cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Audit Quality Indicators: Audit Practice Meets Audit Research

SUMMARY: Regulators, audit firms, and academic researchers are exploring issues related to Audit Quality Indicators (AQIs), including how to optimize their use and how to anticipate the consequences of measuring, reporting, and monitoring AQIs on a routine basis. This article describes the main topics addressed by a panel discussion and participant breakout group discussions at a 2012 symposium hosted by the Center for Audit Quality. Topics include how AQIs could be useful to audit stakeholders, what we know from practice about the current state of AQIs, and how academic research might inform the development and use of AQIs by stakeholders.
The American Society of Parasitologists: Who Are We Now?*

s submitted, at our national meetings has remained remarkably stable, with an average of 146 abstracts per year in the 41 years for which these data are available, with the exception of a few unusually high years. These exceptions have occurred on special occasions, such as our 50th Anniversary meeting in 1975, *Presidential address: 86th Annual Meeting, American Society of Parasitologists, 3 June 2011, Sheraton Anchorage Hotel and Spa, Anchorage, Alaska. DOI: 10.1645/GE-2980.1 FIGURE 1. Contrast between American Society of Parasitologist (ASP) membership and meeting participation (based on abstracts submitted) for years for which these data are available since the Society’s founding in 1924. *Abstract numbers are not available for years of ASP’s joint meetings with the International Congress of Parasitology (ICOPA). Inset details membership over last 10 yr. J. Parasitol., 97(6), 2011, pp. 967–973 F American Society of Parasitologists 2011
The Spectrum of Nitrogen Dioxide in the 1.4-3.4μ Region and the Vibrational and Rotational Constants of the NO_2 Molecule

The infrared spectrum of NO_2 has been reinvestigated in the 1.4–3.4μ region under high dispersion. The nine bands observed show resolvable rotational structure and the moments of inertia obtained, in conjunction with the large rotational constant from measurements of ν_2 by Wilson and Brown, yield the ground state parameters r_(N–O) = 1.188±0.004A and ∢O—N—O = 134° 4′±15′. The set of overtones and combinations observed together with ν_2 = 750.9 cm^(−1) from Wilson and Brown allow one to determine a complete set of quadratic vibrational interaction constants. The fundamental frequencies of NO_2 are ν_1 = 1322.5 cm^(−1), ν_2 = 750.9 cm^(−1), and ν_3 = 1616.0 cm^(−1). An intensity alternation is observed in type A bands as is predicted by theory but which, as far as the authors are aware, has not previously been observed in a similar case. An apparently abnormal interaction, which is not adequately explained, occurs between the vibrational levels 3_(ν_3) and 2_(ν_1) + 3_(ν_2) and likewise between ν_1 + 3_(ν_3) and 3_(ν_1) + 3_(ν_2).
The Role of Positron Emission Tomography in the Evaluation of the N-Positive Neck

Abstract Background A major prognostic indicator in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract is the presence or absence of cervical metastasis. Nodal involvement at different levels affects treatment. Thus identification of the degree of nodal involvement is important. Evaluation of the neck by conventional imaging modalities (computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging) is not completely accurate. Positron emission tomography (PET) scanning as a dynamic functional assessment may allow detection of multiple metastatic nodes at different levels. Purpose We sought to compare the effectiveness of PET with pathologic examination for: presence, location, and number of cervical metastases in the clinically N-positive neck. Setting Tertiary care academic facility. Materials and methods From 1994 to 1997, 15 patients with clinically N-positive necks who had preoperative PET scans underwent 23 neck dissections. PET scans were correlated with the pathologic findings of the neck dissections in determining the ability to correctly identify the number and level(s) of nodal disease. Results When determining identification of the level of disease, PET demonstrated sensitivity of 81%; specificity, 99%; positive predictive value, 97%; negative predictive value, 90%; and accuracy, 92%. When evaluating the ability to correctly predict neck stage, PET demonstrated sensitivity of 86%, positive predictive value of 100%, and accuracy of 80% compared with clinical examination with sensitivity of 53% and accuracy of 53%. Conclusion PET accurately identified disease in the N-positive neck. Its ability to identify multiple level disease may allow it to help predict the selectivity of neck dissection in the therapeutic protocol.
The Specificity of Interferon Induction

The interferon response may be induced by a variety of nonreplicating polyanionic macromolecules (Ho et al., 1967). Double-stranded RNA from a variety of sources is a potent inducer of interferon (Lampson et al., 1967; Tytell et al., 1967; Field et al., 1967a). The demonstration that double-stranded synthetic polyribonucleotides are also effective interferon inducers (Field et al., 1967b) stimulated the research presented in this paper.
Short Interest and Credit Spread Dynamics

