cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
GRASSROOTS ECOLOGY: PLANT-MICROBE-SOIL INTERACTIONS AS DRIVERS OF PLANT COMMUNITY STRUCTURE AND DYNAMICS

A growing body of research on plant-microbe interactions in soil is con- tributing to the development of a new, microbially based perspective on plant community ecology. Soil-dwelling microorganisms are diverse, and interactions with plants vary with respect to specificity, environmental heterogeneity, and fitness impact. Two microbial pro- cesses that may exert key influences on plant community structure and dynamics are mi- crobial mediation of niche differentiation in resource use and feedback dynamics between the plant and soil community. The niche differentiation hypothesis is based on observations that soil nutrients occur in different chemical forms, that different enzymes are required for plant access to these nutrients, and that soil microorganisms are a major source of these enzymes. We predict that plant nutrient partitioning arises from differential associations of plant species with microbes able to access different nutrient pools. Feedback dynamics result from changes in the soil community generated by the specificity of response in plant- microbe interactions. We suggest that positive feedback between plants and soil microbes plays a central role in early successional communities, while negative feedback contributes both to species replacements and to diversification in later successional communities. We further suggest that plant-microbe interactions in the soil are an important organizing force for large-scale spatial gradients in species richness. The relative balance of positive feedback (a homogenizing force) and negative feedback (a diversifying force) may contribute to observed latitudinal (and altitudinal) diversity patterns. Empirical tests of these ideas are needed, but a microbially based perspective for plant ecology promises to contribute to our understanding of long-standing issues in ecology, and to reveal new areas of future research.
Chaos Theory and Some Nursing Considerations

The alleged synthesis of nursing and public health has not produced the expected community-as-client emphasis. Public health is characterized as disease-focused, with masculine domination, using a causal model. The explanatory model of chaos challenges nurses to reexamine nursing's theoretical base by questioning assumptions associated with linear thinking. The selected chaotic concepts of aperiodicity, attractors, sensitive dependence on initial conditions, phase space, and fractals are discussed here. Each concept's connection to physics and mathematics is cited and considerations for nursing science are outlined. Conclusions include redefining health, nursing, and community in chaotic terms and renaming nursing practice, which has this aperiodic and holistic paradigm, as ecologic health nursing.
Geothrix fermentans gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel Fe(III)-reducing bacterium from a hydrocarbon-contaminated aquifer.

In an attempt to understand better the micro-organisms involved in anaerobic degradation of aromatic hydrocarbons in the Fe(III)-reducing zone of petroleum-contaminated aquifers, Fe(III)-reducing micro-organisms were isolated from contaminated aquifer material that had been adapted for rapid oxidation of toluene coupled to Fe(III) reduction. One of these organisms, strain H-5T, was enriched and isolated on acetate/Fe(III) medium. Strain H-5T is a Gram-negative strict anaerobe that grows with various simple organic acids such as acetate, propionate, lactate and fumarate as alternative electron donors with Fe(III) as the electron acceptor. In addition, strain H-5T also oxidizes long-chain fatty acids such as palmitate with Fe(III) as the sole electron acceptor. Strain H-5T can also grow by fermentation of citrate or fumarate in the absence of an alternative electron acceptor. The primary endproducts of citrate fermentation are acetate and succinate. In addition to various forms of soluble and insoluble Fe(III), strain H-5T grows with nitrate, Mn(IV), fumarate and the humic acid analogue 2,6-anthraquinone disulfonate as alternative electron acceptors. As with other organisms that can oxidize organic compounds completely with the reduction of Fe(III), cell suspensions of strain H-5T have absorbance maxima indicative of a c-type cytochrome(s). It is proposed that strain H-5T represents a novel genus in the Holophaga-Acidobacterium phylum and that it should be named Geothrix fermentans sp. nov., gen. nov.
Ontogenic Sex Ratio Variation in Nazca Boobies Ends in Male-Biased Adult Sex Ratio

Abstract Knowledge of the ontogeny of the sex ratio is required for proper framing of evolutionary hypotheses regarding adaptive parental sex allocation, competition for mates, evolution of mating systems, and endangered species management. We traced the development of a male-biased adult sex ratio in Nazca Boobies (Sula granti) by determination of the sex ratio at hatching, fledging, and at returning to join the adult population. The sex ratio at hatching and fledging did not differ from unity, while the return sex ratio was significantly male-biased. Therefore, the observed adult sex ratio bias arises after the period of parental care ends, during the subadult/juvenile stage, with important implications for mate competition.
A first-order logic-based framework for verifying simulations

