cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Design of Multi-way Composite Switching Power Supply for Intelligent Sensor System

By the work principle of double grid air counter intelligent sensor system for detecting low energy electron emission,the design specifications of the power supply is put forward.The article goes on with particular design of each part of the multi-way output power supply circuit.The high-voltage-output circuit is a single-end reverse exciting switching power supply,the middle-voltage-output circuit is a push-pull switching power supply under close-loop control and low-voltage-output circuit is realized with integrated power circuit.To design different kinds of switching transformer,varied methods are analyzed in detail.In middle-voltage-output circuit,the following functions can be realized with KA7500B:(1) push-pull output mode,(2) PWM control,(3) soft start,(4) lack-voltage protection,(5) over-current protection.Experiments indicate that the multi-way output power supply,which adopts technology of PWM,satisfies the electrical requirements of sensor system,gets a high efficiency,realizes the miniaturization and has a rather long life duration.
Predicting therapist empathy in motivational interviews using language features inspired by psycholinguistic norms

Therapist language plays a critical role in influencing the overall quality of psychotherapy. Notably, it is a major contributor to the perceived level of empathy expressed by therapists, a primary measure for judging their efficacy. We explore psycholinguistics inspired features for predicting therapist empathy. These features model language which conveys information about affective and cognitive processes, which is central to the therapist expressing understanding of the patient’s perspective. We describe the dimensional features obtained based on psycholinguisitic norms, and their application to predicting empathy expressed in motivational interviewing sessions for addiction counseling. We compare these to standard lexical features (n-grams) and demonstrate that these features contain complementary information for predicting therapist empathy. The highest empathy prediction results achieved are 75.28% UAR and 0.6112 Spearman’s correlation.
Temperature Modeling in the Weather Derivative Pricing

This paper examines the theoretically obtained prices with values based on temperature data in the Isle of Man and the UK. We have also seen that the simulated temperature trajectories do not appear to include entire seasons where the temperature remains cooler than normal. Anecdotally we have all observed particularly mild winters or hot summers, and examination of the data reveals this to be more than just selective confirmation bias – there are certain winters that are persistently warmer than average throughout. The mean reverting nature of the model which appears to be a necessary component drags temperatures back towards average, reducing the possibility of such a season appearing in the modeled trajectories. It is possible that by incorporating long range weather forecasts, or by using a variable speed of mean reversion as applied in Zapranis and Alexandridis (2008) that this weakness can be overcome, but it does not seem clear from the literature weather there is a class of model which can overcome this problem. We have shown that the variabliiity of temperature is greatest during the winter periods, which suggests that where a company’s results are correlated with temperature, the use of weather derivatives on the Isle of Man and the United Kingdom would be of most benefit during these periods.
Social Coordination in Scientific Communities

Kuhnian philosophy of science has established the existence of a social dimension within epistemology, but neo-Kuhnian accounts remain limited by linguistically centered conceptions of rationality and normativity. As an alternative, I use an embodied epistemology to reframe two neo-Kuhnian concepts: Fred D’Agostino’s (2010) federal model of enquiry and William Rehg’s (2009) immanent cogency. Both concepts are concerned, in part, with how scientific communities balance conservative and innovative impulses. By treating interaction as a fundamental frame of analysis, embodied epistemology offers a more nuanced perspective on this “essential tension,” while also blunting realist re-interpretations of each concept.
Ignoring Complexity Epistemic Wagers and Knowledge Practices among Synthetic Biologists

This paper links two domains of recent interest in science and technology studies, complexity and ignorance, in the context of knowledge practices observed among synthetic biologists. Synthetic bio...
Nonlinear System Identification of Mechanical Interfaces Based on Wave Scattering

We study stress wave propagation in two impulsively forced split Hopkinson bar systems: one with a prestressed interface and one with a frictional interface. We first consider only primary wave transmission and reflection, allowing for reduction of the problem to a first-order, strongly, nonlinear ordinary differential equation. A high-order finite element model is then developed and used to validate the results of the primary-pulse model. A spring that hardens with increasing preload is used to model the prestressed interface while an Iwan element is used to model the frictional interface. Using the primary-wave propagation model, we perform nonlinear system identification by matching simulation and experiment results and identify the nonlinear hardening characteristics for the prestressed interface and Iwan parameters for the frictional interface. These parameters are then used in the finite element model to compare the experimentally measured secondary effects with the simulated effects. Our results demonstrate that the primary-wave propagation model can be used as a reduced order model for nonlinear system identification at a fraction of the computational cost of higher-order models.
Cerebral Cortex: Cytoarchitecture, Physiology and Overview of Functional Localization

