cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Doppler lidar measurements of wind and turbulence in the marine boundary layer

Characterization of wind structure in the marine boundary layer is important for understanding the processes affecting ocean-atmosphere exchange of heat, moisture and momentum, marine stratus formation and dissipation, and emission and scattering of electromagnetic radiation from the ocean surface. Although wind information in the lower boundary layer can be obtained from balloons, anemometers mounted on ship masts, and/or radar wind profilers, Doppler lidars offer the capability of interrogating a large area segment of the marine layer from a single location with high vertical and moderate horizontal spatial resolution. Application of Doppler lidar to marine studies was first demonstrated by Banta et al. (1993), who used lidar wind measurements to illustrate the temporal and spatial evolution of the sea breeze near Monterey, CA. The present authors extend the applications to include measurements of vertical motion for better understanding of stratocumulus cloud breakup, as well as wind field characterization and the effect of winds on the radar scattering signal from the ocean surface. They also describe a new, container-mounted lidar system specifically designed for shipboard wind measurements. >
Photonic compressive sensing of GHz-band RF signals

Compressive sensing is receiving attention for resource-limited remote-sensing platforms as an alternative to direct digitization of GHz-band RF signals. Microwave photonics can efficiently implement the random measurement matrices used in conventional compressive sensing schemes. Here we recover chirped long-pulse signals using a photonic multi-coset sampling system and orthogonal matching pursuit. Results are presented for superposed 20 MHz/30 µs pulses at a carrier frequency of 2.453 GHz.
Application of maximum likelihood estimator in nano-scale optical path length measurement using spectral-domain optical coherence phase microscopy

Spectral-domain optical coherence phase microscopy (SD-OCPM) measures minute phase changes in transparent biological specimens using a common path interferometer and a spectrometer based optical coherence tomography system. The Fourier transform of the acquired interference spectrum in spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) is complex and the phase is affected by contributions from inherent random noise. To reduce this phase noise, knowledge of the probability density function (PDF) of data becomes essential. In the present work, the intensity and phase PDFs of the complex interference signal are theoretically derived and the optical path length (OPL) PDF is experimentally validated. The full knowledge of the PDFs is exploited for optimal estimation (Maximum Likelihood estimation) of the intensity, phase, and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in SD-OCPM. Maximum likelihood (ML) estimates of the intensity, SNR, and OPL images are presented for two different scan modes using Bovine Pulmonary Artery Endothelial (BPAE) cells. To investigate the phase accuracy of SD-OCPM, we experimentally calculate and compare the cumulative distribution functions (CDFs) of the OPL standard deviation and the square root of the Cramer-Rao lower bound (1/ square root 2SNR ) over 100 BPAE images for two different scan modes. The correction to the OPL measurement by applying ML estimation to SD-OCPM for BPAE cells is demonstrated.
Multilocus coalescent analyses reveal the demographic history and speciation patterns of mouse lemur sister species.

Background: Debate continues as to whether allopatric speciation or peripatric speciation through a founder effect is the predominant force driving evolution in vertebrates. The mouse lemurs of Madagascar are a system in which evolution has generated a large number of species over a relatively recent time frame. Here, we examine speciation patterns in a pair of sister species of mouse lemur, Microcebus murinus and M. griseorufus. These two species have ranges that are disparately proportioned in size, with M. murinus showing a much more extensive range that marginally overlaps that of M. griseorufus. Given that these two species are sister taxa, the asymmetric but overlapping geographic ranges are consistent with a model of peripatric speciation. To test this hypothesis, we analyze DNA sequence data from four molecular markers using coalescent methods. If the peripatric speciation model is supported, we predict substantially greater genetic diversity in M. murinus, relative to M. griseorufus. Further, we expect a larger effective population size in M. murinus and in the common ancestor of the two species than in M. griseorufus, with a concomitant decrease in gene tree/species tree incongruence in the latter and weak signs of demographic expansion in M. murinus. Results: Our results reject a model of peripatric divergence. Coalescent effective population size estimates were similar for both extant species and larger than that estimated for their most recent common ancestor. Gene tree results show similar levels of incomplete lineage sorting within species with respect to the species tree, and locus-specific estimates of genetic diversity are concordant for both species. Multilocus demographic analyses suggest range expansions for M. murinus, with this species also experiencing more recent population declines over the past 160 thousand years. Conclusions: Results suggest that speciation occurred in allopatry from a common ancestor narrowly distributed throughout southwest Madagascar, with subsequent range expansion for M. murinus. Population decline in M. murinus is likely related to patterns of climate change in Madagascar throughout the Pleistocene, potentially exacerbated by continual anthropogenic perturbation. Genome-level data are needed to quantify the role of niche specialization and adaptation in shaping the current ranges of these species.
Smoothness Scales and Calderón–Zygmund Theory in the Scalar–Valued Case

