cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Extraction of Ag(I), Cd(II), In(III), Sn(II), Sn(IV), Sb(III), and U(VI) from aqueous solutions by ketone solutions using single-step batch and continuous SISAK methods1,2

The extraction properties of Ag(I), Cd(II), In(III), Sn(II), Sn(IV), Sb(III), and U(VI) from aqueous KI/H2SO4 solution into a mixture of 4-methyl-2-pentanone (methyl isobutyl ketone, MIBK) and cyclohexanone (CHO) were studied. Both single-step batch and SISAK2 methods were used. The oxidation of Sn(II) to Sn(IV) by iodine and complexation of Sn(IV) by 2,3-dimercapto-propanol-1 (BAL) were also investigated. A method for rapid and continuous separation of indium from tin was developed for investigation of short-lived indium fission products.
Testing point-contact transistors for pulse applications

Test methods are recommended and described. Conclusions are drawn regarding measurements for determination of proper application of transistors to large-signal pulse circuits.
Memory traces of trace memories: neurogenesis, synaptogenesis and awareness

To associate events that are disparate in time, the brain must record, retain and perhaps even reflect on the individual events themselves. Aspects of such learning can be probed with trace conditioning, during which an animal learns to associate events that are temporally distant from one another. For decades, we have known that the formation of so-called trace memories (in which one stimulus is associated with a second stimulus that is discontinuous and later in time) depends on the hippocampal formation. Recent findings indicate that the hippocampus is crucial for the initial acquisition of trace memories but not for their expression or long-term storage. More recent findings implicate neurogenesis, synaptogenesis and awareness in the formation of trace memories.
American option pricing under stochastic volatility: a simulation-based approach

We consider the problem of pricing American options when the volatility of the underlying asset price is stochastic. No specific stochastic volatility model is assumed for the stochastic process. We propose a simulation-based approach to pricing such options. Iteratively, the method determines the optimal exercise boundary and the associated price function for a general stochastic volatility model. Given an initial guess of the optimal exercise boundary, the Retrospective Approximation (RA) technique is used to calculate the associated value function. Using this function, the exercise boundary is improved and the process repeated till convergence. This method is a simulation based variant of the exercise-policy improvement scheme developed in Chockalingam and Muthuraman (2007). An illustration of the method is provided when using the Heston (1993) model to represent the dynamics of the volatility, together with comparisons against existing methods to validate our numerical results.
Reproductive cycle of the blacknose shark Carcharhinus acronotus in the Gulf of Mexico

The reproductive periodicity of blacknose sharks Carcharhinus acronotus in the northern Gulf of Mexico was determined by examining reproductive tissues from specimens collected monthly from 2002 to 2005. Monthly changes in shell gland mass, right ovary mass and ovarian follicle diameter were assessed for 74 mature females. Temporal changes in testes mass, testes width and proportion of mature spermatocysts were examined for 64 mature males. Trends in female reproductive tissues suggested an annual peak in reproductive activity during June and July, while trends in male variables suggested an annual reproductive peak during May and June. Although male and female reproductive activity peaked in different months, a strong synchronicity existed between the proportion of mature spermatocysts and the diameter of the largest ovarian follicle. Based on these results, the mating season of blacknose sharks lasts from mid-May to July in the Gulf of Mexico. Maximum embryo sizes were observed in May, which suggested that partition occurs during late May or early June. Results indicate that blacknose sharks have a clearly defined annual cycle in the Gulf of Mexico. This conclusion is further supported by the complete absence of gravid females without vitellogenic ovarian follicles among all mature females examined.
Racial/ethnic disparities in the use of preventive services among the elderly.

Objectives Minorities have worse health outcomes compared to whites, which are partially explained by racial/ethnic disparities in use of health services. Less well known, however, are whether these disparities persist among the elderly, the only group that possesses near universal health insurance coverage by Medicare, and how variation in Medicare coverage affects the receipt of preventive services. The scope of racial/ethnic disparities in the use of preventive services in the elderly was assessed, and the impact of the type of health insurance coverage on the use of preventive services was measured. Methods Data were derived from the 2001 California Health Interview Survey, a random-digit-dial population-based survey, collected between November 2000 and October 2001. Analysis for this project was conducted in 2004. The association of race/ethnicity and type of health insurance with receipt of preventive services was assessed using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models. Results African Americans and Latinos were significantly less likely to be vaccinated for influenza, and Asian Americans were significantly less likely to obtain a mammogram compared to whites, while controlling for other explanatory factors. Moreover, those with Medicare plus Medicaid coverage were significantly less likely to use all four preventive services compared to those with Medicare plus private supplemental insurance. Conclusions Despite near-universal coverage by Medicare, racial/ethnic disparities in the use of some preventive services among the elderly persist. Further research should focus on identifying potential cultural and structural barriers to receipt of preventive services aimed at designing effective intervention among high-risk groups.
Phosphatidylinositol-4-Kinase Type II α Is a Component of Adaptor Protein-3-derived Vesicles

