cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Measuring the Performance of Suppliers: An Analysis of Evaluation Processes

SUMMARY In the past, commonly used supplier evaluative criteria have focused on quality, service or delivery, and price. In recent years, the channels literature has indicated other areas, such as relationship factors, that may affect channel partner performance; yet, no known research has examined either the extent of formal supplier evaluation programs or the factors currently used in channel evaluation. The purpose of this research is to fill that void by determining the number of firms that have systematic evaluation systems and to examine the currently used supplier evaluation instruments — with a focus on whether or not channel relationship factors are considered — from a wide cross-section of industries. Findings indicate that less than half of the responding firms have a formal supplier evaluation process in place, and that quality, supplier certification, facilities, continuous improvements, physical distribution factors, and channel relationship factors were the factors most commonly included in supplier evaluation programs.
Probability distributions of optical flow

Gradient methods are widely used in the computation of optical flow. The authors discuss extensions of these methods which compute probability distributions of optical flow. The use of distributions allows representation of the uncertainties inherent in the optical flow computation, facilitating the combination with information from other sources. Distributed optical flow for a synthetic image sequence is computed, and it is demonstrated that the probabilistic model accounts for the errors in the flow estimates. The distributed optical flow for a real image sequence is computed. >
Pathophysiology and Clinical Manifestations of the β-Thalassemias

The β-thalassemia syndromes reflect deficient or absent β-globin synthesis usually owing to a mutation in the β-globin locus. The relative excess of α-globin results in the formation of insoluble aggregates leading to ineffective erythropoiesis and shortened red cell survival. A relatively high capacity for fetal hemoglobin synthesis is a major genetic modifier of disease severity, with polymorphisms in other genes also having a significant role. Iron overload secondary to enhanced absorption and red cell transfusions causes an increase in liver iron and in various other tissues, leading to endocrine and cardiac dysfunction. Modern chelation regimens are effective in removing iron and preserving or restoring organ function.
Threading dislocation density reduction in GaN/sapphire heterostructures

Large lattice mismatch between GaN and α-Al2O3 (15%) leads to the possibility of high threading dislocation densities in the nitride layers grown on sapphire. This investigation focused on defect reduction in GaN epitaxial thin layer was investigated as a function of processing variables. The microstructure changes from threading dislocations normal to the basal plane to stacking faults in the basal plane. The plan-view TEM and the corresponding selected-area diffraction patterns show that the film is single crystal and is aligned with a fixed epitaxial orientation to the substrate. The epitaxial relationship was found to be (0001)GaN∥(0001)Sap and [01-10]GaN∥[-12-10]Sap. This is equivalent to a 30° rotation in the basal (0001) plane. The film is found to contain a high density of stacking faults with average spacing 15 nm terminated by partial dislocations. The density of partial dislocations was estimated from plan-view TEM image to be 7×109 cm−2. The cross-section image of GaN film shows the density of stacking faults is highest in the vicinity of the interface and decreases markedly near the top of the layer. Inverted domain boundaries, which are almost perpendicular to the film surface, are also visible. The concentration of threading dislocation is relatively low (∼;2×108 cm−2), compared to misfit dislocations. The average distance between misfit dislocations was found to be 22 A. Contrast modulations due to the strain near misfit dislocations are seen in high-resolution cross-sectional TCM micrograph of GaN/α-Al2O3 interface. This interface is sharp and does not contain any transitional layer. The interfacial region has a high density of Shockley and Frank partial dislocations. Mechanism of accommodation of tensile, sequence and tilt disorder through partial dislocation generation is discussed. In order to achieve low concentration of threading dislocations we need to establish favorable conditions for some stacking disorder in thin layers above the film-substrate interface region.
Shock-Protection Improvement Using Integrated Novel Shock-Protection Technologies

This paper presents the design and results of shock experiments conducted to demonstrate the advantages of two novel shock-protection technologies: 1) nonlinear spring shock stops and 2) soft coating shock stops. Both technologies basically employ the conventional idea of hard shock stops to decouple device design from shock-protection design but are specialized to reduce impact force, which is one of the drawbacks of hard stops. In addition, they enable wafer-level and batch fabrication processes compatible with microfabrication techniques. We designed test devices to reflect the effect of impact force and fabricated them using silicon microbeams (nonlinear springs) or Parylene coating (soft coating). After conducting multiple shock tests (up to 2500 g), we demonstrate that the shock-survival rates of test devices are considerably improved in both our novel technologies (nonlinear spring: 88%, soft coating: 94%) compared to conventional hard stops (4%). Moreover, we demonstrated that shock protection is improved by optimizing the design of shock springs. Finally, we analyzed dynamics of flexible beams and identified a new device-fracture mechanism induced by impact force, which is different from conventionally known mechanisms.
Drug Safety: A Clinical Pharmacologist's Perspective