While one of the main goals of this monograph is the systematic development of a Calderon–Zygmund theory for multi-layer type operators associated with higher-order operators with matrix-valued coefficients, the starting point is the consideration of the scalar-valued case. As such, the aim of this introductory chapter is to present an account of those aspects of the scalar theory which are most relevant for the current work.
Major microbiological hazards associated with packaged fresh and processed meat and poultry

Abstract: This chapter discusses major microbiological hazards associated with packaged fresh and processed meat and poultry, including survival and growth of microorganisms in meat and poultry products, as well as the role of product composition and intrinsic and extrinsic factors (water activity, pH, oxidation-reduction potential, atmosphere, temperature, etc.) affecting microbial growth in these products. Additional information addresses foodborne outbreaks related to packaged fresh and further processed meat and poultry caused by pathogenic E. coli, Campylobacter spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., Yersinia spp., Clostridium spp., Staphylococcus aureus and Aeromonas spp. and novel packaging techniques that may be employed to control these pathogens.
The Paradox of Christian Epicureanism in Dialogue: Erasmus’ Colloquy The Epicurean

In light of the troubled reputation of Epicureanism in Northern Renaissance humanism, Erasmus’ reception of this major school of ancient philosophy in works such as On Disdaining the World ( De contemptu mundi ), the Praise of Folly ( Moriae encomium ), and in particular his very last colloquy The Epicurean ( Epicureus ) is unique for exploring the potential compatibility of Epicurean ethics with Christian humanism and Erasmian Philosophia Christi . However, as one of the speakers in The Epicurean exclaims, given Epicureanism’s main tenet of pleasure as the greatest good, its association with a pious life free of sin is “a paradox topping all the paradoxes of the Stoics”. This article argues that in The Epicurean Erasmus associates the paradoxical nature of Christian Epicureanism with the Stoic strategy of expressing moral philosophy in perplexing paradoxes in order to exploit the capacity of the dialogue, in particular its ludic potential, to rearticulate the duality of paradox in opposing dialogical voices. Erasmus’ mimetic colloquy allows the individual reader to deconstruct and reprocess paradoxical wisdom at an inner level in order to persuasively integrate a mentality of pleasure (based on the tenets of Epicureanism) at the core of a pious life (based on the tenets of Philosophia Christi ).
EPIDEMIOLOGY, PATHOGENESIS and DIAGNOSIS of LYMPHANGIOLEIOMYOMATOSIS.

ABSTRACTIntroduction. Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a disease of women characterized by cystic lung destruction, lymphatic involvement, and renal angiomyolipomas.Areas covered. LAM is caused by proliferation of abnormal smooth muscle-like LAM cells containing mutations and perhaps epigenetic modifications of the TSC1 or TSC2 genes, which encode, respectively, hamartin and tuberin, two proteins controlling the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway. LAM occurs sporadically or in association with tuberous sclerosis complex. LAM may present with dyspnea, recurrent pneumothorax or chylothorax. Pulmonary function tests show reduced flow rates and lung diffusion capacity. Exercise testing may reveal hypoxemia and ventilatory limitation. The severity and progression of disease may be assessed by computer tomography, and pulmonary function and exercise testing. mTOR inhibitors, (e.g., sirolimus) are effective in stabilizing lung function, and reducing the size of chylous effusions, lymphangi...
Complements and Comments

(1972). Complements and Comments. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 79, No. 10, pp. 1100-1103.
Alternatives for Riverine Backwater Restoration by Manipulation of Severed Meander Bend

Current thinking in stream ecology emphasizes the dependence of large riverine ecosystems on the materials and habitats provided by floodplain backwaters. However, these types of habitat are becoming increasingly rare as development is transforming floodplain landscapes in fundamental ways. Despite the large sums of money spent on control and management of water pollution, environmental quality continues to decline due to diminished hydrological connectivity between rivers and floodplain backwaters even as water quality improves. Along rivers with wide valley bottoms, functional values associated with floodplain water bodies such as abandoned channels, sloughs, severed meander bendways and borrow pits have been reclaimed by re-opening relatively small connecting channels. Reconnection projects typically involve dredging connecting channels or installing weirs or other types of water control structures. Backwater inflow augmentation is sometimes necessary for reconnection due to changes in bed elevation that have isolated backwaters from the main channel. Flow augmentation may involve installing and operating pumps on a permanent or seasonal basis. Design approaches are illustrated using a case study from a 2.5-km long severed bendway adjacent to the Coldwater River, Mississippi. Costs for project construction, operation and maintenance and benefits to fish habitats are projected and compared. Introduction Prior to about 1900, much of the area presently under cultivation in the U.S. was characterized by low relief and gentle undulating topography such as ridge and swale patterns that produced high levels of physical and biological diversity. Vegetation cover was comprised of virgin bottomland hardwoods, cane breaks, and
Comparative Research: An Approach to Teaching Research Methods in Political Science and Public Administration.

