cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An approach for behavior discovery using clustering of dynamics

As robots enter more complex application domains and start to interact autonomously with their surroundings and with humans, it becomes essential that they can efficiently represent and interpret their streams of sensor data and model the behavior of objects in their environment. To do this automatically and without the need for extensive a priori models of the environment, these systems have to be able to autonomously discover the different dynamic behaviors of entities in their environment as well as to predict points at which objects' behaviors and interactions change. This paper presents a technique to simultaneously learn to identify segmentation points and to extract a discrete set of models of the behaviors of objects from a stream of sensor observations. The approach presented here uses unsupervised learning techniques to learn these models in the form of representative sensor signatures which, once acquired, are used to interpret the robot's observations and to represent the actual sensor data more compactly as a sequence of behaviors. To enable the system to simultaneously learn to segment the continuous data stream and to build appropriate models for the data segments, a set of similarity metrics for sensor streams is derived and used in an expectation maximization algorithm. This algorithm alternates between segmenting the sensor data based on the existing behavior models and clustering the data segments to derive better models, thus iteratively improving both the quality of the segmentation and of the behavior models. To illustrate the approach, experiments are performed using simulated observations derived from different types of sensors which observe the dynamic interactions of objects.
On using degree-days to account for the effects of weather on annual energy use in office buildings

To better quantify the effects of conservation measures, degree.day-based techniques are commonly used to isolate weather.induced changes in building energy use. In this paper, we use a building energy simulation model, which allows us to hold fixed all influences on energy use besides weather, to evaluate several degree-day-based techniques. The evaluation is applied to simulated electricity and natural gas consumption for two large office building prototypes located in five U.8. climates. We review the development of degreeday-based, weather-normalization techniques to identify issues for applying the techniques to office buildings and then evaluate the accuracy of the techniques with the simulated data. We conclude that, for the two office building prototypes and five U.8. locations examined, most techniques perform reasonably well; accuracy, in predicting annual consumption, is generally better than 10%. Our major finding is that accuracy among individual techniques is overwhelmed by circumstances outside the control of the analyst, namely, the choice of the initial year from which the normalization estimates are made.
Child Care Program Directors' Level of Knowledge About Asthma and Factors Associated with Knowledge

Although asthmatic children spend a significant amount of time in child care programs, little is known about child care program directors' knowledge about asthma and what factors influence directors' level of knowledge about asthma. A telephone interview was conducted with directors of a randomly selected sample of all licensed child care centers and group day care homes in Connecticut. Directors of most child care programs were willing to admit asthmatic children to their programs, but their knowledge about asthma needs to be improved. Directors who have served for long periods of time may be a target group for additional education about asthma.
Adaptive interference canceler for narrowband and wideband interferences using higher order statistics

A new higher order statistics-based adaptive interference canceler is introduced to mitigate narrowband and wideband interferences in environments where the interference is non-Gaussian and a reference signal, which is highly correlated with the interference, is available. The new scheme uses higher order statistics (HOS) of the primary and reference inputs and employs a gradient-type algorithm for updating the adaptive filter coefficients. The update equation of the HOS-based adaptive filter is independent of uncorrelated Gaussian noises and can mitigate the interference more effectively than adaptive filters based on second-order statistics. The performance of the. HOS-based adaptive filter is much less sensitive to the choice of the step size parameter than the adaptive filters based on the LMS algorithm. It is demonstrated, by means of extensive simulations, that the HOS-based filter can mitigate both narrowband and wideband interferences effectively. Comparisons with adaptive filters based on the LMS algorithm and second-order statistics are also presented in the paper. >
Visualizing Tymieniecka’s Approach with String Theory

This chapter argues that to better understand Tymieniecka’s thought, we might look to outside philosophy to the aesthetics of string theory. Brian Green’s explanations and Tymieniecka’s prose evoke a vibrating dynamism that call for a multidimensional approach to and understanding of the world whose “order may not be visible from any single dimension.”
Real-time video tracking using PTZ cameras

Automatic tracking is essential for a 24 hours intruder-detection and, more generally, a surveillance system. This paper presents an adaptive background generation and the corresponding moving region detection techniques for a Pan-TiltZoom (PTZ) camera using a geometric transform-based mosaicing method. A complete system including adaptive background generation, moving regions extraction and tracking is evaluated using realistic experimental results. More specifically, experimental results include generated background images, a moving region, and input video with bounding boxes around moving objects. This experiment shows that the proposed system can be used to monitor moving targets in widely open areas by automatic panning and tilting in real-time.
An Embedded System Architecture for Wireless Neural Recording

