cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improved mechanical properties of carbon nanotube/polymer composites through the use of carboxyl-epoxide functional group linkages

Single-walled and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were functionalized with carboxyl groups and dispersed in a polymer containing an epoxide group. We have then observed experimentally that mutual chemical reaction between the functional groups on the CNTs with the polymer epoxide group can enhance, two-fold, both the tensile strength and elastic modulus, E, of single walled CNT/polymer composites. A simple model was formulated to understand the variation of E with CNT volume fraction, considering agglomeration effects as well. An increase in the work of fracture, obtained from the experimental stressestrain curves, was seen at low nanotube filling fractions and is presumably due to crack bridging of the polymer matrix by CNTs. The influence of CNT length and geometry on mechanical properties, along with the influences of electrical and mechanical percolation thresholds was considered.
Preferential allocation, physio‐evolutionary feedbacks, and the stability and environmental patterns of mutualism between plants and their root symbionts

The common occurrence of mutualistic interactions between plants and root symbionts is problematic. As the delivery of benefit to hosts involves costs to symbionts, symbionts that provide reduced benefit to their host are expected to increase in frequency. Plants have been shown to allocate preferentially to the most efficient symbiont and this preferential allocation may stabilize the mutualism. I construct a general model of the interactive feedbacks of host preferential allocation and the dynamics of root symbiont populations to evaluate the stability of nutritional mutualisms. Preferential allocation can promote the evolution of mutualism even when the cost to the symbiont is very large. Moreover, the physiological plasticity of preferential allocation likely leads to coexistence of beneficial and nonbeneficial symbionts. For arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, which facilitate plant uptake of phosphorus (P), the model predicts greater P transfer from these fungi per unit carbon invested with decreasing concentrations of soil P and with increasing concentrations of atmospheric CO2 , patterns that have been observed in laboratory and field studies. This framework connects physiological plasticity in plant allocation to population processes that determine mutualism stability and, as such, represents a significant step in understanding the stability and environmental patterns in mutualism.
The Effects of Inter‐Firm Cost Correlation, IT Investment, and Product Cost Accuracy on Production Decisions and Firm Profitability

ABSTRACT: Using analytical and simulation techniques, we investigate the effect of inter‐firm cost correlation, IT investment, and product cost accuracy on production decisions, and ultimately firm profitability in an imperfectly competitive market. Along with an unprecedented growth in investments in information technology (IT) over the last two decades, firms have made significant investments in IT to increase product cost accuracy. Yet, a variety of studies present mixed evidence as to the linkage between IT investment, product cost accuracy, and organizational performance. Further, while previous research has shown that IT may contribute to the improvement of organizational performance, contextual factors are important. We reexamine this issue in an imperfectly competitive market and product cost setting. We assert that knowledge of inter‐firm cost correlation may be used to reduce the IT investment needed to achieve product cost accuracy and thereby optimize production and ultimately firm profit. To ...
Patients derogate physicians who use a computer-assisted diagnostic aid.

Objective . To ascertain whether a physician who uses a computer-assisted diagnostic support system (DSS) would be rated less capable than a physician who does not.Method. Students assumed the role of a patient with a possible ankle fracture (experiment 1) or a possible deep vein thrombosis (experiment 2). They read a scenario that described an interaction with a physician who used no DSS, one who used an unspecified DSS, or one who used a DSS developed at a prestigious medical center. Participants were then asked to rate the interaction on 5 criteria, the most important of which was the diagnostic ability of the physician. In experiment 3, 74 patients in the waiting room of a clinic were randomly assigned to the same 3 types of groups as used in experiment 1. In experiment 4, 131 3rd- and 4th-year medical students read a scenario of a physician-patient interaction and were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups: the physician used no DSS, heeded the recommendation of a DSS, defied a recommendation of a DSS b...
Test Items and Standards Related to Flexibility/Range of Motion on the Brockport Physical Fitness Test

This manuscript provides information on the test items and standards used to assess flexibility and range of motion in the Brockport Physical Fitness Test. Validity, attainability, and reliability of the back saver sit and reach, the shoulder stretch, the modified Apley test, the modified Thomas test, and the Target Stretch Test are discussed. Particular attention is paid to the utility of these tests for youngsters with mental retardation and mild limitations in fitness, visual impairments (blindness), cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury, or congenital anomalies or amputations. Suggestions for future research are provided.
Trait Sympathy and Perceived Control as Predictors of Entering Sympathy-Arousing Situations

Two studies provide evidence that dispositional sympathy and perceived control interact to predict choices for and against situations likely to elicit sympathy. Sympathetic persons choosing among previewed experiments on the basis of the emotion elicited by each were particularly likely to choose a sympathy induction, and appeared to interpret that prospect in positive terms, but only when they expected substantial control over the procedure. In a second study, sympathizers were the most likely to volunteer for studies of people in distress, so long as the sympathizers expected a means of helping the distressed persons. In contrast, assurances of situational control did not encourage less sympathetic subjects to participate in either context Results provide for the expansion of models relating affect to prosaically behavior to include preferences for contact with distressed persons and for an interpretation of trait sympathy as less of a personal liability than prevalent views suggest.
The Reported Human NADsyn2 Is Ammonia-dependent NAD Synthetase from a Pseudomonad

Nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) synthetases catalyze the last step in NAD+ metabolism in the de novo, import, and salvage pathways that originate from tryptophan (or aspartic acid), nicotinic acid, and nicotinamide, respectively, and converge on nicotinic acid mononucleotide. NAD+ synthetase converts nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide to NAD+ via an adenylylated intermediate. All of the known eukaryotic NAD+ synthetases are glutamine-dependent, hydrolyzing glutamine to glutamic acid to provide the attacking ammonia. In the prokaryotic world, some NAD+ synthetases are glutamine-dependent, whereas others can only use ammonia. Earlier, we noted a perfect correlation between presence of a domain related to nitrilase and glutamine dependence and then proved in the accompanying paper (Bieganowski, P., Pace, H. C., and Brenner, C. (2003) J. Biol. Chem. 278, 33049–33055) that the nitrilase-related domain is an essential, obligate intramolecular, thiol-dependent glutamine amidotransferase in the yeast NAD+ synthetase, Qns1. Independently, human NAD+ synthetase was cloned and shown to depend on Cys-175 for glutamine-dependent but not ammonia-dependent NAD+ synthetase activity. Additionally, it was claimed that a 275 amino acid open reading frame putatively amplified from human glioma cell line LN229 encodes a human ammonia-dependent NAD+ synthetase and this was speculated largely to mediate NAD+ synthesis in human muscle tissues. Here we establish that the so-called NADsyn2 is simply ammonia-dependent NAD+ synthetase from Pseudomonas, which is encoded on an operon with nicotinic acid phosphoribosyltransferase and, in some Pseudomonads, with nicotinamidase.
Concentrated Shareholders as Substitutes for Outside Analysts

Manuscript Type: Empirical Research Question/Issue: We examine the relationship of concentration of shareholdings with the number of financial analysts following a firm to see if concentrated shareholders substitute for the monitoring activities of analysts. Research Findings/Results: Using a clean ownership dataset with a sample of 3,115 firm-year observations for U.S. firms and regression techniques that address any potential endogeneity, we find that analyst following is negatively related to the concentration of outsider and insider shareholdings. We find similar relations for changes in analyst following and changes in ownership concentration. Theoretical Implications: Our results support the argument that an outsider with a larger stake in a firm is more likely to produce its own in-house information for the monitoring of the firm’s managers and avoid both the cost and moral hazard problems associated with analysts. The results also support the argument that if senior managers hold large stakes in the firm, there is a greater likelihood that managerial incentives will be aligned with those of other shareholders. Practical Implications: We contend that there is a governance substitution effect, with concentrated shareholders substituting for the monitoring activities of analysts. Our results are consistent with the opinion that regulators need not fear large shareholders. This is especially applicable to large outside shareholders as we find that the economic effect of concentrated outsider shareholdings is quite strong and greater than that of concentrated insider shareholdings.
Monitoring adult corn flea beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in sweet corn fields with color sticky traps

Sticky traps of various colors were used to monitor adult flea beetles in sweet corn fields. Twenty-two flea beetle species were collected; however, the corn flea beetle (CFB), Chaetocnema pulicaria Melsheimer, represented 94.4% of the total number of specimens captured. Saturn yellow and lightning yellow traps captured significantly more CFB adults than all other colors tested. Traps hung closest to the ground (0.6 m) captured significantly more CFB than traps at 1.2 or 1.8 m aboveground. Saturn yellow traps placed within the cornfield captured significantly more CFB than traps placed along the field edge or in the weedy border. The relationships between trap captures, degree-days, and the current field scouting method were investigated and resulted in tentative action thresholds for CFB management. Relationships between both adult monitoring methods (traps and field scouting) and flea beetle feeding injury were also determined.
Relative Contributions of Intrinsic Structural–Functional Constraints and Translation Rate to the Evolution of Protein-Coding Genes

A long-standing assumption in evolutionary biology is that the evolution rate of protein-coding genes depends, largely, on specific constraints that affect the function of the given protein. However, recent research in evolutionary systems biology revealed unexpected, significant correlations between evolution rate and characteristics of genes or proteins that are not directly related to specific protein functions, such as expression level and protein-protein interactions. The strongest connections were consistently detected between protein sequence evolution rate and the expression level of the respective gene. A recent genome-wide proteomic study revealed an extremely strong correlation between the abundances of orthologous proteins in distantly related animals, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. We used the extensive protein abundance data from this study along with short-term evolutionary rates (ERs) of orthologous genes in nematodes and flies to estimate the relative contributions of structural-functional constraints and the translation rate to the evolution rate of protein-coding genes. Together the intrinsic constraints and translation rate account for approximately 50% of the variance of the ERs. The contribution of constraints is estimated to be 3- to 5-fold greater than the contribution of translation rate.
Measurement of Trypsin and Chymotrypsin in Stool: A Diagnostic Test for Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency

Summary 1.A sensitive method for the measurement of trypsin and chymotrypsin in stool using the substrates p-toluene-sulf onyl-L-arginine methyl ester and N-acetyl-L-tyrosine ethyl ester and a titrimetric method has been presented. 2.The method is helpful in the diagnosis of insufficiency of the exocrine pancreas on the basis of chronic pancreatitis or fibrocystic disease, and in differentiating these diseases from others producing malabsorption.
Mannose 6-phosphate/insulin-like growth factor 2 receptor, a bona fide tumor suppressor gene or just a promising candidate?

