cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Navigation and Animation in a Volume Visualization System

The VolVis system for volume visualization supports numerous visualization algorithms and methods within a consistent and well-organized framework. Navigation and Animation components have been incorporated into VolVis which allow interactive object manipulation and quick specification of complex animation sequences. Navigation is controlled by a variety of 2D and 3D input devices. VolVis includes a unified protocol for communicating with these input devices, allowing for input device independent development.
Lithium storage in structurally tunable carbon anode derived from sustainable source

Abstract A meticulous solid state chemistry approach has been developed for the synthesis of carbon anode from a sustainable source. The reaction mechanism of carbon formation during pyrolysis of sustainable feed-stock was studied in situ by employing Raman microspectroscopy. No Raman spectral changes observed below 160 °C (thermally stable precursor) followed by color change, however above 280 °C characteristic D and G bands of graphitic carbon are recorded. Derived carbon particles exhibited high specific surface area with low structural ordering (active carbons) to low specific surface area with high graphitic ordering as a function of increasing reaction temperature. Carbons synthesized at 600 °C demonstrated enhanced reversible lithiation capacity (390 mAh g−1), high charge-discharge rate capability, and stable cycle life. On the contrary, carbons synthesized at higher temperatures (>1200 °C) produced more graphite-like structure yielding longer specific capacity retention with lower reversible capacity.
Development and Finite Element Analysis of Piezoelectric-Based Prototypes for Harvesting Energy from Roadway Pavement

Energy harvesting is a process that captures unused ambient energy such as heat, vibration, stress or movement that would otherwise be lost. Highway pavements infrastructure exposed to energy-potential resources from vehicle vibrations and traffic loading strains that could be harvested. Piezoelectric transducers (PZT) are potential materials for harvesting energy from pavements as they convert mechanical loading strains into electric voltage. For this purpose, this study is aimed to evaluate two types of piezoelectric prototypes integrated within asphalt mix; cylindrical disks and thin film sheet, suitable for compression and bending state of stresses, respectively. Finite element (FE) analysis was conducted to simulate prototype response in different geometry under dynamic loading. The evaluation of the prototype involves laboratory testing of their power output as a function of stress, and FE simulation of their mechanical behavior. Results suggested that power output is highly dependent on loading frequency and magnitude and PZT geometry but could be promising in powering low-watt LED traffic lights and wireless sensors embedded in pavement particularly in remote areas.
Intrahepatic blood flow distribution in the perfused rat liver: effect of hepatic artery perfusion.

Variations in blood flow to different sinusoids within the liver can prevent uniform uptake of solutes from plasma and contribute to cellular ischemia in low-flow states. However, the degree of variability and the role of hepatic artery perfusion in maintaining uniform flow are poorly defined. We used an indicator dilution technique to compare the distribution of sinusoidal transit times in isolated rat livers perfused through the portal vein alone with livers perfused using both portal vein and hepatic artery. Physiological flow rates were used in each case (1.2 +/- 0.3 ml.min-1.g liver-1), but the second group received 32% of flow through the hepatic artery. Intralobular flow heterogeneity was further assessed by gamma counting of small (approximately 100 mg) pieces of the liver after bolus injection of approximately 5 mCi of a highly extracted compound ([125I])triiodothyronine) into the portal vein. Hepatic artery perfusion had no significant effect on mean sinusoidal transit time or intrahepatic distribution volume for 51Cr-labeled red blood cells or 125I-albumin. Analysis of the outflow profiles indicated that hepatic artery perfusion did not affect transit time dispersion. However, heterogeneity of flow to individual portions of the liver, measured as the coefficient of variation, increased from 19 to 30%. These results indicate relatively uniform perfusion of the sinusoids in the portally perfused rat liver and that additional perfusion of the hepatic artery does not further improve hemodynamics. These results have significance for the design and interpretation of transport studies with the use of the perfused rat liver model.
Random Coherent Perfect Absorption with 2D Atomic Materials Mediated by Anderson Localization

Tailoring the spatiotemporal confinement of light with two-dimensional (2D) atomic materials is critical to harnessing their unique and attractive optoelectronic properties. Here, we report on the interplay between the localization of light within a disordered medium and the extreme material and loss localization afforded by deeply subwavelength (∼λ0/5000) single-layer 2D atomic materials. Structures in the regime of Anderson localization are found to support a condition termed “random coherent perfect absorption” (RCPA). This yields an array of optical effects that are unachievable in conventional lossy random media, including >99.9% absorption with Q-factors ranging from ∼102 to 106, Fano-resonance behavior in 1D, coexistence of RCPA and extraordinary transmission, and angle-selective conditions supporting the coalescence of all random modes toward perfect absorption.
Implementing parallel spreadsheet models for health policy decisions: The impact of unintentional errors on model projections.

