cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Women in the forest

Whereas initially theoretical considerations lead me to believe gender would be insignificant during the Holocaust, empirical evidence about illegal life in the Belorussian forest points to significant gender differences which were particularly pronounced for Jewish women. This study examines the fate of Jewish women in the forests in different partisan groups and how it differed from that of other illegal forest dwellers. The findings calls for an examination of the effects of gender during the Holocaust. Other suggestions are provided as to the meanings and implications of these differences
Photon-density modes beyond the diffusion approximation: scalar wave-diffusion equation

Various modifications of the diffusion model designed to describe photon migration in scattering and absorbing media are analyzed and compared in the nondiffusion region. A more accurate modified diffusion equation that has a broader region of applicability is introduced. The radiative-transfer equation is solved numerically to assess the validity range of different models tested and to select the best one.
Chapter Four: The Aspect Hypothesis

Ce travail constitue le quatrieme chapitre d'un ouvrage general portant sur l'expression de la temporalite au cours de l'acquisition d'une langue seconde. Cette etude generale prend en compte toutes les possibilites mises en oeuvre par la langue pour referer au temps. Tout comme que le chapitre precedent, celui-ci s'inscrit dans le cadre des approches orientees vers la forme (les chapitres 1 et 2 s'appuyent sur des approches orientees vers le sens). L'A. examine ici les etudes visant a tester les hypotheses formulees a l'egard de l'acquisition du systeme aspecto-temporel. Il expose ainsi toute la litterature translinguistique qui traite de l'hypothese aspectuelle - hypothese selon laquelle l'aspect lexical influence la distribution de la morphologie verbale du passe - et presente certaines etudes portant sur l'anglais langue seconde. Les modeles de recherche et le type d'analyses menees dans ce cadre sont passes au crible afin de montrer l'effet que peuvent avoir les analyses quantitatives sur l'interpretation des resultats. Ainsi, au contraire des chapitres precedents, celui-ci n'a pas un objectif descriptif mais vise la critique theorique et experimentale dans le cadre des recherches menees sur l'acquisition de la temporalite en langue seconde
The Art of Weaving Emotional Truths

T Taiti Cherie, a movie made by the Italian filmmaker, Claudio Del A X Punta, portrays the travails of a Haitian couple?the beautiful youth, Magdeleine, and the gruff, hard-working, Jean-Baptiste?who live on a privately-leased sugar estate in the Dominican Republic. The film follows the couple's efforts to escape the desperate conditions of the bateyes (sugar company compounds, pronounced "bah-TAY-yess"), in the company of a teenage Haitian neighbor, Pierre. Filmed with a Haitian and Dominican cast, on site in the province of Barahona in the Domini can Republic, Haiti Cherie is plainly political art, a fiction that seeks to portray injustice accurately. Noting that human rights organizations have likened the plight of the cane cutters to slave labor, the film's promo tional literature observes, "It is the director's hope that by drawing public attention to ... serious human rights abuses, more effective pressure can be applied to the Dominican Republic and the plantation companies to end this exploitation." Though visually compelling and poignantly acted, this film falls short when held to the higher standard of excellence that I think should apply to political art: anachronisms and cultural missteps jump to this viewer's eye. (My assessment, it bears adding, is informed by my close familiarity with the plight of the Haitian braceros?migrant sugarcane workers?developed through repeated stints of field research over the past 25 years as well as from my having consulted closely in more recent years with Haitian-Dominican rights advocates and community organizing professionals.) The film's inaccuracies are all the more regret table considering the high levels of artistic talent and imaginativeness that the filmmakers pair with evident concern for the braceros. Certain of the filmmakers' production choices make it clear that they place a high premium on accurate portrayal of the batey milieu, even if it means making it marginally more challenging for non-Haitian audiences to establish emotional engagement. Of the film's four main protagonists, for example, three speak their parts mainly in Haitian Creole; Spanish is the only other language spoken. The vast majority of viewers among interna
Frequency of cardiac contusion in nonpenetrating chest injury

Seventy-five patients with nonpenetrating chest injuries were evaluated with electrocardiography, cardiac enzyme determination, 2-dimensional echocardiography and radionuclide ventriculography to document the incidence of cardiac abnormalities. Although the electrocardiograms showed ST-T wave changes in 25 patients (33%), sensitivity (47%) and specificity (79%) for echocardiographic and radionuclide abnormalities were poor. Cardiac enzymes were abnormal in 10 patients (13%), sensitivity for echocardiographic or radionuclide abnormalities, or both, was 29% and specificity 90%. Wall motion abnormalities were detected in 11 patients (18%) by radionuclide studies and in 3 patients (6%) by echocardiography. A pericardial effusion was present in 5 patients (10%). Two patients (4%) died of noncardiac causes; neither had wall motion abnormalities. This study documents the favorable outcome of patients with blunt chest injuries and does not suggest that echocardiography or radionuclide studies should be performed routinely on such patients.
Post-Earthquake Damage Detection in Instrumented Buildings Using Identified Dissipated Energy

