cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Application of laser ultrasonic non-destructive evaluation technique to additive manufacturing

The change in properties of a propagating ultrasonic wave has been a mainstay characterization tool of the nondestructive evaluation (NDE) industry for identifying subsurface defects (e.g. damage). A variant of this concept could be applicable to 3D additive manufacturing where the existence of defects (e.g. pores) within a sub-layer could mark a product as non-qualifying. We have been exploring the utility of pulsed laser ultrasonic excitation coupled with CW laser heterodyne detection as an all optical scheme for characterizing sub surface layer properties. The all-optical approach permits a straight forward integration into a laser additive processing tool. To test the concept, we have developed an experimental system that generates pulsed ultrasonic waves (the probe) with high bandwidth ( >30-200 microns) beams. Current tests include characterizing properties of spot weld joints between two thin stainless steel plates. The long term objective is to transition the technique into a laser additive manufacturing tool.
Anticorrelation of the optical vortex density and the Fried parameter in RACHL data

The RACHL experiment interrogated the dependence of the measured optical vortex density on the turbulence strength, represented by the Fried parameter. We found that a strong correlation extends down to the scale of individual frames.
Analysis of Wind Speed Measurements using Continuous Wave LIDAR for Wind Turbine Control y

Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) systems are able to measure the speed of incoming wind before it interacts with a wind turbine rotor. These preview wind measurements can be used in feedforward control systems designed to reduce turbine loads. However, the degree to which such preview-based control techniques can reduce loads by reacting to turbulence depends on how accurate the incoming wind eld can be measured. This study examines the accuracy of dierent measurement scenarios that rely on coherent continuouswave Doppler LIDAR systems to determine their applicability to feedforward control. In particular, the impacts of measurement range and angular oset from the wind direction are studied for various wind conditions. A realistic case involving a scanning LIDAR unit mounted in the spinner of a wind turbine is studied in depth, with emphasis on choices for scan radius and preview distance. The eects of turbulence parameters on measurement accuracy are studied as well.
Intercultural Negotiation in International Business

Cultural differences among negotiators is a constant in international business negotiations. Four element of culture - behavior, attitudes, norms and values influence such negotiations particularly with regard to communication, the form and substance of transactions, and negotiating style. Negotiating style involves ten factors, and the article reports survey data on how negotiators cultural differences are suggested.
Soluble Expression and Lymphocyte Proliferation Activity Detection of Porcine GM-CSF

Based on the nucleotide sequence of pGM-CSF(U67175.1),this gene sequence was amplicated.This sequence was cloned to the prokaryotic expression vector pET-30b and pET30b-pGM-CSF was successfully constructed,then molecular partner plasmid pG-KJE8 was commonly transformed into E.coli BL21(DE3).After IPTG induction,SDS-PAGE demonstrated that the recombinant protein was expressed in form of inclusion body and was approximately 23 ku.With the help of molecular partner,the amount of soluble protein expression was increased.Through the lymphocyte proliferation test,it briefly showed the biological activity of pGM-CSF's protein after purification.This research laid the foundations for further study of its biological function and clinical application.
The Effect of Improving Drinking Water and Lavatories in Potential Endemic Areas of Schistosomiasis in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area

Objective To learn the status and compare the effect of improving drinking water and lavatories in potential endemic areas of schistosomiasis in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area.Methods A cluster random sampling method was adopted and a questionnaire survey was conducted to four selected villages and towns before and after organized and large scale drinking water and lavatories improvement in the potential endemic areas of schistosomiasis in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area.Results A total of 807 households in four demonstrate villages and towns were investigated for the baseline survey,while 856 households in the same four villages and towns were investigated for the terminal survey.The popularity rate of using tap water from waterworks went up from 33.58% to 66.12%(P=0.000);the summation of popularity rate of using tap water from both waterworks and water tower made by local residents went up from 76.33% to 96.38%(P=0.000);and the popularity rate of using decontaminated lavatories went up from 53.68% to 78.85%(P=0.000).According to Chi-square test,there were significant differences compared with the popularity rate before improvement(P0.05).Conclusion The condition of intervention villages and towns gets greatly improved through the organized and large scale project of improving water quality and lavatories decontamination,and the potential danger of schistosomiasis is obviously reduced in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area.
166 ASSOCIATION BETWEEN FREE CORTISOL AND HEPATIC LIPASE ACTIVITY IN WOMEN

