cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Partitioned Iteration Method Employing CG-Following Reference Frames for Distributed Simulation of Flexible Multibody Systems

A distributed simulation platform, denoted as D-Sim, has been developed previously by our research group, which comprises three essential attributes: a general XML description for models suitable for both leaf and integrated models, a gluing algorithm, which only relies on the interface information to integrate subsystem models, and a logical distributed simulation architecture that can be realized using any connection-oriented distributed technology. The overarching research focus is to integrate heterogeneous subsystem models, e.g., multibody dynamics subsystems models and finite element subsystems models and to conduct seamlessly integrated simulation and design tasks in a distributed computing environment. A Partitioned Iteration Method (PIM) is proposed in this paper, which decouples the rigid body motion from elastic deformation of the simulated system using an iteration scheme. The method employs a CG-following reference frame for each deformable body in the distributed simulation of flexible multibody systems. The resultant simulation system can be used to integrate distributed deformable bodies D-Sim, while allowing large rigid body motions among the bodies or subsystems. It also enables using independent simulation servers; where each server can run commercially available or research-based MBD and/or FEM codes. Examples are provided that demonstrate the performance of the method and also how to decouple and integrate rigid body motion and elastic deformation using the developed gluing algorithm.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
RDMA read based rendezvous protocol for MPI over InfiniBand: design alternatives and benefits

Message Passing Interface (MPI) is a popular parallel programming model for scientific applications. Most high-performance MPI implementations use Rendezvous Protocol for efficient transfer of large messages. This protocol can be designed using either RDMA Write or RDMA Read. Usually, this protocol is implemented using RDMA Write. The RDMA Write based protocol requires a two-way handshake between the sending and receiving processes. On the other hand, to achieve low latency, MPI implementations often provide a polling based progress engine. The two-way handshake requires the polling progress engine to discover multiple control messages. This in turn places a restriction on MPI applications that they should call into the MPI library to make progress. For compute or I/O intensive applications, it is not possible to do so. Thus, most communication progress is made only after the computation or I/O is over. This hampers the computation to communication overlap severely, which can have a detrimental impact on the overall application performance. In this paper, we propose several mechanisms to exploit RDMA Read and selective interrupt based asynchronous progress to provide better computation/communication overlap on InfiniBand clusters. Our evaluations reveal that it is possible to achieve nearly complete computation/communication overlap using our RDMA Read with Interrupt based Protocol. Additionally, our schemes yield around 50% better communication progress rate when computation is overlapped with communication. Further, our application evaluation with Linpack (HPL) and NAS-SP (Class C) reveals that MPI_Wait time is reduced by around 30% and 28%, respectively, for a 32 node InfiniBand cluster. We observe that the gains obtained in the MPI_Wait time increase as the system size increases. This indicates that our designs have a strong positive impact on scalability of parallel applications.
Reduced computational redundancy implementation of DSP algorithms using computation sharing vector scaling

In this paper, we present a general approach which specifically targets reduction of redundant computation in common digital-signal processing (DSP) tasks such as filtering and matrix multiplication. We show that such tasks can be expressed as multiplication of vectors by scalars and this allows fast multiplication by sharing computation. Vector scaling operation is decomposed to find the most effective precomputations which yield a fast multiplier implementation. Two decomposition approaches are presented, one based on a greedy decomposition and the other based on fixed-size lookup and this leads to two multiplier architectures for vector-scalar products. Analog simulation of an example multiplier shows a speed advantage by a factor of about 1.85 over a conventional carry save array multiplier. Further simulations using 0.18 /spl mu/ technology show up to 20% speed advantage over Booth encoded Wallace tree multipliers.
Ad hoc positioning system (APS) using AOA

Position information of individual nodes is useful in implementing functions such as routing and querying in ad-hoc networks. Deriving position information by using the capability of the nodes to measure time of arrival (TOA), time difference of arrival (TDOA), angle of arrival (AOA) and signal strength have been used to localize nodes relative to a frame of reference. The nodes in an ad-hoc network can have multiple capabilities and exploiting one or more of the capabilities can improve the quality of positioning. In this paper, we show how AOA capability of the nodes can be used to derive position information. We propose a method for all nodes to determine their orientation and position in an ad-hoc network where only a fraction of the nodes have positioning capabilities, under the assumption that each node has the AOA capability.
Decreased bone strength in HLA-B27 transgenic rat model of spondyloarthropathy

