cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Research of High-power Bulb Tubular Turbine Governors

The bulb tubular turbine generator is used as a specialized high-volume,low-head water turbine type.Because of its small moment of inertia,the structure and the way of installation of generating units are different from that of the francis turbine and action turbine.Compared with the conventional water turbine,the present turbine is different in electrical control strategy of water turbine governor and configuration of the hydraulic system.This paper proposes a control theory and configurations of the bulb tubular turbine generator,and describes its practical operation in water power plants.
A União Faz a Força (There is strength in unity): understanding the sales–marketing interface in Brasil

While the sales–marketing interface (SMI) research area is relatively nascent, scholars have provided a bevy of insights to this phenomenon. However, nearly all of these insights are predicated on data obtained from developed economies. To date, no research on this critical interface has been obtained in the key emerging markets of the world: the BRICS nations (Brasil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa). The purpose of this manuscript is to provide insight into the SMI in the emerging-market context of Brasil and compare and contrast these findings with those derived from other developed and emerging markets. A qualitative inquiry of 29 marketers and salespeople was conducted to reveal many insights into sales and marketing’s interactions in Brasilian organizations. Findings show how the SMI manifests in Brasil on group orientation and interaction, factors used to facilitate the SMI, and SMI power and strategy dynamics. Results show similarities, differences, and novel findings relative to existing k...
Detection of O -GlcNAc Modifications on Cardiac Myofilament Proteins

In this chapter it is described a general method that has been used successfully by more than one laboratory interested in detecting O-GlcNAc in myofilament proteins. Alternative reagents for chemo-enzymatic or metabolic labeling will be indicated, as well as references for more details in alternative methods. The outline is divided into (1) Enrichment of O-GlcNAc Stoichiometry, (2) Cardiac Myofilament Protein Isolation, (3) SDS-PAGE, (4) "Reduction and Alkylation," (5) In-Gel Protein Digestion, (6) Chemo-enzymatic Labeling of O-GlcNAc Moieties (Click Chemistry), (7) Biotin Alkyne Tagging, (8) Strong Cation Exchange (SCX) and Streptavidin, and (9) β-Elimination and Michael Addition (BEMAD) for O-GlcNAc Site-Mapping.
PERIODIC SOLUTIONS OF SOME INTEGRAL EQUATIONS FROM THE THEORY OF EPIDEMICS

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the periodic solutions of some integral equations from the theory of epidemics. It summarizes results on an integral equation. A key role in the abstract theory underlying these results is played by the fixed point index. The chapter presents the proof of some new results about the fixed point index of cone maps. It presents the proof of a nonlinear version of the Krein–Rutman theorem. This theorem has been used to obtain results above the fixed point index of positive linear operators. In the results obtained, the elementary arguments yield information about the fixed point index that in turn yields the Krein–Rutman theorem.
Artistic Display and Commentary: Theatre of the Book

Autant and Lara’s theatre for literary readings separated word and image in multiple spatial layers that defined positions for visual tableaux, readers, commentators, and spectators, all of whom moved spontaneously between layers. Multiple box stages in the theatre design recall medieval “mansions” that held scenes from scripture for spectators who walked and talked among them. The experience of moving between architectural frames, at times performing, then watching others perform, and of perching on the threshold recalls urban life in the many rooms of the city. The Theatre of the Book comments on display spaces in the city and proposes open layers of interactive space in between detached images (like paintings in a museum) and spontaneous conversation, layers essential to a fully engaged society.
Schottky diodes with thin film diamond base

Schottky diodes were fabricated using metal contacts to thin diamond films obtained by a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition process. The diamond structure of the films was confirmed by X-ray diffraction patterns and Raman scattering spectra. Internal photoemission measurements were used to determine a barrier height of about 1.13 eV for both Au and Al contacts to p-type diamond films. Rectifying diode characteristics were obtained at both room and elevated temperatures with the breakdown voltage exceeding 200 V at 300 K. It is shown that both static and small-signal characteristics of Schottky diodes with a thin diamond base are controlled by deep acceptor centers and are essentially the same as for their counterparts fabricated using bulk diamond. >
Brain tau deposition linked to systemic causes of death in normal elderly

The relationship between causes of death and 4 major neurodegenerative brain proteins (beta-amyloid, tau, alpha-synuclein, and the TAR DNA-binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP-43) were assessed in 94 cognitively normal elderly participants that died without a neurodegenerative disease. There was an association between tau and causes of death (p = 0.01). Tau in the brain was associated with a reduced likelihood of dying from systemic cancers (p = 0.046), and with an increased likelihood of dying from pulmonary (p = 0.03) and gastrointestinal (p = 0.049) diseases. There were no associations between beta-amyloid, alpha-synuclein, or TDP-43 and causes of death. Tau deposition in the brain may have a relationship with systemic causes of death, including cancer, in the cognitively normal elderly.
Absolute Rates of Heart Failure, Coronary Heart Disease, and Stroke in Chronic Kidney Disease: An Analysis of 3 Community-Based Cohort Studies.

