cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Sensitivity of Precipitation and Snowpack Simulations to Model Resolution via Nesting in Regions of Complex Terrain

Abstract This paper examines the sensitivity of regional climate simulations to increasing spatial resolution via nesting by means of a 20-yr simulation of the western United States at 40-km resolution and a 5-yr simulation at 13-km resolution for the Pacific Northwest and California. The regional simulation at 40-km resolution shows a lack of precipitation along coastal hills, good agreement with observations on the windward slopes of the Cascades and Sierra Nevada, but overprediction on the leeside and the basins beyond. Snowpack is grossly underpredicted throughout the western United States when compared against snowpack telemetry (snotel) observations. During winter, higher spatial resolution mainly improves the precipitation simulation in the coastal hills and basins. Along the Cascades and the Sierra Nevada range, precipitation is strongly amplified at the higher spatial resolution. Higher resolution generally improves the spatial distribution of precipitation to yield a higher spatial correlation b...
Correlating Differences in Larval Survival and Development of Bollworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and Fall Armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to Differential Expression of Cry1A(c) δ-Endotoxin in Various Plant Parts Among Commercial Cultivars of Transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis Cotton

Differences in larval survival and development of bollworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), and fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), respectively, were found to exist among commercially available Cry1A(c) transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner (Bt) varieties. Using a quantification assay (ELISA) to measure the levels of delta-endotoxin in two of these varieties ('DP 451B/RR' and 'NuCOTN 33B'), differences in the amount of delta-endotoxin present in various plant parts was correlated with larval survival of bollworms and larval development of fall armyworms throughout the growing season. Larvae that were fed on DP 451B/RR completed development faster and exhibited better survivorship than those larvae fed NuCOTN 33B, whereas lower levels of delta-endotoxin were generally detected in plant parts from DP 451B/RR compared with NuCOTN 33B. These differences may impact population dynamics of these pests which may be a critical factor in managing resistance to Bt. Furthermore, the utility of using this system for providing information to the grower concerning varietal choices may be more common in the future.
Architecting a MOS current mode logic (MCML) processor for fast, low noise and energy-efficient computing in the near-threshold regime

Near-threshold computing (NTC) is an effective technique for improving the energy efficiency of a CMOS microprocessor, but suffers from a significant performance loss and an increased sensitivity to voltage noise. MOS current-mode logic (MCML), a differential logic family, maintains a low voltage swing and a constant current, making it inherently fast and low-noise. These traits make MCML a natural selection to implement an NTC processor; however, MCML suffers from a high static power regardless of the clock frequency or the level of switching activity, which would result in an inordinate energy consumption in a large scale IC. To address this challenge, this paper explores a single-core microarchitecture for MCML that takes advantage of C-slow retiming technique, and runs at a high frequency with low complexity to save energy. This design principle is opposite to the contemporary multicore design paradigm for static CMOS that relies on a large number of gates running in parallel at modest speeds. When compared to an eight-core static CMOS processor operating in the near-threshold regime, the proposed processor exhibits 3x higher performance, 2x lower energy, and 10 x lower voltage noise, while maintaining a similar level of power dissipation.
Clinical Mass Spectrometry—Achieving Prominence in Laboratory Medicine

Once in a while an innovation comes along that has a dramatic and lasting impact on the field of laboratory medicine. Although introduced so long ago as to defy memory, the colorimeter/spectrophotometerchanged the way that laboratory tests were performed. In 1957 the autoanalyzer, the precursor to modern discrete working systems, was introduced. Imagine where we would be today without our rapid, random access instruments. In 1959 the first immunoassay, an RIA for insulin, was developed, which changed the way that large and small compounds were (and still are) measured. Thomas M. Annesley In the same way that the above technologies changed the field, so has the introduction of mass spectrometry (MS).5 A Web of Science database search illustrates the expansion of MS in the scientific literature since the year 2000 (Fig. 1). The number of published articles that have included MS as part of the study has grown at a rate more than 3 times that of the total number of articles published during this time period. Fig. 1. Percent change in the number of publications from 2000 for the topic category “mass spectrometry” (closed circles) versus the percent change in all publications (open circles). Similarly, there has been a large expansion of use of MS in clinical laboratories. MS is being used for small molecules such as drugs, steroids, biogenic …
Variations in Groin Design (Coastal Engineering Conference in Santa Barbara, California, October 1965)

