cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characteristics of the {111}Surfaces of the III – V Intermetallic Compounds II . Surface Damage

The dissolution rate technique has been applied in determining the depth of surface damage resulting from cold working (abrasion). The following III – V compounds were employed: , , , and . It was shown that the dissolution rates are a function of the actual surface area which in turn depends on the amount of cold work present rather than on the original roughening of the surface. The results obtained by this method were found to be in excellent agreement with results obtained by etching (etch figures) and x‐ray diffraction techniques. For the same cold‐working treatment the depth of damage in was found to vary for the various orientations as follows: designating the {111} surfaces terminating with In and Sb atoms, respectively. It was further found that for the same cold‐working treatment of the A{111} or B{111} surfaces of the four compounds studied, the depth of damage varied as follows: , i.e., the depth of damage decreased with increasing energy gap.
Tick Salivary Cholinesterase: A Probable Immunomodulator of Host–parasite Interactions

The southern cattle tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Canestrini) , is the most economically important cattle ectoparasite in the world. Rhipicephalus microplus and Rhipicephalus annulatus (Say) continue to threaten U.S. cattle producers despite eradication and an importation barrier based on inspection, dipping of imported cattle in organophosphate (OP) acaricide, and quarantine of infested premises. OP acaricides inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE), essential to tick central nervous system function. Unlike vertebrates, ticks possess at least three genes encoding AChEs, differing in amino acid sequence and biochemical properties. Genomic analyses of R. microplus and the related tick, Ixodes scapularis , suggest that ticks contain many genes encoding different AChEs. This work is the first report of a salivary cholinesterase (ChE) activity in R. microplus , and discusses complexity of the cholinergic system in ticks and significance of tick salivary ChE at the tick–host interface. It further provides three hypotheses that the salivary ChE plausibly functions 1) to reduce presence of potentially toxic acetylcholine present in the large bloodmeal imbibed during rapid engorgement, 2) to modulate the immune response (innate and/or acquired) of the host to tick antigens, and 3) to influence transmission and establishment of pathogens within the host animal. Ticks are vectors for a greater number and variety of pathogens than any other parasite, and are second only to mosquitoes (owing to malaria) as vectors of serious human disease. Saliva-assisted transmission (SAT) of pathogens is well-known; however, the salivary components participating in the SAT process remain to be elucidated.
Electrical breakdown in solid and liquid insulating materials

The study of electrical breakdown in insulators has historically followed the classical segregation of materials into gases, liquids and solids. Each of these three classes were investigated separately and independently of the others. Recent progress in the area of liquids has suggested that it might be useful to look for common features between liquid and solid breakdown. With the advent of sophisticated electro-optical techniques the development of streamers can now be followed in transparent liquids and similarities in their development and those observed by other techniques in polyimeric solids become evident. In the following sections an attempt is made to point out common features of the breakdown process in solids and liquids.
Fabrication of Polyvinylpyrrolidone Micro-/Nanostructures Utilizing Microcontact Printing

This paper describes a laboratory exercise that provides students enrolled in introductory nanotechnology courses with an opportunity to synthesize polymer structures with micro- and nanoscale dimensions. Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) films deposited on corrugated PDMS stamps using student-built spin coaters were transferred to clean, dry substrates via microcontact printing. The microscale dimensions of the resulting patterns were characterized in class using optical microscopy. Characterization with atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used for visualization of nanoscale vertical dimensions of the structures. This laboratory investigation highlights the following concepts often associated with polymer nanostructure fabrication: polymer synthesis, surface chemistry, soft lithography, and contact angle. It is noteworthy to mention that this laboratory exercise demonstrates the feasibility of utilizing nontoxic, cost-effective, bench-top materials to teach and investigate fundamentals associated with fabrication...
Flow Characterization of a Synthetic Jet

The general properties of the flow field of a synthetic jet in air are studied using hotwire anemometry. The results of the experiments are then compared to analytic models. It is found that, if appropriately scaled, the velocity profile at various distances from the orifice would collapse to a single self-similar profile. Furthermore, the time averaged flow field can be described with the equations for a continuous turbulent jet with only the replacement of an empirical constant obtained from measurements of the synthetic jet. For a given thrust the virtual viscosity of the synthetic jet is higher than the one for a corresponding turbulent jet.
Vaccine-Preventable Diseases and Child Day Care

Several diseases that now can be prevented by vaccines (diphtheria, measles, mumps, poliomyelitis, and rubella) have historically been widely transmitted in settings where children first congregate--primarily schools. Increasingly, children are brought together at younger ages in day care centers, and instances of these diseases have been recorded in day care settings. However, there have been few major outbreaks because of high immunization levels in these children. In 46 states, laws require immunization of children attending licensed day care facilities. Surveys show that children in day care have higher immunization levels than children of the same age who are not in day care. Because staff in day care can acquire and transmit communicable diseases, it is important that they also be immune.
Optical Coherence Tomography for Dynamic Analysis of Mammalian Early Embryonic Development

Our research is focused on analysis of normal and abnormal embryonic development through optical imaging. By combining OCT, live mouse embryo culture, and mouse models for human disorders, we study functional effects of mutations.
Design and Realization of Generator Excitation System Database of Jiangsu Electric Power Network

In this paper,the generator excitation system database of Jiangsu Electric Power Network is designed,to which relation database system and web technology are applied. The database structure and security capability are described in detail.Some fuctions such as database management,database transport and maintenance records are introduced.
Rh antibodies; correlation with clinical findings.