Background Spreadsheet software is increasingly used to implement systems science models informing health policy decisions, both in academia and in practice where technical capacity may be limited. However, spreadsheet models are prone to unintentional errors that may not always be identified using standard error-checking techniques. Our objective was to illustrate, through a methodologic case study analysis, the impact of unintentional errors on model projections by implementing parallel model versions. Methods We leveraged a real-world need to revise an existing spreadsheet model designed to inform HIV policy. We developed three parallel versions of a previously validated spreadsheet-based model; versions differed by the spreadsheet cell-referencing approach (named single cells; column/row references; named matrices). For each version, we implemented three model revisions (re-entry into care; guideline-concordant treatment initiation; immediate treatment initiation). After standard error-checking, we identified unintentional errors by comparing model output across the three versions. Concordant model output across all versions was considered error-free. We calculated the impact of unintentional errors as the percentage difference in model projections between model versions with and without unintentional errors, using +/-5% difference to define a material error. Results We identified 58 original and 4,331 propagated unintentional errors across all model versions and revisions. Over 40% (24/58) of original unintentional errors occurred in the column/row reference model version; most (23/24) were due to incorrect cell references. Overall, >20% of model spreadsheet cells had material unintentional errors. When examining error impact along the HIV care continuum, the percentage difference between versions with and without unintentional errors ranged from +3% to +16% (named single cells), +26% to +76% (column/row reference), and 0% (named matrices). Conclusions Standard error-checking techniques may not identify all errors in spreadsheet-based models. Comparing parallel model versions can aid in identifying unintentional errors and promoting reliable model projections, particularly when resources are limited.
Combating Data Leakage Trojans in Sequential Circuits Through Randomized Encoding

Globalization of micro-chip fabrication has opened a new avenue of cyber-crime. It is now possible to insert hardware Trojans directly into the chip during the manufacturing process. These hardware Trojans are capable of destroying a chip, reducing performance or even capturing sensitive data. This paper presents a modification to a recently presented method of Trojan defense known as RECORD: Randomized Encoding of COmbinational Logic for Resistance to Data Leakage. RECORD aims to prevent data leakage through a randomized encoding and split manufacturing scheme. Its weakness, however, it that it is only applicable to combinational circuits. Sequential RECORD proposes a method to extend RECORD concepts to sequential designs. Experimental work with Sequential RECORD on a Data Encryption Standard circuit show that it is effective with the cost of a 3.75x area overhead, 4.5x power overhead and only a 3% decrease in performance.
Improved catalyst for photocatalytic oxidation of acetaldehyde above room temperature

Sulfated TiO2 was more active and deactivated more slowly than Degussa P-25 TiO2 during PCO of acetaldehyde above 373 K. Thermal catalytic reactions appear to poison both catalysts. Sulfating TiO2 increased surface area by 60% and increased the number of acetaldehyde adsorption sites by a factor of 1.7.
NEXAFS and X-Ray Linear Dichroism Microscopy and Applications to Polymer Science

We review the development of transmission Near Edge X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (NEXAFS) microscopy and linear dichroism microscopy over the last few years utilizing the Xl-Scanning Transmission Xray Microscope (XI-STXM) at the National Synchrotron Light Source and present some of its applications. NEXAFS provides excellent specificity to various functional groups and moieties in organic molecules and polymeric materials. This specificity can be utilized to map the distribution of various compounds in a material, or to micro-chemically analyze small sample areas. Examples of applications include the study of various phase-separated polymers, multicomponent polymer blends, and polymer laminates. Linear dichroism microscopy furthermore explores the polarization dependence of NEXAFS in (partially) oriented materials, and can determine the orientation of specific functional groups. Applications of linear dichroism microscopy have focused so far on determining the relative degree of radial orientation in Kevlar® fibers on a semi-quantitative basis.
STRUCTURAL AND IMMUNOSEROLOGIC PROPERTIES OF BABESIA AND THEILERIA SPECIES ISOLATED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a study analyzing the structural and immunoserologic properties of Babesia and Theileria species isolated in the United States. Babesia and Theileria species used in the study were isolated from a horse in the state of Florida and a deer native to the state of Missouri, respectively. On the basis of size, mode of multiplication, and number of parasites in infected erythrocytes using the fluorescent antibody (FA) technique, it was concluded that the infectious blood sample from Florida contained both Babesia caballi and Babesia equi. It was further demonstrated by means of the FA technique that certain forms of the parasite of equine babesiasis have a tail or fibril-like appendix. The tailed forms have been observed early in infection and are believed to be associated with the invasive stage in the cycle of development of Babesia. The fine structure of the Babesia parasite consists of a cytoplasmic membrane, a double nuclear membrane, a food vacuole, an endoplasmic reticulum, a Golgi apparatus, and vacuoles of various sizes that appear devoid of internal structure. No mitochondria or pigment (hemozoin) was observed in the cytoplasm of the parasite.
Effect of oral trazodone on the minimum alveolar concentration of isoflurane in dogs.

