cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Polarization transformations by engineering space-variant inhomogeneous media on subwavelength scale

Radially and azimuthally polarized beams are highly desired for many applications. We proposed to engineer such beams using space-variant inhomogeneous media (SVIM) on subwavelength scale. We conducted optical experiment providing such polarization states with high purity.
On the mode of the hypocalcemic action of thyrocalcitonin and its enhancement by phosphate in rats.

The hypocalcemic action of sc porcine thyrocalcitonin (TC) administered alone or together with sodium phosphate was studied in rats. The dose of TC required to produce hypocalcemia was much lower in young male rats (27–47 days old) after an 18-hr fast than after feeding a diet with a high calcium to phosphate ratio (Ca/P = 5, Ca = 1.5%) for one week. However, the maximum 75-min response of serum calcium in the rats fed the high Ca/P diet was as great as that in the fasted rats. In older male rats (about 1 yr old), serum calcium fell 10% 2½ hr after TC alone, and 15% when phosphate (not hypocalcemic by itself) was given with TC. These effects in the older rats and in the young rats fed the high Ca/P diet seemed too large to be due solely to inhibition of the rate of bone resorption, which, in both situations, probably was lower than in the young fasted rats. Instead, the results suggested that TC, both alone and with phosphate, must cause hypocalcemia at least in part by another mechanism. In other studies...
The Relative Importance of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Rewards as Determinants of Work Satisfaction

This study investigates the nature and sources of overall work satisfaction in several occupational groups. The effects of three types of work rewards on work satisfaction are assessed. They are: intrinsic task rewards, extrinsic social rewards and extrinsic organizational rewards. Data from 1,385 workers representing five occupational groups suggest that intrinsic rewards followed by extrinsic social rewards, are powerful determinants of satisfaction across all occupational groups. Extrinsic organizational rewards appear to emerge as an important determinant only in lower-level occupations. The implications of these findings for job redesign programs are subsequently discussed.
Methylation kinetics and CpG-island methylator phenotyope status in colorectal cancer cell lines

Background: Hypermethylation of CpG islands is thought to contribute to carcinogenesis through the inactivation of tumor suppressor genes. Tumor cells with relatively high levels of CpG island methylation are considered CpG island methylator phenotypes (CIMP). The mechanisms that are responsible for regulating the activity of de novo methylation are not well understood. Results: We quantify and compare de novo methylation kinetics in CIMP and non-CIMP colon cancer cell lines in the context of different loci, following 5-aza-2’deoxycytidine (5-AZA)-mediated de-methylation of cells. In non-CIMP cells, a relatively fast rate of re-methylation is observed that starts with a certain time delay after cessation of 5-AZA treatment. CIMP cells, on the other hand, start re-methylation without a time delay but at a significantly slower rate. A mathematical model can account for these counter-intuitive results by assuming negative feedback regulation of de novo methylation activity and by further assuming that this regulation is corrupted in CIMP cells. This model further suggests that when methylation levels have grown back to physiological levels, de novo methylation activity ceases in non-CIMP cells, while it continues at a constant low level in CIMP cells. Conclusions: We propose that the faster rate of re-methylation observed in non-CIMP compared to CIMP cells in our study could be a consequence of feedback-mediated regulation of DNA methyl transferase activity. Testing this hypothesis will involve the search for specific feedback regulatory mechanisms involved in the activation of de novo methylation.
A potential catch-22 for a sustainable American ideology

Abstract The history of American ideology includes elements of increasing sustainability. Laissez-faire, racism, sexism, and anthropocentrism have been declining throughout the 20th century, as indicated by various social movements and institutional developments. Economic growth has proceeded concurrently and the material standard of living has generally done likewise. Proponents of an environmental Kuznets curve posit that continued economic growth and associated increases in the standard of living will have the effect of, and are required for, producing an increasingly sustainable ideology. Meanwhile, the tenets of ecological economics deny the possibility of perpetual economic growth on biophysical grounds, leading to the conclusion that continued economic growth will have the effect of lowering the standard of living. The convergence of these theories reveals the potential for a sustainability catch-22, whereby a sustainable ideology is required to produce a sustainable economy, but a sustainable economy is required to produce a sustainable ideology.
Error bounds for estimating bandpassed FM signals

Presented here are general limits on bandpass filter performance as a denoising step for parameter estimation. Monocomponent analytic FM signals in white Gaussian noise are assumed. Analytic and numerical evidence is presented to support the argument that the Gaussian filter can be used as a canonical bandpass filter for the purpose of such an analysis. Simple, approximate Cramer-Rao bound formulas for amplitude, phase and IF estimates are presented for limiting cases.
Masquerade detection using truncated command lines

