cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Protungulatum, Confirmed Cretaceous Occurrence of an Otherwise Paleocene Eutherian (Placental?) Mammal

Neither pre-Cenozoic crown eutherian mammals (placentals) nor archaic ungulates (“condylarths”) are known with certainty based on the fossil record. Herein we report a new species of the Paleocene archaic ungulate (“condylarth”) Protungulatum from undisputed Late Cretaceous aged rocks in Montana USA based on an isolated last upper premolar, indicating rare representatives of these common early Tertiary mammals appeared in North America a minimum of 300 k years before the extinction of non-avian dinosaurs. The other 1200 mammal specimens from the locality are characteristic Late Cretaceous taxa. This discovery overturns the current hypothesis that archaic ungulates did not appear in North America until after the Cretaceous/Tertiary (K/T) boundary and also suggests that other reports of North American Late Cretaceous archaic ungulates may be correct. Recent studies, including ours, cannot determine whether Protungulatum does or does not belong to the crown clade Placentalia.
UHF Losses in Sapphire and Ruby at Low Temperatures

Losses in Al2 O3 rods, placed along the axis of a superconducting helical resonator, were observed at frequencies from 130 MHz to 450 MHz and at sample temperatures up to 20 K. Losses at 2 K corresponding to ?"/?' of 0.8 x 10-6 were found in the two different grades of sapphire tested. Losses associated with Cr+3 impurities were larger, corresponding to X"/X' of 6 x 10-6 for pink ruby and 2 x 10-5 for red ruby at 130 MHz and 3 K. The ruby losses decreased with increasing temperature and increasing frequency. Magnetic coupling within the Cr3+ spin system seems to account for most of the ruby losses.
Thermoelectric Properties of Reduced Polycrystalline Sr0.5Ba0.5Nb2O6 Fabricated Via Solution Combustion Synthesis

The thermoelectric properties of bulk polycrystalline Sr0.5Ba0.5Nb2O6 (SBN50) fabricated via solution combustion synthesis (SCS) and reduced at temperatures of 900°C–1150°C were explored. The Seebeck coefficient (S) of all samples increased over the entire range of testing temperatures; a peak S value of −281 μV/K was obtained at 930 K for the sample reduced at 900°C. A metal-insulator transition was observed in the electrical conductivity (σ) of samples reduced at 1000°C–1150°C, whereas only semiconducting electrical behavior was observed for the sample reduced at 900°C. An optimal balance between S and σ was achieved for the pellet reduced at 1000°C, which exhibited a maximum power factor of 1.78 μW/cm·K2 at 930 K. Over a temperature range of 300–930 K, the thermal conductivity (κ) of as-processed and reduced (1000°C) SBN50 was found to be 1.03–1.4 and 1.46–1.84 W/m·K, respectively. A maximum figure of merit (ZT) of 0.09 was obtained at 930 K for the 1000°C-reduced sample. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that the Nb2+ peak intensity increased at higher reduction temperatures, which could possibly lead to a distortion of NbO6 octahedra and a decrease in the Seebeck coefficient.
Mask cost analysis via write time estimation

Long write times have been an industry wide concern regarding rising mask costs. The purpose of this study is to develop a simple model that can predict mask write time precisely, without an e-beam writer. With a good understanding of the trade-offs between design complexity and write time, mask makers can work with mask designers more closely to simplify design and minimize mask cost. This work compared several basic models including calculations based on write area with a fixed e-beam shot size, a software estimation with a pre-set exposure, and a mask stage settling time. Our proposed model uses a completely different approach to examine the correlation between layout complexity (vertices count, total line edge, figure, etc.) through a CATS layout segmentation and actual write time. It is found that write time is a strong function of layout figure, vertex count and total line edge. Errors between actual write time and estimated write time from the new model reduced from 7% on average on the current production software to 3%. Additionally, the new model can operate independent of the writer type and without fractured data being transferred onto a writer. Also provided are a few case studies to evaluate the interaction between write time and basic shape/OPC (optical proximity correction). Using a simple design shape and a better data snapping strategy can reduce write time up to 10 fold for applications in nano-imprint template manufacturing. Several strategies to reduce mask cost are proposed.
Financial Analysis Of Information Security Breaches

Each year, due to hacker attacks and virus infections billions of dollars are wasted. The impacts are globally felt and are not restricted to a single industry or agency, but it includes academia, individual, industry, and government agencies. In fact, hackers and viruses are becoming more and more sophisticated and are increasingly harder to detect. In this paper an attempt has been made to present Internet security and vulnerability, security policies, financial impacts, remedies, and a model to evaluate the opportunity costs of variables involve in security breaches.
Influence of Fe, Cu, V, and Ce doping on morphology and catalytic activity of amorphous manganese oxide hollow spheres

