cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Do Big Crops Get Bigger and Small Crops Get Smaller? Further Evidence on Smoothing in U.S. Department of Agriculture Forecasts

This study sought to determine whether monthly revisions of U.S. Department of Agriculture current-year corn and soybean yield forecasts are correlated and whether this correlation is associated with crop size. An ex-ante measure of crop size based on percent deviation of the current estimate from out-of-sample trend is used in efficiency tests based on the Nordhaus framework for fixed-event forecasts. Results show that available information about crop size is generally efficiently incorporated in these forecasts. Thus, although this pattern may appear obvious to market analysts in hindsight, it is largely based on new information and hence difficult to anticipate.
Use of a new pedometric dead reckoning module in GPS denied environments

Honeywell has developed a new Dead Reckoning Module, the DRMreg4000. Pedometric Dead Reckoning (DR) navigation errors are sensitive to compass accuracy. New compass calibration algorithms in the module enable a factory level of accuracy to be achieved in practical field installations. We discuss a range of testing with special attention to indoor environments. Indoor magnetic anomalies can compromise the DR accuracy. However, the anomalies generate a unique fingerprint at a given location. A patent pending correlation technique can be used to detect this fingerprint when a user revisits the same location. This puts bounds on the growth of position errors. The same technique can be used to reduce systematic errors when operated in magnetically benign environments. We give step-by-step application examples of the technique.
Learning Interactions via Hierarchical Group-Lasso Regularization

We introduce a method for learning pairwise interactions in a linear regression or logistic regression model in a manner that satisfies strong hierarchy: whenever an interaction is estimated to be nonzero, both its associated main effects are also included in the model. We motivate our approach by modeling pairwise interactions for categorical variables with arbitrary numbers of levels, and then show how we can accommodate continuous variables as well. Our approach allows us to dispense with explicitly applying constraints on the main effects and interactions for identifiability, which results in interpretable interaction models. We compare our method with existing approaches on both simulated and real data, including a genome-wide association study, all using our R package glinternet.
Degenerate Unmixing Estimation Technique using the Constant Q Transform

The Degenerate Unmixing Estimation Technique (DUET) is a Blind Source Separation (BSS) algorithm for stereo audio. DUET depends on an amplitude-phase 2d histogram built from the differences between the two channels, where peaks in the histogram indicate sources in the mixture. If peaks overlap, separation becomes unfeasible. This is often the case for music mixtures. We propose to improve peak separation by building histograms from time-frequency representations based on the Constant Q Transform (CQT) instead of the Fourier Transform (FT). The CQT has a logarithmic frequency resolution matching the geometrically spaced notes of the Western music scale. We also adaptively resize histogram bins and use Wiener filtering to improve peak resolving and source reconstruction. Results on mixtures of harmonic musical instruments show improvement in separation, especially at low frequencies and for closely spaced sources.
Reliability of Concrete Masonry Unit Walls Subjected to Explosive Loads

This study discusses the development of a procedure that can be used to assess the reliability of concrete masonry unit infill walls subjected to personnel-delivered blast loads. Consideration is given to maintain reasonable computational effort for both the structural analysis and reliability models. Blast load and wall resistance models are developed based on experimental and analytical data, and resistance is evaluated with a large strain, large displacement transient dynamic finite-element analysis. A sensitivity analysis is conducted to identify significant random variables and a reliability analysis conducted with a feasible level of computational effort. Reliability indices are estimated for two wall types and three design blast load levels in terms of wall failure as well as occupant injury, over various load frequency-of-occurrence times.
Interactive computer graphics for storing phase diagrams

Progress is described on an interactive graphics computer program needed for the creation of an automated phase diagram data base. Automation requires the ability to input literature data in various units and formats and to edit and update a phase diagram without unnecessary reentry of data. A relational data structure makes possible the necessary explicit representation of phase stability data. Examples of binary diagrams are given. Plans for global management of a large data base, are described.
Unit & dynamic typing in hybrid systems modeling with CHARON

In scientific applications, dimensional analysis forms a basis for catching errors as it introduces a type-discipline into the equations and formulae. Dimensions in physical quantities are measured via their standard units. However, many programming and modeling tools provide limited support for incorporating these units into the variables. Thus, it is quite difficult for a programmer to ensure dimensional consistency in the code. Different existing standards for units further complicates this problem and an incautious use could cause inconsistencies, often with catastrophic results. In this paper, we propose an extension of the basic type system in CHARON, a language for modeling of hybrid systems, to include Unit and Dynamic data types. Through a combination of indirect user-guided annotations and type-inference, we address the problem of ensuring both dimensional consistency, and consistency with respect to different unit-systems. Further, we also introduce dynamic data typing, that allows programmers to specify entities that bind at runtime. Such abstractions are particularly useful to program controllers for dynamic environments. We illustrate these benefits with an example on mobile robots.
H2 coproduction in IGCC with CCS via coal and biomass mixture using advanced technologies.

