cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A general method to analyze the thermal performance of multi-cavity concentrating solar power receivers

Abstract Concentrating solar power (CSP) with thermal energy storage has potential to provide grid-scale, on-demand, dispatchable renewable energy. As higher solar receiver output temperatures are necessary for higher thermal cycle efficiency, current CSP research is focused on high outlet temperature and high efficiency receivers. The objective of this study is to provide a simplified model to analyze the thermal efficiency of multi-cavity concentrating solar power receivers. The model calculates an optimal aperture flux that maximizes the local efficiency, constrained by a maximum receiver working temperature. Using this flux, the thermal efficiency, receiver temperature, and heat transfer fluid (HTF) temperature are calculated based upon an optimized flux distribution. The model also provides receiver design and HTF heat transfer requirements to achieve the necessary overall thermal efficiency. From the results, possible HTFs can be investigated to determine which ones are feasible. A case study was performed on a multi-cavity tube receiver design to demonstrate the use of the model. The case study receiver design had an effective absorptivity of 99.8%, and was modeled with conservative values for thermal constraints. It was found that a HTF with a minimum convection coefficient between 250 and 500 W m −2 K −1 , depending on the convective heat transfer to the environment, is necessary to achieve a thermal efficiency greater than 90% for the receiver. The general model can provide a design guideline for attainable thermal efficiencies of multi-cavity concentrating solar power receivers given thermal constraints and heat transfer conditions.
Framing Remix Rhetorically: Toward A Typology of Transformative Work

Abstract Since it entered the critical lexicon in composition and rhetoric, remix has become an increasingly popular topic for scholarly work and pedagogical focus. Despite its pervasiveness, remix remains a cumbersome and overwhelming conceptual category. As such, this article has two interconnected purposes: To develop a pliable and useable framework for understanding the rhetorical significance of remix, and to begin to chart some of the major types of remix writers compose today. I open by arguing that the rhetorical concept of imitation (imitatio) can serve as a malleable frame both to understand the rhetorical importance of remix and to help map the many ways in which remix writers accomplish their rhetorical goals. After developing this frame, I offer a four-part typology of remix: assemblage, reappropriation, redistribution, and genre play. Finally, I close by providing strategies for teaching and directions for future research.
Monitoring Nesting Seabirds: Reply to a Commentary by Ian C. T. Nisbet

Johnson and Krohn (2001) addressed the importance of timing when conducting surveys, and the effect of this variable on the ability of a monitoring program to statistically detect trends in numbers of breeding seabirds. However, Nisbet's commentary on our paper concentrates in general on the use of counts based on aerial photographs as a reliable survey measure, and on the precision and accuracy of gull counts that were conducted as part of our study. While comparisons of different survey techniques and associated accuracy assessments are important, this was not the subject of our paper. Our focus was on the temporal variability in numbers of nesting Double-crested Cormorants (Phalocrocorax auritus), Great Blackbacked Gulls (Larus marinus) and Herring Gulls (Larus argentatus) in coastal Maine across the breeding season, and the potential effect that survey protocols (e.g., conducting surveys at different times of year, for different survey windows or for different island sample sizes) could have on the ability of a survey program to detect long-term population trends.
Non-Intrusive Uncertainty Quantication for Hypersonic Flight Using Direct Quadrature

A non-intrusive computational uncertainty quantication method based upon direct quadrature (DQ) is investigated for analyzing evolution of uncertainty in state trajectories of a hypersonic air vehicle due to uncertainty in initial conditions and other system parameters. This method, which can be shown to be equivalent to stochastic collocation, utilizes Gauss quadrature and can be used to accurately predict arbitrary order statistical moments of random output variables. Our results show that uncertainties on both initial conditions and other system parameters appear to have minimal eects on mean trajectory and signicant eects on distributions of the state variables. Uncertainty in initial velocity and ballistic coecient cause the largest variance in the trajectories of state variables.
Effects of Edge-to-Edge Repair on Chordal Tension of Prolapsed Mitral Valve

Edge-to-edge repair (ETER) was introduced to correct mitral valve (MV) regurgitation and has demonstrated efficacy in a spectrum of MV diseases [1], especially MV prolapse. This technique changes MV geometric configuration by suturing the anterior and posterior leaflets at central or commissural edges (depending on lesion), and consequently alters MV mechanics. MV prolapse is the most common heart valve abnormality in the United States. It is mainly caused by chordal rupture or elongation in which imbalanced chordal lengths protrude MV anterior and/or posterior leaflets. Chordal repair or leaflet resection are common surgical procedures in an open heart surgery. ETER is also effective in treatment of MV prolapse and preferred because of potential percutaneous application of the similar procedure. However, ETER restore leaflet coaptation from a prolapsed MV and may alter leaflet stress and chordal tension distribution. Our hypothesis is that ETER changes leaflet and chord special configuration of a prolapsed MV and thus chordal tensions as compared with normal and prolapsed MVs. The aim of the current study was to investigate tensions of marginal, strut chordae of anterior leaflet, and of marginal, intermediate chordae of posterior leaflet during systole before and after ETER on the MV with a prolapsed posterior leaflet. Hypothesis is tested by comparison of chordal tension change.© 2009 ASME
Callus Induction and Genetic Transformation for Dual Purpose Genic Male Sterile Line P88S

