cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Robust message-passing for statistical inference in sensor networks

Large-scale sensor network applications require in-network processing and data fusion to compute statistically relevant summaries of the sensed measurements. This paper studies distributed message-passing algorithms, in which neighboring nodes in the network pass local information relevant to a global computation, for performing statistical inference. We focus on the class of reweighted belief propagation (RBP) algorithms, which includes as special cases the standard sum-product and max-product algorithms for general networks with cycles, but in contrast to standard algorithms has attractive theoretical properties (uniqueness of fixed points, convergence, and robustness). Our main contribution is to design and implement a practical and modular architecture for implementing RBP algorithms in real networks. In addition, we show how intelligent scheduling of RBP messages can be used to minimize communication between motes and prolong the lifetime of the network. Our simulation and Mica2 mote deployment indicate that the proposed algorithms achieve accurate results despite real-world problems such as dying motes, dead and asymmetric links, and dropped messages. Overall, the class of RBP provides provides an ideal fit for sensor networks due to their distributed nature, requiring only local knowledge and coordination, and little requirements on other services such as reliable transmission.
Joint estimation in MRI using harmonic retrieval methods

One of the key factors affecting functional MRI image reconstruction is field inhomogeneity. It is desirable to estimate both the distortion-free MRI image and field map simultaneously, thus compensating for image distortions caused by the field inhomogeneity. To solve this problem, which is called joint estimation problem, we propose a new non-iterative approach using harmonic retrieval (HR) methods. This connection establishes an elegant framework to solve the joint estimation problem through a sequence of one dimensional HR problems in which efficient solutions are available. We also derive the condition on the smoothness of the field map in order for HR techniques to recover the image with high SNR. Experimental results with the proposed method show significant improvements in MRI image reconstruction compared to methods that do not correct for field inhomogeneity.
Margins and Mainstreams: Asians in American History and Culture

PrefaceWhen and Where I Enter?Is Yellow Black or White?Recentering WomenFamily Album historyPerils of the Body and MindMargin as MainstreamBibliographyIndex
Direct interaction of FliX and FlbD is required for their regulatory activity in Caulobacter crescentus.

Background: The temporal and spatial expression of late flagellar genes in Caulobacter crescentus is activated by the transcription factor FlbD and its partner trans-acting factor FliX. The physical interaction of these two proteins represents an alternative mechanism for regulating the activity of s 54 transcription factors. This study is to characterize the interaction of the two proteins and the consequences of the interaction on their regulatory activity.
Cytochalasin D can improve heterologous protein productivity in adherent Chinese hamster ovary cells

We generated a series of adherent gene-amplified CHO clones expressing human secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) as a model for heterologous protein production. Clones demonstrate a 26- to 52-fold increase in productivity compared to controls after dhfr/methotrexate-mediated gene amplification and clone selection. SEAP is stably expressed in these clones over at least a 6-week period without significant productivity loss. Two-dimensional protein electrophoresis identified 21 proteins that exhibited altered expression in clones of increasing SEAP productivity. Based on MALDI TOF/TOF mass spectrometry of relevant protein spots, changes in translation, energy pathways, chaperones, regulatory proteins, and cytoskeletal proteins were observed, including a 4-fold expression increase in actin capping protein. We hypothesized that an alteration of the actin cytoskeleton using cytochalasin D as a mimic for actin-capping protein could have a beneficial effect on heterologous protein secretion. Treatment with 0.5 μg/mL cytochalasin D increased SEAP productivity 2- to 3-fold compared to an amplified control which resulted in an increase in productivity from 52- to 150-fold compared to a nonamplified parent. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Control of liver abscesses in feedlot cattle: A review1

ABSTRACT Published literature was reviewed to provide an overview of the historical prevalence and methods of controlling liver abscesses (LA) in feedlot cattle. Liver abscesses are typically categorized as mild, moderate, or severe, with severe LA most often being associated with reductions in performance. The prevalence of LA in beef-breed steers increased by 25% between 2008 and 2013; however, the prevalence in Holstein steers tripled over the same period. Regionally, the greatest prevalence has been observed in Kansas, eastern Colorado, and western Nebraska, and the lowest prevalence has been observed in the Midwest and the desert southwest. Fusobacterium necrophorum and Trueperella pyogenes are most commonly associated with LA, although F. necrophorum is likely the primary causative pathogen. Liver abscesses are often, but not always, associated with perforations in the rumen wall. Tylosin phosphate is commonly fed to control LA. Feeding elevated levels of roughage during growing and finishing periods results in a dramatic reduction in LA; overprocessing of dietary roughage reduces its effectiveness. Grain processing has marked effects on ruminal starch availability but has minimal effect on LA; inclusion of fibrous by-product feeds also does not mitigate prevalence of LA. Vaccination against F. necrophorum has shown little benefit in field application. Providing a source of true scratch-factor to the rumen, either by increasing the percentage of coarse roughage included in the TMR or by periodically providing coarse hay apart from the TMR, appears to be the most effective method of reducing LA.
Oxidative potential of secondary organic aerosols produced from photooxidation of different hydrocarbons using outdoor chamber under ambient sunlight

