cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Estimating Queues at Signalized Intersections: Value of Location and Time Data from Instrumented Vehicles

Vehicles instrumented with location tracking and wireless communication technologies (i.e., the so called probe vehicles) can serve as sensors for monitoring traffic conditions on transportation links. This paper is focused on estimating queue lengths in real-time at a signalized intersection approach based on the location and time data from probe vehicles that may constitute a given percentage of the total traffic. The paper also addresses the evaluation of the accuracy of such estimates. Using a virtual queuing model and conditional probability distributions, new expressions are derived for the variance of the estimates to understand how accuracy is affected by the percentage of probes in the traffic stream and by the type of information collected, which include (i) location of probes in the queue and (ii) both the location of probes and the times/instances at which they join the back-of-the queue. Numerical examples are presented to compare and contrast the accuracies of these two cases. The findings and the formulation presented in this paper could be used in evaluating and designing a traffic monitoring system that relies on probe vehicle data for queue length estimation at signalized intersections.
Smoother transitions between breadth-first-spanning-tree-based drawings

We demonstrate a collection of techniques that seek to make the transition between drawings based on two topologically distinct spanning trees of the same graph as clear as possible.
Bacteria-algae relationships in Antarctic sea ice

Energy transfer in microbial food webs is partly quantified by the relationship between bacterial and algal biomass. Tight spatial relationships suggest active bacterial assimilation of dissolved photosynthate in temperate marine and fresh waters. However, studies in the Antarctic suggest that bacterial biomass generation from algal-derived dissolved organic matter is highly variable across seasons and habitats. Regression analysis was used to measure how bacteria covaried with algae in sea ice and water column habitats at three sites around Antarctica. Bacteria and algae were positively related in sea ice of the Weddell Sea during early winter 1992 (r 2 = 0.16, slope = 0.24) and across sea ice and upper water column habitats of the Ross Sea during summer 1999 (r 2 = 0.52, slope = 0.50). Conversely, bacteria and algae exhibited no discernible relationship in the water column and first year ice habitats of the Western Antarctic Peninsula region in winter 2001 (r 2 = 0.003, slope = -0.04). Low algal production and residual biomass probably limited bacterial production and facilitated bacteria-algae uncoupling in winter sea ice of the Western Antarctic Peninsula. Winter sea ice algal biomass was probably limited by a relatively late date of initial ice formation, reduced multi-year ice coverage, and a lack of radiant energy in the winter ice pack.
Pace of Life, Punctuality, and Coronary Heart Disease in Six Countries

Cross-cultural differences in attitudes and behaviors concerning time, punctuality, and pace of life, and the relationship of these measures to coronary heart disease, were investigated in a series of studies in Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, Italy, England, and the United States. Study 1 found that public clocks were most accurate in the most economically developed countries (Japan and the United States) and least accurate in the least developed country (Indonesia). Study 2 measured average walking speed during main business hours. Walking speed was fastest in Japan and slowest in Indonesia. Also, subjects in smaller cities tended to walk slower than those in larger cities. Study 3 measured average time taken to complete a standardized postal request. Work speed was again fastest in Japan. Italy was slowest. There were high intercorrelations within cities for the above three measures. Next, the findings from the first three studies were related to incidence of coronary heart disease. Despite the lack of avail...
Penicillinase-Resistant Penicillins Plus Gentamicin in Experimental Enterococcal Endocarditis

Previous in vitro studies demonstrating that the penicillinase-resistant penicillins act synergistically in combination with gentamicin against some enterococci have suggested that these combinations might be effective therapy for enterococcal infections in vivo. To determine the in vivo effectiveness of such combinations, we treated rabbits with enterococcal endocarditis with gentamicin and either nafcillin, oxacillin, or methicillin. Despite doses of the penicillins equivalent to 12 or 24 g/day in a 70-kg patient, the percentage of animals in each treatment group with sterile valves at autopsy after spontaneous death or sacrifice after 21 days of therapy was low. High-dose therapy with the penicillins did not significantly increase survival over the low-dose treatment groups. Thus, it seems prudent to include penicillin with a penicillinase-resistant penicillin and gentamicin as the initial therapy of patients with endocarditis possibly caused by enterococci.
Geotextile Filter Design Critique

The current status of design of geotextile filters in highway drainage applications is challenged in this paper by virtue of having the actual performance behavior of 91 exhumed field sites. The drainage systems investigated involved mainly highway edge drains in addition to some selected cases of retaining wall drains and erosion control systems. Considering the field data as "ground truth" information, they are compared with the existing permeability, soil retention and excessive clogging criteria that have been proposed in the literature for design purposes. The current Federal Highway Administration (FHwA) guidelines are shown to be very suitable and perform well against the results of the field exhumed sites. It is suggested, however, that the gradient ratio test recommended by FHwA be replaced by the long term flow test or the hydraulic conductivity ratio test in evaluating the possibility of excessive clogging.
The impact of diabetes counseling and education: clinical and cost outcomes from a large population of US managed care patients with type 2 diabetes.