This paper covers the role of clinical pharmacology in the development of safe drugs. The three roles of the clinical pharmacologist are explored. Rational therapeutics—which encompasses risk/benefit assessments, an awareness of the effect of various disease states on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, and aging —is the basis for the discussion.
Likelihood Cross-Validation Versus Least Squares Cross-Validation for Choosing the Smoothing Parameter in Kernel Home-Range Analysis

Abstract Fixed kernel density analysis with least squares cross-validation (LSCVh) choice of the smoothing parameter is currently recommended for home-range estimation. However, LSCVh has several drawbacks, including high variability, a tendency to undersmooth data, and multiple local minima in the LSCVh function. An alternative to LSCVh is likelihood cross-validation (CVh). We used computer simulations to compare estimated home ranges using fixed kernel density with CVh and LSCVh to true underlying distributions. Likelihood cross-validation generally performed better than LSCVh, producing estimates with better fit and less variability, and it was especially beneficial at sample sizes <˜50. Because CVh is based on minimizing the Kullback-Leibler distance and LSCVh the integrated squared error, for each of these measures of discrepancy, we discussed their foundation and general use, statistical properties as they relate to home-range analysis, and the biological or practical interpretation of these statist...
Least Bittern distribution among structurally different vegetation types in managed wetlands of northwest Tennessee, USA

We conducted Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis) surveys on Reelfoot Lake and nearby Black Bayou Waterfowl Refuge, in northwest Tennessee, USA during May–June 2003 to determine the distribution of Least Bitterns among structurally different vegetation types, including giant cutgrass (Zizaniopsis miliacea), swamp loosestrife (Decodon verticillatus), and woody vegetation. Least Bitterns were historically abundant on Reelfoot Lake when giant cutgrass once occupied 1,000 ha, but water-level stabilization resulted in 93% of the emergent zone now being dominated by swamp loosestrife interspersed with trees and saplings, including baldcypress (Taxodium distichum) and maple (Acer spp.). Least Bitterns were detected 49 times. Sites with Least Bitterns had greater percent giant cutgrass coverage, less woody vegetation coverage, and fewer tall trees than sites where Least Bitterns were not detected; however, Least Bittern presence was positively related with only giant cutgrass coverage and was unrelated to woody vegetation coverage or tall tree density. Density of Least Bitterns was greater on Black Bayou (0.45/ha) than Reelfoot Lake (0.11/ha). The lower density of Least Bitterns on Reelfoot Lake is partially attributed to the shift in the dominant emergent species from a grass to a shrub. In the absence of vegetation management, Least Bitterns will continue to decline on Reelfoot Lake as many swamp loosestrife marshes convert to forests.
High-Voltage Stacked Diode Package

The Army is moving to a more electric force with a number of high-voltage applications. To support this transition, there have been efforts to develop high voltage (15–30 kV) single-die 4H-silicon carbide (SiC) bipolar switches and diodes. However, packaging these high-voltage devices has proven to be challenging since standard packaging methods cannot withstand the high voltages in a compact form. Therefore, this work aims to develop a compact prototype package with improved size, weight, and power density by stacking diodes. The stacked diode approach allows elimination of almost half of the wirebonds, reduces the board size by 45%, and reduces the package inductance. A module has been designed, fabricated, and tested which is the first 30 kV module reported in the literature to stack two high-voltage diodes in a series configuration. The package has a number of features specific to high-voltage packaging including (1) two fins that extend the perimeter of the package to mitigate shorting, and (2) all t...
Do State pensions crowd out private saving? Evidence from the raised state pension age for British women

State pensions' effect on private saving and thus capital accumulation is disputed. This paper analyses the impact on saving of the rise in British women's State pension age from 60 to 65 using individual-level data. This change affects wealth but not work incentives. A raised women's pension age was expected before its announcement in November 1993, but which cohorts would be affected was not known. This paper compares saving by affected and unaffected cohorts of women, and that of men, before and after this announcement. No evidence is found of increased saving by women after the announcement. The conclusion is that younger women either were myopic in their saving behaviour or understood that their family dynasties' wealth was not affected by the reform.
On the quantum moduli space of vacua of N = 2 supersymmetric gauge theories

Families of hyper-elliptic curves which describe the quantum moduli spaces of vacua of N = 2 supersymmetric SO(Nc) gauge theories coupled to Nf flavors of quarks in the vector representation are constructed. The quantum moduli spaces for 2Nf < Nc − 1 are determined completely by imposing Rsymmetry, instanton corrections and the proper classical singularity structure. These curves are verified by residue calculations. The quantum moduli spaces for 2Nf ≥ Nc − 1 theories are parameterized and their general structure is worked out using residue calculations. The exact metrics on the quantum moduli spaces as well as the exact spectrum of stable massive states are derived. The results presented here together with recent results of Martinec and Warner provide a natural conjecture for the form of the curves for the other gauge groups.
Shoulder arthroplasty: return to sport.