Taking super hybrid rice dual purpose genic male sterile line(DGMS) P88S as experimental material,its callus induction and genetic transformation of plant resistant gene sncl in its callus were researched.The results showed that the NMB is the optimum medium both for induction and subculture of P88S mature embryo callus,and the optimal concentration of 2,4-D and 6-BA are 3.0 mg/L and 0.2 mg/L,respectively;adding with 0.5 g/L of casein acid hydrolysate and 0.5 g/L of proline is beneficial to the callus induction;DL is the optimal differentiation medium for P88s mature embryo callus and maltose is the optimum carbon source for differentiation of resistant callus.Using the Agrobacteriummediate transformation method,five transformants are obtained and one of them is confirmed that containing the target gene snc1 by PCR test.
Determination of lysozyme in human serum by resonance light scattering technique with alizarin green

In alkaline media,alizarin green(AG) can react with lysozyme(LZM) to form the AG-LZM complex and result in a great enhancement of resonance light scattering(RLS) signal of the system.The optimum conditions of these reactions are studied and the reaction mechanism is also discussed.Based on that the intensity of RLS at 467 nm is directly proportional to the concentration of lysozyme,a new method has been established for the quantitative determination of lysozyme.The method has been applied to the quantitative analysis of lysozyme in human serum samples with satisfactory results.
Results of a vision screening program: an initial study.

BACKGROUND More than 100 children between the ages of 5 and 13 years (grades K through 6) were screened with the New York State Optometric Association vision screening battery. METHODS A comparison between regular and special education referral rates was performed. Two groups of tests were established: acuity testing and functional testing. A comparison of the failure rates of these two groups was also analyzed. RESULTS This study revealed that although the referral rate between the two populations showed no statistical difference, the particular "group" of tests failed differed significantly. CONCLUSIONS Although no conclusions can be drawn from these numbers as the sample was not varied enough, further screenings in different geographical and socioeconomic areas need to be performed to determine the validity of this trend.
Serial studies in von Willebrand's disease: variability versus variants

The variability of laboratory findings in von Willebrand's disease (vWd) was evaluated by performing serial studies of bleeding time (BT), factor VIII coagulant activity (VIII:C), factor-VIII-related antigen (VIIIR:Ag) and ristocetin cofactor (VIIIR:Rcof) in 50 individuals from 25 families with this disorder. The types of results were characterized from 1 to 16 based on the possible combinations of findings using these four tests. The only patients observed to have consistently abnormal results of all four tests were three individuals with homozygous vWd. Individuals with autosomal dominant vWd were found to have a variety of results and all 16 possible types were observed. Although a consistent pattern was present within some families, others with equivalent history of bleeding demonstrated widely variable types of results. The results within some families, others with equivalent history of bleeding demonstrated widely variable types of results. The results of serial studies of the same tests in 10 normal individuals indicated relative stability, with nearly all values within the usual range of normal, but some independent variation of factor-VIII-related activities was observed. These studies indicate that: (1) the results of BT, VIII:C, VIIIR:Ag, and VIIIR:Rcof vary considerably from time to time in many individuals with vWd, (2) a classification of "variants" of vWd based solely on such studies may be inappropriate, particularly if the tests are not repeated, and (3) repeated testing may be required to establish the diagnosis of vWd in some individuals.
Comparing Archaeomagnetic Pole Positions in Chronometric Analyses of Archaeological Components

ABSTRACTDue to the large number of archaeomagnetic dates now available for the Hohokam region, archaeologists in the area have become increasingly interested in secondary analysis. Among the secondary analyses, comparison of archaeomagnetic samples or sets of samples in order to asses contemporaneity has been proposed as a particularly useful research approach. The three methods currently available to archaeologists are discussed and compared using data from the Tucson Basin. Although the arc distance method, F-test, and multi-response permutation procedure produce similar results in most cases, the two statistical methods are more generally applicable. Limitations of all three methods are discussed. Two of the methods can be accomplished easily with a calculator; these routines are illustrated using the Tucson Basin data set.
From One to Many: The Population Genetics of Cnidarian-Symbiodinium Symbioses

