cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electrokinetic Remediation Modeling Incorporating Geochemical Effects

Electrokinetic remediation technology is one of the developing technologies that offers great promise for the cleanup of soils contaminated with heavy metals. However, the performance of an electrokinetic remediation system depends on the interaction of a complex set of interrelated system variables and parameters. Many of these interactions were addressed in this study by incorporating geochemical reactions into electrokinetic remediation modeling. A one-dimensional transport model was developed to predict the transport and speciation of heavy metals chromium, nickel, and cadmium in soil during electrokinetic remediation as a function of time and space. The model incorporates: 1 pH-dependent adsorption of contaminants to the soil surface; 2 sensitivity of soil surface potential and electroosmotic flow to the pore water properties; and 3 synergistic effects of multiple chemical species on electrokinetic remediation. The model considers that: 1 Electrical potential in the soil is constant with time; 2 surface complexation reactions are applicable in the highly concentrated clay suspensions; 3 the effect of temperature is negligible; and 4 dissolution of soil constituents is negligible. The predicted pH profiles, electroosmotic flow, and transport of chromium, nickel, and cadmium in kaolin soil during electrokinetic remedia- tion were found to reasonably agree with the bench-scale electrokinetic experimental results. The predicted contaminant speciation and distribution aqueous, adsorbed, and precipitated allow for an understanding of the transport processes and chemical reactions that control electrokinetic remediation.
An Automated Framework for Accelerating Numerical Algorithms on Reconfigurable Platforms Using Algorithmic/Architectural Optimization

This paper describes TANOR, an automated framework for designing hardware accelerators for numerical computation on reconfigurable platforms. Applications utilizing numerical algorithms on large-size data sets require high-throughput computation platforms. The focus is on N-body interaction problems which have a wide range of applications spanning from astrophysics to molecular dynamics. The TANOR design flow starts with a MATLAB description of a particular interaction function, its parameters, and certain architectural constraints specified through a graphical user interface. Subsequently, TANOR automatically generates a configuration bitstream for a target FPGA along with associated drivers and control software necessary to direct the application from a host PC. Architectural exploration is facilitated through support for fully custom fixed-point and floating-point representations in addition to standard number representations such as single-precision floating point. Moreover, TANOR enables joint exploration of algorithmic and architectural variations in realizing efficient hardware accelerators. TANOR's capabilities have been demonstrated for three different N-body interaction applications: the calculation of gravitational potential in astrophysics, the diffusion or convolution with Gaussian kernel common in image processing applications, and the force calculation with vector-valued kernel function in molecular dynamics simulation. Experimental results show that TANOR-generated hardware accelerators achieve lower resource utilization without compromising numerical accuracy, in comparison to other existing custom accelerators.
City and Countryside as Ideological Issues: India and China

Distinctions, and tensions, between urban and rural bases of society are as old as civilization, in every culture. Even in so city-dominated a system as the contemporary United States, where urban models seem almost to monopolize every aspect of the culture, such tensions exist and are reflected, for example, in political attitudes and politicians' strategies. Although about four-fifths of the U.S. population now lives in urban areas, and despite the dwindling number of farmers, the rural present as well as the larger rural past continue to play a distinct role within the national whole and to act on the urban sector.
Immunofluorescent evidence of the platelet-activating factor receptor on human spermatozoa

Abstract Objective: To determine the presence of the platelet-activating factor (PAF) receptor on human spermatozoa. Design: Prospective analysis. Setting: University-based reproductive biology laboratory. Patient(s): Spermatozoa obtained from men undergoing routine semen analysis. Intervention(s): Spermatozoa (n = 10) were exposed to PAF, sheep anti-PAF antibody, and fluorescein isothiocyanate–conjugated rabbit antisheep antibody, and then evaluated by fluorescent microscopy. Main Outcome Measure(s): Assessment of fluorescent intensity at four locations on the spermatozoa (tail, midpiece, proximal head, and acrosome region). Result(s): Immunofluorescence demonstrated the presence of the PAF receptor on human spermatozoa. The PAF receptor was most prevalent at two sites on the spermatozoa: the midpiece and the proximal head. Conclusion(s): The PAF receptor is present on human spermatozoa. Platelet-activating factor may affect the motility of spermatozoa through a receptor-mediated mechanism at the midpiece and/or proximal head.
Geometry-enhanced modulation of group velocity in nano-waveguides

We demonstrate that modulation of geometry of nanoscale waveguides may dramatically enhance the modulation of group velocity in dispersive media and illustrate the developed formalism on examples of plasmonic nanorod and metamaterial photonic funnel.
An unconditionally stable time-domain finite element method of significantly reduced computational complexity for large-scale simulation of IC and package problems