Context:Increasingly, total shoulder arthroplasty is being performed not only to treat the pain associated with glenohumeral arthritis but also to return patients to the level of activity and funct...
Impact Risk Assessment of a Fragmented Asteroid in Earth Resonant Orbits

Taking advantage of direct numerical simulation, analytic keyhole theory, B-plane mapping, and planetary encounter geometry are shown to be useful in determining the impact probability of an asteroid with the Earth on a given encounter, as well as the potential for future encounters. The accurate estimation of the impact probability of hazardous asteroids is extremely important for space mission planning in order to mitigate their impact threat to Earth. Asteroids in Earth’s resonant orbits are particularly troublesome because of the continuous threat they pose in the future. Expanding upon the established theory, a computational method is developed to estimate the impact probability of an asteroid, fragmented into many pieces by a disruption mission, on their current and future encounters with Earth.
Intelligent Probabilistic Decision System

In this paper we present an intelligent decision support system based on probabilistic graphical models. We have developed a suite of tools allowing rapid model development, model verification and validation, and deployment. To support the decision maker the reasoning engine ranks decisions, uses value of information to determine the most relevant additional information to collect, and provides explanations to support recommended decisions. These tools have been applied to multiple domains, including Border protection which we present in this paper. I. Introduction ntelligent decision systems are used in a broad range of applications including autonomous systems, robotics, situational awareness, etc. They can operate autonomously or they may provide decision recommendations for a human being, who makes the final selection of an appropriate action. The decisions may be derived using deterministic reasoning, e.g. decision tree or rules, or they may require some form of uncertain reasoning, e.g. fuzzy logic or probabilistic methods. In this paper we will focus on decision support in the presence of uncertainty, specifically by applying graphical probabilistic models. In many applications decision selection is a multistep process. The initial evidence may not be sufficient for the selection of a final decision and additional evidence may need to be acquired. For example, in system failure troubleshooting, failure symptoms are often not sufficient to identify root cause failure and additional tests may have to be performed. In such multi-step process it is desirable to provide recommendations for selection of the next best item of evidence in addition to the decision selection. Another important element of decision support is explanation of the recommendation. A human decision maker may not trust the recommendation unless a convincing explanation is provided. We will present a methodology and tools for rapid development of decision support solutions, which include recommendation of additional evidence and explanation of the selected decisions. There exist several techniques for implementation of decision support in the presence of uncertainty. They include: fuzzy logic, Dempster-Shaffer and probabilistic methods. Our approach is based on graphical probabilistic models called Bayesian networks. 1
Invariant Resonance Splitting in Stand-Alone Multiring Resonators

Relations between coupling strength and resonator mode numbers that ensure invariant resonance splitting in stand-alone multiring resonators of diverse architectures are investigated analytically and numerically. The loss-insensitive splitting determines the bandwidth of the associated circuitry.
Soybean Seed Crude Protein and Oil Levels in Relation to Weight, Developmental Time, and Survival of Southern Green Stink Bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

The influence of soybean seed protein and oil level on developmental time, weight, and survival of southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (L.), was examined. Developmental times and weights of adults and nymphs were similar to those reported by other researchers. Diet had a small but significant effect on developmental time to second, third, and fourth instar, with consumption of higher protein (lower oil) resulting in decreased developmental time (e.g., days to fourth instar = 13.3 on high protein diet compared with 15.2 on low protein diet). However, developmental time from hatch to fifth instar and adult was not significantly affected by diet. Maximum differences between diets at any life stage were only 2 d. Males and females had similar developmental times. Increasing seed protein resulted in greater adult weights of both males and females (e.g., weight of females = 182.2 mg on high protein diet compared with 153.0 mg on low protein diet) but had no effect on weights of nymphs. Females were significantly heavier than males from fourth instar to adult. Stink bug genotype (blocks) significantly affected developmental time and weight of all nymphal instars and adults. Survival was not affected by diet or stink bug genotype.
The Taf14 YEATS domain is a reader of histone crotonylation

The discovery of new histone modifications is unfolding at startling rates; however, the identification of effectors capable of interpreting these modifications has lagged behind. Here we report the YEATS domain as an effective reader of histone lysine crotonylation, an epigenetic signature associated with active transcription. We show that the Taf14 YEATS domain engages crotonyllysine via a unique π-π-π-stacking mechanism and that other YEATS domains have crotonyllysine-binding activity.
Program of enhanced psychiatric services for patients with brain injury and neuropsychiatric disturbances: A proposed model of care

Neuropsychiatric disturbances associated with brain injury occur frequently and are a common cause of poor quality of life and caregiver burden. These disturbances can disrupt rehabilitation therapies and contribute to functional impairment if they are not appropriately treated. Although some patients can be treated adequately in an outpatient brain injury clinic or rehabilitation clinic, others need a more specialized structured program. Behavioral problems in particular are challenging and often lead to discharge of patients from traditional rehabilitation programs because their behaviors can be disruptive and/or harmful to themselves and others. These patients are often admitted to inpatient general psychiatric units, where they do not receive the comprehensive care they need. In an effort to prevent unnecessary hospitalizations and to provide comprehensive treatment, a community-based, multidisciplinary program was developed to address the physical, cognitive, and psychiatric needs of patients with brain injury. The program is highlighted with two case presentations: (a) a 31-year-old man with severe traumatic brain injury with subsequent cognitive and behavioral symptoms who had improvement in symptoms and quality of life, and (b) a 38-year-old woman with cognitive and mood symptoms after left temporal lobe resection due to medication-refractory epilepsy who had improved mood symptoms and daily life functioning. Brain injury is commonly associated with a host of neuropsychiatric symptoms that wax and wane. There is an urgent need to develop comprehensive programs that can address the multiple needs of this patient population in a community setting.
Effect observation on large area spraying with WCD2000 epidemic-prevention vehicle against flies

