cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Markov random field modeling of the spatial distribution of proteins on cell membranes.

Cell membranes display a range of receptors that bind ligands and activate signaling pathways. Signaling is characterized by dramatic changes in membrane molecular topography, including the co-clustering of receptors with signaling molecules and the segregation of other signaling molecules away from receptors. Electron microscopy of immunogold-labeled membranes is a critical technique to generate topographical information at the 5–10 nm resolution needed to understand how signaling complexes assemble and function. However, due to experimental limitations, only two molecular species can usually be labeled at a time. A formidable challenge is to integrate experimental data across multiple experiments where there are from 10 to 100 different proteins and lipids of interest and only the positions of two species can be observed simultaneously. As a solution, we propose the use of Markov random field (MRF) modeling to reconstruct the distribution of multiple cell membrane constituents from pair-wise data sets. MRFs are a powerful mathematical formalism for modeling correlations between states associated with neighboring sites in spatial lattices. The presence or absence of a protein of a specific type at a point on the cell membrane is a state. Since only two protein types can be observed, i.e., those bound to particles, and the rest cannot be observed, the problem is one of deducing the conditional distribution of a MRF with unobservable (hidden) states. Here, we develop a multiscale MRF model and use mathematical programming techniques to infer the conditional distribution of a MRF for proteins of three types from observations showing the spatial relationships between only two types. Application to synthesized data shows that the spatial distributions of three proteins can be reliably estimated. Application to experimental data provides the first maps of the spatial relationship between groups of three different signaling molecules. The work is an important step toward a more complete understanding of membrane spatial organization and dynamics during signaling.
Structure and Discretion: Missing Links in Representative Bureaucracy

Studies of representative bureaucracy highlight both passive and active forms of representation. Passive representation refers to similarities in demographic characteristics between bureaucrats and client populations. Active representation refers to situations in which bureaucracies work to further the needs of a particular group of people. In this study, we examine the role employee discretion plays in linking passive and active forms of representation in a sample of six hundred school districts in Texas. Specifically, we argue that active representation is enhanced in organizations that vest greater discretion in their employees. Our study reveals that minority student performance improves under organizational structures that promote, rather than limit, minority teacher discretion.
Application of Pd silicide in the process of silicon detectors

A novel self-aligned metal-silicide process technology is reported. It has been found very useful in improving detector leakage current, detector yield, and junction contact resistance. The use of a metal silicide gives a reduced contact resistance and, depending on the thermal process, a controllable junction depth, which may be essential in the integration of detectors and their electronics. This technology does not require a new mask step in the existing detector fabrication process and can be used for any other refractory metal silicide, including Ti silicide. A rapid thermal process technique has been found which is essentially suitable in this self-aligned metal-silicide technology, though further modifications need to be made in order to achieve better control of uniform heating and therefore uniform metal-silicide and uniform drive-in of implanted ions. >
Spatially dependent cluster dynamics model of He plasma surface interaction in tungsten for fusion relevant conditions

In fusion reactors, plasma facing components (PFC) and, in particular, the divertor will be irradiated with high fluxes of low-energy (~100 eV) helium and hydrogen ions. Tungsten is one of the leading candidate divertor materials for ITER and DEMO fusion reactors. However, the behaviour of tungsten under high dose, coupled helium/hydrogen exposure remains to be fully understood. The PFC response and performance changes are intimately related to microstructural changes, such as the formation of point defect clusters, helium and hydrogen bubbles or dislocation loops. Computational materials' modelling results are described here that investigate the mechanisms controlling microstructural evolution in tungsten. The aim of this study is to understand and predict sub-surface helium bubble growth under high flux helium ion implantation (~1022 m−2 s−1) at high temperatures (>1000 K). We report results from a spatially dependent cluster dynamics model based on reaction–diffusion rate theory to describe the evolution of the microstructure under these conditions. The key input parameters to the model (diffusion coefficients, migration and binding energies, initial defect production) are determined from a combination of atomistic modelling and available experimental data. The results are in good agreement with results of an analytical model that is presented in a separate paper. In particular, it is found that the sub-surface evolution with respect to bubble size and concentration of the helium bubbles strongly depends on the flux and temperature.
Early- and Medium-Term Outcomes After Paclitaxel-Eluting Stent Implantation for Sirolimus-Eluting Stent Failure

The optimal treatment for sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) restenosis is not known. This study evaluated the safety and clinical outcome of paclitaxel-eluting stent (PES) implantation for SES restenosis. From March 2004 to July 2005, PESs were implanted in 125 patients with 140 lesions with SES restenosis. Acute and 6-month clinical outcomes were determined through review of the medical record and/or telephone interview. In-hospital major adverse cardiac events (death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or repeat revascularization) occurred in 14 patients (11.2%), driven entirely by postprocedure non–Q-wave myocardial infarction. At a mean clinical follow-up of 7.2 ± 1.8 months, the incidence of target lesion revascularization (TLR) was 14.0%, and the rate of major adverse cardiac events was 17.2%. Subacute thrombosis occurred in 2 patients (1.6%). Length of PES implanted, postprocedure diameter stenosis, and total occlusion of the target lesion were independent predictors of TLR. In patients with de novo SES restenosis, TLR was only 8.7%. In conclusion, at medium-term follow-up, PES implantation for SES failure appears to be safe and effective, although efficacy is decreased in the setting of total occlusions, greater residual diameter stenosis, and longer PESs.
Antiviral-activated dendritic cells: a paracrine-induced response state.