A membrane fraction enriched in vesicles containing the adaptor protein (AP) -3 cargo zinc transporter 3 was generated from PC12 cells and was used to identify new components of these organelles by mass spectrometry. Proteins prominently represented in the fraction included AP-3 subunits, synaptic vesicle proteins, and lysosomal proteins known to be sorted in an AP-3-dependent way or to interact genetically with AP-3. A protein enriched in this fraction was phosphatidylinositol-4-kinase type IIalpha (PI4KIIalpha). Biochemical, pharmacological, and morphological analyses supported the presence of PI4KIIalpha in AP-3-positive organelles. Furthermore, the subcellular localization of PI4KIIalpha was altered in cells from AP-3-deficient mocha mutant mice. The PI4KIIalpha normally present both in perinuclear and peripheral organelles was substantially decreased in the peripheral membranes of AP-3-deficient mocha fibroblasts. In addition, as is the case for other proteins sorted in an AP-3-dependent way, PI4KIIalpha content was strongly reduced in nerve terminals of mocha hippocampal mossy fibers. The functional relationship between AP-3 and PI4KIIalpha was further explored by PI4KIIalpha knockdown experiments. Reduction of the cellular content of PI4KIIalpha strongly decreased the punctate distribution of AP-3 observed in PC12 cells. These results indicate that PI4KIIalpha is present on AP-3 organelles where it regulates AP-3 function.
Pilot directional protection using negative sequence directional element

This paper presents the development and implementation methodology of a new pilot protection scheme using the direction of fault current. The proposed algorithm reduces the complexity of communication when compared to pilot differential protection. Commercial SEL relays are used to implement the protection algorithm. A PSCAD simulation matching the hardware prototype is presented in the paper. Simulation is carried out on FREEDM loop system. Hardware implementation and mode of communication is presented.
Racial differences in renal transplantation after immunosuppression with tacrolimus versus cyclosporine. FK506 Kidney Transplant Study Group.

Background Results of a multicenter, randomized, clinical trial demonstrated that tacrolimus was more effective than cyclosporine in preventing acute rejection in cadaveric renal transplant patients. As African-Americans comprised approximately 25% of the study population, their outcome was analyzed relative to the experience of Caucasian patients. Methods. Of the 205 patients randomized to tacrolimus, 56 (27.3%) were African-American and 114 (55.6%) were Caucasian. Of the 207 patients randomized to cyclosporine, 48 (23.2%) were African-American and 123 (59.4%) were Caucasian. The efficacy variables were 1-year patient survival, graft survival, and incidence of acute rejection. Results. The incidence of acute rejection was significantly lower in African-American and Caucasian patients treated with tacrolimus than with cyclosporine. Additionally, no African-American patient who was treated with tacrolimus experienced moderate or severe acute rejection, as determined by blinded independent review. The incidence of nephrotoxicity, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal events, malignancies, and opportunistic infections was similar between treatments and race groups. However, there was an increased incidence of posttransplant diabetes mellitus in tacrolimus-treated patients, particularly in African-Americans, and tacrolimus was associated with significantly lower lipid levels in both Caucasians and African-Americans. African-American patients required a 37% mean higher dose of tacrolimus than Caucasian patients to achieve comparable blood concentrations. Conclusions. Tacrolimus is more effective than cyclosporine in preventing acute rejection in both African-American and Caucasian patients. However, tacrolimus was associated with an increased risk of posttransplant diabetes mellitus, particularly in African-Americans, which was reversible in some patients.
Thanatologists View Death: A 15-Year Perspective

This study examined the death attitudes of a number of prominent thanatologists over a 15-year span. In 1973, 40 (30 men, 10 women) invited participants at a conference on death and dying were surv...
Isolation and characterization of protease Do from Escherichia coli, a large serine protease containing multiple subunits

A new cytoplasmic proteolytic enzyme in Escherichia coli, named protease Do, has been purified to near homogeneity. The enzyme is an endoprotease that degrades casein, denatured bovine serum albumin, and globin but shows little or no hydrolytic activity against insulin, growth hormone, native bovine serum albumin, or a variety of commonly used peptide substrates. The molecular size of the enzyme was large, and it could be isolated in different preparations in either of two forms. One showed a molecular weight of about 500,000 on gel filtration and a sedimentation coefficient of 15.9 S on sucrose gradient centrifugation. The other appeared to be about 300,000 and sedimented at 12.7 S. No interconversion between the two forms and no other difference in the properties was found. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) shows that both forms contain a major 54,000-dalton band and three additional minor polypeptides with molecular weights of 45,000, 44,000, and 42,000. These minor polypeptides appear to result from autolytic degradation of the major protein as demonstrated by peptide mapping with Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease. Thus, protease Do appears to contain a single subunit of 54,000, and can exist either as a decamer or as a hexamer or pentamer. The enzyme is a serine protease. It is sensitive to diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP) but not to metal chelating agents, sulfhydryl blocking groups, certain chloromethyl ketones, or various peptide aldehyde inhibitors. The enzyme covalently binds [3H]DFP, and the labeled subunit was visualized on SDS-polyacrylamide gels by fluorography. When cells growing in rich broth enter stationary phase, the relative concentration of protease Do increases more than twofold.
The Roles of Somatostatin-Expressing (GIN) and Fast-Spiking Inhibitory Interneurons in up-down States of Mouse Neocortex

