cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A theory of adaptive systems

This paper presents a survey of some recent results in the theory of adaptive decision making systems. When the statistics describing a given observation are completely known a decision rule merely provides a fixed mapping from the observation space to the space of possible actions. When the statistics are unknown, however, it is possible to employ a sequence of observations in order to improve the average performance of the system on each observation. Such a system may be said to "learn" the statistical description of the observations it is taking. The learning observations may be presented to the system either with or without information concerning the specific situation which gave rise to the observations. For example in character recognition the observations are usually presented to the system together with information specifying each learning observation as a sample of some specific character; in random channel applications on the other hand the more common situation is one in which the receiver obtains observations of previous transmissions through the channel but the receiver does not know which transmitter signal gave rise to each observation. The first situation is known as learning with a teacher while the second is known as learning without a teacher. Iterative solutions suitable for machine implementation will be presented for both of these problems. The question of the size of the system or the amount of the computation necessary to implement these adaptive systems will be emphasized. For any given amount of data to be processed (i.e., for any given dimension of the observation) there exist computational techniques for simplifying the calculations to be performed. The use of sufficient statistics can greatly reduce the amount of storage necessary for the system. In addition it is sometimes possible to evaluate the effect of taking varying amounts of data (i.e., of varying the dimemsion at the observation). For example, one surprising result is that increasing the dimension of the observation (i.e., taking additional measurements) may result in a degredation of the average performance of the adaptive system.
Autoimmune thyroid diseases in children

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Autoimmune thyroid diseases (AIT) are common in children and may present with a variety of signs and symptoms including: euthyroid goiter, hypothyroidism, or hyperthyroidism. The natural history of AIT may be different in children but in all age groups, there appear to be genetic risk factors and environmental triggers that initiate thyroid autoimmunity.Areas covered: In this review, we summarize recent studies that investigate the genetics and environmental triggers believed to be involved in thyroid autoimmunity. We also discuss the approach and controversies in the treatment of children with AIT.Expert commentary: Much has been learned about the major roles for genetics, cytokines, regulatory lymphocytes, and environmental triggers in CLT but controversies remain.
Constructing identity and power in history education in Ukraine: Approaches to formation of peace culture

Treating history education as a tool that creates an attachment to national identity and acceptance of cultural and political institutions, this chapter analyzes the construction of identity and power in history education in Ukraine. Korostelina outlines the theoretical foundations of two major functions of history education—the creation and redefinition of the meaning of national identity and the support and legitimization of power—and shows the role of mythic narratives in this process. Based on semi-structural interviews with history teachers and observation in classrooms, the chapter presents the conflictive mythic narratives used by history teachers to develop particular connotations of identity and power. The chapter concludes with recommendations for the development of peace culture in history education.
A Sport Education Fitness Season’s Impact on Students’ Fitness Levels, Knowledge, and In-Class Physical Activity

ABSTRACTPurpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which a sport education season of fitness could provide students with recommended levels of in-class moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) while also increasing students’ fitness knowledge and fitness achievement. Method: One hundred and sixty-six 5th-grade students (76 boys, 90 girls) participated in a 20-lesson season called “CrossFit Challenge” during a 4-week period. The Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run, push-ups, and curl-ups tests of the FITNESSGRAM® were used to assess fitness at pretest and posttest, while fitness knowledge was assessed through a validated, grade-appropriate test of health-related fitness knowledge (HRF). Physical activity was measured with Actigraph GT3X triaxial accelerometers. Results: Results indicated a significant time effect for all fitness tests and the knowledge test. Across the entire season, the students spent an average of 54.5% of lesson time engaged in MVPA, irrespective...
Spatial conjunctive analysis of (crime) case configurations: Using Monte Carlo methods for significance testing

Abstract While research has repeatedly demonstrated how spatial distributions of crime can be shaped by the presence of facilities such as bars and public transport hubs, the joint influence of different facility types has rarely been explored. Spatial conjunctive analysis of case configurations (also known as qualitative comparative analysis) offers a means to identify the combinations of facility types that are most commonly found around crime events, and has been used in a small number of studies focusing on street robbery. This study extends this limited evidence base by implementing a significance test based on the Monte Carlo method using street robbery data for Austin, Texas. The results show that some of the top-ranking facility type combinations had observed frequencies that were not significantly greater than chance expectations. The accurate identification of the highest-risk environments has important implications for crime prevention.
‘Examining the Supreme Court’s TC Heartland Decision’: Testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Courts, IP, and the Internet

