cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Single-Point active alignment method (SPAAM) for optical see-through HMD calibration for augmented reality

Augmented reality (AR) is a technology in which a user's view of the real world is enhanced or augmented with additional information generated from a computer model. To have a working AR system, the see-through display system must be calibrated so that the graphics are properly rendered. The optical see-through systems present an additional challenge because, unlike the video see-through systems, we do not have direct access to the image data to be used in various calibration procedures.This paper reports on a calibration method we developed for optical see-through head-mounted displays. We first introduce a method for calibrating monocular optical see-through displays (that is, a display for one eye only) and then extend it to stereo optical see-through displays in which the displays for both eyes are calibrated in a single procedure. The method integrates the measurements for the camera and a six-degrees-of-freedom tracker that is attached to the camera to do the calibration. We have used both an off-the-shelf magnetic tracker as well as a vision-based infrared tracker we have built. In the monocular case, the calibration is based on the alignment of image points with a single 3D point in the world coordinate system from various viewpoints. In this method, the user interaction to perform the calibration is extremely easy compared to prior methods, and there is no requirement for keeping the head immobile while performing the calibration. In the stereo calibration case, the user aligns a stereoscopically fused 2D marker, which is perceived in depth, with a single target point in the world whose coordinates are known. As in the monocular case, there is no requirement that the user keep his or her head fixed.
Does Merger Control Work? A Retrospective on U.S. Enforcement Actions and Merger Outcomes

The accuracy and efficacy of merger control are important questions that have long posed challenges for policy evaluation. The growing number of merger retrospectives provide an opportunity to conduct such an analysis since they measure the outcomes of actual mergers. This paper compiles all available merger retrospectives that meet scholarly criteria, resulting in 48 mergers with measured price outcomes. It supplements this data base with information about the actions taken by U.S. antitrust agencies with respect to those particular mergers - whether they were cleared, or approved with remedies, or opposed. If remedies were imposed, conduct remedies are distinguished from structural remedies, since many observers view the latter as more likely effective. We find that the antitrust agencies cleared the studied mergers about as often as they imposed remedies, although the percent cleared has risen over time. We further find that most transactions resulted in increases in prices post-merger, suggesting a permissive antitrust posture. The price increases were considerably greater for mergers subject to conduct remedies than divestitures, corroborating doubt about the efficacy of conduct approaches. Finally, we find that the agencies cleared mergers without substantial price effects systematically and significantly more often than mergers resulting in large price increases. This suggests that agencies have been able to distinguish, on average, case deserving of approval from those raising the most serious competitive concerns.
Abstract LB-438: Proteomic analysis of aristolochic acid-induced nephrotoxicity in rats

Aristolochic acids (AA) are a family of structurally related nitrophenanthrene carboxylic acids, mainly consisting of aristolochic acid I (AAI) and aristolochic acid II (AAII), and are the active component of some herbal medicines. Use of dietary supplements and other botanical products containing AA have resulted in severe nephrotoxicity and consequent renal replacement therapy. Aristolochic acids are potent carcinogens as well, inducing urothelial cancers in humans and kidney tumors in rats. Previous studies have shown that the tumorigenicity of AA could result from AA-induced DNA adduct formation and mutation induction. To further understand the molecular mechanisms underlying AA-induced nephrotoxicity (e.g., carcinogenesis) and identify disease biomarkers, a quantitative proteomic analysis was conducted on kidneys from AA-treated rats. Animal treatment was conducted according to the approved protocol and followed the recommendations of the NCTR Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. Six-week-old Big Blue rats were treated with AA as its sodium salt at concentrations of 0.1, 1.0, and 10.0 mg/kg body weight by gavage five times/week for 12 weeks or with 0.9% sodium chloride as the control using the same schedule. Six rats from each treatment group were sacrificed 1 day after the last treatment. The kidneys were isolated, frozen quickly in liquid nitrogen, and stored at −80 °C. Kidney tissues from the control and the highest AA dose treatment (10 mg/kg body weight) were selected for proteomic analysis. Proteins were extracted and digested into peptides. Trypsin-catalyzed 16 O/ 18 O stable isotope labeling was performed for each pair of control/treatment samples, which were then analyzed using two-dimensional liquid chromatography coupled online with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Approximately 3000 proteins were quantified from each pair of samples, and more than 150 proteins were concordantly over expressed or under expressed across all the AA-treated samples. Pathway analysis indicated that significant changes include proteins involving xenobiotic metabolism, response to stimulus including DNA damage, cell proliferation and neoplasm, etc. Intriguingly, proteins indicating kidney pathological changes such as nephron degeneration were identified as well. Although further verification is needed, the quantitative proteomic study identified proteins related to potential toxicity and oncogenic pathways and proteins that could serve as urinary biomarkers of renal damage inflicted by aristolochic acid exposure. The views presented do not necessarily reflect those of the U. S. Food and Drug Administration. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-438. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-LB-438
Algorithm of Optimizing the Observer Trajectory based on PLKF

