cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Paleobiogeography of Cretaceous and Tertiary decapod crustaceans of the North Pacific Ocean

Comprehensive analysis of the Cretaceous and Tertiary decapod crustaceans of the North Pacific Rim, focused primarily on the Brachyura, has resulted in additions to our understanding of the evolution and distribution of these animals, both in that region and globally. Hypotheses about changes in climatological and paleoceanographic conditions have not been extensively tested using decapod crustaceans, although they have been well-documented globally and for the North Pacific Ocean by sedimentological and other faunal evidence. Evidence from the occurrences of decapod crustaceans supports hypotheses obtained through these other means. Because the decapod fauna was studied independent of other faunas, it provides a means by which to compare and test patterns derived from molluscan and other faunal data. The brachyuran decapods show distinctive paleobiogeographic patterns during the Cretaceous and Tertiary, and these patterns are consistent with those documented globally in the molluscan faunas and paleoceanographic modeling. Additionally, the changes in the decapod fauna reflect patterns unique to the North Pacific Ocean. The decapod fauna is primarily comprised of a North Pacific component, a North Polar component, a component of Tethyan derivation, an amphitropical component, and a component derived from the high Southern latitudes. The Cretaceous and Tertiary decapod faunas of the North Pacific Ocean were initially dominated by taxa of North Pacific origin. Decapod diversity was highest in the Pacific Northwest of North America during the Eocene, and diversity has declined steadily since that time. Diversity in Japan was relatively low among the Decapoda until the Miocene, when diversity increased markedly due to the tropical influence of the Tethys and Indo-Pacific region. Diversity has remained high in Japan into the present time. The Cretaceous, Eocene, and Miocene were times of evolutionary bursts within the Brachyura and were separated by periods of evolutionary stasis.
Sperm Adhesion to the Extracellular Matrix of the Egg

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the sperm adhesion to the extracellular matrix of the egg. Adhesion of the sperm cell to the egg's extracellular matrix is one of the most captivating events in biology. Easily viewed in vitro with a microscope, this cellular interaction represents the first direct physical contact between the male and female germ cells. Sperm-egg interactions are complicated by dramatic changes in the sperm head that occur during fertilization. Sperm populations present a continuum of physiological and morphological states to the egg. Sperm cells may be uncapacitated or capacitated, normomotile or hypermotile, and acrosome intact or undergoing the acrosome reaction. Research using sea urchin gametes established three fundamental concepts of sperm-egg adhesion in echinoderms: (1) egg substances induce acrosome reactions in spermatozoa; (2) the sperm cell's primary adhesive substance, bindin, is in the acrosome, so the acrosome reaction must occur before the gametes adhere; and (3) bindin interacts in a species-specific manner with its cognate ligand in the egg's vitelline layer. These well-established findings at once suggests the possibilities for sperm–egg extracellular matrix (EEM) adhesion in mammals, but when compared to results obtained in other species, also demonstrate existence of species differences. Early studies of mammalian gametes demonstrated that sperm-EEM interaction is more complex than the corresponding process in echinoderms. In addition, spermatozoa of several (and possibly most) mammals can adhere to the EEM both before and after they undergo acrosome reactions. The dominant, recurrent themes of research on sperm-EEM adhesion are species diversity and species specificity. It will therefore be essential over the coming years to study the biochemical basis of this process in many species to build a comprehensive understanding of it.
Design of Reliable Synchronous Sequential Circuits

Fail-safe synchronous sequential machines produce safeside outputs when failures occur within the machine. This correspondence presents a procedure to design such machines using a modification of the on-set equation form originally presented by Tohma et al. [1] and later improved by Diaz et al. [2]. A systematic procedure for state assignment and next-state equation derivation, using partition theory, is presented. From this method an easily calculated upper bound on the number of gates required-to realize a fail-safe circuit is derived.
Control of the Annual Bluegrass Weevil on a Golf Course Fairway, 2014

This study evaluated sequential applications of insecticides for control of ABW on a golf course fairway. The test was conducted along the east side of fairway #6, at The Country Club, Pepper Pike, OH. Treatments were applied 18 Apr, 12 May, 30 May, and 10 Jun to 5 ft× 8 ft turf plots arranged in a RCB design with four replicates. Liquid insecticide applications were made using a 3-ft wide (spray 4 ft width) CO2 pressurized sprayer with TeeJet 8004 nozzles at 20 psi calibrated to deliver 2.0 gal/1000 ft2 …
Mediation in the New Mexico Court of Appeals

A mediator gives a summary of the implementation of, procedure relating to, and role of lawyers in the New Mexico Court of Appeals’s mediation program.
Effect of Chemical and Physical Cross-Linking on Tensile Characteristics of Solution-Blown Soy Protein Nanofiber Mats

