cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of stocking density and feeding rate on vermicomposting of biosolids

Abstract The double-pronged problem of quantity, and disposal of waste streams from a myriad of industries, is becoming increasingly acute, the world over. The use of earthworms as a waste treatment technique for such wastes is gaining popularity. This method is commonly known as vermicomposting. Compared to conventional microbial composting, vermicomposting produces a product that is more or less homogenous, with desirable aesthetics, with reduced levels of contaminants and tends to hold more nutrients over a longer period, without impacting the environment. Like in other related waste treatment techniques, certain parameters need to be established for the design of efficient and economical vermicomposting systems. Specifically, the focus of this study was to investigate and establish an optimal stocking density and an optimal feeding rate for the vermicomposting of biosolids, with paper mulch provided as bedding. A stocking density of 1.60 kg-worms/m 2 (0.33 lb-worms/ft 2 ) and a feeding rate of 1.25 kg-feed/kg-worm/day resulted in the highest bioconversion of the substrate into earthworm biomass. The best vermicompost was obtained at the same stocking density and a feeding rate of 0.75 kg-feed/kg-worm/day.
Assay of urease activity in soils

Abstract A simple and precise method of assaying urease activity in soils is described. It involves determination of the ammonium released by urease activity when soil is incubated with tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (THAM) buffer, urea solution, and toluene at 37°C for 2 h, ammonium release being determined by a rapid procedure involving treatment of the incubated soil sample with 2.5 M KC1 containing a urease inhibitor (Ag 2 SO 4 ) and steam distillation of an aliquot of the resulting soil suspension with MgO for 3.3 min. Studies reported showed that the optimal buffer pH and substrate (urea) concentration for assay of soil urease activity using THAM buffer are 9.0 and 0.02 M, respectively, and that the method described is satisfactory for assay of urease activity in ammonium-fixing soils.
Task-Structure analysis: a modularized approach for modeling knowledge intensive processes

Modular design methodologies, which decompose large and complex systems into components that are relatively easy to develop and maintain, have been widely adopted in the software industry. What appears to be lacking, though, is a framework for adopting a modularization approach at the different stages of the software engineering process or for identifying components of high value of reuse. The objective of this paper is to demonstrate the application of the Task-Structure (TS) approach to identify the generic problem-solving components and their interrelationships in a knowledge intensive process. The process we focus on this study is the inherent risk assessment audit task in the auditing domain. The TS approach emphasizes the identification and formalization, during a conceptualization stage, of the various problem-solving roles played by knowledge in the application task.
Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone after vinorelbine treatment

BackgroundAmong oncologic patients, Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone is a common cause of hyponatremia, a prevalent electrolyte disorder. There are many causes for Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone, including chemotherapy medications. To date, only three cases associating vinorelbine and Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone have been published.CaseA 47-year-old woman with stage IIIC serous ovarian adenocarcinoma developed life-threatening hyponatremia (124 mmol/L) after three cycles of vinorelbine. Assessment revealed Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone as the most likely culprit. Conservative managements including free fluid restriction normalized her sodium level and Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone resolved after vinorelbine discontinuation.ConclusionVinorelbine can cause Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone. It is important to monitor sodium concentration during vinorelbine treatment to avoid serious neurological complications of ...
MicroRNA 128a increases intracellular ROS level by targeting Bmi-1 and inhibits medulloblastoma cancer cell growth by promoting senescence.

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of short non-coding RNAs that regulate cell homeostasis by inhibiting translation or degrading mRNA of target genes, and thereby can act as tumor suppressor genes or oncogenes. The role of microRNAs in medulloblastoma has only recently been addressed. We hypothesized that microRNAs differentially expressed during normal CNS development might be abnormally regulated in medulloblastoma and are functionally important for medulloblastoma cell growth. Methodology and Principal Findings: We examined the expression of microRNAs in medulloblastoma and then investigated the functional role of one specific one, miR-128a, in regulating medulloblastoma cell growth. We found that many microRNAs associated with normal neuronal differentiation are significantly down regulated in medulloblastoma. One of these, miR-128a, inhibits growth of medulloblastoma cells by targeting the Bmi-1 oncogene. In addition, miR-128a alters the intracellular redox state of the tumor cells and promotes cellular senescence. Conclusions and Significance: Here we report the novel regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by microRNA 128a via the specific inhibition of the Bmi-1 oncogene. We demonstrate that miR-128a has growth suppressive activity in medulloblastoma and that this activity is partially mediated by targeting Bmi-1. This data has implications for the modulation of redox states in cancer stem cells, which are thought to be resistant to therapy due to their low ROS states.
Variation of Milk Records Within Paternal-Sib Groups

