cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
First-personal authority and the normativity of rationality

In “Vindicating the Normativity of Rationality,” Nicholas Southwood proposes that rational requirements are best understood as demands of one’s “first-personal standpoint.” Southwood argues that this view can “explain the normativity or reason-giving force” of rationality by showing that they “are the kinds of thing that are, by their very nature, normative.” We argue that the proposal fails on three counts: First, we explain why demands of one’s first-personal standpoint cannot be both reason-giving and resemble requirements of rationality. Second, the proposal runs headlong into the now familiar “bootstrapping” objection that helped illuminate the need to vindicate the normativity of rationality in the first place. Lastly, even if Southwood is right—the demands of rationality just are the demands or our first-personal standpoints—the explanation as to why our standpoints generate reasons will entail that we sometimes have no reason at all to be rational.
Aquarius geophysical model function and combined active passive algorithm for ocean surface salinity and wind retrieval

This paper describes the updated Combined Active-Passive (CAP) retrieval algorithm for simultaneous retrieval of surface salinity and wind from Aquarius' brightness temperature and radar backscatter. Unlike the algorithm developed by Remote Sensing Systems (RSS), implemented in the Aquarius Data Processing System (ADPS) to produce Aquarius standard products, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's CAP algorithm does not require monthly climatology SSS maps for the salinity retrieval. Furthermore, the ADPS-RSS algorithm fully uses the National Center for Environmental Predictions (NCEP) wind for data correction, while the CAP algorithm uses the NCEP wind only as a constraint. The major updates to the CAP algorithm include the galactic reflection correction, Faraday rotation, Antenna Pattern Correction, and geophysical model functions of wind or wave impacts. Recognizing the limitation of geometric optics scattering, we improve the modeling of the reflection of galactic radiation; the results are better salinity accuracy and significantly reduced ascending-descending bias. We assess the accuracy of CAP's salinity by comparison with ARGO monthly gridded salinity products provided by the Asia-Pacific Data-Research Center (APDRC) and Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC). The RMS differences between Aquarius CAP and APDRC's or JAMSTEC's ARGO salinities are less than 0.2 psu for most parts of the ocean, except for the regions in the Intertropical Convergence Zone, near the outflow of major rivers and at high latitudes.
An evaluation of flow field visualization with internal views

One popular area of research in data visualization is using streamlines to display flow fields, which depict the movement of fluids through a space. Most of the research to date has focused on external visualizations; that is, observing flow fields from outside the boundaries of the data set (e.g., Tao et al. [2013]). This research explores the efficacy of visualizing flow fields internally using an algorithm we developed to automatically compute paths through flow field interiors that provide a high degree of useful information.
Mining human failure dynamics from accident data using logistic regression and decision trees

The effective operation of technology depends on the decision-making of the humans operating that technology. Of fundamental interest are the conditions that may lead to failure or accidents. The research to understand human decision-making processes that lead to failure under varying conditions has typically approached the problem either deductively or inductively through surveys or small-scale experiments. This paper describes an inductive approach based on mining multiple accident data sets for relationships between environmental factors, human factors, operational stimuli, and the probability of correct response by the human operators. We describe data mining techniques we have developed for this problem and then show their applicability to train accident data.
External excisions in rhinoplasty.

Summary When faced with an extremely large nose, a possible escape is to reduce it modesty so as to obtain a natural look at the cost of having it still a trifle long or high. For those determined to reduce the nose to fit the face ideally, then the discrepancy of skin cover can be trimmed by external excisions which directly sculpture the final shape of the nose. 1.Alar wedge excisions have been used in approximately 65 per cent. of corrective rhinoplastics. 2.Composite crescent excision of the alar web in unilateral cleft-lip nose is suggested as almost a routine. 3.Strip excision of alar side walls has been found valuable in specific cases 4.Columella base or width excisions may be indicated in an extremely rare case. External excisions are suggested only as an adjunct to rhinoplasty and should not be used promiscuously. To excise too little is far safer than too much, as a second excision including the previous scar easily perfects the effect. The scars of these excisions are placed along natural margins or in creases where light and shadow meet to render the fine and soon faded scars unnoticeable. It is felt the artistic indications for these sculpturing procedures are present far more than is generally realised and their execution can have a subtle and extremely valuable effect on the final result.
Peak-to-average power ratio and power efficiency considerations in MIMO-OFDM systems

Peak-to-average power ratio (PAR) reduction is a powerful tool that can increase power efficiency and reduce distortion noise in MIMO-OFDM systems. Various PAR metrics have been used in the MIMO-OFDM literature without justifications regarding the physical mechanisms that support those PAR definitions. In this paper, we show that in order to deliver high power efficiency, two MIMO-OFDM linear-scaling schemes are possible: one that scales all MIMO branches with the same factor and another that uses a different scaling factor for each branch. For each system, we derive a meaningful PAR metric that should be used.
A Low-Cost RF MIMO Test Method Using a Single Measurement Set-up

