cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Photon-counting lidar for aerosol detection and 3D imaging

Laser-based remote sensing is undergoing a remarkable advance due to novel technologies developed at MIT Lincoln Laboratory. We have conducted recent experiments that have demonstrated the utility of detecting and imaging low-density aerosol clouds. The Mobile Active Imaging LIDAR (MAIL) system uses a Lincoln Laboratory-developed microchip laser to transmit short pulses at 14-16 kHz Pulse Repetition Frequency (PRF), and a Lincoln Laboratory-developed 32x32 Geiger-mode Avalanche-Photodiode Detector (GmAPD) array for singlephoton counting and ranging. The microchip laser is a frequency-doubled passively Q-Switched Nd:YAG laser providing an average transmitted power of less than 64 milli-Watts. When the avalanche photo-diodes are operated in the Geiger-mode, they are reverse-biased above the breakdown voltage for a time that corresponds to the effective range-gate or range-window of interest. The time-of-flight, and therefore range, is determined from the measured laser transmit time and the digital time value from each pixel. The optical intensity of the received pulse is not measured because the GmAPD is saturated by the electron avalanche. Instead, the reflectivity of the scene, or relative density of aerosols in this case, is determined from the temporally and/or spatially analyzed detection statistics. There are several advantages to sensor architectures that use direct detection and arrays of photon-counting detectors. Perhaps the most significant advantage is a reduced requirement for power-aperture product of more than an order of magnitude. In this paper, we describe the LIDAR sensor system used in MAIL, and our experimental results showing system sensitivity, and temporal and spatially resolved releases of aerosol clouds within a controlled chamber.
Is psychiatry a religion

In the 19th century, Matthew Arnold famously wrote of the ‘melancholy long withdrawing roar of the sea of faith’.1 This referred to the decline of Christian belief and the influence of Christian institutions in the day-to-day life of European societies. Such a decline was predicted by the enlightenment, which promised the triumph of rational science over religious superstition.2 Predictions of the demise of religion have been somewhat validated by the course of history. Fewer people are attending religious services, religious institutions have lost much of their influence on the masses, and religious views are frequently mocked and vilified as archaic delusions more suited to a dark and distant past.3,4 GK Chesterton famously remarked that when people stop believing in God, they start believing in anything. This begs a simple question – is there a lay replacement for religion in contemporary societies? Is there any comparable system of beliefs, behaviours and attitudes that stands as a binding doctrine held ‘true’ by the populace at large? Is there any such comparable system marked by a proselytizing zeal and enthusiastic sense of mission? In this essay, I argue that psychiatry, and its handmaiden, clinical psychology, now constitutes an amorphous system of beliefs, behaviors and attitudes whose functions and doctrines are unsettlingly similar to those held by conventional religions. Are psychiatrists the new priests? Are clinics the new confessionals? Are pills the new prayer? Read on to learn that now may be the time to proudly add ‘psychiatry’ to the pantheon of world religions.
Expression of the unconventional myosin Myo1c alters sodium transport in M1 collecting duct cells

Epithelial cells rely on proper targeting of cellular components to perform their physiological function. This dynamic process utilizes the cytoskeleton and involves movement of vesicles to and fro...
Information processing and decision-making: Evidence from the brain sciences and implications for economics☆

Abstract This article assesses the potential benefits of including findings from neurobiology in economic decision-making models. First, we emphasize that the evidence supports both ‘expected utility-like’ theory and ‘Bayesian-like’ information acquisition theory. Second, we explain that inferences and representations are subject to physiological limitations that affect decision making. We report in particular two ‘mechanical’ models developed in neuroscience to represent neural data and choices. We then propose two economic models that incorporate physiological limitations into an expected utility framework. Interestingly, these two models provide foundations for those developed in neuroscience (which emerge endogenously in our framework) and provide further predictions that can be tested in principle. This allows us to discuss the benefits of bringing together evidence from neuroscience and economic modeling.
Intellectual Change and Political Development in Early Modern Japan: Ono Azusa, a Case Study

A study of the effects of foreign education and contact on the though pattern and activities of one of Japan's leading, yet little known, intellectuals and political reforms. Ono Azusa. It is based on his diary, private papers, published works and contemporary accounts.
Preferential Infection of Mature Dendritic Cells by the JHM Strain of Mouse Hepatitis Virus

acute and chronic demyelinating diseases in mice. After infection, viruses are largely cleared by T cells; however, demyelination is induced as a consequence of this process. CD4 and CD8 T-cell responses, as well as an anti-viral antibody response are induced in infected mice, and they are critical to control virus replication and recrudescence. Although an adaptive immune response is induced in infected mice, the anti-MHV CD8 T-cell response is reduced in mice infected with a virulent strain of MHV (named MHV4 or JHM.SD) when compared with mice infected with the A59 strain. This might indicate suboptimal DC function during infection with JHM.SD. Because of the critical role DCs play in the host immune response to viral pathogens, viruses have developed strategies to depress the function of these cells. Dendritic cells are readily infected with A59 in vitro and form syncytia. However, the antigen-specific T-cell response is very robust in vivo, suggesting that dendritic cells are still functional in this setting. 6 Previous work has focused on the effect of MHV infection on bone marrow (BM)-derived DCs after culture in vitro. These cultures usually include a mixture of mature and immature DCs. In general, only myeloid DCs are present
Architectural principles for safety-critical real-time applications

