cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hypersonic viscous flows

At hypersonic Mach numbers, significant pressures are induced on aerodynamic surfaces by both viscosity and bluntness effects. Viscosity-induced pressures are caused by the growth of the boundary layer. They are accounted for in the manner proposed by Prandtl (1) many years ago when he suggested taking the computed boundary-layer displacement thickness as the boundary of a new body for which the external flow is then calculated. Bluntness-induced pressures result from complicated flow field interactions integral with the highly-curved nose shock and attendant strong entropy and vorticity gradients associated with blunt noses in hypersonic flow; this interaction is essentially inviscid.
Chronic, dietary polybrominated diphenyl ether exposure affects survival, growth, and development of Rana pipiens tadpoles

Levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in the environment have been increasing rapidly over the past two decades; however, the toxicology of these compounds to aquatic organisms is poorly understood. Because amphibians play a role in both aquatic and terrestrial food webs, and are currently undergoing worldwide population declines, it is of interest to determine how PBDEs may affect amphibian health. This is the first study that reports chronic, dietary effects of environmentally relevant levels (7–277 ng/g wet food) of PBDEs in amphibians throughout larval development. Beginning at the free-swimming stage (Gosner Stage [GS] 25), Rana pipiens tadpoles were orally exposed to a technical pentabromodiphenyl ether mixture (DE-71) through metamorphic climax (GS 42). On exposure day 43, a subset of tadpoles was removed for body residue analysis. Sum PBDEs in whole-body tissue correlated linearly to dietary concentrations with BDE-99 represented as the highest contributing congener in both diet and tissue. Survival among all treatments compared to the control was decreased by DE-71 exposure. Further, growth and development were delayed in all but the highest treatment, perhaps indicating greater PBDE tolerance among those individuals that survived the highest treatment. Time to metamorphic climax was delayed, on average, 22 to 36 d in DE-71-treated tadpoles compared to control tadpoles. Additionally, size at metamorphosis was smaller in the highest treatment, suggesting that individuals that survived and metamorphosed similarly to the controls did so with a trade-off in size. At environmentally relevant levels, PBDEs induced mortality as well as sublethal effects on developing tadpoles through dietary exposure. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2010;29:133–141. © 2009 SETAC
Environmentally Enhanced Fracture of Glass: A Historical Perspective

In this paper, we review the phenomenon of delayed failure, a life-limiting process for glasses that are subjected to tensile stresses. With the development of crack-weakening theories (Ingles and Griffith) and the observation that surface damage enhances delayed failure, the scientific community recognized that delayed failure in glass is caused by the growth of cracks that are subjected to tensile stresses. Fracture mechanics techniques were used to quantify crack growth rates in terms of applied stress, temperature, and the chemical environments that cause subcritical crack growth. We review the theories that have been developed to rationalize subcritical crack growth data, including theories based on plastic deformation at the crack tip, chemical adsorption of the reacting species, and direct chemical reaction of the environment with the strained bonds at the crack tip. The latter theory seems to be most consistent with the finding that water reacts directly with the strained Si–O bond because of the ability of water to donate both electrons and protons to the strained bond. Other chemicals having this characteristic also cause subcritical crack growth. Finally, we review the quantum mechanical calculations that have been used to quantify the chemical reactions involved in subcritical crack growth.
Evolution of flux control in the glucosinolate pathway in Arabidopsis thaliana

Network characteristics of biochemical pathways are believed to influence the rate of evolutionary change in constituent enzymes. One characteristic that may affect rate heterogeneity is control of the amount of product produced by a biochemical pathway or flux control. In particular, theoretical analyses suggest that adaptive substitutions should be concentrated in the enzyme(s) that exert the greatest control over flux. Although a handful of studies have found a correlation between position in a pathway and evolutionary rate, these investigations have not examined the relationship between evolutionary rate and flux control. Given that genes with greater control will experience stronger selection and that the probability of fixation is proportional to the selective advantage, we ask the following: 1) do upstream enzymes have majority flux control, 2) do enzymes with majority flux control accumulate adaptive substitutions, and 3) are upstream enzymes under higher selective constraint? First, by perturbing the enzymes in the aliphatic glucosinolate pathway in Arabidopsis thaliana with gene insertion lines, we show that flux control is focused in the first enzyme in the pathway. Next, by analyzing several sequence signatures of selection, we also show that this enzyme is the only one in the pathway that shows convincing evidence of selection. Our results support the hypothesis that natural selection preferentially acts on enzymes with high flux control.
Treg/Th17 polarization by distinct subsets of breast cancer cells is dictated by the interaction with mesenchymal stem cells.