Multiple input multiple output (MIMO) based systems have recently received a lot of attention as their projected data rate is twice as fast as the currently available systems. Due to the increased number of RF paths, the testing becomes more complicated, thereby increasing the overall test cost of these devices. In this paper, the authors propose a low cost MIMO test solution which targets critical specifications that are fundamental to the MIMO system operation, such as gain, IIP3, and phase imbalances between the RF paths. Our test methodology measures these parameters with a single test setup that enables the calculation of the relevant performance parameters. Using the proposed test method, RF MIMO systems can be tested using a mixed signal tester, and on-board circuitry with a reasonable accuracy. Both simulation and measurement results confirm the high accuracy and repeatability of our test technique
Amphibian FGF-1 is Structurally and Functionally Similar to but Antigenically Distinguishable from its Mammalian Counterpart?

AbstractRecent studies have shown that fibroblast growth factors (FGF) play an important role in the diverse cellular mechanisms involved with vertebrate development. One system which has received a great deal of attention is the developing limb in part because of the extensive epithelial-mesenchymal interactions that take place during this process. Because it closely parallels the developmental process of the limb and is a model for wound repair, the phenomenom of amphibian limb regeneration has been used to investigate the role of FGF in these processes. We have recently reported on the cloning and functional characterization of an FGF receptor (FGFR) isolated from amphibian regenerative tissue. In this report, we describe the isolation and characterization of an FGF-1 molecule from the newt, Notophthalmus viridescens. Amino acid sequence comparisons indicate that the newt FGF-1 exhibits between 79 to 83% identity with FGF-1 from mammalian and avian species. The full length cDNA of the newt FGF-1 was cl...
Exploration of effects of a vegetation barrier on particle size distributions in a near-road environment

Roadside vegetation barriers have been suggested as a potential mitigation strategy for near-road air pollution. However, there is still a lack of mechanistic understanding of how roadside barriers affect pollutant transport and transformation on and near roadways, especially under different meteorological conditions and barrier properties. In this study, we incorporated the representations of particle aerodynamics and deposition mechanisms into the Comprehensive Turbulent Aerosol Dynamics and Gas Chemistry (CTAG) model, and explored the effects of vegetation barriers on near-road particulate air pollution by comparing the simulation results against field measurements. The model shows generally adequate agreement with concentrations of particles larger than 50 nm, but tends to overpredict concentrations of particles less than 50 nm behind a vegetation barrier. Sensitivity tests were performed by comparing two different particle dry deposition models and varying the vegetation density and local meteorology. It was found that an increase in leaf area density (LAD) further reduces particle concentration, but the responses were non-linear. Increases in wind speed were shown to enhance particle impaction, but reduce particle diffusion, which result in reduction in concentration for particles larger than 50 nm but have a minimal effect on particles smaller than 50 nm. Further improvements in representing particle deposition and aerodynamics in near-road environments are needed to fully capture the complex effects of roadside vegetation barriers.
Developmental Expression of the Peripheral-Type Benzodiazepine Receptor and the Advent of Steroidogenesis in Rat Adrenal Glands

Although the precise mechanism whereby cholesterol is transported across the outer mitochondrial membrane is uncertain, a multimeric receptor complex termed the peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) appears essential for this process. We therefore predicted that adrenal cells at different developmental stages would express PBR coincidentally with the advent of steroidogenesis. Adrenals of neonatal rats demonstrate greatly reduced sensitivity to ACTH that gradually increases after the first 2 weeks of life. Thus, neonates have lower circulating corticosterone levels following exposure to stress. We examined mitochondrial PBR ligand binding activity, immunoreactive (ir) PBR content, and adrenal sensitivity to ACTH in vivo and in vitro. Ontogeny of both mitochondrial PBR ligand binding capacity and irPBR directly paralleled that of ACTH-inducible steroidogenesis in isolated rat adrenal cells and in rats injected with ACTH. In addition, neonatal PBR had approximately 2-fold higher affinity for PK11195...
SYNCHRONOUS BILATERAL PERCUTANEOUS NEPHROSTOLITHOTOMY: ANALYSIS OF CLINICAL OUTCOMES, COST, AND SURGEON REIMBURSEMENT

Purpose: We compared clinical outcomes, cost and physician reimbursement between simultaneous bilateral percutaneous nephrostolithotomy and theoretical matched staged bilateral percutaneous nephrostolithotomy.Materials and Methods: Between September 2005 and May 2007 we performed 200 percutaneous nephrostolithotomies including 17 synchronous bilateral procedures. Complete clinical and cost information was available and recorded for 15 patients. To compare variables between comparable synchronous and staged bilateral percutaneous nephrostolithotomy 152 unilateral percutaneous nephrostolithotomies were used to obtain similar parameters that were then used to estimate the outcomes of theoretical staged bilateral percutaneous nephrostolithotomy. Operative time, hospital length of stay, cost and physician reimbursement were determined according to CPT codes for stone complexity (50080 for stones less than 2 cm, 50081 for stones 2 cm or greater) to match case complexity per renal unit.Results: Mean patient age ...
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS AND MANAGEMENT STRATEGY: A SURVEY