Objective To test the effect of large area spraying with WCD2000 epidemic-prevention vehicle against flies combined epidemic prevention support for military exercises.Methods The epidemic-prevention vehicle was used to spray alpha-cypermethrin wettable powder over large area in place stationed troops.Fly population densities were tested before 1 day and after 1-7 days of spraying to evaluate effects against flies Results The rates of fly density declined by 82.1% and 78.7% in and out rooms(including tents) after 1 day of spraying respectively,and all over 50% after 7 days of spraying.The rates were all in excess of 75% after 1 day of spraying and were up to 50%after 7 days in camping toilets and dumping pits.The constituent ratios of Musca domestica,Chrysomyai megacephala and Lucillia sericata were 68.2%,20.4% and 6.3% respectively.Conclusion The efficiency of fly control is very well by spraying over large area with WCD2000 epidemic-prevention vehicle,and sustaining time is long.
Food Hygiene Status of Catering Trade around Tourist Sites in Mengyin County of Shandong Province

[Objective] To discuss food hygiene and management measures of catering trade around tourist sites. [Methods] The combination method of random surveys and health supervision and monitoring was applied to investigate health management, general health survey and tableware disinfection situation of 256 around chief tourist site in Mengyin County.[Results] 90.62% of catering units had food-selling licenses, qualified rate of tableware disinfection was 50.60%, 57.03% food processing procedures did not meet health requirements. [Conclusion]"People's Republic of China Food Sanitation Law" should be strictly implemented, the related departments should regularly inspect catering units in accordance with health regulations, the unit with complete health documents are allowed to do business.
A Survey on Ability of Chronic Disease Prevention and Control of Basic Medical and Health Institutions in Huairou District of Beijing

[Objective]To understand the ability of chronic disease prevention of basic medical and health institutions in Huairou district of Beijing,analyze the requirements of chronic disease prevention and its restrictive factors,improve the ability of chronic disease prevention in this district,and provide the basis for making the prevention and control strategy. [Methods]16 community health service centers and its affiliated community health service stations in the Huairou district were investigated with unified questionnaire by Huairou CDC personnel who had received the training in Beijing CDC. [Results]The human resource distribution of community health stations is unbalanced,and some of the community health stations have a lack of human resource.The medical instruments and equipments are not enough in community health stations.There is a lack of related current national standards or guidelines for chronic disease prevention at different levels in the community health service centers,and this problem in community health stations is more serious.The rate of chronic disease management is low.The rehabilitation equipment services for stroke are inadequate. [Conclusion]It is necessary to adjust the human resource,increase the fund input in community health service,strengthen the construction of instruments and equipments related to chronic disease prevention in community health stations,and improve the standardized management of patients with chronic diseases.
Molecular remissions induced by liposomal-encapsulated all-trans retinoic acid in newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia.

All-trans retinoic acid administered orally (oral ATRA) may not regularly lead to either molecular complete remissions (CRs) or prolonged hematologic CRs (HCR) unless combined with chemotherapy. Because serum tretinoin concentrations are higher, and maintained longer, after use of liposomal-encapsulated ATRA (lipoATRA) rather than oral ATRA, we investigated lipoATRA monotherapy in newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Patients received lipoATRA 90 mg/m2 every other day for remission induction. The same dose was given 3 times a week until 9 months had elapsed from HCR date. Treatment then stopped. Chemotherapy (idarubicin 12 mg/m2daily days 1-2 for 2 courses) was to be added only if 2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, performed 2 weeks apart, were positive at 3, 6, or 9 months from HCR date. The sensitivity level of the PCR was 10−4. We treated 18 patients (median age, 54 years; median white blood cell [WBC] count 4,500/μL). The HCR rate was 12/18 (67%, 95% confidence interval [CI], 41% to 87%). This rate was similar to that we observed in a previous study using oral ATRA + idarubicin. Nine of 10 patients studied at HCR date were PCR-positive. Subsequently, however, overall (+/− idarubicin) rates of PCR positivity were 0/12 at 3 months, 1/10 at 6 months, 1/7 at 9 and 12 months, and 0/4 at 15 to 17 months. Idarubicin has been added in 3 patients, with this addition occurring at 6 months in 2 patients and at 9 months in 1 patient. Among patients who had not received idarubicin when the PCR was evaluated, 0 of 12 were PCR-positive at 3 months, 1 of 10 was positive at 6 months, 1 of 6 was positive at 9 months, 0 of 4 were positive at 12 months, and 0 of 3 were positive at 15 to 17 months. Morphologic APL has recurred in 1 patient, with a median follow-up time of 13 months in the 11 patients remaining in first CR. The median follow-up time is 9½ months (range, 3 to 17) in the 9 patients who have received only lipoATRA and who remain PCR-negative and in first CR. Our data suggest that lipoATRA is an effective means of producing molecular CR in newly diagnosed APL.
Retroviral Transduction in Fetal Thymic Organ Culture

