cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Aluminum toxicity and high bulk density : Role in limiting shoot and root growth of selected aluminum indicator plants and Eastern gamagrass in an acid soil

Abstract Shallow rooting and susceptibility to drought are believed to be caused, at least in part, by strongly acidic (pH <5.5, 1:1 soil‐water), aluminum (Al)‐toxic subsoils. However, this hypothesis has not been clearly confirmed under field conditions. The Al toxicity hypothesis was tested on a map unit of Matawan‐Hammonton loam (0–2% slope) on unlimed and limed field plots (pH range 5.1 to 5.8) at Beltsville, MD, during 1994 to 1998. Aluminum‐tolerant and sensitive pairs of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), wheat [Triticum aestivum (L.)], snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] cultivars were used as indicator plants. Eastern gamagrass [Tripsacum dactyloides (L.) L.], cultivar ‘Pete’, reported to tolerate both chemical and physical stress factors in soils, was grown for comparison. Shoots of Al‐sensitive ‘Romano’ snap beans showed a significant response to liming of the 0–15 cm surface layer, but those of Al‐tolerant ‘Dade’ did not, indicating that Al toxicity was a growth l...
Learning to eat: birth to age 2 y

During the first 2 y of life, development is rapid and includes dramatic changes in eating behavior. Individual patterns of food preferences and eating behaviors emerge and differ depending on the foods offered and on the contexts of feeding during this early period of dietary transition. In this review, we discuss evidence on ways in which early learning influences food preferences and eating behavior, which, in turn, shape differences in dietary patterns, growth, and health. Although the evidence reviewed indicates that this early period of transition provides opportunities to influence children's developing intake patterns, there is no consistent, evidence-based guidance for caregivers who are feeding infants and toddlers; the current Dietary Guidelines are intended to apply to Americans over the age of 2 y. At present, the evidence base with regard to how and what children learn about food and eating behavior during these first years is limited. Before developing guidance for parents and caregivers, more scholarship and research is necessary to understand how infants and toddlers develop the food preferences and self-regulatory processes necessary to promote healthy growth, particularly in today's environment. By the time they reach 2 y of age, children have essentially completed the transition to "table foods" and are consuming diets similar to those of other family members. This article discusses parenting and feeding approaches that may facilitate or impede the development of self-regulation of intake and the acceptance of a variety of foods and flavors necessary for a healthy diet. We review the limited evidence on how traditional feeding practices, familiarization, associative learning, and observational learning affect the development of eating behavior in the context of the current food environment. Areas for future research that could inform the development of anticipatory guidance for parents and caregivers responsible for the care and feeding of young children are identified.
Sequence-based control for standalone and networked switching power converters

A sequence-based control (SBC) scheme is described that directly controls the switching sequences of the power devices without the need for an intermediate pulse-width modulator as in conventional power converter control schemes. SBC involves identifying the set of feasible sequences of switching states using a composite Lyapunov functions for global stability. Subsequently, by solving an optimization problem, an optimal switching sequence (comprising a union of feasible sequences) and corresponding time horizon for each switching state of the sequence is determined. The application of SBC to standalone and homogeneously and heterogeneously networked power converters is demonstrated.
Control rooms' design in industrial facilities

A technological system's overall performance, which is an aggregate of its safety, reliability, and efficiency indicators, is a function of its control room operators' performance. Operators' performance is also strongly determined and moderated by the design of the control room. Moreover, today's complex industrial facilities require operators to continually adapt to new and unforeseen changes in technological system and environmental demands. There is no clear-cut distinction between system design and operation since the operator will have to match system properties to changing demands and operating conditions. Thus, this continuous process needs a cohesive and integrated framework for information gathering from the interfaces, analysis according to operators' task demand, and decision making within the organizational and regulatory contexts of the technological system. Therefore, there is a need to approach human factors in a more global and systematic manner, which includes integration of display systems design, task demands, and with operators' information processing behavior. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Hum Factors Man 13: 269–277, 2003.
Dilution of 210Pb by organic sedimentation in lakes of different trophic states, and application to studies of sediment-water interactions

Lake sediments reflect conditions in the water column and can be used for rapid, integrative measurements of limnological variables. Examination of /sup 210/Pb-dated cores from 12 Florida lakes of widely differing trophic state (expressed as Carlson's trophic state index: TSI) shows that net accumulation rate of organic matter is related to primary productivity in the water column. In 26 other lakes the activity of unsupported /sup 210/Pb g/sup -1/ organic matter in surficial sediments is inversely related to trophic state and, therefore, to organic accumulation rate. From this observation, the authors develop a new method that uses fallout /sup 210/Pb as a dilution tracer to calculate net sedimentary accumulation rates of any material in surface mud. They demonstrate strong relationships between net loss rate of biologically important materials (C, N, P, and pigments) and their respective water concentrations (expressed as TSI). Multiple regression models incorporating net sediment accumulation rates of all four variables explain up to 70% of the lake-to-lake variation of TSI. The /sup 210/Pb-dilution method has application for studies for material cycling, paleolimnology, and sediment accumulation processes.
Can the Maximin Principle Serve as a Basis for Morality? A Critique of John Rawls’s Theory

