cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Aspergillus Peritonitis complicating perforated appendicitis in adult acute leukemia.

A 38-year-old male with terminal transferase positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia experienced fever, polymicrobial bacteremia, gastrointestinal bleeding, abdominal pain during induction therapy, and remission. Cecal perforation, Aspergillus peritonitis, and subsequent diseminated aspergillosis were successfully managed with colon resection, drainage, and antibiotic and anti-fungal therapy. Serologic tests for antibody to Aspergillus were repeatedly negative.
Chemical and mechanical efficiencies of molecular motors and implications for motor mechanisms

Molecular motors operate in an environment dominated by viscous friction and thermal fluctuations. The chemical reaction in a motor may produce an active force at the reaction site to directly move the motor forward. Alternatively a molecular motor may generate a unidirectional motion by rectifying thermal fluctuations using free energy barriers established in the chemical reaction. The reaction cycle has many occupancy states, each having a different effect on the motor motion. The average effect of the chemical reaction on the motor motion can be characterized by the motor potential profile. The biggest advantage of studying the motor potential profile is that it can be reconstructed from the time series of motor positions measured in single-molecule experiments. In this paper, we use the motor potential profile to express the Stokes efficiency as the product of the chemical efficiency and the mechanical efficiency. We show that both the chemical and mechanical efficiencies are bounded by 100% and, thus, are properly defined efficiencies. We discuss implications of high efficiencies for motor mechanisms: a mechanical efficiency close to 100% implies that the motor potential profile is close to a constant slope; a chemical efficiency close to 100% implies that (i) the chemical transitions are not slower than the mechanical motion and (ii) the equilibrium constant of each chemical transition is close to one.
Tailoring etch directionality in a deep reactive ion etching tool

Silicon deep reactive ion etching is a process that produces projected two-dimensional shapes due to the inability to control the direction of the energetic ions arriving at the surface of a wafer. The resulting etched profiles present sidewalls which are nominally 90° to the wafer surface. However, we have developed and demonstrated a new technique that allows us to control the angle that trenches make with respect to the wafer surface. This scheme exploits the charging of buried dielectric layers to achieve ion steering and thus control the direction of the etch. The measured angle variation was controlled between −32° and +32° with respect to a line orthogonal to the wafer surface. We report and describe this new technique to control etch angle.
A human factors approach to the development and evaluation of the graphical weather service

With the sponsorship of the Federal Aviation Administration, MIT Lincoln Laboratory is developing the Graphical Weather Service (GWS), a data link application that provides near-real-time ground-based weather information pilots. Through the use of GWS, the pilot will be able to access both graphical and text weather information for any location in the contiguous United States. In-cockpit access to near-real-time weather information may substantially affect the situational awareness and subsequent decision making of pilots. In developing and evaluating this service, a human factors approach has been taken. This paper is an overview of the human factors activities performed in the development and evaluation of GWS.
Disparities in Use of a Personal Health Record in a Managed Care Organization

Objective: Personal health records (PHRs) can increase patient access to health care information. However, use of PHRs may be unequal by race/ethnicity. Design: The authors conducted a 2-year cohort study (2005-2007) assessing differences in rates of registration with KP.org, a component of the Kaiser Permanente electronic health record (EHR). Measurements: At baseline, 1,777 25-59 year old Kaiser Permanente Georgia enrollees, who had not registered with KP.org, responded to a mixed mode (written or Internet) survey. Baseline, EHR, and KP.org data were linked. Time to KP.org registration by race from 10/1/05 (with censoring for disenrollment from Kaiser Permanente) was adjusted for baseline education, comorbidity, patient activation, and completion of the baseline survey online vs. by paper using Cox proportional hazards. Results: Of 1,777, 34.7% (616) registered with KP.org between Oct 2005 and Nov 2007. Median time to registering a KP.org account was 409 days. Among African Americans, 30.1% registered, compared with 41.7% of whites (p 0.01). In the hazards model, African Americans were again less likely to register than whites (hazard ratio (HR) 0.652, 95% CI: 0.549 - 0.776) despite adjustment. Those with baseline Internet access were more likely to register (HR 1.629, 95% CI: 1.294 -2.050), and a significant educational gradient was also observed (more likely registration with higher educational levels). Conclusions: Differences in education, income, and Internet access did not account for the disparities in PHR registration by race. In the short-term, attempts to improve patient access to health care with PHRs may not ameliorate prevailing disparities between African Americans and whites. J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2009;16:683- 689. DOI 10.1197/jamia.M3169.
Complete Front-to-back RF SiP Design Implementation Flow

