cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
To Data Management and Beyond… for Photovoltaic Applications

Material science tends to focus around a specific class of materials and devices. After an idea is created, an experiment is postulated, and then materials are grown and devices are fabricated. These materials and devices are characterized using a variety of techniques. Data from these laboratory steps are analyzed, conclusions are formulated, and knowledge is passed on through publications, presentations, and patents. Typically, data are tracked in the area of what is grown and what is measured, but corporate knowledge is often lost as to what motivated certain experiments or what was learned from those experiments. This can be due to many factors including corporate culture, lack of reporting of negative results, and lack of reporting of full data sets. Proper application of informatics must realize that data does not equal knowledge, but is the foundation for creating knowledge, which is far more useful than mere information. Combinatorial approaches for material growth, device fabrication, and subsequent characterization accelerate experimental throughput. Integrating these systems and their data at all levels ultimately will lead to key knowledge to discover new materials and invent new device structures. Well-designed informatics systems must fully relate all types of data and information, make full use of automation, enable data mining, and have an easy-to-use, fast, user interface.
A combined Markov random field and wave-packet transform-based approach for image segmentation

The author formulates a novel segmentation algorithm which combines the use of Markov random field models for image-modeling with the use of the discrete wavepacket transform for image analysis. Image segmentations are derived and refined at a sequence of resolution levels, using as data selected wave-packet transform images or "channels". The segmentation algorithm is compared with nonmultiresolution Markov random field-based image segmentation algorithms in the context of synthetic image example problems, and found to be both significantly more efficient and effective. >
Study of adaptive fault current algorithm for microgrid dominated by inverter based distributed generators

The fault characteristic of inverter interfaced DG is very different from that of synchronous rotating generators. Traditional protection methods based on large fault current are no longer applicable to inverter-only supplied microgrid. This paper analyzes the fault behaviour of inverter based microgrid, and proposes an adaptive fault current protection algorithm for this type of microgrid. According to the fault characteristic of inverter interfaced DG, it uses fault component current which only presents in fault condition. The result is simulated and proved by DigSilent.
The Ratio of Total to Selective Extinction from the Cluster Diameter Method

One hundred and fifty six open clusters with modern photometry, and apparent diameter measures by Trumpler, have been used to measure the mean ratio of total to selective extinction, \( \bar R \). It is found that cluster diameter is related to both concentration class and richness class. Diameter also seems to depend on the background stellar density and to decrease with reddening. With such effects measured and removed \( \bar R \) = 3.15 4 ± 0.20. This result is not significantly dependent on the cluster’s position in space.
Prospects for Image Restoration

Image restoration is the theory and practice of processing an image to correct it for distortions caused by the image formation process. The first efforts in image restoration appeared more than 25 years ago. In this article we review the more recent trends in image restoration and discuss the main directions that are expected to influence the continued evolution of this technology.
Genetics in occupational therapy education: a survey of professional entry-level programs.

PURPOSE. Advances in genetics indicate a need for occupational therapists to develop literacy and skills in genetics as it relates to lifestyle and occupation. The purpose of this study is to identify genetics content areas taught, instructional methods used, and the importance of teaching genetics at the entry-level in occupational therapy curricula. METHOD. A questionnaire was sent to all entry-level occupational therapy educational programs (N = 157). Structured mailing and follow-up were used. RESULTS. The response rate was 63.9%. Most respondents (47%) rate teaching genetics as "moderately important." Genetics content is predominately taught at the introductory or knowledge level rather than at the integration and application level. Respondents indicate a lack of time and space for genetics content and of faculty interest and expertise. DISCUSSION. As occupational therapy practice evolves to include new genetics, curriculum change will need to be implemented. Development of teaching materials and methods addressing genetics is recommended.
Channel output feedback based design of a coding scheme for MISO fading channels

The design of beamformers using limited channel state feedback at the transmitter for multiple-input singleoutput (MISO) fading channels has been extensively studied in the literature. It has been established that the limited feedback of channel state can lead to significant capacity enhancement. In this paper, it is demonstrated that the use of channel output feedback in addition to limited channel state feedback can result in better reliability in addition to the closed-loop capacity improvement. In particular, a capacity achieving linear coding scheme for an independent and identically distributed Rayleigh fading process is proposed that has a probability of error decaying double exponentially. The proposed coding scheme highlights the separation between channel state adaption and channel output adaption. The scheme can be viewed as an extension of the Schalkwijk-Kailath-Butman scheme and the scheme proposed in [1] to MISO fading channels with limited state feedback. Finally, simulations are presented to exhibit the doubly exponential decay of the scheme.
VISCOUS FLOW IN A CHANNEL WITH PERIODIC CROSS-BRIDGING FIBRES : EXACT SOLUTIONS AND BRINKMAN APPROXIMATION

