cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Survivable Multipath Provisioning with Differential Delay Constraint in Telecom Mesh Networks

Multipath provisioning is a key feature of next-generation SONET/SDH networks (which can be used on top of optical WDM) and they can support virtual concatenation (VCAT); thus, multipath provisioning can significantly outperform single-path provisioning in resource efficiency, service resilience, and flexibility. However, in multipath provisioning, differential delay is an important constraint which should not be ignored. We investigate survivability of service paths based on differential-delay constraint (DDC) and multipath provisioning together in a telecom backbone mesh network. We present a DDC-based K link-disjoint paths algorithm (DDCKDP) for multipath provisioning subject to DDC. We also compare it with the minimum-cost-flow (MCF) and K shortest link-disjoint paths (KDP) algorithm, using Shared Protection of the Largest Individual Traversed link (SPLIT), under dynamic service request with several different DDCs. We find that (1) exploiting link-disjoint paths is very efficient for survivable multipath provisioning; and (2) SPLIT-DDCKDP is resource efficient, has low signaling overhead, and has fast fault-recovery for survivable multipath provisioning with DDC. For a 5 ms DDC, DDCKDP can decrease the Bandwidth Blocking Ratio (BBR) by more than 100% compared with KDP in a typical US backbone network.
Pricing strategies for spectrum lease in secondary markets

We develop analytical models to characterize pricing of spectrum rights in cellular CDMA networks. Specifically, we consider a primary license holder that aims to lease its spectrum within a certain geographic subregion of its network. Such a transaction has two contrasting economic implications: On the one hand the lessor obtains a revenue due to the exercised price of the region. On the other hand, it incurs a cost due to: (1) reduced spatial coverage of its network; and (2) possible interference from the leased region into the retained portion of its network, leading to increased call blocking. We formulate this tradeoff as an optimization problem, with the objective of profit maximization. We consider a range of pricing philosophies and derive near-optimal solutions that are based on a reduced load approximation (RLA) for estimating blocking probabilities. The form of these prices suggests charging the lessee in proportion to the fraction of admitted calls. We also exploit the special structure of the solutions to devise an efficient iterative procedure for computing prices. We present numerical results that demonstrate superiority of the proposed strategy over several alternative strategies. The results emphasize importance of effective pricing strategies in bringing secondary markets to full realization.
Traversable path identification in unstructured terrains: A Markov random walk approach

Many terrains in outdoor robot navigation problems have paths that are distinct and continuous compared to the non-traversable regions. In image space these paths correspond to continuous segments that can be thought of as clusters embedded in image feature space. These segments very often translate directly to traversable ground plane. In this paper we build the intuition for semi-supervised methods in path identification and present a Markov random walk based approach that requires very few labeled points. The method creates a nearest neighbor graph representation of the current image frame using features deemed suitable for the task and propagates labels based on the concept of absorbing Markov chains. We extend this formalism to the task of dynamically identifying traversable and non-traversable regions in the incoming image frames. We present results on actual terrains corresponding to test courses used by the LAGR test team. The results demonstrate that with minimal initial supervision the robot can navigate to the goal. We also conduct comparisons of our path labeling technique against other machine learning techniques including nonlinear support vector machines on hand labeled data. The results demonstrate that our semi-supervised approach is proficient in the domain of path traversal in unstructured domains.
Characterization of hepatic carnitine palmitoyltransferase: use of bromoacyl derivatives and antibodies

Carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT) is a mitochondrial-inner-membrane enzyme, with activities located on both the outer and inner sides of the membrane. The inhibition of CPT by bromopalmitate derivatives was studied in intact hepatic mitochondria (representing CPT-A activity, the outer enzyme), in inverted submitochondrial vesicles (representing CPT-B, the inner enzyme), and in purified hepatic CPT. Bromopalmitoyl-CoA had an I50 (concentration giving 50% inhibition of CPT activity) of 0.63 +/- 0.08 microM in intact mitochondria and 2.44 +/- 0.86 microM in inverted vesicles. Preincubation of mitochondria with bromopalmitoyl-CoA decreased V max. for both CPT-A and CPT-B. Sonication decreased sensitivity to bromopalmitoyl-CoA, and solubilization with Triton abolished sensitivity at the concentrations used (0-10 microM). Purified CPT had a bromopalmitoyl-CoA I50 of 353 microM in aqueous buffer, 67 microM in 20% dimethyl sulphoxide, 45 microM in phosphatidylcholine liposomes and 26 microM in cardiolipin liposomes. Increasing [carnitine] at constant bromopalmitoyl-CoA concentrations or increasing [bromopalmitoyl-CoA] in the preincubation resulted in increased inhibition of purified CPT. 2-Tetradecylglycidyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA did not offer measurable protection against bromopalmitoyl-CoA inhibition of the purified CPT, suggesting a different site of interaction of bromopalmitoyl-CoA with CPT. The data suggest that the sensitivity of CPT to bromopalmitoyl-CoA may be modulated by membrane environment and assay conditions.
Supernova Recognition Using Support Vector Machines