The neocortex contains multiple types of inhibitory neurons whose properties suggest they may play different roles within the cortical circuit. By recording from three cell types during two distinct network states (up and down states) in vitro, we were able to quantify differences in firing characteristics between these cells during different network regimes. We recorded from regular-spiking (RS) excitatory cells and two types of inhibitory neurons, the fast-spiking (FS) neurons and GFP- (and somatostatin-) expressing inhibitory neurons (GIN), in layer 2/3 of slices from mouse somatosensory neocortex. Comparisons of firing characteristics between these cells during up- and down-states showed several patterns. First, of these cell types, only GIN cells fired persistently during down-states, whereas all three cell types fired readily during up-states. Second, the onset of firing and distribution of action potentials throughout up-states differed by cell type, showing that FS cell up-state firing occurred preferentially near the beginning of the up-state, whereas the firing of RS cells was slower to develop at the start of the up-state, and GIN cell firing was sustained throughout the duration of the up-state. Finally, membrane potential and spike correlations between heterogeneous cell types were more pronounced during up-states and, in the case of RS synapses onto GIN cells, varied throughout the up-state. These results suggest that there is a division of labor between FS and GIN cells as the up-state progresses and suggest that GIN cells could be important in the termination of up-states.
Option Coverage Techniques for Environmental Projects

Environmental firms are faced both with the prospect of liability claims that may arise long after activities at a project have been completed and the impact of catastrophic events that can severel...
Analysis of Multipulse Strategies for High Data Rate Phase Change Optical Recording

Multipulse strategies for two disk rotation velocities of the same phase change optical disk, were analyzed using simulations, at red and blue wavelengths. Results showed that at either wavelength, lower pulse duty cycles are needed at lower velocities to reduce recrystallization and higher duty cycles are needed at higher velocities. Optimal erase powers and cooling width for minimal overwrite jitter were also found.
Smoothed aggregation solvers for anisotropic diffusion

SUMMARY A smoothed aggregation-based algebraic multigrid solver for anisotropic diffusion problems is presented. Algebraic multigrid is a popular and effective method for solving sparse linear systems that arise from discretizing partial differential equations. However, although algebraic multigrid was designed for elliptic problems, the case of non-grid-aligned anisotropic diffusion is not adequately addressed by existing methods. To achieve scalable performance, it is shown that neither new coarsening nor new relaxation strategies are necessary. Instead, a novel smoothed aggregation approach is developed that combines long-distance interpolation, coarse-grid injection, and an energy-minimization strategy that finds the interpolation weights. Previously developed theory by Falgout and Vassilevski is used to discern that existing coarsening strategies are sufficient, but that existing interpolation methods are not. In particular, an interpolation quality measure tracks ‘closeness’ to the ideal interpolant and guides the interpolation sparsity pattern choice. Although the interpolation quality measure is computable for only small model problems, an inexact, but computable, measure is proposed for larger problems. This paper concludes with encouraging numerical results that also potentially show broad applicability (e.g., for linear elasticity). Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Maya Royal Ritual: Architectonics as a Key to Political Organization

This study considers the spaces occupied by Maya royal rituals as a means of testing the application of models of political organization. Investigation of the architectonics of several temple pyramids at the sites of Copan, Tikal, and Seibal indicates that Maya political organization does not resemble that required by either the galactic polity or segmentary state models. Comparison with large Mesopotamian temples from Early Dynastic levels at Khafaje and al-'Ubaid suggests that the royal rituals of the Classic Maya are indicative of a city-state political organization.
Control System Architecture

Control system functionality and architectures have been evolving steadily for many years. Advances in semiconductor technology have allowed far more processing power to be applied at all levels of plant control than was believed possible only a few years ago. This power will be needed to achieve plantwide automatic control, which includes full integration of process control and plant business systems.
“Diversity”; and organizational communication

Abstract Although popular organizational literature abounds with discussions of workplace diversity, few studies of organizational communication address this topic. This essay entreats scholars to conduct research on race‐ethnicity—one of the most salient aspects of diversity—and its role in organizational communication processes. The author offers a rationale for her position, reviews related literature, and provides recommendations for future investigations.
Unusual Allylpalladium Carboxylate Complexes: Identification of the Resting State of Catalytic Enantioselective Decarboxylative Allylic Alkylation Reactions of Ketones