Strongly nonlinear and weak observability are keys in passive tracking.Even if the motion of observer satisfied the condition of observability,it would not be convergence.Aimed at the problem,applying PLEKF,we advanced the function of optimizing based on CRLB and FIM to optimize the observer trajectory.Because of not using the distance between the target and the observer,the optimizing function is simple.Simulation results show that it is simple and convenience compared with traditional method.It also improves the precision of filter. Finally,we give the rules of the observer moving in such condition.
Comparison of DFIG dynamic characteristics simulation between RTDS and MATLAB

The DFIG(Doubly-Fed Induction Generator) average model is constructed on RTDS / RSCAD platform based on the DFIG average model of MATLAB / Simulink and the simulation method is compared between MATLAB and RTDS.Based on a constructed one-machine-infinite-bus system,the dynamic response characteristics of DFIG are simulated on MATLAB and RTDS platforms respectively for comparative validation,including initial value,wind speed disturbance and fault disturbance.Simulative results show that,RTDS can accurately transplant the DFIG model from other simulation platforms,and provide more detailed information about state variables while keeps the ratio of simulation time to real process time as 1.0.
Cross-spectral collapse from anti-correlated thermal noise in power splitters

We discuss the cross-spectral collapse due to anticorrelated thermal noise that originates from the common-mode power divider (splitter) in a cross-spectrum noise measurement system. We studied this effect for different power splitters and discuss its influence on the measurement of thermal-noise limited oscillators.
Normal lower esophageal sphincter pressure: a comparison of rapid vs. slow pull-through techniques.

This study simultaneously compared radially oriented normal lower esophageal sphincter pressure in 18 volunteers measured by motorized rapid pull through, hand withdrawn slow pull through, and motorized slow pull through. Slow pull-through pressures were scored four ways: peak pressure, mean pressure, highest minimum pressure, and pressure at respiratory phase reversal. Motorized and hand withdrawn slow pull-through methods gave identical average pressures, but the motorized method was slightly less variable except for the peak pressure scoring method where minimum variability did not require motorized withdrawal (average coefficient of variation = 18%). Rapid pull through pressures varied significantly more than all other methods (average coefficient of variation = 38%). Radial pressure asymmetry occurred with all methods with leftward pressures ranging from 62% greater for rapid pull through to 21% greater for respiratory reversal scored slow pull through. The peak, mean respiratory reversal and minimum slow pull-through methods correlated very well with each other (r ranged from 0.89 to 0.98) but not with rapid pull through (r ranged from 0.45 to 0.58). The interobserver correlation coefficient was poorest with respiratory reversal slow pull through (0.86), and excellent for all other pull-through methods (0.96-0.99). In conclusion, the method and recording orifice orientation chosen to record lower esophageal sphincter pressure markedly influenced the magnitude and variability of recorded pressure. Slow pull through is more reliable than rapid pull through and the peak method appears to be the easiest way to score slow pull through pressures.
Ignorance and obligation

“Ought” is ambiguous. Few deny this fact. It straddles several distinctions. One such distinction is that between what is counseled by morality and that which is counseled, not by morality, but by reason, or prudence, or aesthetics, or the law, and so on. Within the broad category of morality, there is another distinction between that which is required or obligatory and that which is merely recommended. Within the category of moral obligation, there is still another distinction between that which is overall obligatory and that which is merely prima facie obligatory. “Ought” may be properly used in all such contexts. So much I presume. In this chapter I will focus on the concept of overall moral obligation, and I will address yet another alleged distinction: that between what are often called objective and subjective obligation. It is frequently claimed that “ought” (together with associated terms, such as “right” and “wrong”) may be, and is, used to express both forms of obligation, and that as a result people sometimes find themselves talking at cross-purposes. Consider what W. D. Ross has to say on the matter: [W]hen people express different opinions about the rightness or wrongness of an act, the difference is often due to the fact that one of them is thinking of objective and the other of subjective rightness. The recognition of the difference between the two is therefore in itself important as tending to reconcile what might otherwise seem irreconcilable differences of opinion.
Single Cell RNA seq for Analysis of Cell Fate Decisions

Abstract Single-cell RNA-Seq has the potential to become a dominant approach in probing diverse and complex developmental compartments. Its unbiased and comprehensive nature could enable developmental ordering of cellular and regulatory gene hierarchies without prior knowledge. To test general utility we performed single-cell RNA-seq of murine hematopoietic progenitors focusing on the myeloid developmental hierarchy. Using novel unsupervised clustering analysis, ICDS, we correctly ordered known hierarchical states as well as revealed rare intermediates. Regulatory state analysis suggested that the transcription factors Gfi1 and Irf8 function antagonistically to control homeostatic neutrophil and macrophage production, respectively. This prediction was validated by complementary genetic and genomic experiments in granulocyte-macrophage progenitors. Using knock-in reporters for Gfi1 and Irf8 and clonogenic analyses coupled with single-cell RNA-seq we distinguished regulatory states of bi-potential progenitors from their lineage specifying or committed progeny. Thus single-cell RNA-Seq is a powerful developmental tool to characterize hierarchical and rare cellular states along with the regulators that control their dynamics. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
RNA Binding Protein Human Antigen R Is Translocated in Astrocytes following Spinal Cord Injury and Promotes the Inflammatory Response.

