cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A contour-based recovery of image flow: iterative method

The authors present an iterative algorithm for the recovery of 2D motion, i.e. an algorithm for the determination of a transformation which maps one image onto another. The local ambiguity in measuring the motion of contour segments (called the aperture problem) makes it necessary to rely on measurements along the normal direction. Since the measured normal flow itself does not agree with the actual normal flow, the full flow recovered from this erroneous normal flow possesses substantial error too, and any attempt to recover the 3D motion from such full flow is doomed to failure. The present method is based on the observation that a polynomial approximation of image flow provides sufficient information for 3D motion computation. The use of an explicit flow model makes it possible to improve normal flow estimates through an iterative process. The algorithm has been tested on synthetic and simple natural time-varying images. The image flow recovered from this scheme was sufficiently accurate as to be useful in 3D structure and motion computation. >
Complexity based rate control for MPEG encoder

Bit rate control is an important step in the video encoding process in that it transforms a variable rate bit stream into a constant rate one for communication channels or storage of fixed bandwidth. The authors propose a hierarchical approach to this problem based on a novel method to characterize the activity or complexity of the image sequence. They introduce a local discrepancy measure, AME (average of maximum 10% of mean square error) of the macroblock. The method performs better than the others in AME with similar mean square error per pixel. >
EFFICACY OF OZONE PRODUCE WASHERS IN REDUCING NATURAL AND ARTIFICIALLY INOCULATED MICROORGANISMS ON ROMA TOMATOES AND GREEN ONIONS

This study investigated the efficacy of ozone washing appliances for microbial decontamination of tomatoes and green onions. Produce were submerged for light or heavy washing in ozone Washer-A or -B (Washer-B generates higher levels of ozoneandagitation)ornonozoneWasher-C.Ozonewashingsreducedtotalaerobic mesophile counts on whole tomatoes but not green onions when compared to unwashed samples.Washer-B at heavy setting reduced coliform numbers on whole tomatoesby1.9 cfu/g.Furthermore,Washer-Byieldedmorethan2.0logreductions of Escherichia coli (inoculation level at ~6.3 log cfu/g) on the edible portions of tomatoes thanWasher-A at comparable settings.A follow-up study usingWasher-B showed that ozone application can significantly reduce E. coli and Salmonella in produce wash water to prevent cross-contamination. However, when compared to nonozonewashingof produce,improvedreductionof naturalandartificiallyinoculated microorganisms by ozone applications was not found. Microscopic observation corroborates microbial enumeration showing that removing nonedible portions (stem scars or root bulbs) of washed tomatoes and green onions is beneficial for microbial decontamination.
p16INK4a modulates p53 in primary human mammary epithelial cells.

p16INK4a ( p16 ) and p53 are tumor suppressor genes that are inactivated during carcinogenesis in many tumors. Here we show that p16 gene activity inversely modulates p53 status and function in primary human mammary epithelial cells. Reduced levels of p16 protein stabilize p53 protein through inhibition of proteolytic degradation, and this increase in p53 protein levels enhances the cellular response to radiation, represses proliferation, and transcriptionally activates downstream targets. Stabilization of p53 is mediated through the retinoblastoma/E2F/p14ARF/murine double minute-2 pathway. However, we have observed that p16 does not modulate p53 in fibroblasts, indicating a possible cell type–specific regulation of this pathway. (Cancer Res 2006; 66(21): 10325-31)
The Impact of Surgical Approach and Urinary Diversion on Patient Outcomes in Pediatric Pyeloplasty

Purpose: Recent comparisons of the impact of the surgical approach on pediatric pyeloplasty outcomes have generally incorporated a form of internal ureteral drainage. We hypothesized that the surgical approach does not affect outcomes in children who undergo unstented pyeloplasty and stenting offers no long-term benefit in those with pediatric pyeloplasty.Materials and Methods: After receiving institutional review board approval we examined the records of all children who underwent initial pyeloplasty from December 2001 to December 2009. We compared unstented and stented pyeloplasties, and each surgical approach in the unstented group.Results: During the study period 367 pyeloplasties were performed, including 231 unstented and 136 stented procedures. When comparing unstented to stented pyeloplasties, there was no difference in the complication or failure rate. Of unstented pyeloplasties 71, 67 and 93 were done using a transperitoneal laparoscopic approach, a flank approach and dorsal lumbotomy, respectiv...
Information Security Professionals' Perceptions about the Relationship between the Information Security and Internal Audit Functions

ABSTRACT: Internal auditors and information security professionals both play important roles in protecting an organization's assets. Indeed, there are potential synergistic benefits if they work together. The relationship between the two functions, however, is not always supportive. This paper presents the results of a survey of information security professionals' perceptions about the nature of the relationship between the information security and internal audit functions in their organization. We find that information security professionals' perceptions about the level of technical expertise possessed by internal auditors and the extent of internal audit review of information security are positively related to their assessment about the quality of the relationship between the two functions. We also find that the quality of the relationship between the internal audit and information security functions is positively associated with perceptions about the value provided by internal audit and, most important...
Pesticides, Information, and Pest Management under Uncertainty