Abstract The oxidative potential of various secondary organic aerosols (SOA) was measured using dithiothreitol (DTT) assay to understand how organic aerosols react with cellular materials. SOA was produced via the photooxidation of four different hydrocarbons (toluene, 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene, isoprene and α-pinene) in the presence of NO x using a large outdoor photochemical smog chamber. The DTT consumption rate was normalized by the aerosol mass, which is expressed as DTT mass . Toluene SOA and isoprene SOA yielded higher DTT mass than 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene SOA or α-pinene SOA. In order to discover the correlation between the molecular structure and oxidative potential, the DTT responses of selected model compounds were also measured. Among them, conjugated aldehydes, quinones, and H 2 O 2 showed considerable DTT response. To investigate the correlation between DTT response and cell responses in vitro , the expression of biological markers, i.e. IL-6, IL-8, and HMOX-1 were studied using small airway epithelial cells. Higher cellular expression of IL-8 was observed with toluene SOA exposure compared to 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene SOA exposure, which aligned with the results from DTT assay. Our study also suggests that within the urban atmosphere, the contribution of toluene SOA and isoprene SOA to the oxidative potential of ambient SOA will be more significant than that of α-pinene SOA.
Draft Genome Sequence of the Photoheterotrophic Chloracidobacterium thermophilum Strain OC1 Found in a Mat at Ojo Caliente.

ABSTRACT Metagenomics of an enrichment culture from a New Mexico hot spring allowed the description of a draft genome of a Chloracidobacterium thermophilum strain for the first time outside Yellowstone National Park with a surprisingly high degree of identity with the type strain.
The ACCAM model: simulating aviation mission readiness for U.S. coast guard stations

We present a model and discrete event simulation of USCG Air Stations, accounting for the mission demands and maintenance procedures pertaining to USCG aircraft. The simulation provides aircraft availability distributions and mission performance metrics based on varying input scenarios, including changes in the number of stationed aircraft and maintenance targets. The Air Station model is novel in its relatively simple, easily tunable, renewal process treatment of maintenance procedures, mitigating the need for the modeling of complex maintenance subprocesses and the resulting statistical estimation of numerous parameters. The simulation also models mission requirements such as Search and Rescue that are stochastic in time and space. Simulations are consistent with historical data and offer insights into hypothetical scenarios.
The Dodd-Frank Act and Too-Big-To-Fail: What's Missing? A Survey of the Current Literature

Many have suggested that the de facto governmental policy of “too big to fail” is one of the causes of the severity of the 2008 Financial Crisis in the United States. One of the express purposes of the Dodd-Frank financial market reform legislation of 2010 was “to end ‘too big to fail.’” The DoddFrank Act attempts to address “too big to fail” by expanding the regulatory reach to non-bank systemically-important institutions, by creating an “orderly liquidation authority,” and by limiting the authority of regulatory bodies that give loans to failing banks. However, the Act is incomplete. Even with these instruments, economic conditions continue to exist where large banks receive discounted rates for their funds, because market participants continue to perceive their loans and equity as less risky because they remain “too big to fail.” Additionally, Dodd-Frank’s enhanced prudential standards rely heavily on stronger capital requirements, and large banks can devise strategies that comply with these requirements despite the risk. To find out what is missing from Dodd-Frank, this article surveys the existing literature to discover a number of alternative approaches to ending “too big to fail.” * Associate Professor, Opus College of Business, University of St. Thomas; J.D. Stanford Law School, Ph.D. Stanford University (Economics), B.A. Williams College (Economics). The author would like to thank participants at the University of St. Thomas Journal of Law & Public Policy Symposium, “Regulating the Free Market,” for their helpful comments and suggestions. This research has also been supported by a grant from the Opus College of Business, University of St. Thomas. 54 UNIV. OF ST. THOMAS JOURNAL OF LAW & PUBLIC POLICY [Vol. X
Inhibition of the creatine kinase reaction decreases the contractile reserve of isolated rat hearts

To define the relation between phosphoryl transfer via creatine kinase (CK) and the ability of the intact beating heart to do work, we chemically inhibited CK activity and then measured cardiac performance under physiological and acute stress conditions. Isolated perfused rat hearts were exposed to iodoacetamide (IA) and subjected to one of three cardiac stresses: hypercalcemic (Ca2+ = 3 mM) buffer perfusion (n = 7), norepinephrine (2 mumol/min) infusion (n = 6), or hypoxic buffer perfusion (n = 5). IA decreased CK activity to near zero, measured in intact hearts by 31P magnetization transfer, and to 2% of control CK activity, measured in myocardial homogenates. The CK isoenzyme profile was unchanged, suggesting nonselective IA inhibition of all isoenzymes. Mitochondria isolated from IA-treated hearts had normal ADP:O ratios, state 3 respiratory rates, and unchanged acceptor and respiratory control ratios. Neither actomyosin adenosinetriphosphatase nor adenylate kinase activities were changed. After IA exposure, end-diastolic pressure, left ventricular developed pressure, and heart rate were unchanged for at least 30 min at physiological perfusion pressures, but large changes were observed during stress conditions. The increase in left ventricular developed pressure induced by hypercalcemic perfusion and by norepinephrine infusion decreased by 39 and 54%, respectively. During hypoxia, the rate of phosphocreatine depletion was decreased by 57%, left ventricular developed pressure declined, and end-diastolic pressure increased faster than in controls. These results show that inhibition of CK to < 2% of control activity by IA reduced contractile reserve by approximately 50%. We conclude that CK activity is essential for the expression of the full dynamic range of myocardial performance.
Percolation model with an additional source of disorder.