We have designed and tested a complete end-to-end neural-signal communications system. To achieve a compromise between programmability and size/power consumption, we have used the TelosB mote as a platform for our wireless signal acquisition, processing, and communications device. The system operates in two modes of operation: (1) real-time, in which the raw signal is acquired via a custom neural-signal amplifier circuit, ADPCM compressed, and transmitted in real time at a rate of 4000 12-bit samples per second; (2) and spike-detection, where data is sampled at a rate of 16670 12-bit samples per second, and spike waveforms are detected via an adaptive absolute threshold algorithm. Data is transmitted wirelessly to a gateway mote, which forwards the signals to an archive server. The archive server makes the neural signals available to a client application, which retrieves waveforms and detected spike parameters. The client application also enables the user to set amplifier gain and high-pass corner frequency remotely. The system consumes approximately 50 mW of power in the real-time mode of operation, and approximately 1 to 5 mW of power in the spike-acquisition mode of operation. The animal-mounted sensor is approximately the size of a matchbox, and weighs 66 g.
The contribution of familial internalizing and externalizing liability factors to borderline personality disorder.

Background Individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) frequently display co-morbid mental disorders. These disorders include ‘internalizing’ disorders (such as major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders) and ‘externalizing’ disorders (such as substance use disorders and antisocial personality disorder). It is hypothesized that these disorders may arise from latent ‘internalizing’ and ‘externalizing’ liability factors. Factor analytic studies suggest that internalizing and externalizing factors both contribute to BPD, but the extent to which such contributions are familial is unknown. Method Participants were 368 probands (132 with BPD; 134 without BPD; and 102 with major depressive disorder) and 885 siblings and parents of probands. Participants were administered the Diagnostic Interview for DSM-IV Personality Disorders, the Revised Diagnostic Interview for Borderlines, and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. Results On confirmatory factor analysis of within-person associations of disorders, BPD loaded moderately on internalizing (factor loading 0.53, s.e. = 0.10, p < 0.001) and externalizing latent variables (0.48, s.e. = 0.10, p < 0.001). Within-family associations were assessed using structural equation models of familial and non-familial factors for BPD, internalizing disorders, and externalizing disorders. In a Cholesky decomposition model, 84% (s.e. = 17%, p < 0.001) of the association of BPD with internalizing and externalizing factors was accounted for by familial contributions. Conclusions Familial internalizing and externalizing liability factors are both associated with, and therefore may mutually contribute to, BPD. These familial contributions account largely for the pattern of co-morbidity between BPD and internalizing and externalizing disorders.
‘Are You Guys Girls?’: Boys, Identity Texts, and Disney Princess Play:

Drawing from critical sociocultural perspectives that view play, literacy, and gender as social practices, boys’ Disney Princess play is examined as a site of identity construction and contestation situated within overlapping communities of femininity and masculinity practice where children learn expected practices for ‘doing gender’. The article presents critical discourse analysis of two instances of five- and six-year-old children’s doll play excerpted from data collected during a year of weekly visits to one focal kindergarten in a US Midwest public school, which is part of a larger three-year study of literacy play as mediated discourse. Through princess play, children enacted femininities and masculinities and negotiated character roles with peers in ways that enforced and contested gender expectations circulated in media marketing and enacted in play groups. Findings indicate that doll play is a productive pedagogy for mediating gendered identity texts circulating through global media and for creat...
Literature in Second-Year College French: The Use of Transformations

IS IT advisable or possible to use literature as the basis for language instruction at the second-year college level? The question concerns quite specifically the second year, since this is really the only time the problem arises. As far as the first year is concerned, few would quarrel with the notion that literature can be hardly more than an adjunct to texts specifically conceived for teaching purposes, while in the third year, it would appear that the use and study of literature is solidly and generally established.
Constitutive Cytokine mRNAs Mark Natural Killer (NK) and NK T Cells Poised for Rapid Effector Function

Natural killer (NK) and NK T cells are tissue lymphocytes that secrete cytokines rapidly upon stimulation. Here, we show that these cells maintain distinct patterns of constitutive cytokine mRNAs. Unlike conventional T cells, NK T cells activate interleukin (IL)-4 and interferon (IFN)-γ transcription during thymic development and populate the periphery with both cytokine loci previously modified by histone acetylation. Similarly, NK cells transcribe and modify the IFN-γ gene, but not IL-4, during developmental maturation in the bone marrow. Lineage-specific patterns of cytokine transcripts predate infection and suggest evolutionary selection for invariant but distinct types of effector responses among the earliest responding lymphocytes.
Optional Inferior Vena Cava Filter Retrieval with Retained Thrombus: An in Vitro Model

