cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stress in the vicinity of a griffith crack at the interface of a layer bonded to a half plane—an approximate method

Abstract Approximations to the stress field in the vicinity of a Griffith crack located at the interface of a layer bonded to a dissimilar half plane are determined. A systematic use of Fourier transforms reduces the problem to that of solving a set of simultaneous dual integral equations with trigonometric kernels and weighting functions. This latter problem is reduced to the solution of an uncoupled pair of singular integral equations. An approximate technique using Legendre polynomial expansions is discussed. The analysis shows that when a constant pressure is applied to the faces of the crack, the stress components have the distinctive oscillatory singularities at the crack tip. Expressions up to the order of h −4 , where h is the thickness of the layer and is much greater than 1, are derived for the stress components.
Gravity Probe B

This paper describes the flight hardware, on-orbit operations, and preliminary data analysis for the Gravity Probe B satellite.
Pattern of an antenna on a curved lossy surface

Extensive numerical results are presented for the radiation fields of electric and magnetic type antennas mounted on smooth curved surfaces of finite conductivity. The model chosen is a circular cylinder whose surface impedance is specified. A residue series representation is employed for the portion of space deep in the shadow while a geometrical-optical representation is used in the "lit" region. In the penumbra, the fields are expressed in terms of the "Fock functions." The results are also applicable to other smoothly varying curved surfaces such as spheres, parabolic cylinders, and paraboloids. As an application, the E -plane patterns are computed for a small loop antenna on a spherical earth for both sea and land illustrating the so-called cut-back effect.
Demography and environmental stochasticity: empirical estimates of survival in three grassland rodents

Environmental stochasticity in vital rates influences the dynamics of structured populations. Stochastic models of population dynamics often assume that vital rates vary independently, an assumption that may be violated in many populations. We estimated the survival of three species of grassland rodents – deer mouse Peromyscus maniculatus, white-footed mouse Peromyscus leucopus and western harvest mouse Reithrodontomys megalotis– using a long-term dataset. We used these data to assess the level of cross correlation and autocorrelation in stage-specific survival rates and the correlation between survival and selected environmental variables. We found little evidence of correlation among survival estimates in any species or correlation between survival and environmental variables. In contrast to other species in the region, our analyses suggest that survival rates in deer mice, white-footed mice and western harvest mice vary independently throughout the year.
Dueling incentives: Sexual violence in Liberia and the politics of human rights advocacy

Transnational advocacy organizations are influential actors in the international politics of human rights. While political scientists have described several methods these groups use – particularly ...
A retargetable debugger

We are developing techniques for building retargetable debuggers. Our prototype, 1db, debugs C programs compiled for the MIPS R3000, Motorola 68020, SPARC, and VAX architectures. It can use a network to connect to faulty processes and can do cross-architecture debugging. 1db's total code size is about 16,000 lines, but it needs only 250–550 lines of machine-dependent code for each target.1db owes its retargetability to three techniques: getting help from the compiler, using a machine-independent embedded interpreter, and choosing abstractions that minimize and isolate machine-dependent code. 1db reuses existing compiler function by having the compiler emit PostScript code that 1db later interprets; PostScript works well in this unusual context.
Trace elements in Zn–Pb–Ag deposits and related stream sediments, Brooks Range Alaska, with implications for Tl as a pathfinder element

ABSTRACT The Zn–Pb–Ag metallogenic province of the western and central Brooks Range, Alaska, contains two distinct but mineralogically similar deposit types: shale-hosted massive sulphide (SHMS) and smaller vein-breccia occurrences. Recent investigations of the Red Dog and Anarraaq SHMS deposits demonstrated that these deposits are characterized by high trace-element concentrations of As, Ge, Sb and Tl. This paper examines geochemistry of additional SHMS deposits (Drenchwater and Su-Lik) to determine which trace elements are ubiquitously elevated in all SHMS deposits. Data from several vein-breccia occurrences are also presented to see if trace-element concentrations can distinguish SHMS deposits from vein-breccia occurrences. Whole-rock geochemical data indicate that Tl is the most consistently and highly concentrated characteristic trace element in SHMS deposits relative to regional unmineralized rock samples. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) analyses of pyrite and sphalerite indicate that Tl is concentrated in pyrite in SHMS. Stream sediment data from the Drenchwater and Su-Lik SHMS show that high Tl concentrations are more broadly distributed proximal to known or suspected mineralization than As, Sb, Zn and Pb anomalies. This broader distribution of Tl in whole-rock and particularly stream sediment samples increases the footprint of exposed and shallowly buried SHMS mineralization. High Tl concentrations also distinguish SHMS mineralization from the vein-breccia deposits, as the latter lack high concentrations of Tl but can otherwise have similar trace-element signatures to SHMS deposits.
Comparative analyses reveal distinct sets of lineage-specific genes within Arabidopsis thaliana