Breast cancer (BC) cells (BCCs) exist within a hierarchy beginning with cancer stem cells (CSCs). Unsorted BCCs interact with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to induce regulatory T cells (Tregs). This study investigated how distinct BCC subsets interacted with MSCs to polarize T-cell response, Tregs versus T helper 17 (Th17). This study tested BC initiating cells (CSCs) and the relatively more mature early and late BC progenitors. CSCs interacted with the highest avidity to MSCs. This interaction required CXCR4 and connexin 43 (Cx43)-dependant gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC). This interaction induced Treg whereas interactions between MSCs and the progenitors induced Th17 response. The increases in Treg and Th17 depended on MSCs but not CTLA-4, which was increased in the presence of MSCs. Studies with BM stroma (fibroblasts)andMSCsfromthesamedonors,indicatedspecificeffectsofMSCs.Intotal,MSC-CSCinteractionrequiredCXCR4 for GJIC. This led to increased Tregs and TGFb, and decreased Th17. In contrast, late and early BCCs showed reduced formation ofGJIC,decreasedTregandincreasedTh17andIL-17.These findingshavesignificancetothemethodsbywhichCSCsevadethe immune response. The findings could provide methods of intervention to reverse immune-mediated protection and support of BC.
Term Limits, Professionalization, and Partisan Control in U.S. State Legislatures

As states across the country have adopted term limits provisions for their state legislatures, political scientists have analyzed how mass unseatings of incumbents are affecting legislative composition, capacity, and activity. Yet this reform may impact legislatures not only directly through forced retirements, but also indirectly by changing the incentives to prospective candidates. Following hypotheses suggested by Fiorina (1994, 1996), we argue that term limits have changed the incentive structure for typical Democratic candidates in some legislatures. This change in incentives has, in turn, affected the partisan composition of statehouses just as the professionalization movement affected incentives and partisan composition a generation ago. We provide quantitative evidence that supports Fiorina's conjectures about term limits, suggesting that the presence of term limits provisions Even before they take effect creates an environment that is less attractive to Democratic candidates.
Water Management in China, Top Priority for 2500 Years

. The civilization of China evolved as a result of interplay between irrigated regions in the higher reaches and flood prone lower basins of two major rivers, the Hwand and the Yangtze. The problems of water control remain central throughout the history of China. Early projects are described which involved men who, as hydrological engineers, became and remain culture heros to hundreds of millions of Chinese. Modern projects are described which promise to fulfill the most ancient ambitions in the organization of these river systems. In their heroic physical dimensions and their drama as historic culminations they deserve the attention of water management people throughout the world.
A quasi-optical subharmonically-pumped receiver using separately biased Schottky diode pairs

A novel quasi-optical planar subharmonically pumped receiver including a log-periodic antenna and an anti-parallel Schottky diode pair with independent bias is presented. The antenna and Schottky diode pair have a 20 /spl mu/m and 2.5 /spl mu/m wide split, respectively, for biasing considerations and an overlay capacitor for RF coupling. Millimeter-wave measurements at 91 GHz show that, at /spl plusmn/0.4 V bias, the separately biased subharmonic mixer requires 2-3 times less LO power than the zero-biased subharmonic mixer for the same 8 dB (SSB) conversion loss. At 180 GHz a similar LO power requirement reduction has been achieved, with a minimum conversion loss of 9.7 dB and noise temperature of 1850 K (DS8). >
Virtual Peer Effects in Social Learning Theory

The current study examines the differential influence of face-to-face and virtual peers in predicting digital and traditional offending among college students through the lens of social learning theory (SLT). SLT components are explored to discern whether the theory holds for virtual peers, as it has for face-to-face peers using a structural equation modeling framework, thus making a substantial contribution to the social learning literature. Findings provide some support for SLT for both virtual only peers and the face-to-face peers model in relation to digital as well as traditional offending. In addition, findings suggest that virtual peer associations may be as important as traditional peer associations in explaining certain types of deviant behavior.
Ecological inference for 2 × 2 tables

Summary. A fundamental problem in many disciplines, including political science, sociology and epidemiology, is the examination of the association between two binary variables across a series of 2 × 2 tables, when only the margins are observed, and one of the margins is fixed. Two unobserved fractions are of interest, with only a single response per table, and it is this non-identifiability that is the inherent difficulty lying at the heart of ecological inference. Many methods have been suggested for ecological inference, often without a probabilistic model; we clarify the form of the sampling distribution and critique previous approaches within a formal statistical framework, thus allowing clarification and examination of the assumptions that are required under all approaches. A particularly difficult problem is choosing between models with and without contextual effects. Various Bayesian hierarchical modelling approaches are proposed to allow the formal inclusion of supplementary data, and/or prior information, without which ecological inference is unreliable. Careful choice of the prior within such models is required, however, since there may be considerable sensitivity to this choice, even when the model assumed is correct and there are no contextual effects. This sensitivity is shown to be a function of the number of areas and the distribution of the proportions in the fixed margin across areas. By explicitly providing a likelihood for each table, the combination of individual level survey data and aggregate level data is straightforward and we illustrate that survey data can be highly informative, particularly if these data are from a survey of the minority population within each area. This strategy is related to designs that are used in survey sampling and in epidemiology. An approximation to the suggested likelihood is discussed, and various computational approaches are described. Some extensions are outlined including the consideration of multiway tables, spatial dependence and area-specific (contextual) variables. Voter registration–race data from 64 counties in the US state of Louisiana are used to illustrate the methods.
Short term dynamics of the dominant annelids in a polyhaline temperate estuary

