cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Trade-offs in Token Ring Systems

. In addition to trade-offs between convergence and response spans as described by Gouda and Evangelist [1], we consider state space utilization with regard to processing and communications, and sensitivity to delay time estimates. In order to be delay insensitive, estimates of transmission and/or computation time are used, which we implement as virtual nodes. The estimated number of nodes is defined as NE. We define M as the number of processes, and N as the total number of nodes required in the problem space. These algorithms require that NE > N in order that correctness and desired behavior can be guaranteed. We define auto-synchronization as the characteristic of a system such that performance is related to N, rather than NE, even though state space necessarily is related to NE. Although our examples are delay insensitive deterministic unidirectional token rings, we believe that these concepts apply to many other paradigms of self-stabilization.
Design Implications of Prow Formation During Electrical Contact Closure

The contact resistance behavior of electrical contacts which were closed on oxide and sulfide contaminants is reported. The minimum wipe which is required to break through contaminants and to produce 'a minimum contact resistance is approximately equivalent to the diameter of the load-bearing area. The tendency of contaminant accumulations, which are formed at the front surface of the moving contact, to break away and pass between the contacts is correlated with the extent of wipe. Some implications of these results in the design of electrical contacts to function in contaminating environments are discussed.
Granular matter as a window into collective systems far from equilibrium, complexity, and scientific prematurity

Granular matter serves as a prototype of collective systems far from equilibrium and can be used to exemplify many concepts now associated with nonlinear dynamics and complex systems: Self-organization, invariance and symmetry breaking, various forms of pattern formation—ranging from waves to chaos to coarsening—networks, and hysteresis. The foundational concepts apply across a wide range of scales—from fine particles to ice floes—and across a wide range of technological fields. It serves also as a test-ground and illustration of the benefits and drawbacks of discrete and continuum viewpoints. However, in spite of being an integral part of the origins of chemical engineering and a topic of unquestionable practical importance, granular matter as a sub-discipline was not a central part of the basic tool-kit that launched the modern version of chemical engineering back in the 1960s. It should have been. One can only speculate how the course of ChE would have been altered if this had happened. 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Posterior urethral valves: The value of high diversion

The management of posterior urethral valves remains a challenge to the paediatric urologist. Many cases diagnosed early may be managed by endoscopic surgery. However, where there is a gross upper tract dilatation, consideration needs to be given to temporary diversion to allow recovery of renal function and the elimination of infection. Western literature leans strongly towards nondiversion. However, in those countries, most patients present early, and often by antenatal diagnosis. Countries not having universally, highly developed medical services encounter more of the complicated cases. Evaluation of the role of upper tract diversion in such circumstances has not been conclusively established, but literature review indicates a role in selected cases.
Optimization of structural topology in the high-porosity regime

Abstract We propose a new approach to topology optimization, based on the use of “single-scale laminates” as structural components. The method is well-founded, because in the high porosity limit these structures achieve maximal stiffness and minimal weight. The method is useful, because the Hooke's law of a single-scale laminate has a simple, explicit formula which scales linearly with weight. And it is interesting, because the selection of relatively simple, manufacturable designs can be addressed using linear or quadratic programming. Our contributions are two-fold: (a) we establish the foundation of this approach, by defining single-scale laminates and giving self-contained proofs of their optimality in the high-porosity limit; and (b) we explore two numerical applications—minimizing weight with a constraint on the Hooke's law, and imposing continuity on a spatially varying microstructure.
Shoemaker-Levy 9 Impact Modeling. I. High-Resolution Three-dimensional Bolides

We have run high-resolution, three-dimensional, hydrodynamic simulations of the impact of comet ShoemakerLevy 9into the atmosphereof Jupiter.Wefindthat the energydeposition profile islargely similar to theprevious twodimensional calculations of Mac Low & Zahnle, although perhaps somewhat broader in the range of height over which the energy is deposited. As with similar calculations for impacts into the Venusian atmosphere, there is considerablesensitivityintheresultstosmallchangesintheinitialconditions,indicatingdynamicalchaos.Wecalculated the median depth of energy deposition (the height z at which 50% of the bolide’s energy has been released) per run. The mean value among runs is � 70 km below the 1 bar level, for a 1 km diameter impactor of porous ice of density � ¼ 0: 6gc m � 3 . The standard deviation among these runs is 14 km. We find little evidence of a trend in these results with the resolution of the calculations (up to 57 cells across the impactor radius, or 8.8 m resolution), suggesting that resolutions as low as 16 grid cells across the radius of the bolide may yield good results for this particular quantity. Visualization of the bolide breakup shows that the ice impactors were shredded and/or compressed in a complicated manner but evidently did not fragment into separate, coherent masses, unlike calculations for basalt impactors. The processes that destroy the impactor take place at significantly shallower levels in the atmosphere (�� 40 km for a 1 km diameterbolide), but the shreddedremains haveenoughinertia to carry themdownanother scale heightor more before they lose their kinetic energy. Comparison of basalt impactor models shows that energy deposition curves for these objects have much less sensitivity to initial conditions than do ice impactors, which may reflect differences in the equation of state forthedifferentkinds of objects, or a scale-dependentbreakup phenomenology, with the preferred scaledependingonimpactordensity.Modelsofimpactorscoveringa � 600-foldrangeofmass(m)showthatlarger impactors descend slightly deeper than expected from scaling the intercepted atmospheric column mass by the impactor mass. Instead, the intercepted column mass scales as m 1.2 . Subject headingg comets: individual (Shoemaker-Levy 9) — hydrodynamics
Development of self-sensing Ionic Polymer-Metal Composite soft robotic actuator integrated with gallium-indium alloy