The teaching of research methods has been at the core of public administration education for almost 30 years. But since 1990, this journal has published only two articles on the teaching of researc...
Print Media and Political Bias: The Portrayal of Gender and Race in Cuban Anti-Separatist Newspapers at the onset of the Ten Years War

The Cuban press waged an ideological warfare during the years of armed resistance against Spain on the island. The year 1869–just months after El Grito de Yara in October of 1868–incited the publication of caricatures, articles and editorials that unequivocally and aggressively defended the status quo for Cuba on the pages of Don Junipero (1862-1869?) and El Moro Muza (1859-1877). These publications ridiculed the efforts on behalf of the insurgency of exiled Cubans and in particular portrayed Cuban women as foolish ideologues. The war was portrayed as a radicalized effort that gave agency to abolition by enlisting enslaved Cubans of African descent in the ranks of the Liberation Army and in order to discredit the leadership of the war the papers characterized the white leadership of the Mambi Army as incompetent and immoral. Both publications attacked from the start the idea of the emerging new nation. La prensa cubana libro una guerra ideologica durante los anos de resistencia armada contra Espana en la isla. En 1869–a solo unos meses del El Grito de Yara en Octubre de 1868—se incito la publicacion de caricaturas, articulos y editoriales que de manera resuelta y agresiva defendian el estatus quo para Cuba en las paginas de Don Junipero (1862-1869?) y El Moro Muza (1859-1877). Estas publicaciones ridiculizaban los esfuerzos de los exiliados cubanos a favor de la insurgencia y particularmente representaban a las mujeres cubanas como ideologas tontas. La guerra se representaba como un esfuerzo radical que favorecia la abolicion de la esclavitud al aceptar a esclavos cubanos de descendencia africana en las filas del ejercito de liberacion. Ademas, para desacreditar al liderazgo de la Guerra de los Diez Anos, los periodicos caracterizaban a los lideres mambises como incompetentes e inmorales. Ambas publicaciones atacaron desde los inicios de la guerra la idea de una nacion libre.
Historical Vignette: Johann Friedrich Horner (1831–1886): Swiss Ophthalmologist, Scientific Contributor, and Accomplished Academician

Johann Friedrich Horner was a Swiss ophthalmologist who was the founder of modern ophthalmology in his country and who established the first academic department of ophthalmology at the University o...
Phase I study of everolimus (E, RAD001) and ganitumab (G, AMG 479) in patients (pts) with advanced solid tumors.

2529 Background: Synergism between IGF and mTOR inhibitors has been documented preclinically. We conducted a phase I study to determine the safety, recommended phase II dose (RP2D), pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD), and antitumor efficacy of E with G. Methods: Eligible pts had good organ function, ECOG PS 0-1. The study had a standard “3+3” design, using E 5 or 10 mg orally daily (QD), and G 12 mg/kg IV every 2 wks (Q2W) in 28 day cycles (C); an expansion cohort was added at MTD for further efficacy analysis. E was given as single agent during C1D1-7 with PKs on C1D1 and D7, and continuously after C1D16. G was started on C1D15 with single agent PK. PKs for both drugs at steady state were performed on C3D1. PDs (blood and serial tumor biopsies) for IGF and PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathways were performed at baseline, C1D7, C3D1 and time of progression. Results: 20 ptswere enrolled to date, M/F: 8/12, median age 55 yrs (24-70); PS: 0/1= 13/7. The table summarizes dose levels and DLTs. The most common toxic...
Repetitive control design and implementation for periodic motion tracking in aerial robots

This paper describes the design and implementation of a repetitive controller (RC) for tracking periodic trajectories in aerial robots, such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The RC is ideally suited for situations where the robot is required to execute a defined flight pattern, over and over again in a periodic fashion. Applications include precision agriculture, and search and rescue, where the desired trajectory is often periodic in time and known a priori. Compared to iterative learning control (ILC), RC is a feedback-based approach which can be plugged into an existing feedback control loop to improve the tracking of period trajectories. Herein, a plug-in type RC is applied to a micro aerial robot, and a systematic approach is presented for designing the control system. The plug-in nature of the design also allows users to enable/disable the controller on the fly. The proposed RC is also compared to existing approaches, including no-reset ILC, which have recently been applied to control aerial robots. The effectiveness of the RC is demonstrated on a custom-designed experimental micro aerial robot. Tracking of circle, square, and figure-eight trajectories are shown in both simulations and experiments. In these cases, the RC reduces the average tracking error by over 58% compared to a well-tuned PID controller, and simulations that compare to no-reset ILC show that the performance of RC is less sensitive to changes in the reference trajectory.
DSP methods for correcting dispersion and pulse width effects during pulsed wire measurements

Measuring a magnetic field by pulsing electrical current through a wire placed in the magnetic field, then measuring the displacement of the wire as a travelling wave passes a displacement sensor is a technique typically referred to as a pulsed wire measurement. The techniques presented provide a method of correcting for the dispersion in the travelling wave and the averaging effects of pulse duration. The methods used to implement the correction algorithm of dispersion are based on allpass filtering design techniques that allow the filter parameters to be modified on-the-fly. Correction of errors introduced by the pulse width duration is performed by utilizing deconvolution. The algorithm is described and measurement results are presented.
LEIA: A 2.05mm 2 140mW lattice encryption instruction accelerator in 40nm CMOS