Abstract Inflammation plays a prominent role in the events following traumatic injury to the central nervous system (CNS). The initial inflammatory response is driven by mediators such as tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin 1β, which are produced by activated astrocytes and microglia at the site of injury. These factors are regulated post-transcriptionally by RNA binding proteins (RBP) that interact with adenylate and uridylate-rich elements (ARE) in the 3′-untranslated region of the messenger RNA (mRNA). Human antigen R (HuR) is one of these RBPs and generally functions as a positive regulator of ARE-containing mRNAs. Here, we hypothesized that HuR plays an important role in the induction of cytokine and chemokines in astrocytes following traumatic injury. Using a mouse model of spinal cord injury, we found HuR to be extensively translocated to the cytoplasm in astrocytes at the level of injury, consistent with its activation. In an in vitro stretch injury model of CNS trauma, we observed a similar c...
Surveillance as Our Sextant

An introduction is presented in which the author discusses the inclusion of a public health surveillance and survey methods section in the journal, and it mentions articles about a municipal surveillance system in New York, New York and the 500 Cities Project study involving chronic disease.
A metasynthesis of the complementarity of culturally responsive and inquiry-based science education in K-12 settings: Implications for advancing equitable science teaching and learning

Employing metasynthesis as a method, this study examined 52 empirical articles on culturally relevant and responsive science education in K-12 settings to determine the nature and scope of complementarity between culturally responsive and inquiry-based science practices (i.e., science and engineering practices identified in the National Research Council's Framework for K-12 Science Education). The findings from this study indicate several areas of complementarity. Most often, the inquiry-based practices Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information, Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions, and Developing and Using Models were used to advance culturally responsive instruction and assessment. The use and development of models, in particular, allowed students to explore scientific concepts through families’ funds of knowledge and explain content from Western science and Indigenous Knowledge perspectives. Moreover, students frequently Analyzed and Interpreted Data when interrogating science content in sociopolitical consciousness-raising experiences, such as identifying pollution and asthma incidences in an urban area according to neighborhood location. Specific inquiry-based practices were underutilized when advancing culturally responsive science instruction, though. For example, Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking and Engaging in Argument from Evidence were infrequently encountered. However, culturally responsive engineering-related practices were most often connected with these, and thus, represent potential areas for future complementarity, particularly as the United States embraces the Next Generation Science Standards. In considering innovative directions for advancing equitable science education, several possibilities are discussed in light of the findings of this study.© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 9999:XX–XX, 2017
A Model of the Demand and Supply of the Health Effects of Food Substances

This paper focuses on the market for substances that affect health. Diet and environmental exposure to substances are becoming increasingly important due to growing demand for better health and an increase in supply of substances that affect health. Important demand factors include the increase in knowledge of health impinging substances, effects of income growth on the demand for health, and the increase in the opportunity cost of time.
HydroCloud: A Web Application for Exploring Stream Gage Data

HydroCloud (hydrocloud.org) is a mobile-friendly web application for visually browsing hydrology data from multiple sources. Data providers such as the US Geological Survey (USGS) and the German Wasserstrasen- und Schifffahrtsverwaltung des Bundes (WSV) currently serve stream discharge data from more than 10,000 stream gages around the world. HydroCloud allows users to plot these data while out in the field, while also providing contextual information such as the current NEXRAD weather imagery or descriptive information about the stream gage and its watershed. Additional features include a chat mechanism for contacting developers, and the use of local storage for saving data. Funding Statement: This project was supported in part by a grant from the Towson University School of Emerging Technology.
Volumetric analysis of IDH-mutant lower-grade glioma: a natural history study of tumor growth rates before and after treatment.