A masquerade attack, in which one user impersonates another, can be the most serious form of computer abuse. Automatic discovery of masqueraders is sometimes undertaken by detecting significant departures from normal user behavior, as represented by a user profile formed from system audit data. While the success of this approach has been limited, the reasons for its unsatisfying performance are not obvious, possibly because most reports do not elucidate the origins of errors made by the detection mechanisms. This paper takes as its point of departure a recent series of experiments framed by Schonlau et al. (2001). In extending that work with a new classification algorithm, a 56% improvement in masquerade detection was achieved at a corresponding false-alarm rate of 1.3%. A detailed error analysis, based on an alternative data configuration, reveals why some users are good masqueraders and others are not.
Anesthetic Binding in a Pentameric Ligand-Gated Ion Channel: GLIC

Cys-loop receptors are molecular targets of general anesthetics, but the knowledge of anesthetic binding to these proteins remains limited. Here we investigate anesthetic binding to the bacterial Gloeobacter violaceus pentameric ligand-gated ion channel (GLIC), a structural homolog of cys-loop receptors, using an experimental and computational hybrid approach. Tryptophan fluorescence quenching experiments showed halothane and thiopental binding at three tryptophan-associated sites in the extracellular (EC) domain, transmembrane (TM) domain, and EC-TM interface of GLIC. An additional binding site at the EC-TM interface was predicted by docking analysis and validated by quenching experiments on the N200W GLIC mutant. The binding affinities (KD) of 2.3 ± 0.1 mM and 0.10 ± 0.01 mM were derived from the fluorescence quenching data of halothane and thiopental, respectively. Docking these anesthetics to the original GLIC crystal structure and the structures relaxed by molecular dynamics simulations revealed intrasubunit sites for most halothane binding and intersubunit sites for thiopental binding. Tryptophans were within reach of both intra- and intersubunit binding sites. Multiple molecular dynamics simulations on GLIC in the presence of halothane at different sites suggested that anesthetic binding at the EC-TM interface disrupted the critical interactions for channel gating, altered motion of the TM23 linker, and destabilized the open-channel conformation that can lead to inhibition of GLIC channel current. The study has not only provided insights into anesthetic binding in GLIC, but also demonstrated a successful fusion of experiments and computations for understanding anesthetic actions in complex proteins.
A state space approach to determining solutions to Maxwell's equations for a one-dimensional dispersive medium

The problem of propagation in linear dispersive medium with initial conditions is a problem that is incompletely treated. The authors discuss five different methods for solving this problem using a linear system approach. It is shown that the Fourier transform is not a proper tool for solving this problem. The Laplace transform is then shown to work for one type of linear system. >
Maser effect of dust plasma in space and the Langmuir radiation caused by it

Abstract Starting from the Vlasov equation in the theory of weakly turbulent plasma, we derive the law of evolution of resonant waves under maser mechanism. We discuss the growth rate of resonant Langmuir wave in the case of electron beam injection into a dust plasma. Out result shows that the maser effect can better explain the anomalous Langmuir emission in space than other instabilities such as the beam instability mentioned.
Ground Motion in Anchorage, Alaska, from the 2002 Denali Fault Earthquake: Site Response and Displacement Pulses

Data from the 2002 Denali fault earthquake recorded at 26 sites in and near Anchorage, Alaska, show a number of systematic features important in studies of site response and in constructing long-period spectra for use in earthquake engi- neering. The data demonstrate that National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) site classes are a useful way of grouping stations according to site ampli- fication. In general, the sites underlain by lower shear-wave velocities have higher amplification. The amplification on NEHRP class D sites exceeds a factor of 2 relative to an average of motions on class C sites. The amplifications are period dependent. They are in rough agreement with those from previous studies, but the new data show that the amplifications extend to at least 10 sec, periods longer than considered in previous studies. At periods longer than about 14 sec, all sites have motion of similar amplitude, and the ground displacements are similar in shape, polarization, and am- plitude for all stations. The displacement ground motion is dominated by a series of four pulses, which are associated with the three subevents identified in inversion studies (the first pulse is composed of P waves from the first subevent). Most of the high-frequency ground motion is associated with the S waves from subevent 1. The pulses from subevents 1 and 2, with moment releases corresponding to M 7.1 and 7.0, are similar to the pulse of displacement radiated by the M 7.1 Hector Mine earthquake. The signature from the largest subevent (M 7.6) is more subdued than those from the first two subevents. The two largest pulses produce response spectra with peaks at a period of about 15 sec. The spectral shape at long periods is in good agreement with the recent 2003 NEHRP code spectra but is in poor agreement with the shape obtained from Eurocode 8.
Numerical Comparison of Two Ice Crystal Formation Mechanisms on Snowfall Enhancement from Ground-Based Aerosol Generators.