An unconditionally stable and computationally efficient time-domain finite-element method is developed to solve large-scale IC and package problems. In this method, an analytical expression of the time dependence is developed for the field unknowns inside conductors. And hence any time step can be used to stably solve the system of equations inside conductors. A matrix solution is involved in the analytical expression. It is efficiently obtained by the time-domain finite-element reduction-recovery method, the factorization cost of which is O(M), with M much less than the system matrix size N. The system of equations exterior to conductors is formed by a backward difference method, and hence is also unconditionally stable. The resultant system matrix is solved efficiently by an H-matrix based direct sparse solver, which is shown to outperform the state-of-the-art direct sparse solver. The system exterior to the conductors and that interior to the conductors are then solved by a staggered marching scheme, the convergence of which is theoretically proved. Applications to on-chip problems have demonstrated a time step that is three orders of magnitude larger than what is permitted by an explicit time-domain scheme, with fast CPU run time, modest memory consumption, and without sacrificing accuracy.
The concept of life satisfaction across cultures: An IRT analysis

Abstract The present study examined measurement equivalence of the Satisfaction with Life Scale between American and Chinese samples using multigroup Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), Multiple indicator multiple cause model (MIMIC), and Item Response Theory (IRT). Whereas SEM and MIMIC identified only one biased item across cultures, the IRT analysis revealed that four of the five items had differential item functioning. According to IRT, Chinese whose latent life satisfaction scores were quite high did not endorse items such as “So far I have gotten the important things I want in life” and “If I could live my life over, I would change almost nothing.” The IRT analysis also showed that even when the unbiased items were weighted more heavily than the biased items, the latent mean life satisfaction score of Chinese was substantially lower than that of Americans. The differences among SEM, MIMIC, and IRT are discussed.
Capacity limits of MIMO channels

We provide an overview of the extensive results on the Shannon capacity of single-user and multiuser multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) channels. Although enormous capacity gains have been predicted for such channels, these predictions are based on somewhat unrealistic assumptions about the underlying time-varying channel model and how well it can be tracked at the receiver, as well as at the transmitter. More realistic assumptions can dramatically impact the potential capacity gains of MIMO techniques. For time-varying MIMO channels there are multiple Shannon theoretic capacity definitions and, for each definition, different correlation models and channel information assumptions that we consider. We first provide a comprehensive summary of ergodic and capacity versus outage results for single-user MIMO channels. These results indicate that the capacity gain obtained from multiple antennas heavily depends on the available channel information at either the receiver or transmitter, the channel signal-to-noise ratio, and the correlation between the channel gains on each antenna element. We then focus attention on the capacity region of the multiple-access channels (MACs) and the largest known achievable rate region for the broadcast channel. In contrast to single-user MIMO channels, capacity results for these multiuser MIMO channels are quite difficult to obtain, even for constant channels. We summarize results for the MIMO broadcast and MAC for channels that are either constant or fading with perfect instantaneous knowledge of the antenna gains at both transmitter(s) and receiver(s). We show that the capacity region of the MIMO multiple access and the largest known achievable rate region (called the dirty-paper region) for the MIMO broadcast channel are intimately related via a duality transformation. This transformation facilitates finding the transmission strategies that achieve a point on the boundary of the MIMO MAC capacity region in terms of the transmission strategies of the MIMO broadcast dirty-paper region and vice-versa. Finally, we discuss capacity results for multicell MIMO channels with base station cooperation. The base stations then act as a spatially diverse antenna array and transmission strategies that exploit this structure exhibit significant capacity gains. This section also provides a brief discussion of system level issues associated with MIMO cellular. Open problems in this field abound and are discussed throughout the paper.
Ultrafast Optical Studies of the Cytochrome b6f Complex in Solution and Crystalline States

The cytochrome b 6 f complex of oxygenic photosynthesis contains a single chlorophyll a molecule. The singlet excited state of the Chl a. molecule is quenched by the surrounding protein matrix, and thus the lifetime of this state may serve as a probe of the proteins structure. In this work, singlet excited state dynamics were measured in well-diffracting crystals using femtosecond time-resolved optical pump-probe methodology. Lifetimes of the Chl a molecule in crystals of the cytochrome b 6 f complex having different space groups were 3–6 times longer than those determined in detergent solution of the b 6 f. The observed differences in excited state dynamics may arise from small (1–1.5 A) changes in local protein structure caused by crystal packing. The Chl a excited state lifetimes measured in dissolved cytochrome b 6 f complexes from several different species are essentially the same, in spite of differences in the local amino acid sequences around the Chl a. This supports an earlier hypothesis that the short excited state lifetime of Chl a is critical for the function of the b 6 f complex.
Detection of Cracked Eggs

Abstract An automated system was developed for applying a starch-iodine stain to detect checked eggs under commercial conditions. The stain solution was sprayed onto previously candled eggs and then rinsed off. Checks not detectable by standard candling methods were visible as blue lines on the shell membrane upon recandling. Commercial use of this system would significantly reduce the number of cracked eggs that reach the consumer, decrease the risk of egg contamination, and retain higher egg quality.
Marine broadband technology: History and remaining challenges from an end-user perspective