Background: The availability of genome and transcriptome sequences for a number of species permits the identification and characterization of conserved as well as divergent genes such as lineage-specific genes which have no detectable sequence similarity to genes from other lineages. While genes conserved among taxa provide insight into the core processes among species, lineage-specific genes provide insights into evolutionary processes and biological functions that are likely clade or species specific. Results: Comparative analyses using the Arabidopsis thaliana genome and sequences from 178 other species within the Plant Kingdom enabled the identification of 24,624 A. thaliana genes (91.7%) that were termed Evolutionary Conserved (EC) as defined by sequence similarity to a database entry as well as two sets of lineage-specific genes within A. thaliana. One of the A. thaliana lineage-specific gene sets share sequence similarity only to sequences from species within the Brassicaceae family and are termed Conserved Brassicaceae-Specific Genes (914, 3.4%, CBSG). The other set of A. thaliana lineage-specific genes, the Arabidopsis Lineage-Specific Genes (1,324, 4.9%, ALSG), lack sequence similarity to any sequence outside A. thaliana. While many CBSGs (76.7%) and ALSGs (52.9%) are transcribed, the majority of the CBSGs (76.1%) and ALSGs (94.4%) have no annotated function. Co-expression analysis indicated significant enrichment of the CBSGs and ALSGs in multiple functional categories suggesting their involvement in a wide range of biological functions. Subcellular localization prediction revealed that the CBSGs were significantly enriched in proteins targeted to the secretory pathway (412, 45.1%). Among the 107 putatively secreted CBSGs with known functions, 67 encode a putative pollen coat protein or cysteine-rich protein with sequence similarity to the S-locus cysteine-rich protein that is the pollen determinant controlling allele specific pollen rejection in self-incompatible Brassicaceae species. Overall, the ALSGs and CBSGs were more highly methylated in floral tissue compared to the ECs. Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) analysis showed an elevated ratio of non-synonymous to synonymous SNPs within the ALSGs (1.99) and CBSGs (1.65) relative to the EC set (0.92), mainly caused by an elevated number of nonsynonymous SNPs, indicating that they are fast-evolving at the protein sequence level. Conclusions: Our analyses suggest that while a significant fraction of the A. thaliana proteome is conserved within the Plant Kingdom, evolutionarily distinct sets of genes that may function in defining biological processes unique to these lineages have arisen within the Brassicaceae and A. thaliana.
Complete professionalism for engineers

It is noted that the completely professional engineer is able to interface with many socioeconomical constraints. Interfacing and the constraints are addressed here in a new approach. The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology is stressing the importance of 'breadth for the engineering student.' The pressure of technical courses, however, limits the number of humanistic-social electives reasonably possible. A novel approach reduces this limitation. It takes advantage of three factors: (1) above-average innate ability of junior and senior engineering students; (2) their special training to focus on the essential fundamentals in course material; and (3) as in the technical areas, a relatively small number of fundamentals (many already learned in engineering courses) are applicable over a broad range of nontechnical subjects. These factors make possible the compression of many important, nontechnical electives into one course. It includes psychology, interpersonal relations, management, proposal presentations, project management, technical communications, engineering economics, and the legal and ethical aspects of engineering. It is argued that students are better served by the proposed plan than by uncoordinated electives. >
The Partial Credit Model and Generalized Partial Credit Model as Constrained Nominal Response Models, With Applications in Mplus

The purpose of this article is to demonstrate constraining the nominal response model in Mplus software to calibrate data under the partial credit model (PCM) and generalized partial credit model (GPCM). Currently, many researchers are uncertain if the PCM and GPCM can be estimated within Mplus. Through model constraint commands in Mplus, we demonstrate that both models can be estimated in recent versions of this software. We present an example of this approach with data from 522 respondents on a subset of items from the Math Self-Efficacy Scale (Betz & Hackett, 1983). It is demonstrated that the presented model code is a viable way of estimating the models in Mplus.
Dissonance in the Dining Room: A Study of Social Interaction in a Special Care Unit

This study is a multi-method, intrinsic case study of social interaction in a special care unit (SCU) for cognitively impaired older persons. It is found that residents are capable of developing a range of social bonds even though the SCU in question is found to have several organizational and physical factors that unwittingly thwart its therapeutic potential. These limitations are illuminated by consideration of the congruence between the conceptualization of the dining areas held by staff and that held by residents as revealed throught the process of negotiation occurring in social interaction. The study adopts an enviornment-behavior perspective following the theoretical development of Lawton (1986) and merges it with the qualitative approach to place pursued by Goffman (1961) and Gubrium (1978). It is suggested that a focus on place as a unit of analysis offers potential for bridging Quality of Life with the cognitively impaired.
CSER and eMERGE: Current and potential state of the display of genetic information in the electronic health record

