cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A particle filtering approach to FM-band passive radar tracking and automatic target recognition

We present two stochastic filters for an FM-band passive air surveillance radar. The first system uses an extended Kalman filter and delay-Doppler measurements to track targets. The second system uses a particle filter to simultaneously track and classify targets. Automatic target recognition is made possible by the inclusion of radar cross section (RCS) in the measurement vector. The extended Kalman filter cannot take advantage of radar cross section measurements because there is no closed-form relationship between the state elements which determine target aspect and the resulting RCS measurement. We believe that this is the first work to propose the use of RCS for the purpose of target recognition within a passive radar system. We also present many simulation results for a challenging 2-target 3-sensor task involving trajectories which nearly coincide for a portion of their track length.
Properties of Implied Volatility and Risk-free Rate for Market Models with Risk-neutral Valuation

The paper studies option price models for diffusion market with random volatility and with pricing rules based on risk-neutral valuation. It is found that there are some properties of implied volatility that are presented for all possible risk neutral measures for the case when random historical volatility does not depend on the driving Brownian motion. Properties of the pairs consisting of implied volatility and implied risk-free interest rate are also studied.
Surface Sorted Metallic Nanotube Thin Films for Transparent Electrodes

This work shows how to absorb only MET-SWNT on surfaces, ideal for electrodes since a lower sheet resistance will result. Additionally, this work has important implications for solar cell technology that requires thin transparent electrodes..
Promoting Volunteerism: An Empirical Examination of the Appeal of Persuasive Messages

Two studies examined the persuasive appeal of messages that promote involvement in volunteer work. Four messages were created by combining two different strategies of argument (one providing reason...
Research note: Alternative media, public journalism and the pursuit of democratization

Although alternative media continue to attract little scholarly attention compared with mainstream media, the past couple of years have witnessed a proliferation of scholarly works, as evidenced by...
Seizures and Encephalopathies following Metrizamide Myelography and Cisternography

ABSTRACT.Epileptic seizures are a known complication of metrizamide myelography and cisternography. This paper is a discussion of types of seizures following the use of metrizamide, including an example of a generalized seizure following a myelogram.
Do Intellectual Property Rights Affect World Trade

This paper examines the link between intellectual property rights and world trade. To proxy for intellectual property rights, the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) is used. An augmented gravity model incorporating 178 countries and over 14 years of observations is employed to tease out the effect of TRIPS on international trade. While previous studies have looked at GATT/WTO membership and its effect on trade, little research has investigated empirically the role that TRIPS plays on international trade. Here, we find that adherence to TRIPS reduces international trade. This result holds for cases where both trade partners are members of TRIPS and for cases where only one trade partner is a member.
CIDEP and CIDNP in Radiation Chemistry. Polarization Transfer between Electron and Nuclear Spin Systems

Polarization transfer between electron and nuclear spin systems (Overhauser CIDNP) can be observed in radiolytic reactions involving the hydrated electron. Time-resolved EPR provides details of CIDEP and flow FTNMR provides information on CIDNP in pulse radiolysis.
A Faster Distributed Radio Broadcast Primitive: Extended Abstract

We present a faster distributed broadcasting primitive for the classical radio network model.The most basic distributed radio network broadcasting primitive - called Decay - dates back to a PODC'87 result of Bar-Yehuda, Goldreich, and Itai. In any radio network with some informed source nodes, running Decay for O(d log n + log2n) rounds informs all nodes at most d hops away from a source with high probability. Since 1987 this primitive has been the most important building block for implementing many other functionalities in radio networks. The only improvements to this decades-old algorithm are slight variations due to [Czumaj, Rytter; FOCS'03] and [Kowalski and Pelc, PODC'03] which achieve the same functionality in O(d log n/d} + log2n) rounds. To obtain a speedup from this, d and thus also the network diameter need to be near linear, i.e., larger than n1--e.Our new distributed primitive spreads messages for d hops in O(d log n log log log d + logO(1)n) rounds with high probability. This improves over Decay for any super-polylogarithmic d = logω(1)n and achieves near-optimal O(d log log n) running time for d = ne. This also makes progress on an open question of Peleg.
Do “creative” and “non-creative” workers exhibit similar preferences for urban amenities? An exploratory case study of Omaha, Nebraska

AbstractResearch into the locational decisions of creative class or knowledge workers has indicated that “classic” or “hard” factors, particularly employment opportunity and social connections, generally take precedence over “soft”, “quality of place” amenities such as art and cultural venues, historical assets, and tolerance/diversity. However, “soft” amenities are expected to shape where creative class/knowledge workers live within cities, and potentially whether they remain in the community long-term, or seek opportunities elsewhere. In this study, an online survey and questionnaire were employed to explore whether residents living in downtown Omaha, Nebraska with “creative” occupations exhibit stronger preferences for urban amenities relative to those with “non-creative” occupations. Generally in support of Richard Florida’s creative class thesis, the results suggest that creative workers may exhibit a stronger affinity for certain, primarily “soft,” urban amenities and characteristics, such as dining...
Systemic and Pulmonary Venous Anomalies

