cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Consistency of Angoff‐Based Predictions of Item Performance: Evidence of Technical Quality of Results From the Angoff Standard Setting Method

Judgmental standard-setting methods, such as the Angoff(1971) method, use item performance estimates as the basis for determining the minimum passing score (MPS). Therefore, the accuracy, of these item peformance estimates is crucial to the validity of the resulting MPS. Recent researchers (Shepard, 1995; Impara & Plake, 1998; National Research Council. 1999) have called into question the ability of judges to make accurate item performance estimates for target subgroups of candidates, such as minimally competent candidates. The propose of this study was to examine the intra- and inter-rater consistency of item performance estimates from an Angoff standard setting. Results provide evidence that item pelformance estimates were consistent within and across panels within and across years. Factors that might have influenced this high degree of reliability, in the item performance estimates in a standard setting study are discussed.
An Examination of Neighborhood Effects on Patterns of High School Attrition among Puerto Rican Youth in the New York Metropolitan Area

This study examines the effects of spatial concentration of Puerto Ricans on the likelihood of high school attrition among Puerto Rican adolescents. Using data from the 1990 U.S. Census of Population and Housing, Public Use Microdata Sample B, we found that neighborhoods with very high concentrations of Puerto Ricans did significantly increase the risk of high school attrition among adolescent Puerto Ricans regardless of family background and other relevant characteristics. We also found important differences by gender.
A comparison of postprocedural wound care treatments: do antibiotic-based ointments improve outcomes?

Background Topical antibiotic ointments are commonly used for the postprocedural treatment of superficial wounds created during dermatologic procedures. We propose that antibiotics may not be necessary for healing these wounds, have the potential to cause allergic contact dermatitis, and may contribute to the development of antibiotic resistance. Objective We sought to compare the efficacy and safety of a nonantibiotic, petrolatum-based ointment (Aquaphor Healing Ointment [AHO], Beiersdorf Inc, Wilton, CT) and an antibiotic-based first-aid ointment (Polysporin [Poly/Bac], Johnson & Johnson, New Brunswick, NJ) for the treatment of wounds created by removal of seborrheic keratoses. Methods In this double-blind study, 30 subjects each had two seborrheic keratoses removed from their trunk or abdomen; one wound was treated with AHO and one with Poly/Bac twice daily. Clinical grading of wound healing and subjective irritation was assessed at days 7, 14, and 28 postwounding. Adverse events were recorded. Results Clinical grading assessment showed no differences between wounds treated with AHO versus Poly/Bac for erythema, edema, epithelial confluence, crusting, and scabbing at any time point. Subjective irritation assessment showed wounds treated with Poly/Bac had a significant increase in burning at week 1, whereas no differences were seen between treatments for stinging, itching, tightness, tingling, or pain. One case of allergic contact dermatitis was reported after Poly/Bac treatment. Limitations This was a relatively small study. Conclusions This study demonstrated that the petrolatum-based skin protectant ointment AHO provided equivalent efficacy for wound healing as a combination antibiotic first-aid ointment. Antibiotics may not be necessary to achieve satisfactory wound healing and may cause allergic contact dermatitis.
Barriers in the diagnosis and treatment of depression in women in the USA: where are we now?

An estimated 14.8 million Americans aged 18 years and older, or approximately 6.7% of the adult US population, meet the criteria for major depressive disorder in any given year. Women are almost twice as likely as men to report lifetime history of a major depressive episode, with their first episode occurring in adolescence through to mid-life.
Mechanistic Evaluation of Ginkgo biloba Leaf Extract-Induced Genotoxicity in L5178Y Cells

Ginkgo biloba has been used for many thousand years as a traditional herbal remedy and its extract has been consumed for many decades as a dietary supplement. Ginkgo biloba leaf extract is a complex mixture with many constituents, including flavonol glycosides and terpene lactones. The National Toxicology Program 2-year cancer bioassay found that G. biloba leaf extract targets the liver, thyroid gland, and nose of rodents; however, the mechanism of G. biloba leaf extract-associated carcinogenicity remains unclear. In the current study, the in vitro genotoxicity of G. biloba leaf extract and its eight constituents was evaluated using the mouse lymphoma assay (MLA) and Comet assay. The underlying mechanisms of G. biloba leaf extract-associated genotoxicity were explored. Ginkgo biloba leaf extract, quercetin, and kaempferol resulted in a dose-dependent increase in the mutant frequency and DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). Western blot analysis confirmed that G. biloba leaf extract, quercetin, and kaempferol activated the DNA damage signaling pathway with increased expression of γ-H2AX and phosphorylated Chk2 and Chk1. In addition, G. biloba leaf extract produced reactive oxygen species and decreased glutathione levels in L5178Y cells. Loss of heterozygosity analysis of mutants indicated that G. biloba leaf extract, quercetin, and kaempferol treatments resulted in extensive chromosomal damage. These results indicate that G. biloba leaf extract and its two constituents, quercetin and kaempferol, are mutagenic to the mouse L5178Y cells and induce DSBs. Quercetin and kaempferol likely are major contributors to G. biloba leaf extract-induced genotoxicity.
Asynchronous task dispatch for high throughput computing for the eServer IBM Blue Gene® Supercomputer

