cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Active System Identification of a DC-DC Converter Using Digital Control

A technique has been developed to actively identify the open-loop characteristics of a DC-DC converter while the unit operates. A digital controller is used to perform both the closed-loop control of the converter and to periodically identify the "plant" using a pseudo-random digital signal. Experimental results are provided for a digitally controlled 90W forward converter to demonstrate accurate and effective identification of the converter control-to-output dynamic response. Hardware requirements and potential fast algorithms are discussed for implementing the real-time converter regulation and identification operations.
Duration of Illness in Infants With Bronchiolitis Evaluated in the Emergency Department

OBJECTIVES: To describe the duration of illness in infants with first-time bronchiolitis who present to an emergency department (ED) and assess the burden of the illness on caregivers and families. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study of infants younger than 12 months who presented to a tertiary care children9s hospital ED with a first episode of bronchiolitis. Subjects were excluded if they had a history of bronchodilator use or immunocompromise. Demographic and clinical data were collected in the ED. Outcomes data were collected by weekly telephone interviews for 4 weeks or until the subject was free of cough for 24 hours. RESULTS: Ninety-five infants were enrolled from November 2007 to March 2008. Median duration of symptoms was 15 days; 25% of the infants remained symptomatic after 21 days. Subjects with a history of eczema trended toward a longer median duration of symptoms when compared with those who did not (18 days [interquartile range (IQR): 15.5–24] and 15 days [IQR: 11–19], respectively; P = .055). Duration of symptoms did not significantly vary with regards to respiratory syncytial virus status or secondhand smoke exposure. Subjects missed a median of 2.5 days (IQR: 0.5–5.5) of day care, and caregivers missed a median of 2 days (IQR: 1–4) of work. Of these infants, 37.1% (95% confidence interval: 24.3–44.1) had a subsequent unscheduled medical visit. CONCLUSIONS: Infants seen in the ED for bronchiolitis have a prolonged disease course, with substantial burden to the family. Symptom duration may be influenced by a propensity toward atopy. Clinicians may use this information for counseling families.
Optimization of natural frequencies of bidirectional functionally graded beams

We propose a methodology to optimize the natural frequencies of functionally graded structures by tailoring their material distribution. The element-free Galerkin method is used to analyze the two-dimensional steady-state free and forced vibration of functionally graded beams. To optimize the material composition, the spatial distribution of volume fractions of the material constituents is defined using piecewise bicubic interpolation of volume fraction values that are specified at a finite number of grid points. Subsequently, we use a real-coded genetic algorithm to optimize the volume fraction distribution for three model problems. In the first problem, we seek material distributions that maximize each of the first three natural frequencies of a functionally graded beam. The goal of the second model problem is to minimize the mass of a functionally graded beam while constraining its natural frequencies to lie outside certain prescribed frequency bands. The last problem aims to minimize the mass of a functionally graded beam by simultaneously optimizing its thickness and material distribution such that the fundamental frequency is greater than a prescribed value.
Social ties and mental health.

It is generally agreed that social ties play a beneficial role in the maintenance of psychological well-being. In this targeted review, we highlight four sets of insights that emerge from the literature on social ties and mental health outcomes (defined as stress reactions, psychological well-being, and psychological distress, including depressive symptoms and anxiety). First, the pathways by which social networks and social supports influence mental health can be described by two alternative (although not mutually exclusive) causal models—the main effect model and the stress-buffering model. Second, the protective effects of social ties on mental health are not uniform across groups in society. Gender differences in support derived from social network participation may partly account for the higher prevalence of psychological distress among women compared to men. Social connections may paradoxically increase levels of mental illness symptoms among women with low resources, especially if such connections entail role strain associated with obligations to provide social support to others. Third, egocentric networks are nested within a broader structure of social relationships. The notion of social capital embraces the embeddedness of individual social ties within the broader social structure. Fourth, despite some successes reported in social support interventions to enhance mental health, further work is needed to deepen our understanding of the design, timing, and dose of interventions that work, as well as the characteristics of individuals who benefit the most.
Some linearized inverse problems for acoustic media

We describe a method for solving several different inverse problems for a weakly inhomogeneous acoustic medium. We will obtain an uncoupled system of one dimensional, second kind Volterra integral equations which is equivalent to the original problem; this equivalence suggests certain numberical solution methods as well as a somewhat syatematic way of analyzing uniqueness and continuous dependence properties for the inverse problem. The common feature of the problems for which this reduction is possible is an invariance with respect to translation in directions parallel to the measurement surface.
Evaluation of the accuracy of different methods used to estimate weights in the pediatric population.