This study examines the dynamics between short interest and credit spread. Based on the analysis of monthly data from 1931M6 to 2012M12, the results show that credit spread significantly jumps following the shock to the NYSE short-interest ratio. The Granger causality Wald test indicates a causal linkage between credit spread and NYSE short-interest ratio. The findings provide important implications for investment and risk management. The findings allow investors and risk managers to forecast credit spread movement by observing short interest in the equity market.
Cross-Testing, Nondiscrimination, and New Comparability: A Rejoinder to Mr. Orszag and Professor Stein

In a reply to a critique of his article, Is Cross-Testing A Mistake? Cash Balance Plans, New Comparability, and the Incoherence of the Nondiscrimination Norm, the author discusses the primary areas of disagreement: 1) whether defined benefit plans by small employers and, as a logical extension, cross-tested new comparability plans should be permitted; 2) whether qualified plans constitute a tax expenditure; and 3) whether the issue raised by new comparability plans is one of form rather than substance. The author notes substantial agreement on the lack of substance of the current nondiscrimination norm and replacing that norm with minimum distribution and contribution rules. The author also concludes that regulation of qualified plans has become counterproductive and unsuccessful and more regulation is not the answer to the challenge of retirement savings for low-income Americans.
Scanning Probe Microscopy of Bacterial Red Light Photoreceptors

Bacteriophytochromes (Bphs) are red-light photoreceptors found in photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic bacteria that have been engineered into infrared fluorescent protein markers. Bphs are composed of a photosensory module that is covalently linked to an effector/regulatory module, usually a histidine kinase (HK) domain. Light-induced, global structural changes are proposed to originate within the covalently attached biliverdin chromophore, a linear tetrapyrrole, and propagate through the protein. Bphs undergo reversible photoconversion between two distinct red and far-red light absorbing states, denoted Pr and Pfr respectively. For most Bphs, Pr is the dark-adapted state. The energy dissipated during Pr/Pfr photoconversion is proposed to directly impact the infrared fluorescence quantum yield. At this time, only structures of three different Bphs have been published, all of truncated proteins in their respective dark-adapted states. We have utilized scanning probe microscopy (SPM) to investigate the structure of intact Bphs in the light-adapted state in order to gain new insight into the mechanism of photoconversion and fluorescence. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) analysis of a pair of Bphs from photosynthetic bacterium R. palustris, RpBphP2 (P2) and RpBphP3 (P3) in their light-adapted states is presented in these proceedings. The concentration of the depositing protein has a key role in the molecular arrangements observed on the highly-ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) surface. For example, at a high protein concentration, a hexagonal lattice of Bphs is observed by STM on a HOPG surface. Upon dilution, the photoreceptors self-organize into fiber-like structures on the surface. In these fibers, the dimer interface and the individual domains of the Bphs can be assigned and directly compared to a structural model of the intact, full-length proteins. In summary, SPM has potential to be an effective method for gaining new insight into Bph structure and dynamics.
Sodium and potassium excretion in rats treated chronically with morphine.

SummaryTolerance has been shown to develop to the antidiuretic effect of morphine upon chronic administration. Urinary excretion of sodium and potassium increased initially but returned to control values as treatment was continued for 14 days. No changes in muscle or plasma concentrations of these ions were seen.
Depression and aging too often do mix.

PREVIEWDepression in elderly persons is prevalent, often undiagnosed, and usually untreated. Because there is no reliable diagnostic test, careful clinical evaluation is essential. With aggressive antidepressant treatment, the overall long-term outcome in elderly patients is optimistic. In this article, Dr Birrer discusses the scope of the problem, important diagnostic considerations, and the current recommended treatments in this population.
Power grid vulnerability assessment against wildfires using probabilistic progression estimation model

Wildfires are natural or manmade disaster events that occur in forested and grassland ecosystems. Power transmission lines passing through these areas are in particular vulnerable to wildfires. The heat generated by the fire can increase the surface temperature of the overhead conductors in its vicinity. Extreme surface temperatures can lead to conductor annealing and permanent loss of tensile strength. To avoid this, the thermal rating of the at-risk lines should be dynamically adjusted, so that reduced loading of the line counteract the heat gained from the fire. However, this can affect the flow of power and dispatch of the generation units. The goal of this paper is to analyze the impact of a wildfire on the operation of a power grid. Presence of wind has a major effect on the behavior of the fire and its impact on the line. Higher winds cool down the conductor through convective heat transfer, but at the same time, move the fire front closer to the line, leading to exposure to more heat. Due to the randomness in wind speed and direction, the study presented here is based on probabilistic optimal power flow.
ℓ p -norms of codewords from capacity- and dispersion-achieveing Gaussian codes

It is demonstrated that codewords of good codes for the additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) channel become more and more isotropically distributed (in the sense of evaluating quadratic forms) and resemble white Gaussian noise (in the sense of l p norms) as the code approaches closer to the fundamental limits. In particular, it is shown that the optimal Gaussian code must necessarily have peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) of order log n.
Symmetry-based electricity in minerals and rocks: A summary of extant data, with examples of centrosymmetric minerals that exhibit pyro- and piezoelectricity