John Rawls’s A Theory of Justice 1 is an important book. It is an attempt to develop a viable alternative to utilitarianism, which up to now in its various forms was virtually the only ethical theory proposing a reasonably clear, systematic, and purportedly rational concept of morality. I shall argue that Rawls’s attempt to suggest a viable alternative to utilitarianism does not succeed. Nevertheless, beyond any doubt, his book is a significant contribution to the ongoing debate on the nature of rational morality.
Calculations of Spectroscopic Properties and Electron Transfer Kinetics of Photosynthetic Bacterial Reaction Centers

The initial electron transfer steps of bacterial photosynthesis occur in pigment-protein complexes called reaction centers (see [1] for a review). The structure of the reaction center from Rhodopseudomonas viridis has been solved to 3.0 Â resolution by X-ray diffraction [2–4], and a structure with somewhat lower resolution has been obtained forRhodobacter sphaeroides [5,6]. In both of these species, and in most of the other species that have been studied, the reaction center contains a cluster of four molecules of bacteriochlorophyll (BChl), two molecules of bacteriopheophytin (BPh), two quinones and one non-heme iron atom, all bound to three polypeptides. The complexes obtained from Rps. viridis also have a cytochrome subunit with four c-type hemes.
Regulation of antisense transcription by NuA4 histone acetyltransferase and other chromatin regulatory factors.

NuA4 histone lysine (K) acetyltransferase (KAT) promotes transcriptional initiation of TATA-binding protein (TBP)-associated factor (TAF)-dependent ribosomal protein genes. TAFs have also been recently found to enhance antisense transcription from the 3' end of the GAL10 coding sequence. However, it remains unknown whether, like sense transcription of the ribosomal protein genes, TAF-dependent antisense transcription of GAL10 also requires NuA4 KAT. Here, we show that NuA4 KAT associates with the GAL10 antisense transcription initiation site at the 3' end of the coding sequence. Such association of NuA4 KAT depends on the Reb1p-binding site that recruits Reb1p activator to the GAL10 antisense transcription initiation site. Targeted recruitment of NuA4 KAT to the GAL10 antisense transcription initiation site promotes GAL10 antisense transcription. Like NuA4 KAT, histone H3 K4/36 methyltransferases and histone H2B ubiquitin conjugase facilitate GAL10 antisense transcription, while the Swi/Snf and SAGA chromatin remodeling/modification factors are dispensable for antisense, but not sense, transcription of GAL10. Taken together, our results demonstrate for the first time the roles of NuA4 KAT and other chromatin regulatory factors in controlling antisense transcription, thus illuminating chromatin regulation of antisense transcription.
Unravelling Methodologies for a Rational Lignin Valorisation Using Heterogeneously Catalysed Protocols

Lignin depolymerisation has recently a great deal of attention from scientists and companies worldwide due to the extensive possibilities of this recalcitrant material for the production of chemicals, fuels and materials. The natural complexity and stability of lignin bonds makes lignin depolymerization a highly challenging task. Several efforts have been directed towards a more profound understanding of the structure and composition of lignin in order to devise pathways and selectively cleave bridging bonds to break down the biopolymer into useful compounds. The present contribution aims to provide a series of key points in the field of lignin depolymerisation to provide an overview to the field for starting researchers.
Unpacking the Affirmative Action Rhetoric

In 'Unpacking the Affirmative Action Rhetoric', Professor Brown-Scott responds to Kirk Kennedy's 'Race-Exclusive Scholarships: Constitutional Vel Non', Professor Brown-Scott bases her response on the rubrics of perspective, social policy, and constitutional law. She notes that many of the criticisms of affirmative action programs stem from misperceptions unsupported by factual data and argues that affirmative action programs can be effectively used to combat the lingering effects of past discrimination. Professor Brown-Scott concludes that race-exclusive scholarships continue to be a viable tool for universities to achieve diverse educational environments and opportunities to individual students.
Field Assessment of Cognitive Performance under Stress

Performance decrements have frequently been reported in combat but it has been difficult to demonstrate the specific causal source of cognitive degradation sufficient to disrupt performance during ...
A Contribution to Andrea Camassei Studies

This article was originally undertaken in order to attribute some new works to Andrea Camassei and to publish a number of documents concerning him, but the necessary research expanded it to a study of monograph proportions. A book on Camassei already exists. Published in 1880, it contains much useful information, especially that based on archives and sources in the artist's home town, Bevagna, but it is rare,1 has neither index nor plates, and is now out of date. Scattered later references in guidebooks for Bevagna and in studies of Roman seventeenth-century painting add little to Presenzini's monograph.2 Reluctant to write a book on the artist at this time, I think it useful nevertheless to publish the essential information on Camassei in the form of a short chronological survey of his career and a brief critical catalogue of his work, together with a number of new attributions. Both survey, and catalogue incorporate information from the documents, the most important of which are transcribed in an append...
Experimental study on time correlation of treating time and electric pulse modifying effects on Sn-15%Pb alloy