High Throughput Computing (HTC) environments strive "to provide large amounts of processing capacity to customers over long periods of time by exploiting existing resources on the network" according to Basney and Livny [1]. A single Blue Gene/L rack can provide thousands of CPU resources into HTC environments. This paper discusses the implementation of an asynchronous task dispatch system that exploits a recently released feature of the Blue Gene/L control system - called HTC mode - and presents data on experimental runs consisting of the asynchronous submission of multiple batches of thousands of tasks for financial workloads. The methodology developed here demonstrates how systems with very large processor counts and light-weight kernels can be configured to deliver capacity computing at the individual processor level in future petascale computing systems.
A three-dimensional model of the rat hindlimb: Musculoskeletal geometry and muscle moment arms

As a first step towards developing a dynamic model of the rat hindlimb, we measured muscle attachment and joint center coordinates relative to bony landmarks using stereophotogrammetry. Using these measurements, we analyzed muscle moment arms as functions of joint angle for most hindlimb muscles, and tested the hypothesis that postural change alone is sufficient to alter the function of selected muscles of the leg. We described muscle attachment sites as second-order curves. The length of the fit parabola and residual errors in the orthogonal directions give an estimate of muscle attachment sizes, which are consistent with observations made during dissection. We modeled each joint as a moving point dependent on joint angle; relative endpoint errors less than 7% indicate this method as accurate. Most muscles have moment arms with a large range across the physiological domain of joint angles, but their moment arms peak and vary little within the locomotion domain. The small variation in moment arms during locomotion potentially simplifies the neural control requirements during this phase. The moment arms of a number of muscles cross zero as angle varies within the quadrupedal locomotion domain, indicating they are intrinsically stabilizing. However, in the bipedal locomotion domain, the moment arms of these muscles do not cross zero and thus are no longer intrinsically stabilizing. We found that muscle function is largely determined by the change in moment arm with joint angle, particularly the transition from quadrupedal to bipedal posture, which may alter an intrinsically stabilizing arrangement or change the control burden.
Reversal of severe angioproliferative pulmonary arterial hypertension and right ventricular hypertrophy by combined phosphodiesterase-5 and endothelin receptor inhibition

Patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) are treated with vasodilators, including endothelin receptor antagonists (ERAs), phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors, soluble guanylyl cyclase activators, and prostacyclin. Despite recent advances in pharmacotherapy for individuals with PAH, morbidity and mortality rates in this patient population remain unacceptably high. Here, we tested the hypothesis that combination therapy with two PAH drugs that target distinct biochemical pathways will provide superior efficacy relative to monotherapy in the rat SU5416 plus hypoxia (SU-Hx) model of severe angioproliferative PAH, which closely mimics the human condition. Male Sprague Dawley rats were injected with a single dose of SU5416, which is a VEGF receptor antagonist, and exposed to hypobaric hypoxia for three weeks. Rats were subsequently housed at Denver altitude and treated daily with the PDE-5 inhibitor, tadalafil (TAD), the type A endothelin receptor (ETA) antagonist, ambrisentan (AMB), or a combination of TAD and AMB for four additional weeks. Monotherapy with TAD or AMB led to modest reductions in pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) and right ventricular (RV) hypertrophy. In contrast, echocardiography and invasive hemodynamic measurements revealed that combined TAD/AMB nearly completely reversed pulmonary hemodynamic impairment, RV hypertrophy, and RV functional deficit in SU-Hx rats. Efficacy of TAD/AMB was associated with dramatic reductions in pulmonary vascular remodeling, including suppression of endothelial cell plexiform lesions, which are common in human PAH. Combined therapy with two vasodilators that are approved for the treatment of human PAH provides unprecedented efficacy in the rat SU-Hx preclinical model of severe, angioproliferative PAH.
Some Remarks About Flows in Hybrid Systems

We consider hybrid systems as networks consisting of continuous input-output systems and discrete input-output automata. Some of the outputs may be connected to some of the inputs; the others server as the inputs and outputs of the hybrid system. We define a class of regular flows for such systems and make some remarks about them.
Rooting the Ribosomal Tree of Life

The origin of the genetic code and the rooting of the tree of life (ToL) are two of the most challenging problems in the study of life’s early evolution. Although both have been the focus of numerous investigations utilizing a variety of methods, until now, each problem has been addressed independently. Typically, attempts to root the ToL have relied on phylogenies of genes with ancient duplications, which are subject to artifacts of tree reconstruction and horizontal gene transfer, or specific physiological characters believed to be primitive, which are often based on subjective criteria. Here, we demonstrate a unique method for rooting based on the identification of amino acid usage biases comprising the residual signature of a more primitive genetic code. Using a phylogenetic tree of concatenated ribosomal proteins, our analysis of amino acid compositional bias detects a strong and unique signal associated with the early expansion of the genetic code, placing the root of the translation machinery along the bacterial branch.
Sulfuric Acid Production on Europa: The Radiolysis of Sulfur in Water Ice

We measured the rate of sulfate anion production for cyclo-octal sulfur grains in frozen water at temperatures, energies, and dose rates appropriate for Europa using energetic electrons.
The effect of different mechanisms of myocardial ischemia on left ventricular function.