Importance Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Understanding the relative contributions of cardiovascular disease event types to the excess burden of cardiovascular disease is important for developing effective strategies to improve outcomes. Objective To determine absolute rates and risk differences of incident heart failure (HF), coronary heart disease (CHD), and stroke in participants with vs without CKD. Design, Setting and Participants We pooled participants without prevalent cardiovascular disease from 3 community-based cohort studies: the Jackson Heart Study, Cardiovascular Health Study, and Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. The Jackson Heart Study was conducted between 2000 and 2010, the Cardiovascular Health Study was conducted between 1989 and 2003, and the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis was conducted between 2000 and 2012. Exposures Chronic kidney disease was defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 , calculated using the combined creatinine–cystatin C CKD–Epidemiology Collaboration Equation. Main Outcomes and Measures Poisson regression was used to calculate incidence rates (IRs) and risk differences of adjudicated incident HF, CHD, and stroke, comparing participants with vs without CKD. Results Among 14 462 participants, the mean (SD) age was 63 (12) years, 59% (n = 8533) were women, and 44% (n = 6363) were African American. Overall, 1461 (10%) had CKD (mean [SD] estimated glomerular filtration rate, 49 [10] mL/min/1.73 m 2 ). Unadjusted IRs for participants with and without CKD, respectively, were 22.0 (95% CI, 19.3-24.8) and 6.2 (95% CI, 5.8-6.7) per 1000 person-years for HF; 24.5 (95% CI, 21.6-27.5) and 8.4 (95% CI, 7.9-9.0) per 1000 person-years for CHD; and 13.4 (95% CI, 11.3-15.5) and 4.8 (95% CI, 4.4-5.3) for stroke. Adjusting for demographics, cohort, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and tobacco use, risk differences comparing participants with vs without CKD (per 1000 person-years) were 2.3 (95% CI, 1.2-3.3) for HF, 2.3 (95% CI, 1.2-3.4) for CHD, and 0.8 (95% CI, 0.09-1.5) for stroke. Among African American and Hispanic participants, adjusted risk differences comparing participants with vs without CKD for HF were 3.5 (95% CI, 1.5-5.5) and 7.8 (95% CI, 2.2-13.3) per 1000 person-years, respectively. Conclusions and Relevance Among 3 diverse community-based cohorts, CKD was associated with an increased risk of HF that was similar in magnitude to CHD and greater than stroke. The excess risk of HF associated with CKD was particularly large among African American and Hispanic individuals. Efforts to improve health outcomes for patients with CKD should prioritize HF in addition to CHD prevention.
Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma, Not Otherwise Specified: A Clinicopathologic Study of 340 Cases from the International T-Cell Lymphoma Project.

Peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS), is an uncommon lymphoma in which the clinical and pathological features of prognostic importance are not well understood. Therefore, we collected 340 cases of PTCL-NOS from 21 centers in 13 countries around the world to study this entity. PTCL-NOS was the most common subtype of PTCL in the project (29.3%) and consisted mainly of PTCL unspecified (88.5%) and the lymphoepithelial type (8.2%). The median age of the patients was 60 years, 66% were males, and 69% had stage III/IV disease at diagnosis. Anthracycline-based chemotherapy was given in 80% and a complete response was obtained in 56% of the patients. However, the 5-year overall and failure-free survivals for the entire group were only 32% and 20%, respectively. The International Prognostic Index (IPI) was highly predictive of survival (p 10 cm (HR 2.5), and platelets 3 (HR 2.2). Pathologic features predictive of survival included >70% transformed cells (HR 1.7) and 70% transformed cells were predictive of survival. In conclusion, PTCL-NOS is an aggressive disease in which the IPI and the percentage of transformed cells could be used to select patients for risk-adapted therapies.
Using Hybrid Assessments to Develop Civic Competency in History

ABSTRACTThis article addresses the problem of how to best design authentic writing assessments in history that support learners in demonstrating the types of higher order thinking skills needed for effective citizenship. Recent research has primarily focused on curriculum interventions intended to build disciplinary literacies through various types of document-based essay tasks. The authors argue for increased use of “hybrid” tasks that not only emphasize historical thinking, but also require ethical reasoning and decision-making as students consider enduring societal issues connected to the history curriculum. They offer recommendations for creating this type of task based on an in-depth analysis of an assessment implemented with tenth grade history students.
Basal Plane Dislocation Free Recombination Layers on Low-Doped Buffer Layer for Power Devices