Molten Sn-15%Pb alloy, which was used as the test material, was treated with electric pulse for different treating time under the condition of 90℃ overheating. The modifying effects on solidification process and structures were investigated by thermal analysis and solidification structure observation. The results showed that the solidification structures of Sn-15%Pb alloy were changed significantly after electric pulse modifying. The morphology of primary crystal enriched Sn changed from dendrite to cellular. Corresponding with the changing of solidification structures, the cooling curves were changed significantly. The lowest temperature of primary crystallizing increased in a rather large range. With the increasing of electric pulse process time, the amount of cellular primary crystal changed periodically, that is little, large, little, large. At the same time, the lowest temperature of primary crystallizing also changed periodically with the extension of electric pulse treating time.
Measuring Plasmodium falciparum Erythrocyte Invasion Phenotypes Using Flow Cytometry

Having the ability to rapidly, accurately, and robustly measure Plasmodium falciparum merozoite invasion is a critical component in effective assessment of a blood stage vaccine's mechanism of action. Being able to measure invasion of erythrocytes accurately, objectively and in a high throughput fashion is of critical importance. Here, we describe a simple and robust flow cytometry method that allows for the measurement of the key invasion parameters of parasite multiplication rate and erythrocyte selectivity-both important determinants of disease severity-from the schizont to the ring stage of the parasite's life-cycle, thus separating invasion from growth of the parasite. Importantly, this method is able to accurately detect low levels of parasitemia and heterogeneity within the population that can be missed by enzymatic methods. Lastly, this method has been successfully adapted and employed in field based research settings for parasitemia measurements in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro and to measure invasion inhibition by antibodies and the use of alternative pathways for invasion.
Comparison of the path-weighted Cn2 derived from time-lapse imagery and weather radar

Irradiance based techniques are not suitable for profiling over long, nearly horizontal paths through atmospheric turbulence since they suffer from saturation effects. Alternate techniques that can provide reliable turbulence information over strong turbulence paths are currently being investigated. Two such approaches are introduced here. The first approach is a phase-based technique that uses the turbulence induced random motion in time-lapse images of a distant scene to estimate the path-weighted Cn2. An imaging experiment was conducted at the Air Force Institute of Technology to demonstrate this approach. A tripod-mounted digital camera captured images of a distant building every minute. Two different components of motion were apparent in the imagery: the random, faster motion due to atmospheric turbulence and the slower, vertical motion due to changes in the average refractive index gradient along the path. A correlation algorithm was used to measure the image shifts. The technique uses a derived set of path weighting functions that depend on the size of the imaging aperture and the patch size in the image whose motion is being tracked. The second method estimates Cn2 values at different locations along a path using a combination of weather (NEXRAD) radar and numerical weather prediction (NWP) data. Two techniques have been used to derive the estimates. The first uses radar doppler information to determine the eddy thermal dissipation rate and combining this with NWP gradients to form a Cn2 estimate. The second technique attempts to correct Cn2 derived from radar clear-air reflectivity for noise and clutter and wavelength. The weights derived in the time-lapse imaging method have been applied to the noise and wavelength corrected NWP-radar derived Cn2 profile to obtain the path-weighted value. The path-weighted estimates obtained using the optically-based, time-lapse imaging and weather radar-based methods have been compared. Both approaches show great potential in estimating turbulence strengths over strong turbulence paths.
DMSNAP: An Implementation on the Snap Semantic Network Array Processor

This chapter describes the DmSNAP system, a version of the ΦDmDialog implemented on the Semantic Network Array Processor (SNAP). The goal of our work is to develop a scalable and high-performance natural language processing system which utilizes the high degree of parallelism provided by the SNAP machine.
Bearing discrimination methods for MUSIC, ESPRIT and moving window

The problem of discriminating accurate bearing estimates from those estimates likely to be corrupted by gross error is considered. Bearing discrimination functions are presented for use in association with the MUSIC, ESPRIT, and the moving window eigen-based DF algorithms. In the case of the MUSIC algorithm, the discriminate function is based on the statistics of the noise background. The reliability of the bearing was determined by how robust the spectral peak was, compared to the noise background. The bearing discrimination methods developed for the ESPRlT and moving window algorithms are based on a measure of wavefront planarity. Relative performance is evaluated for signal conditions routinely encountered in the high-frequency environment. >
Abstract W MP108: Identifying Factors Predictive of Good Outcome among Patients with Severe Ischemic Stroke: the BASIC Project