Rh antibodies were studied during pregnancy at frequent intervals in the blood of 73 mothers of babies with fetal erythroblastosis. The serums containing antibodies were divided in 2 groups : (1) serums with blocking antibodies without saline agglutinins; (2) serums with saline agglutinins and serum-albumin agglutinins, but without blocking antibodies. The correlation of these 2 groups with clinical findings in the newborn showed striking differences: blocking antibodies present in 85 per cent of mothers of babies with hydrops or stillborn, and only in 9 per cent of mothers of babies with icterus gravis. Predominance of saline agglutinins over serum-albumin favored survival, and vice versa. In a small group of women with a history of transfusions who gave birth to erythroblastotic babies blocking antibodies were found in 92 per cent. The number of cases used for this study is admittedly small, and only very guarded conclusions may be drawn. The results, however, are in general agreement with recent studies of Wiener on correlation of antibodies with clinical manifestations, and with results of Levine and others regarding the sensitizing influence of blood transfusions. Periodic tests for antibodies during pregnancy may permit prognostic conclusions. An anamnestic Rh antibody reaction is described.
The New Plan

The “New Plan” was not a new system of exchange control; rather it was an adaptation of existing exchange control procedures to the economic and political objectives of National Socialism.1 After September, 1934, German exchange control was designed: (1) to obtain, on the best possible terms, the imports most urgently required by the German economy in exchange for goods which could be exported with the least disadvantage; (2) to increase the degree of German national self-sufficiency; (3) to obtain more of the essential, minimum imports from easily accessible areas; (4) to minimize capital exports; (5) to separate Germany’s trade relationships from the international network and to establish a series of independent bilateral relationships.
Depth Profiling of Polymer Laminates by Step-Scan Fourier Transform Infrared Photoacoustic Spectroscopy

The use of step-scan Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy combined with pholoacoustic (PA) detection is used to depth profile laminated polymeric materials. Depth profiling can be performed using a combination of the modulation frequency dependence and phase lag of the PA signal.
The morphology of transverse aeolian ridges on Mars

Abstract A preliminary survey of publicly released high resolution digital terrain models (DTMs) produced by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter identified transverse aeolian ridges (TARs) in 154 DTMs in latitudes from 50°S to 40°N. Consistent with previous surveys, the TARs identified in HiRISE DTMs are found at all elevations, irrespective of the regional thermal inertia of the surface. Ten DTMs were selected for measuring the characteristics of the TARs, including maximum height, mean height, mean spacing (wavelength), and the slope of the surface where they are located. We confined our measurements to features that were taller than 1 m and spaced more than 10 m apart. We found a surprisingly wide variability of TAR sizes within each local region (typically 5 km by 25 km), with up to a factor of 7 difference in TAR wavelengths in a single DTM. The TAR wavelengths do not appear to be correlated to latitude or elevation, but the largest TARs in our small survey were found at lower elevations. The tallest TARs we measured were on the flat floor of Moni crater, within Kaiser crater in the southern highlands. These TARs are up to 14 m tall, with a typical wavelength of 120 m. TAR heights are weakly correlated with their wavelengths. The height-to-wavelength ratios for most TARs are far less than 1/2π (the maximum predicted for antidunes), however in two cases the ratio is close to 1/2π, and in one case (in the bend of a channel) the ratio exceeds 1/2π. TAR wavelengths are uncorrelated with surface slope, both on local and regional scales. TAR heights are weakly anti-correlated with local slope. These results help constrain models of TAR formation, particularly a new hypothesis (Geissler, 2014) that suggests that TARs were formed from micron-sized dust that was transported in suspension. The lack of correlation between TAR wavelength and surface slope seems to rule out formation by gravity-driven dust flows such as avalanches or density currents, and suggests that the TARs were instead produced by the Martian winds.
Should Patients With Cardiovascular Risk Factors Receive Intensive Treatment of Hypertension to <120/80 mm Hg Target? A Protagonist View From the SPRINT Trial (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial).