We introduce a novel application of Support Vector Machines (SVMs) to the problem of identifying potential supernovae using photometric and geometric features computed from astronomical imagery. The challenges of this supervised learning application are significant: 1) noisy and corrupt imagery resulting in high levels of feature uncertainty, 2) features with heavy-tailed, peaked distributions, 3) extremely imbalanced and overlapping positive and negative data sets, and 4) the need to reach high positive classification rates, i.e. to find all potential supernovae, while reducing the burdensome workload of manually examining false positives. High accuracy is achieved via a sign-preserving, shifted log transform applied to features with peaked, heavy-tailed distributions. The imbalanced data problem is handled by oversampling positive examples, selectively sampling misclassified negative examples, and iteratively training multiple SVMs for improved supernova recognition on unseen test data. We present cross-validation results and demonstrate the impact on a large-scale supernova survey that currently uses the SVM decision value to rank-order 600,000 potential supernovae each night.
Arthroscopic management of degenerative meniscus tears in patients with degenerative arthritis

Abstract Frequently, meniscal pathology accompanies degenerative changes affecting the articular surface of the knee. The attritional changes in the meniscus lead to fragmentation of the meniscus and a variety of tears, usually of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus. A prospective study of the results of arthroscopic partial meniscectomy in the presence of at least Outerbridge Grade III chondromalacia of the accompanying joint surface was performed between 1980 and 1984. Eighty-seven knees in 84 patients were studied. The mean age was 62 (29–84) years. The right knee was involved in 44 patients, and 47 were men. Preoperative radiographs demonstrated osteoarthritis in 53 patients. The medial meniscus was involved in 82, while the lateral meniscus was affected in nine knees. Four knees had involvement of both menisci. In 72 knees, the most frequent lesion was a tear of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus. The most frequent configuration of the tears was a flap in 42. The morbidity was small with the use of ambulatory aids being 10 ± 13 (mean ± SD) days. Subsequent surgery was performed on six knees consisting of two total knee arthroplasties, two upper-tibial osteotomies, one repeat arthroscopic meniscectomy, and one popliteal cyst excision. Two patients had poor results related to progression of their arthritis and one developed osteonecrosis. Five patients were unchanged from their preoperative status. Subchondral sclerosis or osteophytes on the preoperative radiographs correlated with 72% compared to 90% satisfactory results in the absence of these findings (p
The Biosynthetic Basis of Cell Size Control

Cell size is an important physiological trait that sets the scale of all biosynthetic processes. Although physiological studies have revealed that cells actively regulate their size, the molecular mechanisms underlying this regulation have remained unclear. Here we review recent progress in identifying the molecular mechanisms of cell size control. We focus on budding yeast, where cell growth dilutes a cell cycle inhibitor to couple growth and division. We discuss a new model for size control based on the titration of activator and inhibitor molecules whose synthesis rates are differentially dependent on cell size.
Predicting Successful Mathematics Remediation among Latina/o Students

This study examines Latina/o students’ remedial math needs and outcomes. Data were drawn from a national sample of Latina/o students. Hierarchical generalized linear modeling techniques were used t...
Where do we stand in the treatment of relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common and one of the most treatable cancers in children. Although the majority of children with ALL are now cured, 10%-20% of patients are predicted to relapse and outcomes with salvage therapy have been disappointing, with approximately only one-third of children surviving long-term after disease recurrence. Several prognostic factors have been identified, with timing of recurrence relative to diagnosis and site of relapse emerging as the most important variables. Despite heterogeneity in the elements of salvage therapy that are delivered in trials conducted internationally, outcomes have been remarkably similar and have remained static. Because most intensive salvage regimens have reached the limit of tolerability, current strategies are focusing on identifying new agents tailored to the unique biology of relapsed disease and identifying methods to develop these agents efficiently for clinical use. Recently, high-resolution genomic analyses of matched pairs of diagnostic and relapse bone marrow samples are emerging as a promising tool for identifying pathways that impart chemoresistance.
Dynamic Patterns of Adolescent Substance Use: Results From a Nationally Representative Sample of High School Students.