Palladium pop rocks: Hold on to your CO2! Enantioselective palladium-catalyzed decarboxylative alkylation of ketone enolates proceeds via 1-σ-allyl palladium-carboxylate complexes, such as 1 (Pd yellow, O red, N blue, P purple), by slow loss of CO_2. Reminiscent of pop rock candy, impure samples of 1 expel a gas (presumably CO_2) in the solid state and effervesce in solution.
Aubergine encodes a Drosophila polar granule component required for pole cell formation and related to eIF2C

In Drosophila oocytes, activation of Oskar translation from a transcript localized to the posterior pole is an essential step in the organization of the pole plasm, specialized cytoplasm that contains germline and abdominal body patterning determinants. Oskar is a component of polar granules, large particles associated with the pole plasm and the germline precursor pole cells of the embryo. aubergine mutants fail to translate oskar mRNA efficiently and are thus defective in posterior body patterning and pole cell formation. We have found that Aubergine protein is related to eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2C and suggest how it may activate translation. In addition, we found that Aubergine was recruited to the posterior pole in a vas-dependent manner and is itself a polar granule component. Consistent with its presence in these structures, Aubergine is required for pole cell formation independently of its initial role in oskar translation. Unlike two other known polar granule components, Vasa and Oskar, Aubergine remains cytoplasmic after pole cell formation, suggesting that the roles of these proteins diverge during embryogenesis.
Ballistic phonon transport and self-heating effects in strained-silicon transistors

In this manuscript, different aspects of nanoscale thermal transport in strained silicon transistors will be addressed. The two-dimensional Boltzmann transport equations for phonons in Si and SiGe alloy layers, along with the acoustic mismatch model for the interface, are used to capture the sub-continuum heat conduction effects in the device. It is shown that the lateral thermal conductivity of a 10-nm strained-Si layer grown on the SiGe underlayer can vary from 14 to 20W/m-K, depending on the interface specularity parameter. The resulting temperature distribution in the device is used to predict the impact of self-heating on performance of future generations of strained-Si devices. The analysis shows that the merits of strained-Si technology can be suppressed by excessive self-heating; therefore, additional considerations in the design of these devices need to be taken into account
Invasion of Rubus praecox (Rosaceae) is promoted by the native tree Aristotelia chilensis (Elaeocarpaceae) due to seed dispersal facilitation.

La facilitacion de la dispersion de las semillas entre plantas vecinas se puede definir como un incremento en el numero, distancia, y/o lugares alcanzados por las semillas de una planta debido a la presencia de plantas vecinas que co-fructifican y con las que la especie comparte dispersores de semillas. Se han descrito muchos casos de este fenomeno entre especies nativas y algunas tambien entre especies introducidas invasoras. Ademas, se ha informado de la facilitacion del reclutamiento de especies nativas por arboles no-nativos de fruto carnoso. Sorprendentemente, la facilitacion de la dispersion de semillas de las especies exoticas por especies nativas es menos comun, o no ha sido debidamente documentada hasta el momento. La observacion casual de la vegetacion secundaria en la Region de la Araucania, Chile, sugiere que mas individuos de la especie exotica Rubus praecox (Rosaceae), cuyos frutos carnosos son dispersados por las aves, se establecen bajo el arbol nativo Aristotelia chilensis (Elaeocarpaceae) que tambien posee frutos carnosos, que bajo otra especies de arboles nativos con frutos secos en las mismas areas. Para evaluar si las diferencias de observacion sugeridas son estadisticamente significativas, se muestrearon dos parcelas para estudiar las asociaciones interespecificas entre Rubus y Aristotelia y entre Rubus y el arbol mas comun de frutos secos -Lomatia hirsuta (Proteaceae). La primera conclusion importante de este estudio es que la invasora Rubus es mucho mas comun bajo ambas especies focales que en pastizales abiertos. En segundo lugar, Rubus se asocia mas fuertemente con Aristotelia subdioica con frutos carnosos que con la especie monoica de frutos secos Lomatia,en este paisaje del sur de Chile. Ademas, la frecuencia de Rubus es mayor bajo arboles productores de frutos de Aristotelia (femeninos o hermafroditas). Se discuten las implicaciones para la gestion de la especie invasora.
Ignorant and Apathetic: The Effect of Media Freedom on Political Knowledge and Participation

This paper investigates the impact of media freedom on citizens' political knowledge and participation. I find that media freedom has a large, positive and statistically significant effect on individuals' political knowledge, political participation, and voter turnout. The more government controls the media, the more politically ignorant and apathetic are citizens. These results are robust to sample, specification, and alternative measures of media freedom.
Catastrophic Thinking: A Transdiagnostic Process Across Psychiatric Disorders