The impact of uncertainty on decisions made by risk averse farmers regarding pesticide use and the way it affects reactions to various changes were investigated. A pesticide crop model is presented to examine farmers' behavior. At any given time there are a number of pests, which cause damage to the crop in an amount related to their number, present on the farm. The farmer can affect the number of pests by applying pesticides in various volumes at varying costs. The impact of pesticides on pests is reflected through a kill function that includes a random element to reflect such factors as weather, temperature, and wind. Additional inputs that are related to pest management include the adoption of specific planting patterns, pest resistant varieties of plants, timing, and quantity of water and fertilizer applications. The use of these pest management techniques is viewed as a factor reducing the mean of the distribution of the damage level, while the cost is of a fixed nature. Thus, the model determines the profits that would have been realized if no pests were present, the number of pests surviving after pesticide application, and the total cost of pesticide application.
White Supremacist Networks on the Internet

Abstract In this paper we use methods of social network analysis to examine the interorganizational structure of the white supremacist movement. Treating links between Internet websites as ties of affinity, communication, or potential coordination, we investigate the structural properties of connections among white supremacist groups. White supremacism appears to be a relatively decentralized movement with multiple centers of influence, but without sharp cleavages between factions. Interorganizational links are stronger among groups with a special interest in mutual affirmation of their intellectual legitimacy (Holocaust revisionists) or cultural identity (racist skinheads) and weaker among groups that compete for members (political parties) or customers (commercial enterprises). The network is relatively isolated from both mainstream conservatives and other extremist groups. Christian Identity theology appears ineffective as a unifying creed of the movement, while Nazi sympathies are pervasive. Recruitme...
A C-Band Scatterometer Simultaneous Wind/Rain Retrieval Method

Using collocated ERS scatterometer (ESCAT), Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Precipitation Radar (PR), and European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) data, the effects of rain on ESCAT wind-only retrieval are evaluated. Additional scattering from rain causes estimated wind speeds to appear higher than expected. Selected directions of the rain-corrupted wind vectors are biased toward along-track directions under conditions of heavy rain, which is regardless of the true wind direction. Rain becomes more significant for data acquired at a high incidence angle. To compensate for rain-induced backscatter, a simultaneous wind/rain retrieval (SWRR) method, which simultaneously retrieves wind velocity and surface rain rate from ESCAT measurements with an incidence angle >40deg, is developed by using a C-band wind/rain backscatter model. The performance of SWRR under typical wind/rain conditions is evaluated through simulation and validation with collocated TRMM PR and ECMWF data sets. SWRR is shown to significantly improve wind velocity estimates, and the SWRR estimated surface rain rate has relatively high accuracy in moderate to heavy rain cases. Although SWRR-retrieved rain is somewhat biased, it can be corrected. We note that for ESCAT, about 1.5% of all the collocated measurements is affected by significant rain.
White ash (Fraxinus americana) decline and mortality: The role of site nutrition and stress history

Over the past century, white ash (Fraxinus americana) populations throughout its range have deteriorated as a result of declining tree health and increased mortality rates. Although co-occurring factors including site nutritional deficiencies and punctuated stress events (e.g., defoliations, drought) are hypothesized to trigger white ash decline, there are no empirical assessments of these factors at regional scales. In this study, we evaluated ash crown dieback, crown health condition, and mortality on 190 plots paired along a topographic gradient known to differ in site nutrition across a 3000 km2 area of northwestern Pennsylvania, USA. Additionally, we assessed white ash foliar nutrient content and additional factors including defoliation history as potential explanatory variables at all sites. White ash populations on upper slopes consistently had significantly greater dieback, poorer crown condition, and greater mortality than populations in paired plots on lower slopes. Despite nearly two decades since the last major elm spanworm defoliation, this stressor further amplified the differences in health and mortality seen between slope positions. On the relatively cation deficient upper slope positions, crown dieback and crown condition improved with increasing foliar cation (Ca2+, Mg2+) concentration. Our results indicate that white ash health is strongly influenced by site nutrition, and defoliation can trigger declines in cation-deficient sites. Knowledge of how landscape position and nutrition influence white ash health may alter management responses to insect outbreak events.
Choice-induced preferences in the absence of choice: Evidence from a blind two choice paradigm with young children and capuchin monkeys