Two mechanisms of ice crystal formation, contact freezing and very rapid condensation freezing, were applied to numerical simulations of ground-based seeding with the Guide Model, an orographic cloud model, to study whether different mechanisms of ice crystal formation substantially affect precipitation patterns and intensities. Although the numerical model has limitations, it was expected to indicate how different ice crystal formation rates lead to differences in precipitation patterns and intensities between the two mechanisms. Numerical simulations of two case studies are presented. One is characterized by moderate wind speeds and colder cloud temperatures, the other by stronger winds and warmer cloud temperatures. The moderate wind field and colder cloud temperatures yielded nearly half an order of magnitude more precipitation than the strong wind field and warmer cloud temperatures. Sensitivity analysis showed that snowfall as a result of forced condensation freezing is strongly dependent on the ambient temperature at the ground-based generator site, while generator site temperature had less effect on the precipitation as a result of contact freezing. Snowfall resulting from contact freezing, however, was found to be strongly dependent on the cloud drop concentration. Liquid water content did not significantly affect the precipitation resulting from ice crystal formation by either mechanism. Precipitation rates induced by forced condensation freezing are about two orders of magnitude greater than those induced by contact freezing in the cases simulated, over the Sierra crest, because of the limited time available for ice particles to grow and precipitate.
Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy following photodynamic therapy for choroidal hemangioma.

PURPOSE To report a case of circumscribed choroidal hemangioma (CCH) that responded to photodynamic therapy (PDT) but 3 years later developed polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) with exudative retinopathy. METHODS Case report. RESULTS A 59-year-old woman with a juxtapapillary CCH in her left eye was treated with a single 83-second, 7.5 mm PDT laser spot at 689 nm (50 J/cm2) 15 minutes after the injection of intravenous verteporfin (6 mg/m2). Three years later, the patient presented with photopsia in her left eye. Fundus examination of the left eye showed CCH regressed completely to a flat atrophic scar. There was diffuse macular edema and exudative retinopathy along the inferotemporal vascular arcade. On indocyanine green angiography, there were hyperfluorescent dilated choroidal vessels inferior to the foveola with late staining and leakage consistent with PCV. Hypofluorescence superior and nasal to the optic disc at the site of the treated hemangioma, consistent with choroidal ischemia, was observed. She was treated with 1.25 mg (0.05 cc) intravitreal bevacizumab. After 21 months of follow-up, the exudative retinopathy and macular edema completely regressed. CONCLUSIONS PDT is an effective treatment for CCH. Side effects of PDT for CCH are rare but include PCV.
Technical reports and other non-GPO publications

Abstract This column contains reviews of selected technical reports available from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS), and reviews of non-GPO publications. The reports listed are selected from a larger number of titles acquired by the Editor's institution. Beginning with the next issue, this review column will be co-edited by Harry Welsh, Director of Libraries, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, SD 57701. Readers are welcome to submit reviews to the editors at the above addresses.
Abstract 239: Natural Language Processing Identifies Important Side-effects In Very Elderly Patients With Hypertension,

Background: Concerns for side-effects makes the identification of treatment targets of hypertension in the very elderly challenging. We sought to utilize natural language processing (NLP) to evaluate the prevalence of prespecified side-effects in a cohort of very elderly (≥80 years) patients. Methods and Results: We conducted a two-year, cross-sectional study involving 5169 very elderly patients with and without hypertension seen by primary or specialist providers. Hypertension patients had to have a prior hypertension ICD-9 code in the electronic medical records problem list and ≥2 office visits in 2008 and 2009. We used NLP to analyze extracted free text reports from last clinic visits between 2008 and 2009. Of the 10 prespecified side-effects, hypotension, fatigue, and dizziness were the commonest three conditions and hypotension was significantly higher in the HTN patients. Of the 2835 patients with no prior hypertension history and 2334 hypertension patients identified, the prevalence of each prespecified item in both groups were: acute renal failure (0.3% v 0.6%, p=0.13); syncope (2.8% v 2.2%, p = 0.17), dizziness (3.1% v 4.0%, p=0.09), history of fall (1.0% v 0.9%, p=0.65), fatigue (5.4% v 4.5%, p=0.19), femoral neck fracture (0.18% v 0.04%, p=0.16), palpitations (1.2% v 1.5%, p=0.35), hypotension (4.1% v 6.6%, p<0.001), hyperkalemia (1.1% v 1.7%, p=0.04), hypokalemia (0.4% v 0.9%, p=0.01). At least one presumed side-effect was present in 17.5% of all 5169 patients. Among hypertension patients, there was no significant difference in the prevalence of the side-effects among patients with BP above (578) or below 140/90 (1756) except for acute renal failure (1.21% vs 0.40%, p = 0.03). Conclusion: Analysis of free-text outpatient notes using NLP showed that hypotension and potassium abnormalities were significantly more prevalent in very elderly patients with hypertension compared to similarly aged patients with no hypertension history.
Effect of Boron Nitride on the Mechanical and Electrochemical Properties of Cement Composite

Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) is well known for its unique properties, such as high thermal conductivity, excellent mechanical strength, high electrical insulating, and high chemical stability. This paper studies the effect of h-BN to the mechanical and electrochemical properties of cement concrete. Sodium cholate is used as an ionic surfactant to exfoliate h-BN and subsequently stabilize them in water solution. Different cement concrete samples with different doping levels of h-BN and different sizes of h-BN were prepared for comparisons. Also, steel fiber reinforced h-BN/cement concrete samples were also prepared. The results show that the addition of h-BN can improve the strength of cement composites, and the degree of reinforcement are influenced by the doping levels and feature size of h-BN. The corrosion resistance of h-BN/cement composites were also tested. Experiments results show that h-BN can enhance the corrosion resistance of cement composites.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Nonlinear optics as novel probes of molecular chirality

Second harmonic generation is allowed and phase-matchable in an anisotropic fluid medium if it is chiral. Doubly resonant sum-frequency generation has sufficient sensitivity for in situ detection of vibrational chirality of a molecular monolayer.
Anesthesiologists and the education of dentists (and others) in anesthesia.

Since the beginning of the modern era of anesthesia practice in the mid-19th century, dentists have been involved in the practice of anesthesia. Both Horace Wells, who recognized the beneficial anesthetic effect of nitrous oxide, and William Thomas Green Morton, who in 1846 made the first public demonstration of ether anesthesia, were dentists. The following discussion will seek to review the current training of dentists in anesthesia practice as well as discuss the role of physician anesthesiologists in this training and practice. An overview of the training of other physicians and non-physician health care workers in aspects of sedation, analgesia, and airway management will also be included. In 1977 Klein, Wollman, and Cohen 1 published an article in Anesthesiology in which they reviewed the practice of anesthesia by dentists. They proposed that anesthesiology training programs should help to improve the quality of dental anesthesia practice by providing anesthesia training to dentists. They said: "It is the opinion of the authors that it would benefit the profession of dentistry and the quality of outpatient dental anesthesia in this country in a positive manner if there were formally set aside a small number of anesthesia residencies for dental applicants who have good academic qualifications and show a desire for teaching and research on a dental school faculty." Anesthesia practice among dentists can include nitrous oxide sedation, oral sedation, combined oral and inhaled sedation, intravenous conscious sedation, deep sedation, and general anesthesia. The American Dental Association (ADA) has formulated a policy statement about the use of sedation and general anesthesia in dentistry. The policy states: "The use of conscious sedation, deep sedation, and general anesthesia in dentistry is safe and effective when properly administered by trained individuals. The American Dental Association strongly supports the right of appropriately trained dentists to use these modalities for the management of dental patients and is committed to ensuring their safe and effective use".
Effects of Grand Fir Monoterpenes on the Fir Engraver, Scolytus ventralis (Coleoptera: Scolytidae), and its Symbiotic Fungus

Monoterpenes present in grand fir, Abies grandis (Douglas) Lindley, phloem were tested for their effects on fir engraver, Scolytus ventralis LeConte, adults and the symbiotic fungus Trichosporium symbioticum Wright. All of the monoterpene vapors caused significant beetle mortality within 4 h. Toxicity was observed at doses normally found in the host tree, either in unattacked phloem or in reaction tissue induced by the pathogen. Incorporation of any monoterpenes into the growth medium, at doses normally found in the host tree, substantially reduced T. symbioticum growth. Limonene was the most inhibitory synthetic compound, but grand fir resin had a greater effect. This suggests that other factors are also involved in fungal inhibition.
Use of automated irrigation pumps improves quality of bowel preparation for colonoscopy

AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of automated irrigation pumps (AIPs) in improving the quality of the bowel preparation and the yield of colonoscopy. METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted at a single medical center. Outpatient colonoscopies performed during a 4-mo time period when AIPs were not in use, were compared to colonoscopies performed during control period. The main outcomes measured were quality of bowel preparation, procedures aborted due to poor preparation, recommendations to repeat at short interval due to sub-optimal bowel preparation and adenoma detection rates. RESULTS: One thousand and thirty-seven colonoscopies were included. A higher proportion of cases did not achieve a satisfactory bowel preparation when AIPs were not used (24.4% vs 10.3%, P < 0.01). The number of procedures aborted due to inadequate preparation was not significantly different, however a repeat procedure at a short interval was recommended in a higher proportion of cases when AIPs were not used (21.3% vs 6.9%, P < 0.01). Good or excellent preparation was 2.91 (95%CI: 2.04-4.15) times more likely when AIPs were used. Detection of polyps and adenomas was not significantly different. CONCLUSION: AIP use during colonoscopy results in a higher proportion of colonic preparation rated as satisfactory, although polyp detection rate is not significantly affected. Recommendations for repeat colonoscopy at shorter interval significantly decrease with the use of AIPs. This study supports the use of the irrigation pumps in endoscopy units to improve the quality of colonoscopy.
Troubled Transitions Into College and the Effects of a Small Intervention Course

Student attrition from colleges in the United States is a widespread phenomenon, posing real stresses to students, their families, and to universities. We examined the causes of poor academic perfo...
Field tests of a semiochemical-based toxic bait for suppression of corn rootworm beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