The Earth's core, mantle and crust are composed of rocks and minerals, and exhibit electrical and magnetic phenomena. Electrical data in particular are extremely sparse for Earth materials; fewer than one hundred minerals have piezoelectric data associated with them, for example. More data would help to constrain Earth processes and structures, such as core and mantle composition, geomagnetic anomalies, seismic electric signals, and others. Herein, two hundred seventeen minerals exhibiting ferroelectricity, pyroelectricity or piezoelectricity are presented, with quantitative data where known. Fifty-three of these are centrosymmetric, and explanations are given for their apparent violations of crystal theory. Some thermoelectric and magnetic data are also presented for minerals, and an overview of rock electricity is included. Recommendations for further study are given, as well, such as determining the dielectric behavior of rocks and minerals at depth, and testing minerals for alternative energy applications.
Backside-TSV process development and integration for 2∼3um small size TSV

In this paper, we show the process and integration results of small TSVs integrated by 300mm 3DIC BTSV process. The TSV size is from 2um to 3um (in diameter) with aspect ratio of 10. The achievements of this work are: 1) successful demonstration of 20um thin wafer process by ITRI's 300mm wafer thinning process; 2) 2∼3um TSV patterning and etching performed by backside TSV process; 3) Combination of the contact aligner and scanner alignment mark systems to explore the backside process capability of scanner for the first time; 4) Completion of the liner deposition, bottom oxide break and TSV filling of 3um TSV to realize the small size TSV integration; 5) Verification of 3um-diameter and 30um-depth BTSV by daisy chain electrical measurement with the yield of 75% in 1360ea TSV. The result shows the integration feasibility of BTSV with small size TSV for high area penalty concern products.
Reconfiguration of Orthogonal Arrays by Front Deletion

This paper describes various algorithms for reconfiguration of VLSI arrays. These algorithms are applicable to arrays in which reconfiguration requires the logical deletion of the whole front of computation for algorithmic reduction (either rows, or columns). This family of reconfigurable array is referred to as bussed arrays. A new approach is proposed. The innovative feature of this approach is independence of reconfiguration on distribution of faulty cells in an array. The proposed technique achieves a good detection of reconfigurability/unreconfigurability.
Exploration of strategies for implementation of screen-printed mercuric iodide converters in direct detection AMFPIs for digital breast tomosynthesis

Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) has become an increasingly important tool in the diagnosis of breast disease. For those DBT imaging systems based on active matrix, flat-panel imager (AMFPI) arrays, the incident radiation is detected directly or indirectly by means of an a-Se or CsI:Tl x-ray converter, respectively. While all AMFPI DBT devices provide clinically useful volumetric information, their performance is limited by the relatively modest average signal generated per interacting X ray by present converters compared to the electronic additive noise of the system. To address this constraint, we are pursuing the development of a screen-printed form of mercuric iodide (SP HgI2) which has demonstrated considerably higher sensitivities (i.e., larger average signal per interacting X ray) than those of conventional a-Se and CsI:Tl converters, as well as impressive DQE and MTF performance under mammographic irradiation conditions. A converter offering such enhanced sensitivity would greatly improve signal-to-noise performance and facilitate quantum-limited imaging down to significantly lower exposures than present AMFPI DBT systems. However, before this novel converter material can be implemented practically, challenges associated with SP HgI2 must be addressed. Most significantly, high levels of charge trapping (which lead to image lag as well as fall-off in DQE at higher exposures) need to be reduced – while improving the uniformity in pixel-to-pixel signal response as well as maintaining low dark current and otherwise favorable DQE performance. In this paper, a pair of novel strategies for overcoming the challenge of charge trapping in SP HgI2 converters are described, and initial results from empirical and calculational studies of these strategies are reported.
A comparative study of anthocyanin distribution in purple and blue corn coproducts from three conventional fractionation processes.

Abstract The aim was to compare the distribution of ANCs in purple and blue corn coproducts from three conventional corn fractionation processes and linking ANC partitioning in different coproducts to corn kernel phenotype. Total monomeric anthocyanin (TA) from purple corn extract was 4933.1 ± 43.4 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside equivalent per kg dry corn, 10 times more than blue corn. In dry milled purple corn, maximum ANCs were present in the pericarp (45.9% of total ANCs) and in wet-milling they were concentrated in steeping water (79.1% of total ANCs). For blue corn, the highest TA was in small grits and gluten slurry in dry-milling and wet-milling coproducts, respectively. HPLC showed the highest concentration of each ANC in steeping water for purple corn coproducts. Micrographs of kernel showed pigments concentrated in pericarp layer of purple but only in aleurone of blue corn. ANCs can concentrate in certain coproducts depending upon physical distribution of pigments in kernel.
Mitsunobu Reaction Using Basic Amines as Pronucleophiles.

