cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Probabilistic Model for Knowledge Component Naming.

Recent years have seen significant advances in automatic identification of the Q-matrix necessary for cognitive diagnostic assessment. As data-driven approaches are introduced to identify latent knowledge components (KC) based on observed student performance, it becomes crucial to describe and interpret these latent KCs. We address the problem of naming knowledge components using keyword automatically extracted from item text. Our approach identifies the most discriminative keywords based on a simple probabilistic model. We show this is effective on a dataset from the PSLC datashop, outperforming baselines and retrieving unknown skill labels in nearly 50% of cases. 1. OVERVIEW The Q-matrix, introduced by Tatsuoka [9], associates test items with attributes of students that the test intends to assess. A number of data-driven approaches were introduced to automatically identify the Q-matrix by mapping items to latent knowledge components (KCs), based on observed student performance [1, 6], using, e.g. matrix factorization [2, 8], clustering [5] or sparse factor analysis [4]. A crucial issue with automatic methods is that latent skills may be hard to describe and interpret. Manually-designed Q-matrices may also be insufficiently described. A data-generated description is useful in both cases. We propose to extract keywords relevant to each KC from the textual content corresponding to each item. We build a simple probabilistic model, with which we score keywords. This proves surprisingly effective on a small dataset obtained from the PSLC datashop. 2. MODEL We focus on extracting keywords from the textual content of each item (question, hints, feedback, Fig. 1). We denote by di the textual content (e.g. body text) of item i, and assume a Q-matrix mapping items to K skills ck, k = 1 . . .K. Figure 1: Example item body, feedback and hints. These may be latent skills obtained automatically or from a manually designed Q-matrix. For eack KC we build a unigram language model estimating the relative frequency of words in each KC [7]:
Assisting fuzzy offline handwriting recognition using recurrent belief propagation

Recognizing handwritten texts is a challenging task due to many different writing styles and lack of clear boundary between adjacent characters. This problem has been tackled by many previous researchers using techniques such as deep learning networks and hidden Markov Models (HMM), etc. In this work we aim at offline fuzzy recognition of handwritten texts. A probabilistic inference network that performs recurrent belief propagation is developed to post process the recognition results of deep convolutional neural network (CNN) (e.g. LeNet) and form individual characters to words. The post processing has the capability of correcting deletion, insertion and replacement errors in a noisy input. The output of the inference network is a set of words with their probability of being the correct one. To limit the size of candidate words, a series of improvements have been made to the probabilistic inference network, including using a post Gaussian Mixture Estimation model to prune insignificant words. The experiments show that this model gives a competitively average accuracy of 85.5%, and the improvements provides 46.57% reduction of invalid candidate words.
Freezing Hydrogen in Nanoconfinement

AbstractLiquid hydrogen confined in pores of nanofoams crystallizes at lower temperatures than in the unconfined, bulk state. Here, we summarize results of our recent systematic relaxation calorimetry studies of the liquid–solid phase transition of hydrogen and deuterium in various materials with open-cell pores. These include spinodal-decomposition-derived silica glasses and nanoporous gold, conventional silica aerogels, and carbon foams with ligaments made from nanotubes and graphene sheets, all of which were studied previously. We present new hydrogen thermoporometry data for polymeric norbornene-based aerogels. Results show that hydrogen freezing temperatures inside all the porous materials studied are depressed. The average depression of the freezing point scales linearly with the ratio of the internal surface area to the pore volume. The average freezing point depression is limited to ≲1.6 K for foams with monolith densities ≲50 mg·cm. Details of the freezing behavior, however, depend nontrivially o...
The Use of Google Scholar for Research and Research Dissemination.

The abundance of technological and Internet resources can both simplify and complicate a researcher's world. Such innovations place a burden on researchers to stay current with advances in technology and then discern the best technology tools to utilize. We first discuss benefits that Google Scholar can provide in the preparation of the literature review, which is vital to developing rigorous studies. We also discuss ways to use Google Scholar for the dissemination of one's research. This article follows the Writer's Forum article by Campuzano, Storberg-Walker, and Werner (2017) concerning methods to promote one's research using social media.
Loss of Zbtb32 in NOD mice does not significantly alter T cell responses.

