cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Good filtrations for representations of Lie algebras of Cartan type

In this paper we define induced and “Weyl” modules for an infinite-dimensional Hopf algebra D(G)u(g). This algebra is important because its representation theory encompasses the representation theory of a given Lie algebra of Cartan type. A cohomological criterion is provided which states precisely when a D(G)u(g)-module admits a filtration with sections of induced modules or “Weyl” modules.
Partial dead code elimination using slicing transformations

We present an approach for optimizing programs that uncovers additional opportunities for optimization of a statement by predicating the statement. In this paper predication algorithms for achieving partial dead code elimination (PDE) are presented. The process of predication embeds a statement in a control flow structure such that the statement is executed only if the execution follows a path along which the value computed by the statement is live. The control flow restructuring performed to achieve predication is expressed through slicing transformations. This approach achieves PDE that is not realizable by existing algorithms. We prove that our algorithm never increases the operation count along any path, and that for acyclic code all partially dead statements are eliminated. The slicing transformation that achieves predication introduces into the program additional conditional branches. These branches are eliminated in a branch deletion step based upon code duplication. We also show how PDE can be used by acyclic schedulers for VLIW processors to reduce critical path lengths along frequently executed paths.
Content-based ESL instruction: Long-term effects and outcomes

Abstract Content-based language instruction has become a widely adopted pedagogical approach to EAP. This paper reports the results of a study of the effects of content-based ESL instruction on students’ future academic performance. The study used college academic records to evaluate the academic performance of two groups of ESL students who enrolled as first semester freshmen from Spring 1995 to Spring 2000. Students simultaneously enrolled in a content-linked ESL program were compared to students who did not receive content-based ESL instruction. The study found that students enrolled in the content-linked ESL program not only achieved higher pass rates and better grades in the ESL course, but also performed better in subsequent ESL and developmental English courses. In addition, the content-linked ESL students had better long-term academic success rates than non-content-linked ESL students did, in measures such as English proficiency test pass rates, graduation and retention rates, and overall GPA.
Adolescent Triangulation into Parental Conflicts: Longitudinal Implications for Appraisals and Adolescent-Parent Relations.

Although triangulation into parental conflict is a risk factor for child and adolescent maladjustment, little is known about how triangulation affects adolescents' functioning or the factors that lead children to be drawn into parental disagreements. This prospective study examined the relations between triangulation, appraisals of conflict, and parent-child relations in a sample of 171 adolescents, ages 14 to 19 years, at 2 time points. Cross-lagged path analyses revealed that youths who experienced greater threat in response to conflict reported increases in triangulation over time, and triangulation was associated with increased self-blame and diminished parent-adolescent relations. This study highlights links between intrapersonal, dyadic, and triadic processes and suggests a mechanism by which interparental discord spills over into parent-adolescent relations.
The Placenta: The Lost Neuroendocrine Organ

The placenta long has been underappreciated and understudied by the scientific community. Improper function of this critical organ causes fetal abnormalities, preterm labor, and the most common disease of pregnancy, preeclampsia. Despite the importance of the placenta, understanding of its role in fetal development, especially at a molecular level, is crude. Sadly, understanding of placental function may be compared with the knowledge of kidney function 50 years ago in that researchers can describe the anatomy but not the biology. As an endocrine organ, the placenta produces a wide array of hormones that affect both mother and fetus as well as the development of the placenta itself. Most research on placental endocrinology has focused either on parameters of fetal growth or placentally induced changes in maternal physiology that support pregnancy. The possibility that placental hormones may have direct effects on the developing fetus deserves increased attention. Placental endocrine function can be disrupted by abnormal gene expression, infection, or prematurity, resulting in long-term damage from loss of the normal hormonal milieu. In this review, we focus on placental endocrine function related to fetal well-being, particularly neurodevelopment. Better understanding of this function may open new avenues to therapeutic treatments to improve developmental outcome in fetuses and infants at high risk of developmental brain damage.
An 8-Year-Old Girl With Thrombocytopenia

An 8-year-old girl was found to be thrombocytopenic through a preoperative complete blood count in anticipation of a tonsillectomy. She had no history of bleeding, bruising, or petechiae. Complete blood count was significant for thrombocytopenia (platelet count 5 59 000/ mL) with many large platelets seen on peripheral blood examination (mean platelet volume 5 19.2 fL). Figure 1 demonstrates features of the patient’s peripheral blood smear including macrothrombocytopenia and mature neutrophils devoid of significant morphologic abnormalities (Wright-Giemsa stain, original magnifications 340 and 3100 [inset]). A presumptive clinical diagnosis of immune thrombocytopenic purpura was made. The patient’s platelet count, however, remained unchanged despite administration of intravenous immunoglobulin and a course of steroid treatment. Platelet aggregation studies (Figure
Physico-chemical features for recognition of antimicrobial peptides