Modern science relies on simulation techniques for understanding phenomenon, exploring design options, or evaluating models. Assuring the correctness of simulators is a key problem where a multitude of solutions ranging from manual inspection to formal verification are applicable. Formal verification incorporates the rigor necessary but not all simulators are generated from formal specifications. Manual inspection is readily available but lacks the rigor and is prone to errors. In this paper, we describe an automated verification system (AVS) where the constraints that the system must adhere to are specified by the user in general purpose first-order logic. AVS translates these constraints into a verification program that scans the simulator trace and verifies that no constraints are violated. Computer microarchitecture simulations were successfully used to demonstrate the proposed approach. This paper describes the preliminary results and discusses how artificial intelligence techniques can be used to facilitate effective run-time verification of simulators.
A Concise History of International Criminal Law: Chapter 1 of Understanding International Criminal Law

This work is an introductory chapter for a forthcoming book on Understanding International Criminal Law to be published by Aspen Publishers as part of Aspen's Essentials series. This chapter presents a succinct history of international criminal law (ICL), drawing upon major developments in the law of armed conflict, international human rights law, and the criminal prohibitions against piracy and the slave trade. The chapter interweaves the history of substantive norms with that of evolving principles of domestic and international jurisdiction, as these narratives are virtually inseparable in ICL. Additional chapters in the text will address the sources of ICL, the major international crimes and defenses, and ICL reasoning and rhetoric. Publication is expected in 2007 for adoption in 2008.
Testing a pneumatic underwater glider in shallow water

In this paper we discuss the testing of a novel underwater glider designed to be fast and maneuverable for operation in the littorals. The glider's pneumatic buoyancy engine was shown to operate reliably and provide large, rapid displacements. However, the compressibility of the bladder and associated change in tank weight (from exhausting air with each dive) presented significant challenges in trimming the vehicle. Several design considerations unique to a glider with unlimited roll control (and a cylindrical moving mass actuator) were identified through testing. The performance of a long baseline acoustic positioning system was characterized, and the challenges associated with deploying this system in a shallow-water, rocky-bottom lake are discussed.
Particle Counting of Polyoma Virus.

SummaryA method is described for quantitative counting of polyoma virus particles with a precision of about 16%. The method involves sedimentation of virus upon agar in the swinging-bucket ultracentrifuge rotor, pseudoreplication, and electron microscopy of the particles. The particle counts were correlated quantitatively with biological activity. Aggregation is an outstanding feature of this strain of polyoma virus. When this was minimized, a particle count to infectivity ratio of 38:1 was obtained. Approximately 5 × 106 particles were equivalent to 1 hemagglutinating unit.
Excellence and Its Recognition: The Dissertation Awards in Political Science

How many things by season season'd are. To their right praise and true perfection! Merchant of Venice , i, 107 In 1958 the American Political Science Association initiated the first of what were to be a number of awards for outstanding dissertations. In that year the Leonard D. White Memorial Award was established “… for the best doctoral dissertation within the general field of public administration.” This was followed, in turn, by the Edward S. Corwin Award (1973) “… for the best doctoral dissertation in the field of public law,” the Helen Dwight Reid Award (1965) “… for the best doctoral dissertation in the field of international relations,” and the E. E. Schattschneider Award (1971) “… for the best dissertation completed and accepted in the general field of American Government and Politics.” More recently, the Leo Strauss (1974), the William Anderson (1975), and the Gabriel A. Almond (1976) Awards have been established for the best dissertations in the fields of political philosophy, international relations and comparative politics, respectively.
Biology of Nomadopsis larreae (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae), with an Analysis of Yearly Appearance

The nesting biology, floral relationships, and yearly appearance of Nomadopsis larreae Timberlake are described and illustrated. The relationships among annual precipitation patterns, bee emergence, and host-plant flowering are discussed.
The Effect of Implantation and Annealing Conditions on the Fe Profile in Semi-Insulating InP.

The Fe depth distribution has been measured in semi-insulating (SI) InP implanted with Si as a function of implant temperature and post-implant annealing technique (either furnace annealing or rapid thermal annealing). Depth profiles obtained by secondary ion mass spectrometry and Rutherford backscattering measurements of the damage demonstrate that Fe redistributes into regions of residual damage during thermal processing. These results are interpreted in terms of implantation-related damage effects and the stoichiometry imbalance induced by the Si implantation.
Determination of Cd in bean paste by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

Samples of bean paste were digested by dry method,and Mg(NO3)2,La(NO3)3,PdCl2,NH4H2PO4,NH4NO3,tartaric acid,citric acid,Vc and oxalic acid were used as matrix modifier in the determination of cadmium by GFAAS.The additive amount,charring temperature,atomization temperature and its mechanism were studied.It was concluded that the lower background absorption and the higher signal to background ratio can be gained when the matrix modifiers were used.And matrix modifiers can eliminate salt matrix interference effectively.
Organizational Socialization of Academic Librarians in the United States