Background : We previously identified the transcriptional regulator Zbtb32 as a factor that can promote T cell tolerance in the Non-Obese Diabetic (NOD) mouse, a model of Type 1 diabetes. Antigen targeted to DCIR2 + dendritic cells (DCs) in vivo inhibited both diabetes and effector T cell expansion in NOD mice. Furthermore, Zbtb32 was preferentially induced in autoreactive CD4 T cells stimulated by these tolerogenic DCIR2 + DCs, and overexpression of Zbtb32 in islet-specific T cells inhibited the diabetes development by limiting T cell proliferation and cytokine production. Methods : To further understand the role of Zbtb32 in T cell tolerance induction, we have now used CRISPR to target the Zbtb32 gene for deletion directly in NOD mice and characterized the mutant mice. We hypothesized that the systemic loss of Zbtb32 in NOD mice would lead to increased T cell activation and increased diabetes pathogenesis. Results : Although NOD.Zbtb32 -/- male NOD mice showed a trend towards increased diabetes incidence compared to littermate controls, the difference was not significant. Furthermore, no significant alteration in lymphocyte number or function was observed. Importantly, in vitro stimulation of lymphocytes from NOD.Zbtb32 -/- mice did not produce the expected hypersensitive phenotype observed in other genetic strains, potentially due to compensation by homologous genes. Conclusions : The loss of Zbtb32 in the NOD background does not result in the expected T cell activation phenotype.
From Dengue to Zika: Environmental and Structural Risk Factors for Child and Maternal Health in Costa Rica Among Indigenous and Nonindigenous Peoples

In 2016, the Zika virus took the world by storm, as after much debate and controversy, it was recognized that the virus could cause microcephaly and other developmental problems in fetuses. While the center of this storm was Brazil, other countries in Latin America were also getting ready for the epidemic due to the widespread presence of the vector, the Aedes mosquito, on the continent. For the last two decades, Costa Rica has struggled with high rates of dengue, another virus from the same family as Zika and which also shares the same vector. For this reason, a Zika epidemic was considered imminent. Yet, even though there were cases of Zika in the Central American nation, an epidemic of the proportions seen in Brazil never happened. This chapter examines the elements that made possible for Costa Rica to have lower-than-expected rates of Zika infection. It also looks at the conditions in the Costa Rican health care system that would potentially minimize the long-term effects on maternal and child health of such an outbreak, especially within indigenous communities who are among the most vulnerable populations.
Osteoporosis in diabetes

The diabetes is at great risk of the osteoporosis, and the bone fragility unrelated to bone density forms the pathological conditions peculiar to diabetes. The factor participating in diabetic osteoporosis has a state of insulin action deficiency, a hyperglycemic state, diabetic complications, and so on. An osteoblastic cell function is deteriorated and the number of that is decreased by the absolute and relative insulin deficiency, and sustained hyperglycemia also decreases an osteoblastic cell function still more. Furthermore, the osteoclast-related bone resorption is also promoted through sorbitol accumulation in the cell by the hyperglycemia state. The expression of transcription factors regulating osteoblastic cell differentiation is restrained, and the apoptosis of those cells is promoted. As a result, osteoplasty is obstructed. In the bone, AGEs (advanced glycation endproducts) is produced in excess, and bone fragility is promoted by the ratio of the AGEs bridging with the collagen rising. The complications of diabetes, such as visual disorder and the neuropathy, raise the risk of the fall in the diabetic osteoporosis patient, therefore, they will have more chance of fractures.
Simultaneous Estimation of the Implied Values of Franked (Tax-Free) Dividends, Required Rates of Return and Growth Rates Using a Modified Residual Income Valuation Model

Do investors price tax rebates on dividends? Since President George W. Bush's proposal to eliminate taxation of dividends at both the corporate and personal tax levels, there is a revival of interest on how dividend, corporate and personal taxes affect the pricing of equities. This study explores a setting, Australia, where corporate and personal tax systems are fully integrated in the form of an imputation tax system to examine the pricing of franked (tax-free) dividends using a valuation approach. A procedure is developed to simultaneously estimate the value of franked dividends, the cost of equity, and growth rates implied by share prices, book values, and analysts' earnings forecasts. The analysis is done on an after corporate tax but before personal tax basis by incorporating tax credits as part of payoffs. The estimation procedure employs a system of two equations that are equivalent price expressions based on different periods of earnings forecasts. Via simple manipulation and rearrangement, the system of equations leads to two (regression) relations with four estimates (two constant terms and two slope coefficients). The four estimates are functions of the implied value of franked dividends, the implied value of required rate of return, and the two implied growth rates based on different periods of earnings forecasts for a portfolio of firms. The estimation procedure is performed on a portfolio of firms followed by I/B/E/S from January 1st 1993 to December 31st 1999. The results show that investors do price the tax rebates with the estimates of a dollar of franked dividends being statistically greater than $1. In the estimation procedure, optimistic bias inherent in earnings forecasts would drive the estimate of market value of franked dividends upwards. Another estimation procedure is performed in a setting without imputation tax credits (i.e., the US) to examine the extent to which investors adjust one-year-ahead earnings downwards, knowing that these forecasts are, on average, optimistically biased. To the degree that forecast biases are comparable across the two countries (i.e., Australia and the US), the optimistic bias in earnings forecasts alone cannot fully explain the estimate of the value of franked dividends being greater than $1.
Fuzzy Systems and Neural Networks