Abstract Objective To determine the effect of oral trazodone on the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of isoflurane in dogs. Study design Prospective blinded, single-observer, randomized crossover experimental study. Animals Six adult (age 6.8 ± 1.6 months) healthy dogs (three males and three females), weighing 24.8 ± 3.4 kg (mean ± standard deviation). Methods Each dog was anesthetized twice with a minimum of 7 days between anesthetic episodes. Dogs were randomly assigned to be administered two treatments in a crossover design: premedication with trazodone (8 mg kg−1; TRAZ–ISO) orally 2 hours prior to an anesthetic episode or no (ISO). Dogs were anesthetized with intravenous propofol (6 mg kg−1) and isoflurane in >95% oxygen. Isoflurane MAC was determined using an iterative bracketing technique with electrodes placed in the buccal mucosa. Hemodynamic variables were compared at the lowest end-tidal isoflurane concentration at which each dog did not respond. A paired t test was used to assess the effect of treatment on outcome variables with significance set to a value of p Results The MAC concentration (mean ± standard deviation) in dogs administered TRAZ–ISO was 0.85 ± 0.17% compared with 1.02 ± 0.11% in those administered ISO (p = 0.01, 95% confidence interval −0.25 to −0.05), resulting in a mean MAC reduction of 17 ± 12%. There were no differences in hemodynamic variables between treatments. Conclusions and clinical relevance Premedication of dogs with oral trazodone (8 mg kg−1) 2 hours prior to anesthetic induction has a significant isoflurane MAC sparing effect with no significant observed hemodynamic benefit.
A parallel and streaming Dynamic Mode Decomposition algorithm with finite precision error analysis for large data

Abstract A novel technique based on the Full Orthogonalization Arnoldi (FOA) is proposed to perform Dynamic Mode Decomposition (DMD) for a sequence of snapshots. A modification to FOA is presented for situations where the matrix A is unknown, but the set of vectors { A i − 1 v 1 } i = 1 N are known. The modified FOA is the kernel for the proposed projected DMD algorithm termed, FOA based DMD. The proposed algorithm to compute DMD modes and eigenvalues i) does not require Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) for snapshot matrices X with κ 2 ( X ) ≪ 1 / ϵ m , where κ 2 ( X ) is the 2-norm condition number of the snapshot matrix and ϵ m is the relative round-off error or machine epsilon, ii) has an optional rank truncation step motivated by round off error analysis for snapshot matrices X with κ 2 ( X ) ≈ 1 / ϵ m , iii) requires only one snapshot at a time, thus making it a ‘streaming’ method even with the optional rank truncation step, iv) consumes less memory and requires less floating point operations to obtain the projected matrix than existing projected DMD methods and v) lends itself to easy parallelism as the main computational kernel involves only vector additions, dot products and matrix vector products. The new technique is therefore well-suited for DMD of large datasets on parallel computing platforms. We show both theoretically and using numerical examples that for FOA based DMD without rank truncation, the finite precision error in the computed projection of the linear mapping is O ( ϵ m κ 2 ( X ) ) . The proposed method is also compared to existing projected DMD methods for computational cost, memory consumption and relative round off error. Error indicators are presented that are useful to decide when to stop acquiring new snapshots. The proposed method is applied to several examples of numerical simulations of fluid flow.
Identification of genes for resistance to Puccinia striiformis f. sp. hordei in 18 barley genotypes

Barley genotypes Hor 1428, Hor 2926, Hor 3209, BBA 2890, Abyssinian 14, Grannelose Zweizeilige, and Stauffers Obersulzer are resistant to all races of Puccinia striiformis f. sp. hordei so far detected in the U.S.A. Heils Franken, Cambrinus, Astrix, Emir, Hiproly, Varunda, Trumpf,Mazurka, Bigo, BBA 2890, and I 5 are resistant to some races and susceptible to others. Previous studies showed that Hor 1428, Hor 2926, Hor 3209, Abyssinian 14, Stauffers Obersulzer, I 5, Heils Franken, Emir, Astrix, Hiproly, Varunda, and Trumpf each have two genes, and BBA 2890, Grannelose Zweizeilige, Cambrinus, Mazurka, Bigo, and BBA 809 each have a single genefor resistance. To determine the genes in specific genotypes and their relationships, all possible crosses were made among the 18 genotypes. Seedlings of parents and F2 progeny were tested under controlledconditions for resistance to selected races that were avirulent on both parents. Based on segregation within the individual crosses to selected races, at least 26 of 30 genes detected in the 18 genotypes were different. Allelic and linkage relationships of some of the genes were determined. The genetic information should be useful for understanding the host-pathogen interactions and for control of stripe rust using resistance.
A genome-wide scan statistic framework for whole-genome sequence data analysis