Ionic Polymer Metal Composites (IPMC) have the ability to produce versatile types of deformations including bending and twisting [1]. This allows for the actuator to be used in applications where precise movement is needed. To make the IPMC a smart actuator, gallium-indium (GaIn) alloy is added to the actuator, adding a self-sensing feature to IPMC. The liquid alloy can be used as a strain gage within the IPMC, giving the actuator information to better understand its own movements to accurately reach the desired motion and location. An initial analysis was conducted using MATLAB to understand how the GaIn will deform with a point load at the free end of the prototype. Based on the code, the initial resistance is 14.7 Ω and after a point load of −0.005 N the new resistance becomes 74 Ω. It can thus be viewed that GaIn can be used in bending strain gage. An initial prototype was designed and fabricated using PDMS.
The Virtues of Peer Pressure: A Simple Method for Discovering High-Value Mistakes

Much of the recent success of neural networks can be attributed to the deeper architectures that have become prevalent. However, the deeper architectures often yield unintelligible solutions, require enormous amounts of labeled data, and still remain brittle and easily broken. In this paper, we present a method to efficiently and intuitively discover input instances that are misclassified by well-trained neural networks. As in previous studies, we can identify instances that are so similar to previously seen examples such that the transformation is visually imperceptible. Additionally, unlike in previous studies, we can also generate mistakes that are significantly different from any training sample, while, importantly, still remaining in the space of samples that the network should be able to classify correctly. This is achieved by training a basket of N "peer networks" rather than a single network. These are similarly trained networks that serve to provide consistency pressure on each other. When an example is found for which a single network, S, disagrees with all of the other $$N-1$$ networks, which are consistent in their prediction, that example is a potential mistake for S. We present a simple method to find such examples and demonstrate it on two visual tasks. The examples discovered yield realistic images that clearly illuminate the weaknesses of the trained models, as well as provide a source of numerous, diverse, labeled-training samples.
Irradiation and Prolactin Effects on Rat Mammary Carcinogenesis: Intrasplenic Pituitary and Estrone Capsule Implants

The implantation of silicone capsules that contained estrone and that were adjacent to grafts of anterior pituitary tissue in the spleens of adrenalectomized glucocorticoid-deficient inbred F344 rats resulted in high circulating prolactin (Prl) levels without the untoward effects of chronic hyperestrogenism or of grafts of Prl-secreting pituitary tumors. All peripheral serum estrone titers were below the titers in sera of proestrous untreated intact rats. Peripheral serum estrone and Prl levels were, however, a function of capsule surface area over the capsule sizes tested (12-74 mm2); the elevated Prl levels persisted for as long as 700 days. In adrenalectomized glucocorticoid-deficient female rats, both 5 Gy gamma-irradiation alone and intrasplenic pituitary-estrone implants alone induced mammary carcinomas; the combination of these treatments induced a greater incidence of first carcinomas and reduced first carcinoma latency. There were, however, no marked differences in tumor incidence or latency due to differences in estrone capsule size. Finally, ovariectomy reduced first carcinoma risk in irradiated, pituitary-estrone-implanted rats but did not change the time of maximum risk. Ovarian secretory activity thus persisted in such rats and ovarian hormones synergized with Prl in mammary carcinoma induction.
“It’s 5:30. I’m exhausted. And I have to go all the way to f*%#ing Fishtown.”: Educator Depression, Activism, and Finding (Armed) Love in a Hopeless (Neoliberal) Place

Many recent critical engagements with contemporary educational policy tend to be framed through the language of neoliberalism. Though these critiques are useful in providing a rich understanding of the political and cultural economy of public education, their level of abstraction demands more grounded and embodied approaches. In conversation with queer, feminist, and affect theory, this qualitative project uses the feelings of activist educators in Philadelphia to gain a deeper understanding what it means to live and labor in neoliberal times. Specifically, this article locates depression as a precise kind of political affect experienced by educators in an age of corporate accountability structures and austerity. Educators describe a kind of professional depression and, in turn, locate their activism as a therapeutic antidote to the current trends in education policy. Using the Freirean notion of armed love, we contextualize and theorize how new educator movements and activism strive to provide community for educators to endure, heal, and work towards greater educational justice.
The Influence of Comb and Feathering Phenotypes on Body Weight and Dressing Percentage in Broilers