Broadband marine seismic data is evolving as the new standard in petroleum geoscience. Much of the dialogue to date has been focused on the seismic acquisition systems and deghosting aspects of this technology. The first requirement of any broadband project should be to “do not harm.” This is especially true in the acquisition arena, since the penalty for deficient data is significant. A reasonable objective would be to demonstrate equal, or better, data quality than conventional “high-resolution” shallow-tow surveys, increased operational efficiency, and overall improved signal/noise compared to processing-only-based broadband solutions. It is probably not a reasonable expectation that a single acquisition system always will provide more value/cost benefit than alternative options. A simple metric for the effectiveness of any broadband technique is demonstration that better results can be achieved over more conventional processing flows. An understanding of data fidelity and signal attenuation (Q) is ess...
Medial temporal epilepsy.

In their article, Hu et al.3 have provided interesting data on the results of the 2 most commonly used approaches for treating medial temporal lobe epilepsy. They performed a meta-analysis comparing the seizure-free and memory (IQ) outcomes after anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL) versus selective amygdalohippocampectomy (SelAH). They found that ATL was more likely to result in seizure freedom than SelAH, although the percentages were similar (71% vs 66%). Fewer studies were available to compare memory outcomes, and there was no difference between the types of surgery in that important outcome measure. Hu and colleagues correctly describe the limitations of this evaluation, including the paucity of data from prospective studies, especially with respect to memory outcomes. Nevertheless, this analysis confirms in a meta-analysis what many epilepsy surgeons have understood: the most commonly performed selective resections of the medial temporal lobes are slightly less likely to result in seizure freedom and do not spare memory function. It should not be surprising that anterior lobectomy should result in somewhat improved seizure-free outcomes compared with the more selective resections. When electrocorticography is used to define the amount of tissue to be resected (so-called tailored approach), it is common to see combined medial and neocortical epileptiform activity.1 Anterior temporal neocortical resection may include some or all of these areas. What is not obvious is why selective resections do not confer an advantage with respect to verbal memory function. It is possible that the track taken through the brain to the medial temporal structures results in as much disruption of memory networks as tissue removal. Recent attempts to avoid damage to the neocortex have focused on the subtemporal approach.2,4 While early reports with small numbers of patients have been encouraging, subsequent evaluations have shown results similar to what is shown in this metaanalysis: that memory deficits may not be spared when direct comparisons are made with other techniques.7 Similarly, preliminary evidence from radiosurgical treatment of the medial temporal lobe indicates that there is a relative sparing of verbal memory.6 A larger series that randomizes patients between standard lobectomy and radiosurgery is underway. Given these results, it is difficult to understand why so many epilepsy surgeons seem to prefer the SelAH procedure. Perhaps it is the seeming elegance of the selective approach, using available technology (frameless stereotactic guidance and microsurgical technique) that is attractive. As the most important determinant of quality of life after epilepsy surgery is seizure freedom,5 the decision on the type of surgery to perform should be based on the best available evidence. As Hu et al. stated in their conclusions, further studies are needed to properly compare these techniques. However, until better data are available, appropriately directed, larger resections seem to have an advantage in the most important aspect of epilepsy surgery, seizure control. (http://thejns.org/doi/abs/10.3171/2013.5.JNS13704)
Evaluation and Management of Community and Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia for the Primary Care Providers

Context: The incidence and prevalence of both community and hospital acquired pneumonia has remained relatively constant over the last several years. This paper reviews the current treatment guidelines as well as highlight new antibiotics that have recently become available for use as well. Evidence Acquisition: We evaluated guidelines provided by the infectious diseases society of America (IDSA) for the management of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), published in 2007, and hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) published in 2005. We also reviewed literature published from January 2005 to December 2015 using PubMed to evaluate how the treatment of these types of pneumonia have evolved. Results: Through our literature review, it was found that despite the advances made in the diagnosis and management of both CAP and HAP, it remains a significant challenge to diagnose and often treat. Two new IV antibiotics (tigecycline and ceftaroline) introduced for the management of CAP and telavancin was approved for HAP. Moreover, treatment of these two types of pneumonia often involves being creative with antimicrobial therapy due to the increasing multi-drug resistance. Conclusions: CAP/HAP remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the world. Bacterial resistance is increasing and adds to the difficulty in treating these patients. Newer drugs are available but should be used judiciously and in the right setting.
Research on the tax planning problem of oil-gas field enterprise in our country

The tax planning of the oil-gas field enterprise in our country is still at an initial stage.It is necessary to make full use of the tax planning for the oil-gas field enterprise to enhance its own strength and improve the international competitiveness.In order to carry out the tax planning,the oil-gas enterprise has created many conditions in the aspects of the accounting personnel quality,the collectivized operation,ect.The oil-gas field enterprise must establish a correct sense of tax planning.It should do well in the programs of the policy tax planning,saving tax plannning and preferential tax planning respectively.
Acceleration of tissue repair by transforming growth factor β1: Identification of in vivo mechanism of action with radiotherapy-induced specific healing deficits

