cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Complete Genome Sequence of the Cellulose-Degrading Bacterium Cellulosilyticum lentocellum

Cellulosilyticum lentocellum DSM 5427 is an anaerobic, endospore-forming member of the Firmicutes. We describe the complete genome sequence of this cellulose-degrading bacterium, which was originally isolated from estuarine sediment of a river that received both domestic and paper mill waste. Comparative genomics of cellulolytic clostridia will provide insight into factors that influence degradation rates.
Fluorinated Imidazoles and Benzimidazoles

Synthetic approaches towards the preparation of various fluoro-functionalized imidazoles and benzimidazoles are discussed in this chapter.
Ciprofloxacin: In Vitro Activity, Mechanism of Action, and Resistance

Ciprofloxacin is a new fluoroquinolone that is highly active against many diverse microorganisms. At concentrations of less than 1 microgram/mL it is active against most gram-negative bacteria, including Enterobacteriaceae, Haemophilus, Neisseria, and other Pasteurellaceae, Vibrionaceae, and various species of Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter. Most staphylococci, including strains resistant to methicillin, are also susceptible to ciprofloxacin. Streptococci are not highly susceptible to ciprofloxacin, and obligate anaerobes are generally resistant to this and other quinolones. Ciprofloxacin, like other quinolones, inhibits DNA gyrase, but its bactericidal effects are not completely reversible by inhibitors of protein or RNA synthesis. Thus, unlike many other quinolones, ciprofloxacin may have multiple lethal effects. Resistance is less readily selected in vitro by ciprofloxacin than by nalidixic acid, and single-step mutants usually remain susceptible to clinically achievable concentrations. Resistance mediated by mutations in genes altering DNA gyrase and expression of outer membrane proteins has been described for ciprofloxacin and other quinolones. The antimicrobial spectrum and potency of ciprofloxacin, coupled with its rapid bactericidal effects, make this fluoroquinolone a promising new antimicrobial agent.
Remembering the Present: Painting and Popular History in Zaire

Remembering the Present: Painting and Popular History in Zaire. Johannes Fabian with narrative and paintings by Tshibumba Kanda Matulu Berkeley. University of California Press, 1996
Variation of traffic parameters in ATM networks

The authors consider the problem of change in traffic parameters of a connection in an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network and have found out that the traffic parameters of a connection may change appreciably along its path. They present a simulation-based study to examine the magnitude of this phenomenon. The experiments showed that, under certain circumstances, there may be a significant variation in traffic characteristics of a connection at different nodes along its path. Resource allocation must take this variation into account to ensure that quality of service requirements of different connections can be satisfied. A way to handle the problem would be to restore the original traffic pattern on the connection, either fully or partially, at each node along the path. A scheme is proposed to partially reconstruct the original traffic pattern, and its effectiveness was studied by means of simulation experiments. >
Clean Sites and Toxic Burdens: The Evolution and Legacy of New Jersey's Mandatory Toxic Waste Cleanup Program, 1976-1993

In their research, policy analysts and historians have had an understandable attachment to ‘successful” state and federal environmental programs, initiatives that spawn long-term imitation or significantly advance the goals or innovative methodologies of specific policymakers. Indeed, by the very nature of their success, they command the attention of scholars and lawmakers. However, as this study will show, inefficient, costly, or controversial programs widely viewed as “failures” often generate equally long-term, historically significant policy changes.
The left hand of scholarship: computer experiments with recorded text as a communication media

To paint a broad though much simplified picture, let us suppose at the outset that scholarship begins with the collection of facts. These facts are of two distinct kinds. The first are observations and they consist, for example, of the results of controlled experiments or observations for field work in the case of science or, perhaps, they are derived from the study of historical documents in the case of history, and so on. The second kind of facts are the reported observations, descriptions of phenomena or events, or the theories provided by contemporary scholars. In aggregate, let us refer to the first kind of facts as "data" and the second as "information." From the confluence of these two kinds of facts in the mind of the scholar, new descriptions and theories are born. When he makes these public, then new information is generated.
Effect of Pre-Test Pressures and Temperature on DST Interpretation

Drill-stem tests (DST's) in porous media typically consist of a sequence of production and shut-in periods. Interpretation of DST's is often based on application of the Horner method to the shut-in periods. Such an analysis assumes that the wellbore rate is constant during the production period and that the pressure response during the shut in is affected only by that production period. For many DST's, however, these assumptions are no longer valid and other interpretation methods are required. For example, prior production and shut-in periods and/or pre-test pressures can significantly affect the pressure response of subsequent periods and cause erroneous parameter estimates. In this paper, we present a new DST analytical solution that can account for the effect of pre-test pressures, prior test periods, wellbore temperature variations, and other factors such as wellbore storage and skin on the pressure response. The solution is an extension of the solution presented by Correa and Ramey who derived a DST solution by writing a single time-dependent wellbore boundary condition. Application of the new solution to example DST data shows that estimates of formation pressure from the Horner analysis can deviate from the true formation pressure by several hundreds of psia, whereas permeability estimates can differ by a factor of two or three. The errors in the estimated formation parameters increase as the permeability is reduced, but can be significant even for large permeability reservoirs. These errors are more pronounced for longer pre-test pressure periods and when the pre-test pressures are much greater or smaller than the true formation pressure. The effect of wellbore temperature variations are also shown to be important for DST interpretation in certain cases when the permeability-thickness product is small.
Identifying learning-inductive content in programming discussion forums