A general solution of the three-dimensional Stokes equations is developed for the viscous flow past a square array of circular cylindrical fibres confined between two parallel walls. This doubly periodic solution, which is an extension of the theory developed by Lee & Fung (1969) for flow around a single fibre, successfully describes the transition in behaviour from the Hele-Shaw potential flow limit (aspect ratio B [Lt ] 1) to the viscous two-dimensional limiting case (B [Gt ] 1, Sangani & Acrivos 1982) for the hydrodynamic interaction between the fibres. These results are also compared with the solution of the Brinkman equation for the flow through a porous medium in a channel. This comparison shows that the Brinkman approximation is very good when B > 5, but breaks down when B [les ] O(1). A new interpolation formula is proposed for this last regime. Numerical results for the detailed velocity profiles, the drag coefficient f, and the Darcy permeability Kp are presented. It is shown that the velocity component perpendicular to the parallel walls is only significant within the viscous layers surrounding the fibres, whose thickness is of the order of half the channel height B′. One finds that when the aspect ratio B > 5, the neglect of the vertical velocity component vz can lead to large errors in the satisfaction of the no-slip boundary conditions on the surfaces of the fibres and large deviations from the approximate solution in Lee (1969), in which vz and the normal pressure field are neglected. The numerical results show that the drag coefficient of the fibrous bed increases dramatically when the open gap between adjacent fibres Δ′ becomes smaller than B′. The predictions of the new theory are used to examine the possibility that a cross-bridging slender fibre matrix can exist in the intercellular cleft of capillary endothelium as proposed by Curry & Michel (1980).
Estimating Benchmark Concentrations and Other Noncancer Endpoints in Epidemiology Studies

Methods for evaluating the hazards associated with noncancer responses with epidemiologic data are considered. The methods for noncancer risk assessment have largely been developed for experimental data, and are not always suitable for the more complex structure of epidemiologic data. In epidemiology, the measurement of the response and the exposure is often either continuous or dichotomous. For a continuous noncancer response modeled with multiple regression, a variety of endpoints may be examined: (1) the concentration associated with absolute or relative decrements in response; (2) a threshold concentration associated with no change in response; and (3) the concentration associated with a particular added risk of impairment. For a dichotomous noncancer response modeled with logistic regression, concentrations associated with specified added/extra risk or with a threshold responses may be estimated. No-observed-effect concentrations may also be estimated for categorizations of exposures for both continuous and dichotomous responses but these may depend on the arbitrary categories chosen. Respiratory function in miners exposed to coal dust is used to illustrate these methods.
Computations of the Compressible Multiphase Flow Over the Cavitating High-Speed Torpedo

For high-speed cavitating flows, compressibility becomes significant in the liquid phase as well as in the vapor phase. In addition the compressible energy equation is required for studying the effects of the propulsive jet on the cavity. Therefore, a numerical method is developed to compute cavitating flows over high-speed torpedoes using the full unsteady compressible Navier-Stokes equations. The multiphase system of equations is preconditioned for low-speed flow computations. Using the mass fraction form, we derive an eigensystem for both the conditioned and the nonconditioned system of equations. This eigensystem provides stability for the numerical discretization of the convective flux and increases the convergence rate This method can be used to compute single as well as multiphase flows. The governing equations are discretized on a structured grid using an upwind flux difference scheme with flux limits. Single as well as multiphase flows are computed over a cavitating torpedo
A mixed-signal built-in self-test approach for analog circuits

A built-in self-test (BIST) approach is described which is designed to test the analog portion of mixed-signal integrated circuits and systems. The BIST circuitry is located in the digital portion of the mixed-signal circuitry to minimize area overhead and effects on the analog portion of the mixed-signal system. The approach was evaluated using benchmark circuits for analog testing and found to consistently provide fault coverage greater than 95%, even when acceptable component parameter variations are added to the set of benchmark circuits.
Arterial Oxygen Saturation in Chronic Congestive Heart Failure

Continuous, 24-hour, ambulatory pulse oximetry was used in 10 subjects with New York Heart Association functional class II to III heart failure and in 5 age-matched controls to test the prevailing view that arterial oxygen saturation is preserved during wakefulness in chronic mild to moderate heart failure. Subjects with heart failure were stabilized on digitalis and diuretics at the time of the study. All subjects maintained time-activity logs, with an emphasis on self-reported sleep and wakefulness. A desaturation event was defined as a decrease in arterial oxygen saturation > or = 4% from baseline lasting > 5 seconds. Variables assessed included total desaturation events, decrease in arterial oxygen saturation duration/event, nadir of arterial oxygen saturation/event, and desaturation index ([cumulative desaturation time/total monitoring time] x 100). The ratio of self-reported wakefulness:sleep desaturation time was 47:53% for subjects with heart failure versus 64:36% for controls (p = NS). Mean (+/- SEM) time of arterial oxygen saturation < 90% was 123 +/- 67 minutes for subjects with heart failure versus 22 +/- 25 minutes for controls (p < 0.01). Total desaturations were 220 +/- 63 and 76 +/- 35 (p = NS) for the heart failure and control groups, respectively. The heart failure group had a statistically, significantly greater decrease in arterial oxygen saturation, and a longer duration and deeper nadir of the desaturation event than did the age-matched control group. The desaturation index was 21 +/- 3% and 4 +/- 1% for the heart failure and control groups, respectively (p < 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Relational semantics for effect-based program transformations with dynamic allocation

