cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ultrasound-mediated biophotonic imaging: A review of acousto-optical tomography and photo-acoustic tomography

This article reviews two types of ultrasound-mediated biophotonic imaging–acousto-optical tomography (AOT, also called ultrasound-modulated optical tomography) and photo-acoustic tomography (PAT, also called opto-acoustic or thermo-acoustic tomography)–both of which are based on non-ionizing optical and ultrasonic waves. The goal of these technologies is to combine the contrast advantage of the optical properties and the resolution advantage of ultrasound. In these two technologies, the imaging contrast is based primarily on the optical properties of biological tissues, and the imaging resolution is based primarily on the ultrasonic waves that either are provided externally or produced internally, within the biological tissues. In fact, ultrasonic mediation overcomes both the resolution disadvantage of pure optical imaging in thick tissues and the contrast and speckle disadvantages of pure ultrasonic imaging. In our discussion of AOT, the relationship between modulation depth and acoustic amplitude is clarified. Potential clinical applications of ultrasound-mediated biophotonic imaging include early cancer detection, functional imaging, and molecular imaging.
Acute isoniazid toxicity and the need for adequate pyridoxine supplies.

A 25-year-old, 54-kg Hispanic man who had recently started multidrug therapy for pulmonary tuberculosis presented in status epilepticus after ingesting 9 g of isoniazid in a suicide attempt. Successful management of this patient required collaboration between several institutions to provide the large amount of necessary intravenous pyridoxine. Ultimately, this single overdose depleted the supply of intravenous pyridoxine for a significant region of the state of Nebraska. Isoniazid is commonly used to treat tuberculosis, but it is encountered relatively infrequently as the cause of an acute overdose. Severe isoniazid overdoses may present as seizure activity that is refractory to conventional antiepileptic therapy. Although intravenous pyridoxine is an effective antidote for isoniazid overdoses in patients presenting with status epilepticus, this agent has few indications and is typically stocked in limited quantities. In regions with large populations of patients who receive antituberculosis therapy, collaborative networks must be created to ensure that adequate supplies of intravenous pyridoxine (≥ 20 g) are available for effective treatment of isoniazid poisonings.
Cluster-oriented scheduling in pipelined data path synthesis

We present a new algorithm for cluster-oriented scheduling (COS) in pipelined data path synthesis. First, cluster structure information is extracted from the corresponding linear graph representation of a data flow graph (DFG). Then, scheduling and allocation globally interact with the cluster information under the timing constraints of pipeline latency and data initialization interval (DII). Using this technique, the costs of registers, multiplexors, and interconnection were reduced dramatically in both the FIR and elliptic filter examples. >
Wavelet transform Mother Mapper Operator

The wavelet transform domain characterization of a signal is highly dependent upon the mother wavelet which is chosen as the kernel of the transform. A novel operator, the Mother Mapper Operator, is derived to efficiently evaluate several transforms of the same signal with different mother wavelets. The Mother Mapper Operator directly maps a transform with respect to one mother wavelet to a new transform with respect to a new, different mother wavelet. The Mother Mapper Operator leads to signal representations which involve multiple mother wavelets instead of just one mother wavelet. >
Mechanisms of aging-induced impairment of endothelium-dependent relaxation: role of tetrahydrobiopterin

Oxidative stress has been implicated as an important mechanism of vascular endothelial dysfunction induced by aging. Previous studies suggested that tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), an essential cofactor...
Application of the layer Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker method to the calculation of near-edge structure in x-ray-absorption and electron-energy-loss spectroscopy

Green’s-function methods are frequently used in the calculation of both the extended and the near-edge structures observed in x-ray-absorption and electron-energy-loss spectroscopies. To date, calculations based upon these methods have tended to be based upon a superposition of atomic potentials used to represent the crystal potential, with no attempt to calculate the self-consistent electronic potential. Many features in the near-edge region relate to charge redistribution and therefore are only approximately described by non-selfconsistent electronic potentials. In this paper we show that the layer Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker method can be used in the same way as conventional Green’s-function theories for near-edge structure, with the added advantage that the self-consistent ground-state charge is used. Spectra calculated in this manner, and compared with those obtained from other Green’s-function methods, demonstrate that self-consistency is necessary to show certain features such as molecular orbital splitting in TiO 2 ~rutile!. @S0163-1829~98!10903-7#
A new coccidian (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae), from midland brown snake, Storeria dekayi wrightorum Trapido (Ophidia: Colubridae) from Arkansas, USA