The paper proposes an energy based damage function to estimate earthquake induced structural damage in building-type structures. The proposed damage function depends on the ratio of the dissipated energy by means of hysteresis and the total dissipated energy. The main contribution of the paper consists in presenting a method to estimate both quantities from measured vibration response. The proposed damage function has been correlated to existing design-based damage functions for which levels of structural damage have been calibrated in a laboratory setting. We show by means of simulations with 450 real ground motions that there exists a good correlation between the proposed method and mechanistic damage indices.
Hydroacoustic Detection of Submarine Landslides on Kilauea Volcano

Landslides produced at the site where lava flows intothe o cean at Kilauea vo lcanohave been detected hy- droacoustically. Up to 10 landslides per day were detected by a hydrophone on the Hawaii Undersea Geo-Observatory (HUGO), located 50 km south of the entry site. The largest of these landslides, partly subaerial events known as bench collapses, were detected by a network of hydrophones in the eastern Pacific, 5000-7000 km away from the source. The landslides display a characteristic spectral signature eas- ily recognizable among other signals such as earthquake T- phases and anthropogenic noises. The fact that signals are detected at great distances suggests that hydroacoustic de- tection of landslides could be a powerful tool in tsunami monitoring and modeling efforts.
A framework for facilitating adaptation to organizational transition

Purpose – Transitions – including mergers, acquisitions, downsizings, and restructurings – are used by organizational leaders to accelerate the achievement of strategic objectives. However, the manner in which most transitions are implemented runs counter to research findings on the process of effective change management and, in particular, disregards the natural process of human adaptation. As a result, mismanaged transitions tend to have negative consequences for organizations and their members. Ironically, the characteristic of transitions that prompts individual and organizational strife – the capacity to disrupt the status quo – also enables an opportunity for individual and organizational renewal. For that to occur, however, members must make progress through the natural process of adaptation. This paper aims to propose a framework for facilitating adaptation to organizational transition, to both overcome the undesirable consequences of transitions and to accelerate achievement of the transition's s...
Using Simulation to Develop and Validate Analytic Models: Some Case Studies

Simulation models are generally costly tools to use in systems analyses. Whenever applicable, a simple analytic model is preferable. However, in many cases the conditions assumed by solvable analytic models do not hold in the real world; hence an analyst would hesitate to use them. A simulation can be used to suggest an appropriate approximate model and to determine how good an approximation a given analytic model is. We show how simulations of New York City's fire and police operations have been used to develop and validate simple analytic models that are now being used to analyze the deployment of resources in these two services.
Fundraising and Values: When Do You Say "No" to Money.

Larimor University entered a relationship with a donor during a time of continuous leadership changes. The case study had many issues: questionable ethics in fundraising and donor relations, leadership failing to uphold the values by which the institution was founded, leadership transition and succession planning, ineffective management policies, employee harassment, and how unnecessary problems occur due to weak leadership authority.
Jitter attenuation phase locked loop using switched capacitor controlled crystal oscillator

A jitter attenuation, narrow-bandwidth phase-locked loop (PLL) consisting of a switched-capacitor controlled crystal oscillator (SCCXO) and a countdown sequential-logic phase/frequency detector (PFD) is described. By varying the loading capacitance dynamically, the SCCXO frequency is adjusted according to the duty cycle of the control signal. The experiment results show that a PLL of less than 2-Hz loop bandwidth and input jitter rejection up to 30 unit intervals is achieved in 3000 square mils of silicon area using 3- mu m CMOS technology. The intrinsic jitter output is 0.03 UI. >
Neurothekeoma of the Median Nerve: Case Report

We report the case of a large intraneural neurothekeoma of the median nerve at the wrist. Neurothekeomas are rare; they are small, superficial, and typically asymptomatic benign tumors of undetermined cellular origin. Complete excision is usually curative. This case is interesting owing to the tumor's large size and location within the median nerve, which made it highly symptomatic, mimicking carpal tunnel syndrome.
Methodology for the thermal characterization of the MQUAD microelectronic package

Experimental and mathematical modeling techniques which were developed to characterize the thermal performance of MQUAD packages are described. The situation characterized is one of natural convection, with the package attached to a test board. The techniques described take advantage of the unique construction of the MQUAD package in order to achieve relative simplicity in their execution. Due to its low internal thermal resistance and efficient thermal coupling to the circuit board, the thermal behavior of the MQUAD package is dominated by the convective heat transfer coefficient and the thermal conductivity of the circuit board. >
KINETICS OF THE INITIAL ROUNDS OF CELL DIVISION OF TOXOPLASMA GONDII