A semiochemical-based toxic bait for adult Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte and D. barberi Smith and Lawrence was broadcast over three plots (1-3 ha) of maize, Zea mays L. The bait contained an insecticide (0.3% carbaryl), a feeding stimulant (cucurbitacin), and several non pheromonal volatile attractants (totaling 0.5% of the formulation) in a dry, bran-based carrier. Bait was applied at 7-14 kg/ha (20-40 g [A1] carbaryl/ha). Relative to paired plots that were not treated with bait, numbers of D. v. virgifera and D. barberi counted on maize plants were reduced 77-85% and 55-92%, respectively, 48 h after bait applications. Likewise, relative numbers of D. v. virgifera and D. barberi captured on unbaited yellow sticky traps declined 58-91% and 67-88%, respectively, after applications of bait. Numbers of dead beetles on the ground 24 or 48 h after applications were roughly comparable to reductions in numbers of live beetles counted on plants. Activity of the bait was short-lived in the field, and populations of Diabrotica beetles in treated plots generally returned to near pretreatment levels within 1-2 wk after applications of bait. Although formulations must be improved to enhance activity and longevity, results of this study indicate that semiochemical-based baits for Diabrotica beetles are a potential tool for greatly reducing the amount of insecticide applied in maize production systems.
For County CDC,to Thinking About the Problems of Subject Construction

OBJECTIVE To county CDC,discipline development lag issues puts forward some thoughts and suggestions.METHODS A retrospective review of local CDC,the difficulties and subject construction,this paper discusses the crux of them,analyzing the causes of things.RESULTS County CDC,discipline construction did not cause enough attention,discipline development " by the preventive medical professionals to the increasing rate" and " on-job professional degree low" and " title promotion restriction policies" and many factions,affect the CDC functions and " national basic public health service project implementation effect.CONCLUSION County CDC,discipline construction must be included priority areas,construct discipline construction system,strengthening the application research,optimizing subject development environment.
Riparian subsidies and hierarchical effects of ecosystem structure on leaf breakdown in Appalachian coalfield constructed streams

Abstract Stream construction is a compensatory mitigation strategy that is commonly used in the Appalachian coalfield, eastern USA, to offset surface-mining impacts to headwater streams. Mitigation assessments currently rely on structural metrics, and there is a paucity of research concerning ecosystem functions in streams constructed for mitigation purposes on mined areas. For eight such constructed streams and four reference streams in the coalfields of southwestern Virginia, we evaluated catchment- and riparian-level land cover, measures of stream ecosystem structure, and riparian litterfall and in-stream leaf breakdown functions across two years. Mean litterfall to reference streams was approximately four times greater than constructed-stream levels. Leaf breakdown rates in coarse-mesh bags were typically faster in reference streams, with reference means exceeding constructed-stream means by 40–50%. Depressed constructed-stream rates resulted from diminished microbial + physicochemical processing of leaves and reduced macroinvertebrate-mediated breakdown. However, breakdown rates in some constructed streams were similar to reference-stream means. Among constructed streams, leaf breakdown rates varied negatively with detention-pond coverage and stream temperature and varied positively with riparian-forest cover. Our results suggest hierarchical relationships among these factors and that rapid establishment of woody riparian canopy could accelerate restoration of organic-matter functions in constructed headwater streams.
On the Circulation of Gas Near the Galactic Center

A model of a quasi-steady circulation of gas near the galactic center is considered to explain the outward motion of the 3-kpc arm. A hydromagnetic wind from the galactic nucleus reaches the 3-kpc arm, where a shock is formed; then the gas moves out of the plane and eventually returns to the nucleus. The secular behavior of the model is discussed.
Two Chromatic Conjectures: One for Vertices and One for Edges

Erdős, Faber, and Lovasz conjectured that a pairwise edge-disjoint union of n copies of the complete graph K n has chromatic number n. This seeming parlour puzzle has eluded proof for more than four decades, despite the attack by a few of this era’s more powerful combinatorial minds. Regarding edges, the list-colouring conjecture asserts, loosely, that list colouring is no more difficult than ordinary edge colouring. Probably first proposed by Vizing, this notorious conjecture—also having garnered the attention of leading combinatorialists—has itself defied proof for forty years. Like any good mature conjecture, both of these have spawned interesting mathematics vainly threatening their resolution. This chapter considers some of the related partial results in concert with the conjectures themselves.
A Distinctive Indian Political Economy: New Concepts and a Synthesizing Framework:

This article discusses Rudolphs’ contribution to the study of India’s political economy. Taking off from the ideas they presented in their work, In Pursuit of Lakshmi, the article argues that certain concepts, such as Bullock capitalists, demand-led growth, involuted pluralism, federal market economy and state as a third actor, continue to be critical in understanding India. Through these conceptual innovations, Rudolph and Rudolph not only analyzed India at a given moment but also shaped the larger agenda of debates over India’s political economy.
Planar optics at visible wavelengths based on titanium dioxide (Conference Presentation)

