cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using Multimodal Learning Analytics to Model Student Behavior: A Systematic Analysis of Epistemological Framing

Research has shown that students respond to social expectations of interviews by engaging with the content in distinct ways that may or may not be productive. These structures of expectations with respect to knowledge are referred to as epistemological framing. In this study our goal is to introduce a systematic way to analyze student behaviors and describe how they cluster together to reflect different epistemological frames. In analyzing the data statistically, frames are regarded as a latent variable that accounts for the co-occurrence of behaviors. We use a computer clustering algorithm to systematically identify behavioral clusters in videotaped data of early elementary students that construct explanations of biological systems in semi-structured interviews. We also examine the relationship between these behavioral clusters and mechanistic reasoning as a way to investigate the importance of the inferences made based on these identified frames. Results show that there is a clear association between epistemological framing and student reasoning. By providing a statistical model of student framing, our approach can support the ongoing refinement of theory around epistemological frames and their impact on learning.
Algebraic coupled level set-volume of fluid method for surface tension dominant two-phase flows

Abstract In this study, an Algebraic Coupled Level Set-Volume of Fluid (A-CLSVOF) method is proposed for the simulation of interfacial capillary flows. The Volume of Fluid (VOF) method is utilized to incorporate one-way coupling with the Level Set (LS) function in order to improve the accuracy of the surface tension force calculation and to reduce the presence of parasitic currents. In this method, both VOF and LS functions are transported where the new volume fraction determines the interface seed position utilized by the reinitialization procedure for the LS field. Computational efficiency is enhanced through the use of the advected LS field, serving as an initial condition for the reinitialization procedure. The Hamilton–Godunov function is used with a second order (in space and time) discretization scheme to produce a signed distance function. In order to evaluate the performance of the methodology implemented here for capillary dominant flows, four different cases were considered: 1. static droplet; 2. capillary wave relaxation; 3. Rayleigh–Taylor instability and 4. droplet impact on a liquid pool. The simulations demonstrated reduction in spurious currents, accurately predicted capillary pressure and demonstrated overall improvements in efficiency and error reduction owing to the addition of LS advection. The present methodology is tested against previously published experimental results for a droplet impact on a deep liquid pool. Simulation results demonstrate excellent agreement with measured interface height up to and beyond the formation of a Rayleigh–Jet and break-up formation of a secondary daughter drop.
Quantitative fluorescent-polymerase chain reaction for rapid prenatal diagnosis of common aneuploidies

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (QF-PCR) in rapid prenatal diagnosis of aneuploidies. Methods Twenty-two short tandem repeats (STR) and AMXY located on chromosome 13,18,21,X and Y were used as markers to examine 1740 samples from high risk pregnant women in Down syndrome screening and advanced maternal age(≥35 yrs) by QF-PCR.Samples were also tested by karyotype analysis and the results of the two methods were compared. Results Karyotype analysis and QF-PCR results were successfully obtained from 1690 samples. All QF-PCR reports were obtained within 48 hours after sample collection.For 1639 samples,normal results were obtained by both karyotype analysis and QF-PCR.Among 51 samples that were found abnormal by karyotype analysis,41 were abnormal in QF-PCR.The rapid tests found all numerical abnormalities involving chromosome 21,18,13,X and Y in prenatal diagnosis,including trisomy 21 (n =30),trisomy 18 (n =6),45,XO (n =1 ),47,XYY (n=1),47,XXX (n=1),69,XXX (n=1) and mosaic 47,XXY[94]/46,XX[6] (n=1)(47,XXY in QF-PCR).No false positive results were found.The results obtained by QF-PCR were consistent with those of cytogenetic studies in 99.4％ of the samples (1680/1690).Only ten cases of mosain and structural abnormality could not be found (0.6％,10/1690) by QF-PCR. Conclusions Rapid QF-PCR test might diagnose all aneuploidies involving chromosome 21,18,13,X and Y.It could provide rapid and accurate diagnosis for 99.4％ pregnant women with positive Down syndrome screening and advanced maternal age. Key words: Aneuploidy; Prenatal diagnosis; Polymerase chain reaction
Phase I study of bortezomib in combination with irinotecan in patients with relapsed/refractory high-risk neuroblastoma.