PURPOSE Retrieval of an optional inferior vena cava (IVC) filter with retained thrombus may result in pulmonary emboli if the trapped thrombus is not removed along with the filter. An in vitro model was developed to determine the fate of trapped thrombus during filter removal. MATERIALS AND METHODS An in vitro IVC flow model was created with 25-mm inner diameter tubing and a 50% glycerol/water solution. Three different optional filters—Recovery (Bard, Tempe, AZ), Gunther-Tulip (Cook Inc., Bloomington IN), and OptEase (Cordis Endovascular/Johnson & Johnson, Warren, NJ)—were evaluated in the study. A known mass of mature thrombus (porcine, aged 1 wk) was trapped within the optional filters. The filters were then retrieved according to the manufacturers' protocol, and the mass of thrombus recovered with the filter was determined. For each filter, five iterations were performed with initial thrombus sizes less than 1 g (group A) and an additional five iterations with initial thrombus sizes greater than 1 g (group B). RESULTS Thrombi from group A were statistically significantly smaller than those from group B ( P CONCLUSIONS In our in vitro model, we have established that the mass of thrombus retrieved with optional filters is only a fraction of the initial clot burden. Because of the risk of pulmonary emboli, care should be taken when IVC filters with large amounts of trapped thrombus are removed from patients.
An electrophoretic study of maternal, fetal, and infant sera.

Abstract Serum albumin and gamma-globulin increase rapidly during the development of the human fetus, whereas the alpha- and beta-globulins remain at a low level. The alpha- and beta- globulins rise appreciably and albumin decreases in maternal sera during pregnancy. The high gamma-globulin in newborn infants decreases markedly during the first month or two of life, whereas all of the other serum components rise. The view that the ingestion of colostrum maintains or raises the antibody level of infants is not supported by our findings. The serum patterns are discussed from the viewpoint of lipid content, placental permeability, and species differences.
Chemical alternatives to methyl bromide for vegetable crop production in Florida, United States

Vegetable crop production in Florida, USA, relies on planting on polyethylene-mulched beds fumigated with methyl bromide plus chloropicrin (MBr+Pic) for soil-borne disease, nematode and weed control. However, MBr for agricultural use has been phased out because it is an ozonedepleting molecule. A considerable amount of research has been conducted to identify alternatives to MBr in Florida, where most of the year soil-borne pests thrive under its subtropical climate. Most of the published articles have studied the efficacy of 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D), Pic, dazomet and metam on soil-borne pests. Also, there are preliminary results with methyl iodide, propylene oxide and dimethyl disulfide, which currently are still the subject of scrutiny. Reported studies have shown that there is no definitive one-to-one replacement to this fumigant for controlling soil-borne disease, nematodes and weeds. Instead, pest management has focused on combining the activity of several active ingredients and improving fumigant retention in the soil with mulches. In particular, the majority of available MBr alternatives provide effective control against most soil-borne diseases and nematodes, assuming that correct application methods and rates are used. However, in situations where Cyperus is troublesome, alternative fumigants could be combined with herbicides to minimize weed interference.
Interdisciplinary ocean science is evolving and a systems approach is essential

The earth’s surface fluids comprise a dynamic and highly variable coupled physical, biological and chemical system. The oceanic component of this system is controlled by ecosystem–biogeochemical– physical processes interacting over a vast range of scales in space and time. This is a propitious time in ocean science. The large-scale global studies of physical, biogeochemical, and biological ocean phenomena and processes now underway are setting the stage for a new generation of interdisciplinary ocean studies. Moreover, an opportunity exists to set future ocean studies efficiently on wide-ranging temporal and spatial scales in the context of satellite and in situ sensing systems that are now being planned and developed. Two decades of progress in describing, modeling and forecasting of the physical synopticmesoscale features in the ocean now makes it feasible to provide mesoscale fields over large-scale domains suitable for realistic physical–biological interactive process studies. Thus, the substantial fundamental interdisciplinary problems of ocean science, long recognized as of great importance, are now tractable. As the scope of interdisciplinary ocean science expands, its complexity enlarges and its re-
Paraspeckles: Paragons of functional aggregation

Low-complexity proteins undergo phase separation in vitro, forming hydrogels or liquid droplets. Whether these form in vivo, and under what conditions, is still unclear. In this issue, Hennig et al. (2015. J. Cell Biol. http://dx.doi.org/10.1083/jcb.201504117) show that formation of the paraspeckle, a nuclear body that regulates gene expression, requires low-complexity prion-like domains (PLDs) within paraspeckle proteins. The same proteins were shown to form hydrogels, shedding light on the role of “functional aggregation” in nuclear substructure.
Health Monitoring Technique for Composite Materials Utilizing Embedded Thermal Fiber Optic Sensors

A thermal health monitoring technique is investigated based on thermography that uses optical fiber thermal sensors to detect damage within a laminated graphite epoxy composite specimen. Composite samples manufactured for testing have fiber optic sensors embedded between the layers while thermocouples are attached to the exteriors for verification. Teflon inserts are used to simulate delaminations and the sensitivity range of the embedded sensors is determined. A numerical model is developed to confirm the experimental findings and establish optimum sensor placement. Results indicate that this technique can detect down to a 20-mm delamination, possibly smaller. In addition, the sensors can typically locate a delamination up to 17 mm away. The purpose of this research is to advance standard thermography techniques for damage detection by utilizing fiber optic sensor technologies.
Identification of B. anthracis N5-carboxyaminoimidazole ribonucleotide mutase (PurE) active site binding compounds via fragment library screening