OBJECTIVE: Use of tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs increases during the high school years, yet little is known about individual patterns over time, particularly patterns of contemporaneous multiple-substance use. This study examined trajectories of contemporaneous substance use and how individual and social factors differentially predict patterns of substance use. METHOD: Longitudinal trajectories of substance use were examined in a nationally representative sample of students (N = 2,512) over a 3-year period (10th through 12th grades) using latent class analysis. Individual, parental, and peer risk factors in 10th grade were examined in relation to membership in trajectory classes. RESULT: A five-class model was identified: nonusers (45.5%); tobacco, alcohol, and other drug users (9.2%); alcohol and other drug users (9.2%); increasing multiple-substance users (16.7%); and decreasing multiple-substance users (19.4%). Depressive symptoms at baseline were associated with a higher likelihood of membership in all classes except the increasing multiple-substance-user class, but the association becomes insignificant when social influence factors were adjusted. Parental-monitoring knowledge was associated with a lower likelihood of membership in all classes except increasing multiple-substance-user class, whereas perceived parental disapproval was associated with a lower likelihood of membership in the tobacco, alcohol, and other drug user class. Peer substance use was associated with a higher likelihood of membership in each of the substance use classes. CONCLUSIONS: The identified longitudinal profiles highlight the pervasiveness and dynamic patterns of contemporaneous multiple-substance use during 10th through 12th grades. Negative peer influence increased risk, whereas positive parenting behaviors decreased risk. The findings are consistent with the need to foster social influences and protective factors against adolescent substance use. Language: en
Development of a practical spatial-spectral analysis protocol for breast histopathology using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic imaging

Breast cancer screening provides sensitive tumor identification, but low specificity implies that a vast majority of biopsies are not ultimately diagnosed as cancer. Automated techniques to evaluate biopsies can prevent errors, reduce pathologist workload and provide objective analysis. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopic imaging provides both molecular signatures and spatial information that may be applicable for pathology. Here, we utilize both the spectral and spatial information to develop a combined classifier that provides rapid tissue assessment. First, we evaluated the potential of IR imaging to provide a diagnosis using spectral data alone. While highly accurate histologic [epithelium, stroma] recognition could be achieved, the same was not possible for disease [cancer, no-cancer] due to the diversity of spectral signals. Hence, we employed spatial data, developing and evaluating increasingly complex models, to detect cancers. Sub-mm tumors could be very confidently predicted as indicated by the quantitative measurement of accuracy via receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses. The developed protocol was validated with a small set and statistical performance used to develop a model that predicts study design for a large scale, definitive validation. The results of evaluation on different instruments, at higher noise levels, under a coarser spectral resolution and two sampling modes [transmission and transflection], indicate that the protocol is highly accurate under a variety of conditions. The study paves the way to validating IR imaging for rapid breast tumor detection, its statistical validation and potential directions for optimization of the speed and sampling for clinical deployment.
Medical Data Compression and Transmission in Wireless Ad Hoc Networks

A wireless ad hoc network (WANET) is a type of wireless network aimed to be deployed in a disaster area in order to collect data of patients and improve medical facilities. The WANETs are composed of several small nodes scattered in the disaster area. The nodes are capable of sending (wirelessly) the collected medical data to the base stations. The limited battery power of nodes and the transmission of huge medical data require an energy efficient approach to preserve the quality of service of WANETs. To address this issue, we propose an optimization-based medical data compression technique, which is robust to transmission errors. We propose a fuzzy-logic-based route selection technique to deliver the compressed data that maximizes the lifetime of WANETs. The technique is fully distributed and does not use any geographical/location information. We demonstrate the utility of the proposed work with simulation results. The results show that the proposed work effectively maintains connectivity of WANETs and prolongs network lifetime.
AN ESTIMATE OF THE POTENTIAL EVOLUTIONARY INCREASE IN SPECIES DENSITY IN THE POLYNESIAN ANT FAUNA.

An exceptionally high proportion of the ant species of Polynesia are "tramps," that is, species carried about the world by human commerce. A truly native fauna is present as well on the islands of western Polynesia. In the eastern and northern archipelagoes, however, there may be in fact no truly native species at all, the faunulae here consisting of synthetic aggregations of tramp species. Some of these species originated ultimately in the Indo-Australian area, some in Africa, and some in the New World tropics. Most have been carried accidentally to the Pacific islands on European ships, certainly within the last 400 years and probably no earlier than the time of Cook's first voyage (1768-1771). This tramp fauna, despite its heterogeneity and youth, has achieved an orderliness of sorts. In particular, the number of species on an island is well correlated with the island's area, and some related species have acquired complementary (mosaic) interand intra-island distributions that can be explained easily only as the outcome of competitive exclusion. In the course of current studies on the Indo-Australian fauna we have come
Greensand mosasaurs of New Jersey and the Cretaceous–Paleogene transition of marine vertebrates