Considering all types of structures used for shore protection purposes, the groin is probably the most widely used and yet it is perhaps the one structure least understood. Groins or groin systems of a particular design may be found where the intended purpose was achieved; however, it is not uncommon to learn of other cases where a similar design was used and negligible benefits resulted. Basically, the function of a groin is to build or maintain a protective beach by trapping littoral drift (beach materials) or to retard the erosion of an existing beach. A lack of understanding of all factors affecting the functional and structural design of groins has led to seemingly endless variations in groin design. This lack of understanding is directly related to the paucity of established theoretical or empirical relationships between the functional behavior of groins and the environmental factors in which the structures must exist. The purpose of this presentation is to point out pertinent features of basic types of groins and to illustrate some of the many variations which have been built in the United States.
Book Review of Sexual Predators: How to Recognize Them on the Internet and on the Street - How to Keep Your Kids Away

“Before all this, I thought a predator is someone who lurks in the bushes. I didn’t think I was one. But then I realized the computer monitor was my bushes.” The above-referenced quote was made by serial child predator Jake Matthew Clawson in regards to his recognition of his online obsession. It was referenced as a demonstration of the common misconception many of us have regarding the tactics used by child pedophiles to stalk children. The stereotype of the dirty old man hanging out at the school playground in a dingy van waiting and watching for unsuspecting little girls and boys is being replaced by a different type of predator. This is the predator that hides behind false identities and personalities in chat room, instant messages or emails to gain the trust of the same unsuspecting, but now computer-savvy children. The book “Sexual Predators: How to Recognize Them on the Internet and on the Street – How to Keep Your Kids Away,” written by Stephen Dean, is the latest book that provides a wealth of information on these new types of predators and the tactics that they use on the technologically confident youth. Award-winning, investigative journalist Stephen Dean has had years of experience working with authorities investigating crimes against children. His current passion has led him to immerse himself in the world of Internet predators. He has posed as a child in chat rooms during multiple Internet investigations with the Houston Police Department and federal authorities to apprehend online predators. His work has been featured on ABC, NBC, CBS and CNN, as well as many local news stations. With these experiences, he describes in detail in his
A Square Peg in a Round Hole? Whether Make Whole Relief Is Available Under Erisa Section 502(A)(3)

This Article explores whether the treatises and cases support the application of the doctrine of make-whole relief to ERISA Section 502(a)(3). The argument that Section 502(a)(3) equitable relief includes make-whole relief is not novel, having been propounded by Professor Langbein and advocated by the Department of Labor for many years. Further, Professor Medill has cogently and comprehensively presented the theoretical case for the Department of Labor's long-standing litigation position. What has not been considered in the scholarly literature to date are the counter-arguments to the application of the doctrine - that make-whole relief was only available for fiduciary breaches that harmed the trust corpus, and that, to the extent it was available, any monetary recovery went to the trust corpus, not to the individual beneficiary. Thus, this Article seeks to build on previous scholarly work addressing the availability of make-whole relief, by assessing and deconstructing both the arguments in favor of the Department of Labor's litigation position and the counter arguments. This Article is a modest attempt to reconcile these competing views of make-whole relief by revisiting make-whole relief under the common law of trusts as articulated in the "standard current works" and pre-fusion trust law cases. The Article first concludes that equity courts recognized two types of make-whole relief, one of which contemplated recovery to the trust and is echoed in Section 502(a)(2), and one which contemplated recovery to the aggrieved beneficiary and is echoed in Section 502(a)(3). The Article also concludes that the argument that make-whole relief required harm to the trust corpus is a red herring. The traditional trust law corpus finds its analogue in the present-day employee welfare benefit plan, either the policy or the policy proceeds - the very res that the employer-settler entrusted to the participant or beneficiary. And, in any event, although make-whole relief against a breaching fiduciary typically involved situations where the trust corpus was harmed, such relief was nevertheless available even where there was no trust corpus, or no harm to the trust corpus itself.
Antimicrobial Surfaces Using Covalently Bound Polyallylamine

We investigated the antimicrobial properties of the cationic polymer polyallylamine (PA) when covalently bonded to glass. The objective was to obtain a robust attachment, yet still allow extension of the polymer chain into solution to enable interaction with the bacteria. The PA film displayed strong antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis , Staphylococcus aureus , and Pseudomonas aeruginosa , which includes both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Glass surfaces were prepared by a straightforward two-step procedure of first functionalizing with epoxide groups using 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxy silane (GOPTS) and then exposing to PA so that the PA could bind via reaction of a fraction of its amine groups. The surfaces were characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to verify the presence of the polymer on the surface, zeta potential measurements to estimate the surface charge of the films, and atomic force microscopy to determine the extension of the polymer chains into solution. Antimicrobial properties of these coatings were evaluated by spraying aqueous suspensions of bacteria on the functionalized glass slides, incubating them under agar, and counting the number of surviving cell colonies.
Cerradoa Palmaea: The First Rust Fungus on Palmae

