cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Automatic generation of gripping positions

The problem of automatically determining gripping positions for objects based upon geometrical knowledge of the object and its environment is addressed. Both the question of what constitutes a good grip and the efficiency of the computational algorithms are considered. Two new criteria for the stability of a grip are proposed: resilience to slippage, and twisting in the gripper due to external forces and torques. Resilience to slippage is expressed in terms of friction effects of the surfaces involved, the shape of the contact between the gripper and object, and the distance of the grip point from the center of mass of the object. Two new performance measures are introduced to reflect resilience to twisting. A general grip planning strategy is introduced that is both run-time efficient and robust.
Becoming a super preceptor: A practical guide to preceptorship in today's clinical climate

Purpose: To provide both potential and active preceptors with practical information that will help with the decision to become a preceptor, and to develop the preceptor partnership among the preceptor, the faculty, the student, and the patient. The article suggests ways to apply realistic techniques to assure that the preceptorship is successful in today's fast-paced practice climate. The article also presents successful evaluation strategies for the experience. Data sources: Evidence-based reports, anecdotal experiences, personal conversations, and reports of proven preceptorship techniques. Conclusions: Through a review of available literature and the authors' experience as preceptors and faculty, it is clear that it is possible to implement a mutually beneficial preceptor experience even in today's productivity-based practice models. Preplanning and use of suggested strategies can make precepting an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Implications for practice: The education of tomorrow's practitioners is a mutual professional partnership among the stakeholders in the educational process. Application of practical strategies for enhancing this partnership will make the experience realistic and rewarding.
Self-stabilizing synchronization algorithms on oriented chains

We present a space and (asymptotically) time optimal, uniform, self-stabilizing scheme for a given synchronization problem on asynchronous oriented chains (algorithm SSDS), that works under an unfair distributed daemon. We use this scheme to solve local mutual exclusion and distributed sorting (where each process holds a single value and the values to be sorted are distinct). Algorithm SSDS can be used to obtain optimal space solutions for other problems such as broadcasting, leader election, mutual exclusion.
Effects of methylmercury and spatial complexity on foraging behavior and foraging efficiency in juvenile white ibises (Eudocimus albus)

Methylmercury is a globally distributed neurotoxin, endocrine disruptor, and teratogen, the effects of which on wildlife at environmentally relevant levels are largely unknown. In birds, foraging efficiency and learning may be sensitive endpoints for sublethal methylmercury toxicity, and these endpoints also may be biologically relevant at the population level. In the present study, groups of wild-caught, prefledgling white ibises (Eudocimus albus) were raised in a free-flight, open-air aviary on diets that approximated the measured range of methylmercury exposure in the Everglades ecosystem (0, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.3 mg/kg/d). The effect of methylmercury exposure on group foraging efficiency was examined by allowing birds to forage on 200 fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) in artificial ponds for 15 min by straining the arenas' contents through a seine net and counting all remaining prey. Additionally, we varied the difficulty of foraging by these tactile feeding birds by adding multiple levels of structural complexity (e.g., increased vegetation and prey refugia) to the pond. Structural complexity affected both foraging efficiency and the rate of increase in efficiency over time (improvement). Methylmercury exposure affected foraging efficiency (p = 0.03). It did not affect foraging improvement in the face of increasingly challenging environments, however, and the dose-response relationship was nonlinear (e.g., the control and high-exposure groups were the least efficient foragers). Evidence for an effect of methylmercury on foraging efficiency therefore was inconclusive because of unpredicted results and no interaction with time or habitat complexity. These data suggest a nonlinear dose-response relationship at low levels of methylmercury exposure; future research is needed to verify this hypothesis. This appears to be the first experimental demonstration of the effects of habitat complexity on foraging efficiency in long-legged wading birds.
Kinetic properties of skeletal-muscle-like high-threshold calcium currents in a non-fusing muscle cell line.

Macroscopic kinetics and single-channel properties of skeletal-muscle-type calcium currents were studied in the non-fusing, clonal muscle cell line, BC3H1. Slowly activating, dihydropyridine(DHP)-sensitive currents, associated with T-tubular DHP receptors and ion channels, could be isolated from rapidly activating, DHP-resistant currents. Description of macroscopic current activation kinetics required only a brief delay term (τ0<1 ms), two ascending exponential terms with voltage-dependent time constants (2<τ1<20 ms and 10<τ2<200 ms), and a single exponential decay term (0.5<τ3⩽5 s). Steady-state activation voltage dependence required description by two Boltzmann distribution terms with V1/2 and slope factors differing by 20 mV and 3.5- to 4-fold respectively. These two distributions were correlated with the steady-state voltage dependence of the two ascending kinetic terms described by τ1 and τ2 respectively. Rundown of the DHP-sensitive slow current was correlated with a negative shift in the voltage dependence of current decay (τ3). Three conductance levels (4.5 pS, 8 pS and 12 pS) were detected in single-channel records, two of which (the 8-pS and 12-pS events) were prolonged by BayK8644 and thus associated with DHP-sensitive single-channel events. Description of single-channel open time distributions required a minimum of two exponential terms (2.5±0.9 ms and 10.3±5.4 ms at −10 mV). Slow transitions among closed states result in biexponential latency-to-first-event distributions (47±12 ms and 470±123 ms at −10 mV).
Military Conversion Policies in the USA: 1940s and 1990s*