Objective Clinicians’ ability to use and interpret genetic information depends upon how those data are displayed in electronic health records (EHRs). There is a critical need to develop systems to effectively display genetic information in EHRs and augment clinical decision support (CDS). Materials and Methods The National Institutes of Health (NIH)-sponsored Clinical Sequencing Exploratory Research and Electronic Medical Records & Genomics EHR Working Groups conducted a multiphase, iterative process involving working group discussions and 2 surveys in order to determine how genetic and genomic information are currently displayed in EHRs, envision optimal uses for different types of genetic or genomic information, and prioritize areas for EHR improvement. Results There is substantial heterogeneity in how genetic information enters and is documented in EHR systems. Most institutions indicated that genetic information was displayed in multiple locations in their EHRs. Among surveyed institutions, genetic information enters the EHR through multiple laboratory sources and through clinician notes. For laboratory-based data, the source laboratory was the main determinant of the location of genetic information in the EHR. The highest priority recommendation was to address the need to implement CDS mechanisms and content for decision support for medically actionable genetic information. Conclusion Heterogeneity of genetic information flow and importance of source laboratory, rather than clinical content, as a determinant of information representation are major barriers to using genetic information optimally in patient care. Greater effort to develop interoperable systems to receive and consistently display genetic and/or genomic information and alert clinicians to genomic-dependent improvements to clinical care is recommended.
Unsolicited Patient Complaints in Ophthalmology: An Empirical Analysis from a Large National Database.

Purpose The number of unsolicited patient complaints about a physician has been shown to correlate with increased malpractice risk. Using a large national patient complaint database, we evaluated the number and content of unsolicited patient complaints about ophthalmologists to identify significant risk factors for receiving a complaint. Design Retrospective cohort study. Participants Ophthalmologists, nonophthalmic surgeons, nonophthalmic nonsurgeons. Methods We analyzed 2087 unsolicited or spontaneous complaints reported about 815 ophthalmologists practicing in 24 academic and nonacademic organizations using the Patient Advocacy Reporting System (PARS). Complaints against 5273 nonophthalmic surgeons and 19487 nonophthalmic nonsurgeons during the same period were used for comparison. Complaint type profiles were assigned using a previously validated standardized coding system. We (1) described the distribution of complaints against ophthalmologists; (2) compared the distribution and rates of patient complaints about ophthalmologists with those of nonophthalmic surgeons and nonophthalmic nonsurgeons in the database; (3) analyzed differences in complaint type profiles and quantity of complaints by ophthalmic subspecialty, practice setting, physician gender, medical school type, and graduation date; and (4) identified significant risk factors for high numbers of unsolicited patient complaints after adjusting for other covariates. Main Outcome Measures Unsolicited patient complaints. Results Ophthalmologists had significantly fewer complaints per physician than other nonophthalmic surgeons and nonsurgeons. Sixty-three percent of ophthalmologists had 0 complaints, whereas 10% of ophthalmologists accounted for 61% of all complaints. Ophthalmologists from academic centers, female ophthalmologists, and younger ophthalmologists had significantly more complaints ( P P P Conclusions Ophthalmologists had significantly fewer complaints than nonophthalmic surgeons and nonophthalmic nonsurgeons, and by implication may have a lower malpractice risk as a group. Nevertheless, a small number of ophthalmologists generated a disproportionate number of complaints. Working at an academic center was a significant independent risk factor for having more patient complaints. Further research is needed to clarify the underlying reasons for this association and to identify interventions that may decrease this risk.
Competitive intelligence

The way in which the Japanese use worldwide information gathering to outstrip their western competitors in the technology marketplace is described. The introduction of the 1M DRAM by Toshiba and of superior videotape by several Japanese companies are cited as examples of clever use of technological intelligence. Japanese skill at reverse engineering and their dominant position in consumer electronics are examined. The benefits of openness are discussed. >
Epidemiological Analysis on an Outbreak of H1N1-influenza A in a High School

Objective To analyze the causes and treatment of an outbreak of H1N1-influenza A in a senior middle school in Qiyang County,and to provide the evidence for effective control of influenza.Methods The cases were comprehensively analyzed by epidemiological investigation and clinical performance.Results There were 1,721 students in the senior middle school,147 students suffered from H1N1-influenza A,with the attack rate of 8.54%.The course of the epidemic was 12 days,the peak incidence of the disease accounted for 78.62% of the total cases.No statistically significant difference was found in the incidence rate between males and females,as well as among the three different grades.Not only assembly in classes and bedrooms but also the course of the disease among the students in three different grades was statistically significant difference,and the course of the disease of the students in higher grade was longer than that in lower grade students.66.67% of the ailing students had an inoculation history of seasonal influenza vaccine.Conclusions This is an outbreak of H1N1-influenza A.Comprehensive countermeasures,including early report and isolation,ventilation,disinfection,and propaganda,are the key to control of H1N1-influenza A.
Relationship between radioresistance and microRNA in the same genetic background nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells

AIM:To discuss the relationship between the discrepancy of microRNA (miRNA) and radioresistance in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells CNE-2R and CNE-2 on the basis of validating their different radioresistance. METHODS:Following the exposure of X ray on the clones of CNE-2R and CNE-2 cells,the dose-survival curve and biological characteristics of CNE-2R and CNE-2 cells were determined by SigmaPlot software and the linear quadratic model of survival curve analysis. MicroRNAs were detected by μParafloTM microfluidic chip,hybridization images collected by a laser scanner (GenePix 4000B,Molecular Device) and the signals normalized by a LOWESS filter. The relationship between the discrepancy of NPC radioresistance and the expression of miRNA was predicted according to Targetscan3.1 database (http://www. targetscan. org) after analyzing the data. RESULTS:Compared to CNE-2 cells,37 miRNAs were gain-of-function and 29 miRNAs were loss-of-function in CNE-2R cells among 719 detected miRNAs. 12 miRNAs that detective value was more than 2 000 and 2 folds than the other were hsa-miR-200b,hsa-miR-224,hsa-miR-26b,hsa-miR-125a-5p,hsa-miR-205,hsa-let-7e,hsa-let-7g,hsa-miR-19b,hsa-miR-24,hsa-miR-103,hsa-miR-106b and hsa-miR-93. Data showed that the distinct discrepancy of miRNAs was related to radioresistance. CONCLUSION:The discrepancy of miRNAs is present in different radioresistant NPC cell lines and related to radioresistance.
Screening Oseltamivir resistant strains in pandemic influenza A( H1N1) virus by a One-step RT-PCR / restriction fragment lengthpolymorphism assay

Objective To analyze the characteristics of site 275 in NA protein of pandemic influenza H1N1 virus in Jiangxi province in 2013. Methods The specimens of nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from influenza like cases of influenza monitor hospitals and isolated for influenza virus with MDCK. All 31 strains of pandemic influenza A( H1N1) 2009 virus were selected for detection and virus RNA were extracted. The specific gene fragment of NA genes were amplified by one-step RT-PCR and then were analyzed by restriction fragment length polymorphism( RFLP) assay. Results All strains of pandemic H1N1 influenza virus had no mutation in position 275 of NA gene. Conclusion 31 strains were sensitive to Oseltamivir. The One-step RT-PCR-RFLP assay is simple and feasible for screening oseltamivir resistant pandemic influenza A( H1N1)2009 virus.
One-neutron transfer reactions to 150 Sm

The ($d, t$) reaction on $^{151}\mathrm{Sm}$ has been investigated at a deuteron energy of 17 MeV; the ($d, p$) reaction on the isotope $^{149}\mathrm{Sm}$ at a deuteron energy of 12.5 MeV. For the stripping reaction angular distributions were taken in 2.5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} steps in the range of $7.5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}\ensuremath{\le}{\ensuremath{\theta}}_{\mathrm{lab}}\ensuremath{\le}35\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ and in 5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} steps for $35\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}\ensuremath{\le}\ensuremath{\theta}\ensuremath{\le}60\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$. The experimental energy resolution is 10-12 keV full width at half-maximum (FWHM). For the pickup reaction angular distributions were taken in 2.5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} steps in the range of $7.5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}\ensuremath{\le}{\ensuremath{\theta}}_{\mathrm{lab}}\ensuremath{\le}30\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ and in 5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} steps up to ${\ensuremath{\theta}}_{\mathrm{lab}}=45\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$. The experimental energy resolution is 6-8 keV FWHM. Spectroscopic factors and $l$ transfers were extracted by distorted-wave Born approximation analysis. The spectroscopic information is compared to one-nucleon transfer results of the lower mass Sm isotopes.
Influence of Anion Delocalization on Electron Transfer in a Covalent Porphyrin Donor-Perylenediimide Dimer Acceptor System

Photodriven electron transfer from a donor excited state to an assembly of electronically coupled acceptors has been proposed to enhance charge transfer efficiency in functional organic electronic materials. However, the circumstances under which this may occur are difficult to investigate in a controlled manner in disordered donor–acceptor materials. Here we investigate the effects of anion delocalization on electron transfer using zinc meso-tetraphenylporphyrin (ZnTPP) as a donor and a perylene-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide) dimer as the acceptor (PDI2). The PDI units of the dimer are positioned in a cofacial orientation relative to one another by attachment of the imide group of each PDI to the 4- and 5-positions of a xanthene spacer. Furthermore, the distal imide group of one PDI is linked to the para-position of one ZnTPP phenyl group to yield ZnTPP-PDI2. The data for the dimer are compared to two different ZnTPP-PDI monomer reference systems designed to probe electron transfer to each of the individual...
Chloroplast and cytoplasmic enzymes 1, 2, 3. Subunit structure of pea leaf aldolases.