The survey classifies economic theories of the firm into four categories based on the level of aggregation in economic models: (1) neoclassical, (2) industrial organization, (3) contractual, and (4) organizational incentive. Economic theories of the firm are evaluated on the basis of their potential application to problems of management decision making. The survey suggests that a management perspective can be useful in developing an integrated theoretical analysis of the firm that addresses both competitive strategy and organizational design.
Polymorphic repeat in AIB1 does not alter breast cancer risk.

We assessed the association between a glutamine repeat polymorphism in AIB1 and breast cancer risk in a case-control study (464 cases, 624 controls) nested within the Nurses' Health Study cohort. We observed no association between AIB1 genotype and breast cancer incidence, or specific tumor characteristics. These findings suggest that AIB1 repeat genotype does not influence postmenopausal breast cancer risk among Caucasian women in the general population.
Analysis of the determinants of bba64 (P35) gene expression in Borrelia burgdorferi using a gfp reporter.

The bba64 (P35) gene of Borrelia burgdorferi, the agent of Lyme disease, encodes a surface-exposed lipoprotein. The expression of bba64 in vitro is tightly regulated and dependent on several environmental factors. In nature, its expression is induced in the tick vector during feeding and maintained during infection of the vertebrate host. The pattern of expression of bba64 suggests that it imparts a critical function to the pathogen. A previous study has shown that the expression of bba64 is down-regulated in the absence of RpoS, suggesting that the alternative sigma factor may be involved in its expression. A DNA-binding protein has also been shown to specifically recognize a sequence in the 5′ regulatory region of the gene. Therefore, the contribution of these putative determinants to the differential expression of bba64 was investigated. The role of RpoS was critically evaluated by genetic complementation of the rpoS mutant using a chromosomally targeted copy of the wild-type gene. The results confirm that RpoS is indeed required for the expression of bba64. The role of the upstream DNA-binding site was examined using bba64 promoter–gfp transcriptional fusions in a shuttle vector. The DNA-binding site was studied by targeting mutations to an inverted repeat sequence (IRS), the most prominent feature within the binding site, as well as by deletion of the entire sequence upstream of the basal promoter. Quantitative assessment of gene expression demonstrated that neither the IRS nor the sequence upstream of the promoter was essential for expression. Moreover, the expression of the reporter (GFP) appeared to remain RpoS-dependent in all cases, based on the co-expression of GFP and OspC in a subpopulation of spirochaetes and the selective expression of GFP in the stationary phase. Collectively, the data indicate that RpoS is the sole determinant of differential bba64 expression in cultured spirochaetes.
Development of an airborne lidar surface topography simulator

In this paper we will discuss our development progress on a non-scanning, swath mapping laser altimetry system. This paper will discuss the system approach, enabling technologies and instrument concept for the swath mapping laser altimetry.
Decision aids, empowerment, and shared decision making

Each works or fails to work in patient-clinician conversations Finding unexpected results when testing our ideas is the basis of learning, experimentation, and scientific method. In a linked paper (doi:10.1136/bmj.g5651), Denig and colleagues report on a randomized trial of a decision aid for patients with type 2 diabetes.1 After much well executed work in the development and testing of this decision aid, the authors concluded that it had a trivial, if any, effect on patient empowerment. What might we learn from this? The trial tackles a real problem: the difficulties faced by patients and doctors in collaborating to target and control risk factors for adverse diabetes outcomes.2 Type 2 diabetes is both a medical disease—rarely the only chronic disease affecting patients—and a patient life issue. Targeting risk factors for diabetes requires commitment by both clinicians and patients, as it involves drug selection as well as the instigation of changes to patients’ lifestyles. This care can be overwhelming,3 and patients and clinicians should collaborate to prioritize the focus of treatment. Collaboration is, however, threatened by knowledge and power differences in …
Corrected Sequence of the Bacteriophage P22 Genome

We report the first accurate genome sequence for bacteriophage P22, correcting a 0.14% error rate in previously determined sequences. DNA sequencing technology is now good enough that genomes of important model systems like P22 can be sequenced with essentially 100% accuracy with minimal investment of time and resources.
ATTX961014-1R/Y a.k.a. Sierra RoseTM: A Red-Skin, Yellow-Flesh Potato Cultivar for the Specialty/Gourmet Market