Conventional theory of converting military to civilian economies holds that macro-economic policies which stimulate aggregate demand and labor policies which enable unemployed defense industry work...
Direct and maternal genetic effects due to the introduction of Bos taurus alleles into Brahman cattle in Florida: II. Preweaning growth traits.

Records of birth weight (BW), weaning weight 0 and condition score (CS) from 1,467 Brahman and Brahman x Angus crossbred calves from Brahman and crossbred Brahman sires and Brahman, crossbred Brahman and Angus dams were collected at the Subtropical Agricultural Research Station, Brooksville, Florida, from 1971 to 1982. Best linear unbiased estimates (BLUE) of Brahman sire and dam group additive genetic effects (as deviations from Angus) and Brahman x Angus dam and calf group nonadditive (intralocus) genetic effects (as deviations from intralocus group genetic effects in the parental breeds) were obtained. Linear combinations of these were used to compute direct and maternal Brahman additive and Brahman x Angus nonadditive (intralocus) group genetic effects. The respective BLUE of these four effects were 5.99k2.08,-5.70+ 1.91,.52+ 1.81 and2.85+.72kgforBW;9.60+ 10.29,8.76+9.47,9.47 k 8.96 and 20.95 k 3.56 kg for WW; and -1.10 k .55,1.64 f SO, 1.47 k .47 and .05 + .19 units for CS. Linear combinations of the BLUE of sire, dam and calf group genetic effects can be used to predict the genetic worth of crossbred groups composed of any combination of Brahman and Angus breeding. Nonadditive maternal group genetic effects were the most important factor for BW and WW, whereas nonadditive direct group genetic effects were the most important for cs .
Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans of the vulva: report of two new cases and review of the literature.

:Background. Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP), a low-grade sarcoma of dermal origin, rarely is found on the vulva. Only 16 cases of DFSP of the vulva have been described. Cases. Two patients with long histories of primary vulvar dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans are presented. Both required multiple excisions to resect the tumor completely. The patients remain without evidence of disease after long-term follow-up. One patient is among the youngest recorded. All pub-lished cases of vulvar DFSP are reviewed. Conclusions. Both our experience and that reported in previous cases indicate that wide local excision is required in the treatment of vulvar DFSP.
Interactive Biplots for Visual Modelling

The link between statistical models and visualisation techniques is not very well explored, even though strong connections do exist. This paper describes how biplots — interactive biplots in particular - can be used for visual modelling. By slightly adjusting the way biplots are constructed they provide the means to display linear models. The goodness of fit of a particular model becomes instantly visible. This makes them a useful addition to the standard set of visualization tools for linear models.
Storage and computationally efficient permutations of factorized covariance and square-root information matrices

A unified method to permute vector-stored upper-triangular diagonal factorized covariance (UD) and vector stored upper-triangular square-root information filter (SRIF) arrays is presented. The method involves cyclical permutation of the rows and columns of the arrays and retriangularization with appropriate square-root-free fast Givens rotations or elementary slow Givens reflections. A minimal amount of computation is performed and only one scratch vector of size N is required, where N is the column dimension of the arrays. To make the method efficient for large SRIF arrays on a virtual memory machine, three additional scratch vectors each of size N are used to avoid expensive paging faults. The method discussed is compared with the methods and routines of G.J. Bierman and K. H. Bierman's estimation subroutine library (ESL). >
La Classification internationale du fonctionnement : une victoire militante dissimulée☆

Resume Objectifs Presenter le cadre conceptuel de la Classification internationale du fonctionnement (CIF), souvent citee de maniere trompeuse, car les auteurs se referent seulement a l’introduction du manuel. Methode L’ensemble du manuel est analyse, y compris les consignes de codage et le seul article cite dans le manuel. Resultats Le cadre conceptuel et les implications de politique sont differents de ce qui est dit habituellement. Ils se referent au mouvement des disability studies. L’objectif de la CIF est de s’opposer a la categorisation des personnes et de promouvoir l’adaptation universelle de l’environnement. C’est pourquoi plusieurs aspects de la CIF ne se conforment pas aux regles usuelles des classifications. Discussion Le cadre conceptuel et les implications de politique sont dissimules de trois manieres : un vocabulaire different est utilise dans l’introduction et dans les consignes de codage, le cadre conceptuel n’est pas decrit dans la longue introduction mais seulement dans les consignes de codage, et des consignes detaillees suggerent aux utilisateurs de construire leur propre classification pour leurs fins propres. Cette dissimulation est necessaire pour obtenir une large diffusion de la classification. Conclusions Une analyse attentive du manuel et de l’unique article cite met en lumiere les positions militantes du groupe d’experts qui a pilote la redaction de la CIF.
Comparing Learners' State Anxiety during Task-Based Interaction in Computer-Mediated and Face-to-Face Communication