A new species of coccidian (Protista: Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) collected from the faeces of a midland brown snake Storeria dekayi wrightorum Trapido (Ophidia: Colubridae) in Arkansas, USA, is described. Oocysts of Isospora holbrooki n. sp. are subspherical to ovoidal with a smooth, colourless, bi-layered wall, measure on average 27.1 × 24.0 µm, and have a length/width (L/W) ratio of 1.1; both micropyle and oocyst residuum are absent, but a polar granule is present. Sporocysts are ovoidal, 14.8 × 10.0 µm on average (L/W 1.5); the Stieda body is nipple-like, the sub-Stieda body is ellipsoidal and the sporocyst residuum is composed of coarse granules in a cluster. Sporozoites have a spheroidal anterior refractile body, a subspheroidal posterior refractile body, and one centrally-located nucleus. This is the first description of an isosporan from the snake genus Storeria Baird & Girard as well as the largest oocysts and sporocysts of any previous snake isosporan to date.
Using Hypothesis-Driven Thinking in Strategy Consulting

This technical note describes the process of hypothesis-driven thinking, using examples from strategy consulting, medicine, and architecture. Associated with the scientific method, hypothesis-driven thinking focuses on the creative generation of alternative hypotheses and on their subsequent validation or refutation through the use of data. Hypothesis generation asks the creative question, "What if ...?" Hypothesis testing follows with "If ..., then ..." and brings relevant data to bear on the analysis. Taken together, and repeated over time, this sequence allows us to pose ever-improving hypotheses without forfeiting the ability to explore new ideas.
Influence of supplementation method on forage use and grazing behavior by beef cattle grazing bluestem range.

Two 25-d trials (late summer and early winter) were conducted to determine the influence of supplementation method on forage use and grazing behavior. Fifteen ruminally and 12 esophageally fistulated steers (316 and 400 kg, respectively) were blocked by weight and assigned randomly to one of three treatments: 1) self-feeding supplement (via Calan gates) with salt as a limiting agent; 2) daily hand-feeding supplement plus salt; and 3) daily hand-feeding supplement without salt. Supplement intake was restricted to .95 kg.steer-1.d-1 with .23 and .40 kg of salt.steer-1.d-1 during summer and winter, respectively. Neither season nor supplementation method affected forage (1.64% of BW) or total (1.89% of BW) OM intake (P greater than .10). Total OM digestibility was greater (P less than .05) in the summer, in salt-supplemented steers, and when steers were self-fed supplement. Digestibility of NDF was greater (P less than .05) in the summer than in early winter, but did not differ among treatments (P greater than .10). Fluid dilution rate was greater (P less than .05) for salt-fed and self-fed steers during the summer but similar among treatments (P greater than .10) during the winter. Total VFA concentrations did not differ among treatments during summer, but were slightly greater (P = .07) in hand-fed steers during the winter. Steers fed supplements containing salt consistently displayed lower (P less than .01) acetate:propionate ratios, and self-fed steers had lower (P less than .01) acetate:propionate ratios during the summer. Ruminal ammonia concentrations did not differ (P greater than .10) among treatments and between periods.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Azacitidine-Induced Pericarditis: A Case Series

tudy Objective To describe three cases of pericarditis probably related to azacitidine administration in a span of 3 years at our center. Design Case series. Setting Comprehensive cancer center within a large, academic medical center. Patients Three patients with high-grade myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myeloid leukemia who received azacitidine. Intervention None. Measurements None. Main Results Patient 1 presented with pericarditis after cycle 2 of azacitidine, patient 3 presented 3 weeks after completing cycle 5, and patient 2 presented during cycle 1. All patients were treated symptomatically and responded to corticosteroids. None of the patients were re-challenged with hypomethylating agents. Use of the Naranjo adverse drug reaction probability scale indicated a probable adverse drug reaction (score of 6) for patients 1 and 3 and a possible adverse drug reaction (score of 3) for patient 2. Conclusion With the exclusion of other common causes of pericarditis, we believe it is likely that azacitidine was responsible for the findings in our patients. Providers caring for patients receiving hypomethylating agents should consider this potential adverse drug reaction in the setting of unexplained chest pain or other clinical signs consistent with cardiotoxicity.
Acoustic Features for Recognizing Musical Artist Influence

Musicologists have been interested in the topic of influence between composers for years and have developed methods and heuristics for recognizing influence in classical music. While these methods work well for music where the score is the primary source of information, this type of analysis is not well suited for modern popular music where the audio recording itself is arguably the primary representation. This paper presents two audio content-based systems for influence recognition: a system using a spectral representation (Constant-q transform) and support vector machines and another system that obtains features by using a deep belief network and then logistic regression for classification. The system using the spectral representation provides a baseline for future comparisons and evidence to support the idea that influence recognition can be performed using information extracted from the audio signal. The other system attempts to improve performance by using a deep belief network to learn features useful for influence recognition by mapping data extracted from the audio signal to labeled influence data. A dataset of about 77,000 30-second audio clips, consisting of retail previews of popular music tracks was gathered for this work. These songs were chosen from expertly-labeled influence relationship information gathered by the editors of the AllMusic guide.
Superconductivity in the Narrow Gap Semiconductor RbBi11/3Te6

