cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Series-Expansion Methods

Series-expansion methods that are potentially useful in geophysical fluid dynamics include the spectral, pseudospectral, finite-element, and discontinuous Galerkin methods. The spectral method plays a particularly important role in global atmospheric models, in which the horizontal structure of the numerical solution is often represented as a truncated series of spherical harmonics. Finite-element methods, on the other hand, are not commonly used in multidimensional wave propagation problems because they generally require the solution of implicit algebraic systems and are therefore not as efficient as competing explicit methods. The discontinuous Galerkin method is a combination of the spectral and finite-element methods and also has many similarities with finite-volumemethods. All of these series-expansion methods share a common foundation that will be discussed in the next section.
Apolipoprotein D interacts with the long form leptin receptor: a hypothalamic function in the control of energy homeostasis

Leptin and its long form receptor, Ob-Rb, in the hypothalamus play a key function in regulating food intake and body weight. We demonstrate here that apolipoprotein D (Apo D), a lipocalin that is heavily expressed in brain, interacts specifically with the cytoplasmic portion of Ob-Rb but not the short form receptor, Ob-Ra. This finding is detected in yeast two-hybrid systems as well as in protein precipitation experiments in vitro and in vivo. Apo D and Ob-Rb are coexpressed in neurons of the hypothalamic arcuate and paraventricular nuclei that are known to be involved in eating and body weight regulation. Moreover, hypothalamic level of Apo D mRNA is stimulated by dietary fat. It is also significantly elevated in rats and inbred mice that become obese on a highfat diet, compared with their lean controls, and is strongly, positively correlated with body fat mass and circulating leptin levels. This positive association with body fat, however, is lost in obese ob/ob- and db-/db- mice, which exhibit markedly reduced levels of hypothalamic Apo D mRNA compared with that of wild-type mice. These results suggest that Apo D in the hypothalamus is involved in the leptin/Ob-Rb signal transduction pathway that controls body fat accumulation on a high-fat diet.
Electric Vehicles and their impact to the electric grid in isolated systems

Energy systems are frequently based on imported fossil fuels, and this is a problem in different dimensions including, the environmental, the economic and the security of supply, the latter being particularly relevant for any isolated system, like Islands. Renewable energy is regarded as a solution to this problem, particularly considering its transformation in electricity but this does not include the impact of the transportation sector, which represents a significant component of the imported fuels consumption. The other main limitations associated to renewable electricity consists on the need to increase the storage capacity that might attenuate the effect of renewable energy sources intermittence and disparity between supply and demand. In both these main problems associated with renewable energy management, the Plug-in Electric Vehicles (EV) could be a part of the solution in that the use of the vehicle to grid (V2G) technology can provide storage of electric energy during low demand times and use it to match the demand in peak hours and/or to avoid fossil fuel consumption. However, could the large scale EV penetration lead to increasing the fraction of electricity from renewable? Is the usage of EV batteries like as a storage system truly the best solution? Is the EV a better solution for the vehicle's owner than the internal combustion vehicle from an economical point of view? This paper analyses a case study in the Island of Sao Miguel in Azores, where energy systems modeling is used to assess how far large scale EV penetration may lead to increasing the potential for the use of renewable electricity, and discusses the possible revenues for EV owners from providing vehicle to grid power.
Preterm premature rupture of membranes in pregnancies complicated by human immunodeficiency virus infection: A single center's five-year experience

Objective. The objective of this study was to describe one center's five-year experience of the management of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive gravidas with preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PPROM) not in labor at ≤34 weeks of gestation.Methods. This is a retrospective chart review of all HIV positive gravidas with PPROM at ≤34 weeks of gestation, who delivered between December 1, 2000 and December 31, 2005.Results. We identified 228 HIV positive gravidas of whom 19 had PPROM at ≤34 weeks of gestation. Mother-to-child transmission occurred in two of 18 surviving neonates as confirmed by a follow-up visit at six months of age. No mother-to-child transmission occurred in the 10 neonates of mothers who received antenatal highly active antiretroviral therapy and intrapartum zidovudine. Eleven neonates were delivered between 30 and 33 weeks of gestation. In this group, five of 11 gravidas received antenatal corticosteroids. The mean neonatal hospital stay was 31 days with or without prophy...
Rebel capability and strategic violence against civilians

This article explores the strategic motivations for insurgent violence against civilians. It argues that violence is a function of insurgent capacity and views violence and security as selective benefits that insurgents manipulate to encourage support. Weak insurgent groups facing collective action problems have an incentive to target civilians because they lack the capacity to provide sufficient benefits to entice loyalty. By contrast, stronger rebels can more easily offer a mix of selective incentives and selective repression to compel support. This relationship is conditioned by the counterinsurgency strategies employed by the government. Indiscriminate regime violence can effectively reduce the level of selective incentives necessary for insurgents to recruit support, thus reducing their reliance on violence as a mobilization tool. However, this relationship only holds when rebels are sufficiently capable of credibly providing security and other incentives to civilian supporters. These hypotheses are ...
The Global Technology Grid: Its Role in Virtual Reality