Abstract Manganese oxide hollow spheres have been prepared by a facile, self-assembly synthesis and doped with Fe, Cu, V, and Ce. The materials have high surface areas and shells consisting of nanoplatelets. Two different sets of reactions were carried out: (1) with constant butyric acid concentration using 10:1 BA:Mn and (2) with adjusted butyric acid concentration using 10:1 BA:total metal (Mn + dopant). Dopants promote the formation of yolk structures within the hollow spheres, and at higher dopant:Mn ratios cause the spheres to fill. Increasing the butyric acid concentration likewise promotes yolk formation and sphere filing, as well as larger sphere size and loss of monodispersity. Manganese oxide hollow spheres are active catalysts in converting isopropanol to acetone, although doping does not improve catalyst performance except in the case of Cu.
Top quark spin correlations at the Tevatron and the LHC

Spin correlations of top quarks produced in hadron collisions have not been observed experimentally with large significance. In this Letter, we propose a new variable that may enable demonstration of the existence of spin correlations with 3 4 � significance using just a few hundred dilepton events both at the Tevatron and the LHC. Such number of dilepton events has been observed at the Tevatron. At the LHC, it will become available once integrated luminosity of a few hundred inverse picobarns is collected. The existence of spin correlations of top and
Endocarditis With Fistulization and Rupture of Aortic Root Abscess to the Left Atrium

Abstract Background Infective endocarditis (IE) is a difficult emergency department (ED) diagnosis to make. Symptoms are nonspecific and diverse and the classic triad of fever, anemia, and murmur is rare. Severe IE causes considerable morbidity and mortality and should be diagnosed early. However, echocardiogram is essential but not readily available in the ED and can cause diagnostic delay. Case Report This case describes severe IE and its unique presentation, diagnostic challenges, and the use of bedside cardiac ultrasonography. A 28-year-old previously healthy male presented with intermittent fevers, arthralgias, and myalgias for 2 weeks. He had twice been evaluated and diagnosed with lumbar back pain. Physical examination revealed moderate respiratory distress, pale skin with a cyanotic right lower extremity, and unequal extremity pulses. He became hypotensive and rapidly deteriorated. Chest x-ray study showed bilateral pulmonary infiltrates with subsequent imaging demonstrating worsening septic emboli. Bedside ultrasound revealed mitral and aortic valve vegetations and a presumed diagnosis of IE with septic embolization was made. Formal echocardiography (ECHO) confirmed IE with an aortic root abscess with rupture and fistulization into the left atrium. Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This? Clinical criteria for IE include blood cultures and ECHO, however, these are often not available to an emergency physician, making IE a diagnostic challenge even in severe cases. The role of bedside ultrasound for IE continues to evolve and its utility in the diagnosis of severe IE is distinctly demonstrated in this case.
E-076 improvement of patient care, quality and research through an automated cerebrovascular data collection (acdc)

Background The need for automated patient data exists in a rapidly changing clinical world with a new focus on electronic medical records (EMR). In addition to improving patient care through increased quality monitoring, real-time, reliable data will allow faster and more accurate institutional reimbursement and research. We sought to pilot a process for automating cerebrovascular patient records from Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s (VUMC) electronic medical record, StarPanel, into REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture), a secure, web-based data management application created at Vanderbilt. Methods Our patient population is defined as those who are clinically treated for cerebrovascular disease at VUMC. Clinical care notes and forms were homogenized across clinical users and updated to capture discrete data points necessary for patient care, research, and quality improvement metrics linked to Get With The Guidelines set by the American Stroke Association and Core Measures designated by the Joint Commission. Data originating in the EMR will be routed through VUMC’s Enterprise Data Warehouse and into REDCap. Approved users will be able to easily access the data, generate reports, and export patient information directly into additional applications or software. Conclusions Access to real-time patient data will allow for improved clinical quality at the point of care. It will provide healthcare providers the ability to impact care prior to discharge which benefits patients, the clinical team, and Vanderbilt as a whole. Uniformity in data collection will reduce system redundancies and streamline clinical workflow. Currently VUMC employs two individuals for the sole purpose of manually abstracting stroke patient data. By reducing the burden of manual data abstraction, we will implement a cost-saving application which improves patient care at VUMC through increased efforts towards implementing new processes for patient quality, safety, and risk-prevention. Learning objectives By the conclusion of this session, participants should understand current issues affecting patient care, be able to discuss the potential benefits and hurdles associated with our proposed solution, identify additional ways this system would be beneficial both to patients and their own institutions. How will our research improve patient care? Our system aims to improve patient care through real-time reporting of clinical data. Thoroughly understanding what occurs at the bedside will allow for improved clinical practices as well as correcting errors in patient care prior to discharge. Additionally, we seek to streamline the clinical workflow to reduce burdensome, redundant work which decreases the amount of time clinicians have to spend with their patients. Disclosures E. Gilchrist: None. B. Burks: None. K. Espaillat: None. T. Fortenberry: None. S. Baggett: None. M. Kearney: None. B. Goggins: None. L. He: None. J. Mocco: None. M. Froehler: None.
Abstract 356: A Role for Renal Proximal Tubule Sodium Bicarbonate Cotransporter SLC4A5 in Salt-Sensitivity of Blood Pressure