The construct of anxiety is often believed to be the affective factor with the greatest potential to pervasively affect the learning process (Horwitz, 2001), and recent research has demonstrated that anxiety can mediate whether learners are able to notice feedback and subsequently produce output (Sheen, 2008). In order to reduce the negative effects of anxiety, researchers have suggested that computer-based interaction may be an ideal medium for communication and practice (Kern, 1995), although this hypothesis has yet to be tested empirically. The current study addresses this gap by comparing the effect of computer-mediated communication (CMC) vs. face-to-face communication (FTF) on learners’ state anxiety. Twenty-five learners of intermediate Spanish completed two information-gap tasks with their teacher in a within-subject, counterbalanced design. Learners’ state anxiety was measured halfway through and following each task via a state anxiety questionnaire, and a task preference questionnaire was administered after the treatment. Results demonstrate that — contrary to expectations — reported state anxiety was not significantly lower in the CMC mode than the FTF mode. In fact, learners’ reported state anxiety was comparable across modality. The use and implications of both interactional modes for foreign language learning contexts are discussed, as are students’ perceptions of interaction in the CMC and FTF modes.
Oblique-Incidence Reflectivity Difference and Fluorescence Imaging of Oligonucleotide and IgG Protein Microarrays

We have constructed an oblique-incidence reflectivity difference (OI-RD) microscope for fluorescent label-free imaging of DNA and protein microarrays on standard glass substrates. Using both OI-RD and fluorescence images, we demonstrate a difference in wetting behavior of labeled and unlabeled IgG protein molecules deposited on an aldehyde-derivatized glass surface. The potential of fluorescent labeling agents to influence the properties of proteins highlights the need for label-free microarray detection techniques to supplement existing fluorescence methods. We also present OI-RD images of an oligonucleotide microarray after printing and washing procedures to demonstrate the use of OI-RD for non-destructive monitoring of changes in the optical properties of microarrays during processing.
Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)-associated KIAA0101/PAF15 protein is a cell cycle-regulated anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome substrate

The anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) is a cell cycle-regulated E3 ubiquitin ligase that controls the degradation of substrate proteins at mitotic exit and throughout the G1 phase. We have identified an APC/C substrate and cell cycle-regulated protein, KIAA0101/PAF15. PAF15 protein levels peak in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle and drop rapidly at mitotic exit in an APC/C- and KEN-box–dependent fashion. PAF15 associates with proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and depletion of PAF15 decreases the number of cells in S phase, suggesting a role for it in cell cycle regulation. Following irradiation, PAF15 colocalized with γH2AX foci at sites of DNA damage through its interaction with PCNA. Finally, PAF15 depletion led to an increase in homologous recombination-mediated DNA repair, and overexpression caused sensitivity to UV-induced DNA damage. We conclude that PAF15 is an APC/C-regulated protein involved in both cell cycle progression and the DNA damage response.
Neuroscience meets dance/movement therapy : Mirror neurons, the therapeutic process and empathy

Abstract The recent discovery by neuroscientists of mirror neurons has launched a spate of scientific investigations. A keystone of the therapeutic process of dance/movement therapy (D/MT), the concept of mirroring is now the subject of neuroscience. An interactive phenomenon, studies are revealing that the identical sets of neurons can be activated in an individual who is simply witnessing another person performing a movement as the one actually engaged in the action or the expression of some emotion or behavior. The domains of behavior currently under investigation span motoric, psychosocial and cognitive functions, including specific psychosocial issues related to attunement, attachment theory and empathy. Although D/MT embodies empathic forms, until recently their neurological underpinnings have not been studied. The paper addresses the theoretical constructs of the mirror matching mechanism and empathy, and the implications for D/MT. Beginning with the basic mapping of important central nervous system structures and their behavioral functions, the focus shifts to the mirror neurons with respect to the formative years vis-a-vis the developmental issues of empathy—attachment, attunement, social cognition and morality. The final section offers two exemplars of mirror neurons and empathy as mediated through dance and D/MT.
List decoding with side information