Abstract The de novo purine biosynthesis pathway is an attractive target for antibacterial drug design, and PurE from this pathway has been identified to be crucial for Bacillus anthracis survival in serum. In this study we adopted a fragment-based hit discovery approach, using three screening methods—saturation transfer difference nucleus magnetic resonance (STD-NMR), water-ligand observed via gradient spectroscopy (WaterLOGSY) NMR, and surface plasmon resonance (SPR), against B. anthracis PurE (BaPurE) to identify active site binding fragments by initially testing 352 compounds in a Zenobia fragment library. Competition STD NMR with the BaPurE product effectively eliminated non-active site binding hits from the primary hits, selecting active site binders only. Binding affinities (dissociation constant, KD) of these compounds varied between 234 and 301 μM. Based on test results from the Zenobia compounds, we subsequently developed and applied a streamlined fragment screening strategy to screen a much larger library consisting of 3000 computationally pre-selected fragments. Thirteen final fragment hits were confirmed to exhibit binding affinities varying from 14 μM to 700 μM, which were categorized into five different basic scaffolds. All thirteen fragment hits have ligand efficiencies higher than 0.30. We demonstrated that at least two fragments from two different scaffolds exhibit inhibitory activity against the BaPurE enzyme.
Two Lives in Law: The Reminiscences of A.J.C. Mistry and Sir Norman Macleod, 1884-1926

Few legal professionals in colonial India left memoirs or collections of personal papers. This article examines two rare exceptions from Bombay around the turn of the twentieth century. The Scottish Chief Justice of Bombay, Sir Norman Macleod, left a rich collection of private papers, including letters to his young son who was studying in Britain. A. J. C. Mistry was a Parsi managing clerk of the solicitors' firm Wadia Ghandy and Co. He published detailed accounts of the firm's creation and growth, and of his life there. On the occasion of the Bombay High Court's 150th anniversary, the article offers a portrait of late colonial views on mortality, mobility, loyalty and regret, in addition to the rising independence movement and the Indianization of the legal profession.
Imagination Bound: A Theoretical Imperative

OF DISSERTATION IMAGINATION BOUND: A THEORETICAL IMPERATIVE Kant’s theory of productive imagination falls at the center of the critical project. This is evident in the 1781 Critique of Pure Reason, where Kant claims that the productive imagination is a “fundamental faculty of the human soul” and indispensable for the construction of experience. And yet, in the second edition of 1787 Kant seemingly demotes this imagination as a mere “effect of the understanding on sensibility” and all but withdraws its place from the Transcendental Deduction. In his 1929 Kant and the Problem of Metaphysics, Martin Heidegger provided an explanation for the revisions between 1781 and 1787. Heidegger suggested that the Critique was supposed to be a foundation for Kant’s metaphysics of morals, which holds that practical reason is freely bound by a categorical imperative. Yet after 1781 Kant recognized that the Critique implicates the productive imagination as the “unknown root” of the faculties of understanding and sensibility. If the 1781 Critique reveals this imagination to be the source of theoretical rules and practical imperatives, then, according to Heidegger, Kant could not but “shrink back” from this shocking discovery. A faculty so intimately tied to sensibility, and hence contingency and particularity, is a poor progenitor of freedom and universal rules. I think there is some truth to Heidegger’s explanation. But I also think there is something more important to draw from the revisions between 1781 and 1787. In this dissertation, I assume that something about the productive imagination did frighten Kant. But, pace Heidegger, I do not think that Kant shrank back from his initial position. Rather, I argue that the revisions clarify a theory that was implicit in 1781 but made explicit by 1787. If the imagination is a power for representation, which is at times a dream and at times a veridical experience, then the difference lies in the rule according to which the construction of the representation is bound. Furthermore, I argue that Kant’s revisions reveal a duty to bind the reproductive imagination according to a common concept, what Kant sometimes refers to as common sense. This is what I call the theoretical imperative. Robert Michael Guerin Student’s Signature 20 January 2016 Date IMAGINATION BOUND: A THEORETICAL IMPERATIVE
PAC optimal MDP planning with application to invasive species management

In a simulator-defined MDP, the Markovian dynamics and rewards are provided in the form of a simulator from which samples can be drawn. This paper studies MDP planning algorithms that attempt to minimize the number of simulator calls before terminating and outputting a policy that is approximately optimal with high probability. The paper introduces two heuristics for efficient exploration and an improved confidence interval that enables earlier termination with probabilistic guarantees. We prove that the heuristics and the confidence interval are sound and produce with high probability an approximately optimal policy in polynomial time. Experiments on two benchmark problems and two instances of an invasive species management problem show that the improved confidence intervals and the new search heuristics yield reductions of between 8% and 47% in the number of simulator calls required to reach near-optimal policies.
Fixed-endpoint minimum-energy control of bilinear ensemble systems