RP SiP is an integration and implementation fabric based on a single package substrate that allows the integration of digital ICs, logic IC, and RF ICs plus passive components, SAW filters, and mechanical parts. But RF SiP technology is constrained by the fact that, today, SiP design is an "expert engineering" process-one that is not scalable as a general design solution. To facilitate a move to mainstream SiP implementation, an integrated, scalable SiP design solution with reference flows must be provided. The new solution will involve a change in design methodology for SiP products, but also addresses the need for an improved design chain collaboration. The paper will describe the various implementations steps focusing on the underlying methodology to address the challenges around RF SiP design and how to ensure a proper hand-over between the design domains within a company or to an external supplier.
Keynote I: The language, optimizer, and tools mess

For many years, new languages promised higher performance in addition to other desirable characteristics such as higher productivity, better static checking, better reusability and composability, etc. However, in practice, virtually no new languages win in performance over historic languages like C and Fortran. Why? Higher level semantics were supposed to provide additional information so that optimizers could perform better analyses and so that conservative analyses could be less conservative.
Convergence of continuous-time partitioned adaptive state estimators

The asymptotic behavior of Bayes optimal adaptive state estimation schemes (also called the partitioned adaptive estimation algorithms) for continuous-time linear dynamic Gauss-Markov systems with unknown parameters is investigated. The unknown system parameters are assumed to belong to a finite set. The results are developed through weak consistency of the maximum likelihood and the maximum a posteriori probability estimates of the unknown parameters.
Invited Commentary: Personality Phenotype and Mortality—New Avenues in Genetic, Social, and Clinical Epidemiology

In this issue of the Journal, Jokela et al. (Am J Epidemiol. 2013;178(5):667-675) scrutinize the association between personality phenotype and all-cause mortality in remarkable detail by using an "individual-participant meta-analysis" design. Across 7 large cohorts varying in demographics and methods of personality measurement, they find varying prospective associations for 4 dimensions of the five-factor (or "Big Five") model of personality, but robust and consistent prospective associations for Big Five dimension of "conscientiousness." Jokela et al. place an important exclamation point on a long era of study of this topic and hint directly and indirectly at new avenues for this line of research. I consider the following 3 areas particularly rife for further inquiry: the role of genetics in personality and health studies; the role of personality in social inequalities in health; and the health policy and clinical implications of work like that of Jokela et al., including the potential role of personality phenotype in the evolution of personalized medicine.
The historical roots of concurrent engineering fundamentals

This paper explores the history of the ideas behind concurrent engineering from the end of the 19th Century until the 1960s. Concurrent engineering is the relatively recent term that is applied to the engineering design philosophy of cross-functional cooperation in order to create products that are better, cheaper, and more quickly brought to market. The principles of concurrent engineering that are traced by this paper are: manufacturing and functional design constraints need to be considered simultaneously; combining of people with different functional backgrounds into a design team is a useful way to combine the different knowledge bases; engineering designers must bear in mind customer preferences during the design process; and time to market is an important determinant of eventual success in the market. None of these principles is by itself surprising; concurrent engineering has led to their propagation to many people and firms in the engineering world. The author has examined the engineering literature in order to locate the existence of similar themes in published engineering thought. All of these themes have recurred often in the literature. Concurrent engineering can be seen therefore as a summary of best practice in product development, rather than the adoption of a radically new set of ideas. The paper suggests some reasons that concurrent engineering ideas may not have been adopted more widely.
Entanglement entropy of compressible holographic matter: loop corrections from bulk fermions

Entanglement entropy is a useful probe of compressible quantum matter because it can detect the existence of Fermi surfaces, both of microscopic fermionic degrees of freedom and of ``hidden'' gauge-charged fermions. Much recent attention has focused on holographic efforts to model strongly interacting compressible matter of interest for condensed matter physics. We complete the entanglement analysis initiated by Huijse et al. [Phys. Rev. B 85, 035121 (2012)] and Ogawa et al. [JHEP 1 (2012) 125] using the recent proposal of Faulkner et al. (arXiv:1307.2892) to analyze the entanglement entropy of the visible fermions which arises from bulk loop corrections. We find perfect agreement between holographic and field-theoretic calculations.
Treatment of Mental Illness and Comorbid Substance Abuse: Concepts for Evidence-Based Practice

Dually diagnosed clients are proven to be among the most difficult and costly to treat, and have a high rate of relapse. Evidence-based models have been identified that may improve outcomes, but research indicates the models face barriers to implementation. The author provides a historical perspective of care to the dually diagnosed client, a view of a proposed evidence-based model, and strategies that research indicates may help overcome the barriers of implementing evidence-based care. The Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) is poised to coordinate the process of implementing evidence-based practices, which includes consideration of multicultural, ethical, political, and socioeconomic factors. Research is indicated to determine strategies to finance, contract for, reorganize, and train in relation to dual diagnosis services.
An R package for SNP marker-based parent-offspring tests

Background With the advancement of genotyping technologies, whole genome and high-density SNP markers have been widely used for genotyping of mapping populations and for characterization of germplasm lines in many crops. Before conducting SNP data analysis, it is necessary to check the individuals to ensure the integrity of lines for further data analysis.
Anaphylaxis, urticaria, and angioedema.

