cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Designing with the Mind in Mind: The Psychological Basis for UI Design Guidelines

UI design rules and guidelines are not simple recipes. Applying them effectively requires determining rule applicability and precedence and balancing trade-offs when rules compete. By understanding the underlying psychology, designers and evaluators enhance their ability to apply design rules. This two-part (160-minute) course explains that psychology.
Evaluation of the polyethylene glycol precipitation method for the estimation of chicken high density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Abstract 1. 1. A neutral polymer precipitation procedure using polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG) for fractionation of chicken plasma lipoproteins was optimized. 2. 2. Lipoprotein precipitation was dependent on PEG concentration and pH but was independent of PEG exposure time. 3. 3. A PEG concentration of 100 g/l (pH 8) precipitated chicken plasma very low density (VLDL) and low density (LDL) lipoproteins. 4. 4. Disc electrophoresis of supernates demonstrated that high density lipoprotein (HDL) was retained and LDL eliminated by PEG treatment of plasma. 5. 5. Gel filtration chromatography of whole plasma and PEG-treated supernatants on Bio-Gel A-5m demonstrated that HDL-cholesterol content of supernates was unchanged by PEG exposure, while VLDL-cholesterol was selectively removed.
Manifestations of pressure broadening on tuned resonance Raman fluorescence

Abstract The absorption line broadening effects of elastic collisions can be measured by observation of changes in fluorescence intensity with foreign gas pressure under certain near-resonance excitation conditions. An increase of fluorescence intensity on addition of a foreign gas is predicted and demonstrated in I 2 vapor.
Glacial versus interglacial sedimentation rates and turbidite frequency in the Bahamas

The southern Tongue of the Ocean is a 1300-m-deep, flat-floored basin in the Bahamas that receives large amounts of sediment from the carbonate platforms surrounding it on three sides. We have examined five 8–13-m-long piston cores and determined bulk sedimentation rates, turbidite frequency, and turbidite accumulation rates for the past two glacial and interglacial periods. The mean of bulk sedimentation rates is four to six times higher in interglacial periods; average accumulation rates of recognizable turbidites are higher by a factor of 21 to 45, and interglacial turbidite frequency is higher by a factor of 6 to 14. Sediment composition indicates that increased interglacial rates are due to higher accumulation of platform-derived material. Additional data from other Bahamian basins as well as published material from the Caribbean strongly suggest that highstand shedding is a general trend in pure carbonate depositional systems. Carbonate platforms without a siliciclastic component export more material during highstands of sea level when the platform tops are flooded and produce sediment. The response of carbonate platforms to Quaternary sea-level cycles is opposed to that of siliciclastic ocean margins, where sediment is stored on the inner shelf during highstands and passed on to continental rises and abyssal plains during lowstands of sea level.
Yield and contents of Fe, Mn, and Cu in tropical leaf vegetables grown in sand culture and variously fertilized

Abstract The iron content of tropical leaf vegetables was moderately increased by adding 1 ppm Fe to the nutrient solution for sand culture which corrected moderate Fe deficiencies and enhanced leaf yield. Substantial amounts of Fe accumulated in leaves of plants supplied with 3 ppm Fe in the nutrient solution. The Cu and Mn content of the leaves was slightly influenced by the Fe supply but varied greatly with species of plant. Species differences in Fe content were most apparent with 3 ppm Fe in the nutrient solution.
Disease And Death In Early Colonial Mexico: Simulating Amerindian Depopulation

Holocaust or not - the debate on Amerindian depopulation in the 16th century simulation method and justification historical and simulation comparisons interpretations major findings and their signficance.
Immunization with genetically attenuated P. falciparum parasites induces long-lived antibodies that efficiently block hepatocyte invasion by sporozoites.

Whole-parasite malaria vaccines have shown promise in clinical trials. We recently reported the first human trial of a malaria vaccine based on Plasmodium falciparum genetically attenuated parasites (PfGAP). Herein we report for the first time that PfGAP induces prolonged functional humoral responses in humans. Six volunteers were exposed to 5 bites of PfGAP-infected mosquitoes followed by approximately 200 bites. Plasma collected from all volunteers 3 months after the last exposure efficiently inhibits invasion of hepatocytes by P. falciparum sporozoites. The level of inhibition observed is comparable to that attained using plasma collected after 4–5 intravenously administrations of high numbers of irradiated sporozoites, validating the potential of PfGAP malaria vaccines. Our data highlight the role of antibody responses in pre-erythrocytic stages of human malaria, and suggests that to be protective, malaria vaccines might need to elicit long-lasting functional antibodies in addition to cellular responses.
Detection of Anisotropy in the Cosmic Blackbody Radiation

