cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Size of suspended sediment over dunes

[1] Samples of suspended sediment were collected at four elevations simultaneously over two-dimensional mobile dunes in two mixtures of 0.5 mm sand in a laboratory flume channel. A constant sampling position relative to the dunes was maintained by adjusting the translation rate of the sampling carriage to be the same as the migration rate of the dunes. The rate of change of concentration of the suspended sediment with distance from the bed for individual grain sizes was found to be related to the part of the dune over which the samples were collected. The suspended sediment concentration over the lowest third of the flow depth was nearly constant over the trough of the bed forms, while concentration varied rapidly with depth over the brink point, with intermediate rates of change, similar to measurements over a flat bed, over the rest of the dune. The concentration of coarser grains was reasonably explained by assuming they were in intermittent suspension from the brink point of one dune to that of the next. Differences between the vertical changes in grain size were reduced when the sizes were plotted relative to the mean crest elevation of the dunes rather than the local bed elevation. The Rouse equation was found to yield accurate predictions of median grain sizes above the crest level using a reference sample, while median grain size was found to be nearly constant below the level of the crest.
Can state law combat exclusionary zoning? Evidence from Massachusetts

This paper empirically analyses a Massachusetts law (Chapter 40B) allowing developers of income-restricted housing to appeal local land-use decisions to a state administrative body. Based on a unique dataset, we assess whether Chapter 40B was more likely to be used by developers in municipalities that place stronger restrictions on development. We find that the use of Chapter 40B to overcome regulatory barriers depends on the type of project. For rental development, developers were more likely to use the law in municipalities that were relatively accessible to jobs and that placed relatively stringent zoning restrictions on multifamily development. The use of Chapter 40B for condominium development was more likely in larger, less well-located municipalities with relatively stringent wetlands regulations.
Brownian gossip: exploiting node mobility to diffuse information in ad hoc networks

Several network services, including routing, resource-discovery, etc., require the knowledge of a node's location, before invoking their respective algorithms. Locating a node is a challenging problem in large-scale ad hoc networks, especially when the nodes are mobile. Initial approaches to learn a node's location relied on flooding a query in the network. In view of the large overheads of flooding, gossiping was later proposed as a scalable alternative. With gossiping, each node probabilistically forwards the query. Research findings show that for carefully chosen gossip probabilities, the query is very likely to reach the destination. While gossiping is a random propagation of a specific information, a similar effect might be achieved if nodes move randomly carrying the same information in their local caches. Thus, a node's location information can diffuse into the network via node mobility, as opposed to wireless transmissions that incur bandwidth. If these mobile nodes lend their caches to be queried by its neighborhood, a distributed location estimation service can be envisioned. Clearly, wireless transmission and physical mobility appear to be two modes of information transportation. While each have been studied individually, there has been little work on the possibility of combining them. For example, mobile nodes that gossip with each other periodically, may achieve percolation at significantly lower overheads. This paper investigates the combined potential of gossip and random (Brownian) node mobility. We argue that using such a combined strategy, it might be possible to design a scalable location service for mobile networks, over which several other applications can be developed, including geographic routing, resource discovery, etc
Implementing Change Through Education

Whether we like it or not, researchers are becoming increasingly accountable for the utilization of their research, and this is even being requested in subsequent app lications for funding. For example, in a recent critique, a reviewer asked, given the present importance of patient outcomes research, what impact previous concept analysis research had on clinical practice. Despite the direct instructions to professionals to conduct research, publish it, and assure its uptake in clinical settings, knowledge transfer lags. In 2000, Balas and Boren calculated that research utilization, from completion to implementation, took about 17 years (Balas & Boren, 2000, as cited in Green, 2008). That time lag was developed from quantitative research, and we believe in the accuracy of their calculation—for instance, Morse’s quantitative research on patient fall assessment is right on target. Placing the responsibility of utilization on the shoulders of researchers, and using the application of past res earch as a criterion of “worth” during the review, intro duces new responsibilities for researchers and exposes several paradoxes that are worthy of comment. First, researchers’ responsibilities: Researchers are already busy with the core business of conducting research. To complete this new mandate, exactly how should researchers entice clinicians to
Rapid and long-term adaptations in gait symmetry following unilateral step training in people with hemiparesis.

