cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Micro Cryogenic Coolers With Mixed Refrigerants

A number of small electronic devices benefit from micro-scale low temperature operation. Recently we have developed micro cryogenic coolers (MCCs) using a low-pressure, mixed-refrigerant Joule-Thomson cycle. The cryocoolers utilizes a MEMS-enabled gas compressor coupled to a micro cold stage. Two cold stages have been developed: one which uses a fiber-enabled heat exchanger assembled to a micro-machined throttling valve, and another which uses a MEMS-based heat exchanger. A microcompressor has been developed which uses MEMS-based check valves coupled to a membrane, which is actuated with a mechanically amplified piezoelectric amplifier. The compressor measures a volume 15 mL, can generate a pressure ratio of 6:1 and a maximum flow-rate of 60 standard mL/min. The complete cryocooler has reached low temperatures of 177 K, although temperature instability has been an issue, due to 2-phase flow through the micro-channels. This paper will cover the development and testing of the micro cryogenic cooler, as well as an analysis of the micro channel flow. A proper understanding of the micro-channel flow allows us to design refrigerant mixtures to improve the cooling power, and modify the cooler to eliminate temperature instabilities.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
The influence of material parameters on nonuniform plastic flow in simple tension

Abstract The development of nonuniform plastic flow in a strain hardening and strain rate sensitive metal is examined under simple tension. The analytical model assumes that the localized deformation develops from an initial geometric nonuniformity in the test specimen and the axial stress is uniform in the cross section. All the material constants and parameters in the constitutive equation are derived from simple tension and load relaxation tests for a variety of metals. It is shown that the early stage of localized deformation as indicated by the computed profiles of the gage section is in good agreement with the experimental data. The results of the computed and experimental stress-strain curves are also in agreement, except at the final stage of necking where the hydrostatic stress is known to play an important role. Implications of the computed limiting strain and gage section strain with changes in material parameters are discussed by comparing the results with measured strains to fracture.
Concanavalin A reduces habituation in the tectum of the frog.

Abstract In the tectum of Rana pipiens , responses to repeated flashes of light to the ipsilateral eye display considerable habituation. We have employed the plant lectin concanavalin A (Con A), which can diminish desensitization of glutamate receptors in vitro, in order to examine whether desensitization of glutamate receptors contributes to this habituation. The ipsilateral eye's projection reaches each tectal lobe indirectly, being relayed from the opposite tectal lobe via the tecto-isthmo-tectal projection. One of the sites along this pathway at which habituation may take place is the retinotectal synapse, where glutamate is a putative transmitter. Pretreatment of one lobe of the tectum with Con A significantly diminished the habituation of responses recorded in the other tectal lobe to light offset, with less of an effect on responses to light onset. These data suggest that OFF habituation may reflect glutamate receptor desensitization at the retinotectal synapse. In contrast, recordings from retinotectal terminals indicate that a primary site of habituation of ON responses is within the retina.
Differential Sensitivity of P-Rex1 to Isoforms of G Protein βγ Dimers

Abstract P-Rex1 is a specific guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for Rac, which is present in high abundance in brain and hematopoietic cells. P-Rex1 is dually regulated by phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate and the Gβγ subunits of heterotrimeric G proteins. We examined which of the multiple G protein α and βγ subunits activate P-Rex1-mediated Rac guanine nucleotide exchange using pure, recombinant proteins reconstituted into synthetic lipid vesicles. AlF–4 activated Gs,Gi,Gq,G12, or G13 α subunits were unable to activate P-Rex1. Gβγ dimers containing Gβ1–4 complexed with γ2 stimulated P-Rex1 activity with EC50 values ranging from 10 to 20 nm. Gβ5γ2 was not able to stimulate P-Rex1 GEF activity. Dimers containing the β1 subunit complexed with a panel of different Gγ subunits varied in their ability to stimulate P-Rex1. The β1γ3, β1γ7, β1γ10, and β1γ13HA dimers all activated P-Rex1 with EC50 values ranging from 20 to 38 nm. Dimers composed of β1γ12 had lower EC50 values (∼112 nm). The farnesylated γ11 subunit is highly expressed in hematopoietic cells; surprisingly, dimers containing this subunit (β1γ11) were also less effective at activating P-Rex1. These findings suggest that the composition of the Gβγ dimer released by receptor activation may differentially activate P-Rex1.
An iterative method for exact maximum likelihood estimation of the parameters of a harmonic series