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine outcomes in adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who received diabetes counseling and education (C/E) services compared with those who did not.MethodsA matched, retrospective cohort study of 17 483 C/E recipients and 17 470 non-C/E controls was followed for up to 12 months. Outcomes included glycemic control (glycosylated hemoglobin A1C levels <7.0%), hypoglycemic events, and health care utilization and costs.ResultsCompared with the non-C/E group, patients in the C/E group had significantly lower A1C (7.7% vs 7.2%) and were more likely to achieve glycemic control at 6 months’ follow-up; they were also more likely to have a hypoglycemic event. During the 1-year period following the index date, C/E recipients had more inpatient visits (0.21 vs 0.20 visits per patient) and ambulatory visits (21.5 vs 18.6 visits per patient) compared with non-C/E controls. The increased use of health care services in the C/E groups was associated with $2388 higher annual...
Otic Barotrauma Resulting from Continuous Positive Airway Pressure: Case Report and Literature Review.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a growing problem affecting millions of people in the United States. The prevalence of OSA has risen drastically in the past few decades concurrently with the increasing prevalence of obesity. Subsequently, there has been an ever-increasing rise in the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices. While using CPAP devices may lead to many adverse effects, the majority of these effects are described as relatively benign. Case Report: We describe the detailed clinical course and outcome for a patient with otic barotrauma as a result of excessive self-titration of CPAP therapy in an in-home setting. We also discuss the pathophysiology of otic barotrauma and present a review of current literature on the topic. Conclusion: While the benefits of CPAP are clear, we must take into account the rare but possible effects on ear structure and function. Many studies describe an increase in middle ear pressure with the use of CPAP, but few describe the effects of this increased pressure on the middle ear, such as the otic barotrauma described in this case. Given the increased prevalence of OSA, it is important to understand the risks associated with CPAP therapy.
Comparison of Contact Angle Measurements Using Various Probe Liquids on Incomplete OTS SAMS

The formation of octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) self-assembled monolayers (SAM) was investigated with contact angle measurements using water, hexadecane, and squalane as probe liquids. Results show that water and hexadecane contact angles of partial OTS SAMs do not provide reliable information about surface composition based on Cassie’s equation. However, squalane contact angles correlate linearly with surface coverages of partial OTS SAMs in the range of 0.4 and above. The behavior of contact angles as a function of surface coverages is discussed in terms of molecular interactions between probe liquid and surface OTS molecules.
Effects of chronic sinoaortic denervation on central vasopressin and catecholamine systems

The objective of this study was to determine whether chronic arterial baroreceptor deficit induces time-related changes in central vasopressin (AVP) and catecholamine systems. Groups of sinoaortic-denervated (SAD) and sham-operated (SO) rats were studied 1, 3, 4, 7, and 14 days after surgery. Supraoptic (SON), paraventricular (PVN) and arcuate (ARC) nuclei, median eminence (ME) region, and A1 region of medulla were obtained by micropunch from frozen brain sections and assayed for AVP, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity, catecholamines, and their metabolites, dihydroxyphenylethyleneglycol (DOPEG) and 2,5-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC). AVP concentration in SON and PVN was increased in 1-day-SAD rats, reduced in 3- and 4-day-SAD rats, equal and above control values in 7- and 14-day-SAD rats, respectively. TH activity was increased in SON and reduced in ME and ARC of 1- and 7-day-SAD rats. In SON, DOPEG was increased, whereas in ME all catecholamines and DOPEG and DOPAC were reduced in 1-day-SAD rats. ME catecholamines returned toward control levels in 3- to 4-day-SAD rats. These studies show that the chronic absence of arterial baroreceptor input produces time-related, regionally specific central changes of vasopressin and regionally associated catecholamines.
Orexin/hypocretin neuron activation is correlated with alcohol seeking and preference in a topographically specific manner

Orexin (ORX) (also known as hypocretin) neurons are located exclusively in the posterior hypothalamus, and are involved in a wide range of behaviours, including motivation for drugs of abuse such as alcohol. Hypothalamic subregions contain functionally distinct populations of ORX neurons that may play different roles in regulating drug-motivated and alcohol-motivated behaviours. To investigate the role of ORX neurons in ethanol (EtOH) seeking, we measured Fos activation of ORX neurons in rats following three different measures of EtOH seeking and preference: (i) context-induced reinstatement, or ABA renewal; (ii) cue-induced reinstatement of extinguished responding for EtOH; and (iii) a home cage task in which preference for EtOH (vs. water) was measured in the absence of either reinforcer. We found significant activation of ORX neurons in multiple subregions across all three behavioural tests. Notably, ORX neuron activation in the lateral hypothalamus correlated with the degree of seeking in context reinstatement and the degree of preference in home cage preference testing. In addition, Fos activation in ORX neurons in the dorsomedial hypothalamic and perifornical areas was correlated with context and home cage seeking/preference, respectively. Surprisingly, we found no relationship between the degree of cue-induced reinstatement and ORX neuron activation in any region, despite robust activation overall during reinstatement. These results demonstrate a strong relationship between ORX neuron activation and EtOH seeking/preference, but one that is differentially expressed across ORX field subregions, depending on reinstatement modality.
Calcium, Cross-Bridges, and the Frank-Starling Relationship