The recent rapid steps towards commercialization of quantum computing services have been calling for the deployment of post-quantum (PQ) security schemes at a large scale. This work presents a high-performance, programmable lattice encryption instruction accelerator named LEIA that supports all the recent popular ring learning with errors (ring-LWE) schemes, with parameter N from 64 to 2048, and q from 2 to 232-1. LEIA is prototyped in a 2.05mm2 40nm CMOS test chip. It achieves significant speedup and energy efficiency in core operations required by ring-LWE: above 1000× acceleration and 2000× better energy efficiency in number theoretic transform (NTT), and above 10× acceleration and 50× better energy efficiency in high-σ, high-precision discrete Gaussian (DG) generation over state-of-the-art designs using the most challenging published parameter settings. As the first silicon-proven lattice encryption accelerator, LEIA is the fastest, most energy-efficient, and most configurable solution to date.
Corrigendum to "Community-Acquired Cavitary Pseudomonas Pneumonia Linked to Use of a Home Humidifier".

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that rarely causes pneumonia in otherwise healthy patients. We describe a case of community-acquired P. aeruginosa pneumonia in a previously healthy individual who likely acquired the infection from a home humidifier.
Use of a powered ankle-foot prosthesis reduces the metabolic cost of uphill walking and improves leg work symmetry in people with transtibial amputations.

People with transtibial amputations (TTAs) who use a powered ankle-foot prosthesis have equivalent metabolic costs and step-to-step transition work for level-ground walking over a range of speeds compared to non-amputees. The effects of using a powered compared to passive-elastic prosthesis for sloped walking are unknown. We sought to understand how the use of passive-elastic compared to powered ankle-foot prostheses affect metabolic cost and step-to-step transition work during sloped walking. Ten people (six M, four F) with TTAs walked 1.25 m s-1 at 0°, ±3°, ±6° and ±9° using their own passive-elastic prosthesis and the BiOM powered ankle-foot prosthesis, while we measured metabolic rates, kinematics and kinetics. We calculated net metabolic power, individual leg step-to-step transition work and individual leg net work symmetry. The net metabolic power was 5% lower during walking on +3° and +6° uphill slopes when subjects used the BiOM compared to their passive-elastic prosthesis (p 0.05), but did improve individual leg net work symmetry on +6° and +9° uphill slopes (p < 0.01). People with TTAs who use a powered ankle-foot prosthesis have the potential to reduce metabolic costs and increase symmetry during walking on uphill slopes.
Task Interdependence and Firm Performance in Outsourced Service Operations

We conceptualize task interdependence between firms in outsourced service operations as an endogenous design choice made by the outsourcing firm. Then, utilizing relative firm efficiency and Tobin’...
The Molecular and Evolutionary Genetic Implications of Being Truly Social for the Social Insects

Abstract The social complexity that characterizes the eusocial insects strongly affects all aspects of social insect life, including the molecular and evolutionary genetic basis of social insect traits. Quantitative genetic theory and empirical approaches have been developed over the past 60 years specifically to study the genetic implications of social interactions. Surprisingly, given the obvious biological importance of social interactions in social insects, this research tradition has been and continues to be widely overlooked throughout the social insect literature, including in recent sociogenomic studies focused on understanding the molecular underpinnings of social life. Instead, the overwhelming majority of social insect genetic research has relied on conventional genetic approaches developed for solitary organisms focused on the one-to-one association of an individual's genes to its own traits. I survey social insect studies that conclusively demonstrate the importance of indirect genetic effects (IGEs), which arise from social interactions, for social insect trait expression and evolution. I explain why these genetically based social effects are expected to be ubiquitous in social insects and I explain the relevance of the IGE framework, originally developed within quantitative genetics, for molecular genetic studies of social insect traits such as behaviour and caste. I discuss the problems of ignoring IGEs and relying solely on conventional direct genetic effect approaches. Finally, I discuss the strong potential of using the IGE approach and other more systems-level-focused approaches to complement conventional reductionist approaches in elucidating the genetic basis of social insect trait expression and evolution.
The Mask of Neutrality: Judicial Partisan Calculation and Legislative Redistricting