Abstract Differences between daughter-dam and paternal sib estimates of heritability of first lactation milk yield have not been explained for New York data. Deviations of first lactation records from herdmate means of 155,070 artificially sired Holsteins were analyzed to examine the effect of unequal within group variances on the paternal sib estimate of heritability. The statistical model used to describe the data was y ij = μ + s i + e ij with σ y i 2 = σ s 2 + σ e i 2 . Estimates of the within sire-group variances, σ 1 2 e i , were heterogeneous (P σ e i 2 = σ e 2 for all i and the method which estimates σ s 2 as σ 1 2 s , each σ 2 e i as σ 1 2 e i and heritability as 4 σ 1 2 s / \( σ 1 2 s + σ 1 − 2 e \) . Similar results were obtained for other breeds. Repeatability of σ 1 2 e i from year to year was estimated as .39 if yearly σ 1 2 e i was expressed as a fraction of the average within group variance for that year and as .58 if yearly changes in average variance were ignored. Estimates of genetic value changed little when using σ 1 2 e i in the regression of the group mean on true daughter superiority as compared to using the pooled within group variance in the regression coefficient.
LDV Remote Voice Acquisition and Enhancement

Laser Doppler vibrometers (LDVs) have been widely used in industry inspection. One of the superior characteristics of an LDV is that it can detect and measure extremely tiny vibration of a target at a large distance, with sensitivity on the order of 1 mum/s. On the other hand, we have found that most objects nearby audio sources can be vibrated by the audio waves. These two aspects motivate our research in a new application of the LDVs, namely remote voice detection from surrounding vibrated objects. However, the detected speech signals may be corrupted by many noise sources, such as laser photon noises, target movements, and background acoustic noises (wind, engine sound, etc.). Therefore, speech enhancement algorithms based on Gaussian bandpass and Wiener filters are designed to effectively improve the intelligibility of the noisy voice signals detected by the LDV system. Experimental results show that remote voice detection via an LDV is very promising, when choosing appropriate targets close to human subjects and using the proposed enhancement techniques
Early Photographic Attempts to Record Performance Sequence

In a recent issue of New Theatre Quarterly an article on the visual documentation of performance notes that theatre has proved to be resistant to ‘mechanical reproduction’ and that theatre practitioners are unconvinced of its value. The author goes on, however, to argue for the ‘urgent need’ for full archives of video recordings of performances. She even quotes Eugenio Barba to the effect that what really matters in performance is not the immediate effect on the spectators, but a kind of afterglow and the impression to be made on future generations.
Classes and subclasses in actor-oriented design

Actor-oriented languages provide a component composition methodology that emphasizes concurrency. The interfaces to actors are parameters and ports (vs. members and methods in object-oriented languages). Actors interact with one another through their ports via a messaging schema that can follow any of several concurrent semantics (vs. procedure calls, with prevail in OO languages). Domain-specific actor-oriented languages and frameworks are common (e.g. Simulink, LabVIEW, and many others). However, they lack many of the modularity and abstraction mechanisms that programmers have become accustomed to in 00 languages, such as classes, inheritance, interfaces, and polymorphism. This extended abstract shows the form that such mechanisms might take in AO languages. A prototype of these mechanisms realized in Ptolemy II is described.
Coronary heart disease in the first 30 years of the 21st century: challenges and opportunities: The 33rd Annual James B. Herrick Lecture of the Council on Clinical Cardiology of the American Heart Association.

During the past 50 years, there has been an explosion of new knowledge regarding the biological mechanisms of cardiovascular disease. This knowledge and the emergence of new technology and new pharmacological, interventional, and surgical therapies, coupled with lifestyle changes in the American population, have contributed to a spectacular 60% decline in mortality from coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke.1 Since 1965, there has been a dramatic and steady decline in CHD deaths. This marked decrease in the mortality rate for CHD can be attributed in part to enhanced survival in patients with an acute myocardial infarction (MI); highly effective secondary prevention measures in patients who have experienced an ischemic event; improved lifestyles in the population, with some progress in primary prevention of CHD; and advances in medical therapy and the emergence of coronary revascularization. With respect to the decline in CHD mortality from 1980 to 1990, 25% can be explained by primary prevention, 29% by secondary prevention, and 72% by the improvements in medical therapy and revascularization; only 3% is unexplained.2 Figure 1⇓ depicts a significant decrease in the death rate and case fatality rate for acute MI among persons 45 to 64 years of age in the United States from 1970 through 1995.3 In Osler’s Textbook of Medicine published in 1892,4 only 2 pages were dedicated to a discussion of acute MI. This foremost educator of his era wrote, “A complete obliteration of one coronary artery, if produced suddenly, is usually fatal.”4 It was James B. Herrick (born in 1861) who changed our perception regarding this dire prognosis for patients with acute MI. In his historical article published in the Journal of the …
Colonic Pericryptal Fibroblast Sheath: Replication, Migration, and Cytodifferentiation of a Mesenchymal Cell System in Adult Tissue: I. Autoradiographic studies of normal rabbit colon