BACKGROUND Lower-grade gliomas (LGGs) with isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and/or 2 (IDH1/2) mutations have long survival times, making evaluation of treatment efficacy difficult. We investigated the volumetric growth rate of IDH mutant gliomas before and after treatment with established glioma therapies to determine whether a significant change in growth rate could be documented and perhaps be used in the future to evaluate treatment response to investigational agents in LGG trials. METHODS In this multicenter retrospective study, 230 adult patients with IDH1/2 mutated LGGs (World Health Organization grade II or III) undergoing surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy for progressive non-enhancing tumor were identified. Subjects were required to have 3 MRI scans containing T2/fluid attenuated inversion recovery imaging spanning a minimum of 6 months prior to treatment. A mixed-effect model was used to estimate tumor growth prior to treatment. A subset of 95 patients who received chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or chemoradiotherapy and had 2 posttreatment imaging time points available were evaluated for change in pre- and posttreatment volumetric growth rates using a piecewise mixed model. RESULTS The pretreatment volumetric growth rate across all 230 patients was 27.37%/180 days (95% CI: [23.36%, 31.51%]). In the 95 patients with both pre- and posttreatment scans available, there was a significant difference in volumetric growth rates before (26.63%/180 days, 95% CI: [19.31%, 34.40%]) and after treatment (-15.24% /180 days, 95% CI: [-21.37%, -8.62%]) (P < 0.0001). The growth rates for patient subgroup with 1p/19q codeletion (N = 118) was significantly slower than the rate of the 1p/19q non-codeleted group (N = 68) (22.84% vs 35.49%, P = 0.0108). CONCLUSION In this study, we evaluated the growth rates of IDH mutant gliomas before and after standard therapy. Further study is needed to establish whether a change in growth rate is associated with patient survival and its use as a surrogate endpoint in clinical trials for IDH mutant LGGs.
Measuring Product Development to Improve the Quality of the Process

As global competitive pressure increases and product life cycles compress, many companies are trying to shorten their product development cycles and increase the success “hit rate” of those products they commercialize. These characteristics are two aspects of the quality of a firm’s product development process. In order to improve these quality characteristics, firms are implementing a wide variety of different techniques, management processes, and development strategies. Anecdotal tales of the results of some efforts herald great success stories. One seldom hears about the failures.
Development of a preventive vaccine for Ebola virus infection in primates

Outbreaks of haemorrhagic fever caused by the Ebola virus are associated with high mortality rates that are a distinguishing feature of this human pathogen. The highest lethality is associated with the Zaire subtype, one of four strains identified to date1,2. Its rapid progression allows little opportunity to develop natural immunity, and there is currently no effective anti-viral therapy. Therefore, vaccination offers a promising intervention to prevent infection and limit spread. Here we describe a highly effective vaccine strategy for Ebola virus infection in non-human primates. A combination of DNA immunization and boosting with adenoviral vectors that encode viral proteins generated cellular and humoral immunity in cynomolgus macaques. Challenge with a lethal dose of the highly pathogenic, wild-type, 1976 Mayinga strain of Ebola Zaire virus resulted in uniform infection in controls, who progressed to a moribund state and death in less than one week. In contrast, all vaccinated animals were asymptomatic for more than six months, with no detectable virus after the initial challenge. These findings demonstrate that it is possible to develop a preventive vaccine against Ebola virus infection in primates.
Treatment goals, assessment, and evaluation practices in rape crisis centers

Counselors in Rape Crisis Centers (RCCs) provide crucial services to survivors of sexual violence. However, little is known about RCCs, including the treatment goals and assessment strategies of counselors. Counselors in all Texas RCCs (n = 83) were invited to participate in a web-based survey. Participants were asked to indicate which treatment goals they frequently identified and assessed, as well as their usual assessment techniques. Counselors endorsed treatment goals around self-esteem, empowerment, and relational functioning, along with trauma and mental health. Fewer counselors endorsed goals around drugs/alcohol or school/work/sexual functioning. Few counselors reported use of standardized measures. Counselors in urban settings were more likely to endorse goals related to mental health. There are discrepancies between counselors' goals and how often outcomes are assessed. Increased assessment could promote the provision of effective services and access to funding.
Who's Who in Mineral Names: Luca Bindi (b. 1971)

Lorenzo Bindi photo.The arsenic oxychloride lucabindiite (IMA 2011-010), with ideal formula (K,NH4)As4O6(Cl,Br), was described as a new mineral by Garavelli et al. in 2013. It was found in 1998 as ...
Efficacy of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation in Cutaneous T Cell Lymphoma: Results of a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Abstract Mycosis fungoides and Sezary syndrome are the most common types of primary cutaneous T cell lymphomas. The clinical presentation of mycosis fungoides is generally indolent, whereas Sezary syndrome represents a more aggressive disease variant. Stage at diagnosis is the most important determinant of long-term survival outcome. Although most patients present with early-stage disease, those who develop progressive disease or have an advanced stage represent a therapeutic challenge because of a lack of effective therapies. Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) has been used as a potentially curative treatment modality with encouraging long-term outcomes. However, a lack of randomized controlled data remains, and the published literature is limited to mostly retrospective studies. We performed a comprehensive search of the medical literature using PubMed/Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane reviews on September 13, 2018. We extracted data on clinical outcomes related to benefits (overall [OS] and progression-free [PFS] survival) and harms (relapse and nonrelapse mortality [NRM]) independently by 2 authors. Our search strategy identified 289 references. Five studies (266 patients) were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Reduced-intensity and nonmyeloablative regimens were more commonly prescribed (76%). Mobilized peripheral blood stem cells were the preferred graft source (78%). The pooled OS and PFS rates were 59% (95% confidence interval [CI], 50% to 69%) and 36% (95% CI, 27% to 45%), respectively. Pooled relapse rate was 47% (95% CI, 41% to 53%) and pooled NRM rate 19% (95% CI, 13% to 27%). Results of this systematic review and meta-analysis show that allo-HCT yields encouraging OS and PFS rates; however; relapse remains a significant cause of allo-HCT failure. Novel strategies to further improve outcomes should focus on offering allo-HCT before the development of resistant disease and reducing relapse by incorporating post-transplant maintenance therapies.
Abstracts of Short Contributions