ATTX961014-1R/Y is a high yielding, red- skin, yellow- flesh cultivar which was released by Texas A&M AgriLife Research in 2012. It resulted from a cross of A90601-2RDY(♀) by Mazama(♂). ATTX961014-1R/Y is susceptible to late blight (Phytophthora infestans), potato leaf roll virus (PLRV), and potato virus Y (PVY). It is moderately susceptible to common scab (Streptomyces scabies) and black scurf (Rhizoctonia solani). In addition to attractive tubers, ATTX961014-1R/Y produces excellent tuber size distribution, with high yields of 4-6-oz (113–170-g) tubers that are desirable for the gourmet/specialty market, and low yields of over-size and cull tubers. Cooking and culinary qualities meet or exceed Yukon Gold, Red LaSoda, and Dark Red Norland. ATTX961014-1R/Y received the highest average fresh merit scores in both the Southwestern and Western Regional Trials.
Multi-Robot Chemical Plume Tracing

This paper presents a novel and effective algorithm for the chemical plume tracing (CPT) task, i.e., tracing a toxic chemical gas to its source emitter. This algorithm is based on a firm, theoretical foundation of fluid flow physics. It assumes a team of plume-tracing robots that act as a mobile, distributed, adaptive sensing grid. In addition to presenting the foundation and the algorithm, an empirical comparison is provided between our algorithm and the two most popular alternatives, on a suite of simulated plume configurations of practical interest.
The Eye is the Window to the Kidney and Brain.

Diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration are leading causes of blindness among older adults. Both conditions are more prevalent among those with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, few if any previous examinations of CKD and visual impairment (VI) have been conducted. This gap in knowledge is filled by Wong et al. (2016) in their article published in this issue of EBioMedicine. The prevalence of VI and associations between CKD, VI and other major ocular diseases are reported for Asian adults between 40 and 80 years of age participating in the Singapore Epidemiology of Eye Disease (SEED) Study between 2004 and 2011 (n = 9434). Chronic kidney disease (estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) was defined using the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI) Work Group definition and diagnosis of VI and other major ocular diseases were based on comprehensive ophthalmological examination. The prevalence of VI and any ocular disease were significantly higher in those with CKD (36.1% and 84.7%) than in those without (12.9% and 54.3%). Moreover, CKD was associated with significantly higher risk of VI, any ocular disease, cataracts, any retinopathy and diabetic retinopathy after adjustment for potential confounders (odds ratios ranging from 1.24 to 1.94). This paper makes a valuable addition to the literature because adequate vision is fundamental to quality of life and many forms of blindness are treatable and preventable (Wong et al., 2016). One impressive aspect of the study, apart from the very large sample, is that multiple eye disease outcomes are presented in a single study (i.e., those previously mentioned as well as glaucoma). The benefits of comparing different outcomes within the same study, as compared to different studies using different samples and methods, are obvious. The selection and modeling of covariates to adjust for confounders reflects the authors' understanding that “the high occult burden of ocular disease may be explained in part by risk factors common to both eye and kidney disease” (Wong et al., 2016). The models represent an exhaustive list of theoretically and clinically relevant cardiovascular disease covariates. We were, however, disappointed in the lack of any variable indexing inflammation (e.g., C-reactive protein, but see Table 1 for an extended list), an important mechanism underlying CKD and ocular disease, particularly among those with diabetes mellitus. This is discussed by Wong et al. (2016), although they did not list it as a limitation of their study. Additionally, late stages of CKD were examined in relation to VI and ocular diseases without considering physiological complications of treatment that have been previously identified (Murray, 2008, Chelala et al., 2015). Table 1 Inflammatory markers identified in the cardiovascular literature.
Cw Argon Ion Laser Annealed B and as Implanted Diodes in Oxide Defined Silicon Devices

In this paper, we present detailed reverse leakage data on laser annealed diodes which were formed by implanting 1 × 1013 and 1 × 1014/cm2 B atoms at 20 keV and by implanting 1× 1014 and 1× 1015/cm2 As atoms at 50 keV into Si. The implant is made into bare Si through oxide windows where 1700A thermal SiO2 is both the implant mask and the diode edge passivation. The thermal controls were annealed at 900°C for the B and 950°C for the As for 30 minutes. Diode reverse leakage curves versus voltage are reported for devices with variable perimeter to area ratios. The results indicate that B diodes can easily be made with characteristics similar to thermally annealed devices with leakage at 1V in the 10−9 A/cm2 range. For As implanted diodes, the results are mixed. For As implants of 1 × 1014/cm2 the diodes had leakage currents at 3V in the high 10−9 A/cm2 range. At the 1 × 1015/cm 2 level devices with significantly higher leakage values at high reverse bias were obtained. The leakage and sheet resistance are determined in both cases and an optimum is shown as a function of laser power.
Adenosine improves recovery of postischemic myocardial function via an adenosine A1 receptor mechanism