The mannose 6-phosphate/insulin-like growth factor 2 receptor (M6P/IGF2R)3 is considereda “candidate” tumor suppressor gene. This hypothesis has been provoked by the identificationof loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at the M6P/IGF2R locus on chromosome 6q26 in breast andliver cancer, accompanied by point mutations in the remaining allele. Somatic mutations incoding region microsatellites have also been described in replication error positive (RER+)tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, endometrium and brain. These genetic data are compelling,but a tumor suppressor gene candidate has to meet functional as well as genetic criteria. Thisreview weighs the evidence and discusses the observations that are necessary to promoteM6P/IGF2R from candidate to bona fide tumor suppressor gene.
Aristotelian Character Education

Kristjan Kristjannson has written a book that will animate the thinking of educational philosophers and theorists of moral education as well as practitioners interested in character education. Kris...
Errant Bodies: Relational Aesthetics, Digital Communication, and the Autistic Analogy

This paper addresses growing anxieties over the past two decades within media studies and visual art concerning the negative effects of technological sociality. Noting the recurrent use of the language of cognitive impairments—particularly that of autism—in appraisals of mediated relational deficits, this paper investigates the parallel production of ability and disability within privileged models of relationality and its aesthetics. Rather than attempting to police or restore valorized forms and practices of interpersonal exchange, I call for a more inclusive approach to relationality predicated upon a disability studies approach. Looking specifically to the Second Life performance works of Eva and Franco Mattes, I argue that technologically-produced social impairments can be productively approached as sites of alternative and adaptive relationalities.
Q Value for the Cu 65 (p, n)Zn 65 Reaction

The threshold for neutron emission from the ${\mathrm{Cu}}^{65}(p, n){\mathrm{Zn}}^{65}$ reaction has been measured to be 2.1653\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0015 Mev, relative to the ${\mathrm{Li}}^{7}(p, n){\mathrm{Be}}^{7}$ threshold at 1.8811 Mev. The $Q$-value, -2.1322\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0015 Mev, is in close agreement with previous threshold measurements and with the results of the ${\mathrm{Zn}}^{65}$ $\ensuremath{\beta}$-decay and neutron scattering measurements. This indicates that compound nucleus resonances probably do not affect the determination of the $Q$-value for this reaction from the neutron threshold.
Bridging the gap between hospital and home for premature infants in Malawi.

Discharge planning is organized patient-centered and a means of ensuring continuity of care based upon the philosophy that all patients have a right to adequate care after discharge. Transition from the hospital to the home can be made smoothly if a discharge planning process is established even for infants discharged in good health without long-term disabilities. The goals of discharge planning for premature infants are to maintain the infants health maximize parental confidence and competence reduce stress during the transition from hospital to home minimize the risk of illness and rehospitalization and incorporate the infant into the family unit. Components of discharge planning include the coordination of multidisciplinary care plans parent assessment and teaching parent support the arrangement of post-discharge services and the establishment of a link between hospital and community. Guidelines are presented for improving the discharge planning process for premature infants especially in developing countries. Orems Self-Care Framework criteria for discharge the multidisciplinary approach assessment teaching and follow-up care are considered.
Nicotinic effects of tobacco smoke constituents in nonhuman primates

Recent studies in rodents suggest that non-nicotine constituents of tobacco smoke (e.g., minor tobacco alkaloids) may promote tobacco consumption—either through their own pharmacological effects or by augmenting the effects of nicotine. However, there is scant information on the behavioral pharmacology of minor tobacco alkaloids in primate species. The present studies were conducted to determine whether the minor tobacco alkaloids nornicotine, anabasine, anatabine, myosmine, and cotinine exhibit nicotine-like behavioral effects in squirrel monkeys. Initial experiments were conducted to determine the effects of nicotine (0.032–1.0 mg/kg) and the minor tobacco alkaloids nornicotine (1–1.8 mg/kg), anabasine (0.1–1.0 mg/kg), anatabine (10–32 mg/kg), myosmine (0.32–1.8 mg/kg), and cotinine (10–180 mg/kg) on food-maintained performance (n = 4). Next, the ability of tobacco alkaloids to substitute for the α4β2-selective nicotinic agonist (+)-epibatidine in drug discrimination experiments was evaluated in a separate group of monkeys (n = 4). Results show that nicotine and each minor tobacco alkaloid except cotinine (a) produced dose-related decreases in food-maintained responding; (b) substituted for (+)-epibatidine and, in additional experiments, produced additive effects when combined with nicotine; (c) induced emesis or tremor at doses that reduced food-maintained responding and had (+)-epibatidine-like discriminative-stimulus effects; and (d) based on correlation with reported receptor binding affinities, likely produced their behavioral effects through α4β2 receptor mechanisms. Selected minor tobacco alkaloids have nicotinic-like effects that may contribute to tobacco consumption and addiction.
Optimal auctions with endogenous budgets