Solution-blown soy protein/nylon 6 nanofibers, 40/60 and 50/50 wt/wt %, were collected on a rotating aluminum drum in order to form a mat. The collected fiber mats were bonded both chemically (using aldehydes and ionic cross-linkers) and physically (by means of wet and thermal treatment) to increase the tensile strength to increase the range of application of such green nonwovens. Chemical cross-linkers bond different amino groups, primary amides, and sulfhydryl groups in protein structure. This is beneficial for the enhancement of tensile strength. Such mechanical properties of soy-protein-containing nanofiber mats as Young’s modulus, yield stress, and maximum stress and strain at rupture were measured for different cross-linkers at different contents. Overall, higher contents of cross-linking agents in soy protein nanofiber mats resulted in nanofibers with higher strength which was accompanied by a less plastic behavior. Treatment with ionic cross-linkers resulted in nanofiber mats with higher Young’s m...
STRENGTHEN THE EXPLORATION AND PROTECTION OF JEWEL AND JADE RESOURCES IN YUNNAN

The geological conditions of jewel-jade metallogenesis in Yunnan are excellent and the development potentiality of jewel-jade industry is great.The starting and promotion of comprehensive investigation and development of jewel-jade resources("treasure exploration engineering"),in order to cause it progressively to be the new mainstay industry in Yunnan,is another important policy of provincial government.To strengthen the exploration and protection of jewel-jade resources is the necessary way to keep the perfect development of jewel-jade industry.
Comparison of two photosynthesis-light response curve-fitting models of four Artemisia species

The light response curve of four Artemisia species inchcding A.vestita,A.mongolidca,A.japonica and A.roxburghiana were measured,and parameters of photosynthesis-light response curve were simulated by non-rectangle hyperbolae and rectangle hyperbolae functions in this study.The results showed that α、Rd、Lsp from rectangle hyperbolae function were higher than those from mon-rectangle hyperbolae function,and there were significant differences in α of different species.These differences revealed that non-rectangle hyperbolae function might have more physiological meaning under low light condition.Furthermore,both A.vestita and A.japonica exhibited high photosynthesis capacity,but A.japonica might have higher resource utilization under low light condition.A.mongolica and A.roxburghiana showed lower maximum photosynthesis capacity,lower Lcp and Lsp than others.In a word,it is necessary to consider the location environmental conditions which made these plant species more useful.
Analysis and Screening Evaluation Indexes for Alkaline Tolerance of Rice at Germination Period in Cold

This research conducted germination treatments of 173 materials by using a mixed alkali of concentration 0.20% Na2CO3+NaHCO3 in rice,the results showed that radicle was most sensitive to alkaline stress,the relative mean value of radicle length only was 0.267,the relative root dry weight was 0.348.Germination capacity didn't change significantly than other indicators in alkaline environment.The influence of coleoptile length was larger for different materials,but coleoptile length had nothing to do with alkaline tolerance to alkaline stress.Through analysing each index and correlation coefficient of alkaline tolerance levels,the result showed that relative germination dry weight,relative germ length,relative root dry weight,relative radicle length and relative root number were looked as important evaluation indexes of influence defined alkaline tolerance levels.The three indexes of alkaline tolerance were relative plumule length,relative germ dry weight and relative root dry weight through regression analysis at germination period in rice,and the regression equation was Y=9.234-4.506 X1-2.167 X2-2.621 X3 as judged alkaline tolerance levels.Also the judgement equation of alkaline tolerance levels was established by five evaluation indexes,they were relative plumule length,relative radicle length,relative root number,relative plumule dry weight and relative root dry weight,the regression equation was Y=11.251-3.674 7 X1-1.641 X2-1.179 X3-3.900 X4-1.973 X5,the determined results were more accurate with two regression equations to joint application.The analysis showed that exchang germplasm resources,not only riched genetic diversity,but also improved alkaline tolerance and other stress resistance of new varieries in rice.
Economics of Bioenergy Crops for Electricity Generation: Implications for Land Use and Greenhouse Gases

This paper develops a dynamic linear optimization framework to examine the optimal land allocation for two perennial crops, switchgrass and miscanthus, that can be co-fired with coal for electricity generation. Detailed spatial data at county level is used to determine the heterogeneous costs of producing and delivering biomass to power plants in Illinois over a 15-year period. A transportation module is incorporated in the model to link power plants to perennial crop growing areas such that power plants obtain their biomass input from the cheapest sources. A supply curve for bioenergy is thereby generated and the implications of various levels of production for farm income, subsidy payments and for the environment are analyzed. The environmental benefit in the form of reduced carbon-dioxide emissions from co-firing biomass with coal are determined by conducting a lifecycle analysis of carbon-dioxide emissions from electricity generated by co-firing bioenergy crops as compared to that generated from coal only. The lifecycle analysis includes the soil carbon sequestered by perennial grasses and the carbon emissions displaced by these grasses due to both conversion of land from row crops and co-firing the grasses with coal. Spatial variability in land use and in soil carbon sequestration potential of land use choices, and their policy implications are discussed.
Toxic epidermal necrolysis: examining a multifaceted enigma.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis is an acute inflammation clinically resembling scalded skin. Most cases in infants and young children appear to be caused by a toxin produced by certain staphylococcal organisms. In adults, however, many precipitating factors have been implicated. The condition is rapidly fatal if untreated.
Detection and Management of Ipsilateral Breast Cancer Recurrence