Anisotropy has been detected in the cosmic blackbody radiation with a 33-GHz (0.9 cm) twin-antenna Dicke radiometer flown to an altitude of 20 km aboard a U-2 aircraft. In data distributed over two-thirds of the Northern Hemisphere, an anisotropy is observed, which is well fitted by a first-order spherical harmonic with an amplitude of (3.5 plus or minus 0.6) x 10 to the -3rd deg K, and direction 11.0 plus or minus 0.6 h right ascension and 6 plus or minus 10 deg declination. This observation is readily interpreted as due to motion of the earth relative to the radiation with a velocity of 390 plus or minus 60 km/sec.
Our lyrics will not be on lockdown: an arts collective's response to an incarceration nation

Recognizing the unprecedented proliferation of prisons in the United States, Blackout Arts Collective (BAC), a grassroots organization working to empower communities of color through the arts, education, and activism, launched a national tour – Lyrics on Lockdown (LOL): Slamming the Prison Industrial Complex. As a BAC member, I participated in the production and implementation of LOL and other BAC programs aimed at mobilizing communities to halt the mass incarceration of people of color. This article reflects BAC's effort to fuse art, education, and activism as a means to build public awareness and catalyze action toward ending the prison crisis in the United States. Highlights from BAC's journey to over 25 cities across the United States in five years are described in this piece, including reflections on the performances and interactive workshops in prisons, halfway houses, youth detention centers, and drug‐treatment facilities with detainees and youth. This article examines an innovative arts‐and‐activi...
An internet database for the classification and dissemination of information about hazardous chemicals and occupational diseases.

Background The amount of information about hazardous agents in the workplace exceeds the capacity of human memory. There is a need to accurately represent or map this scientific knowledge for digital storage and retrieval. Methods A relational database of hazardous chemicals and occupational diseases was constructed by first collecting and sifting through the large volume of information. The information was indexed with a controlled vocabulary and documented with references to the scientific literature. Results The evolving database is available on the website of the National Library of Medicine. It enables users to browse categories and query by pick lists. Users can drill down to find specific information that may be useful for intervention and prevention. Conclusions The large amount of information needed to support decisions concerning occupational exposures and diseases can be distilled, classified, and summarized in a relational database and disseminated by means of the World Wide Web to assist in the prevention of work-related diseases. Am. J. Ind. Med. 51:428–435, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Effect of dry matter loss on profitability of outdoor storage of switchgrass

Abstract The impact of storage dry matter (DM) losses on the profitability of producing switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum L.) is poorly understood. This article evaluates net returns to storage considering DM losses using data from a 500-day experiment at Milan, TN. Switchgrass was harvested in large round and large rectangular bales wrapped with twine and stored outdoors with and without a tarp on grass, gravel, and pallet surfaces. Comparative breakeven analysis incorporating DM loss estimates from the experiment determined optimal harvest and storage strategies. Bale shape and choice of cover most impacted DM losses, which increased at a decreasing rate with time in storage. Even though covered rectangular bales had higher DM losses than uncovered round bales, they were more profitable for a wide range of switchgrass price and storage period combinations because of lower overall harvest, storage and transportation costs Mg −1 . Uncovered round bales were only more profitable than covered rectangular bales for high price and long storage period combinations. Covered round bales were not profitable for any price and storage period combination evaluated in the analysis. The use of a cover is generally worth the added cost for rectangular bales but not for round bales.
Shaping professionalism in pre-clinical medical students: Professionalism and the practice of medicine.

Background: Increasing emphasis is placed on teaching and assessment of professionalism in the continuum of medical education. Consistent and longitudinal instruction and assessment are crucial factors that learners need in order to internalize the tenets of professionalism.Aim: We aimed to develop a novel longitudinal course in professionalism spanning the first 2 years in a medical curriculum.Methods: This is a description of the process undertaken over the past 7 years to develop and implement a professionalism curriculum. We used the conceptual framework of constructivism, principles of adult learning, experiential learning and reflective practice to integrate learning with experience. We included student input in session development. Faculty mentors serve as role models to guide, assist and counsel students. Assessment of learners is accomplished using self, peer and mentor evaluation, and a student portfolio. Program evaluation is by course and faculty evaluation.Results: Students are given a final ...
Tandem repeats derived from centromeric retrotransposons