Since the description of catastrophizing by Ellis (Reason and emotion in psychotherapy. Lyle Stuart, Oxford, 1962) as a general factor in psychopathology, numerous studies have explored this construct and its association with many common disorders. This paper investigates the role of catastrophic thinking across psychiatric disorders. We conducted a comprehensive review of the literature on the role of catastrophic beliefs as a predictor and correlate of psychopathological disorders including panic, phobia, health anxiety, obsessive–compulsive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, pain, and traumatic brain injury. The literature suggests that catastrophic thinking has been demonstrated to play a role in a wide variety of disorders and has been a focal point for prevention and psychotherapeutic intervention. While the process of catastrophic thinking is transdiagnostic, content is unique for each disorder. We propose a model for the catastrophic cycle and discuss the utility of including catastrophic beliefs in an alternative diagnostic scheme based on cognitive theory. We offer recommendations for prevention and psychotherapeutic interventions that have targeted catastrophic thinking and led to improvement in each particular disorder. We conclude with recommendations for further research on the role of mediation, as well further investigation of disorders such as psychosis and irritable bowel syndrome, which emerging evidence suggests may be related to catastrophic beliefs.
The selected aspects of development of the science and technology parks

The Science and Technology Parks are organizations oriented into area of research, technologies and innovations. They utilize their know-how for establishing presumptions for dynamic development of innovations firms, for transfer of technologies and education for co-workers of innovations entrepreneurships. The Science and Technology Parks mean respected way to the fasted overcame of technological backwardness and acquirement of market competitiveness. Next aim is creation of new perspective work opportunities in an active employment policy. The Science and Technology Parks are also aimed for help and support for small and medium sized firms.
Effect of Silicon-based Fertilizer Applications on Nymphal Development and Adult Emergence of the Greenhouse Whitefly (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) Feeding on Poinsettia

This study assessed the effect of silicon-based fertilizer treatments on development of the greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood), while feeding on poinsettia, Euphorbia pulcherrima (Willd. ex Klotzsch). A potassium silicate fertilizer was applied at treatment rates of 0, 50, 100, 400, and 800 ppm silicon as a growing medium drench. The mean development time, proportion (%) of pupae and proportion of T. vaporariorum adult emergence were determined for each assessment period. Total silicon concentration in the aboveground tissues (leaves and stems) of poinsettia plants were measured at 4 time intervals throughout the study, using a plant alkaline fusion technique (PAFT) silicon determination procedure. Total moisture content (g), height (cm), and number of fully-expanded mature leaves of the poinsettia plants also were measured. Our results showed significant differences in silicon concentration with poinsettia plants receiving the 100, 400, and 800 ppm silicon treatments having the hig...
Community and Tragedy: One and the Same?

Rightly and proudly offered in Routledge’s Innovations in Political Theory series, this ambitious and largely successful book postulates an essentially irreconcilable contradiction between pragmati...
A Survey on Protection Methodologies Against Control Flow Hijacking Attacks

Security has always been an important concern in computer systems. With the advent of the Internet, the sharing of information has never been easier. However, the Internet infrastructure has proven to be very vulnerable to many security threats. Examples of attacks date from the infamous Morris worm, which in 1988 managed to infect thousands of computer systems, including military and medical research systems, resulting in an economic impact of millions of dollars, to the recent zero-day exploit in Internet Explorer, which caused the German government to urge the public to temporarily stop using the browser.
Changes in Brown Adipose Tissue and Muscle Development during Infancy

Objective To examine the relationship between brown adipose tissue (BAT) and muscle development, two tissues that derive from a common cell lineage, during the first 6 months of postnatal life. Study design Thirty healthy term infants (15 males and females) underwent whole-body magnetic resonance imaging examinations. Measurements of BAT in the supraclavicular area as well as measures of trunk musculature and subcutaneous adiposity were obtained at birth and at 6 months of age. Results Paraspinous musculature and subcutaneous white adipose tissue (WAT) increased, and the proportion of BAT in the supraclavicular area decreased during infancy. Although measures of BAT did not correlate with paraspinous musculature through the first 6 months of life ( r = −0.35; P = .09), BAT was a significant predictor of paraspinous musculature after adjusting for weight, body length, and WAT ( P = .002); infants with the smallest decreases in BAT had the greatest gains in musculature. In contrast, changes in BAT did not predict increases in subcutaneous WAT ( P = .25) during infancy, which were primarily determined by body weight. Conclusions Changes in BAT are associated with muscle development but not WAT accumulation in healthy infants. Studies are needed to determine the mechanism(s) by which BAT could facilitate muscle growth, and the degree to which decreased muscle mass, such as in preterm and low birth weight infants, is related to a deficiency of BAT.
Spectral BRDF modeling of vehicle signature observations in the VNIR-SWIR

Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) sensors have the ability to detect and identify objects within a scene based on the distinct attributes of their surface spectral signatures. Many targets of interest, such as vehicles, represent a complex arrangement of specular (non-Lambertian) materials with curved and flat surfaces oriented at varying view factors. This complexity, combined with possible changing atmospheric/illumination conditions and viewing geometries, can produce significant variations in the observed signatures from measurement to measurement, making detection and/or reacquisition challenging. This paper focuses on the characterization of visible-near infrared-short wave infrared (VNIR-SWIR) spectra for detection, identification and tracking of vehicles. Signature variations are predicted using a novel image simulation tool to calculate spectral images of complex 3D objects from a spectral material description such as the modified Beard-Maxwell BRDF model, a wireframe shape model, and a directional model of the illumination. We compare the simulations with recent VNIR-SWIR hyperspectral imagery of vehicles and panels collected at the Rochester Institute of Technology during an Autumn 2015 measurement campaign. Variations in both the simulated and measured spectra arise mainly from differences in the relative glint contribution. Implications of these variations on vehicle detection and identification are briefly discussed.
Tracking local communities in streaming graphs with a dynamic algorithm