Central obesity is a risk factor for dyslipidemia and cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women. Low estrogen levels and increased intraabdominal fat (IAF) have been associated with increased activity of hepatic lipase and an atherogenic lipid profile, characterized by reduced concentrations of HDL2 cholesterol and increased small, dense LDL particles. Previous studies have shown that increasing amounts of intraabdominal fat correlate with higher levels of free cortisol in postmenopausal women. However, little is known about the relationship between endogenous cortisol secretion, hepatic lipase activity (HLA), and lipoprotein levels. Methods To further investigate these relationships, we studied 25 women (13 premenopausal (Pre), mean ± SD age 35 ± 9 yrs, 6 postmenopausal not on HRT (PM), age 56 ± 6 yrs, and 6 postmenopausal on hormonal replacement therapy (PM + HRT), age 52 ± 6 yrs), matched for body weight. IAF was measured by CT scan, and 24-hour free cortisol was measured by 18-hour equilibrium dialysis on pooled samples of plasma drawn every 30 minutes for 24 hours. Results There was a nonsignificant trend toward increased hepatic lipase activity in postmenopausal women (Pre 133 ± 67 nmol/ml/min, PM + HRT 123 ± 32 nmol/ml/min, PM 187 ± 50 nmol/ml/min; mean ± SD, p = 0.12). IAF was positively correlated with HLA (r=0.453, p=0.020) and negatively correlated with LDL relative flotation (Rf) (r=-0.524, p=0.006) and HDL2 (r=-0.515, p=0.007). 24-hour free cortisol was positively correlated with HLA (r=0.510, p=0.009) and negatively with HDL2 (r=-0.404, p=0.045). On multiple linear regression analysis, HLA was independently related to free cortisol (p=0.046) but not IAF (p=0.117). Conclusion Increased IAF is associated with a more atherogenic lipid profile and contributes to formation of small, dense LDL and reduced HDL2 levels through its association with increased hepatic lipase activity. However, our data suggest that free cortisol levels not only have a role in the expression of visceral adiposity but also independently affect hepatic lipase activity, and may be important in determining HDL2 levels in women.
Interlocutory Coalitions and Policy Convergence

This chapter attempts to validate the hypothesis that the supranational coalitions of civil society actors are meaningful tools to promote the democratisation of supranational administrative governance. Two questions will be posed. The first is more topical, in that it speculates on how these coalitions may be considered among the actors who concretely contribute to influencing the interactions between global and European decision-making processes. A second (more abstract) question seeks to determine whether the growing networking among civil society actors at the supranational level is forming a “bridge” between the global and the European administrative systems. This chapter will make a preliminary distinction between the contribution to the shaping of principles of administrative governance at the supranational level given by single civil society actors (and particularly by NGOs) and the coalitions of civil society actors, respectively. It is suggested that the latter are a significant factor in spreading interaction and convergence between European administrative law and global administrative law. Two types of administrative convergence will be analysed. The first is convergence through attraction, whereas the second is described as convergence through imposition. These two forms of convergence are self-completing. Convergence as pursued through the influence of the supranational coalitions of civil society actors on global and European administrative law systems follows from attractiveness and imposition, or combinations thereof.
Principles of condensed matter physics: Field theories, critical phenomena, and the renormalization group

Mean-field theory, presented in the preceding chapter, correctly describes the qualitative features of most phase transitions and, in some cases, the quantitative features. Since mean-field theory replaces the actual configurations of the local variables (e.g. spins) by their average value, it neglects the effects of fluctuations about this mean. These fluctuations may or may not be important. The more spins that interact with a particular test spin, the more the test spin sees an effective average or mean field. If the test spin interacts with two neighbors, the averaging is minimal and the fluctuations are large and important. The number of spins producing the effective field increases with the range of the interaction and with the dimension. Thus we will find that mean-field theory is a good approximation in high dimensions but fails to provide a quantitatively correct description of second-order critical points in low dimensions. This chapter will be devoted to the study of second-order phase transitions when mean-field theory is not a good approximation. We will begin by considering fluctuations of the order parameter about its spatially uniform mean-field value. We will find that for spatial dimensions below an upper critical dimension d c (typically d c = 4), fluctuations always become important and invalidate mean-field theory for temperatures sufficiently close to T c . This will motivate a generalization of Landau theory that incorporates spatial fluctuations about a mean-field free energy minimum.
Successful treatment of pituitary carcinoma with concurrent radiation, temozolomide, and bevacizumab after resection

The optimal treatment of pituitary carcinomas (PC) is unknown. Treatment includes surgical resection, radiation, and more recently, temozolomide (TMZ). Pituitary adenomas have relatively high expression of vascular endothelial growth factor; therefore, bevacizumab, an antiangiogenic agent, has been used in a small number of aggressive or malignant pituitary tumors after recurrence. However, it has not been administered concurrently with other chemotherapeutic agents or combined with radiation therapy in PC. We present a 63-year-old man with an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-secreting PC, causing visual loss. It was resected transsphenoidally. There were several notable factors placing the patient at high risk for recurrence including distant metastasis in the form of a pulmonary nodule. Morphologically, his tumor was a pituitary neoplasm with malignant histopathologic features. It had abundant mitotic figures and zones of necrosis. Six weeks post-surgery, the patient started concurrent chemoradiation, using combination therapy with TMZ and bevacizumab. TMZ was continued for 12 cycles in the adjuvant setting. The ACTH was effective as a serum-based tumor marker and normalized during treatment. The patient is alive, five years after diagnosis, with no recurrence to date. This is the first case of pituitary carcinoma treated successfully with concurrent chemoradiation therapy that combined TMZ and bevacizumab with a long-term follow up.
Getting together: a state–of–the art review of the challenges and rewards of consortia