This paper addresses the general area of computer architectures for safety-critical real time applications. The maximum acceptable probability of failure for these applications ranges from about 10/sup /spl minus/4/ to 10/sup /spl minus/10/ per hour depending on whether it is a military or civil application. Typical examples include commercial and military aircraft fly-by-wire, full authority engine control, satellite and launch vehicle control, ground transport vehicles, etc. Realtime response requirements for these applications are also very demanding, with correct control inputs required every 10 to 100 ms, depending on the application. These dual goals of ultrahigh reliability and real-time response necessitate computer systems that are quite different from other dependable systems in their architecture, design and development methodology, validation and verification, and operational philosophy. This paper highlights these differences by describing each of these aspects of safety-critical systems. Architectural principles and techniques to address these unique requirements are described. >
Does a Medical Home Influence the Effect of Low Birthweight on Health Outcomes

The objective of this study was to investigate the possible modifying effect of medical home on the association between low birthweight and children’s health outcomes. The analytic sample included children 5 years and under from the 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health whose mothers were the primary respondents and who had non-missing covariate information (n = 19,356). Controlling for sociodemographic factors, logistic and ordinal regression models estimated the presence of developmental, mental/behavioral or physical health outcomes, condition severity, and health status by birthweight, medical home, and their interaction. Prevalence estimates of physical, developmental, mental/behavioral and severe conditions among those with any conditions as well as fair/poor overall health were 8.9, 6.8, 2.4, 41.6, and 2.5 %, respectively. Overall, low compared to normal birthweight children had a higher prevalence of physical and developmental conditions and fair/poor health (15.2 vs. 8.3 %, 11.1 vs. 6.4 %, 4.5 vs. 2.3 %, respectively). Medical home did not significantly modify the effect of birthweight on health outcomes; however, prevalence of all outcomes was higher for children without a medical home. Adjusted models indicated that low birthweight children were almost twice as likely as normal birthweight children to have a physical or developmental condition and poorer overall health, regardless of having a medical home. Having a medical home was associated with equally improved health outcomes among normal and low birthweight children. Adequacy and frequency of medical home care should be investigated further, especially among low birthweight children.
A comparison of virus isolation, immunohistochemistry, fetal serology, and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction assay for the identification of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus transplacental infection in the fetus.

Virus isolation (VI), immunohistochemistry (IHC), fetal serology, and reverse-transcription poly- merase chain reaction assay (RT-PCR) were performed on samples from 107 fetuses comprising 10 litters taken from sows experimentally infected with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). In addition to comparing the relative sensitivity and specificity of each test, RT-PCR was evaluated with respect to the relative suitability of thoracic fluids and tissues as samples, the effects of autolysis, and the effects of pooling of fetal specimens. VI, IHC, and fetal serology identified PRRSV infection in 48.6%, 23.4%, and 14.9% of 107 fetuses, respectively, and identified at least 1 infected fetus in 10, 10, and 5 of 10 litters, respectively. In utero death with autolysis reduced the test efficacy of all 3 methods. Fetal thoracic fluid and tissues were equally suitable for RT-PCR detection of PRRSV. Pooling fetal tissues or fluids from VI-positive animals with comparable material from negative controls had no detrimental effect on RT-PCR results when evaluated at dilutions of 1:1, 1:2, 1:4, and 1:8. The results of RT-PCR testing were positive in 100%, 94.4%, and 83.3% of VI-positive specimens allowed to autolyze at 4, 21, or 37 C, respectively, for 24, 48, and 96 hours. Compared with the other testing modalities, RT-PCR appeared to be impacted the least by the adverse effects of autolysis.
A Binary Choice Model For Optimum Entrepreneurial Development In An Economy Facing Environmental Constraints

This study describes a methodology for estimating a choice model for an optimum entrepreneurial development which allows the funding and other intervention policies to enhance the formation of small and medium enterprises to be used in developing national policy agenda. Five policy objectives are described for the Nigerian unique situation. But whatever national policy objectives are deemed relevant in any situation, we propose that such policy objectives be chosen and implemented in a transparent manner and supported by annual on-site monitoring and performance evaluation for a period deemed necessary to enable the goals to be realized.
The International Criminal Court: An American View