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the nature of osteopenia/osteoporosis in spondyloarthropathy, an inflammatory disorder, using the HLA-B27 transgenic rat model. METHODS: HLA-B27 transgenic rats were housed individually and sacrificed at the peak of their disease (8-month-old). The spine and femurs were removed and stored in saline at -20 degrees C until analysis. The bone structure and strength were determined using a micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) device (Scanco Medical) and mechanical testing (Instron 5543). Vertebral bodies and femurs were scanned to determine trabecular structural properties in terms of bone volume (BV/TV), trabecular thickness, and spacing. After scanning, the mid-shaft femurs were subjected to a 3-point bending test (along anterior-posterior direction), the femoral necks were tested in bending, and the vertebral bodies (L4) were tested in compression. Structural (ultimate/yield load, stiffness) and apparent material (ultimate/yield stress, modulus) strength parameters were then determined. RESULTS: The majority of the bone structural and strength parameters were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the HLA-B27 transgenic rats as compared with control littermates. Micro-CT data suggested that the transgenic animals had lower BV/TV and trabecular thickness in their vertebral bodies. The poor trabecular structure observed in HLA-B27 rats is also indicative of the poor biomechanical strength properties in the vertebral bodies as well. CONCLUSION: The HLA-B27 transgenic rats develop bone fragility similar to that seen in spondyloarthropathy and may be an important model for the study of osteoporosis in spondyloarthropathy.
A simple derivation of necessary conditions for Pareto optimality

A simple derivation of necessary conditions for Pareto optimality in multicriteria dynamic optimization problems is presented. The results show that a broad class of problems with a vector cost criterion can be reduced to a minimization problem with a scalar cost.
The impact of IT spending for staff development on performance of the firm

As the use of information technology continues to grow in business, coupled with ever-escalating expenditures and increasing interest in outsourcing, IT professionals are under increasing scrutiny to demonstrate an impact on business performance. However, due to the fact that information technology components are widely available, it is unlikely they are the basis for a competitive edge in business. Rather the benefits come from the manner in which IT is deployed, which in turn stem from the capabilities of the staff members of the IT group. Thus, one might ponder whether firms that invest effectively in the development of information technology's human resource enjoy better performance than those who do nor. An analysis was performed of the three-year IT spending of a sample of Fortune 500/Service 500 firms. The results of the study show there is a highly significant and positive relation between spending for development of the IT staff and performance of the firm, measured by corporate revenue. These findings suggest a series of questions meriting additional research.
Mechanical vibration inhibits osteoclast formation by reducing DC-STAMP receptor expression in osteoclast precursor cells

Abstract It is well known that physical inactivity leads to loss of muscle mass, but it also causes bone loss. Mechanistically, osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption have recently been shown to be regulated by vibration. However, the underlying mechanism behind the inhibition of osteoclast formation is yet unknown. Therefore, we investigated whether mechanical vibration of osteoclast precursor cells affects osteoclast formation by the involvement of fusion-related molecules such as dendritic cell-specific transmembrane protein (DC-STAMP) and P2X7 receptor (P2X7R). RAW264.7 (a murine osteoclastic-like cell line) cells were treated with 20 ng/ml receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL). For 3 consecutive days, the cells were subjected to 1 h of mechanical vibration with 20 μm displacement at a frequency of 4 Hz and compared to the control cells that were treated under the same condition but without the vibration. After 5 days of culture, osteoclast formation was determined. Gene expression of DC-STAMP and P2X7R by RAW264.7 cells was determined after 1 h of mechanical vibration, while protein production of the DC-STAMP was determined after 6 h of postincubation after vibration. As a result, mechanical vibration of RAW264.7 cells inhibited the formation of osteoclasts. Vibration down-regulated DC-STAMP gene expression by 1.6-fold in the presence of RANKL and by 1.4-fold in the absence of RANKL. Additionally, DC-STAMP protein production was also down-regulated by 1.4-fold in the presence of RANKL and by 1.2-fold in the absence of RANKL in RAW264.7 cells in response to mechanical vibration. However, vibration did not affect P2X7R gene expression. Mouse anti-DC-STAMP antibody inhibited osteoclast formation in the absence of vibration. Our results suggest that mechanical vibration of osteoclast precursor cells reduces DC-STAMP expression in osteoclast precursor cells leading to the inhibition of osteoclast formation.
Carl Schmitt's Concept of the Political

C ARL SCHMITT, widely known as the Crown Jurist of the Third Reich, was also one of twentieth-century Germany's ablest political and legal philosophers.' Most of his writings were both anti-democratic and anti-liberal; and he exercised a powerful influence over the right-wing critics of the Republic through his studies pointing up the inconsistencies, incompatibilities, and weaknesses in the Republic. "The Concept of the Political," which went through several editions in the Third Reich, is the best known as well as the single most representative publication in the entire body of his work.2 In it one finds a criticism of liberalism, an exposition of his philosophy of decisionism, and not surprisingly authoritarian overtones. But perhaps its most characteristic aspect is the pervasive sense of the loss of orientation-a loss which Schmitt shared with
Role of liposomal anthracyclines in the treatment of multiple myeloma