1. Emily W. Langley, MD* 2. Joseph Gigante, MD† 1. *Clinical Fellow, Allergy/Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN. 2. †Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN. 1. Anaphylaxis can cause death; thus, clinicians must be aware of the characteristics of anaphylaxis and of proper therapy, including immediate administration of epinephrine. All patients at risk should carry self-administration epinephrine pens, with 2 epinephrine pens (twin pack) now recommended in case a second dose is needed for persistent symptoms. Given the 20% incidence of biphasic latent reactions, patients always should self-administer epinephrine and seek immediate emergency medical treatment. 2. Angioedema also can be life-threatening in association with urticaria or in the absence of hives or pruritus. Clinicians must be aware of the following: appropriate management, including investigation of various triggers, such as food, medications, and the possibility of a rare disorder of C1 inhibitor deficiency; appropriate treatment; and potentially life-saving prophylactic preventive measures. After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. List the etiologic agents that commonly cause urticaria, angioedema, and anaphylaxis. 2. Recognize the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis and be able to deliver rapid, effective treatment for anaphylaxis. 3. Distinguish between acute and chronic urticaria, and recognize the differences in their evaluation and treatment. 4. List the causes of papular urticaria. 5. Discuss the acute management of stinging insect anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is an acute, life-threatening systemic reaction that results from the sudden release of mediators from mast cells and basophils. Prompt recognition of the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis is critical to providing rapid and effective treatment. Epinephrine is the most important medication for treating anaphylaxis, and earlier administration portends better prognosis. The potential causes of anaphylaxis are numerous and include foods, medications, stinging insects, vaccinations, latex, and less common causes, such as exercise and immunotherapy (Table 1). The prevalence of life-threatening anaphylaxis …
Unanticipated Exchange Rate Risk And U.S. Imports

The effect of exchange rate risk on trade is one of the more controversial issues in international trade. This paper uses cointegration and error-correction approach to investigate the relationship between unanticipated exchange rate risk and U.S. imports over the period 1974:1-1992:4. The major finding of this study is that the exchange rate risk has a significant negative impact on U.S. imports.
Sifting Through the Wreckage: Lessons from Recent Hedge-Fund Liquidations

We document the empirical properties of a sample of 1,765 funds in the TASS Hedge Fund database from 1994 to 2004 that are no longer active. The TASS sample shows that attrition rates differ significantly across investment styles, from a low of 5.2% per year on average for convertible arbitrage funds to a high of 14.4% per year on average for managed futures funds. We relate a number of factors to these attrition rates, including past performance, volatility, and investment style, and also document differences in illiquidity risk between active and liquidated funds. We conclude with a proposal for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to play a new role in promoting greater transparency and stability in the hedge-fund industry.
Note: The Community Reinvestment Act

This note describes the background and content of the Community Reinvestment Act, enacted into law in 1977 under President Carter. It accompanies "Chemical Bank: Branch Closing" (E-0031).
The Politics of Preschool in France: The Case of the Loi d'orientation of 1989

In July 1989, after months of preparation and brief but occasionally intense debate, the Assemblee Nationale of France passed the Loi d'orientation sur l'education of 1989, which aimed to overhaul the educational system from preschool through higher education.
Making pervasive sensing possible: Effective travel mode sensing based on smartphones

Abstract Smartphones with embedded Global Positioning Systems (GPS) sensors and accelerometers provide outstanding opportunities to gather information about transportation modes. In comparison to traditional approaches of measuring travel behavior, such as self-reports and travel behavior surveys, a smartphone application that tracks movement increases spatiotemporal resolution and reduces the burden on individuals to manually recall and log travel behavior. Studies using smartphones to detect travel modes mainly use segmentation approaches, which divide movement data into single-mode segments. These approaches hinge on the accurate detection of transitional nodes, which are occasionally difficult to identify. In this study, we proposed a method to detect travel modes based on the chained random forest (RF) model, which automatically classifies smartphone data into different travel modes without using a prior search for transitional nodes. We evaluated the proposed method by collecting and analyzing 12 people's travel behavior spanning six days. The proposed method achieved 93.8% overall accuracy and performed well in both indoor and outdoor environments. This travel mode detection model offers potentials in conducting pervasive sensing, which will eventually benefit many areas of research that require large scale travel behavior monitoring.
Development of a 6-DOF Model for Mine Clearing Darts