Abstract This study aims to investigate academic librarians' organizational socialization. Successful socialization can increase librarians' commitments to and retention in the libraries, which may enhance the quality of information services to library patrons. In addition to collecting demographic information, we measured the organizational socialization of 314 academic librarians using Chao, O'Leary-Kelly, Wolf, Klein, and Gardner's (1994) content framework. Study participants possessed high levels of socialization in their libraries overall. They were well socialized in Politics, followed by Performance Proficiency (task/skills), and Language; however, their socialization in Organizational goals/values, History, and People were relatively low, suggesting that there is room for improvement. Other key findings are: (1) male participants had lower levels of socialization in the People dimension than did females; (2) participants who were tenured had higher levels of socialization than did those who had not yet achieved tenure; (3) participants who had informal mentoring experiences had higher levels of socialization overall compared to those who had not received any mentoring; and (4) participants' socialization was associated negatively with the number of employees in their libraries and with the highest degree offered by their institutions. The study findings can be used to understand the learning and adjustment process of academic librarians in the United States, predict their retention and job satisfaction, and develop and improve library training or orientation programs.
Lung abscess and empyema of the thorax.

Physiotherapy and postural drainage are of major importance in the treatment of lung abscess. Frequent bronchoscopy with aspiration is also helpful, as is antibiotic therapy. The objective of each modality used to treat empyema is to drain the pleural cavity and allow full expansion of the lung.
Vertical Slit FET at 7-nm Node and Beyond

This paper investigates the n-type vertical slit FET (VeSFET) performance at 7-nm node and beyond by TCAD simulation. VeSFET is a twin-gate device with 3-D monolithic integration-friendly vertical terminals and horizontal channel manufactured based on SOI wafer with conventional CMOS fabrication hardware. The second gate provides the capability of transistor behavior adjustment and the potential for advanced circuit designs. The results show that VeSFET can provide high $ {I} _{ {\mathrm {eff}}}$ to $ {I} _{ {\mathrm {off}}}$ ratio, low gate capacitance, high $\Delta {V} _{{t}}/ {V} _{{ {\textit{g2s}}}}$ , and competitive drive capability with respect to a reference FinFET of comparable dimensions.
Effects of insulation thickness on the aging of organic insulation in air

Organic insulations composed of paper or cloth base with phenolic or black asphaltic varnish impregnant are shown by extensive tests to have an aging rate in air dependent on the insulation thickness. A change in insulation thickness from that representative of turn insulation to that used for a major voltage barrier may increase its useful life in air by as much as ten times if in a dry atmosphere. The corresponding change in temperature class for a specific number of hours of life in air may be of the order of 30 C to 50 C for this change in thickness, under the same favorable conditions.
The Concept-90 Photovoltaic Concentrator Module

The Concept-90 module introduces a new generation of photovoltaic concentrator module technology that emphasizes manufacturability, safety, reliability, and low cost. Innovative features include a new flat cell assembly design, a smaller scale to improve the efficiency of the new point-contact cells, and integral use of plastics to completely enclose the cell string and to form the module housing, sidewalls and backplane. This paper describes the design and outdoor test results of the first prototype module.
Tunable Q-switched solid state laser for methane detection

Growing interest in precise measurements of methane concentration and distribution in the Earth’s atmosphere is stimulating efforts to develop LIDAR systems in the spectral region of 1.65 μm utilizing Path Differential Absorption techniques. The key element of such systems is a tunable high energy transmitter operating in the vicinity of a methane absorption line. We developed a novel laser source meeting these system needs using in-band pumping Q-switched solid state lasers (SSLs) based on Er-doped active media. We demonstrated a feasibility to measure methane line at 1651nm.
Localized Plasmonic Microscopy for High-resolution Biological Imaging

We developed localized plasmonic structure illumination microscopy (LPSIM) for super resolution imaging of biological specimens’ movement. This method allows wide field of view biologically friendly high-speed imaging with 50nm resolution.
Chemical vapor deposition of high-quality monolayer transition metal disulfides

Two-dimensional semiconductors, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) such as molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) and tungsten disulfide (WS2) are an emerging material family with rich physical and chemical properties. Specifically, atomically thin monolayer TMDs exhibit direct bandgaps, strong photoluminescence, significant spinvalley coupling, and active edge sites, making them a promising candidate for applications in next-generation ultrascaled electronics, flexible optoelectronics, spintronic devices, and nanobiosensors. To date, many methods have been developed to obtain monolayer TMDs, including mechanical and chemical exfoliation, hydrothermal synthesis, physical vapor deposition, molecular beam epitaxy, and metal-organic chemical vapour deposition [1-5]. Among these methods, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) approach is most promising in terms of scalability and low cost. Here, we report high-quality MoS2 and WS2 monolayers grown by atmospheric pressure CVD method. The electrical, optical, and Raman characterizations show the high quality of monolayer crystals.
Public misperception that very low nicotine cigarettes are less carcinogenic