Myocardial ischemia may be produced by limitation of blood flow as in abrupt coronary occlusion, termed supply-type ischemia, or by increasing myocardial oxygen demand in the setting of restricted flow, termed demand-type ischemia. To examine the comparative extent and severity of the dysfunction related to both forms of ischemia, we studied anesthetized, open-chest dogs by means of two-dimensional echocardiography and tracer microspheres. Supply-type ischemia was produced by total occlusion of the LCx (n = 7); demand-type ischemia was induced by infusion of dobutamine after creation of a critical LCx stenosis (n = 6). At the time of the production of ischemia, the group with demand-type ischemia had significant increases in both heart rate (p < 0.05) and mean arterial pressure (p < 0.05), whereas the group with supply-type ischemia had a decrease in mean arterial pressure (p < 0.05). Subendocardial blood flow in the LCx region was severely depressed in supply-type ischemia (0.09 ± 0.04 ml/min/gm) compared to demand-type ischemia (1.04 ± 0.07 ml/min/gm; p < 0.01). Although both groups of animals had an abnormality of left ventricular function during ischemia, as determined by two-dimensional echocardiography, the extent of the dysfunction in the group with supply-type ischemia was greater (146 ± 12 degrees) compared to the group with demand-type ischemia (99 ± 9 degrees; p < 0.01). Similarly, the degree of left ventricular dysfunction in the group with supply-type ischemia was greater than that for the group with demand-type ischemia (p < 0.05). Thus these data suggest that supply-type ischemia produced by coronary occlusion results in a greater extent and degree of left ventricular functional abnormality than pharmacologically induced demand-type ischemia.
Double Theodolite Pibal Evaluation by Computer

Abstract The position of a pilot balloon, which is being followed by two theodolites, can be computed by using all four theodolite angles to make an optimum estimate of the balloon's position and also indicate the probable magnitude of the error in its position. The method described does not fail when the balloon is near or over the base-line, and it is suitable for digital computers.
Source code analysis and attack techniques as educational approaches to teach secure programming

We believe that a sound knowledge of security is necessary for students, and in this paper, we intend to justify this statement and show how this can be accomplished using a focused set of two courses. We will describe the layout of the courses in such a way that it would be possible for an instructor to implement our model. Although the paper makes references to different types of security issues, such as race conditions or buffer overruns, it is not necessary to have technical knowledge of what these terms mean. Space limitations restrict our ability to explain these terms; however, we have included citations to explanatory materials.
Murine Dermal Fibroblast Isolation by FACS.

Fibroblasts are the principle cell type responsible for secreting extracellular matrix and are a critical component of many organs and tissues. Fibroblast physiology and pathology underlie a spectrum of clinical entities, including fibroses in multiple organs, hypertrophic scarring following burns, loss of cardiac function following ischemia, and the formation of cancer stroma. However, fibroblasts remain a poorly characterized type of cell, largely due to their inherent heterogeneity. Existing methods for the isolation of fibroblasts require time in cell culture that profoundly influences cell phenotype and behavior. Consequently, many studies investigating fibroblast biology rely upon in vitro manipulation and do not accurately capture fibroblast behavior in vivo. To overcome this problem, we developed a FACS-based protocol for the isolation of fibroblasts from the dorsal skin of adult mice that does not require cell culture, thereby preserving the physiologic transcriptional and proteomic profile of each cell. Our strategy allows for exclusion of non-mesenchymal lineages via a lineage negative gate (Lin-) rather than a positive selection strategy to avoid pre-selection or enrichment of a subpopulation of fibroblasts expressing specific surface markers and be as inclusive as possible across this heterogeneous cell type.
Characterization of Grain Boundaries in Electronic Ceramics by Transmission Electron Microscopy

The principal high resolution transmission electron microscopy techniques used in characterizing grain boundaries in electronic ceramics are described, including those recently developed for detecting the presence of extremely thin (∼10A) intergranular phases. The capabilities of the techniques are illustrated with examples drawn from studies of ZnO varistors, PTC BaTiO3 devices and boundary layer capacitors.
Aggressive blood pressure lowering is safe, but benefit is still hard to prove.

