cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparing swarm algorithms for large scale multi-source localization

We propose a common set of validation benchmarks and a reference algorithm that provide ground-truth for comparative analysis of multi-source robot localization algorithms for large scale applications. The benchmarks capture the primary first-order attributes of the general problem: source characterization and distribution, initial robot distributions, and dead space. The Biased Random Walk (BRW) reference algorithm represents a simple approach without robot communication. We demonstrate how the benchmarks are used, in combination with sensitivity analysis, to provide insights into the relative performance of algorithms for applications with potentially large numbers of sources. The Glowworm Swarm Optimization (GSO) algorithm and a new GSO/BRW hybrid algorithm are evaluated in an attempt to improve upon the baseline BRW performance. Unfortunately, none of the algorithms presented are able to locate all sources on the large scale benchmarks. Moreover, the algorithms perform worse on these large scale experiments than they did on smaller examples.
Total Synthesis of 16‐Desmethylepothilone B, Epothilone B10, Epothilone F, and Related Side Chain Modified Epothilone B Analogues

The macrolactonization-based strategy for the total synthesis of epothilones has been streamlined and improved to a high level of efficiency and stereoselectivity. This strategy has been applied to the construction of vinyl iodide 19 which served as a common intermediate for the synthesis of a series of natural and designed epothilones including an epothilone B10 (3), epothilone F (5), 16-desmethylepothilone B (14), pyridine epothilones 57 a–57 g, dimeric epothilones 59 and 61, and benzenoid epothilones 63 a–63 g.
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING FEATURES OF PRIMARY BRAIN TUMORS IN DOGS

Magnetic resonance images of twenty-five dogs with histopathologically confirmed primary brain tumors were evaluated. A lesion was visible in each dog. Meningiomas were extra-axial lesions that enhanced markedly withj gadolinium-DTPA. Glimas were Characteized by intra-axial location, significant mass effect and surrounding edema, and variable enhancement patterns. Choroid plexus tumors and pituitary tumors were differentiated by their location and marked enbancement. Prediction of general typeof tumor was correct in 24 of 25 dogs.
Radiative consequences of low-temperature infrared refractive indices for supercooled water clouds

Abstract. Simulations of cloud radiative properties for climate modeling and remote sensing rely on accurate knowledge of the complex refractive index (CRI) of water. Although conventional algorithms employ a temperature-independent assumption (TIA), recent infrared measurements of supercooled water have demonstrated that the CRI becomes increasingly ice-like at lower temperatures. Here, we assess biases that result from ignoring this temperature dependence. We show that TIA-based cloud retrievals introduce spurious ice into pure, supercooled clouds, or underestimate cloud optical thickness and droplet size. TIA-based downwelling radiative fluxes are lower than those for the temperature-dependent CRI by as much as 1.7 W m −2 (in cold regions), while top-of-atmosphere fluxes are higher by as much as 3.4 W m −2 (in warm regions). Proper accounting of the temperature dependence of the CRI, therefore, leads to significantly greater local greenhouse warming due to supercooled clouds than previously predicted. The current experimental uncertainty in the CRI at low temperatures must be reduced to account for supercooled clouds properly in both climate models and cloud-property retrievals.
Symbolic Interactionism: Its Effects on Consumer Behavior and Implications for Marketing Strategy

Considers the concept of symbolic interactionism within the context of consumer behaviour. Examines the implications for market strategy through segmentation variables, consumer and group characteristics, and general exemplary concepts. Surmises that marketers can create a product′s symbolic image, and should manage that image through a clear and consistent marketing program.
Solution of Ground Water Flow Problems with General Purpose and Special Purpose Computer Codes

Increasingly, ground water hydrologists and engineers must solve saturated/unsaturated flow and transport problems. The unsaturated component of flow is especially important when considering transport of contaminants that originate from surface or near-surface sources such as waste spill sites, landfills, and hazardous waste storage sites. Numerical solution of such problems has been accomplished with special purpose computer programs developed for solution of unsaturated flow problems. However, general purpose partial differential equation (PDE) solvers also exist, which often provide greater model flexibility. In this paper, the performance of PDE2D, a general PDE solver, and SWMS-2D, a special purpose program, are compared for solution of unsaturated flow and transport problems. Both programs accurately calculated changes in water volume in the flow domain for four examples, but PDE2D did not calculate boundary fluxes as well as SWMS-2D, resulting in high mass balance errors. However, PDE2D yielded a smoother solution of the example solute transport problem, despite a large mass balance error. SWMS-2D offers ease of use and excellent mass balances while PDE2D offers the user greater flexibility in terms of the types of problems solved, and a grid generator that ensures that the element size and distribution of elements are appropriate for a givenmore » problem.« less
Ice2p is important for the distribution and structure of the cortical ER network in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae , the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is found along the cell periphery (cortical ER) and nucleus (perinuclear ER). In this study, we characterize a novel ER protein called Ice2p that localizes to the cortical and perinuclear ER. Ice2p is predicted to be a type-III transmembrane protein. Cells carrying a genomic disruption of ICE2 display defects in the distribution of cortical ER in mother and daughter cells. Furthermore, fluorescence imaging of ice2 Δ cells reveals an abnormal cortical ER tubular network morphology in both the mother cell and the developing bud. Subcellular fractionation analysis using sucrose gradients corroborate the data from the fluorescence studies. Our findings indicate that Ice2p plays a role in forming and/or maintaining the cortical ER network in budding yeast.
The effect of a hypobaric, hypoxic environment on acute skeletal muscle edema after ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.