The analysis of whole-genome sequencing studies is challenging due to the large number of noncoding rare variants, our limited understanding of their functional effects, and the lack of natural units for testing. Here we propose a scan statistic framework, WGScan, to simultaneously detect the existence, and estimate the locations of association signals at genome-wide scale. WGScan can analytically estimate the significance threshold for a whole-genome scan; utilize summary statistics for a meta-analysis; incorporate functional annotations for enhanced discoveries in noncoding regions; and enable enrichment analyses using genome-wide summary statistics. Based on the analysis of whole genomes of 1,786 phenotypically discordant sibling pairs from the Simons Simplex Collection study for autism spectrum disorders, we derive genome-wide significance thresholds for whole genome sequencing studies and detect significant enrichments of regions showing associations with autism in promoter regions, functional categories related to autism, and enhancers predicted to regulate expression of autism associated genes. Whole-genome sequencing data reveals a large number of variants for testing their associations with phenotypic traits and diseases. Here, the authors develop WGScan, a statistical method for detecting the existence and estimating the locations of the association signal at genome-wide scale.
Bayesian clinical trials at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center: An update:

Background/aimsIn our 2009 article, we showed that Bayesian methods had established a foothold in developing therapies in our institutional oncology trials. In this article, we will document what h...
Gentefication in the barrio: Displacement and urban change in Southern California

Located at the edge of downtown San Diego, Barrio Logan is a neighborhood undergoing rapid gentrification. With a host of new breweries, galleries and cafes, this traditionally working-class, Mexic...
Accelerometer-based body-plus-assistive-device sensor network for mobility tracking in individuals with stroke (Conference Presentation)

Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability in survivors, imposing functional limitations such as mobility impairments, speaking, and understanding, as well as paralysis. The outcomes of stroke on function and mobility may vary from complete paralysis of one side of the body to one-sided weakness of the body. This forces individuals to use multiple types of assistive technologies (AT) for mobility and balance. The use of AT combined with variations in functional recovery post-stroke create hard to detect complex mobility modes and patterns. Existing clinic- and community-based post-stroke rehab interventions rely on measurements of physical activity, rehab, and health outcomes using validated clinical tools, such as questionnaires and self-reports. These tools, however, suffer from participant bias, recall bias, and social acceptability bias. To address some of the limitations of self-report, research in use of body sensors for detecting and quantifying mobility in individuals with stroke has gained increased interest. In this paper, we consider a body-plus-assistive-device based network and identify dominant sensors for classification of complex mobility modes, such as walking with a cane or a walker, or other mobility activity, influenced by functional limitations and AT usage.
Making Sense of Student Success and Risk Through Unsupervised Machine Learning and Interactive Storytelling

This paper presents an interactive AI system to enable academic advisors and program leadership to understand the patterns of behavior related to student success and risk using data collected from institutional databases. We have worked closely with advisors in our development of an innovative temporal model of student data, unsupervised k-means algorithm on the data, and interactive user experiences with the data. We report on the design and evaluation of FIRST, Finding Interesting stoRies about STudents, that provides an interactive experience in which the advisor can: select relevant student features to be included in a temporal model, interact with a visualization of unsupervised learning that present patterns of student behavior and their correlation with performance, and to view automatically generated stories about individual students based on student data in the temporal model. We have developed a high fidelity prototype of FIRST using 10 years of student data in our College. As part of our iterative design process, we performed a focus group study with six advisors following a demonstration of the prototype. Our focus group evaluation highlights the sensemaking value in the temporal model, the unsupervised clusters of the behavior of all students in a major, and the stories about individual students.
Management and Outcome of Left Ventricular Assist Device Infections in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Transplantation.

Background Postoperative management of patients undergoing cardiac transplantation with an infected left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is unclear. Methods We retrospectively screened all adults with an LVAD who underwent cardiac transplantation at our institution from 2010 through 2018. We selected all cases of LVAD-specific and LVAD-related infections who were receiving antimicrobial therapy as initial treatment course or chronic suppression at the time of cardiac transplantation. Non-LVAD infections, superficial driveline-infection, or concurrent use of right ventricular assist device or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation device were excluded. Results A total of 54 cases met study criteria with 18 of 54 (33.6%) classified as LVAD- specific or related infections and 36 of 54 (66.6%) as noninfected. cases of lvad infection had a higher median charlson comorbidity Index score at the time of transplantation compared with noninfected cases (P = .005). Of the 18 cases of infection, 13 of 18 (72.2%) were classified as LVAD-specific and 5 of 18 (27.8%) were classified as LVAD-related. Nine of 13 (69.2%) cases had proven LVAD-specific infections. Antimicrobial therapy was extended posttransplant to treat preceding LVAD-specific infection in all 9 cases (9 of 13, 69.2%) with a median duration of 14 days (interquartile range, 14-28). After LVAD removal, antimicrobial treatment was not continued for preceding LVAD-related infections. Conclusions Patients with an LVAD-specific infection were treated with 2 weeks of pathogen-directed therapy postheart transplant without any relapses. For those without LVAD-specific infection or uncomplicated LVAD-related bacteremia who had completed antimicrobial therapy pretransplant, antibiotics were discontinued after standard perioperative prophylaxis and no relapses were observed.
Effect of hydrocolloids on normal and waxy maize starches cross-linked with epichlorohydrin