We report a novel approach to grow BPD-free 4H-SiC device-ready epilayers, where we start by growing a thin low-doped buffer layer (5 × 1015 to 1 × 1016 cm–3, N-type) to achieve 100% BPD conversion, followed by a moderately thick (∼10 μm) higher-doped recombination layer (5 × 1016 to 1.6 × 1017 cm–3, N-type) to ensure that all recombination occurs within a BPD-free region. High doping of the BPD-free recombination layer ensures fast carrier recombination under forward bias, preventing any stacking fault nucleation in the active layer during bipolar device operation. All the individual BPDs in the buffer epilayer are converted to benign threading edge dislocations (TEDs) over a wide range of C/Si ratios (1 to 1.8), introducing a minimal on-resistance of <0.5 mΩ-cm2. 100% BPD conversion occurs due to the controlled and highly anisotropic eutectic etching of the buffer layer which produces narrow sector angle (5°) for the BPD etch pits to enable conversion of the BPDs within ∼1.5 μm of epilayer growth into T...
Hyperexcitability in synaptic and firing activities of spinal motoneurons in an adult mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Abstract Hyperexcitability is hypothesized to contribute to the degeneration of spinal motoneurons (MNs) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Studies, thus far, have not linked hyperexcitability to the intrinsic properties of MNs in the adult ALS mouse model with the G93A-mutated SOD1 protein (mSOD1 G93A ). In this study, we obtained two types of measurements: ventral root recordings to assess motor output and intracellular recordings to assess synaptic properties of individual MNs. All studies were carried out in an in vitro preparation of the sacral spinal cords of mSOD1 G93A mice and their non-transgenic (NT) littermates, both in the age range of 50–90 days. Ventral root recordings revealed that maximum compound action potentials (coAPs) evoked by a short-train stimulation of corresponding dorsal roots were similar between the two types of mice. Although the progressive depression of coAPs was present during the train stimulation in all recordings, the coAP depression in mSOD1 G93A mice was to a lesser extent, which suggests an increased firing tendency in mSOD1 G93A MNs. Intracellular recordings showed no changes in fast excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) in mSOD1 G93A MNs. However, recording did show that oscillating EPSPs (oEPSPs) were induced by poly-EPSPs at a higher frequency and by less-intense electrical stimulation in mSOD1 G93A MNs. These oEPSPs were dependent upon the activities of spinal network and N-methyl- d -aspartate receptors (NMDARs), and were subjected to riluzole modulation. Taken together, these findings revealed abnormal electrophysiology in mSOD1 G93A MNs that could underlie ALS excitotoxicity.
Comparison of Porcine and Bovine Collagen Dural Substitutes in Posterior Fossa Decompression for Chiari I Malformation in Adults.

Background Posterior fossa decompression surgeries for Chiari malformations are susceptible to postoperative complications such as pseudomeningocele, external cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak, and meningitis. Various dural substitutes have been used to improve surgical outcomes. Objective This study examined whether the collagen matrix dural substitute type correlated with the incidence of postoperative complications after posterior fossa decompression in adult patients with Chiari I malformations. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted of 81 adult patients who underwent an elective decompressive surgery for treatment of symptomatic Chiari I malformations, with duraplasty involving a dural substitute derived from either bovine or porcine collagen matrix. Demographics and treatment characteristics were correlated with surgical outcomes. Results A total of 81 patients were included in the study. Compared with bovine dural substitute, porcine dural substitute was associated with a significantly higher risk of pseudomeningocele occurrence (odds ratio, 5.78; 95% confidence interval, 1.65–27.15; P = 0.01) and a higher overall complication rate (odds ratio, 3.70; 95% confidence interval, 1.23–12.71; P = 0.03) by univariate analysis. There was no significant difference in the rate of meningitis, repeat operations, or overall complication rate between the 2 dural substitutes. In addition, estimated blood loss was a significant risk factor for meningitis ( P = 0.03). Multivariate analyses again showed that porcine dural substitute was associated with pseudomeningocele occurrence, although the association with higher overall complication rate did not reach significance. Conclusions Dural substitutes generated from porcine collagen, compared with those from bovine collagen, were associated with a higher likelihood of pseudomeningocele development in adult patients undergoing Chiari I malformation decompression and duraplasty.
Augmenting Intelligence: What Augmented Reality Technology Means for the Intelligence Community

In addition to its usefulness in industrial and military environments, augmented reality has plenty of intelligence applications. Mapping vast datasets like social networks over geospatial information in real time to individual users or teams has the potential to make fieldwork more manageable and less risky. This paper details the origins and development of augmented reality systems, their current planned uses, and their potential uses. Its objective is to make informed predictions about how the intelligence community will adopt augmented reality systems, the challenges they will face in implementation as well as address broader ethical concerns and the potential to influence the global balance of power.
Thermal comfort evaluated for combinations of energy-efficient personal heating and cooling devices