Under list decoding of error-correcting codes, the decoding algorithm is allowed to output a small list of codewords that are close to the noisy received word. This relaxation permits recovery even under very high noise thresholds. We consider one possible scenario that would permit disambiguating between the elements of the list, namely where the sender of the message provides some hopefully small amount of side information about the transmitted message on a separate auxiliary channel that is noise-free. This setting becomes meaningful and useful when the amount of side information that needs to be communicated is much smaller than the length of the message. We study what kind of side information is necessary and sufficient in the above context. The short, conceptual answer is that the side information must be randomized and the message recovery is with a small failure probability. Specifically, we prove that deterministic schemes, which guarantee correct recovery of the message, provide no savings and essentially the entire message has to be sent as side information. However there exist randomized schemes, which only need side information of length logarithmic in the message length. In fact, in the limit of repeated communication of several messages, amortized amount of side information needed per message can be a constant independent of the message length or the failure probability. Concretely, we can correct up to a fraction (1/2-/spl gamma/) of errors for binary codes using only 2log(1//spl gamma/)+O(1) amortized bits of side information per message, and this is in fact the best possible (up to additive constant terms).
Fat emulsions for oral nutrition. II. Failure of phosphatide, Tween 80, or choline to influence fat absorption.

SummaryThe absorption of orally fed corn oil in approximately physiological amounts by the rat was unaffected by the presence of amounts of purified soybean phosphatide or Tween 80, greatly in excess over that needed to make excellent emulsions by mechanical means. The absorption of approximately physiological amounts of orally fed corn oil by the severely choline deficient rat was similar to that found in the normal rat. The absorption of corn oil after instillation in the rat intestine ligated below the pancreas and at the ileocecal junction was unaffected by the presence of large amounts of purified soybean phosphatide, Tween 80, or choline chloride.
Wide-bandwidth electromechanical actuators for tunneling displacement transducers

A series of displacement transducers have been demonstrated which are based on the detection of electrons that quantum-mechanically tunnel across a narrow gap between electrodes. These transducers have important applications due to the sensitivity of the tunneling mechanism to sub-/spl Aring/ variations in the electrode gap. In this paper, we describe the recent development of wide-bandwidth electromechanical actuators and simple feedback circuitry which have been adapted for use in tunneling displacement transducers. With these actuators and circuits, we have built tunneling transducers with control bandwidths well in excess of 10 kHz. The design, fabrication, operation, and applications of these actuators are described. >
Laboratory study of larger sized aggregate in Portland cement concrete

A laboratory examination of the effects of coarse aggregate type and size on the mechanical properties of concrete is presented, in an effort to develop more cost-efficient mixes for pavements and other highway structures. Aggregate blending is used to generate the required coarse aggregate gradations. Six different concrete mixes are prepared, using three different coarse aggregate gradations, along with two different aggregate types, natural and crushed. Test results show that coarse aggregate properties often do not have a significant effect on the mechanical properties of concrete. When significant differences are observed, these are confounded by variability issues related to the testing protocols themselves, and by mineralogical distinctions among the various aggregate blends.
Subsidizing Sustainability: The Role of the State and Civil Society in Implementing Wal-Mart’s Local Produce Sourcing Program

Theories of governance remind us that even in the context of neoliberal political economic governance, the state still has a role to play in facilitating the conditions that create the free market, as well as in participating in new types of arrangements that have formed to address the challenges of regulating global economic spheres. Often referred to as hybrid governance, these new arrangements blur the traditional responsibilities of actors from the public and private sectors, as well as from civil society. This chapter draws on theories of hybrid governance to analyze how the Wal-Mart Corporation implements its sustainability initiative in the agri-food system by drawing on the resources and activities of public and non-profit organizations. Based on qualitative research that includes a content analysis of Wal-Mart’s publicly available documents, as well as fieldwork in both the US and Honduras, this chapter demonstrates how state policies and programs facilitate the implementation of Wal-Mart’s sustainability initiative, which in the agri-food system takes the form of local produce sourcing. As an illustration of the role of the nation state in the present era of neoliberal globalization, this chapter demonstrates both how national policies created the conditions for the emergence of Wal-Mart as a powerful player in the food retailing industry, domestically and internationally, and how the state plays a role in the implementation of Wal-Mart’s programs, often through public/private partnerships. This chapter finds that relationships between Wal-Mart and public and non-profit organizations allow the company to outsource the costs, risks and responsibilities of developing local supply chains. Therefore, Wal-Mart’s sustainability program relies on public subsidies to operate. This chapter considers the implications of public subsidization of a transition to sustainability in the context of corporate sustainability initiatives.
Surgical Management of the Renal Transplant Recipient

The modern era of renal transplantation began in the 1950s with the first successful transplant of a kidney between identical twin brothers. Since then, kidney transplantation has become a common procedure performed worldwide with a low incidence of technical complications. The number of kidney transplants in the United States has increased steadily over the past decades, and in 2004 the number of deceased kidney donor transplants in the United States exceeded 10,000 for the first time. Despite these encouraging facts, both the number of patients on the wait list and the wait time for a deceased donor kidney have continued to increase. According to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) data, there are more than 72,000 patients on the decease donor kidney transplant waiting list in the United States. This chapter will discuss the surgical follow up and complications that may occur following renal transplantation.
Determinants of Palliative Care Utilization Among Patients Hospitalized With Metastatic Gastrointestinal Malignancies