Background and Objective: Evidence for specific physical interventions that improve walking symmetry in individuals with hemiparesis poststroke is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the rapid and prolonged effects of unilateral step training (UST) on step length asymmetry (SLA) in people with hemiparesis. Subjects and Design: Eighteen individuals with chronic hemiparesis and substantial SLA during overground walking participated in a single-group, pretest-posttest study. The study consisted of 2 phases, with 10 subjects participating in each phase; 2 subjects participated in both phases. Interventions and Measurements: To investigate rapid effects of UST, the participants completed a 20-minute session of UST on a treadmill with their unimpaired limb, with the impaired limb held stationary off the treadmill. Data for spatiotemporal gait parameters during overground walking at self-selected and fastest speeds were collected prior to and following UST, with follow-up measurements at 1 day and 1 week. To investigate the prolonged effects, the participants completed ten 20-minute sessions of UST. Data for spatiotemporal gait parameters were collected prior to training as well as after every third session, with follow-up measurements at 1 and 2 weeks. Results: Immediately following UST, SLA tested during fast-paced overground walking improved by up to 13% (49% reduced to a 36% SLA), with changes retained for up to 24 hours. Following 10 sessions of UST, SLA improved significantly, with changes retained for up to 2 weeks. Limitations: Despite repeated baseline measurements, the absence of a control group was a limitation. Furthermore, stepping characteristics during UST were not quantified. Conclusion: Unilateral step training may improve spatiotemporal patterns in people with substantial gait asymmetry poststroke. Repeated training may be necessary for maintenance of adaptations.
Fault structure and kinematics of the Long Valley Caldera region, California, revealed by high-accuracy earthquake hypocenters and focal mechanism stress inversions

[1] We have determined high-resolution hypocenters for 45,000+ earthquakes that occurred between 1980 and 2000 in the Long Valley caldera area using a double-difference earthquake location algorithm and routinely determined arrival times. The locations reveal numerous discrete fault planes in the southern caldera and adjacent Sierra Nevada block (SNB). Intracaldera faults include a series of east/west-striking right-lateral strike-slip faults beneath the caldera's south moat and a series of more northerly striking strike-slip/normal faults beneath the caldera's resurgent dome. Seismicity in the SNB south of the caldera is confined to a crustal block bounded on the west by an east-dipping oblique normal fault and on the east by the Hilton Creek fault. Two NE-striking left-lateral strike-slip faults are responsible for most seismicity within this block. To understand better the stresses driving seismicity, we performed stress inversions using focal mechanisms with 50 or more first motions. This analysis reveals that the least principal stress direction systematically rotates across the studied region, from NE to SW in the caldera's south moat to WNW–ESE in Round Valley, 25 km to the SE. Because WNW–ESE extension is characteristic of the western boundary of the Basin and Range province, caldera area stresses appear to be locally perturbed. This stress perturbation does not seem to result from magma chamber inflation but may be related to the significant (∼20 km) left step in the locus of extension along the Sierra Nevada/Basin and Range province boundary. This implies that regional-scale tectonic processes are driving seismic deformation in the Long Valley caldera.
Convergence Analysis of a Dynamic Discrete PSO Algorithm

The particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm has exhibited good performance on continuous optimization problems in static environment. However, there are lots of real-world optimization problems that are dynamic and discrete, which is a new research field of PSO. So a dynamic discrete PSO (DDPSO) algorithm is proposed in this paper. In this algorithm, we design a new strategy of environmental monitoring and response. When environment is changed, it can be apperceived by the change of fitness and position of particles and be responded by environment sensitivity and environmental change gene in time. Finally, to analyze the convergence of DDPSO based on the solving of zero state response in discrete-time systems, we get its convergence condition and motion track of particles. As a result, we find that DDPSO has good convergence and diversity of swarm owing to environmental change gene which has randomicity and variability.
Automated distortion-invariant filter synthesis and training set selection (auto-Minace)

ABSTRACT The minimum noise and correlation energy (MINACE) distortion- invariant filter (DIF) finds use in several applications such as face recognition, automatic target recognition (ATR), etc., in which one considers both true-class object classification and rejection of non-database objects (that are labeled as impostors in face recognition, and confusers in ATR). To solve the classification/rejecti on problem, we use at least one Minace f ilter per object class to be recognized. A separate Minace filter or a set of Minace filters is sy nthesized for each object class. The Minace parameter c trades-off distortion-tolerance (recognition) versus discrimination (impostor/confuser rejection) performance. We present our automated Minace filter-synthesis algorithm (a uto-Minace) that selects the training se t images to be included in the filter and selects the filter parameter c, so that the filter can achieve both good recognition and impostor/confuser and clutter rejection performance; this is achieved using a training and validation set. No impostor/confuser, clutter or test set data is present in the training or validation sets. The peak-to-correlation energy (PCE) ratio is used as the correlation plane metric in both filter synthesis and in tests, since it gives better results than use of the correlation peak value. We also address the use of the Minace filters in detection applications where the filter template is much smaller than the target scene. The use of circular versus linear correlations are addressed, circular correlations require less storage and fewer online computations. Keywords: Automated filter synthesis, automatic target recogn ition (ATR), distortion-invariant filter (DIF), minimum noise and correlation energy (MINACE) filter, pattern recognition, training set selection
Experimental Validation of OT Solutions to the Comprehension–Production Dilemma