Background Clinicians have postulated that decreased atmospheric pressure during air evacuation exacerbates muscle edema and necrosis in injured limbs. The present study investigated whether the mild hypobaric, hypoxic conditions of simulated flight during muscle reperfusion worsened muscle edema and muscle injury in an established animal model. Methods Twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent tourniquet-induced hind limb ischemia for 2 h. After removal of the tourniquet, rats were divided into two groups (n = 10/group), and exposed to either (1) hypobaric, hypoxic conditions (HB) of 522 mm Hg (simulating 10,000 feet, the upper limit of normal aircraft cabin pressure), or (2) normobaric, normoxic conditions (NB) of 760 mm Hg (sea level), for 6 h. Muscle wet weight, muscle dry:wet weight ratios, viability, and routine histology were measured on the gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior muscles. Blood samples were analyzed for percentage hematocrit, leukocyte count, and coagulation status. Results Ischemia resulted in significant edema in both groups (P Conclusions The hypobaric, hypoxic conditions of simulated medical air evacuation were not associated with increased muscle edema following 2 h of ischemic injury. This suggests that other factors, such as resuscitation, may be the cause of muscle edema in flight-evacuated patients.
Properties of Amorphous Silicon Germanium Films and Devices Prepared Using Chemical Annealing

Amorphous silicon germanium solar cells have been extensively used for many years due to the low cost, easy fabrication, tunable bandgap and special properties. However, it is found that the properties of a-SiGe:H materials is not good as a-Si:H, and this limits the application of a-SiGe:H solar cells and brings the stability concern. Recently, it has been shown that this instability is correlated with the presence of multiple bonded Si-H bonds (i.e., SiH2), and a technique, namely chemical annealing, was suggested to improve the quality and the stability of a-SiGe:H. Although a number of results have been reported to produce good a-SiGe:H films but, no chemical annealed devices with good quality were reported and no systemic study was ever done on it. . In this work, chemical annealed a-SiGe:H films and devices, and non chemical annealed films and devices were produced in very high frequency plasma enhanced CVD, and systematic experiments were carried out to study the role of chemical annealing in enhancing the quality of a-SiGe:H solar cells. It is found that the materials were grown using a layer-by-layer approach, where the growth of a thin film was followed by a chemical anneal in hydrogen or helium plasma. Multiple cycles were used to build up the total film thickness. The purpose of the anneal cycle was to subject the material to controlled ion bombardment so as to reduce void density and thereby lead to better microstructure and fewer clustered Si-H and Ge-H bonds. FTIR measurements showed that the films which were prepared using chemical annealing had fewer SiH2 and GeH2 bonds. Electrical measurements showed that the films subjected to chemical anneal had a higher photo/dark conductivity ratio, a smaller Urbach energy and
Defining disability: development and validation of a mobility-Disability Severity Index (mDSI) in Charcot-Marie-tooth disease.

Objective To develop and validate a reliable patient-reported scale that grades the severity of disability in Charcot-Marie-tooth disease (CMT), from an in-depth analysis of patient and healthcare provider perspectives on what mobility changes constitutes mild, moderate and severe disability. Design In this prospective, cross-sectional study, a 19-item Disability Questionnaire was developed following literature and expert review. Between 2011 and 2012, the Disability Questionnaire was provided to healthcare providers experienced in CMT attending national scientific meetings, and to patients self-registered with the Inherited Neuropathy Consortium—Rare Diseases Clinical Research Consortium on-line contact registry. Provider and patient responses were compared utilising a two-sided unpaired t test with Bonferroni correction. The questionnaire was then assessed for validity, reliability and unidimensionality. Results We analysed 259 Disability Questionnaires (167 patients, 92 providers); these showed perfect agreement between patient and provider responses on qualitative descriptions of disability, but significant differences in quantitative responses on items corresponding to minimal or severe disability (p Conclusions The mobility-Disability Severity Index is a unique instrument, categorising disability from the patient9s perspective, and will undergo further cross-validation studies in CMT.
Evaluation of Cholesterol Reduction Activity of Methyl-β-cyclodextrin Using Differentiated Human Neurons and Astrocytes