Online programming discussion forums are popular trouble-shooting and problem-solving sites for programmers and learners to reach out for help. The massive volumes of forum threads harbor tremendous amounts of information, but at the same time increase the complexity of search and navigation. In this work, we make use of programming discussions' syntactic, semantic and social features to model content associated with learning activities based on the ICAP learning framework. Our main goal is to detect useful content for learning programming in a large scale of questions and answers, while at the same time experiment with an artificial intelligence approach to detect learning-inductive content. We build regression models based on the defined constructive learning activities. Results reveal a passive-proactive learning behavior in an online programming discussion forum. The findings also reconfirm the value of programming discussion content, disregarding the crowds' approval. The automatic detection of constructive learning activities from programming discussions can be a helpful classifier in identifying relevant educational resources. Overall, this project contributes to our understanding on analyzing and utilizing mass programming discussion content for online programming language learning.
Izumo1 and Juno: the evolutionary origins and coevolution of essential sperm–egg binding partners

Reproductive proteins are among the most rapidly evolving classes of proteins. For a subset of these, rapid evolution is driven by positive Darwinian selection despite vital, well-conserved, reproductive functions. Izumo1 is the only essential sperm-egg fusion protein currently known on mammalian sperm, and its egg receptor (Juno; formerly Folr4) was recently discovered. Male knockout mice for Izumo1 and female knockout mice for Juno are both healthy but sterile. Here, both sperm-egg binding proteins are shown to be evolving under positive selection. Within mammals, coevolution of Izumo1 and Juno is also uncovered, suggesting that similar forces have shaped the evolutionary histories of these binding partners within Mammalia. Additionally, genomic analyses reveal an ancient origin for the Izumo gene family, initially reported as conserved exclusively in mammals. Newly identified Izumo1 orthologues could serve reproductive functions in birds, fish and reptiles. Surprisingly, these same analyses support Juno's presence in mammals alone, suggesting a recent mammalian-specific duplication and neofunctionalization of the ancestral folate receptor. Despite the indispensability of their reproductive interaction, and their apparent coevolution within Mammalia, this binding pair arose through strikingly different evolutionary forces.
Historical construction costs of global nuclear power reactors

The existing literature on the construction costs of nuclear power reactors has focused almost exclusively on trends in construction costs in only two countries, the United States and France, and during two decades, the 1970s and 1980s. These analyses, Koomey and Hultman (2007); Grubler (2010), and Escobar-Rangel and Leveque (2015), study only 26% of reactors built globally between 1960 and 2010, providing an incomplete picture of the economic evolution of nuclear power construction. This study curates historical reactor-specific overnight construction cost (OCC) data that broaden the scope of study substantially, covering the full cost history for 349 reactors in the US, France, Canada, West Germany, Japan, India, and South Korea, encompassing 58% of all reactors built globally. We find that trends in costs have varied significantly in magnitude and in structure by era, country, and experience. In contrast to the rapid cost escalation that characterized nuclear construction in the United States, we find evidence of much milder cost escalation in many countries, including absolute cost declines in some countries and specific eras. Our new findings suggest that there is no inherent cost escalation trend associated with nuclear technology.
The promoter and first, untranslated exon of the human glucocorticoid receptor gene are GC rich but lack consensus glucocorticoid receptor element sites.

Abstract Glucocorticoid receptor mRNA is regulated by glucocorticoids. We found no consensus glucocorticoid response element, TATA box, or CAAT box but many GC boxes in approximately 3 kilobases of the 5'-flanking sequence of the human glucocorticoid receptor gene. We identified several transcription start sites, an untranslated exon 1, and the coding content of exon 2.
Molecular-beam epitaxy and related growth techniques

Different variants of molecular-beam epitaxy with solid sources and/or gaseous sources for growing III–V compound semiconductors are described. Using in-situ monitoring and real-time control of the growth process, which are relatively simple for the beam techniques, can result in controllable and reproducible growth. Selective-area epitaxy with gaseous sources can be achieved either by an external laser beam or on a patterned wafer.
Poor sleep in relation to natural menopause: a population-based 14-year follow-up of midlife women.