Assessment of systemic and pulmonary venous anatomy represents a vital part of the echocardiographic evaluation of any patient with suspected congenital heart disease (CHD). Systemic and pulmonary venous anomalies can occur as known associations with both simple and complex forms of CHD, and their presence (or absence) can have important clinical implications. Moreover, knowledge of systemic and pulmonary venous return is necessary for the accurate classification of some of the more complex forms of CHD, and for understanding the underlying physiology in such patients. Anyone performing echocardiographic evaluation of possible systemic/pulmonary venous anomalies should have a comprehensive understanding of the normal anatomy of both systems, as well as the more common abnormalities involving each system and associated hemodynamic alterations. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is well suited for evaluation of both systemic and pulmonary venous anomalies, due to the proximity of the esophagus and transducer to the sites of venous return and to the atrial chambers. This chapter presents a thorough discussion of congenital systemic and pulmonary venous anomalies and their evaluation by TEE.
Tissue engineering of acellular vascular grafts capable of somatic growth in young lambs

Treatment of congenital heart defects in children requiring right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction typically involves multiple open-heart surgeries because all existing graft materials have no growth potential. Here we present an 'off-the-shelf' vascular graft grown from donor fibroblasts in a fibrin gel to address this critical unmet need. In a proof-of-concept study, the decellularized grafts are implanted as a pulmonary artery replacement in three young lambs and evaluated to adulthood. Longitudinal ultrasounds document dimensional growth of the grafts. The lambs show normal growth, increasing body weight by 366% and graft diameter and volume by 56% and 216%, respectively. Explanted grafts display physiological strength and stiffness, complete lumen endothelialization and extensive population by mature smooth muscle cells. The grafts also show substantial elastin deposition and a 465% increase in collagen content, without signs of calcification, aneurysm or stenosis. Collectively, our data support somatic growth of this completely biological graft.
A Bayesian procedure for evaluating the frequency of calibration factor updates in highway safety manual (HSM) applications.

Abstract The Highway Safety Manual (HSM) presents statistical models to quantitatively estimate an agency’s safety performance. The models were developed using data from only a few U.S. states. To account for the effects of the local attributes and temporal factors on crash occurrence, agencies are required to calibrate the HSM-default models for crash predictions. The manual suggests updating calibration factors every two to three years, or preferably on an annual basis. Given that the calibration process involves substantial time, effort, and resources, a comprehensive analysis of the required calibration factor update frequency is valuable to the agencies. Accordingly, the objective of this study is to evaluate the HSM’s recommendation and determine the required frequency of calibration factor updates. A robust Bayesian estimation procedure is used to assess the variation between calibration factors computed annually, biennially, and triennially using data collected from over 2400 miles of segments and over 700 intersections on urban and suburban facilities in Florida. Bayesian model yields a posterior distribution of the model parameters that give credible information to infer whether the difference between calibration factors computed at specified intervals is credibly different from the null value which represents unaltered calibration factors between the comparison years or in other words, zero difference. The concept of the null value is extended to include the range of values that are practically equivalent to zero. Bayesian inference shows that calibration factors based on total crash frequency are required to be updated every two years in cases where the variations between calibration factors are not greater than 0.01. When the variations are between 0.01 and 0.05, calibration factors based on total crash frequency could be updated every three years.
Function Allocation Strategies for the Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM) System, and Their Impact on Skills and Training Requirements for UTM Operators

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to discuss a cognitive task analysis related to the task of the UTM manager with the goal of determining display requirements for that role. UTM is a project founded at NASA Ames which seeks to integrate and manage small UAS operations in the NAS. Specifically, the NASA UTM project goals are to enable safe and efficient low altitude UTM operations with as much autonomy as possible, reducing the need for human oversight. In this paper, we also consider the types of operations that the manager would perform and the training needed to facilitate the acquisition of the UTM manager’s knowledge, skills, and responsibilities.
Pharmacology of Geriatric Substance Use Disorders: Considerations and Future Directions

The aging of the baby boomer generation, with its relatively high rates of substance use disorders, will necessitate a broader understanding of the treatment of geriatric addiction and will require greater availability of evidenced-based pharmacological treatment options. The appropriateness of various treatments depends on the unique needs of this population. Limitations of treatment of substance use disorders in older adults are often attributable to dysfunctions in metabolism, as well as increased risk of adverse effects of certain drugs in the geriatric population. There has been some established success in treating substance use disorders in geriatric populations using currently available pharmacological treatments, however. Considering the available evidence-based treatments for substance use disorders in younger adults and adhering to the classic geriatric dictum of “start low, go slow, and monitor carefully” may serve as useful starting points in treating older adults in the absence of an abundance of high-quality clinical trials to guide evidence-based treatments in this population.
Low-Cost 3-D Flow Estimation of Blood With Clutter