Infection of immature dendritic cells (DCs) by virus stimulates their maturation into APC. Infected DCs can also expose uninfected DCs to a panoply of cytokines/chemokines via paracrine signaling. Mathematical modeling suggests that a high rate of paracrine signaling is likely to occur among DCs located in three-dimensional space. Relatively little is known about how secreted factors modify the early response to virus infection. We used a transwell experimental system that allows passage of secreted factors, but not direct contact, between virus-infected DCs and uninfected DCs to investigate paracrine signaling responses. Paracrine signaling from infected DCs induced an antiviral-primed DC state distinct from that of mature virus-infected DCs that we refer to as antiviral-activated DCs (AVDCs). AVDCs had increased surface MHC class II and CD86 levels, but in contrast to virus-infected DCs, their MHC class I levels were unchanged. Imaging flow cytometry showed that AVDCs had an increased rate of phagocytosis compared with naive DCs. Experiments with IFN-β cytokine indicated that it may be responsible for CD86, but not MHC class II regulation in AVDCs. Both IFN-inducible and IFN-independent genes are up-regulated in AVDCs. Notably, AVDCs are relatively resistant to virus infection in comparison to naive DCs and achieve accelerated and augmented levels of costimulatory molecule expression with virus infection. AVDCs show a distinct antiviral-primed state of DC maturation mediated by DC paracrine signaling. Although further in vivo study is needed, the characteristics of the AVDC suggest that it is well suited to play a role in the early innate-adaptive transition of the immune system.
Artificial Menstrual Cycles Induced in Ovulating Women by Monthly Injection of Progestogen-Estrogen

The article reports a study of the length and characteristics of menstrual cycles induced by a single monthly injection of 150 mg of dihydroxprogesterone acetophenide with 10 mg of estradiol ethanate (Deladroxate) administered to 60 regularly ovulating women for a total of 198 cycles. Cycle lengths are analyzed at length and the results are comparatively discussed in relation to the time of injection and cycle duration. The duration and extent of menstrual flow is reported through 6 cycles. The occurence of side-effects and the return to normal cycles are presented and discussed. It is noted that the characteristics of artificially induced cycles were indistinguishable from normal cycles. Recommendations for the most effective use of Deladroxate are given and further studies of the method are encouraged.
Abstract 207: Mitochondrial Calcium Flux is Arrhythmogenic in Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy

Introduction: Mitochondria participate in Ca2+ homeostasis and Ca2+ oscillations are thought to be involved in arrhythmogenesis. Nevertheless, the role of mitochondria in arrhythmogenesis is unclear. We have reported spontaneous and induced arrhythmias in a mouse model of nonischemic cardiomyopathy, so we investigated the role of mitochondrial Ca2+ handling in arrhythmias in this model. Methods: Nonischemic cardiomyopathy was induced in C57BL/6 mice by 6 weeks of hypertension evoked after unilateral nephrectomy, deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) pellet implantation, and 1% salt water substitution. Sham operated mice were used as controls. ECG telemetry recording was used to monitor arrhythmias from DOCA mice and 7 sham mice at 18 weeks of age. Action potentials (APs) were recorded by perforated current-clamp in isolated mouse ventricular cells. Potassium and L-type Ca2+ currents were measured by voltage-clamp. Changes in cytoplasmic and mitochondrial Ca2+ were determined by fluorescent imaging using Fluo...
History of Electricity and Magnetism

The history of Electric and Magnetic phenomena is complex; its origin goes back to Greek Antiquity, and over the years many philosophers and scientists have formulated their opinions about it.1 Yet it would take a very long time before our contemporary view would become commonly accepted. For us today electromagnetic waves are waves of electric and magnetic forces. To define this notion more carefully, one could begin by stating that the universe consists of numerous small particles; among them some are charged positively and some negatively. The particles with the same charge repel each other, those of opposite charge attract each other. Moving particles are surrounded by electric and magnetic fields. If a particle with a charge is surrounded by other charged particles, it will be acted upon by a force by virtue of its electrification. The part of the total force which depends only on the charge of the particle and not on its velocity, is called the electrical force. The remaining part which depends on the velocity of the particle as well as its charge, is called the magnetic force. The ratio of the electric force to the charge of the particle is the electric intensity or the electric field strength at the point occupied by the particle. The ratio of the magnetic force to the product of the velocity of the particle and the charge is the measure of magnetic induction at the point occupied by the particle. To detect the existence of an electric and magnetic force and, thus of electric and magnetic waves, a supply of electric particles is needed as well as a means of detecting their motion in response to electric and magnetic forces.
Spectral diffusion map approach for structural health monitoring of wind turbine blades using distributed sensors