T-cell development requires cytokines and intimate contact with stromal cells provided exclusively by the thymus. Consequently, an in vitro model of thymocyte differentiation, fetal thymic organ culture (FTOC), has been developed. FTOC recapitulates the normal development of T-cells derived from both mouse and human progenitor populations, providing a more rapid means to study T-cell development compared with alternative in vivo approaches. Furthermore, FTOC is easily amenable to genetic manipulation using retroviral gene transfer. In this chapter, we outline the basic FTOC technique and describe several applications, including retroviral transduction of mouse thymocyte subsets and human CD34+ stem/progenitor cells.
Identifying human-machine interaction problems in continuous state data

A set of studies has been focused on identifying “markers” in aircraft data that are indicative of human factors issues. In this paper we discuss an experiment that investigated if human error is predictable from the error observed from the combined human-machine system. Sixteen pilots flew simulated instrument approaches under varying levels of workload and control augmentation conditions. Operator control lag, gain, delay, and error extent were computed from aircraft lateral path errors. These parameters along with pupil diameter data were analyzed for differences across workload conditions. Main effects for workload were found with respect to all control parameters consistent with the experiment hypotheses, but the effects were very small. Operator delay in responding to errors appeared inversely correlated with workload. Statistically significant differences were also found with respect to error extent ad pupil diameter.
High-Dose Melphalan and Stem Cell Transplantation for Patients with AL Amyloidosis and Cardiac Involvement

Abstract 2043 Treatment of AL amyloidosis (AL) with high dose melphalan and autologous stem cell transplant (HDM/SCT) results in a high rate of durable complete hematologic responses associated with clinical responses and improvement in survival. However, patients with cardiac involvement are at increased risk of treatment-related mortality (TRM). Recently, cardiac biomarkers, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and troponins, have been used to predict survival for AL amyloidosis patients, including those undergoing treatment with HDM/SCT. Here we report on treatment-related mortality (TRM), overall survival, and time to next treatment (progression) and hematologic responses in patients with AL amyloidosis and cardiac involvement, stratified by cardiac biomarker stage, treated with HDM/SCT. Eligibility for HDM/SCT was based upon strict functional and clinical criteria rather than upon staging based upon biomarkers, and required a Zubrod performance status 40%, and adequate cardiopulmonary reserve at a stair climb. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing was also used for some patients. Cardiac involvement was determined by electrocardiographic and echocardiographic abnormalities, as defined by Consensus Opinion of the 10 th Symposium on Amyloid and Amyloidosis. A cardiac risk assessment or “cardiac staging” system incorporating biomarkers was used, with patients assigned to stage I (normal biomarkers, BNP 2 HDM and 60% (n=21) received 140 mg/m 2 HDM. TRM, defined as deaths within 100 days of SCT, occurred in 3 patients (9%), all cardiac stage III (3/20, 15% of the stage III patients); patients with cardiac stage I or II did not have any TRM. This compares to a TRM of 3% (n=1/30) in patients without cardiac involvement who were treated with HDM/SCT during the same time period (Fisher9s exact test, p=0.6177). There were two additional deaths during the first year after HDM/SCT, one with cardiac stage II disease and one with stage III disease. Three-year overall survival for combined Stage I and II disease was 93%, for Stage III it was 76%, and for the cohort without cardiac involvement it was 96% (p=0.08). Three-year progression free survival for combined Stage I and II disease was 69%, for Stage III it was 45%, and without cardiac involvement it was 69% (p=0.0424). Median overall survival and progression free survivals have not been reached, with a median follow-up for 21 months. By intention-to-treat analysis, 23% (n=8) of patients achieved a hematologic complete response (CR) and 46% (n=16) a partial response (PR) at 1 year following HDM/SCT. Thirty % (n=11) required additional treatment by one year following HDM/SCT. While the cardiac biomarker stage III group clearly encompasses patients at high risk of early mortality from disease and complications of treatment, for patients that meet functional criteria for HDM/SCT, this therapeutic modality may offer the potential for effective treatment for selected stage III patients. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Robust Design Procedures

This chapter discusses a simple modification to be made to the integral adjustment gain KI(t) in order to account for the effects of disturbances and noise that lead to a persistent nonzero error. These modifications are presented and illustrated in Sections 4.2, 4.3, and 4.4, respectively, for the basic algorithm, the algorithm with reference model feedforward, and the algorithms based upon supplementary dynamics.
Saphenous Nerve Block