INFLUENCE OF HALOGEN IONS ON THE ELECTROGENERATED CHEMILUMINESCENCE OF 9,10-DIPHENYLANTHRACENE. T. Kihara and K. Honda, Institute of Industrial Science, University of Tokyo.
A simple baseline for travel time estimation using large-scale trip data

The increased availability of large-scale trajectory data provides rich information for the study of urban dynamics. For example, New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission regularly releases source/destination information of taxi trips, where 173 million taxi trips released for Year 2013 [1]. Such a big dataset provides us potential new perspectives to address the traditional traffic problems. In this paper, we study the travel time estimation problem. Instead of following the traditional route-based travel time estimation, we propose to simply use a large amount of taxi trips without using the intermediate trajectory points to estimate the travel time between source and destination. Our experiments show very promising results. The proposed big data-driven approach significantly outperforms both state-of-the-art route-based method and online map services. Our study indicates that novel simple approaches could be empowered by the big data and these approaches could serve as new baselines for some traditional computational problems.
Craving and Cue Reactivity in Nicotine-Dependent Tobacco Smokers Is Associated With Different Insula Networks.

Abstract Background The insula has a well-established role in nicotine dependence and is a node of the salience network, which integrates internal and external information to guide behavior. Recent findings reveal that internal and external processing occurs in the ventral anterior insula (vAI) and dorsal anterior insula (dAI), respectively. Whether vAI/dAI network connectivity differentially reflects internally generated craving and externally triggered smoking cue reactivity was tested. Methods Thirty-six male and female nicotine-dependent individuals smoked 1 hour before functional magnetic resonance imaging. Baseline craving was measured, followed by resting-state and smoking cue reactivity scans and then another assessment of craving. Craving and cue reactivity interactions were measured by focusing on specific nodes of the salience network: the vAI/dAI and anterior cingulate cortex. Results Resting-state vAI/dAI networks overlapped with the prototypical salience network, yet they possessed distinct patterns, linking the vAI with nodes of the internally focused default mode network and the dAI with nodes of the external, goal-related frontoparietal network. Internally generated baseline craving was associated with enhanced vAI connectivity, whereas rostral anterior cingulate cortex reactivity to external smoking cues was associated with greater dAI connectivity. We also found that cue reactivity in the rostral anterior cingulate cortex was associated with a rise in subjective cue-induced craving, whereas baseline subjective craving did not influence brain cue reactivity. Conclusions These data show that brain reactivity to smoking cues is associated with a subsequent increase in craving. In addition, separate insula networks have a role in an individual’s vulnerability to internally related craving and externally triggered cue reactivity, which could guide the development of new, neurobiologically targeted therapies.
Digitizing dissection: A case study on augmented reality and animation in engineering education

Advancing virtual education through technology is an important step for engineering education This has been made evident by the educational difficulties associated with the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic Maintaining educational standards while using virtual learning is something possibly solved through researching new educational technologies A potential technology that can enhance virtual education is Augmented Reality, since it can show information that would otherwise not be easily experienced or obtained Traditional learning tools fail to offer the ability to control objects and explore numerous perspectives the way augmented reality can Augmented reality can be even further enhanced through the addition of animation Animation could add the ability to see motion, increasing overall understanding as well as increasing the motivation to learn When motion is not visualized, it must be perceived, which can increase cognitive load and cause the limitations of working memory to be met Reaching the limits of working memory has been shown to negatively affect learning Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify the impact of digitizing product dissection on engineering student learning and cognitive load Specifically, we sought to identify the impact of Augmented Reality and Animations through a full factorial experiment with 61 engineering students The results of the study show that the virtual condition with animation exhibited increased effectiveness as a learning tool It also showed that augmented reality is not significantly different than a virtual environment in the context of product dissection The results of this study are used to explore future uses of augmented reality and animation in education, as well as lay the groundwork for future work to further explore these technologies Copyright © 2020 ASME
Activity data from wearables as an indicator of functional capacity in patients with cardiovascular disease.