A novel protocol for extending the scope of the Mitsunobu reaction to include amine nucleophiles to form C–N bonds through the utilization of N-heterocyclic phosphine-butane (NHP-butane) has been developed. Both aliphatic alcohols and benzyl alcohols are suitable substrates for C–N bond construction. Various acidic nucleophiles such as benzoic acids, phenols, thiophenol, and secondary sulfonamide also provide the desired products of esters, ethers, thioether, and tertiary sulfonamide with 43–93% yields. Importantly, C–N bond-containing pharmaceuticals, Piribedil and Cinnarizine, have been synthesized in one step from the commercial amines under this Mitsunobu reaction system.
Frequently Disputed Sections within the AIA A201–2017 General Conditions

AbstractIt is typical for the parties to a construction contract to have disputes that require resolution. Disputes often involve the design of the project, the quality of construction, unforeseen ...
Differential cross sections at low energies for 2H(d,p)3H and 2H(d,n)3He.

We have measured differential cross sections for the $^{2}\mathrm{H}$(d,p${)}^{3}$H and $^{2}\mathrm{H}$(d,n${)}^{3}$He reactions at 11 deuteron bombarding energies from 20 to 117 keV. The differential data are accurate to 2.0% (relative) over most of the energy range, with an additional scale error of 1.3%. Integrated cross sections are derived with total errors generally about 1.5%. The results are compared with other measurements and with an existing R-matrix analysis. We find a larger D-wave reaction amplitude than previously reported. Formulas for the cross sections and reactivities are given.
Modeling of Electromagnetic NDE of Civil Structures

The inspection of civil structures, such as bridge decks, roadways and masonry is becoming an increasingly important area for the application of NDE methodologies. A variety of methods have been used for detecting flaws, cracks and voids as well as locating structural features such as reinforcing bars and tensioning cables. The large size of civil structures necessitates the use of an NDE technique that is capable of rapid inspection of large areas with good penetration. A candidate approach for such inspection is the microwave NDT method. Microwave energy penetrates dielectric materials such as those encountered in civil structures and consequently inspection can be accomplished using noncontact devices mounted on a fast scanning mechanism. The paper presents a numerical model for simulating electromagnetic scattering from two and three dimensional objects embedded in large structures. Such models are useful in the design and development of systems required for microwave imaging of civil structures.
Design of Tubular Microporous Membrane Aerated Bioreactors for Plant Cell Cultures

Bubble-free aeration using immersed porous membranes in bioreactors has been proposed for more than a decade. Membrane aeration systems sustain high gas transfer capabilities under high culture viscosity due to the fact that they have constant gas/liquid interfacial area. This is a very desirable feature for aerating plant cell cultures since plant cell cultures can be very viscous at high cell densities. Membrane aeration can also eliminate foaming and cell floatation and, in turn, the undesirable wall growth and culture deterioration. In addition, cellular hydrodynamic shear damage due to bubble breakup, which is believed to be the major contributor to death under mild agitation in sparged, mechanically agitated reactors [1], can be avoided when membrane aeration is used.
The Divisor Class Group and Factorial Rings

In this chapter the divisor class group of a Krull domain is introduced and its functorial properties are investigated. Two applications of the functorial properties are made to polynomial extensions and subintersections (cf. Proposition 1.2d). Power series extensions are considered in a later section.
8-OH-DPAT

8-OH-DPAT is an aminotetraline derivative that is a selective agonist for the 5-HT1A receptor. The first reports on 8-OH-DPAT were structure-activity studies showing that 8-OH-DPAT is devoid of dopaminergic activity, whereas compounds with a hydroxy group in various other positions of the aromatic ring of aminotetralines have substantial dopaminergic activity …
Wound healing after transoral angiolytic laser surgery for early glottic carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS Wound healing after transoral angiolytic laser surgery for early glottic carcinoma was analyzed to identify factors influencing healing and clinical significance of persistent granulation tissue. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective review. METHODS A retrospective review of 100 consecutive patients undergoing endoscopic angiolytic laser surgery for T1 and T2 glottic carcinoma was performed. Patients with prior radiation or incomplete data were excluded. Postoperative endoscopic images were analyzed for time to healing, size and location of wound, and presence of granulation tissue. Three blinded, independent raters graded wound appearance and presence of granulation tissue. RESULTS Seventy-nine patients healed without need for intervention at a median of 3.5 months. Two patients had office-based ablation of granulation without biopsy and healed. The remaining 19 patients had biopsy for granulation tissue. Wounds that underwent biopsy at >3 months were more likely to contain carcinoma (5/6 patients, 83%) than wounds that were biopsied 75%vocal fold length (P = .006), and depth into muscle (P = .001). Delayed healing (>3 months) correlated with T2b tumors (P = .02), depth into ligament (P = .002) and anterior commissure involvement (P = .04). T1a carcinomas more commonly healed in 3 months warrants biopsy due to increased risk of malignancy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 4 Laryngoscope, 129:435-440, 2019.
Ligand-Centered Borenium Reactivity in Triaminoborane-Bridged Diphosphine Complexes.

