cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Control-oriented PCCI combustion timing model for a diesel engine utilizing flexible intake valve modulation and high EGR levels

This paper describes a simple, analytical, control-oriented and physically-based model for prediction of combustion timing during PCCI combustion. The model includes direct dependence on in-cylinder temperature, in-cylinder pressure, and the total in-cylinder O2 mass fraction. It is extensively validated with experimental PCCI data from a multi-cylinder engine with almost exclusively stock hardware (stock pistons, injectors/nozzles, turbocharger, etc.) and variable valve actuation. The results show that across a wide range of input conditions the model predicts the start of combustion (SOC) within ±2°CA of the experimental values for all but one of the 119 data points. The experimental SOC ranges from as early as 19.3°CA to as late as +0.6°CA by heavily exercising the control authority over SOC provided by SOI ecm , IVC/ECR modulation (ECR ranges from 12:1 to 18:1), and the engine's air-handling system. This PCCI combustion timing model can be coupled with a gas exchange model for control algorithm design.
Synthesis of hydronaphthalenes through coupling of enyne-carbonyl compounds that contain pendant alkane groups with Fischer carbene complexes

Abstract The coupling of enyne-carbonyl compounds that contain pendant alkene groups with Fischer carbene complexes to afford furans that contain pendant alkene groups is described. Subsequent intramolecular Diels–Alder reactions are effective in selected cases, resulting in hydronaphthalene systems after dehydration. Although the Diels–Alder event is thermodynamically unfavorable, the overall transformation of alkene–furans to dihydronaphthalenes is a favorable process.
The association of acculturation factors with biochemical indices of folate status among Mexican Americans 60 years of age or older in the post-fortification era: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001-2006.

Acculturation factors have been found to affect dietary intakes of folate among older Mexican Americans (MAs) (≥60 years). The association of acculturation with folate biomarkers is unknown. We determined whether acculturation factors were associated with folate biomarkers (e.g., serum folate, red blood cell [RBC] folate, and total homocysteine concentrations) and whether this association could be explained by dietary folate. Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001-2006, we estimated that 42.8% and 40.1% of older MAs reported speaking Spanish all or most of the time or being born in Mexico, respectively (lower acculturation factors). Lower acculturation factors were not associated with total homocysteine concentrations but were, in general, associated with lower serum folate and RBC folate concentrations, but these associations were not always independent of factors such as sex, education, and poverty, and possibly were mediated by dietary and supplemental folate. Thus, the lower folate status observed among older MA with lower acculturation factors may be modifiable by changes in the intake of folic acid. [Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of the Journal of Nutrition in Gerontology and Geriatrics for the following free supplemental resource: a table of the predictors of serum folate or red blood cell folate concentrations among Mexican Americans 60 years of age or older using country of origin or language preference, respectively, as acculturation factors, from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001-2006.].
Making Risk-Benefit Assessments of Medical Research Protocols:

It is commonly assumed that medical experiments are ethical only if they have favorable "risk-benefit ratios". In this paper it is argued that "risk-benefit ratios" often cannot be calculated, even roughly; and that even if they could, ethical experiments don't need to have favorable "risk-benefit ratios". In addition, a new method of assessing an experiment's risk and benefits is proposed-a method grounded in the principles of liberal government.
“Whimsical Contrasts”: Love and Marriage in The Minister's Wooing and Our Nig

Harriet Wilson's Our Nig (1859), which has been taken to be a response to Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852), has more in common with Stowe's The Minister's Wooing (1859). A reimagining of the lines of influence demonstrates the strengths and weaknesses of Stowe's appreciation of the free black experience in New England.
Glancephone: an exploration of human expression

In this paper, we describe the design and ethnographic study of a phone developed so as to allow people to glance at each other, rather than simply message or voice call. Glancephones work through having a form factor that allows them to be placed upright when a user wants to be available for glancing, and support a web-based application that allows glances, bitmap images, to be taken and sent to a remote viewer on request, via GPRS connections. Glancephones were originally invented to allow callers to see if it is appropriate to call or interrupt and thus act like normal glances in face-to-face situations. Ethnographic studies of the use indicate that people prefer using the devices not to support greeting sequences, however, but to enable others to glance at them. It was found that Glacephones were used to draw attention to oneself, not to encourage better control of interruption and greeting sequences. The paper uses this data to remark on the concepts of human expression that underscore much of the research reported in Mobile HCI, and it proposes Bourdieu's concepts of habitus and relatedly, distinction, as explanatory tools for this and other evidence about expression enabled by mobile and other technologies of communication.
The Community Policing Evaluation Survey: Reliability, validity, and structure