Distributed Sensor Networks (DSN) has emerged as a sensing paradigms in the structural egineering field due to the application of Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) for large-scale structures which results in accurately diagnosing the health of structures and enhancing the re liability and robustness of monitoring systems. The multisensor network greatly enhances the feasibility of applying SHM and also provides awareness of structural damage. In this work, we develop data-driven method for the diagnosis of damage in mechanical structures using an array of distributed sensors. The proposed approach relies on comparing intrinsic geometry of data sets corresponding to the undamage and damage state of the system. This approach assumes no knowledge of underlying models of the different data sources. We use spectral diffusion map approach for identifying the intrinsic geometry of the data set. In particular, time series data from distributed sensors is used for the construction of diffusion map. The low dimensional embedding of the data set corresponding to different damage level is done using singular value decomposition of the diffusion map to identify the intrinsic geometry. We construct appropriate metric in diffusion space to compare the low-dimensional data set corresponding to different damage cases. The developed algorithm is applied for damage diagnosis of wind turbine blades. Towards this goal we developed a detailed finite element-based model of CX-100 blade in ANSYS using shell elements. The damage in the blade is modeled by degrading the material property which in turn results in change of stiffness. One of the main challenges in the development of health monitoring algorithms is the ability to use sensor data with relatively small signal to noise ratio. Our developed diffusion map-based algorithm is shown to be robust to the presence of sensor noise. The proposed diffusion map-based algorithm can not only account for data from different sensors but also different types of sensor in the form of sensor fusion hereby making it attractive to exploit the distributed nature of sensor array. The distributed nature of sensor array is further exploited to determine the location of
Exploring the Questionable Academic Practice of Conference Paper Double Dipping

We develop a conceptual framework and provide empirical evidence that helps to explain why management scholars submit the same paper to more than one scholarly conference, a practice referred to as...
Design of an Electro-Mechanical Device for Knee Loading Applications

Mechanical loading of the knee is an innovative modality developed for rehabilitation of the knee joint as well as the femur and tibia that are subjected to bone fractures, osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. Loading essentially applies a lateral and periodic force to the knee joint [1]. In this paper, we propose the design of an electro-mechanical device that is capable of applying such dynamic loads. The key variable attributes of this device are the magnitude of the loading force, together with displacement and frequency. A DC motor with a controller actuates the device to produce the necessary force. The loading force is applied to the knee by a set of pads in a restricted linear motion. The operation of the device is approximated using the software package, SimMechanics of MATLAB. The simulations show that the device is capable of producing a suitable loading force with desired frequency. This simulation helps in constructing the device and performing experiments with appropriate frequencies. The device is expected to stimulate the fluids in porous skeletal matrix, resulting in strengthening the knee and bones. It can be employed for clinical trials for necessary evaluations and improvements.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Optical and Compositional Properties of a-C:H and BN Films

The amorphous dielectrics a-C:H and BN were deposited on III–V semiconductors. Optical band gaps as high as 3 eV were measured for a-C:H generated by C4 H10 plasmas; a comparison was made with bad gaps obtained from films prepared by CH4 glow discharges. The ion beam deposited BN films exhibited amorphous behavior with band gaps on the order of 5 eV. Film compositions were studied by Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). The optical properties were characterized by ellipsometry, UV/VIS absorptiofr, and IR reflection and transmission. Etching rates of a-C:H subjected to O2 discharges were determined.
Accuracy of frame-based stereotactic magnetic resonance imaging vs frame-based stereotactic head computed tomography fused with recent magnetic resonance imaging for postimplantation deep brain stimulator lead localization.

BACKGROUND Introduction of the portable intraoperative CT scanner provides for a precise and cost-effective way of fusing head CT images with high-tesla MRI for the exquisite definition of soft tissue needed for stereotactic targeting. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the accuracy of stereotactic electrode placement in patients undergoing deep brain stimulation (DBS) by comparing frame-based postimplantation intraoperative CT (iCT) images fused to a recent 3T-MRI with frame-based postimplantation intraoperative MRI (iMRI) alone. METHODS Frame-based DBS surgeries of 46 targets performed from February 8, 2007 to April 28, 2008 in 26 patients with the use of immediate postimplantation iMRI for target localization were compared with frame-based immediate postimplantation iCT fused with a recent 3T brain MRI for DBS localization of 50 targets performed from August 13, 2008 to February 18, 2010 in 26 patients. Pre- and postoperative mid anterior commissure-posterior commissure line coordinates and XYZ coordinates for preoperatively calculated DBS targets (intended target) and for the permanent DBS lead tips were determined. The differences between preoperative DBS target and postoperative permanent DBS lead-tip coordinates based on postimplantation intraoperative MRI for the MRI-alone group and based on postimplantation intraoperative CT fused to recent preoperative MRI in the CT-MRI group were measured. The t test and Yuen test were used for comparison. RESULTS No statistically significant differences were found between the 2 groups when comparing the pre- and postperative changes in mid anterior commissure-posterior commissure line coordinates and XYZ coordinates. CONCLUSION Postimplantation DBS lead localization and therefore targeting accuracy was not significantly different between frame-based stereotactic 1.5T-MRI and frame-based stereotactic head CT fused with recent 3T-MRI.
Reevaluating the Implications of Decision-Making Models