Opposing Viewpoint, see p 1311 On the basis of the main results of the SPRINT (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial), we strongly believe that older hypertensive patients at high cardiovascular risk should receive intensive treatment to a target systolic blood pressure (SBP) of <120 mm Hg.1,2 SPRINT tested the hypothesis that intensive treatment of SBP to a target of <120 mm Hg would reduce clinical events more than standard treatment to a target of <140 mm Hg. SPRINT enrolled persons ≥50 years of age with an SBP from 130 to 180 mm Hg (treated or untreated) and at high cardiovascular risk. In particular, SPRINT overenrolled high-risk subgroups, including those ≥75 years of age (SPRINT-Senior), blacks, and those with chronic kidney disease or cardiovascular disease. The mean 10-year Framingham cardiovascular disease risk score for all participants was 20%. SBP fell rapidly in the intensive-treatment group (target SBP <120 mm Hg), reaching a level ≈15 mm Hg lower than in the standard group at 1 year (121.4 vs 136.7 mm Hg) with administration of an average of 1 more antihypertensive medication. The SPRINT intervention was stopped early (median 3.26 years of follow-up) because of a 25% reduction in the primary composite end point (myocardial infarction, non–myocardial infarction acute coronary syndrome, stroke, acute decompensated heart failure, and cardiovascular death) and a 27% reduction in all-cause mortality in the intensive-treatment group. The effects of the intensive intervention on the primary outcome and all-cause mortality were consistent across all prespecified subgroups (presence or absence of previous cardiovascular disease or chronic kidney disease, male or female sex, black or nonblack race, ≥75 or <75 years of age, and baseline SBP tertile). The benefits of intensive treatment were numerically greater (34% reduction in the primary outcome and 33% reduction in all-cause …
Lucy Allais on transcendental idealism

Lucy Allais’s Manifest Reality offers an attractive new interpretation of Kant’s transcendental idealism. Kantian appearances are known through essentially manifest properties, but those properties are construed as belonging ultimately to things in themselves with intrinsic natures. This position can offer a nice account of the sense in which appearances and things in themselves are identical (different aspects of the same underlying things) and a metaphysically plausible way to construe appearances as strictly partially mind-dependent. The position is less convincing when it comes to explaining the sense in which appearances and things in themselves remain non-identical. I argue that such a non-identity thesis was in fact crucial to Kant’s use of idealism to explain the possibility of synthetic a priori knowledge, to his account of the apriority of the representation of space, and to his anti-Leibnizian point that our mathematical and scientific cognition provides not confused representation of underlying (non-spatial) things in themselves, but perfectly exact and strictly true cognition of something else. In closing, I suggest that the hylomorphic nature of Kant’s idealism points toward an alternative conception of the partial mind-dependence of appearances.
Association between sleep disordered breathing and electrocardiographic markers of atrial abnormalities: the MESA study

Aims Electrocardiographic (ECG) markers of left atrial (LA) abnormalities have been linked to increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF). Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) has been associated with increased risk of AF. We aimed to examine the association of ECG markers of LA abnormalities with SDB. Methods and results 1546 participants (mean age 67.2 years, 53.4% women, and 63.3% non-whites) from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis Exam 5 Sleep ancillary study were included in this analysis. ECG markers of LA abnormalities (P wave terminal force in V1 (PTFV1), maximum P wave duration, PR interval and heart rate corrected PR interval) were measured from resting standard digital ECG tracings using standardized processing. Linear and logistic regression analyses were utilized to examine the cross-sectional associations of measures of SDB (apnea hypopnea index [AHI] and % time spent with oxygen saturation <90% [%SpO290]) with each ECG marker. In a multivariable analysis adjusting for demographics, cardiovascular risk factors, and comorbidities, AHI was associated with greater PTFV1 but not with other ECG markers of LA abnormalities. A 1-SD increase of AHI (16.6/hr) was associated with higher levels of PTFV1 (175.1 µV.ms, 95% confidence interval [95%CI] 75.4, 274.7) and higher odds of abnormally elevated PTFV1 (≥4000 µV.ms) (Odds Ratio: 1.21 [95%CI 1.05, 1.39]). No association was found between %SpO290 and ECG markers of LA abnormalities. Conclusion Severity of SDB, as measured by AHI, is associated with subclinical LA disease, as indicated by PTFV1. PTFV1 may be an important ECG marker linking SDB and AF.
Distinct responses of Purkinje neurons and roles of simple spikes during associative motor learning in larval zebrafish

To study cerebellar activity during learning, we made whole-cell recordings from larval zebrafish Purkinje cells while monitoring fictive swimming during associative conditioning. Fish learned to swim in response to visual stimulation preceding tactile stimulation of the tail. Learning was abolished by cerebellar ablation. All Purkinje cells showed task-related activity. Based on how many complex spikes emerged during learned swimming, they were classified as multiple, single, or zero complex spike (MCS, SCS, ZCS) cells. With learning, MCS and ZCS cells developed increased climbing fiber (MCS) or parallel fiber (ZCS) input during visual stimulation; SCS cells fired complex spikes associated with learned swimming episodes. The categories correlated with location. Optogenetically suppressing simple spikes only during visual stimulation demonstrated that simple spikes are required for acquisition and early stages of expression of learned responses, but not their maintenance, consistent with a transient, instructive role for simple spikes during cerebellar learning in larval zebrafish.
Effects of Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 (PCSK9) Inhibition with Bococizumab on Lipoprotein Particles in Hypercholesterolemic Subjects.