AbstractObjectiveThis study aims to estimate the prevalence and predictors of moderate/severe poor sleep in relation to the final menstrual period (FMP) in midlife women.MethodsAnnual assessments were conducted in a population-based cohort of 255 women. All were premenopausal at cohort enrollment an
Vector Spherical Harmonics

To deal with the orbital angular momentum carried by the radiation field, it will be convenient to convert the expansion of the field vector, , to an expansion in terms of photon creation and annihilation operators with circular polarizations, with , and write
Volatile and semi-volatile organic compound patterns in flowback waters from fracturing sites within the Marcellus Shale

Gas shale fracturing relies on a method known as horizontal fracturing to remove gas trapped within the impermeable facies. Conventional vertical and unconventional horizontal fracturing requires a large amount of water to be injected downhole under high pressure. These fracturing fluids can contain high concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbons with known adverse health effects. The development of reuse technologies that reduce the need of potable water requires an accurate understanding of petroleum hydrocarbon loading during key points in the fracturing process. In this study, flowback water quality from both horizontally and vertically fractured wells within the Marcellus Shale region in Pennsylvania and West Virginia were analyzed. Flowback data made available by the Shale Network were collected using geographic information systems. Flowback sample analytes of interest were diesel range organic (DRO) and gasoline range organic (GRO) compounds. Noticeable patterns were present in DRO and GRO flowback data. Flowback water results showed differences between horizontally and vertically fractured well DRO patterns. Vertically fractured wells showed a sharp decrease in DRO concentrations following fracture events. Horizontally fractured wells exhibited a peak in loading when flowback water shifted to produced water. This pattern suggests the method of completion may affect DRO loading. GRO loadings appeared to not be effected by the method of completion. A horizontally fractured well and vertically fractured well within 16 km showed similar loading patterns. GRO data suggest factors such as geographic location may be responsible for VOC loading trends.
The Importance of Social Support and Coercion to Risk of Impulsivity and Juvenile Offending

The current study provides a comprehensive test of differential social support and coercion (DSSC) theory of crime as proposed by Colvin, Cullen, and Vander Ven. DSSC suggests that social interactions are either coercive or supportive in nature and that these interactions figure prominently into the development of self-control and delinquent behavior. Data drawn from the Evaluation of the Gang Resistance Education and Training (GREAT) assess four DSSC research hypotheses. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression suggests that parental support reduces impulsive behavior whereas coercive relationships correlate with increased impulsivity. Logistic regression indicates that parental support associates with reduced violent offending odds and that interpersonal coercion and low self-control increase violent offending. Beyond testing micro-level DSSC theory, these findings have important implications for criminal justice responses to juvenile offending.
Popular Fiction in Québec: National Identity and ‘American’ Genres

In a brief essay titled ‘Fonction du fantastique’ (The Function of the Fantastic), the late Franco-nationalist literary critic Andre Belleau argued that the development of a healthy fantastic literature was the sign of a culture’s maturity, and that by the 1980s this appeared to be true in Quebec (Belleau 1986, p. 70). This chapter extends that assertion beyond the limits of the fantastic to include a range of popular genre literatures, focusing most directly on French-language science fiction, but also addressing horror and fantasy—genres that have come to fruition in Canada’s majority francophone province since the so-called Quiet Revolution of the 1960s.1 These popular literatures developed in a climate of Franco-nationalist resistance to assimilation by the English-language culture dominant not only on the North American continent but across the Atlantic in Great Britain, which remains a metropolitan cultural and—albeit largely symbolic—political force in Canada. At the same time, although these genres do draw to some degree on metropolitan French cultural traditions, French-language popular fiction in Canada is also in dialogue with them as they developed in the USA and UK.
Taxonomic revision of the Opuntia humifusa complex (Opuntieae: Cactaceae) of the eastern United States

The Humifusa clade represents a recent radiation that originated in the late Pliocene or early Pleistocene and consists of about 10 species widely distributed in North America from northern Mexico north to Ontario, Canada, and south to the Florida Keys. This clade likely originated in the edaphically subxeric regions of northern Mexico and the southwestern United States, and from there it later spread to the southeastern United States and ultimately produced a small radiation in the eastern United States. Hybridization among evolutionarily divergent diploid species of the southeastern (SE) and southwestern (SW) United States subclades led to the origin of many polyploid taxa, which today occupy about 75% of the distribution of the clade. Here we present a taxonomic revision of the SE subclade of the Humifusa clade and polyploid derivatives that commonly occur in the eastern United States (i.e., the O. humifusa complex). We recognize eight taxa: Opuntia abjecta, O. austrina, O. cespitosa, O. drummondii, O. humifusa, O. mesacantha subsp. mesacantha , O. mesacantha subsp. lata , and O. nemoralis , as well as the interclade allopolyploid, Opuntia ochrocentra , derived, in part, from a member of the O. humifusa complex. Diagnostic keys, descriptions, original photos, and distribution maps are provided for each taxon. Neotypes are designated for the names O. austrina (NY) and O. youngii (USF), and O. drummondii and O. tracyi are lectotypified from an illustration in Maund & Henslow and a specimen at NY, respectively.
Food Identity and Its Impact upon the Study Abroad Experience