Borenium ions (i.e., three-coordinate boron cations) are known to promote a wide variety of stoichiometric and catalytic reactions because of their high Lewis acidity. As demonstrated by the growin...
Nonparental child care during nonstandard hours: Does participation influence child well-being?

Abstract Over the last three decades there has been a rise in the number of workers employed during nonstandard (evening and overnight) hours; accompanying this trend has been a renewed interest in documenting the well-being of these workers and their families. However, no work has considered how participation in nonparental child care during nonstandard hours is associated with child development That is the aim of the current paper. Using repeated cross-sectional data from the 1999 and 2002 National Survey of America's Families (NSAF), this paper investigates the relationship between participation in nonstandard hours of nonparental child care (‘nonstandard child care’) and child well-being. I begin this investigation by classifying children as participants or nonparticipants in nonstandard child care; next, I specify a child production function to estimate the relationship between nonstandard child care and child well-being. I find a generally negative relationship between nonstandard child care and cognitive, behavioral, and contemporaneous physical well-being measures. Mechanisms analyses suggest this relationship is driven by exposure to low-quality, unpredictable care arrangements.
When it comes to MOOCs, where you are from makes a difference

Abstract Millions of learners have enrolled in MOOCs in the last few years. However, little is known about the essential skills students need to succeed in MOOCs. Even less is known about how country of origin or other aspects such as gender might affect these skills. By integrating the resources and appropriation scholarship with second-level digital divide research, this study considers skills used to engage ICTs with self-efficacy and locus of control among MOOC learners from five regions. Results from surveying 2882 learners who enrolled in five English and Arabic MOOCs reveal significant differences among learners from various regions. Based on the region in which they live, some of the learners have significantly higher skills than learners in other regions. Furthermore, male learners from three of the five regions have higher levels of engagement with ICTs than female learners. These findings inspire important considerations for future educational programs.
The effect of concussion on batting performance of major league baseball players

Purpose Previous investigations into concussions' effects on Major League Baseball (MLB) players suggested that concussion negatively impacts traditional measures of batting performance. This study examined whether post-concussion batting performance, as measured by traditional, plate discipline, and batted ball statistics, in MLB players was worse than other post-injury performance. Subjects and methods MLB players with concussion from 2008 to 2014 were identified. Concussion was defined by placement on the disabled list or missing games due to concussion, post-concussive syndrome, or head trauma. Injuries causing players to be put on the disabled list were matched by age, position, and injury duration to serve as controls. Mixed effects models were used to estimate concussion's influence after adjusting for potential confounders. The primary study outcome measurements were: traditional (eg, average), plate discipline (eg, swing-at-strike rate), and batted ball (eg, ground ball percentage) statistics. Results There were 85 concussed players and 212 controls included in the analyses. There was no significant difference in performance between concussed players and controls. However, concussed players started at a lower level of performance pre-event than the controls, striking out a 9.2% rate vs 8.2% (P=0.042) with an isolated power of 0.075 vs 0.082 (P=0.035). For concussed players, traditional batting statistics decreased before plate discipline metrics. Conclusion MLB players' performance was lower after return from concussion, but no more than after return from other injuries. The decreased performance prior to concussion suggests that concussion-related performance declines may not be due exclusively to concussion and perhaps point to risk factors predisposing to concussion.
Teaming up with Toyota on Environmental Issues

In July 2007, the Center for Industrial Development and Environmental Governance (CIDEG) at Tsinghua University in Beijing with the International Economic Association jointly sponsored an international round table conference with the title “Environmental Governance for Sustainable Development.” Professor Geoffrey Heal of Columbia University and Professor Lawrence Goulder of Stanford University also participated in organizing this conference. In anticipation of the conference, CIDEG solicited papers for an essay contest on environmental economics from young Chinese economists under the age of 35. The winning essay was selected from thirty entrants and the winner gave a report in excellent English to the assembled world-class environmental scholars. Listening to the presentations, I had a strong sense of the rapid development of environmental economists in China from the younger generation.
Electrophoresis – Blotting Techniques

The transfer of biomolecules to a membrane support, referred to as blotting, has been an integral part of life sciences research. Southern first described the transfer of DNA to nitrocellulose membrane in 1975 (Southern blotting), spawning methods to transfer RNA (northern blotting) and proteins (western blotting). The transfer of protein patterns from a gel to a microporous membrane has been utilized universally to detect and characterize proteins, especially those of low abundance. Protein blotting has evolved greatly since its inception in 1979, as detailed in this work, allowing protein transfer to be accomplished in a variety of ways.
An Adaptive BLAST Successive Interference Cancellation Method for High Data Rate Perfect Space-Time Coded MIMO Systems