Historical records of mosasaur discoveries in the Hornerstown Formation of the Atlantic Coastal Plain of New Jersey (USA) are reviewed in the light of recent geochemical and biostratigraphic investigations. The highest (i.e. youngest) mosasaur remains are from the basal Hornerstown Formation fossil assemblage, a widespread concentration of vertebrate and invertebrate remains that coincides with an iridium excursion and the micropalaeontological K/Pg boundary. Most of the mosasaur specimens from this horizon are single elements, but at least one specimen from the Hornerstown Formation, YPM 773, is a multi-element specimen, a skull with vertebrae. This specimen is a very large individual of Mosasaurus hoffmanni from the West Jersey Marl Company works at Barnsboro, New Jersey. It represents the stratigraphically highest multi-element articulated specimen in the K/Pg section here. In and above the basal Hornerstown, the fauna is dominated by crocodylians, lamnid sharks and chelonians. The extinction of mosasaurs created a vacant ecological niche at the top of the marine food web, and a trophic cascade of smaller predators ensued. Later in the Neogene the appearance of Elvis taxa archaeocetes such as Basilosaurus converged on mosasaur body shape.
No One Way to Jam: Game Jams for Creativity, Learning, Entertainment, and Research

Game jams have formed a creative backbone to the MIT Game Lab, as a means to connect students, researchers, developers, and the general public together to explore the potentials of games in various ways. The author has been in a position to see how game jams have evolved to be not just learning opportunities for participants, but sources for innovation and inspiration for sponsors. How did these game jams shift in this direction and what impact does this have on the designers? The author noticed a trend towards professionalization of game jam participants and commercialization of game jams which can both expand opportunities for game jams beyond being purely about game development, but can also limit participation in unwanted ways if not thought through in game jam design.
Free boundary problems in biology

In this paper, I review several free boundary problems that arise in the mathematical modelling of biological processes. The biological topics are quite diverse: cancer, wound healing, biofilms, granulomas and atherosclerosis. For each of these topics, I describe the biological background and the mathematical model, and then proceed to state mathematical results, including existence and uniqueness theorems, stability and asymptotic limits, and the behaviour of the free boundary. I also suggest, for each of the topics, open mathematical problems.
Efficacy of mating disruption technique against carob moth, Apomyelois ceratoniae Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in pomegranate orchards in Southeast Turkey (Şanlıurfa)

ABSTRACTCarob moth, Apomyelois (=Ectomyelois) ceratoniae Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is a key pest in pomegranate orchards in Southeast of Turkey. The pest causes significant damage and reduces marketability of fruits, and is difficult to control with insecticides. Therefore, it is imperative to develop environmentally sound effective alternative management approaches. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the mating disruption technique and determine the appropriate application dose for the management of the pest. The study was carried out in Central and Suruc districts of Sanliurfa province (Turkey) in 2011 and 2012. SPLAT EC (Specialized Pheromone-Lure Application Technology) trade named dispenser containing 2% Z7, E9-11-dodecatrienyl formate pheromone mimic was applied at 500, 625 and 750 g/ha in three pomegranate orchards in each district. Results indicated that mating disruption technique significantly reduced the pest populations. But effectiveness of the method was less in terms of the damage ra...
The Curious History of Quantum Mechanics

We start with an account of the history of physics in the early 20th century as it applies to the development of quantum mechanics and its interpretation. This account is intended to show how the theory and interpretation were developed and came to be in the state in which we find them today. Writing about the development of science can be frustrating to the writer, because there are so many people involved, so many false starts, so many mistaken ideas, so much bad data, and a tangled story-line of rejected ideas and falsified theories left behind. I will attempt to streamline the lines of development by focusing on the ideas that turned out to be better and more important. I will, for the most part, ignore the bad ideas, the misconceptions, and the minor contributions. This perhaps distorts history, but I am not a historian, and I feel no obligation to achieve historical precision. Rather, I want to communicate the feel of the intellectually turbulent times when quantum mechanics was emerging. Many individual contributions will be ignored or neglected, but a picture of the development of quantum mechanics, with all its triumphs, paradoxes, and problems, should emerge.
The Fisher of Troubled Waters (1917–1918)

In March 1917, the disintegration of the Russian military’s command structure and its sagging morale foretold of its impending retirement from the war theater in Persia. What then would become of the defense of the Caucasus against the Turks? In January 1918, the British took up the task of shoring up the defense of the Caucasus and dispatched a modest military mission to the area. Commanded by Major-General L. C. Dunsterville, the mission proceeded from Baghdad to Anzali, where it was supposed to cross over to Baku and then go to Tbilisi. The mission reached Gilan in February and was welcomed by the British consul at Rasht. Watching all this were the Jangali partisans.
Quadrature slow-time MIMO radar with experimental results

Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) radar requires orthogonal waveforms to be transmitted on each transmit element or subarray. One practical problem that arises is the complexity and expense of the hardware needed to implement MIMO radar. Slow-time MIMO waveforms, often referred to as SLO-MO waveforms, allow the implementation of MIMO radar without any hardware modifications to the receiver. However, generation of the SLO-MO MIMO waveforms on the transmitter typically requires a multichannel arbitrary waveform generator, variable RF phase shifters, or using multiple carrier frequencies. All of these options can be expensive, especially at microwave frequencies. This paper describes a technique to generate SLO-MO MIMO waveforms using low-cost passive frequency mixers with existing (non-MIMO) radar architectures. Passive frequency mixers are inexpensive and easy to add inline to existing radar transmitters. This paper presents the concept of double-sideband and quadrature MIMO slow-time radar, along with experimental results from the Duke S-band radar testbed.
Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve Replacement and Acute Increase in Diastolic Pressure are Associated with Increases in Both Systolic and Diastolic Pulmonary Artery Dimensions