This paper describes the reliability, validity, and structure of a scale designed to evaluate community-policing programs. The Community Policing Evaluation Survey (CPES) is designed in such a way that local police agencies can implement it without the assistance of professional researchers. The scale consists of four subscales which measure (1) Quality of Contact with Police, (2) Perceptions of Crime and Disorder, (3) Personal Fear, and (4) Community Cohesion.
Local and Regional Secondary Organic Aerosol: Insights from a Year of Semi-Continuous Carbon Measurements at Pittsburgh

During the Pittsburgh Air Quality Study (PAQS) an automated semi-continuous thermal-optical transmittance (TOT) carbon analyzer was used to measure 2–4 h average particulate organic (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) concentrations from July 1, 2001 to August 13, 2002. To minimize the adsorption of vapor-phase organics, the sample air was drawn through a multi-channel parallel-plate diffusion denuder placed upstream of the carbon analyzer. Particulate OC and EC in the sample air were then collected on a quartz fiber filter (QFF) mounted inside the carbon analyzer, and analyzed immediately after collection. To account for any remaining organic vapors not retained by the denuder and collected on the sampling filter (positive artifact) a dynamic blank was run every two weeks. An upper-bound estimate of volatilization induced by the presence of the denuder upstream of the sampling filter (negative artifact) was also made. A detailed description of the operating protocol and quality assurance measurements is provi...
Fundamental Federal Tax Reform and the States

State and local governments face significant impacts from fundamental federal income tax reform.
PREDICTION OF PROCESSING TOMATO PEELING OUTCOMES

Peeling outcomes of processing tomatoes were predicted using multivariate analysis of magnetic resonance (MR) images. Tomatoes were obtained from a whole-peel production line. Each fruit was imaged using a 7-tesla MR system, and a multivariate data set was created from 28 different images. After imaging, the fruits were individually tagged and processed in a pilot peeling system. An expert grader then assessed the peeling outcome for each fruit; outcomes included “whole peel,”“some skin attached” and seven others. The multivariate analysis techniques of partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and soft independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA) were used to predict peeling outcome from the 28 MR images. The PLS-DA model for the “whole peel” (best) outcome correctly classified 81% of the fruit that were in this category. The SIMCA model performed well for rejecting non-“whole peel” fruit but did not perform as well for identification of “whole peel” fruit. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Fruit processors seek methods for predicting the quality of their finished products from measurements of their raw materials (individual fruit). Such predictions will ensure optimal allocation and processing of each fruit, which will result in raw material cost savings, improved product quality, wastewater reduction and energy efficiency. In the case of processing tomatoes, peeling outcome is the metric of interest. This study demonstrates the feasibility of predicting final product quality using MR imaging of raw food materials.
Cognitive Style and First Language Background in Second Language Test Performance

The TESOL Quarterly invites readers to submit short reports and updates on their work. These summaries may address any areas of interest to Quarterly readers. Authors' addresses are printed with these reports to enable interested readers to contact the authors for more details.
A Role for Glucocorticoids in Stress-Impaired Reproduction: Beyond the Hypothalamus and Pituitary

In addition to the well-characterized role of the sex steroid receptors in regulating fertility and reproduction, reproductive events are also mediated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in response to an individual's environment. Glucocorticoid secretion in response to stress contributes to the well-characterized suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis through central actions in the hypothalamus and pituitary. However, both animal and in vitro studies indicate that other components of the reproductive system are also regulated by glucocorticoids. Furthermore, in the absence of stress, it appears that homeostatic glucocorticoid signaling plays a significant role in reproduction and fertility in all tissues comprising the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Indeed, as central regulators of the immune response, glucocorticoids are uniquely poised to integrate an individual's infectious, inflammatory, stress, nutritional, and metabolic status through glucocorticoid receptor signaling in target tissues. Endocrine signaling between tissues regulating the immune and stress response and those determining reproductive status provides an evolutionary advantage, facilitating the trade-off between reproductive investment and offspring fitness. This review focuses on the actions of glucocorticoids in tissues important for fertility and reproduction, highlighting recent studies that show glucocorticoid signaling plays a significant role throughout the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and characterizing these effects as permissive or inhibitory in terms of facilitating reproductive success.
Software synthesis for embedded systems

Embedded computing systems use a processor or processor core to implement parts of a well-defined system functionality. Software generation for these systems is a challenging problem since it must interact with concurrent hardware blocks. In this paper, we present the architecture of a low-overhead embedded system software including a runtime system that correctly implements its time-constrained interactions with hardware blocks.
1,3-Bis(phenyl-sufanylmeth-yl)benzene.