Abstract Purpose Monoclonal antibody inhibitors of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) elicit significant reductions in serum LDL-C levels. However, little is known about their effects on lipoprotein particles. The purpose of this analysis was to evaluate the effect of PCSK9 inhibition with bococizumab (RN316/PF-04950615), a humanized monoclonal antibody to PCSK9, on LDL, VLDL, and HDL particle concentration and size in hypercholesterolemic subjects. Methods Data from 3 double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized studies were analyzed. In study 1, a total of 67 hypercholesterolemic subjects received IV placebo or bococizumab 0.25, 0.5, 1, or 1.5 mg/kg weekly for 4 weeks. In studies 2 and 3, a total of 135 hypercholesterolemic subjects taking statins received IV placebo or bococizumab 0.25, 1, 3, or 6 mg/kg monthly for 12 weeks. Lipoprotein particle concentration and size were measured by using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Findings Overall, the majority of subjects were men (51.9%) aged >50 years of age and of white ethnic origin. In total, 189 subjects with both baseline and 2-week posttreatment data were included in the analysis. After PCSK9 inhibition with bococizumab 0.5, 1, 1.5, 3, and 6 mg/kg, concentrations of total LDL, total small LDL, and small VLDL particles decreased significantly versus baseline and placebo (P Implications The effect of inhibiting PCSK9 with bococizumab on lipoprotein particle concentration and size are consistent with the general mechanism of PCSK9 inhibitors in blocking PCSK9-mediated downregulation of LDL receptors. PCSK9 inhibition has the potential to provide a clinical benefit through the modulation of atherogenic lipoprotein particles in addition to LDL-C lowering, and this effect will likely be assessed in future analyses of data from cardiovascular outcomes trials of PCSK9 monoclonal antibodies that are currently being conducted. ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers: NCT01243151, NCT01342211, and NCT01350141.
Genome-Wide Analysis of SNPs Is Consistent with No Domestic Dog Ancestry in the Endangered Mexican Wolf (Canis lupus baileyi)

The Mexican gray wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) was historically distributed throughout the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Extensive predator removal campaigns during the early 20th century, however, resulted in its eventual extirpation by the mid 1980s. At this time, the Mexican wolf existed only in 3 separate captive lineages (McBride, Ghost Ranch, and Aragon) descended from 3, 2, and 2 founders, respectively. These lineages were merged in 1995 to increase the available genetic variation, and Mexican wolves were reintroduced into Arizona and New Mexico in 1998. Despite the ongoing management of the Mexican wolf population, it has been suggested that a proportion of the Mexican wolf ancestry may be recently derived from hybridization with domestic dogs. In this study, we genotyped 87 Mexican wolves, including individuals from all 3 captive lineages and cross-lineage wolves, for more than 172000 single nucleotide polymorphisms. We identified levels of genetic variation consistent with the pedigree record and effects of genetic rescue. To identify the potential to detect hybridization with domestic dogs, we compared our Mexican wolf genotypes with those from studies of domestic dogs and other gray wolves. The proportion of Mexican wolf ancestry assigned to domestic dogs was only between 0.06% (SD 0.23%) and 7.8% (SD 1.0%) for global and local ancestry estimates, respectively; and was consistent with simulated levels of incomplete lineage sorting. Overall, our results suggested that Mexican wolves lack biologically significant ancestry with dogs and have useful implications for the conservation and management of this endangered wolf subspecies.
Interleaved quantitative BOLD: Combining extravascular R2ʹ - and intravascular R2-measurements for estimation of deoxygenated blood volume and hemoglobin oxygen saturation

Abstract Quantitative BOLD (qBOLD), a non-invasive MRI method for assessment of hemodynamic and metabolic properties of the brain in the baseline state, provides spatial maps of deoxygenated blood volume fraction (DBV) and hemoglobin oxygen saturation (HbO2) by means of an analytical model for the temporal evolution of free-induction-decay signals in the extravascular compartment. However, mutual coupling between DBV and HbO2 in the signal model results in considerable estimation uncertainty precluding achievement of a unique set of solutions. To address this problem, we developed an interleaved qBOLD method (iqBOLD) that combines extravascular R2ʹ and intravascular R2 mapping techniques so as to obtain prior knowledge for the two unknown parameters. To achieve these goals, asymmetric spin echo and velocity-selective spin-labeling (VSSL) modules were interleaved in a single pulse sequence. Prior to VSSL, arterial blood and CSF signals were suppressed to produce reliable estimates for cerebral venous blood volume fraction (CBVv) as well as venous blood R2 (to yield HbO2). Parameter maps derived from the VSSL module were employed to initialize DBV and HbO2 in the qBOLD processing. Numerical simulations and in vivo experiments at 3 T were performed to evaluate the performance of iqBOLD in comparison to the parent qBOLD method. Data obtained in eight healthy subjects yielded plausible values averaging 60.1 ± 3.3% for HbO2 and 3.1 ± 0.5 and 2.0 ± 0.4% for DBV in gray and white matter, respectively. Furthermore, the results show that prior estimates of CBVv and HbO2 from the VSSL component enhance the solution stability in the qBOLD processing, and thus suggest the feasibility of iqBOLD as a promising alternative to the conventional technique for quantifying neurometabolic parameters.
Pediatric Iatrogenic Movement Disorders