A procedure is described for determining the exact maximum-likelihood (ML) estimates of the parameters of a harmonic series (i.e. the fundamental frequency, and the amplitude and phase of each harmonic). Existing ML methods are only approximate in the sense that terms present due to mixing between the harmonics are ignored; these terms asymptotically reduce to zero as the sample size increases to infinity. It is argued that these terms can be significant for short signal lengths. The application of the expectation-maximization algorithm results in an iterative procedure that converges to a stationary point on the true parameter likelihood surface. If global convergence results, this point yields the exact ML estimates. Simulation studies illustrate the advantages of the method when short data lengths are used. >
Multiprocessor and operating system design for signal processing on an FPGA

Multiprocessor systems are a way to increment the flexibility and performance of embedded computing engines. These systems, which rely on application parallelization, require a different design paradigm than system-on-a-chip (SoC), which does not scale to multicore systems. This paper presents a single FPGA multiprocessor development platform with network style interconnects for signal processing applications. Along with the computing platform, a custom built operating system is presented. The operating system presented in this work is called LightOS. LightOS is a lightweight operating system targeted at signal processing applications. The multiprocessor platform is functionally verified through the use of an FFT benchmark application. Furthermore, the study shows that the embedded platform combined with LightOS is suitable for signal processing algorithm development on an FPGA.
An Experimental Study of Light Scattering by Large, Irregular Particles

The intensity and polarization of light scattered by a variety of types of artificial partices large compared to the wavelength were measured as a function of phase angle. Shape, surface roughness, absorption coefficient, and internal scattering coefficient were varied systematically and their effects studied. Scattering by clear, smooth-surfaced spheres is in quantitative agreement with the predictions of the geometrical optics (ray theory) approximation to physical optics (Mie theory). The phase functions of almost all of the particles measured have both forward and backward scattering lobes. A two-parameter, double Henyey-Greenstein function generally provides reasonably good descriptions of the data, while keeping the number of free parameters to the minimum necessary. On a double Henyey- Greenstein parameter plot all of the particles fall into an L-shaped area of restricted size in which the location is characteristic of the particle type. Formalisms based on the equivalent slab model are also given for estimating the scattering efficiency of a large, irregular particle. For most dielectric particles the transmitted, forward scattered light is partially negatively polarized. It is this component that is respopnsible for the well-known maximum in the polarization curves of planetary regoliths at phase angles around 100 deg. For phase angles between about 30 deg and 70 deg the internally scattered light is found to be randomly polarized in the particles studied here, so that the only contribution to the second component of the Stokes vector is by Fresnel reflection from the particle surface. If this empirical result is general, measurement of the second Stokes vector of the light scattered from a regolith at these angles may provide a method of remotely measuring the mean refractive index.
The effect of hypothermia on neuronal viability following cardiopulmonary bypass and circulatory arrest in newborn piglets

Objective: To determine the effect of recovery with mild hypothermia after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) on the activity of selected key proteins involved in initiation (Bax, Caspase-3) or inhibition of apoptotic injury (Bcl-2, increased ratio Bcl-2/Bax) in the brain of newborn piglets. Methods: The piglets were placed on CPB, cooled with pH-stat management to 18 °C, subjected to 30 min of DHCA followed by 1 h of low flow at 20 ml/kg/min, rewarmed to 37 C (normothermia) or to 33 °C (hypothermia), separated from CPB, and monitored for 6 h. Expression of above proteins was measured in striatum, hippocampus and frontal cortex by Western blots. The results are mean for six experiments ± SEM. Results: There were no significant differences in Bcl-2 level between normothermic and hypothermic groups. The Bax levels in normothermic group in cortex, hippocampus and striatum were 94 ± 9, 136 ± 22 and 125 ± 34 and decreased in the hypothermic group to 59 ± 17 (p=0.028), 70 ± 6 (p=0.002) and 48 ± 8 (p=0.01). In cortex, hippocampus and striatum Bcl-2/Bax ratio increased from 1.23, 0.79 and 0.88 in normothermia to 1.96, 1.28 and 2.92 in hypothermia. Expression of Caspase-3 was 245 ± 39, 202 ± 74 and 244 ± 31 in cortex, hippocampus and striatum in the normothermic group and this decreased to 146 ± 24 (p = 0.018), 44 ± 16(p = 7 × 10 -7 ) and 81 ± 16 (p = 0.01) in the hypothermic group. Conclusion: In neonatal piglet model of cardiopulmonary bypass with circulatory arrest, mild hypothermia during post bypass recovery provides significant protection from cellular apoptosis, as indicated by lower expression of Bax and Caspase-3 and an increased Bcl-2/Bax ratio. The biggest protection was observed in striatum probably by decreasing of neurotoxicity of striatal dopamine.
Bandwidth Improvements for Peak-Current Controlled Voltage Regulators