The relationship between perception and production remains an unresolved issue within the study of phonological acquisition. Recent developments in optimality theory offer potentially new solutions to this long-standing problem; but thus far, the proposals that have been advanced are in the absence of actual perception-production data from a given child. This paper provides an empirical instantiation of the perception-production effects by appealing to data from children's knowledge and use of syllables and segments. The demonstration shows that optimality theoretic accounts of the perception-production interface hold in part, but a crucial modification is required in order to obtain the full range of effects that are observed in phonological acquisition.
The application of remote sensing, geographic information systems, and Global Positioning System technology to improve water quality in northern Alabama

Recently, the water quality status in northern Alabama has been declining due to urban and agricultural growth. Throughout the years, the application of remote sensing and geographic information system technology has undergone numerous modifications and revisions to enhance their ability to control, reduce, and estimate the origin of non-point source pollution. Yet, there is still a considerable amount of uncertainty surrounding the use of this technology as well as its modifications. This research demonstrates how the application of remote sensing, geographic information system, and global positioning system technologies can be used to assess water quality in the Wheeler Lake watershed. In an effort to construct a GIS based water quality database of the study area for future use, a land use cover of the study area will be derived from LANDSAT Thermatic Mapper (TM) imagery using ERDAS IMAGINE image processing software. A Digital Elevation Model of the Wheeler Lake watershed was also from an Environmental Protection Agency Basins database. Physical and chemical properties of water samples including pH, Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Total Fecal Coliform (TC), Total Nitrogen (TN), Total Phosphorus (TP), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Dissolved Oxygen (DO), and selected metal concentrations were measured.
Phenotypic analysis of neurofilament light gene mutations linked to Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease in cell culture models

Mutations in the neurofilament light (NFL) gene cause Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease. There is a wide range of clinical presentations in CMT patients harboring NFL mutations, with patients classified as CMT2E or CMT1F. In this study, we analyzed the effects of five NFL mutations on the assembly and intracellular distribution of intermediate filaments (IFs), and compared the results with those obtained previously for other NFL mutations. Although all NFL mutants affected the formation of IF networks, our data show differential effects on the assembly of IFs depending on the exact nature of the mutation. Defective transport of the mutant NFL subunits was observed for all the CMT-linked NFL mutations, but the characteristics of this defect also depended on the specific mutation. These results show that defects in the assembly and transport of NFs are common to all NFL mutants studied thus far, but the exact nature of the defect appears to be correlated with each mutant genotype.
Induction of cold-responsive proteins in Vibrio vulnificus.

We have studied the response of Vibrio vulnificus to temperature shifts (23 to 13 degrees C) within the organism9s permissive growth range. Cold shift induced a diminution in protein synthesis. Following a short lag, cells began growth at a new rate. Forty proteins were induced by this downshift.
Use of venlafaxine in children and adolescents: a review of current literature

Pediatric psychopharmacology is hindered by the relative lack of controlled, empirical clinical trials [Shatzberg and Nemeroff, 1998: Washington, D.C.: The American Psychiatric Press, Inc. p 301-306]. Psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents carry considerable morbidity, impede development, and carry a significant mortality by suicide. Therefore, there is a need for studies of antidepressants and other psychotropics in children and adolescents. This article reviews the preliminary evidence that venlafaxine (Effexor), a novel antidepressant, may be useful in children and adolescents with a variety of psychiatric disorders.
Cleaning Nanoelectrodes with Air Plasma

Unlike macroscopic and micrometer-sized solid electrodes whose surface can be reproducibly cleaned by mechanical polishing, cleaning the nanoelectrode surface is challenging because of its small size and extreme fragility. Even very gentle polishing typically changes the nanoelectrode size and geometry, thus, complicating the replication of nanoelectrochemical experiments. In this letter, we show the possibility of cleaning nanoelectrode surfaces nondestructively by using an air plasma cleaner. The effects of plasma cleaning have been investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging, voltammetry, and scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). A related issue, the removal of an insoluble organic film from the nanoelectrode by plasma cleaning, is also discussed.
Progeny Suppression of Attagenus megatoma and Trogoderma parabile by Dietary Factors

Chlortetracycline (Aureomycin®) and sorbic acid at dosage levels of 0.05-1.0% (w/w) and 1.2-8.0% (w/w), respectively, were incorporated in the diet of both the black carpet beetle, Attagenus megatoma (F.), and Trogoderma parabile Beal. Mated pairs developing from sorbic acid treatments produced progeny unable to survive the first larval instar. Chlortetracycline did not affect either species. Neither material, during the parental generation, affected larval or adult weight, survival to adult stage, pupal or adult longevity, or larval or adult melinization. Preliminary microbiological attempts to isolate and establish the presence of commensual or mutualistic symbiotes were unsuccessful with both species, as were attempts to locate intracellular symbiotes, mycetocytes, or mycetomes by histological examination of larvae and adults. Comparative gross anatomical studies of adults of both species from the highest level treatments and untreated controls revealed no differences in development of ovaries or testes.
PARENTAL EFFECTS ON PROGENY PHENOTYPE IN PLANTS: DISTINGUISHING GENETIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES.