Patients with multiple myeloma (MM) typically respond to initial chemotherapy, but almost all patients relapse with a median survival of approximately 5 years. Combining vincristine and conventional doxorubicin with oral dexamethasone (VAD) or reduced-dose dexamethasone (VAd) provides rapid response in many patients, but its use is limited by toxicity concerns and the inconvenience of continuous infusions in each cycle. Use of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (Doxil/Caelyx [PLD]) and vincristine intravenous injection with oral dexamethasone (DVD) or reduced-dose dexamethasone (DVd) is safe and effective for the management of newly diagnosed or relapsed/refractory MM. Controlled trials showed that DVD/DVd is at least as effective as VAD/VAd for the treatment of MM, but DVd is associated with less neutropenia and alopecia in addition to requiring fewer days in the hospital or clinic for drug administration. DVd therapy has also been reported to be associated with an antiangiogenic effect not observed with VAD. Another liposomal anthracycline, liposomal daunorubicin (DaunoXome [DNX]), has been investigated in MM and preliminary data suggest that it is safe and effective, but studies comparing it with other regimens have not been reported. Early results from ongoing trials suggest that adding thalidomide, bortezomib, or other immune modulators to PLD-based chemotherapy may improve efficacy.
Geochemical characterization using geophysical data and Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods: A case study at the South Oyster bacterial transport site in Virginia

[1] The study demonstrates the use of ground-penetrating radar (GPR) tomographic data for estimating sediment geochemical parameters using data collected at the Department of Energy South Oyster bacterial transport site in Virginia. By exploiting the site-specific mutual dependence of GPR attenuation and extractable Fe(II) and Fe(III) concentrations on lithofacies, we develop a statistical model in which lithofacies and Fe(II) and Fe(III) concentrations at each pixel between the boreholes are considered as random variables. The unknown variables are estimated by conditioning to the colocated GPR data and the lithofacies measurements along boreholes using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo method. Cross-validation results show that the geophysical data, constrained by lithofacies, have the potential for providing high-resolution, multidimensional information on extractable Fe(II) and Fe(III) concentrations at the South Oyster site.
Social status and season of birth: a study of a metropolitan area in the southeastern United States.

Abstract Periodic regression analysis was applied to data from Fulton County, Georgia, 1967–77, to test for a relationship between social status and season of birth in two population groups, whites and all other races. Results suggest that for both groups seasonal variation in births tends to increase with lower social status. Proportionately more births to lower status women, especially in the all‐other‐races group, occured during August. Due to timing of birth, these children have a young age at entry into school which has been shown to result in poor early academic performance.
Prospective Study of Changes in Global Self-Worth and Strain During the Transition to Middle School:

An integrative model of the stress process in early adolescence during the transition to middle school was examined in this prospective study. In the model, student role strain (both peer and school work strain) was hypothesized to predict changes in feelings of self-worth, with perceived competence (social and scholastic) and social support (from close friends, parents, and teachers) serving as moderators of the relation. Reciprocal relations also were hypothesized. Results of prospective analyses showed support for the negative effects both of peer and school strain on changes in feelings of self-worth, as well as a role for perceived social competence and social support from close friends as moderators of this type of relation. Reciprocal influences of perceived competence, social support, and feelings of self-worth on levels of strain also were evident individually and in interaction with one another.
Working together, creating excellence: the experiences of nursing teachers, students, and clinicians.

Abstract This study, conducted to inform the development and implementation of the National League for Nursing Centers of Excellence in Nursing Education Program™, provides a hermeneutical analysis of the common experiences and shared meanings of excellence as described by nursing students, teachers, and clinicians. Findings highlight how excellence resides in students and teachers working and learning together through enacting new pedagogies. Two themes are reported: “Working Together: Creating New Partnerships Between and Among Teachers and Students” and “Learning Together: Creating Excellence and Shaping the Future of Nursing Education Through Enacting New Pedagogies.”
Determination of Hepatic Tissue Calcium Levels by Flame Emission Spectrophotometry

Hepatotoxicants are known to cause significant increases in total liver calcium content. These increases are postulated to be the key irreversible event leading to necrosis of hepatic parenchymal cells. An investigation is presented of the use of flame emission spectrophotometry as an alternative analytical method to atomic absorption spectrophotometry in the assessment of hepatic calcium levels following hepatotoxicant challenge, using a proven method of tissue digestion. Flame emission and atomic absorption spectrophotometry were found to be comparable in sensitivity with detection limits in the ppm range and correlation coefficients of greater than 0.99 for the standard curves. Tissue sample analysis demonstrated comparable precision for the two methods. The liver calcium levels determined for an untreated control rat were 105 ppm with a coefficient of variation of 2.9% for flame emission spectrophotometry vs. 106 ppm with a coefficient of variation of 3.6% for atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Comparable precision was also found for the two methods when toxicant-damaged liver was analyzed. Flame emission spectrophotometry appears to be a useful alternative to atomic absorption spectrophotometry for tissue calcium analyses in experimental toxicologic studies.
A ROLE FOR SORBITOL IN DESICCATION TOLERANCE OF DEVELOPING MAIZE KERNELS: INFERENCE FROM THE PROPERTIES OF MAIZE SORBITOL DEHYDROGENASE!