Stable positioning of a transcatheter pulmonary valve (TPV) in native outflow tracts depends on a clear understanding of underlying anatomy and outflow tract dimensions. We hypothesized that restoration of pulmonary competence may acutely alter these dimensions. A retrospective single-center review of consecutive patients after TPV placement from 2007 to 2014 was performed. Patients with less than moderate pulmonary regurgitation were excluded. We reviewed acute catheterization data on 46 patients, most with tetralogy of Fallot (70%). Baseline and post-implant (7.5 ± 3 min post-deployment) measurements of central pulmonary arteries (PAs) were determined angiographically. The right PA diameter increased (20 ± 4-24 ± 6 mm systole*, 16 ± 4-21 ± 6 mm diastole*), as did the left PA (20 ± 6-24 ± 8 mm systole*, 16 ± 5-21 ± 7 mm diastole*). PA pressures increased from averages of 29.3/10.6 (17) to 29.8/15.1 (21) mmHg. We noted that pre-implant systolic PA diameter correlated with diastolic PA diameter post-implant (r = 0.9). On follow-up catheterization in seven patients [median 3 years; (1-8)], combined central PA diameter decreased an average of 20% (systole: 20% ± 12, diastole: 18% ± 11) as compared to post-implant measurements. Acute pulmonary valve competence in patients with at least moderate pulmonary regurgitation results in an immediate increase in PA diameter (20% systole and 30% diastole). The cause of this diameter change is unclear. This acute change may have implications for device and patient selection (*p < 0.001).
Jus Soli and Statelessness: A Comparative Perspective from the Americas

The New World is comparatively generous in the law’s provision of citizenship to all persons born within national boundaries, including the children of undocumented persons and temporary visitors. A striking feature of citizenship practices in the Americas is the near uniformity of reliance on jus soli. Indeed, the jus soli principle “has primarily become a Western Hemisphere tradition.” The predominance of jus soli is said to account for the relatively low rate of statelessness in the Americas compared with other parts of the world. But the definitions of “stateless” in international law instruments and in practice lack precision and thus confound easy measurements of political, civic, and economic status. Even jus soli laws that are meant to ensure that people are not born stateless depend on the willingness of a marginalized population to register a birth or for nations to recognize that birth based on the time that undocumented parents reside in the country. In this lead chapter I explore the limitations of the international legal definition of statelessness in order to illustrate two points. First, what should be termed “effective statelessness” is a necessary adjunct to the concept of de jure statelessness. Without this conceptual pairing, we cannot judge the actual relationship between a state and those who belong to it. In the Americas, as I will show, a substantial number of persons entitled to citizenship cannot prove it, or such proof is disregarded by government officials. At the same time, these persons do not qualify for protection under international law because they are not legally “stateless.” Second, without some measure of “effective statelessness,” claims that the Americas should be viewed as a relative success story because of the jus soli norm are questionable. Jus soli prevents statelessness only where it is accompanied by meticulous and generally recognized documentation. Effective statelessness can exist in any nation, and it is a hidden problem in the Americas, jus soli notwithstanding. Effective statelessness occurs due to poor documentation of births and administrative ineptitude, as well as intentional discrimination. In the Americas, including the United States, the predominant reasons for effective statelessness include inability to prove nationality, as well as the failure of countries to document or recognize their own citizens. International law treaties on statelessness fail to provide a sufficient safety net and thus offer no meaningful remedy to the problems of ineffective citizenship addressed here.
Acquired digital fibrokeratomas.

SUMMARY.— Thirty-two cases are reported of the tumour recently described as acquired digital fibrokeratoma. The histological features are described in detail and the differentiation from other superficially similar tumours is emphasized. The possible histogenesis is discussed. Since not all such lesions are on the digits the term acquired fibrokeratoma is suggested as appropriate.
The utilization of palliative radiation therapy to the liver for hepatocellular carcinoma.