Background:Gastrointestinal tract cancers account for a significant proportion of the national cancer burden.Aim:We sought to explore patient- and hospital-level determinants of palliative care utilization among patients hospitalized with metastatic gastrointestinal tract cancers using a national database.Methods:An analysis of the 2012 National Inpatient Sample was performed. International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes were used to identify hospital discharges associated with metastatic digestive tract cancers and patient/hospital covariates for inclusion in a logistic regression model. Total charges and length of stay were analyzed in a linear regression model.Results:Compared to males, females were more likely to receive inpatient palliative care (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.12, P = .002). No difference was seen between white and Asian patients (adjusted OR 1.2, P = .11) or Native Americans patients (adjusted OR 1.4, P = .22). However, relative to white patients, African Americans (ad...
U.S. declaratory judgment actions concerning art displaced during the Holocaust

An analysis of the new trend in the United States of declaratory judgment actions concerning art displaced during the Holocaust.
ANALYTICAL MODEL OF NONLINEAR HYSTERESIS MECHANISMS IN A ROLLING ELEMENT JOINT

Both elastic and friction nonlinearities exist in complex mechanisms and joints. Whereas elastic nonlinearities in joints and mechanisms such as variable stiffness, bilinearity and freeplay can lead to nonlinear structural dynamics, inelastic joint nonlinearities such as hysteresis can limit the static shape performance of large deployable space structures. Hysteresis in structures can be caused by friction that exists at structural interfaces or inelastic mechanisms within the structure’s material. A multibody rolling element joint model that represents a deployable joint and includes the interface mechanics of multiple elastic bodies is presented for the purpose of (i) identifying hysteretic mechanisms due to interface mechanics within a joint and (ii) understanding how the hysteretic mechanisms change in the presence of monotonically varying internal forces. With the multibody model, it will be shown how the hysteretic mechanisms within the joint are dependent of internal forces and geometries and how the cumulative effect of the various hysteretic mechanisms within the joint affects the
The Role of Sleep in the Control of Food Intake

Short sleep duration is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for obesity. Sleep is now considered 1 of the 3 lifestyle behaviors, along with diet and exercise, which are closely associated with health. If sleep duration is a causal factor in the etiology of obesity, it must affect energy intake and/or energy expenditure to create a positive energy balance. The preponderance of evidence to date points to an effect of sleep restriction on energy intake that exceeds the added energy costs of maintaining longer wakefulness. Observational studies describe greater intakes of energy, fat, and possibly carbohydrates in short sleepers and this is corroborated by clinical interventions. These intervention studies further provide mechanistic explanations, via alterations in hormonal and neuronal controls of food intake, for an association between short sleep and obesity.
CoINcIDE: All together now

Central to the U.S. precision medicine initiative is the notion that Big Data, properly collected and analyzed, will reveal subtypes of diseases we currently view as single disorders. But what about small data sets? Is there translational value to meta-analyses of existing or newly generated data sets that aren’t part of large studies? Now, Planey and Gevaert bring together small data sets and show that the answer is yes. The investigators aim was to identify subtypes of disease, but many of the studies they used were too small to reveal robust subtypes on their own. So they developed a computational meta-analysis procedure called CoINcIDE—which used clustering to identify disease subtypes within each individual data set—and found cross–data set clusters of similar subtypes. Performing clustering within studies followed by cross-study comparison sidesteps obstacles such as platform or study effects that could hinder subtype discovery. Cross–data set analysis with CoINcIDE identified robust disease subtypes in both simulated and patient biopsy data from studies of breast and ovarian cancer. The authors performed the analysis of ovarian cancers both with and without the largest data set, TCGA. With 578 ovarian cancers, TCGA was more than twice as large as any other data set. Results were consistent whether or not TCGA was included, highlighting the power of smaller data sets paired with the CoINcIDE method for subtype discovery. The CoINcIDE analyses add to the literature on ovarian-cancer subtypes associated with survival; however, work to confirm the predictive nature of these subtypes or to identify effective subtype-specific treatments remains to be done. As a next step, the biological basis of the gene expression signals that give rise to the CoINcIDE subtypes needs to be identified, and the underlying mechanisms should be determined. Vincent van Gogh wrote, “Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.” CoINcIDE might empower researchers to perform subtype-discovery for rare diseases, which otherwise would be impossible for a single lab or initiative because of the small numbers of samples. By developing a computational method that brings together small data sets, the authors transform the vast array of disease-relevant, publicly available data into opportunities for subtype discovery. C. R. Planey, O. Gevaert, CoINcIDE: A framework for discovery of patient subtypes across multiple data sets. Genome Med . 10.1186/s13073-016-0281-4 (2016). [[Full Text]][1] [1]: https://genomemedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13073-016-0281-4
Unilateral Abdominal Cryptorchidism