SLC4A5 is a sodium-bicarbonate co-transporter involved with sodium homeostasis. Based on unpublished data, two SLC4A5 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs rs1017783 and rs7571842) have been highly associated with an individual’s salt-sensitivity status. Since the renal proximal tubule (RPT) regulates a large percentage of renal sodium transport, we investigated whether SLC4A5 was present in this nephron segment. Using confocal immunofluorescence microscopy, we found expression of SLC4A5 in human RPT cell plasma membrane and intracellular membrane vesicles. We then examined the physiologic implications of the SLC4A5 SNPs in human RPT cells. Using immunoblotting and RT-PCR, we found no significant differences in basal SLC4A5 expression in RPT cells between individuals that are homozygous variant at both SNPs and individuals that are wild-type (WT) for both alleles. Stimulation of the dopaminergic system with 1μM fenoldopam, or the renin-angiotensin system with 10 nM angiotensin II or 10 nM angiotensin III (n=18 per treatment) over 3 and 24 hours did not significantly alter SLC4A5 protein or 24 hour mRNA expression. These data indicate that SLC4A5 is not directly regulated by either the renal dopaminergic or renin-angiotensin system. However, 24 hour stimulation with the sodium ionophore monensin (MON, 1μM) significantly increased overall mRNA expression of SLC4A5 by 182±0.098% over vehicle (VEH) (ΔCq VEH=0.283±0.035; n=18, p
Toxin Production by Cristulariella Pyramidalis

1. Borell, A. E. 1962. Russian-olive for wildlife and other conservation uses. U. S. Dept. Agric. Leafl. 517: 1-8. 2. Borisova, N. A. 1956. [Mycotrophism of tree and shrub species of Urda sands.] [J. Bot. U.S.S.R. = Bot. Zh. S.S.S.R.] 41(6): 876-880. 3. Hepting, G. H. 1971. Diseases of forest and shade trees of the United States. U. S. Dept. Agric. For. Serv. Agric. Handb. 386: 1-658. 4. Khan, A. G. 1974. The occurrence of mycorrhizas in halophytes, hydrophytes and xerophytes, and of Endogone spores in adjacent soils. J. Gen. Microbiol. 81: 7-14. 5. Lobanov, N. V. 1953. Mikotrofnost drevesnukh rastenir. [Mycotrophism of woody plants.] Moskva, Sovetskaia nauka. 232 p. 6. Phillips, J. M., and D. S. Hayman. 1970. Improved procedures for clearing roots and staining parasitic and vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for rapid assessment of infection. Trans. Brit. Mycol. Soc. 55: 158-161. 7. Sass, J. E. 1951. Botanical microtechnique. Second Ed. Iowa State College Press, Ames, Iowa. 228 p.
Exploratory factor analysis in Rehabilitation Psychology: a content analysis.

Objective Our objective was to examine the use and quality of exploratory factor analysis (EFA) in articles published in Rehabilitation Psychology. Design Trained raters examined 66 separate exploratory factor analyses in 47 articles published between 1999 and April 2014. The raters recorded the aim of the EFAs, the distributional statistics, sample size, factor retention method(s), extraction and rotation method(s), and whether the pattern coefficients, structure coefficients, and the matrix of association were reported. Results The primary use of the EFAs was scale development, but the most widely used extraction and rotation method was principle component analysis, with varimax rotation. When determining how many factors to retain, multiple methods (e.g., scree plot, parallel analysis) were used most often. Many articles did not report enough information to allow for the duplication of their results. Conclusion EFA relies on authors' choices (e.g., factor retention rules extraction, rotation methods), and few articles adhered to all of the best practices. The current findings are compared to other empirical investigations into the use of EFA in published research. Recommendations for improving EFA reporting practices in rehabilitation psychology research are provided.
Testing enhances both encoding and retrieval for both tested and untested items

In forward testing effects, taking a test enhances memory for subsequently studied material. These effects have been observed for previously studied and tested items, a potentially item-specific te...
Water Transport through Nanotubes with Varying Interaction Strength between Tube Wall and Water.