We study the benchmark independent private value auction setting when bidders have endogenously determined budgets. Before bidding, a bidder decides how much money she will borrow. Bidders incur a cost to borrowing. We show that bidders are indifferent between participating in a first-price, second-price and all-pay auction. The all-pay auction gives higher revenue than the first-price auction, which gives higher revenue than the second price auction. In addition, when the distribution of values satisfies the monotone hazard rate condition, the revenue maximizing auction is implemented by an all-pay auction with a suitably chosen reserve price.
The Shock Tube Autoignition of Biodiesels and Biodiesel Components

The autoignition of fatty-acid methyl ester biodiesels and methyl ester biodiesel components was studied in gas-phase shock tube experiments. Ignition delay times for two reference methyl ester biodiesel fuels, derived from methanol-based transesterification of soybean oil and animal fats, and four primary constituents of all methyl ester biodiesels, methyl palmitate, methyl stearate, methyl oleate, and methyl linoleate, were measured behind reflected shock waves for fuel/air mixtures at temperatures ranging from 900 to 1350 K and at pressures around 10 and 20 atm. Ignition delay times were determined by monitoring pressure and chemiluminescence from electronically-excited OH radicals around 310 nm. The results show similarity in ignition delay times for all methyl ester fuels considered, irrespective of the variations in organic structure, at the high-temperature conditions studied and also similarity in high-temperature ignition delay times for methyl esters and n-alkanes.© 2013 ASME
Three conductors non uniform transmission lines: Electrical equivalent model & crosstalk reduction

In this paper we propose a rigorous method to evaluate the crosstalk performance for coupled non uniform transmission lines. In this method, the width of the non uniform line is subdivided into a large number of rigorously coupled narrow lines. So, non uniform lines can be considered as a coupled multi-conductor transmission line. An electric equivalent model is developed to calculate the crosstalk between coupled non uniform transmission lines. Determination of the per-unit length capacitance and inductance parameters of the model is introduced. Finally, we demonstrate that coupled non uniform lines give the best performance in term of crosstalk compared to coupled microstrip lines.
Countering the Effects of Nonlinearity in Rate-Integrating Gyroscopes

This paper addresses the impact of cubic nonlinearity on the operation of a rate-integrating gyroscope (RIG). It is demonstrated that below the bifurcation threshold, cubic nonlinearity results in angle-dependent frequency split between the two resonant modes of the gyroscope, which impacts angle-dependent bias, quadrature error, and controller efficacy in addition to distorting the scale factor due to off-resonant excitation. These errors are experimentally demonstrated using a high- $Q$ disk resonator gyroscope, which are shown to be in close agreement with theory. A method of compensating for angle-dependent frequency error is proposed and experimentally validated. It is demonstrated that mode mismatch can be experimentally reduced to the level of thermal noise, effectively cancelling the effects of nonlinearity and eliminating the distortion of readout angle.
Non-Contacting Acoustic Emission Inspection Technique for Rolling Bearings Based on Wavelet Packet Analysis and BP Neural Network

A non-contacting inspection was carried out for rolling bearings using acoustic emission technique.The energy characteristics vector of the fault signals extracted with the wavelet packet analysis method was taken as the input vector of BP neural network to identify the models for distinguishing the good bearings from the damaged bearings.
Lethal Complications of Standard Self-Retaining Ureteral Stents in Patients with Ileal Conduit Urinary Diversion

AbstractWhile standard commercially available pigtail ureteral stents are used commonly in the obstructed patient, particularly when metastatic disease has been identified, our recent experience suggests caution in the use of such stents for patients with ileal conduits. Rapid obstruction of these stents occurs with unacceptable frequency, which has resulted in urosepsis and death, and they do not appear to be cost-effective even for palliation. Although these standard pigtail stents have physical properties that allow easy placement by angiographic wire guidance, they are not to be recommended. Safe internal ureteral diversion in patients with an ileal conduit awaits further evolution in stent technology.
Selling From 1900 to 1949: A Historical Perspective

Selling has developed dramatically in the twentieth century. It has changed from largely an independent and unstructured activity to a modern and scientifically managed profession that has contribu...
Abstract 3644: Optimization of library construction for massively parallel sequencing using low-input, FFPE-derived DNA without additional PCR amplification