Tandem repeats are ubiquitous and abundant in higher eukaryotic genomes and constitute, along with transposable elements, much of DNA underlying centromeres and other heterochromatic domains. In maize, centromeric satellite repeat (CentC) and centromeric retrotransposons (CR), a class of Ty3/gypsy retrotransposons, are enriched at centromeres. Some satellite repeats have homology to retrotransposons and several mechanisms have been proposed to explain the expansion, contraction as well as homogenization of tandem repeats. However, the origin and evolution of tandem repeat loci remain largely unknown. CRM1TR and CRM4TR are novel tandem repeats that we show to be entirely derived from CR elements belonging to two different subfamilies, CRM1 and CRM4. Although these tandem repeats clearly originated in at least two separate events, they are derived from similar regions of their respective parent element, namely the long terminal repeat (LTR) and untranslated region (UTR). The 5’ ends of the monomer repeat units of CRM1TR and CRM4TR map to different locations within their respective LTRs, while their 3’ ends map to the same relative position within a conserved region of their UTRs. Based on the insertion times of heterologous retrotransposons that have inserted into these tandem repeats, amplification of the repeats is estimated to have begun at least ~4 (CRM1TR) and ~1 (CRM4TR) million years ago. Distinct CRM1TR sequence variants occupy the two CRM1TR loci, indicating that there is little or no movement of repeats between loci, even though they are separated by only ~1.4 Mb. The discovery of two novel retrotransposon derived tandem repeats supports the conclusions from earlier studies that retrotransposons can give rise to tandem repeats in eukaryotic genomes. Analysis of monomers from two different CRM1TR loci shows that gene conversion is the major cause of sequence variation. We propose that successive intrastrand deletions generated the initial repeat structure, and gene conversions increased the size of each tandem repeat locus.
Assay of Mouse Adapted Dengue Viruses in Mammalian Cell Cultures by An Interference Method

SummaryUsing a viral interference test BS-C-1 cells (a stable grivet monkey kidney line) were found to be as sensitive as the suckling mouse for the assay of mouse adapted prototype strains of all available serotypes of dengue virus. Two other stable cell lines PS (pig kidney) and LLC MK 2 (stable rhesus kidney), while not as susceptible to all dengue serotypes as BS-C-1, showed CPE to dengue 2 and TH-36. Two primary cell cultures, MKC and HKC, were not susceptible to all dengue viruses, while a strain of HeLa cells gave no evidence of development of interference following inoculation of dengue viruses. Applications of the tissue culture interference test are discussed.The technical assistance of Dr. Rapin Snitbhan, Miss Suwanna Suwanakijboriharn and Miss Sumidta Chatugoraniya is gratefully acknowledged.
Characterization of the aerial escape response of the African butterfly fish, Pantodon buchholzi Peters

We studied the startle response of the African butterfly fish, Pantodon buchholzi (Osteoglossomorpha, Osteoglossoidea). It is an upward movement, mediated by abduction of the pectoral fins, and is elicited by mechanical and visual stimuli. Because this fish inhabits the first few centimeters beneath the water surface, its startle response results in an aerial excursion that may be described as ballistic-like, following a motion as defined by linear acceleration. We show that the aerial excursion is well-modeled by a parabola. On average, a fish jumps no more than twice its height and travels horizontally about five times its standard length. The fish may exhibit variable in-flight trunk and fin movements, but neither increases the travel distance in air following the initial in-water propulsive event. Similar vertical jumps also occur entirely within the water column suggesting that this motor behavior of Pantodon is a general escape behavior analogous to a Mauthner neuron-induced escape response. The variability in its posture in air and its direction of motion after reentering the water enhances this act of vertical flight as a step in this fish's escape behavior. The aerial aspect of its escape behavior is only a consequence of its position in the water column.
Comparative effectiveness of combined pharmacologic and mechanical thromboprophylaxis versus either method alone in major orthopedic surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

tudy Objective To evaluate the comparative efficacy and safety of combination pharmacologic and mechanical venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis versus either method alone in major orthopedic surgery. Design Systematic review with meta-analysis of six randomized controlled trials. Patients Patients undergoing total hip replacement, total knee replacement, or hip fracture surgery who received VTE prophylaxis. Measurements and Main Results We conducted a systematic literature search of the MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Scopus databases (January 1980–July 2011) to identify trials that directly compared pharmacologic plus mechanical VTE prophylaxis to either strategy alone, evaluated United States Food and Drug Administration–approved agents, and reported rates of mortality, VTE, bleeding, and other adverse effects. Six trials were included, none of which were conducted in patients who had hip fracture surgery. The quality of each trial was evaluated, and the strength of evidence for each outcome was rated. No significant difference was found in the rate of pulmonary embolism or nonfatal pulmonary embolism when the combination of pharmacologic and mechanical prophylaxis was compared to pharmacologic prophylaxis alone, with low strength of evidence. The risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) was significantly decreased in the combination group (relative risk [RR] 0.48 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.32–0.72]), with moderate strength of evidence, with benefits of combination therapy persisting in the total knee replacement subgroup (RR 0.41 [95% CI 0.25–0.68]). There was insufficient evidence to evaluate other final or intermediate outcomes or harms. In the comparison of combined pharmacologic and mechanical prophylaxis to mechanical prophylaxis alone, there was insufficient evidence to evaluate any final health outcomes or harms. There was no significant difference in the risk of proximal DVT when comparing combination prophylaxis to mechanical prophylaxis alone (RR 0.78 [95% CI 0.35–1.74]) based on low strength of evidence. Conclusions The risk of DVT was decreased with the use of combination prophylaxis versus pharmacologic prophylaxis alone in patients undergoing total hip replacement or total knee replacement. However, due to primarily insufficient evidence for most outcomes evaluated, the balance of benefits to harms of combined pharmacologic and mechanical prophylaxis versus either strategy alone cannot be determined in patients undergoing major orthopedic surgery.
Stochastic optimization is (almost) as easy as deterministic optimization