Volumetric flow rate estimation is an important ultrasound medical imaging modality that is used for diagnosing cardiovascular diseases. Flow rates are obtained by integrating velocity estimates over a cross-sectional plane. Speckle tracking is a promising approach that overcomes the angle dependency of traditional Doppler methods, but suffers from poor lateral resolution. Recent work improves lateral velocity estimation accuracy by reconstructing a synthetic lateral phase (SLP) signal. However, the estimation accuracy of such approaches is compromised by the presence of clutter. Eigen-based clutter filtering has been shown to be effective in removing the clutter signal; but it is computationally expensive, precluding its use at high volume rates. In this paper, we propose low-complexity schemes for both velocity estimation and clutter filtering. We use a two-tiered motion estimation scheme to combine the low complexity sum-of-absolute-difference and SLP methods to achieve subpixel lateral accuracy. We reduce the complexity of eigen-based clutter filtering by processing in subgroups and replacing singular value decomposition with less compute-intensive power iteration and subspace iteration methods. Finally, to improve flow rate estimation accuracy, we use kernel power weighting when integrating the velocity estimates. We evaluate our method for fast- and slow-moving clutter for beam-to-flow angles of 90° and 60° using Field II simulations, demonstrating high estimation accuracy across scenarios. For instance, for a beam-to-flow angle of 90° and fast-moving clutter, our estimation method provides a bias of −8.8% and standard deviation of 3.1% relative to the actual flow rate.
Thinking with trans: reply to my critics

I am grateful for this opportunity to engage a rich and challenging set of comments. A few commonalities and overlaps notwithstanding, each comment addresses distinct issues, so I will respond to e...
Mary Lincoln: Southern Girl, Northern Woman. By Stacy Pratt McDermott. (New York, NY: Routledge, 2015. Pp. 192. $34.95.) : Book Review

Mary Lincoln once said she wished she could forget herself, yet both her self‐absorption and remarkable life have ensured that future generations would not overlook her. Still the most controversia...
Abstract 2798: Identification of gamma secretase inhibitor (GSI)-responsive GBM patients: Involvement of NOTCH, p53, and PI3K/MAPK signaling

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and lethal primary intracranial tumor. The recent standard-of-care treatment consisting of surgery, followed by radiotherapy and temozolomide, just prolongs the median survival period of GBM patients to 14.6 months. What impedes the survival is due to the extensive heterogeneity among GBM patients at both the cellular and the molecular levels. In our study, we focused on the precision medicine strategy targeting NOTCH signaling. According to recent Phase I/II clinical trial results, only a few GBM patients showed satisfactory response to GSIs. However, little is known regarding how to distinguish GSI-responsive patients. Here, we illustrated that it required (1) high NOTCH activity, (2) wild-type p53 and elevated P53 activity, (3) increased MAPK activity, and (4) decreased PI3K/AKT activity for GBM to respond to GSIs. In our study, we tested a series of patient-derived primary glioma stem cells (GSCs) to two GSIs (RO4929097 and BMS-708163). GSI-sensitive lines were identified and GSI compounds impaired cell viability and sphere formation ability in these cell lines. GSIs also induced cell death of the sensitive GSCs. To find out the signature of the GSI-sensitive GSCs, we did enrichment and correlation analyses against RNA sequencing, RPPA, and methylation data of the GSI-sensitive and resistant GBM lines. We found that GSI-sensitive GSCs harbored significantly elevated Notch activity (high NOTCH1 and NICD1 expression, and low Notch1 methylation). Interestingly, GSI-responsive cells also possessed increased P53 activity (increased expression of P53 targets-P21, BAX and TIGAR), high wild-type p53 frequencies, increased MAPK activity (elevated p-Erk1/2-Thr202/Tyr204 expression), and decreased PI3K/AKT activity (high PTEN expression and low p-AKT-Thr308, RAPTOR, p-4E-BP1-Ser65 expression) (P Citation Format: Chen Zhang, Martinez-Ledesma Juan, Jie Ding, Feng Gao, Shaofang Wu, Xiaolong Li, Erik Philip Sulman, Dimpy Koul, WK Alfred Yung. Identification of gamma secretase inhibitor (GSI)-responsive GBM patients: Involvement of NOTCH, p53, and PI3K/MAPK signaling [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2798. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-2798
Dynamics of Gut-Brain Communication Underlying Hunger