The experimental measurement of additive genetic variation in plant populations is complicated by the potential for non-Mendelian inheritance. Maternal influences on progeny phenotype resulting from the cytoplasmic inheritance of plastids or RNA transcripts and effects of the maternal environment have consequently been the focus of much research. To exclude or to control for these sources of variation, breeding designs (e.g., cross-factored, nested, or diallel) in which genetically unrelated pollen donors are mated to maternal genotypes have been adopted. Using these designs, some empirical studies have detected statistically significant differences among pollen donors in the mean performance of their pollen (the mature male gametophytes) or in the mean phenotype of their progeny. These statistical effects of pollen-donor identity on pollen performance or progeny phenotype have frequently been interpreted as evidence for additive genetic variance among pollen donors, although patrilineal cytoplasmic inheritance or effects of the paternal environment on pollen performance or gene expression are recognized as alternative explanations. We note that environment-specific selection among developing gametophytes-in which the environment experienced by developing pollen grains (or ovules) provides a selective force causing the differential survival of gametophyte genotypes (analagous to meiotic drive)-is an additional process that may cause genetically based paternal (or maternal) effects on gametophyte performance. If genes selected during this process are expressed in the sporophyte (postfer- tilization), this process could also influence the phenotype of the diploid progeny. Here, we review the potential causes of statistically significant differences in mean phenotype among the gametophytes or progeny of maternal (seed- bearing) or paternal (pollen-donating) parental plants. We suggest an experimental approach that permits the detection or elimination of selection among developing gametophytes as one such cause. Specifically, the replication of ho- mozygous parental genotypes within and across environments allows the detection and measurement of paternal and maternal environmentally induced effects on gametophyte or offspring phenotype, while eliminating meiotic drive as a source of the phenotypic variation.
Violence against women: the role of orthopaedic nurses in the identification, assessment, treatment, and care for the abused woman

Violence against women is a significant public health problem that affects women of all age groups across the life span. This article presents a review of domestic violence against women and outlines the role of orthopaedic nurses in the identification, assessment, treatment, and care of women patients with injuries or medical problems sustained as a result of domestic abuse from an intimate other. Key interventions for the treatment and care of abused women include (a) acknowledging the abuse, (b) discussing safety planning, (c) discussing the pattern of abuse, (d) anticipating and respecting the partial denial, (e) reassuring the woman that abuse is not her fault; (f) informing the woman that no one deserves to be abused, (g) telling the woman gently that help is available, (h) reminding the woman that domestic violence is a crime, (i) referring to community resources, and (j) allowing the woman to decide which support services and options are safe for her situation.
Studies on the chemical methods for controlling the indoor cockroaches

Objective To observe the control results of indoor cockroaches with the different chemical treatments,and explore the effective chemical methods to control cockroaches.Methods Determining the density of cockroaches with the insecticide stimulation.Results The average killing rate was 97.31% after thermal aerosol fog treatments,and in 30,60 days it was 89.31%,56.95% respectively without any following control steps.On 90th day,the density of cockroaches recovered,or exceeded to the density of that before control.The control efficacy with thermal aerosol fog and residual sprays meanwhile was similar to that only with thermal aerosol fog.Using gel bait for 3 days,the killing rate only was 46.23%.30,60,90 days later,the density of cockroaches were 98.13%,97.49%,98.28% respectively.Using gel bait after thermal aerosol fog,the killing rate was 98.96%,97.61%,98.94% respectively in 30,60,90 days.Conclusion The thermal aerosol fog could rapid kill cockroaches,with short-term density decreasing,and gel baits did it on the contrary.So gel bait treatment was effective as a strengthening measure.
The development of an expert system for finding fragility curves of building structural systems in the preliminary design stage

This research is a starting point for the development of an expert system for determining seismic fragility curves of structural systems in a nuclear power plant or conventional building at the preliminary design stage. The resulting system will assist an engineer with moderate engineering background and limited reliability knowledge to analyze the failure functions of building structures. It simulates the performance of an expert in identifying the potential failure modes and their variabilities for a structure of interest. Then, by combining the stress results of crude analyses, the method of linear statistical model, and the methodology developed by Kennedy [Kennedy et al., 1980, 1984], the fragility curves of the structure will be estimated.
Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) Special Report: Current approaches to measuring quality of care in obstetrics