The international community has been chastened by the recent record of brutal civil wars. Violation of humanitarian standards has become a tactic of war. The attempt to strengthen enforcement of the law of war through a permanent international criminal court is thus a signal event. The negotiations conducted in Rome in 1998 did not solve all the difficulties that attend a permanent court. These include the problem of amnesties in democratic transitions, the necessary role of the Security Council in UN security architecture, the conflict between broad jurisdiction and developing the law, the role of consent as a treaty principle and third party jurisdiction, the handling of treaty amendments, and the inclusion of 'aggression' as a crime with no agreement on its definition. The necessary role of the United States in providing effective enforcement of ICC judgments warrants continued negotiation to overcome these differences. The achievement in Rome in July 1998, framing a treaty for a permanent international criminal court, 1 is a millennial event. The twentieth century has been a bloody epoch; its close is best marked with a promise to act against those who disregard the fundamental laws of war and humanity. Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda, the Congo, Sierra Leone, and now Kosovo, show that political and military leaders often prefer the intimidation of terror to any reputation for decency. Though only an army can interrupt genocide, the forms of justice are a means to strengthen the norms against indiscriminate violence, integral to the honour of the profession of arms. The awe and finality of trial can help teach respect for humanitarian standards, showing that the safeguard of civilians and non-combatants is a demand of the law, and not a matter of arbitrage.
From Medicalization to Legalization to Politicization: Cruzan, O'Connor and Refusal of Treatment in the 1990s

End-of-life decisionmaking is very often accompanied by high stakes and human drama, as evinced in the 1988 decisions of In re Westchester County Medical Center (O’Connor) and Cruzan v. Harmon. This article analyzes these two legal battles both for their place in the jurisprudence of medical treatment decisionmaking of the 1980s and foreshadowing of 1990s conflicts. The article begins with a discussion of the O’Connor and Cruzan decisions. In O’Connor, the New York Court of Appeals ordered treatment of a significantly brain damaged patient over and above the wishes of the family, requiring “clear and convincing evidence” of the patient’s wishes to stop treatment. In Cruzan, the Missouri Supreme Court refused to order continued treatment of a patient in a persistently vegetative state, but it did so on pro-life grounds and refused to recognize a self-determination framework for end-of-life decisionmaking. This judgment was affirmed by the United States Supreme Court. The article then presents three ways in which O’Connor and Cruzan may be distinguished from the mainstream of cases. First, the decisions may be limited to cases of medically provided nutrition. Second, the decisions may not apply to cases involving terminally ill patients. Finally, the opinions may not reach the case where the patient’s own decision is clear. The article argues that despite being arguably limited, the O’Connor and Cruzan decisions represent a significant and growing challenge to the scope of an individual’s right to refuse treatment. Finally, the article examines O’Connor and Cruzan as reflections of a shifting decisionmaking framework. The 1980s saw a shift from “medicalization” to “legalization,” from physician control to control by law through patient’s rights. O’Connor and Cruzan portend a new shift—this time from patient’s rights to decisionmaking by the political processes of state legislatures or administrative agencies. Wary of this new shift, this article advocates a self-determination model for formerly competent patients and a greater role for family members when the patient in question has never been competent. Courts have often referred to their own discomfort in allowing nontreatment; there should be discomfort as well in using the power of the state to compel medical intervention.
Plutonium Oxide Process Capability Work Plan

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) has been tasked to develop a Pilot-scale Plutonium-oxide Processing Unit (P3U) providing a flexible capability to produce 200g (Pu basis) samples of plutonium oxide using different chemical processes for use in identifying and validating nuclear forensics signatures associated with plutonium production. Materials produced can also be used as exercise and reference materials.
Does who appears before the juvenile court matter on adjudication and disposition outcomes? The interaction between client race and lawyer type

AbstractIt has been established throughout the juvenile justice literature that controlling for both legal and extra-legal factors, minority youth tend to receive disadvantaged juvenile court outcomes compared to similarly situated whites. Prior research has also found that the effect of legal representation on juvenile justice proceedings has produced differing viewpoints concerning the benefits and disadvantages of youth being represented by legal counsel. Using data from one Midwest state and one Northeast state, the present study examines the extent to which race impacts adjudication and judicial disposition decision-making, and if this effect is conditioned by the presence and type of legal counsel (public defender vs. private attorney). Results indicate that depending on the state and stage examined, the presence and type of legal counsel influence the juvenile court outcomes of white and black youth, although not always in the expected direction. Explanations in regard to the aggravating and mitiga...
Draft Genome Sequence of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia CBF10-1, an Organophosphate-Degrading Bacterium Isolated from Ranch Soil in Fairchilds, Texas

ABSTRACT Stenotrophomonas maltophilia CBF10-1 was isolated from a ranch in Fairchilds, Texas, USA. Its genome reveals a highly adaptable microorganism with a large complement of antibiotic and heavy metal resistance genes, efflux pumps, multidrug transporters, and xenobiotic degradation pathways.
Characterization of the Plant Cell Wall Proteome Using High-Throughput Screens