Recent advances in stem cell technology have enabled large-scale production of human cells such as cardiomyocytes, hepatocytes, and neurons for evaluation of pharmacologic effect and toxicity of drug candidates. The assessment of compound efficacy and toxicity using human cells should lower the high clinical attrition rates of drug candidates by reducing the impact of species differences on drug efficacy and toxicity from animal studies. Methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MBCD) has been shown to reduce lysosomal cholesterol accumulation in skin fibroblasts derived from patients with Niemann Pick type C disease and in the NPC1-/- mouse model. However, the compound has never been tested in human differentiated neurons. We have determined the cholesterol reduction effect of MBCD in neurons differentiated from human neural stem cells (NSCs) and commercially available astrocytes. The use of NSCs for producing differentiated neurons in large quantities can significantly reduce the production time and enhance the reproducibility of screening results. The EC(50) values of MBCD on cholesterol reduction in human neurons and astrocytes were 66.9 and 110.7 µM, respectively. The results indicate that human neurons differentiated from the NSCs and human astrocytes are useful tools for evaluating pharmacologic activity and toxicity of drug candidates to predict their clinical efficacy.
Teacher, scholar, politician

In suspecting a student of trying to con her, a teacher gets a first lesson in academic politics.
Gendered organizations and intersectionality: problems and possibilities

Purpose – Theorizing that was conceived in the 1970s about gendered processes in organizations helped explain gender inequalities in organizations. This article aims to take the opportunity to re‐examine these processes – including the gendered substructure of organizations, gendered subtext, the gendered logic of organization and the abstract worker from the perspective of the original author in a present‐day context.Design/methodology/approach – A reflexive approach was used to consider how gender theorizing itself has become more complex as captured in the notion of intersectionality when gender process interacts with other forms of inequality.Findings – The key finding is the persistence of inequality regimes despite organizational changes, which still make developments in theorizing gender processes relevant.Originality/value – This article is an opportunity to reflect on the conceptualization and development of one's theorizing over three decades, which has suggested that there are still key questio...
Primary commodity prices, manufactured goods prices, and the terms of trade of developing countries : what the long run shows

The authors revisit in this article the empirical foundation of the alleged secular decline in the prices of primary commodities relative to those of manufactures. They use a newly constructed index of commodity prices and two modified indexes of manufactured good prices, and find that from 1900 to 1986 the relative prices of all primary commodities fell on trend by 0.5 percent a year and those of nonfuel primary commodities by 0.6 percent a year. They thus confirm the sign, but not the magnitude, of the trend implicit in the work of Prebisch. But even the more limited secular decline shown by their relative price indexes may be magnified by an incomplete account of quality improvements in manufactures. They then show that the evolution of terms of trade of nonfuel primary commodities is not the same as that of the net barter terms of trade of non-oil-exporting developing countries. Finally, they find that despite the decline that has probably occurred during the current century in the terms of trade of nonfuel primary commodities, the purchasing power of total exports of these products has increased considerably. Similarly, the fall that may have occurred after World War II in the net barter terms of trade of developing countries seems to have been more than compensated for by the steady improvement in their income terms of trade.
A role for protease inhibitors in immunity of long-lived animals.

To reproduce successfully, all organisms from bacteria to man must survive the attacks of the myriad of parasites that would otherwise produce fatal episodes of disease and premature death. This is particularly true for long-lived species that require many years to reach reproductive maturity and, presumably, that are required to resist multiple episodes of parasitic infection prior to that happy day. Parasites are species that draw their food resources from the live bodies of a host species and that spend much or all of their life in association with that host species. Typically damage is done to the host by the parasite, resulting in a condition of pathogenesis and disease. Parasites may be unicellular or multicellular, prokaryote, eukaryote, or virus.
Ambient RF Energy Harvesting From a Two-Way Talk Radio for Flexible Wearable Wireless Sensor Devices Utilizing Inkjet Printing Technologies

A complete design and additive fabrication process of flexible wearable radio-frequency (RF) energy harvesters for off-the-shelf 2 W two-way talk radios utilizing inkjet printing technology is discussed in this paper. As a result of numerous output dc power measurements of fabricated proof-of-concept prototypes, a maximum output power of 146.9 mW and 43.2 mW was achieved with an H-field and E-field harvester, respectively. Also, the effect of misalignment between receiver and hand-held radio on harvesting performance is discussed in detail. To verify their potential in real-world wearable autonomous RF modules, the operation of E- and H-field energy harvesters was verified by utilizing an LED and a microcontroller communication module under on-body and on-bottle conditions, and the effect of the energy harvesters on the performance of the harvested communication systems was inspected through received power measurements in an anechoic chamber.
Development of a probabilistic graphical model for predicting building energy performance