474Background: Despite retrospective and prospective clinical trials conveying the efficacy of palliative radiation therapy (RT) to the liver, this modality is not commonly used. The purpose of this project is to evaluate trends, dose schemas, and techniques of palliative RT to the liver in current practice. We aim to identify factors associated with overall survival using patient data from the National Cancer Database (NCDB). Methods: Using the NCDB, we analyzed patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) diagnosed from 2004-2012 treated with palliative RT. Various patient factors were reviewed and survival analyses were performed. Doses were converted to biological effective dose (BED) to compare the different fractionation schemas. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed with Kaplan Meier and Cox regression tests. Results: A total of 3,267 HCC patients were identified who were treated with palliative intent. Of these 877 (27%) received radiation therapy and only 138 (4% of total, 16% of RT...
Modeling charge collection efficiency degradation in partially depleted GaAs photodiodes using the 1- and 2-carrier Hecht equations

Abstract The Hecht equation can be used to model the nonlinear degradation of charge collection efficiency (CCE) in response to radiation-induced displacement damage in both fully and partially depleted GaAs photodiodes. CCE degradation is measured for laser-generated photocurrent as a function of fluence and bias in Al0.3Ga0.7As/GaAs/Al0.25Ga0.75As p-i-n photodiodes which have been irradiated with 12 MeV C and 7.5 MeV Si ions. CCE is observed to degrade more rapidly with fluence in partially depleted photodiodes than in fully depleted photodiodes. When the intrinsic GaAs layer is fully depleted, the 2-carrier Hecht equation describes CCE degradation as photogenerated electrons and holes recombine at defect sites created by radiation damage in the depletion region. If the GaAs layer is partially depleted, CCE degradation is more appropriately modeled as the sum of the 2-carrier Hecht equation applied to electrons and holes generated within the depletion region and the 1-carrier Hecht equation applied to minority carriers that diffuse from the field-free (non-depleted) region into the depletion region. Enhanced CCE degradation is attributed to holes that recombine within the field-free region of the partially depleted intrinsic GaAs layer before they can diffuse into the depletion region.
Role of wireless motility capsule in the assessment and management of gastrointestinal dysmotility in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Background Gastrointestinal (GI) dysmotility is common in diabetic patients. Wireless Motility Capsule (WMC) provides the transit profile of the entire GI tract in a single study. Factors affecting GI dysmotility and utility of WMC study are not clearly established in diabetic patients. Our aims were to study the pattern of GI dysmotility using WMC and evaluate the effect of glycemic control and presence of diabetic microvascular complications on motility impairment in diabetic patients. We also assessed the impact of WMC findings on clinical management. Methods Retrospective chart review of all diabetic patients who underwent WMC testing at our institution from 2010 to 2015 was performed. Demographics, hemoglobinA1c levels, microvascular complications, and WMC findings were obtained. Impact of WMC on clinical management was assessed. Key Results A total of 100 patients were included. Mean age was 45±19 years and 76% were female. Seventy-two percentage had abnormal WMC testing, of which 29 (40%) had multiregional dysmotility. There were no significant differences in demographics, diabetic microvascular complications or hemoglobinA1c levels among patients with normal and abnormal WMC testing or among patients with isolated vs multiregional dysmotility. Information about subsequent clinical management was available for 47 patients. WMC testing was abnormal in 33 (70%) patients and treatment changes based on WMC results were made in 24 patients (73%). Conclusions & Inferences There was no association between hemoglobinA1c levels, microvascular complications and pattern of GI dysmotility in diabetic patients undergoing WMC. WMC testing lead to management changes in approximately 75% of diabetic patients with GI dysmotility.
The Conjugacy Problem in Free Solvable Groups and Wreath Products of Abelian Groups is in \({{\mathsf {T}}}{{\mathsf {C}}}^0\)

We show that the conjugacy problem in a wreath product \(A \wr B\) is uniform-\({{\mathsf {T}}}{{\mathsf {C}}}^0\)-Turing-reducible to the conjugacy problem in the factors A and B and the power problem in B. Moreover, if B is torsion free, the power problem for B can be replaced by the slightly weaker cyclic submonoid membership problem for B, which itself turns out to be uniform-\({{\mathsf {T}}}{{\mathsf {C}}}^0\)-Turing-reducible to the conjugacy problem in \(A \wr B\) if A is non-abelian.
Turbulent Times in the Euro Zone