Weekly sampling over a two year period from a muddy sand bottom in the polyhaline York River, Virginia, U.S.A., clearly identified the pattern of recruitment and survival of the dominant annelid species. Three intermingled recruitment strategies and two survival patterns were observed, ranging from the classic opportunistic life style of mass recruitment over short time periods followed by mass mortality to prolonged recruitment with lower mortality. Qualitatively the annelid assemblage was very similar from year to year with most of the changes being quantitative. Oligochaetes, Tubificoides spp., were the most stable and characteristic members of the annelid assemblage.
Bridge measurement of tunnel-diode parameters

A specific bridge measurement technique is presented for measuring the important small-signal parameters of the tunnel diode at frequencies up to 100 Mc and at all significant operating levels. Particular attention is paid to the problem of biasing the tunnel diode to eliminate instability in the negative resistance region which would otherwise prevent significant measurements being made in this region. Requirements for stable bias circuits are analyzed in detail and specific criteria for stable operation given. A circle diagram method is presented which allows the significant parameters to be determined from a set of measurements made for a sequence of bias voltages, at a chosen frequency. From the results, curves of shunt capacitance and conductance as a function of bias voltage may be plotted. Measurements made using a Wayne Kerr Type B.801 VHF Admittance Bridge on a particular tunnel diode are presented. The experimentally determined capacitance vs voltage curve is found to agree closely with the theoretical curve of the normal junction diode, with no pecularities through the negative resistance region. Further results show that approximate parameter values may be obtained even when oscillatory or bistable behavior prevents satisfactory measurement in the negative resistance region.
Lawyers, Guns, and Public Moneys: The U.S. Treasury, World War I, and the Administration of the Modern Fiscal State

World War I was a pivotal event for U.S. political and economic development, particularly in the realm of public finance. For it was during the war that the federal government ended its traditional reliance on regressive import duties and excise taxes as principal sources of revenue and began a modern era of fiscal governance, one based primarily on the direct and progressive taxation of personal and corporate income. The wartime tax regime, as the historian David M. Kennedy has observed, “occasioned a fiscal revolution in the United States.”
Minimum energy to start a quench and optimum copper-to-NbTi ration

The optimum copper-to-NbTi (Cu/Nb) ratio in a superconducting cable inside a dipole is estimated by computing the minimum point-deposition energy required to quench the cable. The copper in the narrow gaps between the closely packed NbTi filaments may not conduct heat and electricity well and has been taken care of. An attempt is made to use the quench current density instead of the critical current density which is defined arbitrarily. The numerical solutions of the time-dependent equation are approximated by analytic solutions of the time-dependent equation with the introduction of the concept of the minimum propagating zone (MPZ). For the SSC cable, the three-dimensional analysis produces an optimum Cu/Nb ratio of approximately 1.71, which agrees with the experimental measurements done at Brookhaven. >
Sex differences in the acquisition and maintenance of cocaine and nicotine self-administration in rats

Consistent sex differences are observed in human drug addiction, with females often exceeding males on drug intake. However, there is still a need for animal models for some aspects of addiction such as acquisition of drug self-administration and the subsequent development of drug-seeking. The present study examined sex differences in the acquisition and maintenance of self-administration of two widely used stimulants, cocaine and nicotine. Male and female rats self-administered cocaine (0.4 mg/kg/infusion) or nicotine (0.03 mg/kg/infusion) daily under a fixed-ratio 1 (FR 1) schedule until acquisition criteria were met (maximum of 30 sessions). The self-administration criterion for cocaine was ≥20 infusions in a 2-h session and ≥5 infusions in a 1-h session for nicotine. Sex differences were assessed by examining the percentage of rats that met acquisition criteria, the number of sessions to meet criteria, and the number of infusions earned during the maintenance phase. A significantly higher percentage of male rats acquired both cocaine and nicotine self-administration than females, and males met acquisition criteria in fewer sessions. However, after criteria were met, females self-administered more cocaine than males during the first 5 days of maintenance. There were no sex differences in nicotine infusions post-acquisition. Differences in acquisition amongst sexes can reveal factors that are integral to initiation of drug use, an often overlooked phase of drug addiction.
Synovial sarcoma of the penis: A case report