The success of the coral reef ecosystem is due in large part to endosymbioses between cnidarians such as scleractinian corals, octocorals and anemones and single-celled dinoflagellates in the genus Symbiodinium. While the rise of molecular genetic analyses have offered valuable insight into Symbiodinium biodiversity, host and geographic distributions and evolutionary relationships, less well-studied are patterns and processes at the population level. Since populations represent the fundamental unit by which evolution occurs, furthering understanding in this area is paramount towards addressing questions ranging from the basic biology of Symbiodinium and their hosts to how anthropogenic-driven global climate change may impact these symbioses in the future. Here, a synopsis of population-level characteristics for Symbiodinium and various cnidarian host species are distilled from the current literature. Mutational patterns in the most commonly utilized genetic markers for population-level studies of Symbiodinium, nuclear microsatellite loci, are also explored. Substitutions, nucleotide insertions and deletions (indels), alterations to the repeat array structure and non-stepwise changes in repeat number are drivers of both allelic variation and size homoplasy, with the latter of concern due to the potential to bias estimates of genetic structure. Such mutations, however, are also a rich source of information that complement and extend the population-level data inherent to microsatellites and provide additional insight into various facets of these symbioses. Lastly, advents in DNA sequencing technology and genomics are discussed since they offer exciting opportunities to rapidly explore pertinent questions in cnidarian hosts and their Symbiodinium populations in a rapidly changing world.
Role of Body Esteem in the Sexual Excitation and Inhibition Responses of Women With and Without a History of Childhood Sexual Abuse

Abstract Introduction Women's sexuality is influenced by their perceptions of their bodies. Negative body appraisals have been implicated in the development and maintenance of sexual concerns in women with a history of childhood sexual abuse (CSA). The sexuality of these women is often expressed in extremes of approach and avoidant sexual tendencies, which have been related to the sexual inhibition and sexual excitation pathways of the dual control model. Aim To test the influence of body esteem on the sexual excitation and inhibition responses of women with and without a history of CSA. Methods One hundred thirty-nine women with CSA and 83 non-abused women reported on their abuse history, depressive symptomology, sexual response, and affective appraisals of their body. Main Outcome Measures Validated self-report measurements of sexual excitation and inhibition responses (Sexual Excitation/Sexual Inhibition Inventory for Women) and body esteem (Body Esteem Scale) were administered. Results Body esteem was significantly associated with sexual inhibition responses of women regardless of CSA history status but was significantly related only to the sexual excitation responses of women with a CSA history. Perceived sexual attractiveness was a unique predictor of sexual excitation in women with a history of CSA. Conclusion Women with a history of CSA have lower body esteem than non-abused women, particularly in self-perceived sexual attractiveness, and these perceptions appear to influence their sexual responses by acting on the sexual excitation and inhibition response pathways.
Navigating a 2D Virtual World Using Direct Brain Stimulation

Can the human brain learn to interpret inputs from a virtual world delivered directly through brain stimulation? We answer this question by describing the first demonstration of humans playing a computer game utilizing only direct brain stimulation and no other sensory inputs. The demonstration also provides the first instance of artificial sensory information, in this case depth, being delivered directly to the human brain through noninvasive methods. Our approach utilizes transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the human visual cortex to convey binary information about obstacles in a virtual maze. At certain intensities, TMS elicits visual percepts known as phosphenes, which transmits information to the subject about their current location within the maze. Using this computer-brain interface (CBI), five subjects successfully navigated an average of 92% of all the steps in a variety of virtual maze worlds. They also became more accurate in solving the task over time. These results suggest that humans can learn to utilize information delivered directly and noninvasively to their brains to solve tasks that cannot be solved using their natural senses, opening the door to human sensory augmentation and novel modes of human-computer interaction.
The Difficult Conversation

Often the most difficult conversations to have with a family involve acute changes in a patient’s health status and a completely new health care team. Nowhere is this more evident than with the severely injured trauma patient. In the vast majority of instances the physicians and team members have no established relationship or credibility with a family trying to rapidly process complex information in a life changing scenario involving a loved one. This chapter provides some insight into the challenges and opportunities surrounding those conversations.
PSC Optimization of 13.56-MHz Resistive Wireless Analog Passive Sensors

Patient and health monitoring in real-life settings can be realized with passive, wireless, unobtrusive, and low-cost physiological signal monitoring. We have previously reported a new fully-passive sensor system, namely resistive wireless analog passive sensors (rWAPSs), based on inductive coupling for physiological signal collection. Fabrication of thin body-worn sensors using rWAPS technology requires planar printed spiral coils (PSC) as the inductive link. This paper describes a formal method to design and optimize this PSC coil for such a system and presents the results of a comparison of a commercial PSC and the optimal design developed with the proposed method. Iterative process is required to reach the optimal solution of this complex multivariate optimization problem. After optimum design based on given coil dimensions and track specifications, a coil pair with a two-layer PCB was fabricated. The secondary coil size was restricted to a small footprint of 20 mm, while the carrier frequency was selected as 13.56 MHz within ISM frequency band. Lower power consumption and higher sensitivity were set as the key criteria for the comparison of these designs. Experimental results confirm that although the sensitivity varies with respect to sensor resistance, the optimized design has a smaller footprint and offers a higher sensitivity in most sensor ranges, while consuming slightly less power. This proposed optimization approach of PSC design is practical for rWAPS and other similar inductively coupled sensors and can be utilized in body-worn, wearable, and implanted sensors.
Type III Hypersensitivity Reaction to Subcutaneous Insulin Preparations in a Type 1 Diabetic