Abstract THE INFLUENCE of the phenotype for a simply inherited or qualitative trait on a more complex trait such as body weight has been studied to some extent in chickens. Kan et al. (1959) reported that comb type (single or pea) had no significant influence on body weight at six weeks of age; however, when housed at seven months of age, the single-comb birds were heavier than the pea-comb ones. Siegel and Dudley (1963) reported that cockerels with pea combs were significantly heavier than those with single combs at six and nine weeks of age in only one of three experiments. No significant differences were observed in the other two experiments at three, six, or nine weeks of age. Collins et at. (1961) concluded that the weight differences between single and heterozygous pea-comb progeny in favor of the single-comb phenotype were generally greater and more frequently significant in the male than…
Dimensionless Light Attenuation Number for Modeling Suspended Sediment Concentration in Open Channels

The present work focuses on estimating suspended sediment concentration in rivers using sediment transport modeling coupled with wireless sensors. The vertical attenuation of light intensity within the water column of open channels with suspended sediment closely fallows the exponential Beer-Lambert Law but varies considerably due to sediment physical characteristics. Dimensional analysis is performed using principles of optical physics in a liquid and dimensionless arrangement of controlling variables to formulate a light attenuation number that includes sediment density, particle size, concentration and attributes of the incident light. The light attenuation number is used to predict a dimensionless light attenuation coefficient that parameterizes the Beer-Lambert Law. Dimensional analysis results are tested for a range of laboratory and field data of light attenuation by sediment in rivers and lakes reported in the literature and laboratory data collected in this study. We used our recently developed light attenuation sediment sensors for stream sediments in the lab to collect data results for natural and engineered sediments. Results show that the light attenuation number predicts well data across a range of sediment characteristics. And, implications are that knowledge of sediment properties allows the light attenuation number combined with sensor measurements and transport models to predict suspended sediment concentration in rivers. We also highlight that the low cost wireless light attenuation sediment sensors are well suited for sediment measurements within watershed sensor networks that can be coupled to more traditional sediment transport modeling approaches.
Reproducible uniform equibiaxial stretch of precision-cut lung slices

Simulating ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) in the laboratory requires stretching of lung alveolar tissue. Whereas precision-cut lung slices (PCLSs) are widely used for studying paracrine signaling pathways in the lungs, their use in stretch studies is very limited because of the technical challenge of fixing them to a stretchable substrate, stretching them uniformly, or holding them in a stretch device without causing rupture. We describe a novel method for attaching PCLSs to silicone membranes by stitching them together in a star-shaped pattern. Using a device that was previously designed in our laboratory for stretching primary alveolar epithelial cell monolayers, we demonstrate that in the central region of the PCLSs stretch is uniform, equibiaxial, and, after a short preconditioning period, also reproducible. The stitched and stretched PCLSs showed equal or better viability outcomes after 60 min of cyclic stretch at different magnitudes of physiological stretch compared with primary pulmonary alveolar epithelial cell monolayers. Preparing and stitching the PCLSs before stretch is relatively easy to perform, yields repeatable outcomes, and can be used with tissue from any species. Together with the ensuring uniform and equibiaxial stretch, the proposed methods provide an optimal model for VILI studies with PCLSs.
The E.D.G. System for dynamic analysis of gait.

It is important to recognize that the value of the E.D.G. system requires a higher level of understanding of the biomechanics of the lower extremity. This is needed to correlate the information gathered from the system with the actual episodes that are accurate. In addition, it is important to remember that the acquisition of any clinical assessment instrument should be based on what information you are attempting to acquire and whether the instrument can provide it. Ask yourself, "what do I want to know, and can this instrument provide the answers?" This article has been written to acquaint the reader with a working knowledge of the E.D.G. system, the science of clinical electrodynography, and its use as a clinical tool. The addition of dynamic in-shoe data to the basic static information allowed from a patient examination adds a new dimension to clinical assessment. Clinical decision making and treatment programs can now be instituted with reasonable assurance of a favorable outcome.
Growth Hormone Physiology

Human pituitary-derived growth hormone (GH), also known as somatotropin, is encoded by the GH1 gene, one of the five closely related genes in the 46.8 kb GH1 locus located on chromosome 17q24.2. The five exon-containing GH1 gene generates three transcript variants. The transcript variant 1 (NM_000515.4) encodes the largest of the putative GH isoforms, a protein containing 217 amino acid residues (isoform 1). The removal of the signal peptide (residues 1–26) generates a mature GH polypeptide of 191 residues, corresponding to a molecular mass of 22 kiloDalton (kDa). Although this 22 kDa is the predominant human GH found in the circulation (approximately 90 %), smaller GH isoforms have been described [1]. These include a 20 kDa variant from an alternative in-frame splicing event (NM_022559.3) that lacks 14 amino acid residues in the central coding region (residues 32–46) and a 17 kDa isoform lacking residues 1–66. In this section, we will summarize the known chemistry of the predominant 22 kDa GH isoform (amino acid residue numbering will be based on published nomenclature, which excludes the 26-amino-acid signal peptide). We describe how accumulated biochemical knowledge led to the development of human GH antagonists for GH excess in clinical conditions such as acromegaly as well as to the development of formulations of long-acting recombinant human GH (rhGH) for treatment of GH deficiency.
KINEMATICS OF BREAKING WAVES