s / Urological Science 26 (2015) 294e300 298 MP3-3: SYNOVIAL SARCOMA OF THE PENIS: A CASE REPORT Chao-An Chen , Kam-Fai Lee , Kuo-Cai Huang , Kuo-Hsiung Chiu , TzuHsin Yang , Yin-Lun Chang , Jian-Hui Lin , Yung-Chin Huang , Dong-Ru Ho , Chih-Shou Chen , Wei-Yu Lin . Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Chiayi Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan; Department of Anatomic Pathology, Chiayi Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan Purpose: Primary synovial sarcoma of the penis is extremely rare. We report a case of synovial sarcoma initially discovered as a painless penile mass with no image evidence of distal metastasis. Synovial sarcoma was reported in the final pathology. Materials and Methods: A 59-year-old male patient is a case of panic disorder under alprazolam treatment for 4 years. He came to our outpatient department for gradual enlargement of penile mass in recentmonths. He is a married man without circumcision. The mass was painless, spherical, and movable over penile base, without skin abnormality or infection signs. Computed tomography revealed a 3.2 cm hypodense mass lesion over left side of corpus cavernosum without enlargement of pelvis or retroperitoneal lymph nodes. Partial penectomy with bilateral inguinal lymph node dissection was performed. Synovial sarcoma within tunica abluginea (pT2) was reported in the final pathology. Results: To our knowledge; this is the first case of primary synovial sarcoma of penis in Taiwan. MP3-4: ADENOCARCINOMA OF URINARY BLADDERe A CASE REPORT Ping-Hao Tsai, Heng-Chieh Chiang, Pao-Hwa Chen. Divisions of Urology, Department of Surgery, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan This 78 years old manwho was under regular follow-up post transurethral rsection of prostate gland. During last cystoscope, tumor biopsy was done and the pathologic report reveal possibility of urothelial carcinoma with glandular differentiation, which primary adenocarcinoma or secondary adenocarcinoma involvement especially colorectal origin may be consideration on July, 2015. Afterward, we arranged MRI for tumor staging and it reveals T3N0M0, Stages III. Then, after explain to patient, transurethral resection of bladder tumor was performed on Aug, 2015. The final pathologic report reveals adenocarcinoma arising from urinary bladder. We also arranged colon scope which reveals negative finding. PET scan reveals no uptake for gastrointestinal tract. As exclude colorectal origin of adenocarcinoma, patient is under radiotherapy and chemotherapy for adneomcarcinoma currently. MP3-5: ASSOCIATION BETWEEN HUMAN GLUTATHIONE S-TRANSFERASE OMEGA RS4925 POLYMORPHISM AND BLADDER CANCER Zhon-Min Huang , Jow-Yu Sheu , Min-Che Tung , Chia-Chang Wu, Yuan-Hung Wang . Divisions of Urology, Department of Surgery, Tungs’ Taichung Metro Harbor Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; Divisions of Urology, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University New Taipei City,
The Standard Run

For each simulation with the model, over 50 physiological coefficients, about 10 baywide or seasonal patterns for forced compartments, and initial conditions throughout the bay for the six state variables must all be specified. These numerous variables and options preclude an exhaustive presentation of all the features of the model. To facilitate the discussion, one “standard” simulation run has been chosen with which to explain the basic input requirements and output results, and against which a number of modifications will be compared. The majority of coefficients and specifications have not been routinely altered in the simulations. For example, the biomasses and rates for the secondary biological compartments were not varied in most cases, nor were the flux rates, external nutrient sources, or physical properties of the bay. The selection and justification of these values have been presented in the respective formulation discussions.
Physically-Based Modeling of Creep-Fatigue Crack Growth Using a Constitutive Theory and a Strip-Yield Methodology

Creep-resistant austenitic and ferritic/martensitic steels are used for pressure vessels, reactor internals and piping applications in nuclear power plants. Creep–fatigue is a dominant failure mode in these materials during the lifetime of a reactor. In this study, a modeling approach for the creep–fatigue crack growth is presented. The approach combines a constitutive model for creep with a strip-yield model for crack growth. In the constitutive model, creep deformation results from the dislocation and dipole generation and annihilation within the microstructure. Crack growth is modeled using a strip-yield methodology. In this approach, the crack plane is meshed with one-dimensional bar elements of a finite width. The deformation and fracture of the elements located in the crack plane and ahead of the crack tip are described using the constitutive model. The crack advance results from the progressive failure of the crack plane elements. Simulations of creep–fatigue crack growth in compact-tension specimens of Grade 91 (modified 9Cr–1Mo) steel are presented. Several ratios of creep and fatigue during a loading cycle at different temperatures are considered. The advantage of this modeling approach is that it offers a method to extrapolate models built using accelerated creep–fatigue testing data to more realistic service loading scenarios.
Spiral wave classification using normalized compression distance: Towards atrial tissue spatiotemporal electrophysiological behavior characterization

