cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Teaching entrepreneurial communication in a chemical engineering product design capstone course

This work-in-progress paper describes the entrepreneurial approach used to structure a two-semester product design capstone course in chemical engineering. Historically, the course instructors defined the products that the student teams could create, and thus they were only tasked with developing the assigned product and were not involved in the problem identification and opportunity exploration processes. Some student commentary on course evaluations expressed desire for more freedom and creativity in this process. Therefore, this updated offering of the course did not assign specific projects and instead required the student teams to develop and pitch a unique product idea, using techniques within entrepreneurial communication. Class activities also further emphasized entrepreneurial skills such as creativity, innovation, and project and conflict management. Student commentary on the mid-semester course evaluations and anecdotally, the entrepreneurial approach has been positively received, and the students seem genuinely excited about their project topics. At the end of the course in April 2016, the instructors will review the student course evaluations and weekly student reflections. We anticipate the entrepreneurship component will affect how the students approach and value the projects.
Complications Following Surgical Intervention for Adult Lumbar Scoliosis

Advances in spinal instrumentation, surgical techniques, and critical care have resulted in substantial growth of surgery on higher-risk patients with greater degrees of spinal deformity. Despite the relatively high rates of associated complications and adverse events, multiple studies have demonstrated the potential of surgical treatment of adult spinal deformities including scoliosis to provide significant improvement in health-related quality of life measures. However, appropriate patient selection and establishing patient expectations depend on a thorough understanding of the risks and how they apply to the individual patient.
Large bandwidth silicon nitride spot-size converter for efficient supercontinuum coupling to chalcogenide waveguide

Silicon nitride spot-size converters were fabricated in a damascene process to improve the performance of supercontinuum generation in arsenic-free chalcogenide waveguides. Supercontinuum generation covering 950–1750 nm with 200 pJ pulses is demonstrated.
"Diversifying entrants, de novo start-ups, and innovation activities: a longitudinal study"

Although previous research recognizes differences between diversifying entrants and de novo start-ups, little research has examined their unique roles in, and contributions to, regional innovation ...
Missed Case Feedback and Quality Assurance Conferences in Radiology Resident Education: A Survey of United States Radiology Program Directors

Rationale and Objectives Diagnostic Radiology (DR) residents typically generate preliminary reports for imaging examinations, but few publications discuss feedback regarding missed or misinterpreted findings. Our goal was to determine the practices of United States DR residencies with respect to missed case feedback, including the role of Quality Assurance (QA) conferences. Materials and Methods A 23-item survey containing multiple-choice questions and several free text fields was created and hosted on SurveyMonkey R . An invitation to complete the survey was sent via email to all DR Program Directors (PDs) or representatives. Responses were tabulated and analyzed using SurveyMonkey R analytic tools and Microsoft Excel. Results 188 PDs or representatives were emailed, resulting in 45 survey responses. Common types of missed case feedback included resident QA case conferences (81%), resident self review of cases (72%), discussion during readout at the end of shift (70%), and faculty-resident meetings (67%). A minority of programs reported using automated methods of resident feedback, such as PACS integration or automated emails. Most resident QA conferences were held monthly (64%). Typical formats of conferences included informal discussion (43%), formal presentation (30%), or case conferences (30%). The majority (78%) of respondents rated resident missed case feedback mechanisms at their institution as at least "good". Conclusion DR residencies use a variety of mechanisms to provide feedback to residents regarding missed or misinterpreted cases, including QA conferences. Although several possibilities for improvement in feedback mechanisms were highlighted by survey responses, most respondents had a favorable view of their program's feedback processes.
Asymptotically Gaussian Experiments: Local Theory

In this chapter we study sequences, or nets, of experiments ℰv which are asymptotically Gaussian in the sense that, as v grows, they are more and more closely approximable by Gaussian experiments. The adjective “local” is meant to contrast this chapter with Chapter 11 where a “global” theory, more directly applicable to practical statistical problems, is given in a moderately general context.
Ultraviolet photochemistry as a probe of polyribonucleotide conformation.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses that exposure of nucleic acids to small doses of near-ultraviolet radiation brings chemical changes only in their pyrimidine moieties. The photochemistry of nucleic acids is discussed and analysis is made of the conformational determinants of the photoreactivity of pyrimidine residues. Selective photochemical modification of complex polynucleotides appears to occur only under particular conditions of solvent, temperature, wavelength, and exposure. The chapter aims to provide a background for future refinement of ultraviolet photochemistry as a probe of nucleic acid conformation. The chapter focuses primarily toward studies with polyribonucleotides. The chapter concludes that in evaluating the ultraviolet photochemistry of polyribonucleotides in terms of the conformational dependence of the known photoreactions, it appears that unequivocal results for various types of model polynucleotides may be lacking. More selective modification procedures evolve with the discovery of sensitization conditions that favor particular macromolecular conformations. In sensitization techniques also lies the possibility for extending near-ultraviolet photochemistry to the purine residues of nucleic acids.
Methane in groundwater before, during, and after hydraulic fracturing of the Marcellus Shale.