In TC Heartland v. Kraft Foods, the United States Supreme Court construed the venue provision in the patent statute, limiting the filing of lawsuits against defendant corporations to the districts in which they are incorporated. Chief Justice Roberts’ opinion ostensibly frames the issue as one of only statutory interpretation. But we cannot assess TC Heartland’s impact on patent owners and on the innovation economy generally without first understanding the past decade of extensive lobbying and strategic litigation that have narrowed or outright eliminated U.S. patent rights. TC Heartland is part and parcel of this broader campaign to weaken U.S. patent rights. Empirical studies confirm that TC Heartland does not change the concentration of patent lawsuits in a few districts -- the alleged ill that TC Heartland was supposed to end. It merely shifts lawsuits from one district to two other districts that are widely recognized as favorable to defendants sued for patent infringement. Thus, it increases costs for the enforcement of all U.S. patent rights -- harming the patent owners who are the foundation of the innovation economy, such as individual inventors, startups, universities, and small businesses, among others. If Congress considers further revisions to the patent statutes, it should not pursue any legislation that further weakens the patent rights that have been the fountainhead of the U.S. innovation economy for over two hundred years. A decade of court decisions, regulatory actions, and legislation already have undermined the promise of stable and effective property rights once secured by the gold-standard U.S. patent system. Congress should do no further harm to the U.S. patent system, killing the jobs and economic growth created by the innovation economy.
Pulmonary vein stenosis in patients with Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome.

Objective To describe a group of children with co-incident pulmonary vein stenosis and Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome and to generate hypotheses as to the shared pathogenesis of these disorders. Design Retrospective case series. Patients Five subjects in a pulmonary vein stenosis cohort of 170 subjects were diagnosed with Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome soon after birth. Results All five cases were diagnosed with Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome within 6 weeks of life, with no family history of either disorder. All cases had pathologically elevated 7-dehydrocholesterol levels and two of the five cases had previously reported pathogenic 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase mutations. Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome severity scores ranged from mild to classical (2–7). Gestational age at birth ranged from 35 to 39 weeks. Four of the cases were male by karyotype. Pulmonary vein stenosis was diagnosed in all cases within 2 months of life, earlier than most published cohorts. All cases progressed to bilateral disease and three cases developed atresia of at least one vein. Despite catheter and surgical interventions, all subjects' pulmonary vein stenosis rapidly recurred and progressed. Three of the subjects died, at 2 months, 3 months, and 11 months. Survival at 16 months after diagnosis was 43%. Conclusions Patients with pulmonary vein stenosis who have a suggestive syndromic presentation should be screened for Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome with easily obtainable serum sterol tests. Echocardiograms should be obtained in all newly diagnosed patients with Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome, with a low threshold for repeating the study if new respiratory symptoms of uncertain etiology arise. Further studies into the pathophysiology of pulmonary vein stenosis should consider the role of cholesterol-based signaling pathways in the promotion of intimal proliferation.
153 Overdose harm reduction knowledge among persons in residential treatment for substance use disorders

Purpose Overdose-focused harm reduction can be incorporated into treatment to prevent overdose and improve bystander response after treatment. This study sought to examine harm reduction knowledge among persons who inject drugs (PWID) and those using by other methods (non-PWID) to inform overdose-related psychoeducation during substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. Methods Injection drug use history in the 30 days before residential SUD treatment was characterised among 248 PWID and 409 non-PWID who participated in the Safety and Health Intervention Project and used (via any route) substances that can be injected. We compared patterns of substance use, overdose experience, and knowledge of naloxone and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in PWID and non-PWID using simple statistics (frequencies and chi-squared or Fisher’s exact tests). Results PWID were more 2.6 times more likely than non-PWID to use prescription opioids in the year prior to treatment (74.0% vs. 28.0%, p Conclusions PWID more often had recent overdose experiences, but had greater knowledge of naloxone than non-PWID. Significance Approximately 40%–60% of persons relapse within the first year after SUD treatment. Despite the lower risk of overdose, non-PWID may benefit from SUD treatment-based overdose bystander education, given the lack of prior exposure.
Flexible Hinges in Bacterial Chemoreceptors