A six degree-of-freedom (6-DOF) model was developed to predict the dispense patterns of darts from air-delivered systems to clear mines in the surf and beach zones in support of an amphibious assault. The payload consists of small darts dispensed from a delivery vehicle above the target minefield. An aircraft or Naval gun delivers a parent vehicle which flies a guided trajectory that brings it into a vertical orientation above the target, at which point hundreds or thousands of darts are released at supersonic speeds several hundred feet above the target. The simulation terminates upon impact of all the darts with the ground or water surface. A major objective is to incorporate improved aerodynamic models into the 6-DOF. The effort uses a simplified multiple-store interference model and Computational Fluid Dynamics simulations to develop the interference modeling terms. Comparison of 6-DOF predictions with flight test data shows that accurate prediction of the dart dispense pattern on the target requires knowledge of initial conditions at time of dispense and the aero interference forces during dispense when the darts are in close proximity.
Flexure testing of plastics

Formulas for reducing flexural-test data have been derived on the basis of nonlinear, large-deformation theory and solved by numerical methods. Based on the nonlinear solution, correction factors have been derived that may be applied to the results of standard linear data-reduction techniques to yield more accurate results than were heretofore possible.
A COMPARISON OF THE CARDIAC STIMULATING AND BRONCHODILATOR ACTIONS OF SELECTED SYMPATHOMIMETIC AMINES.

SummaryCardiac stimulating actions of selected sympathomimetic amines have been compared. In the case of the β-phenethanola-mines described here, this effect was increased by substitution of a cyclopentyl or isopropyl group in the N-center. Alkyl (methyl, ethyl or propyl) substitution of the a-carbon of the side chain markedly reduced cardiac stimulation and in the case of the N-substituted catecholamines described here, disclosed differences in potency for effects on force as compared to rate. The structural requirements for initiating sympathomimetic cardio-acceleration and for increases in the force of contraction differ from those which are optimal for bronchodilator action. The receptors responding to sympathomimetic amines may consist of a population differing in sensitivity to structural variation of the agonist (and possibly also to the various antagonists).
Extreme vasoreactivity of rat epineurial arterioles to vasopressin

Vasopressin is a potent vasoconstrictor to most blood vessels but is a vasodilator to some. The role of vasopressin in the regulation of nerve blood flow (NBF) is not known. We undertook a dose-effect study of vasopressin on NBF and evaluated its interactions with alpha-adrenoreceptors and its effect on ischemic conduction failure. NBF was measured using microelectrode hydrogen polarography. Vasopressin was administered topically (to epineurium). Topical epineurial application of vasopressin caused a concentration -dependent reductin of NBF (EC 50 = 6.6 x 10(-9) M; asymptote = 73.9% NBF reduction). The topical application of subthreshold concentrations of vasopressin and norepinephrine alone resulted in no change in NBF, but combined application resulted in a dramatic reduction in NBF (72.3%). The ratio of amplitudes of muscle compound action potential evoked on proximal to distal stimulation was used as an index of the presence of an ischemic conduction block. This ratio was significantly reduced following the combined topical application of supramaximal concentrations of vasopressin and norepinephrine. These findings suggest that vasopressin is a potent neural vasoconstrictor and that vasoconstriction caused by combined vasopressin and norepinephrine can produce partial conduction block of sciatic-tibial nerve [corrected].
Checking Model Assumptions

Every model contains underlying assumptions about its form and about the distribution of error variables. In this chapter discusses methods of checking such assumptions for the one-way analysis of variance model, including checking the normality, constant variance, and independence of the errors. In this chapter, and throughout the book, the model assumption checks are made by examining residual plots. In the case of unequal variances, a transformation of data is suggested as well as methods for data analysis which incorporate unequal variances. The normality assumption is checked through construction of half-normal probability plots. A real experiment illustrates the techniques, and the use of SAS and R software is illustrated.
Survey estimation of domain means that respect natural orderings

Many variables in surveys follow natural orderings that should be respected in estimates of domain means. For instance the U.S. National Compensation Survey estimates mean wages for many job categories, and these mean wages are expected to be non-decreasing according to job level. In this type of situation isotonic regression can be applied to give constrained estimators satisfying the monotonicity. We combine domain estimation and the pooled adjacent violators algorithm to construct new design-weighted constrained estimators. The resulting estimator is the classical design-based domain estimator but after adaptive pooling of neighbouring domains, so that it is both readily implemented in large-scale surveys and easy to explain to data users. Under mild conditions on the sampling design and the population we obtain the asymptotic properties of the estimator. Simulation results also demonstrate improved point estimators and confidence intervals for domain means using linearization- and replication-based variance estimation compared to survey estimators that do not incorporate the constraints. The Canadian Journal of Statistics xx: 1–14; 2016 © 2016 Statistical Society of Canada
Mathematics Play, Problem Solving, and Perseverence