Linear dispersion (LD) based perfect space-time codes (STBCs) are an efficient means of increasing a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system's overall diversity gain while maintaining the same spectral efficiency as a traditional spatial multiplexed (SM) MIMO system. Because the decoding procedure of LD codes traditionally requires the entire code to be received and decoded simultaneously, complexity increases proportional to the square of the MIMO array size. In this paper, we leverage the increased number of spatial and temporal layers at the decoder to dynamically reduce the complexity of a BLAST optimum ordering and successive interference cancellation (SIC) detector based on the instantaneous system capacity and data rate. The novel approach proposed in this paper is channel code and modulation agnostic, meaning the underlying constellation can be HEX or QAM and there is no feedback from a forward error correction (FEC) decoder, which makes the design useful in a wide range of MIMO systems employing LD codes with linear detectors. We investigate the method's bit error rate (BER) using MIMO dimensions up to $8 \times 8$ and bits per channel use (BPCU) up to 32. We analyze the system's run-time complexity and BER performance in software and implement perfect coding along with the novel method presented here in a custom MIMO orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system and test it over-the-air using an Ettus Research X310 software-defined radio (SDR) testbed.
Re-operation After Robotic Inguinal Hernia Repair

The reoperation rate after inguinal hernia repair is low because few inguinal hernias recur. However, due to the large number of inguinal hernias repaired worldwide, some patients require reoperation. The use of robotic inguinal hernia surgery is increasing, and surgeons need appropriate strategies for reoperation after a failed robotic repair. Although there are few published guidelines, principles can be applied from the minimally invasive/laparoscopic experience with inguinal hernia repair. This chapter reviews strategies to address reoperation after robotic inguinal hernia repair and presents management options.
Poroelastic modeling of cutting bottom-hole rock – Part I: Stress state of bottom-hole rock

Abstract This is the first part of a series of two papers modeling cutting bottom-hole rock during drilling. This paper studies the stress state of a bottom-hole rock that a downhole bit is drilling. A bottom-hole rock underground is subjected to far field in-situ stresses. During drilling process, the rock materials above the bottom-hole rock are gradually removed and replaced with drilling fluid, thus altering the stress state of the bottom-hole rock. In this paper, a model is developed based on the theory of Linear Poroelasticity to calculate the evolution of stresses and pore pressure in a bottom-hole rock during drilling process. The bottom-hole rock under consideration can be selected at any depth underground. To solve the model, superposition principle and finite difference method are employed. The model is also extended for inclined wellbores in arbitrary directions. A series of case studies with various drilling parameters in different formations are presented. The results show that during drilling bottom-hole rock will expand, leading to the pore pressure decrease if formation has a low permeability. The pore pressure decrease in a bottom-hole rock will increase differential pressure, eventually increasing difficulties in drilling. The results show that low permeability formation drilled with a greater rate of penetration will lead to a lower pore pressure in a bottom-hole rock. Moreover, during air drilling in hard formation, the pore pressure decreases significantly in bottom-hole rock.
Kitchen gardens, wild forage and tree fruits: A hypothesis on the role of the Zaid season in the indus civilisation (c.3200-1300 BCE)

Abstract The nature of agriculture in the Indus Civilisation of South Asia (c.3200-1300 BCE) remains a topic of intense debate. Traditional models of Indus agriculture have been built on the assumption that it was divided into two cropping seasons: rabi (centred on the winter Western Disturbance) and kharif (focused on exploiting the Indian Summer Monsoon). This paper endeavours to unpack this assumption by looking to modern agricultural strategies. Through this approach the nuanced possibilities open to ancient farmers can be explored and a third cropping season is introduced, the hot dry summer season, also called zaid. Zaid cropping occurs between rabi and kharif in the modern agricultural round. This paper argues Indus archaeology needs to consider the importance of South Asian definitions of seasonality and cropping in its models. Instead of the western notion of winter/summer, this paper explores the idea of rabi/zaid/kharif (winter/dry summer/monsoonal summer) in the archaeological context. The paper reviews the archaeobotanical data and hypothesises that Indus farmers had the potential to exploit the zaid cropping season, and that Indus agricultural strategies may, as a result have been even more complex than currently modelled. This is part of a growing pattern in Indus archaeobotanical studies which are demonstrating the possible nuances of Indus farming and plant exploitation strategies. The zaid hypothesis has implications for how Indus agriculture fits into wider debates surrounding of adaptation, intensification, sustainability and resilience in the face of social, economic and environmental change.
Religion and spirituality, free will, and effective self-regulation