In the Hypertension Optimal Treatment (HOT) study, hypertensive patients who were randomly assigned to undergo antihypertensive treatment to achieve a goal diastolic blood pressure of 80 mm Hg or lower did not experience fewer cardiovascular events than did patients w h o received treatment with goal pressures of 85 or 90 mm Hg. Such aggressive antihypertensive treatment was safe and well tolerated, and did result in fewer cardiovascular events in the subset of patients with diabetes. All patients were randomly assigned to take aspirin 75 trig/day or placebo, and patients in the aspirin group had a 15% lower rate of major cardiovascular events and myocardial infarctions than did patients who received placebo. This finding establishes the efficacy of aspirin in preventing strokes and myocardial infarctions in hypertensive patients.
Cardiac Inhibition of a Cladoceran and the Action of Acetylcholine and Physostigmine

SummaryThe heart of Daphnia magna can be arrested by applying a mechanical stimulus to a region in the digestive tube where the stomach enters the intestine. This induced inhibition and likewise the recovery after inhibition, has enabled us to make a study of the action of acetylcholine and physostigmine on the possible control and coordination of the heart beat. If the animal is treated with acetylcholine when the heart beat, after escape from inhibition, is still feeble, slow and irregular, there is observed an immediate acceleration in the heart beat and the cardiac activity becomes more powerful and rhythmic in character. Animals treated with physostigmine previous to the arrest of the heart, show complete restoration of the regular beat soon after the escape from inhibition.
Entanglement Reduction and Anisotropic Chain and Primitive Path Conformations in Polymer Melts under Thin Film and Cylindrical Confinement

We simulate and theoretically analyze the properties of entangled polymer melts confined in thin film and cylindrical geometries. Macromolecular-scale conformational changes are observed in our simulations: the average end-to-end vector is reduced normal to the confining surfaces and slightly extended parallel to them, and we find that the orientational distribution of the chain end-to-end vectors is transmitted to the primitive path entanglement strand level. Treating the chains as ideal random walks and the surfaces via a reflecting boundary condition we are able to accurately theoretically predict the anisotropic global and primitive-path level conformational changes. Combining this result with a recently developed microscopic theory for the dependence of the tube diameter on orientational order allows a priori predictions of how the number of entanglements decreases with confinement in a geometry-dependent manner. The theoretical results are in excellent agreement with our simulations.
Cognitive Storage for Big Data

Storage system efficiency can be significantly improved by determining the value of data. A key concept is cognitive storage, or optimizing storage systems by better comprehending the relevance of data to user needs and preferences. The Web extra at https://youtu.be/P-ZxlTLwzTI is a video of authors Giovanni Cherubini and Vinodh Venkatesan of IBM Research--Zurich discussing the concepts, applications, and benefits of cognitive storage for big data.
Analysis on Characteristics of HIV/AIDS Epidemic in a Certain City of Hebei Province

Objective To analyze the prevalence,features,and trend of HIV/AIDS in a certain city of Heibei Province.Methods The database was established according to the data of routine surveillance,sentinel surveillance for high risk population,epidemiology surveys,as well as laboratory testing records from 1989 to 2006,and then the data were conducted comprehensive analysis.Results Since the first HIV infected case was found in 1989,the total HIV antibody positive patients reached 240 by the end of 2006,60 cases were AIDS patients and 82 patients died.The HIV/AIDS cases were mainly distributed in Shahe.The HIV/AIDS cases were fetched abroad by former paid blood donors and the HIV carrier cases spread locally from abroad were increasing.The major route of transmission was through blood transfusion,and the positive rate of HIV was high among young-adult women in Shahe.The dominant strains of HIV-1 were subtype B' and CRF-BC recombinant strain.Conclusion The current prevalence of HIV/AIDS is low in this city,however,the prevalence of HIV is concentratedly increased in some areas.The results suggest that HIV transmission through blood transfusion is controlled in this city.
Study Progress of Mechanisms and Treatment of Neonatal Birth Femoral Fracture

This article is based on the searching from the United States Library of Congress Web Search science 2005 for the literature on the birth femoral fractures,reviewing its incidence,pathogenesis and treatment of such fractures of the latest developments,for the purpose of the provision of orthopedic and obstetric physician reference.Literature showed that neonatal birth femoral fractures might occur whether deli-veries were through the birth canal or by cesarean section.Whenever faced with fetal asphyxia,intracranial hemorrhage,such as critical state,it is critical to save the life of fetal babies,regardless of treatment.The prognosis of neonatal femoral shaft fractures is normally good without deformity left.
Hybrid Approach: The Columbus Way

The neurodevelopmental outcomes after surgical repair of hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) are the worst of any congenital heart disease (CHD). In addition, the mortality for the conventional stage I surgical approach, the Norwood/Sano procedure, remains high in many institutions across the globe. Although our institution mortality was acceptably low, we wondered whether there could be a more “gentle” approach to stage I palliation that might lead to both lower mortality/morbidity risks and perhaps to improve neurodevelopmental outcomes. Our strategy was to perform an initial hybrid approach using simple surgical and transcatheter techniques of cardiopulmonary bypass, followed by a more robust comprehensive stage II repair at 4–6 months, followed by a transcatheter Fontan completion.
Is Hypertension a Bone Marrow Disease