The sight and sound of breaking waves and surf is so familiar and enjoyable that we tend to forget how little we really understand about them. Why is it, that compared to other branches of wave studies our knowledge of breaking waves is so empirical and inexact? The reason must lie partly in the difficulty of finding a precise mathematical description of a fluid flow that is in general nonlinear and time-dependent. The fluid accelerations can no longer be assumed t o be small compared t o gravity, as in Stokes's theory for periodic waves and the theory of cnoidal waves in shallow water, nor is the particle velocity any longer small compared to the phase velocity. The aim of this paper is to bring together s ome recent contributions to the calculation both of steep symmetric waves and of time-dependent surface waves. These have a bearing on the behaviour of whitecaps in deep water and of surf in the breaker zone . Since spilling breakers in gently shoaling water closely resemble solitary waves, we begin with the description of solitary waves of limiting amplitude, then discuss steep waves of arbitrary height. The observed intermittency of whitecaps is discussed in terms of the energy maximum, as a function of wave steepness, In Sections 6 and 7 a simpler description of steady symmetric waves is proposed, using an asymptotic expression for the flow near the wave crest. Finally we describe a new numerical technique (MEL, or mixed Eulerian-Lagrangian) with which it has been found possible to follow the development of periodic waves past the point when overturning takes place. Measurement of waves, and vertical and horizontal water particle velocities were made of spilling, plunging and surging breakers at sandy beaches in the vicinity of Monterey, California. The measured breaking waves, derived characteristically from swell-type waves, can be described as highly nonlinear. Spectra and cross spectra were calculated between waves and velocities. Secondary waves were noted visually and by the strong harmonics in the spectra. The strength of the harmonics is related to the beach steepness, wave height and period. The phase difference between waves and horizontal velocities indicates the unstable crest of the wave leads the velocities on the average by 5-20 degrees. Phase measurements between wave gauges in a line perpendicular to the shore show breaking waves to be frequency nondispersive indicating phase-coupling of the various wave components. The coherence squared values between the sea surface elevation and the horizontal water particle velocity were high in all runs, ranging above 0.8 at the peak of the spectra. The high coherence suggests that most of the motion in the body of breaking waves is wave-induced and not turbulent.
A five degree-of-freedom body-machine interface for children with severe motor impairments

Children with severe motor impairments require the use of assistive devices to perform activities of daily living. Brain-machine interfaces are not suited for children due to various factors such as surgical risks. In this paper, we present a non-invasive body-machine interface where upper body movements are recorded by wireless inertial measurement units (IMUs) and used to control a robot arm. We develop a novel approach, called the virtual body model (VBM), which allows for control of high number of degrees-of-freedom (DOF). Our results show that participants could use the VBM to control up to five DOFs of a robot arm, and perform a pick-and-place task. Even with minimal training, trajectories of the end effector were smooth and positioning was accurate. These results show the potential of this safe, non-invasive approach to control high DOFs in children.
Effectively Connecting Conservation Paleobiological Research to Environmental Management: Examples from Greater Everglades’ Restoration of Southwest Florida

Much of the research accomplished by paleontologists can be categorized as conservation paleobiology. Unfortunately, these works often go unrealized or under-appreciated because the environmental professionals best positioned to use those results are detached from the science, as managers or decision-makers, or are completely unaware of the scientific discipline. Commonly, a research program with management implications is undertaken without briefing the relevant agencies in advance and without their input with respect to research objectives and design. Academics typically work within or among their academic institutions with a predestined pathway toward peer-review publication in scholarly journals. Those papers often go unread by agency professionals, and universities at times of promotion rarely value technical reports. Partnership and collaboration with agencies is essential. Agency professionals have very specific environmental management objectives and priorities, often influenced by resource limitations. Academic scientists should adapt their research programs to accommodate agency research needs and priorities, and be willing to adopt research designs that best achieve agency objectives, even if those agencies are unable to financially support the effort. Often agencies can support research through in-kind match for field and laboratory work, or with research staff assistance. When partnerships are strong, “request for proposals” (RFPs) from state and local governmental agencies can be customized for specific talents found among academics.
Affordable Care Act Impact in Kentucky: Increasing Access, Reducing Disparities.