Stochastic optimization problems attempt to model uncertainty in the data by assuming that (part of) the input is specified in terms of a probability distribution. We consider the well-studied paradigm of 2-stage models with recourse: first, given only distributional information about (some of) the data one commits on initial actions, and then once the actual data is realized (according to the distribution), further (recourse) actions can be taken. We give the first approximation algorithms for 2-stage discrete stochastic optimization problems with recourse for which the underlying random data is given by a "black box" and no restrictions are placed on the costs in the two stages, based on an FPRAS for the LP relaxation of the stochastic problem (which has exponentially many variables and constraints). Among the range of applications we consider are stochastic versions of the set cover, vertex cover, facility location, multicut (on trees), and multicommodity flow problems.
How Not to Defend the Revolution: Mark Weisbrot and the Misinterpretation of Venezuelan Evidence

Mark Weisbrot (2008) has claimed that under the Chavez administration in Venezuela the share of pro-poor spending has increased, inequality has declined, poverty has fallen rapidly, and there has been a massive reduction in illiteracy. All of these conclusions are based on the use of heavily slanted data and on the misinterpretation of the existing empirical evidence. Weisbrot uses estimates of social spending that are upward biased by the inclusion of large infrastructure projects, debt refinancing, and even military spending; his inequality data is distorted by the inexplicable exclusion of households that received no income; his econometric estimates on illiteracy actually show the exact opposite of what he is arguing for. Weisbrot confuses basic economic concepts and offers a bizarre interpretation of events leading up to the 2002 currency crisis. Once one corrects for Weibrot’s biases, the evidence paints a consistent image of an administration that has not effectively prioritized the well-being of the Venezuelan poor.
Welfare Retrenchment as Social Justice: Pension Reform in Mexico

This article analyses critically the applicability of current theories of welfare state retrenchment to the 2004 public pension reform in Mexico, with the 1995 reform acting as a complementary case. In particular, this article contributes to the literature by analysing the reasons for which a potentially unpopular reform was successfully enacted. Available evidence suggests that - contrary to the existing literature's assertions - Mexican politicians responsible for the 2004 reform sought credit for these changes, rather than to avoid blame. Also, by presenting the reform as necessary to enhance socioeconomic equality, politicians were able to gather substantial popular support and defeat labour unions opposing this pension restructuring process. Hence, we propose that by framing the public debate as a matter of social justice, promoters of pension reform increased significantly popular support for the retrenchment of important benefits from a core group of civil servants, and successfully pressured Congress to promulgate this reform. We suggest that this created a reform path that will facilitate future efforts at reforming the remaining public pension schemes in Mexico.
Automated MAC Protocol Generation with Multiple Neighborhoods and Acknowledgments Based on Symbolic Monte Carlo Simulation

We present a framework for automated Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol generation based on a model that incorporates multiple MAC neighborhoods as well as acknowledgments. Both the advertisement and acknowledgment packets are automatically generated by an optimization program that is built based on symbolic Monte Carlo simulation. The design flow chain produces an optimal MAC protocol with respect to any desired objective function. The simulation results show that RTS/CTS control packets are automatically generated as the topology changes from single neighborhood to multi-neighborhood, and display fast convergence to the optimal solution within very reasonable computational time. This approach has the potential to change the way that MAC protocols are designed from "hand-designed protocols" to protocols designed via design automation chains.
The quantitative genetics of transcription

Quantitative geneticists have become interested in the heritability of transcription and detection of expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs). Linkage mapping methods have identified major-effect eQTLs for some transcripts and have shown that regulatory polymorphisms in cis and in trans affect expression. It is also clear that these mapping strategies have little power to detect polygenic factors, and some new statistical approaches are emerging that paint a more complex picture of transcriptional heritability. Several studies imply pervasive non-additivity of transcription, transgressive segregation and epistasis, and future studies will soon document the extent of genotype-environment interaction and population structure at the transcriptional level. The implications of these findings for genotype-phenotype mapping and modeling the evolution of transcription are discussed.
Oil and protein accumulation in developing seeds is influenced by the expression of a cytosolic pyrophosphatase in Arabidopsis