A firm knowledge of the structure and function of the cerebral cortex and the relationship of the cerebral cortex to the subcortical centers is of crucial importance for all who wish to understand the behavior and accomplishments of man as opposed to other animal forms. The use of the thumb and fingers for fine manipulations with tools, the use of linguistic and mathematical symbols for communication in the auditory and visual spheres, and the capacity for postponement of gratification all reflect the evolution of the cerebral cortex. This development of the cerebral cortex has led to a laminar arrangement of 16 billion nerve cells with an almost infinite number of synapses. Beaulieu and Colonnier have estimated that in a cubic millimeter of neocortex there are 2.78 times 10\8 synapses 84% of which are type I (excitatory) and 16% type II (inhibitory).
The Conference of the Birds: A Collaborative Storytelling Environment for Literacy Development

Sociocultural theories of learning regard oral storytelling as a fundamental step towards literacy development. Collaborative play can lead to richer and sustained stories among children of young age. We describe an interactive learning environment called The Conference of the Birds (CoB). By allowing two users to interact with the interface at the same time, the CoB allows children separated by physical or cultural distances to collaborate by creating narratives together. Through the CoB, children connect, cooperate and create joint stories, fostering the development of literacy, as well as collaboration and authorship skills. In this paper we describe the principles, theories and design decisions that supported the creation of the CoB, and briefly discuss how kids can collaboratively create stories in a digital environment.
Interdisciplinary and Multidisciplinary Approaches to Orofacial Pain Care

Biomedical and biopsychosocial models are two approaches to health care that have been proven effective when utilized in the appropriate situation. Health-care providers must understand that chronic pain is a disease of the person and that a traditional biomedical approach cannot adequately address all of the individual pain-related physiological, psychological, and social needs of this patient population. Chronic pain patients generally present with complex, multimodal problems that often involve two or more coexisting chronic pain conditions (e.g., chronic headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, inflammatory bowel disease, interstitial cystitis, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, vulvodynia, and gastric reflux disease). They often describe disturbed sleep, increased stress, anxiety, depression, and even anger resulting in a decreased quality of life. With so many overlapping factors, it makes sense that current literature supports a “whole person” approach to chronic pain diagnosis and management. Current literature describes various models to address chronic pain using a multimodal approach. Although they differ in areas such as organization, structure, format, and cost, they do have common core features: A biopsychosocial approach to diagnosis and care that not only addresses the associated biology but also the psychological and social aspects of the pain condition Providers from multiple disciplines working in an integrated fashion with shared treatment goals Goals: to reduce effects of pain, improve function, and achieve independence from the health-care system Multidisciplinary care involves care provided by health-care providers from several disciplines which may, or may not, be coordinated, and treatment may occur with different goals in parallel rather than an integrated approach. Interdisciplinary care involves a team of health-care providers from different specialties that play complementary roles that when implemented together enhance patient care.
Mixing and Unmixing in the Bushveld Complex Magma Chamber

Abstract The Rustenberg Layered Suite (RLS) of the Bushveld Complex (hereafter referred to as simply “the Bushveld Complex”) is an >8 km thick layered ultramafic-mafic magmatic deposit located in South Africa. The Bushveld Complex contains over 80% of the world’s PGE reserves as well as numerous Fe-Ti-V mining operations. As such, the Bushveld Complex has received a significant amount of attention from economic geologists and petrologists alike. PGEs in the Bushveld Complex are concentrated into two primary layers, the “Merensky Reef” and the “UG2 Chromitite” layer. Several theories about the formation of these layers and the concentration of PGE within them have been proposed; many of them involve the input of new magma and progressive magma mixing within the chamber. In addition, the upper portions of the RLS are actively mined for Fe-Ti-V concentrated in magnetitite layers. Several theories for the formation of the magnetitite layers exist, which include new pulses of magma mixing or progressive unmixing in the form of silicate liquid immiscibility. This study reviews the evidence for magma mixing at various levels within the magma chamber and the physical and chemical consequences of new magma input. In addition, new research in the last 5 years has shown that significant Fe-Ti deposits can be generated during magma unmixing , due to large-scale immiscibility of silicate liquids in highly evolved magmas. A review of the physical and chemical signatures of immiscibility and magma unmixing in the Bushveld Complex is also included here.
Effects of Speed, Cyclicity, and Dimensionality on Distancing, Time, and Preference in Human-Aerial Vehicle Interactions

This article will present a simulation-based approach to testing multiple variables in the behavior of a small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (sUAV), inspired by insect and animal motions, to understand how these variables impact time of interaction, preference for interaction, and distancing in Human-Robot Interaction (HRI). Previous work has focused on communicating directionality of flight, intentionality of the robot, and perception of motion in sUAVs, while interactions involving direct distancing from these vehicles have been limited to a single study (likely due to safety concerns). This study takes place in a Cave Automatic Virtual Environment (CAVE) to maintain a sense of scale and immersion with the users, while also allowing for safe interaction. Additionally, the two-alternative forced-choice method is employed as a unique methodology to the study of collocated HRI in order to both study the impact of these variables on preference and allow participants to choose whether or not to interact with a specific robot. This article will be of interest to end-users of sUAV technologies to encourage appropriate distancing based on their application, practitioners in HRI to understand the use of this new methodology, and human-aerial vehicle researchers to understand the perception of these vehicles by 64 naive users. Results suggest that low speed (by 0.27m, p p p p p
Risk of Upgrading from Prostate Biopsy to Radical Prostatectomy Pathology—Does Saturation Biopsy of Index Lesion during Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Transrectal Ultrasound Fusion Biopsy Help?