Objective The USA is considering a very low nicotine content (VLNC) cigarette standard. We sought to characterise the prevalence and correlates of the incorrect belief that VLNC cigarettes are less carcinogenic than current cigarettes, as this could reduce motivation to quit. Methods Participants were a nationally representative sample of 650 adult smokers in the USA. In 2015–2016, before the VLNC proposal became public, these smokers took part in an online survey. We used multivariate weighted analyses to calculate ORs and percentages and a χ 2 test to examine the association between variables. Results Overall, 47.1% of smokers believed that smoking VLNC cigarettes for 30 years would be less likely to cause cancer than smoking current cigarettes. This misperception was more common among smokers who were aged above 55 (56.6%) and black (57.4%). Additionally, 23.9% of smokers reported they would be less likely to quit if the USA adopted a VLNC standard. Thinking that VLNC cigarettes would be less carcinogenic was associated with smokers reporting they would be less likely to quit (P Conclusions Many smokers had the misperception that smoking VLNC cigarettes is less likely to cause cancer, and some stated that they would be less likely to quit. A VLNC standard may be more effective if accompanied by a communication campaign that emphasises the continued dangers of smoking VLNC cigarettes due to the many toxic chemicals in smoke.
Condor and preemptive resume scheduling

Condor is a batch job system that, unlike many other scheduling systems, allows users to access both dedicated computers and computers that are not always available, perhaps because they are used as desktop computers or are not under local control. This introduces a number of problems, some of which are solved by Condor's preemptive resume scheduling, which is the focus of this paper. Preemptive resume scheduling allows jobs to be interrupted while running, and then restarted later. Condor uses preemption in several ways in order to implement the policies supplied by users, computer owners, and system administrators.
Purines and Ventricular Arrhythmias

Adenosine is a purine nucleoside presently well known for its vasodilatory (1,2) and antiadrenergic (3–5) properties. Early in this century, adenosine was reported also to influence the electrophysiological behavior of the mammalian heart (6). Since then considerable effort has been focused on the goal of determining mechanisms which mediate these profound effects. Greatest emphasis of study at first centered upon understanding cellular processes within a normal physiological framework. However, attention widened to include pathophysiological states once it was discovered that adenosine can offer a measure of protection to the ischemic myocardium, thereby enhancing the potential for survival of the heart (7–10). The focus of this chapter will be placed on adenosine-elicited diminution of arrhythmogenesis in the ischemic and post-ischemic heart. Effects of adenosine upon supraventricular activity will be briefly described for completion. Because of space limitations, it is impossible to cite all important contributions. More extensive reviews can be consulted (8,11–13). It may be suggested that in all likelihood no one property of adenosine will be found to be the sole foundation of adenosine-induced cardioprotection in the ischemic heart.
Evidentiary Reliability, Valuation Standards, and Rules of Thumb

The Daubert standard of evidentiary reliability codified in Federal Rule of Evidence 702 defines the admissibility of expert testimony based on the following:If scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will assist the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue, a witness qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education, may testify thereto in the form of an opinion or otherwise, if (1) the testimony is based upon sufficient facts or data, (2) the testimony is the product of reliable principles and methods, and (3) the witness has applied the principles and methods reliably to the facts of the case.
Libra: Scalable k-mer-based tool for massive all-vs-All metagenome comparisons

Background Shotgun metagenomics provides powerful insights into microbial community biodiversity and function. Yet, inferences from metagenomic studies are often limited by dataset size and complexity and are restricted by the availability and completeness of existing databases. De novo comparative metagenomics enables the comparison of metagenomes based on their total genetic content. Results We developed a tool called Libra that performs an all-vs-all comparison of metagenomes for precise clustering based on their k-mer content. Libra uses a scalable Hadoop framework for massive metagenome comparisons, Cosine Similarity for calculating the distance using sequence composition and abundance while normalizing for sequencing depth, and a web-based implementation in iMicrobe (http://imicrobe.us) that uses the CyVerse advanced cyberinfrastructure to promote broad use of the tool by the scientific community. Conclusions A comparison of Libra to equivalent tools using both simulated and real metagenomic datasets, ranging from 80 million to 4.2 billion reads, reveals that methods commonly implemented to reduce compute time for large datasets, such as data reduction, read count normalization, and presence/absence distance metrics, greatly diminish the resolution of large-scale comparative analyses. In contrast, Libra uses all of the reads to calculate k-mer abundance in a Hadoop architecture that can scale to any size dataset to enable global-scale analyses and link microbial signatures to biological processes.
BMT Patient Education: Consistency and Understandability in a Complex Population; Creating a Standardized Patient Education Process for Blood and Marrow Transplant, a Single Institution Experience in an Academic Medical Center