We present a new platform that realizes high performance metasurfaces in the visible spectrum. This platform is based on atomic layer deposition of titanium dioxide and allows molding incident light wavefront to desired shapes including holographic images, optical vortices, and Bessel beams. The focus of this work will be on the design and demonstration of planar metalenses. We report on our recent experimental realization of high numerical aperture metalenses with efficiency as high as 86%. These metalenses can focus light into a diffraction-limited spot and can be employed for imaging purposes to provide sub-wavelength imaging resolution. In addition, by the judicious design of metalens building blocks, one can achieve a multispectral chiral metalens (MCML) within a single metasurface layer. The MCML can simultaneously resolve chiral and spectral information of an object without the requirement of additional optical components such as polarizers, wave-plates, or even gratings. Using this MCML, we map the chiroptical properties of a macroscopic chiral biological specimen across the visible range. Finally, since many applications require polarization insensitive planar lenses, we discuss the experimental realization of such metalenses with numerical apertures as high as NA=0.85. These metalenses can focus incident light to a spot as small as ~0.6lambda with efficiencies up to 70%. The straightforward and CMOS-compatible fabrication process of this platform is promising for a wide range of optics-based applications in multidisciplinary science and technology.
A Review of Personal Profile Features in Personalized Learning Systems

This paper reviews literature, market reports and commercial sites in order to identify features of personal profiles. This is a preparatory step in the development of a personalized learning environment. Results indicate that several features can be included as long as they relate to use cases. We also found that privacy concerns might arise when dealing with personal profiles and measures should be taken to ensure compliance with policies and legislations on the topic, to avoid the risk of alienating users.
Public Attitudes Toward Expanded Newborn Screening.

Abstract Purpose There is limited research available on public knowledge and understanding of expanded newborn screening (NBS). The aims of this study were to assess current public knowledge and understanding of newborn screening disorders and procedures, perceived education needs, and preferences for the delivery of NBS information and education. An additional aim was to develop a beginning understanding of public attitudes toward screening for complex, severe, and in some cases untreatable disorders. Design and Methods In this preliminary descriptive study, eighty-eight participants completed surveys querying their general knowledge of NBS, preferred means of receiving NBS information and education, and their opinions about screening for severe disorders such as lysosomal storage diseases (LSD). Results Most study participants lacked general knowledge about current NBS practices, however, they supported expanding screening for severe and in some cases untreatable conditions. Most participants were enthusiastic about expanding NBS; however, those with more years of education were cautious regarding extensive costs of diagnosing and treating rare disorders. Conclusions Newborn screening continues to evolve through new technological developments and the addition of more disorders to screening panels. More research of into public acceptance of newborn screening is needed. Addressing the educational needs of the public is important for improving their understanding of NBS and promoting patient-centered care in the era of genomic screening. Practice Considerations Enhanced educational efforts are necessary for improving public understanding of newborn screening.
An Intelligent Sketching Interface for Education Using Geographic Information Systems

Students learning geography aim to be familiar with a variety of geographic features and be able to identify them on maps. Drawing the geographic entities on a map would, ideally, be a better measure of the recall of the characteristics of such entities and comprehension of the various concepts in geography. However, for teachers trying to evaluate the drawings of a large number of students, this can pose a challenge. In this work, we present a sketch recognition system designed for aiding learning in geography, a field mostly unexplored by the expansive body of work in sketch recognition and education. Our web application allows users to draw rivers on a map and uses a similarity measure to evaluate students’ work. Our main idea is to combine shape and location information of a sketch and check this against the shape information from our data set of geographic features. We evaluated the developed system with 10 users across multiple tests, and the findings reinforce our hope of helping students gain geographic knowledge in an intuitive and effective way through sketching.
Can Virtual Human Entourage Elements Facilitate Accurate Distance Judgments in VR

Entourage elements are widely used in architectural renderings to provide a sense of scale and bring the drawings to life. We explore the potential of using a photorealistic, three-dimensional, exact-scale model of a known person as an entourage element to ameliorate the classical problem of distance underestimation in immersive virtual environments, for the purposes of enhancing spatial perception accuracy during architectural design reviews.
Increasing flavor variety with herbs and spices improves relative vegetable intake in children who are propylthiouracil (PROP) tasters relative to nontasters

Abstract American children do not meet the recommended daily servings of vegetables, and previous research suggests children who can taste the bitterness of 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) are more likely to have low vegetable intake. This study tested the hypothesis that adding multiple herb and spice blends to vegetables to increase flavor variety within a meal would increase vegetable intake in 3–5 year-old children. Children attended two laboratory visits and consumed two test meals of common foods: macaroni and cheese, applesauce, carrots, milk, and water. On one visit, the meal included three servings of carrots with different herb and spice blends ( Variety condition). On the other visit, all three servings of carrots were seasoned with the same herb and spice blend ( No Variety condition). Overall, children consumed similar amounts of carrots by condition (36.5 ± 40.5 g versus 35.9 ± 43.8 g at the Variety and No Variety conditions, respectively); however, this relationship was moderated by PROP status. Children who tasted PROP as bitter (tasters) consumed a greater proportion of carrots during the Variety condition relative to nontasters ( p = 0.03). These findings suggest that children who taste PROP as bitter may be more receptive than nontasters to manipulations that increase flavor-variety of vegetables using herbs and spices.
Relationships Between Novice Teachers’ Social Resources and Workload Manageability:

Novice special education teachers (SETs) consistently report feeling overwhelmed by their workloads, and their perceptions of their workloads predict outcomes of concern, such as burnout and plans ...
Mode of Accomplishing Positive and Negative Outcomes: Its Effect on Fairness Evaluations

In their interactions, people exchange or distribute things that are considered valuable. The distribution of a particular resource can be accomplished in a number of ways and may result in either a positive or a negative outcome. The purpose of this study was to find out if and under what conditions people's conceptions of justice are similar or different in the contexts of positive and negative outcome allocations. The research is based on Tornblom's (1988) model for positive and negative outcome allocation. Subjects responded to one of eight questionnaires after reading a vignette that described a nuclear test that was conducted in either the United States or Russia. Each questionnaire version differed with respect to whom information about the possible dangers of radiation exposure following the tests should be made available, and whether information or misinformation were delivered or withheld. Findings from this study suggests that positive and negative outcome allocations sometimes follow different and sometimes the same justice principles, all depending on the mode in which the outcome allocation is accomplished. Implications from the design of this study for the interpretation of existing distributive justice and equity studies are also discussed.
Microbreweries, Place, and Identity in the United States

Since the mid-1980s, over 2,300 microbreweries and brewpubs have sprouted and flourished in the United States. We argue that this expansion is about more than just beer. It is also about a desire on the part of many Americans to re-connect with place.. Such breweries are often proudly and self-consciously local, and often use imagery and stories associated with a particular place as a means of promoting their brews. This active, conscious creation and maintenance of attachment to place is termed neolocalism. This chapter provides an overview of the geography of microbrewing and its historical development in the United States. It then analyzes how ale names and visual marketing imagery used by microbreweries tap into this powerful concept of neolocalism, and how these images serve to create local loyalties and identities. We argue that such imagery offers a valuable window into the neolocalism movement and the process of place attachment.
Mobile EEG-Based Workers’ Stress Recognition by Applying Deep Neural Network

A large number of construction workers are struggling with high stress associated with their perilous job sites. Excessive occupational stress can cause serious job difficulties by negatively impacting workers’ productivity, safety, and health. The first step to decrease the adverse outcomes of this work-related stress is to measure workers’ stress and detect the factors causing stress among workers. Various self-assessment instruments (e.g., a stress assessment questionnaire) have been used to assess workers’ perceived stress. However, these methods are compromised by several drawbacks that limit their use in the field. Firstly, these methods interrupt workers ongoing tasks. Secondly, these methods are subject to a high degree of bias, which can lead to inconsistent results. The authors’ earlier work attempted to address the limitations of these subjective methods by applying different machine learning methods (e.g., Supervised Learning algorithms) to identify the pattern of workers’ brain waves that is acquired from a wearable Electroencephalography (EEG) device, while exposed to different stressors. This research thus attempts to improve the stress recognition accuracy of the previous algorithms by developing an EEG-based stress recognition framework by applying two Deep Learning Neural Networks (DNN) structures: a convolutional deep learning neural network (deep CNN) and a Fully Connected Deep Neural Network. Results of the optimum DNN configuration yielded a maximum of 86.62% accuracy using EEG signals in recognizing workers’ stress, which is at least six percent more accurate when compared with previous handcraft feature-based stress recognition methods. Detecting workers’ stress with a high accuracy in the field will lead to enhancing workers’ safety, productivity, and health by early detection and mitigation of stressors at construction sites.
Utilizing Flow Cytometry Effectively

Flow cytometry is a flexible and useful tool in the armamentarium of translational and basic researchers. Based on a microfluidic system that has roots in the 1930s, flow cytometry allows for the multi-parametric analysis of samples on a single cell basis in a high-throughput manner. This is accomplished by passing cells sequentially through light produced by lasers of a given wavelength that excite fluorochromes or dyes to emit light in a defined spectrum. The light emitted is then collected, transferred electronically as a signal, and stored for analysis. The data collected is then analyzed using specialized software and provides information about the number and type of cells in the sample, as well as the expression of different targets. Clinically, current uses for flow cytometry are primarily in hematologic malignancies and immunology. Research applications include a wide variety of uses including phenotyping, cell death and proliferation, cell signaling, fluorescence-activated cell sorting, and monitoring immune responses. Future advancements including imaging flow cytometry and mass cytometry will serve to broaden the application of this technology.
New China Square: Chinese public space in developmental, environmental and social contexts

ABSTRACTReconfigured public spaces—particularly those established during the early years of Mao’s China—are significant features in China’s urban core areas. The motivations for maintaining urban p...
Hop testing symmetry improves with time and while wearing a functional knee brace in anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed athletes.