The ranges of transmission of the mobiles in a mobile ad hoc network are not uniform in reality. They are affected by the temperature fluctuation in air, obstruction due to the solid objects, even the humidity difference in the environment, etc. How the varying range of transmission of the individual active elements affects the global connectivity in the network may be an important practical question to ask. Here a model of percolation phenomena, with an additional source of disorder, is introduced for a theoretical understanding of this problem. As in ordinary percolation, sites of a square lattice are occupied randomly with probability $p$. Each occupied site is then assigned a circular disk of random value $R$ for its radius. A bond is defined to be occupied if and only if the radii ${R}_{1}$ and ${R}_{2}$ of the disks centered at the ends satisfy a certain predefined condition. In a very general formulation, one divides the ${R}_{1}\ensuremath{-}{R}_{2}$ plane into two regions by an arbitrary closed curve. One defines a point within one region as representing an occupied bond; otherwise it is a vacant bond. The study of three different rules under this general formulation indicates that the percolation threshold always varies continuously. This threshold has two limiting values, one is ${p}_{c}(\text{sq})$, the percolation threshold for the ordinary site percolation on the square lattice, and the other is unity. The approach of the percolation threshold to its limiting values are characterized by two exponents. In a special case, all lattice sites are occupied by disks of random radii $R\ensuremath{\in}{0,{R}_{0}}$ and a percolation transition is observed with ${R}_{0}$ as the control variable, similar to the site occupation probability.
Progression of chronic renal disease and diabetic nephropathy: a review of clinical studies and current therapy

Animal studies on the progression of chronic renal disease have limited applicability to humans. However, human kidneys also progressively deteriorate once they have suffered a certain degree of initial damage. Various therapeutic approaches to slowdown the progression of chronic renal disease [low-protein diets, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, etc.] seem promising. Large-scale, ongoing clinical studies may offer definitive answers to their place in the management of progressive renal disease. Diabetic nephropathy, the most common cause of end-stage renal failure, follows a distinct course in insulin dependent diabetes mellitus DM (IDDM); this is less well defined in non-insulin dependent DM (NIDDM). Micro-albuminuria is an important hallmark of early diabetic kidney disease, when it may still be amenable to therapeutic interventions. Strict glycemic control, and ACE inhibitors may be beneficial in early stages of diabetic nephropathy. Less is known on use of calcium-channel blockers and low-protein diets in diabetic nephropathy. There is also a paucity of information on management of diabetic nephropathy in type II DM.
Varieties of Liberalization and the New Politics of Social Solidarity: Industrial Relations Institutions

We can begin the analysis of divergent trajectories of change with an examination of developments over the past two decades in industrial relations. This is an area in which scholars who are focusing on different measures often reach wildly different conclusions concerning the relative stability of traditional arrangements (see Thelen 2012). VofC scholars expect stability, at least in CMEs. They argue that even though employers in liberal market economies may well seek deregulation, those in CMEs will continue to support traditional arrangements because their competitive strategies rely on a high degree of labor cooperation, wage moderation, and peaceful plant relations – all elements that the institutions and practices associated with coordinated bargaining safeguard and protect. VofC critics, by contrast, maintain that employers in CMEs are no more supportive of these arrangements – or for that matter of unions – than their counterparts in the Anglo-Saxon world, and in fact seek at all turns to escape from the regulatory constraints imposed on them by organized labor and the state. VofC critics maintain that globalization has tilted the balance of power against labor, emboldening and empowering firms to increase flexibility and lower costs (Kapstein 1996; Katz and Darbishire 1999; Martin and Ross 1999). The direction of change is the same cross-nationally – neoliberalism – and any observed variation in the pace of institutional change is for them a matter of successful labor defense, not divergent employer preferences.
It's time to get real about conservation.