Proceedings: AACR 107th Annual Meeting 2016; April 16-20, 2016; New Orleans, LA Massively parallel sequencing (MPS) is increasingly used in the laboratory and clinic to identify genomic factors contributing to tumorigenesis, such as somatic mutations, DNA insertions and deletions, transcriptome and epigenetic changes, and chromosomal abnormalities. Because tumor specimens are often quite limited or are from rare and precious samples, it is necessary to prepare sequencing libraries from minimal amounts of DNA. Indeed, it can be challenging to extract sufficient amounts of starting material from fresh-frozen paraffin embedded (FFPE) samples for library construction, and frequently samples are not processed because they do not reach minimum requirements. Therefore, it is of great importance to improve currently available protocols to process low yield FFPE-derived DNA for MPS. This will allow for the inclusion of more tumor samples to be sequenced per cohort, resulting in increased ability to identify genomic factors involved in tumorigenesis. Here, we optimized the KAPA Library Preparation Kit (Kapa Biosystems, Wilmington, MA) to successfully perform library construction from low-yield FFPE and fresh frozen samples. The kit normally requires an input of at least 100 ng of DNA. However, we were able to modify the protocol to prepare libraries from as little as 10 ng of starting material by optimizing the ratio of adapter:input DNA and SPRI-clean-up, performing low-volume reactions, and using IDT universal blockers during hybrid capture. Additional library enrichment PCR was not required. Library yields were sufficient for downstream hybrid capture and sequencing, and sequencing metrics were comparable to samples that were prepped using the manufacturer's recommendations. Experiments are underway to demonstrate that library complexity remains unchanged. Citation Format: Aaron R. Thorner, Liuda Ziaugra, Matthew D. Ducar, Ling Lin, Angelica Laing, Haley A. Coleman, Suzanne R. McShane, Andrea Clapp, Rachel R. Paquette, Bruce M. Wollison, Johann Hoeftberger, Neil A. Patel, Samuel S. Hunter, Monica D. Manam, Laura E. MacConaill, William C. Hahn, Matthew L. Meyerson, Paul van Hummelen. Optimization of library construction for massively parallel sequencing using low-input, FFPE-derived DNA without additional PCR amplification. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 3644.
Planning Cyberspace Deception

With so many possible ways to deceive, we can be more effective if we plan systematically. Several methods can be used to plan deceptions ranging from informal to formal. Planning can be either strategic, broad in scope (Heckman et al. 2015), or tactical, focused in scope. We will focus on the latter here.
Systematic comparison of the statistical operating characteristics of various Phase I oncology designs

Dose finding Phase I oncology designs can be broadly categorized as rule based, such as the 3 + 3 and the accelerated titration designs, or model based, such as the CRM and Eff-Tox designs. This paper systematically reviews and compares through simulations several statistical operating characteristics, including the accuracy of maximum tolerated dose (MTD) selection, the percentage of patients assigned to the MTD, over-dosing, under-dosing, and the trial dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) rate, of eleven rule-based and model-based Phase I oncology designs that target or pre-specify a DLT rate of ∼0.2, for three sets of true DLT probabilities. These DLT probabilities are generated at common dosages from specific linear, logistic, and log-logistic dose-toxicity curves. We find that all the designs examined select the MTD much more accurately when there is a clear separation between the true DLT rate at the MTD and the rates at the dose level immediately above and below it, such as for the DLT rates generated using the chosen logistic dose-toxicity curve; the separations in these true DLT rates depend, in turn, not only on the functional form of the dose-toxicity curve but also on the investigated dose levels and the parameter set-up. The model based mTPI, TEQR, BOIN, CRM and EWOC designs perform well and assign the greatest percentages of patients to the MTD, and also have a reasonably high probability of picking the true MTD across the three dose-toxicity curves examined. Among the rule-based designs studied, the 5 + 5 a design picks the MTD as accurately as the model based designs for the true DLT rates generated using the chosen log-logistic and linear dose-toxicity curves, but requires enrolling a higher number of patients than the other designs. We also find that it is critical to pick a design that is aligned with the true DLT rate of interest. Further, we note that Phase I trials are very small in general and hence may not provide accurate estimates of the MTD. Thus our work provides a map for planning Phase I oncology trials or developing new ones.
SMAD4 impedes the conversion of NK cells into ILC1-like cells by curtailing non-canonical TGF-β signaling.