The research presented in this article focuses on the effect of student use of problem solving apps on a tablet PC either prior to (motivation) or immediately after (reward) a classroom assessment. The classroom teacher developed the assessment. Continued practice throughout the school year is measured by collecting data on benchmark testing completed by fifth-grade students in the fall, winter, and spring administrations.The team of the researcher and classroom teacher wanted to study the effect of using tablet computers in the fourth and fifth grade classrooms. Specifically, they wanted the answer to â€œDoes using problem solving apps either as a motivator or reward help students perform differently on classroom assessments and high-stakes tests?â€ This is an important question to answer for student development and the yearly evaluation of the classroom teacher.The two variable groups for the analysis includes the Pretest scaled score and the Posttest scaled score. The purpose of this analysis was to determine if using the problem solving apps helped the students throughout the year with the three administrations of the benchmark testing. Scores for the fall administration represent the Pretest score (PreScale) and the Posttest score (PostScale) were gathered using the spring administration.Descriptive statistics on the two variables show that the posttest score has a much larger standard deviation. However, the difference does not show it as statistically significantly different. The paired t-test showed a calculated test statistic value of 0.000. The use of p=0.05 indicates a rejection of the null hypothesis.The paired sample correlation values concurred with a statistically significantly difference. The correlation value of 0.691 indicates a significance of probability at 0.000. Since the variable change is a positive correlation value, then it is a direct correlation.. The correlation value indicates a strong relationship between the variables.
Introduction to Modal Epistemology After Rationalism

We’re justified in believing some alethic modal claims: the losing team could have won; that bridge could collapse; two and two couldn’t equal five; etc. The epistemology of modality is concerned with the nature of this justification. How can we get it? How can we lose it? And what, exactly, explains why it’s available to us at all? The goal of this book is to give a hearing to those who are moving away from the purer strains of rationalism in modal epistemology, finding room for experience to play a larger justificatory role—or even the only role. At the same time, it makes room for those who want to construct modal epistemologies that answer primarily to ordinary modal claims rather than the ones that have been of interest to metaphysicians and philosophers of mind—e.g., teletransportation, disembodied minds, etc.
University Science Partnerships: What Happens to STEM Interest and Confidence in Middle School and Beyond

Increased demand for qualified students interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) has created a push for greater and more authentic exposure to STEM topics among K-12 students. University science partnerships have been shown to be effective at increasing high school students’ interest and confidence in STEM fields. However, little research to date has explored the effects of these partnerships on students beyond the initial program. This study explored STEM interest and confidence in 322 middle school students involved in a GK-12 program before and immediately after the program, then followed up with the students again in high school. Results indicated that students experienced slight losses in areas of STEM interest and confidence during the program, but greater, significant losses occurred after middle school. Male and female students, however, demonstrated a narrowing STEM aspiration gender gap by high school. Implications for university partnership programs are discussed.
Human Papilloma Virus-positive Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma in the Elderly.

Background/Aim: Elderly patients with HPV+ oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) represent an understudied cohort of the HPV epidemic. We aimed to investigate the clinical presentation, treatment tolerability and outcomes in patient's ≥65 years old with HPV+ OPC. Patients and Methods: We identified all patients aged 65 and older treated at our Institution with HPV+ OPC and analyzed patient demographics, disease characteristics, treatment modalities, toxicities, treatment failures, and survival. Charlson comorbidity index was calculated for each patient. Results: 43 patients were identified with a mean age of median age was 70.0 (range 65-86). The mean Charlson comorbidity index score for the cohort was 5.2. In total, 72.1% of patients received what was considered standard-of-care based on stage and pathological features. Nine point three percent of patients required RT-related treatment breaks with the majority being women (75%). Three-year actuarial overall survival was 85.5% (95% CI: 71.4%-100%) and 3-year disease-free survival was 67.3% (95% CI: 49.7-91.0%). Conclusion: This study presented one of the largest series to date evaluating HPV-related OPC in patients ≥65. Elderly individuals with HPV+ OPC have favorable overall survival with high treatment tolerability independent of Charlson co-morbidity score. Elderly patients should be considered for stage-appropriate care with omission of specific therapies based on absolute contraindications and patient preference, but not assumptions regarding tolerability.
Cardiology Consultation in the Emergency Department Reduces Re-hospitalizations for Low-Socioeconomic Patients with Acute Decompensated Heart Failure.

Abstract Background Re-hospitalization after discharge for acute decompensated heart failure is a common problem. Low-socioeconomic urban patients suffer high rates of re-hospitalization and often over-utilize the emergency department (ED) for their care. We hypothesized that early consultation with a cardiologist in the ED can reduce re-hospitalization and health care costs for low-socioeconomic urban patients with acute decompensated heart failure. Methods There were 392 patients treated at our center for acute decompensated heart failure who received standardized education and follow-up. Patients who returned to the ED received early consultation with a cardiologist; 392 patients who received usual care served as controls. Thirty- and 90-day re-hospitalization, ED re-visits, heart failure symptoms, mortality, and health care costs were recorded. Results Despite guideline-based education and follow-up, the rate of ED re-visits was not different between the groups. However, the rate of re-hospitalization was significantly lower in patients receiving the intervention compared with controls (odds ratio 0.592), driven by a reduction in the risk of readmission from the ED (0.56 vs 0.79, respectively). Patients receiving the intervention accumulated 14% fewer re-hospitalized days than controls and 57% lower 30-day total health care cost. Despite the reduction in health care resource consumption, mortality was unchanged. After accounting for the total cost of intervention delivery, the health care cost savings was substantially greater than the cost of intervention delivery. Conclusion Early consultation with a cardiologist in the ED as an adjunct to guideline-based follow-up is associated with reduced re-hospitalization and health care cost for low-socioeconomic urban patients with acute decompensated heart failure.
RF-Echo: A Non-Line-of-Sight Indoor Localization System Using a Low-Power Active RF Reflector ASIC Tag