AbstractMost empirical analyses of the US Supreme Court are limited to the Court’s plenary decisions. We contend that summary decisions are an important component of the total decisional output of the Court and, as such, should be included in any overall assessment of the decision making of the Court or its impact on the courts below. We analyze the universe of the Court’s summary decisions from 1995 to 2005. We assess the conventional wisdom that a conservative Court should primarily disturb liberal lower-court decisions and that, in all cases granted certiorari, the policy preferences of the justices should have a major impact on their votes. We find support for neither of these expectations.
Neighborhood, Place, and the Life Course

We consider the rapidly expanding literature on features of the neighborhoods and other places individuals encounter in their everyday lives and their relevance to life course approaches. Recent decades have seen a dramatic increase in research examining “neighborhood effects” – particularly in urban settings – with increasing evidence that neighborhood social environments independently contribute to life course outcomes. Despite the promise of research on neighborhood and other place effects, the field faces a number of significant challenges, most notably, the need for more sophisticated theoretical and analytic treatment of multilevel influence processes, including the mechanisms through which sociospatial contexts are channeled and the individual level exposure and response processes that link environments to outcomes. We also consider questions concerning the appropriate unit of analysis, selection and causal inference in estimating neighborhood effects, the adequacy of extant data resources, and the siloed nature of contextual effects research. We argue that the notions of activity space – capturing actual routine spatial exposures – and ecological networks – the aggregate structure of shared exposures – offer useful conceptual and analytic tools that address a number of the aforementioned challenges. These concepts also align well with key principles of life course research, including the role of agency in the construction of the sociospatial contexts of everyday experience, the historical and spatial specificity of life course trajectories and transitions, and the linkage of lives in space and time.
Identification and Characterization of Three New Alternatively Spliced μ-Opioid Receptor Isoforms

We have identified four new μ-opiod receptor (MOR)-1 exons, indicating that the gene now contains at least nine exons spanning more than 200 kilobases. Replacement of exon 4 by combinations of the new exons yields three new receptors. When expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells, all three variants displayed high affinity for μ-opioid ligands, but κ and δ drugs were inactive. However, there were subtle, but significant, differences in the binding profiles of the three variants among themselves and from MOR-1. Immunohistochemically, the major variant, MOR-1C, displayed a regional distribution quite distinct from that of MOR-1. Region-specific processing also was seen at the mRNA level. Antisense mapping revealed that the four new exons were all involved in morphine analgesia. Together with two other variants generated from alternative splicing of exon 4, there are now six distinct MOR-1 receptors.
EFFECTS OF HYDROGEN AND TEMPERATURE ON YIELDING OF TANTALUM

ABSTRACT The effects of dissolved hydrogen on the yielding of polycrystalline tantalum have been studied in the temperature range between 78K and 373K. Tensile tests were performed at strain rate 1.7 × 10-4 s-1 on hydrogen-free specimens as well as specimens containing 30 to 70 ppm wt.H. The results show that addition of 30 to 160 ppm wt.H to polycrystalline Ta results in alloy softening which is reversed to a strengthening effect at lower temperatures. Both the softening and the strengthening effects are found to increase as the amount of dissolved hydrogen is increased. Analysis of results suggests that solute-dislocation interactions are the main contributors to the softening and the strengthening behavior in Ta-H alloys. The mechanisms suggested for solute-dislocation interactions differ at different temperature ranges, and involve dislocation-Cottrell mechanism at higher temperatures, dislocation-Snoek mechanism as temperature is lowered and dislocation-breakaway mechanism as temperature is further decreased.
Utilization of a fluidic infrastructure for the realization of enzyme-based Boolean logic operations

AbstractThe paper overviews the origin and motivation of the unconventional molecular computing, specially emphasizing the advantages of biomolecular systems for designing highly sophisticated logic circuits. Technological solutions based on flow design of enzyme-based logic gates are discussed and illustrated with examples. Integration of the enzyme-based logic gates and their concatenated assemblies with signal-responsive materials and electronic interfaces is suggested as a platform for biomedical sensors/actuators digitally responding in the Yes/No format to various combinations of biomolecular signals, particularly represented by biomarkers important in biomedical applications. The complexity of the designed enzyme-based logic systems allowed for logically reversible computing, thus being a step forward in the development of biomolecular computing devices. The features of reversible biocomputing systems are discussed, particularly emphasizing their logic reversibility, but not physical reversibility....
Complications and Long-Term Sequelae of Bladder Fistula Repair