The steep relationship between active force and length in cardiac muscle is based on a length dependence of myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity. However, it is not muscle length but the lateral spacing between actin and myosin filaments that sets the level of Ca2+ sensitivity, mainly through modulation of myosin-mediated activation of the thin filament.
A simple approach to sparse clustering

Consider the problem of sparse clustering, where it is assumed that only a subset of the features are useful for clustering purposes. In the framework of the COSA method of Friedman and Meulman, subsequently improved in the form of the Sparse K -means method of Witten and Tibshirani, a natural and simpler hill-climbing approach is introduced. The new method is shown to be competitive with these two methods and others.
The Geopolitics of Tourism: Mobilities, Territory, and Protest in China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong

This article analyzes outbound tourism from mainland China to Hong Kong and Taiwan, two territories claimed by the People's Republic of China, to unpack the geopolitics of the state and the everyda...
Helical versus all-trans conformations of oligo(ethylene glycol)-terminated alkanethiol self-assembled monolayers.

The complex mixture of conformational states exhibited by oligo(ethylene glycol)-terminated alkanethiols on Ag and Au surfaces is explored by polarization-dependent X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Three self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) with known helical or all-trans conformations are used as references to characterize a SAM with unknown conformations. This case study is used as a prototype for developing a systematic framework to extract the conformations of SAMs from the polarization dependence of several orbitals. In the case at hand, these are associated with the C–H/Rydberg bonds of the alkane, the C–H/Rydberg bonds of ethylene glycol, and the C–C bonds of the backbone. The C–H/Rydberg orbitals of the alkane and ethylene glycol are distinguished via the chemical shift of the corresponding C 1s core levels.
Arm Movement Control: Differences between Children with and without Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine performance differences in arm movement control (programming vs. “on-line” control) between children with and without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Twenty children (10 with ADHD and 10 without ADHD) from the ages of 8 to 13 years participated in the study. On the surface of a digitizer, each participant completed three types of aiming arm movements (10 trials for each) and 10 baseline trials (without accuracy requirement). Multivariate analyses of variance with repeated measures were used to analyze the variables of reaction time, movement time, normalized jerk, intersegment-interval (ISI), and movement timing. Children with ADHD appeared to use “on-line” monitoring during the arm movement and did not perform the entire movement sequence as a functional unit. They executed the arm movements more slowly, had greater variability in movement timing, and demonstrated longer ISIs than their counterparts. Children with ADHD had multiple peaks ...
Assessing the adequacy of dialysis.

A 59-year-old black man developed end-stage renal disease secondary to hypertension. Maintenance hemodialysis was initiated 9 years ago, and 3 years ago he received a cadaveric renal transplant. He experienced three rejection episodes over the following 6 months, but renal function stabilized at an adequate level. Two years ago, however, gradually worsening renal function was noted. Renal biopsy at that time showed moderately severe chronic rejection, and hemodialysis was reinstituted one month later. Because of moderate residual urine output (500—600 cc/day), he was dialyzed only 2 times weekly, 4 hours each time, at a blood flow of 200 mI/mm and dialysate flow of 500 mI/mm. Initially, the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine were in the range of 62—75 mg/dl and 13—15 mg/dl, respectively; the hematocrit was stable at 25%. Over the next few months, the predialysis BUN (measured on a monthly basis) gradually rose to 90—100 mg/dl; the total CO2 decreased to 14 mM/liter, The hematocrit was approximately 20% and he required approximately two units of packed red blood cells per month to maintain this level. Kinetic modeling was performed 9 months ago. The KT/V was 0.78 (K = dialyzer clearance at the specified blood flow, T time on dialysis, V = volume of distribution of urea). The residual glomerular filtration rate was less than 2 mI/mm, and the 'time-averaged concentration" of BUN (TACUI.) was 73 mg/dl. The protein catabolic rate was calculated to be 0.77 g/kg/day. Eight months ago, he complained of shortness of breath on exertion and developed paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea; examination disclosed bilateral rales. His estimated "dry weight" was reduced by 2 kg during
Magnetic field tuned reentrant superconductivity in out-of-equilibrium aluminum nanowires