Background Smartphone and wearable-based activity data provide an opportunity to remotely monitor functional capacity in patients. In this study, we assessed the ability of a home-based 6-minute walk test (6MWT) as well as passively collected activity data to supplement or even replace the in-clinic 6MWTs in patients with cardiovascular disease. Methods We enrolled 110 participants who were scheduled for vascular or cardiac procedures. Each participant was supplied with an iPhone and an Apple Watch running the VascTrac research app and was followed for 6 months. Supervised 6MWTs were performed during clinic visits at scheduled intervals. Weekly at-home 6MWTs were performed via the VascTrac app. The app passively collected activity data such as daily step counts. Logistic regression with forward feature selection was used to assess at-home 6MWT and passive data as predictors for “frailty” as measured by the gold-standard supervised 6MWT. Frailty was defined as walking <300m on an in-clinic 6MWT. Results Under a supervised in-clinic setting, the smartphone and Apple Watch with the VascTrac app were able to accurately assess ‘frailty’ with sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 85%. Outside the clinic in an unsupervised setting, the home-based 6MWT is 83% sensitive and 60% specific in assessing “frailty.” Passive data collected at home were nearly as accurate at predicting frailty on a clinic-based 6MWT as was a home-based 6MWT, with area under curve (AUC) of 0.643 and 0.704, respectively. Conclusions In this longitudinal observational study, passive activity data acquired by an iPhone and Apple Watch were an accurate predictor of in-clinic 6MWT performance. This finding suggests that frailty and functional capacity could be monitored and evaluated remotely in patients with cardiovascular disease, enabling safer and higher resolution monitoring of patients.
A simple two-step procedure using the Fellegi–Sunter model for frequency-based record linkage

The widely used Fellegi–Sunter model for probabilistic record linkage does not leverage information contained in field values and consequently leads to identical classification of match status rega...
Risk-need-responsivity and its application in behavioral health settings: A feasibility study of a treatment planning support tool

The risk-need-responsivity (RNR) model suggests several key practices for justice-involved populations under correctional supervision. Behavioral health treatment planning aligned with RNR principles for offender populations with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders (CODs) could be one method for integrating RNR into clinical care. To explore a unique approach to working with behavioral health and RNR principles, the authors implemented a mixed-methods feasibility study of the acceptability, usability, and utility of a newly developed RNR treatment planning support tool (RNR TST). The tool was implemented in a re-entry program serving adults with co-occurring mental health and opioid use disorders. Chart reviews of RNR TSTs (N = 55) and a focus group (N = 14 re-entry clinical staff) were conducted. Ninety-six percent of the RNR TSTs incorporated the use of a validated risk-need assessment and 70% of the RNR TSTs were semi-complete to complete. Focus group interviews highlighted behavioral health staff perspectives on the acceptability, usability, and utility of the RNR TST. This novel RNR TST has the potential to assist behavioral health providers in integrating RNR principles into treatment planning. Further development and testing are needed to determine its impact on client care and outcomes.
Integrating Self-Report and Psychophysiological Measures in Waterpipe Tobacco Message Testing: A Novel Application of Multi-Attribute Decision Modeling.

Background: Waterpipe (i.e., hookah) tobacco smoking (WTS) is one of the most prevalent types of smoking among young people, yet there is little public education communicating the risks of WTS to the population. Using self-report and psychophysiological measures, this study proposes an innovative message testing and data integration approach to choose optimal content for health communication messaging focusing on WTS. Methods: In a two-part study, we tested 12 WTS risk messages. Using crowdsourcing, participants (N = 713) rated WTS messages based on self-reported receptivity, engagement, attitudes, and negative emotions. In an in-lab study, participants (N = 120) viewed the 12 WTS risk messages while being monitored for heart rate and eye-tracking, and then completed a recognition task. Using a multi-attribute decision-making (MADM) model, we integrated data from these two methods with scenarios assigning different weights to the self-report and laboratory data to identify optimal messages. Results: We identified different optimal messages when differently weighting the importance of specific attributes or data collection method (self-report, laboratory). Across all scenarios, five messages consistently ranked in the top half: four addressed harms content, both alone and with themes regarding social use and flavors and one addiction alone message. Discussion: Results showed that the self-report and psychophysiological data did not always have the same ranking and differed based on weighting of the two methods. These findings highlight the need to formatively test messages using multiple methods and use an integrated approach when selecting content.
A life-cycle approach to environmental, mechanical, and durability properties of “green” concrete mixes with rice husk ash