The acute development of a movement disorder is often a dramatic and frightening experience for patients and families, often requiring urgent or emergent evaluation by a neurologist. In the assessment of these patients, one relies on the history, physical and neurologic examination to determine the etiology of the condition. We aim to demonstrate that a thorough medication history is an incredibly critical part of this evaluation as iatrogenic movement disorders can arise from exposure not only to psychoactive medications, but from drugs prescribed for a variety of nonneurologic disorders. This comprehensive review is organized by movement disorder semiology so that the reader can more readily develop a differential diagnosis when evaluating a patient with a movement disorder.
Diffusion MRI in acute nervous system injury

Diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) and related techniques such as diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) are uniquely sensitive to the microstructure of the brain and spinal cord. In the acute aftermath of nervous system injury, for example, DWI reveals changes caused by injury that remains invisible on other MRI contrasts such as T2-weighted imaging. This ability has led to a demonstrated clinical utility in cerebral ischemia. However, despite strong promise in preclinical models and research settings, DWI has not been as readily adopted for other acute injuries such as traumatic spinal cord, brain, or peripheral nerve injury. Furthermore, the precise biophysical mechanisms that underlie DWI and DTI changes are not fully understood. In this report, we review the DWI and DTI changes that occur in acute neurological injury of cerebral ischemia, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, and peripheral nerve injury. Their associations with the underlying biology are examined with an emphasis on the role of acute axon and dendrite beading. Lastly, emerging DWI techniques to overcome the limitations of DTI are discussed as these may offer the needed improvements to translate to clinical settings.
Control over Time: Employers, Workers, and Families Shaping Work Schedules

An extensive and long-standing literature examines the amount of time people spend on their jobs and families. A newer literature, including this review, takes that older literature as background a...
STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF XENOPUS RIBOSOMAL GENES

Abstract: We review three lines of research which are aimed at understanding transcriptional regulation of the genes coding for 40S precursor rRNA in the frog Xenopus. First we describe a method for selectively labeling the 5′ initiation terminus of the 40S precursor molecule. Using such terminally labeled precursors we have mapped the site of transcription initiation on the rDNA and can show that the initiation site is preceded by at least 200 bp of DNA whose sequence is conserved. We also find a limited heterogeneity at the 5′ end of the precursor molecule.
Visitors' attachment to urban parks in Los Angeles, CA.

Abstract Urban parks are a vital resource. They provide a wealth of benefits that support the health and well-being of the people who use them and the ecosystems in which they reside. In densely populated cities, parks are often the only nearby natural resource for local residents to engage with and learn about the environment. Place attachment—individuals’ psychological and emotional connection to their local parks and natural areas—has been shown to be a precursor to engaging in volunteer stewardship activities. Yet the place attachment research to date has largely focused on non-urban recreation settings, such as national parks, leaving a large gap in understanding place attachment in urban settings and on smaller scales. This paper describes the results of a study conducted in the Baldwin Hills Parklands, a multi-use park system located in densely populated Los Angeles, CA, USA. A survey of 287 visitors revealed high levels of place attachment across the Parklands, and frequency of use was positively associated with level of place attachment. Among the highest rated sentiments were feelings of safety and peacefulness. Unexpectedly, drivers expressed greater attachment than those arriving on foot or other means of transportation. Visitors with higher place attachment were also more likely to be willing to participate in volunteer stewardship. Renters and lower-middle income visitors expressed lower levels of place attachment than homeowners and upper income visitors, while Latinx visitors had higher place attachment than non-Latinx visitors. The paper discusses the findings and their implications for management and future research on place attachment in urban parks.
Integral Representation of Probability Density of Stochastic Volatility Models and Timer Options

This paper contributes a generic probabilistic method to derive explicit exact probability densities for stochastic volatility models. Our method is based on a novel application of the exponential measure change in Palmowski & Rolski (2002). With this generic approach, we first derive explicit probability densities in terms of model parameters for several stochastic volatility models with non-zero correlations, namely the Heston (1993), 3/2, and a special case of the α-Hypergeometric stochastic volatility models recently proposed by Da Fonseca & Martini (2016). Then, we combine our method with a stochastic time change technique to develop explicit formulae for prices of timer options in the Heston model, the 3/2 model and a special case of the α-Hypergeometric model.
Multimodularity in the Stochastic Appointment Scheduling Problem with Discrete Arrival Epochs