The effects of adenosine in the nonischemic heart have been shown to be mediated via its binding to extracellular adenosine A1 and A2 receptors located predominantly on myocytes and endothelial cells, respectively. We tested the hypothesis that the beneficial effect of adenosine on postischemic myocardial function is mediated via an adenosine A1 receptor mechanism. Isolated rat hearts perfused at constant pressure (85 cmH2O) were subjected to 30 min of global no-flow ischemia (37 degrees C) and 45 min of reperfusion. Hearts treated with adenosine (100 microM) and the adenosine A1 receptor agonist N6-cyclohexyladenosine (CHA; 0.25 microM) recovered 72 +/- 4 and 70 +/- 4% of preischemic left ventricular developed pressures (LVDP), respectively, after 45 min of reperfusion compared with untreated hearts (54 +/- 3% of preischemic LVDP). Adenosine and CHA hearts exhibited greater myocardial ATP contents than control hearts after 10 min of ischemia, but there were no differences in tissue ATP levels after 30 mi...
Developing Humanistic Leadership Education

In this paper, I will argue, supported by interviews with a number of leading academics, that perhaps the MBA program, which is unlikely to change to meet numerous critiques, should be left as is with acknowledgement that its purpose is education that provides analytical, functional, and technical skills, and, basically, the first couple of positions out of business school. With that core acknowledgement, business schools could then also develop more humanistic approaches to leading and managing for individuals who have progressed in their work to the types of positions where humanistic capabilities associated with wisdom—moral imagination, systems understanding, and aesthetic sensibility in the service of the greater good—are vitally important and can better be learned. Through interviews with leading academics, I outline core elements of a wisdom-based approach to leadership development over time.
Judgment error in pie chart variations

Pie charts and their variants are prevalent in business settings and many other uses, even if they are not popular with the academic community. In a recent study, we found that contrary to general belief, there is no clear evidence that these charts are read based on the central angle. Instead, area and arc length appear to be at least equally important. In this paper, we build on that study to test several pie chart variations that are popular in information graphics: exploded pie chart, pie with larger slice, elliptical pie, and square pie (in addition to a regular pie chart used as the baseline). We find that even variants that do not distort central angle cause greater error than regular pie charts. Charts that distort the shape show the highest error. Many of our predictions based on the previous study's results are borne out by this study's findings.
A merging protocol for self-driving vehicles

Self-driving vehicle technologies are progressing rapidly and are expected to play a significant role in the future of transportation. One of the main challenges for self-driving vehicles on public roads is the safe cooperation and collaboration among multiple vehicles using sensor-based perception and inter-vehicle communications. When self-driving vehicles try to occupy the same spatial area simultaneously, they might collide with one another, might become deadlocked, or might slam on the brakes making it uncomfortable or unsafe for passengers in a self-driving vehicle. In this paper, we study how a self-driving vehicle can safely navigate merge points, where two lanes with different priorities meet. We present a safe protocol for merge points named Autonomous Vehicle Protocol for Merge Points, where self-driving vehicles use both vehicular communications and their own perception systems for cooperating with other self-driving and/or human-driven vehicles. Our simulation results show that our traffic protocol has higher traffic throughput, compared to simple traffic protocols, while ensuring safety.
A low-noise inductor-less fractional-N sub-sampling PLL with multi-ring oscillator

In this paper, a compact inductor-less PLL using multiple coupled rings oscillator is presented. Sub-sampling technique with soft loop gain switching is applied to reduce the in-band phase noise. As a result, the loop bandwidth can be widened, which suppresses the phase noise from ring oscillator as well. Fractional-N mode is implemented by utilizing the multiple phase outputs inherently generated by the ring VCO. Using multiple rings instead of one allows generating more phases for finer frequency resolution without decreasing oscillation frequency. The coupled multi-ring oscillator with proper phase shift also achieves reduced phase noise comparing to their single-ring counterpart. The PLL was implemented in a 0.13um CMOS technology, consuming 19 mW from a 1.3 V power supply. The measured largest in-band fractional spur at 2.08 MHz is −42 dBc. The measured integrated jitters were 571 fs and 690 fs around 1.2GHz output in integer mode and fractional mode respectively, achieving a FoM of −230 dB.
A nationwide evaluation of robotic ventral hernia surgery.

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to examine outcomes of robotic ventral hernia repair(RVHR) versus laparoscopic ventral hernia repair(LVHR). Methods The Nationwide Inpatient Sample was queried from October 2008 to December 2013 for ventral hernia repairs. Demographics, morbidity, mortality, and charges were compared between RVHR and LVHR. Results From 2008-2013, 149,622 ventral hernia surgeries were identified; 117,028 open, 32,243 laparoscopic, and 351 robotic. Open repairs were excluded. RVHR rose annually with 2013 containing 47.9% of all RVHRs. RVHR patients were more likely to be older and have more chronic conditions. There was no difference between length of stay. Pneumonia rates were higher with RVHR; however, after controlling for confounding variables, there was no difference in pneumonia rates. Mortality and other major complications were similar. Total charges were increased for RVHR in univariate and multivariate analysis. RVHR was more common in teaching hospitals and wealthier zip codes. Conclusion RVHR demonstrates comparable safety to the laparoscopic technique, with increased charges and increased volume in urban teaching hospitals and patients from areas of higher median income.
Great ape walking kinematics: Implications for hominoid evolution