To ensure the current sharing among the interleaved phases, the peak-current control is widely used in the voltage regulator (VR) applications. Meanwhile, to save the cost and footprint by reducing the output capacitance, high control bandwidths are mandatory. Because of the sample-hold effect in the peak-current loop, there exist stringent challenges to the high-bandwidth designs for VRs. In this paper, the influence from the sample-hold effect is investigated to clarify the difference between the VR and conventional applications. After that, two approaches for higher bandwidth are introduced. To decrease the phase delay due to the sample-hold related double poles, excessive external ramps are inserted to the modulators. To increase the effective sampling frequency, the phase inductor currents are coupled, either by the coupled-inductor structure or through the feedback control. In addition, a small-signal model including the sample-hold effect is derived for the coupled-inductor buck to explain the improvement. High-bandwidth designs are verified by the simulation and experimental results. A bandwidth of one-third switching frequency is demonstrated with a coupled-inductor VR.
Evaluation of Health Education Programs: Current Assessment and Future Directions

Recently there has been an increase in the different types of strategies used in health education interventions, including an emphasis on broadening programs focused on individual behavior change to include larger units of practice. There has also been an increasing critique of the traditional physical science paradigm for evaluating the multiple dimensions inherent in many interventions. Additionally, there is a growing recognition of the importance of involving multiple stakeholders in designing, implementing, and evaluating interventions. Each of these factors carries specific evaluation challenges. With the overall aim of strengthening the evaluation of health education programs, this article aims to (a) present conceptual and technical design issues and options, (b) describe different approaches to evaluation, (c) highlight evaluation approaches that have been effective, (d) critique the limitations of traditional evaluation approaches, (e) examine promising approaches and implications for future evaluations, and (f) provide recommendations for evaluation designs, data collection methods, roles, responsibilities, and principles for evaluating interventions.
University Engineering Faculty Depend on Scholarly Journals, Web Resources, and Face- to-Face Consultations to Help Them with Research

Objective – To study the information-seeking behaviour of engineering faculty. Design – Online survey; Purposive sample. Setting – Engineering departments of 20 large public universities in various regions of the United States. Subjects – 903 engineering faculty members (including 35% professors; 24% associate professors, 23% assistant professors, and 17% ranked as adjunct faculty, instructors, lecturers, professors emeriti and “other”). Methods – 4905 researchers were sent an email invitation to complete a 12-item survey with open and closed questions. Email addresses were gathered from university websites. Main Results – 96% of those surveyed find access to online scholarly journals (current and backfiles) as very important or important. 71% believe access to the physical book collection is very important or important. 56% feel that access to electronic book collections is very important or important. (Further analysis revealed a difference between newer and older faculty- 62% of newer faculty and 52% of faculty in field for 16 or more years think electronic book collections are important). Print subscriptions to journals are important to only 37% of respondents, and providing space to conduct research is important to only 36% of those surveyed. Besides attending conferences and scanning journals, face-to-face discussion with students and colleagues was a key resource for faculty for keeping current in the engineering field. 81% seek information at least weekly to prepare for lectures, about 74% at least monthly to conduct research or write publications, and 77% at least monthly to remain current in their field. 73% visited the physical library fewer than five times in the past year, but researchers were surprised that almost half (47%) rated assistance from library staff as important or very important. 70% see interlibrary loan services as important or very important. Conclusion – Engineering faculty rely on scholarly journals, Internet, and other electronic resources for their research. They depend on face-to-face consultations with students and colleagues. The physical space of the library is less important.
Emergency medicine in Vietnam.

Abstract The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is one of the poorest countries in the world. Recent economic developments, as the country attempts to start a market economy, have had a profound impact on its health care system. This report describes the state of prehospital and emergency medical care in Vietnam and possibilities for the future. [Richards JR: Emergency medicine in Vietnam. Ann Emerg Med April 1997;29:543-545.]
Defects in Decomposed YBa2Cu4Ox(124) Superconductor after Rapid Annealing

Decomposition of 124 into 123 has been studied after rapid annealing at temperatures from 800°C to 1000°C. It was found that the superconducting transition temperature (Tc) depended on the annealing temperature and atmosphere. For decomposed samples, fine-scale defects with strong strain contrast are observed in the 123 matrix. High-resolution electron microscopy studies show that the defects are parallel to the (001) planes of the 123 matrix. The length of the defects varies andranges from 5 nm to 50 nm in the direction parallel to the (001) planes. The defects have been interpreted to be copper oxides, which could be flux pinning centers in these materials.
Diffuse pollution from agriculture - a worldwide outlook