Communication between the gut and brain is critical for homeostasis, but how this communication is represented in the dynamics of feeding circuits is unknown. Here we describe nutritional regulation of key neurons that control hunger in vivo. We show that intragastric nutrient infusion rapidly and durably inhibits hunger-promoting AgRP neurons in awake, behaving mice. This inhibition is proportional to the number of calories infused but surprisingly independent of macronutrient identity or nutritional state. We show that three gastrointestinal signals-serotonin, CCK, and PYY-are necessary or sufficient for these effects. In contrast, the hormone leptin has no acute effect on dynamics of these circuits or their sensory regulation but instead induces a slow modulation that develops over hours and is required for inhibition of feeding. These findings reveal how layers of visceral signals operating on distinct timescales converge on hypothalamic feeding circuits to generate a central representation of energy balance.
Steam Oxidation Behavior of FeCrAl Cladding

In order to better understand the high temperature steam oxidation behavior of FeCrAl alloys, this study addressed two topics. The first is continuing to evaluate the effect of alloy composition on performance of commercial and laboratory-made candidate FeCrAl alloys. For a few optimized compositions, this includes the performance of commercially-made tubing where it is clear that dropping the Cr content from 20% to 10–13% reduces the maximum operating temperature in steam by ~50 °C. The second addresses more realistic accident conditions. Model FeCrAl compositions that were exposed in ~300 °C water for 1 year were subsequently “ramp” tested in steam at 5 °C/min to 1500 °C to assess the effect of the Fe-rich oxide formed in water on the subsequent steam oxidation resistance. For Fe-18Cr-3Al+Y, the 1 year exposures in three different LWR water chemistries did not affect the ability to form alumina to 1500 °C. However, for marginal alloys Fe-13Cr-4Al and Fe-10Cr-5Al, some specimens began forming voluminous Fe-rich oxide at lower temperatures.
Analysis, Assessment, and Evaluation of Postural Instability for Bipedal Locomotion

Postural instability or poor balance is primarily attributed to the shifting of the center of mass (COM) during static postural instability motions such as sitting up, bending down, or leaning from an upright position. Recent studies have been conducted on the associated roles of hip and ankle torque movements during these static postural instability motions. However, many of these studies have not addressed a direct correlation between the hip and ankle torque movements, especially during dynamic postural instability motions such as running or walking. Thus, it is the intent of this paper to discuss hip and ankle torque movements for a specific dynamic experimental motion and its role in postural stability. The dynamic motion used for this study is a steady paced treadmill walk with a twenty percent increase and decrease in treadmill speed to assess the subject’s control response to dynamic postural instability. In this study, five male and five female able-bodied subjects with similar body mass indices were used from a gait-knowledge data-base to determine if there is a direct relationship between the hip and ankle joint torque movements during the dynamic postural instability motion. The resulting relationship is then correlated and compared with a prerecorded non-postural stability trial for each subject to analyze any dynamic postural instability. This work is also relevant to the development of a lower body three-dimensional model for analyzing the contributions of somatosensory, vestibular, and visual systems for postural stabilization for aerospace applications.
Testicular Architecture Is Critical for Mediation of Retinoic Acid Responsiveness by Undifferentiated Spermatogonial Subtypes in the Mouse

Spermatogenesis requires retinoic acid (RA) induction of the undifferentiated to differentiating transition in transit amplifying (TA) progenitor spermatogonia, whereas continuity of the spermatogenic lineage relies on the RA response being suppressed in spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). Here, we discovered that, in mouse testes, both spermatogonial populations possess intrinsic RA-response machinery and exhibit hallmarks of the differentiating transition following direct exposure to RA, including loss of SSC regenerative capacity. We determined that SSCs are only resistant to RA-driven differentiation when situated in the normal topological organization of the testis. Furthermore, we show that the soma is instrumental in "priming" TA progenitors for RA-induced differentiation through elevated RA receptor expression. Collectively, these findings indicate that SSCs and TA progenitor spermatogonia inhabit disparate niche microenvironments within seminiferous tubules that are critical for mediating extrinsic cues that drive fate decisions.
Polymer Surface Analysis: Conclusions and Expectations

We have now examined twelve chapters and a wide variety of methods and techniques for probing polymer surfaces and their interfaces in various environments.
MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF ENERGETIC POLYMERIC MATERIALS

ABSTRACT Understanding the mechanical behavior of energetic materials under the strain rate, temperature, and dormant storage environments of military applications is necessary for predicting their performance and safety tolerances and their useful life. This work focuses on the mechanical integrity of nitrocellulose base gun propellants and the correlation of brittleness with abnormal energetic performance. Compressive mechanical properties at a strain rate of 1000 percent-of-length per second as a function of temperatures descending to −60°C, and the failure appearances of the tested samples, are used to identify ductile-brittle transition temperatures and relate to propellant functioning. Preliminary data of mechanical property changes with time indicate that embrittlement takes place in these materials with age, shifting the ductile-brittle transition to higher temperatures or less severe loading conditions; glass transition temperatures, determined using thermo-mechanical and calorimetric methods, are suggested as promising materials parameters for indexing such time dependent changes.
Micromechanics Analysis of Composite Materials