OBJECTIVES. The purpose of this study was to compare the predictive accuracy of 3 methods (Broselow tape, Leffler formula, and Theron formula) for pediatric weight estimation to identify factors that can influence weight estimation, and to derive alternative models for such estimation if indicated. METHODS. This was a prospective, nonblinded observational study. Every patient in the cohort was ≤10 years of age. The patients’ age and height were used to estimate their weight by using the 3 previously mentioned methods. These estimated weights were compared with the patients’ actual weight by using the modified Bland-Altman method. RESULTS. One thousand eleven subjects were included. Percent differences between predicted and actual weight were significantly less using the Broselow tape compared with other methods for patients weighing 40 kg. For patients weighing 25.1 to 40 kg, performance of the Broselow tape and Leffler method were similar, and both were superior to the Theron formula. Three weight predictors (age, gender, and ethnicity) were identified, and 2 new weight-estimation models were derived from the cohort. CONCLUSIONS. The Broselow tape is accurate for weight estimation in children ≤25 kg, but the Theron formula performs better with patients weighing >40 kg. The Broselow tape was not statistically superior to the Leffler formula in subjects weighing 25.1 to 40 kg. A separate cohort is needed to evaluate the validity of the alternative predictive formulae.
Worst Case Design of Variable-Threshold TRL Circuits

Now that standard Transistor Resistor Logic is well understood and widely used, the possibilities for reducing component count by changing the height of the switching threshold, as measured in units of input, are being explored. This paper presents the worst case design formulation, both steady-state and transient, for such variable-threshold circuitry. In addition there is a brief discussion of the logic represented. Numerical results illustrate the logical possibilities and the effect of increasing the threshold on transient behavior.
Faculty Mentors in Teacher Induction: Developing a Cross-institutional Identity

Though the knowledge base on mentoring new teachers has grown exponentially in the past 30 years, researchers know less about university involvement in induction, and even less about the role that faculty mentors may play in induction. Drawing on interview, e-mail, and observational data from a yearlong mentoring relationship between a faculty mentor and 7 new teachers, the author examined a faculty mentor's role in supporting beginning teachers. Findings highlight the importance of identity development in assuming a cross-institutional role as a faculty mentor. The transition from teacher educator to teacher mentor requires the development of a mentor identity that is recognized and valued in the community of practice inhabited by classroom teachers.
Effect of an inpatient nurse-directed smoking cessation program.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a nurse-directed smoking cessation intervention for adults hospitalized in a small community hospital using a quasiexperimental, prospective, longitudinal design with biochemical validation of self-reported tobacco abstinence. Sixty-eight inpatients were assigned to either a control (n = 30) or an intervention group (n = 38). The control group received smoking cessation literature. The intervention group received smoking cessation literature and a nursing intervention. Each member of the intervention group was randomly assigned to a one or four telephone call subgroup for post discharge nurse follow-up at 3 months. Fifty-five participants completed the study. Smokers receiving the nurse-directed intervention were significantly more likely to be tobacco abstinent at 3 months (n = 17, 55%) than smokers in the control group (n = 5, 21%). Within the intervention group, tobacco abstinence at 3 months was not significantly different between the one and fou...
Sediment stability around animal tubes: The roles of hydrodynamic processes and biotic activity1

Experiments on the entrainment of surface sediments around polychaete tubes at natural and manipulated densities were conducted in a recirculating seawater flume. Intact cores with either 0 or 8 Diopatra cuprea tubes per 0.01 m* plus associated assemblages were collected in the field. Sediments which contained D. cuprea tubes had natural macrofaunal densities > 5 x those of sediments without tubes. To distinguish between organism-induced sediment effects and the hydrodynamic effects of tubes on the critical entrainment velocities of these sediments I used cores with eight tubes per 0.0 1 m* (tubes and high macrofaunal density), similar cores with tubes removed (no tubes and high macrofaunal density), cores with eight tubes added (tubes and low macrofaunal density), and cores without tubes (no tubes and low macrofaunal density). Critical entrainment velocities for natural cohesive sediments in these treatments were 46% lower in the cores with high densities of macrofauna than in those with low densities. The implication is that biotically mediated sedimentological changes around D. cuprea tubes, rather than alterations of near-bed flow by the tubes, are responsible for lowering erosion thresholds in this system.
A two-grid iterative approach for real time haptics mediated interactive simulation of deformable objects

Fast and efficient algorithms are paramount in any real-time multimodal interactive simulation involving soft deformable objects. To achieve real time computational rates, it is expedient to adaptively refine the simulation mesh in the vicinity of the interaction region instead of using a uniformly refined mesh. While appealing, such an approach is difficult to implement as the system of linear algebraic equations changes during the course of the simulation as the interaction region is dynamically updated. A direct solution approach for the discretized system of equations is, of course, computationally expensive hence iterative approaches must be pursued. In this paper, we present a novel two-grid computational methodology that uses pre-computed solution on a coarse grid representation of the geometry and a prolongation operator that transfers the coarse grid solution to a locally refined fine grid to generate the initial guess for a Gauss-Seidel type iterative solver. A local relaxation approach is then introduced that preferentially relaxes the local and global residuals and vastly improves computational efficiency, especially with increasing number of degrees of freedom of the mesh. Example problems demonstrate the effectiveness of the method.
Linear preservers of semi-positive matrices