The Global Technology Grid is the interlinking of simulation computers, large databases, and high-end visualization environments like CAVEs and multi-screen high-resolution displays over high-speed networks. Achieving this Grid is a massive undertaking, requiring everything from networking quality of service, to authenticated reservations of resources, to new levels of international cooperation. This talk will cover these topics from a visualization point of view.
“Does That Make Me A Woman?” Breast Cancer, Mastectomy, and Breast Reconstruction Decisions Among Sexual Minority Women

Feminist scholars and activists writing about breast cancer care among women have highlighted the sexist and heterosexist assumptions often embedded in the medical management of breast cancer, and of mastectomy in particular. Despite these contributions, and some speculation that sexual minority women may be less interested in breast reconstruction, limited research explores sexual minority women’s lived experience of mastectomy and decision making about reconstruction. Thirteen lesbian and/or bisexual women who had undergone mastectomy for treatment of breast cancer participated in individual qualitative interviews exploring decisions to have, or not have, breast reconstruction. Reasons for/against reconstruction reflected themes identified in prior studies among heterosexual women. Although participants described sexual, gender, and political identities and orientations as influences on their decision making, for most participants, experiences with physicians who encouraged reconstruction and concerns a...
First Report of Geosmithia pallida Causing Foamy Bark Canker, a New Disease on Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia), in Association with Pseudopityophthorus pubipennis in California

Declining coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia) trees have been observed since 2012 throughout urban landscapes in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Monterey counties in California. Symptoms causing branch dieback and tree death included a cinnamon-colored gum seeping through multiple 0.95-mm-diameter entry holes on the bole, followed by a prolific, cream-colored foamy liquid. Beneath the outer bark was phloem and xylem necrosis. Fifty 1- to 2.5-mm adult and larval beetles were collected. Adults fit the morphological description of Pseudopityophthorus pubipennis (western oak bark beetle) (R. Rabaglia, personal communication), and ~800 bp of the mitochondrial COI gene was amplified for three beetles using primer pairs and methods previously described (2,3). All three sequences were identical (GenBank Accession Nos. KJ831289 to 91) and a BLAST search confirmed the closest match (94%) as P. pubipennis. Necrotic wood tissues collected from two trees in each county were cultured on potat...
A randomized voting algorithm

A randomized algorithm for vote assignment is described. Given a collection of sites where copies of a file are replicated, and the individual site reliabilities, the algorithm assigns votes to sites so as to maximize overall availability. It is based on the concept of simulated annealing which has been successfully applied for various complex problems (for instance, the traveling salesman problem) for which no efficient optimal algorithm is known. The authors tested their algorithm for 5-, 6-, 7-, 8-, and 9-site examples and compared the vote assignments produced by it with those produced by an optimal algorithm based on solving an integer programming model. The results produced by the randomized algorithm were remarkably close to those produced by the optimal one. >
Effect of sex pheromone and kairomone lures on catches of codling moth

Field studies were conducted in sex pheromone—treated apple orchards to evaluate the performance of a clear 0.11 m2 vertical interception trap coated with oil and baited with either (E,E)-8-10-dodecadien-1-ol (codlemone), ethyl (E, Z)-2,4—decadienoate (pear ester), or both attractants (combo) for adult codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.). Interception traps baited with codlemone or pear ester caught significantly more males only or both sexes than unbaited traps, respectively. Interception and delta traps baited with codlemone caught similar numbers of males. Interception traps baited with pear ester caught up to 8-fold more males and 30-fold more females than similarly baited delta traps, respectively. Seasonal catches of females did not differ between light and pear ester—baited interception traps. Delta traps caught significantly more males, fewer females, and a similar number of total moths as the interception trap when both were baited with the combo lure. These data suggest that new clear trap designs can be developed to increase catches of female codling moth which may enhance seasonal monitoring and establish more useful predictive population models.
LEGUME, GRASS, AND CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM EFFECTS ON SOIL ORGANIC MATTER RECOVERY