We give a denotational semantics to a region-based effect system tracking reading, writing and allocation in a higher-order language with dynamically allocated integer references.Effects are interpreted in terms of the preservation of certain binary relations on the store, parameterized by region-indexed partial bijections on locations.The semantics validates a number of effect-dependent program equivalences and can thus serve as a foundation for effect-based compiler transformations.
Normalization of Institutional Mealtimes for Profoundly Retarded Persons: Effects and Noneffects of Teaching Family-Style Dining.

Benefits have been reported for certain institutionalized populations when mealtimes are arranged under normal, family-style conditions. In this study, we evaluated a program for teaching family-style mealtime skills to institutionalized persons with skill deficits greater than those targeted in previous research--the profoundly retarded. Results showed that the program, involving forward chaining with a less-to-more intrusive prompting sequence and contingent reinforcement, successfully taught four profoundly retarded persons several family-style skills. Also, systematic measures supported the durability of the skills, social validity of the behavior changes, acceptance of the program by staff trainers, and no detrimental changes in health-related variables associated with food consumption. However, results also indicated that beneficial corollary changes (e.g., increased peer communication) previously reported with higher skilled populations did not occur. These results suggest that with more seriously handicapped populations, multiple changes should not be assumed when normalizing institutional conditions; rather, specific skill training will probably be necessary.
Lack of a pheromonal sense in phytosaurs and other archosaurs, and its implications for reproductive communication

The vomeronasal (VN) system is a pheromone-processing sensory system of tetrapods. Tetrapods use pheromones to communicate territorial boundaries, reproductive status, sex, and species identity. Presumed impressions of VN bulbs on phytosaur frontals led to a claim that phy- tosaurs possessed the VN system. However, in extant crocodilians, which lack the VN system, the corresponding impressions are associated not with cerebral tissue but with the ophthalmic nerves. Phytosaur head morphology was not conducive to pheromone collection. The extant phylogenetic bracket suggests that all extinct archosaurs, including phytosaurs, lacked the VN system. Without the pheromonal sense, they would not have used chemical means to convey territorial boundaries, reproductive status, sex, and species identity. Instead, they would have used visual, acoustic, and tactile cues, as in extant archosaurs and other tetrapods in which the VN sense is reduced or absent.
Reconstruction of inclined showers at the Pierre Auger Observatory: implications for the muon content

The properties of extensive air showers (EAS) induced by cosmic rays with zenith angles up to 80 � can be measured accurately in the surface detector (SD) of the Pierre Auger Observatory. Using a model of the density pattern of muons, extracted from simulations, the shower size, N19, related to the total number of muons in EAS, is estimated from the signals measured in the SD stations. The accuracy of the reconstruction of N19 is tested using a large sample of simulated events. The shower size is calibrated using the shower energy measured with the fluorescence detector (FD) in a sub-sample of high-quality hybrid events (i.e. events det ected simultaneously by SD and FD). This allows the number of muons versus energy to be measured. We compare the number of muons versus energy as obtained through simulations with that measured in data. We find that none of the current sho wer models, neither for proton nor for iron primaries, are able to predict as many muons as are observed.
Cognitive Outcome of Infants with Pompe Disease Receiving Enzyme-Replacement Therapy

Researchers at University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and University of Leuven, Belgium prospectively assessed cognitive function in 10 children with classic infantile Pompe disease who had been treated with enzyme-replacement therapy (ERT) since 1999.
Electroprecipitation of Phosphate from Sewage

A study of phosphate removal from secondary sewage effluent was conducted using a two-step method of electroprecipitation followed by lanthanum chloride precipitation. In the first step, a sacrificial low-carbon steel anode and a stainless steel cathode were used. This step removed 80% of the orthophosphate, reduced chemical oxygen demand by 23%, and lowered total dissolved solids by 9%. In the second step, colloids persisting from the first step were flocculated by addition of lanthanum chloride, which also removed additional phosphate. Two-stage removal of soluble orthophosphate was 99.4%, and chemical oxygen demand was diminished by 50%. No increase in total dissolved solids occurred in the second step.
Consequences of minimising pair correlations in fluids for dynamics, thermodynamics and structure