Abstract The pea leaf chloroplastic and cytoplasmic forms of aldolase are very similar in structure. The subunit molecular weights determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate are approximately 37.000. Both aldolases appear to terminate in the same sequence, SerAlaTyrCOOH, and the amino-terminal sequence H2NGlySerTyrAla was obtained for each. The previously reported differences in kinetic properties and in isoelectric points of the two pea leaf enzymes probably are the consequence of minor differences in amino acid composition or conformation.
Early Adolescents’ Peer Experiences with Ethnic Diversity in Middle School: Implications for Academic Outcomes

As the U.S. becomes increasingly ethnically diverse, opportunities for cross-ethnic interaction at school may be increasing, and these interactions may have implications for academic outcomes for both ethnic minority and White youth. The current study examines how cross-ethnic peer relationships, measured using peer nominations for acceptance and daily lunchtime interactions, relate to academic outcomes for an ethnically diverse sample of 823 (45% boys and 55% girls; M age = 11.69) public middle school sixth graders across one Midwestern and two Western states. For White, Black, Asian, Latino/a, and Multiethnic students, self-reported daily cross-ethnic peer interactions were associated with higher end-of-year GPAs in core academic courses and teachers’ expectations for educational attainment, but not self-reported school aversion. Making cross-ethnic acceptance nominations was not associated with any academic outcomes. Thus, daily opportunities for cross-ethnic interactions may be important school experiences for early adolescents.
Analysis of Physical Processes in ICF Target Chambers: Application to the Laboratory Microfusion Facility

When a high-gain inertial fusion target explodes, roughly one third of the energy will be released in the form of x-rays and energetic ions, which can damage the wall of the chamber. One method of ...
Psychological and Psychiatric Consequences of Caffeine

The widespread and long-term use of caffeine in adults as well as children raises the question of whether there are psychological and psychiatric consequences of caffeine use in normal individuals. A related question regards the effects of caffeine on various psychological states such as stress, or in those diagnosed with specific psychiatric disorders. This chapter reviews some of the main psychological and psychiatric conditions in which caffeine has been shown to have effects. The medical consequences of caffeine use, and the therapeutic uses of caffeine, are also briefly discussed, because with serious acute or chronic medical conditions, or long-term therapeutic use of a drug, there are often associated psychological and psychiatric consequences. A discussion of caffeine use in children is also included, because caffeine is the only psychoactive drug legally available to children, and methylxanthines, including caffeine, have been used therapeutically in disorders that are common to children such as asthma and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.
The “Nuts and Bolts”: Numbers, Units, Dates, Abbreviations, Nomenclature …

Writing a good scientific paper involves skillful assembly of the various components of the paper. For accomplishing that, well established guidelines and procedures need to be followed in the use of numbers, units, abbreviations, and such other features. The common norms and rules for the use of these “nuts and bolts” are described in this chapter. Although the exact requirements vary from journal to journal, the overall approach is similar, and all journals require that the authors pay meticulous attention to these standards. Failure to adhere to the norms will lead to rejection of the paper or delay in its publication.
Teaching materials science to engineers

Every engineer is, in a sense, a materials engineer. Described here is a course designed to give students other than metallurgists and ceramists a firm foundation in materials science.
Natural Products as Probes of Selected Targets in Tumor Cell Biology and Hypoxic Signaling

Natural products continue to play a major role in anticancer drug discovery and have helped facilitate many of the recent advances in molecular medicine. In spite of this, the critical importance of natural products as molecular probes of tumor cell biology is often overshadowed by drug discovery efforts that are focused on finding structurally novel antitumor natural products. Secondary metabolites produced by plants, microbes, and marine organisms have aided the discovery and characterization of novel molecular targets and signaling pathways, and are continuing to provide exciting new means for disrupting tumor-specific cell signaling, gene expression, cell division, cell structure, energy requirement, and apoptosis. These compounds have also helped probe the unique differences between normal and malignant cells that relate to the formation, transport, stability, and function of critical proteins. The enormous chemical diversity of natural products has produced an unmatched set of unique pharmacological tools that can be used to study the myriad of biological and biochemical processes within the tumor cell. This is perhaps most vividly illustrated by the use of natural products to demonstrate the complex interconnections between the cellular processes involved in the regulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 and its role in oxygen-regulated tumor cell signaling.
Correlation of 360-degree Surface Mapping In Vivo Bioluminescence with Multi-Spectral Optoacoustic Tomography in Human Xenograft Tumor Models