Optimal control of bilinear systems has been a well-studied subject in the area of mathematical control. However, effective methods for solving the emerging optimal control problems involving an ensemble of bilinear systems are underdeveloped. In this work, we present an iterative method to effectively solve these challenging optimal control problems, in which at each iteration the bilinear ensemble system is represented as a time-varying linear ensemble system and then the optimal ensemble control is obtained by using an SVD-based computational algorithm designed for solving optimal control problems for linear ensemble systems. We analyze the convergence of the developed iterative method and provide examples of practical ensemble control designs in magnetic resonance to demonstrate its applicability.
Immigration Liberalization in the United States and Beyond

Although it is known as a country of immigrants, immigration has always been a controversial issue in the United States. Despite being a well-discussed topic for centuries, many citizens still suffer from false assumptions about immigration. The objective of this research was to investigate the impacts of immigration liberalization and to address commonly held assumptions about the impact of immigration. Both pro and antiimmigration literature was examined, with a focus on free market economics and the moral impacts of immigration policy. It was determined that liberalizing immigration fits within both left and right-leaning ideologies in the American political spectrum. Free migration is shown to be a crucial aspect of free market policies, although right-leaning groups who promote the economic philosophy often ignore it. The often-misunderstood secondary or long run economic benefits of immigration liberalization are explained, with evidence given regarding immigration’s positive effects on economic growth. Immigration liberalization is also shown to be crucial to human rights, as it provides people with the freedom to work where their labor is demanded. This gives impoverished immigrants a real chance to improve their standards of living as well as those of their family members living in their native countries. More open borders are also explained as a way to help spur economic growth in underdeveloped countries. For these reasons, immigration liberalization fits into many progressively liberal agendas. Rebuttals to the arguments of anti-immigration groups are also provided. Finally, policy recommendations are given that consider both pro and anti-immigration arguments. It is suggested that developed countries, with a focus on the United States, liberalize their immigration policies by letting more IMMIGRATION LIBERALIZATION IN THE 2 immigrants into the country to match their economies’ demand for their labor. The findings of the paper are significant to society at large because they help to show that the economic and moral benefits of immigration liberalization far outweigh the apparent problems that many developed country citizens associate with immigration.
Software trustability

A measure of software dependability called trustability is described. A program p has trustability T if we are at least T confident that p is free of faults. Trustability measurement depends on detectability. The detectability of a method is the conditional probability that it will detect faults. The trustability model characterizes the kind of information needed to justify a given level of trustability. When the required information is available, the trustability approach can be used to determine strategies in which methods are combined for maximum effectiveness. It can be used to determine the minimum amount of resources needed to guarantee a required degree of trustability, and the maximum trustability that is achievable with a given amount of resources. >
Use of telemedicine for the identification and treatment of sulfamethoxazole-induced methaemoglobinemia

Telemedicine can be used in intensive care units (ICUs) with linked electronic medical records to enable remote clinicians to assess patients and focus on those who are deviating from their expected course. We report the case of a woman admitted to our ICU with apparent hypoxaemia, whose pulse oximetry readings were not believed by the treating team. The intensivist at the telemedicine centre was consulted and instituted treatment on the assumption that methaemoglobinemia was present. Without rapid therapy, ongoing tissue ischaemia and shock was inevitable. Within 60 min of methylene blue administration, the patient's oxygen saturation improved dramatically. The methaemoglobin level was eventually reported as 9.9% (normal value <1%). This case report demonstrates how, with the aid of a tele-intensivist, a rare diagnosis was made rapidly and successful therapy was provided.
Pharmacist involvement in medical missions: planning, execution, and assessment.

The motto of the Lloyd L. Gregory School of Pharmacy at Palm Beach Atlantic University is “pharmacy with faith,” and its vision is “excellence with character.” The school strives to develop “servant-leaders” who are patient care advocates fully committed to raising the standards of
Person-Specific Standardized Vulnerability Assessment in Health and Social Care

We describe an integrated person-specific standardized vulnerability assessment model designed to facilitate patient management in health and social care. Such a system is not meant to replace existing health and social assessment models but rather to complement them by providing a holistic picture of the vulnerabilities faced by a given patient. In fact, it should be seen as a screening tool for health and social care workers. One key aspect of the modeling framework is the ability to provide personalized yet standardized multi-dimensional assessments of risk based on incomplete information about the patient status, as is the case in screening situations. Specifically, we integrate a Markov chain model describing the evolution of patients in and out of vulnerable states over time with a Bayesian network that serves to customize the dynamic model. We present an application in the context of elder care.
Comparison of size dependent strengthening mechanisms in Ag/Fe and Ag/Ni multilayers