Many alternative types of consortia and collaborations can exist between academe, industry and governments. This paper presents an overview of the alternative types of consortia available, a summary of their pros and cons, and a review of the findings to date on their effectiveness. The need for additional study is outlined, and an agenda for research on consortia is presented.
Post-menopausal oestrogens protect against fractures of hip and distal radius. A case-control study.

Abstract To assess the efficacy of oestrogens in preventing the common major limb fractures of postmenopausal women, retrospective case-control research was used for a new purpose-to explore a beneficial rather than adverse effect of treatment. Post-menopausal women admitted with fractures of the hip or distal radius and matched women admitted to the orthopaedic service for other reasons were surveyed. The "risk" of the non-oestrogen users, was estimated by inverting the customary odds ratio to calculate protection in terms of numbers of (exposed controls x non-exposed cases) ÷ (exposed cases x non-exposed controls). Medical-record data for oestrogen usage in 157 matched case-control pairs gave an odds ratio for "protection" of 1·5 (10×150÷7×147). If "exposure" was defined as starting œstrogens within 5 years of the menopause, this ratio rose to 2·6 (10×153÷4×147). With oestrogen usage ascertained from standardised interviews of 80 case-control pairs, the ratio was 3·0 (20×72÷8×60) (p=0·01), and rose to 3·8 (16×75÷5×64) (p=0·01) for oestrogen "exposure" that began within five years of menopause. When lateral chest X-rays were blindly reviewed, the prevalence of osteoporosis was 32% in the fracture cases and 15% in controls (p
Cystic Fibrosis-related cirrhosis

While liver involvement is common in cystic fibrosis, the major liver disorder with impact on the clinical outcome of individuals with CF is the development of multilobular cirrhosis with progression to portal hypertension. Interestingly, this is a disorder primarily of children and adolescents. We review the proposed pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnostic work-up, medical and surgical management, and complications of CF cirrhosis.
Physical activity mitigates adverse effect of metabolic syndrome on vessels and brain

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) adversely affects the vasculature and cerebral white matter (CWM) integrity. Arterial stiffening has been associated with diminished CWM integrity. Physical activity (PA) can ameliorate components of MetS and subsequently affect arterial stiffening and CWM integrity. Our aim was to determine the role of PA on mitigating the adverse influence of MetS on arterial stiffness and CWM integrity. In a cross-sectional study design, sixty-six middle-aged adults (40–62 years) composed of 18 sedentary MetS (Sed MetS), 21 physically active MetS (Active MetS), and 27 healthy individuals absent of MetS risk factors were studied. Carotid artery stiffness was assessed via simultaneous ultrasound and tonometry. CWM integrity was measured using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) through metrics of fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD). Carotid β-stiffness index in Active MetS was lower than Sed MetS but was not different from Healthy controls (6.6 ± 1.5, 7.7 ± 2.1, and 5.6 ± 1.6 au, p = 0.001). CWM integrity was significantly greater in Active MetS subjects compared to Sed MetS subjects but statistically equal to Healthy controls in the anterior limb of the internal capsule, and splenium of the corpus callosum, uncinate fasciculus, and superior corona radiata (all p < 0.05). Middle-aged individuals with MetS who habitually perform PA demonstrated lower arterial stiffness and more favorable CWM integrity than their sedentary peers, indicating that PA may be effective in mitigating the adverse effects of MetS on the vasculature and brain at midlife.
Structure of T = 2 24 Ne from 14 C on 14 C

The ${}^{14}\mathrm{C}{(}^{14}\mathrm{C},\ensuremath{\alpha})$ reaction at 22 MeV was used to study $T=2$ ${}^{24}\mathrm{Ne}.$ Charged particles were detected with a Si detector telescope at $0\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{},$ and $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ transitions in coincidence were detected with an array of three Compton-suppressed ``clover'' detectors and seven Compton-suppressed single Ge crystals. The $\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ and $\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ coincidence data were analyzed to study the structure of ${}^{24}\mathrm{Ne}.$ Twenty-two new $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ lines were assigned to 14 new levels. Angular distribution measurements provided spin assignments and restrictions to a number of levels. Likely candidates were found for the lowest ${5}^{+}$ and ${6}^{+}$ levels. All but one of the 12 states predicted to lie below 6 MeV by shell model calculations using the universal $s\ensuremath{-}d$ interaction were observed. The rms deviation in excitation energies among these is 190 keV, and there is a tendency for the observed levels to lie somewhat higher than the predicted ones. A comparison of the structure of ${}^{24}\mathrm{Ne}$ with its neighbors suggests a significant shell gap above the $\ensuremath{\nu}{d}_{5/2}$ orbital in agreement with the large ${d}_{5/2}\ensuremath{-}{s}_{1/2}$ gap implied by the effective single-particle energies in the universal $s\ensuremath{-}d$ shell model interaction.
An ultra-low-cost smartphone octochannel spectrometer for mobile health diagnostics