Concern persists over the potential for unconventional oil and gas development to contaminate groundwater with methane and other chemicals. These concerns motivated our 2-year prospective study of groundwater quality within the Marcellus Shale. We installed eight multilevel monitoring wells within bedrock aquifers of a 25-km 2 area targeted for shale gas development (SGD). Twenty-four isolated intervals within these wells were sampled monthly over 2 years and groundwater pressures were recorded before, during, and after seven shale gas wells were drilled, hydraulically fractured, and placed into production. Perturbations in groundwater pressures were detected at hilltop monitoring wells during drilling of nearby gas wells and during a gas well casing breach. In both instances, pressure changes were ephemeral ( 4 ]) ranged from detection limit to 70 mg/L, increased with aquifer depth, and, at several sites, exhibited considerable temporal variability. Methane concentrations in valley monitoring wells located above gas well laterals increased in conjunction with SGD, but CH 4 isotopic composition and hydrocarbon composition (CH 4 /C 2 H 6 ) are inconsistent with Marcellus origins for this gas. Further, salinity increased concurrently with [CH 4 ], which rules out contamination by gas phase migration of fugitive methane from structurally compromised gas wells. Collectively, our observations suggest that SGD was an unlikely source of methane in our valley wells, and that naturally occurring methane in valley settings, where regional flow systems interact with local flow systems, is more variable in concentration and composition both temporally and spatially than previously understood.
Freedmen with Firearms: White Terrorism and Black Disarmament During Reconstruction

The outcome of the Civil War brought freedom to over six million slaves of African descent. These Freedmen communities remained a critical source of labor for the agrarian based economy of the southern U.S. Conflicts erupted because former slaves sought to exercise their new freedoms against the restrictions placed on them by local authorities. New laws, mob actions and acts of organized white terrorism were used to subjugate free citizens and return them to their former stations of labor. Political activities and participation in the electoral process were violently discouraged. Vocal opponents of the new system were often targeted for murder along with their families. A vital component to this oppressive movement was a concerted effort among local southern governments to disarm African American citizens. Radical Republicans attempted to intercede with new laws based on 2nd amendment protections, but Northern indifference to the plight of former slaves made this politically futile. Unconstitutional firearm restrictions in the reconstruction south ensured that the subjugation of Freedmen would continue indefinitely. Without political agency, or the means of an organized community militia to generate such power, the realization of freedom and the rights of citizenship for African Americans remained unobtainable for nearly 100 years.
Cyclospora Cayetanensis: An Emergent and Still Perplexing Coccidian Parasite

Cyclospora infecting humans emerged as a pathogen in the late 1970s and has since been largely associated with disease of children in the tropics, travelers and expatriates to developing countries, and the immunocompromised. It has gained recent notoriety because of food-borne disease outbreaks that have sparked much interest in trying to better define the epidemiology of this most intriguing parasite. It is clear from studies performed on Cyclospora that much further research is required to better understand certain facets of this parsite’s lifecycle, interactions of the parasite with its host and interactions of the parasite with the environment.
Parameter Estimation for Nonlinearly Parameterized Gray-Box Models

Many applications involve gray-box models, where the structure of the dynamics as a function of the parameters is known, but the values of the parameters are unknown. Nonlinear estimation algorithms, such as the extended Kalman filter (EKF) and the unscented Kalman filter (UKF), are typically applied to these problems. As an alternative approach, this paper uses retrospective cost model refinement (RCMR), which optimizes a retrospective cost function to update the gain of the estimator. In this paper, we investigate RCMR by estimating a single unknown parameter that may appear nonlinearly in linear and nonlinear systems.
RAVEN: Improving Interactive Latency for the Connected Car

Increasingly, vehicles sold today are connected cars: they offer vehicle-to-infrastructure connectivity through built-in WiFi and cellular interfaces, and they act as mobile hotspots for devices in the vehicle. We study the connection quality available to connected cars today, focusing on user-facing, latency-sensitive applications. We find that network latency varies significantly and unpredictably at short time scales and that high tail latency substantially degrades user experience. We also find an increase in coverage options available due to commercial WiFi offerings and that variations in latency across network options are not well-correlated. Based on these findings, we develop RAVEN, an in-kernel MPTCP scheduler that mitigates tail latency and network unpredictability by using redundant transmission when confidence about network latency predictions is low. RAVEN has several novel design features. It operates transparently, without application modification or hints, to improve interactive latency. It seamlessly supports three or more wireless networks. Its in-kernel implementation allows proactive cancellation of transmissions made unnecessary through redundancy. Finally, it explicitly considers how the age of measurements affects confidence in predictions, allowing better handling of interactive applications that transmit infrequently and networks that exhibit periods of temporary poor performance. Results from speech, music, and recommender applications in both emulated and live vehicle experiments show substantial improvement in application response time.
Using collections data to infer biogeographic, environmental, and host structure in communities of endophytic fungi