Abstract Research was conducted to test the hypothesis that the surface charge on maize starch granules cross-linked with POCl3 affects how hydrocolloids (HC) interact with them. Normal (NMS) and waxy maize (WMS) starches were cross-linked with epichlorohydrin (ECH) to 2 extents. The products were heated in water or one of 9 HC solutions, and the pasting and paste properties and the rheological attributes of the produced gels were determined and compared to those of POCl3 cross-linked NMS and WMS. Results confirm the hypothesis that the ability of HC to alter early events in the pasting process is an important factor in their effects in altering the properties of starch pastes, as all HC used appeared to have an effect on granule swelling of heated slurries of both native and cross-linked starches. Differences in the effect produced by the different HC on the pasting and paste properties of POCl3 and ECH cross-linked products of both NMS and WMS appeared primarily to be in degree and unrelated to whether the cross-linked starch had a negative surface charge. Two mechanisms are proposed for the influence of HC on granule swelling: 1) strengthening of granules via interactions with HC molecules, and 2) inhibition of water penetration and, therefore, granule swelling by plugging of granule micro- and mesopores by those hydrated HC molecules that are too large to enter them. Rheological properties of the produced gels determined before and after cold storage also had both similarities and differences in effects produced by addition of a HC.
Religious Intolerance on Campus: A Multi-Institution Study

Incidents of religious intolerance and discrimination have become too familiar in American society, and today’s college campuses are not immune to these incidents. Previous research has shown the n...
Recycled calcium carbonate is an efficient oxidation agent under deep upper mantle conditions

Observations of high ferric iron content in diamond garnet inclusions and mantle plume melts suggest a highly heterogeneous distribution of ferric iron in the mantle. Recycling of oxidized materials such as carbonates from Earth’s surface by subduction could explain the observed variations. Here we present high-pressure high-temperature multi-anvil experiments to determine the redox reactions between calcium-, magnesium-, or iron-carbonate and ferrous iron-bearing silicate mineral (garnet or fayalite) at conditions representative of subduction zones with intermediate thermal structures. We show that both garnet and fayalite can be oxidized to ferric iron-rich garnets accompanied by reduction of calcium carbonate to form graphite. The ferric iron content in the synthetic garnets increases with increasing pressure, and is correlated with the Ca content in the garnets. We suggest that recycled sedimentary calcium carbonate could influence the evolution of the mantle oxidation state by efficiently increasing the ferric iron content in the deep upper mantle. Calcium carbonate transported by subducting slabs could explain elevated ferric iron content in the upper mantle through redox reactions with iron-rich garnet and graphite as products, according to high-pressure, high-temperature experiments
Reconsidering the Polypill for Management of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Underserved Patients.

The recent publication of “Polypill for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in an Underserved Population” study prompts a thoughtful review of known care disparities in cardiovascular disease management in underserved patients. A polypill approach as a population health solution to this complex problem should also be reviewed. Munoz and colleagues open-label, randomized controlled trial of polypill vs. usual care was undertaken in minority patients at a federally qualified health center. The polypill, containing atorvastatin, amlodipine, losartan, and hydrochlorothiazide resulted in statistically significant improvements in systolic blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein levels (p = 0.003 and p < 0.001, respectively). The significant results of this study demonstrate the ability of a polypill approach to safely lower blood pressure, lipids, and thus estimated 10-year risk of CVD and are consistent with findings observed in previous literature. Uniquely, findings in a largely non-Hispanic Black patient population, offer an opportunity to examine this approach to combat important disparities in care in an underserved U.S. community. Further outcomes-based studies are warranted to explore the validity of these results and long-term safety of polypill treatment and are likely necessary prior to FDA approval and availability of a polypill product.
Photoacoustic lifetime based oxygen imaging with G2 polyacrylamide nanosonophores for in vivo tumor models

We report photoacoustic (PA) lifetime (PALT) based oxygen imaging powered by polyacrylamide (PAA) nanoparticles (NPs). The phosphorescenc indicator, oxyphor G2, was conjugated within the matrix of the NPs, giving G2-PAA NPs, followed by PEGylation for biocompatibility and F3 surface modification for tumor targeting. Two laser pulses (630 nm pumping, 920 nm probing) excite the G2-PAA NPs. By varying the delay time between the pump and the probe pulses, the exponential decay of the phosphorescence, which correlates linearly with the ambient oxygen concentration, can be measured. PALT imaging was performed, to quantitatively map the oxygen concentration in biological tissues in vivo, including both cancerous tumors and normal thigh muscles. The successful imaging experiment accomplished on animal models renders a new method for in vivo non-invasive imaging and assessment of hypoxic tumor microenvironments, which is critical for assessing cancer progression, metastasis, and treatment.
Japanese free choice items as unconditionals