Purpose Prognosis for relapsed/refractory high-risk neuroblastoma (HR-NBL) remains poor. Bortezomib, a proteasome inhibitor, has shown preclinical activity against NBL as a single agent and in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy including irinotecan. Patients and Methods Eighteen HR-NBL patients with primary refractory (n = 8) or relapsed (n = 10) disease were enrolled in a Phase I study using modified Time To Event Continual Reassessment Method. Bortezomib (1.2 mg/m2/day) was administered on days 1, 4, 8, and 11 intravenously (IV) and irinotecan was given IV on days 1–5 (35, 40, or 45 mg/m2/day, on dose levels [DL] 1–3, respectively). The maximum tolerated dose (MTD), dose-limiting toxicity (DLT), and response rate were examined. Results Eighteen NBL patients were evaluable for toxicity; 17 were evaluable for response assessment. A total of 142 courses were delivered (mean 8.2, median 2, range 1–48), with two patients receiving more than 40 courses of therapy. Two DLTs were reported, including a grade 4 thrombocytopenia (DL2) and a grade 3 irritability (DL3). MTD was estimated as DL3. Two of 17 (12%) evaluable patients showed objective responses (ORs) lasting more than 40 courses, including 1 partial remission and 1 complete remission. Four patients (23%) had prolonged stable disease (SD) lasting six or more courses, with a total of 35% study patients demonstrating clinical benefit in the form of prolonged OR or SD. Conclusion The combination of bortezomib and irinotecan was well tolerated by patients with relapsed/refractory NBL with favorable toxicity profile. It also showed modest but promising clinical activity and merits further testing in Phase II studies.
Hate Won, but Love Will Have the Final Word: Critical Pedagogy, Liberation Theology, and the Moral Imperative of Resistance.

In the context of the recent presidential election in the United States, this article examines the place of critical pedagogy and liberation theology and its positionality in impacting the moral im...
Preoperative echocardiographic measures of left ventricular mechanics are associated with postoperative vasoactive support in preterm infants undergoing patent ductus arteriosus ligation.

Abstract Objective Preoperative risk factors associated with poor outcomes after patent ductus arteriosus ligation in preterm infants have not been well defined. The aim of this study was to determine the association between preoperative echocardiographic measures of left ventricular mechanics and postoperative clinical outcomes after patent ductus arteriosus ligation. Methods Preterm infants less than 90 days of age with no other significant congenital anomalies who underwent patent ductus arteriosus ligation between 2007 and 2015 were considered for retrospective analysis. The primary outcome was peak postoperative vasoactive inotropic score. Conventional echocardiographic measures of ventricular size, function, and patent ductus arteriosus size were performed. Echocardiographic single-beat, pressure-volume loop analysis estimates of contractility (end-systolic elastance) and afterload (arterial elastance) were calculated. Ventriculoarterial coupling was assessed using the arterial elastance/end-systolic elastance ratio. Multivariable linear regression was performed using clinical and echocardiographic data. Results Echocardiograms from 101 patients (42.5% male) were analyzed. We found a statistically significant association between vasoactive inotropic score and both end-systolic elastance and arterial elastance. No patient with arterial elastance/end-systolic elastance greater than 0.78 (n = 32) had a vasoactive inotropic score 20 or greater. Analysis of our secondary outcomes found associations between preoperative end-systolic elastance and postoperative urine output less than 1 mL/kg/h at 24 hours, creatinine change greater than 0.5 mg/dL, and time to first extubation. Conclusions End-systolic elastance and arterial elastance were the only predictors of postoperative vasoactive inotropic score after patent ductus arteriosus ligation in preterm infants. Those neonates with increased contractility and low afterload were at highest risk for elevated inotropic support. These findings suggest a role for echocardiographic end-systolic elastance and arterial elastance in the preoperative assessment of preterm infants undergoing patent ductus arteriosus ligation.
Adjoint sensitivity analysis of chaotic dynamical systems with non-intrusive least squares shadowing

Abstract This paper presents a discrete adjoint version of the recently developed non-intrusive least squares shadowing (NILSS) algorithm, which circumvents the instability that conventional adjoint methods encounter for chaotic systems. The NILSS approach involves solving a smaller minimization problem than other shadowing approaches and can be implemented with only minor modifications to preexisting tangent and adjoint solvers. Adjoint NILSS is demonstrated on a small chaotic ODE, a one-dimensional scalar PDE, and a direct numerical simulation (DNS) of the minimal flow unit, a turbulent channel flow on a small spatial domain. This is the first application of an adjoint shadowing-based algorithm to a three-dimensional turbulent flow.
Predicting Eco-evolutionary Impacts of Fishing on Body Size and Trophic Role of Atlantic Cod

Fishing has caused changes in abundance and demography in exploited populations, in part due to rapid decreases in age and size at maturation. Few models address how direct effects of fishing on age- and size-structure compare to indirect effects on the trophic role of predators. Using Atlantic Cod as example, we model the possible consequences of fishing for trophic roles, contrasting purely demographic effects with those that also include adaptive responses to fishing. While fishing decreases cod abundance in both scenarios, mean trophic level decreases more when there is an adaptive response in maturation. Adaptation also resulted more small fish, which supported the persistence of larger fish, even with heavy fishing. These large fish have a high trophic position, increasing variation relative to the demography-only case. Our model provides a proof-of-concept that eco-evolutionary feedbacks can change the trophic role of fished populations, altering food web dynamics in harvested ecosystems.
Connected cruise control for a platoon of human-operated and autonomous vehicles using adaptive dynamic programming