Analysis of electrical activation patterns such as re-entries during atrial fibrillation (Afib) is crucial in understanding arrhythmic mechanisms and assessment of diagnostic measures. Spiral waves are a phenomena that provide intuitive basis for re-entries occurring in cardiac tissue. Distinct spiral wave behaviors such as stable spiral waves, meandering spiral waves, and spiral wave break-up may have distinct electrogram manifestations on a mapping catheter. Hence, it is desirable to have an automated classification of spiral wave behavior based on catheter recordings for a qualitative characterization of spatiotemporal electrophysiological activity on atrial tissue. In this study, we propose a method for classification of spatiotemporal characteristics of simulated atrial activation patterns in terms of distinct spiral wave behaviors during Afib using two different techniques: normalized compressed distance (NCD) and normalized FFT (NFFTD). We use a phenomenological model for cardiac electrical propagation to produce various simulated spiral wave behaviors on a 2D grid and labeled them as stable, meandering, or breakup. By mimicking commonly used catheter types, a star shaped and a circular shaped both of which do the local readings from atrial wall, monopolar and bipolar intracardiac electrograms are simulated. Virtual catheters are positioned at different locations on the grid. The classification performance for different catheter locations, types and for monopolar or bipolar readings were also compared. We observed that the performance for each case differed slightly. However, we found that NCD performance is superior to NFFTD. Through the simulation study, we showed the theoretical validation of the proposed method. Our findings suggest that a qualitative wavefront activation pattern can be assessed during Afib without the need for highly invasive mapping techniques such as multisite simultaneous electrogram recordings.
A Case of Unusual Mast Cell Response With Interstitial Cystitis-Like Symptoms to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Muscle-Invasive Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Bladder

Randomized trials support the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in muscle-invasive bladder cancer based on a noted survival advantage, which appeared to be strongly related to downstaging of the cancer to pT0 (complete pathologic response). This report presents a case of an unusual mast cell response along with bladder wall thickening after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. However, the final cystectomy specimen did not reveal any residual tumor (pT0). The authors hypothesize that neoadjuvant chemotherapy could have caused the diffuse mast cell response, and that this profound inflammatory response can be used as a biomarker of complete response to chemotherapy.
Embedded early vision techniques for efficient background modeling and midground detection

An automated vision system performs critical tasks in video surveillance, while decreasing costs and increasing efficiency. It can provide high quality scene monitoring without the limitations of human distraction and fatigue. Advances in embedded processors, wireless networks, and imager technology have enabled computer vision systems to be deployed pervasively in stationary surveillance monitors, hand-held devices, and vehicular sensors. However, the size, weight, power, and cost requirements of these platforms present a great challenge in developing real-time systems. This dissertation explores the development of background modeling algorithms for surveillance on embedded platforms. Our contributions are as follows: (1) An efficient pixel-based adaptive background model, called multimodal mean, which produces results comparable to the widely used mixture of Gaussians multimodal approach, at a much reduced computational cost and greater control of occluded object persistence. (2) A novel and efficient chromatic clustering-based background model for embedded vision platforms that leverages the color uniformity of large, permanent background objects to yield significant speedups in execution time. (3) A multi-scale temporal model for midground analysis which provides a means to “tune-in” to changes in the scene beyond the standard background/foreground framework, based on user-defined temporal constraints. Multimodal mean reduces instruction complexity with the use of fixed integer arithmetic and periodic long-term adaptation that occurs once every d frames. When combined with fixed thresholding, it performs 6.2 times faster than the mixture of Gaussians method while using 18% less storage. Furthermore, fixed thresholding compares favorably to standard deviation thresholding with a percentage difference in error less than five percent when used on scenes with stable lighting conditions and modest multimodal activity. The chromatic clustering-based approach to optimized background modeling takes advantage of the color distributions in large permanent background objects, such as a road, building, or sidewalk, to speedup execution time. It abstracts their colors to a small color palette and suppresses their adaptation during processing. When run on a representative embedded platform it reduces storage usage by 58% and increases runtime execution by 45%. Multiscale temporal modeling for midground analysis presents a unified approach for scene analysis that can be applied to several application domains. It extends scene analysis from the standard background/foreground framework to one that includes a temporal midground object saliency window that is defined by the user. When applied to stationary object detection, the midground model provides accurate results at low sampling frame rates (∼1 fps) while using only 18 Mbytes of storage and 15 Mops/sec processing throughput.
Simple Technique for Storing Diapausing Southwestern Corn Borers (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of storing diapausing southwestern corn borer, Diatraea grandiosella (Dyar), larvae for up to 5 months at 10°C either in 30-ml plastic cups partially filled with 2% agar plus antimicrobial agents or in rearing cups containing the casein-wheat germ agar base diet in which the larva developed. In the first experiment, diapausing larvae were collected from corn stubble in the fall of the year and stored individually in cups with the 2% agar gel until the next spring. Seventy-eight percent of the larvae pupated when they were transferred to a 27°C environment for resumption of development. In the second experiment, larvae reared in the laboratory to the diapause stage were stored individually for 5 months in the same cups in which they were reared or in cups containing the 2% agar gel. Larvae survived equally well in either cup and resulted in 84% of the larvae developing to adults.
Monte Carlo Methods and Their Applications in Big Data Analysis