Summary The normal colonic crypt of Lieberkiihn is surrounded by a mesenchymal sheath, a specialized part of the lamina propria, consisting of fibroblasts tightly applied to the epithelium and of collagen fibers oriented circumferentially to the crypt. Autoradiographic studies of rabbit colon after 3 H-thymidine injection demonstrate a "steady state" renewal of the pericryptal fibroblasts and migration to upper portions of the crypt in synchrony with the epithelial migration. This, to our knowledge, is the first detailed account of continuous fibroblast renewal and migration in adult, un-injured tissue. The fibroblast progenitor population, like that of the epithelium, is at the deep one-third of the crypt, where very little collagen is present. Under the absorptive, i.e., surface, epithelium, there is a relatively thick collagen table, suggesting, a functional maturation of the pericryptal fibroblast as it ascends the crypt wall. These studies, which elucidate the kinetics of a portion of normal colonic mucosa heretofore only occasionally alluded to, suggest that the pericryptal fibroblasts and the epithelium act as a unit to maintain the normal structure, maturation, and function of the crypt of Lieberkuhn.
A coupled channel schrödinger equation model for four nucleons

Abstract A charge-independent model is developed for describing the two-body scattering processes possible in a system of four nucleons. When the model wave function and Hamiltonian are inserted in Schrodinger's equation, coupled differential equations result for the radial functions associated with the two-body channels of the system. One need only specify a matrix of effective potentials to solve these equations, and to obtain scattering observables for all the two-body processes in the four-nucleon system.
Storytelling through Video: A Bilingual Approach in Teaching

This is an experimental study on the effect of storytelling through video and the lecture method in which both approaches used English and Maranao versions to the 100 Grade II pupils in Balo-I District, Lanao del Norte Division, Philippines, SY 2011-2012. The study utilized the two-group experimental design of research.The tool for teaching was the story entitled “The Greatest Treasure” which was adapted from www.bookbox.com (retrieved, 2011) and was translated to the Maranao version for the other group of respondents. A researchermade test in Maranao and English versions were used in comparing the effects of the bilingual approaches in teaching. The statistical tools used in analyzing the data were frequency count, mean, paired, and independent t-test. The findings revealed that majority of the respondents in the video group both in English and Maranao versions scored very high in the post tests compared to the traditional lecture method. These implied that there were significant differences in academic achievements of video and lecture groups in Maranao and English versions. It was concluded that pupils can comprehend well if storytelling will be done using the latest technology and if also presented both in English and in their own native language or mother tongue. Conclusively, the use of video technology is effective in story telling as an innovative strategy in teaching. Keywords - video storytelling, bilingual approach, innovative strategy
Testing Moderator Variable Hypotheses Meta-Analytically:

We propose and illustrate a three-step procedure for testing moderator variable hypotheses meta-analytically. The procedure is based on Hedges and Olkin's (1985) meta-analytic approach, yet it incorporates study-level corrections for methodological and statistical artifacts that are typically advocated and used within psychometric approaches to meta-analysis (e.g., Hunter & Schmidt, 1990). The three- step procedure entails: (a) correcting study-level effect size estimates for across-study variability due to methodological and statistical arti facts, (b) testing the overall homogeneity of study-level effect size esti mates after the artifactual sources of variance have been removed, and (c) testing the effects of hypothesized moderator variables.
System regression test planning with a fuzzy expert system

An effective system testing activity for consecutive releases of very large software systems depends considerably on the selection of test cases for execution. From a practical point of view, it is not feasible to run all possible test cases because of the real-world constraints of limited time, human and monetary resources. While existing techniques for test case selection provide methods to limit the growth of the number of test cases with software evolution, many of them are based on the assumption that source code analysis is available. Very few works have explored the problem of test case selection given the constraint that source code analysis is not available. We propose fuzzy expert systems as an effective solution to the problem. Fuzzy expert systems have the ability to emulate fuzzy human reasoning and judgment processes. The proposed fuzzy expert system identifies potentially critical test cases for system test by correlating knowledge represented by one or more of the following: customer profile, analysis of past test case results, system failure rate, and change in system architecture. We piloted this fuzzy expert system in a large telecommunications system and the results show that test effectiveness and efficiency is significantly improved.
A Comparison of State Assessment Scores Between Music and Nonmusic Students

For several years, an emphasis on standardized testing in certain subjects has often resulted in competition for student time and scheduling choices that may not favor music classes. However, a gre...
"Inert" formulation ingredients with activity: toxicity of trisiloxane surfactant solutions to twospotted spider mites (Acari: Tetranychidae).