Topic Significance & Study Purpose/Background/Rationale Blood and marrow transplant (BMT) patient care is complex, and patient education is paramount to improving outcomes [1]. Standardized patient education has shown to decrease length of stay and lower readmission rates [2]. Previous to this quality improvement project, patients reported inconsistent verbal and written education, and staff reported difficulty finding education documents. Content was outdated, multiple document versions existed in various locations, and materials were not evaluated for readability. The purpose of this project was to objectively curate the current catalog of patient education and increase use by nursing staff. Methods, Intervention, & Analysis A nursing-led committee was developed to review all current education. Those from open source websites or other non-peer reviewed sources were removed. Non-proprietary education was reviewed and new institution-specific material was developed using a standard template. The committee scored new education for actionability and understandability using a validated tool (PEMAT), modifying materials to maximize the score [3]. Scores for both measures can range from 0-100%, with 100% being ideal.3 All approved education was uploaded to an internal website, accessible by all staff. Findings & Interpretation An analysis of pre-intervention education showed 68 content contradictions. After the intervention, 37 pieces of new, standard education were approved.. The average PEMAT score of new education is 92% for both measures. On average patient education is accessed by staff 30 times daily. Discussion & Implications The development of a committee structure and validated assessment tool answered concerns from staff and patients about patient education. A shared website allows for centralized control of education.. The committee structure and review process can be used in other practices to organize and improve complex education delivered to cancer patients.
Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy After Cardiac Surgery: A Temporary Measure in a High-Risk Cohort.

Background A subset of patients who undergo cardiac surgery require percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube for enteral access to receive nutritional support. There are limited data evaluating the outcomes of these patients and the duration of nutritional support required. Methods All cardiac surgery patients (1994 to 2017) were stratified by postoperative PEG requirement. Patients were excluded if they required preoperative nutritional support, began nutritional support more than 30 days postoperatively, or if the PEG was placed more than 90 days after the index cardiac operation. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to estimate overall survival and time to PEG removal. A Fine-Gray competing risk model was constructed to determine factors impacting PEG removal. Results A total of 16,727 cardiac surgery patients were included, with 310 (1.9%) requiring PEG. The median time to PEG placement was 14.5 (interquartile range, 10 to 22) days with 1 (0.3%) PEG procedural mortality. One-year survival was 50.4% vs 91.8% in the general cardiac surgery population. A total of 113 patients had their PEG removed at a median of 255 days. Of living PEG patients at 1 year, 52.1% had their PEG removed. Factors that were associated with PEG removal were age (hazard ratio [HR], 0.98; P = .03), ejection fraction (HR, 1.03; P Conclusions Patients who require PEG after cardiac surgery are a high-risk cohort. However, those who survive their acute illness often recover to a point where nutrition can be maintained without a feeding tube. These data provide meaningful information for counseling patients and their families that are considering PEG after cardiac surgery.
Cross-sectional survey of factors associated with paternal involvement in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Aim and objective To describe factors associated with father involvement in the neonatal intensive care unit using the Heuristic model of the dynamic of parental behaviour and influence on children over time. Background Research shows that infants with involved fathers have better cognitive development, fewer crying episodes after caesarean birth, improved breastfeeding exclusivity and duration, and more regular sleep patterns. Preterm infants with involved fathers have improved cognitive development. Design This cross-sectional exploratory study used survey methodology to explore factors associated with father involvement in the neonatal intensive care unit. Methods The STROBE checklist for cross-sectional studies was used (see Appendix S2). Biological fathers of infants in a 97-bed neonatal intensive care unit in the southern USA completed a survey which asked about their involvement with their hospitalised infants and factors which affected that involvement. Eighty fathers completed the survey. Results Age ranged between 20-53 with 43% first-time fathers. Compared to less involved fathers, fathers who were more involved were younger, married or living with the mother, performed kangaroo care or fathers of multiple gestation. Fathers who had attended the delivery were more likely to bathe their infants than those who had not attended the delivery and fathers who performed kangaroo care felt more confident than those who did not. Compared to fathers who visited less often, fathers who visited more often were younger, had infants with a shorter hospitalisation time and lower acuity, and had fewer children in the family. Conclusions Fathers are involved with their neonatal intensive care unit infants in many ways. Factors were identified that affect involvement in the neonatal intensive care unit. Relevance to clinical practice Results can help nurses in neonatal intensive care units worldwide facilitate father-infant interaction, identify fathers at risk for decreased involvement and advocate for institutional policy development for supporting neonatal intensive care unit father involvement.
A Machine Learning Approach for Productive Data Locality Exploitation in Parallel Computing Systems

Data locality is of extreme importance in programming distributed-memory architectures due to its implications on latency and energy consumption. Automated compiler and runtime system optimization studies have attempted to improve data locality exploitation without burdening the programmer. However, due to the difficulty of static code analysis, conservatism in compiler optimizations to avoid errors, and cost of dynamic analysis, the efficacy of automated optimizations is limited. Therefore, programmers need to spend significant effort in optimizing locality. In this work, we present an automated code optimization framework that trains neural networks using application profiles for small data sizes that exhibit similar patterns to larger cases. The application is then modified to use the neural network to improve data locality exploitation. We prototype our framework for the Chapel language and integrate with the language stack. We experimentally demonstrate that our framework can learn access patterns and create optimized executables in minutes. The resulting executables perform more than one order of magnitude faster than unoptimized code, and are comparable to manual locality optimization without burdening the programmer and hindering productivity.
MRAM-Enhanced Low Power Reconfigurable Fabric With Multi-Level Variation Tolerance