Transmembrane bacterial chemoreceptors are extended, rod-shaped homodimers with ligand-binding sites at one end and interaction sites for signaling complex formation and histidine kinase control at the other. There are atomic-resolution structures of chemoreceptor fragments but not of intact, membrane-inserted receptors. Electron tomography of in vivo signaling complex arrays lack distinct densities for chemoreceptor rods away from the well-ordered base plate region, implying structural heterogeneity. We used negative staining, transmission electron microscopy, and image analysis to characterize the molecular shapes of intact homodimers of the Escherichia coli aspartate receptor Tar rendered functional by insertion into nanodisc-provided E. coli lipid bilayers. Single-particle analysis plus tomography of particles in a three-dimensional matrix revealed two bend loci in the chemoreceptor cytoplasmic domain, (i) a short, two-strand gap between the membrane-proximal, four-helix-bundle HAMP (histidine kinases, adenylyl cyclases, methyl-accepting chemoreceptors, and phosphatases) domain and the membrane-distal, four-helix coiled coil and (ii) aligned glycines in the extended, four-helix coiled coil, the position of a bend noted in the previous X-ray structure of a receptor fragment. Our images showed HAMP bends from 0° to ∼13° and glycine bends from 0° to ∼20°, suggesting that the loci are flexible hinges. Variable hinge bending explains indistinct densities for receptor rods outside the base plate region in subvolume averages of chemotaxis arrays. Bending at flexible hinges was not correlated with the chemoreceptor signaling state. However, our analyses showed that chemoreceptor bending avoided what would otherwise be steric clashes between neighboring receptors that would block the formation of core signaling complexes and chemoreceptor arrays.IMPORTANCE This work provides new information about the shape of transmembrane bacterial chemoreceptors, crucial components in the molecular machinery of bacterial chemotaxis. We found that intact, lipid-bilayer-inserted, and thus functional homodimers of the Escherichia coli chemoreceptor Tar exhibited bends at two flexible hinges along their ∼200-A, rod-like, cytoplasmic domains. One hinge was at the short, two-strand gap between the membrane-proximal, four-helix-bundle HAMP (histidine kinases, adenylyl cyclases, methyl-accepting chemoreceptors, and phosphatases) domain and the membrane-distal, four-helix coiled coil. The other hinge was at aligned glycines in the extended, four-helix coiled coil, where a bend had been identified in the X-ray structure of a chemoreceptor fragment. Our analyses showed that flexible hinge bending avoided structural clashes in chemotaxis core complexes and their arrays.
The Case of the Vanishing Protected Class: Reflections on Reverse Discrimination, Affirmative Action and Racial Balancing

This article argues that the "symmetrical" or "colorlind" approach to discrimination cases adopted by the federal courts "that discrimination against white males is just as bad as discrimination against minorities and women" contradicts the original intent of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to promote the interests of minorities to an equal share in employment and education. Moreover, in its affirmative action/reverse discrimination jurisprudence, the federal courts have stepped far outside their proper role. Due largely to a liberal mythology, created around Brown v. Board of Education, holding that the Supreme Court is a progressive force in racial justice, most American lawyers and judges accept without question that all issues of apparent race discrimination, including reverse discrimination/ affirmative action, should be decided in the courts. However, the Court's affirmative action/ reverse discrimination jurisprudence is little more than a kind of race-based bargaining or social engineering for which the courts are ill suited, and which would be better left to resolution in the political process.
Microsomal protein synthesis inhibition: an early manifestation of gentamicin nephrotoxicity.

Aminoglycoside antibiotics achieve bacterial killing by binding to bacterial ribosomes and inhibiting protein synthesis. To examine whether similar mechanisms could be present in renal tubular cells prior to the onset of overt proximal tubular necrosis due to these drugs, we isolated microsomes from Fischer rats given 20 mg/kg gentamicin every 12 h subcutaneously for 2 days and from vehicle-injected controls. Concomitant studies of renal structure, function, and mitochondrial respiration were carried out. [3H]leucine incorporation into renal microsomes of treated animals was reduced by 21.9% (P less than 0.01), whereas brain and liver microsomes from the same animals were unaffected. Gentamicin concentration in the renal microsomal preparation was 56 micrograms/ml, a value 7- to 10-fold above concentrations necessary to inhibit bacterial growth. Conventional renal function studies were normal (blood urea, serum creatinine, creatinine clearance). Treated animals showed only a mild reduction of inulin clear...
The Epidemiology of Diabetic Retinopathy

Over the past 25 years, there have been dramatic changes in the management of diabetes and its complications resulting from the application of evidence from randomized controlled clinical trials showing the efficacy of photocoagulation treatment (e.g., Diabetic Retinopathy Study [DRS], Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study [ETDRS]), and glycemic and blood pressure control (e.g., Diabetes Control and Complications Trial [DCCT], United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study [UKPDS]) (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6). Translation of these findings to clinical care have resulted in changes in the incidence and progression of retinopathy and resultant visual loss in persons with diabetes. The purpose of this chapter is to review the epidemiology of diabetic retinopathy over this period of change.
Maternal Immune Activation Alters Adult Behavior, Gut Microbiome and Juvenile Brain Oscillations in Ferrets