Research and development in the use of fuzzy systems with neural networks has been proceeding at a rapid pace during the last few years and applications are starting to be developed. A natural integration follows the same successful path of hybrid neural network and expert systems by using fuzzy rule based systems instead of traditional expert systems. Thus all the various ways of integration are available for fuzzy connectionist systems. Additionally, neural networks can be used as tools for designing and tuning fuzzy systems. And, fuzzy principles can be used in the design of neural networks, embedding fuzziness in the internal workings of the basically neural system.
OTHER INFECTIONS OF THE CHOROID AND RETINA: Toxoplasmosis, Histoplasmosis, Lyme Disease, Syphilis, Tuberculosis, and Ocular Toxocariasis

The major clinical infectious syndromes involving the retina and choroid are discussed. Means for successful diagnosis and treatment are presented, as well as the major complications. This work emphasizes the need to identify the infectious nature of these syndromes in order to avoid the all-too-common pitfall of just treating all cases of uveitis with steroids alone.
Mobile device application for monitoring cyanobacteria harmful algal blooms using Sentinel-3 satellite Ocean and Land Colour Instruments.

Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cyanoHAB) cause human and ecological health problems in lakes worldwide. The timely distribution of satellite-derived cyanoHAB data is necessary for adaptive water quality management and for targeted deployment of water quality monitoring resources. Software platforms that permit timely, useful, and cost-effective delivery of information from satellites are required to help managers respond to cyanoHABs. The Cyanobacteria Assessment Network (CyAN) mobile device application (app) uses data from the European Space Agency Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellite Ocean and Land Colour Instrument (OLCI) in near real-time to make initial water quality assessments and quickly alert managers to potential problems and emerging threats related to cyanobacteria. App functionality and satellite data were validated with 25 state health advisories issued in 2017. The CyAN app provides water quality managers with a user-friendly platform that reduces the complexities associated with accessing satellite data to allow fast, efficient, initial assessments across lakes.
Weak localization and small anomalous Hall conductivity in ferromagnetic Weyl semimetal Co 2 TiGe

Several cobalt-based Heusler alloys have been predicted to exhibit Weyl Semimetal behavior due to time reversal symmetry breaking. Co2TiGe is one of the predicted ferromagnetic Weyl semimetals. In this work, we report weak localization and small anomalous Hall conductivity in half-metallic Co2TiGe thin films grown by molecular beam epitaxy. The longitudinal resistivity shows semimetallic behavior. Elaborate analysis of longitudinal magnetoconductance shows the presence of a weak localization quantum correction present even up to room temperature and reduction in dephasing length at lower temperature. Negative longitudinal magnetoresistance is observed from 5 to 300 K, but at 300 K magnetoresistance becomes positive above 0.5 T magnetic field. The anomalous Hall effect has been investigated in these thin films. The measured anomalous Hall conductivity decreases with increasing temperature, and a small anomalous Hall conductivity has been measured at various temperatures which may be arising due to both intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms.
The Role of Religiosity in Families at High Risk for Depression.

Summary Background About 40 years ago we began a study of the offspring of depressed (high-risk) and not depressed (low-risk) parents, matched for age and gender, from the same community. We interviewed all of their biological children, blind to the clinical status of the parents. Over the years, we returned to re-interview the families at baseline, 2, 10, 20, 25, 30, and 35 years. As the years went by and the sample grew up, we also interviewed the third generation, the grandchildren. As technology became available, we included measures of electrophysiology and magnetic resonance imaging in order to better understand the mechanisms of risk. At the 10-year follow up, we included measures of religion and spirituality – namely, personal religious/spiritual importance and frequency of religious service attendance. We included these measures in all subsequent waves including a more extensive follow up of religious beliefs at the 35-year follow up. Issues of focus This paper describes the study design and highlights the key findings of the role of religious/spiritual belief in the transmission and endurance of depression using clinical and biological approaches. Methods We describe study findings based on clinical measures, as well as physiological measures that employed electrophysiology and magnetic resonance imaging. Results Taken together, the findings suggest that religiosity/spirituality is protective against depression in high-risk individuals at both clinical and physiological levels. Implications The findings suggest religiosity interacts with both culture and biology in its impact on depression.
Controlling in the logistics.