Abstract This paper presents the development of a data driven probabilistic graphic model to predict building energy performance. A directed graphical model, namely, a Bayesian Networks (BNs) model is created. Each node in the BNs represents a random variable such as outside air temperature and energy end use. The links between the nodes are probabilistic dependencies among these corresponding variables. These dependencies are statistically learned and/or estimated by using measured data and augmented by domain expert knowledge. BNs models became popular models in the last decade and only recently received attention for HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning) applications. A case study of using a BNs model to predict HVAC hot water energy consumption in an office building is presented. The energy estimation results meet with the criteria recommended by ASHRAE Guideline 14. This case study also shown that the discretized Bayesian Network model is sensitive to the discretization policy (i.e., bin size selection) employed. The applicability of a BNs model becomes questionable outside the range in which the model is learned.
Comparison of Three Landsat TM Compositing Methods: A Case Study Using Modeled Tree Canopy Cover

Abstract Landsat imagery mosaics developed using model II regression have been shown to successfully model percent tree-canopy cover ( ptcc ). Creating model II regression mosaics, however, is a time-consuming, manual process. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of using more easily automated image composites techniques, such as median Landsat-5 image composites or maximum NDVI Landsat-5 image composites, as alternatives to model II regression mosaics for the modeling of PTCC. This study found all composite types were effective in modeling PTCC, but the maximum NDVI composites included anomalies, clouds, shadows, and tended to be pixelated, whereas the median composites and the model II regression mosaics had none of these issues. The median composite procedure is automated and was found to be an effective approach to statistically reduce a much larger ensemble of images on a pixel basis to create images suitable for vegetation modeling.
Similarity-Based Context-Aware Recommendation

Context-aware recommender systems CARS take context into consideration when modeling user preferences. There are two general ways to integrate context with recommendation: contextual filtering and contextual modeling. Currently, the most effective context-aware recommendation algorithms are based on a contextual modeling approach that estimate deviations in ratings across different contexts. In this paper, we propose context similarity as an alternative contextual modeling approach and examine different ways to represent context similarity and incorporate it into recommendation. More specifically, we show how context similarity can be integrated into the sparse linear method and matrix factorization algorithms. Our experimental results demonstrate that learning context similarity is a more effective approach to context-aware recommendation than modeling contextual rating deviations.
Development of an AlN Deep UV Detector for Space Application

AlN is a very promising deep UV sensing material suitable for space application such as exoatomospheric solar blind detectors due to its large band gap (6.2 eV), excellent radiation and thermal stability. In this paper, a deep UV detector based on AlN photoconductor was successfully grown and characterized. High quality AlN thin films on Sapphire have been confirmed by in-stu RHEED and X-ray diffraction measurements. The film has an optical Eg of 5.96 eV. The detector has extremely low dark current. Different electrodes were investigated as contact materials. Al and Pt are more suitable electrode contacts for AlN photoconductor compared to Ti. The DC responsivity of the detector starts to rise for photon energies of about 255 nm (4.9eV) and reaches its maximum 7×10-5 A/W at 195 nm (6.5eV).
β-Technetium Dichloride: Solid-State Modulated Structure, Electronic Structure, and Physical Properties

A second polymorph of technetium dichloride, β-TcCl2, has been synthesized from the reaction of Tc metal and chlorine in a sealed tube at 450 °C. The crystallographic structure and physical properties of β-TcCl2 have been investigated. The structure of β-TcCl2 consists of infinite chains of face sharing [Tc2Cl8] units; within a chain, the Tc≡Tc vectors of two adjacent [Tc2Cl8] units are ordered in the long-range where perpendicular and/or parallel arrangement of Tc≡Tc vectors yields a modulated structure. Resistivity and Seebeck measurements performed on a β-TcCl2 single crystal indicate the compound to be a p-type semiconductor while a magnetic susceptibility measurement shows technetium dichloride to be diamagnetic. A band gap of 0.12(2) eV was determined by reflectance spectroscopy measurements. Theoretical calculations at the density functional level were utilized for the investigation of other possible stable forms of TcCl2.
DISINFECTION MEASURES FOR THE INFECTIOUS DIARRHEA CAUSED BY NOROVIRUS AND INFLUENZA IN A COMPUS

Objective To control the infectious diarrhea and flu cases effectively.Methods Field investigation and effective disinfection measures were adopted.Results From July 2 to 15,145 cases of infectious diarrhea and 94 cases of flu broke out in the college of Nanchang,and it was clarified that these cases were infected with Norovirus through field epidemiological investigation.The epidemic situation was effectively controlled through effective clinical treatment,focus disinfection,hospital disinfection and isolation.All cases were released from isolation,and no one died.Conclusion The epidemic situation could be controlled effectively through active clinical treatment,prompt epidemiological investigation,valid disinfection and isolation measures.
Genetic therapy: somatic gene transplants.