A variety of massive datasets, such as social networks and biological data, are represented as graphs that reveal underlying connections, trends, and anomalies. Community detection is the task of discovering dense groups of vertices in a graph. Its one specific form is seed set expansion, which finds the best local community for a given set of seed vertices. Greedy, agglomerative algorithms, which are commonly used in seed set expansion, have been previously designed only for a static, unchanging graph. However, in many applications, new data are constantly produced, and vertices and edges are inserted and removed from a graph. We present an algorithm for dynamic seed set expansion, which maintains a local community over time by incrementally updating as the underlying graph changes. We show that our dynamic algorithm outputs high-quality communities that are similar to those found when using a standard static algorithm. It works well both when beginning with an already existing graph and in the fully streaming case when starting with no data. The dynamic approach is also faster than re-computation when low latency updates are needed.
Pore-scale multiphase flow modeling and imaging of CO2 exsolution in Sandstone

This study utilizes synchrotron X-ray micro-tomography and pore scale modeling to investigate the process of gas exsolution and how it affects non-wetting phase relative permeability. Exsolved gas distributions are measured on Domengine and Boise sandstone samples using synchrotron X-ray micro-tomography. Observed gas phase distributions are compared to a new model that simulates the growth and distribution of exsolved gas phase at the pore-scale. Water relative permeability curves are calculated using a Stokes flow simulator with modeled and observed gas distributions, under various conditions, such as rock geometry, and pressure depletion rates. By comparing the actual bubble distributions with modeled distributions, we conclude that exsolved gas is more likely to form and accumulate at locations with higher water velocities. This suggests that convective delivery of CO2 to the gas bubble is a primary mechanism for bubble growth, as compared to diffusive transport through the aqueous phase. For carbonated brine flowing up a fault at half a meter per day, with 5% exsolved gas, the water relative permeability is estimated to be 0.6∼0.8 for various sandstones. The reduction of water mobility reduces upward brine migration when even a small amount of exsolution occurs.
Application of temporal logic for safety supervisory control and model-based hazard monitoring

Abstract In this work, we extend a previously introduced framework for safety supervisory control with the ingredient of Temporal Logic (TL) to improve both accident prevention and dynamic risk assessment. We examine the synergies obtained from integrating model-based hazard modeling/monitoring with the verification of safety properties expressed in TL. This expanded framework leverages tools and ideas from Control Theory and Computer Science, and is meant to guide safety intervention both on-line and off-line, either during the design stages or during operation to support operator's situational awareness and decision-making in the face of emerging hazardous situations. We illustrate these capabilities and the insight that results from the integration of the proposed ingredients through a detailed case study. The study involves a runway overrun by a business jet, and it shows how hardware, software, and operators’ control actions and responses can be integrated within the proposed framework. The aircraft suffered from a faulty logic in the Full Authority Digital Engine Computer (FADEC), which prevented the pilot from activating the thrust reversers in a particular operational scenario. We examine the accident sequence against three system safety principles expressed in TL: the fail-safe principle, the defense-in-depth principle, and the observability-in-depth principle. The framework is implemented in Simulink and Stateflow, and is shown to provide important feedback for dynamic risk assessment and accident prevention. When applied on-line, it provides warning signs to support the sensemaking of emerging hazardous situations, and identifying adverse conditions that are closer to being released. When applied off-line, it provides diagnostic information regarding missing or inadequate safety features embedded in the system. For the specific case study, we propose a new TL safety constraint (based on speed measurements and the history of pressure sensors from the landing gears) to be incorporated in this and other aircraft FADEC, and that could have prevented the hazardous situation, in this case a rejected takeoff following tire explosion, from turning into a deadly accident. We conclude with some recommendations to prevent similar accident recurrences and to improve accident prevention.
Identification of Heavy Metal Hyper-Accumulating Fauna in the Butte Montana Region through the use of ICP Analysis