Purpose: We sought to determine whether saturation of the index lesion during magnetic resonance imaging-transrectal ultrasound fusion guided biopsy would decrease the rate of pathological upgradin...
Liver Transplantation : After 20 Years of Experience the Procedure Has Come of Age

The status of liver transplantation is reviewed with emphasis upon the current survival statistics and the quality of life to be expected in survivors. Present day indications and contraindications for the procedure are reviewed. The operative procedure and the peri-operative problems which are to be expected following a successful transplant are discussed.
Characterizing the effects of insertion of a 5.2 kb region of a VACV genome, which contains known immune evasion genes, on MVA immunogenicity.

Abstract Modified Vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) is an attenuated Vaccinia virus (VACV) that is a popular vaccine vector candidate against many different pathogens. Its replication-restricted nature makes it a safe vaccine. However, higher doses or multiple boosts of MVA are necessary to elicit an immune response similar to wild-type VACV. Multiple strategies have been used to create modified MVA viruses that remain safe, but have increased immunogenicity. For example, one common strategy is to delete MVA immunomodulatory proteins in hopes of increasing the host immune response. Here, we take the opposite approach and examine, for the first time, how re-introduction of a 5.2 kb region of VACV DNA (that codes for multiple immunomodulatory proteins) into MVA alters viral immunogenicity. Since antigen presenting cells (APCs) are critical connectors between the innate and adaptive immune system, we examined the effect of MVA/5.2 kb infection in these cells in vitro. MVA/5.2 kb infection decreased virus-induced apoptosis and virus-induced NF-κB activation. MVA.5.2 kb infection decreased TNF production. However, MVA/5.2 kb infection did not alter APC maturation or IL-6 and IL-8 production in vitro. We further explored MVA/5.2 kb immunogenicity in vivo. VACV-specific CD8+ T cells were decreased after in vivo infection with MVA/5.2 kb versus MVA, suggesting that the MVA/5.2 kb construct is less immunogenic than MVA. These results demonstrate the limitations of in vitro studies for predicting the effects of genetic manipulation of MVA on immunogenicity. Although MVA/5.2 kb did not enhance MVA’s immunogenicity, this study examined an unexplored strategy for optimizing MVA, and the insight gained from these results can help direct how to modify MVA in the future.
A map of the PGC-1α- and NT-PGC-1α-regulated transcriptional network in brown adipose tissue

Transcriptional coactivator PGC-1α and its splice variant NT-PGC-1α play crucial roles in regulating cold-induced thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue (BAT). PGC-1α and NT-PGC-1α are highly induced by cold in BAT and subsequently bind to and coactivate many transcription factors to regulate expression of genes involved in mitochondrial biogenesis, fatty acid oxidation, respiration and thermogenesis. To identify the complete repertoire of PGC-1α and NT-PGC-1α target genes in BAT, we analyzed genome-wide DNA-binding and gene expression profiles. We find that PGC-1α-/NT-PGC-1α binding broadly associates with cold-mediated transcriptional activation. In addition to their known target genes in mitochondrial biogenesis and oxidative metabolism, PGC-1α and NT-PGC-1α additionally target a broad spectrum of genes involved in diverse biological pathways including ubiquitin-dependent protein catabolism, ribonucleoprotein complex biosynthesis, phospholipid biosynthesis, angiogenesis, glycogen metabolism, phosphorylation, and autophagy. Our findings expand the number of genes and biological pathways that may be regulated by PGC-1α and NT-PGC-1α and provide further insight into the transcriptional regulatory network in which PGC-1α and NT-PGC-1α coordinate a comprehensive transcriptional response in BAT in response to cold.
Postponing threats in partial-order planning

An important aspect of partial-order planning is the resolution of threats between actions and causal links in a plan. We present a technique for automatically deciding which threats should be resolved during planning, and which should be delayed until planning is otherwise complete. In particular we show that many potential threats can be provably delayed until the end; that is, if the planner can find a plan for the goal while ignoring these threats, there is a guarantee that the partial ordering in the resulting plan can be extended to eliminate the threats. Our technique involves: 1) construction of an operator graph that captures the interaction between operators relevant to a given goal, 2) decomposition of this graph into groups of related threats, and 3) postponement of threats with certain properties.
AIDS Vaccine Development—1988