Cooperative driving with V2V communication is under extensive investigation, because of its potential to increase the safety, reliability, connectivity, and autonomy of transportation systems. This paper studies the problem of connected cruise control (CCC) for a platoon of human-driven and autonomous vehicles. Motional data, such as distance and velocity information, are transmitted by vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication between connected vehicles. Taking into account the communication latency and unpredictable behavior in the leading vehicle, we formulate the CCC problem as an adaptive optimal control problem with input delay and disturbance. A novel data-driven control solution is proposed for the vehicle platoon, which guarantees that each vehicle can achieve safe distance and desired common velocity. Incorporating adaptive dynamic programming technique with sampled-data system theory, a data-driven adaptive optimal controller is learned from sampled data, without the knowledge of the human or vehicle dynamics of the platooning vehicles. Stability and robustness analyses are provided by means of input-to-state stability theory. Numerical results confirm the efficacy of our method.
Liver Imaging Techniques: Recognition of Uveal Melanoma Metastases.

Background: The liver is the most common site for metastases of several primary malignancies including uveal melanoma. Methods: Review of imaging characteristics of incidental common benign liver lesions including hepatic cyst, hemangioma, focal nodular hyperplasia, and hepatic adenoma and contrasting them with uveal melanoma metastases. Results: Benign hepatic lesions may be cystic or, if solid, relatively stable in size over time. For hepatic lesions larger than 10 mm in size, characteristic imaging features typically allow for confident diagnosis. When lesions are small (less than 10 mm), definitive characterization can be difficult. Moreover, lesions smaller than 10 mm can be difficult to biopsy under ultrasound or computed tomography (CT) guidance, and short-term follow-up will often be useful to assess for stability or progression. Overall, magnetic resonance imaging is more specific than CT scan and at least as sensitive as CT for detecting uveal melanoma liver metastases. Conclusions: New multiple enhancing solid liver lesions should raise suspicion of uveal melanoma liver metastases. Discussion of challenging cases with the radiologist may be beneficial, as pertinent information such as size, location, and molecular prognostication status of the primary tumor can guide radiological interpretation of hepatic lesions.
Towards photography through realistic fog

Imaging through fog has important applications in industries such as self-driving cars, augmented driving, airplanes, helicopters, drones and trains. Here we show that time profiles of light reflected from fog have a distribution (Gamma) that is different from light reflected from objects occluded by fog (Gaussian). This helps to distinguish between background photons reflected from the fog and signal photons reflected from the occluded object. Based on this observation, we recover reflectance and depth of a scene obstructed by dense, dynamic, and heterogeneous fog. For practical use cases, the imaging system is designed in optical reflection mode with minimal footprint and is based on LIDAR hardware. Specifically, we use a single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) camera that time-tags individual detected photons. A probabilistic computational framework is developed to estimate the fog properties from the measurement itself, without prior knowledge. Other solutions are based on radar that suffers from poor resolution (due to the long wavelength), or on time gating that suffers from low signal-to-noise ratio. The suggested technique is experimentally evaluated in a wide range of fog densities created in a fog chamber It demonstrates recovering objects 57cm away from the camera when the visibility is 37cm. In that case it recovers depth with a resolution of 5cm and scene reflectance with an improvement of 4dB in PSNR and 3.4x reconstruction quality in SSIM over time gating techniques.
An Inverse Integral Computational Method for Compressible Turbulent Boundary Layers

An inviscid flow solver used in conjunction with a viscous flow solver through a patching or matching approach [1] has proved to be a powerful technique for computing viscous-inviscid interacting flow, as pointed out in the reviews of Lock [2], Melnik [3], and Le Balleur [4]. This computational technique can be extended to separated flow if an inverse boundary-layer calculation method (where the pressure distribution is obtained as part of the solution) is used in place of a direct boundary-layer calculation method (where the pressure distribution is specified). A review of computational methods capable of handling separated flow is given by Le Balleur [4].
Adapting a Quality Function Deployment Model to Optimise Professional Education in Human Resources/Industrial Relations Programmes

Recent and dramatic changes in the roles of HR/IR professionals require not only new types of knowledge and skills but also enhanced abilities by these professionals to combine their skills and knowledge in creative ways that add value to their organisations. These demands are reflected in what can best be described as “proficiencies.” Increasingly, new job entrants must be equipped with a broad array of proficiencies that enable them to operate not only as traditional HR/IR professionals, but also as key business partners in their organisations. These proficiencies require them both to draw on a wider range of knowledge and skills and to combine their knowledge and skills in ways not normally emphasised in their formal education. Since HR/IR practitioners are for the most part trained in professional, master’s degree programmes, their academic training must be adapted to help them acquire these proficiencies so they can meet the evolving demands of the workplace.
A Practioner’s Wish List Towards Algebraic Modeling Systems

This final chapters summarizes the author’s wishes and expectation toward algebraic modeling systems. Among this wish list are algebraic reformulations of nonlinear relations, special mathematical features, inclusion of codes, or LaTeXoutput of all relevant objects.
Coinfection With Influenza A Virus and Klebsiella oxytoca : An Underrecognized Impact on Host Resistance and Tolerance to Pulmonary Infections.