This article examines syntactic and semantic properties of free choice items (FCIs) in Japanese. It is argued that Japanese FCIs, which have been considered to have a wh-item and a scalar focus particle demo, actually involve a clausal structure, which contains a null subject, a copula, and a subjunctive modal/mood. This proposal explains a number of puzzling issues regarding their distribution as FCIs compared with those in other languages. A compositional semantic analysis of Japanese FCIs is then proposed based on this morpho-syntactic decomposition; the Japanese free choice items are essentially analyzed as unconditionals, and it is shown that the subjunctive mood plays a crucial role in deriving relevant interpretations (in particular, counterfactuality, an ignorance inference, and an indifference inference) in the spirit of Izvorski (2000). This article also discusses a number of extensions and implications of the proposal: correspondence of different wh-items to different atomic levels in Condoravdi’s (2015) individuation scheme, scalarity of Japanese FCIs, the typology of FC expressions, and connection to correlative constructions. In addition, this article addresses some issues regarding licensing contexts of Japanese FCIs, an existential-like interpretation obtained in the presence of the phrase ii-kara ‘good-because’ in imperatives, anti-episodicity, subtrigging, the so-called Canasta scenario, and partitives.
Lower variability in female students than male students at multiple timescales supports the use of sex as a biological variable in human studies

Men have been, and still are, included in more studies than women, in large part because of the lingering belief that ovulatory cycles result in women showing too much variability to be economically viable subjects. This belief has scientific and social consequences, and yet, it remains largely untested. Recent work in rodents has shown either that there is no appreciable difference in overall variability across a wealth of traits, or that in fact males may show more variability than females. We analyzed learning management system logins associated to gender records spanning 2 years from 13,777 students at Northeastern Illinois University. These data were used to assess variability in daily rhythms in a heterogeneous human population. At the population level, men are more likely than women to show extreme chronotypes (very early or very late phases of activity). Men were also found to be more variable than women across and within individuals. Variance correlated negatively with academic performance, which also showed a gender difference. Whereas a complaint against using female subjects is that their variance is the driver of statistical sex differences, only 6% of the gender performance difference is potentially accounted for by variance, suggesting that variability is not the driver of sex differences here. Our findings do not support the idea that women are more behaviorally variable than men and may support the opposite. Our findings support including sex as a biological variable and do not support variance-based arguments for the exclusion of women as research subjects.
Combinatorial screening of the crystal structure in Ba–Sr–Mn–Ce perovskite oxides with ABO3 stoichiometry

ABO3 oxides with perovskite-related structures are attracting significant interest due to their promising physical and chemical properties for many applications requiring tunable chemistry, including fuel cells, catalysis, and electrochemical water splitting. Here we report on the crystal structure of the entire family of perovskite oxides with ABO3 stoichiometry, where A and B are Ba, Sr, Mn, and Ce. Given the vast size of this chemically complex material system, exploration for stable perovskite-related structures with respect to their constituent elements and annealing temperature is performed by combinatorial pulsed laser deposition and spatially resolved characterization of the composition and structure. As a result of this high-throughput experimental study, we identify hexagonal perovskite-related polytypic transformation as a function of composition in Ba1−xSrxMnO3 oxides after annealing at different temperatures. Furthermore, a hexagonal perovskite-related polytype is observed in a narrow composition–temperature range of BaCexMn1−xO3 oxides. In contrast, a tetragonally distorted perovskite is observed across a wider range of chemical compositions and annealing temperatures in Sr1−xCexMnO3 oxides. This structural stability is further enhanced along the BaCexMn1−xO3–Sr1−xCexMnO3 pseudo-binary tie line at x = 0.25 by increasing Ba incorporation and annealing temperature. These results indicate that BaCexMn1−xO3–Sr1−xCexMnO3 pseudo-binary oxide alloys (solid solutions) with a tetragonal perovskite structure and broad composition–temperature range of stability are promising candidates for thermochemical water splitting applications.
An exploratory study of freshman attrition from an Appalachian physiology program.

Appalachia has low rates of college attendance and graduation, but relevant data investigating student attrition from physiology majors in this region are lacking. This exploratory study examined f...
Feasibility of Hepatic T1-Mapping and Extracellular Volume Quantification on Routine Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients with Infiltrative and Systemic Disorders.