We present the results from extensive molecular dynamics simulations to study the effect of varying interaction strength, eNT–OW, between the nanotube atoms and water’s oxygen atom. We find the existence of a narrow transition region (eNT–OW ≈ 0.05 to 0.075 kcal/mol) in which water occupancy within a nanotube and flux through it increases dramatically with increasing eNT–OW, with the exact location defined by nanotube diameter and length. This transition region narrows with increasing nanotube diameter to nearly a step-change in water transport from no flow to high water flux between eNT–OW = 0.05 and 0.055 kcal/mol for tube diameter 1.6 nm. Interestingly, this transition region (eNT–OW = 0.05 to 0.075 kcal/mol) also coincides with water contact angles close to 90° on an unrolled nanotube surface hinting at a fundamental link between nanotube wetting characteristics and water transport through it. Finally, we find that the observed water flux is proportional to the average water occupancy divided by the a...
Comparison of HST and VLA Images at 0.1” of the Orion Nebula

We have compared the images of two compact sources near the center of the Orion Nebula obtained with the VLA and HST. When the Ha image is scaled to the radio continuum we see similar objects. The VLA shows higher concentration of flux, reflecting the better resolution (FWHM=0.13” versus 0.18”); but, does not show the extended cometary form of the sources due to the greater sensitivity of the HST.
Breast Cancer Bone Metastases

Bone metastases from breast cancer are very common and are the most significant cause of morbidity for breast cancer patients. Bony metastases are likely to cause pain, and may cause hypercalcemia, fracture, or rarely spinal cord compression. Most women present with bony metastases at the time of breast cancer recurrence. There are several distinct immunohistochemical subtypes of breast cancer that behave differently and have different treatment options. Estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer is disproportionately likely to metastasize to the bone, oftentimes being the only site of metastatic disease. Women with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer are likely to live many years with good quality of life; thus aggressive management of their bony metastases is important. There are many imaging modalities available with bone scan being the best screening modality and CT scan being superior at characterization of a known bony lesion. Since the immunohistochemical profile of breast cancer often changes over time, obtaining repeat staining for estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptor status is important. A multimodality treatment approach is best for women with breast cancer metastatic to the bones and should include consideration of bisphosphonates or denosumab, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, and/or chemotherapy and orthopedic surgery.
How Distinctive is Chinese Pattern:A Comparative Analysis of the Economic Data of China,India,and Brazil

China realizes sustained rapid economic development through a series of policies and measures.According to the current Chinese mainstream viewpoint,"Chinese pattern" is characterized by highly centralized political system,rapid economic growth rate,and its Confucian cultural tradition.However,through comparing and analyzing the histories of economic development of China,India,and Brazil,it may be found that the means and method of "Chinese pattern" is not special,its achievement is not special,and even problems caused by it are not special,either.
Additive effects of acidosis and parathyroid hormone on mouse osteoblastic and osteoclastic function

Patients with end-stage renal disease are acidotic and often develop secondary hyperparathyroidism. Whether acidosis contributes to the bone disease observed in these patients is not clear. To determine whether acidosis and parathyroid hormone (PTH) have additive effects on net calcium efflux (JCa+) from bone and on bone cell function, we measured JCa+, osteoblastic collagen synthesis, and osteoclastic beta-glucuronidase release from neonatal mouse calvariae cultured in control (Ctl, pH approximately 7.4) or acidified (Met, pH approximately 7.1) medium with or without a submaximal concentration of PTH (10(-10) M) for 48 h. Compared with Ctl, from 24 to 48 h JCa+ was increased with Met and with PTH, and the combination of Met + PTH increased JCa+ further. Compared with Ctl, collagen synthesis was decreased with Met and with PTH and decreased further with Met + PTH. There was an inverse correlation between percent collagen synthesis and JCa+. Compared with Ctl, beta-glucuronidase release into the medium was increased with Met and with PTH and increased further with Met + PTH. There was a direct correlation between medium beta-glucuronidase activity and JCa+. Osteoclastic beta-glucuronidase activity correlated inversely with osteoblastic collagen synthesis. During cultures to 96 h, there continued to be greater JCa+ from calvariae incubated with Met + PTH than from those with either treatment alone. Thus acidosis and PTH independently stimulated JCa+ from bone, inhibited osteoblastic collagen synthesis, and stimulated osteoclastic beta-glucuronidase secretion, whereas the combination had a greater effect on each of these parameters than either treatment alone. These findings indicate that acidosis and PTH can have an additive effect on bone cell function and suggest that uremic osteodystrophy may result from a combination of a low pH and an elevated PTH.
E3 ubiquitin ligase RFWD2 controls lung branching through protein-level regulation of ETV transcription factors

The mammalian lung is an elaborate branching organ, and it forms following a highly stereotypical morphogenesis program. It is well established that precise control at the transcript level is a key genetic underpinning of lung branching. In comparison, little is known about how regulation at the protein level may play a role. Ring finger and WD domain 2 (RFWD2, also termed COP1) is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that modifies specific target proteins, priming their degradation via the ubiquitin proteasome system. RFWD2 is known to function in the adult in pathogenic processes such as tumorigenesis. Here, we show that prenatal inactivation of Rfwd2 gene in the lung epithelium led to a striking halt in branching morphogenesis shortly after secondary branch formation. This defect is accompanied by distalization of the lung epithelium while growth and cellular differentiation still occurred. In the mutant lung, two E26 transformation-specific (ETS) transcription factors essential for normal lung branching, ETS translocation variant 4 (ETV4) and ETV5, were up-regulated at the protein level, but not at the transcript level. Introduction of Etv loss-of-function alleles into the Rfwd2 mutant background attenuated the branching phenotype, suggesting that RFWD2 functions, at least in part, through degrading ETV proteins. Because a number of E3 ligases are known to target factors important for lung development, our findings provide a preview of protein-level regulatory network essential for lung branching morphogenesis.
The simplicity principle in perception and cognition.