Objectives Great apes provide a point of reference for understanding the evolution of locomotion in hominoids and early hominins. We assessed (1) the extent to which great apes use diagonal sequence, diagonal couplet gaits, like other primates, (2) the extent to which gait and posture vary across great apes, and (3) the role of body mass and limb proportions on ape quadrupedal kinematics. Methods High-speed digital video of zoo-housed bonobos (Pan paniscus, N = 8), chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes, N = 13), lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla, N = 13), and orangutans (Pongo spp. N = 6) walking over-ground at self-selected speeds were used to determine the timing of limb touch-down, take-off, and to measure joint and segment angles at touch-down, midstance, and take-off. Results The great apes in our study showed broad kinematic and spatiotemporal similarity in quadrupedal walking. Size-adjusted walking speed was the strongest predictor of gait variables. Body mass had a negligible effect on variation in joint and segment angles, but stride frequency did trend higher among larger apes in analyses including size-adjusted speed. In contrast to most other primates, great apes did not favor diagonal sequence footfall patterns, but exhibited variable gait patterns that frequently shifted between diagonal and lateral sequences. Conclusion Similarities in the terrestrial walking kinematics of extant great apes likely reflect their similar post-cranial anatomy and proportions. Our results suggest that the walking kinematics of orthograde, suspensory Miocene ape species were likely similar to living great apes, and highlight the utility of videographic and behavioral data in interpreting primate skeletal morphology.
Lean and green combine to impact environmental and operational performance

We assess the antecedent link between lean and green practices and assess the combined impact of lean and green practices on both environmental and operational performance. A lean and green practic...
Chemotaxis and Cell Aggregation

Chemotaxis is a phenomenon exhibited by motile cells, in which the direction of cell movement is influenced by the concentration gradient of a chemical stimulus. Chemotactic movement is usually toward the direction of higher stimulus concentration, so that the stimulus is termed a chemoattractant. This phenomenon is exhibited by cells of both procaryotic and eucaryotic types, ranging from bacteria and protozoa to white blood cells and tumor cells.
The Interaction of Stigma and Distress: Predicting the Help-Seeking Attitudes of United States Students.

Help-seeking stigma predicts more negative attitudes towards seeking psychological help, yet it remains unclear how distress levels might impact this relationship. Increased distress could diminish...
Long-term impacts of exotic grazer removal on native shrub recovery, Santa Cruz Island, California

A combination of overgrazing and exotic species introduction has led to the degradation of habitats worldwide. It is often unclear whether removal of exotic ungulates will lead to the natural reestablishment of native plant communities without further management inputs. I describe here my return to sites on Santa Cruz Island, California, 12 years after initial sampling in order to gain a long-term view on native shrub reestablishment into exotic grasslands after exotic grazer removal. Santa Cruz Island was grazed by feral sheep and cattle for over a century; these exotic grazers were removed in the late 1980s and feral pigs were removed in 2005–2006. I resampled 5 sites on south-facing slopes in the Central Valley of the island to quantify native shrub cover, density, and size. Previous data suggested that one species, Eriogonum arborescens, would be able to naturally recruit in exotic grass–dominated areas. Native shrubs have shown a modest increase in cover over time, although more striking was a sharp increase in the amount of dead shrub cover and density. Recruitment events during high rainfall years probably led to the slight increase in Eriogonum cover between sampling periods. Recent drought periods, however, have probably increased mortality and otherwise slowed shrub reestablishment in these arid sites.
UNIT 1.4 Analysis of Genetic Linkage Data for Mendelian Traits

This unit describes linkage analysis, an invaluable tool in mapping human disease genes. Linkage analysis is one of several methods used to map genes. Specifically, in linkage analysis, cosegregation of two or more genes (traits) is examined in a family unit to determine if they segregate independently of each other according to Mendel's laws or if they do not segregate independently because of their close physical proximity. The procedures outlined in this unit are not always straightforward, and a number of caveats are presented in the commentary regarding possible complications and confounding factors that may arise. Specific examples are given, but it is not possible to cover all possible scenarios or variables. The intention is to enable the reader to master basic principles used in the linkage approach, and thus be in a position to undertake, with proper consultation, a linkage-analysis study. This unit deals specifically with lod score analysis in Mendelian disorders. Curr. Protoc. Hum. Genet. 83:1.4.1-1.4.31. © 2014 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Stability of exponentially harmonic maps

We show that any stable exponentially harmonic map from a compact Riemannian manifold into a compact simply-connected δ-pinched Riemannian manifold under certain circumstance is constant in two dif...
Jefferson F. Calico, Being Viking: Heathenry in Contemporary America