Heath care measurement and evaluation is an integral piece of the health care system. The creation and assessment of care performance metrics are important and relevant for the obstetric community including both clinicians and patients. Careful deliberation is required to create a measurement system that results in optimal care for women and families. This article reviews the current approaches to measuring quality in obstetrics.
Applying social network analysis to validate mass collaboration innovation drivers

The authors model the user innovation networks of NASA's International Space Apps Challenges and use social network analysis to empirically investigate the existence and impact of three drivers of innovation. These drivers are competition, social interaction, and network vitality. We empirically prove that competitive intensity exists as a driver of innovation in our networks, and is an indicator of innovation success, while the drivers of social interaction intensity and network vitality do not.
Degradable epoxy resins based on bisphenol A diglycidyl ether and silyl ether amine curing agents

A series of silyl ether amine curing agents were synthesized by selective substitution reactions of chloroalkylsilanes or the transetherification of alkoxysilanes. Crosslinked networks were prepared by mixing a stoichiometric ratio of bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (D.E.R 331) with the amine curing agents. The networks were characterized by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, TGA, DSC, and DMA. The onset of thermal degradation, glass transition temperatures, and storage moduli for the networks were 350 °C, 70–108 °C, and 5–25 MPa, respectively. The degradation behavior of the cured samples was monitored for 30 days in PBS, NaOH 5% (w/v), and HCl 5% (v/v) solutions and the degradation products were characterized by spectroscopic methods. The thermal, mechanical, and degradation studies indicated that crosslink density, Tg, storage modulus, and the rate of degradation were affected by the functionality of the amine curing agents and the number of hydrolyzable silyl ether bonds present per mole of curing agent. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 44620.
Quantifying Variation in Gait Features from Wearable Inertial Sensors Using Mixed Effects Models.

The emerging technology of wearable inertial sensors has shown its advantages in collecting continuous longitudinal gait data outside laboratories. This freedom also presents challenges in collecting high-fidelity gait data. In the free-living environment, without constant supervision from researchers, sensor-based gait features are susceptible to variation from confounding factors such as gait speed and mounting uncertainty, which are challenging to control or estimate. This paper is one of the first attempts in the field to tackle such challenges using statistical modeling. By accepting the uncertainties and variation associated with wearable sensor-based gait data, we shift our efforts from detecting and correcting those variations to modeling them statistically. From gait data collected on one healthy, non-elderly subject during 48 full-factorial trials, we identified four major sources of variation, and quantified their impact on one gait outcome—range per cycle—using a random effects model and a fixed effects model. The methodology developed in this paper lays the groundwork for a statistical framework to account for sources of variation in wearable gait data, thus facilitating informative statistical inference for free-living gait analysis.
Erratum to: Comparative clinical utility of tumor genomic testing and cell-free DNA in metastatic breast cancer.

Breast cancer metastases differ biologically from primary disease; therefore, metastatic biopsies may assist in treatment decision making. Commercial genomic testing of both tumor and circulating tumor DNA have become available clinically, but utility of these tests in breast cancer management remains unclear. Patients undergoing a clinically indicated metastatic tumor biopsy were consented to the ongoing METAMORPH registry. Tumor and blood were collected at the time of disease progression before subsequent therapy, and patients were followed for response on subsequent treatment. Tumor testing (n = 53) and concurrent cell-free DNA (n = 32) in a subset of patients was performed using CLIA-approved assays. The proportion of patients with a genomic alteration was lower in tumor than in blood (69 vs. 91%; p = 0.06). After restricting analysis to alterations covered on both platforms, 83% of tumor alterations were detected in blood, while 90% of blood alterations were detected in tumor. Mutational load specific for the panel genes was calculated for both tumor and blood. Time to progression on subsequent treatment was significantly shorter for patients whose tumors had high panel-specific mutational load (HR 0.31, 95% CI 0.12–0.78) or a TP53 mutation (HR 0.35, 95% CI 0.20–0.79), after adjusting for stage at presentation, hormone receptor status, prior treatment type, and number of lines of metastatic treatment. Treating oncologists must distinguish platform differences from true biological heterogeneity when comparing tumor and cfDNA genomic testing results. Tumor and concurrent cfDNA contribute unique genomic information in metastatic breast cancer patients, providing potentially useful biomarkers for aggressive metastatic disease.
Of Jars and Gongs. Two Keys to Ot Danum Dayak Cosmology, by Raymond Corbey

Anthropologist Raymond Corbey’s varied realms of expertise include the study of the collection, display, and marketing of traditional art and artefacts, in particular from the Asia-Pacific region. ...
Smoking behaviors of adults with developmental disabilities and their direct support professional providers.