The complete mol­ecule of the title compound, C20H18S2, is generated by crystallographic mirror symmetry, with two C atoms lying on the mirror plane. All of the independent atoms are contained within two planes defined by the thio­phenyl rings (C6S) and the central phenyl ring with the methyl­ene bridge; the r.m.s deviations of these planes are 0.012 and 0.025 A, respectively. The two planes are almost perpendicular to one another at a dihedral angle of 80.24 (10)°. Inter­molecular C—H—π inter­actions are present in the crystal structure.
Controls of vegetation structure and net primary production in restored grasslands

Summary 1. Vegetation structure and net primary production (NPP) are fundamental properties of ecosystems. Understanding how restoration practices following disturbance interact with environmental factors to control these properties can provide insight on how ecosystems recover and guide management efforts. 2. We assessed the relative contribution of environmental and restoration factors in controlling vegetation structure, above- and below-ground investment in production across a chronosequence of semi-arid Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) fields recovering from dry land wheat cropping relative to undisturbed grassland. Importantly, we determined the role of plant diversity and how seeding either native or introduced perennial grasses influenced the recovery of vegetation properties. 3. Plant basal cover increased with field age and was highest in CRP fields seeded with native perennial grasses. In contrast, fields seeded with introduced perennial grasses had tall-growing plants with relatively low basal cover. These vegetation structural characteristics interacted with precipitation, but not soil characteristics, to influence above-ground NPP (ANPP). Fields enrolled in the CRP for >7 years supported twice as much ANPP as undisturbed shortgrass steppe in the first wet year of the study, but all CRP fields converged on a common low amount of ANPP in the following dry year and invested less than half as much as the shortgrass steppe in below-ground biomass. 4. ANPP in CRP fields seeded with native perennial grasses for > 7 years was positively related to species richness, whereas ANPP in CRP fields seeded with introduced perennial grasses was controlled more by dominant species. 5. Synthesis and applications. Seeding with introduced, instead of native, perennial grasses had a strong direct influence on vegetation structure, including species richness, which indirectly affected NPP through time. However, the effects of restoring either native or introduced grasses on NPP were secondary to low water availability. Therefore, restoration strategies that maximize basal cover and below-ground biomass, which promote water acquisition, may lead to high resilience in semi-arid and arid regions.
Analyzing dynamic performance of power systems over parameter space using normal forms of vector fields, part I: Identification of vulnerable regions

This is the first part of a two-part paper discussing the dynamic performance of power systems over parameter space using the method of normal forms. The normal form transformation is also derived under the second order resonance condition. By using the resonance condition as a guide to indicate unsatisfactory system dynamic performance, the authors propose a computationally efficient method to study the system under varying parameters. An approach to determine the resonance and near-resonance region in the parameter space is developed. For the resonance case, conclusions are drawn by simply examining the analytic solutions. For the near-resonance case, the machine states showing poor performance can be found by tracing the dominant nonlinear modal interaction and mode-machine interaction. The method is tested on the IEEE 50-generator system. The results reveal many interesting characteristics of the system related to resonance and near-resonance, which validates the effectiveness of the method as a useful analytical tool for system operation and design. Further work on quantifying the effect of the modal interactions on the machine states is presented in part II. [An incorrect version of this paper originally appeared in the IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, vol.16, no.3, p.445-50, 2001. This a republished corrected version.]
Processing of seismic data from an automatic digital recorder

Data from a three-component, long-period seismometer system is recorded in digital form on magnetic tape by a device which has been described by Miller. Preliminary editing and processing is performed to select events of interest from the 24-hour tapes and place them on a library tape that is compatible with a computer. Emphasis is placed on location, correction, and flagging of errors that occur during the recording and editing process. Processing routines developed include: correction for seismometer response, orbital motion functions, energy computation, band pass filtering for mode separation, etc. The dynamic range of the system is 86 db and the response is adequate over the range .02 to 2.0 cps. For the purpose of detailed analysis, digital records from this system are superior to paper records from any of the existing seismographs in use at this laboratory. The main disadvantage of data in this form is the difficulty of inspecting signals by eye in order to make preliminary interpretations.
Fairly Pricing Guilty Pleas

Building on Professor Andrew Taslitz’s work, this article explores how Fair Price Theory can help us analyze the fairness of guilty pleas. In "Judging Jena’s D.A.," Professor Taslitz used Fair Price Theory to explore how prosecutors could strive to achieve fairness and reduce the perception of racial stigma. He used Fair Price Theory to propose a system of prosecutorial ethics that takes into account racial stigma. This article considers how Fair Price Theory challenges courts to analyze guilty pleas differently, by focusing on price without relying on the agency of prosecutors. Under current doctrine, a court examines whether the defendant’s decision to plead guilty is voluntary, informed, and factually supported. Courts do not assess whether the defendant is getting a fair deal or fair price. Fair Price Theory could help define and assess what makes a deal (or price) fair. And that analysis, with its related questions, challenges the status quo by making price and fairness a central inquiry.
Establishment of Genome-edited Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Lines: From Targeting to Isolation