Bladder fistulas involve an abnormal connection between bladder and either vagina or intestine. In this review chapter, we cover the etiology, clinical presentation, and various surgical approaches to repairing vesicovaginal and enterovesical fistulas. The long-term sequela after surgical repair includes recurrent incontinence, lower urinary tract symptoms, infection, and vaginal stenosis. Strategies to approach fistula repair to minimize these complications are emphasized.
Toward an Empirical Multidimensional Structure of Anhedonia, Reward Sensitivity, and Positive Emotionality: An Exploratory Factor Analytic Study:

Positive emotionality, anhedonia, and reward sensitivity share motivational and experiential elements of approach motivation and pleasure. Earlier work has examined the interrelationships among the...
Youtube How-to-Videos (HtV)

Social mediaâs power to connect and educate those with chronic conditions opens new avenues for improving patient self-management. Recent studies have reported increased condition knowledge, patient satisfaction, and compliance with treatment following social media involvement. A 5-year, consumer-focused training project conducted at the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Spinal Cord Injury aims to promote self-management skills in persons with SCI in areas of skin care, cardiometabolic risk reduction, and obesity prevention. The training framework incorporates a YouTube-based, shared video social network that connects participants with community-based resources necessary to achieve independence, stability, and community integration. It is anticipated that findings from the project will increase well-being literacy in individuals with SCI and enable them to self-manage health to function more independently in their daily lives and integrating back into the community.
German-Jewish Women in Wartime Shanghai and Their Encounters with the Chinese

This chapter shows gendered and transnational experiences of German-Jewish refugee women in Shanghai. First, they played an active role in adapting to a new life in Shanghai. Due to primitive living conditions, they spent much of their time meeting basic needs. Since there were more low-wage jobs than professional jobs, it was easier for them to find employment than the Jewish men. This work resulted in strengthening their role in the family and weakening the men’s patriarchal authority. Second, these formerly middle-class refugee women often showed sinophobia toward their low-class Chinese neighbors. Their mostly negative portrayal of the Chinese echoed the Western discourse on the “Yellow Peril.” Nonetheless, there were some exceptions where limited transnational understanding took place.
CSA shareholder food lifestyle behaviors: a comparison across consumer groups

Community supported agriculture (CSA) programs are transforming the way people relate to food and agriculture. Many researchers have considered the transformative potential of CSAs on economic, social, and environmental relations. They illustrate how participants are embedded in broader political economic transformations. The same focus, however, has not been given to CSAs’ transformative impact on individual shareholders—especially in terms of their relationship to food and health. We draw together literatures from behavioral economics, econometrics, and political ecology to evaluate the potential impacts of CSA participation on food lifestyle behaviors. Using primary data drawn from a survey of four groups with distinct food acquisition environments, we compare respondents’ self-assessed food-related behaviors along three different categories: (1) produce versus processed food consumption, (2) food away from home consumption, and (3) food acquisition and interest in nutrition. By documenting between-group differences, we confirm that shareholders display significant absolute differences to other groups along numerous indicators related to the above-stated categories and in general assessments of health. These differences correspond directionally to behaviors public health officials identify as correlated to beneficial health outcomes. We conclude by theorizing how the food environments delineated by a CSA exchange relationship provide unique reflexive opportunities for participants to develop diverse food-related skills and behaviors.
Refractive indices of diverse data set of polymers: A computational QSPR based study

Abstract In silico prediction of physico-chemical characteristics of materials has become an important tool in modern chemist’s arsenal to design functional materials with desired properties. Here a QSPR model was developed for prediction of refractive indices (n) in a diverse set of organic polymers. Theoretical descriptors used in the model were generated from the structure of the repeating units of the polymers. A four–variable model was developed for prediction of refractive indices with R2 = 0.932 and Q2LOO = 0.914. The predictive ability and robustness of the proposed model was validated using various methods, including cross-validation and y-randomization experiments. The R2ext for the test set was found to be 0.882, which confirms the statistical significance of the model. For refractive index, the polarizability and sp2 hybridized carbon atoms were the most influential properties. In addition, four small virtual libraries of the novel polymers were designed and their n values were predicted using the developed model.
Effects of pore structure on oxidative aging and related mechanical properties of asphalt concrete