ABSTRACTLiquid-state theory, computer simulation and numerical optimisation are used to investigate the extent to which positional correlations of a hard-sphere fluid – as characterised by the radial distribution function and the two-particle excess entropy – can be suppressed via the introduction of auxiliary pair interactions. The corresponding effects of such interactions on total excess entropy, density fluctuations and single-particle dynamics are explored. Iso-g processes, whereby hard-sphere-fluid pair structure at a given density is preserved at higher densities via the introduction of a density-dependent, soft repulsive contribution to the pair potential, are considered. Such processes eventually terminate at a singular density, resulting in a state that – while incompressible and hyperuniform – remains unjammed and exhibits fluid-like dynamic properties. The extent to which static pair correlations can be suppressed to maximise pair disorder in a fluid with hard cores, determined via direct func...
Rice Grain Modeling Based on Multi-perspective Images

A method based on multi-perspective images is presented for 3D rice grain modeling.Firstly,feature images of rice grain are captured using digital video microscope and 2D feature data of rice grain is extracted.Secondly,2D data is translated into 3D data by geometric transformation.Finally,the rice grain geometric model is reconstructed using B-splines fitting method based on 3D data.Furthermore,texture mapping and lighting are used to improve realistic of grain model.The experimental results show that the visualization model has realistic effect and provide a feasible method for grain's model.
Critical drug appraisal : etidronate intermittent cyclic therapy for postmenopausal osteoporosis

An overview of intermittent cyclical therapy with oral etidronate disodium in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis is given. Etidronate has been used successfully in the treatment of Paget's disease and for the prevention and treatment of heterotopic ossification after hip replacement and spinal cord injury. It is approved for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis in many European countries, Canada and Australia. Studies of such therapy indicate that etidronate significantly increases bone mass, reduces the risk of future vertebral fracture, and is safe and generally well tolerated.
Investing in Distress: Tax Delinquency and Predatory Tax Buying in Urban America

Most states authorize the sale of tax liens (a legal claim against a tax-delinquent property) or deeds to tax delinquent properties by local governments to third parties. As federal and state fundi...
Revascularization of smokers with claudication is not predicted to limit quality of life despite a higher risk of late failure.

Abstract Objective Tobacco smoking after lower extremity revascularization for claudication has repeatedly been shown to increase the risk of adverse events, such that many vascular specialists consider that refusal to abstain from smoking constitutes a major contraindication to open surgical bypass or endovascular intervention. Methods A Markov decision analysis (DA) model was used to compare the options of direct revascularization vs medical therapy only in smokers with claudication. The primary outcome was calculated quality of life (cQoL), determined for each patient at follow-up based on the outcomes of the treatment received. Markov DA software was used to predict the QoL for each treatment option preoperatively based on smoking status. Results Among patients referred during a recent 64-month period with vasculogenic claudication, 94 were actively smoking compared with 217 who were not. The DA model predicted that if the patients who smoked were to discontinue smoking, the best therapy would be bypass surgery for 77% and endovascular intervention for 17%. However, despite at least doubling the risks with intervention in the patients who continue to smoke, the DA model still predicted that 78% and 9% would fare better with open surgical or endovascular intervention, respectively. Among actively smoking patients, open surgical (3%) or endovascular (4%) therapies were initially performed in few patients, whereas 93% were offered only medical therapy. Among initial nonsmokers, revascularization was performed by open (27%) or endovascular (42%) means. At 3 years, the median (interquartile range [IQR]) cQoL was lower in initial smokers than in nonsmokers (0.73 [IQR, 0.73-0.77] vs 0.82 [IQR, 0.75-0.86]; P P = .37). Although 26% of initial smokers had stopped by the time of their last follow-up, 10% of initially nonsmoking patients were smoking at follow-up. However, among all patients undergoing intervention, the cQoL of patients smoking at the time of last their follow-up was similar to nonsmokers (0.82 [IQR, 0.82-0.86] vs 0.83 [IQR, 0.73-0.86]; P = .99). Conclusions Patients with claudication who smoke may be denied the symptom improvement associated with revascularization, yet recidivism for smoking also occurs among patients who have stopped smoking in order to receive revascularization. The strategy not to directly revascularize patients with claudication who continue to smoke does not appear to maximize patient midterm QoL.
Towards the homotopy of the K(2)-local Moore spectrum at p = 2

Abstract Let V ( 0 ) be the mod 2 Moore spectrum and let C be the supersingular elliptic curve over F 4 defined by the Weierstrass equation y 2 + y = x 3 . Let F C be its formal group law and E C be the spectrum classifying the deformations of F C . The group of automorphisms of F C , which we denote by S C , acts on E C . Further, S C admits a surjective homomorphism to Z 2 whose kernel we denote by S C 1 . The cohomology of S C 1 with coefficients in ( E C ) ⁎ V ( 0 ) is the E 2 -term of a spectral sequence converging to the homotopy groups of E C h S C 1 ∧ V ( 0 ) , a spectrum closely related to L K ( 2 ) V ( 0 ) . In this paper, we use the algebraic duality resolution spectral sequence to compute an associated graded for H ⁎ ( S C 1 ; ( E C ) ⁎ V ( 0 ) ) . These computations rely heavily on the geometry of elliptic curves made available to us at chromatic level 2.
Sediment source regions and paleotransport of the Upper Jurassic Norphlet Formation, eastern Gulf of Mexico