Biodiversity collections contain a wealth of information encapsulated both in specimens and in their metadata, providing the foundation for diverse studies in fields such as ecology. Yet biodiversity repositories can present a challenge for ecological inferences because collections rarely are structured with ecological questions in mind: collections may be opportunistic in space or time, may focus on particular taxonomic groups, may reflect different collection strategies in different places or times, or may not be exhaustive in terms of retaining every specimen or having similar metadata for each record. In addition to its primary holdings, the Robert L. Gilbertson Mycological Herbarium at the University of Arizona holds a collection of living specimens of fungi isolated from the interior of healthy plants and lichens (i.e., endophytic and endolichenic fungi). Over the past decade, more than 7000 isolates from the southwestern United States were accessioned, including strains from diverse hosts in more than 50 localities across the biotically rich state of Arizona. This collection is distinctive in that metadata and barcode sequences are available for each specimen, many localities have been sampled with consistent methods, and all isolates obtained in surveys have been retained. Here, we use this herbarium collection to examine endophyte community structure in an ecological and evolutionary context. We then artificially restructure the collection to resemble collections more typical of biodiversity repositories, providing a case study for ecological insights that can be gleaned from collections that were not structured explicitly to address ecological questions. Overall, our analyses highlight the relevance of biogeography, climate, hosts, and geographic separation in endophyte community composition. This study showcases the importance of extensive metadata in collections and highlights the utility of biodiversity collections that can yield emergent insights from many surveys to answer ecological questions in mycology, ultimately providing information for understanding and conserving fungal biodiversity.
Abstract 109: Site-specific Acetylation of Cardiac Troponin I Regulates Myofilament Relaxation and Calcium Sensitivity

Objective: Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is an essential regulator of cardiac contractility and relaxation. Mutations within key regions of this regulator lead to cardiomyopathies. Further, post-transl...
Student Expectations of an RN-to-BSN Program: A Qualitative Analysis of Student and Faculty Perspectives.

The expansion of RN-to-BSN (registered nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing) education is addressing the need for nursing workforce development. However, little is known about what RNs expect fr...
Thermal and night vision image visibility and enhancement

This paper offers a review of effective methods of image representation, or visibility images in enhancement applied to the thermal images and night vision images. The quality of images is estimated by quantitative enhancement measures, which are based on the Weber-Fechner, Michelson, and other parameterized ratio and entropy-type measures. We also apply the concept of visibility images, by using different types of gradient operators which allow for extracting and enhancing features in images. Examples of gradient visibility images, Weber-Fechner, and Michelson contrast, log and power Michelson and Weber visibility images are given. Experimental results show the effectiveness of visibility images in enhancing thermal and night vision images. Different methods of image enhancement in spatial and frequency domains are analyzed on the thermal and night vision images, by using the visibility images. Experimental results show that visibility images can be used in processing in spatial and frequency domains. Here, we mention the alpha-rooting by the classical discrete Fourier transform (DFT) and quaternion DFT, the retinex method, and new gradient based histogram equalization.
Lipid and protein dynamics that shape nuclear envelope identity

The nuclear envelope (NE) is continuous with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), yet the NE carries out many functions distinct from those of bulk ER. This functional specialization depends on a unique protein composition that defines NE identity and must be both established and actively maintained. The NE undergoes extensive remodeling in interphase and mitosis, so mechanisms that seal NE holes and protect its unique composition are critical for maintaining its functions. New evidence shows that closure of NE holes relies on regulated de novo lipid synthesis, providing a link between lipid metabolism and generating and maintaining NE identity. Here, we review regulation of the lipid bilayers of the NE and suggest ways to generate lipid asymmetry across the NE despite its direct continuity with the ER. We also discuss the elusive mechanism of membrane fusion during nuclear pore complex (NPC) biogenesis. We propose a model in which NPC biogenesis is carefully controlled to ensure that a permeability barrier has been established before membrane fusion, thereby avoiding a major threat to compartmentalization.
Using Non-traditional Data Sources for Near Real-Time Estimation of Transmission Dynamics in the Hepatitis-E Outbreak in Namibia, 2017–2018