Abstract Personal comfort systems (PCS) have potential to fulfill building occupants' personal thermal comfort preferences with great efficiency. But to integrate them into building conditioning, there must be a broader selection of PCS devices available. Design guidance and standards are needed to assure that such devices provide high levels of comfort effectiveness and energy efficiency. This study addresses these needs. A suite of minimum-power PCS devices was built that target body parts significant to alliesthesia—a heated shoe insole, heated/cooled wristpad, small deskfan, and heated/cooled chair. They were tested in a climate chamber under cool and warm conditions using both thermal-manikin and human-subjects. Their efficiency at physically heating/cooling the body is high; the combined suite has a coefficient of performance (COP) of 3.6 for cooling and 0.88 for heating. The subjects' whole-body thermal acceptance and thermal comfort perception were improved by the devices in an additive manner; using the combined suite over 80% of people accepted ambient temperatures of 18°C and 29°C. The PCS ‘corrects’ the ambient temperature towards thermal neutrality by as much as 6.5 K cooling and 3.6 K heating, overcoming building occupants' typical interpersonal thermal differences and making possible large HVAC energy savings in buildings. The idea of temperature corrective power can be the basis of standards for PCS.
Matrices, Irreps and the Great Orthogonality Theorem

The character of a matrix (the “trace” in physics), which carries the symbol χ, is equal to the sum of the diagonals of the matrix. For the matrix A ij we write $$\chi = \sum\limits_j {{A_{jj}}}$$ (3.1)
André Hellegers, the Kennedy Institute, and the Development of Bioethics: The American–European Connection

Bioethics took shape in the early 1970s in large part because of the crucial role played by Andre Hellegers and the Center for Bioethics of the Kennedy Institute at Georgetown University, which Center and Institute Hellegers helped found with Sargent Shriver. The Center for Bioethics was not alone but engaged in an important interplay with the Borja Institute of Ethics (Barcelona), the St. John of God Hospital (Barcelona), the International Study Group in Bioethics of the International Federation of Catholic Universities, and the European Association of Centers of Bioethics. In these latter contexts, the contributions of Francesc Abel i Fabre, who was influenced by Hellegers, created and sustained an early connection between American and European bioethics, the latter being also directly shaped by Hellegers. In America and then in Europe, Hellegers’ use of the term bioethics proved able to focus diverse interests and energies so as within a decade to engender and shape a field that commanded international influence.
Manufacturing of Regenerative Medicine Products

Regenerative medicine is providing the next wave of innovative therapies for the pharmaceutical industry, with the potential to cure intractable diseases. These novel products present unique challenges to standard pharma manufacturing and regulatory approaches. In this chapter, we present general methods used to produce tissue engineered and regenerative medicine products for clinical and commercial applications. Insights are provided regarding technical, regulatory, and financial considerations.
Antithyroid peroxidase antibodies in patients with high normal range thyroid stimulating hormone.

Background and objectives Hypothyroidism is linked to heart disease and decreased quality of life. Since screening guidelines for the general population are controversial, and physicians use clinical judgment in deciding to order thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), high-normal levels of TSH pose a dilemma. This study's objective was to compare rates of positive anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies (antiTPO) tests in persons with high-normal versus low-normal TSH levels. Methods Physicians at a publicly funded family medicine outpatient clinic used a standard clinical set of criteria to identify patients in need of TSH testing. Patients with non-thyroid diseases or conditions that affect TSH were excluded. A total of 143 patients over 18 years of age presented with symptoms necessitating TSH testing and had levels that fell between 0.36 and 5.49 IU/ml. They were allocated into two groups: 100 patients with TSH levels between 0.36--2.49 IU/ml (low-normal TSH ) and 43 patients with TSH levels between 2.5--5.49 IU/ml (high-normal TSH ), and they all had measurements of antiTPO levels. Primary outcomes were rates of antiTPO and demographics comparisons between the two groups. Results The prevalence of the antiTPO antibody in the high-normal group was 18.6% versus 3% in the low-normal range TSH. The antiTPO prevalence was higher in females than in males and had a racial predominance in Hispanics compared to African Americans; however, these differences were not statistically significant. Conclusions AntiTPO measurement may be appropriate for patients with high-normal TSH to help distinguish those at risk of developing true hypothyroidism.
Prospective validation of the prognostic 31-gene expression profiling test in primary cutaneous melanoma

BACKGROUND Gene expression profiling (GEP) has been integrated into cancer treatment decision-making in multiple neoplasms. We prospectively evaluated the prognostic utility of the 31-GEP test (DecisionDx-Melanoma, Castle Biosciences, Inc) in cutaneous melanoma (CM) patients undergoing sentinel node biopsy (SNB). METHODS One hundred fifty-nine patients (age 26-88) diagnosed with melanoma between 01/2013 and 8/2015 underwent SNB and concurrent GEP testing. GEP results were reported as low-risk Class 1 (subclasses 1A and 1B) or high-risk Class 2 (subclasses 2A and 2B). Statistical analyses were performed with chi-square analysis, t tests, log-rank tests, and Cox proportional hazard models. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) were estimated using Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS Median follow-up was 44.9 months for event-free cases. Median Breslow thickness was 1.4 mm (0.2-15.0 mm). There were 117 Class 1 and 42 Class 2 patients. Gender, age, Breslow thickness, ulceration, SNB positivity, and AJCC stage were significantly associated with GEP classification (P < 0.05 for all). Recurrence and distant metastasis rates were 5% and 1% for Class 1 patients compared with 55% and 36% for Class 2 patients. Sensitivities of Class 2 and SNB for recurrence were 79% and 34%, respectively. Of 10 SNB-positive/Class 2 patients, 9 recurred. By multivariate analysis, only SNB result and GEP class were statistically associated with both RFS (P = 0.008 and 0.0001) and DMFS (P = 0.019 and 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Gene expression profiling Class 2 result and SNB positivity were independently associated with recurrence and distant metastasis in primary CM patients. GEP testing may have additive prognostic utility in initial staging work-up of these patients.
Adversarial Speaker Verification