In many parts of the country human activity has contaminated soils through mining operations. One of the major contaminates from mining are heavy metals like Lead, Cadmium, Copper, and Zinc in concentrations that exceed safe human exposure. Consequently, remediation of the contaminated soil is now needed in these areas. Remediation of contaminated soils can be expensive, labor intensive, and disruptive to the native habitat. Phytoremediation is a method of remediating soils by the use of plants that accumulate high levels of contaminates from the soil into the plant’s tissue. Plants that are used for the removal of soil contaminates are known as hyper-accumulators; meaning plants that can accumulate metal levels exceeding that of the soil in which they reside. Ideally native plants are to be used in the phytoremediation to reduce the risk of introducing invasive species to the area. The list of known hyper-accumulators native to Montana, or accumulators that can grow in Montana, specifically the Butte-Silver Bow area is limited. Research was done on tissue samples collected from plants growing in the un-reclaimed Butte Priority Operative Soil Unit (BPOSU) that were analyzed by means of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for the levels of heavy metals in the tissue, so the plant may be determined a hyper-accumulator or not. Parameter tests included analyzing the soil at the location of the each plant, and site evaluation of the plants location.
Extracting Deep Phenotypes for Chronic Kidney Disease Using Electronic Health Records

Introduction: As chronic kidney disease (CKD) is among the most prevalent chronic diseases in the world with various rate of progression among patients, identifying its phenotypic subtypes is important for improving risk stratification and providing more targeted therapy and specific treatments for patients having different trajectories of the disease progression. Problem Definition and Data: The rapid growth and adoption of electronic health records (EHR) technology has created a unique opportunity to leverage the abundant clinical data, available as EHRs, to find meaningful phenotypic subtypes for CKD. In this study, we focus on extracting disease severity profiles for CKD while accounting for other confounding factors. Probabilistic Subtyping Model: We employ a probabilistic model to identify precise phenotypes from EHR data of patients who have chronic kidney disease. Using this model, patient’s eGFR trajectory is decomposed as a combination of four different components including disease subtype effect, covariate effect, individual long-term effect and individual short-term effect. Experimental Results: The discovered disease subtypes obtained by Probabilistic Subtyping Model for CKD are presented and their clinical relevance is analyzed. Discussion: Several clinical health markers that were found associated with disease subtypes are presented with suggestion for further investigation on their use as risk predictors. Several assumptions in the study are also clarified and discussed.
Two rheumatoid arthritis–specific autoantigens correlate microbial immunity with autoimmune responses in joints

In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), immunological triggers at mucosal sites, such as the gut microbiota, may promote autoimmunity that affects joints. Here, we used discovery-based proteomics to detect HLA-DR-presented peptides in synovia or peripheral blood mononuclear cells and identified 2 autoantigens, N-acetylglucosamine-6-sulfatase (GNS) and filamin A (FLNA), as targets of T and B cell responses in 52% and 56% of RA patients, respectively. Both GNS and FLNA were highly expressed in synovia. GNS appeared to be citrullinated, and GNS antibody values correlated with anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA) levels. FLNA did not show the same results. The HLA-DR-presented GNS peptide has marked sequence homology with epitopes from sulfatase proteins of the Prevotella sp. and Parabacteroides sp., whereas the HLA-DR-presented FLNA peptide has homology with epitopes from proteins of the Prevotella sp. and Butyricimonas sp., another gut commensal. Patients with T cell reactivity with each self-peptide also had responses to the corresponding microbial peptides, and the levels were directly correlated. Furthermore, HLA-DR molecules encoded by shared-epitope (SE) alleles were predicted to bind these self- and microbial peptides strongly, and these responses were more common in RA patients with SE alleles. Thus, sequence homology between T cell epitopes of 2 self-proteins and a related order of gut microbes may provide a link between mucosal and joint immunity in patients with RA.
Extending classical multirate signal processing theory to graphs

A variety of different areas consider signals that are defined over graphs. Motivated by the advancements in graph signal processing, this study first reviews some of the recent results on the extension of classical multirate signal processing to graphs. In these results, graphs are allowed to have directed edges. The possibly non-symmetric adjacency matrix A is treated as the graph operator. These results investigate the fundamental concepts for multirate processing of graph signals such as noble identities, aliasing, and perfect reconstruction (PR). It is shown that unless the graph satisfies some conditions, these concepts cannot be extended to graph signals in a simple manner. A structure called M-Block cyclic structure is shown to be sufficient to generalize the results for bipartite graphs on two-channels to M-channel filter banks. Many classical multirate ideas can be extended to graphs due to the unique eigenstructure of M-Block cyclic graphs. For example, the PR condition for filter banks on these graphs is identical to PR in classical theory, which allows the use of well-known filter bank design techniques. In order to utilize these results, the adjacency matrix of an M-Block cyclic graph should be given in the correct permutation. In the final part, this study proposes a spectral technique to identify the hidden M-Block cyclic structure from a graph with noisy edges whose adjacency matrix is given under a random permutation. Numerical simulation results show that the technique can recover the underlying M-Block structure in the presence of random addition and deletion of the edges.
A CASE OF BILATERAL ADRENAL HEMORRHAGE AND SUBSEQUENT ADRENAL CRISIS DUE TO HEPARIN-INDUCED THROMBOCYTOPENIA