Pre-clinical monitoring of tumor growth and identification of distal metastasis requires a balance between accuracy and expediency. Bioluminescence imaging (BLI) is often used to track tumor growth but is primarily limited to planar 2-dimensional (2D) imaging. Consistent subject placement within a standard top-mounted, single-detector small animal imager is vital to reducing variability in repeated same-animal measures over time. Here, we describe a method for tracking tumor development using a multi-angle BLI and photo-acoustic workflow. We correlate serial caliper measurements and 2D BLI to 360° BLI and photo-acoustic datasets for the same animals. Full 360° BLI showed improved correlations with both volumes obtained from caliper measurements and photo-acoustic segmentation, as compared to planar BLI. We also determined segmented tumor volumes from photo-acoustic datasets more accurately reflects true excised tumors’ volumes compared to caliper measurements. Our results demonstrate the distinct advantages of both 360° surface mapping by BLI and photo-acoustic methodologies for non-invasive tracking of tumor growth in pre-clinical academic settings. Furthermore, our design is fully implementable in all top-mounted, single-detector imagers, thereby providing the opportunity to shift the paradigm away from planar BLI into rapid BLI tomography applications.
Using multiple IMUs in a stacked filter configuration for calibration and fine alignment

Determination of a vehicle or person's position and/or orientation is a critical task for a multitude of applications ranging from automated cars and first responders to missiles and fighter jets. Most of these applications rely primarily on global navigation satellite systems, e.g., GPS, which are highly vulnerable to degradation whether by environmental factors or malicious actions. The use of inertial navigation techniques has been shown to provide increased reliability of navigation systems in these situations. Due to advances in MEMS technology and processing capabilities, the use of small and low-cost inertial measurement units (IMUs) are becoming increasingly feasible, which results in small size, weight and power (SWaP) solutions. A known limitation of MEMS IMUs are errors that causes the navigation solution to drift; furthermore, calibration and initialization are challenging tasks. In this paper, we investigate the use of multiple IMUs to aid in calibrating the navigation system and obtaining accurate initialization by performing fine alignment. By using a centralized filter, physical constraints between the multiple IMUs on a rigid body are leveraged to provide relative updates, which in turn aids in the estimation of the individual biases and scale-factors. Developed algorithms will be validated through simulation and actual measurements using low-cost IMUs.
Designing Zeolite Catalysts for Shape Selective Reactions. the Selective Hydrogenation of Acetylene in the Presence of Ethylene and Butadiene.

Abstract Small amounts of acetylene and butadiene are formed in the production of ethylene from the steam cracking of hydrocarbons. Since they interfere with downstream processing, they must be removed. Current economics makes recovery of at least the butadiene very desirable. In a front-end hydrogenation, acetylene is typically removed by selective hydrogenation vis-a-vis butadiene and ethylene over a nickel or palladium catalyst. One route to recovery of lost butadiene value with minimal capital investment is to design a more selective hydrogenation catalyst that can be incorporated directly into the “front-end” hydrogenator and operate under present conditions. Small pore zeolites, which serve as catalytic supports and provide kinetic control of the reaction, were ion-exchanged with Ni 2+ and subsequently reduced. These catalysts exhibit reactant selectivity such that the acetylene is totally converted to ethylene with only 10 to 20% hydrogenation of the butadiene and almost no hydrogenation of ethylene. Poisoning of the metal sites on the external zeolite surface is essential to obtain this selectivity.
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE DETERMINATION OF ISOENZYME ACTIVITIES

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the clinical significance of the determination of isoenzymes activities. There are five major mammalian lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) isoenzymes identifiable by agarose, paper, or cellulose acetate electrophoresis. LDH isoenzymes fractionation is a useful adjunct for the clinical laboratory. It has been most useful for diagnosis of early myocardial infraction. The chapter describes that the nomenclature of creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) isoenzymes is based upon the same criteria as delineated under LDH isoenzymes. Liver alkaline phosphatase (ALP) has the most rapid electrophoretic mobility after biliary enzyme, and is the predominant band in normal adults. Bone ALP originates from the osteoblasts of the bone and is present in the serum of young growing children. It has also been observed in individuals with fractures, metastatic disease to bone and in many conditions where osteoblasts are stimulated.
Oral History of Joe Thompson

Joseph Walter Thompson, born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1933, was the first person trained as an operator of the 1951 Whirlwind computer at the MIT Digital Computer Laboratory. In this interview, he discusses his early career at MIT running Whirlwind, and then his long employment at RAND/SDC as a programmer and eventual group manager working on the SAGE continental air defense system software. Thompson also discusses his early childhood and provides insight into his day-to-day life as an African-American working in the early days of computing.
Brain Iron Homeostasis: A Focus on Microglial Iron

Iron is an essential trace element required for important brain functions including oxidative metabolism, synaptic plasticity, myelination, and the synthesis of neurotransmitters. Disruptions in brain iron homeostasis underlie many neurodegenerative diseases. Increasing evidence suggests that accumulation of brain iron and chronic neuroinflammation, characterized by microglia activation and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, are hallmarks of neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer’ s disease. While substantial efforts have led to an increased understanding of iron metabolism and the role of microglial cells in neuroinflammation, important questions still remain unanswered. Whether or not increased brain iron augments the inflammatory responses of microglial cells, including the molecular cues that guide such responses, is still unclear. How these brain macrophages accumulate, store, and utilize intracellular iron to carry out their various functions under normal and disease conditions is incompletely understood. Here, we describe the known and emerging mechanisms involved in microglial cell iron transport and metabolism as well as inflammatory responses in the brain, with a focus on AD.
Phase 1 study of selinexor plus carfilzomib and dexamethasone for the treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