Background: Utilizing a population-based stroke surveillance study, our objective was to identify possible socio-demographic, cultural and psychological factors that influence outcome among patients with severe stroke who survive at least 3 months. Methods: Ischemic strokes (IS) were identified utilizing the Brain Attack Surveillance in Corpus Christi (BASIC) Project. Severe stroke was defined as the highest quartile of the initial NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS ≥ 8). Functional outcome was assessed at 90 days using the ADL/IADL score (0-4, higher worse). Good outcome was defined as ADL/IADL Results: From Feb 2009 to Jun 2012, 646 IS patients completed a baseline interview and subsequent 90-day outcome interview. Of 168 with severe stroke, 68 had a good outcome at 3 months (ADL/IADL Conclusion: Among IS survivors with severe stroke, pre-stroke depression and social support are important predictors of good outcome. These factors should be considered in crafting interventions to improve stroke outcome. Mexican American ethnicity and history of prior stroke are strongly negatively associated with good stroke outcome.
Not all twins are monozygotic after elective single embryo transfer: analysis of 32,600 elective single embryo transfer cycles as reported to the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology.

Objective To study the incidence and risk factors of multiple pregnancies after elective single ET. Design Historic cohort. Setting Not applicable. Patient(s) Women Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measure(s) Rate of sex discordant pregnancies. Rate of same sex pregnancies and risk factors for both same sex and sex discordant pregnancies. Result(s) A total of 32,600 cycles were reported to SART CORS during this time period. There were 15,143 pregnancies from which 14,888 were singletons (98.3%), 23 sex discordant (0.15%) multiple pregnancies, 226 (1.5%) sex concordant multiple pregnancies, and 6 (0.01%) pregnancies without sex information. When Weinberg's differential rule was applied, the rate of dizygotic pregnancies was calculated to be 18%. Unexplained infertility was found to be the biggest risk factor for sex discordant multiple pregnancies (adjusted odds ratio 4.33, 95% confidence interval 1.4–13.1), followed by elevated body mass index (BMI). The only risk factor found for sex concordant pregnancies was undergoing a fresh transfer (adjusted odds ratio 1.4, 95% confidence interval 1.02–1.95). Conclusion(s) Elective single ET improves, but does not completely eliminate the risk of multiple pregnancies. Patients should be counseled that there might be up to a ∼2% risk of multiple pregnancies, of which up to 18% can be dizygotic. Patients with elevated BMI and unexplained fertility may be at higher risk for sex discordant multiple pregnancies and patients undergoing fresh cycles may be at higher risk for sex concordant multiple pregnancies.
Thirteen years of subglacial lake activity in Antarctica from multi-mission satellite altimetry.

The ability to detect the surface expression of moving water beneath the Antarctic ice sheet by satellite has revealed a dynamic basal environment, with implications for regional ice dynamics, grounding-line stability, and fluxes of freshwater and nutrients to the Southern Ocean. Knowledge of subglacial activity on timescales important for near-term prediction of ice-sheet fluctuations (decadal to century) is limited by the short observational record of NASA's Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) laser altimetry mission used to generate the last continent-wide survey (2003–08). Here, we use synthetic aperture radar-interferometric-mode data from ESA's CryoSat-2 radar altimetry mission (2010–present), which samples 45 of the ICESat-derived subglacial lakes, to extend their time series to the end of 2016. The extended time series show that there have been surface-height changes at 20 of the 45 lakes since 2008, indicating that some of these features are persistent and potentially cyclic, while other features show negligible changes, suggesting these may be transient or nonhydrological features. Continued monitoring of active lakes for both height and velocity changes, as well as developing methods for identifying additional lakes, is critical to quantifying the full distribution of active subglacial lakes in Antarctica.
Lessons Unlearned, Education Forfeited: Military Hygiene Enters the 21st Century

ABSTRACTObtaining and maintaining a military force hearty enough for the trials of campaign and combat is the concern of military hygiene. It has been a challenge for governments and commanders for centuries. Empirical practices in recruiting, training, and maintaining service members gave way to more scientific, evidenced-based practices of the 18th century, and the research-driven, laboratory-proven methods of the late 19th century. As science made military medicine predictable, it widened the intellectual and professional gap between commander and medical officer, weakening trust and hindering communication. It also distanced the medical officer from the more mundane health and fitness concerns of service members by transforming military hygiene into military preventive medicine. Medical misadventures consequent to this state of affairs continue into the 21st century and will remain until a philosophical and educational shift in the value of military hygiene occurs.
Introduction to Emerging Adulthood

What is emerging adulthood? How did it come about? How does it impact the behavior of young people in modern society? Here we introduce these ideas: major concepts are introduced and emerging adulthood is explained in the context of other cohort-based generations. An outline plan of this book is presented by chapter.
Language, Memory, and Thought

Published in 1976, Language, Memory, and thought is a valuable contribution to the field of Cognitive Psychology. This book presents a theory about human cognitive functioning, a set of experiments testing that theory, and a review of some of the literature relevant to the theory. The theory is embodied in a computer simulation model called ACT.
Hereditary Influences on Epileptic Conditions