The monotypic genus Cerradoa on Attalea ceraensis from Federal District, Brazil is the first rust fungus to be found on Palmae. It has superstomatal sori and is closest to the Andean genus Edythea on Berberidaceae. We segregate Edythea from Desmella on ferns because the sporogenous cells of Edythea are produced on emergent hyphae outside of stomata, whereas in Desmella sporogenous cells originate within the substomatal cavity and then emerge. Desmella and those Hemileia species with superstomatal type B sori of Gopalkrishnan produce almost identical, unique soral structures. We consider them closely related. Desmzellopsis aframomicola does not produce truly superstomatal sori and is transferred to Puccinia.
Interactions between Dopants in Dual-Doped Graphene Nanoribbons as Metal-Free Bifunctional Catalysts for Fuel Cell and Metal-Air Batteries

Duel p-block element doped carbon nanomaterial is a new kind of metal-free bifunctional catalysts for fuel cells and metal-air batteries because of their low-cost and high efficiency compared to traditional noble metals and their alloys. To optimize co-doped catalysts, we studied the interactions of dopants on the doped graphene and their effect on oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). It is found that the interactions between N and X (P, B, S) occur within a distance of ∼0.5 nm, and beyond the distance their interactions are limited while the interactions between N and Cl take places beyond the distance of ∼0.5 nm.
An Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis of Four Obsidian Projectile Points from the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology Collections

www.escholarship.org/uc/item/86j2q5k6 GEOARCHAEOLOGICAL X-RAY FLUORESCENCE SPECTROMETRY LABORATORY 8100 WYOMING BLVD., SUITE M4-158 ALBUQUERQUE, NM 87113 USA LETTER REPORT AN ENERGY-DISPERSIVE X-RAY FLUORESCENCE ANALYSIS OF FOUR OBSIDIAN PROJECTILE POINTS FROM THE MAXWELL MUSEUM OF ANTHROPOLOGY COLLECTIONS 1September 2013 Dr. Bruce Huckell Maxwell Museum of Anthropology University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM 87131 Dear Bruce, The four obsidian projectile points were produced from two of the sources in the Jemez Mountains, northern New Mexico; El Rechuelos, a pre-caldera source dating between 2.01-2.07 m.y. and Cerro Toledo Rhyolite the primary caldera event dating between 1.2-1.6 m.y. (Gardner et al. 1986; Spell et al. 1996: Table 1 here). The samples were analyzed using the Thermo Scientific Quant’X EDXRF spectrometer in the Geoarchaeological XRF Laboratory, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Source assignments were made by comparison to published source standard data and the source standard collection at this laboratory (Shackley 1995, 2005). Instrumental methods can be found at http://www.swxrflab.net/anlysis.htm. Analysis of the USGS RGM-1 standard indicates high machine precision for the elements of interest (Govindaraju 1994; Table 1 here). Sincerely, M. Steven Shackley, Ph.D. Director VOICE: (510) 393-3931 E-mail: shackley@berkeley.edu http://www.swxrflab.net/
Transverse Electric and Magnetic Effects

The non-linear electromagnetic constitutive equations, for an isotropic material possessing a center of symmetry, are used to predict the possibility of certain new effects.
Mastering the Faithless Servant? Reconciling Employment Law, Contract Law, and Fiduciary Duty

The quaintly-named “faithless servant” doctrine requires employees subject to it not merely to pay damages for their derelictions but also to disgorge the compensation paid during the period of his faithlessness and without any right to recover in quantum meruit for the value the employee may have provided during that time. The net result is that an employer can recover substantial amounts of compensation paid and otherwise due without proof that it suffered any damage whatsoever and, indeed, even if it is established that there were no such damages.Such a result is startling to those who approach the question from the perspective of contract law, which normally would limit the victim of a breach to expectation damages. While those who come to the doctrine from the perspective of an agent’s fiduciary duty will not be surprised by the remedies for breach of the “duty of loyalty,” they will be startled by how broadly the doctrine sweeps. In some jurisdictions it not only reaches all employees, but the automatic forfeiture remedy is more draconian than trust law requires of the quintessential faithless fiduciary, the faithless trustee.Further, while the doctrine has typically been invoked against higher-level employees, it has more recently been deployed defensively in response to lower-level employee suits for violations of antidiscrimination statutes and wage/hour laws. The natural consequence has been to up the ante for such plaintiffs, which seems likely to discourage their suits.The question of the appropriateness of enhanced remedies for some or all “faithless” employees takes place in an environment in which abuses by corporate executives are front and center in public policy debates. At the very least, however, one might anticipate that the reach of the “faithless servant” doctrine would be well-defined and its harsh consequences well-justified. Neither turns out to be true. Nor could a reconsideration of the question be timelier. In its current Restatement of Employment Law project, the American Law Institute will focus on whether the doctrine should be part of the employer’s arsenal of remedies for misconduct in the employment relationship. This will compel it to decide whether to accept, reject, or modify the Institute’s approval of the faithless servant rule in its earlier Restatements of Agency. Arguing that “employees” are different from other agents, this Article contends that at the least the doctrine should be inapplicable to lower-level workers and suggests reframing it even as applied to “key” employees.
Heinrich Bullinger, marriage, and the English reformation: The Christen State of Matrimonye in England, 1540-53