Superconductivity was discovered in the narrow-gap semiconductor CsBi4Te6. A superconducting transition around 4.4 K was observed for p-type samples in temperature-dependent resistivity and magnetic susceptibility data. Stoichiometric CsBi4Te6 is not a superconductor. A remarkably high critical field of ∼10 T was estimated from the field-dependent resistivity data. The strongly anisotropic CsBi4Te6 system is monoclinic and the first member of a larger homologous series Cs4[Bi2n+4Te3n+6] that exhibits unconventional superconductivity, suggesting that proper doping of the homologous series may create a novel class of superconductors from semiconductors.
Theoretical and Experimental Study of a Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell

Theoretical and experimental analyses of the performance of a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) are presented. Using a macroscopic first-principles mathematical model of the DSSC, the effective electron diffusion coefficient, recombination rate constant, and difference between the conduction band and formal redox potentials are estimated from current–voltage (I–V) measurements. The mathematical modeling indicates that (i) diffusion is the dominant driving force for the transport of electrons and holes, and thus electric-field-induced migration can be neglected; (ii) the type of recombination rate equation has little effect on the estimates of the effective electron diffusion coefficient and the difference between the conduction band and formal redox potentials; (iii) the recombination rate constant affects both the cell open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current; (iv) the conduction band edge movement affects mostly the cell open-circuit voltage; (v) as expected, the I–V performance of the cell changes...
Study of weak and strong ground motion including nonlinearity from the Northridge, California, earthquake sequence

Abstract This article presents a new method to estimate S -wave site response relative to a regional layered crustal model. The method is useful for site-specific strong-motion prediction because the estimated site-response functions are referenced to an idealized regional layered model for which we know the ground response exactly. We applied this method to the Northridge earthquake sequence. We determined the site amplifications, from aftershocks with magnitudes 2.6 to 4.3, at 21 stations that were colocated with strong-motion stations. These site-response functions were then used to modify synthetic seismogram calculated for the Northridge mainshock in the same regional layered crustal model and thus obtain site-specific ground-motion estimates. These site-specific synthetic seismograms have higher correlation to observations in comparison to the synthetic seismograms without weak-motion site correction. They have similar amplitude and frequency content to the observations, especially at sites with recorded peak ground accelerations below 0.3 g . At sites with larger ground motions, however, this approach overestimates the strong motion. The differences are made clear when we estimate site-response functions from the strong-motion records and compare them with those from weak-motion records. We express the differences as the average ratio of the weak- to strong-motion site response (AWS ratio). When the ground motion is low, the AWS ratio is near unity, indicating that the weak- and strong-motion site responses agree with each other within the uncertainty. However, the AWS ratio increases as the ground-motion amplitude increses. The difference in weak- and strong-motion site responses becomes significant at stations where peak acceleration was above 0.3 g , peak velocity was above 20 cm/sec, or peak strain was above 0.06% during the mainshock. This result demonstrates directly from the ground-motion observations the relationship between nonlinear site response and peak ground-motion parameters. The nonlinearity is present on soft rock sites as well as on sediment sites.
Role of surface-bound intermediates in the oxygen-assisted synthesis of amides by metallic silver and gold.

A general mechanism for the oxygen-assisted synthesis of amides over metallic gold and silver surfaces has been derived from the study of acetaldehyde and dimethylamine in combination with previous work, allowing detailed comparison of the two surfaces’ reactivities. Facile acetylation of dimethylamine by acetaldehyde occurs with high selectivity on oxygen-covered silver and gold (111) crystals via a common overall mechanism with different rate-limiting steps on the two metals. Adsorbed atomic oxygen activates the N–H bond of the amine leading to the formation of an adsorbed amide, which attacks the carbonyl carbon of the aldehyde, forming an adsorbed hemiaminal. Because aldehydes are known to form readily from partial oxidation of alcohols, our mechanism also provides insight into the related catalytic coupling of alcohols and amines. The hemiaminal β-H eliminates to form the coupled amide product. On silver, β-H elimination from the hemiaminal is rate-limiting, whereas on gold desorption of the amide is...
Lipid-lowering therapy for average lipid levels: the CARE trial.