Article, see p 1353 Hypertension affects 30% of the population and 70% of elderly adults. Despite its frequency and decades of research, the etiology of most cases of adult hypertension remains undefined. Perturbations of the kidney, the vasculature, and the central nervous system have all been implicated in the pathogenesis of hypertension. As examples, in most cases of adult hypertension, systemic vascular resistance is elevated and vasodilators lower blood pressure, supporting a vascular etiology. Alternatively, renal cross-transplantation studies have shown that hypertension follows the kidney, and in most cases of experimental hypertension, pressure natriuresis is impaired. Likewise, most single-gene mutations that cause hypertension affect sodium transport in the distal nephron. In keeping with a renal etiology, diuretics and sodium restriction are effective in lowering blood pressure. There is ample evidence to suggest a central-neural cause of hypertension. Sympathetic outflow is almost uniformly increased in experimental models of hypertension and in humans with this disease, and renal denervation has been variably reported to reduce blood pressure. Adrenergic receptor antagonists are commonly used to treat hypertension, further supporting a neural etiology. Is there a unifying mechanism that underlies abnormalities of the brain, kidneys, and the vasculature in hypertension? Accumulating evidence shows that immune cells infiltrate these organs in response to hypertensive stimuli, causing their dysfunction and leading to elevated blood pressure and subsequent end-organ damage. Both innate and adaptive immune cells play a key role in this process. Monocyte/macrophages are increased in the kidney and vasculature of animal models of experimental hypertension and in humans with hypertension. Wenzel et al1 showed that deletion of monocytes/macrophages completely eliminates angiotensin II-induced hypertension and markedly improves vascular function. Monocytes have several fates on tissue entry. One is to become inflammatory macrophages that can generate reactive oxygen species, release cytokines, and produce matrix metalloproteinases. A …
The “Looking Into the Past” Photographs: Comparing and Sharing the Past

With contemporary mediated nostalgia on the rise, it is increasingly important to identify sites of past remembrance that provide potentials for a comparative and healthy engagement with our collec...
Update on Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease

Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) is an acquired disease characterized by chronic eosinophilic airway inflammation with underlying dysregulation of arachidonic acid metabolism. The purpose of this paper is to review the latest developments in our understanding of the underlying pathophysiology including the role of eosinophils, mast cells, innate lymphoid cells (ILC2), and platelets. Clinical features such as respiratory reactions induced by alcohol, aggressive nasal polyposis, and anosmia will allow for earlier recognition of these patients in clinical practice. The current state of the art management of AERD will be addressed including the ongoing central role for aspirin desensitization and high-dose aspirin therapy.
The association between severe treatment-related lymphopenia and progression-free survival in patients with newly diagnosed squamous cell head and neck cancer.

6068 Background: Severe treatment-related lymphopenia (TRL) occurs in 50% of glioblastoma and pancreatic cancer patients and is associated with early death from tumor progression. We sought to dete...
Exercise Decreases Marrow Adipose Tissue Through ß-Oxidation in Obese Running Mice

The relationship between marrow adipose tissue (MAT) and bone health is poorly understood. We used running exercise to ask whether obesity-associated MAT can be attenuated via exercise and whether this correlates with gains in bone quantity and quality. C57BL/6 mice were divided into diet-induced obesity (DIO, n = 14) versus low-fat diet (LFD, n = 14). After 3 months, 16-week-old mice were allocated to an exercise intervention (LFD-E, DIO-E) or a control group (LFD, DIO) for 6 weeks (4 groups, n = 7/group). Marrow adipocyte area was 44% higher with obesity (p < 0.0001) and after exercise 33% lower in LFD (p < 0.0001) and 39% lower in DIO (p < 0.0001). In LFD, exercise did not affect adipocyte number; however, in DIO, the adipocyte number was 56% lower (p < 0.0001). MAT was 44% higher in DIO measured by osmium-μCT, whereas exercise associated with reduced MAT (-23% in LFD, -48% in DIO, p < 0.05). MAT was additionally quantified by 9.4TMRI, and correlated with osmium-µCT (r = 0.645; p < 0.01). Consistent with higher lipid beta oxidation, perilipin 3 (PLIN3) rose with exercise in tibial mRNA (+92% in LFD, +60% in DIO, p < 0.05). Tibial µCT-derived trabecular bone volume (BV/TV) was not influenced by DIO but responded to exercise with an increase of 19% (p < 0.001). DIO was associated with higher cortical periosteal and endosteal volumes of 15% (p = 0.012) and 35% (p < 0.01), respectively, but Ct.Ar/Tt.Ar was lower by 2.4% (p < 0.05). There was a trend for higher stiffness (N/m) in DIO, and exercise augmented this further. In conclusion, obesity associated with increases in marrow lipid-measured by osmium-μCT and MRI-and partially due to an increase in adipocyte size, suggesting increased lipid uptake into preexisting adipocytes. Exercise associated with smaller adipocytes and less bone lipid, likely invoking increased s-oxidation and basal lipolysis as evidenced by higher levels of PLIN3. © 2017 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Power theft localisation using voltage measurements from distribution feeder nodes

In this study, a novel algorithm to locate regions in a distribution feeder, where power is being illegally tapped, is proposed. The basic requirements of the algorithm are voltage measuring devices located at distribution feeder nodes or transformers that can communicate data to the distribution substation. Initially, how voltage magnitude difference between successive nodes in a feeder can help identify possible locations of illegal tapping is shown. The technique is further refined by a normalised voltage double difference method, to pin-point the exact location of power theft. The algorithm does not require network parameters. Simulations are performed on the IEEE 34 node test feeder, to demonstrate the efficacy of this method.
Risk-based pricing for secondary spectrum access