ABSTRACT Objective: To discuss a case of adrenal insufficiency (AI) caused by heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) and subsequent adrenal hemorrhage. Methods: We describe the case of a patient who developed postoperative HIT, which went undetected until the patient presented with fulminant adrenal crisis. We provide here an overview of the work-up, diagnosis, and treatment of HIT-associated AI. Results: HIT is a rare cause of bilateral adrenal hemorrhage, and subsequent AI secondary to HIT is often clinically unsuspected until overt hemodynamic collapse occurs. Conclusions: Lack of early detection and appropriate treatment of HIT-induced AI can lead to significant patient morbidity and mortality. Awareness of this clinical condition is key to early recognition and treatment.
An In-depth Performance Characterization of CPU- and GPU-based DNN Training on Modern Architectures

Traditionally, Deep Learning (DL) frameworks like Caffe, TensorFlow, and Cognitive Toolkit exploited GPUs to accelerate the training process. This has been primarily achieved by aggressive improvements in parallel hardware as well as through sophisticated software frameworks like cuDNN and cuBLAS. However, recent enhancements to CPU-based hardware and software has the potential to significantly enhance the performance of CPU-based DL training. In this paper, we provide a complete performance landscape of CPU- and GPU-based DNN training. We characterize performance of DNN training for AlexNet and ResNet-50 for a wide-range of CPU and GPU architectures including the latest Intel Xeon Phi (Knights Landing) processors and NVIDIA Pascal GPUs. We also present multi-node DNN training performance results for AlexNet and ResNet-50 using Intel Machine Learning Scaling (MLSL) Library and Intel-Caffe. In addition, we provide a CPU vs. GPU comparison for multi-node training using OSU-Caffe and Intel-Caffe. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that dives deeper into the performance of DNN training in a holistic manner yet provides an in-depth look at layer-wise performance for different DNNs. We provide multiple key insights: 1) Convolutions account for the majority of time (up to 83% time) consumed in DNN training, 2) GPU-based training continues to deliver excellent performance (up to 18% better than KNL) across generations of GPU hardware and software, and 3) Recent CPU-based optimizations like MKL-DNN and OpenMP-based thread parallelism leads to excellent speed-ups over under-optimized designs (up to 3.2X improvement for AlexNet training).
Rate and Outage Probability in Dual Band Systems With Prediction-Based Band Switching

5G cellular systems will have the ability to communicate in either centimeter-wave or millimeter-wave bands, though not necessarily in both bands simultaneously. Therefore, techniques to optimize switching between those bands are needed. In this letter, we propose a suitable scheme based on rate prediction. Specifically, in each time-frame the base-station predicts the state of large-scale fading for the next time-frame; data transmission is then carried over the band that is anticipated to achieve the larger data rate. We analyze the scheme based on the assumption that large-scale fading is lognormally distributed and with a finite correlation between the two bands.
Do Women Work Less Than Men in Urology: Data From the American Urological Association Census.

Author(s): Porten, Sima P; Gaither, Thomas W; Greene, Kirsten L; Baradaran, Nima; Anger, Jennifer T; Breyer, Benjamin N | Abstract: ObjectiveTo further explore the issue of work parity between male and female urologists in the context of demographics, practice characteristics, subspecialty affiliation, and planned retirement.Materials and methodsWe analyzed data from the 2014 American Urological Association census, which is a specialty wide survey distributed to the entire urology community in the United States. A total of 2204 census samples were weighted to represent 11,703 urologists who practiced in the United States in 2014. We compared clinical and nonclinical hours worked by gender after adjusting for age, practice setting, fellowship type, and whether or not the urologist performed inpatient operations.ResultsOf the 11,703 practicing urologists in the United States, female urologists make up approximately 7.7% of the workforce (n ~ 897). Female practicing urologists were younger (66.4%, l45 years old), had shorter training intervals, and a younger planned retirement age than their male counterparts (63 years vs 68.5 years, P l.001). More women were fellowship-trained in a urologic subspecialty (54.9% vs 34.9%, P l.001) and more were in academic practices (33.2% vs 21.9%, P = .03). After adjusting for age, practice type, subspecialty, and inpatient operations performed, there was no difference in hours worked between women and men (beta-coefficient -2.8, 95% confidence interval -6.4 to 0.7, P = .12).ConclusionGender does not appear to drive the number of hours urologists work per week. There is work hour parity between women and men practicing urologists in both clinical and nonclinical hours. Women are proportionately more likely to pursue fellowship training and hold academic positions.
How Leaders Learn to Boost Creativity in Teams: Innovation Catalysts

The book focuses on how leaders are learning to develop the creative capabilities of their team members and themselves. Through this learning, teams are developing original approaches to their work, benefitting their customers, patients, employees and other stakeholders. Using a strong interdisciplinary approach, How Leaders Learn to Boost Creativity in Teams introduces insights from the domains of psychology, creativity, leadership and power, and integrates these through a proposed framework for leading innovation. It contains nine in-depth, current-day cases of learning and workplace-based applications and has an optimistic message: creativity can be learnt. Making connections between current day research, learning and application in work contexts, it will appeal to leaders and students alike seeking to think outside of the box.