The saphenous nerve block chapter describes the indications, set up, technical details and other considerations for two different approaches to achieve anesthesia in the saphenous nerve distribution.
Contributions and challenges in the struggle to end poverty: the case of Kiva

ABSTRACTThis study discusses the American microfinance nonprofit organization, Kiva Microfunds, its organizational development and the impact of its approach to microfinance on the microfinance industry generally. The paper sees Kiva’s particular contribution to the field of microfinance as drawing on internet technologies to bring microfinance to a global user base. As it grew, it maintained is leadership in the niche it created, but it also faces many challenges. We conduct a SWOT-inspired analysis in which we specifically focus on what have been some of the key factors that have led to Kiva’s success and what may be areas of vulnerability that threaten its position of strength, particularly the high interest rates it charges, and the emergence of competitors that may be more effective than Kiva in their shared mission to alleviate poverty. We briefly examine some literature that challenges the received view on the overall value of microfinance and consider some implications for Kiva and conclude by not...
Coherent states for compact Lie groups and their large-N limits

The first two parts of this article surveys results related to the heat-kernel coherent states for a compact Lie group K. I begin by reviewing the definition of the coherent states, their resolution of the identity, and the associated Segal–Bargmann transform. I then describe related results including connections to geometric quantization and \((1+1)\)-dimensional Yang–Mills theory, the associated coherent states on spheres, and applications to quantum gravity. The third part of this article summarizes recent work of mine with Driver and Kemp on the large-N limit of the Segal–Bargmann transform for the unitary group U(N). A key result is the identification of the leading-order large-N behavior of the Laplacian on “trace polynomials.”
Symmetric and asymmetric components of anomalous tropospheric-mean horizontal fluxes of latent and sensible heat associated with ENSO events of variable magnitude

Abstract The El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) represents the dominant mode of global climate variability and is inherently nonlinear such that the linearity of the atmospheric response remains an area of ongoing research. The phase of North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and Pacific North American (PNA) patterns of intra-annual climate variability are favored to be the same as the phase of ENSO resulting in important climate impacts across Europe and North America. Advanced understanding of the symmetry of this response at global scale using monthly composite analyses of anomalous horizontal sensible and latent heat fluxes at various ENSO event magnitudes quantified from ERA-Interim output (January 1979 through June 2016) will advance impact predictability. A linear relationship between ENSO, PNA, and NAO patterns was identified, particularly for strong ENSO events. The nonlinear component indicated general eastward (westward) shifts in anomalous heat fluxes during El Nino (La Nina) events such that the greatest impacts were implied across North America during Decembers and Januarys of strong El Nino and weak La Nina events. Analyses of anomalous latent heat fluxes indicated spatial patterns consistent with more frequent atmospheric river phenomena, especially during Decembers and Januarys of strong El Nino events. This work demonstrates that the symmetric component of anomalous horizontal, tropospheric-mean heat fluxes corresponding to ENSO events are effective for identifying north-south dipoles of anomalous circulations consistent with PNA or NAO patterns and connections between tropical heat source regions and the PNA and NAO regions. This work also demonstrates the asymmetric component identified differences in anomalous circulation position and whether El Nino or La Nina resulted in larger heat flux anomalies. Therefore, this work provides insight into impacts associated with future ENSO events, especially across North America during strong El Nino and weak La Nina.
COAR: Collaborative and Opportunistic Human Activity Recognition

The new era of consumer devices ranging from smartphones, smartwatches, and smart jewelries augmented with our everyday activities and lifestyle help postulate human behavior, activity, gesture, social interaction, and gaming experience. Intelligently tasking and sharing the sensing, processing, storing, and computing tasks among those emerging consumer-friendly commodity devices based on their proximities, advocate the development of resource-aware collaborative and opportunistic smart living applications. Motivated by this emerging subsets of phenomenal applications, we first propose a finite-state machine (FSM) based human activity recognition framework which opportunistically exploits the relevant data sources from multiple heterogeneous devices to help infer a variety of user contexts. We depict a lightweight maximum entropy based classifier and exploit the a-priori conditional dependences among the feature sets to opportunistically select the right set of sensors with the most appropriate devices. Experimental results on real data traces demonstrate that our proposed Collaborative Opportunistic Activity Recognition, COAR framework helps infer the activities of daily living with ≈ 90% accuracy.
Receptor-mediated endocytosis and intracellular processing of insulin: ultrastructural and biochemical evidence for cell-specific heterogeneity and distinction from nonhormonal ligands.