Organosilicone molecules are important surfactant ingredients used in formulating pesticides. These methylated silicones are considered inert ingredients, but their superior surfactant properties allow them to wet, and either suffocate or disrupt important physiological processes in mites and insects. Aqueous solutions of the trisiloxane surfactants Silwet L-77, Silwet 408, and Silwet 806 were bioassayed against adult female twospotted spider mites, Tetranychus urticae Koch, with leaf dip methods to compare their toxicity with organosilicone molecules containing bulkier hy- drophobic components. All three trisiloxanes in aqueous solutions were equivalently toxic (LC50 5 5.5—8.9 ppm), whereas Silwet L-7607 solutions were less toxic (LC50 5 4,800 ppm) and Silwet L-7200 was nontoxic to mites. In another experiment, the toxicity of Silwet L-77 was affected by the wettability of leaf surfaces. The LC50 shifted from 22 to 84 ppm when mites were tested on bean and strawberry leaf disks, respectively. Droplet spreading on paraffin and surface tension were both related to the toxicity of surfactant solutions. Surface tensions of solutions below 23 mN/m caused .90% mite mortality in leaf dip bioassays. A field test of Conserve SC and its formulation blank, with and without Dyne-Amic adjuvant (a vegetable oil-organosilicone surfactant mixture) revealed that Dyne-Amic had the greatest miticidal contribution, reducing mite populations by 70%, followed by formulation inactive ingredients. Spinosad, the listed active ingredient in Conserve, only contributed miticidal activity when synergized by Dyne-Amic. Researchers should include appropriate surfac- tant or formulation blank controls when testing insecticides or miticides, especially when using high spray volumes.
Changing mindsets: A passive-first artificial sky

Architectural design that meets the goals of Architecture 2030 or results in zero net-energy performance is most elegantly achieved when employing effective passive strategies before adding high-technology components. With this ideal in mind, I posed a research question to a graduate seminar in natural lighting, “Can an artificial sky for testing daylighting models be designed that uses only daylight, rather than electric lamps, as its lightsource?” My threefold motivation for the question was: (1) matching—use a passive device to test a passive system (daylighting), (2) quality—use high-quality daylight to test daylighting systems, and (3) energy—use a low-energy system for testing models of low-energy designs. Currently, all artificial skies use an array of fluorescent lamps to simulate sky conditions. These skies are solely mechanical systems, have color rendering capabilities far inferior to daylight, and consume thousands of kilowatt-hours of electricity. The seminar students were up to the task and developed and tested successful scale models of two basic types—mirror-box and conical. We chose to build the conical prototype because its geometry is unlike that of any existing skies. To further encourage a sustainability-sensitive mindset, we designed the sky to be made of modular, bolted segments for non-destructive deconstruction and easy reconstruction. The building phase of the project was completed by the end of Spring 2013, and testing commenced in Fall 2013. This paper reports on the actions necessary to make the prototype a viable tool for learning about daylighting from prototype construction, calibration, and adjustment to test equipment set-up; to a users’ manual describing how to employ useful test methods. In summary, the project not only focused on the design, fabrication, and testing of the sky, but is also about the change in mindset—valuing the efficient and elegant use of resources—required for a sustainable future stressing: (1) employing appropriate technologies for the task at hand (passive systems), (2) using high-quality resources (daylight), and (3) saving energy (100% lighting energy savings). The daylighted artificial sky serves as a hands-on exemplar, which has involved the collaboration of teams of students over a four-year span to design, develop, and test the artificial sky. To date about 30 students have participated in the project by answering the design question, writing and presenting research papers, designing and building the full-scale prototype, testing its performance, and, finally, testing their daylighting design proposals in the sky. Aspirationally, this shift in mindset will translate into the students’ future work in the design professions.
An Overview: Municipal Antitrust Liability

This article is an introduction to an antitrust symposium regarding municipal liability. The article provides an overview of municipal antitrust liability in the context of the Supreme Court's decision in City of Lafayette v. Louisiana Power & Light. Prior to the Court's decision in City of Lafayette, city officials tended to view the legal problems of municipalities as distant from antitrust matters such as price fixing, market allocation and other problems faced by private business entities. They were dismayed by the consequences of the Court's holding in City of Lafayette: antitrust seemed to be a difficult legal specialty, antitrust litigation was perceived as complex, and potential damages could be astronomical. As this introduction explains, the world of municipal officials has not been shattered by the Supreme Court's decision in City of Lafayette. Their world, however, is different; new legal doctrines must be learned and new legal problems must be anticipated and treated.
Asymptotically Optimal Identification of Structural Breaking Point in Real Time with Unknown Pre- and Post-Break Parameters

Many economic time series exhibit abrupt changes in their behavior occasionally. Hence an automated real-time structural break monitoring procedure is an important component of real-time econometrics as proposed by Pesaran and Timmermann (2005). Such procedure can be applied in various contexts, for example, to date the turning point of business cycles in real time or to make an informed decision about how much data to be employed in the modeling stage in real time econometric analysis. In this paper, we attempt to design such a procedure in the presence of unknown pre- and post-break parameters based on the general framework laid out by and developments in quickest change detection literature. We also show this procedure is asymptotically optimal. We also apply this method to identify the starting time of 1969 recession in real time.
The Autoecious Species of Puccinia on North American Eupatoriae