Do judges ruling on redistricting litigation increase electoral competition in congressional races while simultaneously drawing districts favoring their party's congressional candidates? I offer a novel theory of judicial partisan calculation, arguing that judges draw more competitive districts than legislatures or commissions, but that judge‐drawn districts favor the electoral interests of their copartisans. These claims are reconcilable because judges target districts held by contrapartisan legislators to maximize their copartisans’ fortunes. I find that Democratic judges draw competitive districts by adding Democratic voters to Republican‐held House constituencies. Court‐administered redistricting increases competitiveness, ostensibly due to judicial neutrality. This mask of neutrality, however, conceals sophisticated partisan calculation.
The Prevalence and Significance of Jejunal and Duodenal Bulb Polyposis After Duodenectomy in Familial Adenomatous Polyposis: Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective To evaluate the prevalence, natural history, and severity of polyposis of the duodenal bulb and jejunum after duodenectomy in patients with FAP. Summary of background data Advanced duodenal polyposis stage in FAP requires consideration of duodenal resection to prevent cancer; pylorus-preserving approach of pancreas-sparing duodenectomy (PSD) is preferred. Post-duodenectomy data indicate polyps occur in the duodenal bulb and the post-anastomotic jejunum, but limited data exists regarding their significance. Methods We identified consecutive FAP patients After duodenal resection, including pancreaticoduodenectomy, PSD, or segmental duodenectomy, at Cleveland Clinic. Medical records were used to determine time to diagnosis of duodenal bulb or jejunal polyps, length of follow up, and severity of polyposis including maximal Spigelman stage (SS) of jejunal polyposis (neo-SS). Results 64 patients with FAP underwent duodenectomy and endoscopic follow up. 28% underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy, 61% PSD, and 11% segmental duodenectomy. Postoperatively, 38/64 (59%) were diagnosed with jejunal polyposis, with median time to diagnosis of 55 months and follow up time of 127 months. Jejunal polyposis was advanced in 21% (neo- SS III or IV). Fifty percent were treated endoscopically, 1 patient required surgery. Jejunal polyp-free survival after duodenectomy differed by surgery type (P = 0.008). A total of 55/64 patients underwent a pylorus-preserving procedure, and 6/55 (11%) developed duodenal bulb polyps. All bulb polyps were large (>20 mm) and found after PSD. Endoscopic resection was unsuccessful in 5 patients, but no surgical intervention was required. Conclusions Polyposis occurs in the remaining duodenal and jejunal mucosa in the majority of patients after surgical duodenectomy. Jejunal polyposis is advanced in 1 in 5 patients, but rarely requires surgery. Endoscopic management of jejunal polyposis seems feasible but has proven difficult for duodenal bulb polyps.
Teleologia i pochodzenie ewolucji

Darwinian evolution is not synonymous with change; it is a uniquely biological process. The biochemical mechanism of evolution is distinct from the observations made by Darwin on hereditable variation and natural selection. The key to biological evolution is a tight linkage between inheritable genotype and gene-directed phenotype, which allows the phenotype to be the target of selection. It is theoretically possible for some forms of life to exist without evolution; thus, the origin of life and the origin of evolution are two separate research questions. The classical problem of teleology in biology may be approached by a close examination of the mechanism behind the universal genotype-phenotype linkage: the protein synthesis or translation system. This solution to the problem of converting nucleic acid chemistry into protein chemistry may be the fundamental root of teleonomy and inherent teleology in living organisms.
N-Acetyl-cysteine and Mechanisms Involved in Resolution of Chronic Wound Biofilm.

Chronic wounds are a major global health problem with the presence of biofilm significantly contributing to wound chronicity. Current treatments are ineffective in resolving biofilm and simultaneously killing the bacteria; therefore, effective biofilm-resolving drugs are needed. We have previously shown that, together with α-tocopherol, N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) significantly improves the healing of biofilm-containing chronic wounds, in a diabetic mouse model we developed, by causing disappearance of the bacteria and breakdown of the extracellular polymeric substance (EPS). We hypothesize that NAC creates a microenvironment that affects bacterial survival and EPS integrity. To test this hypothesis, we developed an in vitro biofilm system using microbiome taken directly from diabetic mouse chronic wounds. For these studies, we chose mice in which chronic wound microbiome was rich in Pseudomonas aeruginosa (97%). We show that NAC at concentrations with pH < pKa causes bacterial cell death and breakdown of EPS. When used before biofilm is formed, NAC leads to bacterial cell death whereas treatment after the biofilm is established NAC causes biofilm dismantling accompanied by bacterial cell death. Mechanistically, we show that NAC can penetrate the bacterial membrane, increase oxidative stress, and halt protein synthesis. We also show that low pH is important for the actions of NAC and that bacterial death occurs independently of the presence of biofilm. In addition, we show that both the acetyl and carboxylic groups play key roles in NAC functions. The results presented here provide insight into the mechanisms by which NAC dismantles biofilm and how it could be used to treat chronic wounds after debridement (NAC applied at the start of culture) or without debridement (NAC applied when biofilm is already formed). This approach can be taken to develop biofilm from microbiome taken directly from human chronic wounds to test molecules that could be effective for the treatment of specific biofilm compositions.
the Continued Call and Future of Administrative Reform in the United States

Administrative reform has been a pervasive topic in public management over the past 140 years, and recent administrations continue to implement various methods of reform. In the past 25 years, the ...
Tracing Ideas From Langley (1999): Exemplars, Adaptations, Considerations, and Overlooked:

Well-accepted methodological practices require thoughtful and appropriate use to avoid becoming mindlessly applied and distorted. We review how ideas from Langley’s (1999) process data analysis art...
Simultaneous robotic kidney transplantation and bariatric surgery for morbidly obese patients with end-stage renal failure.