Abstract Nanostructured metallic multilayers have attracted substantial attention as they often possess high mechanical strength. Here we report on the microstructure and mechanical strength of sputtered Ag/Fe multilayers with individual layer thicknesses (h) varying from 1 to 200 nm. Phase transformation of Fe from body-centered-cubic (bcc) to face-centered-cubic (fcc) structure occurs when h
Crystalline Metaphosphate Acid Salts: Synthesis in Organic Media, Structures, Hydrogen-Bonding Capability, and Implication of Superacidity

Metaphosphate acids cannot be thoroughly studied in aqueous media because their acidity is leveled by the solvent, and the resulting metaphosphates are susceptible to acid-catalyzed hydrolysis. Exploration of metaphosphate acid chemistry has now been made possible with the development of a general synthetic method for organic media soluble metaphosphate acids. Protonation of the [PPN]+ salts ([PPN]+ = [N(PPh3)2]+) of tri-, tetra-, and hexametaphosphates results in five new metaphosphate acids, [PPN]2[P3O9H] (2), [PPN]4[(P4O12)3H8] (3), [PPN]4[P6O18H2]·2H2O (4), [PPN]3[P6O18H3] (5), and [PPN]2[P6O18H2(H3O)2] (6), obtained in yields of 80, 71, 66, 88, and 76%, respectively. Additionally, our synthetic method can be extended to pyrophosphate to produce [PPN][P2O7H3] (7) in 77% yield. The structural configurations of these oxoacids are dictated by strong hydrogen bonds and the anticooperative effect. Intramolecular hydrogen bonds are observed in 2, 4, and 5 and the previously reported [PPN]2[P4O12H2] (1), whi...
Fossil Cenozoic Crassatelline Bivalves from Peru: New Species and Generic Insights

Discoveries of new fossil Cenozoic crassatellines in Peru provide a new phylogenetic perspective on “large” Neogene genera, in which four lineages are considered to have arisen independently from different Paleogene Crassatella ancestors. Latest Oligocene and early Miocene species of the new genus Tilicrassatella gen. nov.―T. ponderosa, T. torrens sp. nov., and T. sanmartini sp. nov. from the East Pisco Basin―probably evolved from the late Eocene species, Crassatella rafaeli sp. nov., which itself differed in significant respects from slightly older species of the East Pisco Basin, C. neorhynchus and C. pedroi sp. nov. The paciphilic genus, Hybolophus, is raised to full generic status. Added to its ranks are the East Pisco Miocene species H. maleficae sp. nov., H. terrestris sp. nov., and the oldest species of the genus, the late Eocene or Oligocene H. disenum sp. nov. from the Talara Basin of northern Peru. Kalolophus gen. nov., encompassing circum-Caribbean fossil species, the extant species, K. specios...
Protection of children in forward-facing child restraint systems during oblique side impact sled tests: Intrusion and tether effects.

ABSTRACTObjective: Testing was conducted to quantify the kinematics, potential for head impact, and influence on head injury metrics for a center-seated Q3s in a forward-facing child restraint system (FFCRS) in oblique impacts. The influences of a tether and intruded door on these measures were explored.Methods: Nine lateral oblique sled tests were conducted on a convertible forward-facing child restraint seat (FFCRS). The FFCRSs were secured to a bench seat from a popular production small SUV at the center seating position utilizing the lower anchor and tether for children (LATCH). The vehicle seat was fixed on the sled carriage at 60° and 80° from full frontal (30° and 10° forward rotation from pure lateral) providing an oblique lateral acceleration to the Q3s and FFCRS. A structure simulating an intruded door was mounted to the near (left) side of vehicle seat. The sled input acceleration was the proposed FMVSS 213 lateral pulse scaled to a 35 km/h delta-V. Tests were conducted with and without the tet...
Enhancing Paternal Engagement in a Coparenting Paradigm

Despite the benefits for children and families of fathers who are involved positively with their children, most parenting programs in the United States and globally focus on and collect evaluation data from mothers almost exclusively. Engaging fathers is still viewed as a complex endeavor that is only somewhat successful. In this article, we summarize what is known about engaging fathers in parenting programs, then argue that programs are most effective when coparenting is the focus early in family formation. We rely on two decades of the Supporting Father Involvement program as an example of an initiative that has been effective at recruiting and retaining fathers and mothers in various cultural and national contexts. When programs are inclusive in content and focus on process, are sensitive to differences within and across families, and recognize parents as experts on their children, they are more successful in recruiting and retaining diverse groups of fathers and families.
Global Conflicts and Decisions: Hints from Laboratory Experiments with Human Subjects and Computer Simulations

Abstract This paper argues that past and present laboratory research in man-machine control systems and design efforts to build computer-based decision aiding systems can contribute to understanding and augmenting of multi-party sociotechnical and geopolitical decision-making. It proposes new research and development on computer-based mediation.
A novel strategy to initiate a peroral endoscopic myotomy program