Concerns over antibacterial resistance have antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) garnering attention as potential targets for new antibacterial drugs [1]. Wet-lab development of AMP-based drugs hinge on understanding the relationship between AMP sequence and activity [1]. In support of such efforts, we devise a method to highlight position-based physico-chemical features related to activity. We do so in a focused analysis of the mature peptide fragments of cathelicidins; a populous sequence-diverse family of well-studied a-helical AMPs [1]. We employ features based on the AAIndex [2], an extensive collection of documented physico-chemical amino acid properties, and Support Vector Machine (SVM) to recognize cathelicidins from a set of carefully designed decoy sequences. Our results demonstrate that these features are very useful in elucidating specific residue positions and properties related to AMP activity.
Short Sleep Duration Is Associated with Reduced Leptin, Elevated Ghrelin, and Increased Body Mass Index

Background Sleep duration may be an important regulator of body weight and metabolism. An association between short habitual sleep time and increased body mass index (BMI) has been reported in large population samples. The potential role of metabolic hormones in this association is unknown. Methods and Findings Study participants were 1,024 volunteers from the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort Study, a population-based longitudinal study of sleep disorders. Participants underwent nocturnal polysomnography and reported on their sleep habits through questionnaires and sleep diaries. Following polysomnography, morning, fasted blood samples were evaluated for serum leptin and ghrelin (two key opposing hormones in appetite regulation), adiponectin, insulin, glucose, and lipid profile. Relationships among these measures, BMI, and sleep duration (habitual and immediately prior to blood sampling) were examined using multiple variable regressions with control for confounding factors. A U-shaped curvilinear association between sleep duration and BMI was observed. In persons sleeping less than 8 h (74.4% of the sample), increased BMI was proportional to decreased sleep. Short sleep was associated with low leptin (p for slope = 0.01), with a predicted 15.5% lower leptin for habitual sleep of 5 h versus 8 h, and high ghrelin (p for slope = 0.008), with a predicted 14.9% higher ghrelin for nocturnal (polysomnographic) sleep of 5 h versus 8 h, independent of BMI.
Lyme Disease and Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis Coinfection: Impact of Case Definition on Coinfection Rates and Illness Severity

Background. Lyme disease is transmitted by the bite of the Ixodes scapularis tick, which can also transmit Anaplasma phagocytophilum, the cause of human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA). Conflicting data exist on the frequency of coinfection and on whether Lyme-HGA coinfected patients have more symptoms than patients with Lyme disease alone. Methods. Blood culture and serology were used to detect HGA infection in patients with early Lyme disease who presented with erythema migrans. The rate of coinfection was determined using different definitions. The clinical and laboratory features of Lyme-HGA coinfection were compared with that of the individual infections. Results. Among 311 patients with erythema migrans, the frequency of coinfection with HGA varied from 2.3% to 10.0%, depending on the definition used (P< .001). Only 1 of 4 groups with presumed coinfection had significantly more symptoms than patients with Lyme disease alone P< .05. High fever and cytopenia were less common in Lyme-HGA coinfection than in patients with HGA alone. Conclusion. The results of this study indicate that how HGA is defined in patients with early Lyme disease has an impact on the apparent rate of coinfection and the severity of illness. The findings also suggest that HGA may be less severe than is usually believed, suggesting the existence of referral bias in testing patients preferentially who present with high fever or cytopenia.
How "consistent" is "consistent"? A clinician-based assessment of the reliability of expressions used by radiologists to communicate diagnostic confidence.

Aim To evaluate the degree of variability in clinicians' interpretation of expressions used by radiologists to communicate their level of diagnostic confidence within radiological reports. Materials and methods Clinicians were solicited to complete a prospective survey asking them to select the approximate perceived level of certainty, expressed as a percentage, associated with 20 expressions used by radiologists to communicate their level of diagnostic confidence within radiological reports. The median and inter-decile range (IDR) were computed for each expression, with a smaller IDR indicating greater reproducibility. Clinicians were also asked questions regarding their attitudes about radiologists' communication of diagnostic confidence. Results Forty-nine surveys were completed. Median confidence associated with the expressions ranged from 10–90%. Reproducibility of the expressions was variable, as IDR ranged from 15–53%, although a median IDR of 40% indicated overall poor reproducibility. Expressions with relatively higher reproducibility included “most likely”, “likely”, and “unlikely” (IDR 15–20%), whereas expressions with relatively lower reproducibility included “compatible with”, “suspicious for”, “possibly,” and “can be seen in the setting of” (IDR ≥45%). Only 20% of clinicians agreed or strongly agreed that radiologists consistently use such expressions within their reports. Fifty-five percent of clinicians preferred that diagnostic confidence be communicated as a percentage rather than as a textual expression. Conclusion There was poor reproducibility in clinicians' interpretations of many expressions used by radiologists to communicate their level of diagnostic confidence. Use of percentages to convey diagnostic confidence within reports may mitigate this source of ambiguity in radiologists' communication with clinicians.
Online courseware for Strength of Materials