Long-range low-power localization is a key technology that enables a host of new applications of wireless sensor nodes. We present RF-Echo, a new low-power RF localization solution that achieves decimeter accuracy in long range indoor non-line-of-sight (NLOS) scenarios. RF-Echo introduces a custom-designed active RF reflector ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) fabricated in a 180nm CMOS process which echoes a frequency-shifted orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signal originally generated from an anchor. The proposed technique is based on time-of-flight (ToF) estimation in the frequency domain that effectively eliminates inter-carrier and inter-symbol interference in multipath-rich indoor NLOS channels. RF-Echo uses a relatively narrow bandwidth of $\leq$80 MHz which does not require an expensive very high sampling rate analog-to-digital converter (ADC). Unlike ultra-wideband (UWB) systems, the active reflection scheme is designed to operate at a relatively low carrier frequency that can penetrate building walls and other blocking objects for challenging NLOS scenarios. Since the bandwidth at lower frequencies (2.4 GHz and sub-1 GHz) is severely limited, we propose novel signal processing algorithms as well as machine learning techniques to significantly enhance the localization resolution given the bandwidth constraint of the proposed system. The newly fabricated tag IC consumes 62.8 mW active power. The software defined radio (SDR) based anchor prototype is rapidly deployable without the need for accurate synchronization among anchors and tags. Field trials conducted in a university building confirm up to 85 m operation with decimeter accuracy for robust 2D localization.
Dea Software Tools and Technology

Today’s DEA practitioners and researchers have a wide range of solution technology choices. Clearly, software is no longer an impediment to the incorporation of DEA into decision-support systems and benchmarking processes. This is evidenced by the availability of interoperable tools with a variety of user interfaces, advanced modeling options, and the power to evaluate large-scale data sets on inexpensive computing platforms. This survey describes and critiques prominent DEA software packages, both commercial and non-commercial, and summarizes the current state of the art.
Exchange coupling effects in Co-Pt nanochessboards

To complement recent experimental findings [Vetter et al., APL Mater. 4, 096103 (2016)] on strong exchange coupling effects in Co-Pt nanochessboards featuring a single peak in the first-order reversal curve density plot and associated magnetic hardening as the characteristic structural dimension is reduced below the critical correlation length, the effects of the strong exchange coupling on the underlying magnetic domains and their evolutions are investigated using micromagnetic simulations. The nanochessboard consists of regularly distributed aligned nanorods of a magnetically hard tetragonal L10 phase and a magnetically soft cubic L12 phase, representing a unique type of exchange-coupled magnetic nanocomposites. The simulations reveal detailed magnetic domain processes specific to the nanochessboard structure and uncover an unusual dependence of the coercivity on the length scale, where an expected magnetic hardening is followed by an unexpected magnetic softening with decreasing characteristic dimensio...
Ideals of Varieties, Irreducible Decomposition, and the Nullstellensatz

The time has come to talk about the various senses in which a variety may be defined by a set of equations. There are three different meanings of the statement that a collection of polynomials {F α (Z)} “cut out” a variety X ⊂ ℙ n , and several different terms are used to convey each of these meanings.
Blood Flow After Retinal Ischemia in Cats

Purpose. To determine the changes in blood flow in the cat retina after 1 hour of ischemia. Methods. Blood flow in the retina and choroid of adult cats anesthetized with chloralose, acepromazine, and halothane was measured using sequential injections of radioactively labeled microspheres. Ischemia was induced by elevation of intraocular pressure above systolic arterial pressure. Measurements were carried out before (baseline) and during ischemia, and at 5, 10, 15, 60, 120, and 240 minutes after the return of ocular circulation. In another two series of cats, blood flow was measured at comparable time periods without ischemia (controls). Arterial blood gas tension, systemic arterial pressure, hematocrit, and anesthetic level were controlled in each experiment. Results. Retinal blood flow was decreased to 6%, and choroidal blood flow to 0.6%, of baseline value during ischemia. Within 5 minutes of the return of ocular circulation, retinal blood flow was approximately 200% of baseline, and choroidal blood flow was 108% of baseline. Blood flow 1 hour after the return of ocular circulation was not significantly different from baseline. There was no late decrease in blood flow after the ischemic period.
Assessing the spawning ecology of fish in situ using a benthic pump sampler