The use of deep networks to extract embeddings for speaker recognition has proven successfully. However, such embeddings are susceptible to performance degradation due to the mismatches among the training, enrollment, and test conditions. In this work, we propose an adversarial speaker verification (ASV) scheme to learn the condition-invariant deep embedding via adversarial multi-task training. In ASV, a speaker classification network and a condition identification network are jointly optimized to minimize the speaker classification loss and simultaneously mini-maximize the condition loss. The target labels of the condition network can be categorical (environment types) and continuous (SNR values). We further propose multi-factorial ASV to simultaneously suppress multiple factors that constitute the condition variability. Evaluated on a Microsoft Cortana text-dependent speaker verification task, the ASV achieves 8.8% and 14.5% relative improvements in equal error rates (EER) for known and unknown conditions, respectively.
ProHealth or HealthCore: Teaching Students About Reality Creation in Organizational Life:

This exercise introduces students to reality creation processes in organizational life (e.g., self-fulfilling prophecy, Pygmalion effects, etc.) as a theoretical perspective that must be understood...
FSHR-1/GPCR Regulates the Mitochondrial Unfolded Protein Response in Caenorhabditis elegans.

The mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt) is an evolutionarily conserved adaptive response that functions to maintain mitochondrial homeostasis following mitochondrial damage. In Caenorhabditis elegans, the nervous system plays a central role in responding to mitochondrial stress by releasing endocrine signals that act upon distal tissues to activate the UPRmt. The mechanisms by which mitochondrial stress is sensed by neurons and transmitted to distal tissues are not fully understood. Here, we identify a role for the conserved follicle-stimulating hormone G protein-coupled receptor, FSHR-1, in promoting UPRmt activation. Genetic deficiency of fshr-1 severely attenuates UPRmt activation and organism-wide survival in response to mitochondrial stress. FSHR-1 functions in a common genetic pathway with SPHK-1/sphingosine kinase to promote UPRmt activation, and FSHR-1 regulates the mitochondrial association of SPHK-1 in the intestine. Through tissue-specific rescue assays, we show that FSHR-1 functions in neurons to activate the UPRmt, to promote mitochondrial association of SPHK-1 in the intestine, and to promote organism-wide survival in response to mitochondrial stress. We propose that FSHR-1 functions cell nonautonomously in neurons to activate UPRmt upstream of SPHK-1 signaling in the intestine.
Immersive Place-based Learning – An Extended Research Framework

At Kelvar 2019, we introduced a research framework for immersive virtual field trips (iVFTs) as a key element of immersive place-based learning. Organizing our research in this framework has been highly successful. We will be documenting outcomes of our research guided by this approach here, both as a conceptual extension of the original framework and through discussing three new studies that complement our existing empirical studies aimed at providing an evidence-based basis for assessing immersive learning. We believe in and strongly argue for the necessity of such a framework as we witness for the first time in the history of immersive technologies opportunities for comprehensive studies of immersive place-based learning, given the accessibility of the technology and the growing need for an evidence-based foundation. In detail, to assess the value of immersive experiences for learning, we argue for the necessity to compare them to traditional media such as desktop environments; correspondingly, we extended the framework to include non-sensing media. We conducted several new studies (both submitted and still unpublished work) that fill in gaps such as comparing desktop versus immersive VFTs, comparing Oculus GO versus Quest, and we describe our first experiences with moving immersive learning into the category of advanced iVFTs using both simulations and gamification as potential advantages of immersive technologies. We critically reflect on the results and lay out an agenda for future research on immersive place-based learning.
Gaussian Process Based Distributed Model Predictive Control for Multi-agent Systems using Sequential Convex Programming and ADMM

This paper develops a distributed algorithm for data-driven Distributed Model Predictive Control (DMPC) for multi-agent control systems, where the agents' dynamics are modeled by Gaussian Processes (GPs). A multi-agent control system with a coordinator is considered, in which computation and data must be distributed among the agents and the coordinator. We employ the linearized Gaussian Process (linGP) concept, proposed in our previous works, to sequentially approximate the stochastic latent processes of the GP models in a Sequential Convex Programming (SCP) framework, leading to a convex linGP-DMPC subproblem, which is solved cooperatively by the agents with the ADMM algorithm. The resulting distributed algorithm, called linGP-SCP-ADMM, can solve nonconvex GP-DMPC for multi-agent systems effectively since the data and computation are distributed among the agents. The effectiveness and advantages of the proposed algorithm are evaluated by simulation in a formation control example.
Privatizing the Commons: Protest and the Moral Economy of National Resources in Jordan