Abstract The main objective of this investigation is to conceptually design and evaluate electricity and H 2 coproduction integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) plants with carbon capture and storage (CCS) via coal and biomass mixtures using promising advanced technologies that are under development. The evolved advanced IGCC plant concept utilizes ion transport membrane (ITM) oxygen technology, dry feed gasifier (entrained flow, slagging, single stage, down-flow), warm gas cleanup processes, regenerable CO 2 sorbents technology, an H class gas turbine with steam cooling, and pressure swing adsorption (PSA) for H 2 separation. IGCC coproduction plants showed net equivalent power efficiencies ranging from 35.21% to 37.98%, while without coproduction showed corresponding efficiencies ranging from 36.76% to 38.26%. Sensitivity analyses on various feedstock mixtures show that characteristics of feedstocks such as high heating value and moisture content have significant effect on gasifier efficiency and auxiliary power consumption. Incremental analyses show cofeeding and coproduction are competitive with respect to plant performance. The calculated levelized cost of electricity with the bituminous coal is $102.9/MW h while that with the lignite is $108.1/MW h, resulting in a cost of H 2 that ranged from $1.42/kg to $2.77/kg depending on the feedstock and is lower than the US Department of Energy’s announced H 2 cost goal of $3.00/kg in July 14, 2005.
Great news, hard choices, and opportunities for paleoceanography

I want to share some great news about Paleoceanography's scientific impact. Its high impact factor reflects the number, quality, and breadth of submissions. Unfortunately, the positive news must be tempered by the difficulties of page budgets, which force hard decisions for us all.
The next frontier for strapdown RLG inertial systems. Precision navigation

Honeywell research and development projects directed at improvements in the design, building, and testing of RLG (ring laser gyro) strapdown systems are reviewed. Some of the performance standards being set with current hardware are discussed, as are a number of the known error sources existing in these systems along with candidate solutions, the analysis and test results upon which precision navigation performance projections are based, and plans to demonstrate the feasibility of a precision pure strapdown RLG system. Based upon current performance, reasonable projections and analysis, and laboratory test data, it is anticipated that strapdown RLG systems can deliver performance consistent with the precision requirements of SNU 84-3 (0.2 nm/h after a precision-extended time-alignment) while retaining the major advantages that the pure strapdown mechanization offers. >
Caspase Inhibitors Prospective Therapies for Stroke

In ischemic stroke, apoptosis persists for days to weeks after the onset of an ischemic event. Cysteine-ASPartic proteASEs (caspases) are key mediators of apoptosis and neurodegeneration in stroke. The impact of caspase activity is not restricted to neuronal death, as caspases can exacerbate inflammation and alter glial function. Thus, caspases are logical therapeutic targets for this disease, but they have never been clinically evaluated due to a paucity of ideal drug candidates. Recent developments in caspase inhibition and drug delivery offer novel neuroprotective strategies for stroke, which are deliberated in this review.
The use of ATOPSS for presenting elementary operating system concepts

ATOPSS (Adage Tutorial Operating System Simulator) was designed to provide both a learning tool and a teaching aid for the presentation of elementary operating system concepts to graduate or advanced undergraduate computer science students. As a real learning tool, the simulator itself offers real time interaction and observation of a parametric, discrete time event oriented operating system. For a teaching aid, a series of short movies has been produced using ATOPSS solely as its basis, demonstrating both the use of the simulator and the different concepts it portrays. These movies thus offer the portability necessary for in-classroom presentation and provide a basis for further discussion.
Triarylphosphine, Poly(ethylene glycol)-supported

[603-35-0]P (MW 3400) (polymer-supported reagent used in the Staudinger reduction of azides,2 Mitsunobu reaction2 for deoxygenation of ozonides3 and as a precursor to water-soluble Wittig salts)3 Alternate Names: PEG-triphenylphosphine; PEG-PAr3. soluble in CHCl3, CH2Cl2, benzene, toluene, DMF, DMSO, CH3CN, CH3OH, H2O, and acetone. Insoluble in diethyl ether, t-butyl methyl ether, and iso-propanol. Form Supplied in: ivory powder. Analysis of Reagent Purity: 31P NMR of a CDCl3 solution of the reagents allows determination of oxidation states. Reagent 1: δ 28.4 ‘P(V)’ δ −6.8 ‘P(III)’; Reagent 2: δ 28.0 ‘P(V)’ δ −6.4 ‘P(III)’. Preparative Methods: reagent 1 is prepared by acylation of 4-bromoaniline with PEG3400 bis(p-nitrophenylcarbonate)2 followed by phosphonylation with lithium diphenylphosphide. Reagent 2 is prepared by alkylation of PEG3400 bis(methanesulfonate ester)3 with (4-hydroxyphenyl)diphenylphosphine4 in the presence of trioctylamine. Purification: dissolve in a minimum of CH2Cl2 and precipitate in a cold diethyl ether solution. Recover the precipitate by filtration and wash with diethyl ether. Handling, Storage, and Precautions: to minimize oxidation, store under a nitrogen atmosphere. To prevent absorption of water, store in the presence of a desiccant.
Error masking in computer programs