Abstract For over two decades, psychological scientists have conducted empirical research on self-regulation and self-control. Our chapter reviews the current empirical research surrounding self-regulation and free will as it relates to religion and spirituality. First, we review the influence of religion/spirituality on free will belief. Research suggests that belief in free will can lead to religious moralistic behavior and social/cultural enforcement of moralistic behavior change. Second, we explore how religion and spirituality can help individuals make motivated behavior change. Specifically, we review how religion and spirituality can influence four types of motivated behavior change: (1) self-control, (2) rational choice, (3) planful behavior, and (4) taking initiative. Third, we conclude our chapter by reviewing research suggesting that religion and spirituality may help alleviate the psychological burden of engaging in self-regulating behavior, otherwise known as ego depletion.
What We Know About Stemflow's Infiltration Area

A portion of precipitation drains to the surface down plant stems, as “stemflow.” Although, per observations to date, stemflow rarely represents >2% of gross precipitation in forests, it can result in larger water fluxes to near-stem soils that are hypothetically more important to roots. The ecohydrological importance of stemflow is often predicated upon assumptions about how it infiltrates into near-stem soils. Our objective is to review the small number of studies over the ~140 years of stemflow research that have quantified its infiltration area. We found several empirical descriptions of stemflow infiltration areas inferred from disparate approaches, and we discuss that evidence in the context of dominant assumptions and conceptualizations (i.e., equating infiltration area to basal area or estimations based on assumed soil conductivity metrics). However, we conclude that more empirical understanding of stemflow infiltration is needed before we quantify or qualify stemflow’s influence from its assumed infiltration rate. Towards this goal, we provide a critical discussion of two methods that seem most promising for quantifying stemflow infiltration area.
Implementing Inclusive Access: Considerations, Obstacles, and Pathways to Improving Student Resource Distribution in an Online Environment

Any university that wants to remain a major player in the industry over the next few decades needs to have the topics affordability, ease of access to materials and resources, a cohesive student experience, and reducing barriers to education at the forefront of any discussion, strategy, or directional initiative. This is especially true for a university, like Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), known both for higher education innovation and supporting underprivileged student populations. One of the major obstacles in these areas for SNHU is the manual process students go through to acquire access to their course materials in purchasing them through the online bookstore. Not only does this lead to higher prices on materials but also creates unnecessary steps students have to complete in order to be prepared for learning. In a population of students who already face a number of barriers to completing their education, resource acquisition became an opportunity for SNHU to impact students to help them succeed, rather than impede their progress. In late 2017, SNHU began exploring options for inclusive access. This case provides insight into the process by which the team at SNHU performed initial research and discovery, formed a project proposal and team, planned and implemented a pilot of inclusive access, gathered pilot metrics and data, and prepared for future expansion of the program.
Serum zinc levels and efficacy of zinc treatment in acne vulgaris: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

Oral and topical zinc have been used for the treatment of acne, but there is a lack of definitive evidence for their efficacy. (a) To determine if mean serum zinc levels differ between acne patients and controls and (b) to determine the efficacy of zinc preparations in the treatment of acne. A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed according to recommended PRISMA [Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses] guidelines. Subjects with acne had significantly lower serum zinc levels compared to controls. Patients who were treated with zinc had a significant improvement in mean inflammatory papule count compared to those who were not treated with zinc. There was no significant difference in the incidence of side effects in zinc supplementation vs comparators. Acne patients have decreased serum zinc levels. Zinc is effective for the treatment of acne, particularly at decreasing the number of inflammatory papules, when used as monotherapy or as an adjunctive treatment.
Electrostatic potentials at the nuclei of atoms and molecules

The electrostatic potential at the nucleus of an atom, whether in the free state or in a molecule, is qualitatively a characteristic property of the atom. It changes remarkably little from one molecular environment to another. The energies of atoms and molecules can be expressed both rigorously and approximately in terms of the electrostatic potentials at their nuclei. Molecular energies can be written entirely as summations over atomic contributions, with no explicit interatomic terms. This provides a basis for estimating the energy of an atom in a molecule. Overall, the present study supports the validity of the atoms-in-molecules concept.
Comparing synaptic proteomes across seven mouse models for autism reveals molecular subtypes and deficits in Rho GTPase signaling

Abstract Impaired synaptic function is a common phenotype in animal models for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and ASD risk genes are enriched for synaptic function. Here we leverage the availability of multiple ASD mouse models exhibiting synaptic deficits and behavioral correlates of ASD and use quantitative mass spectrometry with isobaric tandem mass tagging (TMT) to compare the hippocampal synaptic proteomes from 7 mouse models. We identified common altered cellular and molecular pathways at the synapse, including changes in Rho family small GTPase signaling, suggesting that it may be a point of convergence in ASD. Comparative analyses also revealed clusters of synaptic profiles, with similarities observed among models for Fragile X syndrome (Fmr1 knockout), PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome (Pten haploinsufficiency), and the BTBR+ model of idiopathic ASD. Opposing changes were found in models for cortical dysplasia focal epilepsy syndrome (Cntnap2 knockout), Phelan McDermid syndrome (Shank3 InsG3680), Timothy syndrome (Cacna1c G406R), and ANKS1B syndrome (Anks1b haploinsufficiency), which were similar to each other. We propose that these clusters of synaptic profiles form the basis for molecular subtypes that explain genetic heterogeneity in ASD despite a common clinical diagnosis. Drawn from an internally controlled survey of the synaptic proteome across animal models, our findings support the notion that synaptic dysfunction in the hippocampus is a shared mechanism of disease in ASD, and that Rho GTPase signaling may be an important pathway leading to disease phenotypes in autism.
The Analysis of Visual Cognition in Birds: Implications for Evolution, Mechanism, and Representation