Active pools of soil organic matter (SOM) can recover to native levels on formerly cultivated fields that are abandoned for ≈50 yr, but the short-term (<10 yr) recovery dynamics of SOM and nutrient supply have not been widely investigated. In several fields on a farm in southeastern Wyoming that had been involved in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP, a federal program that pays landowners to convert cultivated land into revegetated grasslands), we compared C and N in several SOM pools (coarse particulate organic matter [POM, between 500 μm and 2 mm], fine POM [53–500 μm], and total SOM), and we compared potential C and N mineralization in active pools responsible for nutrient supply. The two CRP treatments, planted 6 yr prior to this study, were an ≈80% legume:20% grass mixture (HL CRP) and a 20% legume:80% grass mixture (LL CRP). To quantify SOM accumulations directly due to increased plant inputs within CRP fields, we also compared SOM pools under legumes and grasses relative to plant interspaces, w...
Very high efficiency solar cells

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has initiated the Very High Efficiency Solar Cell (VHESC) program to address the critical need of the soldier for power in the field. Very High Efficiency Solar Cells for portable applications that operate at greater than 55 percent efficiency in the laboratory and 50 percent in production are being developed. We are integrating the optical design with the solar cell design, and have entered previously unoccupied design space that leads to a new architecture paradigm. An integrated team effort is now underway that requires us to invent, develop and transfer to production these new solar cells. Our approach is driven by proven quantitative models for the solar cell design, the optical design and the integration of these designs. We start with a very high performance crystalline silicon solar cell platform. Examples will be presented. Initial solar cell device results are shown for devices fabricated in geometries designed for this VHESC Program.
Baccalaureate Minority Nursing Students' Perceptions of High-Fidelity Simulation

Abstract Background This qualitative study examined baccalaureate minority nursing students' perceptions of high-fidelity simulation. Methods Three focus groups assigned by race were conducted in junior and senior students who have previously participated in high-fidelity simulation. Results Three themes and two subthemes emerged: a need to keep the peace, pressure to perform, and demographics as a factor in simulation with subthemes: isolation and discrimination and faculty role. Conclusions Results confirm that current simulation practices in nursing education may exist as barriers to minority students. Study findings will be used to develop and test interventions aimed at improving the educational experiences of minority students.
Angiogenesis in Tumour Development and Metastasis

Angiogenesis requires the development of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones. This complex process involves matrix breakdown, endothelial sprouting, endothelial proliferation, migration, morphogenesis to form tubes, and recruitment of pericytes/smooth muscle cells to mature vessels. This sequence of events is tightly regulated during physiologic development, yet may be relatively disordered in pathologic states (as in inflammatory or neoplastic conditions). Common to both is the essential role of secreted factors that act on endothelial cells, the best characterized of which is Vascular Endothelial cell Growth Factor (VEGF, or VEGF-A). We will discuss tumour angiogenesis by considering four aspects of the process, including the initiation of tumor angiogenesis, progression and maturation of tumor vessels; angiogenesis in metastasis; and tumour lymphangiogenesis. Initiation of tumour angiogenesis occurs when tiny avascular tumors become hypoxic, signaling pathways are elicited, and vessel development begins. In this section, we have chosen to focus principally on VEGF, as illustrative of the fundamental concepts of this transition, the “angiogenic switch”. The section will include consideration of novel factors that function in concert with VEGF to further shape and grow the tumor vasculature, including proteins of the Notch pathway. Coordinated VEGF and Notch signaling is required for proper development of the vascular tree during development, and dysregulation of both is implicated in pathological tumour vessels. As such, these two pathways are relevant targets for therapeutic intervention. Progression of tumour angiogenesis will consider the factors that recruit tumour pericytes and maturation of tumour vasculature. In addition, the presence of inflammatory cells that interact with tumour vessels will be discussed. Discussion of angiogenesis and metastasis will present the concepts of a premetastatic niche and the transit of tumor cells in and out of vessels. Finally, the process of tumour lymphangiogenesis will be discussed.
Modulation of antibody galactosylation through feeding of uridine, manganese chloride, and galactose

Through process transfer and optimization for increased antibody production to 3 g/L for a GS-CHO cell line, an undesirable drop in antibody Fc galactosylation was observed. Uridine (U), manganese chloride (M), and galactose (G), constituents involved in the intracellular galactosylation process, were evaluated in 2-L bioreactors for their potential to specifically increase antibody galactosylation. These components were placed in the feed medium at proportionally increasing concentrations from 0 to 20× UMG, where a 1× concentration of U was 1 mM, a 1× concentration of M was 0.002 mM, and a 1× concentration of G was 5 mM. Antibody galactosylation increased rapidly from 3% at 0× UMG up to 21% at 8× UMG and then more slowly to 23% at 20× UMG. The increase was primarily due to a shift from G0F to G1F, with minimal impact on other glycoforms or product quality attributes. Cell culture performance was largely not impacted by addition of up to 20× UMG except for suppression of glucose consumption and lactate production at 16 and 20× UMG and a slight drop in antibody concentration at 20× UMG. Higher accumulation of free galactose in the medium was observed at 8× UMG and above, coincident with achieving the plateau of maximal galactosylation. A concentration of 4× UMG resulted in achieving the target of 18% galactosylation at 2-L scale, a result that was reproduced in a 1,000-L run. Follow-up studies to evaluate the addition of each component individually up to 12× concentration revealed that the effect was synergistic; the combination of all three components gave a higher level of galactosylation than addition of the each effect independently. The approach was found generally useful since a second cell line responded similarly, with an increase in galactosylation from 5% to 29% from 0 to 8× UMG and no further increase or impact on culture performance up to 12× UMG. These results demonstrate a useful approach to provide exact and specific control of antibody galactosylation through manipulation of the concentrations of uridine, manganese chloride, and galactose in the cell culture medium. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2011; 108:1591–1602. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Spontaneous order and the common law: Gordon Tullock’s critique