To protect endangered species from extinction, the ecological community must become more politically involved, argues Aaron M. Ellison.
Molecular Design and Characterization of High-Cetane Alkyl Diamondoid Fuels

Four alkyl diamondoids, 1-pentyladamantane (PA), 2-butyladamantane (BA), 2-propyladamantane (2-PrA), and 2-ethyladamantane (EA), were synthesized on a preparative scale, and key fuel properties, including density, net heat of combustion, low-temperature viscosity, and derived cetane number (DCN), were measured. The fuel molecules had densities up to 17% higher than conventional jet fuel and volumetric net heats of combustion comparable to or exceeding that of the synthetic missile fuel JP-10. Remarkably, the alkyl diamondoid fuels had DCNs in the range of 42–49, which should allow for their efficient combustion in diesel engines. PA, BA, and 2-PrA all had essentially the same DCN (∼49), while the short alkyl chain in EA lowered the value to 42.7. Bond dissociation energies for the formation of diradicals from 2-PrA and PA were calculated with density functional theory methods to gain a qualitative understanding of potential combustion mechanisms. Ring opening of the adamantane core during combustion is pr...
Structural Mix of Credit Portfolios in Islamic Banking System: Evidence from a South Asian Economy

Abstract Purpose Inquiring into the role of Islamic and conventional banks regarding the core responsibility of lending is an established phenomenon. This chapter is based on key findings regarding dynamic changes in the structural mix of credit portfolios in Islamic banks and conventional banks of Pakistan. Methodology/approach The nature of the study is exploratory; the sample consists of 5 Islamic banks and 20 conventional banks of Pakistan comparatively evaluated for the time frame of 2008–2014. Findings Our findings show that for Islamic banks, there is an increasing trend in the credit portfolios as a proportion to assets as well as to equity, whereas in case of conventional banks the findings are opposite. The results further prove a positive and negative growth of credit portfolios as proportional to assets and equity in case of Islamic and conventional banks respectively. It is also observed that credit portfolios of Islamic banks are growing with higher degree as a proportion to equity as compared to proportion to assets. On the other hand, conventional banks show higher degree of decline of credit portfolios as a proportion to equity as compared to assets. Originality/value These findings also show that primary stakeholders in Islamic banks are more risk seekers thus more inclined towards risky investments than ordinary credits.
Body weight trajectories and risk of oesophageal and gastric cardia adenocarcinomas: a pooled analysis of NIH-AARP and PLCO Studies.

Body weight trajectories and risk of oesophageal and gastric cardia adenocarcinomas: a pooled analysis of NIH-AARP and PLCO Studies
Quantitative analysis of Azurin p28, an anti-tumor peptide: Serum stability and mouse pharmacokinetics

4780 Azurin p28 is a 28 amino acid peptide (a.a. 55-70) derived from a cupredoxin bacterial redox protein obtained from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This peptideforms a discrete helicial protein transport domain (PTD) and is responsible for the selective penetration into cancer cells. p28 inhibits the proliferation of human solid and hematological malignancies in vitro and in vivo in a dose-dependent manner probably through a p53-mediated mechanism. The inhibitory effects of p28 on growth of cancer cell lines range from 5-100 uM.The relatively low toxicity profile (> 200 mg/kg/day in CD1 mice) is attributed to the compound’s selective penetration which makes it particularly attractive for use as a chemotherapeutic agent. The purpose of this study is to develop and validated analytical methodologies for Azurin p28 to be used in determining its formulation stability and pharmacokinetic parameters. The HPLC method utilizes reverse phase chromatography and UV detection at 214 nm and was used to determine the stability of p28 at two concentrations (2 and 50 mg/mL) in saline when stored refrigerated and at room temperature. Results from these studies show that p28 was stable in saline at both concentrations, refrigerated and when stored at room temperature for at least 96 hours. The LC/MS/MS method utilizes electrospray ionization with reverse phase chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry and internal standard (MP-1) quantitation. This methodology was used to determine the stability of the peptide in biological matrices from a variety of species (mice, dog, monkey and human) as well as drug levels in animal serum after IV administration. The method was validated over a concentration range of 100 to 10,000 ng/mL in each species, with an average accuracy of greater than 85% and precision of
A Minimum-Cost Flow Model for Workload Optimization on Cloud Infrastructure

Recent technology advancements in the areas of compute, storage and networking, along with the increased demand for organizations to cut costs while remaining responsive to increasing service demands have led to the growth in the adoption of cloud computing services. Cloud services provide the promise of improved agility, resiliency, scalability and a lowered Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). This research introduces a framework for minimizing cost and maximizing resource utilization by using an Integer Linear Programming (ILP) approach to optimize the assignment of workloads to servers on Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud infrastructure. The model is based on the classical minimum-cost flow model, known as the assignment model.
Balancing Profit and People: Corporate Social Responsibility in Business Education:

This qualitative study’s purpose was to evaluate how undergraduate business students’ perspectives, skills, and behaviors evolved through corporate social responsibility (CSR) education taught with...
Moving Toward Comprehensive Acute Heart Failure Risk Assessment in the Emergency Department: The Importance of Self-Care and Shared Decision Making