The simplicity principle, traditionally referred to as Occam's razor, is the idea that simpler explanations of observations should be preferred to more complex ones. In recent decades the principle has been clarified via the incorporation of modern notions of computation and probability, allowing a more precise understanding of how exactly complexity minimization facilitates inference. The simplicity principle has found many applications in modern cognitive science, in contexts as diverse as perception, categorization, reasoning, and neuroscience. In all these areas, the common idea is that the mind seeks the simplest available interpretation of observations— or, more precisely, that it balances a bias toward simplicity with a somewhat opposed constraint to choose models consistent with perceptual or cognitive observations. This brief tutorial surveys some of the uses of the simplicity principle across cognitive science, emphasizing how complexity minimization in a number of forms has been incorporated into probabilistic models of inference. WIREs Cogn Sci 2016, 7:330–340. doi: 10.1002/wcs.1406 For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.
Prolactin Secretion from Single Cells: Analysis by Reverse Hemolytic Plaque Assays

Publisher Summary The release of prolactin from the anterior pituitary is under the regulatory control of a number of different factors. Several of these originate in the hypothalamus, travel down the hypothalamo–hypophyseal portal system, and act directly on prolactin cells in the pituitary. Some of the well-studied of these hypothalamic substances are thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH), dopamine, γ-amino butyric acid, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, and serotonin. Other types of modulators also influence prolactin release. Certain gonadal hormones such as estrogens are potent modulators of prolactin cell development and function. The levels of these hormones change during reproductive cyclicity and are present in high concentrations during certain reproductive states, such as pregnancy. Finally, hormones involved with stress can cause a marked elevation in prolactin release. This includes endorphins, catecholamines, or specific substances such as ACTH or corticoids. The influence of such a wide variety of substances not only demonstrates the complexity of the control of prolactin, but also suggests that a change in one of these systems may be detectable by a change in prolactin release. For this reason, the use of prolactin secretion as an end point for study provides a sensitive and versatile index to evaluate many different types of toxic substances; some, that may disrupt one of these systems, or others that may modify or mimic one of these regulators of secretion.
Polarization voltage in dc cables

Previous work conducted by G. S. Eager and the present authors on the breakdown of oil-paper insulation in dc cables with polarity reversals revealed the presence of polarization (absorption) phenomena which markedly influenced the breakdown voltages. These polarization phenomena lower the breakdown voltage under polarity reversal aside from the phenomena caused by a difference between the resistive and the capacitive stress distributions in high-voltage dc cables. The polarization (absorption) phenomena in oil-paper insulation are due to different dielectric properties of oil and paper which create a series parallel combination.
Core-shell Mie resonant structures for quantum computing applications

Quantum communications have garnered an increasing amount of interest over the last several years. One of the key components, a deterministic single photon source, requires both high quantum efficiency and suitable emission wavelengths, particularly for ubiquitous fiber-based systems. Solid state single photon sources, comprised of a crystal with isolated, optically active defects, are particularly advantageous in terms of their potential for fine control, reproducibility, ease of operation, and scalability. However, random orientation of single defects presents challenges in terms of scalable manufacturing of such sources. In this paper, we numerically demonstrate Mie resonant core–shell structures that are to a large degree insensitive to random impurity dipole orientations and at the same time decouple spurious decay channels by enhancing both absorption and emission rates. Applying the simple core-shell design to Xenon-related color centers in diamond nanocrystals enhances emission rates into the main...
Liberating Progress and the Free Market from the Specter of Tort Liability

That all is not well with tort law cannot seriously be doubted. In Liability: The Legal Revolution and Its Consequences, Peter Huber attempts to chronicle the changes in tort doctrine over the past thirty or so years that have brought tort law to its present crisis, and to prescribe sweeping remedial actions capable of defining a more intelligent course of accident compensation. Drastic measures are necessary, Huber argues, because of the magnitude of the emergency. Huber’s critique of modern tort law is always provocative and often perceptive and enlightening. The book identifies many jurisprudential trouble-spots which cry out for reform, and the examination raises many important questions about the current state of tort law. Unfortunately, Huber forfeits many opportunities to persuade or enlighten by engaging in unwarranted exaggeration and indulging in unsubstantiated and inaccurate assertions. His efforts to write in a vivid, colorful style frequently degenerate into unfair caricature, heavy sarcasm, and one-sided argumentation. Huber’s book should be read, but not because it is an even-handed, accurate portrayal of modern tort law, nor because its proffered remedies are an adequate solution to current problems. Rather, it should be read because it forces one to think deeply about liability issues, and that, of course, is an essential step in curing all that is not well with tort law.
Root cause analysis using artificial intelligence