RH strain Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites that had naturally lysed their host cells were allowed to infect new host cells for a limited amount of time; subsequent parasite cell divisions were observed closely. On the basis of 4 independent trials, the estimated time to first cell division was 9.8 hr postinfection (PI) and was quite variable (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.1–16.5 hr PI). The estimated time to second cell division was 14.9 hr PI and was less variable (95% CI: 12.1–17.7 hr PI). Few parasites divided before 6 hr PI in these 4 trials. When tachyzoites were derived by forced lysis (scraping an infected host cell culture and passing it through 27-gauge needles), the first parasite cell division occurred much more rapidly than had been observed in any of the trials with parasites derived by natural lysis. When parasites derived by forced lysis were held away from host cells for 3 hr PI, the first cell division was delayed in a manner similar to that seen in parasites derived by natural lysis. No d...
Reinforced postmating reproductive isolation barriers in Neurospora, an Ascomycete microfungus

Maladaptive hybridization promotes reinforcement, selection for stringent reproductive isolation barriers during speciation. Reinforcement is suspected when barriers between sympatric populations are stronger than allopatric barriers, and particularly when stronger barriers evolve in the species and sex suffering the greatest costs of hybridization. Canonically, reinforcement involves premating barriers. Selection for postmating barriers is controversial, but theoretically possible. We examined geographical patterns in reproductive isolation barriers between Neurospora crassa and Neurospora intermedia, fungi with pheromone-mediated mate recognition and maternal care. We find that isolation is stronger between sympatric populations than allopatric populations, and stronger barriers are associated with the species (N. crassa) and mating role (maternal) suffering the greater costs of hybridization. Notably, reinforced isolation involves a postmating barrier, abortion of fruitbodies. We hypothesize that fruitbody abortion is selectively advantageous if it increases the likelihood that maternal Neurospora individuals successfully mate conspecifically after maladaptive hybrid fertilization.
Handbook of Workplace Diversity

The article reviews “Handbook of Workplace Diversity,” by Alison M. Konrad, Pushkala Prasad, and Judith K. Pringle.
Real-time control of energy storage devices in future electric power systems

Energy storage systems (ESSs) will play a vital role in the future electric power grid with a significant amount of intermittent renewable generation. However, the question of how to operate ESSs in an optimal way remains open. This paper concentrates on the real-time control of energy storage devices for various storage applications at both the transmission and distribution levels. After a brief introduction into the available energy storage technologies, control algorithms based on multi-step optimization for multiple ESS applications are presented. Simulation results for two applications (generation/transmission deferral and integration of renewable generation) validate the proposed ESS control approaches.
The Kent Infant Development Scale: concurrent and predictive validity of a modified administration.

A modified administration of the Kent Infant Development Scale for infants 6 to 8 mo. old was used in a prospective study of risk factors in infant development. The Mental Development Index and Psychomotor Development Index of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development were also administered at 6 mo., the Mental Index only at 1 and 2 yr. and the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale at age 3. The modified administration is described. Concurrent validity with the 6-mo. Bayley scales was substantial. Adequate predictive validity for 1- and 2-yr. Bayley scores and 3-yr. Stanford-Binet IQ was achieved with the Kent as compared to the predictive ability of the 6-mo. Bayley index.
Differential and Inefficient Splicing of a Broadly Expressed Drosophila erect wing Transcript Results in Tissue-Specific Enrichment of the Vital EWG Protein Isoform

In this report, we document an unusual mode of tissue-enriched gene expression that is primarily mediated by alternative and inefficient splicing. We have analyzed posttranscriptional regulation of the Drosophila erect wing gene, which provides a vital neuronal function and is essential for the formation of certain muscles. Its predominant protein product, the 116-kDa EWG protein, a putative transcriptional regulator, can provide all known erect wing-associated functions. Moreover, consistent with its function, the 116-kDa protein is highly enriched in neurons and is also observed transiently in migrating myoblasts. In contrast to the protein distribution, we observed that erect wing transcripts are present in comparable levels in neuron-enriched heads and neuron-poor bodies of adult Drosophila. Our analyses shows that erect wing transcript consists of 10 exons and is alternatively spliced and that a subset of introns are inefficiently spliced. We also show that the 116-kDa EWG protein-encoding splice isoform is head enriched. In contrast, bodies have lower levels of transcripts that can encode the 116-kDa protein and greater amounts of unprocessed erect wing RNA. Thus, the enrichment of the 116-kDa protein in heads is ensured by tissue-specific alternative and inefficient splicing and not by transcriptional regulation. Furthermore, this regulation is biologically important, as an increased level of the 116-kDa protein outside the nervous system is lethal. Most eukaryotic primary RNA transcripts undergo posttranscriptional processing requiring splicing of introns. The bestappreciated regulatory outcome of posttranscriptional processing is alternatively spliced transcripts that differ in the coding exons or have distinct 39 or 59 untranslated ends (reviewed in reference 32). A second consequence of posttranscriptional regulation is the modulation of amounts of specific transcripts dependent on differential splicing efficiencies of different splice sites. It is generally thought that differences in cell-type-specific splicing machineries result in cell type-enriched or -specific alternative splicing (5, 19). In addition, efficiency of splicing could play a major role in gene regulation as primary transcripts that are not completely processed are generally not transported to the cytoplasm and are unlikely to code functional proteins (6, 21, 23). We decided to investigate the role of alternative and inefficient splicing in the regulation of the Drosophila erect wing (ewg) gene, as previous studies indicated a complex transcript profile, intron-containing cDNAs, as well as
The matter of talk: Political performances in Bhatgaon