ABSTRACT Effective control of AIDS will probably require development of an effective vaccine. Successes of the past in vaccine development have provided a framework for approaching the problem and a number of gene products have been described that could serve as vaccine immunogens. At present, all approaches to developing human immunodeficiency virus vaccines are being utilized. Acceptable virus vectors containing the human immunodeficiency gene segments for the envelope glycoprotein and recombinant DNA-produced envelope glycoproteins are receiving the most emphasis. In initial human trials, some products have been shown to be immunogenic. However, sufficient information on pathogenesis of HIV infection or vaccine effectiveness in animal models to ensure success in development of a vaccine is not available. A successful program will require cooperative efforts of scientists, government, and industry.
Paleoindian Occupation of the High Country:The Case of Middle Park, Colorado

Middle Park is one of the high intermountain basins of the Rocky Mountains that has been occupied continually for over 11,000 years. Our studies of the Paleo indian occupations suggest that many of...
Elevated Oxidative Stress Impairs Hematopoietic Progenitor Function in C57BL/6 Substrains.

Summary C57BL/6N (N) and C57BL/6J (J) mice possess key genetic differences, including a deletion in the Nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase (Nnt) gene that results in a non-functional protein in J mice. NNT regulates mitochondrial oxidative stress. Although elevated oxidative stress can compromise hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) function, it is unknown whether N- and J-HSPCs are functionally equivalent. Here, we report that J-HSPCs display compromised short-term hematopoietic repopulating activity relative to N-HSPCs that is defined by a delay in lymphoid reconstitution and impaired function of specific multi-potent progenitor populations post transplant. J-HSPCs also displayed elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) relative to N-HSPCs post transplant and upregulate ROS levels more in response to hematopoietic stress. Nnt knockdown in N-HSPCs recapitulated J-HSPCs’ short-term repopulating defect, indicating that NNT loss contributes to this defect. In summary, C57BL/6N and C57BL/6J HSPCs are not functionally equivalent, which should be considered when determining the substrain most appropriate for investigations of HSPC biology.
Complex robotic compared to manual coronary interventions: 6‐ and 12‐month outcomes

Objectives To assess the long-term safety and efficacy of robotic percutaneous coronary revascularization for use in complex coronary lesions. Background Robotically assisted percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is safe and feasible in simple coronary lesions and has excellent short-term procedural and clinical outcomes for complex lesions; however, long-term safety and efficacy outcomes are unknown. Methods A total of 103 consecutive patients underwent a total of 108 robotic (R)-PCI procedures (age 68.1; 78.3% male) over 18 months, and 210 patients underwent a total of 226 manual (M)-PCI procedures (age 67.5; 78.1% male) during the same period. Patients were subsequently followed and both 6-month and 12-month major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), comprised of any death, stroke, myocardial infarction, or target vessel revascularization, are reported and compared. Results There was no difference between the two groups with regard to overall MACE at 6 months (R-PCI 5.8% vs. M-PCI 3.3%, P = 0.51) or at 12 months (R-PCI 7.8% vs. M-PCI 8.1%, P = 0.92). There was no difference between the individual components of the primary combined endpoint at either time point. No access site complications occurred in either cohort that met BARC III or higher criteria. Conclusions At the 6- and 12-month time points following R-PCI, no difference in clinical outcomes or safety measures was observed as compared to M-PCI.
Description of an air temperature sensor based on O2 absorption spectroscopy.

Abstract In this paper, we describe in detail an assembled open-path optical cavity to act as a temperature sensor of air. A metal absorption cell in a temperature-regulated tube furnace is placed at the center of an optical cavity. The optical cavity consists of two mirrors, two nitrogen buffer sleeves, and the open cell. The air is injected through a fitting in one extreme of the metal tube and travels half the tube length through a channel in the wall of the tube. The channel directs the air towards the center of the cell. The air flowing is heated at the temperature of the metal tube in contact with the furnace. The heated air injected at the center of the tube, flows towards the open extremes of the tube. The nitrogen buffer sleeves protect the mirrors from the heated air. The temperature of the air flowing through the tube is determined by measuring the absorption of the A band of oxygen as a function of the wavenumber in the 769–755 nm wavelength range. The absorption technique is phase-shift cavity ring down spectroscopy. To obtain the temperature, the energy of the lower rotational state for eleven selected rotational transitions is linearly fitted to a logarithmic function that contains the relative intensity of the rotational transition, the initial and final rotational quantum numbers and the energy of the transition. Accuracy of the measurement is determined by comparing the calculated temperature from the spectra with the analog reading of the temperature-regulated tube furnace. This technique is proposed for exhaust air temperature measurements of combustion chambers and cooling air after passing through the blades of a turbine.
Dedifferentiated endometrial adenocarcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation and ballooning-cell features: Report of a rare entity with an unusual histology