The Upper Jurassic Norphlet Formation is an eolian sandstone and important hydrocarbon reservoir that overlies the Louann Salt in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). Because the sand was concentrated into dunes formed by Late Jurassic winds, determining the source areas and paleotransport direction of the sand can improve predictions of the distribution of the dune facies around the GOM. Paleo–wind-blown sediment transport into the proto-GOM was controlled by wind direction and magnitude and the extant topography of the basin and adjacent uplands. Analysis of the Norphlet Formation in the eastern GOM shows that wadis and alluvial fans controlled by the location of highs were the primary route for introducing sediment of varied provenance into the eolian erg. Eolian transport directions interpreted from dip-log analyses are south directed in southern Alabama and west to northwest directed in western Florida. Interpretations of regional, two-dimensional, prestack-depth-migrated seismic data show that erosional incision of the Middle Ground arch occurred prior to and during the time of Norphlet deposition; this as well as preexisting lows in the basement topography may have facilitated basinward sand transport of sediment that fed the Norphlet Formation erg preserved in the deep-water subsurface eastern GOM.
Predicting Nonmuscle Invasive Bladder Cancer Recurrence and Progression in a United States Population.

Purpose: We assessed the performance of the EORTC (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer) and CUETO (Club Urologico Espanol de Tratamiento Oncologico) nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer predictive models compared to current United States NCCN Guidelines® in an American population.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the electronic medical records of patients with nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer in a multicenter population in the United States. We evaluated recurrence-free and progression-free survival according to EORTC and CUETO, and assessed discriminative performance with the c-index at 1 and 5 years. We then compared the discrimination of EORTC and CUETO to the discrimination of the 4 nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer treatment groups described in NCCN Guidelines.Results: We identified 1,333 patients with nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer and a median followup of 37 months. At 5 years the recurrence c-index of EORTC and CUETO was 0.59 and 0.56 while for progression ...
A Three-Element Biomimetic Antenna Array With an Electrically Small Triangular Lattice

We present a three-element biomimetic antenna array (BMAA) with an electrically small triangular lattice. The proposed array consists of three identical quarter-wavelength-long monopoles each positioned at a corner of an equilateral triangle whose side length is $0.05 \lambda _{0}$ , where $\lambda _{0}$ is the free-space wavelength. Using a triangular lattice allows for maximizing the phase sensitivity of the array over a 360° angular range. Moreover, it will allow for resolving ambiguities when such BMAAs are used in small-aperture direction finding systems. The three strongly coupled antennas are connected to an external coupling network with three inputs and three outputs. This network augments the mutual coupling between the strongly coupled antennas and is designed to maximize the output phase difference between each two antenna elements without sacrificing the output power level of the array compared with a conventional array occupying the same aperture. A modal analysis technique is also presented and used to design a prototype of the proposed array operating at 600 MHz. This prototype was fabricated and experimentally characterized. Measurement results are shown to be in very good agreement with theory.
Electric Field Modified Bunsen Flame with Variable Anode Placement

A methane–air Bunsen flame was tested under dc electric field forcing with different ring anode sizes and locations. The anodes were placed within the flame to far outside the flame, both axially a...
Clinical Decision Support to Efficiently Identify Patients Eligible for Advanced Heart Failure Therapies

Abstract Background Patients who need and receive timely advanced heart failure (HF) therapies have better long-term survival. However, many of these patients are not identified and referred as soon as they should be. Methods A clinical decision support (CDS) application sent secure email notifications to HF patients' providers when they transitioned to advanced disease. Patients identified with CDS in 2015 were compared with control patients from 2013 to 2014. Kaplan-Meier methods and Cox regression were used in this intention-to-treat analysis to compare differences between visits to specialized and survival. Results Intervention patients were referred to specialized heart facilities significantly more often within 30 days (57% vs 34%; P P P P P = .036), 60 (95% vs 90%; P = .0013), 90 (94% vs 87%; P = .0002), and 180 days (92% vs 84%; P = .0001). Age, sex, and some comorbid diseases were also predictors of mortality, but race was not. Conclusions We found that CDS can facilitate the early identification of patients needing advanced HF therapy and that its use was associated with significantly more patients visiting specialized heart facilities and longer survival.
Toxicity of inhaled agents after prolonged administration