Patients with obesity have limited access to kidney transplantation, mainly due to an increased incidence of surgical complications, which could be reduced with selective use of robotic-assisted surgery. This prospective randomized controlled trial compares the safety and efficacy of combining robotic sleeve gastrectomy and robotic-assisted kidney transplant to robotic kidney transplant alone in candidates with class II or III obesity. Twenty candidates were recruited, 11 were randomized to the robotic sleeve gastrectomy and robotic-assisted kidney transplant group and 9 to the robotic kidney transplant group. At 12-month follow-up, change in body mass index was -8.76 ± 1.82 in the robotic sleeve gastrectomy and robotic-assisted kidney transplant group compared to 1.70 ± 2.30 in the robotic kidney transplant group (P = .0041). Estimated glomerular filtration rate, serum creatinine, readmission rates, and graft failure rates up to 12 months were not different between the two groups. Length of surgery was longer in the robotic sleeve gastrectomy and robotic-assisted kidney transplant group (405 minutes vs. 269 minutes, p = .00304) without increase in estimated blood loss (120 ml vs. 117 ml, p = .908) or incidence of surgical complications. Combined robotic-assisted kidney transplant and sleeve gastrectomy is safe and effective compared to robotic-assisted kidney transplant alone.
Predicting Acute Kidney Injury via Interpretable Ensemble Learning and Attention Weighted Convoutional-Recurrent Neural Networks

Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) is one of the most frequent postoperative complications and is associated with both short- and long-term mortality. Improved prediction of AKI is crucial and may help clinicians prevent and mitigate its adverse effects. In this paper, we explore the use of machine learning methods to predict postoperative AKI. Our analysis centers on the ensemble-based random forest (RF) classifier, which operates on static clinical variables, and a novel deep learning architecture that incorporates intraoperative time series data along with the static variables. The architecture uses a dual-attention mechanism to select both features and time intervals relevant for AKI prediction. We evaluate our models on the publicly available VitalDB database of 3,640 patients who underwent non-cardiac surgery. The RF outperformed existing machine learning classifiers in the AKI literature (AUROC: 0.86, AUPRC: 0.54). In addition, the RF identified a robust set of preoperative variables that can be screened in a simple blood test. While the deep learning model achieved slightly lower performance (AUROC: 0.84, AUPRC: 0.44), the attention weights provide important intraoperative information, which can be monitored by clinicians during surgery. Taken together, our results highlight the promise of machine learning for AKI prediction and take the first steps towards developing clinically translatable models.
A Nanoindentation Study of Portland Cement Pastes Exposed to a Decalcifying Environment

The effect of decalcification on the micromechanical properties of cement pastes was investigated using nanoindentation coupled with statistical methods. Portland cement pastes were subjected to accelerated decalcification via exposure to ammonium nitrate solution for 125 days. A grid nanoindentation technique was performed in the degraded zones found in the cement paste cross-section to evaluate the differences in the local mechanical properties. Results showed that while the hardness and modulus values decreased as a function of the extent of degradation, the rate of decrease was influenced by the cement phases present.
A Note on the Inefficiency of Competitive Markets For Quality Goods

This note describes and investigates an equilibrium model of a service market in which customers search among many firms for ones offering acceptable combinations of money price and expected waiting time. Although neither firms nor customers possess market power, the noncooperative equilibrium of the model is inefficient: Forcing customers to be more selective in their choices of suppliers can produce Pareto improvements in welfare. This result is due to an externality, in queue accession decisions, which others have identified in related contexts..
Natural decay resistance of LVL made of veneers from durable and non-durable wood species

Laminated veneer lumber (LVL) was laboratory manufactured using veneers from decay and non decay resistant species in order to evaluate changes in the durability as a result of the LVL manufacturing process, and to test if the mixing of decay resistant species and non decay resistant species can improve durability. Laboratory soil block test and field test were conducted. The durability of solid wood was comparable to that of LVL made using the same species. For LVL made using veneer from durable and non-durable wood species, durability was improved when two faces and one core veneers were from decay resistant species.
Notarized federated identity management for web services

We propose a notarized federated identity management model that supports efficient user authentication when providers are unknown to each other. Our model introduces a notary service, owned by a trusted third-party, to dynamically notarize assertions generated by identity providers. An additional feature of our model is the avoidance of direct communications between identity providers and service providers, which provides improved privacy protection for users. We present an efficient implementation of our notarized federated identity management model based on the Secure Transaction Management System (STMS). We also give a practical solution for mitigating aspects of the identity theft problem and discuss its use in our notarized federated identity management model. The unique feature of our cryptographic solution is that it enables one to proactively prevent the leaking of secret identity information.
A damage model based on failure threshold weakening