Background: Google Trends (GT) is an emerging source of data that can be used to predict, detect, and track infectious disease outbreaks. GT cumulative search volume data has been shown to correlate with cumulative case counts and to produce basic and observed reproduction number estimates analogous to those derived from more traditional epidemiological data sources. An outbreak of Hepatitis-E (Hep-E) occurred in Namibia in the fall and winter of 2017–2018. We used GT data to estimate transmission dynamics of the outbreak and compared these results with those estimated via data from HealthMap, a relatively new digital data source, and with surveillance reports from the government of Namibia published in the World Health Organization Bulletin, which is a traditional data source. Objective: Aim 1: To determine the correlation between GT relative search volume data (RSV) and cumulative case counts from the HealthMap (HM) and World Health Organization (WHO) data sources. Aim 2: To estimate and compare transmission dynamics including basic reproduction numbers (R0), observed reproduction numbers (Robs), and final outbreak size (Imax) for each of the three sources of data. Methods: GT relative search volume data regarding the term “hepatitis” in Namibia was acquired from October 13, 2017–March 2, 2018. Cumulative reported case counts were obtained from the HealthMap and WHO data sources. The Incidence Decay and Exponential Adjustment (IDEA) model was used to calculate R0, Robs, and final outbreak size for the three data sources. Results: The correlation coefficient between GT cumulative relative search volume and both HM and WHO cumulative case counts measured R = 0.93. The mean R0 and Robs estimates for the hepatitis-E outbreak in Namibia were similar between the GT, HM, and WHO data sources and are similar to previously published Hep-E R0 estimates from Uganda. Final outbreak size was similar between HM and WHO data sources; however, estimates using GT-derived data sources were smaller. Conclusions: GT cumulative search volume correlated with cumulative case counts from the HM and WHO data sources. Mean R0 and Robs values were similar among the data sources considered. GT-derived final outbreak size was smaller than both HM and WHO estimates due to diminishing search volume later in the epidemic possibly due to search fatigue; nevertheless, this data source was useful in describing the transmission dynamics of the outbreak including correlation with case counts and reproduction numbers.
E-068 Improving efficiency of acute ischemic stroke therapies: reducing door-to-needle and door-to-puncture time

Introduction/Purpose Early recanalization has been associated with a higher likelihood of favourable clinical outcome in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). It is imperative that stroke systems of care are set up to minimize workflow latencies that delay initiation of reperfusion therapies, i.e. IV tPA and mechanical thrombectomy (MT). Guidelines recommend a maximum door-to-needle (DTN) time of 60 minutes and a door-to-groin puncture time (DGPT) of 90 minutes in 50% of cases of large vessel occlusion (LVO). We aimed to evaluate various workflow latencies during stroke codes, including door-to-needle and door-to-groin puncture times, prior to and following initiation of internal quality improvement (QI) initiative at St Louis University Hospital (SLUH). Materials and Methods All patients who received IV-tPA or MT at SLUH from December 2016 to May 2018 and July 2018 to December 2019 were included in this study and dichotomized into ‘Pre-intervention’ and ‘Post-intervention’ groups. Chart review data including patient demographics, arrival method, and risk factors were collected retrospectively. In addition, relevant times were collected which included time of ED arrival, time of NIHSS, time of CT acquisition, time of tPA bolus, time of groin puncture, and time of recanalization. NIHSS at discharge and complications of therapy were also collected. Results For those receiving tPA, mean time to NIHSS was similar in the pre- and post-intervention groups, 4.28 minutes and 3.88 minutes, respectively (t=0.25, p=0.80); mean time to CT acquisition was also similar, 11.28 minutes and 12.53 minutes (t=-0.53, p=0.60). However, mean time for DTN decreased from 42.52 minutes to 33.87 minutes following the quality improvement initiative (t=2.29, p=0.02). tPA post-intervention patients were less likely to have asymptomatic ICH (χ2=6.22, p=0.01) and less likely to have other complications (χ2=4.66, p=0.03). For those receiving MT, mean time to NIHSS similar in both groups, 3.81 minutes compared to 5.55 minutes in the post-intervention group (t=-0.66, p=0.51); mean time to CT acquisition was 10.53 minutes compared to 12.23 minutes (t=-0.52, p=0.60). DGPT decreased from 101.81 minutes to 75.91 minutes (t=3.48, p=0.001) and mean time to recanalization decreased from 176.89 minutes to 109.74 minutes (t=6.68, p Conclusion Our internal QI Initiative to improve workflow latencies in the Code Stroke Protocol resulted in statistically significant reductions in DTN and DPGTs. Disclosures V. Chin: None. K. Yeboah: 5; C; Saint Louis University. A. Balushi: None. A. Guthrie: 5; C; Saint Louis University. K. Christopher: 5; C; Saint Louis University. R. Edgell: 5; C; Saint Louis University.
The gut microbiome–derived metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide modulates neuroinflammation and cognitive function with aging