Maternal immune activation (MIA) has been identified as a causal factor in psychiatric disorders by epidemiological studies in humans and mechanistic studies in rodent models. Addressing this gap in species between mice and human will accelerate the understanding of the role of MIA in the etiology of psychiatric disorders. Here, we provide the first study of MIA in the ferret (Mustela putorius furo), an animal model with a rich history of developmental investigations due to the similarities in developmental programs and cortical organization with primates. We found that after MIA by injection of PolyIC in the pregnant mother animal, the adult offspring exhibited reduced social behavior, less eye contact with humans, decreased recognition memory, a sex-specific increase in amphetamine-induced hyperlocomotion, and altered gut microbiome. We also studied the neurophysiological properties of the MIA ferrets in development by in-vivo recordings of the local field potential (LFP) from visual cortex in five- to six-week-old animals, and found that the spontaneous and sensory-evoked LFP had decreased power, especially in the gamma frequency band. Overall, our results provide the first evidence for the detrimental effect of MIA in ferrets and support the use of the ferret as an intermediate model species for the study of disorders with neurodevelopmental origin.
Γ-brasses in the Mn-Zn system: An experimental and computational study

Abstract The synthesis and characterization of Ni2Zn11-type γ-brasses with composition Mn2+xZn11−x (x = 0.06–0.60) are reported. The synthesis follows standard high temperature methods and characterization by single crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) and powder X-ray Diffraction (PXRD) techniques as well as Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS). First principles electronic structure calculations showed preferential heteroatomic Mn–Zn bonding and repulsive effects of Zn–Zn 3d–3d orbital overlap that influence the metal atom distribution in the structure. Local bonding environments and the relationship of Mn2+xZn11-x to other γ-brasses containing 3d metals such as PdCoZn11 and Ni2Zn11 are discussed.
Elevated Temperature Optical Microscopy DIC

When determining the microstructural performance of new materials, such as composites and additively manufactured parts, it is necessary to understand their full-scale behavior. Since non-homogeneous materials are being used more often in critical applications, understanding their microstructural response is becoming more important. Digital Image Correlation (DIC) has proven to be invaluable in characterizing the small-scale performance of non-homogenous materials, but presents a number of challenges for certain tests. One such area is determining the local strain behavior for non-homogeneous micro-scale materials as the part is heated. Using DIC on a sample at elevated temperatures must deal with optical distortions caused by uneven heating of the air above the part. Using DIC at a microstructural level is difficult due to the limited depth of field, which can cause a loss of focus and difficulty in generating an appropriate speckle pattern. To examine the microstructural thermal response both of these difficulties must be overcome simultaneously. Southern Research has developed methods and apparatus to allow optical DIC to be used over a range of temperatures and microscopic fields of view. This paper will address how each of the problems was overcome in the apparatus design and testing method as well as show results validating the technique.
Influence of preoperative opioid use on postoperative outcomes and opioid use after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

Background Recent orthopedic research has questioned the effect of opioid use on surgical outcomes. This study investigated this in the context of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. We hypothesized that preoperative opioid use would be associated with inferior outcomes and greater postoperative opioid requirements. Methods A database query identified adult patients with full-thickness or partial-thickness supraspinatus tears surgically treated between 2011 and 2015. Preoperative and postoperative outcomes scores (active range of motion [AROM], American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons [ASES], Constant scores, Simple Shoulder Test [SST], and visual analog scale [VAS] for pain) and postoperative opioid use were retrospectively recorded. Patients with less than 2 years of follow-up data at the time of the retrospective review were contacted for prospective ASES, SST, and VAS data collection. Results A total of 200 patients, 44 of whom received opioids preoperatively, were identified for inclusion. Patients prescribed preoperative opioids had consistently inferior preoperative and postoperative outcomes scores; however, the magnitudes of improvement were not significantly different between groups. Postoperatively, patients in the preoperative opioid group received 1.91 (95% confidence interval, 1.31-2.78) times more opioids over a postoperative course of treatment that was 2.73 (95% confidence interval, 1.62-4.59) times longer. In addition to having a greater proportion of women, this group also had significantly higher rates of certain comorbidities, including back pain, depression, degenerative joint disease, and chronic pain conditions. Conclusions All patients demonstrated significant improvements in outcomes scores after surgical repair that were not significantly different between groups. However, patients taking opioids preoperatively did not ultimately reach the same level of functionality and had substantially greater opioid requirements postoperatively.
Variability in Prices for Erectile Dysfunction Medications-Are All Pharmacies the Same?