Micromechanics is a discipline that treats the mechanics of heterogeneous matrerials with definitive microstructures. When applied to fibrous composites, the common approach is to pass the physical material to an abstractive one; based on which analytical models are then formulated, capable of describing the mechanics of the material under external load. In this context, a “forward approach” and a “backward approach” exist. The former simplifies or homogenizes the microstructure of the composite, while the latter attempts to restore a part or the whole of the microstructure back into the abstracted composite. This paper of five (5) connecting parts discusses the limitations in the foreward approach, and the needs and challenges in the backward approach.
Combining Utility Measurements

The use of utility values in cost-effectiveness analysis is an accepted method for defining outcomes. Increasingly, cost-effectiveness analyses examine outcomes that involve two or more health states. There is no accepted method of mathematically combining single health state utility values into a surrogate value that represents the combined health state. To test the effect of different mathematical approaches to combining single health state utility values into a surrogate value on the cost-effectiveness ratio, in a sample model. We employed a realistic decision analysis model to test the cost-effectiveness of screening for postpartum thyroiditis. Utility values for type 1 diabetes mellitus and thyroiditis were taken from the literature and combined using different methods. The surrogate utility values obtained using the multiplicative method were higher than those obtained with the additive method (for example, the state of both type 1 diabetes mellitus and treated thyroiditis had a value of 0.75 for the multiplicative method versus 0.73 for the additive method). The resulting cost-effectiveness ratios for the screening strategy were slightly higher, $US16 000 (1998 values) per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY), for the multiplicative method when compared to the additive method ($US14 000 per QALY). This small difference was consistently maintained during sensitivity analyses. All methods of combining utilities resulted in similar values. Until a consensus is reached on the method of choice, researchers should consider using both methods in sensitivity analyses and reporting both sets of results.
Intentional Wrongdoer's Indemnification of One Who Negligently Failed to Prevent the Wrong

Section 24 of the proposed new Restatement (Third) Of Torts provides for joint and several liability when a tortfeasor is liable for negligently failing to protect a plaintiff from the specific risk of an intentional tort, even in a jurisdiction that has otherwise abandoned joint and several liability. In this essay, Professor Edward Cooper argues that a negligent tortfeasor should have a right to indemnification, not mere contribution, from an intentional tortfeasor when the only negligence was failure to protect the victim against the intentional tortfeasor's act. The intentional tortfeasor who pays more than the allocated share of responsibility should not have a right of contribution against the one who negligently failed to prevent his wrong. In a companion essay also found on www.LegalEssays.com, Professor William Powers replies to Professor Cooper's essay.
Effects of Acid Deposition Upon Outputs from Terrestrial to Aquatic Ecosystems

Linkages among ecosystems are receiving much attention currently (Likens and Bormann,1; Hasler,2) and are especially important for aquatic ecosystems, which serve as receptors for the diverse outputs of terrestrial ecosystems and are strongly affected by them. The influence of acid precipitation upon terrestrial outputs may be direct, where elements deposited from the atmosphere to the land pass over or through the soil to streams and lakes; or it may be indirect, where elements added in precipitation accelerate or retard the processes of soil weathering, leaching and organic decomposition.
Sleep, stress, or social support?: Exploring the mechanisms that explain the relationship between student recreation center use and well-being.

Objective: The current study explores the role of health-related mechanisms (i.e. sleep, social support, and stress) in accounting for the impact of student recreation center (SRC) use on college-s...
Evaluating Tele-ICU Implementation Based on Observed and Predicted ICU Mortality: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVES Past studies have examined numerous components of tele-ICU care to decipher which elements increase patient and institutional benefit. These factors include review of the patient chart within 1 hour, frequent collaborative data reviews, mechanisms for rapid laboratory/alert review, and interdisciplinary rounds. Previous meta-analyses have found an overall ICU mortality benefit implementing tele-ICU, however, subgroup analyses found few differences. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to explore the effect of tele-ICU implementation with regard to ICU mortality and explore subgroup differences via observed and predicted mortality. DATA SOURCES We searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and European Society of Intensive Care Medicine for articles related to tele-ICU from inception to September 18, 2018. STUDY SELECTION We included all trials meeting inclusion criteria which looked at the effect of tele-ICU implementation on ICU mortality. DATA EXTRACTION We abstracted study characteristics, patient characteristics, severity of illness scores, and ICU mortality rates. DATA SYNTHESIS We included 13 studies from 2,766 abstracts identified from our search strategy. The before-after tele-ICU implementation pooled odds ratio for overall ICU mortality was 0.75 (95% CI, 0.65-0.88; p < 0.001). In subgroup analysis, the pooled odds ratio for ICU mortality between the greater than 1 versus less than 1 observed to predicted mortality ratios was 0.64 (95% CI, 0.52-0.77; p < 0.001) and 0.98 (95% CI, 0.81-1.18; p = 0.81), respectively. Test for interaction was significant (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS After evaluating all included studies, tele-ICU implementation was associated with an overall reduction in ICU mortality. Subgroup analysis suggests that publications exhibiting observed to predicted ICU mortality ratios of greater than 1 before tele-ICU implementation was associated with a reduction in ICU mortality after tele-ICU implementation. No significant ICU mortality reduction was noted in the subgroup of observed to predicted ICU mortality ratio less than 1 before tele-ICU implementation. Future studies should confirm this finding using patient-level data.
ElectroDermis: Fully Untethered, Stretchable, and Highly-Customizable Electronic Bandages