This study describes a dominant low-seed-oil mutant (lo15571) of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) generated by enhancer tagging. Compositional analysis of developing siliques and mature seeds indicated reduced conversion of photoassimilates to oil. Immunoblot analysis revealed increased levels of At1g01050 protein in developing siliques of lo15571. At1g01050 encodes a soluble, cytosolic pyrophosphatase and is one of five closely related genes that share predicted cytosolic localization and at least 70% amino acid sequence identity. Expression of At1g01050 using a seed-preferred promoter recreated most features of the lo15571 seed phenotype, including low seed oil content and increased levels of transient starch and soluble sugars in developing siliques. Seed-preferred RNA interference-mediated silencing of At1g01050 and At3g53620, a second cytosolic pyrophosphatase gene that shows expression during seed filling, led to a heritable oil increase of 1% to 4%, mostly at the expense of seed storage protein. These results are consistent with a scenario in which the rate of mobilization of sucrose, for precursor supply of seed storage lipid biosynthesis by cytosolic glycolysis, is strongly influenced by the expression of endogenous pyrophosphatase enzymes. This emphasizes the central role of pyrophosphate-dependent reactions supporting cytosolic glycolysis during seed maturation when ATP supply is low, presumably due to hypoxic conditions. This route is the major route providing precursors for seed oil biosynthesis. ATP-dependent reactions at the entry point of glycolysis in the cytosol or plastid cannot fully compensate for the loss of oil content observed in transgenic events with increased expression of cytosolic pyrophosphatase enzyme in the cytosol. These findings shed new light on the dynamic properties of cytosolic pyrophosphate pools in developing seed and their influence on carbon partitioning during seed filling. Finally, our work uniquely demonstrates that genes encoding cytosolic pyrophosphatase enzymes provide novel targets to improve seed composition for plant biotechnology applications.
Deterministic model for Acute Myelogenous Leukemia classification

Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects the blood and the bone marrow. Manual data analysis is time consuming and not accurate. Attempts to build partial/full automated systems based on segmentation and classification of cells are present in literature, but they are still in prototype stage. Most of the existing automatic systems extract features of the sub-images instead of the complete blood smear. [29]. The main objective of this paper is to a) demonstrate that the classification of peripheral blood smear images containing multiple nuclei can be fully automated, b) to validate the segmented images using hold-out cross validation method. The method has been evaluated using a set of 50 images (with 25 abnormal samples and 25 normal samples) obtained from American Society of Hematology [22]. The computer simulations show that the proposed system robustly segments and classifies Acute Myelogenous Leukemia based on complete microscopic blood images. 93.5% of the cases were correctly classified by the program, suggesting that the method yields good results in terms of classification of leukemia. The developed system can be used as ancillary/backup service to the physician
Asian immigration and public health in California: thalassemia in newborns in California.

Purpose: This study reviews Asian immigration in California and the effect it has had on public health in the state in terms of genetic disease detection. This is documented in terms of the numbers of cases of thalassemia detected, including Hemoglobin (Hb) E/-thalassemia, -thalassemia major, and Hb H dis
Three-Dimensional Transesophageal Echocardiography Enhances Multimodal Imaging of a Successful Repair of a Case With Scimitar Syndrome

Scimitar syndrome is a rare congenital disorder with an incidence of approximately 2 per 100 000 live births.1 The hallmark of this syndrome is partial or complete anomalous venous return from the right lung, directly into the inferior vena cava (IVC), thereby creating a left-to-right shunt.2 The syndrome is almost invariably associated with other cardiac and extracardiac abnormalities including atrial septal defects (ASD), dextrocardia, abnormal right lung lobation, and right lung hypoplasia.3 The infantile syndrome is highly associated with ASDs, ventricular septal defects, patent ductus arteriosus, coarctation, and tetralogy of Fallot.3 The abnormal venous drainage gives the characteristic radiographic appearance akin to that of a “scimitar” (Turkish sword) with a shadow on the right side of the heart progressively widening as it approaches the cardiophrenic angle.3 The expected natural course of uncorrected scimitar syndrome is similar to uncorrected large ASD with eventual right heart failure, and therefore even asymptomatic adults with Qp:Qs ratio of more than 1.5:1 should undergo corrective surgery.1 Catheterization is often recommended and advised to assess pulmonary vascular resistance and suitability for operative repair. Other imaging modalities include preoperative echocardiography, cardiac MRI, or computed tomography (CT). Which of these latter techniques is chosen depends on institutional preference and experience, with factors such as cost, the potential need for patient sedation, exposure …
Inhibition of ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis by the Arabidopsis 26 S protease subunit S5a

A variety of protease inhibitors have been used to study ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis by the 26 S protease. However, these inhibitors lack complete specificity and thus affect ubiquitin-independent pathways as well. We recently identified an Arabidopsis protein, MBP1, that is homologous to subunit 5a (S5a) of the human 26 S protease complex. MBP1 and S5a bind multiubiquitin chains with high affinity and presumably facilitate the recognition of ubiquitin conjugates by the 26 S protease. We show here that free MBP1 can be a potent inhibitor of ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis in several cell-free systems. When added to reticulocyte lysates or to Xenopus egg extracts, the plant protein effectively blocked the degradation of multiubiquitinated lysozyme and cyclin B, respectively. MBP1 did not enhance the removal of ubiquitin from lysozyme or affect the ability of the 26 S complex to hydrolyze fluorogenic peptides. These data suggest that the plant protein specifically interferes with the recognition of ubiquitin conjugates by the 26 S protease. Thus MBP1, human S5a, and their homologs should prove to be valuable reagents for investigating cellular events mediated by ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis.
Variable-rate hybrid ARQ for meteor-burst communications