Nearly 700,000 emergency department (ED) visits were due to acute heart failure (AHF) in 2009. Most visits result in a hospital admission and account for the largest proportion of a projected $70 billion to be spent on heart failure care by 2030. ED-based risk prediction tools in AHF rarely impact disposition decision making. This is a major factor contributing to the 80% admission rate for ED patients with AHF, which has remained unchanged over the last several years. Self-care behaviors such as symptom monitoring, medication taking, dietary adherence, and exercise have been associated with decreased hospital readmissions, yet self-care remains largely unaddressed in ED patients with AHF and thus represents a significant lost opportunity to improve patient care and decrease ED visits and hospitalizations. Furthermore, shared decision making encourages collaborative interaction between patients, caregivers, and providers to drive a care path based on mutual agreement. The observation that “difficult decisions now will simplify difficult decisions later” has particular relevance to the ED, given this is the venue for many such issues. We hypothesize patients as complex and heterogeneous as ED patients with AHF may need both an objective evaluation of physiologic risk as well as an evaluation of barriers to ideal self-care, along with strategies to overcome these barriers. Combining physician gestalt, physiologic risk prediction instruments, an evaluation of self-care, and an information exchange between patient and provider using shared decision making may provide the critical inertia necessary to discharge patients home after a brief ED evaluation.
A MIMO implementation of triple wideband tablet computer antenna

A triple wideband closed-loop multiple input multiple output (MIMO) antenna for tablet computer applications is proposed. The designed antenna dimensions are 30 × 10 × 3.0 mm3. The antenna supports triple wide bands; lower band of 1500MHz ∼ 2700MHz, middle band of 3100MHz ∼ 3800MHz, and higher band of 5600MHz ∼ 5900MHz. The proposed 1×2 element MIMO antenna covers the operating bands in 3:1 VSWR standard. Within the operating bands, |S21| is lower than −10dB. High isolation is achieved without using any decoupling structure. Various important parameters including the scattering and radiation characteristics, are presented and discussed.
The Effect of Hand Gesture Cues Within the Treatment of /r/ for a College-Aged Adult With Persisting Childhood Apraxia of Speech

Purpose Despite the widespread use of hand movements as visual and kinesthetic cues to facilitate accurate speech produced by individuals with speech sound disorders (SSDs), no experimental investi...
Maspin and Suppression of Tumor Metastasis

Maspin is a member of the family of Serine Protease Inhibitors or serpins. Since its discovery in 1994, considerable amount of information has been gathered regarding its role in normal tissue development and pathological processes, such as tumorigenesis and metastasis. It is now well recognized that maspin is unique serpin with tumor suppressing activities. Like many of its serpin family members, maspin possesses multiple functions, including antimigration, anti-invasion, induction of apoptosis, and anti-angiogenesis. Its functions are dependent on its cellular locations: extracellular, intracellular, mitochondria, and nucleus. This chapter covers three major topics on maspin research: biological functions of maspin, regulation of maspin gene expression, and modeling breast cancers in mice with maspin as a paradigm. Our goal is to provide readers with a comprehensive analysis of maspin study by many maspin researchers in the past few years and also with unique insights on our study of maspin functions in mouse model in vivo.
Formation of Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter by Bacterial Degradation of Phytoplankton-Derived Aggregates

Organic matter produced and released by phytoplankton during growth is processed by heterotrophic bacterial communities that transform dissolved organic matter into biomass and recycle inorganic nutrients, fueling microbial food web interactions. Bacterial transformation of phytoplankton-derived organic matter also plays a poorly known role in the formation of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) which is ubiquitous in the ocean. Despite the importance of organic matter cycling, growth of phytoplankton and activities of heterotrophic bacterial communities are rarely measured in concert. To investigate CDOM formation mediated by microbial processing of phytoplankton-derived aggregates, we conducted growth experiments with non-axenic monocultures of three diatoms (Skeletonema grethae, Leptocylindrus hargravesii, Coscinodiscus sp.) and one haptophyte (Phaeocystis globosa). Phytoplankton biomass, carbon concentrations, CDOM and base-extracted particulate organic matter (BEPOM) fluorescence, along with bacterial abundance and hydrolytic enzyme activities (α-glucosidase, β-glucosidase, leucine-aminopeptidase) were measured during exponential growth and stationary phase (~3-6 weeks) and following six weeks of POM degradation. Incubations were performed in rotating glass bottles to keep cells suspended, promoting cell coagulation and, thus, formation of macroscopic aggregates (marine snow), more similar to surface ocean processes. Maximum carbon concentrations, enzyme activities, and BEPOM fluorescence occurred during stationary phase. Net DOC concentrations (0.19-0.46 mg C L-1) increased on the same order as open ocean concentrations. CDOM fluorescence was dominated by protein-like signals that increased throughout growth and degradation becoming increasingly humic-like, implying the production of more complex molecules from planktonic-precursors mediated by microbial processing. Our experimental results suggest that at least a portion of open-ocean CDOM is produced by autochthonous processes and aggregation likely facilitates microbial reprocessing of organic matter into refractory DOM.
The Management of Pain in the Opioid-Dependent Patient