Gordon Tullock critiques two specific aspects of the common law system: the adversary system of dispute resolution and the common law process of rulemaking, contrasting them with the inquisitorial system and the civil law systems respectively. Tullock’s general critique is straightforward: litigation under the common law system is plagued by the same rent-seeking and rent-dissipation dynamics that Tullock famously ascribed to the process of legislative rent-seeking. The article concludes that Tullock’s critique of the adversary system appears to be stronger on both theoretical and empirical grounds than his critique of the common law system of rulemaking.
Environmental Challenges in Arab Countries - Option to Swallow an Elephant

The purpose of this article is to shed lights on environmental challenges, especially, greenhouse gas emission issues, lying ahead for Arab Countries where they have common background to be together to act on the issue. The literature of this study is presented and compared with an East Indian fable to make it attractive to the readers. It is suggested to consider the problem as a regional issue instead of considering an issue for an individual state in the region. This progress may buttress the process of bringing policy makers on one podium, which may help designing future vision of strategies on how to deal with the issues cost effectively.
Piezoresistance Response of Different Batches of Ytterbium Foils

The piezoresistance response of ytterbium and manganin has been the subject of several recent papers by Gupta and coworkers.1–7 Although these materials have also been studied by others,8–10 the work in Ref. 1–7 has several novel features: (i) an electro-mechanical model to include gauge plasticity, (ii) gauge-matrix interaction analysis treating the gauge as an elastic-plastic inclusion, (iii) development of a quasi-static method to measure the electro-mechanical constants for the gauge material, (iv) dynamic experiments, designed to conform to the requirements of the theoretical analysis, (v) correlation between quasi-static and dynamic experiments, and (vi) modeling the results, including gauge hysteresis, observed in dynamic experiments.
From bench to bedside a comprehensive review of pancreatic cancer immunotherapy

The incidence of pancreatic cancer has been increasing while its 5-year survival rate has not changed in decades. In the era of personalized medicine, immunotherapy has emerged as a promising treatment modality in a variety of malignancies, including pancreatic cancer. This review will discuss the unique pancreatic tumor microenvironment, including the cells and receptors that transform the pancreas from its normal architecture into a complex mix of suppressor immune cells and dense extracellular matrix that allows for the unrestricted growth of cancer cells. Next, we will highlight the recently completed immunotherapy clinical trials in pancreatic cancer. Finally, we will explore the on-going immunotherapy clinical trials and future directions of this engaging and changing field.
A Graphics System for Seismic Response Mapping

The area around St. Louis, Missouri, is one of the largest population centers of the United States. It also is located within 200 mi (322 km) of one of the most seismically active regions of the United States, the New Madrid fault zone. This region was the location of one of the greatest sequences of earthquakes in North American history, the New Madrid earthquakes of 1811 and 1812. In addition to the proximity of this area to an active seismic region, other geologic factors exist that add to the potential for property damage and loss of life from earthquakes. The urban expansion has extended onto thick lacustrine and alluvial deposits along the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. These deposits tend to be of the type which are highly susceptible to ground failure by liquefaction. The objective of this paper is to present a seismic hazards mapping procedure based on the geology, seismicity, dynamic response of the soil deposits, and state-of-the-art engineering analyses for the St. Louis region. The mapping procedure considers the relative potential for slope failure, liquefaction, and damage to structures by ground motion from a given earthquake. The procedure is demonstrated by computer-generated earthquake hazards maps of a portion of the Creve Coeur Quadrangle, St. Louis County, Missouri.
Adult Outcome of ADHD: An Overview of Results From the MGH Longitudinal Family Studies of Pediatrically and Psychiatrically Referred Youth With and Without ADHD of Both Sexes:

Objective: We aimed to provide an overview of the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Longitudinal Studies of ADHD. Methods: We evaluated and followed samples of boys and girls with and without ADHD ascertained from psychiatric and pediatric sources and their families. Results: These studies documented that ADHD in both sexes is associated with high levels of persistence into adulthood, high levels of familiality with ADHD and other psychiatric disorders, a wide range of comorbid psychiatric and cognitive disorders including mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders, learning disabilities, executive function deficits, emotional dysregulation, and autistic traits as well as functional impairments. The MGH studies suggested that stimulant treatment decreased risks of developing comorbid psychiatric disorders, substance use disorders, and functional outcomes. The MGH studies documented the neural basis of persistence of ADHD using neuroimaging. Conclusion: The MGH studies provided various insights on sympt...
Research on Lightning Shielding Characteristics of 500 kV Transmission line in Plateau Mountain

In order to better understand the probability distribution of space around the each lightning point and influences of ground wires protection angular of the 500 kV transmission line on the shielding performance,using the 500 kV typical transmission lines as examples,we established a model of reducing transmission line tower to simulate the shielding failure.The experimental results verify the superiority of the negative protection angle in the anti-shielding performance,and reveal that,the closer the transmission lines are,the more the strike is;from the central tower head to file,the probability of shielding failure increases first,then decreases.The research results provide a scientific basis for the design of lightning protection of 500 kV transmission lines.
Ku Gene in Microorganisms

Non-homologous end joining(NHEJ) mediated by ku genes is a repair type of DNA double-strand breaks(DSBs).NHEJ pathway is independent of homologous recombination(HR),and decreases HR with competitive relationship.ku genes are highly conservative in the biological evolution process,and ku mutants have been phenotypically characterized in many microorganisms,especially in fungi.Gene targeting frequency is increased by deletion of ku genes,when HR plays a key role on the defects of NHEJ pathway,leading to facilitate analysis of gene function.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Prostate: 2 Cases of a Rare Malignancy and Review of the Literature

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the prostate is an extremely uncommon malignancy, accounting for less than 1% of all prostatic cancers. We report on 2 patients with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the prostate: 1 with organ-confined disease and 1 with metastatic disease. Both patients presented with urinary obstructive symptoms and carcinoma was not suspected on digital rectal examination. Serum acid phosphatase and prostate specific antigen levels were normal. From a review of the literature and our 2 cases it is apparent that squamous cell carcinoma of the prostate is biologically more aggressive than adenocarcinoma.
Mathematical Models in Biology: Dynamic Modeling with Difference Equations

Whether we investigate the growth and interactions of an entire population, the evolution of DNA sequences, the inheritance of traits, or the spread of disease, biological systems are marked by change and adaptation. Even when they appear to be constant and stable, it is often the result of a balance of tendencies pushing the systems in different directions. A large number of interactions and competing tendencies can make it difficult to see the full picture at once. How can we understand systems as complicated as those arising in the biological sciences? How can we test whether our supposed understanding of the key processes is sufficient to describe how a system behaves? Mathematical language is designed for precise description, and so describing complicated systems often requires a mathematical model . In this text, we look at some ways mathematics is used to model dynamic processes in biology. Simple formulas relate, for instance, the population of a species in a certain year to that of the following year. We learn to understand the consequences an equation might have through mathematical analysis, so that our formulation can be checked against biological observation. Although many of the models we examine may at first seem to be gross simplifications, their very simplicity is a strength. Simple models show clearly the implications of our most basic assumptions.
Including Language Access into Medicaid ACO Design

Quality health care relies upon communication in a patient's preferred language. Language access in health care occurs when individuals are: (1) Welcomed by providers regardless of language ability; and (2) Offered quality language services as part of their care. Federal law generally requires access to health care and quality language services for deaf and Limited English Proficient (LEP) patients in health care settings, but these patients still find it hard to access health care and quality language services.Meanwhile, several states are implementing Medicaid Accountable Care Organization (ACO) initiatives to reduce health care costs and improve health care quality. Alternative payment methods used in these initiatives can give Accountable Care Organizations more flexibility to design linguistically accessible care, but they can also put ACOs at increased financial risk for the cost of care. If these new payment methods do not account for differences in patient language needs, ACO initiatives could hav...
No Right to Rest: Police Enforcement Patterns and Quality of Life Consequences of the Criminalization of Homelessness:

Laws restricting the behaviors of homeless people in public places are proliferating. Proponents argue that such “quality of life” laws will encourage homeless people to move off the streets and in...
Private Actors: Part of the Problem, Part of the Solution