Perpendicular-to-the-plane magnetic field tuned reentrant superconductivity in out-of-equilibrium, quasi-one-dimensional (quasi-1D) planar nanowires is a novel, counterintuitive phenomenon. It was not until recently that a microscopic mechanism explaining the phenomenon as arising from the coexistence of superconductivity with phase-slip driven dissipation was developed. Here we present results on reentrance phenomena in quasi-1D aluminum nanowires with in-plane magnetic fields, transverse and longitudinal to the nanowire axis. The response to in-plane transverse magnetic fields in this geometry is qualitatively different from that previously reported for perpendicular-to-the-plane field experiments and for in-plane longitudinal field studies. The different feature in the data is an abrupt return to the superconducting state with increasing field at values of field corresponding to a single flux quantum for a short wire and a fractional flux quantum for a long wire. Since these findings are dramatically different from those involving perpendicular-to-the-plane magnetic fields, a different mechanism, as yet unidentified, may be at work.
The Nintendo DS and Related Devices

Chapter 2 situates the DS historically, practically, and technically. The DS is examined in terms of its technical development, antecedents (including the Game & Watch and the Game Boy) and design, including interface, screen elements and networking capabilities.
Comparing Formal and Informal NPOs' Use of Facebook and Twitter

Non-profit organizations' (NPO) utilization of social media has received attention from researchers in many fields. However, little research studies how legal recognition affects NPOs' ways of using social media or how, specifically, usage differs among social media platforms. As part of a larger study of NPO social media use, in this poster, we explore and analyze how formal and informal NPOs use Facebook and Twitter, and discuss how the different patterns of use that emerge result from NPOs' strategic choices.
Determining authenticity of mixed-signal devices using unintentional radio frequency (RF) emissions

This paper investigates a methodology of utilizing Radio Frequency Distinct Native Attributes (RF-DNA) as a method of determining the authenticity of semiconductor devices. Unintentional RF Emissions (URE) are collected from a device and compared to other devices. This method implements a non-contact, non-destructive process to discriminate between mixed-signal Integrated Circuits (IC).
Pope Francis as a Global Policy Entrepreneur: Moral Authority and Climate Change

In June 2015, the Vatican released Laudato Si’, the first papal encyclical focused on environmental issues. Then, in a speech during the United Nations’ (UN’s) Seventieth Anniversary Celebration in September 2015, the pope warned against “a selfish and boundless thirst for power and material prosperity.” He went on to proclaim that “Any harm done to the environment, therefore, is harm done to humanity.” The timings of these developments are significant as both were ahead of the September 2015 adoption of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and the December 2015 Climate Conference in Paris. This chapter examines Pope Francis as a policy entrepreneur whose language and timing both influences the framing of the climate change debate and creates moral implications surrounding environmental neglect. Building on work from social movement theory, the chapter provides an analysis on the confluence of Pope Francis’s ethical framework and his policy activism. Pope Francis’s engagement with the UN system is presented as a case study. Overall, the chapter examines the impact of the “Francis Factor” on discourse, public opinion, and global policy formation surrounding climate change.
Provider Perspectives on the Collection of Social Determinants of Health.

Abstract Social determinants of health (SDH) impact health outcomes. Medical centers have begun to collect SDH data, urged by government and scientific entities. Provider perspectives on collecting SDH are unknown. The aim is to understand differences in views and preferences according to provider characteristics. A cross-sectional survey of University of Miami clinical faculty was conducted in late 2016. The survey contained 11 questions: 8 demographic and departmental responsibilities questions and 3 Likert scale questions to capture collection and use of SDH perspectives. The main outcome was whether providers thought the benefit of collecting SDH outweighs the burden and risks. In all, 240 faculty members were included. The majority were men (64%), with a mean age of 51 years. Among participants, 53.5% were non-Hispanic white, 32% were Hispanic, 5% were Black/African American, and 5% were Asian. The majority agreed that SDH are important predictors of health outcomes and quality of care (83%). When co...
The CM Character

The first main theorem dealt with the reflex field K’ as ground field. We shall now deal with the field of definition k itself as ground field. Then we shall see that k(Ator) is abelian over k, and we shall obtain an abelian character out of the situation. By definition, a character is a continuous homomorphism.
Activation Analysis Methods

Total-body and partial-body neutron activation analysis (TBNAA; PBNAA) and partial-body proton activation analysis (PBPAA) have been used to measure total-body calcium. However, only a few laboratories are able to perform these procedures because of the requirements for the appropriate particle sources and the need to detect extremely low levels of activated elements within the human body. Total-body activation analysis systems are expensive and require significant expertise for operation. Partial-body systems involve somewhat less complication and expense.
Time invariant gesture recognition by modelling body posture space