Pneumonia is a world health problem and a leading cause of death, particularly affecting children and the elderly (1, 2). Bacterial pneumonia following infection with influenza A virus (IAV) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality but the mechanisms behind this phenomenon are not yet well-defined (3). Host resistance and tolerance are two processes essential for host survival during infection. Resistance is the host's ability to clear a pathogen while tolerance is the host's ability to overcome the impact of the pathogen as well as the host response to infection (4-8). Some studies have shown that IAV infection suppresses the immune response, leading to overwhelming bacterial loads (9-13). Other studies have shown that some IAV/bacterial coinfections cause alterations in tolerance mechanisms such as tissue resilience (14-16). In a recent analysis of nasopharyngeal swabs from patients hospitalized during the 2013-2014 influenza season, we have found that a significant proportion of IAV-infected patients were also colonized with Klebsiella oxytoca, a gram-negative bacteria known to be an opportunistic pathogen in a variety of diseases (17). Mice that were infected with K. oxytoca following IAV infection demonstrated decreased survival and significant weight loss when compared to mice infected with either single pathogen. Using this model, we found that IAV/K. oxytoca coinfection of the lung is characterized by an exaggerated inflammatory immune response. We observed early inflammatory cytokine and chemokine production, which in turn resulted in massive infiltration of neutrophils and inflammatory monocytes. Despite this swift response, the pulmonary pathogen burden in coinfected mice was similar to singly-infected animals, albeit with a slight delay in bacterial clearance. In addition, during coinfection we observed a shift in pulmonary macrophages toward an inflammatory and away from a tissue reparative phenotype. Interestingly, there was only a small increase in tissue damage in coinfected lungs as compared to either single infection. Our results indicate that during pulmonary coinfection a combination of seemingly modest defects in both host resistance and tolerance may act synergistically to cause worsened outcomes for the host. Given the prevalence of K. oxytoca detected in human IAV patients, these dysfunctional tolerance and resistance mechanisms may play an important role in the response of patients to IAV.
A review of potential RNA therapeutics for Machado-Joseph disease

Polyglutamine diseases are a group of neurodegenerative disorders characterized by the expansion of a CAG trinucleotide in a protein-coding gene. The translation of these expanded repeats leads to long polyglutamine tracts that increase the potential of the protein to aggregate itself and other proteins into the pathological amyloid conformation. Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), also known as Spinocerebellar Ataxia 3, is the second most common polyglutamine disease behind Huntington disease. In MJD, the CAG expansion occurs in the ATXN3 gene. Currently there are no FDA-approved therapies to prevent or cure MJD. However, RNA-based therapies that silence the expression of or alter the structure of the mutant protein have the potential to prevent and ameliorate the disease. Here, we will review how RNA interference (RNAi) and antisense oligonucleotides (AONs) could potentially be used to target ATXN3. These technologies could mediate allele-specific silencing of mutant ATXN3 alleles but also allele non-specific silencing for individuals without a targetable polymorphism. Both RNAi and AONs could be used to promote mRNA degradation and translational inhibition; in addition AONs may be used as splicing modulators. The evidence suggests that viral-mediated delivery of RNAi therapies may have longer term potency than liposomal-mediated delivery of RNAi or AON therapies; however, this has not been fully explored in animal models. Nevertheless, there are promising results from studies of MJD and similar neurodegenerative disorders that suggest that RNAi and AON technology may be a viable long-term treatment therapy.
In Memoriam: Dr. Bernard Fisher

Very few individuals have so profoundly influenced the field of surgical oncology as has Dr. Bernard Fisher, who died on October 16, 2019, at the age of 101. Fisher is widely known for his work on the treatment and prevention of primary breast cancer, where he championed breast-conserving surgery, the use adjuvant systemic therapies, and chemoprevention (i.e., the use of anti-estrogens to prevent breast cancer). However, Fisher’s impact extends far beyond the field of surgical oncology. He questioned the value of observational studies in clinical decision-making and emphasized that large randomized trials with unambiguous endpoints (i.e., all-cause mortality) should form the basis for patient management.
Correlation of Mock Board Examination Scores During Anatomic Pathology Residency Training with Performance on the Certifying Examination.

Mock board exams are common in residency programs across many disciplines. However, the value of mock board results in predicting success on the actual certifying examination is largely anecdotal a...
The 89Y(n,γ) reaction: Radiative cross sections and the decay of 90Ym.

Abstract The activity 90Ym was produced by radiative neutron capture on targets of mono-isotopic 89Y at several different reactor sites. By observing the γ rays emitted in the decay of 90Ym, the thermal neutron cross section was deduced to be 1.02(1) mb, and the resonance integral was deduced to be 7.82(19) mb or 7.35(15) mb at 2 different reactor sites. The energies of the 3 γ rays emitted in the 90Ym decay were measured to be 202.539(10), 479.532(10), and 682.03(4) keV by comparison with the energies of lines in well-known calibration sources. The half-life of the 90Ym decay was determined to be 3.178(12) h. The cross sections are discussed in the context of a statistical model of radiative capture.
Affinity of small-molecule solutes to hydrophobic, hydrophilic, and chemically patterned interfaces in aqueous solution.