Increases in undergraduate enrollment require creative instructional techniques and communication methods. The Internet provides the ability to deliver information in new and unique ways. Web material may be continuously updated, providing a communication tool that can be accessed at any time from anywhere. The goal of this project is to develop and continuously update a web site that will aid in the instruction of Strength of Materials (and other large engineering courses) at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). The overall site-structure consists of several levels: communication pages, theory and example pages, and online homework pages. The web site consists of nine modules, each focusing on a particular topic of Strength of Materials. These work together to provide students with a useful resource and study guide.
On the minimum side information of MIMO broadcast channel

We introduce a technique to achieve dirty paper coding (DPC) capacity asymptotically with minimum feedback required reported to date in literature. Our approach called opportunistic interference management, is based on a new multiuser diversity scheme designed for wireless cellular networks. When there are K antennas at the base station with M mobile users in the cell, the proposed technique only requires K integer numbers related to channel state information (CSI) between mobile users and base station. The encoding and decoding complexity of this scheme is the same as that of point-to-point communications. In order to guarantee fairness, a new algorithm is proposed which incorporates opportunistic interference management into existing GSM standard.
Design and evaluation of a dynamic capacity apportionment procedure

Abstract Deploying a decision theory based approach; we develop a heuristic for short-term constrained capacity allocation to multiple-product classes in make-to-order manufacturing, attempting to maximize profit by discriminating between product classes. Efficacy of the heuristic is evaluated by comparing its performance to a base case and an upper bound, under a wide variety of operational conditions such as variations in profit attractiveness, capacity tightness, customer order size structure, customer order rate structure and demand coefficient of variation, considering three different scenarios of time-variant order rate of products. The results indicate that the heuristic is effective in obtaining increased profit when capacity is very tight and products are well differentiated. On average it yields an increase of 9.38% in total profit with a concomitant decrease of 0.85% in capacity utilization. The results of this study serve to highlight the value of proactively seeking to differentiate products, particularly when demand exceeds capacity.
Population biology and biological control of nematodes.

We studied the population biology of the nematophagous fungus Hirsutella rhossiliensis to understand its potential as a biological control agent. Because the fungus is an infectious and transmissib...
Recursive Multichannel Maximum Entropy Spectral Estimation

We present a generalization to the multichannel case of the well-known Burg maximum entropy technique for spectral estimation. The extension is obtained by first obtaining the proper generalization of the scalar reflection coefficients to the multichannel (or matrix) case.
An Evaluation Framework and Instruction Set Architecture for Ion-Trap Based Quantum Micro-Architectures

The theoretical study of quantum computation has yielded efficient algorithms for some traditionally hard problems. Correspondingly, experimental work on the underlying physical implementation technology has progressed steadily. However, almost no work has yet been done which explores the architecture design space of large scale quantum computing systems. In this paper, we present a set of tools that enable the quantitative evaluation of architectures for quantum computers. The infrastructure we created comprises a complete compilation and simulation system for computers containing thousands of quantum bits. We begin by compiling complete algorithms into a quantum instruction set. This ISA enables the simple manipulation of quantum state. Another tool we developed automatically transforms quantum software into an equivalent, fault-tolerant version required to operate on real quantum devices. Next, our infrastructure transforms the ISA into a set of low-level micro architecture specific control operations. In the future, these operations can be used to directly control a quantum computer. For now, our simulation framework quickly uses them to determine the reliability of the application for the target micro architecture. Finally, we propose a simple, regular architecture for ion-trap based quantum computers. Using our software infrastructure, we evaluate the design trade offs of this micro architecture.
A robust motion-estimation algorithm for multiple-target tracking at close proximity based on hexagonal partitioning

The paper develops a solution to the task of tracking the position and movement of large (relative to pixel and image size) bodies through a visible-light camera's field of view. Noise sources such as dynamic backgrounds, vibration, variation in appearance, and rapidly changing lighting environments contribute to the complexity. Given that a low number of targets may be present at any one time and some assumptions about the dynamic nature of the image and targets, a solution to this problem is formulated which localizes and tracks objects in the field of view. The algorithm is capable of distinguishing among multiple targets which are in close proximity to the camera and to each other. A major consideration in the development is that the implemented system should be able to process the data in real time with moderate computational power. The present area of application is that of automatically generating ridership statistics for transit agencies: to count persons getting on or off a bus.
Three-dimensional finite element modeling of a cervical vertebra: a new approach to investigating injury mechanism in the cervical spine