Abstract How complex visual systems function to produce internal representations of the world has been one of the enduring questions in cognitive science. Because of their different evolutionary paths, birds and mammals have evolved to use dissimilar portions of their central nervous systems to mediate their visual navigation of the world. The visual excellence of each of these major groups of vertebrates, in combination with these contrasting implementations of vision, creates a special opportunity to isolate and compare the algorithms and representations mediating visual cognition in each of these groups. Here, we describe the results of experiments testing pigeons and starlings designed to investigate this question. We review the results relevant to two important topics within visual cognition. It is suggested that the early visual mechanisms of birds and primates share a strong resemblance to one another. In particular, it may be that each group of animals has evolved to initially decompose early visual information into independent streams along comparable sets of visual features. At later stages of processing, the examination of the mechanisms underlying the processing of local and global aspects of object perception suggests that there may be important differences in regards to how birds and primates integrate such hierarchical information.
Clinical Applications of Next-Generation Sequencing of Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded Tumors

Significant progress has been made in next-generation sequencing (NGS) of tumors from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumors. In this chapter, we review some of the recent developments in RNA and DNA sequencing from FFPE. We highlight some of the current challenges and considerations that must be in place before using NGS in a clinical setting. We begin with a discussion of the technical challenges in dealing with FFPE tumors, including nucleic acid degradation and the potential utility of adding in dissection methods to the tumors. We then discuss bioinformatical and statistical considerations that must be employed when analyzing data obtained from FFPE tissues. We end with a brief discussion of ethical implications and other issues that will need to be addressed before translating discoveries into the clinic.
Effects of Penicillin and Glycine on Cell Wall Glycopeptides of the Two Varieties of Vibrio fetus

Actively growing strains of Vibrio fetus venerealis and V. fetus intestinalis, none of which produced penicillinase, were treated with inhibitory levels of penicillin or glycine, primarily to gain insight into the differential sensitivities of the two varieties to both of these compounds. Treatments induced the accumulation of uridine nucleotide glycopeptide precursors which contained amino sugars and amino acids in various molar ratios. Penicillin-induced nucleotides all contained muramic acid and sometimes glucosamine; they generally contained alanine, glutamic acid, diaminopimelic acid, and glycine. Approximately equimolar ratios of these components were observed in some compounds, but ratios varied considerably in others. Glycine-induced nucleotides contained muramic acid and, in some instances, glucosamine. Amino acids were detected only infrequently and usually in low molar ratios. The data suggest that penicillinase production, differences in the chemical composition of glycopeptide, and variations in modes of action of penicillin and glycine cannot individually account for the differential sensitivities of venereal and intestinal strains of V. fetus to these substances.
Evaluation of a spectral subtraction strategy to suppress reverberant energy in cochlear implant devices

The smearing effects of room reverberation can significantly impair the ability of cochlear implant (CI) listeners to understand speech. To ameliorate the effects of reverberation, current dereverberation algorithms focus on recovering the direct sound from the reverberated signal by inverse filtering the reverberation process. This contribution describes and evaluates a spectral subtraction (SS) strategy capable of suppressing late reflections. Late reflections are the most detrimental to speech intelligibility by CI listeners as reverberation increases. By tackling only the late part of reflections, it is shown that users of CI devices can benefit from the proposed strategy even in highly reverberant rooms. The proposed strategy is also compared against an ideal reverberant (binary) masking approach. Speech intelligibility results indicate that the proposed SS solution is able to suppress additive reverberant energy to a degree comparable to that achieved by an ideal binary mask. The added advantage is that the SS strategy proposed in this work can allow for a potentially real-time implementation in clinical CI processors.
VARIABLE DYNAMIC TESTBED VEHICLE : DYNAMICS ANALYSIS

The Variable Dynamic Testbed Vehicle (VDTV) concept has been proposed as a tool to evaluate collision avoidance systems and to perform driving-related human factors research. The goal of this study is to analytically investigate to what extent a VDTV with adjustable front and rear anti-roll bar stiffnesses, programmable damping rates, and four-wheel-steering can emulate the lateral dynamics of a broad range of passenger vehicles.