Programming faults are defined in the framework of a program proof outline. A component C in program P is faulty if P cannot be proved correct with the current implementation of C but it can be proved using the design specification for C, which defines the role of C in the overall design of P. A programming error is a state that violates the implementation specification of C. The error is masked if the design specification is satisfied by the incorrect state. Given a passing test t, the probability of error masking is 1–s(t), where s(t) is the sensitivity of t. Dynamic mutation testing (DMT), a Monte Carlo method, is used to estimate s(t). DMT is extended to estimate the probability of the existence of a hidden fault in C for a passing test suite. That probabillity can be viewed as a metric that measures the quality of the passing test suite.
Finite-element-based system reliability analysis of fatigue-induced sequential failures

Abstract When a structural system is subjected to repeated loadings, local fatigue-induced failures may initiate sequential failures and disproportionally large damage in the system. In order to quantify the likelihood of fatigue-induced sequential failures and identify critical failure sequences, a branch-and-bound method employing system reliability bounds (termed the B3 method) was recently developed and successfully demonstrated by a three-dimensional truss example. The B3 method identifies critical sequences of fatigue-induced failures in the decreasing order of their likelihood. Since the identified sequences are disjoint to each other, both lower and upper bounds on system failure probability are easily updated without performing additional system reliability analysis. The updated bounds provide reasonable criteria for terminating the branch-and-bound search without missing critical sequences or estimating the system-level risk inaccurately. Since the B3 method was originally developed for reliability analysis of discrete structures such as truss, however, the method is not applicable to continuum structures, which are often represented by finite element (FE) models. In particular, the method has limitations in describing general stress distributions in limit-state formulations, evaluating stress intensity range based on crack length, and in dealing with slow convergence of the upper and lower bounds for structures with high redundancy. In this paper, the B3 method is further developed for FE-based system reliability analysis of continuum structures by modifying the limit-state formulations, incorporating crack-growth analysis by external software, and introducing an additional search termination criterion. The proposed method is demonstrated by numerical examples including a continuum multi-layer Daniels system and an aircraft longeron structure.
Re-identification of familial database records.

Many genome-based research projects include familial relationships, such as pedigrees, with genomic data records. To protect anonymity when sharing family information, data holders remove, or encode, explicit identifiers (e.g. personal name). In this paper, however, we introduce IdentiFamily, a software program that can link de-identified family relations to named people. The program extracts genealogical knowledge from publicly available records and ascertains the re-identification risk for specific family relations. We find robust genealogies on current populations can be extracted from online sources, such as newspaper obituaries and death records. We evaluate IdentiFamily on real world data for a state’s capital city and demonstrate unique identifiability for approximately 70% of the population. IdentiFamily provides organizations with a tool to evaluate the anonymity of pedigrees prior to disclosure and design formal privacy protection techniques.
Decreasing Organizational Size: To Untangle or not to Untangle?

This article presents comments on an article published in a previous issue that discussed the effects that work force decline has on organizational structures. In that article the authors presented two models that outlined the results that declining financial resources and a decreasing work force has on the structure of an organization. This article suggests that their argument about the long-term influences of work force decline needs to be reexamined. The author notes that the process of organizational decline is more complex than suggested in the previous work and attempts to show that the process involves more than just a reduction in the scale of operations. He also asserts that the decline process is not simply the reverse of the growth process, as is suggested in the original work.
MINIMA OF BINARY INDEFINITE HERMITIAN FORMS

Classification of binary indefinite primitive Hermitian forms modulo the action of the extended Bianchi group (or Hilbert modular group) Bd is given. When the discriminant of the quadratic field $\mathbf{Q}(\sqrt{d})$ (and d) is negative, the results obtained can be applied to classify the maximal non-elementary Fuchsian subgroups of Bd, and to find the Hermitian points in the Markov spectrum of Bd. If ν is a Hermitian point in the spectrum, then there is a set of extremal geodesics in H3, the upper half-space model of the three-dimensional hyperbolic space, with diameter 1/ν, which depends on one continuous parameter.
Resolution of maximum entropy array processor

An approximate expression for the resolution of the maximum entropy array processor is derived and compared with the resolution expression for the conventional linear array processor (beamformer).
Light Intensity Effects on Reproductive Performance of Turkey Breeder Hens