In two studies, we provide a test of the revealed-preferences account of choice-induced preferences. To do so, we introduce a blind two-choice task in which preferences cannot guide choices. Children chose between two similar objects while ignorant of the objects’ identities, and then chose between the rejected alternative and a third similar object. Monkeys were given an illusion of choice between two similar objects, and then chose between the rejected object and a third similar object. Both children and monkeys preferred the third object, indicating that they devalued the rejected object. This response pattern did not occur when the children and monkeys were not given the opportunity to choose between the two initial items. These results provide evidence against a revealed-preferences account of choiceinduced preferences and demonstrate that the process of making a choice itself induces preferences.
Psychophysiology of systematic desensitization: The habituation model☆

Abstract Subjects with public speaking phobias imagined pholic and neutral scenes repeatedly while five autonomic responses were monitored. Six predictions derived from the physiological habituation model of anxiety desensitization (Lader and Mathews, 1968) were tested. Habituation rate of autonomic reactions was positively correlated with (a) resting activity (magnitude and frequency of skin conductance reactions), (b) affective intensity of phobic scenes (digital pulse amplitude and frequency of skin conductance reactions) and (c) relaxation (digital pulse amplitude) and negatively correlated with reactivity (respiratory rate). Habituation rates were unrelated to pervasiveness of fear. Habituation rates for neutral and phobic stimuli were positively correlated (frequency of skin conductance reactions). The habituation model of desensitization was given little support.
Explicitly linking pedagogy and facilities to campus sustainability: lessons from Carleton College and the University of Minnesota

Campus sustainability projects provide an opportunity to explicitly link campus operations and academics. College and university buildings and grounds offer the potential for numerous hands‐on sustainability projects. Few schools explicitly link sustainability projects with academics as often the academic side of an institution is separate from the operational side. This paper analyzes projects at Carleton College and the University of Minnesota that successfully combined facilities projects with academics. We analyze the academic and facilities management benefits of these projects and offer recommendations for linking academic and sustainable campus projects. The article advocates for intensified collaborations between academics and facilities managers, to provide win‐win outcomes for both sectors of the campus community.
Effect of oral suction and other friction-enhancing behaviors on the station-holding performance of suckermouth catfish (Hypostomus spp.)

Effect of oral suction and other friction-enhancing behaviors on the ability to maintain position in a current (station-holding) was determined for the suckermouth catfish (genus Hypostomus Lacepede, 1803). Fish were tested using an increasing velocity test on three substrata (smooth Lucite®, rough Lucite®, and wire grid). On the smooth substratum, use of oral suction and other behaviors delayed the need to swim continuously out of ground contact from 9.1 ± 0.3 cm/s (uslip) to 89.2 ± 7.9 cm/s (uswim). Trials on the wire grid showed that oral suction was ineffective as predicted; however, fish were able to use other friction-enhancing behaviors instead to improve station-holding performance. Behaviors that increased friction by hooking the fish to the substrate via the odontodes and pectoral fin spines were very effective at delaying the need for steady swimming from 12.9 to 145.0 cm/s. On the rough substratum, fish were able to use both oral suction and the odontodes or fin spines to increase friction, an...
Patterns of Specialization and Escalation in the Criminal Careers of Gang and Non-Gang Homicide Offenders:

Although studies have established that homicide offenders are clearly well versed in the criminal world, there is limited knowledge of the specific types of offenses they engage in leading up to the homicide, and if patterns of specialization or escalation exist. In addition, no study on homicide offenders has differentiated between gang and non-gang members. This study examines the arrest histories of homicide gang and non-gang offenders to assess whether patterns of offense specialization, escalation, or de-escalation exist. The findings suggest that homicide offenders were heavily involved in violent and drug crimes prior to the homicide. Gang members committed and specialized in drug crimes, while non-gang members committed more violent crimes and had the highest probability of specializing in drug crimes. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed in light of these findings.
Darden's Luckiest Student 2008

The case describes a three-factor, full-factorial experiment run in conjunction with the Darden's Luckiest Student event of 2008. Prior to identifying Darden's Luckiest, all 300 first-year students made binding decisions between varying amounts of cash and the opportunity to select one of two identical briefcases. One briefcase contained $18,750; the other contained $0. Students are asked to analyze the results of the experiment and draw conclusions with respect to how the experimental factors influenced student decisions.
Targeting Programmed Death 1/Programmed Death Ligand 1 in Lymphoma: A Game Changer