Considered are linear maps on m-by-n matrices that preserve the semi-positive matrices. The onto preservers are characterized, as well as the into preservers of the special form . Examples are given of into preservers that are not XAY maps, and a conjecture is made about the invertible, into preservers.
Obesity Does Not Impact Perioperative or Postoperative Outcomes in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

While the prevalence of obesity in IBD patients is rapidly increasing, it is unclear if obesity impacts surgical outcomes in this population. We aim to investigate the effects of BMI on perioperative and postoperative outcomes in IBD patients by stratifying patients into BMI groups and comparing outcomes between these groups. This is a retrospective cohort study where IBD patients who underwent intestinal surgeries between the years of 2000 to 2014 were identified. The patients were divided into groups based on BMI: underweight (BMI <18.5), normal weight (BMI 18.5–24.9), overweight (BMI 25–29.9), and obese (BMI ≥30). Preoperative patient demographics, operative variables, and postoperative complications were collected and compared between BMI groups. A total of 391 surgeries were reviewed (34 underweight, 187 normal weight, 105 overweight, and 65 obese) from 325 patients. No differences were observed in preoperative patient demographics, type of IBD, preoperative steroid or biologic mediator use, or mean laboratory values. No differences were observed in percent operative procedures with anastomosis, surgeries converted to open, estimated blood loss, intraoperative complications, and median operative time. Thirty-day postoperative complication rates including total complications, wound infection, or anastomotic leak were similar between groups. There was a statistically significant increased postoperative bleeding risk (p = 0.029) in underweight patients. The relative percent for increased postoperative bleeding risk between BMI groups was as follows: 2.9 % in underweight, zero in normal weight, 2.9 % in overweight, and zero in obese. Obesity does not appear to impact intraoperative variables nor does obesity appear to worsen postoperative complication rates in IBD patients.
Regional Variability in Drought as a Function of the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation

Abstract The influence of the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) produces pronounced regional variability in drought over the Caribbean, Central America and equatorial South America area. Through spatial statistical analyses, we identified a marked dichotomy between drought values of the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) in northern Mexico and equatorial South America as a function of the AMO. The relationship is such that significant negative correlations between the drought index and phase of the AMO are identified for northern Mexico and on the Atlantic side of Central America. This indicates that drought (negative values of the SPEI) episodes are linked to the positive phase of the AMO. Alternately, there are high positive correlations between the AMO and on the Pacific side of Central America, the Caribbean and mainly in the northern South American area closest to the equator. Although many potential causes have been proposed in explanation of precipitation variability o...
Efficacy of a novel fluoroscopy-free endovascular balloon device with pressure release capabilities in the setting of uncontrolled junctional hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) has emerged as an alternative to gauze packing (GP) in the setting of noncompressible torso hemorrhage. Our objective was to describe placement and physiologic impact of a novel REBOA device during uncontrolled junctional hemorrhage. We hypothesized that REBOA could be deployed without fluoroscopic guidance or intra-aortic barotrauma and could increase survival in the setting of profound shock physiology. METHODS Fourteen adult swine (35-50 kg) underwent a hemorrhage and ischemia/reperfusion injury protocol to produce shock physiology and dilutional coagulopathy and randomized to REBOA (n = 8) or standard GP (n = 6) groups. A complex contralateral groin soft tissue and vascular injury was then created, followed by 30 seconds of free bleeding and GP for 5 minutes. The REBOA group had the aortic balloon inflated in aortic Zone III until the pressure release valve opened, followed by 45-minute postpacking survival, after which native and balloon-exposed aortae were harvested for histologic analysis. RESULTS Control and REBOA groups had similar baseline hemodynamics (mean arterial pressure, 32 mm Hg vs. 43 mm Hg; p = 0.228), levels of coagulopathy (international normalized ratio, 1.3 vs. 1.2, p = 0.476; fibrinogen, 108 vs. 135 mg/dL, p = 0.747), and hemorrhage/ischemia/reperfusion insult (lactate, 7 vs. 7, p = 0.950; base deficit, 9 vs. 5, p = 0.491). No histologic barotrauma was identified, and 88% of the REBOA devices were successfully deployed into the Zone III of the aorta. The REBOA group had significantly decreased hemorrhage volumes (0.5 L vs. 0.2 L, p = 0.014) and increased survival times (45 minutes vs. 8 minutes, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION This study reinforces results found in previous studies that REBOA is an effective method to increase survival in the setting of noncompressible torso hemorrhage and is the first to show that this specific REBOA device can be blindly guided into the appropriate zone of the aorta without generating aortic wall injury during unmeasured balloon inflation.
NAÏVE MONARCHISM AND MARIAN VENERATION IN EARLY MODERN GERMANY