Some tissues of most higher plant species are capable of tolerating extremes of desiccation. Typically, these tissues are found within the developing seed (Kermode et al., 1986), but for some species a wider range of tissues may be desiccation tolerant (Bartels, this volume). Within the developing seed the ability to tolerate desiccation is typically acquired during seed development, and is typically lost upon germination (Bartels et al., 1991; Kermode et al., 1986). Thus, the developing seed provides a system which can be utilized to elucidate at the biochemical and molecular level those factors which are involved in the acquisition and loss of desiccation tolerance.
Mechanism of Death in Bile Peritonitis

ConclusionsThe amount of plasma-like peritoneal exudate in experimental bile peritonitis indicates that the loss of this fluid from the blood stream is an important factor in the production of shock and death in this condition.
Liquefaction Evidence for Holocene and Latest Pleistocene Seismicity in the Southern Halves of Indiana and Illinois: A Preliminary Overview

Clastic dikes filled with sand and gravel, interpreted to be of seismic liquefaction origin, occur throughout much of the southern halves of Indiana and Illinois. Nearly all of the liquefaction features originated from earthquakes centered in the southern halves of Indiana and Illinois, rather than further south in the nearby source region for the great 1811–12 New Madrid earthquakes. At least eight earthquakes strong enough to induce liquefaction have occurred during the past 20,000 years. At present, the best dated paleoliquefaction evidence lies in Indiana. More paleoliquefaction features have been found in Illinois, but studies there have not yet narrowly bracketed the age of the liquefaction evidence at most sites. Estimated magnitudes of at least two prehistoric events are higher than M 7, which greatly exceeds the largest historic earthquake of M 5.5 that has originated in Indiana and Illinois. The strongest prehistoric earthquakes have been centered in the general vicinity of strongest historic seismicity, in and near the Wabash Valley seismic zone in the lower Wabash Valley of Indiana and Illinois. However, in several cases prehistoric events greater than M 6 have struck far outside the Wabash Valley seismic zone, in areas where there has been little or no historic seismicity. Numerous other strong paleoearthquakes could have struck elsewhere in the southern halves of Indiana and Illinois but not be recognized because of the lack of liquefiable deposits in many areas.
Studies Of The Polymer Thin Film Glass Transition Temperature Monitored With The Complex Viscoelastic Cofficients

In integrated circuit manufacturing, the gaps between metal lines are a critical parameter, and polymer films are being evaluated as low k dielectric materials for VLSI. Desire to maximize the number of elements within a given area to increase clock speed and decrease power consumption have forced the gaps to become increasingly smaller. Currently, 0.25-0.18 micron line widths are the subject of much commercial interest. A line width of 0.25 microns is within a factor of 5 of the molecular dimension of most commercial polymers. Experiments have suggested polymer films slightly smaller than these dimensions may not have the expected bulk mechanical properties. This deviation from the expected behavior (i.e., Change in the glass transition temperature) would present significant technical challenges to the manufacturing and reliability of integrated circuits. These effects are extremely difficult to determine experimentally with requisite precision. Recently, an experimental technique, based on a highly modified quartz crystal microbalance, has been developed to study the mechanical properties of these ultra-thin polymer films with high precision. The experimental details and preliminary results from this recently developed state-of-the-art experimental technique will be presented.
Design and High-Resolution Structure of a β3-Peptide Bundle Catalyst

Despite the widespread exploration of α-peptides as catalysts, there are few examples of β-peptides that alter the course of a chemical transformation. Our previous work demonstrated that a special class of β3-peptides spontaneously self-assembles in water into discrete protein-like bundles possessing unique quaternary structures and exceptional thermodynamic stability. Here we describe a series of β3-peptide bundles capable of both substrate binding and chemical catalysis—ester hydrolysis. A combination of kinetic and high-resolution structural analysis suggests an active site triad composed of residues from at least two strands of the octameric bundle structure.
Discharge of red nucleus neurons during voluntary muscle contraction: Activity patterns and correlations with isometric force

Discharges of red nucleus neurons were analyzed in the cat during voluntary muscle contractions performed under isometric and anisometric conditions. The observations established: (1) that neurons of the red nucleus modulate their firing in advance of the motor output under both conditions; (2) that increased activity of these neurons is specific to the direction of the force exerted ; (3) that this increase is primarily related to the magnitude of the rate of force change generated by the animal.
Culture, Climate, and Advocacy

Institutional culture and visibility are key elements for providing a safe environment for inclusive and equitable Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) patient care. Culture and climate are also important for establishing a welcoming learning environment for LGBT students, faculty, and staff. The purpose of this chapter is to examine the impact of LGBT health-related institutional climate, culture, and advocacy on patient care and health education. This chapter will also provide practical suggestions for improving institutional climate.
The Effects of Grain Size and Texture on Dynamic Abnormal Grain Growth in Mo