Both conceptual and technical knowledge is adequate to make hopes for gene transplantation therapy realistic. But we must still fulfill four criteria: matching disease and gene, devising means for multiplying that gene, introducing copies of the gene into the patient's genome, and guiding the “treated” genome into appropriate cells. There has been major progress in solving all four problems.
Stress and Reproduction in Amphibians

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the evidence that exposure to stressors alters the activity of the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis and influences reproduction in amphibians. The competing selective pressures of successfully reproducing and avoiding predation can have an impact on many aspects of an animal's behavior and physiology. At stake in this trade-off is survival, as animals engaged in reproduction may deplete energy stores necessary for avoiding predation and may be more vulnerable to predation or pathogens while engaged in reproductive behavior. The impact of this trade-off in shaping endocrine and neuronal pathways is seen clearly in amphibians. The chapter summarizes recent developments in understanding of the neural and endocrine pathways that mediate stressor effects on reproduction and the role of glucocorticoids in energy metabolism during reproduction in amphibians. Special attention is given to how multiple stressors related to changes in habitat quality may have an impact on reproduction and the health of amphibian populations.
The Model-Integrated Computing toolsuite: Metaprogrammable tools for embedded control system design

Model-Integrated Computing is a development approach that advocates the use of Domain-Specific Modeling throughout the system development process and lifecycle. This paper describes and summarizes the generic and reusable software tools that support MIC and which can be tailored to solve a wide variety of modeling, analysis, and generation problems in an engineering process.
High gain lateral heterojunction bipolar transistors and application to optoelectronic integration

Refinements in the geometry of a novel AlGaAs lateral heterojunction bipolar transistor structure that have made it possible to greatly improve the DC characteristics of these devices are described. By reducing the base dimensions to 0.35 mu m and improving the abruptness of the grading at the base-emitter p-n junction, maximum current gains in excess of 600 have been achieved. Demonstration of these values of gain establishes the viability of this device architecture for making a wide variety of electronically functional circuits. The improvements have been realized with only a relatively small penalty in increased difficulty of device fabrication. In addition, the complete planarity of the fabrication process for these devices makes them very attractive for optoelectronic integration applications. >
Environmental impacts on grazing of different brine shrimp (Artemia franciscana) life stages

We examined the grazing rate of brine shrimp from Great Salt Lake, Utah (USA) at different life stages under varying water temperatures, salinities, and concentrations of two of their common phytoplankton foods: Dunaliella viridis and Coccochloris elabens. Trials for a brine shrimp life stage at a specific temperature, salinity, and food concentration occurred within 50 mL test tubes for 1 h; the difference between initial and final food concentrations represented grazing rate. General trends indicated grazing rate significantly increased with progressive life stages, increased with temperature, increased with food concentration, and decreased with salinity. Grazing rates for all life stages were greater on D. viridis compared to C. elabens. Brine shrimp life stages respond differently to environmental conditions. Specifically, while juveniles and adults varied their grazing rates in response to different food concentrations and salinities, nauplii grazing rate was not affected. Only adult grazing rates increased with increasing temperature. Differences in grazing rates under varying environmental conditions have implications for brine shrimp phenology, because brine shrimp populations in the Great Salt Lake are food limited in this highly variable environment.
Phosphorylation of Dgk1 Diacylglycerol Kinase by Casein Kinase II Regulates Phosphatidic Acid Production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Dgk1 diacylglycerol (DAG) kinase catalyzes the CTP-dependent phosphorylation of DAG to form phosphatidic acid (PA). The enzyme in conjunction with Pah1 PA phosphatase controls the levels of PA and DAG for the synthesis of triacylglycerol and membrane phospholipids, the growth of the nuclear/endoplasmic reticulum membrane, and the formation of lipid droplets. Little is known about how DAG kinase activity is regulated by posttranslational modification. In this work, we examined the phosphorylation of Dgk1 DAG kinase by casein kinase II (CKII). When phosphate groups were globally reduced using nonspecific alkaline phosphatase, Triton X-100-solubilized membranes from DGK1-overexpressing cells showed a 7.7-fold reduction in DAG kinase activity; the reduced enzyme activity could be increased 5.5-fold by treatment with CKII. Dgk1(1–77) expressed heterologously in Escherichia coli was phosphorylated by CKII on a serine residue, and its phosphorylation was dependent on time as well as on the concentrations of CKII, ATP, and Dgk1(1–77). We used site-specific mutagenesis, coupled with phosphorylation analysis and phosphopeptide mapping, to identify Ser-45 and Ser-46 of Dgk1 as the CKII target sites, with Ser-46 being the major phosphorylation site. In vivo, the S46A and S45A/S46A mutations of Dgk1 abolished the stationary phase-dependent stimulation of DAG kinase activity. In addition, the phosphorylation-deficient mutations decreased Dgk1 function in PA production and in eliciting pah1Δ phenotypes, such as the expansion of the nuclear/endoplasmic reticulum membrane, reduced lipid droplet formation, and temperature sensitivity. This work demonstrates that the CKII-mediated phosphorylation of Dgk1 regulates its function in the production of PA.
Das Fantastische bei Kleist und Todorov