Much work has been accomplished in recent years on the relationship between the English and contiental reformations but research is focused primarily on the impact of Martin Bucer and Peter Martyr Vermigli on English theologians and university students during the reign of Edward VI. Comparatively little has been written about Heinrich Bullinger, whose writings, translated into English more frequently than Bucer's or Vermiglis', reached a wider English audience. Bullinger's Christen State of Matrimonye offers an excellent case study of the religious and cultural connections between Zurich and England during the reigns of Henry VIII and Edward VI. The content of the book reveals much about the Zurich reformer's marital, covenantal, and pastoral views. The history of the book's translation and extensive publication in English sheds light on the motives of English reformers, writers, and printers, while its reception and impact allow a more precise evaluation of Bullinger's influence in England.
Improving the selectivity of a metal oxide nanowire gas sensor using a microhotplate/FET platform

Although metal oxide nanowires have been shown to be sensitive transducer materials when employed in gas sensors, e.g. such nanowire-based sensors have been shown to detect gaseous analytes at target concentrations of 1 μmol/mol and lower [1]; they suffer from the deleterious issue of cross-sensitivity to a broad range of gases. To address this issue, a new sensor device structure is detailed that includes both an integrated heater and back-gate structure. In particular, these device features provide for control over the sensor operating temperature and the magnitude of an electric-field that is applied in a transverse direction relative to horizontal-lying transducer nanowire(s). Modulation of either of these two physical parameters, temperature and transverse electric-field, is known to affect the gas-sensing behavior of metal oxide nanowires in an analyte-dependent fashion [2, 3]. Such analyte-dependent response behavior can be utilized as a “fingerprint” to enable the determination of the identity of an exposed analyte through statistical analysis of the modulated sensor output. An overview of this approach is shown in Fig. 1.
Characterizing the high-risk homebound patients in need of nurse practitioner co-management

By providing more frequent provider visits, prompt responses to acute issues, and care coordination, nurse practitioner (NP) co-management has been beneficial for the care of chronically ill older adults. This paper describes the homebound patients with high symptom burden and healthcare utilization who were referred to an NP co-management intervention and outlines key features of the intervention. We compared demographic, clinical, and healthcare utilization data of patients referred for NP co-management within a large home-based primary care (HBPC) program (n = 87) to patients in the HBPC program not referred for co-management (n = 1027). A physician survey found recurrent hospitalizations to be the top reason for co-management referral and a focus group with nurses and social workers noted that co-management patients are typically those with active medical issues more so than psychosocial needs. Co-management patients are younger than non-co-management patients (72.31 vs. 80.30 years old, P < 0.001), with a higher mean Charlson comorbidity score (3.53 vs. 2.47, P = 0.0001). They have higher baseline annual hospitalization rates (2.27 vs. 0.61, P = 0.0005) and total annual home visit rates (13.1 vs. 6.60, P = 0.0001). NP co-management can be utilized in HBPC to provide intensive medical management to high-risk homebound patients.
Path-sampling strategies for simulating rare events in biomolecular systems.

Despite more than three decades of effort with molecular dynamics simulations, long-timescale (ms and beyond) biologically relevant phenomena remain out of reach in most systems of interest. This is largely because important transitions, such as conformational changes and (un)binding events, tend to be rare for conventional simulations (
Time-Encoded Values for Highly Efficient Stochastic Circuits

Stochastic computing (SC) is a promising technique for applications that require low area overhead and fault tolerance, but can tolerate relatively high latency. In the SC paradigm, logical computation is performed on randomized bit streams. In prior work, streams were generated with linear feedback shift registers; these contributed heavily to the hardware cost and consumed a significant amount of power. This paper introduces a new approach for encoding signal values: computation is performed on analog periodic pulse signals. Exploiting pulse width modulation, time-encoded signals corresponding to specific values are generated by adjusting the frequency and duty cycles of pulse width modulated (PWM) signals. With this approach, the latency, area, and energy consumption are all greatly reduced. Experimental results on image processing applications show up to 99% performance speedup, 98% saving in energy dissipation, and 40% area reduction compared to prior stochastic approaches. Circuits synthesized with the proposed approach can work as fast and energy-efficiently as a conventional binary design while retaining the fault-tolerance and low-cost advantages of conventional stochastic designs.
Directed assembly of colloidal particles for micro/nano photonics (Conference Presentation)