Comparative analysis demonstrates salient stylistic, contextual and content features of two genres of dispute discourse in a Fiji Indian village. Specific strategies of persuasion are examined, as well as explanations for their effectiveness in influencing the course of community conflicts.
Memories of the Future: Technology and the Body in dumb type's memorandum

C onceptual and collage art has rarely had such a powerful performance proponent as Kyoto's dumb type. Their recent US tour of memorandum demonstrates that, after seventeen years together, their creativity is at its zenith. Invoking the theme of memory, dumb type takes various musings and meditations on the topic to some startling, sensual, and deliciously bizarre places. memorandum explores how personal choices and perspectives have an immense impact on whether memory serves us with its transformative power, or whether it traps us in a macabre landscape.
Pacific sea surface temperature and the winter of 2014

It is shown from historical data and from modeling experiments that a proximate cause of the cold winter in North America in 2013–2014 was the pattern of sea surface temperature (SST) in the Pacific Ocean. Each of the three dominant modes of SST variability in the Pacific is connected to the tropics and has a strong expression in extratropical SST and weather patterns. Beginning in the middle of 2013, the third mode of SST variability was two standard deviations positive and has remained so through January 2015. This pattern is associated with high pressure in the northeast Pacific and low pressure and low surface temperatures over central North America. A large ensemble of model experiments with observed SSTs confirms that SST anomalies contributed to the anomalous winter of 2014.
Detection Algorithms and Information Rates for Bit-Patterned Media Storage Systems with Written-in Errors

This paper studies bit-patterned media recording channels when there exist written-in errors. Using a signal processing point of view, we consider an abstract model for the overall recording channel, incorporating errors occurred during the write process. Based on the resulting channel model, we develop various trellis structures, and propose several detection algorithms for data recovery. Furthermore, we investigate the achievable information rates for patterned media recording systems with different levels of write error probability, which provide an information theoretical performance assessment for such systems.
Timing analysis with crosstalk is a fixpoint on a complete lattice

Increasing delay variation due to capacitive and inductive crosstalk has a dramatic impact on deep submicron technologies. It is now impossible to exclude crosstalk from timing analysis. However, timing analysis with crosstalk is a mutual dependence problem since the crosstalk effect in turn depends on the timing behavior of a circuit. In this paper, we establish a theoretical foundation for timing analysis with crosstalk. We show that solutions to the problem are fixpoints on a complete lattice. Based on that, we prove in general the convergence of any iterative approach. We also show that, starting from different initial solutions, an iterative approach will reach different fixpoints. The current prevailing practice, which starts from the worst case solution, will always reach the greatest fixpoint, which is the loosest solution. In order to reach the least fixpoint, we need to start from the best case solution. The convergence rates for both discrete and continuous models are discussed. Based on chaotic iteration and heterogeneous structures of coupled circuits, techniques to speed up iterations are also provided.
Republished: Accuracy in interpreting the paediatric ECG: a UK-wide study and the need for improvement

Background Paediatric ECG interpretation is significant for informed treatment of several conditions. Formal training in paediatric ECG is rarely undertaken. Methods A prospective survey based study module of UK-wide paediatricians registered with the UK Royal College of Paediatricians and Child Health (RCPCH) was conducted. 10 common clinical conditions seen in paediatrics for which there are recognisable ECGs had to be interpreted. After provision of an educational page, 10 further ECGs were presented. Findings 8450 RCPCH members were emailed a link to the online survey–study module, of whom 764 participated. Of these, 493 interpreted the first 10 ECGs, and 385 interpreted both sets of ECGs. The accuracy for the first ECGs was 61.5% (63.5% for those who participated in the whole survey), and after use of the educational page increased to 73.3%. This was independent from previous ECG training. Conclusions The use of an easily accessible online educational page improved the accuracy of paediatric ECG interpretation significantly. Internet based education can improve the accuracy of paediatric ECG interpretation and should be developed further.
Synthesis of Responsive Polymer Brushes on Magnetic Nanoparticles