(1988). Das Fantastische bei Kleist und Todorov. The Germanic Review: Literature, Culture, Theory: Vol. 63, No. 2, pp. 87-93.
Suture Dehiscence in the Tricuspid Annulus: An Ex Vivo Analysis of Tissue Strength and Composition

Background Surgical repair of functional tricuspid regurgitation (FTR) is an increasingly common practice, but annuloplasty suture dehiscence remains a significant problem. Quantitative and mechanistic understanding of annular suture holding strength can support more effective techniques for tricuspid valve device anchoring. Methods Suture holding strength of ovine tricuspid annuli (n = 15) was quantified ex vivo by pullout testing at 12 positions around their circumference. Collagen density in additional annuli (n = 7) was quantified at positions above each commissure and midleaflet point by two-photon autofluorescence microscopy, enabling mechanistic assessment of its role in imparting suture holding strength to the tissue. Results Suture holding strength from pullout testing varied significantly by annular position, with a maximum of 10.0 ± 4.1 N at the septal leaflet (6 o'clock) and a minimum of 4.3 ± 1.3 N at the posterior leaflet (1 o'clock). Leaflet midpoints showed significantly higher annular tissue strength than commissures (7.2 ± 3.4 N versus 5.6 ± 2.1 N, respectively, p = 0.008). Collagen density, measured by a normalized mean pixel intensity, was significantly higher in the septal annulus than in the posterior-septal commissure, posterior annulus, and anterior-posterior commissure. Suture holding strength showed a strong linear correlation with collagen density (R 2 = 0.822, p = 0.013). Conclusions The clinical predominance of suture dehiscence at the septal annulus, despite its greater ex vivo holding strength, suggests either adverse suture placement techniques in this region or asymmetric tensile loading after implantation. This issue highlights the need to optimize implantation techniques and to carefully assess anchor security in existing and next-generation FTR corrective devices.
The role of covariate balance in observational studies

Observational data are prevalent in many fields of research, and it is desirable to use this data to make causal inferences. Because this data is nonrandom, additional assumptions are needed in order to construct unbiased estimators for causal effects. The standard assumption is strong ignorability, though it is often impossible to achieve the level of covariate balance that it requires. As such, researchers often settle for lesser balance levels within their datasets. However, these balance levels are generally insufficient to guarantee an unbiased estimate of the treatment effect without further assumptions. This article presents several extensions to the strong ignorability assumption that address this issue. Under these additional assumptions, specific levels of covariate balance are both necessary and sufficient for the treatment effect estimate to be unbiased. There is a trade-off, however: as balance decreases, stronger assumptions are required to guarantee estimator unbiasedness. These results unify parametric and nonparametric adjustment methods for causal inference and are actualized by the Balance Optimization Subset Selection framework, which identifies the best level of balance that can be achieved within a dataset.© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2017
Structural predictions for Correlated Electron Materials Using the Functional Dynamical Mean Field Theory Approach

The Dynamical Mean Field Theory (DMFT) in combination with the band structure methods has been able to address reach physics of correlated materials, such as the fluctuating local moments, spin and...
Northern Europe: Bibliography

No presentations are made for this area because the topic is well known and represented by large number of publications. Some information is presented in other parts of the text.
Preferment of Religious Institutions in Tax and Labor Legislation

The great majority of persons agree that the church and the state should remain separated in the United States. Yet it is also generally agreed that religious institutions should be encouraged by relieving them from statutory burdens which other groups in the nation ordinarily bear. The traditional exemption of the church from taxation of its property and income is the principal example of the sheltered position of religious organizations.' Indeed, Dean Sperry of the Harvard Divinity School has called the tax exemption of churches "the most important governmental recognition of religion made in America. . .2 Religious preferment is likewise manifested by according individuals and corporations who donate to religious institutions a deduction from their otherwise taxable property and income. Certain statutes regulating employers' relationships with their employees also contain exceptions in favor of religious groups.
Thermische Auslegung von Abgasanlagen

Die thermische Berechnung ist noch vergleichsweise neu, hat sich aber in kurzer Zeit als Standardwerkzeug bei der Entwicklung der Abgasanlage etabliert. Die gekoppelte Berechnung mit Star-CD und Radtherm ist dabei ein machtiges Werkzeug mit breitem Anwendungsspektrum. Die virtuelle Komponentenerprobung ermoglicht es, die Abgasanlage schon fruh im Entwicklungsprozess so auszulegen, dass auch den thermischen Anforderungen Rechnung getragen wird. Ein Bericht von Arvin Meritor.
3-Amino-4-hydroxybenzoic Acid Is Derived from the Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle Rather Than the Shikimic Acid Pathway1