A hybrid device technology reconfigurable logic fabric is proposed which leverages the cooperating advantages of distinct magnetic random access memory (MRAM)-based look-up tables (LUTs) to realize sequential logic circuits, along with conventional SRAM-based LUTs to realize combinational logic paths. A hierarchical top-down design approach is used to develop a hybrid spin/charge based FPGA (HSC-FPGA) starting from the configurable logic block (CLB) and slice structures down to LUT circuits and the corresponding device fabrication challenges. Circuit-level simulations indicate at least 40% and 83% read and standby power reduction, respectively, for MRAM-LUTs compared to SRAM-LUTs. However, MRAM-LUTs using spin transfer torque (STT) switching approach suffers from significant write energy consumption. Therefore, we have designed spin Hall effect (SHE)-assisted MRAM-LUTs realizing more than 67% and 61% reduction in reconfiguration energy and area consumption, respectively. Fabric-level simulations exhibit that HSC-FPGA achieves 70% and 30% reductions in standby and read power, respectively, compared to SRAM-based FPGAs for various ISCAS-89 and ITC-99 benchmark circuits. Finally, a multi-level method spanning device-sizing, circuit modular-redundancy, and component-level reconfiguration is developed to increase the process variation resiliency of the MRAM-LUTs. The power consumption and area utilization are analyzed to formulate tradeoffs resulting in recommendations toward future multi-device-based reconfigurable fabrics.
Defect engineering for high quality InP epitaxially grown on on-axis (001) Si

Heteroepitaxy of indium phosphide (InP) and its lattice-matched alloys on silicon (Si) show great promise for Si-based optoelectronic devices and photonic integrated circuits. Here, we report the monolithic growth of high crystalline quality InP on V-groove patterned (001) Si substrates by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition, demonstrating a low surface defect density of 4.5 × 107 cm−2, characterized by statistical electron channel contrast imaging. This advanced InP-on-Si virtual substrate is implemented by combining a compositionally graded indium gallium arsenide (InxGa1 − xAs) buffer and optimized In0.73Ga0.27As/InP strained-layer superlattices on gallium arsenide on a V-grooved Si template. These techniques gradually accommodate the lattice mismatch and effectively filter most of the generated dislocations. A comprehensive material characterization and the demonstration of room-temperature continuous-wave electrically pumped laser diodes on Si validate the suitability of using this InP-on-Si platform for monolithic integration of InP- and Si-based electronic and photonic devices.
Improving Critical Value Notification through Secure Text Messaging.

Background: To improve communication between clinical providers and the laboratory, we recently implemented secure text messaging for our critical value notifications. This was done to communicate laboratory critical values (CV) to providers faster so changes to patient care could be done faster. Our previous method of communicating CV to providers was paging and relied on a call back to receive the critical value. Methods: We implemented delivery of CV through a secure texting application in which the CV was directly communicated to the provider on their smart phone device. Results: The mean pre-implementation turnaround time (TAT) was 11.3 minutes (median: 7 minutes, range: 0 - 210 minutes). The mean post- secure text messaging implementation TAT was 3.03 minutes (median: 0.89 minutes, range:
Quantification of Heat Loss for Different Charging Profiles in a Li-Ion Battery

The thermal characteristics of a battery are vital in order to understand its health and safety. The thermal characteristics are influenced by charging techniques. This paper presents theoretical explanation, experimental validation, and an analytical method to quantify the heat loss influenced by charging techniques for a Li-Ion battery. Constant current constant voltage (CC-CV), sinusoidal ripple current constant voltage, and pulse current constant voltage charging profiles are used as test cases for validation. The electrical and entropic heat generation for different charging profiles are modeled and estimated based on battery equivalent parameters. The estimated heat generation is compared with the heat flux measurement from a differential scanning calorimeter. In addition to the heat flux measurement, temperature, state of charge, terminal voltage, and current were recorded and analyzed.
Introduction of an Analgesia Prescription Guideline Can Reduce Unused Opioids After Cardiac Surgery: A Before and After Cohort Study.