This is the first report of abnormal grain morphologies specific to a Mo sheet material produced from a commercial-purity arc-melted ingot. Abnormal grains initiated and grew during plastic deformation of this material at temperatures of 1793 K and 1813 K (1520 °C and 1540 °C). This abnormal grain growth during high-temperature plastic deformation is termed dynamic abnormal grain growth, DAGG. DAGG in this material readily consumes nearly all grains near the sheet center while leaving many grains near the sheet surface unconsumed. Crystallographic texture, grain size, and other microstructural features are characterized. After recrystallization, a significant through-thickness variation in crystallographic texture exists in this material but does not appear to directly influence DAGG propagation. Instead, dynamic normal grain growth, which may be influenced by texture, preferentially occurs near the sheet surface prior to DAGG. The large grains thus produced near the sheet surface inhibit the subsequent growth of the abnormal grains produced by DAGG, which preferentially consume the finer grains near the sheet center. This produces abnormal grains that span the sheet center but leave unconsumed polycrystalline microstructure near the sheet surface. Abnormal grains are preferentially oriented with the $$\left\langle 110\right\rangle $$ approximately along the tensile axis. These results provide additional new evidence that boundary curvature is the primary driving force for DAGG in Mo.
Johann Martin Chladenius

Pastorensohn; nach Hausunterricht und Besuch des Akademischen Gymnasiums Coburg Studium der Geschichte, Mathematik, Philologie und Theologie in Wittenberg, nach Erwerb des Magistertitels 1732 erste Lehrtatigkeit dort, 1742 Extraordinarius fur Christliche Altertumer in Leipzig, dann Wechsel als Lehrer (zuletzt Rektor) zuruck an das Coburger Gymnasium; ab 1748 an der neuen Universitat Erlangen Ordinarius fur Theologie, Rhetorik und Poesie sowie Universitatsprediger; entwickelte trotz fester Verankerung in der lutherischen Orthodoxie mittels Rezeption und Anwendung der rationalistischen Wissenschaftsprinzipien von Christian Wolff die historische Hermeneutik als eigenstandige, mit dem Offenbarungsglauben in grundsatzlicher Spannung stehende Wissenschaft.
Venous Bridge Arterial Grafting for Thumb Replantation.

Background: The purpose of this study is to describe a novel technique using an interposition vein graft for thumb replantation in these severe avulsion injuries. Methods: From 2002 to 2012, 8 pati...
Disparities in chronic medical conditions in the Mid-South.

ABSTRACTObjective. This study examined differences in socio-demographic characteristics and health behaviors relevant to chronic medical conditions (CMCs) in the Mid-South region (Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas), and identified subpopulations with increased burden of chronic disease.Methods. Data were obtained from the 2013 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. The top five most prevalent CMCs in the Mid-South were analyzed: asthma, high blood pressure (HBP), obesity, arthritis, and depression. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and confidence intervals (CI) of race–gender combinations were estimated using logistic regression. Differences in associations between socio-demographic characteristics and CMCs according to income were also examined.Results. The weighted prevalence estimates of the top five CMCs ranged from 66% (asthma) to 20% (depression). Higher income and employment were associated with better outcomes in all five CMCs. Higher educational attainment and physi...
The creatininase homolog MftE from Mycobacterium smegmatis catalyzes a peptide cleavage reaction in the biosynthesis of a novel ribosomally synthesized post-translationally modified peptide (RiPP)

Most ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptide (RiPP) natural products are processed by tailoring enzymes to create complex natural products that are still recognizably peptide-based. However, some tailoring enzymes dismantle the peptide en route to synthesis of small molecules. A small molecule natural product of as yet unknown structure, mycofactocin, is thought to be synthesized in this way via the mft gene cluster found in many strains of mycobacteria. This cluster harbors at least six genes, which appear to be conserved across species. We have previously shown that one enzyme from this cluster, MftC, catalyzes the oxidative decarboxylation of the C-terminal Tyr of the substrate peptide MftA in a reaction that requires the MftB protein. Herein we show that mftE encodes a creatininase homolog that catalyzes cleavage of the oxidatively decarboxylated MftA peptide to liberate its final two residues, including the C-terminal decarboxylated Tyr (VY*). Unlike MftC, which requires MftB for function, MftE catalyzes the cleavage reaction in the absence of MftB. The identification of this novel metabolite, VY*, supports the notion that the mft cluster is involved in generating a small molecule from the MftA peptide. The ability to produce VY* from MftA by in vitro reconstitution of the activities of MftB, MftC, and MftE sets the stage for identification of the novel metabolite that results from the proteins encoded by the mft cluster.
Evaluation of the REG1 Anticoagulant System Using Thrombelastography and Thrombin Generation Assay.