To study the mechanical behavior of the cervical spine under varied loading conditions, it is necessary to use models that accurately represent the geometry and material properties of the bony elements. The wide variation in material properties of vertebral bone necessitates the use of 3-D finite element (FE) modeling techniques with a high density of elements to predict bone stress. The authors have developed an FE model that can represent the complex geometry and nonhomogeneous material properties of vertebral bone and can be used for investigating cervical vertebral body stresses. As an illustrative case, they have modeled a cervical vertebra under axial compressive loading in order to examine the mechanism of cervical burst fractures. >
Throughput/Delay Measurements of Limited Feedback Beamforming in Indoor Wireless Networks

This paper investigates the tradeoff between throughput and feedback delay of limited feedback beamforming in indoor wireless channels with a practical MIMO-OFDM prototype. Past descriptions of this tradeoff are largely based on simplified models of the wireless channel. Unfortunately, wireless channel models may not accurately represent the complexities of a real wireless channel. Furthermore, system impairments, including channel estimation error, only exacerbate the problem of modeling a real wireless system. One such analytical result predicts the performance of limited feedback beamforming as an exponential function of feedback delay. This analytical result has been confirmed through Monte Carlo simulation under Rayleigh fading channel models. Through rigorous measurements and experimentation this paper both evaluates the performance of limited feedback beamforming under feedback delay and confirms the accuracy of the analytical results.
Analysis of wave propagation in a thin composite cylinder with periodic axial and ring stiffeners using periodic structure theory

Wave propagation characteristics of a thin composite cylinder stiffened by periodically spaced ring frames and axial stringers are investigated by an analytical method using periodic structure theory. It is used for calculating propagation constants in axial and circumferential directions of the cylindrical shell subject to a given circumferential mode or axial half-wave number. The propagation constants corresponding to several different circumferential modes and/or half-wave numbers are combined to determine the vibrational energy ratios between adjacent basic structural elements of the two-dimensional periodic structure. Vibration analyses to validate the theoretical development have been carried out on sufficiently detailed finite element model of the same dimension and configuration as the stiffened cylinder and very good agreement is obtained between the analytical and the dense finite element results. The effects of shell material properties and the length of each periodic element on the wave propagation characteristics are also examined based on the current analytical approach.
Variational learning of autoregressive Mixtures of Experts for fully Bayesian hybrid system identification

This paper presents a new learning method for Mixture of Expert ARX (MEARX) models and its application to identification of PieceWise ARX (PWARX) hybrid systems models. While accurate deterministically-switched PWARX models are obtainable from probabilistically-switched MEARX models, important issues such as model structure selection (i.e. estimation of the number of modes and ARX lag orders) and estimation with sparse/noisy data remain open. This paper addresses these issues through a new variational Bayesian MEARX learning approximation. This not only permits computationally efficient estimates for MEARX/PWARX regressor weights and mode boundary parameters, but also allows for theoretically sound Bayesian model structure selection. Numerical hybrid system ID examples from the literature demonstrate the proposed approach.
A Survey of Findings on the Poverty Impacts of Agricultural Trade Liberalization

The purpose of this survey is to review the available empirical evidence on the impacts of agricultural trade liberalization on poverty ‐ considering both the impact of domestic and international liberalization. Since trade liberalization is generally an economy-wide phenomenon, with tariff cuts occurring across a wide range of commodities, we do not restrict ourselves to episodes where only agricultural trade was liberalized, although emphasis in this survey is given to agricultural trade policies. Furthermore, given the difficulty of isolating the effects of trade policies alone, we will also consider the impact of other types of external shocks which have the effect of changing the relative prices of tradeable and non-tradeable goods. By examining the way in which households adjust to such external shocks, we can learn a great deal about how they would respond to sharp reductions in tariffs, or significant changes in a country’s international terms of trade engendered by multilateral trade liberalization.
Microstructural behavior and failure mechanisms of organic semicrystalline thin film blends

Organic thin film blends of P3HT semiconducting polymers and PCBM fullerenes have enabled large-scale semiconductor fabrication pertaining to flexible and stretchable electronics. However, molecular packing and film morphologies can significantly alter mechanical stability and failure behavior. To further understand and identify the fundamental mechanisms affecting failure, a multiphase microstructurally based formulation and nonlinear finite-element fracture methodology were used to investigate the heterogeneous deformation and failure modes of organic semicrystalline thin film blends. The multiphase formulation accounts for the crystalline and amorphous behavior, polymer tie-chains, and the PCBM aggregates. Face-on packing orientations resulted in extensive inelastic deformation and crystalline rotation, and this was characterized by ductile failure modes and interfacial delamination. For edge-on packing orientations, brittle failure modes and film cracking were due to lower inelastic deformation and higher film stress in comparison with the face-on orientations. The higher crystallinity of P3HT and larger PCBM aggregates associated with larger domain sizes, strengthened the film and resulted in extensive film cracking. These predictions of ductile and brittle failure are consistent with experimental observations for P3HT:PCBM films. The proposed predictive framework can be used to improve organic film ductility and strength through the control of molecular packing orientations and microstructural mechanisms. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016, 54, 896–907
Stochastic shock response spectrum decomposition method based on probabilistic definitions of temporal peak acceleration, spectral energy, and phase lag distributions of mechanical impact pyrotechnic shock test data