We propose a framework for recognizing actions or gestures by modelling variations of the corresponding shape postures with respect to each action class thereby removing the need for normalization for the speed of motion. The three main aspects are the shape descriptor suitable for describing its posture, the formation of a suitable posture space, and a regression mechanism to model the posture variations with respect to each action class. Histogram of gradients(HOG) is used as the shape descriptor with the variations being mapped to a reduced Eigenspace by PCA. The mapping of each action class from the HOG space to the reduced Eigen space is done using GRNN. Classification is performed by comparing the points on the Eigen space to those determined by each of the action model using Mahalanobis distance. The framework is evaluated on Weizmann action dataset and Cambridge Hand Gesture dataset providing significant and positive results.
High-resolution finite element modeling for bond in high-strength concrete beam

Abstract This study presents a physics-based rib-scale finite element (FE) model to study bond-zone behavior for spliced longitudinal bars in reinforced concrete beams subjected to monotonically increasing loading. In this model, a high-resolution mesh is used in the vicinity of the bar-concrete interface to capture the geometry of the ribs on the reinforcing steel. At the concrete-bar interface, a contact formulation that properly represents normal and frictional force transfer is used; adhesion between concrete and steel is ignored. The FE model is calibrated using data from beam splice tests performed by Ramirez and Russell [1] . It is observed that concrete tensile strength and tangential friction at the concrete-steel interface determine simulated response; these quantities are calibrated to provide accurate simulation of experimental results. The calibrated model provides results in good agreement with test data. Load-displacement response as well as concrete crack patterns are accurately simulated, and the proposed model can distinguish between the behavior of uncoated and epoxy-coated deformed bars as well as simulate the impact on bond strength of confinement provided by transverse steel.
Are fast radio bursts the most likely electromagnetic counterpart of neutron star mergers resulting in prompt collapse

Inspiraling and merging binary neutron stars (BNSs) are important sources of both gravitational waves and coincident electromagnetic counterparts. If the BNS total mass is larger than a threshold value, a black hole ensues promptly after merger. Through a statistical study in conjunction with recent LIGO/Virgo constraints on the nuclear equation of state, we estimate that up to $\ensuremath{\sim}25%$ of BNS mergers may result in prompt collapse. Moreover, we find that most models of the BNS mass function we study here predict that the majority of prompt-collapse BNS mergers have $q\ensuremath{\gtrsim}0.8$. Prompt-collapse BNS mergers with mass ratio $q\ensuremath{\gtrsim}0.8$ may not be accompanied by detectable kilonovae or short gamma-ray bursts, because they unbind a negligible amount of mass and form negligibly small accretion disks onto the remnant black hole. We call such BNS mergers ``orphan.'' However, recent studies have found that $1{0}^{41--43}({B}_{p}/{10}^{12}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{G}{)}^{2}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{erg}\text{ }{\mathrm{s}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ electromagnetic signals can be powered by magnetospheric interactions several milliseconds prior to merger. Moreover, the energy stored in the magnetosphere of an orphan BNS merger remnant will be radiated away in $\mathcal{O}(1\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{ms})$. Through simulations in full general relativity of BNSs endowed with an initial dipole magnetosphere, we find that the energy in the magnetosphere following black hole formation is ${E}_{B}\ensuremath{\sim}1{0}^{39--41}({B}_{p}/{10}^{12}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{G}{)}^{2}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{erg}$. Radiating $\ensuremath{\sim}1%$ of ${E}_{B}$ in 1 ms, as has been found in previous studies, matches the premerger magnetospheric luminosity. These magnetospheric signals are not beamed, and their duration and power agrees with those of nonrepeating fast radio bursts (FRBs). These results combined with our statistical study suggest that a nonrepeating FRB may be the most likely electromagnetic counterpart of prompt-collapse BNSs. Detection of a nonrepeating FRB coincident with gravitational waves from a BNS merger could settle the extragalactic origin of a fraction FRBs and could be used to place constraints on the nuclear equation of state. FRBs can also initiate triggered searches for weak signals in the LIGO/Virgo data.
Semi-analytical sensitivity analysis for nonlinear transient problems

Efficient analytical sensitivity computations are essential elements of gradient-based optimization schemes; unfortunately, they can be difficult to implement. This implementation issue is often resolved by adopting the semi-analytical method which exhibits the efficiency of the analytical methods and the ease of implementation of the finite difference method. However, care must be taken as semi-analytical sensitivities may exhibit errors due to truncation and round-off. Additional errors are introduced if the convergence tolerance of the primal analysis is not sufficiently small. This paper gives a general overview and some new developments of the analytical and semi-analytical sensitivity analyses for nonlinear steady-state, transient, and dynamic problems. We discuss the restrictive assumptions, accuracy, and consistency of these methods. Both adjoint and direct differentiation methods are studied. Numerical examples are provided.
The Role of the Sustainable Development Goals to Reduce the Global Burden of Malnutrition