The Paris Agreement establishes a frame-work for international cooperation in limiting the impact of climate change to an average global temperature increase of less than 2 degrees Celsius. The accord also facilitates equitable climate adaptation and seeks to align financing incentives with sustainability. To achieve these goals, the 195 adopting nations will develop individual plans for meeting their Nationally Determined Contributions. Most of these emissions-reduction plans will involve regulation at various levels of government and bilateral or regional agreements among nations. But these actions will still fall short of the goals of the agreement. In fact, temperatures could increase almost twice as much if governments alone address the risks to society and the biosphere — a truly dangerous situation. To meet the 2 degree target involves making a positive out of what is seemingly a triple negative: nongovernmental actors will need to take steps not required or not incentivized by regulation. These initiatives will come from a variety of agents, take many forms, and aim at a myriad of objectives. Corporations will reduce emissions and track reductions. Citizens groups will facilitate transitions to clean energy and sustainable resource use. Financing mechanisms will recognize the value of sustainable enterprises, including green municipal bonds and development projects, and selective investment and divestment. Institutions — cultural, religious, and academic — will reduce emissions while adjusting their platforms and reallocating resources to respond to the effects of climate change. And households across the globe will make adjustments involving the day-to-day lives of almost all people around the planet, as energy generation and use is transformed. The 2016 ELI-Miriam Hamilton Keare Policy Forum took on this difficult problem at the intersection of public and private policy. ELI’s multidisciplinary panel debated the complementary mechanisms that will facilitate the transition to a climate-sensitive future, with special emphasis on what the Paris Agreement will mean for private actors and related civil society mechanisms. We present a transcript of the forum that has been edited for space reasons and to improve clarity.
A 216 GOPS flexible WDR Image Processor for ADAS SoC

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) enhance the ability of a vehicle driver to avoid possible road accidents resulting in a safer driving experience. Front camera ADAS is probably the most challenging of all. These systems require high computational processing, in the range of hundreds of GOPS, within a 4 Watt power budget driven by thermal constraints of small enclosed assembly of the final system. In this paper, we present, Wide Dynamic Image (WDR or HDR) Processor as part of the Imaging Sub-system (ISS) that is flexible to interface with various kinds of optical sensor across different manufactures. The design achieves an overall throughput of 216 GOPS with performance efficiency of 66.4 GOPS/mm2 and power efficiently of 1.8 TOPS/W.
INTERACTION OF A MODEL OPIATE ANIONIC RECEPTOR SITE WITH N-SUBSTITUENTS OF RIGID OPIATES: PCILO ENERGY CALCULATIONS

The interaction of a model anionic receptor site with a series of N-substituents of fused ring opiates have been characterized using the semi-empirical quantum chemical method, PCILO. The results are examined for their implications for induced opiate- receptor binding and agonist/antagonist activity.
A new robotic approach to characterize mechanical impedance and energetic passivity of the human ankle during standing

This paper presents the quantitative characterization of ankle impedance and ankle passivity during upright standing. A novel multi-axis robotic platform allows for the quantification of these neuromuscular properties in two degrees-of-freedom of the ankle, specifically, dorsiflexion-plantarflexion (DP) and inversion-eversion (IE). For the slow sinusoid perturbations of low frequencies ranging up to 1.5 Hz, ankle impedance was accurately approximated by stiffness and damping, while the contribution of inertia and reflex feedback was minimal. Ankle stiffness and damping were found to be highly direction dependent, being much higher in the DP than IE direction. Ankle stiffness linearly increased with co-contraction of ankle muscles. While the same trend was evident for ankle damping in the DP direction, no significant changes were observed in the IE direction. In addition, the ankle behavior was found to be highly dissipative in both DOFs over a wide range of muscle activation for young healthy subjects. Characterization results in this study would not only provide an insight into the functional contribution of the ankle to the control of postural balance but also add valuable information in the development of neuro-rehabilitation and assistive devices.
Moral outrage in the digital age.

Moral outrage is an ancient emotion that is now widespread on digital media and online social networks. How might these new technologies change the expression of moral outrage and its social consequences?
Performance Efficiency in NCAA Basketball

This study employs data envelopment analysis to examine the efficiency of men’s college basketball programs in producing competitive and academically successful teams. Employing inputs measuring te...
Eccrine spiradenoma mimicking a painful traumatic neuroma: case report