Study Abroad programs go to great lengths to prepare students for living and working in environments unlike their own. While much of the preparation focuses on the challenges of university life, travel, safety and the like, this paper suggests that an early and thoughtful discussion of “food identity” will provide students with the tools necessary to become more insightful of the culture of their host country. Since eating is vital, regional foods provide a wonderful opportunity for entering into the culture of another. By exposing students to such factors as the malleable, political, gendered and deliberately constructed nature of food identities, students become more cognizant of the complex histories of other people and places, through the portal of their food.
Reconstructing paleoclimate fields using online data assimilation with a linear inverse model

Abstract. We examine the skill of a new approach to climate field reconstructions (CFRs) using an online paleoclimate data assimilation (PDA) method. Several recent studies have foregone climate model forecasts during assimilation due to the computational expense of running coupled global climate models (CGCMs) and the relatively low skill of these forecasts on longer timescales. Here we greatly diminish the computational cost by employing an empirical forecast model (linear inverse model, LIM), which has been shown to have skill comparable to CGCMs for forecasting annual-to-decadal surface temperature anomalies. We reconstruct annual-average 2 m air temperature over the instrumental period (1850–2000) using proxy records from the PAGES 2k Consortium Phase 1 database; proxy models for estimating proxy observations are calibrated on GISTEMP surface temperature analyses. We compare results for LIMs calibrated using observational (Berkeley Earth), reanalysis (20th Century Reanalysis), and CMIP5 climate model (CCSM4 and MPI) data relative to a control offline reconstruction method. Generally, we find that the usage of LIM forecasts for online PDA increases reconstruction agreement with the instrumental record for both spatial fields and global mean temperature (GMT). Specifically, the coefficient of efficiency (CE) skill metric for detrended GMT increases by an average of 57 % over the offline benchmark. LIM experiments display a common pattern of skill improvement in the spatial fields over Northern Hemisphere land areas and in the high-latitude North Atlantic–Barents Sea corridor. Experiments for non-CGCM-calibrated LIMs reveal region-specific reductions in spatial skill compared to the offline control, likely due to aspects of the LIM calibration process. Overall, the CGCM-calibrated LIMs have the best performance when considering both spatial fields and GMT. A comparison with the persistence forecast experiment suggests that improvements are associated with the linear dynamical constraints of the forecast and not simply persistence of temperature anomalies.
Cartography of Tree Space

How can vibrant, contemporary art be produced that deals with vibrant, contemporary mathematics? To address this question, a collaboration began between an artist (Schuh) and a mathematician (Devadoss), revolving around recent problems in phylogenetics and the space of evolutionary trees. The result was twofold: First, a triptych of paintings was created, using acrylic, graphite, watercolor and metal leaf, that focused on different navigations within this tree space. Second, a novel set of open mathematics problems was discovered solely as a result of this investigation.
Feasibility of BK Virus Real-Time PCR Testing in Renal Graft Biopsies With Negative SV40 Staining.

Abstract Background BK virus (BKV)-associated nephropathy (BKVAN) is often associated with renal graft dysfunction. When renal transplant recipients present with high clinical suspicion for BKVAN (high serum and urine BKV titer with graft dysfunction) but their graft biopsies stain negatively for BKV, non-correlated situations between the two tests often lead to a dilemma about how to treat them. Methods This retrospective investigation was conducted to determine how real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) for BKV, routinely applied to serum and urine, could be helpful in identifying the existing BKV in biopsy tissue stained negatively for BKV. Results DNA was extracted from each specimen through the use of five 10-μm curls from the tissue block with use of the QIAamp DNA FFPE Tissue Kit (Qiagen), followed by BKV qPCR to determine copies of BKV/μg of biopsy tissue DNA. Group 1 (11 negative renal controls for BKV) demonstrated 0 to 9 BKV copies/μg DNA. Except for 3 focally staining cases showing low BKV, the remaining 10 positive renal controls in group 2 (13 positive transplant biopsies staining positively) demonstrated elevated BKV up to 160 million copies/μg DNA. Group 3 transplants (13 uncertain transplants with negative BKV staining but positive liquid BKV) were negative for BKV (0–12 copies/μg) in 4 of 13, had low BKV copies (36–346 copies/μg) in 5 of 13, and had high BKV copies (17,240–526,945 copies/μg) in 4 of 13 cases, through the use of qPCR. Conclusions The data indicate that qPCR from paraffin-embedded tissue as a backup test is sensitive for ruling in/out BKV infection in renal transplant biopsies, particularly in uncertain cases.
On the Foundations of Probability Theory