We report a simple synthesis technique to attached poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) on magnetic nanoparticles. Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles were prepared using co-precipitation method. Nearly monodisperse nanoparticles were separated by terminating surface of Fe3O4 with dopamine followed by careful centrifugation and decantation. NHS/EDC coupling chemistry was employed to attached the carboxylic acid terminated poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) to amine end of dopamine on surface of the magnetic particles. Analysis of the polymer brush layers was conducted using UV-Vis spectroscopy, ATR−FTIR, and Transmission electron microscopy techniques. The magnetic property was investigated using direct current superconducting quantum interference device (DC-SQUID) method.
Abdominal Candidiasis Is a Hidden Reservoir of Echinocandin Resistance

FKS mutant Candida isolates were recovered from 24% (6/25) of abdominal candidiasis patients exposed to echinocandin. Candida glabrata (29%) and Candida albicans (14%) mutants were identified. Multidrug-resistant bacteria were recovered from 83% of FKS mutant infections. Mutations were associated with prolonged echinocandin exposure (P = 0.01), breakthrough infections (P = 0.03), and therapeutic failures despite source control interventions (100%). Abdominal candidiasis is a hidden reservoir for the emergence of echinocandin-resistant Candida.
On-label and off-label drug use in the treatment of female infertility

Female infertility affects millions of couples worldwide and is estimated to account for one-third of all cases of infertility. The purpose of this article is to review the uses of both off-label treatments and those approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for female infertility, by examining the mechanism of action, the side-effect profile, fetal anomaly risks, and contraindications for the various drugs.
A multi-objective decision making on reliability growth planning for in-service systems

New designs prioritized for the fast time-to-market usually can not carry out sufficient in-house reliability growth testing due to the stringent delivery deadline. Reliability improvement for those systems can be achieved by implementing corrective actions (CAs) on in-service systems. In this paper, three types of effectiveness functions are proposed to measure the reduction rate of failure modes given different CA resources. Integrated with the effectiveness function, a new failure intensity model is proposed for predicting the mean-time-between-failures (MTBF) of field systems. Finally, a multi-objective optimization model is formulated to maximize the system reliability and to minimize the reliability uncertainty with the constraint of the CA resources. Genetic Algorithms combined with greedy heuristic are applied to search the optimal CA decisions that lead to the maximum reliability growth while minimizing the reliability uncertainty. Results show that the proposed reliability growth program can effectively guide decision-makers to find the most effective corrective actions for achieving the reliability goal for a large fleet of in-service systems. Throughout paper, systems and products will be used interchangeably.
A mathematical model of pre-diagnostic glioma growth.

Abstract Due to their location, the malignant gliomas of the brain in humans are very difficult to treat in advanced stages. Blood-based biomarkers for glioma are needed for more accurate evaluation of treatment response as well as early diagnosis. However, biomarker research in primary brain tumors is challenging given their relative rarity and genetic diversity. It is further complicated by variations in the permeability of the blood brain barrier that affects the amount of marker released into the bloodstream. Inspired by recent temporal data indicating a possible decrease in serum glucose levels in patients with gliomas yet to be diagnosed, we present an ordinary differential equation model to capture early stage glioma growth. The model contains glioma–glucose-immune interactions and poses a potential mechanism by which this glucose drop can be explained. We present numerical simulations, parameter sensitivity analysis, linear stability analysis and a numerical experiment whereby we show how a dormant glioma can become malignant.
Donor-Acceptor-Donor Thienopyrazines via Pd-Catalyzed C-H Activation as NIR Fluorescent Materials.

A series of thienopyrazine-based donor–acceptor–donor (D–A–D) near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent compounds were synthesized through a rapid, palladium-catalyzed C–H activation route. The dyes were studied through computational analysis, electrochemical properties analysis, and characterization of their photophysical properties. Large Stokes shifts of approximately 175 nm were observed, which led to near-infrared emission. Computational evaluation shows that the origin of this large Stokes shift is a significant molecular reorganization particularly about the D–A bond. The series exhibits quantum yields of up to φ = >4%, with emission maxima ranging from 725 to 820 nm. The emission is strong in solution, in thin films, and also in isolation at the single-molecule level. Their stable emission at the single-molecule level makes these compounds good candidates for single-molecule photon sources in the near-infrared.
Weighted Residuals and Galerkin’s Method for a Generic 1-D Problem

Let us start by considering a simple one-dimensional differential equation, written in abstract form.
Enhancement by Normal Cells of an Immunological Response.