The paper shows results of the first phase of research for the thesis on the logistics controlling. One of aims in this phase was to obtain information about a group of companies and how the size of company and its turnover can influence on effect of its organisation structure. The second one was to know about interest of management to use information from the accounting – screening some accounting categories as costs and some categories of the business relations. It is clear from these results that bigger companies have more often specialised departments including logistics departments as well. On the other hand, the smaller companies transfer some of logistics function such as logistics controlling to some other departments, usually to the department of transport or business department. There are no specialised departments in the smallest companies, sometimes, the owner of the company deals with this problem.
Neurotic Excoriations Secondary to Underlying Major Depression

Mr. Adams is 27 year-old Caucasian new patient, who presented to the dermatology clinic with several excoriations on the face, arms, and legs. The lesions were all located on easily reachable areas of his anatomy such as the extensor arms but not the medial arms, the anterior legs but not the posterior legs, etc. No primary skin lesions were seen. The patient was visibly depressed. However, when asked what was causing him to be distressed, he answered: “nothing other than having these spots on my [his] skin.” The practitioner, sensing that forward questions might not be useful, decided to change the questioning approach and asked about his general wellbeing. The patient then reported severe early insomnia (i.e., he cannot fall asleep), middle insomnia (i.e., he wakes up frequently in the middle of the night), and terminal insomnia (i.e., he wakes up early in the morning and cannot go back to sleep even despite being extremely tired).
Tumoral MET/HGF expression and MET gene amplification in patients with ALK 2p23 fusion driven lung cancer.

11091 Background: MET receptor and its ligand HGF are both promising targets in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) therapy. Crizotinib, a recently approved ALK inhibitor for NSCLC harboring oncogen...
Can autonomy play a role in causal reasoning

Abstract Autonomy is associated with a variety of cognitive, educational, and motivational benefits, but relations between autonomy and reasoning skills are less well understood. We posit individuals afforded greater autonomy are more often put into situations of having to consider multiple options, or causes, and hence will likely reason about cause and effect differently. In a multi-level study, (n = 696) we examine associations between younger (11–13 years) and older (14–19 years) adolescents’ autonomy and their performance on a multivariable causal reasoning and prediction task. Across the sample, greater autonomy was associated with more effective reasoning, with some differences between young and older adolescents. Autonomy given predicted reasoning skills in younger adolescents, whereas more autonomy desired predicted reasoning skills in older adolescents. We highlight sociocultural, individual, and developmental factors in their differing relations to autonomy and its effects on causal reasoning.
An advanced order acceptance model for hybrid production strategy

Abstract Competitors stand out through commitment to providing excellent customer service. Many organizations strive to promote their order promising system to generate more reliable quotes with quantity and due date constraints. This paper develops a Capable-to-Promise (CTP) based Order Acceptance Model (OAM) for a Hybrid Production Strategy (HPS) based on the positioning of the Customer Order Decoupling Points. The proposed model allocates the uncommitted availability and planned production receipts to current and anticipation of future needs. A Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) is developed to determine the optimal order quantities based on the resource availability. The proposed model efficiently mitigates the risk of not being reliable in the commitments due to discrepancies between the real and unused quantities. The CTP based OAM is compatible with a HPS with both make-to-order (MTO) and make-to-stock (MTS). The presented model encompasses four steps. First, demands for MTO products are collected in batches on daily basis and a forecasting model is applied to predict orders for MTS products. Secondly, the quantity-based Revenue Management approach is used to prioritize orders. Afterwards, the optimization model assesses the availability of resources in order to produce collected orders. The final step is to accept valuable orders based on the resource availability. In order to illustrate the applications of the modeling approach, two case studies are provided.
123 – Baculovirus enhancin

Publisher Summary This chapter examines the activity, specificity and structural chemistry of Baculovirus enhancing. The biochemical nature of Trichoplusia ni granulosis virus (TnGV) enhancin is that of a metalloprotease which degrades the insect midgut proteins. The insect intestinal mucin is the only identified substrate for the enhancin and digestion of the intestinal mucin from T. ni larvae with TnGV enhancin results in a number of degraded fragments. The metalloprotease activity of TnGV enhancin requires a divalent metal ion, which can be Ca2+, Zn2+ or Co2+. Therefore, the proteolytic activity can be inhibited by divalent metal ion chelators such as phenanthroline, but neither by serine protease inhibitors like leupeptin, nor by cysteine protease inhibitors cystatin and E-64. The enhancin plays a function in viral pathogenesis within the alkaline insect midgut lumen and is active in a pH from 8.5 to 10.5, which is the range that has been tested. In addition, the enhancin is highly resistant to the alkaline protease associated with baculovirus occlusion bodies TnGV enhancin is a protein of 901 amino acid residues with a molecular weight of 104 kDa and a predicted pi of pH 5.9.
The Battle of Big Hole (Montana, USA, 1877): History, Archaeology, GIS, and Military Terrain Analysis