The biosynthesis of 4-hydroxy-3-nitrosobenzamide in Streptomyces murayamaensis mutants MC2 and MC3 has been studied using sodium [1,2-13C2]- and [1-13C,18O2]acetate, sodium [2,3-13C2]succinate, [1,...
Generalized twisted quantum doubles and the McKay Correspondence

We consider a class of quasiHopf algebras which we call generalized twisted quantum doubles. They are abelian extensions H=C[G¯]∗⋈C[G] (G is a finite group, G¯ a homomorphic image, and * denotes the dual algebra), possibly twisted by a 3-cocycle, and are a natural generalization of the twisted quantum double construction of Dijkgraaf, Pasquier and Roche. We show that if G is a subgroup of SU2(C) then H exhibits an orbifold McKay Correspondence: certain fusion rules of H define a graph with connected components indexed by conjugacy classes of G¯, each connected component being an extended affine Diagram of type ADE whose McKay correspondent is the subgroup of G stabilizing an element in the conjugacy class. This reduces to the original McKay Correspondence when G¯=1.
Programmable Chromosome Painting with Oligopaints

Current methods for chromosome painting via fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) are costly, time-consuming, and limited in complexity. In contrast to conventional sources of probe, Oligopaints are computationally designed, synthesized on microarrays, and amplified by PCR. This approach allows for precise control over the sequences they target, which can range from a few kilobases to entire chromosomes with the same basic protocol. We have utilized the flexibility and scalability of Oligopaints to generate low-cost and renewable chromosome paints for Drosophila, mouse, and human chromosomes. These Oligopaint libraries can be customized to label any genomic feature(s) in a chromosome-wide manner. Additionally, this method is compatible with sequential FISH to label entire genomes with a single denaturation step. Here, we outline a protocol and considerations to scale the Oligopaint technology for fluorescent labeling of whole chromosomes.
Political Theology, Religious Diversity and the Nature of Democratic Citizenship

Driving this essay is a question central to political theology; that is, how can I keep faith with my distinctive commitments while also forming a common life with neighbors who have a different vi...
Willingness-to-volunteer and stability of preferences between cities: Estimating the benefits of stormwater management

Abstract Urbanization strains existing stormwater systems, yielding high flood rates, degraded urban aquatic habitat, and low water quality in lakes and rivers. Cities increasingly rely on green infrastructure stormwater solutions that can be maintained in part by volunteers. This paper uses a choice experiment survey in two major U.S. cities – Chicago, Illinois and Portland, Oregon – to estimate the benefits of stormwater management improvement in terms of stated willingness to pay (WTP) money and willingness to volunteer (WTV) time. We find that stormwater management can produce large bundles of benefits. Estimates of WTP are largely (though not comprehensively) stable across cities, but WTV for several benefits is higher in Portland. Finally, while people are willing to volunteer time for some amenities consistent with time valued at 1/3 the average wage rate, a person's WTV time is not correlated with their own wage rate and people appear to gain positive utility from volunteering.
Fifty-two-year-old woman with painful monocular vision loss.

A 52-year-old woman with a history of diabetes, who underwent a left cataract extraction about 3 months prior to presentation and had been receiving intravitreal injections for diabetic macular oedema, presented to the ED with 4 days of progressive left eye pain and vision loss. She had last undergone an injection 4 days prior, and since that …
Smart DC Wall Outlet with Load Voltage Detection

A standard home in the United States has access to the 120V AC power for use with home appliances. However, many home electronics are powered by DC electricity. This introduces energy loss in the conversion process. A residential DC electrical system will avoid such conversion loss by storing energy in batteries and supplying it to DC appliances. Unfortunately, there is no existing voltage standards for DC appliances, which makes it challenging to power DC appliances straight from a DC wall outlet. The Smart DC Wall outlet addresses this by automatically adjusting its output voltage to meet any required DC load voltage. A solution involving low-voltage detection algorithm within a DC-DC converter is presented in this paper. The proposed solution monitors trends in the output current and sets the output voltage accordingly. Simulation tests resulted in identification of the required output voltage of five out of seven test devices. Results also indicate the possibility of generalizing the turn on characteristics of DC devices with more refined algorithm to improve successful voltage identification by the Smart Wall outlet.
Quasar Feedback from WMAP and SDSS Cross-Correlation

We perform a cross-correlation analysis of microwave data from Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe and photometric quasars from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, testing for Sunyaev-Zeldovich (SZ) effect from quasars. A statistically significant (2.5 $\sigma$) temperature decrement exists in the 41 GHz microwave band. A two-component fit to the cross-correlation spectrum incorporating both dust emission and SZ yields a best-fit $y$ parameter of $(7.0 \pm 3.4)\times 10^{-7}$. A similar cross-correlation analysis with the Luminous Red Galaxy sample from Sloan gives a best-fit $y$ parameter of $(5.3 \pm 2.5)\times 10^{-7}$. We discuss the possible physical origin of these signals, which is likely a combination of SZ effects from quasars and from galaxy clusters. Both the Planck Surveyor satellite and current ground-based arcminute-resolution microwave experiments will detect this signal with a higher statistical significance.
Coronavirus statt Kaiserkrönung: Putins Verfassung und die Pandemie. Putin’s constitution and the pandemic

In mid-March, Putin appeared to be on the winning side. Once again, he had outwitted everyone, secured himself the “eternal presidency” and consolidated stability in the country. Yet already by the end of the month, he came face to face with an opponent that forced him to back down when the corona pandemic reached Russia. The political consequences could be extremely serious.
Necrotizing myositis in a rectus muscle arising in the setting of long-standing Langerhans cell histiocystosis and recent dabrafenib treatment.