Background: The REG1 system (Regado Biosciences, Inc. Durham, NC) is a novel anticoagulant system which comprises RB006 (drug) and RB007 (antidote). The aptamer, RB006 selectively binds to FIXa and blocks factor Xa generation. RB007 is a complementary ligand that selectively binds to RB006, and reverses its anticoagulant effect (1). Phase 1 testing demonstrated a clear pharmacodynamic dose response to RB006 in plasma coagulation assays (1), but further work is needed to understand the pharmacodynamic response to the REG1 system in whole blood assays. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of RB006 and RB007 alone and in combination using activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), viscoelastic (TEG®, Haemoscope, IL) and thrombin generation assay (Thrombinoscope™, Synapse BV). Methods: After IRB approval, blood samples were collected from 4 consented healthy volunteers into 3.2% citrate tubes. For APTT and TEG testing blood was placed in thirteen 2 ml Eppendorf tubes. Tube one had 20 μl of saline added and served as a control. The remaining 12 tubes were divided into 3 groups. Group1: RB006 (final concentrations 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 μg/ml); Group 2: RB007 (final concentrations 6, 12, 24, and 48 μg/ml) and Group 3: combination of both agents at a weight:weight ratio 2 to 1 for RB007:RB006 (final concentrations as above). All testing was performed within 3-hour of blood draw. APTT was done using Hemochron Jr® (ITC, NJ) instrument in recalcified whole blood. TEG was peformed in recalcified whole blood, 360 μl activated with 2 nM thrombin. For Thrombinoscope, whole blood was centrifuged at 2000 x g for 15 min to obtain platelet poor plasma (PPP). PPP samples were prepared to contain the same concentrations of RB006, RB007, and combination of both agents as described in whole blood samples. Thrombin generation analyses were performed using microplate format using diluted Actin (Dade Behring, Marburg, Germany) as a trigger (2). Results: RB006 dose dependently increased APTT (Table 1). Increasing concentrations of RB006 progressively prolonged onset, and decreased the rate of thrombus formation on TEG (Figure1A). On Thrombinoscope, RB006 dose dependently delayed lag time and decreased peak thrombin generation (Table 1, Figure1B). All the parameters of aPTT, TEG and thrombin generation returned back to control values when combination of aptamer-anti-aptamer was tested. RB007 alone had no effects on any of the tests performed. Conclusion: Along with conventional point of care APTT testing TEG and Thrombinoscope methodologies can be very useful in monitoring the anticoagulation effects of aptamer, RB006, and its reversal with anti-aptamer, RB007.
Reconsidering Women’s Empowerment: the Contradictory Effects of Microfinance for Guatemalan Women

In light of changing global trends that connect women’s empowerment and development, this paper extends debates by exploring how projects aimed at empowering women in the Global South intertwine with diverse women’s lived realities in ways that complicate assessments of “success” or “failure.” The article begins by analyzing the incorporation of the concept of empowerment into mainstream development, demonstrating that the conceptual fuzziness of empowerment has allowed it to be associated with vastly different development strategies: some have interpreted it narrowly to promote self-help strategies whereas others have interpreted it broadly to promote structural change. The former has targeted women with “choice-enhancing” resources that are thought to have spillover effects; the latter tends to adopt a more holistic approach. In order to explore how these contrasting strategies affect women’s empowerment experiences and outcomes on the ground, this article then draws on comparative ethnographies of two microfinance non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that are emblematic of these diverging approaches. It finds that despite their differences, both spillover and holistic approaches lead to diverse and contradictory experiences that defy easy classification as “empowering” or “disempowering.” This finding reveals the advantages and limitations of relying on the concept of empowerment for evaluating development outcomes and raises questions about our ability to generalize about the effects of the varying approaches encompassed under the current feminization of policy. The analysis also suggests that we should adjust our understanding of women’s agency to include the agency women exercise when they transform, challenge, or reject empowerment projects themselves.
Physics-based modeling tool development for spectral-sensing measurements under atmospheric attenuation

In an experimental setting where new sensing techniques are being developed and the source/medium/system parameters are in a constant state of change, a flexible radiometric prediction tool can be essential for experimental design and analysis. The Spectral Signature Sensing (SSS) analysis and visualization software development is a user-friendly analytic tool that is designed for radiometric analysis and modeling of radiant optical energy from a source to a detection system. Transmission through the atmosphere is computed with MODTRAN and the code features multiple-source options and a flexible set of parameters for the detector. It also provides a Google Earth display function to visualize the simulation scenario. In this paper a summary is presented of the radiometric calculations applied in this modeling tool. The essential components and the main features are briefly described including the system-component inputs, other options such as save and load inputs, and the resulting spectral plots and radiometric output.
Training to Be an Early Childhood Professional: Teacher Candidates' Perceptions about Their Education and Training.