Plant cell wall proteins play essential roles in many important biological processes, and yet there is still not a comprehensive catalogue of the cell wall proteome, or "secretome". Here, we describe three procedures, including a yeast secretion trap (YST), Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression using a necrosis-inducing protein (NIP) and protein localization assay using a fluorescent protein, to identify and confirm the localization of cell wall proteins. The approaches are orthogonal and collectively provide a powerful suite of approaches to complement more commonly used strategies to isolate plant cell wall-associated proteins.
Physical therapy and changes in disability for patients with low back pain.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe the changes in disability for patients being treated for low back pain (LBP) at a military physical therapy clinic from the time of initial evaluation to discharge from physical therapy and tc compare those changes across categories of symptom duration and location. Methods: Three hundred four consecutive patients who completed a course of physical therapy for LBP were evaluated with the Oswestry LBP Disability Questionnaire at the time of initial evaluation and discharge from physical therapy. Results: In all of the patient groups, mean Oswestry scores had decreased significantly from the time of initial evaluation to discharge from physical therapy, indicating that patients experienced significantly decreased levels of disability at the time of discharge from physical therapy. However, patients with LBP without lower extremity symptoms generally had greater decreases in disability than patients with LBP with lower extremity symptoms. Furthermore, whereas patients in the acute groups had the greatest decrease in disability, patients in the chronic groups had the smallest decrease in disability. Conclusion: Clinicians should use LBP symptom duration, as well as the presence or absence of lower extremity symptoms, to assist in developing treatment prognoses for patients with LBP.
Detection of LA and LAA Thrombus by CMR in Patients Referred for Pulmonary Vein Isolation.

Abstract Objectives The goal of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of a comprehensive, multicomponent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) study for assessment of left atrial (LA) and left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombus. Background Pre-operative evaluation for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) typically requires tomographic imaging to define pulmonary venous anatomy and transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) to assess for the presence of LA/LAA thrombus. CMR is increasingly being used to define pulmonary venous anatomy before PVI. Limited data are available on the utility of a multicomponent CMR protocol in assessing LA/LAA thrombus. Methods We studied patients who underwent multicomponent CMR for evaluation of pulmonary venous anatomy before PVI and underwent TEE within 7 days. LA and LAA thrombi were evaluated by using CMR as follows: 1) cine-CMR; 2) contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography; and 3) equilibrium phase delayed enhancement (DE) CMR with a long inversion time (TI) of 600 ms (long TI DE-CMR). Components of the CMR study were evaluated for diagnostic performance for detection of LA or LAA thrombus using TEE as the reference standard. Results During the study period, 261 patients were assessed. The median CHA 2 DS 2 VASc (congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥75 years, diabetes mellitus, stroke/transient ischemic attack, vascular disease, age 65 to 74 years, sex category) score was 2, and 73.6% of patients were undergoing anticoagulation therapy. CMR and TEE were performed within 1.3 ± 2.3 days. LA/LAA thrombi were discovered in 9 patients (3.5%) by using TEE. Among the CMR techniques performed, long TI DE-CMR had the highest diagnostic accuracy (99.2%), sensitivity (100%), and specificity (99.2%), followed by contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (accuracy 94.3%; sensitivity 66.7%; and specificity 95.2%) and cine-CMR (accuracy 91.6%; sensitivity 66.7%; and specificity 92.5%). Conclusions In patients referred for PVI, CMR could be a single complete diagnostic study for assessment of pulmonary venous anatomy as well as presence of LA/LAA thrombi, thus reducing the number of pre-operative tests before PVI. Long TI DE-CMR has the best diagnostic performance and should be used for the detection of LA/LAA thrombi.
Congenital adrenal hyperplasias.

The congenital adrenal hyperplasias (CAH) are a very commmon group of genetic disorders of steroid hormone synthesis. The genes encoding each of the steroid biosynthetic enzymes have now been cloned, and the mutations in these genes that cause the various forms of CAH are being determined. The emerging picture is substantially different from traditional views of CAH. Examination of the clinical findings in each form of CAH from a molecular genetic perspective simplifies understanding of these complex and closely related syndromes. Because mild forms of CAH are being recognized with increasing frequency, and severely affected patients now survive and reproduce, these disorders are of interest to endocrinologists dealing with all age groups.
Optimizing Wet Clean operations in an established manufacturing environment

Embedded contamination at the gate sector is considered a significant source of yield loss. By its nature, embedded contamination is not observed at the point of cause, making it more difficult to find its source. We discuss our efforts to find the point of cause through partitioning. Through a combination of several improvements in Wet Clean steps we demonstrate significant reduction of the defect. We show how we leverage the toolset in an established Fab and discuss the implications of qualifying these changes in a mature environment.
MO-FG-CAMPUS-IeP3-04: Evaluation of Reproducibility of Diffusion Tensor Imaging Metrics Using Automatically Generated Regions of Interest