This review evaluates options for acute pain management in patients with a history of opioid dependence or misuse. This includes patients with chronic pain syndromes on continuous opioid therapy, as well as those with opioid misuse syndromes. It additionally investigates effective methods of communication with these patients about the risks and benefits of pain management treatment options. As a response to the opioid crisis in the USA, state medical boards and specialty societies are recommending a reduction in the availability of opioid prescriptions. Due to the increased recognition of the risks associated with opioids, patients are also looking for alternatives that can provide effective pain relief. There are specific challenges associated with caring for patients with acute or chronic pain and a history of opioid dependence. Multiple different options exist for treating pain in patients who either wish to avoid opioids or show signs of misuse or dependence. These include pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions. Appropriate messaging about the risks and benefits of each option, and setting clear, reasonable goals of treatment will improve the patient’s experience.
Language, mind, and art : essays in appreciation and analysis, in honor of Paul Ziff

1. Preface D. Jamieson. 2. Paul Ziff, 1958--1960: a Reminiscence P. Benacerraf. 3. Understanding Misunderstanding Z. Vendler. 4. Rules and Regularities Revisited J.F. Rosenberg. 5. Proper Names: Possibility and Culture T.E. Patton. 6. Numbers as Structures and as Positions in Structures M. Resnik. 7. The Unnaturalness of Grue R. Nolan. 8. Microscopes and Corpuscles P. Alexander. 9. Why Machines can Neither Think nor Feel D.C. Long. 10. Ziff on Shooting an Elephant D. Jamieson. 11. Jazz and the African--American Experience W.E. Lawson. 12. Anything Contemplated D. Dempster. 13. Aesthestics and Baseball J. Ullian. 14. Rhyme without Reason D.F. Stalker. 15. Afterword: Selections from a A Tripartite Trismus P. Ziff. 16. The Publications of Paul Ziff. Notes on Contributors. Name Index.
DECOMPOSING A MATRIX INTO SIMPLE TRANSFORMATIONS

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses decomposition of a matrix into simple transformations. Given any 4 × 4 transformation matrix M, it will compute the arguments to the sequence of transformations, such that concatenating the transformations will reproduce the original matrix. This routine has been used for tasks such as removing the shears from a rotation matrix, for feeding an arbitrary transformation to a graphics system that only understands a particular sequence of transformations, or for any other application in which one wants just part of the transformation sequence. The algorithm works by undoing the transformation sequence in reverse order. It first determines perspective elements that, when removed from the matrix, will leave the last column as (0, 0, 0, 1)T. Then it extracts the translations. This leaves a 3 × 3 matrix comprising the scales, shears, and rotations. It is decomposed from the left, extracting first the scaling factors and then the shearing components, leaving a pure rotation matrix. This is broken down into three consecutive rotations.
Dynamics of a Two-Pendulum Model with Impact Interaction and an Elastic Support

This paper examines the dynamic behavior of a double pendulummodel with impact interaction. One of the masses of the two pendulumsmay experience impacts against absolutely rigid container wallssupported by an elastic system forming an inverted pendulum restrainedby a torsional elastic spring. The system equations of motion arewritten in terms of a non-smooth set of coordinates proposed originallyby Zhuravlev. The advantage of non-smooth coordinates is that theyeliminate impact constraints. In terms of the new coordinates, thepotential energy field takes a cell-wise non-local structure, and theimpact events are treated geometrically as a crossing of boundariesbetween the cells. Based on a geometrical treatment of the problem,essential physical system parameters are established. It is found thatunder resonance parametric conditions of the linear normal modes thesystem's response can be either bounded or unbounded, depending on thesystem's parameters. The ability of the system to absorb energy from anexternal source essentially depends on the modal inclination angle,which is related to the principal coordinates.
The jury is still out on health courts.

Health courts using a no-fault model have been proposed as a less expensive and more time-effective alternative to medical malpractice litigation, but their legality and the fairness of the verdicts they produce remains to be seen.
Sorosporium consanguineum: relation between variable nuclear condition and dissociation.

Saprophytic development of Sorosporium consanguineum and its nuclear cycle were studied on laboratory media. During vegetative reproduction, the nuclei of the monokaryotic sporidia were shown to first migrate into developing bud cells where division occurs, one nucleus returning to the parent cell prior to completion of cell division.
Proteomics in Biomarkers of Chemical Toxicity

Abstract Toxicoproteomic analyses allow global, simultaneous, high-throughput monitoring of differentially expressed proteins following exposure to chemical toxicants. These quantitative changes in proteins not only aid in identifying predictive biomarkers of chemical toxicity but also elucidate potential mechanisms by which these chemicals exert their toxic effect on biological systems. Using common proteomics platforms, such as 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis and tandem mass spectrometry, quantitative changes in proteins as a result of toxicity have been evaluated in a variety of biological samples including cell culture lysates, serum/plasma, liver, kidney, and brain. This chapter describes proteomics investigations conducted in these biological samples in an effort to identify predictive biomarkers of chemical toxicity induced by pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, and organic environmental contaminants.
Virtual Humans in Health-Related Interventions: A Meta-Analysis