Abstract Background Variability in prices of medications is a well-known phenomenon; however, this variability has not been quantified in the realm of erectile dysfunction (ED) medications. ED medications are ideal for this quantification, because they are often not covered by insurances; therefore, the cost is the most direct reflection of price variability among pharmacies as they affect the patients. Aim To evaluate the variability in cash prices for phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDEIs) for ED. We also evaluated whether certain types of pharmacies consistently offer better pricing than others, and whether there was any correlation with demographic factors. Methods 331 pharmacies were contacted within a 25-mile radius of our institution to obtain the cash price for 4 commonly used ED medications with prespecified doses. After exclusion, 323 pharmacies were categorized as chain, independent, wholesale, or hospital-associated. Cash prices for the specified medications were evaluated. In addition, we identified demographic and socioeconomic factors to determine if these had an impact on median drug pricing within each zip code. Main Outcome Measure The main outcome was the cost for patients to fill each prescription. Results Independent pharmacies provided the lowest cost for 3 of 4 of the PDEIs. The largest price difference for 10 tablets of 100 mg sildenafil between all pharmacies was 38,000%. The median cost difference between independent pharmacies and chain pharmacies for sildenafil was >900%, and >1,100% for independent pharmacies vs hospital-associated pharmacies. Demographic and socioeconomic factors had no impact on the cost. Clinical Implications Our goal is to promote patient counseling among practitioners and to empower patients to shop for the best prices for their medications. Strength and Limitations A strength of the study is the large cohort that was surveyed; however, a weakness is that the large majority of the cohort was comprised of chain pharmacies. Mail pharmacies could not be evaluated as they required a valid prescription before offering prices. Conclusion The drastic differences in cash prices for the PDEIs give us an insight into the variability and cost-inflation of medications in the United States. These patterns hold true for other essential medications as well, and improved transparency will allow patients to make informed decisions when choosing where to purchase their medications. It may also encourage certain pharmacies to provide medications at more affordable prices. Mishra K, Bukavina L, Mahran A, et al. Variability in prices for erectile dysfunction medications—Are all pharmacies the same? J Sex Med 2018;15:1785–1791.
SharaBLE: A Software Framework for Shared Usage of BLE Devices over the Internet

With the development of Internet of Things, numerous IoT devices have been brought into our daily lives. Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), due to the low energy consumption and generic service stack, has become one of the most popular wireless communication technologies for IoT. However, because of the short communication range and exclusive connection pattern, a BLE-equipped device can only be used by a single user near the device. To fully explore the benefits of BLE and make BLE-equipped devices truly accessible over the Internet as IoT devices, in this paper, we propose a cloud-based software framework that can enable multiple users to interact with various BLE IoT devices over the Internet. This framework includes an agent program, a suite of services hosting in cloud, and a set of RESTful APIs exposed to Internet users. Given the availability of this framework, the access to BLE devices can be extended from local to the Internet scale without any software or hardware changes to BLE devices, and more importantly, shared usage of remote BLE devices over the Internet is also made available.
The use of triangulation in qualitative studies employing elite interviews

Elite interviews provide valuable information from perspectives of power and privilege. However, the information elites provide may be biased or inaccurate, and researchers must be knowledgeable ab...
Visible-near infrared spectroradiometry-based detection of grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3 in a red-fruited wine grape cultivar

Abstract Grapevine leafroll disease (GLD) is one of the major threats to wine grapes (Vitis vinifera) causing substantial economic losses to the growers. This study was undertaken to evaluate the applicability of visible and near infrared (VIS-NIR) spectroradiometery as a rapid, robust and non–destructive optical sensing method for the detection of Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3 (GLRaV-3) at different phenological stages in a red-berried wine grape cultivar. Using VIS-NIR spectroradiometer, data was collected from the healthy and GLRaV-3-infected leaf samples from cv. Cabernet Sauvignon for two seasons at specific intervals during asymptomatic and symptomatic stages of the disease. Fiber optic leaf clip was used to collect spectral responses from grapevine leaves under field conditions. Salient feature extraction using stepwise multilinear regression and partial least square regression methods showed significant differences between healthy and virus–infected leaves in the visible (351, 377, 501, 526, 626 and 676 nm) and near infrared (701, 726, 826, 901, 951, 976, 1001, 1027, 1052 and 1101 nm) regions. Spectral wavelengths from near infrared region (1001, 1027 and 1052 nm) were validated at different phenological stages spanning both asymptomatic and symptomatic stages of the disease. Selected spectral wavelengths demonstrated robustness in virus detection with overall classification accuracies in the range of 75–99% using quadratic discriminant analysis (QDA) classifier. QDA based classification accuracies for healthy, infected and overall classes were significantly higher compared to Naive Bayes classifier. The accuracy for virus detection during asymptomatic stages was not significantly different from the symptomatic phase, indicating reliability of the selected features for early detection of GLRaV–3–infected grapevines.
Preexposure Prophylaxis for Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection for Men Who Have Sex with Men and Transgender Persons:: What Dermatologists Need to Know

HIV remains an important public health concern in the United States, particularly for men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender persons. With HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP), persons who are HIV-uninfected take antiretroviral medications to prevent HIV infection. The most common PrEP regimen involves taking a single pill daily and is very effective in reducing risk of HIV infection, with few adverse effects. Barriers to PrEP access exist for MSM and transgender persons. Dermatologists can help combat the ongoing HIV epidemic among MSM, transgender persons, and others by understanding why, when, and how PrEP should be considered as an HIV prevention approach.
Conceptual Design and Analysis of In-Vessel Components for the Materials Plasma Exposure eXperiment (MPEX)