Background Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) is an effective accelerator of soft tissue repair in both normal and impaired healing models; however, its in vivo mechanism of action remains unclear. Modern radiation techniques can create unique healing deficits, allowing for a more specific definition of tissue response to growth factor therapy. In the rat linear skin incision model, cobalt 60 photon beam total body irradiation (TBI), 800 rads, causes a marked depression of circulating monocytes and largely spares the skin tissue. Megavoltage electron beam surface irradiation (SI), 2500 rads, markedly impairs surface healing while sparing the bone marrow. With these models of selective healing deficits, the ability of TGF-beta 1 to accelerate tissue repair directly in the absence of circulating macrophage precursors (TBI) or in the presence of damaged dermal fibroblasts (SI) was evaluated. Methods Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to groups of TBI, SI, or nonirradiated sham controls and received radiation 2 days before wounding. Paired linear full-thickness skin incisions were created and a single dose of TGF-beta 1 (2 micrograms/wound) or vehicle control was applied to each wound. Results Both radiation techniques produced a marked healing deficit when assessed on postwounding days 7 and 12. TBI treatment was characterized by severe monocytopenia, confirmed by a tissue macrophage-specific immunohistochemical technique. On days 7 and 12 after wounding, TGF-beta 1 significantly accelerated soft tissue repair and wound-breaking strength in the TBI-treated rats, demonstrating an ability to directly promote the induction of collagen synthesis in the absence of monocytes/macrophages. In contrast, TGF-beta 1 was unable to reverse the SI-induced healing deficit characterized by impaired function of dermal fibroblasts. Conclusions These in vivo observations provide further evidence for a direct mechanism of action by TGF-beta 1 on collagen synthesis by wound fibroblasts during soft tissue repair.
Functional-morphological correlates of renomedullary interstitial cells.

1. Indomethacin treatment of renomedullary interstitial cells (RIC) causes a marked increase in number and size of their lipid droplets. The anti-hypertensive function is retained. 2. After multiple passages in tissue culture, RIC lose their ability to produce an anti-hypertensive effect in hypertensive animals. Along with this functional loss, lipid droplets and a prominent cisternal system become attenuated or disappear. 3. We conclude that preservation of the lipid granule—cisternal organelle relationship is important in preservation of the anti-hypertensive endocrine function of RIC.
A simplified mycobacterial growth inhibition assay (MGIA) using direct infection of mouse splenocytes and the MGIT system

We describe a simplified Mycobacterial Growth Inhibition Assay (MGIA) for pre-clinical assessment of vaccine-mediated protection in mice. The assay is accomplished by directly infecting splenocytes from vaccinated mice with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and quantifying mycobacteria using Mycobacterial Growth Indicator Tubes (MGIT). Vaccine-mediated immunogenicity detected by this assay correlated with protection.
Photocrosslinkable, biodegradable hydrogels with controlled cell adhesivity for prolonged siRNA delivery to hMSCs to enhance their osteogenic differentiation

Correction for ‘Photocrosslinkable, biodegradable hydrogels with controlled cell adhesivity for prolonged siRNA delivery to hMSCs to enhance their osteogenic differentiation’ by Minh Khanh Nguyen et al., J. Mater. Chem. B, 2017, 5, 485–495.
Dynamic control using feedforward networks with adaptive delay and facilitating neural dynamics

Time delays are universal in an organism's nervous system. A majority of them are the results of the limited propagation speed of action potential through the axons. They are inevitable and commonly considered as obstacles to overcome. However, many studies have shown that delays in the nervous system have a nonuniform distribution which helps stabilize the dynamics of the network, leads to greatly increased information capacity, and enable the emergence of the brains predictive function. Additionally, our previous work indicates that the brains predictive function may utilize facilitating neuronal dynamics to generate short-term plasticity (decrease or increase in synaptic transmission) for delay compensation purposes. In this study, we demonstrate how adaptive synaptic delay, together with facilitating neuronal dynamics, can be used to build a sensorimotor controller for a dynamic control task by utilizing simple feedforward neural networks, all under impoverished and long delayed input conditions. Our findings confirm that through adaptive delay and facilitating neuronal dynamics, feedforward neural networks develop a strong memory-like mechanism and exhibit rich dynamic behaviors, successfully solving a tough dynamic control task. We expect our results to shed new light on the role of adaptive synaptic delay and facilitating dynamics in the nervous system, in relation to memory-like mechanisms.
On fast computation of superdiagonal Padé fractions