Management of type 1 diabetes in patients who have insulin hypersensitivity is a clinical challenge and places patients at risk for recurrent diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Hypersensitivity reactions can be due to the patient’s response to the insulin molecule itself or one of the injection’s non-insulin components. It is therefore crucial for clinicians to quickly recognize the type of hypersensitivity reaction that is occurring and identify potentially immunogenic additives for the purpose of directing therapy as various insulin preparations have differing ingredients. We present the case of a 23-year-old diabetic female with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) and autoimmune enteropathy who developed a type III hypersensitivity reaction to multiple formulations of subcutaneous insulin after years of use and the challenges of devising a long-term management strategy.
A zero-power warming chamber for investigating plant responses to rising temperature

Abstract. Advances in understanding and model representation of plant and ecosystem responses to rising temperature have typically required temperature manipulation of research plots, particularly when considering warming scenarios that exceed current climate envelopes. In remote or logistically challenging locations, passive warming using solar radiation is often the only viable approach for temperature manipulation. However, current passive warming approaches are only able to elevate the mean daily air temperature by ∼ 1.5 °C. Motivated by our need to understand temperature acclimation in the Arctic, where warming has been markedly greater than the global average and where future warming is projected to be ∼ 2–3 °C by the middle of the century; we have developed an alternative approach to passive warming. Our zero-power warming (ZPW) chamber requires no electrical power for fully autonomous operation. It uses a novel system of internal and external heat exchangers that allow differential actuation of pistons in coupled cylinders to control chamber venting. This enables the ZPW chamber venting to respond to the difference between the external and internal air temperatures, thereby increasing the potential for warming and eliminating the risk of overheating. During the thaw season on the coastal tundra of northern Alaska our ZPW chamber was able to elevate the mean daily air temperature 2.6 °C above ambient, double the warming achieved by an adjacent passively warmed control chamber that lacked our hydraulic system. We describe the construction, evaluation and performance of our ZPW chamber and discuss the impact of potential artefacts associated with the design and its operation on the Arctic tundra. The approach we describe is highly flexible and tunable, enabling customization for use in many different environments where significantly greater temperature manipulation than that possible with existing passive warming approaches is desired.
Deep stories, nostalgia narratives, and fake news: Storytelling in the Trump era

Characterizing Trump supporters either as “duped” by Fox News or as speaking from their lived experience misses the fact that both are true. We draw on scholarship on narrative and on the media to trace the ways in which elite-produced stories simultaneously reflect and forge a political common sense. We argue that narrative’s allusiveness (the fact that stories work by calling up other stories) helps to explain why stories produced by media elites come to feel as if they reflect people’s experience. The fact that people often share stories as a way of building collective identity, for its part, helps to explain why stories’ plausibility may be relatively unimportant to those people. Both features of storytelling are intrinsic to the form, but their political effects have been sharpened by two significant changes in the media landscape: the rise of right-wing media outlets and the profusion of user-shared digital news. We trace these developments as a way to make sense of Trump’s electoral support.
Chiral topological phases in optical lattices without synthetic fields

Synthetic fields applied to ultracold quantum gases can realize topological phases that transcend conventional Bose and Fermi-liquid paradigms. Raman laser beams in particular are under scrutiny as a route to create synthetic fields in neutral gases to mimic ordinary magnetic and electric fields acting on charged matter. Yet external laser beams can impose heating and losses that make cooling into many-body topological phases challenging. We propose that atomic or molecular dipoles placed in optical lattices can realize a topological phase without synthetic fields by placing them in certain frustrated lattices. We use numerical modeling on a specific example to show that the interactions between dipolar fermions placed in a kagome optical lattice spontaneously break time reversal symmetry to lead to a topological Mott insulator, a chiral topological phase generated entirely by interactions. We estimate realistic entropy and trapping parameters to argue that this intriguing phase of matter can be probed with quantum gases using a combination of recently implemented technologies.
Analysis of Dispersive Ultrasonic Signals by the Ridges of the Analytic Wavelet Transform

In many applications, material parameters are extracted by comparing theoretical models of ultrasonic propagation with experimental measurements. A particular challenge arises in the case of thin materials, for which the ultrasonic signal is dispersive and multiple propagation modes are commonly present. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the applicability of the analytic wavelet transform technique to the analysis of the propagation of dispersive ultrasonic waves. Ridges in the modulus of the transform determine regions in the time and frequency domain with high concentrations of acoustic energy; hence they are the natural candidates for the characterization and reconstruction of the ultrasonic signal. This approach results in a time-frequency representation of the ultrasonic signal that is extremely useful in the characterization of thin coatings or thin plates. The fundamentals and experimental results are presented to show the usefulness of the proposed technique.
Comparison and validation of screening tools for substance use in pregnancy: a cross-sectional study conducted in Maryland prenatal clinics.