Until the 1950s most farming was carried out on smaller family farms that used organic fertilizers and essentially their waste production was easily assimilated by soils and receiving water bodies. The period post 1950 has seen a worldwide shift to larger monocultural, intensively operated farm units. The farm yields have increased dramatically, however, to sustain the increasing yields and productivity farms are using large quantities of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. At the same time, deforestation has occurred on a large scale since the 1950s and the deforested land has been converted to agricultural (mostly in developing countries) and urban (both developed and undeveloped countries) land uses. Also, a massive shift of population from rural areas to the cities has occurred in developing countries since the 1950s. Surface and groundwater quality degradation due to agricultural practices and conversion of land to agriculture can be categorized as follows: a) degradation due to land use conversion from native lands to agriculture; b) increased erosion and soil loss due to agricultural practices; c) chemical pollution by fertilizers and pesticides; and d) pollution from animal operations. Abatement of agricultural diffuse sources of pollution can and must be conducted in the context of moving toward sustainable agriculture. Some trends toward sustainable agriculture are already emerging in the US and Europe.
Discordant expression of miR-103/7 and pantothenate kinase host genes in mouse

miR-103 and miR-107, microRNAs hosted by pantothenate kinase genes, are proposed to regulate cellular lipid metabolism. microRNA-mediated regulation is complex, potentially affecting expression of the host gene, related enzymes within the same pathway, or apparently distinct targets. Using qRT-PCR, we demonstrate that miR-103 and miR-107 expression does not correlate with expression of host pantothenate kinase genes in mouse tissues. The miR-103/7 family thus provides an intriguing model for dissecting microRNA transcription, processing and coordinated function within host genes.
The importance of understanding the molecular mechanism of stem cell-induced cardiac tissue repair.

Skirball Laboratory for Cardiovascular Cellular Therapeutics, Department of Integrative Medical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, 4209 St Rt. 44. Rootstown, OH 44272, USA and Summa Cardiovascular Institute, Summa Health System, Akron, OH, USA Tel.: +1 216 835 8503 Fax: +1 866 299 7071 mpenn2@neomed.com The importance of understanding the molecular mechanism of stem cell-induced cardiac tissue repair
Interventional Molecular Imaging

Recent common interest in molecular imaging among both diagnostic and interventional radiologists has led to the establishment of a concept that could be called interventional molecular imaging. This concept, by combining interventional radiology with molecular imaging, is aiming to fully apply the advantages of both imaging fields. Interventional radiology can extend the capabilities of currently available molecular imaging techniques to (a) reach deep-seated targets, (b) enable a close look at small targets, (c) precisely guide delivery of nontargeted imaging tracers or therapeutic agents, and (d) superselectively enhance the effectiveness of targeted imaging and treatment. Interventional molecular imaging is becoming one of the frameworks for bringing molecular imaging from benches and small-animal laboratories to large-animal suites and, ultimately, to certain clinical applications in humans. (c) RSNA, 2010.
Using quartz crystal microbalances to simultaneously sense mass accumulation and solution properties

A lumped-element equivalent circuit model is presented that describes the near-resonance electrical characteristics of a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) simultaneously loaded by a surface mass layer and a contacting liquid. The model was derived by solving the boundary-value problem for coupled mechanical displacement and electrical potential; this results in circuit elements that are explicitly related to physical properties of the quartz, the perturbing mass layer, and the contacting liquid. The effects of mass and/or liquid loading on the admittance-vs.-frequency behavior are predicted from the model and compared with experimental impedance analyzer measurements. Surface mass accumulation causes a simple translation in frequency of the resonance peak, while increasing the density-viscosity product of the contacting solution causes both a translation and a damping of the resonance peak. Using the model, changes in surface mass can be differentiated from changes in solution properties. >
A Comparison of Carbon and Graphite Electrodes

The electrode material in which the sample is excited is an important factor in spectrochemical analysis. While physical differences between carbon and graphite electrodes are found to be slight, a difference in consumption rates in a direct-current arc is observed. Thermal conductivity of the electrode material produces a temperature gradient which, along with arc conditions, determines electrode consumption rates. Selective volatilization of impurity elements as well as intensities of impurity spectral lines are modified by changes in consumption rates.
Automatically identifying gene/protein terms in MEDLINE abstracts

Motivation. Natural language processing (NLP) techniques are used to extract information automatically from computer-readable literature. In biology, the identification of terms corresponding to biological substances (e.g., genes and proteins) is a necessary step that precedes the application of other NLP systems that extract biological information (e.g., protein-protein interactions, gene regulation events, and biochemical pathways). We have developed GPmarkup (for "gene/protein-full name mark up"), a software system that automatically identifies gene/protein terms (i.e., symbols or full names) in MEDLINE abstracts. As a part of marking up process, we also generated automatically a knowledge source of paired gene/protein symbols and full names (e.g., LARD for lymphocyte associated receptor of death) from MEDLINE. We found that many of the pairs in our knowledge source do not appear in the current GenBank database. Therefore our methods may also be used for automatic lexicon generation.Results. GPmarkup has 73% recall and 93% precision in identifying and marking up gene/protein terms in MEDLINE abstracts.Availability: A random sample of gene/protein symbols and full names and a sample set of marked up abstracts can be viewed at http://www.cpmc.columbia.edu/homepages/yuh9001/GPmarkup/. Contact. hy52@columbia.edu. Voice: 212-939-7028; fax: 212-666-0140.
O i isoelectronic sequence: Transitions 2p 4 –2p 3 3s