Virtual humans are computer-generated characters designed to simulate key properties of human face-to-face conversation---verbal and nonverbal. Their human-like physical appearance and nonverbal behavior set them apart from chatbot-type embodied conversational agents, and has recently received significant interest as a potential tool for health-related interventions. As healthcare providers deliberate whether to adopt this new technology, it is crucial to examine the empirical evidence about their effectiveness. We systematically evaluated evidence from controlled studies of interventions using virtual humans on their effectiveness in health-related outcomes. Nineteen studies were included from a total of 3354 unique records. Although study objectives varied greatly, most targeted psychological conditions, such as mood, anxiety, and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Virtual humans demonstrated effectiveness in improving health-related outcomes, more strongly when targeting clinical conditions, such as ASD or pain management, than general wellness, such as weight loss. We discuss the emerging differences when designing for clinical interventions versus wellness.
Cobalt-Catalyzed Intramolecular Silylperoxidation of Unsaturated Diisopropylsilyl Ethers

A cobalt-catalyzed intramolecular silylperoxidation reaction was developed that allows for the conversion of unsaturated diisopropylsilyl ethers to 3-sila-1,2,4-trioxepanes. Reduction of the peroxide unit of the 3-sila-1,2,4-trioxepane yields six-membered ring diisopropylsilylene acetals.
Accounting for Variance in Concussion Tolerance Between Individuals: Comparing Head Accelerations Between Concussed and Physically Matched Control Subjects

Researchers have been collecting head impact data from instrumented football players to characterize the biomechanics of concussion for the past 15 years, yet the link between biomechanical input and clinical outcome is still not well understood. We have previously shown that even though concussive biomechanics might be unremarkable in large datasets of head impacts, the impacts causing injury are of high magnitude for the concussed individuals relative to their impact history. This finding suggests a need to account for differences in tolerance at the individual level. In this study, we identified control subjects for our concussed subjects who demonstrated traits we believed were correlated to factors thought to affect injury tolerance, including height, mass, age, race, and concussion history. A total of 502 college football players were instrumented with helmet-mounted accelerometer arrays and provided complete baseline assessment data, 44 of which sustained a total of 49 concussion. Biomechanical measures quantifying impact frequency and acceleration magnitude were compared between groups. On average, we found that concussed subjects experienced 93.8 more head impacts (p = 0.0031), 10.2 more high magnitude impacts (p = 0.0157), and 1.9 × greater risk-weighted exposure (p = 0.0175) than their physically matched controls. This finding provides further evidence that head impact data need to be considered at the individual level and that cohort wide assessments may be of little value in the context of concussion.
Mechanisms of inhomogeneous broadening in InGaN dot-in-wire structures

Inhomogeneous broadening of semiconductor nanostructures results from structural and chemical variations between different nanostructure entities. Inhomogeneous broadening can have profound impacts on the optical properties of a nanostructure array. In this work, various inhomogeneous broadening mechanisms in wurtzite InGaN/GaN dot-in-wire (DIW) structures were investigated, both experimentally and theoretically. Using lithographically defined nanostructures, the microscopic variations including random alloy fluctuations and atomic-scale thickness fluctuations can be isolated from macroscopic variations such as size, shape, and alloy nonuniformity. An epitaxial InGaN/GaN quantum well sample was patterned into an array of sparsely spaced dot-in-wire structures and measured by confocal microphotoluminescence (PL) at 10 K. Both static (photon energy) and dynamic (carrier lifetime) properties were measured. The PL measurement results were compared to a theoretical model based on the k-dot-p method under the effective mass approximation and including the excitonic effect and surface recombinations. Random alloy fluctuations, atomic-scale thickness fluctuations, and size variations of the quantum dots were separately analyzed. It was found that both the diameter variation and random alloys dominate the inhomogeneous broadening of photon energies, while the random alloys dominate the inhomogeneous broadening of decay rates. The piezoelectric field in InGaN materials plays a minor role in increasing the effect of random alloys but helps suppress the inhomogeneous broadening due to well-width fluctuations by keeping the electrons toward the center of the dots.Inhomogeneous broadening of semiconductor nanostructures results from structural and chemical variations between different nanostructure entities. Inhomogeneous broadening can have profound impacts on the optical properties of a nanostructure array. In this work, various inhomogeneous broadening mechanisms in wurtzite InGaN/GaN dot-in-wire (DIW) structures were investigated, both experimentally and theoretically. Using lithographically defined nanostructures, the microscopic variations including random alloy fluctuations and atomic-scale thickness fluctuations can be isolated from macroscopic variations such as size, shape, and alloy nonuniformity. An epitaxial InGaN/GaN quantum well sample was patterned into an array of sparsely spaced dot-in-wire structures and measured by confocal microphotoluminescence (PL) at 10 K. Both static (photon energy) and dynamic (carrier lifetime) properties were measured. The PL measurement results were compared to a theoretical model based on the k-dot-p method under the e...
Space Radiation Effects in Advanced Flash Memories