Introduction Prescription-drug use in the USA has increased by more than 60% in the last three decades. Prevalence of prescription-drug use among pregnant women is currently estimated around 50%. Prevalence of illicit drug use in the USA is 14.6% among pregnant adolescents, 8.6% among pregnant young adults and 3.2% among pregnant adults. The first step in identifying problematic drug use during pregnancy is screening; however, no specific substance-use screener has been universally recommended for use with pregnant women to identify illicit or prescription-drug use. This study compares and validates three existing substance-use screeners for pregnancy—4 P’s Plus, National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Quick Screen/Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) and the Substance Use Risk Profile-Pregnancy (SURP-P) scale. Methods and analysis This is a cross-sectional study designed to evaluate the sensitivity, specificity and usability of existing substance-use screeners. Recruitment occurs at two obstetrics clinics in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. We are recruiting 500 participants to complete a demographic questionnaire, NIDA Quick Screen/ASSIST, 4 P’s Plus and SURP-P (ordered randomly) during their regularly scheduled prenatal appointment, then again 1 week later by telephone. Participants consent to multidrug urine testing, hair drug testing and allowing access to prescription drug and birth outcome data from electronic medical records. For each screener, reliability and validity will be assessed. Test–retest reliability analysis will be conducted by examining the results of repeated screener administrations within 1 week of original screener administrations for consistency via correlation analysis. Furthermore, we will assess if there are differences in the validity of each screener by age, race and trimester. Ethics and dissemination This study is approved by the Institutional Review Board of the University of Maryland (HP-00072042), Baltimore, and Battelle Memorial Institute (0619–100106433). All participants are required to give their informed consent prior to any study procedure.
Preparation and characterization of pyrimethamine solid dispersions and an evaluation of the physical nature of pyrimethamine in solid dispersions

Abstract The objective of this investigation was to prepare, characterize pyrimethamine solid dispersions formulated with different carriers and to evaluate the physical nature of pyrimethamine in solid dispersion. Pyrimethamine solid dispersions were prepared by solvent evaporation technique using a rotary evaporator and characterized using intrinsic dissolution studies, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), x-ray diffractometry (XRD), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), dissolution studies, and stability studies of selected solid dispersion. To further investigate the nature of drug, nuclear magnetic resonance was also performed. Intrinsic dissolution studies demonstrate that the dissolution rate of pyrimethamine could be markedly improved via solid dispersion technique. DSC studies show that PEG 6000 and poloxamer 188 could dissolve pyrimethamine up to 50% (w/w) in molten state. Results of XRD and FTIR suggest the presence of a different polymorphic form of pyrimethamine which might be due to the disruption of the supramolecular ribbon (synthon) formation of the original pyrimethamine polymorph. Significant improvement in dissolution rate from pyrimethamine solid dispersion using poloxamer 188 was achieved and pyrimethamine/poloxamer 188 ratio at 1:3 showing maximum dissolution rate enhancement of pyrimethamine. Furthermore, stability studies indicate no significant change in the physical nature of pyrimethamine in selected solid dispersion up to 5-month.
Aberrant ATRX protein expression is associated with poor overall survival in NF1-MPNST

Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors (MPNSTs) are aggressive soft tissue sarcomas that can occur sporadically or in the setting of the Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) cancer predisposition syndrome. These tumors carry a dismal overall survival. Previous work in our lab had identified ATRX chromatin remodeler (ATRX), previously termed, Alpha Thalassemia/Mental Retardation Syndrome X Linked as a gene mutated in a subset of MPNSTs. Given the great need for novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets for MPNSTs, we sought to determine the expression of ATRX in a larger subset of sporadic and NF1 associated MPNSTs (NF1-MPNSTs). We performed immunohistochemistry (IHC) on 74 MPNSTs (43 NF1-associated and 31 sporadic), 21 plexiform neurofibromas, and 9 atypical neurofibromas. Using this approach, we have demonstrated that 58% (43/74) of MPNSTs have aberrant ATRX expression ( 120 months) for intact expression, p = 0.0276). In summary, we demonstrate that ATRX is aberrantly expressed in the majority of NF1-MPNSTs, but not plexiform or atypical neurofibromas. Additionally, aberrant ATRX expression is associated with decreased overall survival in NF1-MPNST, but not sporadic MPNST and may serve as a prognostic marker for patients with NF1-MPNST.
Investigation of n-type doping strategies for Mg3Sb2