Aging is associated with declines in cognitive performance, which are mediated in part by neuroinflammation, characterized by astrocyte activation and higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines; however, the upstream drivers are unknown. We investigated the potential role of the gut microbiome–derived metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) in modulating neuroinflammation and cognitive function with aging. Study 1: In middle-aged and older humans (65 ± 7 years), plasma TMAO levels were inversely related to performance on NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery tests of memory and fluid cognition (both r2 = 0.07, p < 0.05). Study 2: In mice, TMAO concentrations in plasma and the brain increased in parallel with aging (r2 = 0.60), suggesting TMAO crosses the blood-brain barrier. The greater TMAO concentrations in old mice (27 months) were associated with higher brain pro-inflammatory cytokines and markers of astrocyte activation vs. young adult mice (6 months). Study 3: To determine if TMAO independently induces an “aging-like” decline in cognitive function, young mice (6 months) were supplemented with TMAO in chow for 6 months. Compared with controls, TMAO-supplemented mice performed worse on the novel object recognition test, indicating impaired memory and learning, and had increased neuroinflammation and markers of astrocyte activation. Study 4: Human astrocytes cultured with TMAO vs. control media exhibited changes in cellular morphology and protein markers consistent with astrocyte activation, indicating TMAO directly acts on these cells. Our results provide translational insight into a novel pathway that modulates neuroinflammation and cognitive function with aging, and suggest that TMAO might be a promising target for prevention of neuroinflammation and cognitive decline with aging.
Parasitization of the sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari , by commercially available aphid parasitoids

Identification of natural enemies of novel pests is important for the development of effective integrated pest management. Commercially available parasitoids used for control of arthropod pests have potential for enhancing biological control of invasive pests. The sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is a new pest on sweet sorghum, Sorghum bicolor, in the USA. Surveys of M. sacchari have not detected any parasitoids in central Kentucky. In North America, Aphelinus abdominalis (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), Aphidius ervi (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), Aphidius colemani, and Aphidius matricariae are sold for aphid management. This study’s objective was to determine the host acceptance and suitability of M. sacchari for these parasitoid species. Host acceptance was assessed by counting attacks and oviposition strikes by parasitoids on M. sacchari. All parasitoid species accepted M. sacchari as a host in the parental generation (purchased adults) and the F1 generation (reared from M. sacchari). Host suitability was evaluated by transferring M. sacchari from host acceptance trials to caged sweet sorghum plants. Cages were monitored for aphid mummies and emerged adult parasitoids. Parental A. colemani produced the most mummies and adult parasitoids and reduced final M. sacchari numbers by 75%. A. ervi had a similar impact on M. sacchari populations but produced fewer mummies and adults. A. matricariae and A. abdominalis did not reduce M. sacchari populations. F1 parasitoids produced few adults and did not reduce M. sacchari populations. A. colemani demonstrated potential for field releases with the ability to use M. sacchari as a host and reduce aphid population growth.
Inter-Comparison of Thermal-Optical Carbon Measurements by Sunset and DRIAnalyzers Using the IMPROVE_A Protocol

Abstract. Thermal-Optical Analysis (TOA) is a class of methods widely used by long-term air quality monitoring networks for determining organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) in atmospheric aerosols collected on filters. Results from TOA vary not only with differences in operating protocols for the analysis, but also with details of the instrumentation with which a given protocol is carried out. Three models of TOA carbon analyzers have been used for the IMPROVE_A protocol in the past decade within the Chemical Speciation Network (CSN). This study presents results from inter-comparisons of these three analyzer models using two sets of CSN quartz filter samples, all analyzed with the IMPROVE_A protocol. One comparison was between the Sunset Model 5L (Sunset) analyzers and the Desert Research Institute (DRI) Model 2015 (DRI-2015) analyzers, using 4073 CSN samples collected in 2017. The other comparison was between the Sunset and the DRI Model 2001 (DRI-2001) analyzers, using 303 CSN samples collected in 2007. Both comparisons showed a high degree of inter-model consistency in total carbon (TC) and the major carbon fractions, OC and EC, with mean bias within 5 % for TC and OC, and within 12 % for EC. Relatively larger and diverse inter-model differences (mean biases of 5 %–140 %) were found for thermal subfractions of OC and EC (i.e. OC1-OC4 and EC1-EC3), with better agreement observed for subfractions with higher mass loadings and smaller within-model uncertainties. Optical charring correction was found to be critical in bringing OC and EC measurements by different TOA analyzer models into better agreement. Appreciable inter-model differences in EC between Sunset and DRI-2015 (mean bias ± SD of 21.7 % ± 12.2 %) remained for ~ 5 % of the 2017 CSN samples; examination of these analysis thermograms revealed that the optical measurement (i.e. filter reflectance and transmittance) saturated in the presence of strong absorbing materials on the filter (e.g. EC), with excessive absorption leaving insufficient dynamic range for detection of carbon pyrolysis, thus no optical charring correction. Differences in possible instrument parameters and configuration related to disagreement in OC and EC subfractions are also discussed. Our results provide a basis for future studies of uncertainties associated with the TOA analyzer model transition in assessing long-term trends of CSN carbon data. Further investigations using these data are warranted focusing on the demonstrated inter-model differences in OC and EC subfractions. The within- and inter- model uncertainties are useful for model performance evaluation.
Biomedical Materials to Repair Retinal Detachments