With the rapid development and proliferation of mobile devices with powerful computing power and the ability of integrating sensors into mobile devices, the potential impact of mobile health (mHealth) diagnostics on the public health is drawing researchers' attention. We developed a Smartphone Octo-channel Spectrometer (SOS) as a mHealth diagnostic tool. The SOS has nanoscale wavelength resolution, is self-illuminated from the smartphone itself, and is ultra-low cost (less than $20). A user interface controls the optical sensing parameters and precise alignment. After calibrating and testing the SOS by quantifying protein concentrations, we clinically validated the SOS by comparing the diagnostic performance of our device with that of a clinical spectrophotometer. About 180 serum samples from de-identified patients with 4 types of autoantibodies were blindly read the ELISA results. The accuracy of the SOS achieved 100% across the clinical reportable range compared with the FDA-approved instrument. Furthermore, the self-illuminated SOS only requires about half of the light intensity of the FDA-approved instrument to achieve clinical-level sensitivity. The low-energy-consumption and low-cost SOS enables point-of-care spectrophotometric sensing in low-resource areas, and can be integrated into point-of-care diagnostic systems for rapid multiplex readout and analysis at patient bedside or at home.
The Impact of Smoke on the Ultraviolet and Visible Radiative Forcing Under Different Fire Regimes

The quantification of the UV characteristics of smoke aerosols is valuable to UV Index forecasting, air quality studies, air chemistry studies, and assessments of the impacts on regional and global...
Non-endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the uterine corpus: a review of selected histological subtypes.

Background: Understanding the etiology, presentation, evaluation, and management of selected non-endometrioid endometrial adenocarcinomas of the uterine corpus is needed to define optimal treatment regimens. Methods: The pathology and treatment of selected non-endometrioid endometrial adenocarcinomas of the uterus are reviewed and summarized. Results: The most common non-endometrioid histology is papillary serous (10%), followed by clear cell (2% to 4%), mucinous (0.6% to 5%), and squamous cell (0.1% to 0.5%). Some non-endometrioid endometrial carcinomas behave more aggressively than the endometrioid cancers such that even women with clinical stage I disease often have extrauterine metastasis at the time of surgical evaluation. Therefore, when technically and medically feasible, comprehensive surgical staging is helpful for women with non-endometrioid endometrial cancer histology. Comprehensive surgical staging includes hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy, and cytological evaluation of the abdominal cavity. While whole abdominal radiotherapy has a limited role in early-stage uterine papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC) and clear cell carcinoma (CC), there may be a role for postoperative chemotherapy and volume-directed radiotherapy in both early-stage UPSC and CC. In the setting of optimally debulked advanced-stage disease, a combination of radiation and chemotherapy may be indicated. In the setting of recurrent disease or in women with residual disease after surgery, a platinum-based regimen or enrollment in a clinical trial is recommended. Conclusions: UPSC and CC are managed similarly since sufficient data to separate treatment recommendations are lacking. Because both histologies are associated with a high rate of recurrence, adjuvant therapy is recommended even in women with early-stage disease. The remaining cell types should be treated similar to endometrioid or other low-grade histologies.
On Regulation of Primary Production by Physical Processes The Ocean: Two Case Studies

Interactions between the physical environment of the ocean and biology have been recognized since the early days of oceanography. In fact, deep ocean expeditions used to be multidisciplinary in character, and it was recognized that biological provinces and the physical environment were related on the large scale. This association has been extended to the scales of fronts and isolated eddies. This effort, largely descriptive in nature, has only begun to touch on the interaction between the physical and biological dynamics. Two case studies will be presented which deal with coupled physical and biological dynamics of phytoplankton and primary production. The first deals with lightlimiting conditions and the effect of vertical oscillatory motion. The second considers nutrient-limited conditions in a warm-core ring which is slowly decaying due to friction. Both case studies suggest that patchiness will develop on scales determined by the physical environment and illustrate the importance of internal gravity waves and oceanic eddies to phytoplankton dynamics.
Lessing contra Goeze: The Case for Rhetoric

Lessing begins his last drama Nathan the Wise with the invitation: “Enter, for here reside the gods.” With these words, Lessing points to the moral function of drama. What is perhaps less immediately apparent is the fact that this invitation constitutes a response to the theological polemic of the Lutheran Minister Johan Melchior Goeze. My analysis of Goeze’s attack on the theatre showed he was informed both by a strong faith in the power of rhetoric and by a rejection of rhetoric which was based on Wolffian principles. These contradictory views reappear in his attack on Lessing’s literary style and logical argumentation.
Deliberate Practice and Proposed Limits on the Effects of Practice on the Acquisition of Expert Performance: Why the Original Definition Matters and Recommendations for Future Research