Genome-editing of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) provides a genetically controlled and clinically relevant platform from which to understand human development and investigate the pathophysiology of disease. By employing site-specific nucleases (SSNs) for genome editing, the rapid derivation of new hPSC lines harboring specific genetic alterations in an otherwise isogenic setting becomes possible. Zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 are the most commonly used SSNs. All of these nucleases function by introducing a double stranded DNA break at a specified site, thereby promoting precise gene editing at a genomic locus. SSN-meditated genome editing exploits two of the cell's endogenous DNA repair mechanisms, non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) and homology directed repair (HDR), to either introduce insertion/deletion mutations or alter the genome using a homologous repair template at the site of the double stranded break. Electroporation of hPSCs is an efficient means of transfecting SSNs and repair templates that incorporate transgenes such as fluorescent reporters and antibiotic resistance cassettes. After electroporation, it is possible to isolate only those hPSCs that incorporated the repair construct by selecting for antibiotic resistance. Mechanically separating hPSC colonies and confirming proper integration at the target site through genotyping allows for the isolation of correctly targeted and genetically homogeneous cell lines. The validity of this protocol is demonstrated here by using all three SSN platforms to incorporate EGFP and a puromycin resistance construct into the AAVS1 safe harbor locus in human pluripotent stem cells.
All electronic terahertz spectroscopy

Ultrafast electronic circuits coupled to broadband antennas can be employed for coherent spectroscopy in the GHz-THz regime. Reflection and transmission signatures of biological and energetic materials highlight the potential of this technology for sensing.
NT-14EARLY EXPERIENCE WITH TRANS-SULCAL PARAFASCICULAR EXOSCOPIC RESECTION OF SUPRATENTORIAL BRAIN TUMORS

BACKGROUND: Resection of subcortical lesions is limited by concern for procedure-related injury to critical structures. Such a concern may impede the ability to resect completely and such an injury may affect post-operative recovery significantly. The parafascicular approach involves planned navigation of working channel parallel to critical fascicles when accessing subcortical lesions. This reduces shear injury to major white matter tracts and is achieved by inserting a tapered dilating access device (Neuroport) through a sulcus. Use of an exoscope increases illumination and clarity in optics that go hand in hand with the tenants of this approach. Here we present our early experience with this technique. METHODS: We reviewed our first 10 supratentorial brain tumors that were resected using the 6-pillar approach of parafascicular minimally invasive exoscopic resection. The eligible patients underwent further data analysis focusing on pathology and outcome from this approach. RESULTS: Ten patients with a mean age of 63 years underwent resection of both primary and metastatic lesions. There were no adverse events related to port placement or approach. Eight had primary neoplasm of which 6 were WHO grade IV. Two other lesions were metastatic in nature. Two patients died but both succumbed to their neoplasm and not surgery or its complications. One developed supplementary motor area syndrome following resection of rapidly growing left frontal Glioblastoma. Tumor resection was gross total in all cases. Hospital stay averaged 2.5 days. CONCLUSIONS: Trans-sulcal parafascicular navigated exoscopic resection is rapidly becoming an established way of managing subcortical brain tumors and other lesions, especially intra-cerebral hematomas. Our early results are better than conventional open surgical resection, with inaccessible lesions becoming accessible and shorter hospital stays. With this minimally invasive (minimally disruptive) approach, we see decrease in injury to both vital cortex and significant large white matter tracts thus preserving maximum neurological function.
Design of Air, Water, Temperature and Hydrogen Controls for a PEM Fuel Cell System

Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell is the potential power source for vehicle applications, where supply of fuels and rejection of heat play significant roles in ensuring performance and durability. Operations of the fuel cells require four subsystems, air supply system, water and thermal management and hydrogen delivery system. Air supply system consists of a blower and a gas-to-gas humidifier. The air is supplied to the stack by the blower and humidified by a gas-to-gas humidifier using stack exhaust gas. Controls for the air supply system are designed based on a static feed-forward control and a state feedback control with integrator to maintain the oxygen excess ratio at a desired level regardless of any load applied. Flow rates of air controlled by a voltage of an electric motor driving a blower should be able to supply oxygen to dynamically follow changes of loads, whereby oxygen excess rate should be kept at a level that prevents oxygen starvation. At the same time, water in the stack should be maintained optimally to keep from low proton conductivity and water flooding in porous materials. Therefore, supplying air is humidified with a humidifier that captures moistures exiting the stack. In order to manipulate the amount of humidity, we propose to use an extra bypass valve, which opening is controlled to optimally maintain humidification of the membrane and avoid water flooding. Thermal management system consists of two thermal circuits because of cooling effectiveness, where the inner thermal circuit is made of a bypass valve, a heat exchanger, a water reservoir and a water pump, while the outer thermal circuit is made of a radiator along with a fan, a coolant reservoir and a pump. In order to maintain the stack working temperature at a desired temperature and reduce parasitic powers, a state feedback controller with integrator is employed. Fuel delivery system is a hybridized one that consists of two recirculation lines with an ejector and a blow in order to increase efficiency of fuel usage. The supply line is made of a hydrogen tank, a flow control valve and a low pressure regulator. Controls are designed to track a flow rate where pressure is kept at constant and purging operations are allowed. In this paper, controls for four subsystems of fuel cell system were proposed and examined on a dynamic one dimensional model for a stack that considers non isothermal and two-phase effects. Optimized state feedback controllers with integrator and observers are used to improve control performances and results are presented.© 2011 ASME
Mechanical Behavior of Eutectic Sn-Ag and Sn-Zn Solders