The authors introduce a form of automatic repeat request (ARQ), referred to as variable-rate type-I hybrid ARQ, in which the code rate varies in response to the fluctuations in the power received from a meteor trail. For one implementation, the source or the destination periodically obtains estimates of the signal power at the destination, and the source uses these estimates to select the rate of the code. For an alternative approach, the code rate is determined completely by the decoding successes and failures during previous transmissions. The performance measure is the throughput per trail, which is defined as the expected number of information bits received correctly for a given meteor trail. Numerical results for Reed-Solomon codes are included to illustrate the relative performance of the various schemes. It is shown that the throughput is larger for both implementations of variable-rate type-I hybrid ARQ than for fixed-rate type-I hybrid ARQ and ARQ without forward error correction. >
Surface effects on the structure and lithium behavior in lithiated silicon: A first principles study

Abstract Silicon anodes with excellent capacity retention and rate capability have been demonstrated utilizing nanoengineered structures, such as nanowires and nanoscale thin films. Here, we present a comparative study using density functional theory calculations to examine the surface effects on the composition, structural evolution, energetics and Li-ion mobility in amorphous Li x Si alloys (0.42 ≤ x ≤ 3.57). When the Li content is sufficiently low, our calculations predict a slight Li surface enrichment as the presence of Li atoms contributes to the stabilization of the surfaces. As the Li content is further increased, the near-surface structure and alloy composition become similar to that in the bulk, except for the reduction in Si–Si connectivity within the outermost surface layer. The surface effects tend to be very shallow and only extend to the first couple of atomic layers; nonetheless, our ab initio molecular dynamics simulations highlight the improved Li mobility in the near-surface region. Additionally, our calculations show that Li mobility is extremely sensitive to the alloy composition, and Li diffusivity is enhanced by orders of magnitude in the highly lithiated stage.
A generalized hard‐sphere augmented virial equation of state

A generalized equation of state is developed by combinin a hard-sphere equation with a truncated virial equation and generalizing the reduced hard-sphere diameter as a function of reduced temperature and acentric factor. The new equation quantitatively agrees with Pitzer's table of compressibility factor over wide ranges of gas and vapor states and is always better than the truncated virial equation. Since the terms in the equation are physically meaningful it is capable of being improved systematically by including higher virial coefficients and by using hard-core equations of state for nonspherical cores. The equation is extended to mixtures with well-developed combination rules.
Deep Stable Layers in the Intermountain Western United States

Abstract A deep stable layer (DSL) is a layer much deeper than a typical nocturnal inversion with stabilities not frequently found over a sizable portion of the lowest 1.5 km. They have traits that can cause the stagnation of cold air in basins, i.e., light winds at the surface even if moderately strong winds aloft are present, and the restriction of the growth of daytime convective boundary layers. The objective definition used in this study is that, if 65% of the lowest 1.5 km of the 1200 UTC [0500 mountain standard time (MST)] sounding has a lapse rate of 2.5°C km−1 or less, then the day is under the influence of a DSL. A climatology of days under the influence of a DSL was performed at four sites in the intermountain western United States: Grand Junction, Colorado; Salt Lake City, Utah; Winnemucca, Nevada; and Boise, Idaho. The DSL is a wintertime phenomenon with 10% to 20% of the days in December and January at the four stations being under the influence of a DSL. Successive days with a DSL present l...
Neurological and Vascular Complications Associated with Supracondylar Humeral Fractures in Children.

Supracondylar humeral fractures are one of the most common pediatric elbow fractures, accounting for 55% to 80% of such fractures1. The majority of these fractures occur as the result of a fall onto an outstretched upper extremity2,3. Extension-type fractures account for 98% of supracondylar fractures after a fall onto an outstretched hand with the elbow hyperextended, resulting in posterior displacement of the fracture4. Flexion-type injuries occur approximately 2% of the time after a fall onto a flexed elbow, resulting in anterolateral displacement of the fracture4. The intimacy of the neurological and vascular structures to the distal aspect of the humerus put them at substantial risk in the setting of a supracondylar humeral fracture. The frequency of neurological deficit after supracondylar humeral fractures …
Sunk Costs, Water over the Dam, and Other Liquid Parables

One of the most remarkable lessons learned by students of economics is the power of reason and economic logic to improve decision making, and one of the most powerful lessons imparted by this frame of analysis is that bygones should be bygones, and that decisions from this day forward should be made independently of prior successes or failures, mistaken or good judgements. The intuition has many popular expressions, some directly reflecting the sentiment, others closely related to it. Examples include “That’s water over the dam”, “Let bygones be bygones” or “Don’t cry over spilt milk”. The force of the insight, and the need for popular aphorisms to reinforce it, is partly because it runs so much against what appear to be deeply ingrained human instincts. The purpose of this essay is to reflect on this apparent paradox, to dwell on what might be the evolutionary survival value of our instincts, and to consider how broad is the range of decision contexts in which the imperative to make future decisions independently of what has transpired in the past is truly applicable.
Optimal coordination of variable renewable resources and electric vehicles as distributed storage for energy sustainability