Over 25 years ago Ericsson, Krampe, and Tesch- Romer (1993) published their studies of “The role of deliberate practice in the acquisition of expert performance,” and much research has since been published on how attained level of performance is related to quantity, quality, and goals of accumulated practice activities. The original proposal for deliberate practice was the result of a search for conditions for optimal quality of practice during acquisition of expert performance in everyday life and eventually led to an analysis of the training of professional musicians, a domain where knowledge of effective training has been accumulated over centuries. At these academies, teachers provide students with individualized instruction and guide their solitary practice based on a curriculum—this form of effective training was named deliberate practice. When other researchers began searching for similar types of optimal training conditions in sports, they had difficulties finding practice activities meeting the definition of deliberate practice and therefore proposed different criteria while still referring to the activities as “deliberate practice”. This paper recommends giving unique names to categorically different practice activities and reports meta-analyses showing that the accumulation of these different practice types has strikingly different effects on attained performance. When we analyzed only studies matching the criteria for the original definitions of deliberate or purposeful practice, we found that practice explained considerably more variance in performance (29% and 61% after attenuation) than had been previously reported (14%) by Macnamara, Hambrick, & Oswald (2014, 2018). We also review current reproducible evidence from studies of genetics, which suggests the effects of height and body size do constrain attainable performance, but other genetic effects account for remarkably small amounts of variance. The paper concludes with recommendations for how future research on purposeful and deliberate practice should look deeper and describe the detailed practice activities of elite performers. Based on this type of data, researchers will be able to infer essential conditions for optimal practice that can inform, not just athletes and their coaches, but all motivated individuals about how their achievements can be improved with particular types of training.
Incidence of Deep Venous Thrombosis Associated With Proximal Hamstring Rupture.

Background:Rates of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) have been studied for most common orthopaedic injuries. However, rates and risk factors have not been published for proximal hamstring injuries.Purp...
Cross-sectional area measurement by optical and electrical resistance methods for subscale mechanical testing of near-net-shape titanium components

Abstract Sub-scale mechanical testing is very attractive for characterizing near-net-shape components by quickly producing large data sets with location- and orientation-specific information. This is particularly useful for titanium components produced by additive manufacturing and powder metallurgy, which have highly process-dependent mechanical properties, complex build geometries, and limited material for testing. However, sub-scale tests require precise measurements of relatively small cross-sectional areas, which is cumbersome with traditional techniques. The authors have developed two alternative methods for quickly obtaining accurate cross-sectional areas of sub-scale titanium tensile specimens, which are referred to as the optical method and the electrical resistance method. Samples tested in this study had cross-sectional areas ranging from 0.184 to 1.12 mm2. The areas obtained using both methods were plotted against the areas obtained using a traditional contact micrometer. Both the optical and resistance methods showed a nearly 1:1 relationship with the traditional method and had very little variance among the data.
Reliability and validity of the multiple sclerosis resiliency scale (MSRS).

Abstract Objective The objective of this study was to determine the internal reliability and construct validity of the Multiple Sclerosis Resiliency Scale (MSRS) in comparison with a common measure of global resilience. Methods Participants were 216 community-dwelling adults with MS (mean age: 48.8 ± 12.5 years; 77% female; median disease duration: 8 years) recruited through a university-affiliated MS Center. Participants completed the MSRS, 10-item Connor Davidson Resilience Scale (CDRS), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and depressive and anxious symptom items from the SymptoMScreen. Results The MSRS exhibited fair to excellent internal consistency (αs 0.74 to 0.91) and divergent validity with disability severity (r = −0.19), MS duration (r = 0.07), and MS subtype (r = −0.01). The MSRS total and Emotional and Cognitive Strategies subscale scores were moderately correlated with the CDRS (rs = 0.50 and 0.62), PSS (rs = −0.56 and − 0.62), depressive symptoms (rs = −0.49 and − 0.54), and anxious symptoms (rs = −0.38 and − 0.047). The MSRS total and Emotional and Cognitive Strategies subscale scores exhibited fair to good accuracy (AUCs = 0.73 to 0.83) for identifying participants in the highest and lowest CDRS quartiles; however, cutoff scores yielded only fair sensitivity and specificity, and the measures differed significantly in classification of participants into highest and lowest quartiles. Conclusion Although the MSRS may be useful in assessing resilience to MS-specific challenges, use of a global resilience measure may still be indicated depending on the clinical and research context.
Generating layout designs from high-level specifications

Abstract This paper presents a framework for the automatic generation of floor plans based on adjacency relations among rooms. The adjacency can be generated from user-specified design requirements using a graph grammar formalism. We propose a set of grammar rules to generate graphs that represent adjacency relationships. Our solution overcomes the limitation of previous approaches that generate only rectangular floor plans. We define a set of constraints, such as plan size, room orientation and aspect ratio, for specifying the desired floor plans; and present a set of algorithms for placing rectangular or non-rectangular rooms and for generating non-rectangular floor plan boundaries. We demonstrate that our method can generate varied floor plans from user-specified design requirements.
Body Composition and Markers of Cardiometabolic Health in Transgender Youth on Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Agonists.