Abstract Most of the times pyrotechnic shock design and test requirements for space systems are provided in Shock Response Spectrum (SRS) without the input time history. Since the SRS does not describe the input or the environment, a decomposition method is used to obtain the source time history. The main objective of this paper is to develop a decomposition method producing input time histories that can satisfy the SRS requirement based on the pyrotechnic shock test data measured from a mechanical impact test apparatus. At the heart of this decomposition method is the statistical representation of the pyrotechnic shock test data measured from the MIT Lincoln Laboratory (LL) designed Universal Pyrotechnic Shock Simulator (UPSS). Each pyrotechnic shock test data measured at the interface of a test unit has been analyzed to produce the temporal peak acceleration, Root Mean Square (RMS) acceleration, and the phase lag at each band center frequency. Maximum SRS of each filtered time history has been calculated to produce a relationship between the input and the response. Two new definitions are proposed as a result. The Peak Ratio (PR) is defined as the ratio between the maximum SRS and the temporal peak acceleration at each band center frequency. The ratio between the maximum SRS and the RMS acceleration is defined as the Energy Ratio (ER) at each band center frequency. Phase lag is estimated based on the time delay between the temporal peak acceleration at each band center frequency and the peak acceleration at the lowest band center frequency. This stochastic process has been applied to more than one hundred pyrotechnic shock test data to produce probabilistic definitions of the PR, ER, and the phase lag. The SRS is decomposed at each band center frequency using damped sinusoids with the PR and the decays obtained by matching the ER of the damped sinusoids to the ER of the test data. The final step in this stochastic SRS decomposition process is the Monte Carlo (MC) simulation. The MC simulation identifies combinations of the PR and decays that can meet the SRS requirement at each band center frequency. Decomposed input time histories are produced by summing the converged damped sinusoids with the MC simulation of the phase lag distribution.
Inequalities in US Life Expectancy by Area Unemployment Level, 1990-2010.

This study examined the association between unemployment and life expectancy in the United States during 1990–2010. Census-based unemployment rates were linked to US county-level mortality data. Life expectancies were calculated by age, sex, race, and unemployment level during 1990–2010. Differences in life expectancy were decomposed by age and cause of death. Life expectancy was consistently lower in areas with higher unemployment rates. In 2006–2010, those in areas with high unemployment rates (≥9%) had a life expectancy of 76.9 years, compared with 80.7 years for those in areas with low unemployment rates (<3%). The association between unemployment and life expectancy was stronger for men than for women. Life expectancy ranged from 69.9 years among black men in high unemployment areas to 90.0 years among Asian/Pacific Islander women in low unemployment areas. Disparities persisted over time. In 1990–1992, life expectancy was 4.7 years shorter in high unemployment than in low unemployment areas. In 2006–2010, the life expectancy difference between the lowest and highest unemployment areas decreased to 3.8 years. Heart disease, cancer, homicide, unintentional injuries, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and liver cirrhosis contributed most to the lower life expectancy in high unemployment areas. High unemployment areas recorded larger gains in life expectancy than low unemployment areas, contributing to the narrowing gap during 1990–2010.
Parkinsonism, small vessel disease, and white matter disease Is there a link?

Parkinsonian syndrome is primarily attributed to striato-nigral degeneration as idiopathic Parkinson disease (PD), although it can be caused by white matter (WM) disease as classically seen in vascular parkinsonism (VP). VP clinically manifests as predominant lower extremities involvement and gait impairment with poor response to levodopa and, radiologically, as WM hyperintensities (WMH) that disrupt the striato-nigral pathways. However, brain MRI vascular lesions correlate poorly with clinical manifestations and pathology findings.1
Carrier to Envelope Offset and Carrier to Envelope Phase_How Their Control Impacts Femtosecond and Attosecond Phenomena

Femtosecond pulse trains combine high temporal and spectral resolution. Often confused concepts of Carrier to Envelope Offset (pulse trains) and Carrier to Envelope Phase (single pulse) impact the fields of ultrasensitive sensors and attosecond science.
The role of the adrenal in relapses of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis.

SummaryAdrenalectomy shortly after onset of clinical signs of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) was uniformly lethal to rats within 2 days. If adrenalectomy was postponed until the thir...
Microwave Drying Kinetics, Hypericin Content, Effective Moisture Diffusivity and Activation Energy of Hypericum perforatum L.