Eutectic Sn-Ag and Sn-Zn solders are currently being investigated as the basis for replacement of Sn-Pb solders. Some mechanical properties of these solder systems - fatigue, tensile, stress relaxation and creep are presented here along with some damage feature observations for eutectic Sn-Ag solder. Semi-empirical modeling, constitutive modeling and numerical simulation based on damage models have been carried out for lifetime prediction. Preliminary agreement of this numerical simulation with experimental results appears encouraging, but the models need further refinement.
Feasibility of performing a virtual patient examination using three-dimensional ultrasonographic data acquired at remote locations.

Objective. To evaluate the feasibility of performing three-dimensional ultrasonographic studies that meet American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine and American College of Radiology ultrasonographic examination guidelines with review off-line and at remote locations. Methods. One hundred patients were studied at 2 institutions using high-end two-dimensional clinical ultrasonographic scanners and commercially available three-dimensional ultrasonography for a variety of organ systems (first- and second-trimester fetus, abdomen, and female pelvis) We evaluated several parameters, including measurements, completeness of organ visualization, abnormalities identified, image quality, number of volumes required, and discrepancies between interpretations. Results. Overall, three-dimensional ultrasonography could produce diagnostic-quality results comparable with those of two-dimensional ultrasonography. Three-dimensional ultrasonographic image quality was lower than that of two-dimensional ultrasonography. Two- and three-dimensional ultrasonographic measurements were comparable (<5% difference), as was the extent of organ visualization, although some structures were challenging for both two- and three-dimensional ultrasonography, In general, organs completely imaged in the scanner field of view required 1 to 1.5 volumes, whereas larger organs required between 3 and 6 volumes. Differences among reviewers' interpretations highlighted the need for standardization of acquisition and reviewing protocols for sonographers and physicians. Conclusions. Our results show that it is clinically feasible to acquire three-dimensional ultrasonographic data at one site and to obtain accurate interpretation by off-line review at another within the context of providing high-quality clinical diagnostic studies.
STUDY ON REDUCTION OF VANADIUM OXIDE IN THE TITANIA SLAG CONTAINING MnO

Study on reduction of vanadium oxide in titania slag containing 0~5% MnO. The results of experiment show that the apparent equilibrium constant(IgKsi-v)of Si-V increases with increasing initial MnO,and decrease with increasing initial TiO2,with increasing slag basicity when R 1. 2. The reduction reaction of vanadium oxide can't reach equilibrium in the blast furnace. The reduction of vanadium oxide is restricted by dynamic condition. Reduction reaction is one of two steps. The apparent activation energy is equal to 172 kJ/mol. The reduction rate of vanadium oxide is restricted by V3+ diffusion in slag during initial reduction. But it is restricted by SiO2 reductionrate when Si-V coupled reaction has reached equibrium. Some measures of increasing the reduction rate of vanadium oxide were pointed out.
Expired gas analysis of field simulated CPR.

The concentration of expired oxygen and carbon dioxide that a rescuer may give during cardiopulmonary resuscitation was originally determined without adjusting for conditions that can exist in real life. This study was devised to investigate how simulated field conditions might effect the concentrations of these gases that a rescuer would give a victim. The expired gases were measured from volunteers who performed one person cardiopulmonary resuscitation on manikins for two minutes. They then stopped the resuscitation, walked or ran 200 meters, and performed another two minutes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation while listening to loud ambulance sirens. For the thirty-eight volunteers that were tested, it was found that the percentage of carbon dioxide increased by an average of 11% and the oxygen concentration only changed by a negligible amount. This amounted to a statistically significant increase in the carbon dioxide concentration (p 0.05). In conclusion, exertion before performing CPR will cause an increase in the percent of CO2 expired, while not affecting the concentration of O2.
Separation of Viable Cells by Velocity Sedimentation in an Isokinetic Gradient of Ficoll in Tissue Culture Medium