Bottom-up fabrication of complex structures with chemically synthesized colloidal particles as building blocks pave an efficient and cost-effective way towards micro/nano photonics with unprecedented functionality and tunability. Novel properties can arise from quantum effects of colloidal particles, as well as inter-particle interactions and spatial arrangement in particle assemblies. Herein, I discuss our recent developments and applications of three types of techniques for directed assembly of colloidal particles: moire nanosphere lithography (MNSL), bubble-pen lithography (BPL), and optothermal tweezers (OTTs). Specifically, MNSL provides an efficient approach towards creating moire metasurface with tunable and multiband optical responses from visible to mid-infrared regime. Au moire metasurfaces have been applied for surface-enhanced infrared spectroscopy, optical capture and patterning of bacteria, and photothermal denaturation of proteins. BPL is developed to pattern a variety of colloidal particles on plasmonic substrates and two-dimensional atomic-layer materials in an arbitrary manner. The laser-directed microbubble captures and immobilizes nanoparticles through coordinated actions of Marangoni convection, surface tension, gas pressure, and substrate adhesion. OTTs are developed to create dynamic nanoparticle assemblies at low optical power. Such nanoparticle assemblies have been used for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy for molecular analysis in their native environments.
Does M&A Pay? (Chapter 3)

Following the largest M&A wave in history, it is appropriate to assess the evidence on the profitability of this activity. One popular view is that merger activity is highly unprofitable. Does research sustain this view? This paper reflects on what it means for M&A to 'pay' and summarizes the evidence from 12 informal studies, 120 scientific studies from 1971 to 2003, and five surveys of the scientific evidence published in 1979, 1983, 1987, 1989, and 1992. This review comments on the several formal and informal research approaches and highlights findings for the broad activity as well as niches of special note. The mass of research suggests that target shareholders earn sizable positive market-returns, that bidders (with interesting exceptions) earn zero adjusted returns, and that bidders and targets combined earn positive adjusted returns. On balance, one should conclude that M&A does pay. But the broad dispersion of findings around a zero return to buyers suggests that executives should approach this activity with caution.
Latina Fortitude in the Face of Disadvantage: Exploring the Conditioning Effects of Ethnic Identity and Gendered Ethnic Identity on Latina Offending

Recent literature has investigated if socialization and identity protect against the criminogenic effects of strainful experiences for African Americans. Here Latinas are brought to the forefront. This study not only investigates if a positive ethnic identity increases fortitude against strainful events, but if its effects are further influenced by gender socialization. Results reveal ethnic identity increases resilience against the criminogenic effects of vicarious victimization and acculturation and gendered ethnic identity protects against direct victimization. This study reinforces the need for further investigation into cultural explanations for within group differences in criminogenic outcomes.
Sexual Selection and the Evolution of Vocal Mating Signals: Lessons from Neotropical Songbirds

Abstract Empirical studies of sexual selection have focused primarily on species from temperate habitats. Might sexual selection operate differently in tropical habitats, given their distinct habitat properties and species communities? Would understanding sexual selection in the Neotropics require distinct conceptual frameworks? I address these questions in a review of the literature on vocal signals in birds, as a model system that has been studied actively for decades. I first review the general evidence for sexual selection on bird songs. Recent studies of sexual selection in neotropical species have expanded our understanding of the links between song function and vocal performance, revealed a previously undescribed diversity of vocal phenotypes, and provided new descriptions of song evolution patterns. I then review recent work focusing on other factors that drive song evolution, including selection for signaling efficacy, incidental evolution of morphological components of the vocal apparatus, and drift. A diversity of new studies in this regard has revealed high levels of precision in how song evolves in response to changing evolutionary circumstances. I conclude that sexual selection on songs of neotropical birds acts in a manner consistent with present theory, although its study is greatly extending the boundaries of what we know about song in fascinating directions.
Utilization of Nerve Integrity Monitor for Promontory Stimulation Testing Prior to Cochlear Implant.

Objective To demonstrate the feasibility of a nerve integrity monitor as a tool for promontory stimulation testing in patients with profound sensorineural hearing loss considering cochlear implantation. Patients Adult patients considered for cochlear implantation with no auditory response on audiometric testing INTERVENTION:: Promontory stimulation testing using the nerve integrity monitor. Main outcome measure By using a facial nerve stimulator and the nerve integrity monitor, transtympanic promontory stimulation testing was performed to assess auditory nerve function and determine candidacy for cochlear implantation. Patients indicated if they heard the stimulus. Results Of the four patients completing the promontory stimulation tests, three patients heard the stimulus and one patient did not hear the stimulus. Of the three patients with a positive stimulation test, two patients have a history of progressive profound sensorineural hearing loss and one patient had a history of severe blunt temporal bone trauma. Two of these patients proceeded with cochlear implantation. The patient who had a negative promontory stimulation test has a history of neurofibromatosis type 2. Conclusion The nerve integrity monitor is a convenient tool that can be used in the clinic setting to perform promontory stimulation tests and aid in determining cochlear implant candidates, specifically in those patients who require verification of auditory nerve function. This tool is a feasible and reasonable method for promontory stimulation testing.
Lewis-Acid-Catalyzed Interfacial Polymerization of Covalent Organic Framework Films