Purpose: Up to 1.8% of youth identify as transgender; many will be treated with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa). The impact of GnRHa on insulin sensitivity and body composition in ...
Interactive metamodel/model co-evolution using unsupervised learning and multi-objective search

Metamodels evolve even more frequently than programming languages. This evolution process may result in a large number of instance models that are no longer conforming to the revised metamodel. On the one hand, the manual adaptation of models after the metamodels' evolution can be tedious, error-prone, and time-consuming. On the other hand, the automated co-evolution of metamodels/models is challenging, especially when new semantics is introduced to the metamodels. While some interactive techniques have been proposed, designers still need to explore a large number of possible revised models, which makes the interaction time-consuming. In this paper, we propose an interactive multi-objective approach that dynamically adapts and interactively suggests edit operations to designers based on three objectives: minimizing the deviation with the initial model, the number of non-conformities with the revised metamodel and the number of changes. The proposed approach proposes to the user few regions of interest by clustering the set of recommended co-evolution solutions of the multi-objective search. Thus, users can quickly select their preferred cluster and give feedback on a smaller number of solutions by eliminating similar ones. This feedback is then used to guide the search for the next iterations if the user is still not satisfied. We evaluated our approach on a set of metamodel/model co-evolution case studies and compared it to existing fully automated and interactive co-evolution techniques.
Outcomes of Surgical Mitral and Aortic Valve Replacements Among Kidney Transplant Candidates: Implications for Valve Selection

Background Limited literature exists that evaluated outcomes of kidney transplant-eligible patients who are having dialysis and who are undergoing valve replacement. Our main objective in this study was to compare mortality, reoperation, and bleeding episodes between bioprosthetic and mechanical valve procedures among kidney transplant-eligible patients who are having dialysis. Methods and Results We studied 887 and 1925 dialysis patients from the United States Renal Data System, who underwent mitral valve replacement and aortic valve replacement (AVR) after being waitlisted for a kidney transplant (2000-2015), respectively. Time to death, time to reoperation, and time to bleeding requiring hospitalizations were compared separately for AVR and mitral valve replacement. Kaplan-Meier survival curves, Cox proportional hazards model for time to death, accelerated time to event model for time to reoperation, and counting process model for time to recurrent bleeding were used. There were no differences in mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 0.92; 95% CI, 0.77-1.09) or risk of reoperation or risk of significant bleeding events between bioprosthetic and mechanical mitral valve replacement. However, mechanical AVR was associated with a modestly significant less hazard of death (HR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.74-0.94) compared with bioprosthetic AVR. There were no differences in time to reoperation, or time to significant bleeding events between bioprosthetic and mechanical AVR. Conclusions For kidney transplant waitlisted patients who are on dialysis and who are undergoing surgical valve replacement, bioprosthetic and mechanical valves have comparable survival, reoperation rates, and bleeding episodes requiring hospitalizations at both mitral and aortic locations. These findings emphasize that an individualized informed decision is recommended when choosing the type of valve for this special group of patients having dialysis.
Effectiveness of Real-time Feedback and Instructive Hints in Graduate CS Courses via Automated Grading System

In this paper, we present our findings on enhancing personalized learning with the help of our real-time automated grading system for a graduate-level CS course. In this course, students learned how to use widely-used open-source libraries, and worked on 15 programming assignments with the ultimate goal of building an end-to-end big data processing pipeline in the cloud. We implemented our automated system to evaluate the correctness and efficiency of students' Java projects and to dynamically provide appropriate hints. The instructor complemented this real-time feedback with detailed, personalized feedback through frequent code reviews. In addition, a live, anonymous scoreboard allowed students to access grading results as well as to see the progress of their peers. The scoreboard and instructive hint system motivated the students to make incremental changes and also to spend enough time on testing one's own code before submitting it. In a survey, 97% of the students agreed that our grading system and personalized feedback enhanced their learning experiences. Given the overwhelmingly positive feedback from students, we believe that our findings could be helpful for those who are using or consider adopting auto-grading systems with the ultimate goal of providing enhanced learning experiences.
An Anthropologist Adrift: A Story on Care, Grief, and Becoming in a Pandemic