Colonna and colleagues generate mice in which both type 1 innate lymphoid cells and natural killer cells selectively lack SMAD4, which promotes canonical signaling of all cytokines of the TGF-β family. Unexpectedly, SMAD4 deficiency does not visibly affect the differentiation of type 1 innate lymphoid cells but instead alters the phenotype of conventional natural killer cells. Among the features that distinguish type 1 innate lymphoid cells (ILC1s) from natural killer (NK) cells is a gene signature indicative of 'imprinting' by cytokines of the TGF-β family. We studied mice in which ILC1s and NK cells lacked SMAD4, a signal transducer that facilitates the canonical signaling pathway common to all cytokines of the TGF-β family. While SMAD4 deficiency did not affect ILC1 differentiation, NK cells unexpectedly acquired an ILC1-like gene signature and were unable to control tumor metastasis or viral infection. Mechanistically, SMAD4 restrained non-canonical TGF-β signaling mediated by the cytokine receptor TGFβR1 in NK cells. NK cells from a SMAD4-deficient person affected by polyposis were also hyper-responsive to TGF-β. These results identify SMAD4 as a previously unknown regulator that restricts non-canonical TGF-β signaling in NK cells.
A selectively-coupled shear localization model for friction stir welding process window estimation

Abstract This paper presents a novel computational procedure specifically aimed at gaining modeling capabilities for estimating friction stir welding (FSW) process window. The proposed model first combines a three-dimensional (3D) transient heating effects with a one-dimensional (1D) shear localization process leading to shear band development within one pin revolution. The resulting shear band width is then compared with the minimum material flow layer thickness required for satisfying both mass conservation and velocity continuity conditions in a two-dimensional (2D) planar material flow around the tool pin. If the shear band width formed within one pin revolution is equal or larger than the minimum material flow layer thickness, conditions for developing a quality weld prevail. Otherwise, conditions for developing various forms of weld defects can be identified, depending upon shear localization behavior predicted. Specifically, the proposed model is shown capable of elucidating some of the major defect formation mechanisms observed in experiments, such as “lack of fill”, “abnormal stirring”, “surface galling”, and “excessive flash”, etc. As a result, the selectively-coupled shear localization model enables a theoretical estimation of FSW process window typically represented as a regime of welding speed and stir tool rotation speed combination for a given application, within which acceptable weld quality should be expected. Its application in FSW process window estimation is demonstrated by considering three types of aluminum alloys. In all cases, good agreements are achieved between model-estimated and experimentally-determined process windows. In addition, the proposed model also enables a theoretical estimation of optimum welding parameters within an established process window, e.g., for achieving maximum welding speed while maintaining good weld quality.
Microlens-Stabilized Laser Arrays for Short-Pulse, Speckle-Free Imaging

Microlens-stabilized laser arrays were constructed using solid-state and liquid gain media. Arrays comprised of more than 1, 200 beams illuminated motile biological specimens, producing speckle-free video with 15 nanosecond exposure per frame.
Background on VLSI Testing

As technology feature size of devices and interconnects shrink at the rate predicted by Moore’s law, gate density and design complexity on single integrated chip (IC) keep increasing in recent decades. The close to nanoscale fabrication process introduces more manufacturing errors. New failure mechanisms that are not covered by current fault models are observed in designs fabricated in new technologies and new materials. At the same time, the power and signal integrity issues that come with scaled supply voltages and higher operating frequencies increase the number of faults that violate the predefined timing margin. VLSI testing has become more and more important and challenging to verify the correctness of design and manufacturing processes. The diagram shown in Fig. 1.1 illustrates the simplified IC production flow. In the design phase, the test modules are inserted in the netlist and synthesized in the layout. Designers set timing margin carefully to account for the difference between simulation and actual operation mode, such as uncertainties introduced by process variation, temperature variation, clock jitter, etc. However, due to imperfect design and fabrication process, there are variations and defects that make the chip violate this timing margin and cause functional failure in field. Logic bugs, manufacturing error, and defective packaging process could be the source of errors.
Assistive Technology: Legal Issues for Students with Disabilities and Their Schools.

This paper provides an analysis of federal policy, legislation, and adjudication related to assistive technology for students with disabilities. The authors review the expanded mandate for assistiv...
Ultrasonic Lamb wave mode conversion to optical fiber guided mode with varying input conditions

In structural health monitoring (SHM) applications, one of the advantages of utilizing a surface bonded fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor for damage detection is its increased sensitivity in collecting ultrasonic waves. Recent studies have demonstrated that for a certain bonding condition the output FBG response can be increased by bonding the optical fiber at a distance away from the FBG to collect optical fiber guided wave (L01 mode) that is converted from S0 Lamb wave, referred as remote bonding. However in order to apply the remote bonding configuration in practical situations, the S0 mode conversion to L01 mode through an adhesive bond under various conditions must be characterized. This work investigates how the coupled L01 mode changes with varying input S0 mode frequency and angle of incidence through an adhesive bond. The goal of this work is to better understand the S0 mode conversion to the L01 mode in order to implement the remote bonding configuration for an improved SHM of a structure.
Comparative Review of Research on Health Information Technology in Biomedical Informatics and Human-Computer Interaction