AbstractSt. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) flowers with 25 g weight and 2.92 moisture on dry basis were dried in microwave oven using 1000, 850, 750, 650, 500, 350, 160 and 90 W microwave output powers and natural drying as a control, until the moisture fell down to 0.07 on dry basis. Drying processes were completed between 2 and 36 min depending on the microwave powers. The values measured were compared with the obtained data using Page’s semi-empirical equations. By increasing the microwave output powers, the effective moisture diffusivity values ranged from 2.70 10-09m2s-1 to 1.54 10-10 m2 s-1. Energy consumption remained constant within the power range of 1000-650 W, whereas 500 and 90 W resulted in significant increase in energy consumption. Mean hypericin content values between natural drying and microwave drying with different microwave power varied between 0.241-0.280 %. Maximum hypericin content was observed natural drying (0.280 %), microwave drying of 850 W (0.278 %) and 750 W (0.277 %)....
Path-Planning around Obstacles for a Quadrotor UAV Using the RRT Algorithm for Indoor Environments

This paper presents an inexpensive path-planning capability for a quadrotor UAV operating in indoor environments using commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) components. The path-planning is based on the Rapidly-Exploring Random Trees (RRT) algorithm, which allows the quadrotor to reach a target waypoint, or coordinate, by expanding a region-filling tree from its starting location. The flight route is implemented as a series of intermediate coordinates for an a-priori 2-D environment map and is transmitted individually from the ground control station during flight. Ultrasonic sensors are used in conjunction with the quadrotor's APM 2.6 autopilot for obstacle avoidance. The current software on the autopilot and ground station are limited to static obstacles, which include stationary objects like walls and furniture that are built into the environment map. Path-planning was successfully demonstrated through software-in-the-loop simulation and human-assisted flight tests with the use of GPS. The APM 2.6 autopilot relies on the Kalman filter and GPS data to correct dead-reckoning error. Thus, initial tests show that a more accurate IMU is required to limit the drift, and that localization is necessary by means of accurate rangefinders, such as LIDAR, to replace the GPS input in the Kalman filter. Future efforts will focus on dynamic sense and avoid (S&A) capability, which will allow the quadrotor to adjust its flight path when a moving obstacle is detected.
Actuating critical care therapeutics

Viewing the intensive care unit (ICU) as a control system with inputs (patients) and outputs (outcomes), we focus on actuation (therapies) of the system and how to enhance our understanding of status of patients and their trajectory in the ICU. To incorporate the results of these analytics meaningfully, we feel that a reassessment of predictive scoring systems and of ways to optimally characterize and display the patient's "state space" to clinicians is important. Advances in sensing (diagnostics) and computation have not yet led to significantly better actuation, and so we focus on ways that data can be used to improve actuation in the ICU, in particular by following therapeutic burden along with disease severity. This article is meant to encourage discussion about how the critical care community can best deal with the data they see each day, and prepare for recommendations that will inevitably arise from application of major federal and state initiatives in big data analytics and precision medicine.
Study on Quality Possessed by Sci-tech Periodical Editors under Market Economy Condition

Under condition of market economy, the quality that the editors of sci-tech periodicals in China have is discussed in this paper. The quality includes innovated idea, planning, harmonious ability of public relation, operation idea, foreign language levels, literature and esthetics culture, etc.. Only when we have such talent teams of comprehensive editors of new ideas and high quality, can our sci-tech periodicals produce fine quality periodicals, create famous brand periodicals and make for the whole world.
Efficient neighborhood-based topic modeling for collaborative audio enhancement on massive crowdsourced recordings

Collaborative Audio Enhancement (CAE) aims at separating a dominant source from crowdsourced recordings of a scene. This paper proposes a CAE setup as a big ad-hoc microphone array problem, assuming hundreds of sensors scattered over a large scene, e.g. a concert hall or a street riot. An important characteristic in such cases is the fact that not all sensors capture useful information, mainly because of the existence of strong local noise interferences and recording artifacts. This renders traditional array processing techniques inadequate for tasks such as source enhancement. One way to recover the most common source while suppressing recording-specific interference, is to share latent components across simultaneous models on multiple magnitude spectrograms. The proposed method improves on the quality and the computational requirements of such a model by using a two-stage nearest-neighborhood search at every EM update. Its optional first-round search uses Hamming distance between hashed spectrograms to quickly find a redundant candidate set, and then a subsequent step narrows the set down to a subset using more appropriate cross entropy. Experimental results show that the proposed neighborhood schemes converge to the better quality solutions faster than the comprehensive model using all data.
Improving Risk Analysis in Unstable Political Climates

This paper presents intervention analysis as a tech -nique to forecast the rate of change in the growth of real Gross National Product in countries which have experienced unstable political climates as an indicator of marketing opportunities. Intervention models were constructed and analyzed in relation to the impact of political or intervening events in ten countries. Operational strategies appropriate to certain events and their classifications were clearly indicated.
Stepwise Transport of Stretched ssDNA Through Graphene Nanopores