Inhaled anesthetics have been utilized mostly for general anesthesia in the operating room and oftentimes for sedation and for treatment of refractory status epilepticus and status asthmaticus in the intensive care unit. These contexts in the ICU setting are related to potential for prolonged administration wherein potential organ toxicity is a concern. Over the last decade, several clinical and animal studies of neurotoxicity attributable to inhaled anesthetics have been emerging, particularly in extremes of age. This review overviews potential for and potential mechanisms of neurotoxicity and systemic toxicity of prolonged inhaled anesthesia and clinical scenarios where inhaled anesthesia has been used in order to assess safety of possible prolonged use for sedation. High dose inhaled agents are associated with postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) and other situations. However, thus far no strong indication of problematic neuro or organ toxicity has been demonstrated after prolonged use of low dose volatile anesthesia.
The Entrepreneur and the Initiation of New Venture Launch Activities

Much of the previous research attempting to relate traits of the entrepreneur to new venture creation has failed to demonstrate a definitive linkage. This failure should not impugn the importance o...
Involuntary Engagement Stress Responses and Family Dynamics: Time-Lagged Models of Negative Mood

Low-income Latino youth display disproportionate rates of mood problems compared with peers in other ethnic groups. Dysregulation of the stress reactivity system, reflected by involuntary engagement stress responses (IESRs), contributes to mood problems. However, two important family constructs—parent-child conflict and familism—may moderate the association between IESRs and negative mood. Parent-child conflict might exacerbate the link between IESRs and negative mood. Fortunately, low-income Latino youth may benefit from the cultural value of familism. Familism might weaken the tie between IESRs and negative mood and the tie between parent-child conflict and negative mood. The present study used a daily diary methodology and time-lagged models to examine these processes among low-income Latino adolescents. Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) was used to test the moderating effects of parent-child conflict and familism on the association between daily IESRs and negative mood. In addition, the moderating effect of familism was tested on the association between parent-child conflict and negative mood. Findings indicated that parent-child conflict exacerbated the relation between IESRs and negative mood on the same day, but not on the following day. Familism weakened the relation between IESRs and negative mood on the same day, but not on the following day. Familism fully buffered the link between parent-child conflict and negative moods, on the same day and on the following day. Thus, for low-income Latino youth, involuntary stress responses may have a significant impact on mood problems, though family-level factors are also important.
Ethanol as a Local Adjuvant for Giant Cell Tumor of Bone

Giant cell tumor is an aggressive benign neoplasm of bone. A number of adjuvant agents have been used to supplement intralesional curettage to reduce the otherwise high local recurrence rate. High concentration ethanol is more readily available and less toxic to use than some common alternatives. No report on its use in a group of patients with giant cell tumor is available. Records were retrospectively reviewed for all giant cell tumors treated by intralesional curettage and high concentration ethanol irrigation as the only chemical adjuvant. Twenty-five primary excisional curettages and 12 repeat curettages for giant cell tumors of bone were performed in 31 patients. Patients were followed for a mean of three years and 10 months. There were five recurrences after primary excision procedures, and three after repeat excisions. Only use of a high-speed burr and lower Campanacci staging correlated with reduced recurrence rate, and these were not statistically significant. Most defects were filled with allograft or calcium sulfate. In the 11 patients treated primarily with curettage using a high-speed burr and adjuvant ethanol with minimum two-year follow-up, only one stage 3 lesion in a distal radius recurred. Multiple washes with high concentration ethanol, when used in conjunction with aggressive curettage including high-speed burring, is an effective and safe adjuvant. The necessity of any chemical adjuvant after appropriately aggressive curettage and burring can only be definitively demonstrated with a prospective, randomized, multi-center trial. Until such evidence becomes available, the use of adjuvant ethanol offers a compromise between higher toxicity adjuvants and no chemical adjuvant at all.
Semi-Elliptical Surface Flaw EC Interaction and Inversion: Theory

In 1984 the concept of the flaw profile (a plot of the magnitude and phase of ΔZ along the length of the flaw) was introduced as a tool for inverting eddy current measurements taken on surface breaking flaws interrogated with a spatially nonuniform probe field [1,2], Comparison of direct measurements of approximately rectangular EDM notches with theoretical calculations for rectangular flaws showed satisfactory agreement. Inversion procedures developed for sizing a flaw from its flaw profile data were also found to give reasonable results. During the past year the goal has been to develop a probe-flaw interaction theory for semi-elliptical flaws in a nonuniform interrogating field. This is again a collaborative effort between Stanford and the National Bureau of Standards at Boulder. The theory, and some comparison with experiment, is given in this paper and details of the experiments are described in a companion paper [3].
Cocaine-induced ischemia in prefrontal cortex is associated with escalation of cocaine intake in rodents.