Recent progress in the development of methods for the separation of individual kinds of cells has facilitated the characterization of individual kinds of cells from complex mixtures of cells. Sedimentation in density gradients can be used as an analytical method for the characterization of heterogeneous mixtures of cells or as a preparative technique. The investigation of the relative frequencies of cells in density gradients following velocity or isopycnic sedimentation allows one to study the densities, velocities of sedimentation, and respective frequencies of individual kinds of cells. Such an application of density gradient sedimentation is meaningful only to the extent that a large, quantitated, and representative proportion of the material that is introduced into the gradient is recovered from the gradient. Preparative density gradient sedimentation provides a very effective means for obtaining single kinds of cells from the mixtures of different kinds of cells found in tissues.
Optimal charging for general equivalent electrical battery model, and battery life management

Abstract The contributions of this paper are threefold. First, we present the linear quadratic solution to optimally charge a Li-ion battery in a general form. Although the battery model considered here is a circuit comprised of an open-circuit voltage (OCV), a series resistance, and an RC circuit, the methodology is applicable to any electrical circuit model of a battery. A combination of different cost functions is considered including: time-to-charge, energy loss, and temperature rise index. We discuss the effect of different weightings in the cost functions on the current and voltage profiles. Second, we present two models for normalized battery capacity as a function of the number of cycles and two charge control parameters, viz., maximum terminal voltage of the battery and maximum charge current. These models are compared to a bi-exponential capacity model. The effectiveness of the proposed models for forecasting the battery capacity is validated using the experimental data. Third, these models are used for battery life management by developing an optimal charging parameter selection method which provides the best setpoint values for the control variables to achieve a pre-specified desired “useful cycle life” while attaining the fastest possible time-to-charge. The proposed optimal charging parameter selection method is illustrated via numerical results.
Psychometrics: From practice to theory and back

The paper surveys 15 years of progress in three psychometric research areas: latent dimensionality structure, test fairness, and skills diagnosis of educational tests. It is proposed that one effective model for selecting and carrying out research is to chose one's research questions from practical challenges facing educational testing, then bring to bear sophisticated probability modeling and statistical analyses to solve these questions, and finally to make effectiveness of the research answers in meeting the educational testing challenges be the ultimate criterion for judging the value of the research. The problem-solving power and the joy of working with a dedicated, focused, and collegial group of colleagues is emphasized. Finally, it is suggested that the summative assessment testing paradigm that has driven test measurement research for over half a century is giving way to a new paradigm that in addition embraces skills level formative assessment, opening up a plethora of challenging, exciting, and societally important research problems for psychometricians.
Development of the Professional Self-Care Scale

In recent years, there has been an increased emphasis on the importance of self-care for psychologists and other mental health professionals. With the growth of positive psychology and preventive medicine, self-care is an emerging topic, promulgated as a means of avoiding the adverse effects of stress and promoting professional functioning and well-being. However, the research on self-care is limited because of the lack of an empirically based, psychometrically sound measure of this construct. Thus, the purpose of this project was to develop a measure of professional self-care. Professional psychologists were the focus of study, with the goal being to develop a measure that can be used in this population and similar groups of professionals. Based on expert feedback and a preliminary study of 422 licensed psychologists in Illinois, a 5-factor, 21-item scale was created. Factor analysis identified the following self-care factors: Professional Support, Professional Development, Life Balance, Cognitive Awareness, and Daily Balance. Preliminary analyses provided initial support for the validity of the 5 factors. A follow-up study was conducted with a second sample of clinical psychologists. The 5-factor structure provided a good fit to the data with the second sample. Thus, based on factor analysis and validity data, a 5-factor, 21-item Professional Self-Care Scale was established for further study and use in future research. (PsycINFO Database Record
Measuring Absolute Blood Perfusion in Mice Using Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound

Abstract We investigated the feasibility of estimating absolute tissue blood perfusion using dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) imaging in mice. We developed a novel method of microbubble administration and a model-free approach to estimate absolute kidney perfusion, and explored the kidney as a reference organ to estimate absolute perfusion of a neuroblastoma tumor. We performed CEUS on the kidneys of CD1 nude mice using the VisualSonics VEVO 2100 imaging system. We estimated individual kidney blood perfusion using the burst–replenishment (BR) technique. We repeated the kidney imaging on the mice after a week. We performed CEUS imaging of a neuroblastoma mouse xenograft tumor along with its right kidney using two sets of microbubble administration parameters to estimate absolute tumor blood perfusion. We performed statistical tests at a significance level of 0.05. Our estimated absolute kidney perfusion (425 ± 123 mL/min/100 g) was within the range of previously reported values. There was no statistical difference between the estimated absolute kidney blood perfusions from the 2 wk of imaging (paired t -test, p = 0.09). We estimated the absolute blood perfusion in the neuroblastoma tumor to be 16.49 and 16.9 mL/min/100 g for the two sets of microbubble administration parameters (Wilcoxon rank-sum test, p = 0.6). We have established the kidney as a reliable reference organ in which to estimate absolute perfusion of other tissues. Using a neuroblastoma tumor, we have determined the feasibility of estimating absolute blood perfusion in tissues using contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging.
Toward a Multi-Species Gas Sensor on a Chip