We address the problem of designing appointment scheduling strategies in a stochastic environment accounting for patient no-shows, nonpunctuality, general stochastic service times, and unscheduled ...
Incorporating Reliability into a Set-Based Design Tradespace Tool for Early Design Analysis

The Department of the Army’s announcement of the Army Futures Command (AFC) and the establishment of Cross Functional Teams (CFTs) exemplifies the importance of developing rapid and feasible system requirements and capability documents. Implementing model-based engineering (MBE) early in the design process and integrating physics-based design principles can provide large tradespaces for analysis of alternatives (AoA) to support this effort. The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) developed TradeBuilder, a web-based tradespace analytical tool as part of the Engineered Resilient Systems (ERS) suite of tools to enable more informed assessments. In support of PreMilestone A tradespace analysis, ERDC collaborated with the Army Materiel System Analysis Activity (AMSAA) to enhance the analytical tool capabilities in this area.
Appendix I: Useful Relations from Vector Analysis

This appendix contains sections titled: Vector Algebra Vector Operations in Common Coordinate Systems Vector Identities Green's Identities
Where Are We Looking for Security Concerns? Understanding Android Security Static Analysis

Static analysis is a traditional technique for software transformation and type analysis. Recently, static analysis has become a technique to identify cyber security vulnerabilities and malware. Specifically, static analysis has been extended into the mobile-computing arena for security-related analyses. This research examines many top security papers that are published in major conferences, journals and technical reports, and characterizes the current research characterize static analysis research. The papers identified in this paper were selected based their high citings by top research or because they introduced either a novel analysis technique or a novel security issue analysis. This research systematically constructs a static analysis landscape by charting and characterizing analysis strengths and limitations in both accuracy and security threats. The findings are reported online at www.technologyinthepark.com. This research has identified two types of static analysis motivations which affect the soundness of an analysis methodology: techniques for analyzing software for vulnerabilities and techniques used to examine applications for malware. Building on earlier research, for completeness and to aid the community by providing a coverage map, this research has connected technique motivations found to Mitre’s attack taxonomy, Mitre’s vulnerability taxonomy as well as the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST’s) Bugs Framework (BF) taxonomy. The findings include identifying vulnerabilities which are not being systematically researched.
Gender Diversity in Orthopedic Surgery: We All Know It's Lacking, but Why?

Background 15% of orthopedic surgery trainees in 2018-2019 in ACGME accredited programs are female, which lags behind all other specialties. Methods The bottleneck for achieving gender diversity in orthopedic surgery is that female medical students do not choose orthopedic surgery as a career. In 2018-2019, twelve ACGME accredited programs had no women trainees, highlighting the uneven distribution of female trainees across residency programs. Social science has outlined that 30% representation within a population is the diversity goal. Conclusion A goal of having females comprise 30% of orthopedic surgeons trainees can be achieved with: pipeline programs such as the Perry Initiative and Nth Dimensions; increased orthopedic surgery rotation clinical experience during medical school; and mentorship that promotes and encourages gender diversity. Additionally, recognizing implicit bias as well as explicit discrimination, harassment, and bullying, creates a workplace environment that is inclusive and safe for employees, trainees and physicians, as well as the patients that we serve.Level of Evidence: V.
The Newest Features and Future Direction of NeoReviews.

I am very excited to present this special issue to commemorate the 20th anniversary of NeoReviews . We begin with a perspective from Dr Alistair Philip, Editor-in-Chief from 2007 to 2017, on the past 20 years in neonatology. Then, Drs David Stevenson and William Hay Jr (the founders of NeoReviews ), along with Ronald Wong, write about their expectations for the future of our specialty. This issue also contains state-of-the-art reviews about inborn errors of metabolism and several NeoReviews monthly features. I want to take this opportunity to highlight some of the new features that NeoReviews has recently added and to describe the future direction of the journal. In October 2018, NeoReviews launched “NeoQuest.” Readers now receive an email mid-month containing a visual diagnostic challenge inspired by articles from that month’s issue of NeoReviews . If you are a subscriber …
Moral disengagement among serious juvenile offenders: a longitudinal study of the relations between morally disengaged attitudes and offending.

The present study investigates the relation between moral disengagement—one’s willingness to conditionally endorse transgressive behavior—and ongoing offending in a sample of adolescent male felony offenders (N 1,169). In addition, the study attempts to rule out callous–unemotional traits as a third variable responsible for observed associations between moral disengagement and offending. A bivariate latent change score analysis suggests that reduction in moral disengagement helps to speed decline in self-reported antisocial behavior, even after adjusting for the potential confound of callous–unemotional traits. Declines in moral disengagement are also associated with declining likelihood of offending, based on official records. Given that both moral disengagement and offending tend to decrease over time, these findings suggest that changing attitudes toward antisocial behavior contribute to desistance from offending among delinquent youth.
Atypical pathogens associated with cardiac implantable electronic device infections.