Abstract This paper evaluates the coordination between electric vehicle (EV) fleets, as distributed storage devices, and variable renewable sources for mitigating energy imbalances and offering significant potentials for energy sustainability in an electricity infrastructure. The paper investigates the impact of such integrations for enhancing the environmental sustainability, social sustainability, and economic operation of electric power systems. The goal is to keep the energy sector on track for addressing the 2 degree Celsius (2DC) target per Copenhagen climate agreement. 1 The paper identifies strategies for large-scale integration of variable generation resources without compromising the electricity infrastructure security. The power system uncertainties pertaining to hourly load and wind energy forecast errors, and random outages of generation and transmission components are taken into consideration in Monte Carlo scenarios. The stochastic optimization of day-ahead hourly scheduling of electricity is formulated as a mixed integer linear programming problem. The merits of the proposed optimization model are demonstrated by applying four numerical case studies. The conclusion is that the applications of renewable energy resources and the intelligent assimilation of EV fleets (both as a provider and a consumer of energy) offer major potentials for alleviating power system peak demands, minimizing power grid operation costs and hourly wind energy curtailments, and limiting the environmental impacts of fossil fuel-based thermal generating units in the stochastic operation of an electricity infrastructure.
Misuse of the Term Nonspecific

362 Radiology reports should be fashioned for the benefit of patients, not to ameliorate radiologists’ inflated fears over very low risk legal consequences. Although on many occasions it is not possible to make specific diagnoses, when there is a high degree of certainty, radiologists should decisively, unambiguously, and definitively detail the findings and explain their significance. Anything less devalues the worth of our contribution to patient care.
Enhanced ethanol catabolism in orphan nuclear receptor SHP-null mice

Deficiency of the orphan nuclear hormone receptor small heterodimer partner (SHP, NR0B2) protects mice from diet-induced hepatic steatosis, in part, via repression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ2 (Pparg2) gene expression. Alcoholic fatty liver diseases (AFLD) share many common pathophysiological features with non-AFLD. To study the role of SHP and PPARγ2 in AFLD, we used a strategy of chronic ethanol feeding plus a single binge ethanol feeding to challenge wild-type (WT) and SHP-null (SHP(-/-)) mice with ethanol. The ethanol feeding induced liver fat accumulation and mRNA expression of hepatic Pparg2 in WT mice, which suggests that a high level of PPARγ2 is a common driving force for fat accumulation induced by ethanol or a high-fat diet. Interestingly, ethanol-fed SHP(-/-) mice displayed hepatic fat accumulation similar to that of ethanol-fed WT mice, even though their Pparg2 expression level remained lower. Mortality of SHP(-/-) mice after ethanol binge feeding was significantly reduced and their acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (Aldh2) mRNA level was higher than that of their WT counterparts. After an intoxicating dose of ethanol, SHP(-/-) mice exhibited faster blood ethanol clearance and earlier wake-up time than WT mice. Higher blood acetate, the end product of ethanol metabolism, and lower acetaldehyde levels were evident in the ethanol-challenged SHP(-/-) than WT mice. Ethanol-induced inflammatory responses and lipid peroxidation were also lower in SHP(-/-) mice. The current data show faster ethanol catabolism and extra fat storage through conversion of acetate to acetyl-CoA before its release into the circulation in this ethanol-feeding model in SHP(-/-) mice.
Serum lipid antibodies are associated with cerebral tissue damage in multiple sclerosis.

Objective: To determine whether peripheral immune responses as measured by serum antigen arrays are linked to cerebral MRI measures of disease severity in multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: In this cross-sectional study, serum samples were obtained from patients with relapsing-remitting MS (n 5 21) and assayed using antigen arrays that contained 420 antigens including CNS-related autoantigens, lipids, and heat shock proteins. Normalized compartmentspecific global brain volumes were obtained from 3-tesla MRI as surrogates of atrophy, including gray matter fraction (GMF), white matter fraction (WMF), and total brain parenchymal fraction (BPF). Total brain T2 hyperintense lesion volume (T2LV) was quantified from fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images. Results: We found serum antibody patterns uniquely correlated with BPF, GMF, WMF, and T2LV. Furthermore, we identified immune signatures linked to MRI markers of neurodegeneration (BPF, GMF, WMF) that differentiated those linked to T2LV. Each MRI measure was correlated with a specific set of antibodies. Strikingly, immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to lipids were linked to brain MRI measures. Based on the association between IgG antibody reactivity and each unique MRI measure, we developed a lipid index. This comprised the reactivity directed against all of the lipids associated with each specific MRI measure. We validated these findings in an additional independent set of patients with MS (n 5 14) and detected a similar trend for the correlations between BPF, GMF, and T2LV vs their respective lipid indexes. Conclusions: We propose serum antibody repertoires that are associated with MRI measures of cerebral MS involvement. Such antibodies may serve as biomarkers for monitoring disease
Adaptive impedance control