Implants are essential for the repair of retinal detachments. The implant buckles the wall of the eye and apposes the detached retina with the choroid, thus restoring light sensitivity to the retina. The scleral buckling also relieves traction on the retina from a shrinking vitreous body. The implant materials most commonly used are solid silicone rubber and silicone sponges, but both types have some disadvantages. A poly(hydroxyethyl acrylate-co-methyl acrylate) hydrogel implant with improved properties of softness and antibiotic absorption is also available for retinal detachment surgery. Proliferative vitreoretinopathy involves various conditions of retinal detachment complicated by vitreous fibrosis, which, after vitrectomy, may be treated with intraocular injection of fluids that support the retina against the choroid. For conditions requiring a long-term implant, silicone oil although controversial is the material of choice. Many other substances have been investigated but none better has yet been found.
Code in Place: Online Section Leading for Scalable Human-Centered Learning

Could it be the case that the number of people who want to teach computer science, and have the potential, is roughly proportional to the number of people who want to learn? During the time of COVID-19 we offered a free CS1 class to people around the world. Well-aware of the high drop-out rates reported in many massive open-access online courses (MOOCs), we augmented our course with a scalable, human-centered solution: section leading. Section leaders teach small, weekly interactive learning sessions. We hypothesize that the personalized attention adds a sense of responsibility for both student and teacher which drives learning. We recruited over 900 volunteer section leaders and more than 10,000 students in the class. To our knowledge this is the largest group of section leaders in a single CS1 course offering and the most small group interactions. The completion rate in our class was more than 10 times that usually reported for similar MOOCs. Additionally, 99% of the volunteer section leaders taught through the entire span of the course, showing the potential for large scale volunteer-driven education, and the benefit that teachers themselves derive. We also discovered the potential for replication of this model, as 34% of students in a representative-sample survey indicated they would serve as section leaders for a future offering of the course. This level of participation would be more than sufficient to field additional offerings of the course sustainably. We believe this is an intriguing case study of a model for significantly scaling human-centric CS education for all.
Pheochromocytoma in Pregnancy

Abstract Pheochromocytoma is a catecholamine-secreting tumor that arises from chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla or the sympathetic ganglia. Symptoms include paroxysmal hypertension, sweating, and palpitations. Initial diagnosis is made by measurement of blood and/or urine catecholamines and their metabolites. MRI is the most sensitive and specific imaging modality for pheochromocytoma in pregnancy. Medical management begins with alpha blockade and then the addition of beta blockade. If the pregnancy is less than 24 weeks, laparoscopic resection is an option. If the woman is already greater than 24 weeks, surgical management is usually delayed until after delivery.
Irrigation-Drainage-Climatology for Flat Humid Land

Irrigation, drainage, and climatology are combined under professional corporate management of engineer-agronomist-climatologist type to greatly increase profits on large holdings of flat humid lands; pioneering development in Mississippi River Delta is described; phenology and operations research play important parts.
Radon-Nikodym Theorem for Fuzzy Set-Valued Measures*

We study fuzzy set-valued measures in a Banach space and their relationships with fuzzy random variables. This theory is motivated by the need for a rigorous framework for the problem of inexact measurement. Our main result is a theorem of the Radon-Nikodym type for a fuzzy measure which is absolutely continuous with respect to a probability measure. Our result extends corresponding results for vector measures and for set-valued measures.
Some Further Asset Pricing Tests Using Information Variables: Portfolios vs Individual Stocks

Recent evidence has documented a predictable component in stock returns which is particularly large at low frequencies (see for example Fama and French [1099] and [1989]). Most previous studies have examined the predictability of bond portfolios, stock indices, size deciles and industry portfolios. A question which follows from these studies is the predictability of individual stock returns using the same information variables. Of particular concern is the stability of the predictive regression coefficients through time for individual stocks.
Evaluating Web-Scale Discovery Services: A Step-by-Step Guide

Selecting a web-scale discovery service is a large and important undertaking that involves a significant investment of time, staff, and resources. Finding the right match begins with a thorough and carefully planned evaluation process. In order to be successful, this process should be inclusive, goal-oriented, data-driven, user-centered, and transparent. The following article offers a step-by-step guide for developing a web-scale discovery evaluation plan rooted in these five key principles based on best practices synthesized from the literature as well as the author’s own experiences coordinating the evaluation process at Rutgers University. The goal is to offer academic libraries that are considering acquiring a web-scale discovery service a blueprint for planning a structured and comprehensive evaluation process.
Star-tree: An index structure for efficient evaluation of spatiotemporal authorizations