Selinexor, an oral Selective Inhibitor of Nuclear Export, targets Exportin 1 (XPO1, also termed CRM1). Non‐clinical studies support combining selinexor with proteasome inhibitors (PIs) and corticosteroids to overcome resistance in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). We conducted a phase I dose‐escalation trial of twice‐weekly selinexor in combination with carfilzomib and dexamethasone (SKd) to determine maximum tolerated dose in patients with RRMM (N = 21), with an expansion cohort to assess activity in carfilzomib‐refractory disease and identify a recommended phase II dose (RP2D). During dose escalation, there was one dose‐limiting toxicity (cardiac failure). The RP2D of twice‐weekly SKd was selinexor 60 mg, carfilzomib 20/27 mg/m2 and dexamethasone 20 mg. The most common grade 3/4 treatment‐emergent adverse events included thrombocytopenia (71%), anaemia (33%), lymphopenia (33%), neutropenia (33%) and infections (24%). Rates of ≥minimal response, ≥partial response and very good partial response were 71%, 48% and 14%, respectively; similar response outcomes were observed for dual‐class refractory (PI and immunomodulatory drug)/quad‐exposed (carfilzomib, bortezomib, lenalidomide and pomalidomide) patients (n = 17), and patients refractory to carfilzomib in last line of therapy (n = 13). Median progression‐free survival was 3·7 months, and overall survival was 22·4 months in the overall population. SKd was tolerable and re‐established disease control in RRMM patients, including carfilzomib‐refractory patients. Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov ({"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT02199665","term_id":"NCT02199665"}}NCT02199665)
Desegregation Decrees versus the NCLB Choice Provision: Implications for Resegregated Schools.

ABSTRACT Despite the creeping resegregation of public schools, recent court decisions have been involved in the lifting of court-ordered desegregation decrees, which could arguably cause further segregation. When dismissing desegregation decrees, lower courts have relied on three U.S. Supreme Court decisions during the 1990s that permitted a lower standard for lifting desegregation decrees. Those school districts that remain under court-ordered desegregation decrees may find themselves in conflict with the No Child Left Behind Act's (NCLB) choice provision. Specifically, NCLB permits parents to transfer their children to another school if their present school is deemed in need of improvement. Such NCLB regulations may permit school districts to bypass the desegregation decree. In so doing, there is a conflict between a federal regulation and federal court order. Employing legal research techniques (e.g., case and statutory analysis), this paper explores the Supreme Court's jurisprudence for declaring a sc...
Regolith Particle Erosion of Material in Aerospace Environments

This paper studies the effect of exposing thermal control S13GP:6N/LO-I white paint, Kapton flex cable, fiber optic cable, HEPA filter, and M55J graphite composite to high-velocity regolith environment that spacecraft landing on Mars are commonly exposed to. Due to the similarity between the Mars 2020 Rover design and Mars Science Laboratory design, it is expected that the Mars 2020 rover will be exposed to a similar high-speed regolith environment that the Mars Science Laboratory was exposed to. This environment is replicated to test the survivability of susceptible materials. The testing is performed at the University of Dayton Research Institute in Dayton, Ohio. The experiments expose different materials to basaltic-like particles ranging in size from approximately 40 µm to 2 cm, at velocities ranging from 19 m/s to 250 m/s, with varied particle fluxes (measured in mg/cm2), Depending on the size of the particle used, the particles can either embed in or erode the material. Posttest analysis shows that all materials tested will survive the expected environment observed during the Mars 2020 landing event. Some materials are tested to failure in order to better characterize material response. Materials that fail in some test scenarios include the paint, fiber optic cable, and the graphite composite. After being exposed to regolith, the α/e, ratio of the paint increased by ~37% due to particles embedding in the paint. Darkening of the paint can negatively affect thermal control of the rover. With high particle mass fluxes, the paint eventually degraded enough to expose the aluminum substrate. When impacted by a 1.5 cm particle traveling at 20 m/s, the fiber optic cable did not sever, but the impact did cause the cable to deform enough to crack the glass, which resulted in a significant increase in attenuation, rendering the cable unable to transmit data. The graphite composite also failed when exposed to high particle fluxes. All of the observed failures occurred for test cases above the expected landing environment with significant margin. Tests performed beyond the requirements help characterize how well these materials will survive in even more extreme environments for future missions.
Tensile properties of synthetic, absorbable monofilament suture materials before and after incubation in phosphate-buffered saline.