Recent, and somewhat surprising, successful n-type doping of Mg3Sb2 was the key to realizing high thermoelectric performance in this material. Herein, we use first-principles defect calculations to investigate different extrinsic n-type doping strategies for Mg3Sb2 and to reveal general chemical trends in terms of dopant solubilities and maximal achievable electron concentrations. In agreement with experiments, we find that Sb substitution is an effective doping strategy, with Se and Te doping predicted to yield up to ∼8 × 1019 cm−3 electrons. However, we also find that Mg substitution with trivalent (or higher) cations can be even more effective; in particular, the predicted highest achievable electron concentration (∼5 × 1020 cm−3) with La as an extrinsic dopant exceeds that of Se and Te doping. Interstitial doping (Li, Zn, Cu, Be) is found to be largely ineffective either due to self-compensation (Li) or high formation energy (Zn, Cu, Be). Our results offer La as an alternative dopant to Te and Se and reinforce the need for careful phase boundary mapping in achieving high electron concentrations in Mg3Sb2.
Sampling and Estimation

Multimedia signal processing begins with the taking of physical measurements to acquire sounds or images. To determine what measurements are needed, we use a mathematical model of the physical process. For example, speech recording begins with a model of the sound vibrations that a human being can produce. These result in slight fluctuations of the air pressure that can be measured by a microphone, producing a real-valued function of one real “time” variable. Similarly, taking a picture begins with a model of the light arriving at the camera. The amount that arrives during the acquisition period, or when the shutter is open, is a nonnegative real-valued function of two “space” variables. Finally, video can be modeled by a nonnegative function of one time plus two space variables.
Mechanisms underlying interactions between PAMAM dendron-grafted surfaces with DPPC membranes

Biofouling is a pervasive problem which demands the creation of smart, antifouling surfaces. Towards this end, we examine the interactions between a dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) lipid bilayer and a polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendron-grafted surface. In addition, we investigate the impact of dendron generation on the system behavior. To resolve the multiscale dynamical processes occurring over a large spatial scale, we employ Molecular Dynamics simulations with a coarse-grained implicit solvent force field. Our results demonstrate the transient and equilibrium system dynamics to be determined by the PAMAM dendron generation along with the underlying mechanisms. Higher generation dendrons are observed to favor penetration of the DPPC molecules into the dendron branches, thereby enabling sustained interactions between the membrane and the dendron-grafted surface. Under equilibrium, the membrane adopts a bowl-shaped morphology whose dimensions are determined by the dendron generation and density of interactions. The results from our study can be used to guide the design of novel surfaces with selective antifouling properties which can prevent the adsorption of microorganisms onto lipid membranes.
A Multilevel Contextual Model of Family Conflict and Deviance

This paper presents a multiple-group multivariate hierarchical specification of family problem behaviors across ethnicities using structural equation modeling techniques which explicitly model the individual-level and family-level covariance matrices in familial problem behavior. Analyses were conducted across White and African American ethnic groups. The sample (N = 1,168; 647 White and 521 African Americans) comprised children and their parents from 392 families. In addition to relations between family conflict and deviant behaviors, covariates were included at each level of analysis: neighborhood desirability at the family (between) level, and age and gender at the individual (within) level. At the between level, neighborhood desirability influenced family conflict and family conflict influenced family levels of deviance. At the within level, conflict was significantly related to individual levels of deviance. Discussion focuses on the substantive results as well as the application of multilevel analyses to contextual influences of family problem behavior.
Fluid Management With Peritoneal Dialysis After Pediatric Cardiac Surgery

Children who undergo cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass are a unique population at high risk for postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) and fluid overload. Fluid management is important in the postoperative care of these children as fluid overload is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Peritoneal dialysis catheters are an important tool in the armamentarium of a cardiac intensivist and are used for passive drainage for fluid removal or dialysis for electrolyte and uremia control in AKI. Prophylactic placement of a peritoneal catheter is a safe method of fluid removal that is associated with few major complications. Early initiation of peritoneal dialysis has been associated with improved clinical markers and outcomes such as early achievement of a negative fluid balance, lower vasoactive medication needs, shorter duration of mechanical ventilation, and decreased mortality. In this review, we discuss the safety and potential benefits of peritoneal catheters for dialysis or passive drainage in children following cardiopulmonary bypass.
Calibrations and New Singularities in Area-minimizing Surfaces: A Survey

In the past ten years the theory of calibrations has shed much light on the behavior of m-dimensional area-minimizing submanifolds of n-dimensional spaces. (Area-minimizing means that no other submanifold with the same boundary, or alternatively in the same homology class, has less m-dimensional area.) Area-minimizing submanifolds often have interesting singularities. An early obstacle to understanding was the difficulty of establishing that any singular example actually was area-minimizing. Calibrations produce a rich variety of such examples, as indicated in §3.
Analysis of cracks propagated in a tee pipe fitting