Abstract A 63-year-old Caucasian woman underwent total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy due to abnormal uterine bleeding. Gross examination of the hysterectomy specimen revealed a large polypoid mass filling the endometrial cavity. Histological examination revealed a tumor with two unique morphologic patterns with no overlap or transition from one pattern to the other. The low-grade component consisted of FIGO grade 1 endometrioid adenocarcinoma with unusual “balloon-cell” change, while the high grade component was an undifferentiated carcinoma with neuroendocrine features. Both components exhibited MLH1 and MSH6 loss by immunohistochemistry. To our knowledge, the current case is only the 5th documented case of dedifferentiated endometrioid carcinoma with neuroendocrine features.
Conclusion: Medial Wisdom

It has been my aim in this book to elaborate a rigorous ontological theory from Arnheim’s writings for its ample benefits in understanding our contemporary medial situation, marked by unprecedented technological dependence and richness. Against the charge of those like Mitchell who argue that insisting on real medial difference “tends…to reduce that knowledge to a set of abstract propositions about the period aesthetic,” I attempted to show in the preceding chapters the way in which a strong ontology of media form is necessary to understand completely – to characterize – the political-economic changes taking place.
Exploiting and Defending Trust Models in Cooperative Spectrum Sensing

Cognitive radios are currently presented as the solution to the ever-increasing spectrum shortage problem. However, their increased capabilities over traditional radios introduce a new dimension of security threats. Cooperative Spectrum Sensing (CSS) has been proposed as a means to protect cognitive radio networks from the well known security threats: Primary User Emulation (PUE) and Spectrum Sensing Data Falsification (SSDF). We demonstrate a new threat to trust-based CSS protocols, called the Rogue Signal Framing (RSF) intrusion. Rogue signals can be exploited to create the illusion of malicious sensors which leads to the framing of innocent sensors and consequently, their removal from the shared spectrum sensing. Ultimately, with fewer sensors working together, the spectrum sensing is less robust for making correct spectrum access decisions. To counter RSF, we introduce a new defense based on cluster analysis from analyzing the network's Received Signal Strength (RSS) diversity, which demonstrates up to 95% damage reduction to sensor reputations.
The formation of the Thickveins (Tkv) gradient in Drosophila wing discs: A theoretical study

The development of the wing imaginal disc (wing disc) is commonly adopted for the studies of patterning and growth which are two fundamental problems in developmental biology. Decapentaplegic (Dpp) signaling regulates several aspects of wing development, such as the anterior (A)-posterior (P) patterning, cellular growth rate, and cell adhesion. The distribution and activity of Dpp signaling are controlled in part by the expression level of its major type I receptor, Thickveins (Tkv). In this paper, we focus on theoretically investigating mechanisms by which the highly asymmetric pattern of Tkv is established in Drosophila wing discs. To the end, a mathematical model of Hh signaling and Dpp signaling is proposed and validated by comparisons with experimental observations. Our model provides a comprehensive view of the formation of Tkv gradients in wing discs. We found that engrailed (En), Hedgehog (Hh) signaling, and Dpp signaling cooperate to establish the asymmetric gradients of Tkv and pMad in the wing disc. Moreover, our model suggests a Brinker-mediated mechanism of Dpp-dependent repression of Tkv. Based on this mechanism, a couple of predicted experimental observations have been provided for further lab confirmation.
General surgery training in the era of robotic surgery: a qualitative analysis of perceptions from resident and attending surgeons

The use of the surgical robot has increased annually since its introduction, especially in general surgery. Despite the tremendous increase in utilization, there are currently no validated curricula to train residents in robotic surgery, and the effects of robotic surgery on general surgery residency training are not well defined. In this study, we aim to explore the perceptions of resident and attending surgeons toward robotic surgery education in general surgery residency training. We performed a qualitative thematic analysis of in-person, one-on-one, semi-structured interviews with general surgery residents and attending surgeons at a large academic health system. Convenient and purposeful sampling was performed in order to ensure diverse demographics, experiences, and opinions were represented. Data were analyzed continuously, and interviews were conducted until thematic saturation was reached, which occurred after 20 residents and seven attendings. All interviewees agreed that dual consoles are necessary to maximize the teaching potential of the robotic platform, and the importance of simulation and simulators in robotic surgery education is paramount. However, further work to ensure proper access to simulation resources for residents is necessary. While most recognize that bedside-assist skills are essential, most think its educational value plateaus quickly. Lastly, residents believe that earlier exposure to robotic surgery is necessary and that almost every case has a portion that is level-appropriate for residents to perform on the robot. As robotic surgery transitions from novelty to ubiquity, the importance of effective general surgery robotic surgery training during residency is paramount. Through in-depth interviews, this study provides examples of effective educational tools and techniques, highlights the importance of simulation, and explores opinions regarding the role of the resident in robotic surgery education. We hope the insights gained from this study can be used to develop and/or refine robotic surgery curricula.
Internet of Things (IoT) and Electrical and Computer Engineering Curriculums