The materials plasma exposure experiment (MPEX) is a linear plasma divertor simulator currently undergoing conceptual design. The facility will expose material samples to steady-state plasma fluxes to examine plasma–material interactions (PMIs) that are expected in the next generation of fusion devices. The plasmas will be generated by a helicon source, with electron and ion heating sources of up to 800 kW possible. The peak heat fluxes of the target are expected to be up to 10 MW/m2. The facility will be capable of handling low-activation neutron-irradiated samples in order to examine the multivariate effects of neutron damage and plasma fluence. Neutron-irradiated samples are planned to be roughly of 10-mm diameter; however, plasma-facing components up to $60 \times 600$ mm can be accommodated. The steady-state nature of the device will require the magnetic confinement of the plasma to be achieved with superconducting magnets, with a maximum on-axis field of 2.5 T. In addition, since MPEX will be a steady-state device, in-vessel components need to be water cooled. The primary in-vessel components will be the target, the dump plate, the limiter, the skimmers, and the microwave absorber. The conceptual design of these components is presented here, including analyses that confirm that the designs are adequate to meet the requirements of MPEX operation.
A 3-D Novel Fast Back-Projection Imaging Algorithm for Stratified Media Based on Near-Field Monostatic and Bistatic SAR

A fast back-projection (FBP) imaging algorithm is proposed to generate 3-D uniformly balanced images of an object embedded in a layered structure based on a combined near-field monostatic and bistatic synthetic aperture radar (SAR) system. The spectral layered Green’s function is used in the FBP algorithm. Like conventional real-time imaging algorithms, the complexity of the imaging function is reduced via the stationary phase method, and the fast Fourier transform is implemented to accelerate the computation. Unlike conventional real-time imaging algorithms, the singularity problem associated with Green’s function and antenna pattern is solved in this proposed algorithm by using a point spread function (PSF). For a real-time imaging system, besides fast image generation, an efficient data acquisition is needed. A combined monostatic and bistatic SAR configuration is used here to decrease the data collection time. The performance of this proposed FBP method is demonstrated by measurements of a stratified environment.
What Can We Learn from the Exported Cases in Detecting Disease Outbreaks: A Case Study of the COVID-19 Epidemic

Background: Travel is a potent force in the emergence of disease. Early warning in the travel origins is crucial to prevent the disease from spreading. However, many travel origins have delays in reporting the disease outbreak. Under this circumstance, those exported cases (travelers tested positive outside their travel origins) became valuable data for detecting the disease outbreaks. Methods: We estimated some key indicators (the exponential growth rate, the doubling time, and the basic reproduction number) using the exported cases in the early phase of the COVID-19 epidemic of four travel origins, Wuhan (China), U.S., Italy, and Iran. We compared the estimates from the exported cases to the ones from domestic data, and quantitatively evaluated how different features in the exported cases influenced the estimation. We used hypothesis testing to determine if an indicator has exceeded a certain threshold. Findings: We found that the dates that the exported cases rang an alarm about the disease outbreak were all before or shortly after some emergency measures were taken in the travel origins. If the assumed epidemic start date was relatively accurate and the traveler samples were representative of the general population, the indicators estimated from the exported cases were consistent with the domestic data. We provided the minimum number of exported cases to determine whether the epidemic growth rate was above a certain level. Flexible scenarios were provided in a Shiny App. Interpretation: Rapid detection of a disease outbreak is crucial for government intervention and raising public awareness. Utilizing the diagnosis resources from all countries, the exported case data is a good addition to the domestic data. To strengthen the global infectious disease surveillance system, we advocate that countries work in a collaborative way by sharing detailed travel data in a timely manner. Funding: NIH/NIAID 5R01AI136664 Declaration of Interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
"Dying is Not a Fear": Teen and Parent Perspectives on Messaging to Prevent Crystal Meth Use Among Teens in Rural North Idaho.

Crystal methamphetamine (“meth”) use is on the rise in the USA, having devastating effects on individuals and communities. Innovative prevention strategies are therefore critical. Through an exploratory qualitative study, we examined the perspectives and experiences of teenagers and parents around meth prevention messaging formats and strategies. Teens and adults were recruited through middle and high schools, libraries, local sporting events, and word of mouth in three communities in North Idaho, May–September 2016. Guided by the theoretical framework of the Extended Parallel Process Model, we conducted focus groups and small group interviews (three teen; two adults). Using a deductive content analytic approach, we developed teen- and adult-specific codebooks, analyzed the transcripts with NVivo 12-Plus, and identified themes. Teens and adults were all acutely aware of meth use in their communities, personally knowing people who were addicted to meth, and all understood the oral (“meth mouth”) and physical (“crank bugs”) consequences of meth use. Three primary themes were identified, which focused on the effects of, addiction to, and messaging around crystal meth use. For teens and adults, images illustrating the effects of meth were least effective if they appeared unrealistic or comical. Teens resonated most with messages focusing on pain and vanity (bad teeth and breath), and there was consensus that showing teens images simulating changes in their appearance over time as a result of meth use in a clinical setting would be an effective prevention strategy. Teens and adults who had exposure to meth addiction in North Idaho felt that prevention messages focused on meth are imperative, given its high prevalence and deleterious effects. Future work will entail developing and testing a communication-based meth prevention strategy along with tailored messaging that can be used with teens in dental settings.
The voice of the text and its body: the continuous reform of euphrase kezilahabi’s poetics