Summary Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are crystalline polymers with covalent bonds in two or three dimensions, providing pores 1–5 nm in diameter. COFs are typically isolated as microcrystalline powders, which are unsuitable for many applications that would leverage their tunable structures, such as optoelectronic devices and nanofiltration membranes. Here, we report the interfacial polymerization of polyfunctional amine and aldehyde monomers with a Lewis acid catalyst, Sc(OTf) 3 . Immiscible solutions segregate the catalyst from the monomers, confining polymerization to the solution interface. This method provides large-area, continuous COF films (several cm 2 ) with a thickness tuned from 100 μm to 2.5 nm. Relatively thick films were crystalline, whereas the films that are a few nanometers thick were presumably amorphous. The COF films were transferred onto polyethersulfone supports, and the resulting membranes showed enhanced rejection of Rhodamine WT, a model water contaminant. The large area, tunable pore size, and tailored molecular composition show promise for nanofiltration applications.
Tabligh Jama‘at in China: Sacred self, worldly nation, transnational imaginary

This article will evaluate how the experience of participating in the Tabligh Jama‘at affects the formation of Chinese Muslims’ subjectivities in relation to their local, national, and global communities by using data gleaned from interviews with participants in the movement and participation in Tabligh activities in and around Xining, Qinghai Province. Intensively structured practices make the movement seem restrictive, but observing the variety permitted in individual performances and autonomy allowed by grassroots governance reveals that the movement imbues participants with a high degree of agency. A sense of belonging in a pious transnational community grants individuals the means and confidence to reshape their everyday behaviours and comportment in a way that transcends traditional sectarian structures of authority and conflicts with the predominant materialism of modern China. The movement's inward focus and apolitical stance make the movement a subtle and peaceful means of tacitly undermining both atheist state and Muslim hierarchies, reinventing oneself, and expressing membership in the global ummah.
Chemistry and Structure of Precipitated Hydroxyapatites

Our interest in the phosphate minerals, particularly in hydroxyapatite, comes from the fact that the latter is the prototype of the mineral in bone and other calcified tissues. To understand the structure and formation of the biological apatites it was necessary first to characterize hydroxyapatites which have been precipitated from solutions resembling body fluids. There is also a broad interest in hydroxyapatite throughout the scientific world. Workers in biological mineralization have profited from studies on this material which has taken place in a broad variety of fields.
CONTIGUOUS AND DISCONTIGUOUS ANTIGENIC DETERMINANTS ON PROTEINS

ABSTRACT In this study, the ability of low affinity antisera to recognise peptide fragments, and evolutionarily variant forms of the model protein antigen cytochrome c , is compared to that of high affinity monoclonal antibodies. Our findings address the distinction between contiguous and discontiguous antigenic sites on proteins and suggest that antibody reactivity to peptides from two sequentially remote regions of the antigen molecule does not necessarily imply the existence of two discrete contiguous antigenic sites on the antigen.
Application of fuzzy control under time-varying universe in unmanned vehicles

Compared with the traditional manned vehicle, the unmanned vehicle has the advantages of predictability of behavior, quick response, accuracy of perception and never being tired, which can increase safety and reliability of driving. In this paper, a control rule of unmanned vehicle's behavior decision is presented by making comprehensive evaluation in interval type-2 fuzzy sets and fuzzy control rules in time-varying universe synthesized, and providing a new solution to the problem of the unmanned vehicles' decision-making progress.
Review: Postdischarge home interventions can increase or decrease falls in older adults.

Source Citation Naseri C, Haines TP, Etherton-Beer C, et al. Reducing falls in older adults recently discharged from hospital: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Age Ageing. 2018. [Epub ahead o...
Search for First and Second Generation Leptoquarks at D\O

A search for first and second generation leptoquarks has been done with the DO\ detector at Fermilab's pp collider with $\sqrt{s}=1.8$ TeV. 95\% C.L. mass limits for first generation scalar leptoquarks have been recently published. The number for the total integrated luminosity used in the first generation leptoquark analysis has changed (via a change in the total inelastic cross section) since the publication. The new limits are 130 GeV/c$^{2}$ and 116 GeV/c$^{2}$ for a respective 100\% and 50\% decay branching ratio of the leptoquark to electron. The preliminary upper limit on the cross section from the search for second generation scalar leptoquarks has set limits on the mass of the second generation leptoquark of 97 GeV/c$^{2}$ for 100\% branching to muons and 80 GeV/c$^{2}$ for 50\% branching. In contrast with leptoquark detection thresholds at e$^{+}$e$^{-}$ and e-p machines, these limits are independent of the unknown coupling of the leptoquark to leptons and quarks.
Theories of Pattern Recognition