over the last five to ten years, Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) programs worldwide have realized the growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) phenomenon. The challenge for ECE departments is to integrate IoT into their curriculums. The general consensus amongst ECE faculty is that our curriculums, particularly for the four year BS programs, are already quite crowded, so how do we introduce yet another major topical area. In our department we have an Electrical Engineering (EE) program and a Computer Engineering (CPE) program. Being cognizant of the fact that in today’s world of complex systems all development efforts, by necessity, require a team of players, our department has taken the path of weaving the IoT theme into our existing curriculums. This will ensure that our graduates are cognizant about the IoT and can be part of the IoT design teams in various capacities/roles.
Periodic motions on bifurcation trees in an inverted pendulum with a periodically moving base

This paper studies periodic motions of an inverted pendulum with a periodically moving base. A bifurcation tree of period-1 to period-8 motions is predicted through a discrete implicit mapping method. The stable and unstable periodic motions on the bifurcation tree are obtained semi-analytically, and the corresponding stability and bifurcation of the periodic motions are determined by eigenvalue analysis. Numerical simulations are completed for illustration of motion complexity in the inverted pendulum with a periodically moving base. The numerical and analytical results are presented for comparison. Frequency–amplitude characteristics of the bifurcation tree are presented through the finite Fourier series analysis. Through such results, one can better understand the building vibration during earthquake. In addition, stabilization of the inverted pendulum can be based on the periodically moving base.
Escher-Trace: a web application for pathway-based visualization of stable isotope tracing data

Stable isotope tracing has become an invaluable tool for probing the metabolism of biological systems. However, data analysis and visualization from metabolic tracing studies often involve multiple software packages and lack pathway architecture. A deep understanding of the metabolic contexts from such datasets is required for biological interpretation. Currently, there is no single software package that allows researchers to analyze and integrate stable isotope tracing data into annotated or custom-built metabolic networks. We built a standalone web-based software, Escher-Trace, for analyzing tracing data and communicating results. Escher-Trace allows users to upload baseline corrected mass spectrometer (MS) tracing data and correct for natural isotope abundance, generate publication quality graphs of metabolite labeling, and present data in the context of annotated metabolic pathways. Here we provide a detailed walk-through of how to incorporate and visualize 13C metabolic tracing data into the Escher-Trace platform. Escher-Trace is an open-source software for analysis and interpretation of stable isotope tracing data and is available at https://escher-trace.github.io/ .
Leftist Insurgency in Democracies

Leftist insurgency has been a major form of civil war since 1945. Existing research on revolution has linked leftist rebellions to authoritarianism or blocked democratization. This research overloo...
Postoperative Ultrasound as a Predictor of Newborn Function and Ambulation after Open Fetal Myelomeningocele Repair.

OBJECTIVE Function of the lower extremities after prenatal myelomeningocele (MMC) repair is best assessed with ambulatory function at 30-36 months of age, but parents often ask about function before this milestone. Lower extremity movement can be assessed by ultrasound (US) and at the newborn exam (NE), but correlation between US, NE, and ambulation is not firmly established. METHODS This was a retrospective correlation study of fetuses that underwent open prenatal MMC repair at SSM Cardinal Glennon Fetal Care Institute, St. Louis, MO, between January 2011 and June 2017. Movement at the ankles, knees, and hips was assessed by US after open repair on postoperative days (PODs) 0-5 and at 32 weeks gestation. NE was performed by physical therapy or neurosurgery within the first month of life, and pediatric follow-up between 30 and 36 months of age was obtained to document ambulation. RESULTS Forty-two fetuses were included. Joint movement seen on US varied by POD: it was present on POD 1 in 7% of fetuses and 62% by POD 5. Degree of ventriculomegaly, lesion level, and lesion length did not have a significant effect on US, NE, or ambulation. Knee movement on POD 3 correlated with knee movement at NE (k = 0.58, p < 0.01), but only later knee movement correlated with ambulation (k = 0.28-0.46, p = 0.01). Hip movement at 32 weeks was the only single joint assessment that correlated with NE and ambulation (k = 0.45 and 0.46, p = 0.03 and 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSION Lower extremity movement increases between POD 1 and POD 5 in fetuses after open fetal MMC repair. Knee and hip movement on US at 32 weeks correlates with ambulation at 30-36 months. These data may inform counseling, and direct therapy and spark prospective investigations.
Employer-provided Health Insurance and Labor Supply of Married Women

This work presents new evidence on the relationship between husbands’ health insurance and wives’ labor supply. Several studies using cross-sectional data have suggested that spousal coverage reduces wives’ labor supply; however, these estimates potentially suffer from bias due to simultaneity of wives’ labor supply and husbands’ health insurance. This paper attempts to obtain consistent estimates by applying several panel data estimators to data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. The estimates suggest that the negative relationship found in cross-sections results mainly from spousal sorting and selection; controlling for unobserved heterogeneity leads to a smaller estimated effect of spousal coverage on wives’ labor supply.
The Effect of School Breakfast on Student Behavior: An Evaluation of Breakfast After the Bell