Jefferson F. Calico, Being Viking: Heathenry in Contemporary America (Sheffield: Equinox: 2018), 509 pp., $42.55 (paperback)
Models of Continental Growth and Destruction

We don’t know with confidence the mechanisms by which primitive arc basalts are modified to produce the broadly granodioritic continental crust but there is widespread agreement that plate tectonics has been doing just that for at least the past billion years. We also don’t fully understand the structure of the continental crust; popular layered models lack mechanisms to produce such structures or to recover them following tectonic homogenization. The geochemical community long favored the view that early crust was mafic, in part owing to misconceptions regarding feldspar buoyancy on a hydrous magmatic substrate and the deep stabilization of garnet (which retards crystallization of more buoyant aluminous phases from the magma). But early felsic crusts with the potential for long term stability could have emerged via crystallization of tonalitic liquids fractionated from ultramafic magmas in equilibrium with olivine or differentiating magma sheets following large impacts into early basaltic crusts. The remarkable range of estimates of the growth history of continental crust reflects a number of influences but, generally speaking, earlier growth has been increasingly favored as new age survey methodologies became available and as the effects that crustal reworking and recycling have on apparent surface age provinces became better appreciated. Isotopic data once thought to support rapid growth at ~2.7 Ga are now recognized as equally consistent with constant volume continental crust. The longstanding misapprehension that the present-day distribution of crust formation ages is equivalent to the growth history of continents strongly influenced some estimates. Instead, today’s crust represents a running balance between new growth, internal overprinting, and crustal recycling. The difficulty in deconvolving these processes is one of the two principal challenges in establishing the growth history of continental crust. The other is that crust recycled back into the mantle and thoroughly mixed leaves no trace of its past incarnations. Although the rock record has yet to yield clear, direct evidence from which to constrain the magnitude of Hadean continental crust, optimal solutions to modelling mantle isotopic data are at least as consistent with constant volume continental crust since ca. 4.4 Ga as with slow monotonic growth. Radiogenic isotopic data used to argue for an early mafic crust are contradicted by stable isotopic results that appear to support a continuously felsic continental crust of unknown volume.
Analysis and Countermeasure of High Deposition Rate of Boiler Water Cooling Wall of 300MW Subcritical Unit

During the operation and maintenance of a 300MW subcritical drum furnace in a power plant, the corrosion protection level was found to be poor, the deposition rate of water-cooled wall was very high. The deposition of water-cooled wall tube and economizer tube was analyzed by electron microscope and energy spectrum, the reason of high deposition rate of water-cooled wall was analyzed, and the corresponding countermeasures were put forward.
Bayesian learning of orthogonal embeddings for multi-fidelity Gaussian Processes

Abstract Uncertainty propagation in complex engineering systems often poses significant computational challenges related to modeling and quantifying probability distributions of model outputs, as those emerge as the result of various sources of uncertainty that are inherent in the system under investigation. Gaussian Processes regression (GPs) is a robust meta-modeling technique that allows for fast model prediction and exploration of response surfaces. Multi-fidelity variations of GPs further leverage information from cheap and low fidelity model simulations in order to improve their predictive performance on the high fidelity model. In order to cope with the high volume of data required to train GPs in high dimensional design spaces, a common practice is to introduce latent design variables that are typically projections of the original input space to a lower dimensional subspace , and therefore substitute the problem of learning the initial high dimensional mapping, with that of training a GP on a low dimensional space. In this paper, we present a Bayesian approach to identify optimal transformations that map the input points to low dimensional latent variables. The “projection” mapping consists of an orthonormal matrix that is considered a priori unknown and needs to be inferred jointly with the GP parameters , conditioned on the available training data. The proposed Bayesian inference scheme relies on a two-step iterative algorithm that samples from the marginal posteriors of the GP parameters and the projection matrix respectively, both using Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling. In order to take into account the orthogonality constraints imposed on the orthonormal projection matrix, a Geodesic Monte Carlo sampling algorithm is employed, that is suitable for exploiting probability measures on manifolds. We extend the proposed framework to multi-fidelity models using GPs including the scenarios of training multiple outputs together. We validate our framework on three synthetic problems with a known lower-dimensional subspace. The benefits of our proposed framework, are illustrated on the computationally challenging aerodynamic optimization of a last-stage blade for an industrial gas turbine , where we study the effect of an 85-dimensional shape parameterization of a three-dimensional airfoil on two output quantities of interest, specifically on the aerodynamic efficiency and the degree of reaction.
31. IMPLEMENTING A CLINIC IMMERSION BLOCK BOOSTS INTERN CONFIDENCE AND EARLIER OUTPATIENT CLINICAL EXPERIENCES