Typically, geospatial data include satellite imagery, digital orthophoto quads, maps, digital line graphs, census data, voter registration, land ownership data, and land use data. This data is considered sensitive based on its location (characterized by its longitude and latitude), resolution, and the time of capture, among others. Since both objects and authorizations are associated with spatial and temporal attributes, in order to process access requests efficiently, it is essential that they both be accessed using some sort of index structures. However, processing an access request under this approach requires searching two indexes - one the object index and the other the authorization index. In this paper, we propose a novel index called STAR-Tree, a Spatio Temporal Authorization-driven R -Tree, that can uniformly index both spatiotemporal objects and the authorizations that govern access to them. STAR-Tree is an extension of R-tree that allows objects of different resolutions be indexed based on their spatial and temporal attributes, as well as allows layering of spatiotemporal authorizations on the tree itself. Compared to the previously proposed RMX-Quadtree, STAR-Tree enjoys several advantages. First, the 3 dimensional nature of the STAR-Tree accommodates the temporal dimension. Second, the STAR-Tree imposes no restrictions on the region covered by the geospatial objects. Third, in the STAR-Tree images of the same resolution may overlap with one another. We demonstrate how such a tree can be constructed and maintained, and show how access requests can be processed in an efficient manner.
Causal Perception, Development of

The perception of causality develops during the first year of life. In general, this development progresses from infants perceiving the individual elements of events (e.g. particular objects, whether or not those objects touch) to their perceiving the relationship between those objects. Keywords: causal perception; launching events; collisions
Assessing parental history of hypertension: father (and mother) knows best!

In hypertensive risk studies, offspring reports are often used to establish parental history of hypertension. This method is simple and less costly than contacting parents and has been reported to be ≥84% accurate when compared with parental confirmation. The present study examined two components that contribute to overall accuracy: sensitivity (correct identification of high blood pressure) and specificity (correct identification of normal blood pressure). Undergraduate volunteers (282 women, 211 men) provided parental blood pressure information, and then blood pressure history questionnaires were mailed to their biological parents. Comparison of offspring and parent reports revealed a combination of high specificity (92.9%) and low sensitivity (68.2%), suggesting that offspring reports may be misleading when attempting to identify hypertensive parents.
Experimental induction of type 2 diabetes in aging-accelerated mice triggered Alzheimer-like pathology and memory deficits.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an age-dependent neurodegenerative disease constituting ~95% of late-onset non-familial/sporadic AD, and only ~5% accounting for early-onset familial AD. Availability of a pertinent model representing sporadic AD is essential for testing candidate therapies. Emerging evidence indicates a causal link between diabetes and AD. People with diabetes are >1.5-fold more likely to develop AD. Senescence-accelerated mouse model (SAMP8) of accelerated aging displays many features occurring early in AD. Given the role played by diabetes in the pre-disposition of AD, and the utility of SAMP8 non-transgenic mouse model of accelerated aging, we examined if high fat diet-induced experimental type 2 diabetes in SAMP8 mice will trigger pathological aging of the brain. Results showed that compared to non-diabetic SAMP8 mice, diabetic SAMP8 mice exhibited increased cerebral amyloid-β, dysregulated tau-phosphorylating glycogen synthase kinase 3β, reduced synaptophysin immunoreactivity, and displayed memory deficits, indicating Alzheimer-like changes. High fat diet-induced type 2 diabetic SAMP8 mice may represent the metabolic model of AD.
Dominant resource fairness: fair allocation of multiple resource types

We consider the problem of fair resource allocation in a system containing different resource types, where each user may have different demands for each resource. To address this problem, we propose Dominant Resource Fairness (DRF), a generalization of max-min fairness to multiple resource types. We show that DRF, unlike other possible policies, satisfies several highly desirable properties. First, DRF incentivizes users to share resources, by ensuring that no user is better off if resources are equally partitioned among them. Second, DRF is strategy-proof, as a user cannot increase her allocation by lying about her requirements. Third, DRF is envy-free, as no user would want to trade her allocation with that of another user. Finally, DRF allocations are Pareto efficient, as it is not possible to improve the allocation of a user without decreasing the allocation of another user. We have implemented DRF in the Mesos cluster resource manager, and show that it leads to better throughput and fairness than the slot-based fair sharing schemes in current cluster schedulers.
Numerical computation of near-singular and near-hypersingular integrals in higher order method of moments using curved quadrilateral patches

In numerical techniques based on the method of moments (MoM) in the surface integral equation (SIE) formulation in the frequency domain, special attention must be paid to achieving high accuracy, which includes advanced methods for numerical computation of singular and near-singular integrals defined on MoM-SIE patches. The techniques for dealing with such integrals, which arise for zero or small source-to-field distances in computing the MoM matrix entries, can broadly be classified into singularity extraction or subtraction methods and singularity cancellation or coordinate transformation methods. Also, when a MoM-SIE method is aimed at analysis of both metallic and dielectric/magnetic structures, such generality in electromagnetic MoM-SIE simulations increases the singularity of the integral kernel, and requires special treatment of highly singular integrals. Finally, this problem is even more pronounced when higher order basis functions are used for the approximation of electric and magnetic equivalent surface currents in the MoM-SIE method and when such functions are defined on curved patches.
On Properties of Quantized Consensus in Layered Sensor Networks