Cocaine-induced vasoconstriction reduces blood flow, which can jeopardize neuronal function and in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) it may contribute to compulsive cocaine intake. Here, we used integrated optical imaging in a rat self-administration and a mouse noncontingent model, to investigate whether changes in the cerebrovascular system in the PFC contribute to cocaine self-administration, and whether they recover with detoxification. In both animal models, cocaine induced severe vasoconstriction and marked reductions in cerebral blood flow (CBF) in the PFC, which were exacerbated with chronic exposure and with escalation of cocaine intake. Though there was a significant proliferation of blood vessels in areas of vasoconstriction (angiogenesis), CBF remained reduced even after 1 month of detoxification. Treatment with Nifedipine (Ca2+ antagonist and vasodilator) prevented cocaine-induced CBF decreases and neuronal Ca2+ changes in the PFC, and decreased cocaine intake and blocked reinstatement of drug seeking. These findings provide support for the hypothesis that cocaine-induced CBF reductions lead to neuronal deficits that contribute to hypofrontality and to compulsive-like cocaine intake in addiction, and document that these deficits persist at least one month after detoxification. Our preliminary data showed that nifedipine might be beneficial in preventing cocaine-induced vascular toxicity and in reducing cocaine intake and preventing relapse.
Research on 3D Temperature Distribution Model based on Affine Projection and Feature Registration

This paper aims to study the construction method of a three-dimensional temperature distribution reconstruction system based on depth and thermal infrared information. Initially, the traditional calibration methods were not straightforward because depth and thermal infrared cameras were not sensitive to color calibration plates. Therefore, a depth and thermal infrared camera calibration board is designed to perform depth and thermal infrared camera calibration. Secondly, the three-dimensional temperature distribution is built based on spatial affine transformation matching. The Local feature descriptor is proposed. In addition, the three-dimensional temperature distribution is calculated by local feature matching. Finally, the optimization of 3D temperature distribution reconstruction is completed based on autoregressive (AR) model. Experimental results show that a three-dimensional temperature distribution model can be built accurately based on this method with strong robustness.
Critical thinking and its impact on therapeutic treatment outcomes: a critical examination

The literature on critical thinking (CT) in counselling and therapy generally posits higher quality outcomes when CT is applied in therapeutic treatment. We critically examine support for the claim...
Developing self-care competency among child welfare workers: A first step

Abstract Self-care can be integral to assuaging inimical employment conditions experienced by the child welfare workforce. However, few studies have explicitly examined ways to improve self-care competency among this practitioner group. This study employed a retrospective pre/post design to assess the impact of a self-care training for child welfare workers (N = 131) in one southeastern state in the United States. Overall, results indicate child welfare workers were satisfied with the training content and materials. As well, analyses revealed significant increases in knowledge about self-care, confidence in skills to engage in self-care, and values related to self-care. Overall, findings from this study suggest that brief self-care trainings can beneficial to child welfare workers and that more research in this area is warranted.
Permeability estimation on tomographic images using curved boundary schemes in the lattice Boltzmann method

Abstract The lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is a widely-used numerical technique for simulation of single- and two-phase flow in geometries that are obtained using tomographic imaging of natural porous media. Due to ease of implementation and numerical robustness, a vast majority of LBM-based pore-scale simulations employ the so-called bounceback scheme to enforce no-slip velocity boundary condition. Bounceback, however, requires an implicit and tight coupling between the numerical (computational) and image (voxel) grid. This coupling results in large discretization errors, since the pore-matrix interface within the 3D image is rough. This leads to overestimation of the interfacial area, and thereby inaccurate permeability predictions. The use of the bounceback scheme also causes other numerical artifacts, such as viscosity-dependent permeability results. In order to address these deficiencies, in this work, the classical marching cubes algorithm is used to reconstruct a surface mesh from the 3D voxel grid; this mesh approximates the pore-matrix surface with higher accuracy compared to the inherent stair-stepped representation. In addition, (nominally) second-order accurate curved boundary schemes are used to enforce no-slip velocity conditions at the reconstructed pore-matrix interface.The various pre-processing steps, such as surface mesh generation and voxelization, that are necessary to use curved boundary schemes are described in detail. The proposed approach of using curved surfaces and boundary schemes is tested and validated on benchmark pore geometries, including a random packing of monodisperse spheres. We conclude that compared to current methods, curved boundary schemes provide a viable option for obtaining more accurate transport properties for Digital Rock Physics-based applications.
Heavy quark transport: a theoretical overview

Abstract A brief overview on heavy-quark-QGP interactions is presented in this work. Theories at different momentum scales are summarized, including the flavor hierarchy of jet energy loss at high pT, hadronization and the charmed hadron chemistry at medium to low pT, and the extraction of the heavy-quark-QGP potential at low pT. Recent theoretical developments on heavy quark theories are discussed, such as multi-scale transport models of heavy quarks, probing initial state effects and cold nuclear matter effects using heavy quarks, as well as extending studies from single heavy flavor hadrons to heavy flavor jets.
Safety impacts and benefits of connected and automated vehicles: How real are they?