Abstract A variety of studies have modeled the physics of material deformation and damage as examples of generalized phase transitions, involving either critical phenomena or spinodal nucleation. Here we study a model for frictional sliding with long-range interactions and recurrent damage that is parameterized by a process of damage and partial healing during sliding. We introduce a failure threshold weakening parameter into the cellular automaton slider-block model which allows blocks to fail at a reduced failure threshold for all subsequent failures during an event. We show that a critical point is reached beyond which the probability of a system-wide event scales with this weakening parameter. We provide a mapping to the percolation transition, and show that the values of the scaling exponents approach the values for mean-field percolation (spinodal nucleation) as lattice size L is increased for fixed R . We also examine the effect of the weakening parameter on the frequency–magnitude scaling relationship and the ergodic behavior of the model.
Torts, Race, and the Value of Injury, 1900-1949

The Article begins a systematic examination of race and torts. Despite the barriers posed by racist exclusionary structures and violence, many African-Americans sued for and received compensation for personal injuries in the first half of the twentieth century, winning verdicts and appellate decisions in all regions. However, the fact that black plaintiffs sometimes won does not mean that they were treated equally with whites. Examples from all stages of the litigation process demonstrate that race and racism have been significant in devaluing injuries to black plaintiffs. The process of racial categorization was a significant mechanism in devaluing black plaintiffs’ claims. Powerful actors in the tort system focused on the race of black people in the course of measuring their injuries, finding that their race made their injuries from torts worth less than injuries to whites. Some judges even measured harm caused by the deaths of black family members based only on earlier cases involving deaths of blacks; in other words they used segregated precedents to measure blacks’ injuries. This categorization process was one way that decisionmakers ignored the principle that like cases should be treated alike. The torts system’s individualized focus, with no exacting requirement that results in cases be compared, gave free rein to whites’ bias and unfavorable treatment of blacks' claims, and also made such bias very difficult to detect. Aggregate analysis of awards in dozens of fatality cases shows that awards to black families for the loss of a loved one were less than half of those to white families in similar situations. Tort cases both reflected and reinforced racial inequality. Going forward, although race is no longer on the surface of tort law, it is important to be mindful of the ways that different aspects of the tort system may contribute to devaluing tort claims of African-Americans and other racial minorities.
Schedule UTP: Views of a Former Tax Adviser and Administrator

Since its announcement on January 26, 2010, Schedule UTP has been the subject of much discussion in corporate tax circles. If adopted, Schedule UTP will require corporations to disclose certain tax positions on their federal tax return. This article discusses (i) why Schedule UTP is necessary and reasonable; (ii) whether some taxpayers will try to avoid disclosure, and if so, how; and (iii) whether the IRS proposal can resolve the long-running dispute with taxpayers surrounding tax accrual workpapers (TAWs). The author concludes the IRS (i) needs to minimize opportunities for corporations to avoid disclosure on Schedule UTP, and (ii) should offer a Grand Compromise to solve the TAW issue. In a Grand Compromise, the IRS would explicitly agree to forgo pursuit of a corporation’s tax reserves and tax opinions if the corporation’s tax issues are adequately disclosed on Schedule UTP. However, if the corporation is the subject of a criminal tax investigation, or does not adequately disclose issues on Schedule UTP, the IRS would be free to pursue specific tax reserve information and tax opinions. The author believes this is a fair and reasonable compromise to an admittedly difficult issue and thus should benefit both corporations and the IRS.
Band crossings in the gamma -soft nucleus 136Nd.

High-spin states have been populated in /sup 136/Nd using the /sup 116/Cd(/sup 24/Mg,4n..gamma..) /sup 136/Nd reaction. Several rotational bands have been observed based on two- and four-quasiparticle configurations. The ground-state band backbends sharply at a frequency h-dash-bar..omega.. = 0.34 MeV due to the alignment of a pair of h/sub 11/2/ protons. Both signatures of a negative parity side band based on a ..pi..h/sub 11/2/x..pi..g/sub 7/2/ configuration were observed to backbend at a frequency h-dash-bar..omega.. = 0.44 MeV, again due to the alignment of a pair of h/sub 11/2/ protons. All these bands are prolate because of the stabilizing influence of the h/sub 11/2/ quasiprotons on the ..gamma..-soft core. In addition to the h/sub 11/2/ proton alignment in the ground-state band, a rotational band is observed built on a second 10/sup +/ state, which involves the alignment of a pair of h/sub 11/2/ neutrons. An alignment of neutrons from the upper h/sub 11/2/ midshell drives the nucleus towards a collectively rotating oblate (..gamma.. = -60/sup 0/) shape. Both signatures of a band based on a ..nu..h/sub 11/2/x..nu..g/sub 7/2/ configuration were observed, also possibly oblate. The observation of both neutron and proton low-frequency alignments is consistent with cranked-shell model calculations and theoreticalmore » estimates of the prolate-oblate energy difference for this nucleus.« less
Dietary energy density in the treatment of obesity: a year-long trial comparing 2 weight-loss diets