With The Voice of the Text and its Body, Roberto Gaudioso offers English speakers the first sustained monograph on one of the past century’s most significant Swahili-language poetic imaginations: t...
Protecting Our Water Resources

Humans have modified the natural water cycle of our planet to the point that there are challenges to water quality and water distribution across the planet. Extensive water infrastructure has allowed cities to grow—including in arid lands which have natural limited carrying capacity. Even so, many communities are running out of water. In addition, we use large quantities of water to support agriculture and mining. These activities and others lead to deteriorating quality of surface water and groundwater that must be managed in some way. In recent years, local, state, and national governments enacted regulations for common pollutants, but there are a range of emerging pollutants—particularly microplastics, pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and nanoparticles—that are largely unregulated. Simple, hard and/or expensive, and innovative and/or life-changing approaches to conserve water and reduce water pollution are presented.
The Necessity of Freedom for the Free Flowering of Science

I have chosen this title because it is consonant with the magnificent citation for the Dunning Trust Lectures. I do not know of a better citation for any lectures. Let me quote : “To promote understanding and appreciation of the supreme importance of the dignity, freedom and responsibility of the individual person in human society.” I have really struggled with this lecture because I was inspired by these words, and that I think is the best tribute I can give to the words. Furthermore, it corresponds so well to my vision of what can be claimed to be the greatest spiritual adventure of our present civilization, an adventure that is subsumed in one word, Science. In Science the freedom and responsibility of the individual scientist are of supreme importance.
Maser Sources in H ii Regions

When OH and H2O sources are found in H ii regions, a compact source of radio continuum and infrared emission is usually, perhaps always, found nearby, ≲ 1017 cm away (approximately the conjectured size of a prestellar condensation). Whether the masers are self-excited, are amplifying the background radiation, or are themselves associated with an exciting star is clearly model-dependent, and observations have not yet given the answer. H2O masers occur less frequently than OH masers. When they occur together they appear as a cluster of compact sources of line radiation, exhibiting the same range of radial velocities, The OH sources nearly always are strongly polarized, while the H2O maser is not. Both classes of-maser are probably saturated, and some care is needed in inferring the maser geometry from the observations. The period of stability of neither OH nor H2O can be much more than 103 yr, and this fact can be used as an estimator of stellar formation rate.
Evaluation of the effects of microclimate differences on Corrosion

Analytical and statistical analyses of data obtained from a contracted exposure study performed by Rockwell International in St. Louis, Mo. reveal that many microclimate differences can account for observed differences incorrosion behavior within a geographic region. Data from Mansfeld's Atmospheric Corrosion Monitors (ACM's) were evaluated with data from the Regional Air Monitoring System (RAMS). Relative humidity, temperature, wind speed, and levels of total sulfur gases such as sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen were found to be statistically significant variables. Problems of covariance were avoided by partitioning the large data set into subsets. Relative humidity was found to be the most important but least accurate variable. Because it is seldom measured at exposure sites, an equation was developed to relate site-to-site relative humidity differences to temperature differences. With average relative humidity and another empirical equation, time-of-wetness can be estimated. The results are in good agreement with time-of-wetness from the ACM's.
Hierarchy as a theme in the US college, 1880–1920

How did the undergraduate college rapidly position itself as the gateway to middle-class US employment between 1880 and 1920? This article attempts to explain one part of that process. Drawing on Weberian organisational theory, transnational intellectual history and case studies of three institutions, it identifies hierarchy as a defining aspect of both modern society and the modern workplace – one that must be comprehended and mastered by the successful ‘white collar’ worker. The author describes the turn-of-the-century transformation of the US college in the context of its increasingly hierarchical nature, as opposed to traditional explanations that focus on human capital production or the incorporation of the German research university model. Hierarchical structures in the hidden and extra-curriculum of the US college helped establish it as the pre-eminent testing ground for aspiring bureaucratic workers.
Impaired granulocyte superoxide production and prolongation of the respiratory burst due to a low-affinity NADPH-dependent oxidase