Abstract Two trials were conducted to evaluate the reproductive performance of turkey hens to different light intensity during the lay period. In Trial 1 the hens were exposed to 16 h of light (L) and 8 h dark (D) per day (16L:8D) at 54, 108, or 216 lx and in Trial 2 a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments was used with main treatment factors being intensity level (54 versus 324 lx) and photoperiod (16L:8D versus 14L:10D). Data were collected for time to onset of lay, rate of lay, fertility, hatchability, and egg and poult weight in both trials, and feed intake in Trial 1. In both trials the light intensity treatments were similarly effective in the photoinduction of reproductive performance in Large White turkey hens. This occurred with daily photoperiods of both 14L:10D and 16L:8D in Trial 2 and there was no photoperiod by intensity interaction. There were no significant differences in feed intake or feed efficiency among the 54-, 108-, and 216-lx treatments of Trial 1. It may be concluded that reproductive performance of turkey hens in closed confinement is equivalent within an intensity range of 54 to 324 lx.
On the Scales of Motion and Internal Stress Characteristics of the Hurricane

Abstract In cumulus convective atmospheres where important energy and momentum interactions are occurring on the cumulus cloud scale (width 1 to 3 nautical miles) dynamical processes may be significantly different than middle latitude baroclinically driven circulations. This is the case especially in the intense cumulus-convective atmosphere of the hurricane. The purpose of this study is to present recent observational information of the cloud-scale and meso-scale wind fluctuations in the hurricane and to discuss their possible significance with regard to understanding the dynamics of the cumulus convective atmosphere. Detailed investigation is made of the wind observations collected during the 1958 season by the National Hurricane Research Project (NHRP) B-50 aircraft from 28 radial penetrations in hurricanes at levels between 830 and 560 mb. Horizontal wind velocities are measured with the aid of an AN/APN-82 radio navigation instrument utilizing Doppler frequency shift. These measurements, together wit...
Negative Regulators of Messenger RNA and the Role of microRNA for Plant Genetic Engineering

The world population will pass nine billion by 2050, while the agricultural land area will not increase significantly in the coming decades. To meet the ever-increasing food demand, genetically engineered crops have been rapidly adopted for crop productivity. Small noncoding RNAs associated with RNA silencing have become increasingly attractive in crop genetic modification due to their regulatory roles in many essential biological processes, including responses to plant development, biotic, and abiotic stresses. Evidence indicates that microRNA-based genetic modification can be one of the most promising solutions in crop improvement. In this chapter, we introduce the biogenesis and mechanisms of small noncoding RNA-mediated gene silencing, followed by an overview on the most recent progress of these small RNAs and strategies for manipulating them in plant genetic modification.
The sweet branch of metabolic engineering: cherry-picking the low-hanging sugary fruits.

In the first science review on the then nascent Metabolic Engineering field in 1991, Dr. James E. Bailey described how improving erythropoietin (EPO) glycosylation can be achieved via metabolic engineering of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. In the intervening decades, metabolic engineering has brought sweet successes in glycoprotein engineering, including antibodies, vaccines, and other human therapeutics. Today, not only eukaryotes (CHO, plant, insect, yeast) are being used for manufacturing protein therapeutics with human-like glycosylation, newly elucidated bacterial glycosylation systems are enthusiastically embraced as potential breakthrough to revolutionize the biopharmaceutical industry. Notwithstanding these excitement in glycoprotein, the sweet metabolic engineering reaches far beyond glycoproteins. Many different types of oligo- and poly-saccharides are synthesized with metabolically engineered cells. For example, several recombinant hyaluronan bioprocesses are now in commercial production, and the titer of 2′-fucosyllactose, the most abundant fucosylated trisaccharide in human milk, reaches over 20 g/L with engineered E. coli cells. These successes represent only the first low hanging fruits, which have been appreciated scientifically, medically and fortunately, commercially as well. As one of the four building blocks of life, sugar molecules permeate almost all aspects of life. They are also unique in being intimately associated with all major types of biopolymers (including DNA/RNA, proteins, lipids) meanwhile they stand alone as bioactive polysaccharides, or free soluble oligosaccharides. As such, all sugar moieties in biological components, small or big and free or bound, are important targets for metabolic engineering. Opportunities abound at the interface of glycosciences and metabolic engineering. Continued investment and successes in this branch of metabolic engineering will make vastly diverse sugar-containing molecules (a.k.a. glycoconjugates) available for biomedical applications, sustainable technology development, and as invaluable tools for basic scientific research. This short review focuses on the most recent development in the field, with emphasis on the synthesis technology for glycoprotein, polysaccharide, and oligosaccharide.
STEM Aspiration: The Influence of Social Capital and Chilly Climate on Female Community College Students