Dans l'Allemagne de la premiere modernite, on remarque que le culte d'Etat de Marie est expose a l'appropriation par des formes de culture populaire qui rejoignent des buts politiques. Pourtant, l'historien ne peut conclure a une intention politique dans les processions organisees par les Hauensteiner. Pour decouvrir des motifs politiques, il faut revenir aux sources de la politique des paysans. Les delegations salpeterisch suggerent une incompatibilite fondamentale et ideologique entre le monarchisme naif et l'explication juridique du conflit social
The Life of the Longhouse: Aban Jau's Career

When Charles Hose made his theatrical entrance onto the veranda of Aban Jau's Communal House at Long Batan, the great man was already past his prime. He belonged to a previous era, before colonial “pacification,” which makes him a useful example of the dynamics of leadership in longhouse communities. Moreover, we know a lot about his activities because agents of the Raj collected intelligence on what was going on in the Baram watershed for decades before the region was annexed. They did this in order to build a case for the annexation, to be made to a British government that had undergone a change of heart. Since the early days of James Brooke's antipiracy campaign, crucially supported by ships of the Royal Navy, Whitehall had begun to doubt the wisdom of letting Charles Brooke swallow up the remaining territory of the Sultan of Brunei (Pringle 1970:81–2; Runciman 1960:174–201). Consequently, evidence was needed of chaos and violence within what was nominally the Sultan's realm, and Aban Jau had obligingly provided a fair amount all by himself. In addition, Aban Jau casts a long shadow down the oral histories of the descendents of his followers at Long Batan. In the 1970s, those Sebop people, who also called themselves Long Taballau talked of him as a kind of George Washington. The descendents of his Berawan followers were more mixed in their assessment.
Placental Distribution and the Effect of Antihypertensive Drugs on Monoamine Oxidase and Cathechol-o-Methyl Transferase Activity at Term

Pregnancy associated with hypertension frequently requires antihypertensive medications, which among other effects should improve the uteroplacental circulation. The mechanism and site of action of the commonly used antihypertensive drugs (AHD) used in pregnancy in the circulation has been previously investigated (Lunell et al., 1981; Johanson et al., 1980, Freed et al., 1978; Moskowitz and Cohn, 1980). Unfortunately, knowledge concerning mechanism of action of this group of AHD on the placenta and the uterus is limited. It has been suggested that their effect among others may be mediated via a direct action on the placental blood vessel wall. Moreover, beta adrenergic receptors were found in the brush border membrane of the placenta where some AHD could exert their action (Moore and Whitsett, 1981; Karlsson et al., 1984; Maigaard et al., 1984). Other effects might be exerted on metabolizing enzymes for placental catecholamine and serotonin, monoamine oxidase (MAO) and catechol-o-methyl transferase (COMT). The activities of these metabolizing enzymes have been shown previously to be lower in placentae of patients with hypertension (Barnea et al., 1983, 1986) where a high concentration of norepinephrine was found (DeMaria, 1966). In addition, alpha methyl DOPA and hydralazine can interact with COMT and MAO, respectively in other tissues (Gordonsmith et al., 1982; Lyles et al., 1983).
Evaluating the monophyly and biogeography of Cryptantha (Boraginaceae).

Cryptantha, an herbaceous plant genus of the Boraginaceae, subtribe Amsinckiinae, has an American amphitropical disjunct distribution, found in western North America and western South America, but not in the intervening tropics. In a previous study, Cryptantha was found to be polyphyletic and was split into five genera, including a weakly supported, potentially non-monophyletic Cryptantha s. s. In this and subsequent studies of the Amsinckiinae, interrelationshipswithin Cryptantha were generally not strongly supported and sample size was generally low. Here we analyze a greatly increased sampling of Cryptantha taxa using high-throughput, genome skimming data, in which we obtained the complete ribosomal cistron, the nearly complete chloroplast genome, and twenty-three mitochondrial genes. Our analyses have allowed for inference of clades within this complex with strong support. The occurrence of a non-monophyletic Cryptantha is confirmed, with three major clades obtained, termed here the Johnstonella/Albidae clade, the Maritimae clade, and a large Cryptantha core clade, each strongly supported as monophyletic. From these phylogenomic analyses, we assess the classification, character evolution, and phylogeographic history that elucidates the current amphitropical distribution of the group. Revealing the timing, direction, and number of times of dispersal between North and South America gives insight as to the origin of the great biodiversity of these regions.
The Army During the Duvalier Era, 1957–86

The administrations of Francois Duvalier (1957–71) and Jean-Claude Duvalier (1971–86) mark an important period in the history of the army and civil-military relations in Haiti. It was the period during which the army was at times in open competition with the civilian militia and was loyally subservient to the president. The military as a powerful institution was being transformed into a docile instrument, which affected its relationship with the civilian population. The army had passed from the assertive roles of mediator, guardian and ruler to a more passive role. This chapter attempts to identify the variables that explain the transformation of the army during the Duvalier era.
A human geospatial predictive analytics framework with application to finding medically underserved areas