Abstract Background There is currently no consensus among orthopaedic surgeons as to when patients with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction are ready to return to sport or whether or not patients should wear a functional knee brace during athletic activity. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of time since return to sport and of a functional knee brace on hop distance and loading symmetry during hop testing in patients with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Methods Twenty-eight patients with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction completed hop testing after being released to return to sport and again 3 months later, both with and without wearing a custom fit extension constraint functional knee brace. The loadsol® captured plantar loading data (100 Hz) to quantify peak impact force, loading rate, and impulse during the final landing of every hop test. A limb symmetry index was calculated between surgical and non-surgical limbs for hop distance and loading measures. Findings Wearing a knee brace increased hop distance symmetry during the single and crossover hop tests and peak impact force symmetry on each test (all p Interpretation These results support using a functional knee brace during athletic activities for improving symmetry in the early return to sport period. These results also support previous findings that while hop distance symmetry improves with time, asymmetrical landing mechanics do not and should be addressed clinically.
Ticagrelor after pharmacological thrombolysis in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions: insight from a trial sequential analysis

Few randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have compared ticagrelor to clopidogrel after thrombolytic therapy in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). To assess the quality of the current evidence, a trial sequential analysis (TSA) of all the available RCTs was performed. A literature search through electronic databases for relevant RCTs was completed. Trial sequential boundaries were applied to the meta-analysis to guard against statistical error, calculate the information size (IS), and assess the quality of the currently available evidence. The safety outcome was bleeding at 30-days and the efficacy outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events at 30-days. There were 3 RCTs with a total of 3999 patients were included. For the safety and efficacy outcomes, there was no difference between the ticagrelor and clopidogrel groups (RR 0.94; 95% CI 0.56–1.60, p = 0.83) and (RR 0.87; 95% CI 0.49–1.52, p = 0.62), respectively. The corresponding TSA revealed an IS of 20,928 and 37,266 for safety and efficacy outcomes, respectively. The Z-curves for both outcomes failed to cross the conventional boundary of significance and TSA boundary, indicating no statistical difference between the ticagrelor and clopidogrel group and lack of firm evidence from the currently available RCTs to draw conclusion. Based on the current available RCTs, there is not enough evidence to support or refute better outcomes with ticagrelor in patients with STEMI treated with thrombolytics. Larger RCTs with enough power are needed before firm recommendations can be applied.
Development and evaluation of machine learning models for voxel dose predictions in online adaptive magnetic resonance guided radiation therapy

PURPOSE Daily online adaptive plan quality in magnetic resonance imaging guided radiation therapy (MRgRT) is difficult to assess in relation to the fully optimized, high quality plans traditionally established offline. Machine learning prediction models developed in this work are capable of predicting 3D dose distributions, enabling the evaluation of online adaptive plan quality to better inform adaptive decision-making in MRgRT. METHODS Artificial neural networks predicted 3D dose distributions from input variables related to patient anatomy, geometry, and target/organ-at-risk relationships in over 300 treatment plans from 53 patients receiving adaptive, linac-based MRgRT for abdominal cancers. The models do not include any beam related variables such as beam angles or fluence and were optimized to balance errors related to raw dose and specific plan quality metrics used to guide daily online adaptive decisions. RESULTS Averaged over all plans, the dose prediction error and the absolute error were 0.1 ± 3.4 Gy (0.1 ± 6.2%) and 3.5 ± 2.4 Gy (6.4 ± 4.3%) respectively. Plan metric prediction errors were -0.1 ± 1.5%, -0.5 ± 2.1%, -0.9 ± 2.2 Gy, and 0.1 ± 2.7 Gy for V95, V100, D95, and Dmean respectively. Plan metric prediction absolute errors were 1.1 ± 1.1%, 1.5 ± 1.5%, 1.9 ± 1.4 Gy, and 2.2 ± 1.6 Gy. Approximately 10% (25) of the plans studied were clearly identified by the prediction models as inferior quality plans needing further optimization and refinement. CONCLUSION Machine learning prediction models for treatment plan 3D dose distributions in online adaptive MRgRT were developed and tested. Clinical integration of the models requires minimal effort, producing 3D dose predictions for a new patient's plan using only target and OAR structures as inputs. These models can enable improved workflows for MRgRT through more informed plan optimization and plan quality assessment in real time.
Repetitive Nonreentrant Ventriculoatrial Synchrony

A 81 year old woman with a dual chamber pacemaker was found to have multiple automatic mode switch events on interrogation during routine follow-up. Review of her device electrogram tracings reveals episodes of a pacemaker-mediated arrhythmia, similar to but less well-recognized than pacemaker-mediated tachycardia, termed repetitive nonreentrant ventriculoatrial synchrony.