Rationale and Objectives Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) is commonly obtained to evaluate for myocardial infiltrative disorders and fibrosis. Pre- and post-Gadolinium contrast T1-mapping sequences are employed to estimate interstitial expansion using extracellular volume fraction (ECV). Given the proximity of the liver to the heart, T1 and ECV quantification of the liver is feasible on CMR. The purpose of this study was to evaluate for hepatic measures of fibrosis and interstitial expansion in patients with amyloidosis or systemic disease on CMR. Materials and Methods Myocardial and hepatic native T1 values were measured retrospectively using a cardiac short axis modified Look-Locker inversion recovery sequence. Myocardial and hepatic ECV were calculated using pre- and post-contrast T1 and blood pool values according to the following formula: ECV = (Δ(1/T1) myocardium or liver and/or Δ(1/T1) blood)x(1 – hematocrit). Patients were divided into three cohorts by final diagnosis: amyloidosis, systemic disease (e.g. sarcoid, scleroderma), and controls (EF > 50, no ischemia). Results Of the 135 patients who underwent CMR, 22 had cardiac amyloidosis (age 59.9 ± 12.6 yrs, 41% female), 20 had systemic disease (age 50.9 ± 13.4 yrs, 35% female), and 93 were controls (age 49.5 ± 17.3 yrs, 50% female). Myocardial T1 and ECV values were highest for patients with amyloid, second highest for systemic disease, and least for controls (T1: 1169 ± 92 vs 1101 ± 53 vs 1027 ± 73 ms, p Conclusion Hepatic ECV quantification on CMR in patients with amyloidosis and systemic disorders is feasible. Further longitudinal investigation regarding detection of early or subclinical liver disease is warranted.
Measurable Selections: A Bridge Between Large Cardinals and Scientific Applications?

There is no prospect of discovering measurable cardinals by radio astronomy, but this does not mean that higher set theory is entirely irrelevant to applied mathematics broadly construed. By way of example, the bearing of some celebrated descriptive-set-theoretic consequences of large cardinals on measurable-selection theory, a body of results originating with a key lemma in von Neumann's work on the mathematical foundations of quantum theory, and further developed in connection with problems of mathematical economics, will be considered from a philosophical point of view.
Concluding perspectives of sequelae and long-term consequences of infectious diseases - what's next?

There are obstacles in establishing the concept that some infectious diseases may have sequelae with long-term consequences. This chapter overviews the sequelae of infectious agents, presents the economic burdens associated with these infections, and suggests future directions to progress this concept. Infectious diseases are the second leading cause of death worldwide and the third leading cause of death in the United States. Sequelae, of course, are the pathological conditions resulting from a prior disease. There are many chronic syndromes and diseases for which there is a suspicion of an infectious etiology. For example, Mycobacterium paratuberculosis and possibly other pathogens could be triggers of inflammatory bowel disease or Crohn’s disease. Diarrheal diseases rank third among the leading infectious causes of death worldwide. Infections involving biofilms will likely have sequelae. Biofilms are a common cause of persistent infections. Here, bacteria attach and aggregate in polymeric matrixes on various mucosal surfaces.
Human Genome Project as a Social Enterprise

The Human Genome Project shows that technical developments are the products of social dynamics rather than historically inevitable ones, and that, in the society that produces them, they manifest the interests and concerns of the groups that are more powerful. Keywords: Human Genome Project; ethical; legal and social implications; liberalism; genetic determinism; patents
The effect of salt solutions on the acceptance of amino acids by transfer ribonucleic acid.

Abstract The presence of dissolved salt during the enzymatic aminoacylation of transfer RNA diminishes the amount of aminoacyl-tRNA formed at the completion of the reaction. Experiments indicate that, although salt inhibits aminoacyl-fstRNA synthetases, the diminution of the final level of aminoacylation is the result of salt-dependent changes in tRNA. tRNAs accepting different amino acids differ widely in their sensitivity to the same salt, and each tRNA species varies considerably in its sensitivity to different substances. The salt-induced changes in tRNA can be reversed by dilution or by removal of the salt. Several physical studies have failed to reveal any measurable alteration in tRNA structure in the presence of salt concentrations in which tRNA is partially or wholly inactive in amino acid acceptance, provided Mg++ is present in all salt solutions which are compared.
Energy planning in Guatemala: Response to crisis

Abstract Heavy economic burdens associated with rapidly escalating costs of imported petroleum have forced Guatemala's government to formulate and implement a new energy policy, which recognizes the high degree of dependence on foreign oil for commercial energy as well as the need to include social and environmental factors in policy formulation. The government has presented a programme that depends on fuel diversification and the development of indigenous energy sources to provide a long-term solution, while recognizing that increased import costs are necessary over the short term.
When are similar regimes more likely to form alliances? Institutions and ideologies in the post-communist world

Following the collapse of the old communist regimes, 28 post-communist countries chose from among three main foreign security arrangements: commonwealth of independent states (CIS)/collective security treaty organization (CSTO) membership, north atlantic treaty organization (NATO) membership, or neutrality. What explains these choices? We are most interested theoretically in the role played by regime type. The alliances literature typically uses a narrow institutional theory of the effects of regime type, which implies that more democratic regimes are more attractive alliance partners than more authoritarian regimes. Post-communist area specialists will be aware that this institutional theory fails to explain the apparent tendency of more authoritarian post-communist regimes to join the CIS/CSTO. We develop a broader ideological theory of how regime type affects alliances, in which political institutions are complemented by substantive ideological and policy goals. Applying the ideological approach to the...
Two-shot cocktail: Adenosine, dopamine and a twist of βγ