Summary This autoethnographic‐style fiction piece is based on my experience of losing my mother to cancer during the pandemic. Written in a format akin to the entries of a ship’s log, it captures the significance of intersubjective connection in ongoing turbulence. Through these logs, the product of an anthropologist’s world interrupted, the narrator as ethnographer comes into being as categories like home and field are blurred during the stormy experience of the COVID‐19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Anthropology & Humanism is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Is the Digital Revolution Driven by an Ideology

The writings of computer futurist writers such as Ray Kurzweil, Eric Schmidt, Hans Moravec, and Peter Diamandis argue that the digital revolution that is “Reshaping the Future of People, Nations, and Business” (to quote the sub-title of Schmidt’s book) is being driven by the Darwinian forces of natural selection. What they do not consider is how their thinking, as well as the thinking of most computer scientists and programmers, is influenced by the metaphorical language of their culture. As language both illuminates and hides, the main focus in this essay is on the diversity of cultural ways of knowing that are being lost as people rely more on print-based data, information, and other abstract systems of representation. The assumption of the computer futurist writers that the digital revolution is an inherently progressive force is based on the same metaphorical language that underlies such progress-oriented ideologies as libertarianism and market liberalism. These ideologies, in turn, are based on the Western Enlightenment assumption that traditions are the source of backwardness and a limitation on progress. This same view of traditions, which ignores that the diversity of the world’s cultural commons carried forward through face to face communication are the basis of less consumer dependent and less toxic destructive lifestyles that will become more important as the ecological crisis deepens, is a key feature of the digital revolution. The double bind is that the many important uses of digital technologies lead to the widespread indifference about the importance of living cultural traditions that are passed forward face to face and through mentoring relationships. Is the loss of privacy, communication between generations, economic security from being displaced by robots and from hackers, the diversity of cultural ways of knowing––including the exercise of ecological intelligence, to be written off in the name of progress?
Complex fluoroanions in solution—X: Complexes of phosphorus and arsenic fluorides with simple anions

Abstract Phosphorus and arsenic pentafluorides and arsenic trifluoride form 1:1 complexes with many simple anions. The hexafluoroanion and multiply anion substituted species are frequently formed from the pentafluoride complex. Phosphorus trifluoride reacts with some anions to give PF6− and other species.
A Fault Detection and Isolation Methodology Theory and Application

The paper presents the theoretical development and practical applications of a fault detection and isolation (PDI) methodology which exploits all available sources of redundant information. By concurrent checking of relative consistencies among all redundant measurements, the most consistent and inconsistent subsets are identified for measurement estimation and fault isolation, respectively. The FDI algorithm is particularly suitable for real-time applications using commercially available microcomputers and has been tested on-line in operating nuclear reactors.
The impact of international cross listings on risk and return

Abstract This paper examines the impact of the listing of American Depository Receipts (ADRs) on the risk and return of the underlying stocks. We find that the listing of ADRs is associated with positive abnormal returns to the underlying stock on the listing day. In addition, our results suggest that the listing of ADRs are associated with permanent increases in the return volatilities of the underlying stocks. We interpret this evidence as consistent with the existence of informed traders in the markets in which the ADRs and the underlying stocks trade.
Unusual complication of an intrauterine contraceptive device.

Abstract Two cases of serious pelvic infection complicating IUD contraception are presented. The etiology of these problems and suggestions for management are discussed.
Intermediate Targets versus Information Variables as Operating Guides for Monetary Policy

The notion of ‘a framework for monetary stability’ — the title of this conference — immediately implies the desirability of maintaining steady growth, or under some circumstances even a steady level, of money however defined. This presumption is consistent with the recent practice of a number of central banks, and with the rhetoric of many more. For more than two decades, target growth rates for one or another measure of money have often played a key role in the formulation and implementation of monetary policy. European central banks, including in particular the Bundesbank, have been especially prominent in this regard.
Multiwavelength Approaches to Understanding Interstellar Dust

Perhaps more than almost any other subject of astrophysical study, the interstellar medium can be studied at any wavelength—from gamma rays to the radio—with each waveband providing unique and significant information. However, there are substantial limitations on the available data. One such limitation is the fact that very few lines of sight have been adequately observed in multiple wavebands. This in turn restricts our understanding of topics as fundamental as interstellar abundances and dust composition. I will review the reasons that such data limitations exist and specifically describe two accepted observing programs that will, in the near future, utilize a multiwavelength approach in studying interstellar dust. The first is a Chandra/HST program that will provide unique insight into dust composition by disentangling the gas‐phase and dust‐phase abundances of oxygen and iron. The second is a Spitzer/HST program that will examine the extinction curves of possible “translucent clouds” at wavelengths fr...
Ethnic Encounters and Everyday Economics in Kassumba, Guinea-Bissau