Abstract The work investigates the cracks propagated in a tee pipe fitting, part of desulphurization units of an oil refinery company. The part was extracted from an assembly that was manufactured and installed by the refinery maintenance department. The research covers the typical experimental procedure of failure analysis and focused on the cracks examination. Historical data were recorded. The chemical composition of the material was verified. The component was examined and photographed as received. A superheated inlet steam meets a lower temperature inlet steam, mixes on specific areas and comes out of a common outlet. A network of cracks was detected on the mixing areas. Samples were selected and prepared according to the analysis procedure. Both outer and inner surfaces of the fragmented tee pipe were inspected with penetrant liquid. The crack origin and propagation were detected and fracture mode was identified. Selected specimens were macro etched and inspected visually, revealing numerous welding defects. Tee pipe fitting failed on the mixing area. It cracked by thermal fatigue due to simultaneous effect of stress and temperature. Furthermore, poor welding facilitated the crack process.
FLAME: Macroscopic imaging with microscopic resolution. Optical biopsy of human skin

We introduce a compact, fast large area multiphoton exoscope (FLAME) system with enhanced molecular contrast for macroscopic imaging of human skin with microscopic resolution. A versatile imaging platform with multiple modes of operation for comprehensive analysis of live or resected thick human skin tissue, it produces 3D images that encompass sub-mm2 to cm2 scale areas of tissue within minutes. The FLAME imaging platform, which expands on a design recently introduced by our group, features deep learning, additional scanning hardware elements and time-resolved single photon counting detection to uniquely allow fast discrimination and 3D virtual staining of melanin. We demonstrate its performance and utility by fast ex vivo and in vivo imaging of human skin. With the ability to provide rapid access to depth resolved images of skin over cm2 area and to generate 3D distribution maps of key sub-cellular skin components such as melanocytic dendrites and melanin, FLAME represents a promising imaging tool for enhancing diagnosis accuracy, guiding therapy and understanding skin biology.
Marketing and Finances

Starting a mobile simulation program can be a daunting task. Knowing how much to ask for is always the big question. This chapter will give you the tools you need to create your own budget and allow you to feel confident that you can budget for your program as well as market the program for the best outcomes. Marketing provides not only the funding sources but also the learners.
Nutrient Timing: A Garage Door of Opportunity?

Nutrient timing involves manipulation of nutrient consumption at specific times in and around exercise bouts in an effort to improve performance, recovery, and adaptation. Its historical perspective centered on ingestion during exercise and grew to include pre- and post-training periods. As research continued, translational focus remained primarily on the impact and outcomes related to nutrient consumption during one specific time period to the exclusion of all others. Additionally, there seemed to be increasing emphasis on outcomes related to hypertrophy and strength at the expense of other potentially more impactful performance measures. As consumption of nutrients does not occur at only one time point in the day, the effect and impact of energy and macronutrient availability becomes an important consideration in determining timing of additional nutrients in and around training and competition. This further complicates the confining of the definition of “nutrient timing” to one very specific moment in time at the exclusion of all other time points. As such, this review suggests a new perspective built on evidence of the interconnectedness of nutrient impact and provides a pragmatic approach to help frame nutrient timing more inclusively. Using this approach, it is argued that the concept of nutrient timing is constrained by reliance on interpretation of an “anabolic window” and may be better viewed as a “garage door of opportunity” to positively impact performance, recovery, and athlete availability.
The Grapefruit Effect: Interaction between Cytochrome P450 and Coumarin Food Components, Bergamottin, Fraxidin and Osthole. X-ray Crystal Structure and DFT Studies.

Coumarins are plant-derived secondary metabolites. The crystal structure of three coumarins-bergamottin, osthole and fraxidin-are described and we analyze intermolecular interactions and their role in crystal formation. Bergamottin is a furanocoumarin found in citrus plants, which is a strong inhibitor of the principal human metabolizing enzyme, cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4). The crystal structure determinations of three coumarins give us the geometrical parameters and reveal the parallel-displaced π-π stacking and hydrogen bonding intermolecular interactions used for molecular assembly in the crystal structure. A quite strong (less than 3.4 A) stacking interaction of bergamottin appears to be a determining feature that distinguishes it from other coumarins studied in this work. Our DFT computational studies on the three natural products of the same coumarin family docked into the active site of CYP3A4 (PDB 4D78) show different behavior for these coumarins at the active site. When the substrate is bergamottin, the importance of π-π stacking and hydrogen bonding, which can anchor the substrate in place, appears fundamental. In contrast, fraxidin and osthole show carbonyl coordination to iron. Our docking calculations show that the bergamottin tendency towards π-π stacking is important and likely influences its interactions with the heme group of CYP3A4.
Three-Dimensional Path-Following Control for an Underwater Vehicle

This paper addresses the problem of guidance and control of an underwater vehicle. Guidance and control is achieved by introducing a control architecture with three modules: path generation, path f...
Development and application of an evidence-based directed acyclic graph to evaluate the associations between metal mixtures and cardiometabolic outcomes