Human geography is a concept used to indicate the augmentation of standard geographic layers of information about an area with behavioral variations of the people in the area. In particular, the actions of people can be attributed to both local and regional variations in physical (i.e., terrain) and human (e.g., income, political, cultural) variables. In this paper, we study the utility of a human geographic data cube coupled with computational intelligence as a means to predict conditions across a geographic area. This becomes a Big data problem. In this sense, we are using genotype information to predict phenotype states. We demonstrate the approach on the prediction of medically underserved areas in Missouri.
The Role of Soluble Fibrin and Fibrin Inhibitory Peptides in Cancer Metastasis.

Circulating soluble fibrin (sFn) is a marker for ongoing disseminated intravascular coagulation and may have prognostic significance, especially in metastatic cancers. Anti-coagulant therapies have been effective in reducing metastasis in several cancers, but with increased risk of bleeding. The authors have previously demonstrated that soluble fibrin (sFn), which is elevated in many cancer patients, enhances metastasis in an experimental model, and increases platelet/tumor cell adherence by cross-linking platelet aIIbb3 to tumor cell CD54 (a receptor for two of the leukocyte b2 integrins a L b2 and a M b2). sFn also binds to monocyte a M b2 (Mac1), and the peptide sequences of the fibrin(ogen) binding sites for a M b2 and CD54 have recently been identified. It was, therefore, hypothesized that sFn binding to these receptors would result in inhibition of monocyte/tumor cell adherence, and consequently cytotoxicity, which may be reversed by inclusion of blocking peptides. To test this, monocyte adherence to A375 melanoma cells was quantified at physiologically relevant shear rates (35–560 s −1 ) using a laminar flow perfusion chamber mounted on a Leica DMIRB inverted microscope equipped with a computer controlled digital imaging camera. Effector and target cells were untreated, or incubated with sFn (fibrinogen (Fg), 0.5 mg/ml; fibrin polymerization inhibitor Gly-Pro-Arg-Pro amide (GPRPa), 4 mM; and human thrombin (0.125 U/ml)) in the presence or absence of specific single or combined blocking peptides directed against the sFn binding sites on CD54 (P1) and a M b2 (P2), or the sFn g-chain binding sites for CD54 (P3) and a M b2 (P4). The effect of peptides on thrombin (0.125 U/ml) induced clotting of purified Fg (0.5 mg/ml) was assessed visually. The effect of sFn on monocyte cytotoxicity (effector: target 20:1) against green fluorescent protein (GFP) transfected A375 melanoma cells was measured by GFP release from lysed cells using a Perkin-Elmer Victor-3 96-well fluorescence plate reader. Pre-treatment of tumor cells with sFn significantly (P 0.05) on adherence. However, pre-incubation of both cells with sFn resulted in a significant (P M b2 and tumor cell CD54. Adherence was restored by inclusion of sFn blocking peptides, which did not affect clotting. Clinically, these peptides may be effective therapeutically in reducing sFn mediated immunosuppression and may enhance the immune response to metastasizing cancer cells, without the risk of bleeding problems associated with other therapies.
Multisectoral approaches to addressing youth violence

ABSTRACTYouth violence is a public health concern that has devastating consequences for communities and requires a collaborative community response. While public health approaches underscore the importance of collaborative efforts to address public health concerns, violence prevention programs are often siloed and lack a multisectored response that includes the education system, criminal justice system, local government, university, and service providers. This article explores the successes and lessons learned from the emergence of a multisectoral community-based initiative to address youth violence in southeastern North Carolina. The model for this initiative evolved from the Harlem Children’s Zone and includes identifying existing resources and coordinating a continuum of support and services to increase availability of after-school, summer enrichment, life-skills, and parenting programs to reduce youth violence. Implications of applying multisectoral community-based interventions are discussed in terms...
Strengthening of plasma treated 3D printed ABS through epoxy infiltration

3D printed fused deposition modeling (FDM) material parts have distinct anisotropic mechanical properties based upon their as-built print orientation. The strength of material printed perpendicular to the deposition layers can be as low as 50% of values for injection molded parts due to less than optimum interlayer fusion, limiting their use for critical applications. The focus of this work is to present a novel way of utilizing design freedoms available in FDM to improve strength in weak orientations. Vertically processed FDM ABS parts were manufactured with cavities printed perpendicular to the interlayer direction and were subsequently plasma surface treated, filled with an epoxy resin, and mechanically tested. Plasma treatment was shown to beneficially modify the surface chemistry, which resulted in a 50% improvement in shear strength over untreated specimens. Samples that underwent plasma treatment and epoxy infiltration demonstrated a 130% increase in flexural strength over that of as-printed FDM material. The failure strain was also shown to increase by two-fold. The addition of milled carbon fiber (MCF) filler within the epoxy infiltrate was also evaluated and was shown to increase the flexural modulus by as much as 76% at 10 wt% loading levels, though negligible increases in strength were observed.
Copyrights in higher education: motivating a research agenda