The purpose of this review is to present biochemical and ultrastructural evidence which demonstrate that differences exist between the binding, internalization and intracellular processing of insulin and other types of ligands such as LDL and alpha-2-macroglobulin. In addition, other data will show that there is substantial cell-specific heterogeneity among different cell types in the processing of the insulin-receptor complex.
Slurry rheology of Hanford sludge

Abstract This article evaluates the slurry viscosity of radioactive waste. Hanford waste is a motley mixture of particle sizes and densities composed of metal and oxide particles with constituents spanning much of the periodic table stored at high ionic strength and high pH. Hanford wastes have traditionally been represented as simply an ideal Bingham plastic, but this rheological approximation often provides a poor fit from 0 to 200 1/s, precisely the range of interest for engineering design of waste transport and mixing systems. A modified Cross formulation inclusive of a yield stress is used to fit stress-strain rate data for reconstituted Hanford REDOX sludge waste, measured by increasing shear-rate (up-ramp) and decreasing shear-rate (down-ramp) sweeps. This continuous single equation formulation quantitatively matches experimental data better than other rheological models including the Bingham plastic and Herschel-Bulkley approximations. The increase of viscosity and yield stress from up ramp to down ramp suggests the formation of particle microstructure during shear due to attractive forces.
CARDIAC TAMPONADE IN THE SETTING OF A PYOGENIC LIVER ABSCESS: A RARE BUT SERIOUS COMPLICATION

Cardiac tamponade, either due to mechanical compression or pericarditis is a rare complication of pyogenic liver abscess. However, it can be rapidly progressive and highly lethal if untreated. An 87-year-old female with a recent diagnosis of pyogenic liver abscess staus-post pigtail placement,
A novel CNN algorithm for pathological complete response prediction using an I-SPY TRIAL breast MRI database

Abstract Purpose To apply our convolutional neural network (CNN) algorithm to predict neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) response using the I-SPY TRIAL breast MRI dataset. Methods From the I-SPY TRIAL breast MRI database, 131 patients from 9 institutions were successfully downloaded for analysis. First post-contrast MRI images were used for 3D segmentation using 3D slicer. Our CNN was implemented entirely of 3 × 3 convolutional kernels and linear layers. The convolutional kernels consisted of 6 residual layers, totaling 12 convolutional layers. Dropout with a 0.5 keep probability and L2 normalization was utilized. Training was implemented by using the Adam optimizer. A 5-fold cross validation was used for performance evaluation. Software code was written in Python using the TensorFlow module on a Linux workstation with one NVidia Titan X GPU. Results Of 131 patients, 40 patients achieved pCR following NAC (group 1) and 91 patients did not achieve pCR following NAC (group 2). Diagnostic accuracy of our CNN two classification model distinguishing patients with pCR vs non-pCR was 72.5 (SD ± 8.4), with sensitivity 65.5% (SD ± 28.1) and specificity of 78.9% (SD ± 15.2). The area under a ROC Curve (AUC) was 0.72 (SD ± 0.08). Conclusion It is feasible to use our CNN algorithm to predict NAC response in patients using a multi-institution dataset.
The Unique Role of Medical Students in Catalyzing Climate Change Education

Climate change is a well-recognized threat to human health with impacts on every organ system and with implications for disease processes across subspecialties. Climate-driven environmental exposures influence the pathophysiologic underpinnings of disease emphasized in the pre-clinical years of medical school. While medical schools are beginning to offer climate change and health electives, medical education is lagging in providing fundamental climate-and-health content to adequately prepare the next generation of physicians for the challenges that they will face in the provision of healthcare and the prevention and treatment of disease. This perspective piece highlights the unique role of medical students in catalyzing the incorporation of climate content into the pre-clinical medical school curriculum and provides topics for disseminated curricular integration with the concepts emphasized in the pre-clinical years of medical education.
Caudally directed in situ fenestrated endografting for emergent thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Abstract We previously described a transfemoral antegrade in situ laser fenestration technique (in situ fenestrated endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair) for ruptured thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms. In the present report, we have described an alternative technique of caudally directed in situ fenestrated endografts using upper extremity access for branch vessel incorporation. This technique involves partial deployment of the aortic stent graft in the thoracic aorta to achieve proximal control, followed by sequential branch incorporation using a laser probe through a steerable sheath, from the upper extremity access. The advantages of the technique include rapid proximal aortic control before branch incorporation without target vessel prestenting and separation of in situ fenestration from the target branch vessel origin, facilitating cannulation of angulated branch vessels.
Genome-wide functional screens enable the prediction of high activity CRISPR-Cas9 and -Cas12a guides in Yarrowia lipolytica

Abstract Genome-wide functional genetic screens have been successful in discovering genotype-phenotype relationships and in engineering new phenotypes. While broadly applied in mammalian cell lines and in E. coli, use in non-conventional microorganisms has been limited, in part, due to the inability to accurately design high activity CRISPR guides in such species. Here, we develop an experimental-computational approach to sgRNA design that is specific to an organism of choice, in this case the oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica. A negative selection screen in the absence of non-homologous end-joining, the dominant DNA repair mechanism, was used to generate single guide RNA (sgRNA) activity profiles for both SpCas9 and LbCas12a. This genome-wide data served as input to a deep learning algorithm, DeepGuide, that is able to accurately predict guide activity. DeepGuide uses unsupervised learning to obtain a compressed representation of the genome, followed by supervised learning to map sgRNA sequence, genomic context, and epigenetic features with guide activity. Experimental validation, both genome-wide and with a subset of selected genes, confirms DeepGuide’s ability to accurately predict high activity sgRNAs. DeepGuide provides an organism specific predictor of CRISPR guide activity that could be broadly applied to fungal species, prokaryotes, and other non-conventional organisms.
Simple oligonucleotide-based multiplexing of single-cell chromatin accessibility