Surgical management of breast cancer has been a cornerstone of conventional treatment since the advent of the Halstedian radical mastectomy at the beginning of the twentieth century, providing durable locoregional control of disease. Seven decades later, the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast Project (NSABP) B-04 trial demonstrated that the pectoralis musculature could be safely preserved without compromising outcome. Subsequently, numerous prospective randomized clinical trials conducted internationally have confirmed overall survival equivalence for stage-matched breast cancer patients managed by breast-conserving surgery compared with mastectomy. Standard breast-conserving surgery for invasive disease includes a margin-negative lumpectomy, staging axillary surgery, and breast radiation therapy. While survival is chiefly determined by the ability to control distant organ micrometastases (with appropriate systemic therapy), locoregional treatment remains essential, both for staging purposes and to prevent primary disease progression or recurrence. Risk factors for local recurrence (LR) include young age at diagnosis, inadequate lumpectomy margin control (especially if the primary cancer is associated with an extensive intraductal component), and failure to deliver adjuvant breast radiation. This chapter focuses on management options for patients who experience ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence.
The Mechanism of Renomedullary Antihypertensive Action: Haemodynamic Studies in Hydronephrotic Rats with One-Kidney Renal-Clip Hypertension

1. The protective action of the renal medulla was studied in one-kidney renal-clip hypertension in rats with unilateral hereditary hydronephrosis and almost complete atrophy of the medulla of the affected kidney. 2. Rats were unilaterally nephrectomized. The first group had a normal kidney remaining, and the animals from the second and third groups were left with a hydronephrotic kidney and received renomedullary and renocortical autotransplants respectively. Two weeks later all rats were made hypertensive by placing a silver clip (0.2 mm) on the renal artery. 3. From the fourth day after clipping until the end of the experiment blood pressure was found to be significantly (P less than 0.01) lower in rats with medullary transplants than in the other groups. No differences in renal excretory function, plasma volume and plasma renin activity were found between the groups either before or during development of hypertension (5 and 21 days after clipping). Early in the course of hypertension (5 days) cardiac output was significantly (P less than 0.05) lower in the rats with medullary transplants than in the other groups, although an increase in plasma volume was noted in all three groups. At that time no difference in total peripheral resistance was found between the groups. 4. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that the renomedullary antihypertensive substance(s) mitigates hypertension by preventing a hypertensive haemodynamic response to sodium/volume overload.
Introduction to Persistent Homology

This video presents an introduction to persistent homology, aimed at a viewer who has mathematical aptitude but not necessarily knowledge of algebraic topology. Persistent homology is an algebraic method of discerning the topological features of complex data, which in recent years has found applications in fields such as image processing and biological systems. Using smooth animations, the video conveys the intuition behind persistent homology, while giving a taste of its key properties, applications, and mathematical underpinnings.
Velocity Map Imaging Study of Ion-Radical Chemistry: Charge Transfer and Carbon-Carbon Bond Formation in the Reactions of Allyl Radicals with C(.).

We present an experimental and computational study of the dynamics of collisions of ground state carbon cations with allyl radicals, C3H5, at a collision energy of 2.2 eV. Charge transfer to produce the allyl cation, C3H5+, is exoergic by 3.08 eV and proceeds via energy resonance such that the electron transfer occurs without a significant change in nuclear velocities. The products have sufficient energy to undergo the dissociation process C3H5+ → C3H4+ + H. Approximately 80% of the reaction products are ascribed to charge transfer, with ∼40% of those products decaying via loss of a hydrogen atom. We also observe products arising from the formation of new carbon–carbon bonds. The experimental velocity space flux distributions for the four-carbon products are symmetric about the centroid of the reactants, providing direct evidence that the products are mediated by formation of a C4H5+ complex living at least a few rotational periods. The primary four-carbon reaction products are formed by elimination of mo...
Harming and Procreating

Suppose that A harms B if and only if he stands in some appropriate relation to B’s suffering of some harm. Such an account of harming can explain how it is that those who choose Derek Parfit’s risky energy policy harm the future people later exposed to radiation, but can it also yield the result that parents who conceive a disabled child, when they could easily have conceived a different, non-disabled child instead, thereby harm the child they actually conceive?
The NH2 terminus regulates voltage-dependent gating of CALHM ion channels.