Abstract Background Exposure to individual metals (and metalloids; hereafter ‘metals’) is associated with adverse cardiometabolic outcomes. Specifying analytic models to assess relationships among metal mixtures and cardiometabolic outcomes requires evidence-based models of the (assumed) causal structures; however, such models have not been previously published. Methods We conducted a systematic literature review to develop an evidence-based directed acyclic graph (DAG) identifying relationships among metals, cardiometabolic health indicators, and potential confounders. To evaluate the consistency of the DAG with data from 1797 participants in the San Luis Valley Diabetes Study (SLVDS; mean age=54 years, 53% women, 48% Hispanic), we tested conditional independence statements suggested by the DAG and by 100 DAGs with the same structure but randomly permuted nodes using linear (continuous outcomes), logistic (dichotomous outcomes), or Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR; statements with metal coexposures) models. Based on minimally sufficient adjustment sets identified by the DAG, we specified BKMR models assessing associations between urinary metal mixtures and cardiometabolic outcomes in the SLVDS population. Results Twenty-nine articles met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review. From these articles, we developed an evidence-based DAG with 382 testable conditional independence statements (71% supported by SLVDS data). Only 3% of the DAGs with randomly permuted nodes indicated more agreement with the data than our evidence-based DAG. Applying the evidence-based DAG in a pilot analysis, we did not observe evidence for an association among metal mixtures and cardiometabolic outcomes. Conclusions We developed, tested, and applied an evidence-based approach to analyze associations between metal mixtures and cardiometabolic health. What this study adds We conducted a systematic literature review to develop an evidence-based directed acyclic graph (DAG) of the presumed causal relationship between exposure to metal mixtures and cardiometabolic outcomes. Using real data, we evaluated the testable conditional independence statements. The evidence-based DAG outperformed 97% of DAGs with randomly permuted nodes. We applied the evidence-based DAG to select covariates for a pilot analysis. Environmental Epidemiology readers can (1) plan future research based on our systematic literature review, (2) use our process to evaluate other evidence-based DAGs, and (3) apply the evidence-based covariates sets to further explore relationships between metal mixtures and cardiometabolic health.
Abstract P589: Pediatric Thrombectomy: Design And Workflow Lessons From Two Experienced Centers

Introduction: While clinical trials have demonstrated the remarkable efficacy of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) for treating adult patients suffering from acute ischemic stroke (AIS), benefits rea...
Funding Structures and State Capacity for School Improvement under the Every Student Succeeds Act: Case Studies of Five States

Under the Every Student Succeeds Act, the federal government allocates 7% of Title I funds, about $1 billion per year, for school improvement. States have substantial autonomy in allocating these f...
How We Do It: A Multicenter National Experience of Virtual Vascular Surgery Rotations.

Objective To describe the development and implementation of virtual vascular surgery rotations among 6 integrated vascular surgery programs. Design A collaborative teleconference retrospectively discussing 6 independently developed virtual vascular surgery rotations to make a framework for future use. Setting University of California Davis initiated a joint teleconference among the various integrated vascular surgery programs. Participants Vascular surgery faculty and residents from 6 programs participated in the teleconferences and drafting of a framework for building a virtual vascular surgery rotation. Results Four specific domains were identified in discussing the framework to build a virtual vascular surgery rotation: planning, development, curriculum, and feedback. Each domain has specific aspects in making a virtual rotation that has applicability to other surgical rotations that seek to do the same. Conclusion Virtual vascular surgery rotations are feasible and important; these electives can be established and implemented successfully with appropriate planning and consideration. This work hopes to help programs navigate this new space in education by making it more transparent and highlighting potential pitfalls.
A Family of Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (sCJD). (434)

Objective: sCJD is a rare prion disease with prevalence of 1 per 1,000,000 population per year. We present a case of sCJD whose family members & one friend died from sCJD recently. Background: NA Design/Methods: A 60-year-old right-handed male was evaluated in clinic for 6–8 weeks of behavioral issues. He lost a close friend & brother in past 6 months & father few years ago. All of them had rapidly progressive bizarre behavioral & memory issues. His friend had biopsy proven CJD. Interestingly, all of them were avid deer hunters. He had very prominent avolition with abulia with MoCA :16/30. Initial MRI brain was unremarkable. Patient was admitted a week later for worsening behavioral issues, staring episodes without loss of consciousness & left arm dystonic posturing. On exam, patient was not oriented, could not follow commands & speech was perseverative & easily distracted. He had hypertonia in left arm>leg. Labs-Serum T. Pallidum Ab: +ve but RPR 4000pg/ml. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of sCJD. Results: NA Conclusions: sCJD is a differential diagnosis even in the presence of family history, especially when there is a shared exposure. Disclosure: Dr. Nemade has nothing to disclose. Dr. Adams has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hanif has nothing to disclose. Dr. Nolte has nothing to disclose. Dr. Singh has nothing to disclose.