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the theories of pattern recognition. Automatic pattern recognition may best be defined as machine identification of patterns. The types of patterns are of visual, aural, and electromagnetic origin. The recognition of patterns can only be affected on the basis of differences in the characteristics of the patterns. In general, these characteristics cannot be clearly delineated by the machine designer and therefore, the heart of most realistic pattern recognition problems is the use of learning samples in formulating the decision procedure employed by the machine. For this reason, the study of automatic pattern recognition involves the study of machine learning, and machines that perform pattern recognition must invariably be adaptive. In an attempt to build an electronic system capable of performing pattern recognition and learning, engineers are naturally intrigued by the ease with which these functions are accomplished in even the simplest biological systems.
Metabolic engineering of Bacillus megaterium for heparosan biosynthesis using Pasteurella multocida heparosan synthase, PmHS2

Heparosan is the unsulfated precursor of heparin and heparan sulfate and its synthesis is typically the first step in the production of bioengineered heparin. In addition to its utility as the starting material for this important anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory drug, heparosan is a versatile compound that possesses suitable chemical and physical properties for making a variety of high-quality tissue engineering biomaterials, gels and scaffolds, as well as serving as a drug delivery vehicle. The selected production host was the Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus megaterium, which represents an increasingly used choice for high-yield production of intra- and extracellular biomolecules for scientific and industrial applications. We have engineered the metabolism of B. megaterium to produce heparosan, using a T7 RNA polymerase (T7 RNAP) expression system. This system, which allows tightly regulated and efficient induction of genes of interest, has been co-opted for control of Pasteurella multocida heparosan synthase (PmHS2). Specifically, we show that B. megaterium MS941 cells co-transformed with pT7-RNAP and pPT7_PmHS2 plasmids are capable of producing heparosan upon induction with xylose, providing an alternate, safe source of heparosan. Productivities of ~ 250 mg/L of heparosan in shake flasks and ~ 2.74 g/L in fed-batch cultivation were reached. The polydisperse Pasteurella heparosan synthase products from B. megaterium primarily consisted of a relatively high molecular weight (MW) heparosan (~ 200–300 kD) that may be appropriate for producing certain biomaterials; while the less abundant lower MW heparosan fractions (~ 10–40 kD) can be a suitable starting material for heparin synthesis. We have successfully engineered an asporogenic and non-pathogenic B. megaterium host strain to produce heparosan for various applications, through a combination of genetic manipulation and growth optimization strategies. The heparosan products from B. megaterium display a different range of MW products than traditional E. coli K5 products, diversifying its potential applications and facilitating increased product utility.
Electron backscatter diffraction of Nb3Sn coated niobium: Revealing structure as a function of depth

Over the last two decades, advances in Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) have moved the technique from a research tool to an essential characterization technique in many fields of material research. EBSD is the best suited technique for determining structure as a function of depth. This characterization is critically important but has been previously absent from Nb3Sn efforts. While EBSD is the technique of choice, obtaining quality data can be difficult. Sample preparation in particular is nontrivial. Here, we summarize the general principles of EBSD, discuss specific sample preparation techniques for Nb3Sn coated SRF cavity materials, and give examples of how EBSD is being used to understand fundamental growth mechanisms for Nb3Sn coatings.Over the last two decades, advances in Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) have moved the technique from a research tool to an essential characterization technique in many fields of material research. EBSD is the best suited technique for determining structure as a function of depth. This characterization is critically important but has been previously absent from Nb3Sn efforts. While EBSD is the technique of choice, obtaining quality data can be difficult. Sample preparation in particular is nontrivial. Here, we summarize the general principles of EBSD, discuss specific sample preparation techniques for Nb3Sn coated SRF cavity materials, and give examples of how EBSD is being used to understand fundamental growth mechanisms for Nb3Sn coatings.
Forty Years Later: Current Parents’ Stories—From “Something Not Right Here” to “We Need Systems!”

This chapter foregrounds the voices of 13 families whose children are currently enrolled in Immortelle Children’s Centre. These parent narratives, coming 30–40 years after the original opening of school, describe experiences of initial shock, confusion, and lack of medical and educational services that are surprisingly similar to those of parents four decades earlier. While these parents acknowledge that improvements in government disability subsidies have helped, they express dissatisfaction with the bureaucratic implementation of these government policies and with limitations in public support and awareness. Most of the parents see the concept of full inclusion as an ideal that the current education system cannot support. Like the original parents, these narratives reveal a strong religious faith on which parents rely for interpreting and responding to their children’s challenges.
Re-do lung transplantation: keys to success.