The CARE findings indicate that average LDL-cholesterol levels are too high in patients with coronary artery disease and can contribute to a reoccurrence of cardiovascular events.
Impact monitoring in stiffened composite aerospace panels by wave propagation

The technique of piezoelectric rosettes has been developed for the location of acoustic emission sources. Since the rosette-based acoustic emission source location algorithm is not dependent on the wave velocity, the method lends itself to monitoring complex composite structures where the velocity can change with wave propagation direction (due to anisotropy) or along the wave propagation path (due to tapered and multilayered geometries). This article presents the acoustic emission source location results from “blunt” impact tests conducted on a curved carbon fiber–reinforced plastic composite panel with co-cured stiffeners and bolted shear ties of overall dimensions of 0.9 m × 0.9 m. The results of these tests are of interest to follow the evolution of damage during the impact event. In addition, an impact force identification procedure is presented. The procedure is a model-based approach that minimizes the difference between predicted and experimental acoustic emission waves generated by the impact. Th...
Prognosis of Low Normal Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction in an Asymptomatic Population-Based Adult Cohort: The Multiethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Abstract Background Reduced left ventricular systolic function predicts worse outcomes. However, the optimal threshold for “normal” left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is uncertain. In general, LVEF ≥ 55% is considered to be “normal” by guidelines, with a low normal designation for LVEF being 50%–55%. We assessed the prognosis of participants with low normal LVEF in the Multiethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. All participants were asymptomatic and had no known clinical cardiovascular disease at baseline. Methods and Results A total of 4926 out of 6814 had LVEF assessed with the use of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), had no significant valvular disease, did not have myocardial infarction during follow-up, had complete data, and were included in this analysis. A total of 83/4926 (1.7%) had LVEF Conclusion Low normal LVEF is as prevalent as low LVEF in asymptomatic community-dwelling adults. We observed a gradient-response association between the 3 categories of LVEF (low, low normal, and normal) and incident CHF but not for all-cause death.
Vapor Phase Fabrication of Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Asymmetric Polymer Membranes

The fabrication of asymmetric polymer membranes via vapor phase deposition is demonstrated. In this solventless process, the dense layer is deposited first and then the porous layer is subsequently deposited onto the dense layer. A variety of functional polymer membranes can be produced by varying the precursor molecules. The functionality of the dense and porous layers can be independently tailored to be either hydrophobic or hydrophilic, resulting in membranes that are fully hydrophilic, fully hydrophobic, or asymmetric in both structure and chemical functionality. The thickness of both the porous and dense layers can be separately tuned by controlling the deposition time.
The Burden of Obesity on Diabetes in the United States: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 2008 to 2012

Abstract Background Diabetes is one of the most prevalent and costly chronic diseases in the United States. Objectives To analyze the risk of developing diabetes and the annual cost of diabetes for a US general population. Methods Data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 2008 to 2012, were used to analyze 1) probabilities of developing diabetes and 2) annual total health care expenditures for diabetics. The age-, sex-, race-, and body mass index (BMI)-specific risks of developing diabetes were estimated by fitting an exponential survival function to age at first diabetes diagnosis. Annual health care expenditures were estimated using a generalized linear model with log-link and gamma variance function. Complex sampling designs in the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey were adjusted for. All dollar values are presented in 2012 US dollars. Results We observed a more than 6 times increase in diabetes risks for class III obese (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m 2 ) individuals compared with normal-weight individuals. Using age 50 years as an example, we found a more than 3 times increase in annual health care expenditures for those with diabetes ($13,581) compared with those without diabetes ($3,954). Compared with normal-weight (18.5 ≤ BMI 2 ) individuals, class II obese (35 ≤ BMI 2 ) and class III obese (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m 2 ) individuals incurred an annual marginal cost of $628 and $756, respectively. The annual health care expenditure differentials between those with and without diabetes of age 50 years were the highest for individuals with class II ($12,907) and class III ($9,703) obesity. Conclusions This article highlights the importance of obesity on diabetes burden. Our results suggested that obesity, in particular, class II and class III (i.e., BMI ≥ 35 kg/m 2 ) obesity, is associated with a substantial increase in the risk of developing diabetes and imposes a large economic burden.
A new approach to control of dynamic systems with unilateral constraints

Abstract The problem of control for dynamic systems subjected to unilateral constraints is considered. The new approach to the description of generalized (discontinuous) solution based on the idea of discontinuos time transformation was suggesed. This approach gives the opportunity to describe the generalized solution by the differential equtions with a measure and to reduce the original optimization problem to some problem of nonsmooth optimization. As a result the optimality conditions in the special form of maximum principle can be obtained.
Associations between birthweight and overweight and obesity in school-age children.