Wearables have emerged as an increasingly promising interactive platform, imbuing the human body with always-available computational capabilities. This unlocks a wide range of applications, including discreet information access, health monitoring, fitness, and fashion. However, unlike previous platforms, wearable electronics require structural conformity, must be comfortable for the wearer, and should be soft, elastic, and aesthetically appealing. We envision a future where electronics can be temporarily attached to the body (like bandages or party masks), but in functional and aesthetically pleasing ways. Towards this vision, we introduce ElectroDermis, a fabrication approach that simplifies the creation of highly-functional and stretchable wearable electronics that are conformal and fully untethered by discretizing rigid circuit boards into individual components. These individual components are wired together using stretchable electrical wiring and assembled on a spandex blend fabric, to provide high functionality in a robust form-factor that is reusable. We describe our system in detail- including our fabrication parameters and its operational limits-which we hope researchers and practitioners can leverage. We describe a series of example applications that illustrate the feasibility and utility of our system. Overall, we believe ElectroDermis offers a complementary approach to wearable electronics-one that places value on the notion of impermanence (i.e., unlike tattoos and implants), better conforming to the dynamic nature of the human body.
Artificial reefs facilitate tropical fish at their range edge.

Spatial planning increasingly incorporates theoretical predictions that artificial habitats assist species movement at or beyond range edges, yet evidence for this is uncommon. We conducted surveys of highly mobile fauna (fishes) on artificial habitats (reefs) on the southeastern USA continental shelf to test whether, in comparison to natural reefs, artificial reefs enhance local abundance and biomass of fishes at their poleward range margins. Here, we show that while temperate fishes were more abundant on natural reefs, tropical, and subtropical fishes exhibited higher abundances and biomasses on deep (25–35 m) artificial reefs. Further analyses reveal that this effect depended on feeding guilds because planktivorous and piscivorous but not herbivorous fishes were more abundant on artificial reefs. This is potentially due to heightened prey availability on and structural complexity of artificial reefs. Our findings demonstrate that artificial habitats can facilitate highly mobile species at range edges and suggest these habitats assist poleward species movement. Avery Paxton et al. test the effects of artificial reefs on abundance and biomass of fish on the southeastern coast of the USA. They report that deep artificial reefs are associated with high numbers and biomasses of tropical and subtropical fishes, likely caused by an increase in prey availability on artificial reefs.
Comorbidity and the Need for Interdisciplinary Treatments

Individuals with ASD evince high rates of comorbid or co-occurring disorders. Common comorbidities include neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., intellectual disability, ADHD), medical concerns (e.g., seizures, gastrointestinal problems, allergies, asthma), behavioral problems (e.g., aggression, self-harm), and psychopathology (e.g., depression, anxiety). Additionally, some medical concerns may obscure ASD symptoms and delay diagnosis. ASD is a heterogeneous and complex disorder that requires individualized treatment, and the identification of comorbid disorders can help to inform intervention decisions. Integrating treatments to address all potential areas related to impairment has the potential to optimize outcomes for these individuals, so professionals are encouraged to consider potential comorbidities in both assessment and treatment.
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Applications to Agriculture

Abstract Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) applications in production agriculture include applications in soil and water, plant emergence, and plant growth and development. UAS imagery is also useful for livestock management. The high spatial, temporal, and spectral resolution of results in large quantities of data requiring significant computing power to process the data. Basic knowledge of remotes sensing is essential to make use of UAS imagery. Selecting UAS equipment includes acquiring knowledge of both unmanned aerial vehicles and cameras.
Charting Access and Inclusion in Future Cities

How can access and inclusion become an integral part of the cities of the future? Initiatives such as Smart Dubai hold the answers to making infrastructure investments that deliver economic and social advantage to all of a city’s people. This chapter looks at the concept of the “Smart City,” namely cities that use decision making, planning, and infrastructure to achieve vastly improved connectivity, efficiency, and access to city services. However, the Smart City also needs to be an accessible city. The Dubai Disability Strategy created a framework for shared governance and measurable progress toward ensuring that Dubai would become an inclusive, rights-based, barrier-free city for people with disabilities. By integrating accessibility standards into the procurement process and standardizing national platforms in line with global access requirements, the government of Dubai can leverage technology to bridge the divide between people with disabilities and those without. The success of the Dubai Strategic Plan and the Dubai Disability Strategy have created a blueprint for inclusive public policy and spurred new initiatives at the federal level. Dubai’s local law and strategy is reforming federal institutions. The scaling up of local practices promises to be a catalyst for an even greater commitment to building accessible and inclusive cities across the region.
The metaphysics of coarticulation