This article interrogates the social impact of one aspect of structural adjustment in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan: privatization. In the mid-2000s, King Abdullah II privatized Jordan's minerals industry as part of the regime's accelerated neoliberal project. While many of these privatizations elicited responses ranging from general approval to ambivalence, the opaque and seemingly corrupt sale of the Jordan Phosphate Mines Company (JPMC) in 2006 was understood differently, as an illegitimate appropriation of Jordan's national resources and, by extension, an abrogation of the state's (re-) distributive obligations. Based on interviews with activists, I argue that a diverse cross-section of social movement constituencies – spanning labour and non-labour movements (and factions within and across those movements) – perceived such illegitimate privatizations as a moral violation, which, in turn, informed transgressive activist practices and discourses targeting the neoliberal state. This moral violation shaped the rise and interaction of labour and non-labour social movements in Jordan's “Arab uprisings”, peaking in 2011–2013. While Jordan's uprisings were largely demobilized after 2013, protests in 2018 and 2019 demonstrate the continued relevance of this discourse. In this way, the 2011–2013 wave of protests – and their current reverberations – differ qualitatively from Jordan's earlier wave of “food riots” in 1989 (and throughout the 1990s), which I characterize as primarily restorative in nature.
Perspective: Wearable Internet of Medical Things for Remote Tracking of Symptoms, Prediction of Health Anomalies, Implementation of Preventative Measures, and Control of Virus Spread During the Era of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has highly impacted the communities globally by reprioritizing the means through which various societal sectors operate. Among these sectors, healthcare providers and medical workers have been impacted prominently due to the massive increase in demand for medical services under unprecedented circumstances. Hence, any tool that can help the compliance with social guidelines for COVID-19 spread prevention will have a positive impact on managing and controlling the virus outbreak and reducing the excessive burden on the healthcare system. This perspective article disseminates the perspectives of the authors regarding the use of novel biosensors and intelligent algorithms embodied in wearable IoMT frameworks for tackling this issue. We discuss how with the use of smart IoMT wearables certain biomarkers can be tracked for detection of COVID-19 in exposed individuals. We enumerate several machine learning algorithms which can be used to process a wide range of collected biomarkers for detecting (a) multiple symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection and (b) the dynamical likelihood of contracting the virus through interpersonal interaction. Eventually, we enunciate how a systematic use of smart wearable IoMT devices in various social sectors can intelligently help controlling the spread of COVID-19 in communities as they enter the reopening phase. We explain how this framework can benefit individuals and their medical correspondents by introducing Systems for Symptom Decoding (SSD), and how the use of this technology can be generalized on a societal level for the control of spread by introducing Systems for Spread Tracing (SST).
Solving Contradictions: Nomads and Political Complexity

Current explanations for the rise of the Xiongnu state are confronted with a major disconnect between anthropological theories on statehood and pastoral nomadism. State theory reifies the sedentary, agricultural, and bureaucratic organization with centralized hierarchy as the primary example of “the state.” Theory on pastoral nomads argues that mobile lifeways and herding economies are therefore not at all conducive to statehood. This chapter examines how such long-standing anthropological notions have constrained understandings of Inner Asian nomadic states. In response, I suggest a definition for the “the state” that makes room for alternative kinds of political complexity and I define pastoral nomadism in a way that forefronts mobile political process. These definitions set a foundation for the “spatial politics” approach to Eurasian steppe political organization. Based on the spatial politics concept and interaction theory from the previous chapter, I propose a new explanation for Xiongnu political emergence and statehood.
Dynactin increases the processivity of the cytoplasmic dynein motor

Cytoplasmic dynein supports long-range intracellular movements of cargo in vivo but does not appear to be a processive motor protein by itself. We show here that the dynein activator, dynactin, binds microtubules and increases the average length of cytoplasmic-dynein-driven movements without affecting the velocity or microtubule-stimulated ATPase kinetics of cytoplasmic dynein. Enhancement of microtubule binding and motility by dynactin are both inhibited by an antibody to dynactin's microtubule-binding domain. These results indicate that dynactin acts as a processivity factor for cytoplasmic-dynein-based motility and provide the first evidence that cytoskeletal motor processivity can be affected by extrinsic factors.
XML-SIM: Structure and Content Semantic Similarity Detection Using Keys

This paper describes an approach for the structure and content semantic similarity detection between two XML documents from heterogeneous data sources using the notion of keys. Comparisons with the previous systems (XDoI and XDI-CSSK) are presented to show that our new approach has a better performance by a big order of magnitude in terms of detection, false-positives and execution time.
Quasar probabilities and redshifts from WISE mid-IR through GALEX UV photometry