This paper provides a comparative review of literature in Biomedical Informatics (BI) and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) communities that conducted human-subject studies of health information technology (HIT) to understand the kinds of knowledge these two fields develop and disseminate. We systematically searched 8 databases to retrieve relevant articles published between 2007 and 2016. Articles involving human-subject studies of HIT were eligible for inclusion. Among 1,355 articles identified by the search strategy, 593 articles were selected for final analysis. Text mining techniques were used to cluster the selected articles into five themes, followed by a thematic analysis of randomly selected 3 articles per cluster through which a hierarchical taxonomy of research areas was created. The results illustrate that BI contributes mainly to generating knowledge associated with the use of HIT in clinical settings, while HCI focuses primarily on the design and evaluation of personal healthcare applications. We believe that better understanding and bringing together the strengths of each field’s perspectives would yield results that are more generalizable and have greater potential impact in healthcare research.
DSRIP’s innovation and collaboration in population health management: A cross-sectional segmented time series model:

Texas Medicaid Section 1115 waiver approved Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) program has four categories, namely infrastructure development, program innovation and redesign, reporti...
Evaporation Duct Refractivity Inversions from Fixed Transmitter-Fixed Receiver UWB Measurements

This paper explores the point-to-point ultra wideband fixed link atmospheric refractivity estimation. The Lower Atmospheric Propagation Ultrawideband (LATPROP-UWB) measurement system was deployed during CASPER-West. A multifrequency objective function is used to invert for the M-profile for a range-independent case. Monte Carlo analysis is performed to obtain estimator variances for increasing SNR and varying numbers of frequencies. A couple of CASPER-West data with evaporation duct are investigated and used to test the algorithm.
Ethics, Value Systems And The Professionalization Of Hoteliers

In the discussion Ethics, Value Systems And The Professionalization Of Hoteliers by K. Michael Haywood, Associate Professor, School of Hotel and Food Administration, University of Guelph, Haywood initially presents: “Hoteliers and executives in other service industries should realize that the foundation of success in their businesses is based upon personal and corporate value systems and steady commitment to excellence. The author illustrates how ethical issues and manager morality are linked to, and shaped by the values of executives and the organization, and how improved professionalism can only be achieved through the adoption of a value system that rewards contributions rather than the mere attainment of results.” The bottom line of this discussion is, how does the hotel industry reconcile its behavior with that of public perception? “The time has come for hoteliers to examine their own standards of ethics, value systems, and professionalism,” Haywood says. And it is ethics that are at the center of this issue; Haywood holds that component in an estimable position. “Hoteliers must become value-driven,” advises Haywood. “They must be committed to excellence both in actualizing their best potentialities and in excelling in all they do. In other words, the professionalization of the hotelier can be achieved through a high degree of self-control, internalized values, codes of ethics, and related socialization processes,” he expands. “Serious ethical issues exist for hoteliers as well as for many business people and professionals in positions of responsibility,” Haywood alludes in defining some inter-industry problems. “The acceptance of kickbacks and gifts from suppliers, the hiding of income from taxation authorities, the lack of interest in installing and maintaining proper safety and security systems, and the raiding of competitors' staffs are common practices,” he offers, with the reasoning that if these problems can occur within ranks, then there is going to be a negative backlash in the public/client arena as well. Haywood divides the key principles of his thesis statement ethics, value systems, and professionalism – into specific elements, and then continues to broaden the scope of each element. Promotion, product/service, and pricing are additional key components in Haywood’s discussion, and he addresses each with verve and vitality. Haywood references the four character types craftsmen, jungle fighters, company men, and gamesmen – via a citation to Michael Maccoby, in the portion of the discussion dedicated to morality and success. Haywood closes with a series of questions derived from Lawrence Miller's American Spirit, Visions of a New Corporate Culture, each question designed to focus, shape, and organize management's attention to the values that Miller sets forth in his piece.
Dynamic Active Average Consensus

We propose a continuous-time dynamic active average consensus algorithm in which the agents can alternate between active and passive modes depending on their ability to access to their reference input. The objective is to enable all the agents, both active and passive, to track the average of the reference inputs of the active agents. The algorithm is modeled as a switched linear system whose convergence properties are carefully studied considering the agents’ piece-wise access to the reference signals. We also study the discrete-time implementation of this algorithm. Next, we show how a containment control problem in which a group of followers should track the convex hull of a set of observed leaders, can be cast as an active average consensus problem, and solved efficiently by our proposed dynamic active average consensus algorithm. Numerical examples demonstrate our results.
Risk Behaviors Correlate with Higher Prevalence of Papanicolaou, Human Papillomavirus, and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Screening Among Women in the United States

Introduction: This study assesses whether women with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk behavior have higher Papanicolaou (Pap), human papillomavirus (HPV), and HIV testing, and whether the le...
Of Brains and Computers

The human brain - which we consider to be the prototypal biological computer - in its current incarnation is the result of more than a billion years of evolution. Its main functions have always been to regulate the internal milieu and to help the organism/being to survive and reproduce. With growing complexity, the brain has adapted a number of design principles that serve to maximize its efficiency in performing a broad range of tasks. The physical computer, on the other hand, had only 200 years or so to evolve, and its perceived function was considerably different and far more constraint - that is to solve a set of mathematical functions. This however is rapidly changing. One may argue that the functions of brains and computers are converging. If so, the question arises if the underlaying design principles will converge or cross-breed as well, or will the different underlaying mechanisms (physics versus biology) lead to radically different solutions.
Risk of COVID-19 in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A National Veterans Affairs Matched Cohort Study in At-Risk Individuals.