Abstract Aging in asphalt concrete (AC) is an important issue that has been well studied by researchers for decades. Although some works have been conducted to evaluate the effect of total pore on aging, there is lack of study on how different type of pores or pore structure affects the aging process and related mechanical properties. This study attempted to evaluate the effects of pore structure on oxidative aging and related mechanical properties of AC. Slab samples were prepared in the laboratory using a linear kneading compactor. Air voids of the samples range from 7% to 20% to cover dense graded to highly open graded pavements. Samples were kept inside the laboratory for three years to age by action of air only. Pore structure was evaluated using tracer test. Aging was quantified using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Mechanical properties were determined by binder fatigue test using a Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR) and by nanoindentation. It was observed that aging increases with the increase of total pore, effective pore, or permeable pore. Moduli from both nanoindentation and DSR increase with the increase of all type of pores. Fatigue life decreases linearly with the increase of all type of pores. It was also observed that the use of permeable or effective pores doesn’t improve the accuracy of the pore versus aging study.
Probabilistic risk assessment: a tool for aviation security decision making

Probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) is a tool intended to aid decision makers in choosing among complex safety alternatives. This paper describes the general PRA approach (as applied to practical systems/processes) and provides simple examples relevant to the aviation security problem.
Passion P(l)ays! Emotional Labor and Perceived Passion as Predictors of Intention to Invest

Entreprenurial passion has been of great interest to scholars due to its impact on several key outcomes for entreprenurs, despite the mixed findings. We evaluate the role of emotional labor in infl...
The 2017 Women’s March on Washington: An Analysis of Protest-Sign Messages

To identify movement member-generated action frames, 695 protest-sign messages from the January 21, 2017, Women’s March on Washington were analyzed thematically. The analysis revealed that personalized action frames were evident in the organizational framing of the protest on Womensmarch.com through the diverse and broadly defined “unity principles,” and in five additional action frames that emerged spontaneously at the march: (1) unity, (2) women as powerful agents of resistance, (3) reappropriating pussy and words for the vagina, (4) criticisms of Trump, and (5) defining and critiquing feminism. Implications for social movement research and for the study of collective and personalized action frames are discussed.
Evidence Connecting Mercury's Magnesium Exosphere to Its Magnesium-Rich Surface Terrane

Mercury is surrounded by a tenuous, collisionless exosphere where the surface of the planet is directly exposed to the space environment. As a consequence, impacts and space weathering processes are expected to eject atoms and molecules from the surface into the exosphere, implying a direct link between the exospheric composition and the planet's regolith material. However, observational evidence demonstrating this link has been elusive. Here we report that exospheric magnesium, a species recently discovered and systematically measured by the Mercury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging mission, is enhanced when observed over a portion of the planet's surface regolith rich in magnesium. These observations confirm a direct link between Mercury's magnesium exosphere and the underlying crustal surface composition, providing strong evidence supporting theoretical arguments that impact vaporization can directly supply material to the exosphere from the regolith of a rocky, airless body.
A rat uterine horn model of genital tract wound healing.

A rat uterine horn model of genital tract wound healing is described. Healing was reflected by acquisition of strength and elasticity, measured by burst strength (BS) and extensibility (EX), respectively. A tensiometer (Instron Corp., Canton, MA) was used to assess these characteristics in castrated and estrogen-supplemented or nonsupplemented animals. While the horn weights (HW), BS, and EX of contralateral horns were not significantly different, the intra-animal variation ofHW was 7.2%, BS was 17.7% and EX was 38.2%. In a second experiment, one uterine horn was divided and anastomosed, and the animal given estrogen supplementation or a placebo pellet. Estrogen administration was found to increase BS and EX of anastomosed horns prior to 14 days, but had no beneficial effect at 21 or 42 days. The data suggest that estrogen may be required for optimal early healing of genital tract wounds.
Shape and reflectance from natural illumination

We introduce a method to jointly estimate the BRDF and geometry of an object from a single image under known, but uncontrolled, natural illumination. We show that this previously unexplored problem becomes tractable when one exploits the orientation clues embedded in the lighting environment. Intuitively, unique regions in the lighting environment act analogously to the point light sources of traditional photometric stereo; they strongly constrain the orientation of the surface patches that reflect them. The reflectance, which acts as a bandpass filter on the lighting environment, determines the necessary scale of such regions. Accurate reflectance estimation, however, relies on accurate surface orientation information. Thus, these two factors must be estimated jointly. To do so, we derive a probabilistic formulation and introduce priors to address situations where the reflectance and lighting environment do not sufficiently constrain the geometry of the object. Through extensive experimentation we show what this space looks like, and offer insights into what problems become solvable in various categories of real-world natural illumination environments.
Seasonal forecasting of western North Pacific tropical cyclone frequency using the North American multi-model ensemble