Calcium homeostasis modulator protein-1 (CALHM1) and its Caenorhabditis elegans (ce) homolog, CLHM-1, belong to a new family of physiologically important ion channels that are regulated by voltage ...
Controlling Structural Anisotropy of Anisotropic 2D Layers in Pseudo-1D/2D Material Heterojunctions.

Chemical vapor deposition and growth dynamics of highly anisotropic 2D lateral heterojunctions between pseudo-1D ReS2 and isotropic WS2 monolayers are reported for the first time. Constituent ReS2 and WS2 layers have vastly different atomic structure, crystallizing in anisotropic 1T′ and isotropic 2H phases, respectively. Through high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy, and angle-resolved Raman spectroscopy, this study is able to provide the very first atomic look at intimate interfaces between these dissimilar 2D materials. Surprisingly, the results reveal that ReS2 lateral heterojunctions to WS2 produce well-oriented (highly anisotropic) Re-chains perpendicular to WS2 edges. When vertically stacked, Re-chains orient themselves along the WS2 zigzag direction, and consequently, Re-chains exhibit six-fold rotation, resulting in loss of macroscopic scale anisotropy. The degree of anisotropy of ReS2 on WS2 largely depends on the domain size, and decreases for increasing domain size due to randomization of Re-chains and formation of ReS2 subdomains. Present work establishes the growth dynamics of atomic junctions between novel anisotropic/isotropic 2D materials, and overall results mark the very first demonstration of control over anisotropy direction, which is a significant leap forward for large-scale nanomanufacturing of anisotropic systems.
The WEAR methodology for prognostics and health management implementation in manufacturing

Abstract Prognostics and health management (PHM) uses process state information to inform decision making with the goal of improving maintenance activities, performance, safety, and reliability. In this paper, we present a new methodology for (i) targeting areas in a manufacturing setting that could benefit from a PHM system, and (ii) testing and comparing PHM strategies for implementation on the targeted areas. Our proposed WEAR methodology is inspired by its four principal steps: (1) World – identifying targets, (2) Experiments – collecting candidate PHM strategies, (3) Assess – evaluating the proposed strategies using simulation, and (4) Return – constructing a business case for PHM implementation. The goal of the methodology is to streamline the decision making process before installing a PHM system so that the impacts of PHM are maximized with regards to the manufacturing system as a whole, and the total cost of implementation is reduced. A case study is presented in which the WEAR methodology was implemented at a manufacturing facility in cooperation with an industry partner.
Adrenergic stimulation of ciliary process epithelium causes surface membrane internalization.

An ultrastructural change induced in the nonpigmented epithelium (NPE) of the ciliary processes by adrenergic stimulation in the albino rabbit was studied. Thirty min after topical treatment with 2% isoproterenol, an extensive intracellular membranous network, previously reported to be smooth endoplasmic reticulum, was revealed by electron microscopy. It was postulated that this network originated from the plasma membrane. Using cationized ferritin (CF) as an ultrastructural tracer, freshly isolated anterior segments were incubated in buffer containing 10~ 5 M isoproterenol and 0.2% CF. As early as 10 min, and for at least 30 min, the isoproterenol-treated NPE cells contained a membranous network that was morphologically similar to that which occurs in vivo. CF particles were present within the network, indicating that the membranous network had originated at the cell surface. This labeling was prevented by pretreatment with the 0-adrenergic antagonist timolol maleate. In both treated and control ciliary processes, CF was present in the ciliary canals between the NPE and the underlying pigmented epithelium after 10 min incubation. This suggests that the NPE is able to transport CF from its basilar to apical surface. These experiments imply that the NPE is able to internalize rapidly large amounts of plasma membrane in response to adrenergic stimulation. This response may be part of the mechanism of adrenergic receptor desensitization, alteration of aqueous humor production, or another adrenergic response. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 28:431-444, 1987 The major goal of medical treatment of glaucoma is reduction of elevated intraocular pressure. This goal is accomplished by reducing the production of aqueous humor by the ciliary processes and/or by increasing the outflow of aqueous humor from the eye. Among several classes of drugs that achieve these ends, adrenergic agents have proven clinically useful. Both epinephrine and timolol have therapeutically beneficial effects on aqueous humor dynamics. In addition, endogenous epinephrine may acount for the circadian stimulation of aqueous formation in humans. 1 The nonpigmented epithelium (NPE) of the ciliary processes participates in the production of aqueous humor by active transport mechanisms. The initial effects of neural and humoral stimulation on the NPE, particularly via adrenergic agents, have been extensively studied. /3-adrenergic receptors are present, activated by epinephrine to stimulate cyclic AMP synthesis, and antagonized by timolol. 2 However, little is known about the intracellular events following /3-adrenergic stimulation. We have studied an ultrastruc
Remapping “magic”: Extending the terrain of an already capacious category