Probabilistic reasoning applied to dynamic spectrum sharing systems enables them to characterize situational uncertainties and determine acceptable spectrum access behaviors. Spectrum sharing systems may use sensing data to reduce situational uncertainty and improve spectrum sharing potential. Probabilistic reasoning approaches enable risk-constrained spectrum access, a concept in which spectrum sharing is governed by maintaining acceptable levels of interference and spectrum access risks. Simulations show the potential for greater user density as a function of reduced situational uncertainty. This paper extends the risk-based spectrum access approach to secondary spectrum providers, who need to determine how to best allocate spectrum resources to users. A secondary spectrum provider revenue and cost model is developed that incorporates secondary user density, pricing models, and spectrum provider costs that are functions of interference risk and situational uncertainty. Simulations and analyses demonstrate the relationship among revenue, cost, risk, and situational uncertainty. Analysis shows significant variation in secondary spectrum provider revenue as a function of path loss uncertainty and interference risk.
Resolution and throughput optimized intraoperative spectrally encoded coherence tomography and reflectometry (iSECTR) for multimodal imaging during ophthalmic microsurgery

Limited visualization of semi-transparent structures in the eye remains a critical barrier to improving clinical outcomes and developing novel surgical techniques. While increases in imaging speed has enabled intraoperative optical coherence tomography (iOCT) imaging of surgical dynamics, several critical barriers to clinical adoption remain. Specifically, these include (1) static field-of-views (FOVs) requiring manual instrument-tracking; (2) high frame-rates require sparse sampling, which limits FOV; and (3) small iOCT FOV also limits the ability to co-register data with surgical microscopy. We previously addressed these limitations in image-guided ophthalmic microsurgery by developing microscope-integrated multimodal intraoperative swept-source spectrally encoded scanning laser ophthalmoscopy and optical coherence tomography. Complementary en face images enabled orientation and coregistration with the widefield surgical microscope view while OCT imaging enabled depth-resolved visualization of surgical instrument positions relative to anatomic structures-of-interest. In addition, we demonstrated novel integrated segmentation overlays for augmented-reality surgical guidance. Unfortunately, our previous system lacked the resolution and optical throughput for in vivo retinal imaging and necessitated removal of cornea and lens. These limitations were predominately a result of optical aberrations from imaging through a shared surgical microscope objective lens, which was modeled as a paraxial surface. Here, we present an optimized intraoperative spectrally encoded coherence tomography and reflectometry (iSECTR) system. We use a novel lens characterization method to develop an accurate model of surgical microscope objective performance and balance out inherent aberrations using iSECTR relay optics. Using this system, we demonstrate in vivo multimodal ophthalmic imaging through a surgical microscope
Multiple-antenna multiple-access joint radar and communications systems performance bounds

We investigate joint radar-communications convergence for a multiple-antenna joint radar-communications system and develop radar-communications sharing schemes in spatial domain. In this paper, we develop a multiple-antenna in-band radar and communications system model and provide a set of multiple-access performance bounds, which can be used as a system design tool based on a parameterization of radar system performance. Spatial domain approaches are proposed, and the resulting joint system performance bounds are compared and analysed. Throughout the formulation of these performance bounds, we consider range and angle as target parameters of interest. We utilize the radar estimation rate and data information rate to measure radar and communications system performance respectively.
Variability in patients with glaucomatous visual field damage is reduced using size V stimuli.

Purpose To test the hypothesis that variability of conventional automated perimetry can be reduced using size V stimuli for patients with glaucomatous visual field damage. Methods Ten patients with glaucoma and five age-matched control volunteers were tested with the Humphrey Field Analyzer program 24-2 or 30-2, after which the method of constant stimuli was used to measure frequency-of-seeing curves. This was done by controlling the perimeter with a custom program run by a personal computer. At two widely separated visual field locations on the program 24-2 or 30-2 grid, stimuli were presented in 2 dB intervals to at least 10 dB on either side of the estimated program 24-2 or 30-2 threshold. This protocol was performed for each of three stimulus sizes (Goldmann sizes I, III, and V). For the patients with glaucoma, one test location was chosen in an area of normal visual field sensitivity, the other in an area of 10 to 20 dB loss. Control subjects were tested at the (3 degrees, 3 degrees) and (-21 degrees, -9 degrees) test locations. Fifteen repetitions were performed at each intensity. Results Repeated measures analysis of variance showed that variability, as measured by the standard deviation of the cumulative Gaussian function of the fitted frequency-of-seeing curves, was lowest at the abnormal sensitivity test location in the subjects with glaucoma using a size V stimulus. Differences between the results from the V to III and V to I stimuli were statistically significant (size V = 2.9 dB, III = 10.1 dB, I = 10.1 dB). The same trend in estimated standard deviations was present in tests of the area of normal sensitivity (size V = 1.1 dB, III = 1.7 dB, I = 2.0 dB) in subjects with glaucoma and for the control subjects' peripheral test locations, but not for the central location. The smaller reduction in variability between estimated standard deviations of the size I and size III stimuli was not statistically significant at any test location. Conclusions Use of size V stimuli in conventional automated perimetry reduces variability in tests of moderately damaged and normal sensitivity test locations in subjects with glaucoma.
Lumped Capacity Systems and Overall Heat Transfer Coefficients