Epileptic attacks are thought to be due to the synchronous discharge of a very large number of brain cells. A seizure occurs when enough cells have been recruited to disrupt the normal, patterned, asynchronous activity in the brain that underlies the organized mental and motor behavior of an intact individual. On the basis of this theory, treatment in some severe cases has been to cut the corpus callosum (the connection between the two hemispheres) to prevent the spreading buildup (or recruitment) from one side of the brain to the other.
Nutritional management of the head and neck cancer patient

Approximately one third of patients with advanced cancer of the head and neck are severely malnourished. Another one third of patients suffer from mild malnutrition. Adequate nutritional support given before cancer therapy will reduce therapy-related complications in severely malnourished patients. Patients who are less severely malnourished should receive definitive cancer therapy promptly with concurrent concern for nutritional support. Advantages of nutritional support are that patients feel better, have a higher tolerance to therapy with fewer complications, and achieve a higher response rate to therapy. The disadvantages to such a program are modest but real. This therapy is expensive and it is hard to prove its long-term benefit. Attempting treatment may be frustrating in poorly motivated patients. Appropriate delivery of nutritional support in selected patients has been determined as highly rewarding to the physician.
A Data Selection Strategy for Real-time Estimation of Battery Parameters

Real-time estimation of battery internal states and parameters is a key task of battery management and has been studied extensively in literature. Estimation is usually performed by an algorithm using a model and the measured input-output data, such as current, voltage, and temperature. Traditionally, the estimation algorithms do not differentiate the data points and use all of them equally for estimating each variable. However, not all data points, but often only a small fraction of them, are sensitive to the target variables under estimation. Using insensitive data will induce significant estimation errors due to the commonly presented unknown disturbances such as measurement noise and model uncertainty. This paper studies the data selection mechanism to optimize and guarantee the accuracy of battery state and parameter estimation. A sensitivity-based data selection strategy is proposed, which automatically identifies the sensitive data in real-time and passes them to the observer for estimation. It is shown that the data selection strategy could improve the quality of estimation results significantly.
Use of Physician-Guided Patient Self-Examination to Diagnose Appendicitis: A Telemedicine Case Report.

Abstract Background: Direct-to-consumer (DTC) telemedicine platforms have been increasingly implemented by large hospital systems. This care delivery mechanism shares similarities with bedside medi...
Family physicians' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding the weight effects of added sugar

Background and objectives:Added sugar consumption is a major risk factor for negative health outcomes and family physicians play an important role in educating patients regarding nutrition behavior...
Gazeover -- Exploring the UX of Gaze-triggered Affordance Communication for GUI Elements

The user experience (UX) of graphical user interfaces (GUIs) often depends on how clearly visual designs communicate/signify "affordances", such as if an element on the screen can be pushed, dragged, or rotated. Especially for novice users figuring out the complexity of a new interface can be cumbersome. In the "past" era of mouse-based interaction mouseover effects were successfully utilized to trigger a variety of assistance, and help users in exploring interface elements without causing unintended interactions and associated negative experiences. Today's GUIs are increasingly designed for touch and lack a method similiar to mouseover to help (novice) users to get acquainted with interface elements. In order to address this issue, we have studied gazeover, as a technique for triggering "help or guidance" when a user's gaze is over an interactive element, which we believe is suitable for today's touch interfaces. We report on a user study comparing pragmatic and hedonic qualities of gazeover and mouseover, which showed significant higher ratings in hedonic quality for the gazeover technique. We conclude by discussing limitations and implications of our findings.
Motion Compensated Prediction for Translational Camera Motion in Spherical Video Coding

Spherical video is the key driving factor for the growth of virtual reality and augmented reality applications, as it offers truly immersive experience by capturing the entire 3D surroundings. However, it represents an enormous amount of data for storage/transmission and success of all related applications is critically dependent on efficient compression. A frequently encountered type of content in this video format is due to translational motion of the camera (e.g., a camera mounted on a moving vehicle). Existing approaches simply project this video onto a plane and use block based translational motion model for capturing the motion of the objects between the frames. This ad-hoc simplified approach completely ignores the complex deformities of objects caused due to the combined effect of the moving camera and projection onto a plane, rendering it significantly suboptimal. In this paper, we provide an efficient solution tailored to this problem. Specifically, we propose to perform motion compensated prediction by translating pixels along their geodesics, which intersect at the poles corresponding to the camera velocity vector. This setup not only captures the surrounding objects' motion exactly along the geodesics of the sphere, but also accurately accounts for the deformations caused due to projection on the sphere. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed framework achieves very significant gains over existing motion models.
STDP-based Unsupervised Feature Learning using Convolution-over-time in Spiking Neural Networks for Energy-Efficient Neuromorphic Computing