My paper will deal with some aspects of the foundations of objective probability theory, more specifically, of the frequency theory of objective probability (see p. 207 for a closer description of our aim). The word ‘objective’ is used in contrast to ‘subjective’ or ‘personal’, and ‘theory’ indicates that we do not plan an analysis of the daily-life use of the term ‘probability’.
Field evidence challenges the often-presumed relationship between early male maturation and female-biased sexual size dimorphism

Female-biased sexual size dimorphism (SSD) is often considered an epiphenomenon of selection for the increased mating opportunities provided by early male maturation (i.e., protandry). Empirical evidence of the adaptive significance of protandry remains nonetheless fairly scarce. We use field data collected throughout the reproductive season of an SSD crab spider, Mecaphesa celer, to test two hypotheses: Protandry provides fitness benefits to males, leading to female-biased SSD, or protandry is an indirect consequence of selection for small male size/large female size. Using field-collected data, we modeled the probability of mating success for females and males according to their timing of maturation. We found that males matured earlier than females and the proportion of virgin females decreased abruptly early in the season, but unexpectedly increased afterward. Timing of female maturation was not related to clutch size, but large females tended to have more offspring than small females. Timing of female and male maturation was inversely related to size at adulthood, as early-maturing individuals were larger than late-maturing ones, suggesting that both sexes exhibit some plasticity in their developmental trajectories. Such plasticity indicates that protandry could co-occur with any degree and direction of SSD. Our calculation of the probability of mating success along the season shows multiple male maturation time points with similar predicted mating success. This suggests that males follow multiple strategies with equal success, trading-off access to virgin females with intensity of male-male competition. Our results challenge classic hypotheses linking protandry and female-biased SSD, and emphasize the importance of directly testing the often-assumed relationships between co-occurring animal traits.
Environment, Drugs, and Chemical Exposures in the Realm of Human Sexuality

Abstract Normal sexual functioning of both men and women, being a very complex process, is affected by numerous issues besides aging. Environmental factors play a very significant role in addition to many medical comorbidities that are usually associated with aging. Many drugs, chemicals, stress, smoking, and psychological issues affect the sexual performance and quality of life of the young, as well as aged. Erectile dysfunction (ED) is one of the most common disorders in male besides other sexual concerns such as premature ejaculation, performance anxiety, Peyronie's disease, priapism, and hypogonadism. Many of these factors affect the structural organization and function of penile erectile components such as smooth muscle cell and vascular architecture. These modifications affect penile hemodynamics by impairing cavernosal smooth muscle cell relaxation, reducing penile elasticity, compliance, and promoting fibrosis. Age is not a limiting factor for ED medical management and it is never too late to treat. Internet and social media exploit and promotes many sexual enhancers, recreational agents, and street drugs. Many mood-enhancing and sexual performance–enhancing drugs (e.g., Viagra, Cialis, testosterone) have now been approved to help these men with sexual issues.
Concurrent Design: Instructional and Motivational Strategy Planning

Once the objectives are clustered, the next set of essential design tasks in the concurrent design stage is to determine the instructional and motivational strategies for online instruction. Formative evaluation continues as the instructional strategies take form. To promote a sense of continuity, the designer uses a conceptual framework for describing these instructional and motivational strategies. The WBID Model uses the WBI Strategy Worksheet as the means to frame and document such strategies. While creating these strategies, the designer must bear in mind other factors that impact online delivery: class size, navigation and learner control, feedback, and interactivity. The designer also determines the types of media to incorporate into the online instruction, if it has not already been predetermined.
Curriculum Development in Mathematics. By Geoffrey Howson, Christine Keitel, and Jeremy Kilpatrick

(1984). Curriculum Development in Mathematics. By Geoffrey Howson, Christine Keitel, and Jeremy Kilpatrick. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 91, No. 2, pp. 150-151.
A crisis by any other name? Examining the effects of journalistic “crisis labeling” on corporate perceptions:

In a between-subjects experiment (N = 88), participants who read about the “FreshVeg, Inc. tomato crisis” were more likely to say they lost confidence in the product than were participants who read...
Effects of culture and financial literacy among Chinese-Americans on participating in financial services