Background Cardiovascular implantable electronic device (CIED) infections are associated with significant morbidity and mortality making the identification of the causative organism critical. The vast majority of CIED infections are caused by Staphylococcal species. CIED infections associated with atypical pathogens are rare and have not been systematically investigated. The objective of this study is to characterize the clinical course, management and outcome in patients with CIED infection secondary to atypical pathogens. Methods Medical records of all patients who underwent CIED system extraction at the University of Chicago Medical Center between January 2010 and November 2020 were retrospectively reviewed to identify patients with CIED infection. Demographic, clinical, infection-related and outcome data were collected. CIED infections were divided into typical and atypical groups based on the pathogens isolated. Results Among 356 CIED extraction procedures, 130 (37%) were performed for CIED infection. Atypical pathogens were found in 5.4% (n = 7) and included Pantoea species (n = 2), Kocuria species (n = 1), Cutibacterium acnes (n = 1), Corynebacterium tuberculostearicum (n = 1), Corynebacterium striatum (n = 1), Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (n = 1), and Pseudozyma ahidis (n = 1). All patients with atypical CIED infections were successfully treated with total system removal and tailored antibiotic therapy. There were no infection-related deaths. Conclusions CIED infections with atypical pathogens were rare and associated with good outcome if diagnosed early and treated with total system removal and tailored antimicrobial therapy. Atypical pathogens cultured from blood, tissue or hardware in patients with CIED infection should be considered pathogens and not contaminants.
Synthesis of lipid membranes for artificial cells

A major goal of synthetic biology is to understand the transition between non-living matter and life. The bottom-up development of an artificial cell would provide a minimal system with which to study the border between chemistry and biology. So far, a fully synthetic cell has remained elusive, but chemists are progressing towards this goal by reconstructing cellular subsystems. Cell boundaries, likely in the form of lipid membranes, were necessary for the emergence of life. In addition to providing a protective barrier between cellular cargo and the external environment, lipid compartments maintain homeostasis with other subsystems to regulate cellular processes. In this Review, we examine different chemical approaches to making cell-mimetic compartments. Synthetic strategies to drive membrane formation and function, including bioorthogonal ligations, dissipative self-assembly and reconstitution of biochemical pathways, are discussed. Chemical strategies aim to recreate the interactions between lipid membranes, the external environment and internal biomolecules, and will clarify our understanding of life at the interface of chemistry and biology. Lipid membranes were likely critical in the transition from matter to life and are key to the bottom-up development of artificial cells. This Review highlights prebiotic, synthetic and biochemical strategies to construct lipid membranes that facilitate life-like cellular functions.
Application of Three-Dimensional Virtual Reality Models to Improve the Pre-Surgical Plan for Robotic Partial Nephrectomy.

Background and Objectives Minimally invasive surgery for renal masses is complex and relies on two-dimensional (2D) computer tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans for surgical planning. We sought to determine if three-dimensional (3D) virtual reality (VR) models generated from imaging of patients undergoing robotic partial nephrectomy influenced presurgical planning approaches when compared to routine planning. Methods The initial 15 patients underwent robotic assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy performed by one urologic surgeon. All patients pre-operatively underwent a CT and/or MRI scan. A pre-operative surgical plan was then recorded. 3D VR models were generated from these scans and reviewed. A second surgical plan was developed based on the 3D VR images. A comparison was made between the two studies prior to surgical intervention. All final surgical plans were implemented based on the 3D VR imaging studies. Results Six surgical approaches were changed based on the 3D VR images. Two surgical approaches were changed from a transperitoneal to a retroperitoneal approach and two from a retroperitoneal to a transperitoneal approach. Two patients had distinctive renal vasculature related to the renal cancers which were not appreciated on routine scans but were well delineated by VR imaging studies. As a result, the surgical approach for two patients was altered to accommodate the new findings. Conclusion Operative planning is paramount when performing robotic partial nephrectomy and developing a 3D surgical approach from 2D imaging can be difficult. Three-dimensional VR models affords the surgeon a 3D view prior to and during surgery and can ensure the selection of the appropriate surgical approach.
Making a Difference: Assessment of the Economic Viability and Impact of Rural Practice

Rural communities across the United States are in need of access to quality healthcare. In fact, there is great demand for both primary care physicians and specialists in Rural America. A number of factors contribute to a lack of supply and demand equilibrium. A thorough review of the current literature indicates that, while there has been some research focused on healthcare access issues in Rural America, there is very little data related to the economic factors that result in this disparity. This chapter considers the economic impact of rural specialist practices on their communities; discusses rural physician supply and demand; considers factors that have a negative impact of clinical practice such as payer mix and distances that separates patients from physicians; and, reviews opportunities that can make a rural practice competitive. Finally, a snapshot of an academic rural practice demonstrates that it is possible to manage an economically successful dermatology practice outside the confines of Urban America.
Plasma Membrane Receptors Involved in the Binding and Response of Osteoclasts to Noncellular Components of the Bone