Due to recent emergence of many big data problems, Monte Carlo methods tend to become powerful tools for analyzing big data sets. In this chapter, we first review the fundamental principles of Monte Carlo methods. Then, we describe several popular variance reduction techniques, including stratified sampling, control variates, antithetic variates, and importance sampling, to improve Monte Carlo sampling efficiency. Finally, application examples of estimation of sum, Monte Carlo linear solver, image recovery, matrix multiplication, and low-rank approximation are shown as case studies to demonstrate the effectiveness of Monte Carlo methods in data analysis.
A network condition classification scheme for supporting video delivery over wireless Internet

Real-time video transport over wireless Internet faces many challenges due to the heterogeneous environment including wireline and wireless networks. A robust network condition classification algorithm using multiple end-to-end metrics and Support Vector Machine (SVM) is proposed to classify different network events and model the transition pattern of network conditions. End-to-end Quality-of-Service (QoS) mechanisms like congestion control, error control, and power control can benefit from the network condition information and react to different network situations appropriately. The proposed network condition classification algorithm uses SVM as a classifier to cluster different end-to-end metrics such as end-to-end delay, delay jitter, throughput and packet loss-rate for the UDP traffic with TCP-friendly Rate Control (TFRC), which is used for video transport. The algorithm is also flexible for classifying different numbers of states representing different levels of network events such as wireline congestion and wireless channel loss. Simulation results using network simulator 2 (ns2) showed the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.
Genetic Mapping of Millions of SNPs in Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) via Whole-Genome Resequencing

Accurate assembly of complete genomes is facilitated by very high density genetic maps. We performed low-coverage, whole-genome shotgun sequencing on 96 F6 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of a cross between safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) and its wild progenitor (C. palaestinus Eig). We also produced a draft genome assembly of C. tinctorius covering 866 million bp (∼two-thirds) of the expected 1.35 Gbp genome after sequencing a single, short insert library to ∼21 × depth. Sequence reads from the RILs were mapped to this genome assembly to facilitate SNP identification, and the resulting polymorphisms were used to construct a genetic map. The resulting map included 2,008,196 genetically located SNPs in 1178 unique positions. A total of 57,270 scaffolds, each containing five or more mapped SNPs, were anchored to the map. This resulted in the assignment of sequence covering 14% of the expected genome length to a genetic position. Comparison of this safflower map to genetic maps of sunflower and lettuce revealed numerous chromosomal rearrangements, and the resulting patterns were consistent with a whole-genome duplication event in the lineage leading to sunflower. This sequence-based genetic map provides a powerful tool for the assembly of a low-cost draft genome of safflower, and the same general approach is expected to work for other species.
Stimulative Feeding of Honeybee Colonies in Arizona

SummaryThe egg production of 5-frame colonies of honeybees, kept in cages to prevent pollen collection and fed supplemental carbohydrates, bore a direct relationship to the amount of carbohydrate consumed. After 3 days, but not subsequently, the groups fed Beevert or sugar syrup had significantly more brood than those fed with Drivert or Subvert.Other 5-frame experimental colonies, that were allowed free flight and were continuously fed pollen-substitute candy, had more brood at the end of the 33-day test period if they also received carbohydrates than if they did not.Colonies in commercial apiaries reared more brood when they were given either pollen substitute or carbohydrates, or both, than if they received neither. Honey production was also significantly increased by the pollen substitute, but not by the supplemental carbohydrates.
The impact of instructional methods on the biometric data collection agent