Performance of membranes for water purification is highly influenced by the interactions of solvated species with membrane surfaces, including surface adsorption of solutes upon fouling. Current efforts toward fouling-resistant membranes often pursue surface hydrophilization, frequently motivated by macroscopic measures of hydrophilicity, because hydrophobicity is thought to increase solute–surface affinity. While this heuristic has driven diverse membrane functionalization strategies, here we build on advances in the theory of hydrophobicity to critically examine the relevance of macroscopic characterizations of solute–surface affinity. Specifically, we use molecular simulations to quantify the affinities to model hydroxyl- and methyl-functionalized surfaces of small, chemically diverse, charge-neutral solutes represented in produced water. We show that surface affinities correlate poorly with two conventional measures of solute hydrophobicity, gas-phase water solubility and oil–water partitioning. Moreover, we find that all solutes show attraction to the hydrophobic surface and most to the hydrophilic one, in contrast to macroscopically based hydrophobicity heuristics. We explain these results by decomposing affinities into direct solute interaction energies (which dominate on hydroxyl surfaces) and water restructuring penalties (which dominate on methyl surfaces). Finally, we use an inverse design algorithm to show how heterogeneous surfaces, with multiple functional groups, can be patterned to manipulate solute affinity and selectivity. These findings, importantly based on a range of solute and surface chemistries, illustrate that conventional macroscopic hydrophobicity metrics can fail to predict solute–surface affinity, and that molecular-scale surface chemical patterning significantly influences affinity—suggesting design opportunities for water purification membranes and other engineered interfaces involving aqueous solute–surface interactions.
A Century in Review: Medicolegal Implications of Facial Nerve Paralysis.

Importance: It is important to recognize factors that may mitigate the risk of a potential lawsuit and increase knowledge and awareness of physicians. Objective: To evaluate and characterize facial...
Special Session: A Novel Low-Power and Energy-Efficient Adiabatic Logic-In-Memory Architecture Using CMOS/MTJ

Hybridization of Magnetic Tunnel Junction (MTJ) devices and CMOS transistors are being investigated to design Logic-In-Memory (LIM) architecture. However, hybrid CMOS/MTJ based LIM architecture suffers from significant power consumption due to charging and discharging of a capacitive output load. Adiabatic logic is one of the low-power design techniques to design energy-efficient hardware. Therefore, we apply the adiabatic logic in hybrid CMOS/MTJ based designs to propose the novel concept of Adiabatic Logic-In-Memory (ALIM) circuits. The proposed ALIM based CMOS/MTJ circuits have reduced dynamic power consumption as compared to the existing CMOS/MTJ circuits by using the energy recovery property. As a case study, we have designed an ALIM based magnetic full adder. Simulations are performed using 45nm CMOS technology with perpendicular anisotropy CoFeB/MgOMTJ model using Cadence Spectre simulator. From the simulation results, it is verified that the proposed ALIM based Magnetic Full Adder (MFA) saves 37% of energy and 43% of power as compared to the existing Pre-Charge Sense Amplifier (PCSA) based MFA. Further, the proposed ALIM based MFA also saves 38 % of the area as compared to the existing PCSA based MFA due to reduction in the number of transistors. The low-area, low-power and low-energy consumption makes the proposed ALIM architecture an the attractive choice to design low-power circuits.
Exploring the Coverage of Existing Hardware Vulnerabilities in Community Standards

Hardware security vulnerabilities have taken on greater importance over the last decade as academic and industry research has brought the issue to the forefront. The scope and breadth of these vulnerabilities have made them difficult to classify as has been done for software and network systems with the well-known Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) database maintained by the MITRE Corporation. As further hardware security research continues, there is a requirement to standardize the language and references of academics, industry, and government alike. Without this common lexicon it becomes exceedingly difficult and potentially confusing when exchanging ideas, concepts, and methodologies across various sectors. Building and maintaining a glossary of terms, concepts, and concerns allows for a focus towards further research and development in the field of hardware security. In this paper, we review the nascent efforts by academia and industry in categorizing and documenting the existing hardware security landscape. The contributions of our work is an examination of the existing community efforts in the classification of hardware weakness with a specific focus on the CWE database. While current efforts are helping to contour the hardware landscape, similar to the work already performed for software and networks, the field is still evolving, and more work is required.
Malpractice in Pediatric Otolaryngology