Objectives. To examine health insurance disparities since Kentucky’s implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).Methods. Using the American Community Survey, we estimated coverage rates by race/ethnicity before and after implementation of the ACA (2013 and 2015), and we estimated whether groups were over- or underrepresented among the uninsured, compared with their share of the state population.Results. Kentucky’s uninsurance rate declined from 14.4% in 2013 to 6.1% in 2015 (P < .001). Uninsurance rates also declined for most racial/ethnic groups, including Blacks (16.7% to 5.5%; P < .001) and Whites (13.3% to 5.3%; P < .001). In 2015, Blacks were no longer overrepresented among Kentucky’s uninsured, with a significant decline in the ratio of Blacks among the state uninsured population compared with their share of the state population (1.16–0.91; P = .045).Conclusions. In Kentucky, which mounted a robust implementation of the ACA—including Medicaid expansion, a state-based marketplace, and an extensi...
Preface to Introduction to Accounting and Managerial Finance: A Merger of Equals

This book introduces corporate financial management, based on the basic capital budgeting framework and the time value of money. It focuses on theoretical formulations and correct application of financial techniques that will help improve managerial and financial decisions. Based on fundamental principles of accounting and finance like time value of money and after-tax cash flows, it introduces readers to real-world constraints and complexities in the two fields. Written in a simple and accessible manner, this book can be read by students of finance and accounting courses, business professionals and general public alike.
Verabschiedungsgesten und Kontaminationsdiagnosen: Abwehr und Reformulierung transzendentaler Subjektivität in der gegenwärtigen Sozialtheorie

Wie fur die gegenwartige Sozialtheorie uberhaupt ist es bezeichnend fur jene beiden Positionen, die das Feld der sozialtheoretischen Debatte im deutschen Sprachraum in den letzten dreissig Jahren polarisiert haben, das sie mit der Theoriefigur des transzendentalen Subjekts nichts mehr zu schaffen haben wollen. Ja die Vehemenz der Verabschiedungserklarungen gegenuber dem, was der Systemtheorie und der kommunikationstheoretisch gewendeten Kritischen Theorie als „Subjektphilosophie“ erscheint, weist darauf hin, das diese beiden Theoriegrosunternehmen ihr Selbstverstandnis wesentlich im Abstos von der Subjektphilosophie gewinnen. Dieser Abschied von der Subjektphilosophie ist ein wichtiges Bestimmungsstuck der jeweiligen Paradigmen- bzw. Epochengrenzen, die in diesen beiden Theorien so zentral sind — des „Abschieds von Alteuropa“ in der Systemtheorie, des „Paradigmenwechsels“ in der Kritischen Theorie. Ohne Ubertreibung kann man deshalb sagen, das die Verabschiedungsgesten, von denen die Selbstdarstellung dieser beiden Theorien lebt, das transzendentale Subjekt meinen. In diesem Sinne gehen diese Ansatze mit der eingangs genannten Pauschaldiagnose konform, das „die“ gegenwartige Sozialtheorie ihre Identitat im gemeinsamen Grundmotiv des Abstoses von der Subjektphilosophie finde. Habermas last keine Gelegenheit aus, selbst an theoriestatisch tragender Stelle das „Ende der Subjektphilosophie“ 156 zu verkunden.157 Und Luhmann proklamiert — nicht weniger dezidiert und nicht weniger lautstark — den „Tod des Subjekts“ als Voraussetzung der Systemtheorie.158
Grounded Language Learning: Where Robotics and NLP Meet

Proceedings of the Twenty-Seventh International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence (IJCAI-18)
Virtual Humans for Interpersonal and Communication Skills' Training in Crime Investigations

Virtual Humans VHs have been employed in multidisciplinary fields to advance interpersonal skills critical to many professional, including law enforcement agents, military personnel, managers, doctors, lawyers and other professionals. Law enforcement agencies in particular have faced a growing need to develop human to human interpersonal training to increase interviewing and interrogation skills. In this paper, we present a prototype VE that has been developed to provide law enforcement agents with effective interview and interrogation training and experiential learning. The virtual training environment will need to be tested and formally evaluated to verify the benefits compared to live exercises and traditional training techniques.
Doppler Spectra of Weather Signals

To measure the power-weighted distribution of velocities, a frequency analysis of V(τs, mTs) ( Fig. 4.1) is needed. This can be accomplished by estimating its power spectrum. We first review the theory of discrete Fourier transforms, then discuss convolution and the correlation of random signals, and show the relation between the correlation function and power spectrum. Throughout this section we omit τs from the argument, and the results derived apply to any sequence of samples at fixed τs. The very important relationship between the reflectivity and velocity fields and the power spectrum is thoroughly discussed; furthermore the contributions of various physical mechanisms to spectrum broadening are presented.
Managing Water Quality and Quantity under Drought Conditions

It is common practice to select the most pristine available water source when choosing a drinking water supply. However in many parts of the world and some parts of the United States both the quality and quantity of available source water is declining. This trend together with increasing populations in urban areas is making it increasingly difficult for drinking water utilities to find adequate water sources. Compounding this problem is the tightening of drinking water standards throughout the world. One consequence of this trend is the need to explore various options, including mixing and blending of water from several sources or the installation of advanced treatment in order to provide water of acceptable quality to consumers.
A 15-year residency program report card: Differences between the crème of the crop and the bottom of the barrel on the American Board of Surgery examinations.