Memory storage requirements in space systems have steadily increased, much like storage requirements in terrestrial systems. Large arrays of dynamic memories (DRAMs) have been used in solid-state recorders, relying on a combination of shielding and error-detection-and correction (EDAC) to overcome the extreme sensitivity of DRAMs to space radiation. For example, a 2-Gbit memory (with 4-Mb DRAMs) used on the Clementine mission functioned perfectly during its moon mapping mission, in spite of an average of 71 memory bit flips per day from heavy ions. Although EDAC worked well with older types of memory circuits, newer DRAMs use extremely complex internal architectures which has made it increasingly difficult to implement EDAC. Some newer DRAMs have also exhibited catastrophic latchup. Flash memories are an intriguing alternative to DRAMs because of their nonvolatile storage and extremely high storage density, particularly for applications where writing is done relatively infrequently. This paper discusses radiation effects in advanced flash memories, including general observations on scaling and architecture as well as the specific experience obtained at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in evaluating high-density flash memories for use on the NASA mission to Europa, one of Jupiter's moons. This particular mission must pass through the Jovian radiation belts, which imposes a very demanding radiation requirement.
Operation of a High-Power Nested Hall Thruster with Reduced Cathode Flow Fraction

A high-power nested Hall thruster was operated with cathode flow fractions from 7 to 3% of the total anode flow rate in a two-channel operating configuration at 27 kW total discharge power. The thr...
Generosity of state insurance mandates and growth in the workforce for autism spectrum disorder

All 50 US states have enacted mandates requiring insurers to cover autism-related services. We assessed whether and to what extent variation in generosity of state insurance mandates has been assoc...
Burnout of Special Educators Serving Students With Emotional-Behavioral Disorders: A Longitudinal Study:

We examined changes in burnout across three timepoints in one school year, in a sample (N = 230) of special educators serving students with emotional-behavioral disorders, in 15 school districts se...
In Vitro Biomechanics of Human Cadaveric Cervical Spines With Mature Fusion.

ABSTRACT Background This study sought to compare index and adjacent-level biomechanics of cadaveric specimens with mature fusion versus normal spines in intact and acutely fused conditions. Methods Eight human cadaveric cervical spines with mature fusion across 1 to 3 levels were studied. Intervertebral angular range of motion (ROM) was determined at fused and adjacent levels during pure moments inducing flexion-extension (FE), lateral bending (LB), and axial rotation (AR). Mature fusion data were compared to data from normal spine specimens tested intact and then with a 1-level anterior plate/graft (fresh fixation). Bone qualities were compared using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Results Mean bone mineral density was significantly greater in mature fusion spines (0.632 ± 0.239 g/cm2) than in normal spines (0.489 ± 0.195 g/cm2) (P Conclusion Cervical spine segments with mature fusion have higher bone mass, are less flexible than freshly fixed spines, and have reduced mobility at adjacent levels.
COMMERCE AND TRADE Georgia Seed Capital Fund: Create

The Act authorizes the creation of a State Seed Capital Fund which will provide capital to innovative businesses. the Act authorizes the Advanced Technology Development Center to manage the fund, subject to approval by the Georgia Board of Regents. The Act also permits the State to disburse funds to investment partnerships and to challenge the investments of partnerships engaged in innovative projects. The Act also provides for the disbursement of returns on investment of state funds, liquidation of investment partnerships, limitations on investments by investment partnerships, and annual reporting requirements.
Effect of Electrode Geometry on Deep Brain Stimulation: Monopolar Point Source vs. Medtronic 3389 Lead

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has emerged as an effective treatment for a variety of neurological and movement disorders; however, the fundamental mechanisms by which DBS works are not well understood. Computational models of DBS can be used to gain insights into these fundamental mechanisms and typically require two steps: computation of the electrical potentials generated by DBS and, subsequently, determination of the effects of the extracellular potentials on neurons. The objective of this study was to assess the validity of utilizing the point source approximation versus realistic finite element models (FEMs) in calculating the potentials generated by monopolar DBS. The distributions of extracellular potentials generated in a homogenous isotropic volume conductor were calculated using either the point source approximation or a realistic finite element model of the DBS lead. These extracellular potentials were then coupled to populations of simulated axons, and input-output curves of the number of stimulated axons as a function of stimulation intensity were calculated for different stimulus polarities, pulse durations, and axon orientations (parallel or perpendicular to the electrode). The differences in input-output curves calculated with the point source and FEM were small; FEM-predicted thresholds were on average 4.83% lower than point source predicted thresholds across all the conditions tested. The distance from and location relative to the electrode was the primary factor determining the error between point source and FEM geometries, and larger differences in predicted thresholds were evident in axons located immediately adjacent to the realistic electrode. Thus, under the conditions tested, the point source was a valid approximation for predicting population excitation in response to monopolar DBS. The results of this study reveal new insights that may aid in future computational modeling studies of DBS.