The neurotransmitter dopamine underlies most addictive processes—but its faint response to ethanol has puzzled researchers. New research suggests that ethanol interacts synergistically with adenosine and dopamine signaling to amplify the effect of drinking.
Visualization of liquid fuel behavior in a spark ignition engine during starting and warm-up

The liquid fuel behavior in the intake port and the cylinder during starting and warm-up was visualized through visualization windows using a high speed CCD camera. The videos were taken with the engine firing under cold conditions in the simulated start up process, at 1.000 and 1.200 RPM and intake manifold pressure of 0.5 bar. The variables examined were the injector geometry and injector type (normal and air-assisted). The visualization results show several features of the liquid fuel behavior: 1) backward strip-atomization of the fuel film along the periphery of the intake valves by the valve overlap backflow: 2) forward strip-atomization of the fuel film on the surfaces of the intake system into droplet streams by the intake air flow: 3) film flow which forms significant liquid puddles at the valve surface and at the vicinity of the intake value: and 4) squeezing of the liquid film at the valve lip and seat into large droplets in the valve closing process. Some of the liquid fuel survives combustion into the next cycle. The time evolution of the in-cylinder liquid film is influenced by the injection geometry and port surface temperature. Photographs showing the liquid fuel features and an explanation of the observed phenomena are given in the paper.
Semantic Interactivity in Presence Systems

Presence Technology (PT) is targeted to the needs of people who want to be part of a remote, live environment. Presence systems blend component technologies like computer vision, signal understanding, heterogeneous sensor fusion, live-media delivery, telepresence, databases, and multimedia information systems into a novel set of functionality that enables the user to perceive, move around, enquire about, and interact with the remote, live environment through her reception and control devices. PT creates the opportunity to perform different tasks: watch an event, tour and explore a location, meet and communicate with others, monitor the environment for a potential situation, perform a query on the perceived objects and events, and recreate past observations. Technically, the framework offers computer-mediated access to multi-sensory information in an environment, integrates the sensory information into a situation model of the environment, and delivers, at the user’s request, the relevant part of the assimilated information through a multimodal interface.
Mechanical Properties of Several 2000 and 6000 Series Aluminum Alloys

One of the most important problems of the design and metallurgical engineers is the proper selection of engineering alloys for structural applications in cryogenic-fueled missiles and space vehicles. The basis for selection of a material is dependent upon many factors, the most important of which are strength, resistance to catastrophic fracture, availability, and fabricability. Materials with a high strength-to-density ratio are required for flight vehicles in order to minimize the weight and meet design requirements for payload capabilities. The alloys must possess a high degree of toughness or resistance to brittle failure in order to meet the reliability requirements. These alloys must maintain their high strengths and toughness during ground handling and flight conditions which may impose severe environments. Temperatures may range from nearly absolute zero, due to cryogenic fuels and to certain conditions in outer space, to elevated temperatures as a result of atmospheric frictional heating, engine heating, etc. Operating conditions may also include high stresses, vibration, impact and repeated loading, thermal shocks, and subjection to radiation and vacuum. The materials selected must be capable of being welded, formed, and machined in order to fabricate structural components, and must maintain their strength and toughness in the fabricated condition. Those alloys which meet the above technical requirements must be available in the sizes, forms, shapes, and quantities required, and at a cost which is not prohibitive.
Analytical Solution of the O-X Mode Conversion Problem

The excitation of a slow extraordinary wave in an overdense plasma from an ordinary wave impinging on the critical layer in the plane spanned by the density gradient and magnetic field is solved analytically by formulating the problem in terms of a parabolic cylinder equation. A formula for the angular dependence of the transmission coefficient is derived.
The threatened staff: A psychoanalytic contribution to medical psychology

Abstract Hospital staff working with severely damaged physically handicapped patients are subject to more frequent and more intense personal distress than is a staff treating less seriously ill patients. Patients suffering from massive life-threatening, life-altering disease processes affect those who care for them in two ways: 1) by the sheer burden of their special emotional and physical demands; 2) through the conscious and unconscious fantasies stirred in the minds of staff members, by the stimulation of such damaging lesions. Evidence is presented from the data of staff member's everyday patient complaints. by organizing such complaints into three differing groups of staff-patient transactions, a previously unrecognized source of anxiety becomes evident: narcissistic vulnerability. This essentially normal, universally present, personality constellation (narcissistic vulnerability) is the area of staff member's psyche most threatened with disruptive overstimulation through work with this papient group. Implications of this hypothesis for the psychiatric consult's roles in staff education and patient service are explored.