Abstract: The categorization and identification of data cannot proceed on the basis of “objective” theory-free observation, but must rely on criteria derived from methodological and metaphysical presuppositions. In the study of linguistic expression, we presuppose the existence of corpuscular entities such as segments. Furthermore we assume the existence of higher-level canonical types in terms of which we can identify lower-level tokens. Both the segment and the canonical type (“phoneme”) are mentalistic phonological concepts, but without them there would be no way of dealing with physiological phonetic events. Phonetics is thus dependent on phonology. The concept of coarticulation clearly illustrates this dependence. What is more, it would appear that the process yielding coarticulated allophones is not phonetic-physiological in nature, but rather a phonological assimilation process, which does not differ from other kinds of phonological processes in any essential aspects.
Measuring Benefits from New Products in Markets with Information Frictions

I study how much consumers benefit from new products in markets with information frictions. I analyze new products in the U.S. hard drive market, a textbook example of a market with ample product innovation. Using unique click-stream data, I measure the magnitude of two frictions – limited consideration and costly search – and show that both play a crucial role in shaping consumer demand in this market. Omitting these frictions from the analysis leads researchers to underestimate the consumer surplus from new hard drives, as it appears that consumers do not value the combinations of attributes these hard drives offer. Partly eliminating frictions from this market, either through firms' marketing efforts or market-wide transparency initiatives, can substantially enhance consumers' ability to benefit from newly introduced hard drives.
Systematic review and meta-analysis: effects of maternal separation on anxiety-like behavior in rodents.

The mechanisms by which childhood maltreatment increases anxiety is unclear, but a propensity for increased defensive behavior in rodent models of early life stress (ELS) suggests that work in rodents may clarify important mechanistic details about this association. A key challenge in studying the effects of ELS on defensive behavior in rodents is the plethora of inconsistent results. This is particularly prominent with the maternal separation (MS) literature, one of the most commonly used ELS models in rodents. To address this issue we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis, examining the effects of MS on exploratory-defensive behavior in mice and rats using the open field test (OFT) and the elevated plus maze (EPM). This search yielded a total of 49 studies, 24 assessing the effect of MS on behavior in the EPM, 11 tested behavior in the OFT, and 14 studies provided data on both tasks. MS was associated with increased defensive behavior in rats (EPM: Hedge’s g = −0.48, p = 0.02; OFT: Hedge’s g = −0.33, p = 0.05), effect sizes that are consistent with the anxiogenic effect of early adversity reported in humans. In contrast, MS did not alter exploratory behavior in mice (EPM: Hedge’s g = −0.04, p = 0.75; OFT: Hedge’s g = −0.03, p = 0.8). There was a considerable amount of heterogeneity between studies likely related to the lack of standardization of the MS protocol. Together, these findings suggest important differences in the ability of MS to alter circuits that regulate defensive behaviors in mice and rats.
Algorithmic adaptation and generalization of physically-constrained games

Abstract In this paper we introduce a novel strategy for generalizing existing puzzles and games by mathematically expressing the operations of the game; then deriving mathematical generalizations of those expressions; and finally implementing a new variant of the game using those generalized operations. The strategy is illustrated in a case study involving the adapting of a traditional game/puzzle to exploit the computational power of smart devices. The focus here is not so much on the end product as it is on the process and considerations underpinning its development by use of the proposed approach. Ancillary results of the venture include generalizations of the circular-shift operator and examination of its computational complexity.
The Importance of Baseline Word Reading Skills in Examining Student Response to a Multicomponent Reading Intervention.

To address the needs of a diverse group of students with reading difficulties, a majority of researchers over the last decade have designed and implemented multicomponent reading interventions (MCR...
916-P: Early CGM Initiation with Remote Monitoring Improves A1C in Youth with T1D