Abstract UNICEF's conceptual framework outlines the basic, underlying, and immediate causes of malnutrition and provides an overview of both the direct and indirect pathways to reduce malnutrition and improve health outcomes. Sustainable development goal (SDG) 2 aims to “end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture”, which has the potential to directly influence nutrition outcomes. However, many of the other SDGs have the potential to improve nutrition outcomes through more indirect pathways. Using the UNICEF conceptual framework to guide our analysis, we examined the ways in which different SDGs could influence nutrition and health outcomes, and the pathways by which this could occur. However, large data gaps exist making it difficult to accurately assess the current state of SDGs in many countries and regions. In order to increase accountability for the SDGs, the existing gaps in data collection must be addressed. This will enable countries to examine both the indirect and the direct pathways to improving nutrition outcomes globally.
The Discovery of Q Fever and Its Cause.

Abstract An outbreak of a febrile illness among workers in a slaughterhouse in Brisbane, Australia led E.H. Derrick to discover a new infection, which he labeled Q fever. Almost simultaneously, investigators in Montana discovered a new organism in ticks that caused fever in guinea pigs. Eventually, investigators found that the Q fever and tick microbes were identical. Outbreaks of Q fever occurred in laboratories, and epidemics of it affected both Axis and Allied troops in Europe during World War II, but it was only afterwards that an explanation emerged about what the major reservoir of the organism was and how infection was most commonly transmitted to animals and humans.
Yard Waste Compost as a Landscape Soil Amendment for Azaleas

Abstract Azaleas, Rhododendron indicum L. ‘G.G. Gerbing’, were transplanted into landscape beds amended with yard waste compost at rates of 0, 5.1, 7.6, or 10.2 cm (0, 2, 3, or 4 in) incorporated i...
Leverage de las empresas fiscalizadas por la superintendencia de valores y seguros, como explicacion a sus oportunidades de crecimiento, a su estructura de propiedad y a las características del entorno en el que actúan.

Las empresas pueden tener distintas formas de financiamiento; ya sea por deuda, capital propio o un mix de ambas, los porcentajes que se utilizan en cada tipo de financiamiento dependera de lo que la empresa establezca como ideal para el desempeno de sus propios objetivos y el cumplimiento a las obligaciones que se contraen al momento de elegir el tipo de financiamiento. Esta investigacion consiste en el analisis del apalancamiento financiero de las empresas fiscalizadas por la Superintendencia de Valores y Seguros, explicando sus oportunidades de crecimiento, su estructura de propiedad y las caracteristicas del entorno en el que actuan. Se llevara a cabo a traves del analisis de los estados financieros de las empresas agrupadas por sector, fiscalizadas por la SVS. Los resultados explican que es imposible definir un patron de conducta, por lo que no se recomienda sector para invertir.
The EU and rule of law development in Kosovo: EULEX, domestic spoilers, and a two-level commitment problem

This study addresses the problem of persistent elite corruption in post-conflict Kosovo. Despite the presence of the EU Rule of Mission (EULEX) since 2008, it has failed to convict prominent offici...
Predicting PTSD and Depression following Sexual Assault: The Role of Perceived Life Threat, Post-Traumatic Cognitions, Victim-Perpetrator Relationship, and Social Support

Survivors of sexual assault have a high risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but experiencing a sexual assault alone is not sufficient for the development of the disorder. This study exam...
Secrecy Improvement of Cognitive Relay Networks using Modulation Diversity

In this paper, physical-layer security of cognitive relay network under spectrum sharing environment using a decode-and-forward (DF) relay is studied and improved by incorporating modulation diversity into the secondary system. Modulation diversity rotates the signal constellation to make each component of the signal point unique and then interleaves quadrature components of the signal points to affect each component by independent fading channel. Modulation diversity facilitates source and intermediate relay to transmit different symbols to the destination and thus the proposed system transmits two symbols in two time slots compared to the conventional underlay cognitive relay network which transmits one symbol in two time slots. Hence, the secrecy capacity of the proposed system is greater than that of the conventional system. Therefore, the secrecy performance analysis and results of the proposed system are completely different than those of the conventional system. Moreover, it is shown that the secrecy outage probability of the proposed system is improved by 10 times compared to the conventional system. Finally, the closed-form expressions for the secrecy outage probability, probability of non-zero secrecy capacity and probability of intercept of the proposed system are derived and discussed.
Science as a Development Tool in Ghana: Challenges, Outcomes, and Possibilities for Women Academic Scientists

This chapter examines how academic women scientists in Ghanaian universities situate and articulate their position in the development of science as a policy objective for higher education and sustainable development. It focuses on how political and economic conditions over the past two decades, and a persistent patriarchal institutional environment, impact the ability of women to effectively contribute to the scientific and technological development agenda in their society. It addresses how Ghanaian women scientists navigate these conditions, shape their own understandings, and situate a shared membership through community engagement. The study is based on semi-structured interviews of academic women scientists in three public universities in Ghana. Data analysis is informed and framed around feminist discourses on globalization and higher education in Africa.
BK virus encephalitis and end-stage renal disease in a child with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