Purpose: To establish diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) as a valid diagnostic tool, it is essential to first establish the reproducibility of DTI metrics, such as fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD). In this study, we developed two fully automated pipelines for obtaining FA and MD in multiple ROIs, and used them to evaluate intra- and inter-session reproducibility. Methods: Twenty subjects were scanned at 3.0T in two identical sessions separated by 1 week. During each session, the subjects were scanned twice with identical protocols, which comprised a 3D T1 anatomical scan and a DTI scan of 7 minutes. Two pipelines were developed for image analysis. In the first approach, DTI images were linearly registered to anatomical images, which were then non-linearly registered to the MNI152 brain template. And DTI tensor fitting was performed in the MNI152 space. In the second pipeline, the tensor fitting was performed in the native space and the resulting FA maps were non-linearly registered to the FMRIB58 FA template. The reproducibility of FA and MD were evaluated for 48 white matter ROIs using coefficients of variation (CV) and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Results: The second pipeline was found to have higher reproducibility, with 85% of ROIs having inter-session CV =0.82 for FA and >=0.79 for MD. Large variations were only found in small or narrow ROIs which are more prone to partial volume effect and misalignment. Most ROIs had higher inter-session CV than intra-session CV, though the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Our results indicate that current DTI technology can achieve high enough reproducibility for many clinical applications, and that a fully automated image registration pipeline can be a valid and efficient approach for extracting FA and MD information from a large number of ROIs.
Arthroscopic Primary Repair of Proximal Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tears

In a select group of patients with proximal anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears, primary repair can be a useful technique. Preservation of the native ACL may be advantageous for proprioceptive function and is thought to restore normal knee joint kinematics. The procedure is a less morbid and more conservative surgical approach to restore knee stability. Primary repair is preferably performed in the acute setting because of better healing capacity and tissue quality. We present the surgical technique of arthroscopic primary ACL repair with suture anchors in patients with proximal tears and excellent tissue quality.
An Introduction to C++ and Numerical Methods

Part 1 Basic Constructs Chapter 1: Introduction 1.1 Computers and Software 1.2 Binary Number and Memory 1.3 Rounding Errors 1.4 Programs Chapter 2: A First C++ Program 2.1 Computation and Assignment 2.2 Variable Types 2.3 Input and Output 2.4 A complete Program 2.5 Errors and Debugging Chapter 3 Decisions 3.1 The if Statement 3.2 Logical Operators 3.3 Nested If and Switch Statements 3.4 Good Programming Practice Chapter 4 Around and Around: iteration 4.1 The for statement 4.2 The while Statement 4.3 An Approximation to ex 4.4 Advanced Loop Control Chapter 5 Functions 5.1 Library Functions 5.2 User-Defined Functions 5.3 More General Functions 5.4 Local vs. Global Variables Chapter 6 Numerical Integration 6.1 Approximate Integration Formulas 6.2 Flow Charts 6.3 An Integration Program 6.4 Discretization Error Chapter 7 Reading and Writing: Input/Output 7.1 Precision 7.2 Spacing 7.3 File Input/Output 7.4 The print () Function Chapter 8 Solution of Nonlinear Equations 8.1 The Bisection Method 8.2 Newton's Method 8.3 Errors and Combined Method Chapter 9 Lots of Values: Arrays 9.1 Array Declarations 9.2 Arrays and Functions Chapter 10 Differential Equations 10.1 The Initial Value Problem m 10.2 Euler's Method 10.3 Systems of Equations Part II Extensions of the Basic Constructs Chapter 11 More on Data Types and Operations 11.1 Other Fundamental Data Types 11.2 Operations 11.3 Characters and Strings 11.4 User-Defined Data Types Chapter 12 Lots More Values: Two-Dimensional Arrays 12.1 Two-Dimensional Arrays 12.2 Arrays and Functions 12.3 Arrays of Strings Chapter 13 Linear Equations 13.1 Least Squares Approximation 13.2 Gaussian Elimination 13.3 Errors 13.4 Efficiency Chapter 14 More on Functions 14.1 Reference versus Value 14.2 Recursive and Inline Functions 14.3 Function Miscellanea 14.4 Libraries of Functions Chapter 15 Pointers 15.1 Pointer Variables 15.2 Pointers and Arrays 15.3 Pointers and Functions 15.4 Pointers and Strings Chapter 16 Dynamic Memory 16.1 Dynamic Memory Allocation 16.2 Matrices and Strings 16.3 Linked Lists Part III Object-Oriented Programming Chapter 17 Classes and Objects 17.1 A Simple Class 17.2 Classes and Functions Chapter 18 Array Classes and Dynamic Memory 18.1 A Vector Class 18.2 Dynamic Memory Allocation 18.3 A Matrix Class Chapter 19 Inheritance 19.1 Derived Classes 19.2 Polymorphism and Virual Functions 19.3 Linear Equations Further Reading Appendix 1 ASCII Character Codes Appendix 2 Library Functions Index
Random perfect absorption in 2D atomic layers on all-dielectric substrates mediated by anderson localization