Energy levels and wavelengths of lines of the oxygen isoelectronic sequence due to transitions of the type 2s22p4–2s22p33s are presented for K xii through Mn xvii, and are compared with previous identifications, where available. Two additional lines due to this transition array are also observed for Cl x. The identifications were made by graphic extrapolation and comparison with published semi-empirical theoretical calculations.
Artificially Induced Thyroid Suppression in Sickle Cell Disease

Depression of thyroid function in patients with hemoglobin SS disease might be expected to: (1) reduce tissue oxygen consumption, (2) decrease erythrocyte 2, 3-diphosphoglycerate, (3) decrease p50, (4) increase the average level of erythrocyte oxygenation, and (5) increase in vivo red cell survival with associated improvement in anemia and possibly in musculoskeletal symptoms. Accordingly, 150-200 mg of 6-n-propylthiouracil were administered three times a day for 143 days to a 21-yr-old male with hemoglobin SS disease. Thyrosuppression was indicated by typical symptoms and appropriate changes in physical and biochemical parameters. Detailed hematologic follow-up, including multiple measurements of red cell mass, 51Cr erythrocyte survival, red cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate, and p50, showed no change. Furthermore, musculoskeletal symptoms continued in the pattern characteristic of the euthyroid state. A possible explanation for the lack of any change in clinical status may be that decreased cardiac output, with attendant prolonged circulation time and increased tissue oxygen demand per red cell per unit time, offset the absolute decrease in tissue oxygen consumption. The study provided an opportunity to make detailed clinical observations of sickle cell disease in association with thyroid suppression. The results suggest that thyrosuppression within the limits of symptomatic and physiologic tolerance has no therapeutic application in the clinical management of hemoglobin SS disease.
Stability Behavior Illustrated By Simple Models

Lumped parameter models, consisting of rigid bars and extensional and rotational springs, are used to study the stability of structural members. The linear as well as the nonlinear, post-buckling behavior of columns, frames, plates and shells is simulated by means of one and two degree of freedom models. The mathematical simplification resulting from the use of the models makes it possible to explain complex stability phenomenons such as snap-through buckling in shells and the presence of primary bending in frames in simple terms.
Spatially-coupled codes for write-once memories

The focus of this article is on low-complexity capacity-achieving coding schemes for write-once memory (WOM) systems. The construction is based on spatially-coupled compound LDGM/LDPC codes. Both noiseless systems and systems with read errors are considered. Compound LDGM/LDPC codes are known to achieve capacity under MAP decoding for the closely related Gelfand-Pinsker problem and their coset decomposition provides an elegant way to encode the messages while simultaneously providing error protection. The application of compound codes to the WOM system is new. The main result is that spatial coupling enables these codes to achieve the capacity region of the 2-write WOM system with low-complexity message-passing encoding and decoding algorithms.
Some Thoughts on Improving Undergraduates' Mathematical Quality

Aiming at the problems of university mathematics education,and combining with years of teaching experience,it is pointed out that mathematical quality education should be strengthened,and the quality of students in mathematics be improved,while the reform of teaching measures,teaching methods,and even the teaching content should be launched around this theme.
Pancreatic cells play switcheroo

Type I diabetes occurs when the insulin-producing β cells of the pancreas are destroyed. To move away from insulin injections, recent research has focused on the development of cell-based therapies for long-term diabetes control, which involves the transfer of insulin-producing stem cells or human
Infection Control in Burns: Topical and Systemic

Infection accounts for nearly 50 per cent of the fatalities reported in burn patients. The use of topical antibacterial agents saw a rebirth following development of a better understanding of the pathology of the burn wound itself, and the current thrust of management relates to absorption of an antibacterial agent directly through the eschar. An approach to total care of the burned patient which is designed to minimize the possibility of infection will further contribute to improved survival.
Operator Algebraic Methods for Laser Cavity Modes

Wave dynamics in a source free region of space is governed by a homogeneous wave equation of the form: $$ {\nabla ^2}\psi - \frac{1}{{{c^2}}}\frac{{{\partial ^2}\psi }}{{\partial {t^2}}} = 0. $$
Intrathymic Injection of Fetal and Adult CD4−8− Thymocytes: Analysis of Thymic and Peripheral Progeny