Professionalism in the context of early care and education has received considerable attention in recent years (Caulfield, 1997; Harte, 2011; Tigistu, 2013). According to the 2010 National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Standards for Initial & Advanced Early Childhood Professional Preparation Programs, teacher candidates prepared in early childhood degree programs should identify and conduct themselves as members of the profession, know and use ethical guidelines and utilize other professional standards related to early childhood practice (NAEYC, 2012). In their final journal entry for a student teaching practicum course, teacher candidates in an accredited early childhood program reflected on what it means to be an early childhood professional. In alignment with the 2010 NAEYC Standards, teacher candidates appeared to recognize that being an early childhood professional means having an understanding of the specialized knowledge required to be effective in early childhood education. They also appeared to be aware that providing responsive, supportive curricula, which acknowledges and respects the whole child and family and their cultural backgrounds, is an integral aspect of the early childhood profession. Implications from this inquiry suggest that the early childhood program should ensure the fidelity to the NAEYC Standards by aligning assignments that incorporate the language and expectations of the Standards.
Second Generation Grp94-Selective Inhibitors Provide Opportunities for the Inhibition of Metastatic Cancer.

Glucose regulated protein 94 (Grp94) is the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) resident isoform of the 90 kDa heat shock protein (Hsp90) family and its inhibition represents a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of many diseases. Modification of the first generation cis-amide bioisostere imidazole to alter the angle between the resorcinol ring and the benzyl side chain via cis-amide replacements produced compounds with improved Grp94 affinity and selectivity. Structure-activity relationship studies led to the discovery of compound 30, which exhibits 540 nm affinity and 73-fold selectivity towards Grp94. Grp94 is responsible for the maturation and trafficking of proteins associated with cell signaling and motility, including select integrins. The Grp94-selective inhibitor 30 was shown to exhibit potent anti-migratory effects against multiple aggressive and metastatic cancers.
Sequential fraud detection for prepaid cards using hidden Markov model divergence

Abstract Stored-value cards, or prepaid cards, are increasingly popular. Like credit cards, their use is vulnerable to fraud, costing merchants and card processors millions of dollars. Prior techniques to automate fraud detection rely on a priori rules or specialized learned models associated with the customer. Mostly, these techniques do not consider fraud sequences or changing behavior, which can lead to false alarms. This study demonstrates how a transaction model can be dynamically created and updated, and fraud can be automatically detected for prepaid cards. A card processing company creates models of the store terminals rather than the customers, in part, because of the anonymous nature of prepaid cards. The technique automatically creates, updates, and compares hidden Markov models (HMM) of merchant terminals. We present fraud detection and experiments on real transactional data, showing the efficiency and effectiveness of the approach. In the fraud test cases, derived from known fraud cases, the technique has a good F-score. The technique can detect fraud in real-time for merchants, as card transactions are processed by a modern transaction processing system.
Biomolecular Therapeutics for HIV

Abstract Combinatorial antiretroviral therapies (ARTs) inhibit human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication, reduce the rates of transmission, and improve life expectancy. Unfortunately, ART is noncurative, and nearly all HIV-infected individuals on ART will need to maintain their medications for the entirety of their lives, resulting in considerable expense, development of resistance, and sometimes the toxic side effects of these drugs. As an alternative to ART, chimeric RNA molecules composed of aptamer and small interfering RNA components can be designed to specifically bind and enter HIV-infected or HIV-susceptible cells, thereby establishing a targeted delivery approach for biomolecular therapeutics for HIV. Other biomolecular strategies for HIV include combinatorial gene-based vectors, where multiple anti-HIV genes can protect cells from HIV infection and replication. Genome-editing strategies, which aim to disrupt viral genes or endogenous genes required for HIV infection, have also emerged as a method for creating HIV-resistant immune cells. Although vector-based and genome-editing approaches aim at protecting cells from HIV infection, engineered chimeric antigen receptor T cells can be programmed to attack HIV-infected cells to thwart the HIV replication cycle. In this chapter, we will discuss each of these biomolecular technologies, including any potential advantages over ART and concerns regarding their efficacy, safety, and overall feasibility as anti-HIV therapies.
In-Memory Data Parallel Processor

Recent developments in Non-Volatile Memories (NVMs) have opened up a new horizon for in-memory computing. Despite the significant performance gain offered by computational NVMs, previous works have relied on manual mapping of specialized kernels to the memory arrays, making it infeasible to execute more general workloads. We combat this problem by proposing a programmable in-memory processor architecture and data-parallel programming framework. The efficiency of the proposed in-memory processor comes from two sources: massive parallelism and reduction in data movement. A compact instruction set provides generalized computation capabilities for the memory array. The proposed programming framework seeks to leverage the underlying parallelism in the hardware by merging the concepts of data-flow and vector processing. To facilitate in-memory programming, we develop a compilation framework that takes a TensorFlow input and generates code for our in-memory processor. Our results demonstrate 7.5x speedup over a multi-core CPU server for a set of applications from Parsec and 763x speedup over a server-class GPU for a set of Rodinia benchmarks.
A National Contemporary Analysis of Perioperative Outcomes of Open versus Minimally Invasive Sacrocolpopexy.