AbstractThe unilateral non-palpable undescended testis is considered separately from other forms of cryptorchidism. It is less likely to be fertile, it is more prone to malignancy and it is more difficult to place. Removal rather than orchiopexy often is in the best interests of the child.
Effects of stress on formation and properties of semiconductor nanostructures

Abstract Quantum wires and quantum dots are semiconductor structures with two or more physical dimensions on the order of 10 nm or smaller. These structures have applications in nanoelectronics, optoelectronics, information technology, and biotechnology, due to the quantum mechanical confinement provided by the small spatial extent of the structures. At these very small scales, the continuum approximation breaks down and it becomes necessary to model the materials at the atomistic level; physically, the electronic and mechanical properties become strongly coupled. Experimental evidence shows that mechanical stress has important effects on these systems in terms of both fabrication and device applications. In this chapter, an overview of issues in modeling of stress effects on formation and properties of semiconductor nanostructures is presented. A summary of the applications of these structures is first presented, followed by a brief discussion of modeling methods available for studying quantum dots and wires. Then several problems are presented as examples of stress effects on semiconductor nanostructure formation: stress-driven self-assembly of quantum dots, the sputter erosion surface instability, and the stress-affected phase separation in semiconductor alloys. Three areas in which stress affects semiconductor nanostructure device properties are then discussed: the stress effect on parallel transport in semiconductor films, the effects of stress on electronic and optical properties of quantum dots and quantum wires, and the multiscale modeling of coupled mechanical/electronic properties in semiconductor nanostructures. Finally, prospects and challenges for future modeling of stress effects in semiconductor nanostructures are discussed.
Approximation in mathematical domains

Explanation-based learning is accomplished through the generalization of an explanation produced by analysis of a single example. A theory of the domain is utilized in generating the explanation. However, problems arise when the domain theory is intractable. Simplifications must be made in order to make the problem tractable. Well-founded simplifications based on our real world knowledge are termed approximations. This paper discusses how approximations can be used to deal with the intractable domain problem in mathematical domains. The approximation method strongly supports the use of a mix of quantitative and qualitative reasoning over either a purely quantitative or qualitative approach. The approximation technique is demonstrated on one of the examples which has been implemented in the chemistry domain.
Noncentral Hypergeometric Distribution and Poisson Binomial Distribution

So far we have discussed continuous and mixture of continuous and discrete covariate discrete choice models. In applications, especially in biomedical researches, a series of \(2\times 2\) tables have been used extensively. Next we present a fundamental result by Kou and Yin (Stat Sin 809–829:8, 1996) on the i.i.d. representation of a noncentral hypergeometric distribution as the summation of independent Bernoulli trials with possible different success probabilities. As a consequence, it will be very easy to conduct statistical inferences and to derive the Central Limit Theorem for a series of \(2\times 2\) tables.
In-situ observation of strain and cracking in coated laminates by digital image correlation

Abstract Overlay coatings are widely used in engineering components to impart a range of surface functionalities including thermal, wear, and corrosion protection, as well as material reclamation. In most surface engineering applications, the coating's role is restricted to the surface, with limited integration with the underlying substrate. However, the situation is changing: there is an emerging need for so-called structurally integrated coatings , where the coating and substrate are intimately bonded, resulting in a coupled system. Of interest are the emerging applications of thermal spray and cold spray overlay coatings applied on loaded engineering components such as landing gear, heavy machinery hydraulics, and steel infrastructure. These coatings, even metals or cermets, respond in a brittle manner associated with their layered processing and ultra-fine grain structures resulting from rapid quenching. As such, it is of importance to understand their coupled mechanical response, especially stress-strain behavior and strain to fracture. In this study, an approach involving strain monitoring of coated steel via digital image correlation has been developed. Both elastic response and strain beyond the yield point of the system are assessed to examine load transfer between the coating and substrate and onset of cracking. Three different coating materials (Ni, WC-CoCr and Al 2 O 3 ) were deposited to near full density via high velocity thermal spray. The results point to a powerful new approach for understanding mechanical behavior of heterogeneous composites using advanced imaging techniques.
Mechanisms Conferring Specific Recognition in Gene-for-Gene Plant-Parasite Systems

The high degree of specificity inherent in gene-for-gene systems a priori points to the existence of selective recognitional molecules in host plants that possess a high degree of fidelity for detection of certain unique features of incompatible pathogen races. Although elucidation of the biochemical machinery conferring this process constitutes one of the most crucial questions facing plant pathology, progress has been excruciatingly slow. This paper will attempt to review some of the hypothetical models proposed and assess the experimental evidence germane to their validity. Several similar papers have appeared (1,14,30,36), and in a related review (35) I will consider the topic from a broader and more theoretical point of view.
CoDrive: Improving Automobile Positioning via Collaborative Driving