Delivering breakfast after the bell (BAB) is one way to increase participation in the National School Breakfast Program. Anecdotal evidence indicates that behavior improves after schools adopt BAB. We analyze a sample of nearly 30,000 pre-teen to early-adolescent schoolchildren in Arkansas who were cited for one or more disciplinary infractions. Using a difference-indifferences strategy, we find that the incidence of infractions drops markedly after schools adopt BAB. The impact of BAB adoption was most pronounced among lower-income students and girls. The potential for behavioral improvements is an important dimension that should be considered in a school’s decision to adopt BAB.
Younger patients with chronic limb threatening ischemia face more frequent amputations.

Introduction Amputations among younger patients with chronic limb threatening ischemia (CLTI) may carry higher personal and societal costs, but younger patients are often not included in CLTI research because of dataset limitations. We aimed to characterize and compare outcomes between younger ( Methods This retrospective cohort study identified patients with CLTI between July 1, 2014 and December 31, 2017 in the MarketScan commercial claims database, a proprietary set of claims for over 50 million patients with private insurance in the United States. The primary outcome was major adverse limb events (MALE); secondary outcomes included amputations, major adverse cardiovascular events, and statin prescription fills. Results The study cohort included 64,663 people with CLTI, of whom 25,595 (39.6%) were Conclusions A significant proportion of commercially insured patients with CLTI are under the age of 65, and younger patients have worse limb-related outcomes. These findings highlight the importance of aggressively treating risk factors for atherosclerosis and intentionally including younger patients with CLTI in future analyses to better understand their disease patterns and outcomes.
Estimating the impact of school feeding programs: Evidence from mid day meal scheme of India

Abstract This paper studies the impact of the world's largest free school lunch program (Mid Day Meal Scheme) on school enrollment in India. While the program was launched nationally, its implementation has been scattered within and across states. Using an instrumental variable approach, this paper estimates local average treatment effect of receiving free meals in school on children's enrollment in primary school. The findings of this paper suggest that the mid-day meal scheme increased the probability of enrollment in primary school and on-time enrollment in first grade. An analysis of heterogeneity in results shows that the program had larger effect on socially disadvantaged groups and on girls. Specifically, the analysis found the effect of the mid-day meal program on girls to be almost twice its effect on boys for primary school enrollment, suggesting that the program had a positive impact on reducing the gender gap in school participation.
Extraction of X-Parameters from FDTD Simulation of a Two-Port Nonlinear Circuit

A method for the extraction of nonlinear X-Parameters from finite-difference time-domain simulation results is described. Simulations are carried out on a domain comprising a diode and transmission line, and the calculation of X-Parameters from the results is presented. Results are compared to those from a commercial simulation package.
Gas source molecular epitaxy of Ge1−ySny materials and devices using high order Ge4H10 and Ge5H12 hydrides

This paper describes the fabrication of Ge1−ySny layers with 2%–13% Sn, utilizing a unique method that combines high-order Ge4H10 and Ge5H12 hydrides and gas source molecular epitaxy techniques. The latter operate at very low working pressures of 10−6–10−7 Torr leading to molecular flow regime conditions, promoting layer-by-layer epitaxy of crystalline materials at ultralow-temperatures (250–160 °C) that cannot be achieved by conventional thermal CVD. In both cases, a “direct injection” approach is employed, using the pure vapor of Ge4H10 and Ge5H12 as the source of the Ge flux, which is then reacted on the substrate surface with SnD4 in the absence of gaseous carriers. Ge4H10 reactions were conducted at 215–190 °C, producing 6%–12% Sn samples. These were grown on both conductive, resistive, single-side, and double-side polished Si(100) with n-type Ge1−xSix buffer layers (x = 2%–3%) to explore conditions and substrate formats that facilitate back-side illumination, enabling transparency and enhanced responsivity at 1550 nm in prototype p-i-n devices. Exploratory reactions of Ge5H12 with SnD4 produced Ge1−ySny with 2%–13% Sn at 250–160 °C for the first time. All samples were characterized by XRD, RBS, IR-ellipsometry, AFM, and TEM to investigate the structure, composition, strain state, and morphology. The samples grow partially relaxed (T > 180 °C) and their compressive strains gradually diminish in situ with increasing film thickness (up to 700 nm) without epitaxial breakdown and Sn segregation. Residual strains are further reduced by RTA processing. The experiments described here demonstrate the practicality of our chemistry-based method as an alternative to thermal CVD for the fabrication of high crystal quality samples on larger area wafers for potential applications in IR devices.
Aging and Spirituality