Objective(s) The authors aimed to assess whether the introduction of a tailored Analgesia Prescription Guideline would decrease the amount of unused opioid following discharge from cardiac surgery. Design Prospective, observational, before and after study. Setting Quaternary care university hospital. Participants A total of 191 participants who underwent cardiac surgery requiring midline sternotomy and cardiopulmonary bypass. There were 99 participants in the before cohort (prior to introduction of the Analgesia Prescription Guideline), and 92 participants in the after cohort (after introduction of the Analgesia Prescription Guideline). Interventions Using prospectively collected observational data on participant opioid consumption in the before cohort, a tailored Analgesia Prescription Guideline was developed. This guideline then was introduced to all opioid-prescribing providers in the cardiothoracic surgery department. Prospective data then were collected in the after cohort of participants. Opioid prescription practices and opioid consumption between the two groups then were compared. Measurements and Main Results Opioid prescriptions were given to 62/99 participants (63%) in the before cohort, and 48/92 (52%) in the after cohort (rate difference 0.1, CI 95% -0.26, 0.046). In the before cohort, the mean (± standard deviation) number of opioid tablets prescribed, used, and leftover was 26 (±10), 11 (±10), and 15 (±12), respectively. In the after cohort, the mean number of opioid tablets prescribed, used, and leftover was 18 (mean difference -8, CI 95% -12, -5), 10 (mean difference -1, CI 95% -5, 3), and 8 (mean difference -7, CI 95% -11, -3), respectively. There were 110/191 (58%) participants using no opioids following discharge, and 10/191 (5%) still using opioids two weeks after discharge. There were no differences between groups with regard to demographics, opioid-related side effects, pain scores, satisfaction, opioid storage. and disposal practices. Conclusions The development and implementation of a tailored Analgesia Prescription Guideline decreased the amount of opioids prescribed after cardiac surgery and resulted in lower numbers of unused leftover opioid tablets in the community. Patient comfort and satisfaction scores remained high.
Feasibility, acceptability and preliminary impact of mindfulness-based yoga among Hispanic/Latinx adolescents

Abstract Background: The Hispanic/Latinx population constitutes the fastest growing ethnic/racial minority group in the United States (U.S.). Compared to their non-Hispanic/Latinx White counterparts, Hispanic/Latinx youth experience more depression and anxiety, and have more unmet mental health needs (88% vs 76%). Emerging research supports the psychological and physical benefits of mind-body awareness training to enhance well-being and mental health, but almost no studies have recruited ethnic/racial minority samples. Purpose: The current study examined the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary impact of a mindfulness-based yoga program among Hispanic/Latinx public high school students. Procedures: Participants (N = 187) were recruited from a local public high school in a large multi-ethnic urban school district in the Southeast U.S. and participated in 6 weekly hour-long sessions of mindfulness-based yoga. Participants completed assessments at pretest and one month after program completion. Main Findings: The sample was predominantly Hispanic/Latinx (95%) and female (64%), on average 15.2 years old (SD = 1.3), and 51% were born outside the U.S. Participants reported on average a 14.2% reduction in depressive symptoms (pretest mean = 5.51, posttest mean = 4.73, p = .032, Cohen's d = 0.2), a 14.9% reduction in anxiety symptoms (pretest mean = 9.90, posttest mean = 8.42, p = .005, Cohen's d = 0.2), and a 21.9% reduction in stress (pretest mean = 9.66, posttest mean = 7.54, p
Effect of parallel deposition path and interface material flow on resulting microstructure and tensile behavior of Al-Mg-Si alloy fabricated by additive friction stir deposition

Abstract In this paper, the effect of overlapping parallel additive depositions on microstructure and mechanical properties in Additive Friction Stir Deposition (AFS-D) was examined. In particular, the AFS-D process was employed to make parallel depositions of AA6061 with a 6.35 mm overlap to effectively bond the two parallel layers. The AFS-D process draws on similar physics to friction stir welding in that frictional heat and plastic deformation is exploited to deposit metallic materials from the center of a hollow rotating tool as it traverses across the build table to produce consecutive metallurgically bonded layers. In this work, the microstructural aspects of the 6.35 mm overlapping raster interface were characterized using optical and scanning electron microscopy. Aluminum oxide particles were observed at the raster interface, which were located at layer boundaries. Additional grain refinement was also apparent as a direct result of multiple stirring passes within the overlapping deposition region. Mechanical characterization via microindentation and monotonic tensile testing observed a hardness gradient in the overlapping region, but the parallel deposition layers exhibited comparable tensile strength to a single row of deposited AA6061. The influence of existing oxides on the mechanical results was observed to have limited effect on the properties longitudinally across the raster. This study determined that parallel layers of AA6061 can be successfully deposited via the AFS-D technique. The resulting deposit exhibited a strong metallurgical bond across the parallel layers despite the presence of surface oxidation on the unprepared feedstock and substrate.
A Heuristic for Combining Correlated Experts