SummaryBackground Relationships between birthweight and future obesity risk remain unclear. Objective To assess associations between birthweight and later obesity in a nationally representative cohort of early school-aged children. Methods We used linear and logistic regression to evaluate 10 186 term- or preterm children in the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten Cohort 2011 for relationships between birthweight and later obesity and change in BMI z-score from kindergarten-to-second grade. All analyses were adjusted for sex, race/ethnicity, parental education and household income. Results Compared to children born normal birthweight (NBW), high birthweight (HBW) term children and large-for-gestational-age (LGA) preterm children had significantly greater BMI z-scores from kindergarten-to-second grade (p < 0.001). Term children born HBW had higher odds of obesity by kindergarten (adjusted odds ratios [aOR] 1.91, p < 0.0001). Among preterm children, odds of obesity was higher among LGA children starting in first grade (aOR 2.34, p < 0.05) and among small-for-gestational age children in second grade (aOR 2.26, p < 0.05). Compared to NBW children, HBW children had greater change in BMI z-score between kindergarten-first grade (p < 0.01). Conclusions High birthweight term and LGA preterm children had increased adjusted odds of obesity in school-age compared to their NBW counterparts. Physicians may provide counselling early in life for families of large infants to help prevent future obesity.
Cozen\'s deformity: resolved by guided growth

Proximal tibial metaphyseal fractures in children can lead to progressive and symptomatic tibial valgus. Corrective osteotomy has been abandoned, due to frequent complications, including recurrent valgus deformity. While spontaneous remodelling has been reported, this is not predictable. For children with persistent deformities, we have resorted to guided growth of the tibia. We present 19 patients who were successfully treated with guided growth, tethering the proximal medial physis. There were ten boys and nine girls, ranging in age from two to 13.6 years at the time of intervention. The mean follow-up from injury was 7.3 years. We documented the intermalleolar distance, mechanical axis deviation (by zone), medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA), and leg length discrepancy. Removal of the plate, or more recently, the metaphyseal screw, was undertaken upon normalization of the mechanical axis. Including the four patients who have undergone repeat tethering for recurrent valgus (one patient—twice), we are effectively reviewing 24 Cozen’s phenomena, making this the largest series reported in the literature. Correction of the mechanical axis and the proximal medial tibial angle was achieved in all but one patient. Limb length inequality at follow-up ranged from 0.1 to 1.5 cm, with a mean of 0.5 cm. There have been five recurrences in four patients to date; four corrected with repeat tethering and one is pending. Two patients developed significant over correction because of parental failure to pursue timely follow-up. Both have corrected to neutral with lateral tibial physeal tethering. Ten patients have attained skeletal maturity and required no further treatment. The remaining nine patients will be followed until maturity. Guided growth is an excellent choice for the management of post-traumatic tibial valgus. Our rationale for restricting medial overgrowth is twofold: (1) to restore the MPTA and (2) to reduce the length discrepancy due to tibial overgrowth caused by the fracture. Recognizing the potential for recurrent deformity following implant removal, our standard practice now includes removal of just the metaphyseal screw and subsequent reinsertion, in the event of rebound valgus deformity. Level of evidence Therapeutic IV, retrospective series/no control cohort.
Ten-year experience with ophthalmic artery chemosurgery: Ocular and recurrence-free survival

Purpose To report associations between disease- and treatment-related variables and rates of recurrence-free survival and ocular survival in eyes treated with ophthalmic artery chemosurgery (OAC) for retinoblastoma. Design Pre-post study. Subjects All eyes treated with OAC for retinoblastoma at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center between May 2006 and February 2017. Methods This retrospective review included 452 retinoblastoma eyes treated with OAC. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate recurrence-free survival (RFS), progression-free survival (PFS) and ocular survival (OcS), and Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios. Eyes treated in the pre-intravitreous chemotherapy era were analyzed separately from eyes treated in the intravitreal era. Main outcome measures Recurrence-free survival, ocular survival, associations with risk of recurrence. Results Disease and treatment characteristics were recorded over a median 23.6 month follow-up. One-year OcS, PFS and RFS were 96% (95% CI 93-99%), 88% (95% CI 88-94%) and 74% (95% CI 67-81%) in the pre-intravitreal era and 96% (95% CI 94-99%), 93% (95% CI 89-96%) and 78% (95% CI 72-83%) in the intravitreal era, respectively. Presence of vitreous seeds was associated with increased risk of recurrence in the pre-intravitreal era but not in the intravitreal era. Longer time interval between OAC sessions was associated with increased risk of recurrence and majority OAC access via the ophthalmic artery was associated with decreased risk of recurrence in both eras. Conclusions Approximately a quarter of eyes initially treated with ophthalmic artery chemosurgery develop recurrent disease, with the majority of recurrences within the first year following completion of OAC. Despite this, these eyes have a very good chance of salvage. In eyes with vitreous seeds at presentation, intravitreal injections are useful in minimizing future vitreous recurrence. Eyes that receive the majority of drug infusions via non-ophthalmic artery routes or greater interval between OAC are more likely to recur and might warrant closer monitoring.
CDBB: an NVRAM-based burst buffer coordination system for parallel file systems