The main contribution of this study is the theoretical development of the moderating effect of cultural-related variables such as generational status and gender in predicting attitudes toward paid professional service. Our analysis establishes that the cultural-related variables significantly affect the Chinese-American respondents’ attitude toward paid professional services. Our findings also highlight the substantial role of cultural background in determining financial literacy. We empirically examined the influence of financial literacy, risk attitude, gender role, and generational status of Chinese-American consumers on their adoption of paid financial services. Results reveal that Chinese-Americans with a low level of financial literacy reported a more positive attitude toward paid professional financial advisors than those who were more financially knowledgeable. In addition, we found that respondents who were risk-seeking reported a more positive attitude toward paid professional financial advisors than those who were risk-averse. In our conceptual model, we identified two particular moderators of interest: generation status and gender. We also found an interaction between Chinese-Americans’ level of financial literacy and their generational status. Moreover, we discovered that gender moderates the effect of consumers’ attitude toward paid professional financial advisors. These findings offer practical implication and guidance for financial service providers when they market and deliver services to this particular ethnic group and encourages researchers to treat immigrant diaspora as not being as monolithic as assumed in prior research.
Cystostomy Drainage: Its Efficacy in Preventing Residual Urine and Infection

AbstractResidual urine volume was measured in patients with cystostomy drainage by injecting phenolsulfonphthalein in saline solution through the tube. Subsequent drainage yielded an average volume of 25ml. residual urine. The cause for the presence of residual urine and its consequences—promotion of infection—are discussed.
Pío Cid soy yo: Mito-auto-bio-grafía de Ángel Ganivet

This essay analyzes not the well known autobiographical nature of Pio Cid's construction but, rather, Ganivet's imaginative use of modernist aesthetics in his self-representation. Ganivet appropiated mythical figures and stereotypes drawn from Western and Spanish cultural traditions to construct an allegory of the Teacher, Poet, and benevolent "Pater familias", who took upon himself the labors of transforming the nation by first spiritually transforming himself and those around him.
Yea Big, Yea High: A 3D User Interface for Surface Selection by Progressive Refinement in Virtual Environments

We present Yea Big, Yea High - a 3D user interface for surface selection in virtual environments. The interface extends previous selection interfaces that support exploratory visualization and 3D modeling. While these systems primarily focus on selecting single objects, Yea Big, Yea High allows users to select part of a surface mesh, a common task for data analysis, model editing, or annotation. The selection can be progressively refined by physically indicating a region of interest between a user's hands. We describe the design of the interface and key challenges we encountered. We present findings from a case study exploring design choices and use of the system.
Reduction of leakage current at the SiN x /GaN interface in GaN Schottky diodes

The breakdown characteristics for a GaN wrapround field plate diode are compared to those of a planar diode and a mesa diode to determine the improvement due to the field plate geometry. Mesa diodes exhibit a higher breakdown voltage compared to planar diodes, in agreement with simulation models. Wraparound field plate diodes, however, show high leakage current resulting in lower breakdown values than predicted. It is found that the extra leakage is caused by damage from the plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition of the SiNx used to form the field plate. To mitigate the leakage current, atomic layer deposition was used to put down a protective Al2O3 prior to SiNx deposition. This significantly reduced the leakage current and raised the breakdown voltage of the wraparound Schottky diodes.
Quantifying In-Host Patterns

In addition to the mouse malaria data discussed in Sects. 7.7 and 15.3, we consider a coinfection study of FIV in cats (Roy et al. 2009). The experiment showed that disease in cats caused by infection with a virulent feline immunodeficiency viruses (FIVf) can be attenuated by prior infection with strains of lower pathogenicity from cougars.
EMIC Wave Distributions Observed by the Van Allen Probes

Characteristics of electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves detected by the Van Allen probes are statistically analyzed, particularly wave-band, bandwidth, and time duration. The Electric and Magnetic Field Instrument Suite and Integrated Science, an instrument on board the Van Allen Probes, provides the necessary magnetic field measurements to examine 33 months of EMIC wave occurrence (1 September 2013 to 31 May 2016). Upon visual identification, the waves are grouped into their respective wave-bands, H+, He+, or O+, defined by the frequencies they are observed at, manifested in the daily spectrograms as their location relative to gyrofrequency lines. Nearly 2,500 EMIC wave events are detected. Results suggest a prevalence of He+-band waves, and a rarity of O+-band waves (1,155 H+-band events, 1,176 He+-band events, and 125 O+-band events). The most prevalent bandwidth range for events in general is found to be 0.25 - 0.5 Hz. However, this appears to vary among the three wave-bands. Helium and oxygen wave-band events tend to have shorter bandwidths (0.25 - 0.5 Hz) than their hydrogen counterparts. Time duration is more consistent among wave-bands, and while H+-band events on average have a slightly shorter duration, the most common time duration for all wave-bands is between 20 and 40 minutes.
Diagnostic Yield of Dental Radiography and Cone-Beam Computed Tomography for the Identification of Anatomic Structures in Cats