Among various biological and solid-state nanopores employed for DNA sensing, graphene nanopores have the greatest potential to be successful for DNA sequencing because graphene's single-atom-thin layer may offer single-base resolution recognition. However, the identification of individual bases could not be achieved yet by means of graphene nanopores, mainly because DNA translocation through the pore is too fast and thermal motion of bases is too strong to permit individual bases to be resolved. Here we demonstrate by means of molecular dynamics simulations that stretch-induced stepwise translocation of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) through graphene nanopores can permit single-base resolution detection. The intrinsic stepwise DNA motion is brought about through alternating conformational changes between spontaneous adhesion of DNA bases to the rim of the graphene nanopore and unbinding due to mechanical force or electric field. A graphene membrane shaped as a quantum point contact permits, by means of transverse electronic conductance measurement, detection of the stepwise translocation of the DNA as predicted through quantum mechanical Green's function-based transport calculations. The measurement scheme described opens a route to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio by not only slowing down DNA translocation to provide sufficient time for base recognition, but also by stabilizing single DNA bases and, thereby, reducing thermal noise.
Usage analysis for smart meter management

Smart meters gather utility usage data, such as water, electricity and gas readings, by remote reporting. The flood of usage data obtained from each meter in realtime or near real-time enable data analytics and optimization tool to support smart meter management. Predictive usage analytics can provide significant benefits to both the utilities and customers. We propose statistical approaches for meter anomaly detection, usage demand forecasting and association analysis for utility companies. These analyses provide efficient ways to detect malfunctioning meters, optimize water supply in the future and understand the association factors that drive meter failures and water demand. We illustrate our methodology using the automated meter reading (AMR) database from a water utility customer.
Roles and Responsibilities of Independent Cost Estimator in Construction Manager–General Contractor Highway Construction

The use of construction manager–general contractor (CM-GC) project delivery is gaining momentum with highway projects across the United States. This project delivery process is different from the traditional design–bid–build (D-B-B) process in that an agency works with one CM-GC to develop the construction cost. To ensure that agencies receive fair market value, many agencies employ an independent cost estimator (ICE) in lieu of competitive bidding. The findings of a research effort to explore ICE roles, responsibilities, and best practices within highway construction are presented. The findings were derived through a review of previous literature, current agency CM-GC ICE policies, surveys of 25 completed CM-GC projects, and in-depth interviews with highway agency officials on six of the projects. The six projects were selected for interviews from the set of completed projects to allow for cross-case comparison. Although multiple best practices are identified, the two key findings of the research are tha...
Antiplasmodial activity of targeted zinc(II)-dipicolylamine complexes.

Abstract This study measured the antiplasmodial activity of nine zinc-dipicolylamine (ZnDPA) complexes against three strains of Plasmodium falciparum , the causative parasite of malaria. Growth inhibition assays showed significant activity against all tested strains, with 50% inhibitory concentrations between 5 and 600 nM and almost no toxic effect against host cells including healthy red blood cells. Fluorescence microscopy studies with a green-fluorescent ZnDPA probe showed selective targeting of infected red blood cells. The results suggest that ZnDPA coordination complexes are promising antiplasmodial agents with potential for targeted malaria treatment.
Entropy in self-similar shock profiles

Abstract In this paper, we study the structure of a gaseous shock, and in particular the distribution of entropy within, in both a thermodynamics and a statistical mechanics context. The problem of shock structure has a long and distinguished history that we review. We employ the Navier–Stokes equations to construct a self-similar version of Becker’s solution for a shock assuming a particular (physically plausible) Prandtl number; and that solution reproduces the well-known result of Morduchow & Libby that features a maximum of the equilibrium entropy inside the shock profile. We then construct an entropy profile, based on gas kinetic theory, that is smooth and monotonically increasing. The extension of equilibrium thermodynamics to irreversible processes is based in part on the assumption of local thermodynamic equilibrium. We show that this assumption is not valid except for the weakest shocks. We conclude by hypothesizing a thermodynamic nonequilibrium entropy and demonstrating that it closely estimates the gas kinetic nonequilibrium entropy within a shock.
Epidemiology and Treatment of Hepatitis B in Prisoners

The review details recent literature reports regarding Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and, in particular, Hepatitis B prevalence/incidence in incarcerated populations around the world. Furthermore, the review will summarize the national/international guidelines regarding HBV and look at diagnosis, vaccination, treatment, and linkage to care after release. HBV affects prisoners at a much higher rate than the general populations. Many who are at increased risk for HBV infection are also at increased risk for incarceration. Incarcerated settings also have higher rates of HBV transmission. Incarcerated individuals should be immunized if they are not already immune to HBV. Increased access to safe injecting and tattoo paraphernalia, condoms, and personal hygiene equipment could reduce the spread of HBV and other blood-borne and sexually transmitted infections. Future research should focus on ways to prevent the spread of HBV and similar viruses in incarcerated settings in order to protect incarcerated individuals and the general public. Research on effective linkage to community HBV care following release is needed.
Experimental study of interfacial transition zones between geopolymer binder and recycled aggregate