BK virus encephalitis after HSCT is uncommon. Several reports of native kidney BKVN in patients with HSCT, hematologic malignancies, human immunodeficiency virus infection, and non-renal solid organ transplantation have been described. However, an uncommon combination of BK encephalitis and ESRD of native kidneys secondary to BK virus in a child with HSCT has not been described. We report a 10-year-old boy who presented with a gradually rising serum creatinine during treatment for severe autoimmune hemolytic anemia, which he developed 9 months after receiving an allogeneic HSCT for aplastic anemia. There was no proteinuria or hematuria present. Serum BK virus load was 5 × 106 copies/mL. A renal biopsy showed evidence of BKVN. He developed fever, seizures, and confusion, and the (CSF) showed significant presence of the BK virus (1 × 106 copies/mL) along with biochemical evidence of viral encephalitis. Cerebrospinal fluid cultures were negative. Despite significant clinical symptoms and presence of BK virus in CSF, the magnetic resonance brain imaging findings were minimal. With reduction of immunosuppression, there was resolution of BK encephalitis but BKVN remained resistant to multiple anti-BK virus agents, including leflunomide and cidofovir. He eventually became dialysis-dependent and, 6 years later, received a renal transplant from his mother. This case illustrates that BK virus in severely immunocompromised HSCT recipient may lead to BK encephalitis and BKVN of native kidneys, even without hemorrhagic cystitis, leading to ESRD. Knowledge of such is important for appropriate timely evaluation and management.
Language Development, Theories of

Language acquisition by children is robust. Even children with relatively limited exposure to adult speech acquire the major properties of their native language early in childhood. Theoretical approaches to language development have emphasized our biological preparedness for language, the speech presented to children, children's cognitive readiness, and their ability to identify regularities in the speech signal. Contemporary research suggests that several interacting factors are likely to be responsible for children's language acquisition. At the same time, there has been a renewed interest in the biological foundations of language, albeit with an emphasis on the social dimensions of language.
Predictors of completion and response to a psychological intervention to promote health behavior adherence in heart failure

ObjectiveMost individuals with heart failure (HF) struggle to adhere to one or more health behaviors, and interventions to promote adherence are time-intensive and costly. In this analysis, we exam...
The Rectus Abdominus Muscle Flap

The rectus abdominus muscle is the main flexor of the torso and is located in the anterior abdominal wall. It has a dual blood supply, superior from the superior epigastric artery, which is a continuation of the internal mammary artery and inferior by the deep inferior epigastric artery, which is a branch of the external iliac artery. It is a Mathes–Nahai type III flap (2 major pedicles). The rectus abdominus muscle is a very versatile flap that is used in various reconstructive scenarios. It can be used as a pedicled flap based on either of the two pedicles, or as a free flap. While we prefer to use it in extremity reconstruction as a muscle-only flap, the rectus abdominus has been widely used as a musculocutaneous flap. Based on the pattern of the skin flap, the rectus abdominus musculocutaneous flap can be designed with a vertical skin paddle overlying the ipsilateral muscle (VRAM) or with a transverse skin paddle overlying both recti muscles (TRAM). The rectus abdominus muscle can be used as a pedicled flap based on the inferior epigastric artery to reconstruct perineal defects (VRAM being the flap of choice for perineal defects). When other smaller regional flaps are not adequate for coverage, the rectus abdominus flap is excellent for proximal groin/thigh defects. Pedicled flaps based on the superior epigastric artery are widely used in sternal and breast reconstruction, but these are not covered in this book. When used as a free flap, the pedicle of choice is the deep inferior epigastric artery since it has a longer pedicle and a bigger diameter, making it more suitable for microsurgical anastomosis. The dissection of the flap is straightforward, often allowing a two-team approach. Given the morbidity of postoperative hernias and destabilization of the anterior abdominal wall, we tend to avoid the use of this flap unless other viable options are not available.
Persistent, Extensive Channelized Drainage Modeled Beneath Thwaites Glacier, West Antarctica