In [1] Brent has given an elegant and concise derivation of a fast, O(n log 2 2 n), algorithm for computing Pade fractions on downward sloping ‘stair-cases’ in the Pade table. Use of the Gohberg-Semenecul formula, a matrix interpretation of the Christoffel-Darboux formula, then permits the fast solution of related Hankel or Toeplitz systems of linear equations. Unfortunately, Brent’s ‘proof of correctness’ of his algorithm is not complete. In this note we give a similar, and complete, result which leads to an algorithm of more general applicability. There remain open questions regarding the numerical stability of such algorithms.
Renal hemodynamics: An overview

The formation of urine is a process that begins with glomerular filtration and is greatly influenced by changes in renal hemodynamics. Selective filtration of the blood is possible because of the unique characteristics of the glomerulus and renal circulation. Many factors interact to maintain a consistent blood flow allowing filtration and urine formation to continue despite systemic changes in blood pressure. Factors that impact on renal hemodynamics include the autoregulatory mechanism, the renin-angiotensin mechanism, eicosanoids, kinins, the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), catecholamines, antidiuretic hormone, endothelin, nitric oxide, atrial natriuretic peptide, and dopamine. Knowledge of the effects of these factors will allow the nephrology nurse to predict, identify, and assist in the treatment of clinical conditions that can alter renal hemodynamics and glomerular filtration.
The Role of IRBs in Research Involving Commercial Biobanks

In the post-genome world of biomedical research, an increasingly common research strategy is to focus on large repositories of biological specimens. There are now several well-known efforts to compile a vast collection of biological materials, reanalyze extrant samples, collect new ones, and link the samples to medical records. The significant issue of law, ethics, and policy raised by these research activities usually are heightened when commercial enterprises play a leading role in accumulating and distributing the samples. Emerging companies are not only compiling repositories for their own use, but some companies are positioning themselves to act as intermediaries, developing vast biobanks for sale to a wide range of other researchers.
The Poincaré group and the Λ-representation

Abstract A basis where one has tried to take into account the special azimuthal symmetry in scattering experiments, and which is of importance in crossing symmetry, is defined. The basis is chosen such that the energy, the third components of the momentum and the angular momentum are diagonal together with the helicity. The Poincare algebra is represented in this basis. A particular spin algebra, defined in a previous article is utilized in the construction of the representation. The discrete elements of the Poincare group are also represented. The basis is very well suited for discussing the singularities which come from the definition of the helicity itself. The connection between our basis and that defined by Jacob and Wick is given. The zero-mass case is discussed and it is proven that in our representation the discrete case of zero mass is identical with the limit of the continuous positive-mass case.
Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology Program

Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology (MOCA) is a 10-year program of self-assessment, continued education, and evaluation of practice administered by the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) and intended to ensure physician competency. The MOCA program assesses competence in the following six areas: patient care; medical knowledge; practice-based learning and improvement; interpersonal and communication skills; professionalism; and systems-based practice. The first MOCA cycle starts on the day of initial certification. A new cycle begins thereafter every 10 years upon successful awarding of maintenance of certification. Participation in MOCA is mandatory for diplomates whose initial certification was granted on or after January 1, 2000, as these diplomates received time-limited certifications which expire 10 years from the date of issue. For these diplomates, initial registration in MOCA occurs automatically. Diplomates certified before January 1, 2000 were conferred lifelong certifications; their participation in MOCA, while encouraged, is voluntary. The exact requirements for MOCA differ depending on initial year of certification. Furthermore, the requirements for maintenance of certification continue to be refined. Therefore, it is important to have a thorough understanding of the MOCA program and be vigilant to changes that occur as the program evolves.
Scalp Cooling: Implementation of a Program at a Multisite Organization

Background Chemotherapy-induced alopecia is a well-known side effect of some types of cancer treatments. With U.S. Food and Drug Administration clearance of two scalp cooling machines, patients with cancer now have the opportunity to minimize this hair loss. However, multiple barriers can exist for organizations when establishing a scalp cooling program. Objectives This article describes the experience of a large multisite organization that implemented a machine-based scalp cooling program. Methods Nursing staff led an interprofessional team that addressed components of the program. As a result, eight sites within the authors' organization simultaneously began offering scalp cooling via machine using a single unified process. This approach was then successfully replicated one year later to prepare six additional sites to launch scalp cooling for other solid tumor types beyond breast cancer. Findings Using a structured, collaborative, and interprofessional approach to the implementation of a scalp cooling program at the authors' institution allowed for standardization of care across sites. This approach can be replicated at other healthcare institutions.
Evaluating civic youth work: illustrative evaluation designs and methodologies for complex youth program evaluations

This book serves multiple purposes in that it defines civic youth work and civic youth engagement theory in practical and empowering terms while providing alternate frameworks and utilizing the log...
Ensemble and Deep Learning for Real-time Sensors Evaluation of algorithms for real-time sensors with application for detecting brushing location