Editor’s preface to the Hau Book Symposium on Jones, Graham M. 2017. Magic’s reason: An anthropology of analogy. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Toxic heavy metal – Pb, Cd, Sn – complexation by the octadentate hydroxypyridinonate ligand archetype 3,4,3-LI(1,2-HOPO)

The toxicity of heavy metals such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and tin (Sn) has long been known but accidental exposures of large populations to these elements remain unfortunately a topical issue. Chelating agents against Pb, Cd, or Sn poisoning are still limited to classical ligands such as ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA). Here, we evaluate the ability of 3,4,3-LI(1,2-HOPO) (L4−), an octadentate ligand currently under evaluation for actinide decorporation, to bind Pb, Cd and Sn metal ions in aqueous solutions. This ligand forms 1 : 1 complexes with Pb(II), Cd(II) and Sn(IV) as well as bimetallic 2 : 1 species with Pb(II) and Cd(II), all of which were characterized by high resolution mass spectrometry and spectrophotometric titrations. The 3,4,3-LI(1,2-HOPO) ligand exhibits an extreme affinity for Sn(IV) ions (log β110 > 40), with the complex remaining stable from highly acidic conditions to alkaline media (from 3 M HCl to pH 8). Single crystals of the neutral complex [SnIV3,4,3-LI(1,2-HOPO)·3H2O] were obtained and its structure determined, revealing a chiral conformation. Although not initially designed for hexacoordinated metals such as Pb(II) and Cd(II), the octadentate ligand shows promise for the in vitro or in vivo sequestration of toxic heavy metals, as evidenced by decorporation experiments performed in mice contaminated with 210Pb(II) and treated with either EDTA or 3,4,3-LI(1,2-HOPO).
Accuracy of self-perceived risk for common conditions

Background: Accurate awareness of common disease risk is necessary to promote healthy lifestyles and to prevent unnecessary anxiety and evaluation. Our objective is to identify characteristics of p...
Engraftment of Severe Combined Immune Deficient Mice Receiving Allogeneic Bone Marrow Via In Utero or Postnatal Transfer

Although in utero transplantation (IUT) has been shown to be effective in treating human severe combined immune deficiency (SCID), the relative merit of IUT as compared with postnatal bone marrow transplantation (BMT) for SCID is unknown. Therefore, comparative studies were undertaken in mice to determine the engraftment outcome in these two settings. Because T-cell depletion (TCD) reduces graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) severity but compromises alloengraftment, studies were performed with TCD or non-TCD BM and GVHD risk was assessed using a tissue scoring system and by the adoptive transfer of splenocytes from engrafted mice into secondary recipients. Non-SCID recipients received pre-BMT irradiation to simulate those circumstances in which conditioning is required for alloengraftment. IUT recipients of non-TCD and especially TCD BM cells in general had higher levels of donor T-cell and myeloid peripheral blood (PB) engraftment than nonconditioned SCID recipients. Increased TCD or non-TCD BM cell numbers in adult SCID recipients resulted in similar levels of PB engraftment as IUT recipients. However, under these conditions, mean GVHD scores were higher than in IUT recipients. The majority of adoptive transfer recipients of splenocytes from IUT recipients were GVHD-free, consistent with the in vitro evidence of tolerance to host alloantigens. Total body irradiation (TBI)-treated mice that had the highest engraftment had evidence of thymic damage as denoted by a higher proportion of thymic and splenic T cells with a memory phenotype as compared with IUT recipients. IUT mice had vigorous thymic reconstitution by 3 weeks of age. Our data indicate that IUT has a number of advantages as compared with postnatal BMT. Future studies examining the fine specificity of immunoreconstitution in IUT versus postnatal BMT are indicated.
Imaging of calcium transients during excitation-contraction coupling in skeletal muscle fibers.

Action potential stimulation of skeletal muscle fibers activates the release of Ca2+ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), thus leading to a fast and transient change in myoplasmic calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i). Until very recently these calcium transients have been only recorded by means of space averaging photodetectors, such as photomultipliers and photodiodes, in combination with the use of several intracellular calcium indicators1–8. The high frequency response exhibited by this kind of photodevices is ideal to track the fast calcium transients, characteristic of the muscle cells; however, their physical construction make them inherently unable to provide information about the topological distribution of the release process. Given the structural complexity of the muscle cells, it is possible that the limited knowledge gained so far has omitted important features of this physiological process. In an attempt to surmount these limitations we have adapted video microscopy techniques to perform rapid Ca2+-imaging in this preparation9. This has been a difficult task because the muscle fiber is a thick specimen (100–150 µm in diameter) able to undergo very fast changes in shape and volume as a consequence of its electrical activation.
Cell Cycle Regulators and Vascular Proliferative Diseases