I present an approach for achieving perfect absorption in 2D atomic layers utilizing randomized dielectric layers. The emergence of high Q optical modes featuring >99.9% absorption in single layer graphene is shown.
Cross-Disciplinary Service-Learning to Enhance Engineering Identity and Improve Communication Skills

Traditional engineering curricula often do not provide opportunities for students to experience working with non-technical collaborators on real projects. Such interactions may help engineering students develop relevant communication skills. In this study, junior level engineering students collaborated with junior level elementary education students to develop afterschool STEM clubs for elementary children. The study sought to identify the effects of a cross-disciplinary, project-based service-learning experience on: a) the development of a deeper understanding of engineering as a discipline and b) the development of skills necessary to communicate technical information to a non-technical audience. This paper describes the learning outcomes achieved by engaging undergraduate engineering students in cross-disciplinary working relationships. The results suggest that the cross-disciplinary experience affected learning in the knowledge, skills, attitudes and identity of student participants. Student learning was assessed through analysis of questionnaire responses and student reflections. The results also confirmed that simply knowing technical information does not correlate with the ability to communicate that same information. Students reported that they gained experience communicating technical content with non-technical audiences and developed leadership skills. Opportunities to learn communication skills were identified through student comments in course questionnaires and end of the semester focus group discussions.
Interactions among fuel management, species composition, bark beetles, and climate change and the potential effects on forests of the Lake Tahoe Basin

Climate-driven increases in wildfires, drought conditions, and insect outbreaks are critical threats to forest carbon stores. In particular, bark beetles are important disturbance agents although their long-term interactions with future climate change are poorly understood. Droughts and the associated moisture deficit contribute to the onset of bark beetle outbreaks although outbreak extent and severity is dependent upon the density of host trees, wildfire, and forest management. Our objective was to estimate the effects of climate change and bark beetle outbreaks on ecosystem carbon dynamics over the next century in a western US forest. Specifically, we hypothesized that (a) bark beetle outbreaks under climate change would reduce net ecosystem carbon balance (NECB) and increase uncertainty and (b) these effects could be ameliorated by fuels management. We also examined the specific tree species dynamics—competition and release—that determined NECB response to bark beetle outbreaks. Our study area was the Lake Tahoe Basin (LTB), CA and NV, USA, an area of diverse forest types encompassing steep elevation and climatic gradients and representative of mixed-conifer forests throughout the western United States. We simulated climate change, bark beetles, wildfire, and fuels management using a landscape-scale stochastic model of disturbance and succession. We simulated the period 2010–2100 using downscaled climate projections. Recurring droughts generated conditions conducive to large-scale outbreaks; the resulting large and sustained outbreaks significantly increased the probability of LTB forests becoming C sources over decadal time scales, with slower-than-anticipated landscape-scale recovery. Tree species composition was substantially altered with a reduction in functional redundancy and productivity. Results indicate heightened uncertainty due to the synergistic influences of climate change and interacting disturbances. Our results further indicate that current fuel management practices will not be effective at reducing landscape-scale outbreak mortality. Our results provide critical insights into the interaction of drivers (bark beetles, wildfire, fuel management) that increase the risk of C loss and shifting community composition if bark beetle outbreaks become more frequent.
Evaluation of the Augmented Infant Resuscitator: A Monitoring Device for Neonatal Bag-Valve-Mask Resuscitation

Background Annually, 6 million newborns require bag-valve-mask resuscitation, and providing live feedback has the potential to improve the quality of resuscitation. The Augmented Infant Resuscitator (AIR), a real-time feedback device, has been designed to identify leaks, obstructions, and inappropriate breath rates during bag-valve-mask resuscitation. However, its function has not been evaluated. Methods The resistance of the AIR was measured by attaching it between a ventilator and a ventilator tester. To test the device's reliability in training and clinical-use settings, it was placed in-line between a ventilation bag or ventilator and a neonatal manikin and a clinical lung model simulator. The lung model simulator simulated neonates of 3 sizes (2, 4, and 6 kg). Leaks, obstructions, and respiratory rate alterations were introduced. Results At a flow of 5 L/min, the pressure drop across the AIR was only 0.38 cm H2O, and the device had almost no effect on ventilator breath parameters. During the manikin trials, it was able to detect all leaks and obstructions, correctly displaying an alarm 100% of the time. During the simulated clinical trials, the AIR performed best on the 6-kg neonatal model, followed by the 4-kg model, and finally the 2-kg model. Over all 3 clinical models, the prototype displayed the correct indicator 73.5% of the time, and when doing so, took 1.6 ± 0.9 seconds. Conclusions The AIR is a promising innovation that has the potential to improve neonatal resuscitation. It introduces only marginal resistance and performs well on neonatal manikins, but its firmware should be improved before clinical use.
Salem Witch Trials