Among the possible solutions to a sustainable future is to limit the consumption of non-renewable resources and to minimize waste and its associated releases. Using supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) in concrete constitutes environmental, societal and economic benefits towards the sustainability goal. Similar to the commonly used fly ash, rice husk ash (RHA) is a highly-reactive pozzolanic material, and can replace up to 30% of portland cement in concrete mix designs. In the United States, concrete with RHA is still a niche product. In recent years, fly ash supply has declined due to decreasing coal use, general economic stagnation, and regulatory uncertainties despite the increase in its utilization in concrete products. However, RHA has the potential to meet the demand from decreasing fly ash supplies. The focus of this study is to analyze the performance of ternary- and quaternary-RHA blend concrete mixes in terms of their durability, mechanical properties, and global warming potential (GWP) and criteria air pollutants. A life-cycle assessment (LCA) approach has been conducted for the quantification of environmental impacts. Results have shown that ternary and quaternary concrete mixes with RHA and fly ash resulted in lower GWP while improving the durability of mixes without compromising design strength.
X-ray Absorption Fine Structure in Glass

When considering such things as electronic behavior or structure-dependent phenomena in solids (including glass), one is faced with the problem of finding ways to make measurements which yield information about events and mechanisms on a microscopic or atomic scale. In other words, although a great deal can be learned from the many macroscopic measurements available, there comes a time when the results must be relatable to behavior and mechanisms involving the individual entities making up the solid.
Acoustical Recognition of Objects in Robotics II. Determination of Type, Pose, Position, and Orientation

Optical recognition of objects in a robotics context encounters many sources of difficulty (e.g., polished objects, dark objects, extraneous light sources, etc.). However, acoustical recognition, i.e., recognition based upon the interpretation of scattered acoustical waves, has some intrinsic advantages, the most important of which is that in the absence of noise, the scattered waves depend only upon the external geometry and acoustical impedance of the object and the table that supports it. Specifically, our problem is to deduce the state of the object (i.e., type, pose, horizontal position, and azimuthal orientation) given a set of acoustical, pulse-echo, scattering data representing a sufficient diversity of directions and temporal frequencies. We use a decision-theoretic approach to the recognition problem, i.e., we determine the most probable state given the measured scattering data. A central element is a measurement model embracing certain statistical submodels and a representation of the scattering process. Here, we use an experimental approach to providing such a representation, thereby avoiding the errors in simple scattering theories (e.g., Kirchhoff). To illustrate the effectiveness of this approach, we have tested the recognition algorithm on real experimental scattering data obtained from a set of 4 objects with unknown states. The results were very satisfactory and constitute a proof of principle.
The Luminosity Function of Late-Type Main-Sequence Stars in the Direction of the North Galactic Cap

As a result of the recent discussion concerning the luminosity function of late-type main-sequence stars (Weistrop 1976 and references therein), a program of photoelectric photometry of all red stars in a field near the North Galactic Pole was undertaken. The sample is complete for stars redder than (B − V) = 1.40 magnitude for the following apparent magnitude and area limits: V = 12.0−14.0 magnitudes, 13.5 square degrees; V = 14,0−15,0 magnitudes, 3.0 square degrees; V = 15.0−17.5 magnitudes, 1.0 square degree. Observations in BVRI have been obtained for the 44 stars in the sample. Giants and dwarfs are distinguished by their location in the (B − V)−(V − I) diagram or from published proper motion data, where available. The absolute magnitudes of the dwarfs are determined from the ML−(R − I) relation.
Changes in the Chemical Composition of Sediments of Lake Washington, 1958-1970

Comparisons are made among three cores taken in deep water in different parts of Lake Washington in 1958 and 1959 and two cores taken at one of the same locations in 1968 and 1970. During the interval between the two sets of cores, all the sewage effluent that had been causing eutrophication of the lake was diverted, and the lake began to regress to a relatively unproductive condition. All the cores show higher concentrations of organic matter, phosphorus, and nitrogen (expressed as a fraction of dry weight) in the top few centimeters than deeper, but in general, the higher surface values of the earlier material have decreased somewhat now that they lie below the surface in the recent cores, Nevertheless, it appears that the high phosphorus content of the sediment laid down in the years of maximum enrichment will continue to be indicated by a clear maximum, which was at a depth of 4.0 cm in 1970. Nitrogen, although enriched in present surface sediments, does not show a corresponding older maximum, In parts of the lake, erratic, very high concentrations of phosphorus are associated with several types of particles containing much iron. Fractionation of sedimentary phosphorus by a biochemical procedure showed that a large part ( 70-80% ) of the phosphorus content of the mud is acid-soluble, but that the fraction releasable by reduction decreases with depth. These conditions may be related to events in the hypolimnion; during each summer, a dense population of an undescribed iron-depositing microorganism has been observed to form.
The qualitative process engine