SummaryNormal guinea pig spleen cells, when injected with bovine plasma albumin or egg albumin, appear to enhance the delayed sensitivity to the antigen which appeared early in the course of the immunologic response in guinea pigs.
Genertia: a system for vulnerability analysis, design and redesign of immunity-based anomaly detection system

The principles of immunology have been applied to the design and implementation of artificial systems and algorithms for solving a broad range of mathematical and engineering problems, which results in a new computation paradigm, termed an Artificial Immune System (AIS). This dissertation focuses on the performance improvement of an AIS in its anomaly detection functionality. A typical AIS can be described as having three factors: (1) pattern and detector representations, (2) matching rules that decide the affinity between detectors and patterns, and (3) algorithms that describe the generation, death and regeneration of detectors. Traditional representations and matching rules have been shown to make AIS suffer from a series of problems including poor scalability. This dissertation proposes a constraint-based representation and the corresponding matching rules to address these problems. This dissertation proposes GENERTIA, a system that proactively improves the performance of an AIS by discovering and patching the vulnerabilities. GENERTIA consists of two subsystems: a red team and a blue team. The red team is able to discover the vulnerabilities in the AIS, and the blue team design detectors to patch the discovered vulnerabilities. The two teams effectively strengthen an AIS in an interactive and coevolutionary fashion. GENERTIA is applied to an AIS-based intrusion detection system (IDS). Experiments show that GENERTIA can effectively increase the detection rate of the IDS with little increase of false positive rate. The GENERTIA blue team provides a novel approach to the generation of a compact and effective detector set. This leads to the proposal of an anomaly detection-based classification system. This classification system consists of multiple subsystems with each subsystem being an AIS that discriminates a class of patterns from other classes. The GENERTIA is also applied to the proposed classification system to improve its classification accuracy by improving the performance of the individual subsystems of the classification system.
Whole Exome Sequencing Analysis Is an Efficient Method for Comprehensively Evaluating Genetic Variability Associated with Interparticipant Response to Glucocorticoid Receptor-Mediated Signaling

The goal of this study was to identify correlations between interpersonal genetic variability and alterations in the intracellular glucocorticoid receptor (GR) signaling response to mild cardiovascular stress. Circulating cortisol concentrations in healthy volunteers varied significantly among participants, both before and after HPA axis stimulation. These differences could not be correlated with biobehavioral survey responses or targeted Sanger sequencing of genes encoding the GR, hsp90, or CRHR1. We consequently hypothesized that whole exome sequencing (WES) would provide a feasible approach for determining variability among phenotypic groups and revealing causal gene candidates that had not been previously considered. WES was conducted using genomic DNA from four participants, one showing the canonical high cortisol response and three showing an enigmatic negative response. Using an Agilent V4 exome enrichment platform and Illumina HiSeq2000 paired end sequencing, >44 million reads per sample were alig...
Selectivity of physiotherapist programs in the United States does not differ by institutional funding source or research activity level

Purpose This study aimed to compare selectivity characteristics among institution characteristics to determine differences by institutional funding source (public vs. private) or research activity level (research vs. non-research). Methods This study included information provided by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) and the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy. Data were extracted from all students who graduated in 2011 from accredited physical therapy programs in the United States. The public and private designations of the institutions were extracted directly from the classifications from the 'CAPTE annual accreditation report,' and high and low research activity was determined based on Carnegie classifications. The institutions were classified into four groups: public/research intensive, public/non-research intensive, private/research intensive, and private/non-research intensive. Descriptive and comparison analyses with post hoc testing were performed to determine whether there were statistically significant differences among the four groups. Results Although there were statistically significant baseline grade point average differences among the four categorized groups, there were no significant differences in licensure pass rates or for any of the selectivity variables of interest. Conclusion Selectivity characteristics did not differ by institutional funding source (public vs. private) or research activity level (research vs. non-research). This suggests that the concerns about reduced selectivity among physiotherapy programs, specifically the types that are experiencing the largest proliferation, appear less warranted.
A model for understanding the formation energies of nanolamellar phases in transition metal carbides and nitrides

In this paper we introduce a stacking-fault based model to understand the energetics of formation of the nanolamellar-based metal carbide and nitride structures. The model is able to reproduce the cohesive energies of the stacking fault phases from density functional theory calculations by fitting the energy of different stacking sequences of metal layers. The model demonstrates that the first and second nearest metal-metal neighbor interactions and the nearest metal-carbon/nitrogen interaction are the dominant terms in determining the cohesive energy of these structures. The model further demonstrates that above a metal to non-metal ratio of 75%, there is no energetic favorability for the stacking faults to form a long-range ordered structure. The model's applicability is demonstrated using the Ta-C system as its case study from which we report that the interfacial energy between ζ-Ta4C3 and TaC or Ta2C is negligible. Our results suggest that the closed packed planes of these phases should be aligned and that precipitated phases should be thin, which is in agreement with experiments.
Prevalent status and features of dengue fever in China

登革热是由登革病毒(DV)所致的一组虫媒传染病;广泛流行于热带和亚热带地区.DV有4种血清型(DV 1～4);感染DV后可发生登革热、登革出血热(DHF)或登革休克综合征(DSS).最近几十年全球发病大幅上升,WHO估计每年世界上约有5000万DV感染者,其中50万人因患登革热需住院治疗,感染者中约2.5%发生死亡.目前登革热在非洲、美洲、东地中海、东南亚和西太平洋100多个国家呈地方性流行,东南亚和西太平洋地区受DV影响更为严重[1]。
An icosahedral virus as a fluorescent calibration standard: methods for counting protein molecules in cells by fluorescence microscopy