It is intuitive and theoretically sound to combine experts' forecasts based on their proven skills, while accounting for correlation among their submissions. Simpler combination methods, however, that assume independence of forecasts or equal skill, have been found to be empirically robust. One explanation for this is that empirical estimation of skill and correlation introduces error, leading to worse aggregated forecasts than simpler alternatives. We offer a heuristic that accounts for skill and reduces estimation error by assuming a common correlation among the experts. Our theoretical results present an optimal form for this common correlation and we offer Bayesian estimators to be used in practice. The common correlation heuristic is shown to outperform alternative combination methods on macroeconomic and experimental forecasting data.
GenExSt: A Tool to Identify Correlation of Gene Expression After Normalization with Housekeeping Genes

Interaction between genes is one driving force that can influence a biological outcome. In a genetic disease such as cancer, understanding genetic interactions may help us elucidate mechanisms sustaining cancer growth. A computational approach is one way to detect genetic interactions in the context of cancer. In this article, we introduce a tool, GenExSt, and its underlying method to study gene interactions. We applied our method to discover gene-pairs whose expressions demonstrate patterns of correlation. For this demonstration, we selected ten breast cancer gene expression data sets from the Genomic Data Commons Data Portal through National Cancer Institute. We focused on genes that suppress genome instability, or instability suppressing genes (GIS), many of which play an important role in cancer. We applied our method to an inter-comparison across data sets. Here we tested statistical normalization approaches derived from the combined expressions of randomly selected, single, housekeeping (HK) genes, and from the calculated mean of three expressions. In addition, our method derives \(R^{2}\) values from linear models in which the expressions of all possible pairs of GIS genes are placed in a linear model to produce heatmaps to indicate probable correlations. We show that results from our method are suited to normalized data, extracted from multiple genes simultaneously, rather than using single gene expression values. GenExSt may be used to study gene expression data in other settings provided that the concept of gene interactions is appropriate in the context.
Root Cause Analysis of AC Overcurrent in July 2020 San Fernando Disturbance

On July 7 2020, approximately 1000 MW reduction in solar photovoltaic (PV) output was experienced by the bulk power system in Southern California after a three-phase fault. Disturbance analysis indicates that instantaneous AC current caused inverter tripping. The projection of the root cause of AC overcurrent from the NERC report is that inverter current control is not tight. This letter provides a quantitative analysis on ac overcurrent and addresses the following questions: (i) what type of current controls may lead to ac overcurrent and (ii) how controller parameters and grid strength may influence ac overcurrent. The letter provides frequency-domain analysis and time-domain simulation results of a grid-integrated inverter to illustrate the effect of control parameters and grid strength on ac overcurrent.
Survival comparison of primary cytoreductive surgery versus interval cytoreductive surgery for the treatment of advanced-stage uterine serous carcinoma

Objectives: Uterine serous carcinoma (USC) is a rare but aggressive histologic variant of endometrial cancer that accounts for less than 10% of cases but 80% of endometrial cancer deaths. Initial treatment strategies have remained largely unchanged over the years, with the mainstay of treatment being primary cytoreductive surgery (PCS) followed by adjuvant chemotherapy with or without tailored radiotherapy. More recent strategies have incorporated the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in certain cases with bulky nodal disease or stage IV disease. This study compares survival outcomes between PCS and neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by an interval cytoreductive surgery (ICS). Methods: Retrospective data spanning 7 years was collected for patients with stage III or IV USC in a large academic institution. PCS was categorized as initial surgical treatment for stage III or IV disease. This was further stratified into microscopic and bulky disease at the time of surgery. ICS was defined as initial treatment with NAC with interval cytoreductive surgery. Overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) were calculated for each group with Kaplan-Meier estimation and analyzed using the Chi-Square test. Results: Forty-seven patients were identified to have stage III or IV disease at the time of diagnosis. 35 patients underwent PCS and 12 underwent ICS. The PCS and ICS groups were matched for race, age and BMI. Among the PCS patients, 52% had bulky disease. OS was 82.1 months compared to 40.1 months for PCS and ICS respectively (p=0.23). PFS of PCS patients was 42.9 months compared to 18.1 months of ICS patients (p=0.03). PCS of non-bulky disease, PCS of bulky disease and ICS had OS of 82.1, 40.9, and 31.8 months respectively (p=0.47) while PFS was 42.9, 19.6 and 13.8 months for PCS of non-bulky disease, PCS of bulky disease and ICS respectively (p=0.02). For patients with non-bulky disease and bulky disease, OS was 82.1 vs 40.1 months respectively (p=0.23) while PFS was 42.9 and 18.1 months respectively (p=0.32). Patients with bulky disease who had PCS had an OS of 40.9 months compared to 31.8 months for ICS (p=0.86) and PFS of 19.7 months vs 13.9 months (p=0.13). Conclusions: While no statistical difference in OS was observed between the groups, there was a significant improvement in PFS in the PCS patients compared to ICS patients. PFS was significantly longer after PCS regardless of bulky disease. PFS appears to favor PCS over ICS. This study is limited by the small sample size. Additional studies are needed to better determine optimal treatment strategies for patients with advance stage USC.