Abstract Purpose to describe an unusual case of necrotizing myositis in a rectus muscle, possibly related to BRAF inhibitor therapy. Observations An 18-year old man with neurodegenerative Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH), recently started on the BRAF inhibitor dabrafenib, presented with right eye pain. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) orbits revealed a rectus muscle mass concerning for LCH recurrence or malignancy. Dabrafenib was stopped, and incisional biopsy of the mass was performed. The mass was absent on post-operative MRI, so no further treatment was pursued. Histopathologic evaluation was initially concerning for sarcoma, but on further analysis, appeared more consistent with necrotizing myositis. The mass did not recur, nor did the patient develop other signs or symptoms concerning for myositis or malignancy over a 24-month follow-up period. Conclusions Necrotizing myositis has not been previously described in a rectus muscle or with BRAF inhibitor use, though myalgias and malignancies are established side effects. Necrotizing myositis may masquerade as sarcoma and should be on the differential diagnosis for a new mass in the setting of dabrafenib therapy.
Prevention and management of periodontal diseases and dental caries in the older adults

As a result of aging populations, in the future, dental practitioners will be caring for more older adults than ever before. These older adults, especially in developed countries, will demand a greater number of dental services, driven by increased tooth retention and an expectation of excellent oral healthcare throughout the life course. Further, the global rise in the prevalence and incidence of chronic diseases will increase the risk and/or severity of oral diseases and add a layer of complexity to the management of oral diseases in older adults. More older adults will be at a higher risk of periodontal disease and root caries as a result of reduced tooth loss and edentulism. This article reviews information on periodontitis and root caries, oral diseases which reflect the cumulative risk of the individual, and which are best addressed through prevention. Oral healthcare providers must embrace the concept of lifelong emphasis on prevention, as well as participation as active members of a healthcare team which provides healthcare for older adults in various settings (eg, hospital/clinic-based care, community-based settings, and long-term care facilities). National guidelines that address oral health are being considered by some countries, and if these are implemented they will increase the accessibility to oral health for older adults. In parallel to this, revisions of existing older adult insurance schemes (eg, the inclusion of routine oral healthcare in the US Medicare program) would promote the maintenance of a functional dentition that is pain-free and conducive to general health. The opportunity exists to implement a holistic approach to oral health that will align oral health with general health and emphasize that true health can only be achieved with the inclusion of oral health.
Geographic variation in the seed mycobiome of Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii across the Pacific Northwest, USA

Fungal symbionts occur in all plant tissues, and many aid their host plants with critical functions, including nutrient acquisition, defense against pathogens, and tolerance of abiotic stress. "Core" taxa in the plant mycobiome, defined as fungi present across individuals, populations, or time, may be particularly crucial to plant survival during the challenging seedling stage. However, studies on core seed fungi are limited to individual sampling sites, raising the question of whether core taxa exist across large geographic scales. We addressed this question using both culture-based and culture-free techniques to identify the fungi found in individual seeds collected from nine provenances across the range of Coastal Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii), a foundation tree species in the Pacific Northwest and a globally important timber crop that is propagated commercially by seed. Two key findings emerged: 1) Seed mycobiome composition differed among seed provenances. 2) Despite spatial variation in the seed mycobiome, we detected four core members, none of which is a known pathogen of Douglas-fir: Trichoderma spp., Hormonema macrosporum, Mucor plumbeus and Talaromyces rugulosus. Our results support the concept of a core seed microbiome, yet additional work is needed to determine the functional consequences of core taxa for seedling germination, growth, survival and competition.
Simulated Learning Environments to Support General and Special Education Preparation Programs in Developing Teacher Candidate Instructional Strategies and a Disposition Toward Coaching

Teacher preparation programs are challenged with simultaneously training teachers who not only utilize effective teaching and classroom management strategies for a wide array of student learners but also boost student achievement and incorporate culturally responsive pedagogy. This chapter highlights how the use of a simulated learning environment (e.g., TeachLivE and Mursion) can provide teacher candidates opportunities for early practice with multiple opportunities to practice, reflect, and increase fluidity in a variety of classroom skills. Additionally, the increased impact of instructional coaching and how it can be used in combination with the use of a simulated learning environment within teacher preparation programs will be discussed.