Nineteen species and 3 varieties are recognized. Three new species are described: Puccinia potosina on Eupatorium1 longifolium in Mexico, P. sinaloana on Eupatorium sagittatum in Mexico, and P. obesiseptata on Eupatorium sp. in Mexico. The varieties are: P. kuhn iae var. robusta var. nov. on Brickellia and Kuhnia spp., P. kuhniae var. decora (Diet. & Holw.) comb. nov. (Puccinia decora Diet. & Holw.) on Brickellia sp., and P. conoclinii var. depressipora var. nov. on Piqiueria standleyi. P. eupatorii is reported for North America. A key to the species is provided and photomicrographs of type material are provided for 18 species.
Production of experimental lathyrism in the rat by two different beta-substituted ethylamines.

Summary1. Crystals which were isolated from sweet peas by a method which had previously yielded a toxic product were found to have the same infrared absorption spectrum as synthetic β-aminopropionitrile sulfate. 2. Synthetic β-aminopropionitrile and β-mercaptoethylamine, when fed to rats as their hydrochlorides, both produced skeletal changes similar to those caused by sweet peas. The mercaptoethylamine was the less effective in producing skeletal changes, although preliminary experiments indicate that it is at least as toxic as aminopropionitrile when judged on the basis of lethality. 3. Some of the implications of these findings are discussed.
Research progress in analysis methods for formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is used as a widespread pollution of the agent and is toxic to the human body systems.Formaldehyde pollution has attracted great attention of people,the detection of formaldehyde pollution is crucial.In recent years,with the rapid development of science and technology,analytical methods of formaldehyde technology also have a certain degree of development in different research areas.In this paper,advances detection of formaldehyde is reviewed and analyzed.The article relates to the main detections were spectrophotometry,liquid chromatography,gas chromatography,oscilloscopes polarography,potentiometry,fluorescence method,chemiluminescence.This paper analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of correlation detection method,the expectation of methods for fast detection is put forward.
What Was Samsung Thinking

If we hope to provide an Internet of Things that's useful, we must understand users' privacy expectations of their smart devices and the environment in which they operate. Samsung's Smart TV situation throws that into clear relief.
Influence of tumor site on the therapy of murine kidney cancer

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of tumor site on the therapy of an experimental murine kidney cancer model, Renca. METHODS Equal number of tumor cells were injected subcutaneously, intraperitoneally, sub-renal capsule, and intravenously to induce tumors. The animals were then assessed for growth of the primary tumor, metastases and survival. Immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry was performed to identify the phenotype of infiltrating lymphocytes. Tumor bearing animals were treated with high dose interleukin-2 or whole body radiation, and response of the primary tumors as well as the metastases was assessed. RESULTS Renca tumors grew well regardless of the methods of induction. Spontaneous metastasis could be best induced in the sub-renal capsule model. More consistent numbers of pulmonary metastases were obtained by intravenous injection of the tumor cells. Immunotherapy was able to reduce the size of the primary tumor as well as the number of metastasis. Whole body radiation caused some reduction in the primary tumor but did not have a major effect in reducing metastasis. CONCLUSIONS The Renca model is a suitable animal model to study the response to different therapeutic interventions. The site of the tumor growth is not a significant variable in the response to treatment.
EPIDEMIOLOGY OF NOSOCOMIAL PNEUMONIA IN INTENSIVE CARE UNIT PATIENTS

Pneumonia is the most commonly reported nosocomial infection in ICU patients, occurring predominantly in patients whose lungs are ventilated, at a rate of 1% to 3% per day of mechanical ventilation. Substantially increased costs and mortality have been attributed to nosocomial pneumonia. Our understanding of the epidemiology of nosocomial pneumonia in ICU populations has been limited by the reliance of most published studies on clinical diagnostic criteria, which are nonspecific. In addition to mechanical ventilation and tracheal intubation, other suspected risk factors of importance include chronic lung disease, age, severity of illness, upper abdominal or thoracic surgery, head trauma or depressed level of consciousness, and gastric acid inhibition. Aspiration appears to be the primary mode of inoculation of microorganisms into the distal lung; however, the relative importance of different sites as reservoirs for aspiration is controversial. It is hoped that studies based on improved diagnostic techniques, such as quantitative cultures of protected brush or bronchoalveolar lavage specimens, will provide the basis for an improved understanding of the epidemiology and prevention of this important infection in critically ill patients.
Minimum loss control of a variable speed offshore interior permanent magnet wind generator integrated to a weak grid by a voltage source - High Voltage Direct Current link