In recent decades, there has been an increase in the costs related to medical practice. The pediatric population has certain characteristics which make it more susceptible to injury, and thus medical malpractice claims. Children are more vulnerable than adults when treated in any healthcare environment and chronically ill children are more high risk for treatment and more susceptible to medical errors. Additionally, medical malpractice adds to the growing cost of American healthcare, as well as leading to stress, loss of time, and loss of reputation to the provider. In this chapter, we summarize the current state of litigation of medical malpractice in Pediatric Otolaryngology. We also discuss the most common conditions associated with litigation as well as strategies to mitigate the risk of litigation.
Hole formation effect on surface morphological response of plasma-facing tungsten

We report simulation results on the effect of helium (He) bubble bursting-mediated surface hole formation on the surface morphological response of tungsten plasma-facing components (PFCs) in nuclear fusion devices. Our analysis is based on an atomistically informed, continuum-scale model, which is capable of accessing the spatiotemporal scales relevant to the fuzz nanostructure formation process on the surface of PFC tungsten. Our simulations account, in an empirical fashion, for two types of subsurface bubble dynamical phenomena in the nanobubble region of PFC tungsten during He plasma irradiation, involving bubble bursting and surface crater formation. We demonstrate that the hole formation effect on the PFC tungsten surface accelerates the growth rate of nanotendrils and the onset of fuzz formation. As a result, the predicted incubation time for surface nanotendril growth is shortened, in agreement with experimental data of incubation fluence at comparable plasma exposure conditions. We also explore systematically the dependence of the PFC surface morphological response on the areal density of holes introduced at regular time intervals onto the He-implanted tungsten surface, a parameter in our analysis that serves as a proxy for the rate of He bubble bursting. More importantly, our simulations capture fine surface features in the PFC tungsten surface morphology and predict that the average spacing between nanotendrils is on the order of 100 nm, consistent with the experimental findings.
A data science perspective of real-world COVID-19 databases

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated the lives of millions of people worldwide and damaged the economy of many countries. While the negative impact of the pandemic on mankind is unimaginable, this pandemic has triggered new research and innovation in the use of artificial intelligence for developing solutions to better understand and mitigate the pandemic. Several valuable datasets have been made available by different organizations and research groups. In this chapter, we provide an overview of real-world COVID-19 data sources available for developing novel applications and solutions for the pandemic. We provide a comparison between them from a data science perspective. Next, we delve deep into the Cerner Real-World Data for COVID-19. We discuss the schema of the database, data quality issues, data wrangling using Apache Spark, and data analysis using popular machine learning techniques. Specifically, we provide examples of querying the database, training machine learning models, and visualization. We also discuss the technical challenges that we encountered and how we overcame them to complete multiple clinical studies on COVID-19.
Contribution of Flares from Tidal Disruption of Stars to high-redshift AGN

We explore the contributions of Tidal Disruption Events (TDEs) to the flares in Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) at high redshifts. Using the latest data available from X-ray and optical observations of high-redshift galaxies, in combination with the evolution of their central supermassive black holes, we calculate the contribution of TDE to AGNs as a function of their luminosities. We find that at low redshifts ($z < 1$), a few percent of all AGN with bolometric luminosities $L_{\rm Bol} \lesssim 10^{44}$ erg s$^{-1}$ may be attributable to possible TDEs. However, this fraction can significantly increase at earlier cosmic times, including up to several tens of percent of the population of AGN at $z \gtrsim 3$. TDEs may comprise a significant fraction of the Compton-Thick (CT) AGN population at $z \gtrsim 3$. The above findings motivate further calibration with upcoming X-ray missions and spectroscopic surveys targeting TDE-AGN.
Fast Food, Fat and Sugar Sweetened Beverage Items are Related to Children's Dietary Energy Density

To reduce risk of pediatric obesity, valid assessment tools are needed. This study tested the validity of a brief fast food, fat and sugar sweetened beverage screening tool for use by low-income pa...
Statistical issues concerning quasar absorption line systems.

The numerous absorption lines detected in the ultraviolet spectra of Quasars mostly arise in gas clouds distributed throughout the universe. About 2000 have now been found. The study of the distribution of their physical properties and locations in space is inherently statistical because all types of extended gaseous object can produce absorption. A variety of statistical problems are discussed, including parameter estimation and goodness of fit for small samples, survival data with censoring, randomization tests, models with nonnormal measurement errors, searches for quasiperiodic distributions using power spectra, bootstrap resampling to assess sample inhomogeneity, and searches for density variations (clusters and voids) in one-dimensional distributions. We begin with an introduction to the astrophysics of the absorption systems and current research goals, which should enable the reader without an astrophysical background to work on the statistical problems posed in current research papers.
Deglacial variability in the surface return flow of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation

[1] Benthic foraminiferal Cd/Ca from a Florida Current sediment core documents the history of the northward penetration of southern source waters within the surface return flow of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC). Cd seawater estimates (CdW) indicate that intermediate-depth southern source waters crossed the equator and contributed to the Florida Current during the Bolling-Allerod warm period of the last deglaciation, consistent with evidence of only a modest AMOC reduction compared to today. The CdWestimates also provide the first paleoceanographic evidence of a reduction in the influence of intermediate-depth southern source waters within the Florida Current during the Younger Dryas, a deglacial cold event characterized by a weak North Atlantic AMOC. Our results reveal a close correspondence between the northward penetration of intermediate-depth southern source waters and the influence of North Atlantic Deep Water, suggesting a possible link between intermediate-depth southern source waters and the strength of the Atlantic AMOC.
Multiple mixture segmental HMM and its applications