Brain-inspired learning models attempt to mimic the computations performed in the neurons and synapses constituting the human brain to achieve its efficiency in cognitive tasks. In this work, we propose Spike Timing Dependent Plasticity-based unsupervised feature learning using convolution-over-time in Spiking Neural Network (SNN). We use shared weight kernels that are convolved with the input patterns over time to encode representative input features, thereby improving the sparsity as well as the robustness of the learning model. We show that the Convolutional SNN self-learns several visual categories for object recognition with limited number of training patterns while yielding comparable classification accuracy relative to the fully connected SNN. Further, we quantify the energy benefits of the Convolutional SNN over fully connected SNN on neuromorphic hardware implementation.
Who will be the early adopters of automated vehicles? Insights from a survey of electric vehicle owners in the United States

Abstract Most major automakers are developing vehicles with some level of automated driving capability. These vehicles range from those with adaptive cruise control to full driverless vehicles. These vehicles are collectively referred to as automated vehicles. The adoption of automated vehicles by consumers is not well understood. It is likely that the first buyers will be typical early adopters i.e. consumers who have different lifestyles, attitudes, and socio-demographic profiles compared to the general population. Using a questionnaire survey of 2715 consumers in 36 states in the USA, we investigate the attitudes of early adopters of one automotive technology: plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs). This sample was selected so that the perceptions and purchase intentions of early adopters could be investigated. This is opposed to assessing the attitudes of the public who are unlikely to be knowledgeable about automated vehicles and unable to accurately assess the vehicles and estimate their own purchase intentions. This study finds that PEV early adopters have positive perceptions of automated vehicles. However, being a PEV adopter does not necessarily lead to interest in purchasing an automated vehicle. PEV adopters are clustered into 5 different groups with differing levels of interest in automated vehicles (from “Pioneers” to “Laggards”). The results suggest that automated vehicles are likely to be purchased by a small group of pioneering consumers. These “Pioneers” are likely to be high income consumers, with good knowledge and positive perceptions of the automated vehicles (on safety, comfort, and purchase price), and positive attitudes towards technology in general.
Diagnosis of transverse problems

Abstract Traditionally, maxillary and mandibular skeletal widths and buccolingual inclination of posterior teeth are evaluated by using posteroanterior (PA) cephalogram and dental casts. However, it is difficult to identify the landmarks and make a diagnosis due to the superimposed structures on the PA cephalogram. As for the dental casts, they can neither reveal skeletal dimensions of maxilla and mandible, nor the root positions in the alveolar bone. Nowadays, the advent of CBCT enables clinicians to view craniofacial structures in three planes of space without any obstruction or superimposition of structures. In this article, a CBCT analysis on the transverse dimension is introduced. The maxillary and mandibular skeletal widths at different tooth levels, buccolingual inclination of each tooth, and their root positions in the alveolar bone can be determined. Thus, a proper transverse diagnosis can be made.
Polyacrylonitrile sheath and polyacrylonitrile/lignin core bi-component carbon fibers

Abstract Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) sheath and PAN/lignin core bi-component fibers have been processed using gel spinning and subsequently carbonized by batch process. By varying the sheath-core volume fraction in the bi-component fibers, solid-sheath/solid-core or solid-sheath/porous-core low density carbon fibers have been manufactured. The solid core fiber, with a lignin content of ∼31 wt%, can be stabilized and carbonized to carbon fiber with a tensile modulus as high as 274 GPa. Carbon fibers with a porous, honeycomb-structured core is reported with a tensile modulus value of 242 GPa. While the lignin incorporation enhances the cost-effectiveness and renewability of carbon fibers, the methods and results in this work demonstrate an approach to harness the design and manufacturing of robust PAN/lignin blend carbon fibers and porous low-density carbon fibers enabled by lignin utilization.
Predicting the Impacted Ureteral Stone with Computed Tomography

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate whether preoperative computed tomography (CT) findings could predict the presence of an impacted stone. Preoperative identification of an impacted ureteral stone may influence patient preparation and operative decisions. Factors predicting ureteral stone impaction have not been clearly identified. Methods We identified all patients from June 2014 to July 2016 that underwent ureteroscopic treatment of an impacted ureteral stone. Patients that had ureteral prestenting or previous treatment for their stone were excluded. Noncontrast CT images were reviewed to calculate stone size, stone volume, degree of hydronephrosis (0-3), and Hounsfield units (HU) of the stone as well as the ureter distal and proximal to the stone. These were compared with a control group of patients that had nonimpacted stones. Results Patients with impacted stones had a greater stone size, volume, HU of the ureter under the stone, HU under/above ratio, and degree of hydronephrosis on univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that HU under the stone was a significant predictor of ureteral stone impaction (odds ratio 1.17; 95% confidence interval 1.11-1.25). Distal ureteral density above 27 HU demonstrated a sensitivity of 85%, specificity of 85%, positive predictive value of 89%, and negative predictive value of 81% for ureteral stone impaction. Conclusion Impacted stones are associated with ureteral density cut-off value of 27 HU or greater. Measuring this value on preoperative noncontrast CT may help predict which patients are more likely to have impacted stones.
Symptom Experience of Older Adults With Type 2 Diabetes and Diabetes-Related Distress.