Programmeddeath 1 (PD-1)/programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) engagement is a physiologic process that inhibits the overactivation of T cells and thus serves to maintain self-tolerance and prevent autoimmunity. This mechanism is frequently hijacked by tumor cells, including lymphoma, when they aberrantly express PD-L1 (and PD-L2) proteins; however, this hijacked mechanism provides a therapeutic opportunity for the treatment of cancer. In fact, several trials have demonstrated the clinical activity of a variety of antibodies that target either PD-1 or PD-L1. This broad clinical activity resulted in approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of agents that target PD-1 or PD-L1 for the treatment of lung cancer, melanoma, and renal cell carcinoma and that produced response rates of approximately 30%. Similar responses were reported in patients who experienced relapse of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma, and response rates exceeding 60% were reported in patients who experienced relapse of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). Whereas we have been testing and using different monoclonal antibodies to selectively target B-cell lymphoma, T-cell lymphoma, orHL,we nowhave a universal antibody to be used across different lymphoid lineages. Remarkably, whereas previous naked monoclonal antibodies that targeted CD30 failed to produce meaningful clinical responses in patients who experienced relapse of HL, two naked antibodies that targeted PD-1, nivolumab and pembrolizumab, produced 87% and 66% response rates, respectively. With these observations, there is much excitement about the future incorporation of PD-1/PD-L1–targeted agents into the treatment of patients with different lymphoid malignancies.
Closed-Loop Control in Cavities with Unsteady Bleed Forcing

An experimental investigation aimed at controlling multiple acoustic modes in a cavity has been conducted. Closed-loop control is used to suppress and/or enhance individual resonant modes in the cavity at Mach numbers ranging from 0.2 to 0.55. The energy distribution among the resonant acoustic modes is shown to depend on cavity depth. A connection between the various Rossiter modes was established using narrow bandpass filters to control specific resonant modes. When the second Rossiter mode is suppressed, then the first and third modes are enhanced and vice versa. Furthermore, suppressing the second Rossiter mode caused the fourth mode to be suppressed also. Enhanced energy in a mode indicates that it exists for a greater percentage of the time of the data record. Multiple acoustic modes could be suppressed simultaneously with the appropriate configuration of the feedback control system. Introduction Acoustic resonances in aircraft weapons bay cavities can reach sound pressure levels of 170 dB at Mach numbers as low as 0.5. Such large pressure fluctuations result in early structural failures within the aircraft and stores, create high drag on the aircraft, and generate unpredictable loads on the stores during separation. Systematic investigations of the nature of the acoustic resonances within aircraft cavities have been conducted since the 1950’s’Z2. Nomenclature C, = Pressure coefficient (p-p,)/9 D = Cavity depth f = Frequency L = Cavity length M = Freestream Mach number PI = Wind tunnel static pressure 9 = Dynamic pressure % pU2 St = Strouhal number, fL/U U = Freestream speed W = Cavity width In practical applications the high sound pressure levels are commonly reduced using passive devices such as serrated spoilers at the upstream edge of the cavity and ramps at the downstream wall. However, the performance of passive sound suppression devices are known to be sensitive to Mach numbe? limiting the range of their effectiveness, and enhancing certain acoustic tones at off-design conditions. Ideally the cavity control system should adapt to changing flight conditions to maintain a minimum sound pressure level over the entire flight envelope. The potential for active control of weapons bay cavities was recognized by the U.S. Air Force several years ago and led to the formation of the Active Robust ConTrol of Internal Cavities (ARCTIC) group. This consortium of Department of Defense laboratories, industries, and universities was formed in 1996 as the ’ Professor, Associate Fellow AIAA T Currently, Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering Department, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara CA. Copyright
WarpIV: In Situ Visualization and Analysis of Ion Accelerator Simulations

The generation of short pulses of ion beams through the interaction of an intense laser with a plasma sheath offers the possibility of compact and cheaper ion sources for many applications--from fast ignition and radiography of dense targets to hadron therapy and injection into conventional accelerators. To enable the efficient analysis of large-scale, high-fidelity particle accelerator simulations using the Warp simulation suite, the authors introduce the Warp In situ Visualization Toolkit (WarpIV). WarpIV integrates state-of-the-art in situ visualization and analysis using VisIt with Warp, supports management and control of complex in situ visualization and analysis workflows, and implements integrated analytics to facilitate query- and feature-based data analytics and efficient large-scale data analysis. WarpIV enables for the first time distributed parallel, in situ visualization of the full simulation data using high-performance compute resources as the data is being generated by Warp. The authors describe the application of WarpIV to study and compare large 2D and 3D ion accelerator simulations, demonstrating significant differences in the acceleration process in 2D and 3D simulations. WarpIV is available to the public via https://bitbucket.org/berkeleylab/warpiv. The Warp In situ Visualization Toolkit (WarpIV) supports large-scale, parallel, in situ visualization and analysis and facilitates query- and feature-based analytics, enabling for the first time high-performance analysis of large-scale, high-fidelity particle accelerator simulations while the data is being generated by the Warp simulation suite. This supplemental material https://extras.computer.org/extra/mcg2016030022s1.pdf provides more details regarding the memory profiling and optimization and the Yee grid recentering optimization results discussed in the main article.
127 SHORT STATURE, MENTAL RETARDATION, MACRODONTIA, AND SEIZURES IN MONOZYGOTIC TWINS: KBG SYNDROME