A multiple mixture segmental hidden Markov model (MMSHMM) is presented. This model is extended from the linear probabilistic-trajectory segmental HMM. Each segment is characterized by a linear trajectory with slope and mid-point parameters, and also the residual error covariances around the trajectory, so that both extra-segmental and intra-segmental variation are represented. Instead of modeling single distribution for each model parameter as earlier work, we use multiple mixture components for model parameters to represent the variability due to the variation within each speaker and also the differences between speakers. This model is evaluated on two applications. One is a phonetic classification task with TIMIT corpus, which shows that MMSHMM has advantages over conventional HMM. Another one is a speaker-independent keyword spotting task with the Road Rally database. By rescoring putative events hypothesized by a primary HMM keyword spotter, the experiments show that the performance is improved through distinguishing true hits from false alarms.
Our Violent Sun

Without warning, the relatively calm solar atmosphere can be torn asunder by brief and catastrophic outbursts of incredible energy, called solar flares, which occur in active regions, the magnetized atmosphere in and around sunspots. They are sudden and brief, usually lasting no more than 10 min, and rapidly increase the temperature of relatively small, Earth-sized region of the corona to temperatures as high as 20×106 K. As a result, solar flares can outshine the entire Sun in X-rays and extreme-ultraviolet radiation (Fig. 6.1). Solar flares are normally not detected in bright, visible sunlight, but they can be seen at visible wavelengths when focusing in on the red spectral line of hydrogen, the Balmer alpha transition at 656.3 nm.
R&D policies, endogenous growth and scale effects

Abstract This paper constructs a scale-free endogenous growth model and studies the determinants of optimal R&D policy. The model combines two of the main approaches to removal of scale effects: the rent protection approach and the diminishing technological opportunities approach. The steady-state rate of innovation is a function of all of the model's parameters including the R&D subsidy/tax rate. Thus, growth is fully endogenous. Numerical simulations imply that it is optimal to tax R&D when innovations are of very small and very large magnitudes, and to subsidize R&D when innovations are of medium size. Under a wide range of empirically relevant calibrations, the subsidy rate turns out to be positive and fluctuates between 5% and 25%.
State estimation of a shop floor using improved resampling rules for particle filtering

Abstract Operational inefficiencies in supply chains cost industries millions of dollars every year. Much of these inefficiencies arise due to the lack of a coherent planning and control mechanism, which requires accurate yet timely state estimation of these large-scale dynamic systems given their massive datasets. While Bayesian inferencing procedures based on particle filtering paradigm may meet these requirements in state estimation, they may end up in a situation called degeneracy, where a single particle abruptly possesses significant amount of normalized weights. Resampling rules for importance sampling prevent the sampling procedure from generating degenerated weights for particles. In this work, we propose two new resampling rules concerning minimized variance (VRR) and minimized bias (BRR). The proposed rules are derived theoretically and their performances are benchmarked against that of the minimized variance and half-width based resampling rules existing in the literature using a simulation of a semiconductor die manufacturing shop floor in terms of their resampling qualities (mean and variance of root mean square errors) and computational efficiencies, where we identify the circumstances that the proposed resampling rules become particularly useful.
Physiological evidence for an interaction between Glu-325 and His-322 in the lactose carrier of Escherichia coli

Abstract Site-directed mutagenesis and second-site suppressor analysis have proven to be useful approaches to examine the role of charged amino acids in the structure and function of the lactose carrier of Escherichia coli . A lactose carrier mutant Glu-325 → Ser failed to ferment melibiose and showed white clones on melibiose MacConkey indicator plates. Several red revertants were isolated from these plates. Two of these revertants showed a double mutation, the original mutation (Glu-325 → Ser) plus His-322 → Asp. Seven revertants showed a second site mutation His-322 → Asn. Although the second site revertants failed to accumulate sugars they do show more rapid uptake of melibiose into cells containing α-galactosidase than the original mutant Glu-325 → Ser. The complete loss of transport activity due to the removal of the negative charge at 325 can be partially compensated for by the introduction of a new negative charge at 322. A site-directed double mutant His-322 → Asn/Glu-325 → Asn showed a greater rate of lactose uptake ( V max ) than either of the single mutants His-322 → Asn or Glu-325 → Asn. It was concluded that there is some type of physiological interaction (possibly a salt bridge) between His-322 and Glu-325.
Response of a colloidal gel to a microscopic oscillatory strain.