The Battle of Big Hole took place in western Montana on August 9–10, 1877, between the US 7th Infantry and the Nez Perce Indians. Big Hole was a short but very deadly battle (28 dead from an Army force of less than 200 and 60–90 Nez Perce killed) but provides an outstanding historical record. Eyewitness accounts from both sides, as well as oral traditions passed down to descendants, provide a detailed description of the battle. Archaeology surveys in the early 1990s recovered artifacts (primarily bullets and shell casings) and allow identification of individual weapons used by both sides. The original archaeological work used a computer-aided design (CAD) program. Reanalysis of the archaeological survey provides several new perspectives on the battle. The archaeological record shows a series of Army bullets moving up the slope to the location in historical records of a Nez Perce sniper firing on the Army troops. A weapons fan drawn from the sniper location shows where the Army anti-sniper fire could have originated and suggests where those soldiers fired from and which weapons they likely used. A weapons fan from the location of an ineffective Army mountain howitzer shows that it was poorly positioned to hit the Nez Perce village and that it also had extremely limited visibility to its flanks and rear, helping explain why it was captured so easily. The GIS can animate the locations of the individual weapons identified by shell casings, helping to trace the movement of troops during the initial attack on the Indian village and then the retreat to a fortified area. This study verifies a strong link among historical records, battlefield archaeology, GIS, and military terrain analysis.
Patients with unexplained mismatch repair deficiency are interested in updated genetic testing.

Individuals who have colorectal or endometrial cancers displaying loss of immunohistochemical staining of one or more mismatch repair proteins without an identifiable causative germline pathogenic variant have unexplained mismatch repair deficiency (UMMRD). Comprehensive germline genetic testing for Lynch syndrome (LS) includes sequencing and deletion/duplication analysis of MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, and PMS2, deletion analysis of EPCAM, and MSH2 inversion analysis. Updated genetic testing to include elements of comprehensive LS testing not previously completed could further clarify LS status in individuals with UMMRD, allowing for tailored screening guidelines for affected individuals and their family members. However, patient understanding of the potential impact of updated genetic testing for LS is unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the interest in and perceived impact of updated genetic testing among individuals with UMMRD at a tertiary academic center. A survey evaluating interest in and perceived impact of updated genetic testing was mailed to 98 potential participants. Electronic health record review was completed for all individuals meeting eligibility criteria. Thirty-one individuals responded to the survey. Results indicate this population is highly interested in updated genetic testing with the perceived impact being primarily for family members to have appropriate genetic testing and screening. Electronic health record review indicates that clinicians have an evolving understanding of causes of UMMRD, representing a potential change in assessment of cancer risk. Updated risk assessment and genetic counseling with a discussion of the benefits and limitations of germline and somatic genetic testing, is essential as the understanding of UMMRD and genetic testing recommendations for this population evolve.
“The Steep Edge of a Dark Abyss”1: Mohonk, White Social Engineers, and Black Education:

June 2020 marks the 130th anniversary of the First Mohonk Conference on “The Negro Question.” For 3 days, elite, ruling-class Whites met to discuss efforts to train and assimilate Black Americans i...
Deep RNA Sequencing of Intensive Care Unit Patients with COVID-19

Purpose COVID-19 has impacted millions of patients across the world. Molecular testing occurring now identifies the presence of the virus at the sampling site: nasopharynx, nares, or oral cavity. RNA sequencing has the potential to establish both the presence of the virus and define the host response in COVID-19. Methods Single center, prospective study of patients with COVID-19 admitted to the intensive care unit where deep RNA sequencing (>100 million reads) of peripheral blood with computational biology analysis was done. All patients had positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR. Clinical data was prospectively collected. Results We enrolled fifteen patients at a single hospital. Patients were critically ill with a mortality of 47% and 67% were on a ventilator. All the patients had the SARS-CoV-2 RNA identified in the blood in addition to RNA from other viruses, bacteria, and archaea. The expression of many immune modulating genes, including PD-L1 and PD-L2, were significantly different in patients who died from COVID-19. Some proteins were influenced by alternative transcription and splicing events, as seen in HLA-C, HLA-E, NRP1 and NRP2. Entropy calculated from alternative RNA splicing and transcription start/end predicted mortality in these patients. Conclusions Current upper respiratory tract testing for COVID-19 only determines if the virus is present. Deep RNA sequencing with appropriate computational biology may provide important prognostic information and point to therapeutic foci to be precisely targeted in future studies.
Gross Motor Function Classification System Specific Growth Charts - Utility as a Risk Stratification Tool for Surgical Site Infection Following Spine Surgery in Children with Cerebral Palsy

Background: The relationship between nutritional status and SSI in patients with cerebral palsy (CP) is poorly understood. Body Mass Index (BMI), a common surrogate measure of nutritional status, is difficult to interpret in children with CP given disease specific anthropomorphic variations in this population. To account for this, growth charts stratified by Gross Motor Classification System (GMFCS) level were developed specifically for patients with CP. We hypothesize that BMI-for-age below the 10th percentile on GMFCS stratified growth chart is associated with an increased SSI rate following spinal deformity surgery in …
Distributional Weights in Benefit-Cost Analysis: Examples from Rwanda and Uganda