Abstract Background People with developmental disabilities are not immune from the addictive effects and poor health outcomes associated with cigarette use. Direct support professionals often play a large role in the social environments of people with developmental disabilities and the literature suggests that one's environment can influence behavior. Objectives To examine the relationship between the smoking behaviors of people with developmental disabilities and their direct support professional providers. Two exploratory aims of the study were to assess how direct support professionals facilitate smoking behaviors and to describe the use of home smoking policies. Methods The Ohio Department of Disabilities' online provider search database was used to randomly select participants. A total of 398 direct support professionals completed an online survey about smoking. Direct support professionals served as proxy reporters for the smoking behaviors of those with developmental disabilities. Descriptive statistics were calculated and Chi–Square tests were used. Results Findings suggest that there was no significant relationship (χ12 = 0.300, p = 0.584) between the current smoking behaviors of people with developmental disabilities and their direct support providers. Direct support professionals were most likely to facilitate smoking behaviors by allowing people with developmental disabilities to smoke in front of them and waiting for them to finish smoking before moving on to a new activity. Approximately 46% of people with developmental disabilities were reported to have some type of home smoking policy. Conclusions Future research is needed to better understand the reasons why people with developmental disabilities initially start smoking and continue to smoke.
Injection Drug Use Trajectories among Migrant Populations: A Narrative Review.

Background: Dual epidemics of injection drug use and blood-borne disease, characterized as “syndemics,” are present in a range of settings. Behaviors that drive such syndemics are particularly prev...
Kernel Design and Distributed, Self-Triggered Control for Coordination of Autonomous Multi-Agent Configurations

Autonomous multi-agent systems show promise in countless applications, but can be hindered in environments where inter-agent communication is limited. In such cases, this paper considers a scenario where agents communicate intermittently through a cloud server. We derive a graph transformation mapping the kernel of a graph's Laplacian to a desired configuration vector while retaining graph topology characteristics. The transformation facilitates derivation of a self-triggered controller driving agents to prescribed configurations while regulating instances of inter-agent communication. Experimental validation of the theoretical results shows the self-triggered approach drives agents to a desired configuration using fewer control updates than traditional periodic implementations.
Resolving disputes among inter-professional codes of ethics

Summary The effective delivery of complex, acute, health care now requires a diverse team of professionals, each with their own technical specialization, practice credential, and span of control. Responsible practice, in this context, traditionally entails a code of ethical conduct. The problem is, there are now separate codes for each specialization, often tied to governmental licensure and more importantly, they demand different things of people operating in the same context on the same case. While bioethics has provided some principles for guiding the physician-patient relationship , there are no principles governing the relationships among the professions involved in delivering care. With multiple codes at issue and no overarching “meta-code” to resolve possible conflicts, professionals are left to resolve disputes through more arbitrary means, say, authority granted by the institution, political power, or more traditional sources of professional status. Under these circumstances, how do we determine the right thing to do? We propose to develop an inter-professional ethics that speaks to the conflicts and generates a protocol for resolving conflict. Our intent is to develop ways of deliberating over differences based on a contractualist approach to moral justification. The key assumption is that reasonable individuals can come to an agreement that is equally binding and builds on mutual respect and inter-professional understanding.
Map-drift autofocus and scene stabilization for video-SAR

Onboard video-SAR systems are susceptible to blurring due to motion measurement errors during the integration time required to process each frame. Established techniques like Phase Gradient Autofocus can render sharp video but need to have the azimuth dimension aligned with one of the axes of each frame. Video-SAR systems that use backprojection typically take advantage of sub-aperture processing and form images on a fixed ground coordinate system. As such the azimuth dimension rotates through the frames according to the aspect angle of the radar. For these cases we have extended the concept of map-drift to video-SAR by registering sub-images to the aperture center sub-image before coherently accumulating them into a fully resolved image. Furthermore, inter-frame drift caused by the motion measurement system can be measured by means of a cross-correlation operation and fed back to the image formation process or motion measurement system in order to stabilize the ground reference point.
Abnormalities of Skeletal Growth

Perhaps including a chapter on growth in a book such as this one on pediatric orthopedics is a bit odd. Abnormal longitudinal growth, however, is a common complaint brought to the primary care provider and, at its most basic level, represents a major deficiency in skeletal function.
Effect of Urinary Macromolecules on Calcium Oxalate Dihydrate Crystal Growth and Nucleation Rates