For modern HPC systems, failures are treated as the norm instead of exceptions. To avoid rerunning applications from scratch, checkpoint/restart techniques are employed to periodically checkpoint intermediate data to parallel file systems. To increase HPC checkpointing speed, distributed burst buffers (DBB) have been proposed to use node-local NVRAM to absorb the bursty checkpoint data. However, without proper coordination, DBB is prone to suffer from low resource utilization. To solve this problem, we propose an NVRAM-based burst buffer coordination system, named collaborative distributed burst buffer (CDBB). CDBB coordinates all the available burst buffers, based on their priorities and states, to help overburdened burst buffers and maximize resource utilization. We built a proof-of-concept prototype and tested CDBB at the Minnesota Supercomputing Institute. Compared with a traditional DBB system, CDBB can speed up checkpointing by up to 8.4x under medium and heavy workloads and only introduces negligible overhead.
Teaching Access, or Freedom of Information Law

Based on the author’s experience developing and administering the course and materials, this article provides an introduction and resources to teach a graduate journalism or professional law school course on access to government, commonly called “freedom of information law,” which may be constructed as a capstone course in law school. The appendices provide supporting material and references.
Methods for Building Future States: Framing and Reframing

Designers have the ability to frame and reframe situations through careful observation, analyzing, synthesizing, and reconceptualizing what is possible. The inherent power of design is through the application of tools and methods to visualize the concrete and abstract. Concept mapping and modeling is a highly effective process to evaluate and communicate the relationships between object, interactions, and respective stakeholders. Subsequent design activities and output rely on transposing these interrelationships of objects as systems, subsystems, and their interactions into a tangible medium. This serves as a common denominator for project team members so that next step activities and output align towards the contextual project intent.
HO2 Radical Measurements in a Photolysis Reactor using Line-Locked Faraday Rotation Spectroscopy

We report measurements of HO2 radicals using wavelength modulated Faraday Rotation Spectroscopy in a multi-pass photolysis reactor. The current setup enables line-locked measurements to improve sensitivity and time resolution compared to the line-scanning system.
Comparative analysis of interactions between aryl hydrocarbon receptor ligand binding domain with its ligands: a computational study.

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) ligands may act as potential carcinogens or anti-tumor agents. Understanding how some of the residues in AhR ligand binding domain (AhRLBD) modulate their interactions with ligands would be useful in assessing their divergent roles including toxic and beneficial effects. To this end, we have analysed the nature of AhRLBD interactions with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-ρ-dioxin (TCDD), 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ), indole-3-carbinol (I3C) and its degradation product, 3,3′-diindolylmethane (DIM), Resveratrol (RES) and its analogue, Piceatannol (PTL) using molecular modeling approach followed by molecular dynamic simulations. Results showed that each of the AhR ligands, TCDD, FICZ, I3C, DIM, RES and PTL affect the local and global conformations of AhRLBD. The data presented in this study provide a structural understanding of AhR with its ligands and set the basis for its functions in several pathways and their related diseases.
Bubble stabilization by the star-nosed mole

The star-nosed mole sniffs for prey underwater by rapidly blowing a bubble, then sucking it back in before the bubble detaches from the nose. Experiments show how the bizarre shape of the mole's nose might contribute to stabilizing bubbles during the sniff, enabling this behavior.
Performance prediction of distributed PV generation systems using Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) and Mesh Networks

This paper demonstrates a mechanism of modeling the performance of inverters using performance data along with climatological parameters. The proposed methodology is to integrate PV generation data at inverter level from different generation sources in a single platform. A robust network architecture along with data communication devices is used for fetching the inverter level data. This data is appended with real time climatological parameters. A model is then developed for futuristic prediction of PV installation performance data with respect to climatological parameters. Artificial Neural Network (ANN) architecture is used in the process for correlating the climatological parameters with respect to each technology of solar panel for predicting DC current output of inverter. An accuracy of 93.9% is achieved through this model for predicting the DC output of a PV system.
Neural Networks for Modeling Neural Spiking in S1 Cortex.

Somatosensation is composed of two distinct modalities: touch, arising from sensors in the skin, and proprioception, resulting primarily from sensors in the muscles, combined with these same cutaneous sensors. In contrast to the wealth of information about touch, we know surprisingly little about the nature of the signals giving rise to proprioception at the cortical level. Here we investigate the use of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) to model the relationship between the firing rates of single neurons in the somatosensory cortex (S1) and several types of kinematic variables related to arm movement. To gain a better understanding of how these kinematic variables interact to create the proprioceptive responses recorded in our datasets, we train ANNs under different conditions, each involving a different set of input and output variables. We find that the addition of information about joint angles and/or muscle lengths significantly improves the prediction of neural firing rates. Our results thus provide new insight regarding the complex representations of the limb motion in S1. In addition, we conduct numerical experiments to determine the sensitivity of ANN models to various choices of training design and hyper-parameters. Our results provide a baseline and new tools for future research that utilizes machine learning to better describe and understand the activity of neurons in S1.
Remote Allylation of Unactivated C(sp3)-H Bonds Triggered by Photogenerated Amidyl Radicals.