The Bayh–Dole Act of 1980 enabled American universities to engage in technology transfer. Thirty years of research has investigated the legislation’s effectiveness and derivative university practices, such as the establishment of technology transfer offices. Unfortunately, the technology transfer literature has focused primarily on patenting as the primary transfer vehicle for protecting intellectual property in universities, overlooking other forms of IP ownership, such as copyrights. Legal scholarship shows, however, that universities are increasingly using copyrights to protect their intellectual property and that the number of university-held copyrights exceeds patents. This paper examines the use of copyrights to protect and transfer university IP. It does so by reviewing underlying legal and policy concepts associated with copyrights and offers contemporary examples of copyright issues within universities. The paper therefore provides a foundation for future research on the role of copyrights in technology transfer.
Interactive visualization of high-dimensional petascale ocean data

We describe an application for interactive visualization of 5 petabytes of time-varying multivariate data from a high-resolution global ocean circulation model. The input data are 10311 hourly (ocean time) time steps of various 2D and 3D fields from a 22-billion point 1/48-degree “lat-lon cap” configuration of the MIT General Circulation Model (MITgcm). We map the global horizontal model domain onto our 128-screen (8×16) tiled display wall to produce a canonical tiling with approximately one MITgcm grid point per display pixel, and using this tiling we encode the entire time series for multiple native and computed scalar quantities at a collection of ocean depths. We reduce disk bandwidth requirements by converting the model's floating point data to 16-bit fixed point values, and compressing those values with a lossless video encoder, which together allow synchronized playback at 24 time steps per second across all 128 displays. The application allows dynamic assignment of any two encoded tiles to any display, and has multiple interfaces for quickly specifying various orderly arrangements of tiles. All subsequent rendering is done on the fly, with run time control of colormaps, transfer functions, histogram equalization, and labeling. The two data streams on each screen can be rendered independently and combined in various ways, including blending, differencing, horizontal/vertical wipes, and checkerboarding. The two data streams on any screen can optionally be displayed as a scatterplot in their joint attribute space. All scatterplots and map-view plots from the same x/y location and depth are linked so they all show the current brushable selection. Ocean scientists have used the system, and have found previously unidentified features in the data.
Clinical use of the polymyxins: the tale of the fox and the cat.

Abstract Background There is a need to identify practice patterns of polymyxin use, quantify gaps in knowledge, and recognize areas of persistent confusion. Methods A structured electronic survey was distributed to physicians, pharmacists and microbiologists. Demographic information was obtained, along with data regarding availability, stewardship principles, therapeutic usage, dosing, microbiological testing, and knowledge, attitudes and beliefs regarding the polymyxins. Results In total, there were 420 respondents with a median of 8 (interquartile range 4–15) years of experience in infectious diseases (52.5%) and critical care (35%). Of the respondents who reported that only one polymyxin was available for use, 17.1% used polymyxin B. Over half (52.5%) of the respondents utilized a loading dose very often/always, and 66.8% dosed both polymyxins in milligrams, with the most common doses of colistin and polymyxin B being 2.5 mg/kg twice daily (60.3%) and 1.5 mg/kg twice daily (65%), respectively, for patients with normal renal function. Polymyxins were most often used for respiratory infections (63%) in combination with a carbapenem (63.6%). Approximately 85% of respondents reported their knowledge level to be fair, good or very good, although 34.9% answered two of the three knowledge questions incorrectly. More than 70% of respondents agreed that confusion exists in all surveyed areas of polymyxin use. Almost all respondents (91.2%) agreed that a polymyxin guideline would be a helpful resource. Conclusions This survey revealed objective and subjective variability in the use and perception of the polymyxins, and identified several areas in which they were being used contrary to the available evidence. The information provided herein lays the framework to harmonize clinical practice, guide future research and shape consensus guidelines.
Information Needs in Developing Countries: How Are They Being Served by Public Access Venues?