Two major theories of calcium oxalate urinary stone disease are the hyperexcretion-supersaturation theory and the inhibitor theory. Both are centrally related to the crystallization kinetics of calcium oxalate (CaOx). In the supersaturation theory oxalate stone is a result of persistent overconcentration of Ca2+ and/or Ox2- ions in the urine brought about by dietary and metabolic irregularities or inadequate fluid intake. CaOx precipitation (mono or dihydrate form) occurs when the CaOx ion product exceeds the formation product. The supersaturation theory maintains that persistent overconcentration causes excessive crystalluria growth, nucleation, and/or aggregation which raises the probability of a particle eventually lodging in the kidney to become the nidus for a stone. High supersaturations aggravate further growth of the stone by molecular growth, surface nucleation of dendrites and/or aggregation with additional crystalluria. Finlayson1 demonstrated convincingly using order-of-magnitude calculations that growth of 200μm particles (approximate dimensions of the ducts of Bellini) is virtually impossible solely by molecular accretion on single crystals; agglomeration/aggregation mechanisms are a likely part of the overall stone formation process. Nevertheless, the presence of small CaOx crystalluria sets up these mechanisms and therefore the hyperexcretion-supersaturation theory correctly focuses on the importance of crystallization kinetics.
Decoding musical and vocal emotions

Many studies support the idea of common neural substrates for the perception of vocal and musical emotions. It is proposed that music, in order to make us perceive emotions, recruits the emotional circuits that evolved mainly for the processing of biologically important vocalizations (e.g., cries, screams). Although some studies have found great similarities between voice and music in terms of acoustic cues (emotional expression) and neural correlates (emotional processing), some studies reported differences specific to each medium. However, it is possible that the differences described may not be specific to the medium, but may instead be specific to the stimuli used (e.g., complexity, length). To understand how these vocal and musical emotions are perceived and how they can be affected by hearing impairments, we assessed recognition of the most basic forms of auditory emotion (musical/vocal bursts) through a series of studies in normal hearing individuals and in cochlear implant users. Multi-voxel pattern analyses of fMRI images provide evidence for a shared neural code for processing musical and vocal emotions. Correlational analyses of emotional ratings helped highlight the importance of timbral acoustic cues (brightness, energy, and roughness) common to voice and music for emotion perception in cochlear implant users.
Using a Linear Quadratic Regulator to Attenuate Cell-to-Cell Heterogeneity within a Lithium-Ion Battery Pack

This paper develops a balancing algorithm capable of attenuating charge, temperature, and other types of heterogeneity between cells within a lithium-ion battery pack. Cell-to-cell heterogeneity is known to negatively impact pack performance and reduce pack lifespan, and several balancing algorithms exist to mitigate this impact. These algorithms control cell currents and remove state of charge (SOC), state of health (SOH) and temperature imbalances, extending pack lifespan. However, the literature currently lacks a formalized method for removal of multiple types of heterogeneity that is scalable for different pack sizes. This paper addresses this gap by developing a balancing algorithm which is (i) general with respect to battery model selection and heterogeneity types and (ii) easily scalable to different pack sizes without increasing computational complexity. To design the algorithm, a linear time-varying (LTV) model representative of heterogeneity within the battery pack is presented. A linear quadratic regulator (LQR) is applied to this heterogeneity model, providing a systematic method to determine controller gains for the balancing currents. The block diagonal matrices of the LTV model prove advantageous, and allow the LQR problem's solution to be independent of the pack size. The novel balancing algorithm is validated through simulation using a realistic electro-thermal model with heterogeneity in charge, temperature, and other electrochemical states. This case study exemplifies the effectiveness of the balancing algorithm to eliminate multiple types of heterogeneity.
Effects of APOE on cognitive aging in community-dwelling older adults.

OBJECTIVE The apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene is an established risk factor for sporadic Alzheimer's disease, with elevated risk for e4-carriers and reduced risk for e2-carriers. However, it is unclear whether APOE modifies risk for cognitive decline in normal aging. The objective of this study was to determine whether e2 and e4 are associated with rates of normal cognitive aging, and whether associations of e4 with cognitive decline are modified by sex, education or health behaviors (exercise, alcohol consumption, smoking). METHOD A community-based sample of 1,393 older adults were genotyped for APOE and underwent cognitive assessment up to seven times over a maximum of period of 27 years. RESULTS e2-carriers showed slower executive function decline with age relative to e3 homozygotes or e4-carriers, whereas e4-carriers demonstrated more rapid executive function and verbal fluency decline. Accelerated executive function decline was particularly pronounced in e4-carriers with lower education. After excluding individuals with cognitive impairment, faster executive function decline was still apparent in e4-carriers, and the effect of e4 on episodic memory interacted with alcohol consumption, such that only e4-carriers who did not drink showed more rapid memory decline than e4 noncarriers. The influence of e4 on cognitive aging did not differ by sex, nor was it modified by smoking or exercise. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that the e2 and e4 alleles have differential effects on cognitive aging, and that negative effects of e4 may be partly mitigated by behavioral choices. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
The impact of FOMC announcements on currency futures markets

ABSTRACTWe examine the impact on developed and emerging markets of the FOMC announcements on currency futures during the period 1994–2017. The effects are significant for high-yielding major curren...
Lactate Predicts Both Short- and Long-Term Mortality in Patients With and Without Sepsis.