Abstract. Subglacial hydrology is a leading control on basal friction and the dynamics of glaciers and ice sheets. At low discharge, subglacial water flows through high-pressure, sheet-like systems that lead to low effective pressures. However, at high discharge, subglacial water melts the overlying ice into localized channels that efficiently remove water from the bed, thereby increasing effective pressure and basal friction. Recent observations suggest channelized subglacial flow exists beneath Thwaites Glacier, yet it remains unclear if stable channelization is feasible in West Antarctica, where surface melting is nonexistent and water at the bed is limited. Here, we use the MPAS-Albany Land Ice model to run a suite of over 130 subglacial hydrology simulations of Thwaites Glacier across a wide range of physical parameter choices to assess the likelihood of channelization. We then narrow our range of viable simulations by comparing modeled water thicknesses to previously observed radar specularity content, which indicates flat, spatially extensive water bodies at the bed. In all of our data-compatible simulations, stable channels reliably form within 100–200 km of the grounding line, and reach individual discharge rates of 35–110 m3 s−1 at the ice-ocean boundary. While only one to two channels typically form across the 200 km width of the glacier in our simulations, their high efficiency drains water across the entire lateral extent of the glacier. No simulations resembled observed specularity content when channelization is disabled. Our results suggest channelized subglacial hydrology has two consequences for Thwaites Glacier dynamics: (i) amplifying submarine melting of the terminus and ice shelf, while (ii) simultaneously raising effective pressure within 100 km of the grounding line and increasing basal friction. The distribution of effective pressure implied from our modeling differs from parameterizations typically used in large-scale ice sheet models, suggesting the development of more process-based parameterizations may be necessary.
Evaluating AE Reporting of Two Off-Patent Biologics to Inform Future Biosimilar Naming and Reporting Practices

Historical studies of voluntary, spontaneous drug reports show poor attribution of adverse events to generic versions of commonly prescribed medications. As biosimilars enter the market place, it may be similarly difficult to accurately attribute adverse events to their respective reference products. At this time, lack of global consensus with regard to biosimilar naming conventions may result in drug reporting confusion, misattribution of adverse events and insufficient active monitoring of safety signals. Now, with the first biosimilar approval in the USA and many biosimilars expected to be launched globally in the near future, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance on biosimilar naming conventions will be essential. To inform the FDA and the global drug development community, the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development (Tufts CSDD) examined primary suspect reports sent to the FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) from US reporters for two biologics that have lost patent exclusivity—somatropin and human insulin—and extracted 4703 insulin reports and 6487 somatropin reports from FAERS. The results show that reporting practices are inconsistent between the two biologics that were evaluated and that manufacturer identifiability and traceability are lacking. Ways to improve biosimilar naming conventions and improve reporting practices are suggested.
Redundancy Management of Shuttle Flight Control Rate Gyroscopes and Accelerometers

The Space Shuttle Flight Control System is required to be two-fault tolerant; i.e., the system must be capable of returning to a landing site even though two system failures occur. This is referred to as fail-operational/fail-safe performance. To achieve this fault tolerance, the avionics equipment is made redundant. A redundancy management (RM) system is required to detect failures and reconfigure the avionics accordingly. This paper describes the Flight Control System (FCS) rate gyro and accelerometer redundancy management design, analysis tools and analysis results.
3D multislab, multishot acquisition for fast, whole-brain MR elastography with high signal-to-noise efficiency

Purpose To develop an acquisition scheme for generating MR elastography (MRE) displacement data with whole-brain coverage, high spatial resolution, and adequate signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in a short scan time. Theory and Methods A 3D multislab, multishot acquisition for whole-brain MRE with 2.0 mm isotropic spatial resolution is proposed. The multislab approach allowed for the use of short repetition time to achieve very high SNR efficiency. High SNR efficiency allowed for a reduced acquisition time of only 6 min while the minimum SNR needed for inversion was maintained. Results The mechanical property maps estimated from whole-brain displacement data with nonlinear inversion (NLI) demonstrated excellent agreement with neuroanatomical features, including the cerebellum and brainstem. A comparison with an equivalent 2D acquisition illustrated the improvement in SNR efficiency of the 3D multislab acquisition. The flexibility afforded by the high SNR efficiency allowed for higher resolution with a 1.6 mm isotropic voxel size, which generated higher estimates of brainstem stiffness compared with the 2.0 mm isotropic acquisition. Conclusion The acquisition presented allows for the capture of whole-brain MRE displacement data in a short scan time, and may be used to generate local mechanical property estimates of neuroanatomical features throughout the brain. Magn Reson Med 71:477–485, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Recent Advances in Conversational Intelligent Tutoring Systems

We report recent advances in intelligent tutoring systems with conversational dialogue. We highlight progress in terms of macro and microadaptivity. Macroadaptivity refers to a system’s capability to select appropriate instructional tasks for the learner to work on. Microadaptivity refers to a system’s capability to adapt its scaffolding while the learner is working on a particular task. The advances in macro and microadaptivity that are presented here were made possible by the use of learning progressions, deeper dialogue and natural language processing techniques, and by the use of affect-enabled components. Learning progressions and deeper dialogue and natural language processing techniques are key features of DeepTutor, the first intelligent tutoring system based on learning progressions. These improvements extend the bandwidth of possibilities for tailoring instruction to each individual student which is needed for maximizing engagement and ultimately learning.