OBJECTIVES The standard of care for achalasia remains laparoscopic Heller myotomy with partial fundoplication. Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) has been introduced as an alternative, but safety and long-term comparative efficacy are not yet established. We report our experience in developing a POEM program using a novel hybrid approach. METHODS We developed a hybrid approach to POEM with a POEM followed by laparoscopic evaluation, extension of the myotomy, if necessary, and partial fundoplication. We reviewed the results of the programme from April 2012 until May 2015. Starting in 2014, we began offering patients stand-alone POEM. Patient data were collected. Preoperative and postoperative Eckardt scores were compared. RESULTS A total of 28 patients underwent POEM or POEM plus laparoscopic evaluation with partial fundoplication. Patient characteristics and perioperative and postoperative data were recorded. The median preoperative Eckardt score was 6 (range 4-11). The mean follow-up period was 136 days (range 41-330) and the median postoperative Eckardt score was 0 (range 0-6) at 6 weeks. Of our initial 10 patients, 6 required laparoscopic extension of the myotomy; 7 subsequent patients did not require an additional myotomy. Three patients who underwent POEM without laparoscopy continued to have dysphagia postoperatively. One patient had an attempted POEM that was aborted secondary to bleeding, and a standard laparoscopic modified Heller myotomy with partial fundoplication was performed. CONCLUSIONS The excellent results of laparoscopic myotomy with partial fundoplication are challenging to duplicate during the initial adoption of a POEM approach. We present a program developed to steepen the learning curve and enhance patient safety while implementing this new procedure.
Abstract 216: Sex Chromosome Protection Again Myocardial Ischemia/reperfusiong Injury In Mice: One X Is Better Than Two

Sex differences in susceptibility to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury have been demonstrated both in basic and clinical settings. Female hearts show better functional recovery after I/R injury com...
Immersive virtual reality as a teaching tool for neuroanatomy.

Background Three-dimensional (3D) computer modeling and interactive virtual reality (VR) simulation are validated teaching techniques used throughout medical disciplines. Little objective data exists supporting its use in teaching clinical anatomy. Learner motivation is thought to limit the rate of utilization of such novel technologies. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness, satisfaction, and motivation associated with immersive VR simulation in teaching medical students neuroanatomy. Methods Images of normal cerebral anatomy were reconstructed from human Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) computed tomography (CT) imaging and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) into 3D VR formats compatible with the Oculus Rift VR System, a head-mounted display with tracking capabilities allowing for an immersive VR experience. The ventricular system and cerebral vasculature were highlighted and labeled to create a focused interactive model. We conducted a randomized controlled study with 66 medical students (33 in both the control and experimental groups). Pertinent neuroanatomical structures were studied using either online textbooks or the VR interactive model, respectively. We then evaluated the students’ anatomy knowledge, educational experience, and motivation (using the Instructional Materials Motivation Survey [IMMS], a previously validated assessment). Results There was no significant difference in anatomy knowledge between the 2 groups on preintervention, postintervention, or retention quizzes. The VR group found the learning experience to be significantly more engaging, enjoyable, and useful (all p < 0.01) and scored significantly higher on the motivation assessment (p < 0.01). Conclusion Immersive VR educational tools awarded a more positive learner experience and enhanced student motivation. However, the technology was equally as effective as the traditional text books in teaching neuroanatomy.
Lynx rufus (Bobcat)

The karyotype of the bobcat is very similar to that of the leopard (Folio 84) except that its Y chromosome is slightly longer. It is also very similar to one of its close relatives, the caracal, except that the latter has a very large satellite on chromosome E1.
Quality Assurance and Error Identification for the Community Earth System Model

Earth system models are valuable tools for furthering our understanding of past, present, and future climate states. Because these models tend to be large and complex as well as in a state of near constant development, quality assurance (and subsequent debugging) are critical pieces in the development cycle. Here, we describe our multi-year effort to better evaluate the quality and "correctness" of the Community Earth System Model (CESM), a widely-used climate model. Our approach depends on an initial coarse-grain ensemble-based consistency test to determine code correctness, which has already proved successful in practice. The additional capability desired is a means of easily tracing a coarse-grain failure to its root cause, and we discuss our strategy and promising efforts to date toward that goal.
Integration of Mobile Devices to Facilitate Patient Care and Teaching During Family-Centered Rounds.