Abstract Efficient qualitative simulators are crucial to continued progress in qualitative physics. Assumption-based truth maintenance systems (ATMS) were developed in part to simplify writing such programs. This paper identifies several general abstractions for organizing ATMS-based problem-solvers which are especially useful for envisioning. In particular, we describe the many-worlds database , which avoids complex temporal reference schemes; how to organize problem-solving into justify/assume/interpret cycles which successively construct and extend partial solutions; and closed-world tables , which provide a mechanism for making closed-world assumptions. We sketch the design of the Qualitative Process Engine , QPE, an implementation of Qualitative Process theory, to illustrate the utility of these abstractions. On the basis of our experience in developing QPE and analyzing its performance, we draw some general conclusions about the advantages and disadvantages of assumption-based truth maintenance systems.
DIAGNOSIS OF ST PLASMAS IN NSTX Challenges and Opportunities

During the past decade, considerable experimental and theoretical progress has been made in the development of the Spherical Torus (ST) configuration. A second generation of ‘proof of principal’ devices, including GLOBUS-M, MAST and NSTX, are now operating with plasma currents in the 1–2 MA range. The ST has already been the basis of a reactor study, and the concept has also been considered in the context of a volume neutron source.
Financial and Risk Analysis of Swiss Banks and Insurance Companies

Switzerland has a systemically important financial sector. This paper analyzes the financial soundness and risk dynamics of Swiss banks and insurance companies for the past five years. The cross-country comparisons show that despite the recovery in profitability and capital for banks and insurance companies, challenges and risks remain. In particular, big banks should continue to deleverage, enhance capital quality, and build stronger liquidity buffers. Adopting the “Too Big To Fail” legislation is crucial to reduce the systemic risk. Pre-emptive measures are needed to address weaknesses in mortgage lending standards and associated risk management practices. The full implementation of the Swiss Solvency Test is an important step forward to enhance the insurance sector’s resilience while a sustained low interest rate has negatively affected the sector. Risks associated with insurance companies’ exposure to the real estate market warrant continued close monitoring and effective management.
Neonatal cryoanesthesia affects the morphology of the visual cortex in the adult rat.

Abstract Hypothermia is often employed as an anesthetic for manipulations of neonatal animals. We previously reported [J. Nunez, J.M. Juraska, The effect of neonatal cryoanesthesia on the gross size of the splenium of the corpus callosum, Dev. Psychobiol. 30 (1997) 259; J. Nunez, J.M. Juraska, The size of the splenium of the rat corpus callosum: influence of hormones, sex ratio and neonatal cryoanesthesia, Dev. Psychobiol., in press.] that the area of the splenium of the adult rat corpus callosum negatively correlated with the time neonatal pups spent in the cold. In the present study, we examined the effect of exposure to neonatal hypothermia (0, 15, 30 and 60 min at 4°C, within 2 h of birth) on the thickness and volume of the binocular (Oc1B) and monocular (Oc1M) fields of the adult rat visual cortex. The number of neurons and glia in layer 2/3 in these areas was also assessed in the 0 and 60 min cold-exposed groups. Cryoanesthesia significantly decreased the length, thickness, volume and number of neurons and glia in both Oc1M and Oc1B. We also observed significant effects of cold exposure on the thickness of individual cortical layers, with some layers affected more than others after differential exposure times. Sex differences (males greater than females) were observed in a number of measures after varying amounts of time in cold and in the absence of cold exposure, in confirmation of previous work from our lab [S.N.M. Reid, J.M. Juraska, Sex differences in the gross size of the rat neocortex, J. Comp. Neurol. 321 (1992) 442–447; S.N.M. Reid, J.M. Juraska, Sex differences in neuron number in the binocular area of the rat visual cortex, J. Comp. Neurol. 321 (1992) 448–455.]. The present study points to the potential confound of using cryoanesthesia on neonatal animals to study cortical structure or function.
Acute exercise increases the ventricular arrhythmia threshold via the intrinsic adenosine receptor system in conscious hypertensive rats

Coronary artery occlusion-induced tachyarrhythmias that culminate in ventricular fibrillation are the leading cause of death in developed countries. The intrinsic adenosine receptor system protects...
Function Invariant and Parameter Scale-Free Transformation Methods.

The parameter matrices of factor analysis and principal component analysis are arbitrary with respect to the scale of the factors or components; typically, the scale is fixed so that the factors have unit variance. Oblique transformations to optimize an objective statement of a principle such as simple structure or factor simplicity yield arbitrary solutions, unless the criterion function is invariant with respect to the scale of the factors, or the parameter matrix is scale free with respect to the factors. Criterion functions that are factor scale-free have a number of invariance characteristics, such as being equally applicable to primary pattern or reference structure matrices. A scale-invariant simple structure function of previously studied function components is defined. First and second partial derivatives are obtained, and Newton-Raphson iterations are utilized. The resulting solutions are locally optimal and subjectively pleasing.