The allylation reaction is a highly versatile transformation in chemical synthesis. While many elegant direct C(sp2)–H allylation reactions have been developed, the direct allylation of unactivated...
Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction: Indications, Technique, and Outcomes

The medial patellofemoral ligament is the primary static restraint to lateral patellar translation. It is injured in 96% to 100% of patellar dislocations that affect approximately 6 to 29 of 100,000 patients and is more common in patients younger than 20 years of age. Risk factors for patellar dislocation include patella alta, trochlear dysplasia, genu valgus, increased Q angle, and hyperlaxity. The treatment for patellar instability depends on the clinical and radiographic findings and can be nonoperative for first-time dislocations (bracing, proximal strengthening, and progressive return to sport) or operative for recurrent dislocations. It is critical for medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction to reproduce the anatomy and isometry of the native ligament. Graft choice and methods of fixation are less critical to achieve successful outcomes. Studies have reported successful outcomes and improved Kujala scores, with recurrent instability ranging from 1% to 5%. Careful surgical technique can avoid complications, including fracture, graft failure, loss of range of motion, persistent anterior knee pain, medial instability, and recurrent instability. The role of the medial quadriceps tendon femoral ligament also should be considered more in future research.
Validation of transfer map calculation for electrostatic deflectors in the code COSY INFINITY

The code COSY INFINITY uses a beamline coordinate system with a Frenet–Serret frame relative to the reference particle, and calculates differential algebra-valued transfer maps by integrating the ODEs of motion in the respective vector space over a differential algebra (DA). We described and performed computation of the DA transfer map of an electrostatic spherical deflector in a laboratory coordinate system using two conventional methods: (1) by integrating the ODEs of motion using a numerical integrator and (2) by computing analytically and in closed form the properties of the respective elliptical orbits from Kepler theory. We compared the resulting transfer maps with (3) the DA transfer map of COSY INFINITY ’s built-in electrostatic spherical deflector element ESP and (4) the transfer map of the electrostatic spherical deflector computed using the program GIOS, which uses analytic formulas from a paper1 by Hermann Wollnik regarding second-order aberrations. In addition to the electrostatic spherical deflector, we studied an electrostatic cylindrical deflector, where the Kepler theory is not applicable. We computed the DA transfer map by the ODE integration method (1), and we compared it with the transfer maps by (3) COSY INFINITY ’s built-in electrostatic cylindrical deflector element ECL and (4) GIOS. The transfer maps of electrostatic spherical and cylindrical deflectors obtained using the direct calculation methods (1) and (2) are in excellent agreement with those computed using (3) COSY INFINITY. On the other hand, we found a significant discrepancy with (4) the program GIOS.
Assessing the response of the Great Marsh to sea-level rise: Migration, submersion or survival

Abstract To survive rising sea level, salt marshes must accrete vertically, migrate laterally, or undergo a combination of the two. If sufficient sediment is available for marsh accretion, the slope of the surrounding area is relatively flat, and edge erosion is minimal, then a marsh can theoretically maintain its areal extent through a combination of vertical accretion and upland expansion. However, in cases where sediment supply is limited and the marsh is backed by steeper slopes, it is unclear whether accretion and inland migration will be sufficient to counteract the combined effects of rising sea level and edge erosion. Given these barriers to marsh expansion, inland migration may not be a viable solution to marsh vulnerability to sea-level rise. We quantify the potential changes in areal extent under future sea-level rise scenarios for the Great Marsh in northern Massachusetts, where the marsh has a limited suspended sediment supply and relatively steep upland topography. Salt marsh is identified and classified into low or high marsh using LiDAR elevation and validated using aerial photography and vegetation surveys. We generate a simple 1D-H model using locally-measured accretion rates and their relationship to marsh elevation, to determine change in elevation and dominant plant species over time. A maximum inorganic sediment available to the marsh is prescribed for certain model scenarios to test the impact of sediment limitation. This limit is calculated based on the volumetric contribution of mineral sediment to the present marsh accretion rates. Predicted changes in marsh area over a 100-year model period are determined using the surrounding elevation gradients, calculated sediment availability, projected edge erosion, and local rates of sea-level rise (SLR). The two Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) SLR scenarios used are based on the most recent IPCC report and also include the latest information concerning responses to ice sheet melting in Greenland and Antarctica. We find that as the rate of sea-level rise increases, the areal extent of the marsh decreases due to a lack of the suspended sediment needed to maintain marsh surface elevation and the inability of the marsh to encroach upon steep upland slopes. By comparing a model assuming constant accretion rates to one with mineral sediment-limited accretion, we find that when sediment if limited, marsh habitat conversion and loss occur earlier and more rapidly.
A Novel Compact Convolutional Neural Network for Real-Time Nondestructive Evaluation of Metallic Surfaces