The cell cycle is one of the crucial biological systems, which controls the fate of cells. It is of fundamental importance in controlling the proliferation, migration, and differentiation of the cellular components involved in proliferative vascular diseases. Understanding the cell cycle and how it senses and responds to disease states has provided significant insights into the pathophysiology of both atherosclerosis and vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) hyperplasia. Pharmacological interventions, which have been developed to modulate the cell cycle have made a huge impact on the practice of cardiology and to patients with heart disease. Specifically in the form of stents coated with either rapamycin or paclitaxel. As the understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms that control the cell cycle improves it may be possible to not only inhibit unwanted cellular proliferation in disease-specific states but also aim to activate the cell cycle in desired circumstances, such as for angiogenesis and cardiac regeneration. Study of the cell cycle is an area ripe for rapid translation of basic research into clinical applications. Vascular proliferative diseases are characterized by excessive cell growth in response to various stimuli. The most common diseases are atherosclerosis and VSMC hyperplasia. This chapter will describe the fundamental characteristics of these diseases and focus on the molecular mechanisms controlling cell proliferation.
Predicting market movements: from breaking news to emerging social media

In this talk I will present several studies conducted at the AI Lab of the University of Arizona that aim to understand and predict market movements using text mining, breaking news, and social media. In "User-Generated Content on SocialMedia: Predicting New ProductMarket Success from Online Word-of-Mouth," we explore the predictive validity of various text and sentiment measures of online WOM for the market success of new products. The context of our study is the Hollywood movie industry where the forecast of movie sales is highly challenging and has started to incorporate online WOM. We first examine the evolvement patterns of online WOM over time, followed by correlation analysis of how various sentiment measures are related to the metrics of new product success. Overall, the number of WOM messages was found to be the most useful predictor of the five new product metrics. In "AZ SmartStock: Stock Prediction with Targeted Sentiment and Life Support," we develop a text-based stock prediction engine with targeted sentiment and life support considerations in a real world financial setting. We focus on inter-day trading experiments, with the 5-, 10-, 20-, and 40-day trading windows. We focus on S&P 500 firms in order to minimize the potential illiquid problem associated with thinly traded stocks. News articles from major newswires were extracted from Yahoo! Finance. Life support of a company is extracted from aggregated energy (novelty) of terms used in the news articles where the company is mentioned. The combined Life-Support model was shown to out-perform other models in the 10-day trading window setting. In "A Stakeholder Approach to Stock Prediction using Finance Social Media," we utilize firm-related finance web forum discussions for the prediction of stock return and trading of firm stock. Considering forum participants uniformly as shareholders of the firm, suggested by prior studies, and extracting forum-level measures provided little improvement over the baseline set of fundamental and technician variables. Recognizing the true diversity among forum participants, segmenting them into stakeholder groups based upon their interactions in the forum social network and assessing them independently, refined the measures extracted from the forum and improved stock return prediction. The superior performance of the stakeholder-level model represented a statistically significant improvement over the baseline in directional accuracy, and provided an annual return of 44% in simulated trading of firm stock.
Study of Acoustic Emission from Incipient Fatigue Failure

Acoustic emission (AE) has been utilized in structural integrity monitoring for several decades. The AE events captured during a test contain much information about a specimen’s fatigue behavior. Therefore, it is of critical importance to establish a concrete relationship between the captured acoustic emission events with material fatigue and fracture behavior under various loading configurations.
A novel approach for studying direction discrimination

The use of frictionless moving stimuli to study direction discrimination limits the peripheral neural mechanisms by which information can be encoded. The utility of such stimuli, provided by a novel dense-array tactile stimulator, to address basic psychophysical questions regarding cutaneous motion processing is demonstrated. Data collected to date suggest that direction of simulated motion is discriminated when the product of the length of skin traversed and the duration of stimulation attains or exceeds a criterion -- reflecting a perfect space-time tradeoff or reciprocity at threshold.
[I113] Teaching of medical physics to radiology residents

Purpose The main aim of medical physics training in radiology residency is to have appropriate and safer imaging of patients and safety of personnel. The need to have adequate coverage of medical physics and radiation safety in curricula of radiology residency is well perceived, but it is not known how far it is implemented in practice. Methods We have analysed the data from 67 countries on medical physics teaching and assessment of residents in radiology programs, considering differences between countries in function of their human development index (HDI). Results The results indicate that teaching of medical physics by radiologists rather than by medical physicists is very common and there is relationship with the developmental status of a country. The majority of countries with very high HDI used a written test (69%) for medical physics topics, often in combination with other subjects (63%). Further, there is lack of direct involvement of medical physicists during the examination phase of residents. Geographically, it can be seen that Latin American countries in particular lack involvement of medical physicists during both the teaching and examination phase. Conclusion The lack of adequate involvement of medical physicists in training and in the formal examination of radiology residents in both developed and developing countries is a matter of concern with likely implications on patient and staff safety.
Transplanting aquatic macrophytes to restore the littoral community of a eutrophic lake after the removal of common carp