Microdroplet single-cell ATAC-seq is widely used to measure chromatin accessibility, however, highly scalable and simple sample multiplexing procedures are not available. Here, we present a transposome-assisted single nucleus barcoding approach for ATAC-seq (SNuBar-ATAC) that utilizes a single oligonucleotide adaptor for multiplexing samples during the existing tagmentation step and does not require a pre-labeling procedure. The accuracy and scalability of SNuBar-ATAC was evaluated using cell line mixture experiments. We applied SNuBar-ATAC to investigate treatment-induced chromatin accessibility dynamics by multiplexing 28 mice with lung tumors that received different combinations of chemo, radiation, and targeted immunotherapy. We also applied SNuBar-ATAC to study spatial epigenetic heterogeneity by multiplexing 32 regions from a human breast tissue. Additionally, we show that SNuBar can multiplex single cell ATAC and RNA multiomic assays in cell lines and human breast tissue samples. Our data show that SNuBar is a highly accurate, easy-to-use, and scalable system for multiplexing scATAC-seq and scATAC and RNA co-assay experiments.
Image-Data-Driven Slope Stability Analysis for Preventing Landslides Using Deep Learning

Landslides account for approximately 5% of natural disasters resulting in significant socio-economic impacts. As a major infrastructure issue, slope stability has been traditionally analyzed with multiple deterministic and probabilistic methods to evaluate the stability of slopes or the probability of landslides. Geotechnical engineers tend to visit the sites of slopes, measure the geometry and soil properties, and use those traditional methods to analyze the slope stability and provide a factor of safety evaluation and recommendation. The fast-growing new technologies such as the internet of things and big data analytics provide new directions for natural hazard prevention. This study is the first to use deep learning as a new method for slope stability analysis for landslide prevention. A convolutional neural network was used to establish the model via transfer learning for processing simulated slope images. After training, our model can accurately predict the factor of safety of slopes for new slope images. Our proposed method was validated by comparing it with a classic limit equilibrium method, i.e., the simplified Bishop method, which is widely used in commercial programs for slope stability analysis. The comparison results showed that our proposed deep learning method outperformed the traditional method by decreasing the computation time by orders of magnitude without sacrificing accuracy. The results demonstrated the possibility and advantages of using deep learning as a new type of slope stability analysis method, including its ability to analyze raw image data directly, high level of automation, satisfactory accuracy, and short computing time, which will enable onsite evaluation for slope stability analysis. Thus, it facilitates fast in-situ decision-making for geotechnical applications and ensures the feasibility of using the internet of things and big data analytics for natural hazard prevention.
Impacts of preplant tillage and tracer application method on preferential flow to groundwater

vi GENERAL INTRODUCTION 1 Dissertation Organization 4 Literature Cited 5 COLLECTION AND MONITORING OF ONE-METER 8 CUBIC SOIL MONOLITHS FOR LEACHING STUDIES Abstract 8 Introduction 9 Literature Review 10 Objectives 13 Materials and Methods 13 Soil Monoliths 14 Test Stand IDevelopment for Monolith Support in the Laboratory 15 Construction of rainfall simulator 15 Grid sampler for collecting leachate at the bottom of the monolith 16 Tensiometers 17 Time domain reflectometers 17 Experimental procedures 18 Results and Discussion 20 Soil Water Measurement 20 Spatial Variation in Water and Solute Transport 21 Preferential Flow Pathways 22 Summary 23 Literature Cited 24 IMPACT OF PREPLANT TILLAGE ON SPATIAL AND 37 TEMPORAL DISTRIBUTION OF NITRATE LEACHING LOSSES Abstract 37 Introduction 38 Materials and Methods 41 Results and Discussion 44 NO3-N Spatial Distribution 46 NO3-N temporal distribution 48 Summary and Conclusions 48 Literature Cited 49
Bilateral Interpolated Paramedian Forehead Flaps

The patient was a 66-year-old man with type II diabetes mellitus who developed an adenoid cystic carcinoma of the left posterior nasal passage. Computerized axial tomography demonstrated that the epicenter of the tumor was arising from the deep surface of the left nasal bone. The nasal bones and posterior superior bony septum were eroded by the tumor. The cribriform plate appeared intact; however, the tumor extended into the posterior ethmoid cells. The neoplasm was removed by a craniofacial resection through a bicoronal approach. Surgery included an ethmoidectomy, partial medial maxillectomy, and resection of the cribriform plate and posterior superior bony septum. Full-thickness resection of the left bony and cartilaginous nasal sidewall was performed. A portion of the bony dorsum was also removed. The patient refused postoperative radiotherapy because of the small risk of blindness.