The paper presents a speed and current controller design that provides the maximum power from the wind turbine and minimizes copper loss of the generator under varying wind speed. The paper also presents a grid side inverter controller design which keeps the DC link voltage of the inverter constant and controls reactive power flow to maintain unity power factor. Additionally, an estimated frequency controller is presented to provide estimated grid frequency to the gird side system. A copper loss minimization technique that maintains the maximum torque of two mass model wind turbine and the maximum power point tracking under varying wind speed are applied in the generator side controller design to obtain optimal speed and current for the generator. The inner and outer loop controller design is applied to the rectifier controller at the machine side and the gird side inverter controller. The phase lock loop controller is designed to estimate grid frequency for the grid side system. Simulation results are presented to show that the designed controller at both machine side and grid side track their reference values and confirm good performance of the controller design.
FiberID: molecular-level secret for identification of things

This paper describes a new physical unclonable function for identification, FiberID, which uses the molecular level Rayleigh backscatter pattern within a small section of telecommunication-grade optical fiber as a means of verification and identification. The verification process via FiberID is experimentally studied, and an equal error rate (EER) of 0.06% is achieved. Systematic evaluation of FiberID is conducted in term of physical length and ambient temperature. Due to its inherent irreproducibility, FiberID holds the promise to significantly enhance current identification, security, and anti-counterfeiting technologies.
Skull base erosion and associated complications in sphenoid sinus fungal balls.

Background Sphenoid sinus fungal balls (SSFB) are rare entities that can result in serious orbital and intracranial complications. There are few published reports of complications that result from SSFB. Objective To review the incidence of skull base erosion and orbital or intracranial complications in patients who present with SSFB. Methods A retrospective review was performed of all the patients with SSFB who were treated at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary from 2006 to 2014. Presenting clinical data, radiology, operative reports, pathology, and postoperative course were reviewed. Results Forty-three patients with SSFB were identified. Demographic data were compared between patients with (39.5%) and those without (61.5%) skull base erosion. Two patients underwent emergent surgery for acute complications of SSFB (one patient with blindness, one patient who had a seizure). Both patients with acute complications had evidence of skull base erosion, whereas no patients with an intact skull base developed an orbital or intracranial complication (p = 0.15). All the patients were surgically managed via an endoscopic approach. Conclusion SSFBs are rare but may cause significant skull base erosion and potentially severe orbital and intracranial complications if not treated appropriately. Endoscopic sphenoidotomy is effective in treating SSFB and should be performed emergently in patients who presented with associated complications.
Reinforced thermoplastic composites with interfacial microarchitectural anchoring: Computational study

Abstract Reinforcing potential of fibers is limited for a number of thermoplastic polymers due to the inherently weak interfacial bonding between the non-polar/non-reactive polymer matrix and fiber surface. To this end, the concept of enhancing the interfacial strength in thermoplastic composites via controlled mechanical interlocking between fiber surface and polymer matrix is explored. Specifically, infiltration of the thermoplastic polymer into the anchoring sites around the microstructures located on the fiber surface provided an efficient mechanical interlocking. A computational study has been performed for several different surface morphologies for a glass/polyethylene material system. The strength calculations addressed both material failure and detachment of the matrix material from the anchoring sites. The results obtained, which focused on shear loading, indicated that the surface morphology has a significant effect on the interfacial bonding strength. The computational analysis results showed that even without any interfacial friction or adhesion, the interface strength could achieve 50% of the theoretical strength of perfect matrix-fiber bonding for a plane interface. An optimal geometry and density of the microarchitectured features on the surface was identified for many cases in a parametric study. Friction at the interface between polymer matrix and fiber surface was shown to provide a significant increase in interfacial strength for cases where the frictionless case detached, but not for cases of material failure, which shows the promise of anchoring when friction and adhesion cannot be relied on. It was therefore demonstrated that the precise surface morphology modification is an effective approach to improve the interfacial bonding in fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites.
New Media, New Relationship to Participation? A Closer Look at Youth News Repertoires and Political Participation:

This study extends past research on the relationship between news use and participation by examining how youth combine news exposure across an array of media devices, sources, and services. Results...
Game engine learning from video

Intelligent agents need to be able to make predictions about their environment. In this work we present a novel approach to learn a forward simulation model via simple search over pixel input. We make use of a video game, Super Mario Bros., as an initial test of our approach as it represents a physics system that is significantly less complex than reality. We demonstrate the significant improvement of our approach in predicting future states compared with a baseline CNN and apply the learned model to train a game playing agent. Thus we evaluate the algorithm in terms of the accuracy and value of its output model.
High-frequency ZnO schottky diodes for non-contact inductive power transfer in large-area electronics

Besides traditional RFID [1], an emerging application of large-area electronics is hybrid systems [2], where we need to transfer power and signals from one flexible sheet to another. This is driven by manufacturing considerations: sheets providing different functionality, via different materials and devices, can simply be laminated together. Hard-wired metallurgical bonds between flexible sheets are expected to be problematic, especially for reliability, motivating the use of non-contact inductively-coupled interfaces between adjacent sheets [2-3]. For efficiency of such interfaces, high-frequency thin-film diodes (HF-TFDs) are required, since inductive losses are lower at high frequencies [3].
Packaging a Chinese “Beauty Writer”: Re-reading Shanghai Baby in a Web Context