Abstract Background American Board of Surgery examination performance represents an important residency metric. The hypothesis is that demographic differences exist between the most and least successful programs. Methods This was a retrospective fifteen-year study. Data focused on program Examination Index (EI). The first and tenth decile programs were compared across demographics, using an α = 0.05. Results The first decile had a higher EI than the tenth decile (91.0% ± 2 .6% vs 51.4% ± 5.4% [p Conclusion There are clear differences in ABS examination performance based on program size, type, and location. These results essentially perform a national needs-assessment, and may evoke a spirit of competition and collaboration.
Z2nm-supermagic labeling of Cn#Cm

A Γ -supermagic labeling of a graph G = ( V , E ) with ∣ E ∣ = k is a bijection from E to an Abelian group Γ of order k such that the sum of labels of all incident edges of every vertex x ∈ V is equal to the same element μ ∈ Γ . We present a Z 2 n m -supermagic labeling of Cartesian product of two cycles, C n □ C m for n odd. This along with an earlier result by Ivanco proves that a Z 2 n m -supermagic labeling of C n □ C m exists for every n , m ≥ 3 .
Role of high-dose intravenous nitrates in hypertensive acute heart failure.

Abstract Background Patients with hypertensive acute heart failure (H-AHF) can decompensate rapidly and require immediate medical attention; the use of high-dose nitroglycerin is a topic of growing interest in this patient population. Objective of the review The purpose of this review is to provide an evidence-based approach for the utilization of high-dose nitrates in the emergent management of H-AHF. Discussion Two randomized controlled trials, three prospective studies, two retrospective cohorts, two case series, and one case report were evaluated. Level of robust evidence and heterogeneity limit the ability to draw strong conclusions regarding the use of high-dose nitrates. Despite these limitations, high-dose nitrates appeared to have an overall beneficial effect across all studies reviewed, including lower rates of mechanical ventilation, improvement in blood pressure, shorter LOS, and lower rates of ICU admission. Adverse effects were mild and infrequently reported. Conclusions High-dose nitrates are likely safe and may be effective, as demonstrated in the studies reviewed. High-dose NTG may be appropriate in H-AHF patients presenting with severe respiratory distress and SBP ≥160 mmHg or MAP ≥120 mmHg. Future well-designed randomized controlled trials are needed to elucidate optimal dosing strategies and confirm safety and efficacy of high-dose nitrates.
Clinical Epidemiology in Rheumatology

In this overview, we go over the principal concepts of epidemiology and statistics that are tested regularly in rheumatology board exams. It helps distinguish key type of variables that rheumatologists come across, which are categorical and continuous variables. The chapter also covers measures of central tendency—mean, median, as well as mode. Additionally, it covers distribution of data, which includes standard deviation and interquartile range. Types of study design including case-control, cohort, as well as randomized controlled trials are categorized in detail. Fundamental epidemiological theories including incidence, prevalence, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, number needed to treat, number needed to harm, and odds ratio are defined, and basic formulas and calculations are described. Furthermore, this chapter describes a few important types of biases that are usually tested on boards. All of these concepts help rheumatologists to read, understand, and apply scientific literature to evidence-based clinical practice.
David Oliver: Hearing loss in hospital.

One in six people in England has hearing loss—around 42% of people over 50 and 71% of over 70s.1 Increasing age brings greater risk of frailty, dementia, and functional impairment in daily activities, which may be compounded by hearing loss.23 Hospital patients with hearing loss are multiply disadvantaged if we’re not attuned to their needs. Quality of care may be jeopardised if we don’t document and share knowledge of patients’ pre-existing hearing loss. It can, for example, be a risk factor for developing delirium.4 It can make it harder for patients to understand instructions or information, which could in turn hinder physical examination, functional or …
“Reporting on climate change: A computational analysis of U.S. newspapers and sources of bias, 1997–2017”

Abstract News organizations constitute key sites of science communication between experts and lay audiences, giving many individuals their basic worldview of complex topics like climate change. Previous researchers have studied climate change news coverage to assess accuracy in reporting and potential sources of bias. These studies typically rely on manually coding articles from a handful of prestigious outlets, not allowing comparisons with smaller newspapers or providing enough diversity to assess the influence of partisan orientation or localized climate vulnerability on content production. Making these comparisons, this study indicates that partisan orientation, scale of circulation, and vulnerability to climate change correlate with several topics present in U.S. newspaper coverage of climate change. After assembling a corpus of over 78,000 articles covering two decades from 52 U.S. newspapers that are diverse in terms of geography, partisan orientation, scale of circulation, and objectively measured climate risk, a coherent set of latent topics were identified via an automated content analysis of climate change news coverage. Topic model results indicate that while outlet bias does not appear to impact the prevalence of coverage for most topics surrounding climate change, differences were evident for some topics based on partisan orientation, scale, or vulnerability status, particularly those relating to climate change denial, impacts, mitigation, or resource use. Overall, this paper provides a comprehensive study of U.S. newspaper coverage of climate change and identifies specific topics where outlet bias constitutes an important contextual factor.
Online Learning and the Future of Legal Education