This paper analyzes challenges to meet information needs of underserved communities through public access to ICT in 25 developing countries. Information needs are analyzed from the perspective of the users and of the operators of public access venues such as libraries, telecentres and cybercafes. We discuss the importance of locally relevant content, available in local languages, and the need to help strengthen information literacy among users and operators of public access venues, including digital literacy. Libraries, telecentres and cybercafes in the countries studied were found to be meeting local users needs in different ways in each case. Effectively meeting users’ information needs is critical if public access to ICT is to contribute to human development, especially in libraries and telecentres, which generally have a social development mission (as opposed to profit-driven cybercafes).
HEREDITARY PANCREATITIS: Historical Perspectives

Hereditary pancreatitis is presently receiving much attention and deservedly so, not only because of the identification of three genes in separate families, but also because of the unraveling of at least one pathogenetic mechanism. At this point, it is useful to review some historical high points in understanding of this condition. Although familial pancreatitis is a generic term encompassing many family members affected with pancreatitis, with or without a genetic defect (examples include alcoholic pancreatitis or hyperlipidemia), hereditary pancreatitis relates to a specific genetic defect identified in all the members of a family affected with pancreatitis. Three genetic abnormalities are reviewed in greater detail.
“They Tried to Bury Us”: Scholar Advocacy in the Wake of the DACA Rescission

On September 5, 2017, the Trump Administration announced that it would rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Initiated in 2012 via an Executive Order, DACA sought to pr...
Energy-aware embedded media processing: customizable memory subsystems and energy management policies

The design of energy-efficient data memory architectures for embedded system platforms has received considerable attention in recent years. In this dissertation we propose a special-purpose data memory subsystem, called Xtream-Fit, targeted to streaming media applications executing on both generic; uniprocessor embedded platforms and powerful SMT-based multi-threading platforms. We empirically demonstrate that Xtream-Fit achieves high energy-delay efficiency across a wide range of media devices, from systems running a single media application to systems concurrently executing multiple media applications under synchronization constraints. Xtream-Fit's energy efficiency, is predicated on a novel task-based execution model that exposes/enhances opportunities for efficient prefetching, and aggressive dynamic energy conservation techniques targeting on-chip and off-chip memory components. A key novelty of Xtream-Fit is that it exposes a single customization parameter, thus enabling a very simple and yet effective design space exploration methodology to find the best memory configuration for the target application(s). Extensive experimental results show that Xtream-Fit reduces energy-delay product substantially—by 32% to 69%—as compared to ‘standard’ general-purpose memory subsystems enhanced with state of the art cache decay and SDRAM power mode control policies.
Evaluating Proposed Remedies for Credit Rating Agency Failures: Improving Independence and Justifying Departures from Quantitative Credit Rating Models

The overly optimistic debt ratings provided by credit rating agencies (CRAs) and the lack of transparency about the rating process have been criticized by regulators and pundits for exacerbating the financial crisis. We conduct a mixed-design experiment exploring how two proposals advanced by lawmakers affect the behavior of credit rating analysts. Using data taken from personal lending site Prosper.com, we examine whether (a) the requirement to justify departures from a quantitative model, and (b) conflicts of interests stemming from who pays the analysts affect rating characteristics. We then examine how justifying departures in turn influences the conflicts of interest faced by credit raters. We find that justifying departures reduces the likelihood that credit raters deviate from a quantitative model. Furthermore, credit raters who are not required to justify departures from the model tend to depart from the model in a direction that benefits the borrower, but only in the “borrower pays” condition. Additionally, credit raters facing conflict of interest appear to behave strategically and are less willing to lend their own money to borrowers, even if these credit raters assign more favorable ratings to these same borrowers. This study complements the existing archival literature on credit rating agencies and the conflicts of interest facing these agencies. Results of this study may inform regulators regarding the effectiveness of the different proposals on CRA reform.
Cancer risk perception predictors for total body skin examinations: a cross-sectional study using Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) 2017 data.

Background Despite the lack of national skin cancer screening recommendations, a total body skin examination by a healthcare provider may detect skin cancer earlier, allowing for more effective treatment and better outcomes. Objective Examine prevalence, demographic, and cancer risk perceptions of adults who have had a skin examination performed by a healthcare provider. Methods Retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults using the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS). Logistic regressions were performed to identify associations between having a skin examination, risk perceptions, and demographic variables. Results Approximately 46% of the sample reported having a skin examination. Females, college graduates, those with a history of skin cancer, people who check their skin for signs of skin cancer, and adults over the age of 45 were more likely to have a skin examination. The people least likely to be screened were those not wanting to know their chances of getting cancer. Limitations HINTS is a cross-sectional survey which provides only a glimpse of predictors. Conclusions The findings are consistent with other studies that people sometimes avoid cancer risk information. An educational intervention focused on the benefits of early cancer detection would benefit people who report not wanting to know their chances of getting cancer.
Burst behavior of nuclear grade FeCrAl and Zircaloy-2 fuel cladding under simulated cyclic dryout conditions