Newspaper headlines and editorials revealed the intense attention the euro zone had received in the last few months. The current crisis occurred shortly after Greece announced that its 2009 budget deficit was 13% of GDP—twice as high as previously predicted. For some, this was the beginning of the end for the euro zone. Could it lead to the demise of the euro altogether? Others insisted that expelling Greece might be necessary. In tune with headlines at the time, the exchange markets did not display much confidence in the euro. By summer 2010, the euro had lost at least 10% of its value against the dollar since the beginning of 2010. Financial markets were nervous. What should EU leaders do help stave off a major crisis? Excerpt UVA-GEM-0100 Apr. 6, 2011 Turbulent Times in the Euro zone Newspaper headlines and editorials revealed the intense attention the euro zone had received in the last few months. A wide range of opinions prevailed, and there was much advice circulating. The current crisis occurred shortly after Greece announced that its 2009 budget deficit was 13% of GDP—twice as high as previously predicted. For some, this was the beginning of the end for the euro zone. Time magazine in February 2010 openly wondered: “Will it lead to the demise of the euro?” Others, including some German officials, did not go quite that far, but they insisted that expelling Greece might be necessary. Some observers saw the Greek predicament as indicative of a larger issue. One Harvard professor called it a symptom of “a fiscal crisis of the Western world.” His assessment found many echoes. Some commentators saw the United States as the next Greece. In tune with these headlines, the exchange markets did not display much confidence in the euro. By summer 2010, the euro had lost at least 10% of its value against the dollar since the beginning of 2010 (Exhibit 1). Financial markets were nervous. Some observers wondered whether one could rationalize the sudden depreciation of the euro in terms of either the prevailing interest rate differentials between Europe and the United States or the current account deficits for both economic regions and trends in price levels in both countries. Exhibits 2 to 4 show these indicators, which are commonly used to assess the short-, medium-, and long-term movements of exchange rates. Finally, after much delay, the leaders of the European Union (EU) decided it was time for action. On May 9, they came out with a plan that would display European unity. In anticipation of the plan's release, the Daily Telegraph wrote “Europe Prepares Nuclear Response to Save Monetary Union.” French President Nicolas Sarkozy used very strong language: . . .
Post Harvest Processing of Eastern Redcedar and Hedge-Apple Substrates Affect Nursery Crop Growth

Eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana L.) could be a viable container substrate for nursery crop production. It is a local, sustainable resource in regions distant from timber production areas where pine bark (PB) is processed. However, eastern redcedar chips (ERC) as a substrate have been associated with decreased container capacity and increased air space. Manipulating particle size could result in a substrate comparable to the current PB industry standard. Additionally, hedge-apple [Maclura pomifera (Raf.) C. K. Schneid.], a common species found in the Great Plains region of the United States, could also be used as a resource for substrate construction. This study evaluated four particle sizes, 4.8, 9.5, 12.7, and 19.1 mm (3/16, ⅜, ½, and ¾ in) ERC and hedge-apple chips (HAC), and compared them to a PB control in the production of 5 plant species. Plants grown in both ERC and HAC showed few differences in growth based on substrate particle size; when growth was affected, plants grown in 4.8 mm (3/16 i...
Transport modeling and multivariate adaptive regression splines for evaluating performance of ASR systems in freshwater aquifers

Abstract The study presents a procedure using solute transport and statistical models to evaluate the performance of aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) systems designed to earn additional water rights in freshwater aquifers. The recovery effectiveness (REN) index quantifies the performance of these ASR systems. REN is the proportion of the injected water that the same ASR well can recapture during subsequent extraction periods. To estimate REN for individual ASR wells, the presented procedure uses finely discretized groundwater flow and contaminant transport modeling. Then, the procedure uses multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS) analysis to identify the significant variables affecting REN, and to identify the most recovery-effective wells. Achieving REN values close to 100% is the desire of the studied 14-well ASR system operator. This recovery is feasible for most of the ASR wells by extracting three times the injectate volume during the same year as injection. Most of the wells would achieve RENs below 75% if extracting merely the same volume as they injected. In other words, recovering almost all the same water molecules that are injected requires having a pre-existing water right to extract groundwater annually. MARS shows that REN most significantly correlates with groundwater flow velocity, or hydraulic conductivity and hydraulic gradient. MARS results also demonstrate that maximizing REN requires utilizing the wells located in areas with background Darcian groundwater velocities less than 0.03 m/d. The study also highlights the superiority of MARS over regular multiple linear regressions to identify the wells that can provide the maximum REN. This is the first reported application of MARS for evaluating performance of an ASR system in fresh water aquifers.
Revisiting a Christian View of the Common Good for Christian Higher Education.

ABSTRACTCharles Gutenson's convicting words motivated me to attempt this essay. He writes: “If we are to engage in serious dialogue about the relationship between Christian faith and our [public] c...
Engineering anti-HIV-1 antibodies to enhance activity and increase half-life (VAC11P.1104)

HIV/AIDS remains one of the most serious threats to global public health. Although anti-HIV drugs have been effective among the wealthiest populations, new methods to prevent infections are needed to control HIV-1 infections globally. Strategies to combat HIV-1 benefit from structural knowledge of how antibodies recognize HIV envelope proteins and how the immune system eliminates viruses. Until recently, only a small number of broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV-1 had been characterized, and the immunological basis for their breadth and potency remains poorly understood. However, it was recently demonstrated that antibodies could be engineered to greatly enhance their breadth and potency. Unfortunately, these and other engineering efforts can result in a decrease in antibody half-life in various animal models. This decrease in half-life correlates with polyreactivity, an increase in reactivity to a variety of antigens. In order to make better targets for passive delivery therapies, we are using a variety of computational and structure-based techniques. We have constructed several mutations in regions that have been predicted to have high aggregation propensities, and have shown that these novel reagents have reduced polyreactivity and longer in vivo half-lives, yet maintain potency in neutralization assays. Further characterization will help further our understanding of the relationship between antibody potency, polyreactivity, and half-life.
Digital Preservation Essentials, Erin O'Meara and Kate Stratton with an Introduction by Kyle R. Rimkus

The Digital Preservation Essentials bundle contains two modules of the Trends in Archives Practice series: module twelve, “Preserving Digital Objects,” and module thirteen, “Digital Preservation St...
The impact of race on adverse pathologic features at the time of radical prostatectomy in men with prostate cancer and implications for adjuvant radiotherapy.