Abstract In situ observations of incubating fish eggs can identify spawning sites and spawning habitat preferences, informing the ecology of fishes with benthic eggs. Suction pumps have been used to sample benthic-incubating, non-adhesive fish eggs, yet their sampling efficiency is not well known. Imperfect or systematically variable egg detection could bias resulting ecological inference if left unaddressed. Here we present results from replicate field trials and examine the effects of varying substrate type, intake design, sampling effort, and egg density on the ability of a gasoline-powered diaphragm pump, rated for 66 gal/min (approx. 250 L/min), to detect egg presence and estimate relative or absolute abundance. A wider box-shaped intake was effective at detecting the presence of eggs on fine, silty substrates, but had limited effectiveness on larger-grained substrates. A narrower cone-shaped intake consistently detected the presence of eggs on silt, gravel, and shallow cobble, and demonstrated potential to measure relative and absolute egg abundance. Neither intake design was able to collect eggs from deep interstitial spaces (e.g. several layers of cobble), indicating that there are limitations to the types of substrates on which benthic sampling pumps can operate. Both intake designs often collected eggs from outside the edge of the intake opening. Most eggs were collected within a two minute period, but increasing pumping time to four minutes produced better egg detection outcomes. Our results suggest that stationary benthic sampling pumps are viable tools for directly sampling incubating eggs on most substrates, but have imperfect and varying sampling efficiency resulting from intake design and substrate type.
Drop Size Distributions in a Treated Oil-Water System

An experimental study was conducted to determine the drop size distributions in a dispersant-treated oil-water system. Two different chemical dispersants, Surflow-OW-I and Corexit 9527, were used. The effect of the methodof application of the dispersants on drop size formation and its distribution was also studied as a function of the input energy and shear rate. The oil-water interfacial area was computed by use of the Sauter mean drop diameter and the dispersed phase holdup. The peak values of the drop size distribution curve have shown a tendency to decrease with increasing energy input. It was also found that the self-mixing dispersant had yielded lower peak values than Surflow-OW-1, indicating finer and better dispersion. The interfacial area was found to increase as the input energy increased.
Symptomatic Long Residual Rectal Cuff Status Post J-Pouch

Leaving too long of a rectal cuff with a total proctocolectomy and J-pouch can lead to problems associated with residual inflammation (cuffitis) and emptying problems. This chapter will evaluate what to do in the patient with the long residual rectal cuff.
Why is Clinical fMRI in a Resting State

While resting state fMRI (rs-fMRI) has gained widespread application in neuroimaging clinical research, its penetration into clinical medicine has been more limited. We surveyed a neuroradiology professional group to ascertain their experience with rs-fMRI, identify perceived barriers to using rs-fMRI clinically and elicit suggestions about ways to facilitate its use in clinical practice. The electronic survey also collected information about demographics and work environment using Likert scales. We found that 90% of the respondents had adequate equipment to conduct rs-fMRI and 82% found rs-fMRI data easy to collect. Fifty-nine percent have used rs-fMRI in their past research and 72% reported plans to use rs-fMRI for research in the next year. Nevertheless, only 40% plan to use rs-fMRI in clinical practice in the next year and 82% agreed that their clinical fMRI use is largely confined to pre-surgical planning applications. To explore the reasons for the persistent low utilization of rs-fMRI in clinical applications, we identified barriers to clinical rs-fMRI use related to the availability of robust denoising procedures, single-subject analysis techniques, demonstration of functional connectivity map reliability, regulatory clearance, reimbursement, and neuroradiologist training opportunities. In conclusion, while rs-fMRI use in clinical neuroradiology practice is limited, enthusiasm appears to be quite high and there are several possible avenues in which further research and development may facilitate its penetration into clinical practice.
submitter : Electroweak symmetry breaking after the Higgs discovery

I give a pedagogical introduction to the physics of electroweak symmetry breaking. Higgs boson production and decay at the LHC and the consistency of the Higgs measurements with triviality arguments, vacuum stability, and precision electroweak measurements are discussed. Effective Lagrangian techniques are used to understand potential deviations from the Standard Model (SM) predictions.
Establishing Processing Priorities: Recommendations from a 2017 Study of Practices in US Repositories

Building upon archival scholarship and previous solutions addressing backlog collections, this study seeks to identify a comprehensive, integrated, and effective strategy to establish and maintain ...
Using Re-scaled Resilience Screening Index Results and Location Quotients for Socio-Ecological Characterizations in U.S. Coastal Regions