This article explores the practical and theoretical challenges that online education poses for law schools and the legal profession. Drawing in part on contributions to the symposium that it introduces, the article makes the case that that a high-quality legal education can be delivered online, that a move toward online education can spark valuable innovation, and that allowing students to earn their law degrees online can increase access to justice. However, it warns that the fact that high-quality legal education can be delivered online does not mean that it will be, and explains that further research is needed to determine what combinations of online elements, or of online and residential elements, are best suited to delivering high-quality legal education. It suggests that it will be particularly important to compare live online instruction with asynchronous online instruction because the “radical” move in online legal education is not the move to teaching online, but rather the move to teaching asynchronously.
Combination therapy of heparin-bonded covered stent and bare-nitinol stent assessed by intravascular ultrasound.

To examine clinical outcomes for combination therapy of heparin-bonded covered stent [VIABAHN™ stent (VIA)] and bare-nitinol stent (BNS), and to determine independent predictors of restenosis after VIA implantation assessed by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). A retrospective analysis was conducted on VIA use in the femoropopliteal artery of 71 patients (81 lesions) treated between June 2012 and November 2018. We divided the treated lesions into two groups; that is, whether BNS was added at the proximal site of the VIA or not (combination of VIA and BNS group [COM; n = 21] vs. VIA group [n = 60]). The median follow-up duration was 21.6 months (interquartile range, 13.2–28.8 months). Restenosis at 2 years was observed in 5 lesions (33%) in COM group and 17 lesions (38%) in VIA group (log-rank, P = 0.74). In VIA group, 14 lesions developed restenosis within 12 months. Multivariate logistic regression analysis of VIA group revealed that the proximal plaque burden was an independent predictor of restenosis within 12 months after VIA implantation (odds ratio 1.15, 95% confidence interval 1.01–1.30, P = 0.01), with the optimal cutoff value of 43% (area under the receiver operator characteristic curve 0.79, sensitivity 91%, specificity 69%). A remaining plaque of > 43% at the proximal reference segment was an independent predictor of restenosis after VIA implantation. When residual stenosis is observed at the proximal site of SFA after VIA implantation, combination therapy of VIA and BNS would be an optimal management.
Racial disparities-associated COVID-19 mortality among minority populations in the US

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a betacoronavirus that causes the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is highly transmissible and pathogenic for humans and may cause life-threatening disease and mortality, especially in individuals with underlying comorbidities. First identified in an outbreak in Wuhan, China, COVID-19 is affecting more than 185 countries and territories around the world, with more than 15,754,651 confirmed cases and more than 640,029 deaths. Since December 2019, SARS-CoV-2 transmission has become a global threat, which includes confirmed cases in all 50 states within the United States (US). As of 25 July 2020, the Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering Center for Systems Science and Engineering reports more than 4,112,651 cases and 145,546 deaths. To date, health disparities are associated with COVID-19 mortality among underserved populations. Here, the author explores potential underlying reasons for reported disproportionate, increased risks of mortality among African Americans and Hispanics/Latinos with COVID-19 compared with non-Hispanic Whites. The author examines the underlying clinical implications that may predispose minority populations and the adverse clinical outcomes that may contribute to increased risk of mortality. Government and community-based strategies to safeguard minority populations at risk for increased morbidity and mortality are essential. Underserved populations living in poverty with limited access to social services across the US are more likely to have underlying medical conditions and are among the most vulnerable. Societal and cultural barriers for ethnic minorities to achieve health equity are systemic issues that may be addressed only through shifts in governmental policies, producing long-overdue, substantive changes to end health care inequities.
The Role of Cost, Scale, and Property Attributes in Landowner Choice of Stormwater Management Option.

Abstract Cities throughout the world are experimenting with Low Impact Development (LID) strategies to replace ecosystem services degraded by urbanization. Stormwater management may need both centralized/publicly-managed infrastructure and decentralized provision by landowners. For landowners to participate in these programs they will need some latitude in the choice of techniques and siting. However, these landowner choices will affect the bundle of ecosystem services provided (such as infiltration, aesthetics, pollution filtering, and others) as well as their spatial distribution. We studied the Santa Monica (CA) stormwater regulations that require stormwater management on a large portion of development and redevelopment but allow a significant degree of landowner choice over the method of rainwater management. We use a novel dataset to investigate both the cost of rainwater best management practices (BMPs) and landowner choice of rainwater BMP. We find strong evidence of economies of scale in capital costs for the smaller size ranges of the BMPs in our data, and that property factors such as land use and overall redevelopment project cost affect rainwater BMP costs. In addition, our results are consistent with the hypothesis that property factors such as building density and land value are important factors in the landowner’s choice of rainwater management option.
Review of The Making of an Artist: Desire, Courage, and Commitment

“Art curricula should focus on learning how to be creative rather than preparing art school graduates to produce art for sale.” In her book, The Making of an Artist: Desire, Courage, and Commitment...
Sexual Differences in Genetic Predisposition of Coronary Artery Disease.