Biometric system deployments can be classified in two ways: attended and non-attended. This study focuses only on attended systems, which rely on skills and knowledge of the data collection agent to operate the user interface as well as the biometric device in the capture process. In contrast, non-attended systems only rely on the subject to provide the sample(s) without any supervision from an agent. An example of data collection agent is military personnel using a mobile iris recognition system for identifying people of interest in areas of conflict. The objective of the study is to evaluate the impact of instructional methods on the agent collecting data with a mobile iris recognition system. Participants will serve as the agent and will be screened in the beginning of a study to assess the learner's type (verbal or visual) then they will be randomly given one type of instructional methods for training. Time will be recorded during the data collection process and will be used for measurement for the study. This research aims to provide insight into the following two questions: 1. Does the instructional method have any effect on the training? 2. Does one type of learner perform better in the data collecting process given a particular instructional method?*
A comparative analysis of the take-off employed in springboard dives from the forward and reverse groups

The components of springboard dives from either the forward or reverse groups include the approach steps, hurdle, take-off, flight, and entry into the water. Because the initial conditions of the flight, namely, the angle of projection, velocity of the mass center, and angular momentum, are established during the take-off, this phase plays a major role in determining the success of the dive. For convenience of analysis, the springboard take-off, which was the focus of the present investigation, can be divided into a press and a lift.
Enhanced recovery after surgery for primary hip and knee arthroplasty: a review of the evidence.

Abstract Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols produce significant clinical and economic benefits in a range of surgical subspecialties. There is a long tradition of applying clinical pathways to the perioperative care of joint arthroplasty patients. Enhanced recovery after surgery represents the next step in the evolution of standardized care. To date, reports of full ERAS pathways for hip or knee arthroplasty are lacking. In this narrative review, we present the evidence base that can be usefully applied to constructing ERAS pathways for hip or knee arthroplasty. The history and rationale for applying ERAS to joint arthroplasty are explained. Evidence demonstrates improved outcomes after joint arthroplasty when a standardized approach to care is implemented. The efficacy of individual ERAS components in hip or knee replacement is considered, including preoperative education, intraoperative anaesthetic techniques, postoperative analgesia, and early mobilization after joint arthroplasty. Interventions lacking high-quality evidence are identified, together with recommendations for future research. Based on currently available evidence, we present a model ERAS pathway that can be applied to perioperative care of patients undergoing hip or knee arthroplasty.
The Role of Evidence Diversity and Explanation in 4- and 5-Year-Olds’ Resolution of Counterevidence

ABSTRACTThree experiments examined whether 4- and 5-year-olds can explicitly revise uncertain beliefs in light of disconfirming evidence. We considered 2 factors that might influence belief revision: a) the type and variability of evidence provided, and b) whether children generated an explanation of their initial hypothesis. When provided with limited observed evidence, children revised their belief about their initial guess greater than chance expectations, but differences were not observed when the quality of the explanation was considered (Experiment 1). In a similar paradigm, children revised their beliefs more often than chance when asked to explain or describe their initial belief when shown more diverse counterevidence (Experiment 2) or when told that their initial belief was incorrect (Experiment 3). Overall, these data suggest that preschoolers have nascent capacities for explicit belief revision in light of counterevidence.
Settled Versus Right: A Theory of Precedent

In this timely book, Randy J. Kozel develops a theory of precedent designed to enhance the stability and impersonality of constitutional law. Kozel contends that the prevailing approach to precedent in American law is undermined by principled disagreements among judges over the proper means and ends of constitutional interpretation. The structure and composition of the doctrine all but guarantee that conclusions about the durability of precedent will track individual views about whether decisions are right or wrong, and whether mistakes are harmful or benign. This is a serious challenge, but it also reveals a path toward maintaining legal continuity even as judges come and go. Kozel's account of precedent should be read by anyone interested in the nature of the judicial role and the trajectory of constitutional law.
Surgical techniques and recidivism in cholesteatoma.

With the development of microscopic ear surgery, improved otologic instrumentation, and computed tomography, it was hoped that improvement in the treatment of cholesteatoma would occur. Instead, the incidence of recurrent and residual cholesteatoma has increased. This problem is examined in detail. The authors seek to define the difference between recurrent and residual cholesteatoma and suggest a reappraisal of how the disease is treated.
Penhawitz and Wampage and the Seventeenth-Century World They Dominated

Archaeological finds made nearly a century ago in New York City provide a unique opportunity to reshape the traditional, self-congratulatory stories of settler colonial society. This essay focuses on the major roles two Native leaders, Penhawitz and Wampage, and their descendants played in the development of New Amsterdam and New Netherland. By including their forgotten stories and analyzing archaeological sites found in their territories, a more complex view of the crucial inter-cultural economic and political alliances that marked the Dutch colony emerges. Finally, the significance of Native human remains found on Ellis Island to this reshaping of New York’s history is discussed.
Revolutionary narrations: Early Haitian historiography and the challenge of writing counter-history