We demonstrate on-chip implementation of an optically accessible gas expansion chamber for a gas sensing system combining micro-gas-chromatography with optical spectroscopy. Acetylene traces are reliably detected in a 1-cm-long chamber.
Mentoring at Girls Write Now

Founded in 1998, Girls Write Now (GWN) mentors underserved high school girls from throughout New York City’s five boroughs—over 90% high need and 95% girls of color. GWN runs two programs for mentors and mentees: the Writing & Mentoring and Digital Media Mentoring programs. The Writing & Mentoring program currently has 180 people (90 mentees, 90 mentors) and the Digital Media Mentoring program has 100 people (50 mentees, 50 mentors). This article is about the writing program as that is the one I volunteer for.
Global Gender Gap Report

The Global Gender Gap Report, published annually since 2006, is an evaluation of the gender gap in four main categories in countries worldwide. Scores range from 0 to 1, with a perfect score of 1 meaning there is no gender gap in that category. The four categories measured are economic participation and opportunity; educational attainment; health and survival; and political empowerment. There is also an overall composite score. The report measures levels of gender gap, and not levels of attainment in each category. Iceland, Finland, Norway, and Sweden share the top four spots every year, meaning that they have the least amount of gender gap. Political empowerment shows the greatest gender gap by far of any the four categories worldwide. Health and survival, based on sex birth ratios and life expectancy, shows the least gender gap. As well as inspiring innovative projects toward gender equity, the Global Gender Gap Report has also generated scholarship. Keywords: education; gender gap; globalization; inequality
The American Health-Care System: Understanding How the Pieces Come Together

The American health-care system can appear unwieldy to the uninitiated. This chapter introduces the key elements of this system, using a layered sphere metaphor with the patient at the central core. Elements discussed include health advocates, providers, payers, environments, regulators and government agencies, technology and innovation, and liability.
Lifestyle Medicine Inpatient Consultation Services at Loma Linda University Health: A Novel Approach in a Tertiary Care Center:

As a nation facing primary care provider shortages, an expanding chronic disease burden, and rising health care costs, lifestyle medicine interventions have become critical for patient care and man...
“We sing to touch hearts”: Choral musical culture in Pretoria East, South Africa:

The purpose of this study was to explore the culture of choral singing among children and youth in Pretoria East, South Africa. The philosophical underpinnings of the choirs, the roles of choirs wi...
Flow-Induced Vibrations for Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting

Fluid flow has the potential to provide significant mechanical energy input for piezoelectric harvesters. However, the efficient conversion of the bulk kinetic energy of a steady and uniform flow into time-dependent elastic energy in the piezoelectric structure remains a significant challenge. In this chapter, a comparison of two harvesters is first presented and it is shown that improved aeroelastic coupling greatly increases the performance of flow-powered harvesters. A computational framework which couples the fluidic, structural, and electrical domains is introduced and is used to simulate the “aeroelectromechanical” performance of a piezoelectric energy harvester in the wake of a bluff body. The structural response of a flexible cantilever beam to a passing vortex ring and the estimation of its aeroelastic efficiency are also presented. Finally, we discuss the potential of turbulent boundary layers for energy harvesting from turbulent boundary layers.
What You Can Learn from Wrong Causal Models

It is common for social science researchers to provide estimates of causal effects from regression models imposed on observational data. The many problems with such work are well documented and widely known. The usual response is to claim, with little real evidence, that the causal model is close enough to the “truth” that sufficiently accurate causal effects can be estimated. In this chapter, a more circumspect approach is taken. We assume that the causal model is a substantial distance from the truth and then consider what can be learned nevertheless. To that end, we distinguish between how nature generated the data, a “true” model representing how this was accomplished, and a working model that is imposed on the data. The working model will typically be “wrong.” Nevertheless, unbiased or asymptotically unbiased estimates from parametric, semiparametric, and nonparametric working models can often be obtained in concert with appropriate statistical tests and confidence intervals. However, the estimates are not of the regression parameters typically assumed. Estimates of causal effects are not provided. Correlation is not causation. Nor is partial correlation, even when dressed up as regression coefficients. However, we argue that insights about causal effects do not require estimates of causal effects. We also discuss what can be learned when our alternative approach is not persuasive.
An analysis of the 'right' to education in South Africa and the United States