The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic yield of dental radiography (DR) and 3 cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) methods for the identification of predefined anatomic structures in cats. For 5 feline cadaver heads and 22 client-owned cats admitted for evaluation and treatment of dental disease, a total of 22 predefined anatomic structures were evaluated separately by use of the DR method and 3 CBCT software modules [multiplanar reconstructions (MPR), tridimensional (3-D) rendering, and reconstructed panoramic views (Pano)]. A semi quantitative scoring system was used, and mean scores were calculated for each anatomic structure and imaging method. The Friedman test was used to evaluate values for significant differences in diagnostic yield. For values that were significant the Wilcoxon signed rank test was used with the Bonferroni-Holm multiple comparison adjustment to determine significant differences among each of the possible pairs of diagnostic methods. Differences of diagnostic yield among the DR and 3 CBCT methods were significant for 17 of 22 anatomic structures. For these structures, DR scores were significantly higher than scores for Pano views for 2 of 17 structures, but DR scores were significantly lower than scores for Pano views for 6 anatomic structures, tridimensional rendering for 10 anatomic structures, and MPR for 17 anatomic structures. In conclusion, it was found that CBCT methods were better suited than DR for the identification of anatomic structures in cats. Results of this study can serve as a basis for CBCT evaluation of dentoalveolar and other maxillofacial bony lesions in cats.
Developing a thirst for knowledge: How uncertainty in the classroom influences curiosity, affect, learning, and transfer

Abstract Uncertainty is a key variable in fostering curiosity, which, in turn, is associated with learning. Yet, research in educational contexts rarely takes uncertainty into account, and rarely explores uncertainty and curiosity in the context of complex instructional activities. One concern with uncertainty is that it can provoke negative affect. Providing learners with expectations of future uncertainty may attenuate their feelings of negative affect. In a study with 138 middle school students learning physics concepts, we examined the relationship between uncertainty, curiosity, learning, transfer, and affect. Some students were given an inherently uncertain form of instruction, called Invention, in which information on how to solve the problem was initially withheld, while others were given direct instruction with all the necessary information to solve similar problems beforehand (No Uncertainty condition). Some of the students receiving uncertain instruction were given expectations about feeling uncertain (Expected Uncertainty condition), and some were not (Unexpected Uncertainty condition). Students in the unexpected uncertainty condition were the most curious, while students in the no uncertainty condition were the least curious. However, giving expectations of uncertainty reduced students’ negative affect. All groups learned the content equally well, but the expected and unexpected uncertainty groups exhibited greater transfer. Further, positive affect predicted learning, above and beyond condition, and curiosity predicted transfer, but not above and beyond condition. This study extends existing research on uncertainty and curiosity by studying these constructs in real classrooms, in the context of an exploratory learning paradigm, and by considering curiosity’s effect on transfer, rather than just learning. This work also demonstrates a practical approach for educators to foster students’ curiosity and transfer.
Growth Hormone Receptor in Growth

It has been approximately 20 years since the cloning and characterization of the human growth hormone (GH) receptor, GHR, gene. Cell-surface GHR binds circulating GH, which promotes postnatal growth by regulating the expression of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I. Mutations in the GHR gene cause GH insensitivity (GHI) syndrome, also known as Laron syndrome, a syndrome characterized by severe postnatal growth retardation and low serum IGF-I concentrations in the presence of normal or elevated GH levels. Over 70 GHR mutations have been reported, with majority of the mutations found in exons encoding for the extracellular domain of the GHR. Inheritance of GHR mutations is predominantly autosomal recessive. Evaluating the impact of identified mutations on GHR structure and function is important to understand the pathophysiology of the disease. Therapeutic options for patients carrying mutations in the GHR gene have recently expanded to include recombinant IGF-I therapy.
Robotic Assisted Morgagni Hernia Repair

Morgagni hernias are a very rare congenital defect of the antero-medial portion of the diaphragm. These are named after the Italian anatomist Giovanni Morgagni who described the entity in 1769. These hernias represent <3% of all hernias of the diaphragm. When diagnosed, the surgical repair is generally recommended to avoid the risk of strangulation. This chapter discusses patient selection, operating room setup as well as intra-operative considerations important in the robotic repair of these unusual hernias.
Simulation of manufacturing systems

Computer simulation has been applied to manufacturing for about 35 years, and often found to be of immense value. Unfortunately most of these applications have been done by specialists, remote from, and not well understood by, industrial/manufacturing engineers and operations management professionals. This paper discusses the use of simulation to study the behaviour of manufacturing systems to determine the effect of operational parameters to optimise system performance. It also provides a recommended methodology for carrying out simulation studies and illustrates its use via a manufacturing process example.
Advancement in Neuromodulation Technology with the Innovation of Design-Specific Peripheral Nerve Stimulators: Sural Nerve Stimulation for Radiculopathy