Author(s): Hernandez, Lenore; Leutwyler, Heather; Cataldo, Janine; Kanaya, Alka; Swislocki, Arthur; Chesla, Catherine | Abstract: BackgroundAn older, more diverse population and longer life spans are major contributors to the anticipated tripling of Type 2 diabetes prevalence by 2050. Diabetes-related distress affects up to 40% of people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and may be a greater risk for older adults due to greater prevalence of comorbidities.ObjectiveThe objective of this phenomenological study was to describe how diabetes-related distress in older adults (≥65 years) with Type 2 diabetes might be uniquely experienced.MethodsParticipants were recruited using convenience sampling and snowball sampling. Interpretive phenomenology guided the research design and analysis. With interpretive interviews, we investigated the everyday health, symptoms, and life experiences of living with Type 2 diabetes and elevated diabetes distress.ResultsAmong the older adults in this study, the most prevalent symptoms were fatigue, hypoglycemia, diarrhea, pain, loss of balance, and falling. These diabetes-related symptoms led to substantial loss of independence, decreased quality of life, and constrained social lives due to restricted activities.DiscussionDiabetes-related distress presents with some unique symptoms and responses in older adults. Improving knowledge regarding the symptom experience of older adults with diabetes-related distress may allow healthcare providers to tailor treatment and thus improve outcomes for older adults struggling with diabetes.
In vitro targeting of erythrocytes to cytotoxic T‐cells by coupling of Thy‐1.2 monoclonal antibody

A method was explored to develop a general means to target erythrocytes to T-cells in vitro. Mouse erythrocytes were coupled with an anti-Thy-1.2 monoclonal antibody by two methods. Chromic chloride coupling of antibody was preferred to biotinylation. The morphology, osmotic fragility, and the hematological values of treated cells were normal compared with those of control erythrocytes. Antibody-coupled erythrocytes were incubated with cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLL) in vitro at a 20:1 ratio. Approximately 60-70% of the CTLL formed rosettes. The cell mixture was subjected to gradient centrifugation and separated into four fractions. THe rosettes were clearly identified only in the treated group containing anti-Thy-1.2-coupled erythrocytes. No rosettes were found when aspecific monoclonal antibody was coupled to erythrocytes. Examination by scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed CTLL with 4-5 erythrocytes attached to them but did not show any evidence of membrane fusion. Rosettes of CTLL incubated in vitro proliferated as well as CTLL alone and maintained their dependency on interleukin-2. Targeting of erythrocyte carriers to lymphocytes offers the potential for delivery of molecules directly to the target cell.
Variability of CD34 Expression in Sinonasal Glomangiopericytoma: A Potential Diagnostic Pitfall

Sinonasal glomangiopericytoma (GPC) is an uncommon primary sinonasal neoplasm showing a perivascular myoid differentiation. Originally perceived as an intranasal counterpart to soft tissue hemangiopericytomas, initial immunohistochemical reports showed mostly negative to focal weak reactivity for CD34 as useful in separating GPC (almost always benign) from morphologic mimics, mainly solitary fibrous tumor (potentially aggressive). In anecdotally encountering cases of GPC with CD34 reactivity beyond the expected weak/negative immunoprofile, we sought to formally evaluate CD34 staining in 10 cases of GPC from two different vendors in conjunction with a meta-analysis of other GPC series reporting CD34 staining. Ten cases of GPC were retrieved from the authors’ pathology archives (left nasal cavity = 7, right nasal cavity = 3; 5 men, 5 women; average age 59.0 years with range of 43–77 years). Follow-up showed no evidence of disease after complete resection from all 10 cases (average follow-up length of 53.3 months, range 6–106 months). All 10 GPC cases (100%) showed positivity using CD34 from Leica (QBend10 clone), with most showing moderate to diffuse staining intensity and moderate extent, while only 2 of 10 cases (20%) showed positivity using CD34 from Ventana (QBend10 clone), with both positive cases showing weak staining intensity and focal extent. Literature review of other studies (reporting ≥ 5 GPC cases) found a wide spectrum of CD34 positivity ranging from 0 to 100%; including our GPC cases, CD34 showed a cumulative positivity of 28%. Although negative CD34 reactivity has been historically regarded as prototypic for GPC, in this study we have exposed laboratory variability in CD34 expression and have shown that reliance on expected negative reactivity in GPC can be a clinically relevant diagnostic pitfall. Our findings suggest a panel approach in selecting diagnostic immunostains rather than relying on CD34 alone in the assessment of spindle cell neoplasms in the sinonasal tract with admixed prominent staghorn-like vasculature.
G510(P) The changing indications for nighttime respiratory support in children with duchenne muscular dystrophy