We have achieved many things due to technological advancement and globalization, which were imagined just a decade ago. However, are we satisfied with our lives, with our achievements? Much confusion clouds our vision in this turmoil; Hinduism, the ancient Indian tradition, may be a way of life in the present circumstances. Hinduism, the oldest living religion in the current world, harmonized our cultures and societal structures in many ways and influenced many other religions, such as Buddhism, and many other civilizations, such as Aztec. However, regarding the overall development of an individual, India’s societal and spiritual concept is still underrepresented and misunderstood in the Western world. This discussion on Hinduism is neither for advertising any religion nor claiming superiority of any religion over the others. Instead, it conveys the message that religion is a medium to unite our thoughts with the outer world, not a barrier wall that divides one human soul from another. This final chapter also discusses different issues on spirituality and how ancient Indian culture is rich enough to show us a positive direction.
f-Band Narrowing in Uranium Intermetallics

Although the discovery of heavy fermion behavior in uranium compounds has attracted a great deal of attention, relatively little work has been done which is sufficiently systematic to allow an assessment of the relationship of such behavior to more common phenomena, such as mixed valence, narrow-band effects, etc. In this paper we report bulk property measurements for a number of alloys which form a part of such a systematic study. The approach has been to take relatively simple and well-understood materials and alter their behavior by alloying to produce heavy fermion or Kondo behavior in a controlled way.
On the optimality of sparse long-range links in circulant consensus networks

We consider spatially invariant consensus networks in which the link weights, the directed graph describing the interconnection topology, and the temporal dynamics, are all characterized by circulant matrices. We seek the best new links, subject to budget constraints, whose addition to the network maximally improves its rate of convergence to consensus. We show that the optimal circulant link creation problem is convex and can be written as a semidefinite program. Motivated by small-world networks, we apply the link creation problem to circulant networks which possess only local communication links. We observe that the optimal new links are always sparse and long-range, and have an increasingly pronounced effect on the convergence rate of the network as its size grows. To further investigate the properties of optimal links, we restrict attention to the creation of links with small strengths, which we refer to as weak links. We employ perturbation methods to reformulate the optimal weak link creation problem, and uncover conditions on the network architecture which guarantee sparse and long-range solutions to this optimization problem.
Dialysate and Serum Potassium in Hemodialysis

Most patients with end-stage renal disease depend on intermittent hemodialysis to maintain levels of serum potassium and other electrolytes within a normal range. However, one of the challenges has been the safety of using a low-potassium dialysate to achieve that goal, given the concern about the effects that rapid and/or large changes in serum potassium concentrations may have on cardiac electrophysiology and arrhythmia. Additionally, in this patient population, there is a high prevalence of structural cardiac changes and ischemic heart disease, making them even more susceptible to acute arrhythmogenic triggers. This concern is highlighted by the knowledge that about two-thirds of all cardiac deaths in dialysis are due to sudden cardiac death and that sudden cardiac death accounts for 25% of the overall death for end-stage renal disease. Developing new approaches and practice standards for potassium removal during dialysis, as well as understanding other modifiable triggers of sudden cardiac death, such as other electrolyte components of the dialysate (magnesium and calcium), rapid ultrafiltration rates, and safety of a number of medications (ie, drugs that prolong the QT interval or use of digoxin), are critical in order to decrease the unacceptably high cardiac mortality experienced by hemodialysis-dependent patients.
The Bercovitz test for pregnancy

Abstract 1. 1. The value of the Bercovitz pupillary reaction in pregnancy, although it is exceedingly simple, is greatly impaired by the difficulty in reading the result and by the fact that much depends on the personal equation of the observer. 2. 2. In 107 cases of proved pregnancy a positive result was obtained in 68 per cent, a doubtful response in 10 per cent, and a negative result in 21 per cent. 3. 3. Epinephrine, 1–1000, will give similar reactions, to some extent. In 7 cases out of 45, epinephrine gave a correct positive result when the blood test was either negative or doubtful. 4. 4. The reaction is not constant in the same woman at different examinations. 5. 5. The reaction disappears early in the puerperium in most but not all cases. 6. 6. In 108 tests on nonpregnant individuals there were 4 false positive responses and 11 doubtful reactions.
Pancakes: A Software Framework for Distributed Robot and Sensor Network Applications

The development of control applications for multi-agent robot and sensor networks is complicated by the heterogeneous nature of the systems involved, as well as their physical capabilities (or limitations).We propose a software framework that unifies these networked systems, thus facilitating the development of multiagent control across multiple platforms and application domains. This framework addresses the need for these systems to dynamically adjust their actuating, sensing, and networking capabilities based on physical constraints, such as power levels. Furthermore, it allows for sensing and control algorithms to migrate to different platforms, which gives multi-agent control application designers the ability to adjust sensing and control as the network evolves. This paper describes the design and implementation of our software system and demonstrates its successful application on robots and sensor nodes, which dynamically modify their operational components.