Based on a comparative discourse analysis of the 2001 English translation of the pioneering “beauty writer” Wei Hui’s semi-autobiographical novel Shanghai Baby and the original Chinese work (1999), this paper aims to demonstrate how the reception of non-specialist readers in the form of online book reviews is influenced by the politics of reception in the Western world as well as the translational shifts in the text. Building the investigation upon the nineteenth-century sinologist translation model that packages Chinese culture as cliched Chineseness in addition to the Western reception model that packages Chinese women as reckless lovers and escapees from communist despotism, the study argues that largely subject to the stereotypical expectations of Western readers about the Third World culture and women, the shifts reinforcing the prevalent stereotypes in the translation overshadow the author’s original intention of speaking for a small tribe of young people exploring their unorthodox existence in China. Lastly, the study concludes with the affirmation of Shanghai Baby’s social impact on both host and source culture in an attempt to relate its significance to a global context.
Congenital Optic Disc Anomalies

Ophthalmologists and neurologists are frequently called upon to evaluate infants and children with decreased vision resulting from congenital anomalies of the optic disc. A comprehensive evaluation necessitates an understanding of the ophthalmoscopic features, associated neuro-ophthalmologic findings, pathogenesis, and appropriate ancillary studies for each anomaly. Over the past decade, new ocular and systemic associations have emerged, and theories of pathogenesis for many optic disc anomalies have been revised. Our increasing ability to subclassify different forms of excavated optic disc anomalies that were previously lumped together as colobomatous defects has further refined our ability to predict the likelihood of associated central nervous system (CNS) anomalies based solely on the appearance of the optic disc. Added to this has been the widespread clinical application of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, which has refined our ability to identify subtle associated CNS anomalies and to predict the likelihood of associated neurodevelopmental and endocrinological problems. Based largely upon information that has emerged over the past decade, this chapter will examine the optic disc anomalies, summarize our current understanding of their pathogenesis and treatment, and detail associated neuroimaging findings that predicate the general medical management of affected children.
Somatic symptoms in women with dysmenorrhea and noncyclic pelvic pain.

Somatic symptoms are a robust, transdiagnostic risk factor for pain conditions. However, the extent to which somatic symptoms contribute to the manifestation of the women’s pain syndromes, such as dysmenorrhea and noncyclic pelvic pain (NCPP), is unclear due to high rates of co-occurrence. Therefore, the present study investigated the primary hypothesis that somatic symptoms would be elevated in NCPP and distinctly influence the relationship between dysmenorrhea and co-occurring NCPP. A secondary analysis was performed on cross-sectional questionnaire data from 1012 nonpregnant reproductive-aged women. Eligible analyzed participants (n = 834) were categorized into four groups: healthy, dysmenorrhea, NCPP, and NCPP with co-occurring dysmenorrhea (NCPP+dysmenorrhea). A parallel mediation analysis was run to evaluate the primary hypothesis that somatic symptoms are the primary factor associated with increased NCPP accounting for dysmenorrhea. The NCPP+dysmenorrhea group had higher somatic, anxiety, and depression symptom T-scores (respectively 61, 61, 60) compared to the healthy controls (46, 51, 51; p’s < .001) and the dysmenorrhea group (50, 53, 54; p’s < .001). The pain and psychological symptoms were significantly correlated across the entire sample (r’s = .29, − .64, p’s < .01). Results from parallel mediation analysis showed that somatic symptoms were distinctly associated with NCPP+dysmenorrhea. Women with NCPP+dysmenorrhea have increased psychological and somatic symptoms compared to women with dysmenorrhea alone. Given that NCPP often co-occurs with dysmenorrhea, failure to account for comorbidity in previous studies has likely led to an overestimation of psychological symptoms in dysmenorrhea. Future studies should evaluate whether somatic sensitivity is a modifiable risk factor for NCPP.
III-nitride nanowire LEDs and diode lasers: monolithic light sources on (001) Si emitting in the 600-1300nm range

GaN-based nanowire heterostructure arrays epitaxially grown on (001)Si substrates have unique properties and present the potential to realize useful devices. The active light-emitting region in the nanowire heterostructures are usually InGaN disks, whose composition can be varied to tune the emission wavelength. We have demonstrated light emitting diodes and edgeemitting diode lasers with power outputs ~10mW with emission in the 600-1300nm wavelength range. These light sources are therefore useful for a variety of applications, including silicon photonics. Molecular beam epitaxial growth of the nanowire heterostructure arrays on (001)Si substrates and the characteristics of 1.3μm nanowire array edge emitting lasers, guided wave photodiodes and a monolithic photonic integrated circuit designed for 1.3μm operation are described.
A dynamic model of the invalid vote: How a changing candidate menu shapes null voting behavior