ABSTRACTThis quantitative study examined the predictive impact of a series of factors on female community college students’ intention to transfer in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The STEM Student Success Literacy survey (SSSL) was utilized to collect data from a large, diverse community college located in Florida. After the data cleaning and preparation, the authors first constructed a model that measures potentially predictive factors such as social capital, student engagement, and chilly climate. Then, a regression model including these factors and demographic characteristics was tested using a multinomial regression analysis. Findings generated implications for future research, policy, and practice to better serve and assist female students in their pursuit of a STEM degree.
Research Ethics for Molecular Silviculture

There has been little systematic work on the ethics of tree biotechnology. This paper synthesizes some general scholarship on technological ethics and agricultural biotechnology and suggests how it might be associated with tree biotechnology. The aim is to identify some current and potential issues for forest biotechnology and to elucidate the ethical assumptions and value commitments that lead people to conflicting opinions about the likely consequences of genetic engineering on trees.
Zr Incorporation into TiO2 Electrodes Reduces Hysteresis and Improves Performance in Hybrid Perovskite Solar Cells while Increasing Carrier Lifetimes

We investigate zirconium (Zr) incorporation into the titanium dioxide (TiO2) electron-transporting layer used in organometal halide perovskite photovoltaics. Compared to Zr-free controls, solar cells employing electrodes containing Zr exhibit increased power conversion efficiency (PCE) and decreased hysteresis. We use transient photovoltage and photocurrent extraction to measure carrier lifetimes and densities and observe longer carrier lifetimes and higher charge densities in devices on Zr-containing electrodes at microsecond times as well as longer persistent photovoltages extending from ∼milliseconds to tens of seconds. We characterize the surface stoichiometry and change in work function and reduction potential of the TiO2 upon incorporation of Zr and discuss the charge recombination at the TiO2 interface in the context of these variables. Finally, we show that the combination of Zr–TiO2 electrode modification with device pyridine treatment leads to a cumulative improvement in performance.
Effect of Varying Hemodynamic and Vascular Conditions on Fractional Flow Reserve: An In Vitro Study

Background The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of varying hemodynamic conditions on fractional flow reserve (ratio of pressure distal [Pd] and proximal [Pa] to stenosis under hyperemia) in an in vitro setting. Failure to achieve maximal hyperemia and the choice of hyperemic agents may have differential effects on coronary hemodynamics and, consequently, on the determination of fractional flow reserve. Methods and Results An in vitro flow system was developed to experimentally model the physiological coronary circulation as flow‐dependent stenosis resistance in series with variable downstream resistance. Five idealized models with 30% to 70% diameter stenosis severity were fabricated using VeroClear rigid material in an Objet260 Connex printer. Mean aortic pressure was maintained at 7 levels (60–140 mm Hg) from hypotension to hypertension using a needle valve that mimicked adjustable microcirculatory resistance. A range of physiological flow rates was applied by a steady flow pump and titrated by a flow sensor. The pressure drop and the pressure ratio (Pd/Pa) were assessed for the 7 levels of aortic pressure and differing flow rates. The in vitro experimental data were coupled with pressure–flow relationships from clinical data for populations with and without myocardial infarction, respectively, to evaluate fractional flow reserve. The curve for pressure ratio and flow rate demonstrated a quadratic relationship with a decreasing slope. The absolute decrease in fractional flow reserve in the group without myocardial infarction (with myocardial infarction) was on the order of 0.03 (0.02), 0.05 (0.02), 0.07 (0.05), 0.17 (0.13) and 0.20 (0.24), respectively, for 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, and 70% diameter stenosis, for an increase in aortic pressure from 60 to 140 mm Hg. Conclusions The fractional flow reserve value, an index of physiological stenosis significance, was observed to decrease with increasing aortic pressure for a given stenosis in this idealized in vitro experiment for vascular groups with and without myocardial infarction.
A Hierarchical, Component Based Approach to Screening Properties of Soft Matter

In prior work, Sallai, et al. introduced the concept and algorithms of building molecular topologies through the use of a hierarchical data structure and the use of an affine coordinate transformation to connect molecular components. In this work, we expand upon the original concept and present a refined version of this software, termed mBuild , which is a general tool for constructing arbitrarily complex input configurations for molecular simulation in a programmatic fashion. Basic molecular components are connected using an equivalence operator which reduces and often removes the need for users to explicitly rotate and translate components as they assemble systems. Additionally, the programmatic nature of this approach and integration with the scientific Python ecosystem seamlessly exposes high-level variables that users can tune to alter the chemical composition of their systems, such as mixtures of polymers of different chain lengths and surface patterning. Leveraging these features, we demonstrate how mBuild serves as a stepping stone towards screening and performing optimizations in chemical parameter space of complex materials by performing automated screening studies of monolayer systems as a function of graft type, degree of polymerization, and surface density.
The Principle of Innocents' Immunity