Purpose: We evaluated the perioperative morbidity of open abdominal sacrocolpopexy and minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy using data on a contemporary nationwide cohort.Materials and Methods: We used the ACS (American College of Surgeons) NSQIP® (National Surgical Quality Improvement Program) database to identify women who underwent abdominal or minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy from 2010 to 2016. Associations of surgical approach with 30-day complications, blood transfusion, prolonged hospitalization and reoperation were evaluated by logistic regression. Hospital readmission within 30 days was calculated by the person-years method and Cox proportional hazard models.Results: A total of 4,362 women underwent sacrocolpopexy, including abdominal sacrocolpopexy in 1,179 (27%) and minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy in 3,183 (73%). The proportion of minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy increased during the study period from 70% in 2010 to 82% in 2016. Baseline characteristics were similar between the treatment group...
Survey of Locomotion Systems in Virtual Reality

This is a survey paper on various types of virtual reality locomotion systems. This paper will be examining results and making comments on their implementations and techniques in an attempt to see where the virtual reality industry is heading in the near future.
Amphipoda of the Galápagos Islands

Amphipoda are small crustaceans about 5–10 mm long which look either like shrimps, but lacking the carapace, or like isopods (pill bugs), but mostly flattened from side to side. They are easily identified because they are crustaceans with only 3 pairs of pleopods (swimmerets). Two body extremes are shown in Fig. 1; the rarely expressed flattened form resembles an isopod.
The Hemostatic System — A “Lay” Summary of Old and New Observations

The hemostatic system includes the cells (endothelial cells) which line the blood vessels, small corpuscles (platelets) which circulate with the white cells, and proteins (clotting factors) which circulate in the blood plasma. When all these components work together properly, the hemostatic system seals leaks in blood vessels by forming a blood clot at the injury site while remaining fluid everywhere else. When this system malfunctions, either no clot forms to seal the leak, resulting in hemorrhage, or clots form in vessels to the brain or heart where they are not required, resulting in thrombosis. The hemostatic system fulfills the complex task of forming clots in very specific areas while remaining fluid elsewhere. It does this by striking a balance between four basic functions: blood clot formation and prevention of blood clot formation; blood clot dissolution and the prevention of blood clot dissolution.
Endonasal anatomy of the olfactory neural network: Surgical implications

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS Define the anatomic distribution of the olfactory filaments within specific mucosal regions of the nasal cavity. STUDY DESIGN Cadaveric study. METHODS Seventeen cadaveric specimens (34 sides) were dissected to study the anatomical distribution and density of olfactory fila within different regions of the nasal cavity. Olfactory fila were dissected retrogradely to their point of entry into the anterior cranial fossa through the cribriform plate. Anatomic relationships among various components of the olfactory system and their corresponding arterial supply were determined subjectively. RESULTS The highest density of olfactory fila was found at the mucosa of the ethmoid roof and superior turbinates. Olfactory fila were found at regions not previously considered to be part of the olfactory system: lateral wall of the nose, ethmoidal bullae, and between the os sphenoidale and arc of the posterior choana. Furthermore, at the septum, 20% of the olfactory fila crossed contralaterally before exiting the nose. The anterior ethmoidal arteries were the primary blood supply to the olfactory epithelium. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that olfactory filaments extend beyond previously established boundaries. These findings may have clinical implications regarding oncologic resections and could serve as the foundation for the development of techniques that better preserve olfactory function. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE NA Laryngoscope, 2473-2477, 2018.
Projecting impacts of carbon dioxide emission reductions in the US electric power sector: evidence from a data-rich approach

Conditional forecasts of US economic and energy sector activity are developed using information from a dynamic, data-rich environment. The forecasts are conditional on a path for carbon dioxide emissions outlined in the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan (CPP) and are estimated based on a factor-augmented autoregressive framework. Results suggest that overall growth will be slower under the CPP than it would otherwise; however, economic growth and CO2 reductions can be achieved simultaneously. There are little differences between unconditional (business-as-usual) and conditional forecasts of the variables in the early part of the forecast period; the impacts of the CPP are small while the constraints on carbon dioxide are less stringent. The results serve as a data-driven complement to structural analyses of policy change in the energy sector.
Is, Ought, and the Regress Argument

abstractMany take the claim that you cannot ‘get’ an ‘ought’ from an ‘is’ to imply that non-moral beliefs are by themselves incapable of justifying moral beliefs. I argue that this is a mistake and...
Accounts receivable: An audit simulation

Abstract This simulation allows you to confirm accounts receivables electronically. It contains 1000 customer accounts from which you select a random sample. Confirmations are created and then sent to customers. Some confirmations are returned with discrepancies. For confirmations not returned, the simulation creates invoices, bills of lading, and purchase orders necessary for you to perform alternative procedures. Although the simulation requires little class time, you perform several audit procedures that help you gain an understanding of (1) the confirmation process; (2) alternative procedures for receivables; (3) the evaluation of audit evidence; (4) the preparation of work papers; and (5) statistical sampling as a tool to manage risk. The project requires approximately one hour to complete.