Abstract Existing scholarship attributes invalid voting to independent variables that are largely time invariant (e.g., levels of education, political institutions). Yet, rates of invalid voting vary widely across countries and over time. In this paper, I argue that dynamic features of political competition (e.g., the number of candidates competing) affect invalid voting in presidential elections in predictable ways. High levels of candidates should have a positive association with invalid voting, as voters frustrated by the status quo opt out of the process when political options are confusing or objectionable. Yet, positive change in the number of candidates ought to reduce null voting, as the entry of more candidates presents new options over which to cast valid ballots. I test these expectations, and find support for them, in multivariate analyses of aggregate electoral data from the Latin American region for 1982–2015.
Machine Learning to Predict, Detect, and Intervene Older Adults Vulnerable for Adverse Drug Events in the Emergency Department

Adverse drug events (ADEs) are common and have serious consequences in older adults. ED visits are opportunities to identify and alter the course of such vulnerable patients. Current practice, however, is limited by inaccurate reporting of medication list, time-consuming medication reconciliation, and poor ADE assessment. This manuscript describes a novel approach to predict, detect, and intervene vulnerable older adults at risk of ADE using machine learning. Toxicologists’ expertise in ADE is essential to creating the machine learning algorithm. Leveraging the existing electronic health records to better capture older adults at risk of ADE in the ED may improve their care.
The intramolecular hydrogen bonded–halogen bond: a new strategy for preorganization and enhanced binding

Natural and synthetic molecules use weak noncovalent forces to preorganize structure and enable remarkable function. Herein, we introduce the intramolecular hydrogen bonded–halogen bond (HB–XB) as a novel method to preorganize halogen bonding (XBing) molecules, while generating a polarization-enhanced XB. Positioning a fluoroaniline between two iodopyridinium XB donors engendered intramolecular hydrogen bonding (HBing) to the electron-rich belt of both XB donors. NMR solution studies established the efficacy of the HB-XB. The receptor with HB–XBs (G2XB) displayed a nearly 9-fold increase in halide binding over control receptors. Gas-phase density functional theory conformational analysis indicated that the amine stabilizes the bidentate conformation. Furthermore, gas-phase interaction energies showed that the bidentate HB–XBs of G2XBme2+ are more than 3.2 kcal mol−1 stronger than the XBs in a control without the intramolecular HB. Additionally, crystal structures confirm that HB–XBs form tighter contacts with I− and Br− and produce receptors that are more planar. Collectively the results establish the intramolecular HB–XB as a tractable strategy to preorganize XB molecules and regulate XB strength.
Analysis, Interpretation, and Use of Complex Social and Behavioral Surveillance Data

During the past 20 years the international public health community has increasingly recognised the importance of understanding chronic diseases and the risk factors associated with them. Although a plethora of social and behavioural data has been accumulated by economically advanced countries during these years, much of the information is neither fully analysed nor used. For example, most analyses have been limited to descriptive statistical reports. While these types of reports are valuable and useful, they clearly do not represent all possibilities for analysis, interpretation, and use of data.
Decoding the Cardiac Message

Our understanding of the molecular underpinnings of cardiac development and stress-response has progressed non-linearly over the past 40 years. Preliminary observations that cardiac RNA content inc...
An Ultrasonic Resonance Method to Determine the Acoustic Velocity of Thin Adhesive Layers

The development of this ultrasonic method for determining the modulus of thin adhesive layers was motivated by the recent development of a nonintrusive ultrasonic Liquid Level Sensor (LLS) which meets military specifications for space launch [1,2]. The sensor is designed to signal when the surface of the fuel in a liquid propellant tank has receded to the level of the sensor during flight. As depicted in Fig. 1, the sensor is bonded to the outer tank wall with Versilok 202 (V202) adhesive [3]. To detect the fuel level, the sensor is stimulated to propagate an ultrasonic pulse into the wall of the tank and then used to monitor the height of echoes which return from the inner wall. More details on the basic operation of the sensor are given in references 1 and 2.
Urodynamic studies in acupuncture for women with frequency, urgency and dysuria.

AbstractUrodynamic measurements were performed before and after acupuncture at 2 different points in 52 women who presented with frequency, urgency and dysuria. Measurements included cystometry, anal sphincter electromyography, urethral pressure profilometry and uroflowmetry.The results of this study showed a significant increase in maximum cystometric capacity and a decrease in peak urinary flow rate after acupuncture at the Sp. 6 point, which has traditionally been used for the treatment of urinary problems. During acupuncture at the Sp. 6 point there were periodic increases in intraurethral pressure at the distal urethra, which were measured with a microtip transducer. Acupuncture-induced detrusor inhibition and external sphincteric contractions were demonstrated.Clinically symptomatic improvement was noted in 22 of the 26 patients who were treated by acupuncture at the Sp. 6 point. Our studies indicated that acupuncture could be used as a simple and effective method to treat female patients with frequ...