Osteoclasts differentiate from hematopoietic cells and resorb the bone in response to various signals, some of which are received directly from noncellular elements of the bone. In vitro, adherence to the bone triggers the reduction of cell-cell fusion events between osteoclasts and the activation of osteoclasts to form unusual dynamic cytoskeletal and membrane structures that are required for degrading the bone. Integrins on the surface of osteoclasts are known to receive regulatory signals from the bone matrix. Regulation of the availability of these signals is accomplished by enzymatic alterations of the bone matrix by protease activity and phosphorylation/dephosphorylation events. Other membrane receptors are present in osteoclasts and may interact with as yet unidentified signals in the bone. Bone mineral has been shown to have regulatory effects on osteoclasts, and osteoclast activity is also directly modulated by mechanical stress. As understanding of how osteoclasts and other bone cells interact with the bone has emerged, increasingly sophisticated efforts have been made to create bone biomimetics that reproduce both the structural properties of the bone and the bone's ability to regulate osteoclasts and other bone cells. A more complete understanding of the interactions between osteoclasts and the bone may lead to new strategies for the treatment of bone diseases and the production of bone biomimetics to repair defects.
Targets, Standards and Performance Expectations: Evidence from Annual Bonus Plans

This paper studies the role of performance standards in executive annual bonus plans. We find that earned bonuses exceed pre-determined target bonuses (on average), implying that standards do not reflect performance expectations in a statistical sense. We also find that target bonuses are adjusted upward (downward) in response to performance above (below) standard in a prior year. However, these adjustments do not appear to fully incorporate past performance information since our evidence also suggests that "abnormal" bonuses (earned bonus less target bonus) are positively serially correlated. Finally, we find that the magnitude of the abnormal bonus is related to proxies for the existence of information asymmetry between managers and their superiors. Overall, our results are consistent with the predictions and insights of the participative budgeting literature.
Optimizing system design for rapid development, fast execution and re-use [test systems]

When developing a test system from scratch, the test engineer has many choices of instrumentation and software available. LAN- and USB-based rack and stack instruments are making strides versus their GPIB cousins. VXI and other cardcage-based platforms remain viable too. Test Executives and Microsoft's Visual Studio.NET development environment, along with "helper" toolkits, are making software development easier than ever. But there are design choices that should be made up front that can improve performance and make it easier to adapt to new applications as they arise. This paper explains instrumentation speed/performance tradeoffs, test development environments and architectural differences that the test engineer needs to know about in order to make the right decisions. To demonstrate the thinking process for system design, a system is designed from the ground up that can test an electronic throttle module (ETM) that responds to a brake input and a PWM signal from an accelerator and controls an electric motor which in turn operates a butterfly valve.
Toward Sustainable Technology

This paper offers suggestions for climate change policies advancing technological changes necessary for sustainable development. It first explains why relentless pursuit of cost effectiveness through broad environmental benefit trading does not maximize long term technological advancement and explores options for narrowing trading's design. It then explores two alternatives to Kyoto style trading to show how a goal of creating a positive long term economic dynamic
Rapid plant diversity assessment using a pixel nested plot design: A case study in Beaver Meadows, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, USA

Geospatial statistical modelling and thematic maps have recently emerged as effective tools for the management of natural areas at the landscape scale. Traditional methods for the collection of field data pertaining to questions of landscape were developed without consideration for the parameters of these applications. We introduce an alternative field sampling design based on smaller unbiased random plot and subplot locations called the pixel nested plot (PNP). We demonstrate the applicability of the PNP design of 15 m x 15 m to assess patterns of plant diversity and species richness across the landscape at Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP), Colorado, USA in a time (cost)-efficient manner for field data collection. Our results produced comparable results to a previous study in the Beaver Meadow study (BMS) area within RMNP, where there was a demonstrated focus of plant diversity. Our study used the smaller PNP sampling design for field data collection which could be linked to geospatial information data and could be used for landscape-scale analyses and assessment applications. In 2003, we established 61 PNP in the eastern region of RMNP. We present a comparison between this approach using a sub-sample of 19 PNP from this data set and 20 of Modified Whittaker nested plots (MWNP) of 20 m x 50 m that were collected in the BMS area. The PNP captured 266 unique plant species while the MWNP captured 275 unique species. Based on a comparison of PNP and MWNP in the Beaver Meadows area, RMNP, the PNP required less time and area sampled to achieve a similar number of species sampled. Using the PNP approach for data collection can facilitate the ecological monitoring of these vulnerable areas at the landscape scale in a time- and therefore cost-effective manner.
Bacteriophage of Enteric Bacteria: Occurrence and Persistance in the Environment

Surrogates for Human Enteroviruses Ecology of Bacteriophage Persistence of Bacteriophages in the Environment Keywords: bacteriophage; bacteriophage as indicators; enteric bacteria, bacteriophage of; indicators of fecal contamination; indicators of water quality; phage