In the winter of 1944, approximately five months before the Allied forces launched their invasion at Normandy, three-term United States President Franklin D Roosevelt delivered his annual State of the Union Address. Given the unparalleled instability wrought by World War II, Roosevelt's immediate focus was on the topic of national security, and in his speech that night to the American people, the President outlined his plan for 'lasting peace'. Roosevelt's blueprint for the future, however, did not stress military strength or economic resiliency. Instead, Roosevelt spoke of a 'second bill of rights', which collectively would 'spell security' and move the country forward to 'new goals of human happiness and well-being'. That evening, Roosevelt articulated eight 'second generation' rights that would together establish an enduring foundation for the nation's future. Among these rights was 'the right to a good education'.
The forgotten MASH surgeon: the story of Alvin Vincent Blount Jr, MD.

In 1968, H. Richard Hornberger, former army surgeon, writing under the pseudonym Richard Hooker, published the novel MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors, based on his experiences as a military surgeon and a captain in the 8055th Mobile Army Surgery Hospital (MASH) during the Korean War.
Cooperative Behavior in the Evolution of Alignment and Structure in Vertically Aligned Carbon-Nanotube Arrays Grown using Chemical Vapor Deposition

A great obstacle to technology using ``forests'' of highly ordered, vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is that collective properties of forests are inferior to those of individually grown freestanding CNTs. The pattern of changing growth rates seen in real-time measurements reveals that the carbon incorporation driving forest growth is governed by autocatalytic radical-chain polymerization of acetylene. Considering CNTs as a type of polymer renders the established methods of polymer science relevant for optimizing macroscopic platforms to retain the superior properties of individual CNTs in high-density energy storage, rapid heat dissipation, and advanced interconnects.
A phrase captures aerodynamic and acoustic data in healthy voice users and in patients with voice disorders

Purpose: A voice evaluation typically involves aerodynamic and acoustic measures captured through repeated /pi/s. The current study addresses the need for a more functional utterance that better approximates connected speech.Methods: Healthy voice users and patients with voice disorders produced repeated /pi/s and a phrase, "Pooh, pay Pia pea pie," into the Phonatory Aerodynamic System across two trials.Results: In Experiment 1 with healthy voice users, subglottic pressure (Ps), airflow, fundamental frequency (F0), and sound pressure level (SPL) demonstrated strong reliability for speech tasks and trials. Laryngeal resistance (LR) demonstrated inconsistent reliability. In Experiment 2, patients with voice disorders completed pre and post voice therapy measures of Ps, airflow, LR, F0, SPL, and the Voice Handicap Index. Results demonstrated that all of the measures captured a significant difference from pre to post except LR in both women and men and F0 in women.Conclusions: The study suggests that the phrase was successful in capturing reliable aerodynamic and acoustic data in healthy voice users and significant changes from pre to post in patients with voice disorders. In addition, analyzing Ps and airflow independently may be more clinically useful than the combination of the two in LR.
Job Autonomy and Education-Skill Matches of Immigrant Workers in Germany

This letter examines the determinants of occupational autonomy and education-skill matches of immigrant workers in Germany. Their jobs are characterized by much lower autonomy than those of compara...
E-171 Low glasgow coma score in traumatic intracranial hemorrhage predicts development of cerebral vasospasm

Background The exact mechanism, incidence and risk factors for cerebral vasospasm following traumatic intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) continues to be poorly characterized. The incidence of post-traumatic vasospasm (PTV) varies depending on the detection modality. Objective We aimed to shed light on the predictors, associations and true incidence of cerebral vasospasm following traumatic ICH using digital subtraction angiography (DSA) as the gold standard. Methods We examined a prospectively maintained database of traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients to identify patients with ICH secondary to TBI enrolled between 2002 and 2015 at our trauma center. Patients with TBI-associated ICH and evidence of vasospasm confirmed with digital subtraction angiography (DSA) were included. The diagnostic cerebral angiograms were evaluated by 2 blinded neurointerventionalists for cerebral vasospasm. Statistical analyses were conducted to determine predictors of PTV. Results 20 patients with ICH secondary to TBI and evidence of vasospasm underwent DSAs. Seven patients (7/20; 35%) with traumatic ICH developed cerebral vasospasm and of those, one developed delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) (1/7; 14%). Of these 7 patients, 6 presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) (6/7; 85%). Vasospasm was substantially more common in patients with a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) Conclusions PTV as demonstrated by DCA may be more common than previously reported. Patients who exhibit PTV were more likely to have a GCS Disclosures F. Al-Mufti: None. K. Amuluru: None. N. Majmundar: None. M. Lander: None. M. Matthew: None. M. El-Ghanem: None. R. Nuoman: None. S. Park: None. V. Patel: None. C. Gandhi: None.