Objective:To measure the relationship between lactate and mortality in hospital inpatients. Main outcomes of interest were 3-day, 30-day, and 1-year all-cause mortality.Design:Retrospective cohort ...
Clinical Benefits of Direct-to-Definitive Testing for Monitoring Compliance in Pain Management.

Background The technical advantages of direct-to-definitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) urine testing for monitoring patient compliance in pain management are well known. However, the design and implementation of LC-MS/MS methods are more controversial, including factors such as determining appropriate cutoffs, specimen processing (e.g., specimen hydrolysis), reporting of qualitative and/or quantitative results, and test menu. Objectives The objective of the research was to compare the clinical performance of our previous urine pain toxicology panel, a combination of immunoassay (IA) screens and LC-MS/MS, to our current pain toxicology panel, which features direct-to-definitive LC-MS/MS for 34 drugs and metabolites. Study design Six months of results from our previous pain toxicology panel were compared to 5.5 months of results from our current pain toxicology panel, enabling us to make conclusions regarding clinical performance. Setting The research took place at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, MA. Methods The percentage of false positive IA results was evaluated for our previous pain toxicology panel. The positivity rates for each drug and/or metabolite were calculated for both the previous and current panels, including rates of detection of both prescribed and illicit drugs. The turnaround time (TAT), direct and send-out costs associated with each approach, as well as projected cost savings were also determined. Results False positive rates with IA ranged from 0% to 29%; the highest false positive rate was seen for 6-acetylmorphine (6-AM). The elimination of IA, addition of metabolites, and/or lowering of cutoffs increased the detection rate of 6-AM, benzoylecgonine (cocaine metabolite), fentanyl, morphine, and oxycodone. The ability to differentiate compliance from simulated compliance improved after eliminating specimen hydrolysis. The TAT improved significantly and projected yearly cost savings with the current panel was $95,003 (USD). In our opinion, qualitative results appeared sufficient to assess compliance in the majority of cases. Limitations Our study was performed in a single academic center in a specific geographic region; therefore, our results may not be generalizable to other types of centers or regions. Conclusion Direct-to-definitive LC-MS/MS testing has several clinical benefits, including reduction of false positive results, improved assessment of patient compliance, decreased TAT, and increased detection of drug use and abuse. Cost savings were also realized using this approach. Key words Direct-to-definitive, LC-MS/MS, immunoassay, sensitivity, cost, pain management, turnaround time, patient compliance.
Differential rearing alters taste reactivity to ethanol, sucrose, and quinine

Early-life environment influences reinforcer and drug motivation in adulthood; however, the impact on specific components of motivation, including hedonic value (“liking”), remains unknown. The current study determined whether differential rearing alters liking and aversive responding to ethanol, sucrose, and quinine in an ethanol-naive rat model. Male and female rats were reared for 30 days starting at postnatal day 21 in either an enriched (EC), isolated (IC), or standard condition (SC). Thereafter, all rats had indwelling intraoral fistulae implanted and their taste reactivity to water, ethanol (5, 10, 20, 30, 40% v/v), sucrose (0.1, 0.25, 0.5 M), and quinine (0.1, 0.5 mM) was recorded and analyzed. EC rats had higher amounts of liking responses to ethanol, sucrose, and quinine and higher amounts of aversive responses to ethanol and quinine compared to IC rats. While EC and IC rats’ responses were different from each other, they both tended to be similar to SCs, who fell in between the EC and IC groups. These results suggest that environmental enrichment may enhance sensitivity to a variety of tastants, thereby enhancing liking, while isolation may dull sensitivity, thereby dulling liking. Altogether, the evidence suggests that isolated rats have a shift in the allostatic set-point which may, in part, drive increased responding for a variety of rewards including ethanol and sucrose. Enriched rats have enhanced liking of both sucrose and ethanol suggesting that enrichment may offer a unique phenotype with divergent preferences for incentive motivation.
Dependency versus sustainability in missions in the Russian and African contexts

All too often in missions’ history the unfortunate pattern has been to establish dependent, rather than independent, seminaries and churches that have had to struggle mightily to arrive at a point ...