This chapter introduces two practical heat transfer concepts; lumped capacity and overall heat transfer coefficients. The term “lumped capacity system” means that a finite region of space is considered to be at some average temperature, even though there could be hot or cold spots in it. In numerical analysis, subdivisions of a physical object can be made, treating each subdivision as a lumped capacity element. The “overall heat transfer coefficient, U” is a parameter that captures the basic idea of heat transfer, namely, energy transfer that is driven by a temperature difference. Experimental results for a cooling mug of coffee are presented and integrated with a theoretical model that combines both concepts. The focus of this chapter is on the thermal capacity of systems, which depends on the material properties of density and specific heat. The next chapter will focus on the individual thermal resistances of systems, where thermal conductivity and emissivity are key material properties. The remaining chapters will build analysis tools for a widening range of applications.
Ist Freuds psychoanalytische Theorie tatsächlich falsifizierbar

In Grundlagen der Psychoanalyse stellt Grunbaum folgende Behauptungen auf: 1) Die psychoanalytische Theorie nimmt eine wissenschaftliche Stellung ein. 2) Der von der Psychoanalyse erhobene klinische Beweisanspruch ist „bemerkenswert schwach“(S. 443). 3) „Die Bestatigung der Haupthypothesen Freuds mus, wenn uberhaupt, in erster Linie uber gut geplante, extraklinische Untersuchungen erfolgen“(S. 443). Dann kommt er zu dem Schlus: „Wahrend man also sagen kann, die Psychoanalyse sei wissenschaftlich, lebendig’, ist sie gleichwohl derzeit sicher nicht,gesund’ (S. 444). Wir halten die Argumente Grunbaums zu den Punkten 2) und 3) fur rigoros und uberzeugend. Jedoch hangt ihre Bedeutung davon ab, ob Punkt 1) richtig ist. Grunbaum hat uns trotz seiner nachhaltigen Kritik an Popper nicht davon uberzeugen konnen, das die Psychoanalyse falsifizierbar ist.
The Situational Analysis of the Language Needs at the BP language Center in Basra, Iraq.

In 2003 Iraq faced a variety of abrupt sociocultural changes following the advent of war and the end of the Sadaam Hussein regime. The subsequent ten years of reconstruction brought about new needs and demands for Iraq and its population. These challenges came to light with Iraq’s sudden thrust into a global environment, where English is becoming increasingly important. This study examines the evolving language needs of Rumaila Operation Organization (ROO) employees based in Basra. Specifically, the need for course work that will improve English language skills and enhance performance in the work place is critical. Due to the prior restrictive political environment of Sadaam Hussein and the security risks of the last ten years of a postconflict environment, not much research has been undertaken regarding the importance of business English in Iraq. Therefore, a critical need exists to research the teaching of English in Iraq to identify education solutions useful in the short run. This needs analysis utilizes surveys and informal interviews with three different groups of stakeholders: employees/students, teachers, and administrators of ROO. This study sits within the context of a license contract between three major oil companies: South Oil Company (SOC), British Petroleum (BP), and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC). The results demonstrate a critical need for the conversational skills of the students, allowing them to gain the confidence necessary to engage in both formal and informal business discussions, and in improving their effectiveness in collaborative decision-making in this business environment. This research will allow interested stakeholders in Iraq to consider the needs of the employees/students and TESL professionals that are specific to this unique environment and its distinct type of work.
Subset Replay Based Continual Learning for Scalable Improvement of Autonomous Systems

While machine learning techniques have come a long way in showing astounding performance on various vision problems, the conventional way of training is not applicable for learning from a sequence of new data or tasks. For most real life applications like perception for autonomous vehicles, multiple stages of data collection are necessary to improve the performance of machine learning models over time. The newer observations may have a different distribution than the older ones and thus a simply fine-tuned model often overfits while forgetting the knowledge from past experiences. Recently, few lifelong or continual learning approaches have shown promising results towards overcoming this problem of catastrophic forgetting. In this work, we show that carefully choosing a small subset of the older data with the objective of promoting representativeness and diversity can also help in learning continuously. For large scale cloud based training, this can help in significantly reducing the amount of storage required along with lessening the computation and time for each retraining session.
Catholic Religious Education: Educating for Faith

The central proposal of this essay is that all Catholic Religious Education (CRE) is to educate for faith. At a minimum this means educating for a Transcendent take on life, encouraging students to reach into an ultimate horizon in order to make sense, find purpose and experience grace. Such a Transcendent perspective is in contrast to a purely immanent view, as if there is no more to life than what we make of it and by our own efforts alone.
Fueling Melanocytes with ATP from Keratinocytes Accelerates Melanin Synthesis