Real-time sensors on handheld devices place unique requirements on machine learning methods. In this study, ensemble and deep learning methods usage for real-time sensors are explored. The focus is on learning methods applied in smart toothbrush devices with the potential to improve overall health as dental caries is the most frequent chronical disease for children. For preventing cavities, smart toothbrushes are a valuable tool in guiding the user to which teeth and surface to brush. The core of a smart toothbrush is the algorithm to detect the location brushed in real-time. To improve the knowledge about promising methods for this task, various machine learning algorithms are examined, utilizing the data generated by real-time sensors on the toothbrush for the localization of the same in the mouth of the user. A final dataset of more than one million rows (1.44M), seven features and seventy-two classes is tested with KNN, Naive Bayes, Support Vector Machines, Extra Trees Classifier and various voting classifiers. The results, compared across various dimensions such as prediction performance, model training, prediction overhead and model size, show that the ExtraTree classifier is the most promising method of the evaluated algorithms with an F1 score of 58.77%.
Field Observations of Scorpionflies (Mecoptera: Panorpidae) and Signal Flies (Diptera: Platystomatidae) at Animal Carcasses

We report the first known occurrences of adult Panorpa helena Byers (Mecoptera: Panorpidae) and Rivellia steyskali Namba (Diptera: Platystomatidae) at vertebrate carrion based on recent observations made in Ohio and North Carolina, USA.
Starfish: resilient image compression for AIoT cameras

Cameras are key enablers for a wide range of IoT use cases including smart cities, intelligent transportation, AI-enabled farms, and more. These IoT applications require cloud software (including models) to act on the images. However, traditional task oblivious compression techniques are a poor fit for delivering images over low power IoT networks that are lossy and limited in capacity. The key challenge is their brittleness against packet loss; they are highly sensitive to small amounts of packet loss requiring retransmission for transport, which further reduces the available capacity of the network. We propose Starfish, a design that achieves better compression ratios and is graceful with packet loss. In addition to that, Starfish features content-awareness and task-awareness, meaning that we can build specialized codecs for each application scenario and optimized for task objectives, including objective/perceptual quality as well as AI tasks directly. We carefully design the DNN architecture and use an AutoML method to search for TinyML models that work on extremely low power/cost AIoT accelerators. Starfish is not only the first image compress framework that works on a $3 AIoT accelerators but also outperforms JPEG, a well-established baseline, by up to 3x, in terms of bandwidth efficiency and up to 2.5x as efficient in energy consumption. It also features graceful and gradual performance degradation in the presence of packet loss. The application-level simulation indicates that Starfish could deliver 3.7x images while providing better image quality.
La Educación in Room 320: Toward a Theory of Care-Based Resistance in the Context of Neoliberal School Reform:

Background/ContextResearch has illustrated that current neoliberal educational policy trends, such as data-driven accountability, the use of Common Core-aligned scripted curricula, and punitive cla...
Anforderungen an zukunftsweisende Produktionssysteme

Das anzustrebende dynamische Gleichgewicht in sich verandernden und vernetzten Wirkungszusammenhangen zwingt zu Reaktionen der betrachteten Unternehmungen. Diese Reaktionen fuhren haufig zu Innovationen. Das Erkennen von Umfeldveranderungen und die Fahigkeit zu reagieren, vor allem die Reaktionsgeschwindigkeit, werden im globalem Wettbewerb zunehmend bedeutender. Anpassungsfahigkeit an geanderte Rahmenbedingungen und Flexibilitat von Unternehmungen sind in diesem Zusammenhang notwendige Voraussetzungen fur eine hohe Reaktionsgeschwindigkeit. Dies hat unmittelbare Auswirkungen auf Anforderungen fur die Gestaltung von Produktionssystemen in Unternehmungen. Hohe Produktivitat und geringe Herstellkosten sind fur zukunftsorientierte Produktionssysteme nach wie vor zentrale Anforderungen. Aufgrund der veranderten Kundenwunsche kann Produktivitat nicht mehr durch herkommliche Produktionssysteme nach dem, Anfang der Jahrhundertwende erfolgreichen Prinzip der Arbeitsteilung erreicht werden.
Exploring Isomeric Effects on Optical and Electrochemical Properties of Red/Orange Electrochromic Polymers

Subtle structural changes in monomeric building blocks can have an immense effect, whether positive or detrimental, on the resulting properties of conjugated polymers. With this in mind, it is para...
Sympathetic Nervous System Responses to Psychosocial Stressors

Sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity was initially inferred by responses of end organs such as sweat glands or heart rate. As biochemical techniques developed, it became possible to monitor SNS activity as mirrored in the urine and later in plasma. Now a number of other options are available for such study, including direct recording from SNS nerve fibers and quantification of adrenergic receptors. Regardless of the site of measurement, there is a great deal of variance in all SNS measures because the SNS is so exquisitely responsive to virtually all stimuli. In order to perceive individual differences or differences between tasks, the investigator must control for these perturbations of SNS activity.
An Investigation into Process-Centered Environments