We have examined the development of mature peripheral T cells from intrathymically injected fetal or adult CD4−8− thymic precursors. Thymic and peripheral progeny of FACS-purified adult or day 14 fetal CD4−8− thymocytes were characterized by three-color FACS analysis at various time points following injection into sublethally irradiated, Thy-1 congenic adult mice. The intrathymic progeny of 105−3 × 105 adult CD4−8− thymocytes represented up to 20% of the total thymocytes at 1 week post-injection, but declined rapidly thereafter. Within the thymus, donor-derived cells rapidly acquired CD4 and CD8 expression; by 1 week post-injection greater than 97% were CD4+8+. Reconstituted thymic lobes analyzed at 2 weeks contained normal proportions of CD4−8−, CD4+8−, CD4−8+, and CD4+8+ donor-derived thymocytes. At later time points (3 to 5 weeks), donor-derived cells of the CD4+8+ phenotype declined in proportion with a concomitant increase in the proportions of CD4+8− and CD4−8+ cells. These results suggest that adult CD4−8− cells transiently colonize the thymus, giving rise primarily to CD4+8+ cells that show a limited intrathymic life span.
Scalable Dynamic Topic Modeling with Clustered Latent Dirichlet Allocation (CLDA).

Topic modeling, a method for extracting the underlying themes from a collection of documents, is an increasingly important component of the design of intelligent systems enabling the sense-making of highly dynamic and diverse streams of text data. Traditional methods such as Dynamic Topic Modeling (DTM) do not lend themselves well to direct parallelization because of dependencies from one time step to another. In this paper, we introduce and empirically analyze Clustered Latent Dirichlet Allocation (CLDA), a method for extracting dynamic latent topics from a collection of documents. Our approach is based on data decomposition in which the data is partitioned into segments, followed by topic modeling on the individual segments. The resulting local models are then combined into a global solution using clustering. The decomposition and resulting parallelization leads to very fast runtime even on very large datasets. Our approach furthermore provides insight into how the composition of topics changes over time and can also be applied using other data partitioning strategies over any discrete features of the data, such as geographic features or classes of users. In this paper CLDA is applied successfully to seventeen years of NIPS conference papers (2,484 documents and 3,280,697 words), seventeen years of computer science journal abstracts (533,560 documents and 32,551,540 words), and to forty years of the PubMed corpus (4,025,978 documents and 273,853,980 words).
Outward foreign direct investment, offshore outsourcing and local network resilience in industrial districts

ABSTRACTThe internationalization of production activities is having a profound impact on regional economies. In this regard, it is generating externalities not only in the countries where production is offshored, but also in the domestic networks in which the internationalizing firms are located. Therefore, this paper investigates the effects of outward foreign direct investment and offshore outsourcing activities on domestic supplier populations in industrial districts (IDs). The aim is to evaluate the ability of these systems to react to the structural shocks associated with internationalization strategies. The results show that local network resilience is generally higher in advanced forms of IDs, where the role of large firms or service activities is more relevant.
Does the Presence of Anxiety and ADHD Symptoms Add to Social Impairment in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience internalizing and externalizing problems at higher rates than typically developing children, which could worsen social impairment. The present study compared impairment scores (social responsiveness scale, 2nd edition; SRS-2 scores) in 57 children (3-17 years, 82.5% male) with ASD, either with or without heightened levels of anxiety or ADHD symptoms, all per parent report. Children with heightened anxiety problems showed higher scores on four SRS-2 subscales (Social Cognition, Social Communication, Social Motivation, and Restricted Interests and Repetitive Behavior). Children with heightened ADHD traits showed higher scores on two subscales (Social Communication and Social Awareness). These findings suggest similarities and differences in how social deficits in ASD may worsen with anxiety or ADHD symptoms.
Underwater treadmill training and gait ability in the normal adult

[Purpose] Our working hypothesis is that underwater treadmill training improves normal people's gait ability. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty-five healthy subjects with no orthopedic history of lower extremity were recruited. Gait training is performed using an underwater treadmill (HydroTrack® Underwater Treadmill System, Conray, Inc., Phoenix, AZ, USA), for twenty minutes per session, five sessions a week for four weeks. The water temperature was set at about 33 °C and the depth was fixed to reach between the subjects' xiphoid process and the navel. [Results] After the intervention, step length, velocity, and cadence increased significantly. [Conclusion] This study conducted underwater treadmill training with normal people, with positive effects on gait ability.
Existence Theorems: The Use of Mere Pointwise Convergence on the Trajectories