Extreme deconvolution (XD) of broad-band photometric data can both separate stars from quasars and generate probability density functions for quasar redshifts, while incorporating flux uncertainties and missing data. Mid-infrared photometric colors are now widely used to identify hot dust intrinsic to quasars, and the release of all-sky WISE data has led to a dramatic increase in the number of IR-selected quasars. Using forced-photometry on public WISE data at the locations of SDSS point sources, we incorporate this all-sky data into the training of the XDQSOz models originally developed to select quasars from optical photometry. The combination of WISE and SDSS information is far more powerful than SDSS alone, particularly at $z>2$. The use of SDSS$+$WISE photometry is comparable to the use of SDSS$+$ultraviolet$+$near-IR data. We release a new public catalogue of 5,537,436 (total; 3,874,639 weighted by probability) potential quasars with probability $P_{\textrm{QSO}} > 0.2$. The catalogue includes redshift probabilities for all objects. We also release an updated version of the publicly available set of codes to calculate quasar and redshift probabilities for various combinations of data. Finally, we demonstrate that this method of selecting quasars using WISE data is both more complete and efficient than simple WISE color-cuts, especially at high redshift. Our fits verify that above $z \sim 3$ WISE colors become bluer than the standard cuts applied to select quasars. Currently, the analysis is limited to quasars with optical counterparts, and thus cannot be used to find highly obscured quasars that WISE color-cuts identify in significant numbers.
Judgment Processes and Interpersonal Conflict Related to Societal Problem Solutions1

An application of multidimensional scaling to judgments about potential solutions to the overpopulation problem yielded two dimensions: Voluntary versus involuntary and economic versus noneconomic. The location of the “solutions” in this two dimensional space was closely related to their judged acceptability, for both original and cross-validation samples. The two-dimensional coordinates of the “solutions” were then used as implicit cue values in a “lens model” analysis of potential conflict among the subjects. This analysis indicated that judgmental inconsistency was likely to be the major source of conflict for these subjects.
Liquid chromatographic determination of fluoroquinolones in egg albumen and egg yolk of laying hens using fluorometric detection.

A liquid chromatographic method was developed for the determination of ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, and sarafloxacin at 10-200 ppb in both egg yolk and egg albumen of laying hens. Egg yolk or albumen was acidified with 1 M phosphoric acid followed by deproteination with acetonitrile and centrifugation. The supernate was pipetted out, and the remaining protein pellet was extracted three times with acetonitrile. The supernates were combined and concentrated at 50 degrees C to 80% and coefficients of variation <20%. After validation, the method was applied for use in a national survey for fluoroquinolones in table eggs. Of the 276 eggs assayed, none was found positive for fluoroquinolones. The findings suggest that illegal use of fluoroquinolones in laying hens is not widespread.
Effect of muscle flap denervation on flow hemodynamics: a new model for chronic in vivo studies

The purpose of this study was to evaluate microcirculatory dynamics following muscle flap denervation. A modification of standard cremaster muscle flap was used. Fifty male Sprague-Dawley rats were studied in two experimental groups of 25 rats each, as follows: Group I (control), after flap isolation, the neurovascular pedicle was left intact; group II (denervation), following muscle isolation at 1 cm segment of genitofemoral nerve was excised and denervated muscle was preserved in the medial border of rat hind limb. For chronic evaluation the cremaster was withdrawn from the leg and prepared for in vivo observations after days 1, 3, 7, and 14. The following measurements were taken: vessel diameters, red blood cell velocities, and number of perfused capillaries. In group II a 15% increase in arteriolar diameter was observed. Throughout the entire 14 day period denervated flaps presented 27% more perfused capillaries. Flap denervation proved to increase capillary perfusion significantly (P < 0.05). The cremaster muscle tube-flap model introduced in this study allows for chronic observation of the microcirculation.
Frontal sinus surgery: The state of the art

Perhaps no other area of sinus surgery has generated more controversy than that dealing with chronic frontal sinusitis. The history of frontal sinus surgery is replete with descriptions of widely varying surgical approaches by well-known surgeons, yet no one approach has been universally embraced as the standard of care. The controversy centers largely around whether to attempt restoration of ventilation to the sinus or to simply obliterate the cavity. Varying success rates, excessive morbidity, and the potential for catastrophic infectious complications continue to detract from many of these procedures and fuel the controversy surrounding the treatment of chronic frontal sinus disease. The first external procedures performed on
Analogue states of 88Sr and the 87Sr(p, p)87Sr reaction

Abstract The isobaric-analogue states of levels in 83 Sr have been studied by elastic proton scattering from 87 Sr for bombarding energies E p = 4.5 to 7.5 MeV. Several resonances were observed whose spacings and strengths match well to neutron particle-hole states known from the 87 Sr(d, p) 88 Sr reaction. Simple Breit-Wigner curves have been compared with the data. The energetic and spectroscopic information so obtained has been compared with that from the 87 Sr(d, p) 88 Sr reaction. No inelastic transitions in the range 0-3 MeV excitation in 87 Sr were detected from on- and off-resonance magnetic spectrograph exposures also taken here.
High-performance porous carbon/CeO2 nanoparticles hybrid super-capacitors for energy storage