A complex hardware system experiences several different types of failure modes when deployed in its field of use. Although each failure mode merits its very own root cause analysis, experience has shown us that a majority of root cause analyses require us to answer a very similar set of questions. These recurring questions often use very similar type of field data to be answered. For example, usage parameters such as hours of operation, total power cycles, vibration fatigue, etc. are used almost always while trying to figure out the failure mechanism. By taking advantage of this, we can automate the process of finding the most likely failure mechanism for a given failure mode. In the current work, we start by computing what we believe are parameters that are most relevant across all different types of failure modes. Once these parameters are computed, we will build a Bayesian Network to model the cause-effect relationship between the degradation parameters (cause) and failure modes(effect) that occur on the field. Bayesian Network is a probabilistic graphical model which concisely describes the relationship between many random variables and their conditional independence via an acyclic directed graph. Once the topology of the Bayesian network is laid out by a domain expert, the conditional probabilities can be learnt from existing data, thereby completely describing the system using the notion of joint probabilities. Two real life field issues are used as examples to demonstrate the accuracy of the network once it is modelled and built. This paper demonstrates that accurately modelling the hardware system as a Bayesian Network substantially accelerates the process of root cause analysis.
Inside Job: How Government Insiders Subvert the Public Interest

National decline is typically blamed on special interests from the demand side of politics corrupting a country's institutions. The usual demand-side suspects include crony capitalists, consumer activists, economic elites, and labor unions. Less attention is given to government insiders on the supply side of politics - rulers, elected officials, bureaucrats, and public employees. In autocracies and democracies, government insiders have the motive, means, and opportunity to co-opt political power for their benefit and at the expense of national well-being. Many storied empires have succumbed to such inside jobs. Today, they imperil countries as different as China and the United States. Democracy - government by the people - does not ensure government for the people. Understanding how government insiders use their power to subvert the public interest - and how these negative consequences can be mitigated - is the topic of this book by Mark A. Zupan.
STRATEGIES FOR SURVEILLANCE, PREVENTION, AND CONTROL OF ARBOVIRUS DISEASES IN WESTERN NORTH AMERICA

Present strategies for surveillance, prevention, and control of arbovirus dis eases in western North America have been developed from more than 4 decades of epi demiological research and development of mosquito control technology. Methods of pre diction of outbreaks remain imprecise, although our understanding of sources of variation associated with indicators used for prediction is improving. Well organized and funded systematic mosquito abatement remains the most effective method of prevention of human cases of mosquito-borne virus disease, although emergency methods must be employed when outbreaks are imminent. The development of information management systems technology, use of recent developments of sampling theory, and research on vector com petency and related areas should permit much better precision in estimates of impending outbreaks. The development of strategies for the surveil lance, prevention, and control of arthropod-borne virus diseases in North America grew out of stud ies of the epidemiology of these diseases con ducted during the period preceding World War II. Approaches have been refined over the years, and materials and equipment have been im proved, but the basic concepts remain relatively unchanged since those times. I will examine these concepts and discuss their validity in light of the present state of knowledge of arbovirus disease ecology. If the name â€œReevesâ€ appears frequent ly in this discussion it is because his contribu tions to this area have been so extensive.
Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing and Orphan Drug Development

Since the introduction of the Orphan Drug Act (ODA) in 1983, orphan drug approvals in the United States have jumped from <100 per decade to over 200 per year. This growth is widely attributed to the financial incentives the ODA gives to companies that develop these medicines, and it is likely to continue for a unique reason: partnerships between pharmaceutical firms and direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing companies. This emerging trend is the subject of this article, which begins by considering how rare-disease drugs are regulated and the rising interest in nonclinical genetic testing. It then outlines how DTC companies analyze DNA and how their techniques benefit researchers and drug developers. Then, after an overview of the current partnerships between DTCs and drug developers, it examines concerns about privacy and cost brought up by these partnerships. The article concludes by contrasting the enormous positive potential of DTC-pharma relationships and their concomitant dangers, especially to con...
Beyond Sexual Assault Surveys: A Model for Comprehensive Campus Climate Assessments

The White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault identified campus climate surveys as “the first step” for addressing campus sexual violence. Through a process case study, this article presents one model for engaging in a comprehensive, action-focused campus climate assessment process. Rooted in principles of community-based participatory action research, this model moves beyond the administration of a survey as a compliance tool to engage and educate the campus community about sexual violence.
Measurement of cell traction force with a thin film PDMS cantilever