OBJECTIVES: The increasing prevalence of mobile devices in clinical settings has the potential to improve both patient care and education. The benefits are particularly promising in the context of family-centered rounds in inpatient pediatric settings. We aimed to increase mobile device usage by inpatient rounding teams by 50% in 6 months. We hoped to demonstrate that use of mobile devices would improve access to patient care and educational information and to determine if use would improve efficiency and perceptions of clinical teaching. METHODS: We designed a mixed-methods study involving pre- and post-implementation surveys to residents, families, and faculty as well as direct observations of family-centered rounds. We conducted rapid cycles of continual quality improvement by using the Plan-Do-Study-Act framework involving 3 interventions. RESULTS: Pre-intervention, the mobile computing cart was used for resident education on average 3.3 times per rounding session. After cycle 3, teaching through the use of mobile devices increased by ∼79% to 5.9 times per rounding session. On the basis of survey data, we determined there was a statistically significant increase in residents’ perception of feeling prepared for rounds, receiving teaching on clinical care, and ability to teach families. Additionally, average time spent per patient on rounds decreased after implementation of mobile devices. CONCLUSIONS: Integration of mobile devices into a pediatric hospital medicine teaching service can facilitate patient care and perception of resident teaching by extending the utility of electronic medical records in care decisions and by improving access to knowledge resources.
History of computer simulation software: an initial perspective

The evolution of computer simulation software until the mid-1980's is subsumed by descriptions of the history of simulation programming languages. Since that time, the entire complexion of simulation model design, development, execution, and sustainment has undergone a radical transition. The transition to a large degree stems from technology advances in hardware and software coupled with the increasing expectations of simulation modelers and end users. This study, covering the evolution in its entirety, represents an initial perspective on the transition based on an examination and analysis of the Winter Simulation Conference Archive and a partial set of simulation software surveys published in OR/MS Today. The results characterize the modeling and simulation software evolution since the mid-1980's in terms of newcomers, endurers, fads, fades, trends, and trajectories. Prominent among the conclusions are that commercial firms are driving the major advances and the marketplace is quite volatile.
The Role of ERK1/2 Activation in Sarpogrelate-Mediated Neuroprotection

Purpose To characterize the mediators of 5-HT2A serotonin receptor-driven retinal neuroprotection. Methods Albino mice were treated intraperitoneally with saline or sarpogrelate, a 5-HT2A antagonist, immediately before light exposure (LE). Following LE, retinas were harvested for a high-throughput phosphorylation microarray to quantify activated phosphorylated proteins in G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling. To confirm microarray results and define temporal changes, Western blots of select GPCR signaling proteins were performed. Since both methodologies implicated MAPK/ERK activation, the functional significance of sarpogrelate-mediated ERK1/2 activation was examined by inhibition of ERK1/2 phosphorylation via pretreatment with the MEK inhibitor (MEKi) PD0325901. The degree of neuroprotection was evaluated with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and electroretinography (ERG). To determine the effects of sarpogrelate on gene expression, a qPCR array measuring the expression of 84 genes involved in oxidative stress and cell death was performed 48 hours post LE. Results Sarpogrelate led to an activation of the MAPK/ERK pathway. Temporal analysis further demonstrated a transient activation of ERK1/2, starting with an early inhibition 20 minutes into LE, a maximum activation at 3 hours post LE, and a return to baseline at 7 hours post LE. Inhibition of ERK1/2 with MEKi pretreatment led to attenuation of sarpogrelate-mediated neuroprotection. LE caused significant changes in the expression of genes involved in iron metabolism, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. These changes were prevented by sarpogrelate treatment. Conclusions Sarpogrelate-mediated retinal protection involves a transient activation of the MAPK/ERK pathway, although this pathway alone does not account for the full effect of neuroprotection.
Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injury

Ulnar collateral ligament injuries of thumb were first described in gamekeepers who sustained the injury from the repetitive nature of breaking the neck of small game such as birds and rabbits. Hence, this was originally referred to as gamekeeper's thumb. The recurrent thumb hyperextension sustained by gamekeeper's would mechanically lead to degeneration and tears of the ulnar collateral ligament located at the base of the first metacarpophalangeal joint. More recently, this condition is also referred to as skiers’ thumb, since it is more commonly observed in falls in individuals holding ski poles that mechanistically cause the same type of hyperextension thumb injury.
Estimating Dynamic Treatment Effects in Event Studies with Heterogeneous Treatment Effects

To estimate the dynamic effects of an absorbing treatment, researchers often use two-way fixed effects regressions that include leads and lags of the treatment. We show that in settings with variation in treatment timing across units, the coefficient on a given lead or lag can be contaminated by effects from other periods, and apparent pretrends can arise solely from treatment effects heterogeneity. We propose an alternative estimator that is free of contamination, and illustrate the relative shortcomings of two-way fixed effects regressions with leads and lags through an empirical application.
On the spectrum

Abstract M. Mahowald, in his work on b o -resolutions, constructed a b o -module splitting of the spectrum b o ∧ b o into a wedge of summands related to integral Brown–Gitler spectra. In this paper, a similar splitting of b o ∧ tmf is constructed. This splitting is then used to understand the b o ∗ -algebra structure of b o ∗ tmf and allows for a description of b o ∗ tmf .