Background Children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) are predisposed to sleep disordered breathing (SDB), traditionally described as predominantly being hypoventilation secondary to muscle weakness. The British Thoracic Society (BTS) guidelines 2012 provide recommendations for the respiratory management of children with neuromuscular disease. Indications for overnight sleep monitoring include children with Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) Method Retrospective case note review evaluating our current cohort of children with DMD receiving nighttime NIV and the indications for this. Results Seven of 145 children currently receiving NIV have DMD, median age 15 years (range 11–18 years). All boys had undergone cardiorespiratory sleep studies because of clinical concerns about SDB. Median apnoea hypopnea index (AHI) prior to starting NIV was 11.6 (range 3.3–29.6). This predominantly consisted of obstructive events with a median obstructive AHI of 11.3 (range 3.3–27.6). 4% oxygen desaturation indices were elevated in 5 boys median 4.7 (range 2.4–10.7). Median transcutaneous carbon dioxide levels were 5.5 (range 4.9–6.9). Median FVC was relatively well preserved: median 1.38 l (range 1.13–2.87 l). Median Body Mass Index at the time of sleep study was ≥91 st centile in all 7 boys, and ≥97 th centile in 5 boys. 4 boys were receiving steroids for their neuromuscular disease at the time of starting NIV. 5 boys started on CPAP in view of preserved lung function and 2 on BIPAP. 2 have since developed hypoventilation and switching to BIPAP has been recommended. Conclusions Whilst the BTS guidelines suggest progressive muscle weakness leads to respiratory failure and diurnal hypoventilation, our cohort suggests that OSA is the main indication for starting NIV; possibly secondary to steroids (use to treat DMD) and immobility. This service evaluation suggests our screening focus should be towards early detection of OSA, possibly best evaluated using multi-channel cardiorespiratory studies. Further prospective studies examining the relationship between steroid use and development of OSA should be considered.
Natural Autonomy, Dual Virtue, and Yin-Yang

Feminists have argued that autonomous thought and decision-making are attained through respectful parenting and are blighted or destroyed when the parenting is disrespectful or abusive. However, it can be argued that young children are already capable of thinking and deciding things for themselves, so when sexist or abusive parenting leads to an adult incapable of such autonomy, the parenting or other social influences have destroyed what was originally there. It turns out, too, that the thinking and deciding sides of autonomy are actually inseparable aspects of one and the same personal trait/virtue, and it can be shown that the other major human virtues—and human rationality as a whole—also have this dual aspect. We can go on to see that this duality is best interpreted in terms of the indissoluble complementarity of yin 陰 and yang 陽.
Logical Clustering of Similar Vertices in Complex Real-World Networks

We show that vertices part of a physical cluster (determined per the edges that connect the vertices) in a complex real-world network need not be similar on the basis of the values incurred for node-level metrics (say, centrality metrics). We adapt a recently proposed approach (based on unit-disk graphs) to determine logical clusters comprising of vertices of similar values for node-level metrics, but need not be physically connected to each other. We use the Louvain algorithm to determine both the physical and logical clusters on the respective graphs. We employ the Silhouette Index measure to evaluate the similarity of the vertices in the physical and logical clusters. When tested on a suite of 50 social and biological network graphs on the basis of neighborhood and/or shortest path-driven centrality metrics, we observe the Silhouette Index of the logical clusters to be significantly larger than that of the physical clusters.
Estimation of Minimally Important Differences and Patient Acceptable Symptom State Scores for the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Pain Interference Short Form in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Author(s): Katz, Patricia; Kannowski, Carol L; Sun, Luna; Michaud, Kaleb | Abstract: OBJECTIVE:Studies have supported the validity of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Pain Interference (PI) scale in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Here, we characterize minimally important differences (MIDs) and patient acceptable symptom state (PASS) values. METHODS:PROMIS PI scores were collected in four periods at 6-month intervals from patients with RA (n g 3200 per period). Both anchor- and distribution-based methods estimated MIDs. Anchors were pain comparisons, pain interference, and general health. Time responses for each anchor-response group (four administrations, each with three change periods) were averaged. The mean changes of the "somewhat worse" and "somewhat better" groups were used as estimates for MID for worsening and improvement, respectively. Distribution-based MID analyses used standardized error of measurement (SEM) and SD. PASS was estimated with the question "If your health was to remain for the rest of your life as it has been in the past 48 hours, would this be acceptable?" MIDs and PASS values were also estimated by baseline pain levels. RESULTS:Anchor-based methods yielded estimates of 1.65 to 1.84 for worsening and -1.29 to -1.73 for improvement. The SEM estimate was 1.84. The PASS estimate for the entire group was 41.6. Substantial differences in MIDs and PASS were noted among baseline pain groups. CONCLUSION:The best estimate of a group-level MID was approximately 2 points, similar to MIDs suggested in other conditions. The PASS value for the entire group was almost an SD better than the population mean. Results should enhance use of PROMIS PI in RA by facilitating interpretation of scores and changes.