This study focuses on the seasonal forecasting of the June–November frequency of the western North Pacific tropical cyclones (WNP TCF) by combining observations and the North-American multi-model ensemble (NMME) forecasts. We model the interannual variability in WNP TCF using Poisson regression with two sea surface temperature (SST)-based predictors, the first empirical orthogonal function of SST in the Pacific meridional mode (PMM) region (“PSPMM”) after linearly removing the impacts of the El Nino Southern Oscillation, and the SST anomalies averaged over the North Atlantic Ocean (“NASST”). The Poisson regression model trained with the observed WNP TCF and the two predictors exhibits a high skill (correlation coefficient of 0.73 and root mean square error equal to 3.2 TC/year) for the 1965–2016 period. Using SST forecasts by eight models from the NMME as predictors, we can forecast the WNP TCF with promising skill in terms of correlation coefficient (0.63) and root mean square error (3.27 TC/year) for forecasts initialized in June. This study highlights the crucial role played by PMM and NASST in modulating WNP TCF, and suggests the use of PSPMM and NASST as potentially valuable predictors for WNP TCF.
Comparing the diagnostic efficacy of intraoral radiography and cone beam computed tomography volume registration in the detection of mandibular alveolar bone defects.

Objectives The aim of this study was to (1) compare bone loss detection accuracy with intraoral radiography and registered cone beam computed tomography (CBCT); (2) assess repeatability with both modalities; (3) determine factors affecting defect detection; and (4) determine the effect of buccolingual bone thickness on defect detection. Study Design Six observers viewed intraoral radiographs and CBCT scans before and after the defect to determine defect presence and extent. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC), sensitivity, specificity, logistic regression, odds ratio, intraclass correlation coefficient, and weighted kappa were used. Results CBCT and intraoral radiography mean ROC area under the curve values were not statistically different (0.90 vs 0.81; P = .06). CBCT had higher sensitivity compared with intraoral radiography (0.85 vs 0.63; P = .01) but similar specificity (0.91 vs 0.84; P = .45). Bone thickness, imaging modality, and observer had significant effects on defect detection (P Conclusions CBCT showed equivalent diagnostic efficacy and specificity for defect detection and higher sensitivity compared with intraoral radiography. CBCT increases the odds of accurate defect assessment more than 2-fold compared with intraoral radiography. The odds of bone loss detection increase by approximately 50% per millimeter of buccolingual alveolar bone loss.
A Framework for Identity: Dempster-Shafer Theory the Flow and Combination of Evidence

In this paper we present a framework for identity that is based on Barwise and Perry’s situation theory. Our focus is on identifying a culprit in a crime scene investigation based on the evidence that has been captured at the crime scene (physical evidence), and we present a framework that extends to the cyber environment. The evidence is collected and stored physically as per the chain of custody. Within our framework, evidence is captured through semantic web resources, and our ontologies capture the chain of custody from a digital perspective. Dempster-Shafer theory is applied to handle uncertainty and combining levels of potentially conflicting evidence.
An image informatics pipeline for imaging mass cytometry to characterize the immune landscape in pre- and on-treatment immune therapy and its application in recurrent platinium-resistant epithelial ovarian cancer

Imaging mass cytometry (IMC) visualizes thirty or more protein markers simultaneously at subcellular resolution in the spatial context of the tissue microenvironment, enabling comprehensive analysis of cellular phenotypes and their interrelationships. There is, however, a lack of robust data analytics pipelines for integrating spatial information of complex IMC data. To fill this gap, we developed an image informatics pipeline to analyze the immune landscape and spatial interactions between different cell types of the tumor tissues of pre- and on-treatment cancer patients and applied the technology to study tissue samples of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients. Immunotherapy targeting CTLA4 and PD1 immune checkpoint pathways provides new strategies for EOC. We analyzed tissue samples from a clinical trial testing Durvalumab and Tremelimumab administered in combination vs. Tremelimumab alone in recurrent platinum-resistant EOC patients. Our results show that IMC reveals the immune cell diversity of the EOC tumor ecosystem. The numbers of CD8+ T cells increased while a subtype of tumor cells decreased in on-treatment samples. CD8+ T cells and FoxP3+ cells increased most strongly in the patients who had best response to the treatment. We also developed algorithms to visualize the overall proximity and spatial correlation between any two cell types in the patient tissue.
Beige fibro-adipogenic progenitor transplantation reduces muscle degeneration and improves function in a mouse model of delayed repair of rotator cuff tears.