Abstract This paper experimentally studies the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) between geopolymer binder (GP) and recycled aggregate (RA). Since RA consists of exposed stone surfaces and the attached paste/mortar from the original ordinary Portland cement (OPC) concrete, both the ITZ between GP and natural aggreate (NA) and that between GP and residual OPC paste/mortar (ROPM) were studied. For comparison, the ITZ between OPC paste and NA and that between OPC paste and ROPM were also studied. The GP was produced from waste concrete fines (WCF) and class F fly ash (FA) at a WCF/FA mass ratio of 1, using a mixture of 10 M NaOH solution and Na2SiO3 solution at a mass ratio of 2 as the alkaline activator. Four-point bending tests were conducted to measure the bond strength of the different types of ITZs at a water to solid (W/S) of 0.30, 0.35 and 0.40 for the GP and OPC paste after 7 and 14 days’ curing, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging was also performed to investigate the microstructure of the ITZs. The results indicate that when NA is used, the bond strength of both the GP-NA and OPC-NA ITZs decreases with higher W/S ratio. This is mainly because higher W/S ratio leads to a more porous microstructure in the ITZ. When ROPM is used, higher W/S ratio leads to smaller bond strength for the GP-ROPM ITZ but greater bond strength for the OPC-ROPM ITZ. This phenomenon is mainly caused by the high water absorption capacity of ROPM. Based on the measured bond strength values for the NA- and ROPM-based ITZs, the bond strength of the RA-based ITZs was estimated by considering the average area coverage of ROPM on the RA surface. The GP-RA ITZ has high bond strength, implying the great potential for utilizing waste concrete (both WCF and RA) to produce geopolymer concrete.
Introduction and Education

Palliative Medicine has become a familiar term in recent years and is becoming established as a key component in modern health care, and many institutions promote Palliative Care teams. Although this is a term relatively new to many practitioners, palliative care was coined several decades ago by Dr. Balfour Mount, a Canadian physician. After training in Dame Cicely Saunders' St. Christopher's Hospice in London, he was so impressed that he was inspired to bring this type of care to mainstream curative medicine. As a result, he founded the Royal Victoria Hospital Palliative Care Service in 1974 and is credited with establishing the first in-patient palliative care unit in North America. Having emerged from the nurse driven hospice movement, the care of the dying has evolved to a formal hospice benefit and development of a recognized subspecialty.
Biologically active circulating proinsulin-like materials from an islet cell carcinoma patient.

Circulating immunoreactive insulin (IRI) material was obtained from a hypoglycemic patient with a pancreatic islet cell carcinoma. On gel filtration, 85% of this material eluted as a homogeneous proinsulin peak (PLM) and 15% as insulin. On polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, in addition to a small amount of insulin, two peaks were obtained. One had the migration of intact human proinsulin. The second electrophoresed as an intermediate species compatible with desdipeptide proinsulin. Trypsin treatment of PLM resulted in IRI material eluting as insulin on gel filtration. When comparable amounts of IRI material were tested, PLM showed about one half of the biological activity of porcine insulin in the rat hemidiaphragm system. No evidence of conversion to insulin was found after PLM had exerted its biological activity. In addition to large amounts of proinsulin, islet cell tumors may secrete significant amounts of intermediate species into the circulation.
Evaluation and Management of Stage 2 Hypertension in Pediatric Patients

To update the definition and clinical practice of stage 2 hypertension (HTN) in pediatrics. The 2017 American Academy of Pediatrics Clinical Practice Guideline (AAP CPG) for Screening and Management of High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescent includes new normative blood pressure tables for children and adolescents ages 1 to 17 years and new definitions for stage 2 HTN. This review will highlight these aspects as well as new recommendations in the guideline specific to stage 2 HTN. It will outline how the new guideline differs from the previous 2004 guideline, the implications of these differences, and suggested changes in evaluation and management of stage 2 HTN. Lastly, the review will address topics relevant to daily clinical practice including competitive athletic participation, investigation for secondary HTN and HTN comorbidities, and blood pressure-lowering therapy. With the publication of the new AAP CPG introducing revised normative tables, the prevalence of stage 2 HTN in pediatrics is expected to rise. Based on the new guidelines, there is less emphasis on investigation for secondary HTN and more attention to lifestyle modifications for primary HTN. Future research should address whether there is BP level within the stage 2 HTN range above which the approach to evaluation and management should be altered in this heterogeneous patient population.