ABSTRACT Increasing demand for energy storage devices has propelled researchers for developing efficient super-capacitors (SC) with long cycle life and ultrahigh energy density. Carbon-based materials are commonly used as electrode materials for SC. Herein we report a new approach to improve the SC performance utilizing porous carbon/Cerium oxide nanoparticle (PC-CON) hybrid as electrode material synthesized via low temperature hydrothermal method and tetraethyl ammonium tetrafluroborate in acetonitrile as organic electrolyte. Through this approach, charges can be stored not only via electrochemical double layer capacitance (EDLC) from PC but also through pseudo-capacitive effect from CeO 2 NPs. The excellent electrode-electrolyte interaction due to the electrochemical properties of the ionic electrolyte provides a better voltage window for the SC. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) measurements were used for the initial characterizatio n of this PC/CeO
Rapid reprogramming of globin gene expression in transient heterokaryons.

Abstract Interspecific heterokaryons were formed by fusing adult mouse erythroleukemia (MEL) cells and human embryonic/fetal erythroid (K562) cells with each other, or with a variety of mouse and human nonerythroid cell types. Analysis of total cellular RNA isolated 24 hr after fusion revealed that normally inactive globin genes can be activated in these "transient" heterokaryons, in which the nuclei do not fuse. In general, the types of globin genes expressed in the donor erythroid cell are activated in the nucleus of the recipient cell. Therefore, erythroid cells contain trans -acting regulatory factors that are capable of activating the expression of globin genes in a stage- and tissuespecific manner. These observations also indicate that globin genes are not irreversibly repressed in differentiated cells and that their expression can be rapidly reprogrammed in the presence of the appropriate regulatory factors.
Experimental Study of the Gas Entrapment Process in Closed-End Microchannels

Earlier studies have shown that for cavities present on any heater surface to become active nucleation sites during boiling, they should entrap gas. The liquid penetrates the cavity due to the capillary and surface forces, but the exact physical mechanisms have not been fully quantified. The physical mechanisms of the gas entrapment process in closed-end microchannels, representing nucleation sites, are investigated in this study. Aside from the fluid properties, the width, length and depth of the cavities, as well as the static contact angle of the test liquid with the solid are considered as main parameters that influence the gas entrapment process. Test pieces consisted of micromachined silicon dices with glass bonded on top. Widths of 50, 30, 15 and 5μm were chosen based on size distribution probability. The mouth angle was 90° in all cases. Test pieces were held horizontally under a microscope equipped with a CCD camera. A drop of liquid was placed at the entrance of the microchannel and capillary and surface forces drive the liquid into the microchannel. Experiments show two main filling behaviors: (1) A uniform meniscus forms at the entrance and moves inwards, (2) Two menisci: one at the entrance and the other at the closed end of the microchannel. In some cases droplet formation at the walls was observed. A single meniscus typically forms for higher contact angles, while two menisci form for lower contact angles. In all cases, after a sufficient time interval (hours to days) the microchannel was completely flooded. In general, for a given depth, wider microchannels take longer to fill. Surface cleanliness and fabrication process also play a role in modifying the contact angle and hence the time taken to fill the microchannel. A comparison of the interface advancement in the microchannel with a simple mass diffusion model shows reasonable agreement.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Etiology, biology, and epidemiology of ovarian cancer

Epithelial ovarian cancer kills more women per year than all other gynecologic cancers combined. Pregnancy, oral contraceptive use, and tubal ligation decrease the risk of the disease, whereas risk is increased for women whose family history is consistent with one of the familial ovarian cancer syndromes. Several theories have been postulated concerning the etiology of ovarian cancer, including the incessant ovulation theory and that based on the model of hypergonadotropic hypogonadism. Chromosomal abnormalities and allele losses have been described in ovarian cancers. Involvement of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes has been investigated as well. Genetic linkage studies are ongoing in families whose history is consistent with one of the familial ovarian cancer syndromes.
VALUE OF ASO TITERS FOR DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS OF RENAL DISEASES IN CHILDREN

A review of ASO titers in 87 children with various renal diseases makes it probable that ASC titers are of significance in the differential diagnosis of pediatric renal diseases. Values obtained in cases of acute post-infectious alomerulo-nephritis were, as is known, elevated, even in cases which were associated with a nephrotic syndrome. In contradistinction, every one of 35 cases of primary, idiopathic, nephrotic syndrome of childhood had values lower than 100. This was not noted in 16 cases of primary, chronic glomerulonephritis, even though 10 of then were observed during nephrotic phases of the disease. The low values in the nephrotic syndrome may be due to the hyperlipidemia or to the loss of ASO proteins in the proteinuric urine. This cannot be decided as yet and will require additional data. Thus we believe that it is important to include a determination of ASO titers in the workup of every child with renal disease, even when we know that it has not been elicited by a precedinc streptococcal infection. The establishment of the diagnosis of “primary,” “idiopathic” nephrotic syndrome of childhood demands additional studies if the ASO titer is above 100. The low titers have been observed within the first few weeks after onset and have been noted to last for many years of stable, complete remissions.