Background: The genomic structure that contributes to the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) can be evaluated as a risk score of multiple variants. However, sex differences have not been fully e...
Angiotensin (Ang-1-7) and Its Glycopeptide PNA5 Protect Against Overzealous Pulmonary Inflammation to Infectious and Non-Infectious Respiratory Insults

RATIONALE: The peptide hormone angiotensin (Ang-(1-7)) has well-known anti-inflammatory protective effects, inhibiting production and expression of many cytokines and adhesion molecules that are associated with a "cytokine storm." Recent reports suggest that ARDS appears to be a significant predictor of mortality and the COVID-19-induced "cytokine storm" is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. PNA5, a more stable, longer acting, and more brain penetrant glycopeptide analog of Ang-(1-7), has been developed to control inflammation. Our studies were developed to test if Ang-(1-7) and its glycopeptide PNA5 were protective in the lung against overzealous immune responses to infectious and non-infectious respiratory stimuli. METHODS: Wild type mice were treated with infectious or non-infectious agents: Mycoplasma pneumoniae (1x108, intranasal) or LPS (5 mg/kg body weight, oropharyngeal). Within 2 hrs of challenge, a subset of each was given either Ang-(1-7), PNA5, or peptide-free vehicle via different routes of administration: oropharyngeal or subcutaneous. Markers of inflammation in the lung were assessed within 72 hrs for each set of animals. RESULTS: During Mycoplasma infection, one high dose of Ang-(1-7) delivered to the lungs reduced neutrophilia and Muc5AC, as well as TNF-α and keratinocyte chemoattractant (KC). In line with severe COVID-related ARDS, a single dose of the Ang-(1-7) analog, PNA5, delivered subcutaneously to LPS-challenged mice led to significant protection against key features of ARDS: vascular permeability and pulmonary edema, neutrophil influx into the lung and TNF-α production. CONCLUSIONS: Ang1-7 has been shown by others to play a protective role to a variety of stimuli in a myriad of organs. Our new findings demonstrate that Ang1-7 and PNA5 can protect against both live Mp and LPS-induced lung inflammation. Replacement of Ang-(1-7) in ALI/ARDS patients, including severe COVD-19 patients, with an Ang-(1-7) replacement peptide such as PNA5, could be ideal adjunctive therapy to treat ALI/ARDS and support lung health and organ protection.
Enhancing LSTM Models with Self-attention and Stateful Training

When using LSTM networks to model time-series data, the standard approach is to segment the continuous data stream into fixed-size sequences and then independently feed each sequence to the LSTM network for training in a stateless fashion (i.e. in a fashion that resets the LSTM cell state per fixed-size sequence). As a result, long-term dependencies between patterns appearing in the data stream may be lost. In this work, we introduce a hybrid deep learning architecture that enables long-term inter-sequence modeling while maintaining focus on each sequence’s local characteristics. We use stateful LSTM training to model long-term dependencies that span the fixed-size sequences. We also utilize the attention mechanism to optimally learn each training sequence by focusing on the parts of each sequence that affect the classification outcome the most. Our experimental results show the advantages of each of these two mechanisms independently and in conjunction, compared to the standard stateless LSTM training approach.
Robust Stability of Neural-Network Controlled Nonlinear Systems with Parametric Variability.

Stability certification and identification of the stabilizable operating region of a system are two important concerns to ensure its operational safety/security and robustness. With the advent of machine-learning tools, these issues are specially important for systems with machine-learned components in the feedback loop. Here we develop a theory for stability and stabilizability of a class of neural-network controlled nonlinear systems, where the equilibria can drift when parametric changes occur. A Lyapunov based convex stability certificate is developed and is further used to devise an estimate for a local Lipschitz upper bound for a neural-network (NN) controller and a corresponding operating domain on the state space, containing an initialization set from where the closed-loop (CL) local asymptotic stability of each system in the class is guaranteed under the same controller, while the system trajectories remain confined to the operating domain. For computing such a robust stabilizing NN controller, a stability guaranteed training (SGT) algorithm is also proposed. The effectiveness of the proposed framework is demonstrated using illustrative examples.
The Persistence of Violence: Colombian Popular Culture

In a little over 150 pages, Professor Miller (Universidad Autonoma de Mexico —Cuajimalpa) has managed to provide a succinct, highly readable, and useful take on one of Colombia’s most paradoxical a...