Knopik J, Newman R. 2018. Transplanting aquatic macrophytes to restore the littoral community of a eutrophic lake after the removal of common carp. Lake Reserve Manage. 34:365–375. Six native submersed aquatic macrophyte taxa were transplanted to a eutrophic lake (Lake Susan, Minnesota) to promote the growth and expansion of native taxa after the removal of common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Muskgrass (Chara spp.), wild celery (Vallisneria americana), northern watermilfoil (Myriophyllum sibiricum), bushy pondweed (Najas flexilis), water stargrass (Heteranthera dubia), and flat-stem pondweed (Potamogeton zosteriformis) were transplanted in a series of shallow (0.5–1.0 m) and deep (1.0–1.5 m) experimental plots around the lake. Survival and expansion of plants were measured over 4 yr and compared against environmental factors. Transplantation of whole plants in shallow water was generally successful, but plants in depths ≥1.4 m failed to persist. Light availability was the most important factor determining success. Water stargrass was the most successful, with high long-term survival and substantial expansion. Wild celery had high survival, but slow and limited expansion. Bushy pondweed had variable survival, but when it survived it generally expanded well. Muskgrass and northern watermilfoil had poor survival and expansion. Transplanting whole submersed aquatic macrophytes can help to restore the littoral community in degraded systems, but ecological stressors such as common carp should first be addressed. Poor mid-summer water clarity will limit the depth and distribution of successful transplants and taxa that survive. Taxa with large perennial structures such as water stargrass and wild celery are more likely to establish and persist, but the annual bushy pondweed was also able to grow and spread.
Believe What I Believe: Correspondence Between the Beliefs of Young Adults and the Perceived Beliefs of Their Caregivers.

AbstractLittle research has examined the mechanisms through which adult children adopt beliefs across a range of contexts. Through an online survey, the authors examined belief transmission via the correspondence between beliefs of 837 young adults and the perceived ideological beliefs of their caregivers as a function of attachment, parental behavior, and religious beliefs in four domains: moral, political, religious, and lifestyle. The strongest predictor of belief transmission across domains was the geographic location in which the participants were sampled, with individuals currently residing in the Southern region of the United States indicating greater belief transmission compared with those residing in the Midwestern region of the United States. Women also exhibited greater belief transmission compared with men. Controlling for these predictors, we also found that insecurity was negatively related to belief transmission, whereas authority, autonomy, and religious attachment were positively related ...
Sustained interleukin-10 delivery reduces inflammation and improves motor function after spinal cord injury.

The anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) has been explored previously as a treatment method for spinal cord injury (SCI) due to its ability to attenuate pro-inflammatory cytokines and reduce apoptosis. Primary limitations when using systemic injections of IL-10 are that it is rapidly cleared from the injury site and that it does not cross the blood–spinal cord barrier. Here, mineral-coated microparticles (MCMs) were used to obtain a local sustained delivery of IL-10 directly into the injury site after SCI. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were contused at T10 and treated with either an intraperitoneal injection of IL-10, an intramedullary injection of IL-10, or MCMs bound with IL-10 (MCMs+IL-10). After treatment, cytokine levels were measured in the spinal cord, functional testing and electrophysiology were performed, axon tracers were injected into the brainstem and motor cortex, macrophage levels were counted using flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry, and lesion size was measured. When treated with MCMs+IL-10, IL-10 was significantly elevated in the injury site and inflammatory cytokines were significantly suppressed, prompting significantly less cells expressing antigens characteristic of inflammatory macrophages and significantly more cells expressing antigens characteristic of earlier stage anti-inflammatory macrophages. Significantly more axons were preserved within the rubrospinal and reticulospinal tracts through the injury site when treated with MCMs+IL-10; however, there was no significant difference in corticospinal tract axons preserved, regardless of treatment group. The rats treated with MCMs+IL-10 were the only group with a significantly higher functional score compared to injured controls 28 days post-contusion. These data demonstrate that MCMs can effectively deliver biologically active IL-10 for an extended period of time altering macrophage phenotype and aiding in functional recovery after SCI.
A Comparative Study of SLAM Algorithms for Indoor Navigation of Autonomous Wheelchairs

Following the rapid research and development in the field of autonomous automobiles robots are now being developed to be human assistants. Here, the focus of autonomous wheelchair systems is for patients with rare diseases, e.g., Motor Neuron Disease (MND); like Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The goal is to develop an autonomous wheelchair that helps these patients navigate indoors safely and securely. Such robots follow a common protocol, which was inspired by humans: perception, thinking, and reaction. In the world of the autonomous wheelchair navigation rules are dynamically generated in real-time by means of machine learning or deep learning. Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) makes an autonomous robot aware of its position in the environment, while simultaneously building a map of its environment. This paper compares five SLAM algorithms: Gmapping, Hector, RTAB-Map, VINS-Mono, and RGBD-SLAM, for building indoor navigation maps. An electric powered wheelchair was modified to incorporate LiDAR, Kinect camera, IMU, and wheel encoders. The wheelchair was made functional for testing and comparing the defined metrics for localization, mapping accuracy, and its usability for patients with differing medical conditions. RTAB-Map was found to be the most scalable algorithm, one that works with different combinations of sensors. This algorithm produces accurate maps while accurately estimating robot location consistently, and for a range of speeds.
When Overparenting is Normal Parenting: Examining Child Disability and Overparenting in Early Adolescence