ABSTRACTThis article examines a selection of understudied nineteenth-century Haitian texts to illuminate how Haitians tensely narrated their country’s foundational event and negotiated the challenge of constructing the first black nation-state in the Americas. The predominantly mixed-race male authors held their own biases and prejudices that were often informed by the same racialized labels they sought to overturn. Writing Haiti’s history, specifically that of the revolution, exposed these biases as well as critical social divisions, most notably between an emergent Eurocentric elite and the majority of recently freed, uneducated former slaves who spoke no French. Despite appeals to unity and Haitians’ Africanity, early narratives of the revolution disavowed or treated with ambivalence the role of former slaves and African-derived spiritual traditions in Haiti’s founding. I trace this ambivalence towards or disavowal of the black majority through a corpus of understudied texts that represent specific int...
Transient Analysis of Rotor-Bearing Systems Using Component Mode Synthesis

A method of component mode synthesis is utilized to determine the forced response of linear multi-shaft rotor-bearing systems. The formulation allows for simulation of system response due to blade loss, base shock, maneuver loads, and specified fixed frame forces. The motion of each rotating component of the system is described by superposing constraint modes associated with boundary coordinates and constrained precessional modes associated with internal coordinates. The precessional modes are truncated for each component and the reduced component equations are assembled to obtain a set of complex system equations of reduced order. The method allows for nonsymmetric effects and comparative results are presented for various levels of mode truncation for two example cases.Copyright © 1981 by ASME
Real-time evolutionary model predictive control using a graphics processing unit

With humanoid robots becoming more complex and operating in un-modeled or human environments, there is a growing need for control methods that are scalable and robust, while still maintaining compliance for safety reasons. Model Predictive Control (MPC) is an optimal control method which has proven robust to modeling error and disturbances. However, it can be difficult to implement for high degree of freedom (DoF) systems due to the optimization problem that must be solved. While evolutionary algorithms have proven effective for complex large-scale optimization problems, they have not been formulated to find solutions quickly enough for use with MPC. This work details the implementation of a parallelized evolutionary MPC (EMPC) algorithm which is able to run in real-time through the use of a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU). This parallelization is accomplished by simulating candidate control input trajectories in parallel on the GPU. We show that this framework is more flexible in terms of cost function definition than traditional MPC and that it shows promise for finding solutions for high DoF systems.
Preferences of Conservative and Moderate Christians for four Christian Counselors’ Treatment Plans:

Conservative Christians, who comprise up to one-third of the total population in the United States, are often reluctant to seek counseling from nonreligious counselors. Consequently, counselors tak...
Safety and utility of surveillance biopsies in pediatric kidney transplant patients

There is currently no way to diagnose a rejection before a change in serum creatinine. This had led some to start doing SB, but little data exist on the utility and safety of SB in pediatric patients. There is also little known on practice patterns of pediatric nephrologists. A retrospective review of pediatric kidney transplant SB between January 2013 and January 2017 at a single center was performed. A survey went to the PedNeph email list. There were 47 SB; 15 at 6 months, 12 at 1 year, 13 at 2 years, and 7 at 3 years. There were 3 minor (1 gross hematuria and 2 hematomas) and no major complications. On 6-month SB, 1 had SC 1A ACR (6.7%) with no BR ACR. On the 12-month SB, there were 5 with SCBR ACR (41.7%) and 1 with SC AMR (8.3%). On the 2-year SB, there were 4 that had SCBR ACR (30.8%), and 1 with SC AMR (7.7%). On the 3-year SB, 1 had chronic transplant glomerulitis (14.3%). The survey showed that 34.3% of pediatric nephrologists perform SB. SB can be performed safely. By early identification of histological lesions, SB gives us an opportunity for individualized immunosuppressive regimens that may prevent chronic allograft dysfunction and improve long-term graft outcome.
Third harmonic scattering in liquids

Third harmonic scattering (THS) from liquids has been observed and analyzed in several recent papers. It is considered to be analogous to second harmonic scattering (hyper-Rayleigh scattering) and to provide a means for measuring the second hyperpolarizability tensor of molecules in a liquid. However, the observed signal for a pure solvent is in fact mainly due to coherent third harmonic generation followed by Rayleigh scattering and direct incoherent THS (direct THS) makes only a small contribution (<2% for parallel polarized THS). This invalidates the internal reference method and the polarization analysis that has been applied for pure liquids. Theoretical comparison for the two processes, extensive experimental measurements for CCl4 liquid, SiO2 glass, and CCl2F2 gas and survey measurements for D2O, CDCl3, CD3CN, and (CD3)2SO liquid, are presented.