75Background: Patients with adverse pathologic features (≥pT3 disease or positive margins) at the time of radical prostatectomy (RP) have higher biochemical recurrence (BR). Adjuvant radiotherapy (ART) reduces BR, but has potential toxicities. Also, studies suggest Black men are more likely to have aggressive prostate cancer. Our objective was to identify whether black men undergoing RP are more likely to have adverse pathologic features (APF) that lead to an indication for ART. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of men with cT1-4 Nx/0 Mx/0 prostate adenocarcinoma in the National Cancer Database who underwent RP. Race was divided into 3 groups (Caucasian, Black, Other). Chi-square tests and analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests were used to compare clinical and socioeconomic covariates between race groups. Univariate (UVA) and multivariable analysis (MVA) were performed using logistic regression (LR) to identify covariates predicting for APF. LR was performed to identify the impact of race on...
Robotic-assisted laparoscopic ureteral re-implant (RALUR): Can post-operative urinary retention be predicted?

Summary Objective Urinary retention following robotic-assisted laparoscopic extravesical ureteral reimplantation (RALUR) is proposed to be due to traction or injury of the pelvic parasympathetic nerve plexus during distal ureteral dissection. Nerve-sparing techniques have been employed to avoid injury to the pelvic plexus, either directly or indirectly. This single-center study assessed postoperative urinary retention rates after extravesical RALUR and investigated whether demographic or operative factors could predict this occurrence. Methods All RALUR cases entered into an Institutional Review Board-approved registry were retrospectively reviewed, and the rate of postoperative retention was determined. Postoperative urinary retention was defined as the need for catheterization at any time in the postoperative period during hospital admission or within 1 week after the operation. This included acute urinary retention episodes (AUR) as well as high post-void residuals (>50% of expected bladder capacity). Univariate analysis was performed to analyze for predictors of postoperative retention. Factors assessed included age, gender, clinical presentation, bowel bladder dysfunction (BBD), pre-operative urinary tract infection (UTI), procedure length, grade of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), and operative laterality. Results A total of 128 patients underwent extravesical RALUR in 179 ureters during the study period 2012–2016. Male:female ratio was 1:2.6. Median age at surgery was 4 years. Bilateral RALUR was performed in 52 cases (40.6%), and unilateral in 76 (59.4%). Urinary retention requiring catheterization occurred in 11 cases (8.59%). Of these, seven were post-bilateral RALUR, while the remaining four were unilateral. In seven cases, postoperative retention occurred within 24 h following RALUR. The remaining four instances occurred within 1 week, despite successful voiding in the immediate postoperative period. Univariate analysis revealed male gender (P = 0.009) and operating room time (P = 0.029) as predictors of retention. No association was found with age, weight, BBD, pre-operative UTI, grade of VUR, or laterality. Conclusion Urinary retention after RALUR was an infrequent complication. When it did occur, urinary retention appeared to be secondary to covariates such as male gender and length of surgical time – possibly an indication of technical difficulty – rather than laterality of repair.
Stress cardiac magnetic resonance imaging: it is time to trust the magnetic crystal ball.

There is increasing scrutiny regarding overutilization of diagnostic medical imaging tests due to both costs and potential morbidity [(1)][1]. Noninvasive cardiovascular imaging has received considerable attention because its growth rate exceeds other physician services without a similar increase in
Speech recognition and voice separation for the internet of things

Internet-connected home automation devices like Amazon Echo, Nest Thermostat and smart TVs are riding the wave of the Internet of Things (IoT). The most intuitive, natural and efficient way to communicate with these devices is through talking with them (via voice commands). Speech recognition provides the medium to process and convert spoken language to plain text for further use of the system. Current personal assistants like Amazon Echo and Google Home have been designed for home automation, impacting billions of people's lives; yet, they are not customizable. Another limitation of these devices is that they cannot recognize concurrent voice commands issued by two persons at the same time. We tackle this last challenge, given that often there is more than one person in each room. The contributions of this paper are twofold: (1) we build an inexpensive and customizable voice-enabled IoT prototype using Raspberry Pi motherboard and Google Cloud speech-to-text API and (2) we propose a method to solve the problem of voice separation in the context of IoT when two people are trying to send commands to a voice-enabled IoT device and both commands are required to be processed and executed simultaneously. Using our proposed voice separation approach, our results showed that we improved the accuracy of transcription process up to 3% compared to the baseline model which does not support for voice separation.