Diagnosing and treating patients with persistent neuropathic pain associated with peripheral nerve lesions can be challenging. The authors report the rare case of a painful eccrine spiradenoma treated as a traumatic neuroma for many years because of a history of acute trauma, the presence of a tender palpable mass, and symptoms of allodynia. Surgical excision of the neoplasm completely relieved the pain and hypersensitivity that 2 prior surgeries and other nonsurgical treatments failed to resolve. The diagnosis of eccrine spiradenoma was not established until resection and histopathological analysis of the tissue. This case highlights the need to develop and consider an extensive list of differential diagnoses, including eccrine spiradenoma, for peripheral nerve lesions that fail to respond to treatment.
The Relationship Between Refractive Error and Scores on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) was administered to 70 third year University of Houston optometry students, and the results were compared to the subjects’ refractive errors. The MMPI consists of 566 test items, each item being a statement which the subject is asked to mark as true or false as applied to himself or herself. The test is scored in terms of ten scales: Hs (hypochondriasis), D (depression), Hy (hysteria, Pd (psychopathic deviate), Mf (masculinity-femininity, Pa (paranoia), Pt (psychasthenia), Sc (schizophrenia), Ma (hypomania) and Si (social introversion). Linear correlation coefficients between refractive error and each of the MMPI scales were determined, considering males and females separately, and the significance of each correlation coefficient was determined. It was found that the coefficients for the females for the Pd (psychopathic deviate) and Sc (schizophrenia) scales were significant at the 0.05 confidence level, whereas none of the correlation coefficients for males was found to be significant at this level. The results of the study are discussed in terms of the nature of the MMPI test and are compared to those of previous studies comparing refractive error and personality.
Pre-treatment effects on coral skeletal δ13C and δ18O

Pre-treatments are often used to remove organic “contaminant” material prior to isotopic analyses of coral skeletal samples. Here we conducted three experiments to test the pre-treatment effect of water, 30% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and household bleach [5.25% sodium hypochlorite (NaClO3) and 0.15% sodium hydroxide (NaOH)], on the stable isotopic composition of coral skeletal samples. First, using a mass balance approach we calculated the expected change in skeletal δ13C due to the removal of all organic carbon. The model showed that (1) the removal of organic carbon (which has a low δ13C value relative to skeletal δ13C) from the skeletal sample should theoretically result in a higher δ13C value of the remaining organic-carbon-free carbonate, and that (2) only at the highest concentrations of skeletal organic carbon within the tissue layer of corals is the contribution of the organic carbon to the overall δ13C skeletal value potentially large enough to be detectable by mass spectrometry. We then conducted two sets of experiments to test the model where we pre-treated a large number of skeletal samples from five species of corals with water, H2O2, bleach, or no pre-treatment for 24 h. Skeletal δ13C generally decreased significantly with water, bleach, and H2O2 pre-treatments which is contrary to the model-predicted increase in δ13C following such pre-treatments. Thus, organic carbon within the skeleton is not a net source of contamination to δ13C analyses. Skeletal δ18O decreased the most with water and bleach pre-treatments. In addition, the effect of H2O2 or bleach pre-treatments on either δ13C or δ18O was not consistent among species or locations. The direction of change in δ13C and δ18O with pre-treatments was no different for skeletal samples taken within or below the tissue layer. Based on our results, we suggest that pre-treatment is not necessary and recommend that pre-treatment not be performed on coral skeletal samples prior to stable isotope analysis to avoid any pre-treatment-induced variability that could significantly compromise inter-colony and inter-species comparisons.
Heckathorn's disease: variable functional dificiency of antihemophilic factor (factor VIII).

A family is described in which a syndrome resembling moderately severe classic hemophilia was apparently inherited as an X chromosome-linked trait. In two affected individuals, the titer of functional antihemophilic factor varied dramatically from time to time, while the conversion of prothrombin to thrombin was impaired in no apparent relationship to AHF functional activity. A transfusion of 200 ml of fresh-frozen plasma did not correct the serum prothrombin times in either patient. In vitro, the additions of 10% of normal plasma or serum or washed plain or frozen platelets also did not normalize the serum prothrombin times. No inhibitor could be demonstrated in the blood of either patient. In one patient, RH, dissipation of infused cryoprecipitated AHF was abnormally slow, and, after an intensive course of transfusion of cryoprecipitate and whole blood, the titer of functional AHF remained at normal levels for at least 1 wk. The plasma of RH inhibited a human antibody against AHF in proportion to its titer of functional AHF (i.e., the defect was CRM-) despite the presence of relatively greater amounts of antigenic material recognized by heterologous antiserum. No qualitative abnormality of the AHF-like material in RH's plasma was identified. Inheritance of the abnormality appears superficially to be X chromosome-linked; on this assumption, three of four obligate carriers of the disorder were recognized by the presence of excess amounts of AHF-like antigens relative to AHF functional activity. This coagulation disorder has been designated Heckathorn's disease and may presage the discovery of other examples of hemophilia-related syndromes.
Individual Rationality and Real-World Strategic Interactions: Understanding the Competitive-Cooperative Spectrum

We are interested in game-theoretic models of (bounded) rationality, and specifically in investigating (in)adequacy of the traditional models of rational behavior in strategic encounters – models such as Nash Equilibria and other “solution concepts” from the classical game theory. We argue that classical game theory arose in the historical and social context dominated by the Cold War and interest in zero-sum games, leading to solution concepts appropriate for the competitive games (either strictly competitive or at least, “close to being zero-sum”), but that have been found to be woefully inadequate when applied to certain 2-player games that are “far away” from being zero-sum, that is, farther along the spectrum ranging from strict competition to complete cooperation. We share some insights and our (perhaps in some cases provocative!) thoughts inspired by both prior research on an interesting 2-player game, Iterated Traveler’s Dilemma, and recent political developments in the United States of America and around the globe, arguing that, for strategic encounters that inherently value cooperative behavior, most existing solution concepts appear grossly inadequate as satisfactory models of individual rationality – and that new concepts of “solutions”, that is, of what it means to act rationally, are direly needed for such strategic interactions.
Effect of energy dependence of the density of states on pressure-dependent rate constants.