Due to heightened concerns about quality assurance in the industry, the inspection of high-volume metallic parts has gained significant attention. In this article, we present a compact convolution neural network (CNN)-based optical nondestructive inspection scheme for high-volume metallic components. Our approach enables us to identify surface flaws as small as 2000th of an inch while discriminating them from flaw-like features, such as glue spots, dust, stains, and scratches. First, we capture the images of the metallic parts with a pixel size of $7000\times2500$ and label the images according to flawed and unflawed regions with the help of human experts. Second, we preprocess these images and form more than 120000 tiles of size $224\times 224\times3$ , which, subsequently, are fed into our compact CNN. Finally, we train the neural network by fine-tuning the hyperparameters to reduce overfitting of the data and to obtain maximum accuracy. The quantitative evaluation of this network shows that it can achieve almost 99% precision and recall of over 60 000 test images. The total image acquisition and inference time for one part-under-test is approximately 10 s. As a result, this novel compact CNN for optical inspection of surface flaws can outperform visual/manual inspection of high-volume metallic parts with very high accuracy and within a reasonable evaluation time.
Adaptation of the System Usability Scale for User Testing with Children

In this paper, we describe a pilot study in which we adapted and tested the System Usability Scales (SUS) for children between ages of 7-11. We began the study with interviews with four elementary school teachers in which we asked their help with modifying the SUS usability statements for children. We then tested those questionnaire statements with 30 children after they completed puzzles in mobile apps; we assessed the statements' understandability, dimensionality, construct validity and reliability. Our adapted SUS statements were mostly understandable. A Principal Component Analysis resulted in a four-Component model; two of those components were established as reliable. However, we were only able to support construct validity for four questionnaire statements (and none of the four Components). This pilot study contributes to the knowledgebase of user testing with children.
Glycaemic markers and all-cause mortality in older adults with and without diabetes: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study.

There is controversy regarding the performance of HbA1c in old age. We evaluated the prognostic value of HbA1c and other glycaemic markers (fructosamine, glycated albumin, fasting glucose) with mortality risk in older adults (66–90 years). This was a prospective analysis of 5636 participants (31% with diagnosed diabetes, mean age 76, 58% female, 21% black) in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study, baseline 2011–2013. We used Cox regression to examine associations of glycaemic markers (modelled in categories) with mortality risk, stratified by diagnosed diabetes status. During a median of 6 years of follow-up, 983 deaths occurred. Among older adults with diabetes, 30% had low HbA1c (<42 mmol/mol [<6.0%]) and 10% had high HbA1c (≥64 mmol/mol [≥8.0%]); low (HR 1.32 [95% CI 1.04, 1.68]) and high (HR 1.86 [95% CI 1.32, 2.62]) HbA1c were associated with mortality risk vs HbA1c 42–52 mmol/mol (6.0–6.9%) after demographic adjustment. Low fructosamine and glycated albumin were not associated with mortality risk. Both low and high fasting glucose were associated with mortality risk. After further adjustment for lifestyle and clinical risk factors, high HbA1c (HR 1.81 [95% CI 1.28, 2.56]), fructosamine (HR 1.96 [95% CI 1.43–2.69]), glycated albumin (HR 1.81 [95% CI 1.33–2.47]) and fasting glucose (HR 1.81 [95% CI 1.24, 2.66]) were associated with mortality risk. Low HbA1c and fasting glucose were no longer significantly associated with mortality risk. Among participants without diabetes, associations of glycaemic markers with mortality risk were less robust. Elevated HbA1c, fructosamine, glycated albumin and fasting glucose were associated with risk of mortality in older adults with diabetes. Low HbA1c and fasting glucose may be markers of poor prognosis but are possibly confounded by health status. Our findings support the clinical use of HbA1c in older adults with diabetes.
Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells mediate protective host responses in sepsis

Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response to infection and a leading cause of death. Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are innate-like T cells enriched in mucosal tissues that recognize bacterial ligands. We investigated MAIT cells during clinical and experimental sepsis, and their contribution to host responses. In experimental sepsis, MAIT-deficient mice had significantly increased mortality and bacterial load, and reduced tissue-specific cytokine responses. MAIT cells of WT mice expressed lower levels of IFN-γ and IL-17a during sepsis compared to sham surgery, changes not seen in non-MAIT T cells. MAIT cells of patients at sepsis presentation were significantly reduced in frequency compared to healthy donors, and were more activated, with decreased IFN-γ production, compared to both healthy donors and paired 90-day samples. Our data suggest that MAIT cells are highly activated and become dysfunctional during clinical sepsis, and contribute to tissue-specific cytokine responses that are protective against mortality during experimental sepsis.