This essay claims that some recent discussions of moral positions based on a principle of innocents' immunity, “The direct killing of an innocent person is never morally justifiable,” ignore two different meanings of “innocence”: “innocence” as applied to agents and “innocence” as applied to those upon whom the agents act (“patients”). It shows how neglecting this distinction distorts some discussions about abortion and justifiable war. Some recent philosophical analyses are used and developed (1) to argue that “patient innocence” is not dependent on “agent innocence,” but on how the role of “;patients” relates those “patients” to prospective or actual agents, and (2) to show the theoretical importance of distinguishing “excuses” from “justifications” of actions. This approach provides an alternative to traditionalist and revisionist accounts by suggesting how Catholicism's “inconsistent ethic” might be developed into a more coherent, multifaceted vision.
Holomorphic and Harmonic Functions on Bounded Symmetric Domains

The main purpose of these lectures is to study questions of elementary analysis on bounded symmetric domains, namely the realization of these domains as generalizations of the unit disc and the upper halfplane, the study of the structure of their boundary and the boundary behaviour of holomorphic functions. This is done in sections 3 to 6 which contain material otherwise available only in journals (mainly [14], [16], [24]). Some slight simplifications and improvements have been made here; it will, by the way, be apparent that the subject still has plenty of open problems.
Abstract P254: Hypertension: A proposed Mechanistic Pathway for Arterial System Remodeling

Arterial properties change during hypertension (HTN) development. The time course of the changes can be used as a marker of vascular remodeling in the development of HTN. Study Aim: To determine whether pressure induced changes in vascular properties result in alterations in pressure-flow patterns that impact the load for ventricular function: input & characteristic impedance, A rterial C ompliance (AC)= SV/PP (stroke volume)/(pulse pressure), AC=Tau/peripheral resistance (PR), and PP were investigated. Methods: Pressure and flow relations were investigated in dogs during the development of renal-HTN over 4-weeks (Wks). The sensitivity of hemodynamic markers of vascular remodeling was evaluated by changes in AC= SV/PP, and by AC= Tau/PR and PP. Results: All BP components increased during the development of HTN. Changes in Input Impedance, increased through Wks 2 to 4. Increases in the steady component of the cardiac cycle were reflected by peripheral PR, and changes in the pulsatile component were reflected by changes in AC=SV/PP, and AC=Tau /RP; and changes in characteristic impedance. PP and PAP increased by Week 2, reflection of the cardiac and arterial workloads and vascular Tension RP that progressed through Wk 4 Conclusion: Reliable and accessible markers that indicate changes in arterial pressure, flow & volume, are: PP and AC (SV/PP), and AC (Tau /TPR). These variables detected increases in the heart-load and alterations in pressure-flow patterns that impair cardiovascular-function resulting in HTN-CVD; input and characteristic impedance, also provides remodeling information about the arterial system but are not readily available to clinicians.
Nanoparticles as Interphase Modifi ers in Fiber Reinforced Polymeric Composites: A Critical Review

Nanoparticles dispersed in fiber reinforced polymeric composites can improve many of their mechanical properties or impart to them additional electrical, thermal or magnetic properties. Such composites have found use in many applications as structural components, sensors, conductors, etc., and their study is an active area of research. Incorporating nanoparticles into the fiber-matrix interphase, i.e., the thin (≈ 0.1  1 μm) region between the fiber surface and the bulk matrix, can improve fiber-matrix adhesion by roughening the fiber surface, thus enhancing the mechanical interlock between the matrix and the fiber, or can result in a graded modulus from that of the stiff fiber to the bulk resin, often resulting in improved stress transfer and toughness. Many different methods to incorporate nanoparticles at or near fiber surfaces have been developed and implemented, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. In this review, three main methods for creating nanoparticle filled fiber-matrix interphases are discussed: growth of structured interphases from fiber surfaces, deposition of interphases onto fiber surfaces, and finally, formation of self-assembled interphases.
Bayesian Persuasion and Moral Hazard

We consider a three-player Bayesian persuasion game in which the sender designs a signal about an unknown state of the world, the agent exerts a private effort that determines the distribution of the underlying state, and the receiver takes an action after observing the signal and its realization. The sender must not only persuade the receiver to select a desirable action, but also incentivize the agent’s effort. We develop a general method of characterizing an optimal signal in this environment. We apply our method to derive concrete results in several natural examples and discuss their economic implications
When and How Much Did the Green Line LRT Increase Single-Family Housing Values in St. Paul, Minnesota?