In the spring of 1692, a group of young girls in Salem Village, Massachusetts, began to act bizarre and experience “fits” that were blamed on the devil. The girls accused several local women of practicing witchcraft and placing curses on them. Over the next few months, more than 200 people were accused of performing the Devil's magic and sent to prison before being tried for their alleged crimes. Following this, 20 colonists were executed; 19 people were hanged at Gallows Hill; and an elderly man was crushed to death by heavy stones. In the end, the colony officials admitted to wrongdoing and financially compensated the heirs of those executed for being a witch. Keywords: crime; demon; popular culture
A Visual Introduction to Conceptual Database Design for All

The goal of the presented pedagogical tool is to engage all disciplines in learning how to understand their data and the relationships among the data, and subsequently representing those data in a relational database. The tool provides a visual introduction to important concepts in database design using Entity Relationship Diagrams as the primary visual design model, relating these same concepts to other models, such as UML diagrams and the crow's feet notation used in MySQL Workbench. Once the conceptual design is realized, the tool visually presents a methodology for mapping the various data concepts to a collection of relations. Relational databases are ubiquitous and conceptually simple for all majors to understand based on the analogy of a spreadsheet with named columns. A unique feature of this tool is a built-in formative self-assessment feature, called a checkpoint, to engage learners in reflecting on what they have learned. The checkpoint provides 20 questions, multiple-choice and true/false, over a given conceptual design to test the student's understanding of the design features and mapping to relations. Another novel capability of this tool is its ability for instructors to customize the example to their discipline, supporting the introduction of database topics within the context of the domain to which it is being applied. There are already customizations of the tool available in several disciplines, broadening the accessibility of data design to many majors. Experience has shown that the tool supports visual learners in all majors, including computer science.
Contract Therapy: The Renegotiation of Marriage and the Family1:

Contract therapy is proposed as a therapeutic procedure that can be utilized in the resolution of marital disharmony and family conflicts. The central thesis is that effective and efficient behavio...
15 Heart failure in cancer patients: management through ONCO-cardiology

Heart failure (HF) is one of the most dreaded complications of cancer therapy that can significantly impact morbidity and mortality. With new treatment modalities in oncology with potential cardiotoxicity and a high prevalence of cardiovascular disease in cancer patients, the risk of developing HF is significantly increased. HF can occur acutely during chemotherapy administration, or it can manifest years after the completion of cancer treatment. Cancer survivors may develop chemotherapy-induced HF several years after completing anthracycline-based treatment. Timely diagnosis, intervention and surveillance of cancer patients while receiving treatment and after survivorship are critical in the prevention and management of left ventricular dysfunction that can lead to HF. Cancer patients with concurrent HF experience complex clinical management issues that require a multidisciplinary approach and a close collaboration among oncologists, cardiologists, and the health care team. A new discipline of Onco-Cardiology has evolved to address the cardiovascular needs of patients with cancer. The collaboration between oncologists and cardiologists can optimise patients’ chances of receiving successful cancer therapy while avoiding the morbidity and mortality associated with HF.
Review of Dispersive and Resonant Effects in Internal Wave Propagation

Theories and models for the generation, propagation and dissipation of long, nonlinear internal waves are reviewed. The roles of dispersive and resonant effects are then discussed in the context of transcritical flow through channels. Recent work on the resonant generation of upstream advancing solitary waves is reviewed. It is shown that these waves (which include non-hydrostatic effects) may be important in the time-dependent hydraulic control problem. The instability of non-linear Kelvin waves in a rotating channel is also discussed and it is shown that this instability may be responsible for observations of wave-front curvature. These processes may be significant in resolving the dynamics of sea straits.
Comparison of reuse strategies for case-based classification in bioinformatics

Bioinformatics offers an interesting challenge for data mining algorithms given the high dimensionality of its data and the comparatively small set of samples. Case-based classification algorithms have been successfully applied to classify bioinformatics data and often serve as a reference for other algorithms. Therefore this paper proposes to study, on some of the most benchmarked datasets in bioinformatics, the performance of different reuse strategies in case-based classification in order to make methodological recommendations for applying these algorithms to this domain. In conclusion, k-nearest-neighbor (kNN) classifiers coupled with between-group to within-group sum of squares (BSS/WSS) feature selection can perform as well and even better than the best benchmarked algorithms to date. However the reuse strategy chosen played a major role to optimize the algorithms. In particular, the optimization of both the number k of neighbors and the number of features accounted was key to improving classification accuracy.
Prognostic factors in hemangioendotheliomas (HE): Analysis based on the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program.