Background Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) is a form of neuromodulation that is used to treat chronic and refractory neuropathic pain. Peripheral nerve stimulation was first described in the early 1960s when Shelden implanted a PNS device for trigeminal neuralgia. Despite PNS being known since the 1960s, technology designed specifically for PNS was lacking. Within the past few years, design-specific PNS devices have become widely available, with favorable efficacy and safety profiles. Here we report a case of design-specific PNS that provided two years of pain relief in a patient with lower extremity neuropathic pain. Case presentation A 53-year-old female with a history of congenital lumbar meningocele status post-L4-L5 laminectomy presented to the Mayo Clinic for treatment of foot pain that began three days after her laminectomy. She experienced a 6/10 burning, tingling sensation in the lateral dorsal portion of her right foot and posterolateral calf in addition to allodynia that prevented her from wearing shoes. She failed gabapentin, amitriptyline, cannabis, transforaminal epidural steroid injections, and two spinal cord stimulator trials. The patient ultimately underwent implantation of a right sural nerve stimulator, resulting in a 50% improvement in pain and functionality at two-year follow-up. Conclusions This report emphasizes the recent development of design-specific PNS devices and their successful use in this patient. Peripheral nerve stimulation technology and applications have diminished the role of spinal cord stimulation devices used for the periphery. Peripheral nerve stimulation should be considered for patients with isolated extremity pain, especially in those with spinal abnormalities (e.g., arachnoid cyst).
Formation Control for Fixed-Wing UAVs Modeled with Extended Unicycle Dynamics that Include Attitude Kinematics on SO(m) and Speed Constraints

We present a formation-control algorithm for agents with extended unicycle dynamics that include orientation kinematics on SO(m), first-order speed dynamics, and a hard constraint on speed. The desired interagent positions are expressed in a leader-fixed coordinate frame, which is aligned with and rotates with the leader's velocity vector. Thus, the desired interagent positions vary in time as the leader- fixed frame rotates. We assume that each agent has relative- position feedback of its neighbor agents, where the neighbor sets are such that the interagent communication (i.e., feedback) structure represents an undirected and connected graph. We also assume that at least one agent has access to a measurement its position relative to the leader. The analytic result shows that the agents converge to the desired relative positions with the other agents and the leader, and we provide sufficient conditions to ensure that each agent's speed satisfies the speed constraints. We also present an experiment with 3 fixed-wing unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) that demonstrates the leader-fixed formation- control algorithm.
Wide pulse pressure: A clinical review

Pulse pressure naturally increases over time as individuals' age due to arteriosclerosis and diffuse vascular stiffening. However, the differential for widened pulse pressure is broad and includes causes of hyperdynamic circulation and high-output heart failure, such as aortic regurgitation and hyperthyroidism. In the absence of an underlying cause, wide pulse pressure is a sign of deteriorating cardiovascular health and carries increased risk for mortality, disease progression, and adverse clinical outcomes in chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease. Current emphasis of antihypertensive treatment on systolic and diastolic blood pressure does not always address pulse pressure, thus subjecting many patients to an independent risk factor for poor outcomes. Pulse pressure control is more successfully achieved with thiazide diuretics and long-acting nitrates when compared to other antihypertensive agents, but further research is needed to quantify the additional benefits of pulse pressure control over conventional blood pressure therapy. This case review provides an overview of the pathogenesis, pathologic causes, and treatment of widened pulse pressure and evaluates current evidence for pulse pressure as a predictor of clinical outcomes.
Novel County-Level Non-Communicable Disease Risk (NCDR) Groups are Associated with Contemporary Cardiovascular Mortality Related to Heart Failure in the United States, 2016-18

Introduction Social determinants of health (SDoH) contribute in large part tohealth care disparities in numerous chronic diseases, including heart failure(HF). While marked heterogeneity in county-level HF mortality rates arewell-established based on individual SDoH components, no integratedcounty-level risk groupings that include sociodemographic, health, andenvironmental domains are available. Hypothesis Grouping counties based on sociodemographic characteristics willidentify high-risk HF areas. Methods We harmonized county-level factors across multiple sources (demographics,socioeconomic status, health, and environment) as well as contemporary age-adjustedmortality rates (AAMR) from 2016-18 for HF (CDC WONDER). We applied latentclass analysis (LCA) to identify distinct risk groups (non-communicable diseaserisk [NCDR] groups) and examined the association with HF mortality. Next, wecalculated the social vulnerability index (SVI), an alternate index of SDoHthat was developed by the Centers for Disease Control to rank counties and alsoexamine the association between SVI and HF mortality. Results Of2866 counties included (representing 95% of counties in the US), we identified3 distinct NCDR groups with significant heterogeneity in sociodemographic andhealth domains. There was wide geographic dispersion across the US of the NCDRgroups (Figure 1A), which were significantly associated with low, medium, andhigh risk of HF AAMR (p Conclusion NCDR groups and continuous SVI were both associated withcontemporary HF mortality. Classifying counties that experience a disproportionateburden may inform targeted and community-based strategies to reduce the burdenof HF in high risk counties.