues in the OVA-sensitized mice. Moreover, MFG-E8 remarkably repressed the total immunoglobulin E and OVA-specific immunoglobulin E in serum in OVA-challenged mice. Meanwhile, treatment with recombinant murine MFG-E8 noticeably prevented inflammatory cell infiltration into the airways, as showed by a marked decrease in the numbers of total immune cells, eosinophils, neutrophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in response to OVA challenge. Importantly, MFG-E8 apparently alleviated OVA-driven airway remodeling, which were evidenced by declined secretion of important mediators of airway remodeling, including transforming growth factor-β1, matrix metalloproteinase 9, ADAM8, and vascular endothelial growth factor, and reduced airway collagen deposition and inhibited goblet cell hyperplasia in OVA-induced asthma in mice. Mechanistically, integrin 3 contributes to the protective effect of MFG-E8 in inhibiting airway inflammation and remodeling in OVA-driven features of allergic asthma. Overall, MFG-E8, as a candidate molecule to evaluate airway inflammation and remodeling, could be a potential target for the management and prevention of asthma exacerbations, suggesting that MFG-E8/integrin β3 signaling may serve as a promising therapeutic agent for childhood asthma.
Manufacturing Feasibility Analysis and Load Carrying Capacity of Computer Numerical Control Cut Joints with Interlocking Assembly Feature

The basic manufacturing feasibility and load carrying capacity of computer numerical control (CNC) were evaluated for router-cut joints. More precise and complex shaped geometry was cut on a CNC machine so that joint strength increased via providing a better self-locking system. Using the design for manufacture and assembly (DFMA) analysis, the raw material type and joint design were determined as the main drivers that have direct influence on the processing time and yield of the manufacturing process. Moreover, the bending moment capacity of the joints was determined in compression and tension testing and benchmarked those of rectangular mortise and tenon (RM&T) and dowel joints. The results showed that joints constructed of plywood performed better than those of medium-density fiberboard according to DFMA compliance score values. Moreover, the load capacity level of joints constructed of plywood provided stronger joints than MDF. In compression tests, CNC router-cut joints constructed of both plywood and MDF reached equal or higher strength relative to traditional joints. Furthermore, in tension tests, those of strength were lower compared to compression test results. The outcome of this study will contribute to the theoretical and practical knowledge of furniture joinery design.
Community Connections: Advocating for Libraries through Effective Brand Advocacy

ABSTRACTInformation professionals strive to understand the needs of communities in order to discover ways to connect and engage them in library resources and services. Positive word-of-mouth commun...
Probing Within the Boundary Layer of an Airfoil by Using the Wind Numerical Code

A detailed boundary layer investigation of an NACA 0012 airfoil was made by applying the WIND code at the NASA Glenn Research Center. Structured C-grids of selected configurations were fitted around the airfoil. Grids with dense spacing to capture the boundary layer provided for obtaining accurate results in this region. Concurrent with the boundary layer investigation, contour plots of overall performance of the airfoil were also obtained. A Mach number of 0.80, a Reynolds number of 4,000,000, and a zero angle of attack were set to correspond with numerical and experimental investigations reported in the literature, for comparison with the overall performance. The results were favorable for both the boundary layer investigations and the performance. As WIND evolves, it is intended to run WIND using unstructured grids to compare such results with the current structured grid results.
PROGRAMMING ALCOHOLISM TREATMENT: HISTORICAL TRENDS

The presentation is prefaced by the comment that the work being looked at is not so much the author’s but observation of work done by others. It is compiled of 20+ years work looking for elusive pieces to an intriguing and complex puzzle. With the exception of one document, the author’s own, the articles for discussion belong to others. Fifty-eight manuscripts dated from 1951 to 1973 and representing the work of investigators in seven countries, have been collected. Thirty-four from the United States, 12 from England, six from Canada, three from Scotland and one each from Ireland, Netherlands and South Africa. The articles all represent descriptions and simple outcome evaluations of alcoholism treatment projects. Some of the projects are grand attempts at comprehensive treatment programming involving large numbers of clients, much money, intense staff effort and multiple therapeutic components. Others are projects of lesser scale involving few clients, limited staff, and a particular therapeutic strategy of special interest to the investigators. The empirical methodologies ranged from widely detailed overworked statisitcal ventures to cursory frequency tabulations.
Regional and Temporal Trends in the Outcomes of Repairs for Acute Type A Aortic Dissections

Background Little information exists regarding the use of arch operations for repair of acute type A aortic dissections (AADs) despite increasing interest in this strategy and its potential impact on outcomes. We aimed to determine the relationship between extent of aortic repair, US geographic regions, and outcome. Methods We queried The Society of Thoracic Surgeons database for patients who underwent AAD repair from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2016 and grouped patients by ascending-only operations and operations involving the arch. Results We identified 25,462 patients (mean age, 59.8 ± 14.2; 66.7% men) who underwent AAD repair. Operations involving the ascending aorta only were performed in 54% of patients; 46% had repair additionally involving the arch. The 30-day mortality was 18.9% for patients who underwent ascending-only operations vs 19.8% for patients who underwent arch operations (P = .09). In multivariable analysis older age (P Conclusions In this analysis of cardiac surgical practice in the United States, repair of AADs included a portion of the aortic arch in 46% of patients. Early mortality remained high throughout the current era regardless of extent of aortic resection. Regional variation in perioperative mortality may signal an opportunity for practice improvement.