Adherent cells produce cellular traction force (CTF) on a substrate to maintain their physical morphologies, sense external environment, and perform essential cellular functions. Precise characterization of the CTF can expand our knowledge of various cellular processes as well as lead to the development of novel mechanical biomarkers. However, current methods that measure CTF require special substrates and fluorescent microscopy, rendering them less suitable in a clinical setting. Here, we demonstrate a rapid and direct approach to measure the combined CTF of a large cell population using thin polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) cantilevers. Cells attached to the top surface of the PDMS cantilever produce CTF, which causes the cantilever to bend. The side view of the cantilever was imaged with a low-cost camera to extract the CTF. We characterized the CTF of fibroblasts and breast cancer cells. In addition, we were able to directly measure the contractile force of a suspended cell sheet, which is similar to the CTF of the confluent cell layer before detachment. The demonstrated technique can provide rapid and real-time measurement of the CTF of a large cell population and can directly characterize its temporal dynamics. The developed thin film PDMS cantilever can be fabricated affordably and the CTF extraction technique does not require expensive equipment. Thus, we believe that the developed method can provide an easy-to-use and affordable platform for CTF characterization in clinical settings and laboratories.
NON-INVASIVE ASSESSMENT OF LEFT ATRIAL PRESSURE USING ARTERIAL TONOMETRY AND ITS CORRELATION WITH TISSUE DOPPLER ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY AND PULMONARY CAPILLARY WEDGE PRESSURE

Doppler echocardiography (TTE) has been validated for qualitative estimation of left atrial pressure (LAP). However, its accuracy in quantitative assessment of LAP is not known. Arterial tonometry (AT) has been validated for estimation of aortic pressure (AP). We sought to assess accuracy of E/e’
Embedded Information Literacy Instruction for Upper Level Engineering Undergraduates in an Intensive Writing Course

This study describes and assesses a pilot program to provide information literacy instruction to undergraduate engineering students in a writing intensive course. Working in teams, students complet...
The Origin and Evolution of Maize

Publisher Summary Maize is a grass, though in some respects a most unusual one, as the herbalists and early botanists clearly recognized. Within the grass family (Gramineae), maize is assigned to the tribe Maydeae, a tribe comprising eight genera, five of which are Oriental and three American. This chapter discusses the origin of maize and reviews the cytogenetic studies that led to the tripartite hypotheses. Evidence derived from the studies based on genetics, cytology, morphology, archaeology, ethnology, and history led to the development of a tripartite hypothesis, that cultivated that maize originated from a wild form of pod corn that was once, and perhaps still is, indigenous to the lowlands of South America. Teosinte, the closest relative of maize, is a recent product of the natural hybridization of Zea and Tripsacum that occurred after cultivated maize had been introduced by man into Central America. The new types of maize originating directly or indirectly from this cross and exhibiting admixture with Tripsacum comprise the majority of Central and North American varieties.
Transverse approach to the erector spinae block

Response to Dr Philip and Dr Kaushik ﻿ Krediet et al [1][1] compare several different paravertebral approaches. The erector spinae plane block is a new technique, and all approaches should be considered. I have had success with the transverse approach, whether lateral to medial or medial to
Social Media Content Analytics beyond the Text: A Case Study of University Branding in Instagram

Social media is unarguably one of the wealthiest sources of information. The opinions shared on social platform have an immense influence towards the brands equity. Social media has flourished with platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat, etc. However, over the past decade, Instagram, one of the most famous photo posting social media, has dominated the youth's attention with its unique feature of being the first ever photo sharing application. Over the years, large-scale data of user activity has been collected by researchers, yet not a single research reflects the scope of applying Artificial Intelligence (AI) framework to social media. By applying the advanced frameworks of AI, we can acquire the capability to analyze the content of social media. This content analysis enables us to be privy to numerous brands on social media, namely, retail branding, fashion branding, and, education branding, etc. In this paper, we propose a framework for education branding in social media. Our approach redefines social intelligence by helping students choose their school and provide insight on the rapid growth of the university through ranking, trending sports teams, newly introduced courses, real-time student feedback and future goals of the universities. This case study enables us to interpret social media in a complete innovative view.
Follow The Robot: Modeling Coupled Human-Robot Dyads During Navigation

Many robot applications being explored involve robots leading humans during navigation. Developing effective robots for this task requires a way for robots to understand and model a human’s following behavior. In this paper, we present results from a user study of how humans follow a guide robot in the halls of an office building. We then present a data-driven Markovian model of this following behavior, and demonstrate its generalizability across time interval and trajectory length. Finally, we integrate the model into a global planner and run a simulation experiment to investigate the benefits of coupled human-robot planning. Our results suggest that the proposed model effectively predicts how humans follow a robot, and that the coupled planner, while taking longer, leads the human significantly closer to the target position.
Proteomic Analyses of Human Sperm Cells: Understanding the Role of Proteins and Molecular Pathways Affecting Male Reproductive Health