Abstract A novel experiment to simulate cyclic dryout in boiling water reactors has been developed to better understand the performance of nuclear grade FeCrAl cladding in a BWR during dryout conditions caused by an Anticipated Operational Occurrence or Anticipated Transient Without SCRAM - both of which are Design Basis Accidents. Internally pressurized C26 M FeCrAl alloy cladding and Zircaloy-2 cladding were subjected to rapid 300°-650 °C thermal cycling in a steam environment; actual maximum temperatures were found to vary between materials but were always above 650 °C. In the range of 32–55 MPa hoop stress, Zircaloy-2 cladding burst within 1–16 cycles (about 100 s of dryout duration above 600 °C), while at 76 MPa hoop stress, C26 M cladding remained virtually undeformed after completing 54 cycles (over 1000 s of dryout duration above 600 °C). Higher temperature 300°-700 °C and 300°C–800 °C cycling experiments had to be performed to induce C26 M burst – failure occurred after 20 cycles in the former and during the first cycle in the latter. Zircaloy-2 and C26 M failure criteria were used to generate hoop stress specific dryout lifetimes. Overall, the simulated cyclic dryout experiments show that nuclear grade C26 M cladding has significantly enhanced survivability under dryout conditions relative to Zircaloy-2.
Tactical Emergency Medical Support

Tactical Emergency Medical Support (TEMS) involves the multidimensional provision of medical care during and surrounding high-threat civilian law enforcement operations. TEMS providers with specialized training and ballistic protective equipment initiate medical care in high-threat environments, bridging a critical gap between points of injury and conventional emergency medical resources. The practice of TEMS has been influenced significantly by the trauma care experience of military combat medics confronted with battlefield injuries. Important differences exist between casualty care in the military and civilian settings, prompting the development of best practice TEMS guidelines for high-threat civilian incidents. Explosions and blast incidents have the potential to cause a wide variety of physical injuries, which can range in severity from mild to life-threatening. A thorough understanding of the complex injuries that may result from explosions and blast incidents is key to effective recognition and clinical management by civilian prehospital responders including TEMS providers.
Insurance coverage, stage at diagnosis, and time to treatment following dependent coverage and Medicaid expansion for men with testicular cancer.

INTRODUCTION We sought to assess the impact of Affordable Care Act Dependent Care Expansion (ACA-DCE), which allowed dependent coverage for adults aged 19-25, and Medicaid expansion on outcomes for men with testicular cancer. METHODS Using a US-based cancer registry, we performed adjusted difference-in-difference (DID) analyses comparing outcomes between men aged 19-25 (n = 8,026) and 26-64 (n = 33,303) pre- (2007-2009) and post-ACA-DCE (2011-2016) and between men in states that expanded Medicaid (n = 2,296) to men in those that did not (n = 2,265)pre- (2011-2013) and post-Medicaid expansion (2015-2016). RESULTS In ACA-DCE analysis, rates of uninsurance decreased (DID -5.64, 95% confidence interval [CI] -7.23 to -4.04%, p<0.001) among patients aged 19-25 relative to older patients aged 26-64. There was no significant DID in advanced stage at diagnosis (stage≥II; p = 0.6) or orchiectomy more than 14 days after diagnosis (p = 0.6). For patients who received chemotherapy or radiotherapy as their first course of treatment, treatment greater than 60 days after diagnosis decreased (DID -4.84%, 95% CI -8.22 to -1.45%, p = 0.005) among patients aged 19-25 relative to patients aged 26-64. In Medicaid expansion states, rates of uninsurance decreased (DID -4.20%, 95% CI -7.67 to -0.73%, p = 0.018) while patients receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy greater than 60 days after diagnosis decreased (DID -8.76, 95% CI -17.13 to -0.38%, p = 0.040) compared to rates in non-expansion states. No significant DIDs were seen for stage (p = 0.8) or time to orchiectomy (p = 0.1). CONCLUSIONS Men with testicular cancer had lower uninsurance rates and decreased time to delivery of chemotherapy or radiotherapy following ACA-DCE and Medicaid expansions. Time to orchiectomy and stage at diagnosis did not change following either insurance expansion.
Personality impairment in the DSM-5 and ICD-11: Current standing and limitations.

Purpose of review The current review provides an examination of the levels of personality functioning outlined by the International Classification of Diseases-11 and the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Recent findings Across self-report measures, high convergence is observed, and they evince relatively robust relations with general and pathological traits as well as other clinical symptoms. At the same time, current measures of impairment also demonstrate unstable factor structures, poor discriminant validity (when measures offer subscales aligned with different forms of personality impairment), and tend to account for relatively little unique variance beyond traits. As a result, some have questioned the utility of personality impairment, as currently measured. Summary The dimensional models of personality psychopathology included in the International Classification of Diseases-11 and 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders signify important steps toward an empirically supported and clinically useful diagnostic model; however, self-report measures of impairment are problematic. The authors conclude by calling for the refinement of these measures to more directly assess deficits in various domains of functioning as well as the dimensional models, by assessing traits first, and then examining the nature of the associated personality impairment.
A Review of “Changes in the Management of Injuries to the Liver and Spleen” (2005):

Introduction: The article “Changes in the Management of Injuries to the Liver and Spleen” was originally presented as the Scudder Oration on Trauma at the American College of Surgeons’ (ACS) 90th A...