Studies quantifying value added of transit often cannot differentiate whether the premiums are transit effects or location effects. Limited studies have examined the timing of value added. Using be...
Adaptive constant power control and power loss analysis of a MHz GaN-based AC/DC converter for low power applications

With off-line power supplies moving towards MHz switching frequency range, the converter's bus capacitor becomes the bottleneck of further improvement of power density. Partial constant power operation is effective in reducing the bus capacitance and capacitor current stress for low power applications. However, its impact on circuit operation and circuit design have not been studied thoroughly. With the developed circuit operation and loss model, this paper presents design considerations and power loss analysis of MHz AC/DC converters in partial constant power operation. Based on the models, an adaptive constant power control is also proposed to improve the light load efliciency. A 70 W, MHz CrM GaN-based AC/DC converter prototype has been prototyped to validate the analysis and circuit operation method. Compared with PFC operation, partial constant power control exhibits an efficiency drop of less than 0.5 %, but a 50 % reduction of bus capacitance is realized. With the proposed adaptive constant power control, the light load efficiency can be improved by roughly 0.5 %, which is similar as PFC operation. At the end, the possibility of extending the proposed operation method to higher power applications is also discussed.
The association between urbanization and reduced renal function: findings from the China Health and Nutrition Survey

While chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing public health concern in low- and middle-income countries, such as China, few studies have investigated the association between urbanization and the occurrence of CKD in those countries. We investigated the association between urbanization and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), an important CKD risk marker. Data came from the China Health and Nutrition Survey wave 2009, in which we collected fasting serum, individual and household data along with community level urbanization data, which was used to derive a study-specific urbanization measure, in 218 communities across nine provinces. A total of 3644 men and 4154 women participants aged 18 years or older were included in the analysis. Reduced renal function was defined as eGFR of less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 measured using serum creatinine concentration (mg/dL). After adjusting for socio-demographic (e.g., age, education and household income), a sex-stratified multilevel logistic model revealed that living in a more urbanized community was associated with higher odds of reduced eGFR (odds ratio [OR] = 1.38 per one-standard deviation [SD] increase in the CHNS specific urbanization index, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.11–1.73 for men; OR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.11–1.62 for women). After adjusting for behavioral variables (i.e., alcohol consumption, smoking, physical activity and diet), as well as obesity and cardiometabolic risk factors, the association was attenuated in men (OR = 1.25, 95% CI = 0.98–1.59), but remained statistically significant in women (OR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.01–1.52). Our findings suggest that living in an urban environment is linked with higher odds of reduced renal function independently of behavioral and cardiometabolic risk factors, which have been shown to increase along with urbanization.
Global Inequality: A New Approach for the Age of Globalization

Branko Milanovic is an economist specializing in economic growth and the origin of social inequalities. After working for the World Bank, he taught at various American universities, including Johns...
Dynamic-landscape metapopulation models predict complex response of wildlife populations to climate and landscape change

The increasing need to predict how climate change will impact wildlife species has exposed limitations in how well current approaches model important biological processes at scales at which those processes interact with climate. We used a comprehensive approach that combined recent advances in landscape and population modeling into dynamic-landscape metapopulation models (DLMPs) to predict responses of two declining songbird species in the central hardwoods region of the United States to changes in forest conditions from climate change. We modeled wood thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) and prairie warbler (Setophaga discolor) population dynamics and distribution throughout the central hardwoods based on estimates of habitat and demographics derived from landscapes projected through 2100 under a current climate scenario and two future climate change scenarios. Climate change, natural forest succession, and forest management interacted to change forest structure and composition over time, variably affecting the distribution and amount of habitat of the two birds. The resulting changes in habitat and metapopulation processes produced contrasting predictions for future populations. Wood thrush, a forest generalist, showed little response to climate-driven forest change but declined by >25% due to reduced productivity associated with existing forest fragmentation across much of the region. Prairie warblers initially declined due to loss of habitat resulting from current land management; however, after 2050 cumulative effects of climate change on forest structure created enough habitat in source landscapes to restore population growth. These species-specific responses were the result of interactions among climate, landscape, and population processes. We suggest relationships between climate change, succession, and land management are species specific and important determinants of future wildlife populations and that DLMPs are a comprehensive approach that can capture such processes to generate more realistic predictions of populations under climate change.
Comparison of Quadriceps-Sparing and Medial Parapatellar Approaches in Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Abstract Background The quadriceps-sparing (QS) technique for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) was introduced to improve outcomes associated with the medial parapatellar (MP) approach. There is no clear consensus on what advantages, if any, QS provides. Methods We performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the QS and MP techniques. PubMed, Ovid, and Scopus were assessed for relevant literature. Long-term (primary) outcomes and short-term (secondary) outcomes from 8 RCTs (579 TKAs) were analyzed using OpenMetaAnalyst (2016). Results The QS approach did not demonstrate clinically significant advantages, but was associated with statistically and clinically significant increases in the primary outcomes of femoral (odds ratio [OR] 4.92, P = .005), tibial (OR 4.34, P = .01), and mechanical axis outliers (OR 4.77, P = .004). Secondary outcome assessments demonstrated increased surgical (mean differences [MD] 19.54, P Conclusion The QS approach to TKA fails to demonstrate clinically significant advantages, but shows increased malalignment. This increased incidence of implant malalignment may predispose QS patients to early prosthesis failure. Because the QS approach may increases the risk of malalignment while providing no clear benefit compared to MP, we recommend against the routine use of the QS TKA approach.
Lateral Reading: Reading Less and Learning More When Evaluating Digital Information