Background In United States pediatric residency programs, there is a wide range of interpretations of the ACGME requirement to educate residents in community pediatrics and advocacy. Previous iterations of our required month-long intern advocacy rotation included disjointed learning experiences without opportunities for clinical integration. Few programs utilize an integrated curriculum to approach this topic. We sought to integrate early clinical and advocacy experiences to increase their impact. Methods 20 interns participated in a “clinic immersion and advocacy” rotation during block 1 or 2. Interns were scheduled for continuity clinic in the morning (n=20 sessions in 1 month) and experiential community advocacy activities in the afternoon. We utilized Kern's Six Step Approach as a conceptual framework for our intervention. Curriculum was developed using an iterative process; community activities were selected using the AAP's Community Health and Advocacy Milestones Profile (CHAMP). Data was collected from a pre-intervention cohort (class 2021) and compared to our post-intervention cohort (class 2022). Interns completed a survey using visual analog scales to rate their confidence in managing conditions, and in using clinical tools and community resources. They also completed yes/no items verifying whether they had encountered specific types of visits or performed certain skills. The paired t-test was used to assess pre/post intervention confidence measures. Pearson's chi-squared test was used to compare clinic experiences. Significance was assessed at p Results Response rate was 75% (15/20 interns) for the pre- and post-intervention cohorts. Confidence measures were not statistically different between the two groups on 22/23 items. The intervention group rated their confidence in knowledge about community resources significantly higher than the non-intervention group (p=0.008). Clinic experiences were statistically similar between cohorts (1-month vs. 1 year). Discussion This study shows our success in increasing clinical confidence and experiences earlier in intern year as, after 1 month of daily continuity clinic, the post intervention cohort was directly comparable to the pre-intervention cohort after 1 year of weekly continuity clinic. Future directions include whether our curriculum will lead to increased confidence in clinic skills longitudinally, retained confidence in knowledge of community resources, and generalizability to other residency programs.
A numerical study of divergence-free kernel approximations

Approximation properties of divergence-free vector fields by global and local solenoidal bases are studied. A comparison between interpolants generated with radial kernels and multivariate polynomials is presented. Numerical results show higher rates of convergence for derivatives of the vector field being approximated in directions enforced by the divergence operator when a rectangular grid is used. We also compute the growth of Lebesgue constants for uniform and clustered nodes and study the flat limit of divergence-free interpolants based on radial kernels. Numerical results are presented for two- and three-dimensional vector fields.
Twitter COVID Data Analysis

We sought to determine whether Twitter and other various social media platforms were effective avenues of data gathering for COVID-19 virus statistics. We were able to conclude through using R and the coding within the program, that though it could be a useful tool for gathering data for analysis, it would be best used along side other resources.
Crash Severity: A Comparison of Event Data Recorder Measurements with Accident Reconstruction Estimates

The primary description of crash severity in most accident databases is vehicle delta-V. Delta-V has been traditionally estimated through accident reconstruction techniques using computer codes, e.g. Crash3 and WinSmash. Unfortunately, delta-V is notoriously difficult to estimate in many types of collisions including sideswipes, collisions with narrow objects, angled side impacts, and rollovers. Indeed, approximately 40% of all delta-V estimates for inspected vehicles in the National Automotive Sampling System / Crashworthiness Data System (NASS/CDS) 2001 are reported as unknown. The Event Data Recorders (EDRs), now being installed as standard equipment by several automakers, have the potential to provide an independent measurement of crash severity which avoids many of the difficulties of accident reconstruction techniques. This paper evaluates the feasibility of replacing delta-V estimates from accident reconstruction with the delta-V recorded by EDRs. The analysis is based on over 500 NASS/CDS cases from 2000 2002 which have corresponding EDR datasets. The potential of extracting manual belt use from EDRs is also discussed and compared with the corresponding results from NASS gathered by accident investigators. Although EDRs can greatly enhance the investigation of a crash, the study finds that current EDRs are not perfect. The paper discusses the limitations of current EDR technology and the opportunites for enhancement of future Event Data Recorders.
A History of the Imagination

I was sailing to Cincinnati with the King of Belgium in his private steamship. (It is not an easy thing to sail to Cincinnati from Africa! you say, cynical as always. Though a river town, Cincinnati is far from the world's great oceans! Except in dreams, I say?in dreams Cincinnati is an easy sail from Africa, especially in such a ship as belongs to the King of All the Belgians with its wonderful featherbeds, its frequent cocktail hours announced by the ship's silver bell, its golden ropes and handsome sailors who speak, I suppose, Walloon.) I was accompanying the King to the funeral to be held later that day for the last passenger pigeon, which had died the day before in the Cincinnati Zoo. (You cannot travel from the Congo to Cincinnati in only a day! you shout, fit to be tied. Tut-tut! I say, not at all troubled by such questions of travel. For me, travel had become a thought.) "We have a special fondness for pigeons," the King said as we stood at the rail and watched the whales rush through the ocean like loco motives. "Pigeon racing is the national sport of Belgium, you know." I did not know.