The existence theorems of this chapter are based on pointwise convergence of the trajectories and on the use of Helly’s selection theorem. To present these existence theorems we first state Helly’s theorem in Section 15.1, and then we state and prove some closure theorems based on mere pointwise convergence in Section 15.2 which are similar to those we proved in Section 8.6 for uniform convergence. Corresponding existence theorems for Lagrange problems of the Calculus of Variations and for problems of optimal control are stated and proved in Sections 15.3 and 15.4. Examples are given in Section 15.5.
Evaluating the role of wild songbirds or rodents in spreading avian influenza virus across an agricultural landscape

Background Avian influenza virus (AIV) infections occur naturally in wild bird populations and can cross the wildlife-domestic animal interface, often with devastating impacts on commercial poultry. Migratory waterfowl and shorebirds are natural AIV reservoirs and can carry the virus along migratory pathways, often without exhibiting clinical signs. However, these species rarely inhabit poultry farms, so transmission into domestic birds likely occurs through other means. In many cases, human activities are thought to spread the virus into domestic populations. Consequently, biosecurity measures have been implemented to limit human-facilitated outbreaks. The 2015 avian influenza outbreak in the United States, which occurred among poultry operations with strict biosecurity controls, suggests that alternative routes of virus infiltration may exist, including bridge hosts: wild animals that transfer virus from areas of high waterfowl and shorebird densities. Methods Here, we examined small, wild birds (songbirds, woodpeckers, etc.) and mammals in Iowa, one of the regions hit hardest by the 2015 avian influenza epizootic, to determine whether these animals carry AIV. To assess whether influenza A virus was present in other species in Iowa during our sampling period, we also present results from surveillance of waterfowl by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Unites Stated Department of Agriculture. Results Capturing animals at wetlands and near poultry facilities, we swabbed 449 individuals, internally and externally, for the presence of influenza A virus and no samples tested positive by qPCR. Similarly, serology from 402 animals showed no antibodies against influenza A. Although several species were captured at both wetland and poultry sites, the overall community structure of wild species differed significantly between these types of sites. In contrast, 83 out of 527 sampled waterfowl tested positive for influenza A via qPCR. Discussion These results suggest that even though influenza A viruses were present on the Iowa landscape at the time of our sampling, small, wild birds and rodents were unlikely to be frequent bridge hosts.
Nonoperative management of pectus excavatum with vacuum bell therapy: A single center study

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine variables predictive of an excellent correction using vacuum bell therapy for nonoperative treatment of pectus excavatum. Methods A single institution, retrospective evaluation (IRB 15-01-WC-0024) of variables associated with an excellent outcome in pectus excavatum patients treated with vacuum bell therapy was performed. An excellent correction was defined as a chest wall depth equal to the mean depth of a reference group of 30 male children without pectus excavatum. Results Over 4years (11/2012–11/2016) there were 180 patients enrolled with 115 available for analysis in the treatment group. The reference group had a mean chest wall depth of 0.51cm. An excellent correction (depth≤0.51cm) was achieved in 23 (20%) patients. Patient characteristics predictive of an excellent outcome included initial age≤11years (OR=3.3,p=.013), initial chest wall depth≤1.5cm (OR=4.6,p=.003), and chest wall flexibility (OR=14.8,p Conclusion Nonoperative management of pectus excavatum with vacuum bell therapy results in an excellent correction in a small percentage of patients. Variables predictive of an excellent outcome include age≤11years, chest wall depth≤1.5cm, chest wall flexibility, and vacuum bell use over 12 consecutive months. Type of study Retrospective chart review. Level of evidence Level III treatment study.
Exploring business students' creative problem-solving preferences

Past research has established the importance of problem solving to business success. The authors explored the creative problem-solving (CPS) preferences of business students, addressing two primary...
Weight Training in Middle School Athletics: Editor: Thomas H. Sawyer

The family of a sixth grader filed a lawsuit against his middle school football coach and school after he suffered from compression fractures in his spine during weight training on school grounds, where a coach generally supervised the student as he attempted to squat more than two times his body weight.
Adaptive Thermal Management of Implantable Device

The temperature increase in the surrounding tissue caused by the operation of neural prosthesis has raised growing concern as the device becomes more powerful. In this paper, a real-time adaptive thermal management method is developed for implantable devices to optimize their operation while maintaining a safe operating temperature. The method adopts a simplified thermal model for supporting real-time control and updates the model parameters online using a proposed recursive multi-step prediction error minimization method. The performance of the developed thermal management method is evaluated using simulation studies, and the results show that it can achieve longer operation time and better overall performance while maintaining the safe operating temperature. In addition, the developed thermal model is validated using both the COMSOL simulation and an in vitro experiment.
The Mekong Imaginary: From Apocalypse Then to Anthropocene Now