The ability to replace genes coding for cellular proteins with DNA that codes for fluorescent protein- tagged versions opens the way to counting the number of molecules of each protein component of macromolecular assemblies in vivo by measuring fluorescence microscopically. Converting fluorescence to absolute numbers of molecules requires a fluorescent standard whose molecular composition is known precisely. In this report the construction, properties, and mode of using a set of fluorescence calibration standards are described. The standards are based on an icosahedral virus particle containing exactly 240 copies of one of seven different fluorescent proteins. Two applications of the fluorescent standards to counting molecules in the human parasite Toxoplasma gondii are described. Methods for improving the precision of the measurements and avoiding potential inaccuracies are emphasized.
Predicting vibration-induced fretting in land grid array sockets in simulated field scenarios

Electrical contacts provide means for a separable connection between two current carrying conductors. Sockets containing these contacts could be exposed to mechanical vibration due to shipping, which can result in micromotion between mating surfaces. Repeated micromotion/fretting could lead to wearout of the protective gold layer and expose the base metal that can oxidize. Traditional laboratory based fretting experiments may not reflect the field reliability risks. In this study, a predictive capability is developed to investigate contact fretting in a socket due to random vibration using a finite element approach. Considering the degrees of freedom involved in the analysis and the resolution needed, a multiscale modeling approach utilizing global models with substructures to track high risk areas and local models to monitor fretting wear on the highest risk contact is employed. This approach allowed the study of micromotion at the contact interface, capturing stick-slip phenomenon, which can influence fretting wear. Predictions are validated through extensive experimentation, which includes matching of fretting risk areas, matching dynamic responses, and matching of fretting wipe lengths and location through image processing techniques.
Unbiased Optimal Power Flow (OPF) for Power Systems with Wind-Power Generation

Wind-power plants that are connected to power systems are often unable to utilize all available power due to transmission constraints.
Position Selective Beam Shaping in Mid-Infrared Regime by All-Dielectric Metasurfaces

We demonstrate the design, fabrication and experimental characterization of a dielectric metasurfaces acting as a position selective computer generated hologram operating at mid infrared wavelength of 4.5 micron.
Pyritization of Iron in Sediments from the Continental Slope of the Northern Gulf of Mexico

In sediments from the continental slope of the Northern Gulf of Mexico, generally,the degree of iron pyritization (DOP) is low (<0.1) and dissolved sulfide is belowdetection limits (∼5 μM), whereas dissolved Fe is typically about 50 to100 μM. Therefore, the dissolution of kinetically reactive iron minerals generallydominates over the rate of sulfide production in sediments throughout this region.
Mulch and Row Cover affect Lettuce Production in High Tunnels

With growing demand for fresh and locally grown vegetables, growers are capitalizing on techniques such as the use of high tunnelsfor season extension. After a long duration crop such as tomato, planting a quick turnaround crop in high tunnels is a viable option to continue production and increase profitability. High tunnels are an excellent resource for early spring and late fall production of leafy vegetables such as lettuce.
Chronic Renal Failure and Future Approaches

Historically the conservative treatment of chronic renal failure has been carried out with the aid of special diets which limit the intake of dietary precursors of what I shall call, for lack of a better word, “uremic substances” including cations such as potassium. In addition dietary management includes the restriction of fluids in excess of insensible and residual urinary losses. This type of management is primarily preventive. Other preventive therapeutic steps include the use of gastrointestinal sorbents like aluminum hydroxide, potassium-sequestering resins, and others such as oxystarch to bind specific undesirable uremic substances (phosphate, potassium, urea) and to carry them out via the feces. All of these preventive concepts of management of uremia must be looked upon as adjunctive modes of therapy since in patients with a residual glomerular filtration rate below 3 milliliters per minute, they alone cannot sustain life. As useful as the preventive concepts of uremic management continue to be, the mainstay of today’s therapeutic approaches to end-stage renal failure is based on the removal of undesirable uremic substances from or with body fluids — in brief, hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, and, more recently, hemofiltration.
One Size Fits All: Designing for Socialization in Physical Computing

National and state educational initiatives are increasingly prioritizing computer science and computational thinking as valued sets of skills and practices. However, despite ongoing efforts to broaden participation in computing, the field faces increasing underrepresentation of women and other racial and ethnic groups. In this paper, we argue that physical computing can provide rich, varied entryways into computing practices, and that kits that support social or collaborative use may be more compelling for underrepresented groups. We present the design of a scaled-up physical computing kit, called StegaCircuits, which we created to foster more social, exploratory introductions to computing. We present preliminary data collected during user tests at a Maker Faire that suggest StegaCircuits supports social introductions to physical computing through multi-user interaction. Finally, we highlight promising facets of the design that may positively impact cognitive and emotional responses to computing fields.
Both Crops of Major Interest with Varying Densities