Human sperm proteomics research has gained increasing attention lately, which provides complete information about the functional state of the spermatozoa. Changes in the sperm proteome are evident in several male infertility associated conditions. Global proteomic tools, such as liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight, are used to profile the sperm proteins to identify the molecular pathways that are defective in infertile men. This review discusses the use of proteomic techniques to analyze the spermatozoa proteome. It also highlights the general steps involved in global proteomic approaches including bioinformatic analysis of the sperm proteomic data. Also, we have presented the findings of major proteomic studies and possible biomarkers in the diagnosis and therapeutics of male infertility. Extensive research on sperm proteome will help in understanding the role of fertility associated sperm proteins. Validation of the sperm proteins as biomarkers in different male infertility conditions may aid the physician in better clinical management.
The Characteristics of the Moroccan Dialect used in Traditional Oral Tales

espanolEste articulo explora los aspectos culturales y linguisticos de los cuentos tradicionales marroquies, que los narradores narran en publico. Examinamos como se usa el, Darija marroqui, en estas actuaciones. Algunas expresiones, como los proverbios, pueden entenderse facilmente entre culturas, mientras que otras son culturalmente especificas. Tambien hay expresiones de apertura y cierre o expresiones con connotaciones religiosas que pueden usarse con tanta frecuencia y que pueden calificarse como formas linguisticas. El articulo presenta ejemplos de varios tipos de repeticiones, como diacope (palabras repetitivas separadas por otras palabras), epitone (repeticion para enfatizar un punto) o polyptoton (uso de palabras diferentes basadas en la misma raiz); ejemplos de sinonimos para enfatizar un punto; uso de antonimos; rimas cambios en el tono; uso del sarcasmo. Todo cual resalta la riqueza poetica del Darija, una variedad oral subestimada por los estudiosos EnglishThisarticleexplorestheculturalandlinguisticaspectsofMoroccantraditionaltales,whichareperformedinpublicbystorytellers.Weexaminehowthedialect,MoroccanDarija,isusedintheseperformances.Someexpressionssuchasproverbsmaybereadilyunderstoodcross-culturally,whileothersareculturallyspecific.Therearealsoopeningandclosingexpressionsorexpressionswithreligiousovertoneswhichmaybeusedsooftenthattheycanbequalifiedasformulae.Thearticlepresentsexamplesofvarioustypesofrepetitions,suchasdiacope(repeatingwordsseparatedbyotherwords),epimone(repetitiontostressapoint)orpolyptoton(useofdifferentwordsbasedonthesameroot);examplesofsynonymstoemphasizeapoint;useofantonyms;rhymes;changesintone;useofsarcasm,allofwhichhighlightthepoeticrichnessofMoroccanDarija,anorallanguagelongundervaluedbyscholars
Can’t Take my eyes off of the model: The impact of sexual appeal and product involvement on selective attention to advertisements

This study employed eye-tracking as a direct measure of visual attention to examine 1) the potential distraction effects of sexual appeals and 2) whether product involvement moderates the effect of...
Enhancement of Biological Properties of Blackcurrants by Lactic Acid Fermentation and Incorporation into Yogurt: A Review

Blackcurrants (BC) and yogurt are known to possess several health benefits. The objective of this review was to compile the latest information on the effect of lactic acid fermentation on BC and their incorporation into yogurt, including the impact of this combination on chemical composition, sensory aspects, and health attributes of the blend. Google Scholar, Scopus, and PubMed were used to research the most recent literature on BC juice, the whole BC berry, and yogurt. Health benefits were assessed from human and animal studies within the last 5 years. The results suggest that BC have several health promoting compounds that ameliorate some neurological disorders and improve exercise recovery. Yogurt contains compounds that can be used to manage diseases such as type 2 diabetes (T2D) and irritable bowel disease (IBD). Fermenting BC with lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and its incorporation into yogurt products increases the polyphenol and antioxidant capacity of BC, creating a blend of prebiotics and probiotics compounds with enhanced benefits. More research is needed in the area of lactic acid fermentation of berries in general, especially BC.
Data Depth: Robust Multivariate Analysis, Computational Geometry and Applications

Depth functions in nonparametric multivariate inference by R. Serfling Rank tests for multivariate scale difference based on data depth by R. Y. Liu and K. Singh On scale curves for nonparametric description of dispersion by J. Wang and R. Serfling Data analysis and classification with the zonoid depth by K. Mosler and R. Hoberg On some parametric, nonparametric and semiparametric discrimination rules by A. Hartikainen and H. Oja Regression depth and support vector machine by A. Christmann Spherical data depth and a multivariate median by R. T. Elmore, T. P. Hettmansperger, and F. Xuan Depth-based classification for functional data by S. Lopez-Pintado and J. Romo Impartial trimmed means for functional data by J. A. Cuesta-Albertos and R. Fraiman Geometric measures of data depth by G. Aloupis Computation of half-space depth using simulated annealing by B. Chakraborty and P. Chaudhuri Primaldual algorithms for data depth by D. Bremner, K. Fukuda, and V. Rosta Simplicial depth: An improved definition, analysis, and efficiency for the finite sample case by M. A. Burr, E. Rafalin, and D. L. Souvaine Fast algorithms for frames and point depth by J. H. Dula Statistical data depth and the graphics hardware by S. Krishnan, N. H. Mustafa, and S. Venkatasubramanian.