This study examined associations between child disability and parent-reported overparenting, autonomy granting, and affect management among a purposeful sample of parents whose children attended a camp serving early adolescents with disabilities or a camp serving early adolescents without disabilities. 868 parents completed a post-camp online questionnaire designed to measure overparenting, autonomy granting, and affect management. The measure’s factor structure and model fit were examined through Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and the relations between variables were tested using a Structural Equation Model (SEM). Parents of children attending the camp serving early adolescents with disabilities reported higher levels of overparenting as compared to parents of early adolescents without a disability. Further, overparenting had a positive effect on affect management, but not on autonomy granting. Finally, disability status did not have a statistically significant negative effect on affect management or autonomy granting. Overparenting appears at higher rates among parents of early adolescents with disabilities, which may reflect overparenting as normative for parents with children with disabilities. Such overparenting behaviors may support children with disabilities to perform more consistently when compared to their peers.
Single Table Concomitant Post-Less Hip Arthroscopy Combined with Periacetabular Osteotomy for Hip Dysplasia

It has been well established that both arthroscopic and open hip preservation techniques can result in improved patient outcomes and interrupt the natural history of hip disease. Traditionally, hip arthroscopy has been used to address central and peripheral compartment disease consisting of labral tears, impingement morphology and cartilage pathology. The periacetabular osteotomy has been the most used treatment for hip instability caused by inadequate acetabular coverage of the femoral head or dysplasia. With failures of periacetabular osteotomy linked to postoperative impingement and the high incidence of intra-articular pathology in the dysplastic hip, there has been a great interest in combing hip arthroscopy with the periacetabular osteotomy. Here, we describe a technique for a single table, single drape, postless combined hip arthroscopy, and periacetabular osteotomy.
Phosphorescent heteroleptic iridium(III) cyclometallates: Improved syntheses of acetylacetonate complexes and quantum chemical studies of their excited state properties

Abstract We have investigated methods to prepare cyclometallated iridium(III) complexes with efficient photoluminescence spanning a broad color palette. In particular, we find that addition of ancillary ligands to chloro-bridged iridium dimers proceeds cleanly in refluxing 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME) without the need for additional product purification. This represents an improvement over the conventional use of 2-ethoxyethanol which requires column chromatographic separation. Our efforts in this work have focused on acetylacetonate complexes such as (F2ppy)2Ir(acac), where F2ppy = 2-(4′,6′-diflurophenyl)pyridinato. We have prepared fifteen compounds by the route, eight of which are newly reported; in four cases we were able to prepare complexes which were inaccessible via the conventional route. Nine of the complexes were characterized by single crystal x-ray diffraction and possess the same distorted octahedral geometry around the iridium with two bidentate phenylpyridine ligands and one bidentate acetylacetonate ligand. Seven of the complexes exhibited efficient photoluminescence with colors ranging from yellow to blue and quantum yields of 0.51–0.74. All of the compounds with trifluoromethyl or phenyl substituents on the acetylacetone displayed emission in the orange with low quantum efficiency. The use of TD-DFT calculations, along with natural transition orbitals (NTOs), permitted a detailed interpretation of the electronic structures for the complexes. The nature of the acceptor orbitals for the low energy triplet state NTOs proved to be an important predictor for the emission spectra of the compounds.
Object Shape and Surface Topology Recognition Using Tactile Feedback Evoked through Transcutaneous Nerve Stimulation

Tactile feedback is critical for distinguishing different object properties. In this article, we determined if tactile feedback evoked by transcutaneous nerve stimulation can be used to detect objects of different shape and surface topology. To evoke tactile sensation at different fingers, a 2x8 electrode grid was placed along the subject's upper arm, and two concurrent electrical stimulation trains targeted the median and ulnar nerve bundles, which evoked individually modulated sensations at different fingers. Fingertip forces of the prosthetic hand were transformed to stimulation current amplitude. Object shape was encoded based on finger-object contact timing. Surface topology represented by ridge height and spacing was encoded through current amplitude and stimulation time interval, respectively. The elicited sensation allowed subjects to determine object shape with success rates >84%. Surface topology recognition resulted in success rates >81%. Our findings suggest that tactile feedback evoked from transcutaneous nerve stimulation allows the recognition of object shape and surface topology. The ability to recognize these properties may help improve object manipulation and promote fine control of a prosthetic hand.