In this paper, we study properties of distributed consensus in layered sensor networks of the multi-layer multi-group (MLMG) structure. We show that properly designed MLMG networks maintain decentralized communication, whereas show the advantage of centralized structures. In particular, they require less number of transmissions required to reach consensus. This feature is critical for efficient distributed computing in large-scale sensor network applications. For typical classes of MLMG networks, we mathematically characterize the reduced number of transmissions compared to equivalent egalitarian decentralized structures of the same consensus dynamics. This explicit characterization based on simple graphical characteristics of MLMG structures permits an efficient design of large-scale network structures to meet desired performance requirements. In addition, we characterize the asymptotic and transient properties of consensus in MLMG networks of limited channel rates, using the probabilistic quantization schemes.
Relays from the spinal cord and solitary nucleus through the parabrachial nucleus to the forebrain in the cat

Projections from the spinal cord and solitary nucleus to the lateral parabrachial nucleus (PBN1) in the cat were directly compared using double anterograde tracing methods. The two inputs were found to overlap within a well-circumscribed zone in the rostral 2/3 of PBN1. This zone was flanked ventrally by a zone receiving only solitary nucleus input and dorsally by a zone receiving only spinal input. Other authors have shown that neurons within these three recipient zones (overlap area, solitary nucleus and spinal cord) project to different forebrain targets (hypothalamus, amygdala and thalamus, respectively). This orderly input-output organization is likely to provide part of the framework for PBN's complex involvement in the coordination of respiratory and cardiovascular activities and their association with pain, visceral sensation and emotion.
Residual diagnostics for mixture models

Abstract A sample is commonly modeled by a mixture distribution if the observations follow a common distribution, but the parameter of interest differs between observations. For example, we observe the lengths but not the ages of a sample offish. It may be reasonable to assume that length is normally distributed about an unknown mean that depends on the age of the fish. Provided there is more than one age class in the sample, then the data are distributed as a mixture of normals. In this article we assume that the data are a random sample from a mixture of exponential family distributions and that for each observation the parameter of interest is sampled independently from an unknown mixing distribution Q. The adequacy of a fitted mixture model can be assessed by examining residuals based on the ratio of the observed to expected fit. Residuals based on the homogeneity model (in which Q is a one-point distribution) display a convexity property when the data follow a mixture model; this becomes the basis fo...
Normal operation and maintenance safety lessons from the ITER US PbLi test blanket module program for a US FNSF and DEMO

Abstract A leading power reactor breeding blanket candidate for a fusion demonstration power plant (DEMO) being pursued by the US Fusion Community is the Dual Coolant Lead Lithium (DCLL) concept. The safety hazards associated with the DCLL concept as a reactor blanket have been examined in several US design studies. These studies identify the largest radiological hazards as those associated with the dust generation by plasma erosion of plasma blanket module first walls, oxidation of blanket structures at high temperature in air or steam, inventories of tritium bred in or permeating through the ferritic steel structures of the blanket module and blanket support systems, and the 210Po and 203Hg produced in the PbLi breeder/coolant. What these studies lack is the scrutiny associated with a licensing review of the DCLL concept. An insight into this process was gained during the US participation in the ITER Test Blanket Module (TBM) Program. In this paper we discuss the lessons learned during this activity and make safety proposals for the design of a Fusion Nuclear Science Facility (FNSF) or a DEMO that employs a lead lithium breeding blanket.
Characterization of a Multidrug-Resistant Clone of Invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae Serotype 6B in Alaska Using Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis and PspA Serotyping

Antimicrobial susceptibility, pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) serotyping, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) were used to evaluate clonal relatedness among 66 invasive isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 6B collected during 1982-1996 from patients in Alaska. Thirty-seven (56%) of the isolates had penicillin minimal inhibitory concentration values >/=0.125 microgram/mL and were resistant to at least 1 other antibiotic. Fourteen PspA serotypes were observed; PspA 16 was the most common (35%). Forty-five (68%) of the 66 isolates shared common and highly related PFGE patterns using 3 enzymes. Twenty-six (58%) of the isolates with common PFGE patterns were from Native Alaskan children </=2 years of age residing in 1 region of Alaska. Alaskan serotype 6B had distinct PFGE patterns, compared with the South African 6B-8 and Spanish 6B-2 multidrug-resistant clones, suggesting that the Alaskan 6B isolates were distinct from these other pneumococcal 6B clones but were genetically related to each other [corrected].
Pinned magnetization in the antiferromagnet and ferromagnet of an exchange bias system

Using polarized neutron reflectometry, we obtained separate depth profiles for pinned and unpinned magnetization across the interface of a ferromagnet/antiferromagnet bilayer as a function of the sign of exchange bias. The pinned and unpinned magnetization depth profiles are nonuniform and extend well beyond the chemical interface, suggesting an interfacial region magnetically distinct from its surroundings. A model that includes pinned and unpinned moments in the ferromagnet and antiferromagnet is developed for a complete description of the data.