A 7-yr-old girl with self-limited pulmonary aspergillosis was found to have a defect in granulocyte superoxide production. Her cells produced superoxide at 3% of control rates in response to phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and opsonized zymosan. Lag times for O-2 production were normal with PMA, opsonized zymosan, and concanavalin-A stimulation. Her granulocyte membranes depolarized in response to all of these stimuli. Superoxide produced by podosomes and a particulate fraction demonstrated an enzyme activity with a normal maximal velocity but a decreased affinity for NADPH. NADH-dependent superoxide production by particles was similar with patient and control material. The duration of superoxide production was prolonged in the patient's intact granulocytes and in the particulate fractions from her cells. Bacterial killing by the patient's granulocytes was initially low, but approached control values after 90 min of incubation. These results are explained by an enzyme activity that has a decreased affinity for its substrate and a decreased rate of inactivation. Family studies indicate an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance.
Family-style dining on a child and adolescent psychiatry unit: a quality improvement project to reduce weight changes in patients.

Background Improving nutritional standards for children has become a national health initiative. However, children who are hospitalized are often at additional risk for poor nutrition and diet. Following a change to family-style dining, nursing staff noted significant patient weight changes. We undertook a quality improvement project to address this issue and promote healthy weight maintenance. Methods Nursing staff requested changes to the types of foods served and placed limits on how much patients were permitted to eat. We also developed a nutrition group to educate the patients on healthy food choices. Results We were able to reduce weight changes in patients on our unit from a mean change of 2.5 kg (5.5 lb) to a mean change of 0.01 kg (0.027 lb). Conclusions Patient education, healthy food offerings, and limiting the amount of food eaten at meals had positive outcomes on patient weights during a child and adolescent psychiatry hospitalization.
Switching-Activity Minimization on Instruction-Level Loop Scheduling for VLIWDSP Applications

This paper develops an instruction-level loop scheduling technique to reduce both execution time and bus switching activities for applications with loops on VLIW architectures. We propose an algorithm, SAMLS (Switching-Activity Minimization Loop Scheduling), to minimize both schedule length and switching activities for applications with loops. In the algorithm, we obtain the best schedule from the ones that are generated from an initial schedule by repeatedly rescheduling the nodes with schedule length and switching activities minimization based on rotation scheduling and bipartite matching. The experimental results show that our algorithm can greatly reduce both schedule length and bus switching activities compared with the previous work.
Effects of Body Size and Body Fatness on Left Ventricular Mass in Children and Adolescents: Project HeartBeat!

Background Left ventricular mass (LVM) is a strong predictor of cardiovascular disease in adults. Available study findings on effects of body fatness on LVM in children are inconsistent. Understanding the impact of body fat on LVM in children may help prevent excessive LVM through measures to reduce overweight and obesity. Methods Healthy children ( n =678) aged 8, 11, and 14 years at baseline were examined at 4-month intervals for up to 4 years (1991–1995); 4608 valid measurements of LVM were obtained with M-mode echocardiography. A multilevel linear model was used for analysis. The impact of body size was examined by adding separately nine body-size indicators to a basic LVM–gender–age model. The impact of body fatness was tested by introducing four body-fatness indicators into the nine models, yielding 36 models. Results All body-size indicators showed strong, positive effects on LVM. In models containing weight or body surface area (measuring both fat-free and fat contributions to body size), additional effects of body fatness were negative; in models containing fat-free mass (FFM) or height (both measuring body size independent of body fat), increased body fatness was related to a significant increase in LVM. For example, in models with FFM as a body-size indicator, a 1-SD increase in percent body fat or fat mass was related to a 5.4- or 7.2-g increase in LVM, respectively. Conclusions Effects of body size on LVM attributable to fat-free body mass can be distinguished from those attributable to fat body mass; both are independent, positive predictors, but the former is the stronger determinant. When a body-size indicator not independent of body fat is used as a predictor, effects of fat-free body mass and fat body mass are forced to relate to the same indicator; because their magnitudes are estimated to be equal, the effect of fat body mass is overestimated. Thus, when an additional body-fatness indicator is included in the prediction of LVM, the additional estimated effect related to the indicator appears to be negative.
REMOTE SENSING OF ESTUARINE FRONTS AND THEIR EFFECTS ON POLLUTANTS

The author has identified the following significant results. Imagery from LANDSAT 1 and 2 proved valuable in determining the location, type, and extent of estuarine fronts under different tidal conditions. Neither ships nor aircraft alone could provide as complete, synoptic, and repetitive an overview as did the satellites. Since estuarine fronts influence the movement of oil slicks and dispersion of other pollutants, cleanup operations depending on real time use of oil slick movement prediction models will benefit not only from aircraft tracking the actual slicks but also from real time satellite observations of surface currents and the location of frontal systems.