Melanocyte homoeostasis and their response to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) are mediated to a large extent by keratinocyte-derived factors, many of which have been well-characterized. Lee et al. describe novel effects of adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP), which is secreted by keratinocytes and can stimulate melanogenesis by melanocytes following UVA exposure. The investigators attribute the melanogenic effect of ATP to binding purinergic receptors type 2 X7 (P2X7), which are expressed on human melanocytes, leading to activation of the protein kinase C pathway. This report is the first to identify expression of specific purinergic receptors on human melanocytes, and it suggests ATP as a signaling molecule that stimulates pigmentation. Follow up on these results should clarify the physiological role of ATP in mediating the tanning response to solar UVR.
The Intersection of Technology and Health: Using Human Computer Interaction and Ubiquitous Computing to Drive Behavioral Intervention Research

The rapid proliferation of new computing technologies, including smart phones and wearables, has created new opportunities for designing, delivering, and evaluating health behavior interventions. This approach requires the collaboration of researchers from multiple fields, including computer scientists, psychologists, and health practitioners. This chapter takes a broad view of how disparate methods drive research at the intersection of computer science and behavioral science. We provide a brief history of computer science in the context of two areas that are critical to bridging technology with behavioral science: Ubiquitous Computing and Human Computer Interaction (HCI). We also provide an introduction to user-centered design, the primary paradigm for technology development in HCI. We then highlight the two psychosocial theories we have adopted to address fundamental questions at the intersection of chronic care management and technology development. Throughout the chapter we highlight collaborations with researchers from medicine (endocrinology, cardiology, pulmonology) and public health. Finally, we provide suggestions to improve the likelihood that collaborations are fruitful.
How Ethnicity, Expression, and Study Design Influence First Impressions of Approachability.

Over two studies, participants (total N = 642) rated a community sample of photographs of Black, East Asian, and White males who were smiling or portraying a neutral expression to see how participa...
5. IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING: ENGAGING HOUSESTAFF IN PATIENT SAFETY AND EVENT REPORTING

Background Residents and fellows play a key role in patient care at academic medical centers and have unique insights into quality and safety improvement opportunities. To increase integration of trainees into the quality and safety mission of our hospital, the Housestaff Quality and Safety Council (HQSC) was created in 2018. The HQSC represents a collaboration between the housestaff, Graduate Medical Education, office of Quality and Safety, interprofessional hospital staff, and senior leadership. At our institution, Aim Statement Our objective was to increase the monthly incidence of event reporting by graduate medical trainees by 20% from baseline within 12 months. Interventions We used improvement methodology to identify critical drivers of barriers to submitting event reports, which included 1) education and awareness of the hospital's reporting system, 2) time and effort associated with submitting reports, 3) culture of safety, and 4) lack of feedback and transparency surrounding reports (Figure 1). We used an iterative approach with multiple PDSA cycles to increase knowledge and engagement of event reporting. Tests of change included tip sheets, development of a trainee-run Morbidity, Mortality, and Improvement (MM&I) conference, acknowledgement by senior leadership for submitting reports, and educational interventions. Measures The baseline mean number of safety reports by trainees in the 12 months prior to our project was 24.6 per month. Results The number of safety event reports placed by trainees increased in the initial 5 months of the project, reaching special cause variation in month 2 and 4. Educational interventions and tip sheets were implemented in PDSA #1, the MM&I conference was implemented in PDSA #2, and acknowledgement by senior leadership was implemented in PDSA #3. Conclusions and Next Steps Engaging trainees in patient safety concepts through education, interactive conferences, and appreciation can increase safety event reporting by trainees. Future planned PDSA cycles include implementing changes to increase timely feedback, developing patient safety faculty and resident experts, and increasing audit and feedback of reporting data to trainees.
Supernova Reverse Shocks and SiC Growth

We present new mechanisms by which the isotopic compositions of X-type grains of presolar SiC are altered by reverse shocks in Type II supernovae. We address three epochs of reverse shocks: pressure wave from the H envelope near t = 10$^6$s; reverse shock from the presupernova wind near 10$^8-10^9$s; reverse shock from the ISM near 10$^{10}$s. Using 1-D hydrodynamics we show that the first creates a dense shell of Si and C atoms near 10$^6$s in which the SiC surely condenses. The second reverse shock causes precondensed grains to move rapidly forward through decelerated gas of different isotopic composition, during which implantation, sputtering and further condensation occur simultaneously. The third reverse shock causes only further ion implantation and sputtering, which may affect trace element isotopic compositions. Using a 25M$_{\odot}$ supernova model we propose solutions to the following unsolved questions: where does SiC condense?; why does SiC condense in preference to graphite?; why is condensed SiC $^{28}$Si-rich?; why is O richness no obstacle to SiC condensation?; how many atoms of each isotope are impacted by a grain that condenses at time t$_0$ at radial coordinate r$_0$? These many considerations are put forward as a road map for interpreting SiC X grains found in meteorites and their meaning for supernova physics.