KBG syndrome, described by Herrmann et al. in 1975, is characterized by macrodontia and dental anomalies, short stature, dysmorphic facial features, mental retardation, and skeletal anomalies. Since then, more than 30 additional cases have been reported, and inheritance has been consistent with an autosomal dominant pattern, despite a disproportionately high number of affected males (males:females = 24:10). We report a case of identical twins that presented with short stature, seizure disorder, and mental retardation. Additional findings included triangular facies, prominent ears, down-slanting palpebral fissures, macrodontia and brachydactyly. Radiographs showed a significant delay in bone age. Chromosome studies were normal and metabolic work-up was negative. No other family members were similarly affected. We have reviewed the cases reported to date and found that no formal criteria exist to diagnose this syndrome. What we did find was that the majority of cases were found to have macrodontia of the upper central incisors (100%), characteristic facies (80%), short stature (75%), mental retardation (73%), delayed bone age (78%), hand anomalies (76%), and/or costovertebral anomalies (78%). Other, less common features, included oligodontia, hypoplastic enamel, strabismus, seizure disorder, and syndactyly. Based on our review, we recommend the diagnosis of KBG syndrome in any patient presenting with macrodontia of the upper central incisors and three of the following: central nervous system involvement, post-natal short stature, characteristic facial dysmorphisms, hand anomalies, costovertebral anomalies, delayed bone age, and affected first degree relative.
The long-term predictive value of the zona-free hamster ova sperm penetration assay

Three hundred sixty-nine infertile couples were followed for 2 to 5years in a study designed to determine the clinical long-term predictive value of the zona-free hamster ova sperm penetration assay (SPA). Semen analysis (SA), SPA, and a full infertility workup were done in all cases, and only couples in whom the female had no evident cause of infertility were included in the study. During the follow-up period, 106 couples (29%) achieved a pregnancy. Sixteen percent of 131 men who had an SPA of 0%, 23% of 120 men with 1% to 19%, and 48% of 118 men who had a penetration of >19% impregnated their wives 2 to 5years after the assays. Significant difference in fertility prognosis was found between those who had an SPA>19% and those with an SPA 19% was predictive of higher pregnancy rates in both oligospermic (41% versus 17%) and unexplained infertile couples (52% versus 24%). The specificity and positive predictive values of the SPA were higher than those of the SA (77% versus 57% and 48% versus 37%). These findings emphasize the value and importance of the SPA in determining the long-term fertility potential of men.
Integrating the Literature

Part of our task as academics is to situate our work within a larger scholarly conversation. One of the ways we do this is with our literature reviews. In most scholarly writing, the literature review is a stand-alone section, or, in books, a unique chapter. Nonetheless, you should consider also integrating references to previous academic work throughout your own.
Optics-inspired context-aware image compression using warped stretch transform

Image compression by the warped stretch transform is introduced, where the input image is reshaped by a signal-dependent mapping i.e. designed “warp kernel”. The warped image can be downsampled at a lower uniform rate for the same PSNR, effectively achieving reversible and context-aware non-uniform sampling.
Tobacco Smoke and Elevated Shear Stress Enhance Classical Pathway Complement Activation on Human Endothelial Cells.

Cigarette smoke and hemodynamic stress contribute to inflammatory processes associated with the development of atherosclerosis. Endothelial cells are intimately involved in vascular pathology. We recently demonstrated classical pathway complement activation on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and on endothelial cell lines including human bone marrow microvascular endothelial cells (BMEC). Complement components have been identified in atherosclerotic lesions, and complement derived inflammatory mediators likely play a role in vascular injury. Endothelial cells express several complement receptors, including gC1qR/p33. gC1qR/p33 recognizes the globular domain of the first component of complement, C1q, and directly activates the classical pathway. The present study was designed to explore the effects of two known atherosclerotic risk factors, tobacco smoke and shear stress, on classical pathway complement activation on endothelial cells. BMEC were grown to confluence on type I collagen, and treated for 24 hours with tobacco smoke extract (0.015 or 0.03 puffs/ml) from 2R4F research cigarettes. BMEC monolayers, in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle medium (DMEM) supplemented with 10% human plasma (anticoagulated with 0.32 % sodium citrate), were exposed to constant shear stress at 18 dynes/cm 2 for 1 hour at room temperature using a cone and plate shearing device (courtesy of Dr. David Varon, BDR Technologies Ltd., Israel). BMEC monolayers were subsequently fixed with 0.5% glutaraldehyde. C1q dependent C4 activation (C4d deposition) was quantified on the cell surface using an ELISA approach. BMEC activation was characterized using endothelial cell intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1, CD54). Compared to background (0.26±0.13, O.D. 405 nm, n=5), low baseline levels of C4d deposition were noted on unstimulated BMEC (0.37±0.15, O.D. 405 nm, n=5, P
Children’s and Adolescents’ Expression of Gratitude Across Societies: Findings From Turkey:

This study examined whether children’s expression of gratitude and processes potentially related to this expression, such as wishes and spending preferences, would vary across childhood in an urban...
Applications of Oxygenases in the Chemoenzymatic Total Synthesis of Complex Natural Products

Nature has produced a diverse range of oxygenases for the modification of secondary metabolites with selectivity profiles that are unmatched by conventional man-made catalysts. In the past two decades, organic chemists have begun to harness the synthetic potential of these biocatalysts to develop efficient chemoenzymatic synthesis of complex natural products. Judicious combination of synthetic and enzymatic transformations in multistep synthesis can often result in powerful disconnections that compare favorably with contemporary chemical strategies for accessing the target natural products, while at the same time presenting opportunities to innovate. This Perspective highlights strategic applications of enzymatic hydroxylation to simplify problems in natural product synthesis. Finally, newly discovered enzymes that would facilitate further developments in this field are discussed.
The System Usability Scale: Past, Present, and Future

The System Usability Scale (SUS) is the most widely used standardized questionnaire for the assessment of perceived usability. This review of the SUS covers its early history from inception in the ...
Adaptive design and optimization of a shape-changing drone

This paper explores an adaptive design and optimization strategy for a shape-shifting UAV platform, combining layout, mechanical and structural design optimization in a single workflow, allowing for the rapid evolution of platform characteristics in response to changing system components, payload characteristics and encountered field conditions. The UAV can shape-shift from a compact, ground launch or air deployable projectile into a multi-rotor drone, allowing it to be rapidly injected into the targeted environment. By creating a work-flow, which allows for the optimization of each aspect of the UAV's design in combination with 3D printing of the entire airframe, the goal is to create task specific remote sensing platforms.
Effect of pressure on the kinetics of lysozyme crystallization

This work was targeted at characterizing the effect of high pressure on the kinetics of lysozyme crystallization via a series of experiments and mathematical modeling. Pressure effects on nucleation and crystal growth were distinguished by evaluating the rate constants for the two kinetic processes at various pressures. In the first phase of the work, the effect of high pressure on lysozyme crystallization was examined with a primary objective of increasing the rate of crystallization. Lysozyme crystallization was carried out initially at a concentration of 40 mg/mL, pH 4.5 and 0.8 M sodium chloride at pressures ofO.l, 50, 100 and 150 MPa. A factorial experiment was performed with level of pressure and time of pressurization as the two factors with four levels of each factor. Protein recovery in crystals at atmospheric pressure was significantly different from all the pressure-treated samples. An overall enhancement of the rate of crystallization could be obtained by a period of pressure followed by growth at atmospheric pressure. Initial duration at elevated pressure for either 10 min or 2 h followed by growth at atmospheric pressure for a total time of 36 h (including the time of pressurization) resulted in overall crystallization rates that were 2-3 times higher than those obtained without pressurization. Pressure effects were not evident for lower protein concentrations of 19 and 28 mg/mL. Enzymatic activity was unchanged and protein solubility appeared unchanged as a result of pressurization. A similar behavior was observed at a pH closer to the iso-electric point (pH 9.5), i.e. a period of pressurization followed by growth at atmospheric pressure gave
CHRONOS: A Cloud based Hybrid RF-Optical Network Over Synchronous Links

This paper presents CHRONOS, a Cloud based Hybrid RF-Optical Network Over Synchronous Links. The primary goal of this project is to design, build and maintain a multi-node, heterogeneous, wideband, scalable, hybrid and synchronous Cloud Radio Access Network (Cloud RAN or C-RAN), specifically to support emerging applications requiring both THz-optical and conventional sub-6GHz technologies like Wi-Fi and cellular networks. The novelty of the testbed is in enhancing the core capabilities of C-RAN in multiple directions by integrating synchronous RF and Optical links that is not considered for contemporary C-RAN deployments. The long term goal of this project is to utilize the testbed to enable practical research in wireless and optical communication with emphasis on new hardware and software architecture for signal processing. In this paper, we present the design, implementation and initial results of CHRONOS, in an indoor setting, with a clear path to a scalable and real-time network. Our results show synchronous reception across multiple edge nodes while achieving an aggregate bandwidth of 108Mbps using 20MHz OFDM waveform in each RF and optical paths.
The Relationship Between Native Insects and an Invasive Grass (Oplismenus undulatifolius) in the Mid-Atlantic United States