10584 Background: HE are rare vascular soft tissue (ST) tumors with variable clinical biology. Prognostic factors and treatment (rx) options are poorly defined. This study aimed to describe patient...
Coding for Short Messages in Multipath Underwater Acoustic Communication Channels

This paper applies the full tail-biting (FTB) convolutional codes to short data packets and evaluates their performance in underwater acoustic communication by computer simulation and an ocean experiment. The simulation results for AWGN channels show that the FTB codes achieve the similar bit error rate (BER) performance as the zero-tailing convolutional (ZTC) codes regardless of block lengths, while the direct-truncate convolutional (DTC) codes suffer from BER degradation, specially with short block lengths. Both simulation and ocean experimental results demonstrate that the FTB codes are excellent candidates for underwater acoustic communication systems where short data blocks and strong error correction codes are needed.
Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC) and the Pediatric Population

With the increased number of mass shootings in recent years, this paper seeks to review recent literature on the management of active shooter settings and the care for pediatric victims. Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) functions on the principal of expeditious recognition and aggressive treatment of preventable death on the battlefield. The Committee for Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (C-TECC) was formulated to translate the TCCC guidelines to the civilian population. The adaptation of C-TECC’s guidelines have also considered the importance of real-world demographics, including the pediatric population. Pediatric C-TECC guidelines advise, if possible, that the patient should move to a position of safety. If not possible, risks and benefits should be weighed for rescue attempts in terms of the activity and safety of the situation. The practitioner should realize that time may be more limited for pediatric patients in terms of rescue and medical salvage. Prompt placement of tourniquets, hemostatic agents, and wound packing for hemorrhage control, especially in ongoing active threat scenarios, is recommended. However, guidelines like C-TECC are reactionary. The prevention of traumatic injury is still paramount and the goal will always be minimizing the chance of harm to the public prior to the injury occurring.
A Case for Risk-adapted Management of Low-grade Bladder Tumors

Management of low-grade bladder cancer should focus on minimizing morbidity and costs given the excellent oncologic outcomes.
Alternative option labeling impacts decision‐making in noninvasive prenatal screening

Prenatal genetic screening should be an informed, autonomous patient choice. Extrinsic factors which influence patient decision-making threaten the ethical basis of prenatal genetic screening. Prior research in the area of medical decision-making has identified that labeling may have unanticipated effects on patient perceptions and decision-making processes. This Internet-administered study explored the impact of option labeling on the noninvasive prenatal screening (NIPS) selections of US adults. A total of 1,062 participants were recruited through Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) and randomly assigned to one of three possible label sets reflecting provider-derived and industry-derived option labels used in prenatal screening. Multinomial logistic regression analysis showed option labeling had a statistically significant impact on the NIPS selections of study participants (p = .0288). Outcomes of the Satisfaction with Decision Scale (SWD) indicated option labels did not play a role in participant satisfaction with screening selection. The results of this study indicate a need for further evaluation of the impact NIPS option labeling has on patient screening decisions in real-world clinical interactions. Clinical providers and testing laboratories offering NIPS should give careful consideration to the option labels used with prenatal screening so as to minimize influence on patient screening selection and decision-making processes.
The Trials and Tribulations of Selecting Comparison Groups in Randomized Trials of Nonpharmacological Complementary and Integrative Health Interventions.

Editor's Note: For over two decades, JACM Editorial Board member Karen Sherman, PhD has been among the most respected clinical trialists in complementary and integrative health research. The epidemiologist and Senior Researcher at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute has focused on pain conditions and has led or been part of teams exploring the roles of such therapies as yoga, acupuncture, mind-body and manual therapies. In this Invited Commentary, Sherman shares wisdom gleaned from the process: trial designs, principles for selecting controls, benefits and liabilities of placebo and sham controls, attention controls, usual care controls, and more. She also discusses the effects of comparison groups on sample sizes, comparison groups for mechanistic studies, and other comparison groups' considerations. This commentary should prove a useful primer wherever research methods in complementary and integrative health are taught. We are pleased to offer it here through JACM. -John Weeks, Editor-in-Chief, JACM (johnweeks-integrator.com).
The mcr-9 Gene of Salmonella and Escherichia coli Is Not Associated with Colistin Resistance in the United States.

ABSTRACT Reports of transmissible colistin resistance show the importance of comprehensive colistin resistance surveillance. Recently, a new allele of the mobile colistin resistance (mcr) gene family designated mcr-9, which shows variation in genetic context and colistin susceptibility, was reported. We tested over 100 Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli isolates with mcr-9 from the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) in the United States for their susceptibility to colistin and found that every isolate was susceptible, with an MIC of ≤1 μg/ml. Long-read sequencing of 12 isolates revealed mcr-9 on IncHI plasmids that were either independent or integrated into the chromosome. Overall, these results demonstrate that caution is necessary when determining the clinical relevance of new resistance genes.