We study the microscopic mechanical response of colloidal gels by manipulating single probe particles within the network. For this work, we use a refractive index and density-matched suspension of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) particles with nonadsorbing polymer: polystyrene. As the polymer concentration increases, a dynamically arrested, space-filling network is formed, exhibiting structural transitions from a clusterlike to a more homogeneous stringlike gel phase, consistent with observations by Dibble and co-workers [C. J. Dibble, M. Kogan, and M. J. Solomon, Phys. Rev. E 74, 041403 (2006)]. In a gel, probe particles are oscillated with an optical trap, creating the local strain field in the network. We find that the micromechanics correlate strongly with the gel structure. At high polymer concentration, the average deformation field decays as $1/r$ to a distance quite close to the probe particle, as expected for a purely elastic material. In contrast, at lower polymer concentrations, gels exhibit anomalous strain fields in the near field; the strain plateaus, indicating that many particles move together with the probe. By rescaling the probe size in the theoretical model, we obtain a micromechanical gel correlation length, which is consistent with the structural difference in terms of ``clusterlike'' and ``stringlike.''
Why are materialists less happy? The role of gratitude and need satisfaction in the relationship between materialism and life satisfaction.

Abstract Materialism has been consistently related to lower levels of life satisfaction. We suggest that one reason for this negative relationship may be that high materialists find it harder to be grateful, and lower levels of trait gratitude may be related to unmet psychological needs. 246 undergraduate marketing students (129 female) completed self-report dispositional measures of materialism, gratitude, need satisfaction, and life satisfaction via online questionnaire. Statistical mediation analyses were performed using conditional process modeling. Consistent with predictions, gratitude and need satisfaction mediated the relationship between materialism and decreased life satisfaction in-sequence. Gratitude was also a direct mediator, whereas need satisfaction played an indirect role through its relationship with gratitude. Results may shed light on why those high in materialism are less happy than those low in materialism, and suggest possibilities for interventions to increase life satisfaction.
A comprehensive investigation on the relationship between information technology investments and firm diversification

This paper empirically investigates the role played by information technology in diversified firms by building a demand function for IT investments. First by reviewing the management literature, we briefly examine different types of diversification, including related diversification, unrelated diversification, and geographic diversification. After carefully developing the theoretical arguments we empirically test the relationship between IT investments and different types of diversification. We find that in general diversified firms demand more investments in information technology, but the positive relationship may also depend on the extent to which firms diversify. Our findings show that firms with diversified structures that increase the complexities of coordination and control, e.g. unrelated diversification or extensive geographic diversification, would face a lesser demand for IT investments because of the increased use of financial controls instead of strategic controls by these firms. Overall, we find that information technology can serve as an effective coordination and control mechanism for moderate levels of diversification whereas non-IT mechanisms for coordination and control becomes more suitable in a context of higher levels of diversification. The implications of these findings for research and practice are discussed.
Indians into Mexicans: History and Identity In a Mexican Town

Indians into Mexicans: History and Identity In. Mexican Town. David Frye. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1996. viii. 250 pp., maps, photographs, notes, appendixes, bibliography, index.
Crystalloid Inclusions in the Schwann Cell Cytoplasm

Summary Crystalloid inclusions are found in the cytoplasm of Schwann cells from a variety of peripheral nerve biopsies. They are about 0.5 to 1 μ in dimension and have a fusiform shape or are irregularly formed. These structures may have their origin in the endoplasmic reticulum of the Schwann cell or possibly be an end product of dysmetabolism of myelin by a variety of toxic agents.
Three-Frequency Nonlinear Heterodyne Detection. 1: cw Radar and Analog Communications

Though heterodyne detection provides a valuable technique for detecting small signals, the conventional system has several inherent disadvantages. In applications such as communications and radar, obtaining a reasonably high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) requires (1) a good knowledge of the velocity of the transmitter or target, (2) a stable yet tunable local oscillator, and (3) a target or source that presents a minimum of frequency broadening. These conditions are frequently not adhered to by real systems, particularly in the ir and optical, giving rise to detection capabilities far below optimum. Calculations are presented for the use and operation of a three-frequency nonlinear heterodyne system that eliminates many of the stringent conditions required for conventional heterodyne detection, while maintaining its near-ideal SNR. The technique, which is similar in principle to heterodyne radiometry, makes use of a two-frequency transmitter and a nonlinear second detector and is particularly useful for signal acquisition; for signals of unknown Doppler shift, in fact, performance is generally superior to that of the conventional system. Although primary emphasis is on the ir and optical because of the large Doppler shifts encountered there, application of the principle in the microwave and radiowave is also discussed. For cw radar and analog communications, the SNR, power spectral density (PSD), and minimum detectable power (MDP) are obtained and compared with the standard configuration. Both sinewave and Gaussian input signals are treated. A variety of specific cases are discussed including the optimum performance case, the typical radar case, and the AM and FM communications case. Evaluation of the technique for pulsed radar and digital communications applications (both in the absence and in the presence of the lognormal atmospheric channel) is reserved for Part 2 of this paper [Appl. Opt. 14, 680 (1975)].