Understanding relationships between insects and invasive plant species in their introduced range is important for management of a new invader and prioritization of its control. This study investigates the insect communities associated with Oplismenus undulatifolius (Wavyleaf Basketgrass), an invasive grass in the mid-Atlantic US, and looks at the effect of herbivory on the species’ growth and reproduction. We surveyed aerial and ground-dwelling insect communities in areas with and without Wavyleaf Basketgrass and examined leaf samples from caged and uncaged patches of Wavyleaf Basketgrass for type and amount of insect damage. Insect richness, evenness, and diversity were similar between invaded and uninvaded areas. At the plot level, there was no difference in abundance of insects caught in pitfall traps, but there were more insects captured in sticky traps at the uninvaded area. Orthoptera in general and Rhaphidophoridae specifically, were indicators of uninvaded plots, along with Sciaridae in the Diptera and Scarabaeidae in the Coleoptera. Indicators of the invaded plots included Blattidae within the Blattodea and Staphylinidae and Carabidae within the Coleoptera. Leaf damage was minor; the 6 most heavily damaged leaves lost between 15% and 21% of their leaf area. Punctures, stippling, and mining were the most common types of leaf damage observed, and most leaves had fewer than 25 incidences of damage per leaf. There was no significant difference in leaf damage, plant biomass, or inflorescence production between caged and uncaged plots. Differences in insect community composition in invaded and uninvaded areas may be due to Wavyleaf Basketgrass itself or concomitant increases in plant cover and changes in microclimate. At least some insect groups are using Wavyleaf Basketgrass as habitat, which may be important in areas where excessive deer browse has removed most of the herbaceous layer.
Macroeconomic determinants of wealth inequality dynamics

Abstract The evolution of wealth inequality over the long run depends on income growth, inflation, and interest rates. In this paper, we examine, in a dynamic setting, the effect of these three macroeconomic variables on wealth inequality in the United States over the periods 1929–2009 and 1962–2009. The results show that these macroeconomic factors explain a significant amount of the changes in wealth inequality. The results indicate that increases in inflation and income growth contribute positively to net wealth shares of adults in the bottom 50% and middle 40% of the wealth distribution, leading to decreases in overall wealth inequality. Interestingly, the results show increases in interest rates contribute to lower wealth inequality in the U.S. although this result does not hold across all the inequality measures.
Chapter 12 – Legal Issues Related to Photographs and Digital Images

Crime scene images are only successful if they are ultimately admissible in court as evidence. This chapter provides SWGIT guidelines for processing digital images, soon to be modified by new OSAC guidelines. One suggestion was to archive original images and only “process” copies of the original. And, a complete history of processing changes should be maintained so that, if challenged, another expert can apply the same sort of processes to the image. The criteria by which images will be assessed in court as evidence were provided in this chapter.
First Term Support for International Graduate Students Attending Small Colleges and Universities

The recruitment and retention of international students in academic institutions in the United States has become more complicated and more competitive than ever before given the current political climate and governmental policies. This article discusses some of the specific challenges international students face and what a small- to medium-sized private university has put in place to attract these students and to better prepare them for graduate level management courses starting their first term. This example introduces an 11-week foundations course along with additional resources designed to provide knowledge, instruction, and practice in skills and behaviors crucial for academic success within the United States.
Mechanisms of Ion Transport in Lithium Salt-Doped Polymeric Ionic Liquid Electrolytes

Recent experimental results have demonstrated that polymeric ionic liquids doped with Li salts exhibit enhanced ionic mobilities and lithium ion transference numbers with increasing salt concentrat...
Existence and stability traveling wave solutions for a system of social outbursts

Abstract We study the existence and stability of planar traveling wave solutions to the system of reaction-diffusion equations: { u t = ∂ 2 u ∂ x 2 + Γ u ( 1 − u ) 1 + e − β ( v − 1 ) − u , x ∈ R n , t > 0 , v t = ∂ 2 v ∂ x 2 − v ( 1 + u ) p + 1 , x ∈ R n , t > 0 , which was introduced in [8] as a model for the spatiotemporal dynamics of rioting activity and social tension. The “wave-like” spread of rioting activity observed in the 2005 French Riots [12] motivates the study of these type of solutions, which were numerically analyzed in [46] . Of particular interest is the qualitative difference in traveling wave solutions between the p 0 and p ≥ 0 case. We present results for the existence and stability of these type of solutions for p ≥ 0 and provide the asymptotic approach rates of the traveling wave solutions to the steady states as | x | → ∞ . For the case of p 0 we study the stability of such solutions using Evans Functions and a combination of analytical and numerical methods to show irrefutable evidence of spectral stability.
Extended Gauss-Newton and ADMM-Gauss-Newton Algorithms for Low-Rank Matrix Optimization

In this paper, we develop a variant of the well-known Gauss-Newton (GN) method to solve a class of nonconvex optimization problems involving low-rank matrix variables. As opposed to the standard GN method, our algorithm allows one to handle general smooth convex objective function. We show, under mild conditions, that the proposed algorithm globally and locally converges to a stationary point of the original problem. We also show empirically that the GN algorithm achieves higher accurate solutions than the alternating minimization algorithm (AMA). Then, we specify our GN scheme to handle the symmetric case and prove its convergence, where AMA is not applicable. Next, we incorporate our GN scheme into the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) to develop an ADMM-GN algorithm. We prove that, under mild conditions and a proper choice of the penalty parameter, our ADMM-GN globally converges to a stationary point of the original problem. Finally, we provide several numerical experiments to illustrate the proposed algorithms. Our results show that the new algorithms have encouraging performance compared to existing methods.
Re-Thinking the Two-Body Problem: The Segregation of Women into Geographically Dispersed Occupations