BACKGROUND: While rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its treatments are associated with an increased infection risk, it remains unclear whether these factors impact the risk or severity of COVID-19. METHODS: We conducted a matched cohort study using national Veterans Affairs data. Among non-deceased individuals on January 1, 2020 who received VA care in 2019, we matched RA to non-RA patients (1:1) on age, sex, and VA site. COVID-19 and severe COVID-19 (hospitalization or death) were obtained from a national VA COVID-19 surveillance database through December 10, 2020. We used multivariable Cox models to compare the risk of COVID-19 and COVID-19 hospitalization or death after adjusting for demographics, comorbidities, health behaviors, and county level COVID-19 incidence rates. RESULTS: RA and non-RA patients (n=33,886 each) were male predominant (84.5%) and had a mean age of 67.8 years. During follow-up, there were 1,503 COVID-19 diagnoses, 388 severe COVID-19 cases, and 228 non-COVID-19 related deaths. After multivariable adjustment, RA was associated with a higher risk of COVID-19 (hazard ratio [HR] 1.25 [95% confidence interval 1.13, 1.39]) and COVID-19 hospitalization or death (HR 1.35 [1.10, 1.66]). DMARDs and prednisone, but not RA autoantibody seropositivity, as well as black race, Hispanic ethnicity, and several chronic conditions were associated with COVID-19 and COVID-19 hospitalization or death. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with RA are at higher risk for COVID-19 and COVID-19 hospitalization or death than non-RA. With a COVID-19 risk that approaches other recognized chronic conditions, these findings suggest RA patients should be prioritized for COVID-19 prevention and management.
Fault Logic Analysis of Product Safety

The purpose of this presentation is to trace the development of Fault Logic Trees, explain their theoretical structure, discuss their forensic importance, and present four illustrative examples of their use in past court cases. The examples are all man-machine interactions, and include a variety of formats and one probabilistic risk tree.
Magnesium Stores and Anemia in Young Japanese Quail

Studies were conducted to determine the effect of age on magnesium requirement and whether high dietary magnesium during the first 7 days of life would protect against subsequent magnesium deficiency. Day-old Japanese quail were fed a casein-gelatin diet containing either 300 (requirement) or 600 ppm Mg. Beginning on day 7, half of the birds in each group received either 160 (deficient) or 300 ppm Mg. In birds fed the requirement level during week 1 followed by the deficient diet, hemoglobin decreased on day 10, reaching the lowest value on day 14. Other adverse effects included mortality; slightly reduced growth rate; elevated iron in the liver, spleen, and tibia; decreased tibia magnesium; and increased spleen weight. Higher dietary magnesium (600 ppm) during week 1 prevented deficiency when 160 ppm Mg was fed in week 2; however, tibia magnesium was lower than that in birds fed 300 ppm Mg throughout. The protection may be related to reutilization of skeletal magnesium, which was elevated on day 7. In this and another experiment, birds initially fed 300 ppm Mg followed by 160 ppm (7-28 days) or 125 ppm Mg (14-28 days) had normal hemoglobin values at 21 and 28 days. These experiments showed that magnesium requirement decreased as quail aged (up to 4 weeks) and that a high magnesium diet (600 ppm) fed through days 0-7 protected against subsequent dietary inadequacy.
Functional analysis of a rickettsial OmpA homology domain of Shigella flexneri icsA.

Shigella flexneri is a gram-negative bacterium that causes diarrhea and dysentery by invasion and spread through the colonic epithelium. Bacteria spread by assembling actin and other cytoskeletal proteins of the host into “actin tails” at the bacterial pole; actin tail assembly provides the force required to move bacteria through the cell cytoplasm and into adjacent cells. The 120-kDa S. flexneri outer membrane protein IcsA is essential for actin assembly. IcsA is anchored in the outer membrane by a carboxy-terminal domain (the β domain), such that the amino-terminal 706 amino acid residues (the α domain) are exposed on the exterior of the bacillus. The α domain is therefore likely to contain the domains that are important to interactions with host factors. We identify and characterize a domain of IcsA within the α domain that bears significant sequence similarity to two repeated domains of rickettsial OmpA, which has been implicated in rickettsial actin tail formation. Strains of S. flexneri and Escherichia coli that carry derivatives of IcsA containing deletions within this domain display loss of actin recruitment and increased accessibility to IcsA-specific antibody on the surface of intracytoplasmic bacteria. However, site-directed mutagenesis of charged residues within this domain results in actin assembly that is indistinguishable from that of the wild type, and in vitro competition of a polypeptide of this domain fused to glutathione S-transferase did not alter the motility of the wild-type construct. Taken together, our data suggest that the rickettsial homology domain of IcsA is required for the proper conformation of IcsA and that its disruption leads to loss of interactions of other IcsA domains within the amino terminus with host cytoskeletal proteins.