The FE integral for the normalized Boltzmann-weighted number of unimolecular states above the threshold energy is the key quantity for computing the collision efficiency in the pressure-dependent unimolecular rate theory developed by Troe, who calls this the energy dependence factor of the density of states. By using the Whitten–Rabinovitch approximation and assuming that the Whitten–Rabinovitch a(E) function is independent of energy, FE can be approximated by an analytical formula; this approximate formula is widely used because of its convenience and computational efficiency. Here we test its validity by comparing the rate constants computed by using the approximate FE to the ones determined by using the numerically integrated FE. For small-sized molecules and for reactions with high threshold energies E0, the differences are negligible at all temperatures, but in other cases, the approximate formula tends to underestimate FE and thus overestimates the collision efficiency, and this leads to smaller pressure falloff. When a(E) at high energies differs appreciably from a(E0), we find that the underestimation of pressure-dependent rate constants by using the approximate formula can be greater than a factor of 5 at high temperatures. The physical insight we draw from this study is that, for reactions with threshold energies below about 30 kcal mol−1, the rate of collisional energy transfer can be appreciably slowed down by the increase in the density of states at higher energies, and this increases the falloff effect by which finite-pressure rate constants become lower than the high-pressure limit, especially at higher temperatures.
The role of parental self-efficacy in parent and child well-being: A systematic review of associated outcomes.

Background For decades, parental self-efficacy (PSE), or parents' belief in their ability to influence their child in a healthy and success-promoting manner, has been understood as a key factor in promoting healthy functioning for parents and their children. In that time, an extensive collection of research examining the specific impact of PSE on parents and their children has developed. However, to the authors' knowledge, no comprehensive and systematic review of the outcomes linked to this factor exists, and the two most closely related non-systematic reviews were published over 10 years ago. Methods Therefore, by utilizing an iteratively optimized set of search terms applied across four databases, the current review sought to systematically collect, synthesize, and present the extant literature concerning the role of PSE in parent and child well-being. Results This search strategy yielded a total of 115 studies, the results of which were organized into three broad thematic categories relating to: the parent and child relationship, parental mental health, or child development. Conclusions These results recapitulate the clinical relevance of PSE, and provide an updated and comprehensive understanding of both the role PSE plays in the welfare of parents and children, as well as the gaps in the literature as it currently stands.
Comparing Undergraduate Satisfaction with Faculty and Professional Advisers: A Multi-Method Approach

Given that “the quality of academic advising is the single most powerful predictor of satisfaction with the campus environment,” it is disturbing to note that college students rank advising so unfavorably (Carey, 2008, p.12). Using a mixed-method approach (survey data followed by focus group interviews), this article addresses an important paradox: While student satisfaction with faculty advising is very polarized, tending to rate this kind of interaction very favorably or very poorly, students’ experience with professional advisers is less variable, receiving neither very high or very low satisfaction ratings. This article argues that these results stem from a disconnect between students’ expectations of advisers compared to what advisers assume is expected from them, and importantly, what they can realistically deliver . We conclude with a discussion about policy implications and suggestions.
A research proposal testing a new model of ambulation activity among long-term care residents with dementia/cognitive impairment: the study protocol of a prospective longitudinal natural history study

Excessive and patterned ambulation is associated with falls, urinary tract infections, co-occurring delirium and other acute events among long-term care residents with cognitive impairment/dementia. This study will test a predictive longitudinal data model that may lead to the preservation of function of this vulnerable population. This is a single group, longitudinal study with natural observations. Data from a real-time locating system (RTLS) will be used to objectively and continuously measure ambulation activity for up to 2 years. These data will be combined with longitudinal acute event and functional status data to capture patterns of change in health status over time. Theory-driven multilevel models will be used to test the trajectories of falls and other acute conditions as a function of the ambulation activity and demographic, functional status, gait quality and balance ability including potential mediation and/or moderation effects. Data-driven machine learning algorithms will be applied to run screening of the high dimensional RTLS data together with other variables to discover new and robust predictors of acute events. The findings from this study will lead to the early identification of older adults at risk for falls and the onset of acute medical conditions and interventions for individualized care.