The Internet has democratized access to information but in so doing has opened the floodgates to misinformation, fake news, and rank propaganda masquerading as dispassionate analysis. To investigate how people determine the credibility of digital information, we sampled 45 individuals: 10 Ph.D. historians, 10 professional fact checkers, and 25 Stanford University undergraduates. We observed them as they evaluated live websites and searched for information on social and political issues. Historians and students often fell victim to easily manipulated features of websites, such as official-looking logos and domain names. They read vertically, staying within a website to evaluate its reliability. In contrast, fact checkers read laterally, leaving a site after a quick scan and opening up new browser tabs in order to judge the credibility of the original site. Compared to the other groups, fact checkers arrived at more warranted conclusions in a fraction of the time. We contrast insights gleaned from the fact checkers’ practices with common approaches to teaching web credibility.
Lensing effects in a random inhomogeneous medium

Curvature of the refractive index profile can cause the focusing or defocusing of a propagating beam. Such lensing can have detrimental effects on, for example, imaging through the atmosphere, where it can cause features to appear stretched or regions to appear artificially bright. We consider the problem of describing propagation in the presence of both curvature and stochastic fluctuations in the refractive index profile. For different scenarios motivated by atmospheric propagation data, we derive concise, robust formulas for the mean ray paths that include the effects of turbulence. In addition, for the case of a local maximum of the mean refractive index, we show that the focal length associated with the mean trajectories in the random medium is smaller than in the deterministic setting.
Evaluation and Management of Acute Stevens-Johnson Syndrome

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are eruptive mucocutaneous blistering diseases that can yield severe scarring of the eyelids and ocular surface. This scarring frequently leads to significant consequences such as severe dry eye, photophobia, and decreased vision. The severe sequelae are difficult, if not impossible, to reverse and can lead to lifelong disability for the patients. When applied in the first week of the illness, amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) has been shown to effectively and consistently prevent the more serious sequelae of SJS and TEN [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15]. The cases presented will explore various aspects of the ophthalmologic evaluation of acute SJS/TEN and decisions regarding the use of AMT in the acute phase of the disease, generally defined as the initial blistering portion of the disease that lasts anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks in most cases.
Missense mutation at the C terminus of the PAX6 gene in ocular anterior segment anomalies.

PURPOSE. To report a rare case of ocular anterior segment anomalies including uveal ectropion of the iris, invasion of the conjunctival epithelia into the cornea, and posterior embryotoxon with a missense mutation of the PAX6 gene. METHODS. The authors performed polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis and sequencing of the PAX6 gene using genomic DNA of family members and more than 100 control subjects. RESULTS. The A to G transition at nucleotide 1682 in exon 13 in the patient was identified in an allele that resulted in a Gln to Arg substitution (Q422R) at the C terminus of the protein. The mutation was not found in the parents, a sibling, or control subjects. CONCLUSIONS. The mutation indicates that the proline-serine-threonine-rich domain at the C terminus of the PAX6 protein plays a role in ocular anterior segment morphogenesis.
Penalty Variational Formulation of Viscous Incompressible Fluid Flows

ABSTRACT Reddy, J. N., 1986. Penalty variational formulation of viscous incompressible fluid flows. Proc. Int. Symp. on Variational Methods in Geosciences, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019. A review of the applications of the penalty finite element method to viscous, incompressible fluid flows is presented. The penalty variational formulation of the equations governing steady, laminar flow of incompressible viscous fluids and associated finite-element model are described. Numerical results for a number of nontrivial problems are presented and discussed.
Integrating Perceptual Learning with External World Knowledge in a Simulated Student

Systems for smart authoring of automated tutors, like SimStudent, have been mostly applied in well-defined problem-solving domains where little real-world background knowledge is needed, like math. Here we explore the generality of these methods by considering a very different task, article selection in English, where little problem-solving is done, but where complex prior perceptual skills and large amounts of background knowledge are needed. This background knowledge includes the ability to parse text and the extensive understanding of semantics of English words and phrases. We show that good performance can be obtained by coupling SimStudent with appropriate broad-coverage linguistic tools. Performance can be improved further on this task by extending one of the learning mechanisms used by SimStudent so that it will accept less-accurate production rule conditions, and prioritize learned production rules by accuracy. Experimental results show that the extended SimStudent successfully learns the tutored article selection grammar rules, and can be used to discover a student model that predicts human student behavior as well as the human-generated model.