The question of how to allocate scarce agricultural research and development dollars is significant for developing countries. Historically, benefit/cost analysis has been the standard for comparing the relative benefits of alternative investments. We examine the potential of shifting the implicit equal weights approach to benefit/cost analysis, as well as how a systematic variation in welfare weights may affect different groups important to policy makers. For example, in the case of Rwandan coffee, a shift in the welfare weights that would favor small coffee producers in Rwanda over foreign consumers of Rwandan coffee would increase the support for investments in small producer coffee projects. Generally, changes in welfare weights alter the ordering for selecting investments across alternative projects.
The Effects of Telepractice to Support Family Members in Modeling a Speech-Generating Device in the Home

Purpose Family members are an integral support for children with complex communication needs (CCN). However, there is limited research exploring “whole family” intervention to support children with...
Copyright, Obscenity, and Unclean Hands

A mouse click away, virtual pornography promises immediate satisfaction of the prurient interest. Yet the allurement of ephemeral pleasure often presents a trap for the unwary. Some copyright owners use their pornographic works solely to extract tidy sums from the ignorant and base of society. Known as “copyright trolls,” these copyright owners have made a business out of litigating infringement claims, and virtual pornography yields fertile ground for their money-making scheme. It starts with sex on the screen, is followed by a lawyer’s letter, and ends with money paid. Tempting, efficient, and lucrative, copyright trolling has become a booming business. Judges detest this practice. They are offended that the judicial system is being used as a cog in the troll’s machine of litigation. What can be done? The answer lies in the equitable doctrine of unclean hands. Centuries old, the doctrine of unclean hands allows courts to bar claimants from enforcing their rights if the claimants have engaged in wrongful conduct that is relevant to the subject matter of a lawsuit. This scenario frequently arises when copyright trolls pursue infringement claims for unauthorized downloading of their pornographic works: the trolls have often employed those works to violate state and federal obscenity laws. The works over which they seek copyright protection are the instrumentalities for their unlawful conduct, so unclean hands would seem to apply. Courts should not enforce their copyrights. This simple solution to the problem of copyright trolls turns out not to be so simple. In Mitchell Bros. Film Group v. Cinema Adult Theater, the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit held that unclean hands does not apply where a litigant is seeking to enforce a copyright to an obscene work. Although the case is more than four decades old, it has proven highly influential among jurists. The Ninth and Seventh Circuits have followed Mitchell, along with several district courts. Other courts, however, have questioned its holding, suggesting that the law on this issue is unsettled. Surprisingly, though, no one has critically analyzed the Mitchell decision; courts and commentators have only noted its holding or cursorily described its reasoning. Mitchell is overdue for an examination. This Article is the first critical analysis of Mitchell. The Article concludes that Mitchell was wrongly decided because of serious flaws in the court’s reasoning. The Article then argues that, pursuant to the unclean hands doctrine, the public interest warrants against enforcing a copyright when a copyright owner has committed an unlawful act either in the process of creating her work or in the process of exercising her rights. As a practical matter, this would mean that copyright would be unenforceable for much of pornography. Copyright trolling would cease.
VORRT-COLREGs: A Hybrid Velocity Obstacles and RRT Based COLREGs-Compliant Path Planner for Autonomous Surface Vessels.

This paper presents VORRT-COLREGs, a hybrid technique that combines velocity obstacles (VO) and rapidly-exploring random trees (RRT) to generate safe trajectories for autonomous surface vessels (ASVs) while following nautical rules of the road. RRT generates a set of way points and the velocity obstacles method ensures safe travel between way points. We also ensure that the actions of ASVs do not violate maritime collision guidelines. Earlier work has used RRT and VO separately to generate paths for ASVs. However, RRT does not handle highly dynamic situations well and and VO seems most suitable as a local path planner. Combining both approaches, VORRT-COLREGs is a global path planner that uses a joint forward simulation to ensure that generated paths remain valid and collision free as the situation changes. Experiments were conducted in different types of collision scenarios and with different numbers of ASVs. Results show that VORRT-COLREGS generated collision regulations (COLREGs) complaint paths in open ocean scenarios. Furthermore, VORRT-COLREGS successfully generated compliant paths within traffic separation schemes. These results show the applicability of our technique for generating paths for ASVs in different collision scenarios. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work that combines velocity obstacles and RRT to produce safe and COLREGs complaint path for ASVs.
Robert F. Kennedy and the Attorney General's Referral Authority: A Blueprint for the Biden Administration

For nearly four years, the Trump Administration’s use of the Attorney General’s referral authority has been criticized by the legal left on both substantive and procedural grounds. With the advent of the Biden Administration, however, use of the authority for liberal ends deserves serious consideration. To conclude otherwise would be throwing the baby out with the bath water. This article argues that the referral authority can be used for liberal constructions of the immigration laws, and that the perfect model for the incoming administration is former Attorney General Robert Kennedy and his use of the authority for just such ends. Rather than continue recent Democrat Administrations’ failure to utilize the authority to its full potential, the Biden Administration should look to Kennedy for inspiration, and implement an aggressive use of the referral authority as part of its immigration agenda.
Masking Effects in Combined Hardness and Stiffness Rendering Using an Encountered-Type Haptic Display.