Lung transplantation (LTx) is a life-saving treatment for patient’s afflicted by end-stage pulmonary disease. The field has enjoyed tremendous growth over the past several decades with an improvement in outcomes and survival. Increasing experience and improvements in survival has led to an increased frequency of patients being considered for pulmonary re-transplantation. Although survival following lung re-transplantation (ReLTx) has had definite improvement in recent years, outcomes remain poorer than with primary LTx.
Resource management and joint-planning in fragmented societies

Abstract Does the division of a society into identity groups increase the risk of unsustainable resource use? This study considers the theory that diversity leads to degradation by preventing joint-planning across a community of resource users. A cooperative game theory model is used to derive conditions that should make this problem appear. When resource users can plan extraction choices together, sufficient uncertainty about the value of a shared resource (“environmental uncertainty”) will incentivize them to stably make decisions in as large a group as possible. However, that is only true when players are also pessimistic about the behavior of community members not directly involved in joint planning with themselves. If those conditions are met, the probability that a community will deplete their shared resource rises as they fragment into more and more identity groups that do not make decisions together. In sum, this study demonstrates that a combination of pessimism about the behavior of non-coalition members and sufficient environmental uncertainty give rise to a negative effect of social diversity. Among other things, these findings may help explain the mixed effectiveness of some conservation policies, and improve our understanding of how events that prime inter-group tensions can have downstream sustainability consequences.
How The ACA Dented The Cost Curve

Numerous provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) were designed to make health care more affordable, yet the act’s cumulative effects on health care costs are still debated. A key question is wh...
Value of Capacity Flexibility in Healthcare

Problem Definition: Healthcare industry is in dire need of operational improvements to enhance efficiency and reduce costs. Using observational data from an outpatient clinic, we study the impact of introducing capacity flexibility (via exam room design) on the efficiency of care provision, which leads to direct cost reduction. Academic/Practical Relevance: Flexible design is well-studied in manufacturing and is largely ignored in healthcare industry despite its needs for improvements. We contribute to the academic literature and practice by extending flexible design applications to the healthcare setting and by offering an economically viable way to improve efficiency. Methodology: Using a proprietary dataset that covers the time before and after the flexible room redesign, we utilize a difference-in-differences model to identify the effect of this design on the efficiency of healthcare as measured by the physician time and the length of stay. Additionally, we study the heterogeneous impact of the new design on different visit types using a difference-in-difference-in-differences model. Results: We find that the flexible design reduces the physician time and the length of stay by about 14\% and 12\%. We demonstrate robustness of the results across different patient and visit types. Additionally, we observe further reduction in the length of stay due to flexible design on the patient visits that involve high multitasking level (i.e., the physician serving multiple patients simultaneously for a significant portion of her interaction with patients). Managerial Implications: Manufacturing flexibility is known to improve operational performance, but this topic has not received equal coverage for service facilities. While the value of exam room flexibility is ex-ante unclear, we demonstrate substantial efficiency gains associated with flexibility and quantify the improvement. Comparing this benefit with the cost of implementation informs managers about the practicality of such design change. Moreover, we provide managerial insights regarding when such design changes lead to the highest improvement.
Abstract WP266: Microembolic Signals and Association With Stroke Etiology in Ischemic Stroke

Background: Microembolic signals (MES) detected by the transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) have established prognostic value for stroke recurrence in patients with carotid stenosis. However, the ...
Fear of others: thinking biopolitics

It has been observed that COVID‐19 infection does not distinguish by social class, nor gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation No particular social group can be stigmatised as the infected other, as with the ethical‐moral weight that fell on gay men during the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s or disdain for the poor, as with leprosy Emerging (but still inconclusive) research challenges this view, and attitudes are in any case susceptible to change in the future as new hierarchies take form with access to care But, for the moment, COVID‐19’s ostensible egalitarianism poses a curious situation in which the only precondition for infection seems to be life itself, and the only discerning category of the contagious is the body of the other Although the enterprise of quarantine is obviously nothing more than separation of people from other people who might carry the virus, the existential emergency of the endeavour, and its scale, is perhaps less obvious
A Systematic Review of Factors Influencing Supply Chain Performance Outcomes

The concept of supply chain management (SCM) is receiving greater attention among academics and organizations and is viewed as a potential source of bottom and top-line growth. Despite the potential for improving organizational performance through supply chain improvements, little scholarly evidence exists in management literature to establish an association between organizational factors and SCM performance outcomes. This paper focuses on an understanding of those factors by providing a systematic review of 21 empirical studies, whereby an evidence-based analysis of the findings from this research indicates that four organizational factors (people orientation, process orientation, information technology, and external environment) are associated with SCM performance outcomes. Although the paper initially sought to identify specific factors associated with successful supply chain outcomes, the evidence led to the importance of a fifth factor, supply chain integration, and its impact on supply chain performance. Moreover, the paper discusses the managerial implications of supply chain integration and identifies the need for improved competency among supply chain managers to further bring supply chain integration to life.