To better understand process-centered environments, we will first provide some background context with respect to implementation methods and related technologies. The remainder and larger fraction of the chapter will then be devoted to a detailed examination of two commercial products. These products are ProcessWeaver, developed by Cap Gemini [ProcessWeaver 92], and SynerVision, developed by Hewlett-Packard [SynerVision 93a, SynerVision 93b]. They were selected because they represent major products in the new field of software process automation. This examination is intended to provide a feel for technology and its status. Currently, a rapidly growing number of such PCEs is becoming available in the market and vendor information for some of these can be found in Appendix C.
A pilot study of eye-tracking devices in intensive care

Background Eye-tracking devices have been suggested as a means of improving communication and psychosocial status among patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). This study was undertaken to explore the psychosocial impact and communication effects of eye-tracking devices in the ICU. Methods A convenience sample of patients in the medical ICU, surgical ICU, and neurosciences critical care unit were enrolled prospectively. Patients participated in 5 guided sessions of 45 minutes each with the eye-tracking computer. After completion of the sessions, the Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scale (PIADS) was used to evaluate the device from the patient's perspective. Results All patients who participated in the study were able to communicate basic needs to nursing staff and family. Delirium as assessed by the Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit was present in 4 patients at recruitment and none after training. The device's overall psychosocial impact ranged from neutral (−0.29) to strongly positive (2.76). Compared with the absence of intervention (0 = no change), patients exposed to eye-tracking computers demonstrated a positive mean overall impact score (PIADS = 1.30; P = .004). This finding was present in mean scores for each PIADS domain: competence = 1.26, adaptability = 1.60, and self-esteem = 1.02 (all P Conclusion There is a population of patients in the ICU whose psychosocial status, delirium, and communication ability may be enhanced by eye-tracking devices. These 3 outcomes are intertwined with ICU patient outcomes and indirectly suggest that eye-tracking devices might improve outcomes. A more in-depth exploration of the population to be targeted, the device's limitations, and the benefits of eye-tracking devices in the ICU is warranted.
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors and cardiac anesthesia revisited

There are well-recognized adverse interactions between the monoamine oxidase inhibitors and anesthetic drugs, particularly narcotics. Patients having cardiopulmonary bypass procedures are commonly anesthetized using high-dose narcotic techniques. We describe an uneventful perioperative course in a parkinsonian patient who required urgent coronary artery bypass graft surgery while he was taking selegiline, a selective inhibitor of monoamine oxidase type B.
Crystal structure of DJ-1/RS and implication on familial Parkinson's disease

DJ-1 is a protein involved in multiple physiological processes, including cancer, Parkinson's disease, and male fertility. It is unknown how DJ-1 functions in the apparently different systems. The crystal structure of DJ-1 at 1.6 A resolution shows that DJ-1 is a helix-strand-helix sandwich and forms a dimer. The DJ-1 structure is similar to the members of the intracellular protease PfpI family. However, the catalytic triad of Cys-His-Glu is not strictly conserved in DJ-1, implying that DJ-1 has a different catalytic mechanism if it acts as a protease or DJ-1 serves as a regulatory protein in the physiological processes. The structure shows that Leu166 positions in the middle of a helix and thus predicts that the L166P mutation will bend the helix and impact the dimerization of DJ-1. As a result, the conformational changes may diminish the DJ-1 binding with its partner, leading to the familial Parkinson's disease caused by the single L166P mutation.
The Ubiquitously Expressed DNA-Binding Protein Late SV40 Factor Binds Ig Switch Regions and Represses Class Switching to IgA

Ig heavy chain class switch recombination (CSR) determines the expression of Ig isotypes. The molecular mechanism of CSR and the factors regulating this process have remained elusive. Recombination occurs primarily within switch (S) regions, located upstream of each heavy chain gene (except Cdelta). These repetitive sequences contain consensus DNA-binding sites for the DNA-binding protein late SV40 factor (LSF) (CP2/leader-binding protein-1c). In this study, we demonstrate by EMSA that purified rLSF, as well as LSF within B cell extracts, directly binds both Smu and Salpha sequences. To determine whether LSF is involved in regulating CSR, two different LSF dominant negative variants were stably expressed in the mouse B cell line I.29 mu, which can be induced to switch from IgM to IgA. Overexpression of these dominant negative LSF proteins results in decreased levels of endogenous LSF DNA-binding activity and an increase in cells undergoing CSR. Thus, LSF represses class switching to IgA. In agreement, LSF DNA-binding activity was found to decrease in whole cell extracts from splenic B cells induced to undergo class switching. To elucidate the mechanism of CSR regulation by LSF, the interactions of LSF with proteins involved in chromatin modification were tested in vitro. LSF interacts with both histone deacetylases and the corepressor Sin3A. We propose that LSF represses CSR by histone deacetylation of chromatin within S regions, thereby limiting accessibility to the switch recombination machinery.
Justice as Told by Judges: The Case of Litigation over Local Anti-Immigrant Legislation