This paper presents evidence of ethnocultural coexistence strategies as a counter-argument to more pessimistic views for inter-ethnic relations. The community under ethnographic investigation is the semi-isolated, southern village of Kassumba, Guinea-Bissau in West Africa. The minority Islamic Nalu claim territorial hegemony while spiritist Balanta immigrants outnumber the Nalu three to one. This paper finds that inter-ethnic cooperation through hospitality, mutually beneficial economic arrangements, and the fashioning of individual- and community-level social bonds are important approaches to making a living in this village. This paper contributes to the ongoing discussions regarding the relationships between cultural identity, livelihood and the politicized organization of space.
Origin of the ridge phenomenon induced by jets in heavy ion collisions

We argue that ``ridge'' in two-particle correlation function associated with hard trigger at BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) heavy ion collisions is naturally explained by an interrelation of jet quenching and hydrodynamical transverse flow. The excess particles forming the ridge are produced by QCD bremsstrahlung along the beam (and thus have wide rapidity distribution) and then boosted by transverse flow. Nontrivial correlation between directions of the jet and the radial flow is provided by jet quenching: our straightforward and basically parameter-independent calculation reproduces the angular shape, width, and other properties of the ridge.
On the use of high-order ambiguity function for multi-component polynomial phase signals

Abstract Nonstationary signals appear often in real-life applications and many of them can be modeled as polynomial-phase signals (PPS). High-order ambiguity function (HAF) was first introduced to estimate the parameters of a single-component PPS, but has not been widely used for multi-component PPS because of its nonlinearity. Multi-component PPS arise for example, in Doppler radar applications when multiple objects are tracked simultaneously. In this paper, we show that HAF is virtually additive for multi-component PPS and suggest an algorithm to estimate their parameters. Numerical examples are presented to illustrate the theories.
Radiolabeled l-Lysine for Tumor Imaging

Rationale and Objectives The aims of this study were to label the versatile amino acid l -lysine with 99mTc using 2,3-dimercapto-succinic acid (DMSA) as a chelator, and to assess its tumor imaging feasibility under in vivo and in vitro conditions, and finally to determine the subcellular biodistribution of this radiopharmaceutical. Materials and Methods DMSA- l -lysine was chemically synthesized and labeled with sodium pertechnetate. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectral analysis of DMSA- l -lysine were conducted. Radiochemical purity was determined by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and paper chromatography. Cellular uptake, competition and subcellular localization studies were performed in rat breast cancer cells (13762). In vivo studies of planar imaging and biodistribution studies were performed on female Fischer 344 rats. Medical Internal Radiation Dose (MIRD) dosimetry estimates were calculated. Results Radiochemical purity (determined by radio-TLC and high-performance liquid chromatography) of these compounds was >95%. 99mTc-DMSA- l -lysine showed good uptake in in vitro cell culture assays and uptake was reduced in competition studies. 99mTc-DMSA- l -lysine accumulates in the nucleus as much as in the cytoplasm and it was also shown that accumulation of the 99mTc-DMSA- l -lysine in the nucleus increases as a function of a time. There was an increase in tumor-to-blood and tumor-to-muscle count density ratios. Tumor/background ratios were 5.75 at 1 hour and 6.87 at 2 hours. In vivo tissue distribution studies revealed that radiation dosimetry of blood-forming organs were within radiation dose limits. Conclusion DMSA- l -lysine kits can be labeled with 99mTc easily and efficiently, with high radiochemical purity and cost-effectiveness. In vitro cellular uptake and scintigraphic imaging studies demonstrated the pharmacokinetic distribution and feasibility of using 99mTc-DMSA- l -lysine for tumor imaging.
Using collaborative modeling to mediate workplace conflicts

Investigates conflict in the workplace and states that mediation is beneficial to both employees and employers. Suggests that managers should cultivate team communication, and collaborative problem‐solving skills in employees who serve on problem‐solving teams. Summarizes that managers who serve as mediators can learn the root cause of conflicts in organizations, and aid employees to deal with the problems.
Bounded optimal constrained coordination with delay penalties and location choice

This extended abstract addresses the optimal assignment of spatially distributed tasks to a team of heterogeneous mobile agents in domains in which tasks may be related by precedence or simultaneity constraints and have a choice of locations at which they can be performed. The manner in which constraints are satisfied and the locations chosen for tasks both impact the overall team utility. We analyze the impact of these problem features on the efficiency of the solution process.
Hydrogen Targets at SLAC

Several types of hydrogen targets are used at SLAC. Some are multiple assemblies that allow the user to select liquid hydrogen, liquid deuterium or any of several solid targets. The most elaborate assembly build to date has a cell with circulating liquid hydrogen, a cell with circulating liquid deuterium, and an array of nine solid targets or holes. The target in use is selected by the computer. Target position is determined by encoders and verified by micro-switches. The operation of the fan circulating the hydrogen is monitored by a magnetic pickup coil. Forced circulation of hydrogen is used in other targets where the heat load is too high to allow stable operation with natural convection, or the length-to-diameter ratio is great enough to inhibit bubble free operation.