An increasing number of depth sensors and surrounding-aware cameras are being installed in the new generation of cars. For example, Tesla Motors uses a forward radar, a front-facing camera, and multiple ultrasonic sensors to enable its Autopilot feature. Meanwhile, older or legacy cars are expected to be around in volumes, for at least the next 10 to 15 years. Legacy car drivers rely on traditional GPS for navigation services, whose accuracy varies 5 to 10 meters in a clear line-of-sight and degrades up to 30 meters in a downtown environment. At the same time, a sensor-rich car achieves better accuracy due to high-end sensing capabilities. To bridge this gap, we propose CoDrive, a system to provide a sensor-rich car's accuracy to a legacy car. We achieve this by correcting GPS errors of a legacy car on an opportunistic encounter with a sensor-rich car. CoDrive uses smartphone GPS of all participating cars, RGB-D sensors of sensor-rich cars, and road boundaries of a traffic scene to generate optimization constraints. Our algorithm collectively reduces GPS errors, resulting in accurate reconstruction of a traffic scene's aerial view. CoDrive does not require stationary landmarks or 3D maps. We empirically evaluate CoDrive which is shown to achieve a 90% and a 30% reduction in cumulative GPS error for legacy and sensor-rich cars respectively, while preserving the shape of the traffic.
Higher-Order Targeted Loss-Based Estimation

The objective of this chapter is to describe how the TMLE framework can be generalized to explicitly utilize higher-order rather than first-order asymptotic representations. The practical significance of this is to provide guidelines for constructing estimators that have sound behavior in finite samples and are asymptotically efficient under less restrictive conditions.
Drosophila, destroying angels, and deathcaps! Oh my! A review of mycotoxin tolerance in the genus Drosophila

Evolutionary novelties, be they morphological or biochemical, fascinate both scientists and non-scientists alike. These types of adaptations can significantly impact the biodiversity of the organisms in which they occur. While much work has been invested in the evolution of novel morphological traits, substantially less is known about the evolution of biochemical adaptations. In this review, we present the results of literature searches relating to one such biochemical adaptation: α-amanitin tolerance/resistance in the genus Drosophila. Amatoxins, including α-amanitin, are one of several toxin classes found in Amanita mushrooms. They act by binding to RNA polymerase II and inhibiting RNA transcription. Although these toxins are lethal to most eukaryotic organisms, 17 mushroom-feeding Drosophila species are tolerant of natural concentrations of amatoxins and can develop in toxic mushrooms. The use of toxic mushrooms allows these species to avoid infection by parasitic nematodes and lowers competition. Their amatoxin tolerance is not due to mutations that would inhibit α-amanitin from binding to RNA polymerase II. Furthermore, the mushroom-feeding flies are able to detoxify the other toxin classes that occur in their mushroom hosts. In addition, resistance has evolved independently in several D. melanogaster strains. Only one of the strains exhibits resistance due to mutations in the target of the toxin. Given our current understanding of the evolutionary relationships among the mushroom-feeding flies, it appears that amatoxin tolerance evolved multiple times. Furthermore, independent lines of evidence suggest that multiple mechanisms confer α-amanitin tolerance/resistance in Drosophila.
Management across Cultures: Challenges, Strategies, and Skills

In today's competitive global economy, most managers are - or will be - global managers. They may work in their home country, but are influenced by global events and have to manage diverse workforces. As such, they need multicultural competence and global management skills to work successfully across cultures. This new edition pairs a richly illustrated text with management applications, key concepts, discussion questions, web-based cases and skill-building exercises aimed at current and aspiring managers. Each chapter is accompanied by a Manager's Notebook highlighting field strategies and encouraging students to develop multicultural competence that will be highly valued by future employers. Exploring the challenges and opportunities facing global managers, readers can examine cultural, organizational, and managerial environments before developing a range of skills from communication and leadership to negotiation and global team management. Suitable for students taking courses in international management, cross-cultural management or international HRM at advanced undergraduate, Masters and MBA levels.
A Half Century Later

It was a compliment for me to be invited by George Stanley to write a chapter on the Guadalupe reefs. I was one of several pioneers on this subject long ago and I pondered seriously about whether or not I could contribute anything of substance at this time. The Guadalupian reef complex is one of the most studied reefs in the world and serves as a model for understanding fossil reefs elsewhere. The application of the microscope to the organic fabric removed much uncertainty about this famous reef barrier. Although I visited this reef many times since and attended a field conference in Alpine in 1991, my interests have been directed to other fields (e.g., the Great Bahama Bank, Pacific atolls, and the systematics of fossil bivalves). I concluded that it might be useful to start by writing of my own experience in the Guadalupes and to review a few of the diverse viewpoints that have since emerged on this complex subject.
Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), formally known as Churg-Strauss Syndrome, is a rare multisystem autoimmune disease of unknown etiology which manifests as both a hyperesoinophilic syndrome and a small-medium vessel pauci-immune, typically p-ANCA associated, vasculitis.
Early In-Hospital Pain Control Is a Stronger Predictor for Patients Requiring a Refill of Narcotic Pain Medication Compared to the Amount of Narcotics Given at Discharge.