In the absence of comprehensive immigration reform at the federal level, many American states and localities are undertaking their own legal reforms. The new state and local laws have been challenged by immigrant-rights organizations and individuals on the grounds that the federal government has already pre-empted the field. The lawsuits bring a new narrative voice—that of judges—into the boiling U.S. immigration debate. Judges engage the controversy over local enforcement of immigration enforcement, as they have other contentious disputes, both as pragmatic decision-makers and as spokespersons for justice. The tensions this dual role entails are explored here in the context of a single, controversial case. Close-up analysis of the judge’s narrative strategy reveals a range of specific techniques to create moral distance from a decision, combined, ironically, with the enlistment of moral themes to justify the ruling. The inter-twining of rule-of-law and justice rhetoric mirrors and also shapes a broader politics of justice in the United States.
El concepto de «racismo» En Michel Foucault y Frantz Fanon: teorizar desde la zona del ser o desde la zona del no-ser

Resumen es: Este articulo trata acerca de la emergencia historica del racismo en el sistema-mundo y la definicion del concepto de racismo. El mismo discute como cont...
Two MHC Surface Amino Acid Differences Distinguish Foreign Peptide Recognition from Autoantigen Specificity

KRN T cells can recognize two self MHC alleles with differing biological consequences. They respond to the foreign peptide RN(42--56) bound to I-A(k) or alternatively initiate autoimmune arthritis by interacting with a self Ag, GPI(282--294), on I-A(g7). Five surface amino acid differences between the two MHC molecules collectively alter which peptide side chains are recognized by the KRN TCR. In this study, it is shown that mutation of only two of these residues, alpha 65 and beta 78, in I-A(k) to their I-A(g7) counterparts is sufficient to allow recognition of the TCR contacts from GPI(282--294). To provide a detailed mechanism for the specificity change, the distinct contributions of each of these two mutations to the global effect on peptide specificity were analyzed. The alpha65 mutation is shown to broaden the spectrum of amino acids permissible at P8 of the peptide. In contrast, the beta 78 mutation alone blocks KRN TCR interaction with I-A(k) and requires the simultaneous presence of the alpha 65 mutation to preserve recognition. In the presence of the alpha 65 mutation, the beta 78 residue broadens peptide recognition at P3 and prevents recognition of the P8 L in RN(42--56), thus producing the observed specificity shift. These results localize the functionally relevant differences between the surfaces of two self-restricted MHC molecules to two residues that have counterbalanced positive and negative contributions to interaction with a single TCR. They highlight how subtle structural distinctions attributable to single amino acids can stand at the interface between foreign Ag responsiveness and pathogenic autoreactivity.
Using smart diagnostic scheme for fault detection in the fault tolerant system to eliminate intermittent and permanent faults causing digital system failure

It is possible to mask the effect of intermittent and permanent faults by using modular redundancy. The PMC model is a useful model for fault detection for fault tolerant systems. One can write an artificial language program for the fault detection with the minimal number of fault diagnosis axioms.
Progress toward a model based approach to the robust design of welded structures

Civilization has relied on welded structures to facilitate fabrication and improve our quality of living for the past century. Welds are used in our production of energy, to create infrastructure that we rely upon such as bridges and building, and to fabricate the equipment that makes all of this happen. In short, the joining of two metals through welding has contributed immensely to our society. One problem that has plagued welds is their susceptibility to fatigue failure due to cyclic loading. Fatigue in welded joints is a complicated phenomenon and the subject of fatigue of welded structures been the subject of great study. The goal of the research presented in this dissertation is to improve fatigue life prediction capability by incorporating the effect of the welding process prior to making the structure. The first area examined in this study is the residual stress that is induced during the welding process. If the goal of virtual design and verification of welded structures is to become a reality the residual stress state needs to be known prior to making a product. Computational welding simulation can be used to predict the residual stress state of the welded structure prior to the manufacturing of any part. In order to use computational welding simulation in fatigue life predictions the validity of the results need to be confirmed. This was done in the following dissertation work in two steps, initially by using 3D image correlation to measure the full field displacement of a structure as compared to simulation, and secondly by using neutron diffraction to measure the residual stress after welding as compared to the computational welding simulation results. The results showed that the residual stress state could be predicted with enough accuracy to be used in fatigue life predictions.
A learning algorithmic scheme for collision free navigation

A learning algorithmic scheme for collision-free navigation is presented. This scheme determines the minimum collision-free navigation path of an autonomous platform by using a trial and error process and past navigation knowledge and by extracting the current information from the surrounding environment. This scheme is related to the Odysseus autonomous navigation platform. However, it could be made into a general-purpose scheme with simple modifications. Simulated results for an illustrative example in a graphical representation are provided. >