During the past two decades, there has been a rapidly growing interest and continuous investment in advanced surface transportation technologies, especially connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) ...
ERM in Higher Education & Identifying Risks

As many US countries have adopted its methodology, the ERM Architecture, has become the global standard for ERM. The institutions of higher education (HEIs) develop sophisticated strategies for risk management (Aiko 2015). In its case study, the researcher Aiko KAGEYAMA had claimed that it takes years and needs cross-functional groups and control for implementation of the ERM structure or program. Numerous HEIs in the USA have adopted the ERM, with different methodologies and processes that should serve as a potential focus for research in various countries and cultures. The analysis examines the integration and adaptation in every organization of ERMs with specific tasks and contexts in HEIs. The threats would impact the university's ability to operate as a corporation either positively or negatively in an institutional sense and to achieve its strategic goals. The critical threats in academic institutions are identified and determined by this report (SV Toma, IV Alexa, DA Sarpe, 2014). The significant risk of loss is revenue structure and expenditure based on various students, budgetary allocation, tuition fees, administrative fees, tax-and ex-budget income relationships, flows of students and incomes, and spending of scientists.
Gifted education policy in Colombia: Legislation and guidelines for learners with exceptional abilities and talents

Abstract Prior 1991, there were no gifted education policies in Colombia. A new Constitution changed the educational legislation. New policies were created and passed into law to regulate the education of exceptional and talented individuals. Using systematic content analysis of legislation documents, the researchers present a novel multiple perspective approach to study policies considering background, formulation, implementation, and quality. Results reveal the existence of high-quality policies influenced by research-based evidence in the field of gifted education. Broadly, the policies have an inclusive definition of giftedness, consider multiple criteria for identification of exceptionalities and talents, and propose adequate services for diverse populations. However, the implementation has not achieved the policy goals effectively due to a disconnect with government educational and development agendas.
A single point source for the measurement of irrigation production functions

A study was conducted to determine the possibility of using a single point source sprinkler to provide data for irrigation production functions. Four sprinklers were tested with irrigation initiated by soil water sensors at 15, 35, 60 and 120 kPa of matric suction. Irrigation was automatically applied using a control system. The results show that it was feasible to use a single sprinkler system controlled by soil-water sensors for establishing irrigation production for a given site and time. For the conditions of this experiment, initiating irrigation when the soil dried to 35 kPa at 45 cm depth gave a complete range of irrigation from dry to excessive and produced all of the data needed for a production function. The choice of set-points used to turn irrigation on was quite sensitive. A lower value of matric suction for the set point caused too much irrigation with little additional information. A higher value of matric suction gave good information for low to maximum yield but did not cause excessive irrigation. Further testing may be needed for other site conditions but we believe the general principles of this method will function satisfactorily.
LDC participation in international financial markets: Debt and reserves

Abstract This paper analyzes LDC borrowing and reserve-holding behavior as part of a general equilibrium portfolio problem. Estimates of LDC debt and reserve demand and credit supply suggest that debt, along with reserves, serves a transactions role. Another finding is that most LDC borrowers are credit constrained. An analysis of LDC export behavior suggests that defaults are likely to be independent, uncorrelated phenomena.
Identification of a locus within the hydrogenase gene cluster involved in intracellular nickel metabolism in Bradyrhizobium japonicum.

Abstract A 0.6-kb fragment of DNA involved in intracellular Ni metabolism was isolated and cloned from a cosmid containing 23.2 kb of hydrogenase-related genes of Bradyrhizobium japonicum. This locus is located 8.3 kb upstream of the hydrogenase structural genes. The hydrogenase activity of a mutant with a gene-directed mutation at this locus (strain JHK7) showed dependency on nickel provided during hydrogenase derepression. The hydrogenase activity was only 20% of that in the wild-type strain, JH, at a concentration of 0.5 microM NiCl2. The hydrogenase activity in JH reached its maximum at 3 microM NiCl2, whereas the mutant (JHK7) reached wild-type levels of hydrogenase activity when derepressed in 50 microM NiCl2. Studies with the hup-lacZ transcriptional fusion plasmid pSY7 in JHK7 showed that the mutant JHK7 expressed less promoter activity under low-nickel conditions than did strain JH. The mutant accumulated less nickel during a 45-h hydrogenase derepression period than did the wild type. However, both JHK7 and the JH wild-type strain had the same short-term Ni transport rates, and the KmS for Ni of both strains were about 62 microM. When incubated under non-hydrogenase-derepression conditions, the mutant accumulated Ni at the same rate as strain JH. However, this stored source of nickel was unable to restore hydrogenase expression ability of the mutant to wild-type levels during derepression without nickel. The results indicate that the locus identified in B. japonicum is not involved in nickel-specific transport; indeed, it was not at all homologous to the "nickel transporter" hoxN gene of Alcaligenes eutrophus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)