In terms of natural hazard events, resilience characterizations provide a means of identifying risk profiles, degrees of preparedness, and the ability of communities to respond and recover. While nationally consistent measures of community resilience to natural hazards are needed to address widespread socio-ecological impacts from a broad policy perspective, geographically specific resilience characterizations are needed to target local resources to increase community resilience. The Climate Resilience index (CRSI) was developed to characterize the resilience of socio-ecological systems in the context of governance and risk to natural hazard events for all U.S. counties for the years 2000-2015. Those resilience characterizations were based on the full range of nationwide county domain scores. This paper presents a re-scaled application of CRSI, where county domain scores are limited to the range of scores within a specific set of U.S. coastal and shoreline counties within each of eight coastal regions. The re-scaled CRSI values for selected counties/parishes in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) region are also presented in conjunction with calculated Location Quotients (LQ) values >1.0, which represent a high employment dependence on ocean economy sectors. Using a combination of re-scaled CRSI and LQ values provides a more holistic picture of vulnerability and resilience in these U.S. coastal shoreline counties. The relative resilience assessments presented for coastal regions are useful in identifying potential strengths and weaknesses in resilience aspects given similar hazard profiles, a signature otherwise diluted in nation-wide county-level assessments. The unique approach of combining CRSI and LQ for characterizing natural hazard resilience described could be transferred to other specific geographies as defined by population groups, hazard profiles and economic dependence.
Speed of gravity

Within the standard effective field theory of general relativity, we show that the speed of gravitational waves deviates, ever so slightly, from luminality on cosmological and other spontaneously Lorentz-breaking backgrounds. This effect results from loop contributions from massive fields of any spin, including Standard Model fields, or from tree level effects from massive higher spins $s\ensuremath{\ge}2$. We show that for the choice of interaction signs implied by $S$-matrix and spectral density positivity bounds suggested by analyticity and causality, the speed of gravitational waves is in general superluminal at low energies on null energy condition preserving backgrounds, meaning gravitational waves travel faster than allowed by the metric to which photons and Standard Model fields are minimally coupled. We show that departure of the speed from unity increases in the IR and argue that the speed inevitably returns to luminal at high energies as required by Lorentz invariance. Performing a special tuning of the effective field theory so that renormalization sensitive curvature-squared terms are set to zero, we find that finite loop corrections from Standard Model fields still lead to an epoch dependent modification of the speed of gravitational waves which is determined by the precise field content of the lightest particles with masses larger than the Hubble parameter today. Depending on interpretation, such considerations could potentially have far-reaching implications on light scalar models, such as axionic or fuzzy cold dark matter.
The Global Crisis and the Subsidies to Manufacturing Firms

The 2008-2009 global crisis has severely affected the world economy. Most national governments utilized fiscal policy measures including subsidies to reinforce and sustain their economies. In this study we examine the impact of the 2008-2009 global crisis on subsidies paid to manufacturing firms either by their governments or the European Union (i.e. EU). Our results indicate that, overall, a significantly larger proportion of firms had received subsidies after the global crisis. When we look into different subgroups, we find that firm size, female ownership, female management, and quality certification did not matter (more firms in all of these subgroups had received subsidies). On the other hand, our results demonstrate that firm type and top manager’s experience level made a difference in terms of subsidies received after the crisis.
Serious illness communication practices in glioblastoma care at an academic medical center.

28Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive primary brain tumor with a disease course marked by both cognitive and physical decline. Early conversations about end-of-life (EOL) preferences ar...
Urinary incontinence and chronic conditions in the US population age 50 years and older

Urinary incontinence is common among older adults with chronic conditions. The purpose of this study is to examine the association of urinary incontinence with chronic conditions in the US population. We used data from the 2001–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; 7226 women and 7239 men age > 50 years answered questions regarding urinary symptoms. The analysis accounted for the complex survey design, and prevalence reflects estimates within the non-institutionalized US population. The mean age was 64.2 years [standard error (SE) 0.2] among women and 62.9 (SE 0.1) years among men. Bothersome stress, urgency and mixed incontinence were reported by 6.7% (SE 0.4), 4.8% (SE 0.4) and 19.3% (SE 0.59) of women, respectively, and 0.6% (SE 0.1), 3.5% (SE 0.2) and 1.9% (SE 0.2) of men, respectively. Among chronic conditions, heart failure was associated with higher prevalence of mixed incontinence in women and urgency incontinence in men. Among women, heart failure was associated with significantly increased odds of bothersome mixed incontinence (OR 2.35; 95% CI 1.62, 3.42) and lower odds of stress (OR 0.50; 95% CI 0.3, 0.9) or urgency incontinence (OR 0.43; 95% CI 0.19, 0.98) after adjustment for covariates. Among men, heart failure was associated with higher odds of stress (OR 1.99; 95% CI 0.39, 10.22), urgency (1.65; 95% CI 0.91, 2.99) and mixed incontinence (OR 1.54; 95% CI 0.91, 2.62) but associations were not statistically significant. Heart failure is associated with higher odds of bothersome incontinence, especially among women.