The Mekong River is the 12th longest river in the world, around 4500 km, and until recently has been remarkable among its class of rivers for not being “developed.” Though intensely used by people who live near, on, and in the Mekong, and though several substantial irrigation projects historically have structured portions of the Mekong Basin and the Mekong Delta, until recently the Mekong has been free of major hydroelectric dams and regional irrigation projects. Just how this relatively undeveloped but highly used river has been imagined by observers can be summarized by what cultural studies specialists call an “imaginary” – a complex of perceptions and expressions that collectively represent, in this case, a geographical phenomenon. The 1978 American film Apocalypse Now, about the Vietnam War, provided an enormously influential depiction of a long stretch of the Mekong – by way of its fictional stand-in, the Nung River, on which most of the action in the film took place. This film was deeply influenced in turn by the classic novella Heart of Darkness by the Polish-English writer Joseph Conrad – what Edward Said has decisively explained as an important anti-imperialist imperialist work of literature. In the 1990s and the first decade of this century, several dam-building projects, planned and now being constructed, have begun to domesticate the river for high-level exploitation. These projects and the responses to them have also encouraged a regional understanding of the Mekong, on a larger scale and as a basin and region rather than as a single thread of access into a place of unmitigated darkness. Paradoxically, hydroelectric dam projects and visions for regional exploitation of the Mekong – and struggles over who gets a say and how to manage that exploitation – have also encouraged regional approaches to managing fisheries, riverine environmental, and conservation efforts. This chapter discusses these collective imaginings with the purpose of encouraging a more reflective understanding of a geography that is often taken for granted in efforts to manage the Mekong.
Labor Market Conditions and Migration in Japan

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between labor market conditions and population migration. More than half of all long-distance migration for the 15–64 age group is by young people in their twenties or younger, indicating a relatively high mobility of the young. The migration of young people tends to be in response to regional imbalances in the state of the labor market. Most of them move alone, without their families, and live in single person households in their new place of residence. Migration decreases with age, that is, after the twenties, because other constraints deter mobility. On the basis of the results of this study, regional population policy or planning that aims to increase net migrations should be conducted in combination with employment policy, especially for improving the regional job market for young people.
Observed interactions between boundary-layer mesoscale frontal features during summers in the Carolinas coastal region of eastern USA

In the Carolinas of the United States, there are two significant land-surface features, the coastline and the Sandhills (inland), over which convection frequently forms during the summer months. The Sandhills, an area of sandy soil surrounded by other soil types, extends through the central Carolinas and is often the origin of convective storms. Nearby, sea-breeze circulations form along the coastline initiating convection during summers. The interaction between the outflow from the Sandhills convection, “the Sandhills front”, and the sea-breeze front initiates and enhances deep convection in the region. The objective of this paper is to characterize and classify these mesoscale interactions, taking into account the geography and the background flow. Using radar and in situ observations, it is found that these interactions typically occur on 24% of all days in June and 36% of the days in June when synoptic forcing is weak or absent. Onshore, offshore, and southwesterly background flows result in different strengths and locations of the convection associated with these interactions. Additionally, light winds (< 3 m s−1) and moderate winds (3–6 m s−1) influence these interactions differently. Interactions between the two fronts during moderate southwesterly flow produce widespread regional precipitation with the highest precipitation amounts due to the advection of warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico. Interactions during light offshore winds also produce strong interactions between the sea-breeze front and the Sandhills front possibly due to opposing flows that aid in the strengthening of a well-developed sea-breeze. Interactions occur less frequently during onshore flow and have the least precipitation amounts. The sea-breeze circulation is weak in such cases.
Pluripotency markers are differentially induced by IGF1 and bFGF in cells from patients' lesions of large/giant congenital melanocytic nevi.

Factors regulating transcription of pluripotency genes in congenital nevo-melanocytes are not known. Nevo-melanocytes belong somewhere in-between the ends of a spectrum where the normal epidermal melanocyte represents one end and a melanoma cell with multiple genetic abnormalities represents the other. Cells from large/giant congenital nevi (L/GCMN), unlike normal melanocytes, grow colonies on soft agar and express pluripotency markers, similar to melanoma cells. In this study normal melanocytes, SKMEL28 melanoma cells and nevo-melanocytes isolated from three L/GCMN patients were exposed to niche factors bFGF and IGF1 in vitro at physiological doses, and expression of a panel of pluripotency markers was determined by RT-PCR. While normal melanocytes did not show any significant transcriptional change in the genes studied, bFGF induced transcription of Sox2 and Bmi1 in melanoma cells. Patients’ cells showed differential expression, with Sox10 being common to C76N and PD1N, while only Sox2 and Bmi1 were upregulated in C139N. IGF1 on the other hand induced unique sets of genes in each individual sample. We conclude that expression of pluripotency genes in L/GCMN cells is affected by niche factors bFGF and IGF1; however, each individual growth factor induced a unique set of genes in a patient’s cells.