Objective To compare tensile properties of synthetic, absorbable, monofilament suture material before and after incubation in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Study design Two sizes (2-0 and 3-0) of Biosyn, Maxon, Monocryl, PDS II, Securocryl, and Securodox were tested. Sample population Ten suture loops per group. Methods Tensile strength, elongation, and modulus of suture loops were measured at baseline and after 7, 14, 21, or 28 days of incubation in PBS. Results Size, suture material, and size × suture material interaction influenced maximum breaking load, maximum elongation, and modulus of elasticity. At baseline, 2-0 and 3-0 Maxon had the highest breaking loads (111.67 N and 79.71 N, respectively) for their size, and 2-0 PDSII and 3-0 Securodox had the lowest (68.71 N and 48.73 N, respectively). Maxon 2-0 and 3-0 had the greatest elongations (9.68 mm and 8.45 mm, respectively) for their size, and 2-0 Biosyn and 3-0 Securocryl had the least (7.21 mm and 6.58 mm, respectively). Biosyn 2-0 and 3-0 had the highest modulus. With incubation, Maxon (2-0), PDS II (2-0, 3-0), and Securodox (2-0, 3-0) maintained or gained strength over 4 weeks. Strengths of 2-0 and 3-0 Biosyn and 3-0 Maxon were maintained for 2 weeks, while Monocryl and Securocryl lost 20% to 44% of baseline strength within 1 week and 60% to 72% within 2 weeks. Day 7 strengths of 2-0 Biosyn and 2-0 Monocryl were greater than baseline strength of 2-0 PDS II. Strength of 3-0 Biosyn at day 14 was greater than strength of Monocryl at days 7 and 14 and greater than strength of 3-0 PDS II, 3-0 Securodox, and 3-0 Securocryl at baseline and days 7 and 14. Conclusion Suture tensile properties varied with suture size, composition, and brand. At baseline, Maxon suture had the greatest strength and elongation, and Biosyn had the greatest stiffness. Clinical significance Tensile strength retention, when reported as a percentage of original strength, provides insufficient information for comparison of suture tensile properties.
Think Like a Scientist, Solve Like a Sleuth! An Introduction to Troubleshooting Theory, and How to Make it Accessible to Others

One of the most challenging skills to teach new technicians is the ability to troubleshoot any kind of issue, even if they have no prior knowledge of the given topic. Without knowing where to begin, understanding how to look at a problem and learning to break it down can be daunting. However, the task does not need to be viewed in such a fearful light. Technical problems in IT can be broken down and solved much in a similar way to how a detective will search for clues, gather information, and then make an inference. In much the same way, the Scientific Method can also be applied to the process of troubleshooting. Creating a hypothesis, performing an experiment, and drawing conclusions are all steps that can help a technician solve a problem just like a scientist. By presenting the process of troubleshooting through one of these lenses, the task can be made more accessible to fledgling technicians and can even reframe the task as an engaging activity.
Using Multimodal Data for Automated Fidelity Evaluation in Pivotal Response Treatment Videos

Research has shown that caregivers implementing pivotal response treatment (PRT) with their child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) helps the child develop social and communication skills. Evaluation of caregiver fidelity to PRT in training programs and research studies relies on the evaluation of video probes depicting the caregiver interacting with his or her child. These video probes are reviewed by behavior analysts and are dependent on manual processing to extract data metrics. Using multimodal data processing techniques and machine learning could alleviate the human cost of evaluating the video probes by automating data analysis tasks.Creating an ’Opportunity to Respond’ is one of the categories used to evaluate caregiver fidelity to PRT implementation. A caregiver is determined to have successfully demonstrated cre-ating an opportunity to respond when they have delivered an appropriate instruction while she or he has the child’s attention. Automatically determining when the caregiver has correctly provided an opportunity to respond requires classifying the audio and video data from the probes. Combining the modalities into a single classification task can be undertaken using feature fusion or decision fusion methods. Two decision fusion configurations, and a feature fusion model were evaluated. The decision fusion models achieved higher accuracy, however the feature fusion model had a higher average F1 score, indicating more reliable prediction capability.
MMLOC: multi-mode indoor localization system based on smart access points

Indoor localization based on Wi-Fi fingerprints has been an active research topic for years. However, existing approaches do not consider the instability of access points (APs) which may be unreliable in practice, particularly the ones deployed by individual users. This instability impacts the localization accuracy severely, due to the unreliable or even wrong Wi-Fi fingerprints. Ideally, the localization should be done using only the well-deployed APs (e.g., deployed by facility teams). However, in many places the number of these APs is too few to achieve a good localization accuracy. To solve this problem, we leverage emerging smart APs equipped with multi-mode antennas, and build a new indoor localization system called MMLOC to reduce the number of necessary APs. The key idea is controlling the modes of AP antennas to generate more fingerprints with fewer APs. A clustering based localization strategy is designed to enable a mobile terminal to figure out the RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) for different antenna modes without requiring any synchronization. We have implemented a prototype system using smart APs and commercial smartphones. Experimental results demonstrate that MMLOC can reduce the number of necessary APs by 50%, and achieve the same or even better localization accuracy.