Previous studies have shown that CGM use and frequent contact with the care team is associated with improved A1c. We hypothesized that youth with new onset T1D started on CGM with weekly CGM data review by a CDE would have improved outcomes compared to those on CGM alone. Youth with newly diagnosed T1D from 7/2018 to 3/2019 were started on CGM alone (control, n=46) while those from 3/2019 to 5/2020 were started on CGM with weekly data review by a CDE (GluVue, n=76). Dose adjustments were made via secure messaging. We visualized A1c trajectories using locally estimated scatter plot smoothing (Fig) and assessed for differences in A1c trajectory by GluVue status via cohort*time and cohort*time2 interaction terms in a linear mixed model regression adjusted for baseline characteristics (age, sex, race and insurance type). The mean (SD) A1c at diagnosis was 12.0% (1.8) in the control group and 12.3% (2.3) in the GluVue group. Baseline characteristics of control vs. GluVue: male 25% vs. 39%, Non-Hispanic White 41.3% vs. 35.5%, private insurance 80.4% vs. 73.7%. Mean A1c of the GluVue cohort was lower at 6 months (-0.45%), 9 months (-0.07%), and 12 months (-0.52%) post-diagnosis. A1c trajectories were significantly different between groups via regression analysis (p=0.004). Early initiation of CGM with remote monitoring was associated with lower A1c compared to CGM alone. These data support early CGM initiation plus care team contact in youth with T1D. Disclosure P. Prahalad: None. K. K. Hood: Consultant; Self; Cecelia Health, Cercacor, LifeScan Diabetes Institute. D. Scheinker: Advisory Panel; Self; Carta Healthcare. M. Desai: None. D. M. Maahs: Advisory Panel; Self; Abbott Diabetes, Dompe, Eli Lilly and Company, Medtronic, Novo Nordisk, Consultant; Self; aditxt. V. Ding: None. B. Leverenz: None. J. Hooper: None. J. Leverenz: None. P. Sagan: None. A. Martinez-singh: None. A. Freeman: None. D. P. Zaharieva: None. Funding National Institutes of Health (P30DK116074, R18DK122422)
Generalized polynomial chaos-informed efficient stochastic Kriging

Abstract Stochastic kriging (SK) offers an explicit way to characterize heterogeneous noise variance in stochastic computer simulations and has gained considerable traction recently as a surrogate model. Nevertheless, SK relies on tedious Monte Carlo (MC) method to estimate the intrinsic variance at each design input. For computationally expensive simulations, the substantial replication effort has essentially rendered SK intractable. To this end, we develop generalized polynomial chaos (gPC)-informed efficient stochastic kriging (gPC-SK) to ameliorate the computational cost. At its core, gPC supplants the tedious repetitive MC simulations, instead resting on a much smaller set of sampling points to estimate the intrinsic uncertainty, thus applicable to those prohibitively expensive simulations. We present the gPC-SK in sequential optimal design on the borehole function and stability of time-delay dynamic systems.
An Update on Pediatric Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP): Differentiating Primary ITP, IPD, and PID.

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is the most common acquired thrombocytopenia in children and is caused by both immune-mediated decreased platelet production and increased platelet destruction. In the absence of a diagnostic test, ITP must be differentiated from other thrombocytopenic disorders, including inherited platelet disorders (IPD). In addition, a diagnosis of secondary ITP due to a primary immune deficiency (PID) with immune dysregulation may not be apparent at diagnosis but can alter management and should be considered in an expanding number of clinical scenarios. The diagnostic evaluation of children with thrombocytopenia will vary based on the clinical history and laboratory features. Access to genotyping has broadened the ability to specify the etiology of thrombocytopenia, while increasing access to immunophenotyping, functional immunologic and platelet assays, and biochemical markers has allowed for more in-depth evaluation of patients. With this greater availability of testing, diagnostic algorithms in patients with thrombocytopenia have become complex. In this article, we highlight the diagnostic evaluation of thrombocytopenia in children with a focus on ITP, including consideration of underlying genetic and immune disorders, and utilize hypothetical patient cases to describe disease manifestations and strategies for treatment of pediatric ITP.
INCIDENCE OF HIGH GRADE QTCF PROLONGATION AND ITS MANAGEMENT AMONG PATIENTS UNDERGOING TREATMENT FOR DRUG RESISTANT TUBERCULOSIS (DR-TB): CASE SERIES.

Background The World Health Organization (WHO) has approved the use of two new drugs, namely Bedaquiline (Bdq) and Delamanid (Dlm), for treatment of Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (DR-TB). One of the concerns raised with the use of these drugs was QT-interval prolongation. This condition could be serious and life threatening. Hence, knowing the magnitude and its management is very important. This case series identifies the incidence and discusses the management of clinically significant QT-interval prolongation amongst a cohort of patients who have been on these medicines. Materials and Methods Patients with reports of high grade QT-Interval prolongation (i.e. Grade-3 and Grade-4) were identified from the cohort of 265 patients enrolled on bedaquiline and/or delamanid and discussion is made on the pattern, severity and management of each cases identified. Results Only 4 (1.5%) out of all 265 patients enrolled on Bedaquiline and/or Delamanid have developed high grade QT-Interval prolongation. And all are managed without permanent discontinuation of both drugs. Conclusion The Incidence of clinically significant QTcF-interval prolongation among DR-TB patients taking bedaquiline and /or delamanid in Lesotho is low. And almost all cases can be managed with more frequent Electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring and management of other possible causes of QT-interval prolongation without the need to stop one or both drugs permanently.