In Chapter 2, we considered the simplest possible situation for an intercropping experiment, i.e., one main crop and constant density. In Chapter 3, we considered the next simplest situation, both crops are main crops but the density remains constant whether in monoculture or in an intercrop. In Chapter 4, the yields of both crops were combined in the statistical analysis and results. In the present chapter, we consider intercrop experiments as discussed in the previous chapters with the cropping systems being allowed to vary over a range of densities for each of the two crops. The questions of interest would be similar to those discussed in Chapters 2, 3, and 4, but here additional information on the effect of changing densities on the observed variables would be available.
Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography Imaging Using Formyl Peptide Receptor 1 Ligand Can Diagnose Aortic Aneurysms in a Mouse Model.

Abstract Background Our previous studies showed that neutrophil infiltration and activation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). However, there is a lack of noninvasive, inflammatory cell-specific molecular imaging methods to provide early diagnosis of AAA formation. Formyl peptide receptor 1 (FPR1) is rapidly upregulated on neutrophils during inflammation. Therefore, it is hypothesized that the use of cinnamoyl-F-(D)L-F-(D)L-F-K (cFLFLF), a PEGylated peptide ligand that binds FPR1 on activated neutrophils, would permit accurate and noninvasive diagnosis of AAA via single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging. Materials and methods Male C57BL/6 (wild-type) mice were treated with topical elastase (0.4 U/mL type 1 porcine pancreatic elastase) or heat-inactivated elastase (control), and aortic diameter was measured by video micrometry. Comparative histology was performed on Day 14 to assess neutrophil infiltration in aortic tissue. We performed near-infrared fluorescence imaging using c-FLFLF-Cy7 probe on Days 7 and 14 postelastase treatment and measured fluorescence intensity ex vivo in excised aortic tissue. A separate group of animals were injected with 99mTc-c-FLFLF 2 h before SPECT imaging on Day 14 using a SPECT/computed tomography/positron emission tomography trimodal scanner. Coexpression of neutrophils with c-FLFLF was also performed on aortic tissue by immunostaining on Day 14. Results Aortic diameter was significantly increased in the elastase group compared with controls on Days 7 and 14. Simultaneously, a marked increase in neutrophil infiltration and elastin degradation as well as decrease in smooth muscle integrity were observed in aortic tissue after elastase treatment compared with controls. Moreover, a significant increase in fluorescence intensity of c-FLFLF-Cy7 imaging probe was also observed in elastase-treated mice on Day 7 (approximately twofold increase) and Day 14 (approximately 2.5-fold increase) compared with respective controls. SPECT imaging demonstrated a multifold increase in signal intensity for 99mTc-cFLFLF radiolabel probe in mice with AAA compared with controls on Day 14. Immunostaining of aortic tissue with c-FLFLF-Cy5 demonstrated a marked increase in coexpression with neutrophils in AAA compared with controls. Conclusions cFLFLF, a novel FPR1 ligand, enables quantifiable, noninvasive diagnosis and progression of AAAs. Clinical application of this inflammatory, cell-specific molecular probe using SPECT imaging may permit early diagnosis of AAA formation, enabling targeted therapeutic interventions and preventing impending aortic rupture.
The Extent of Extended-Ubiquitin Binding to the Proteasome.

In this issue of Structure, Lu et al. (2020) describe an NMR-based study showing the proteasome ubiquitin receptor hRpn13 bound to an extended conformation of K48-diubiquitin that is different from previously described structures of K48-diubiquitin. Observed dynamic binding properties suggest an ability of substrates to hop between proteasome ubiquitin receptors.
Machine learning in geo- and environmental sciences: From small to large scale

Abstract In recent years significant breakthroughs in exploring big data, recognition of complex patterns, and predicting intricate variables have been made. One efficient way of analyzing big data, recognizing complex patterns, and extracting trends is through machine-learning (ML) algorithms. The field of porous media, and more generally geoscience, have also witnessed much progress, and recent progress in developing various ML techniques have benefitted various problems in porous media and geoscience across disparate scales. Thus, it is becoming increasingly clear that it is imperative to adopt advanced ML methods for the problems in porous media and geoscience because they enable researchers to solve many difficult problems. At the same time, one can use the already existing extensive knowledge of porous media to endow ML algorithms and develop novel physics-guided methods. The goal of this review paper is to provide the first comprehensive review of the recently developed methods in the ML algorithms and describe their application to porous media and geoscience. Thus, we review the basic concept of the ML and describe more advanced methods, known as deep-learning algorithms. Then, the application of such methods to various problems in porous media and geoscience, such as hydrological modeling, fluid flow in porous media, and (sub)surface characterization, are reviewed. We also provide a discussion of future directions in this rapidly developing field.