Empirical research on the family cites the tendency for couples to relocate for husbands’ careers as evidence against the gender-neutrality of household economic decisions. For these studies, occupational segregation is a concern because occupations are not random by sex and mobility is not random by occupation. I find the tendency for households to relocate for husbands’ careers is better-explained by the segregation of women into geographically-dispersed occupations rather than by the direct prioritization of men’s careers. Among never-married workers, women relocate for work less-often than men and the gender effect disappears after accounting for occupational segregation. While most two-earner families feature husbands in geographically-clustered jobs involving frequent relocation for work, families are no-less-likely to relocate for work when it belongs to the wife. I conclude future research in household mobility should treat occupational segregation occurring prior to marriage rather than gender bias within married couples as the primary explanation for the prioritization of husbands’ careers in household mobility decisions.
Near-infrared spectroscopy based system for assessment of cerebrovascular activity during stress

Cerebral blood flow (CBF) dysregulation has been implicated in a wide variety of conditions. Cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) to CO2 may be a biomarker of CBF dysregulation. NIRS-measured regional cerebral tissue oxygen saturation (rSO2) is a non-invasive measurement made with portable and relatively inexpensive devices. We previously reported that monitoring rSO2 can identify changes in cerebrovascular dynamics in response to hypercapnic breathing challenges. The present study builds on this work, employing rSO2 to characterize changes in CBF correlates during hypercapnic breathing challenges, with a new focus on correlations with NIRS-measured vital signs. A custom breathing circuit was used to deliver a series of hypercapnic breathing challenges and recovery periods to healthy young adult subjects grouped into three exercise factors. Change in rSO2 from intra- to pre-challenge (ΔrSO2) correlated positively with change in heart rate (ΔHRhyp). Athletes showed higher ∆HRhyp than casual and non-exercisers. We previously established that athletes showed higher ΔrSO2 responses to hypercapnic breathing challenges. While the relationships between ΔrSO2 and ΔHRhyp and change in end tidal CO2 (ΔPETCO2) in response to hypercapnic breathing challenges appears to be in tact in the healthy young adults studied, and more pronounced in athletes, these relationships may not be preserved in cases of compromised CVR. Change in respiration rate correlated negatively with ΔPETCO2. Establishing baseline values of rSO2, PETCO2, HR, and RR may be useful in identifying changes in an individual’s CVR. Combined monitoring of rSO2, PETCO2, HR, and RR presents a portable, inexpensive, noninvasive NIRS-based modality for detecting changes in cerebrovascular health.
Sins of omission: Critical informatics perspectives on privacy in e‐learning systems in higher education

The COVID‐19 pandemic emptied classrooms across the globe and pushed administrators, students, educators, and parents into an uneasy alliance with online learning systems already committing serious privacy and intellectual property violations, and actively promoted the precarity of educational labor. In this article, we use methods and theories derived from critical informatics to examine [anonymized] University's deployment of seven online learning platforms commonly used in higher education to uncover five themes that result from the deployment of corporate learning platforms. We conclude by suggesting ways ahead to meaningfully address the structural power and vulnerabilities extended by higher education's use of these platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of the Association for Information Science & Technology is the property of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Global GOSAT, OCO-2 and OCO-3 Solar Induced Chlorophyll Fluorescence Datasets

Abstract. The retrieval of solar induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) from space is a relatively new advance in Earth observation science, having only become feasible within the last decade. Interest in SIF data has grown exponentially, and the retrieval of SIF and the provision of SIF data products has become an important and formal component of spaceborne Earth observation missions. Here, we describe the global Level 2 SIF Lite data products for the Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite (GOSAT), the Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2), and OCO-3 platforms, which are provided for each platform in daily netCDF files. We also outline the methods used to retrieve SIF and estimate uncertainty, describe all the data fields, and provide users the background information necessary for the proper use and interpretation of the data, such as considerations of retrieval noise, sun-sensor geometry, the indirect relationship between SIF and photosynthesis, and differences among the three platforms and their respective data products. OCO-2 and OCO-3 have the highest spatial resolution spaceborne SIF retrievals to date, and the target and snapshot area mode observation modes of OCO-2 and OCO-3 are unique. These modes provide hundreds to thousands of SIF retrievals at biologically diverse global target sites during a single overpass, and provide an opportunity to better inform our understanding of canopy-scale vegetation SIF emission across biomes.
A Crisis in Postgenomic Nomenclature

In a humorous Perspective, Fields and Johnston examine the proliferation of scientific terms fused to the 9ome suffix that have arisen in the postgenomic era.