Rendering stable hard surfaces is an important problem in haptics for many tasks, including training simulators for orthopedic surgery or dentistry. Current impedance devices cannot provide enough force and stiffness to render a wall, and the high friction and inertia of admittance devices make it difficult to render free space. We propose to address these limitations by combining haptic augmented reality, untethered haptic interaction, and an encountered-type haptic display. We attach a plate with the desired hardness on the kinesthetic device's end-effector, which the user interacts with using an untethered stylus. This method allows us to directly change the hardness of the end-effector based on the rendered object. In this paper, we evaluate how changing the hardness of the end-effector can mask the device's stiffness and affect the user's perception. The results of our human subject experiment indicate that when the end-effector is made of a hard material, it is difficult for users to perceive when the underlying stiffness being rendered by the device is changed, but this stiffness change is easy to distinguish while the end-effector is made of a soft material. These results show promise for our approach in avoiding the limitations of haptic devices when rendering hard surfaces.
Willing but Unable: Physicians' Referral Knowledge as Barriers to Abortion Care

Abortion care is a crucial part of reproductive healthcare. Nevertheless, its availability is constrained by numerous forces, including care referrals within the larger healthcare system. Using a unique study of physician faculty across multiple specialties, we examine the factors associated with doctors9 ability to refer patients for abortion care among those who were willing to consult in the care of a patient seeking an abortion (N=674). Even though they were willing to refer a patient for an abortion, half (53%) of the physicians did not know how and whom to make those referrals, though they care for patients who may need them. Those with the least referral knowledge had not been taught abortion care during their medical training and were in earlier stages of their career than those who had more knowledge. This research exposes another obstacle for those seeking an abortion, a barrier that would be overcome with a clear and robust referral system within and across medical specialties.
Comparison of three rotational shear cell testers: Powder flowability and bulk density

Developed to aid in the design of hoppers and silos, the shear cell is now frequently used to rank the flowability of powders relative to one another. While standards, such as ASTM D6773 and D6128, exist for shear cell tests, there are still differences between commercially available shear cell testers, such as cell geometry and size. In this work, we used two materials, a free-flowing alumina and a cohesive alumina, to compare measurements from three commercially available rotational shear cells. Results were collected and compared for cohesion, unconfined yield stress, major principal stress, pre-shear stress, flow function coefficient, bulk density, effective angle of internal friction, and the angle of internal friction. ANOVA methods were used to determine the statistical significance and relative size of each of these effects. This work has found that while, as expected, the material type has the largest effect on the shear cell results, the consolidation at which the material was tested and the tester type are also statistically significant effects. These results indicate that care should be taken when comparing the results between different shear cells.
Beyond concise and colorful: learning intelligible rules

A variety of techniques from statistics, signal processing, pattern recognition, machine learning, and neural networks have been proposed to understand data by discovering useful categories. However, research in data mining has not paid attention to the cognitive factors that make learned categories intelligible to human users. We show that one factor that influences the intelligibility of learned models is consistency with existing knowledge and describe a learning algorithm that creates concepts with this goal in mind.
Viking orbiter attitude control analysis

Two Viking orbiters are currently in Mars orbit. In the nearly two years since they were launched, the orbiters have successfully performed many functions including transportation of the Viking landers to Mars. The orbiters have for the last year provided relay links for lander-earth communications, and they have carried out from orbit their own scientific exploration of the planet. Crucial to the success of the orbiters has been the performance of the on-board attitude control system, which has provided the required orbiter stabilization and orientation throughout the missions. A comprehensive spacecraft and attitude control system dynamic analysis was necessary to certify the control system before launch and to evaluate its flight performance. This paper contains an outline of the analysis and of some of its results.
Laparoscopic retroperitoneal renal and adrenal surgery in children.