Background: Consuming foods low in energy density (kcal/g) decreases energy intake over several days, but the effectiveness of this strategy for weight loss has not been tested. Objective: The effects on weight loss of 2 strategies for reducing the energy density of the diet were compared over 1 y. Design: Obese women (n = 97) were randomly assigned to groups counseled either to reduce their fat intake (RF group) or to reduce their fat intake and increase their intake of water-rich foods, particularly fruit and vegetables (RF+FV group). No goals for energy or fat intake were assigned; the subjects were instructed to eat ad libitum amounts of food while following the principles of their diet. Results: After 1 y, study completers (n = 71) in both groups had significant decreases in body weight (P < 0.0001). Subjects in the RF+FV group, however, had a significantly different pattern of weight loss (P = 0.002) than did subjects in the RF group. After 1 y, the RF+FV group lost 7.9 ± 0.9 kg and the RF group lost 6.4 ± 0.9 kg. Analysis of all randomly assigned subjects also showed a different pattern of weight loss between groups (P = 0.021). Diet records indicated that both groups had similar reductions in fat intake. The RF+FV group, however, had a lower dietary energy density than did the RF group (P = 0.019) as the result of consuming a greater weight of food (P = 0.025), especially fruit and vegetables (P = 0.037). The RF+FV group also reported less hunger (P = 0.003). Conclusion: Reducing dietary energy density, particularly by combining increased fruit and vegetable intakes with decreased fat intake, is an effective strategy for managing body weight while controlling hunger.
The liver in regional enteritis.

Summary Clinical, laboratory and needle biopsy studies of the liver in 20 consecutive cases of regional enteritis disclosed no significant hepatic disease in 17 cases and fatty infiltration of the liver in 3 cases. In contrast, in 32 cases of chronic ulcerative colitis, needle biopsy of the liver and hepatic function tests demonstrated various types of hepatic lesions, such as fatty infiltration, hepatitis, and cirrhosis. No correlation could be made between the sparsity of hepatic lesions and the duration of enteritis, activity of the enteritis, malnutrition, loss of weight or extent of pathologic involvement of the small intestine. The absorption of large numbers of bacteria or their "toxic" products from the colonic flora and malnutrition are attractive etiologic hypotheses of hepatic disease occurring in chronic ulcerative colitis. Possibly, the absence of these factors in regional enteritis and the usually early surgical resection of the enteritis may be clues not only to the less frequent systemic complications of regional enteritis but also to the rarity of associated hepatic disease.
mLearning: An Embodied Perspective

Rapid advances in mobile hardware and software have fueled the emergence of mobile learning (mLearning) as an area of interest within educational research. In spite of abundant excitement and discussion surrounding mLearning, certain challenges remain unresolved. To date, it seems the field is most enamored with categorizing hardware capabilities and replicating conventional learning content on portable devices. However, it would be beneficial to consider how mLearning can augment learnersâ€™ education in unique ways. Prior definitions of mLearning fall short in articulating why mobility is beneficial for learning and how mobile learning is not simply a reformulation of existing eLearning methods. A new perspective is offered to establish mLearning as a unique type of learning. Evidence from the field of embodied cognition that points to the potential affordances of mLearning is provided and future directions are discussed.
Brand placement in novels

A key proposition of resource matching theory is that the cognitive challenge presented by a message execution should meet rather than exceed (or fall short of) the level of cognitive resources tha...
Solidification processing of high temperature intermetallic eutectic-based alloys

Abstract This paper describes the role of solidification processing of high-temperature eutectic alloys in the development of high-temperature structural materials. Particular emphasis is placed on directional solidification of eutectic-based alloys using cold crucible Czochralski crystal growth. Alloys with melting temperatures up to 2250 °C were directionally solidified by this technique for study of the microstructure, phase equilibria and mechanical properties. The attributes and limitations of the Czochralski technique are compared with those of other methods for solidification of high-temperature alloys. The microstructures and fracture toughness data of directionally solidified in situ composites generated from NbSi and CrNb alloy systems are presented. Property enhancements that can be achieved by directional solidification of high-temperature materials are discussed.
Some Reflections on the Golden Age of Interdisciplinary Social Psychology

In the 25 years or so that began with World War II, there was a great wave of enthusiasm for interdisciplinary social psychology which resulted in the establishment of interdisciplinary social psychology training and research programs in some of the major universities in the United States. By the mid-1960s however, this seeming Golden Age had largely vanished. This article, by one of the participants in this movement, is devoted to an elaboration of how this Golden Age came about and the forces that led to its demise. Its origins are traced to the World War II experiences of social psychologists in interdisciplinary research on the adjustments of the American soldier under the leadership of Samuel Stoffer and with Rensis Likert on the US strategic bombing surveys in Germany and Japan. Many of the participants in this research were greatly impressed by the fruitfulness of interdisciplinary collaboration and were determined to establish interdisciplinary social psychology programs on their return to their u...
Quality teams: problems, causes, solutions

Addresses quality in schools, and looks specifically at teacher teams, and the problems facing them as they seek to improve quality systems. Suggests that facilitators of quality improvement initiatives identify problems as they are occurring and use various interventions to “unfreeze” troubled or ineffectual teams.