Abstract Background The United States is combating an opioid epidemic. Orthopedic surgeons are the third highest opioid prescribers and therefore have an opportunity and obligation to assist in the efforts to reduce opioid use and abuse. In this article, we evaluate risk factors for patients requiring an opioid refill after primary total knee arthroplasty, with the goal to reduce opioid prescriptions for those patients at low risk of requiring a refill in order to reduce the amount of unused medication. Methods We retrospectively reviewed narcotic-naive patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty from December 2017 to May 2018. We performed multivariable analysis on demographics and preoperative, operative, and postoperative characteristics to determine risk factors for requiring a prescription refill following hospital discharge. Results One-hundred fifty-seven patients were included in the analysis. Sixty percent of patients required a prescription refill. Risk factors included younger age (P = .003) and increased pain on postoperative day one (P Conclusion There is strong evidence that elderly patients and those with good pain control on postoperative day 1 are at a lower risk of requiring a narcotic refill postoperatively. With this information, physicians may begin to tailor narcotic prescriptions based on patient risk factors for requiring a prescription refill rather than provide patients with the same number of pills for a given surgery in an effort to reduce unused narcotic medication.
Supporting mathematics vocabulary instruction through mathematics curricula

AbstractThis study examines four of the most commonly-used core mathematics curricula in the USA for evidence of support for research-based instructional strategies for mathematics vocabulary in fi...
Clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness analysis for the treatment of basilar tip aneurysms.

Background Endovascular treatment of basilar tip aneurysms is less invasive than microsurgical clipping, but requires closer follow-up. Objective To characterize the additional costs associated with endovascular treatment of basilar tip aneurysms rather than microsurgical clipping. Materials and methods We obtained clinical records and billing information for 141 basilar tip aneurysms treated with clip ligation (n=48) or endovascular embolization (n=93). Costs included direct and indirect costs associated with index hospitalization, as well as re-treatments, follow-up visits, imaging studies, rehabilitation, and disability. Effectiveness of treatment was quantified by converting functional outcomes (modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score) into quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs). Cost-effectiveness was performed using cost/QALY ratios. Results Average index hospitalization costs were significantly higher for patients with unruptured aneurysms treated with clip ligation ($71 400 ± $47 100) compared with coil embolization ($33 500 ± $22 600), balloon-assisted coiling ($26 200 ± $11 600), and stent-assisted coiling ($38 500 ± $20 900). Multivariate predictors for higher index hospitalization cost included vasospasm requiring endovascular intervention, placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt, longer length of stay, larger aneurysm neck and width, higher Hunt-Hess grade, and treatment-associated complications. At 1 year, endovascular treatment was associated with lower cost/QALY than clip ligation in unruptured aneurysms ($52 000/QALY vs $137 000/QALY, respectively, p=0.006), but comparable rates in ruptured aneurysms ($193 000/QALY vs $233 000/QALY, p=0.277). Multivariate predictors for higher cost/QALY included worse mRS score at discharge, procedural complications, and larger aneurysm width. Conclusions Coil embolization of basilar tip aneurysms is associated with a lower cost/QALY. This effect is sustained during follow-up. Clinical condition at discharge is the most significant predictor of overall cost/QALY at 1 year.
Design and Evaluation of a Gas Chromatograph-Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization Interface for an Exactive Orbitrap Mass Spectrometer

Various separation and mass spectrometric (MS) techniques have furthered our ability to study complex mixtures, and the desire to measure every analyte in a system is of continual interest. For many complex mixtures, such as the total molecular content of a cell, it is becoming apparent that no one single separation technique or analysis is likely to achieve this goal. Therefore, having a variety of tools to measure the complexity of these mixtures is prudent. Orbitrap MSs are broadly used in systems biology studies due to their unique performance characteristics. However, GC-Orbitraps have only recently become available, and instruments that can use gas chromatography (GC) cannot use liquid chromatography (LC) and vice versa. This limits small molecule analyses, such as those that would be employed for metabolomics, lipidomics, or toxicological studies. Thus, a simple, temporary interface was designed for a GC and Thermo Scientific™ Ion Max housing unit. This interface enables either GC or LC separation to be used on the same MS, an Exactive™ Plus Orbitrap, and utilizes an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) source. The GC-APCI interface was tested against a commercially available atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI) interface for three types of analytes that span the breadth of typical GC analyses: fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs), polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and saturated hydrocarbons. The GC-APCI-Orbitrap had similar or improved performance to the APPI and other reported methods in that it had a lower limit of quantitation, better signal to noise, and lower tendency to fragment analytes.