Background Muscle atrophy and fatty infiltration (FI) are common occurrences following rotator cuff (RC) tears. Tears of all sizes are subject to muscle degeneration. The degree of muscle degeneration following RC tears is highly correlated with repair success and functional outcomes. We have recently discovered that muscle fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs) can differentiate into uncoupling protein 1 (UCP-1)–expressing beige adipocytes and induce muscle regeneration. This study evaluated the potential of local cell transplantation of beige adipose FAPs (BAT-FAPs) to treat RC muscle degeneration in a murine model of RC repair. Methods BAT-FAPs were isolated from muscle in UCP-1 reporter mice by flow cytometry as UCP-1+/Sca1+/PDGFR+/CD31–/CD45–/integrin α7–. C57/BL6J mice underwent supraspinatus tendon tear with suprascapular nerve transection followed by repair 2 or 6 weeks after the initial injury. At the time of repair, mice received either no additional treatment, phosphate-buffered saline injection, or BAT-FAP injection. Functional outcomes were assessed by gait analysis. Mice were humanely killed at 6 weeks after cell transplantation. Supraspinatus muscle FI, fibrosis, muscle fiber size, and vascularity were analyzed and quantified via ImageJ. Analysis of variance with post hoc Tukey test and P Results Cell transplantation diminished fibrosis, FI, and atrophy and enhanced vascularization in both delayed repair models. Cell transplantation resulted in improved shoulder function as assessed with gait analysis in both the delayed repair models. Conclusions BAT-FAPs significantly reduced muscle degeneration and improved shoulder function after RC repair. BAT-FAPs hold significant promise as a therapeutic adjunct to repair for patients with advanced RC pathology.
The Catholic Neoconservative Misreading of John Paul II's Centesimus Annus Revisited

In the twilight of the twentieth and beginning of the twenty-first century, Catholic theologians and journalists who identified as members of the neoconservative political movement crafted a narrat...
What J. Viner (and Everyone Else) Overlooked in His 1936 and 1964 Reviews Concerning Keynes's Liquidity Preference Analysis in the General Theory and the 1937 Quarterly Journal of Economics Article:

J. Viner, as well as all other economists who have written on Keynes’s analysis of the rate of interest in the General Theory, erred in not taking into account Keynes’s detailed, painstaking analysis on pp.180-182 of the General Theory, where Keynes clearly and carefully derived and identified two different rates of interest, r1 and r2 , derived from (r;I,S) space, but analyzed in (r,Y) space. r1 lies on one IS curve and r2 lies on another IS curve. Keynes asks which one is the effective rate of interest, r1 or r2? Of course, the answer is that the neoclassical theory is unable to pick out either r1 or r2 . The answer is indeterminate because the neoclassical theory is “… one equation short of what is required to give a solution.” What is this equation? The missing equation is specified by Keynes in chapter 15 of the General Theory in (r,Y) space. Only Keynes’s chapter 15 liquidity preference equation in (r,Y) space will provide the “missing data” or the data “ from some other source” or the missing equation which is clearly specified and analyzed carefully in (r,Y) space. The missing equation is M = M1 M2 = L1( Y) L2(r) as specified on p.199. Keynes NEVER EVER claimed that there was a separate theory of the rate of interest that was specified only by M = M1 M2 = L1( Y) L2(r). Viner, much like Hansen, overlooked the analysis by Keynes on pp. 180-182 dealing with r1 and r2 ,as well as Keynes’s analysis and application on pp.199-202 and 208-209, respectively.
Chapter 21 – Mammals

Publisher Summary This chapter emphasizes the mammals that play major roles in both food web and energy transfer processes—either directly or indirectly via their influence through physical alterations of the habitat. Thus, it concentrates on four species/groups that play significant roles in the ecology of rivers and streams, and mention a few others which are closely associated with flowing waters. Beavers are most numerous in the headwater reaches of streams draining forested regions, and it is here that they exert the most profound ecological impact on flowing waters. Another species, Minks (Mustela vison), are carnivorous predators, feeding on a wide variety of small mammals up to and including muskrats, snowshoe hares, grouse, and even migratory waterfowl. Their diet also includes aquatic organisms such as crayfish, mollusks, and fishes. They are excellent swimmers. Minks are found in essentially all forested regions of Alaska, Canada, the Northwest Territories, and the United States. The species, Ursus americanus, feeds on fishes, using their forepaws to scoop fishes from a stream. Many other mammals, both small and large, can be found associated with rivers and streams. The water shrew (Sorex sp.) is a mouse-sized mammal that can be found swimming and diving to the bottom of sluggish water to feed upon insects. Racoons (Procyon lotor) are commonly found associated with aquatic habitats, including rivers and streams. They feed on mollusks and crayfish, which they thoroughly wash before eating. Moose (Alces americana) feed extensively on aquatic macrophytes growing in the backwaters of rivers and streams.
What is social essentialism and how does it develop

Social essentialism consists of the commonly held belief that certain ways of categorizing people (e.g., gender and race) reflect meaningful, fundamental distinctions found in nature-that some kind of category "essence" (e.g., something in their blood or their DNA) explains why groups of people (such as boys and girls) are different from one another. Yet as common as they are, essentialist beliefs can give rise to adverse consequences, including stereotyping and social prejudice. In this chapter, we examine the development of social essentialism. To begin, we briefly address the evidence that these beliefs are the result of developmental processes that unfold beginning in early childhood (and not something innate that children are born with). Then, we consider the nature of those processes; specifically, how basic processes underlying conceptual development give rise to different components of essentialist beliefs. We then address how different essentialist beliefs might be integrated into a coherent essentialist view of a category, and finally into a coherent essentialist view of a domain.