The objective of this research is to establish a method of controlling a robot that operates in an unstructured environment. This requires three fundamental objectives. First, the robot must be capable of constrained, as well as unconstrained manipulation. Second, the robot must be capable of learning not only where obstacles are in its workspace, but the characteristics of those obstacles as well. Finally, the robot must be capable of learning the characteristic of its environment without explicitly modifying its task definition. To achieve these goals, a new approach to robotic environment estimation is described. First, a discretized model of a robot's workspace provides for spatial and temporal variations in the environment. This operates in concert with a multiple input, multiple output recursive estimation algorithm. As the robot maneuvers about its workspace, measured tip force and position information provide the estimation routine states necessary for the identification of environment impedance. The updated parameters of the estimated environment impedance are stored in the robot's position dependent discretized workspace. As the robot learns the characteristics of its environment, the target impedance of the robot's controller adapts to this estimate based upon a specified performance criterion. The author describes five different methods to extract the estimated environment information and adapt the target impedance of the robot. Three techniques provide predictive behavior that enables adaptation prior to contact with the environment. This reduces the magnitude of contact forces generated during impact. In addition, two techniques provide robust initialization that ensure stability when operating in uncertain environments. Finally, the methods developed for robotic tasks are extended to a novel teleoperation platform. A new approach to force reflecting teleoperation of long reach flexible robots is described. The environment estimation method is employed for the estimation of a remote environment manipulated by a slave robot. The target impedance of the master robot, coupled to a human, adapts to variations in the remote environment. This ensures safe telemanipulation in hazardous or uncertain environments. Furthermore, the adaptive impedance controller is augmented with virtual fixtures to provide teleoperated obstacle avoidance.
Salmonella transfer potential onto tomatoes during laboratory-simulated in-field debris removal.

Florida Tomato Good Agricultural Practices (T-GAPs) mandate the removal of dirt and debris from tomatoes during harvest but do not provide any specific regulations or guidance; thus, the current practice of using cloths needs to be evaluated. This study examined Salmonella transfer from inoculated green tomatoes to uninoculated cloths and from inoculated cloths to uninoculated tomatoes, upon single and multiple touches. Tomatoes were spot inoculated with a rifampin-resistant Salmonella cocktail (107 CFU per tomato) and were touched with cloth (clean, dirty-dry, dirty-wet) at 0, 1, or 24 h postinoculation. Salmonella was enumerated on tryptic soy agar, followed by enrichments when necessary. The transfer direction was then reversed by touching freshly inoculated cloths with uninoculated tomatoes. Transfer coefficients (TCs) were then calculated. Salmonella TCs from inoculated tomato and cloth were highest when the inoculum was wet (0.44 ± 0.13 to 0.32 ± 0.12), regardless of the condition of the cloth. Alth...
Use of Hydrophobic Particles as Kinetic Promoters for Gas Hydrate Formation

Hydrophobic particles have been tested as kinetic promoters for gas hydrate formation. The experimental results obtained with stationary beds of sands show that methane (CH4) hydrate is more readily formed when the sand particles are hydrophobized by coating the surfaces with octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS). The induction times decreased steadily with increasing water contact angles (θ) possibly due to the increased propensity of the water molecules in the vicinity of hydrophobic surfaces to form partial clathrates. The kinetics of CO2 hydrate formation has been studied using Teflon and hydrophobic silica particles to disperse either water in gas phase to obtain “dry water” or to disperse gas in water phase to obtain foam. The results show that hydrates are formed instantaneously due to the increased mass transfer rates at the gas/water interface and the formation of partial clathrates in the vicinity of hydrophobic surfaces.
The future direction and unmet needs of transplant immunosuppression.

Solid organ transplantation is arguably one of the greatest medical and scientific advances in the last 75 years. Patients suffering from end organ damage are no longer obviated to death and are ab...
Creative problem solving builds entrepreneurial mindset

This paper introduces how several hands-on activities fostering the development of creative thinking as a fundamental part of the youth's entrepreneurial mindset are used. Students in various disciplines from the Pennsylvania State University-Berks Campus served as mentors for a primarily middle-school and high-school group of students and teachers during the service-learning workshops conducted in the rural municipality of San Jose de Cusmapa, Nicaragua. After an introduction to creativity and creative problem solving, the participants were able to devise innovative ideas for the creation of a business for a product or service in their community. The feedback obtained from the participants evidences that the workshop was effective in teaching them how to develop and expand their entrepreneurial mindset through creativity and creative problem solving activities. In this paper, it is discussed how working individually and collectively to resolve a series of creative problem solving activities expanded the students' ideas throughout the different stages of the business creation process.