Objective To retrospectively assess the use of a retroperitoneal laparoscopic approach for simple nephrectomy and adrenalectomy in children. Patients and methods All retroperitoneal laparoscopic renal and adrenal procedures carried out in children and completed between 1993 and March 2000 were reviewed retrospectively. Analgesic requirements, hospital stay, complications and blood loss were reviewed. The technique is described in detail. Results Forty-eight retroperitoneal laparoscopic procedures were completed in 48 patients (mean age 5.5 years, range 0.5–16). The procedures included nephrectomy (22), nephroureterectomy (15), renal biopsy (six), cyst ablation (two) and simple adrenalectomy (three). In all, 11 procedures were undertaken in children aged < 2 years. Forty-one (91%) of the children undergoing renal procedures were discharged in < 24 h. Two patients underwent three adrenalectomies. Two children required conversion to open surgery, one undergoing a right-sided adrenalectomy and one a nephrectomy. The mean operative duration for nephrectomy and nephroureterectomy was 75 min, and for adrenalectomy was 115 min. Conclusion Renal and adrenal surgery in children is a safe and rapid procedure with retroperitoneal laparoscopy. The operative duration for nephrectomy and nephroureterectomy are frequently < 1 h. In addition, laparoscopic surgery offers significant advantages in terms of cosmesis and a quicker recovery.
An Asperity Model of Large Earthquake Sequences

The variation in maximum rupture extent of large shallow earthquakes in circum-Pacific subduction zones is interpreted in the context of the asperity model of stress distribution on the fault plane. Comparison of the historic record of large earthquakes in different zones indicates that four fundamental categories of behavior are observed. These are: (1) the Chile-type regular occurrence of great ruptures spanning more than 500 km; (2) the Aleutians-type variation in rupture extent with occasional ruptures up to 500 km long, and temporal clustering of large events; (3) the Kurile-type repeated failure over a limited zone of 100–300 km length in isolated events; and (4) the Marianas-type absence of large earthquakes. Southern Chile, Alaska, Southern Kamchatka, and possibly the Central Aleutians are grouped in the first category. The Rat Island portion of the Aleutians, Colombia, Southwest Japan, and the Solomon Islands zones demonstrate the temporal variation of rupture length and multiple earthquake sequences that characterize category 2. The New Hebrides and Middle America have earthquake clustering on a more moderate scale, and are intermediate between categories 2 and 3. Category 3 includes the Kurile Islands, Northeast Japan, Peru and Central Chile. Zones lacking large earthquakes (category 4) include the Marianas, Izu-Bonin, and large portions of Tonga-Kermadec. By loosely grouping each subduction zone into these categories and comparing the general range in behavior with a simple fault model, which is used in a numerical simulation, the parameters governing large earthquake development are clarified. Interpretation of the four categories in terms of asperity distribution and interaction permits some inferences of the nature of stress distribution in particular zones. Two factors appear to dominate in the development of large earthquake failure zones; the nature and degree of coupling on the fault contact, and the extent of lateral segmentation of the subduction zone by transverse stress barriers. Strong coupling and uniform stress distribution on the fault plane produces larger events, whereas more heterogeneous stress distributions produce smaller ruptures and temporal variation in rupture length. Segmentation of the subduction zone that may result in stress barriers affecting rupture length is produced by subduction of transverse structures such as aseismic ridges, and is reflected by submarine canyons and geometric variations in trench configuration.
The efficacy and acceptability of intravenously administered prostaglandin F2α as an abortifacient

Abstract The efficacy and acceptability of prostaglandin F 2α (PGF 2α ) as an abortifacient has been examined during intravenous infusions in 10 obstetrically normal mid-trimester patients. Infusions of up to 200 μg per minute of PGF 2α induced complete abortions in 3 and incomplete abortions in an additional 3 patients. Four patients failed to abort. All patients experienced undesirable side effects, i.e., nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, of various degrees. This form of therapy cannot be recommended for routine therapeutic use; however, current clinical studies complemented by model experiments in animals suggest that the efficacy and acceptability of PGF 2α can be increased by topical, intrauterine administration. Preliminary deductions pertinent to the mechanism of the abortifacient effect of PGF 2α have been made, based on measurements of intra-amniotic pressure, circulating estradiol-17β, and progesterone levels.
7 Lyme disease

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the different aspects of Lyme disease. Lyme disease or Lyme borreliosis, which is caused by the tick-borne spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, occurs in temperate regions of North America, Europe, and Asia. It is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. Since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began surveillance for this infection in 1982, the number of cases has increased dramatically and more than 10,000 new cases have been reported each summer during the 1990s. Borrelia species, along with the Leptospira and Treponema, belong to the eubacterial phylum of spirochetes. Like all spirochetes, the Borrelia spp. have a protoplasmic cylinder that is surrounded first by a cell membrane, next by flagella, and finally by another, outer membrane, but the borrelia are longer and more loosely coiled than the other spirochetes. The specific immune response in Lyme disease develops gradually. Within several weeks, the patient's peripheral blood mononuclear cells begin to have heightened responsiveness to B. burgdorferi antigens or mitogens. The specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) response peaks between the third and sixth week of infection and often is associated with polyclonal activation of B cells, including elevated total serum IgM levels, circulating immune complexes, and cryoglobulins.