cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Controller design for nonlinear systems using the Contoured Robust Controller Bode plot

SUMMARY In this paper, we develop the Contoured Robust Controller Bode (CRCBode) plot and demonstrate its use in the design of robust controllers for nonlinear single-input single-output (SISO) systems. The CRCBode plot shows contours (level sets) of a robust performance quantity on the Bode magnitude and phase plots of the controller. An iterative frequency domain loop-shaping design approach is employed to eliminate all intersections of the controller frequency response with certain ‘forbidden regions,’ indicating that a standard SISO robust stability and performance criterion is satisfied. Nonlinearities are accounted for by avoiding the maximum forbidden regions over a structured uncertainty set consisting of linearizations of the system dynamics about several operating points. We demonstrate this technique by designing and experimentally verifying a flow-rate controller for a butterfly-valve based liquid cooling system, which is robust to valve nonlinearities and flow disturbances. Finally, we compare this compensator with one generated using an automated H ∞ synthesis algorithm and discuss the advantages of the CRCBode approach. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A microwave photonic phase-shifter based on wavelength conversion in a DFB laser

We propose and demonstrate a microwave photonic phase-shifter using a distributed-feedback laser-wavelength converter. Through carrier competition in the laser, information is passed from the input signal to the lasing mode. The frequency response of this conversion mechanism follows the intrinsic modulation response of the laser, which exhibits a large phase change near the relaxation frequency. Through current-control of the relaxation frequency, the phase of the wavelength-converted microwave output can be varied by more than 135deg over a bandwidth of 1.8GHz. We further identify an operating regime that exhibits a large discrete phase shift of 114deg at 3 GHz with negligible change in power
Conversion disorder and mass psychogenic illness in child neurology

A common problem faced by neurologists is the existence of disorders that present with neurological symptoms but do not have identifiable neurological bases. Conversion disorder is the most common of these disorders. In some situations, members of a cohesive social group will develop the same or similar symptoms. This review discusses conversion disorder in children, with an emphasis on function movement disorders. It also reviews a recent occurrence of mass psychogenic illness in New York State with discussion of the key features of mass psychogenic illness.
Quantifying Component Parts of Indirect and Direct Voice Therapy Related to Different Voice Disorders

Voice therapy changes how people use and care for their voices. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) have a multitude of choices from which to modify patient's vocal behaviors. Six SLPs performed 1461 voice therapy sessions and quantified the percentage of time spent in eight component parts of indirect and four component parts of direct voice therapy across five common voice disorders. Voice therapy data collection forms were prospectively completed immediately following each therapy visit. The SLPs were free to choose the component parts of voice therapy best suited for their respective patients. Results showed that direct voice therapy represented more than 75% of the treatment time across all voice therapy sessions. In the components of direct voice therapy, there was no statistical difference between percentages of time spent in resonant voice and flow phonation across all voice disorders. However, a significant difference was found for the time spent addressing transfer to conversational speech for muscle tension dysphonia, lesions, and scar than for vocal immobility and atrophy. Interestingly, while SLPs used a more common approach to direct voice therapy across voice disorders, they tended to vary the use of indirect components of therapy across voice disorders with certain components being addressed in greater length for specific voice disorders. Collectively, these results indicate that although SLPs may individualize their approach to indirect voice therapy, when it comes to direct voice therapy, SLPs have a common approach to voice therapy regardless of voice disorder.
Lepton and quark symmetry in weak and electromagnetic interactions

Abstract We discuss a three-quark model motivated by lepton-quark analogy. An advantage of this model is that there is no hypercharge-changing neutral current, but Cabibbo suppression has to be explained by dynamical reason.
Dihydropyridine ligand binding decreases earlier in adolescent than in infant swine after global cerebral ischemia.

Voltage-dependent calcium channels (VDCCs) are thought to play a major role in the alteration of calcium homeostasis during ischemia. Tissue functional state as well as responsiveness to therapy with calcium channel blockers may be a function of regional changes in the density of VDCCs. This study determined whether VDCCs are altered by global ischemia in infant and adolescent swine.We employed the radioligand 3HPN200-110 to quantify the binding characteristics of VDCCs in cerebral cortex, caudate, and hippocampus by equilibrium binding analysis. Adolescent and infant pigs underwent 3, 5, 10, and 20 minutes of global cerebral ischemia without reperfusion by ligation of the brachiocephalic and left subclavian arteries combined with hypotension to a mean arterial blood pressure of 50 mm Hg. Brain cortex, hippocampus, and caudate samples were taken during ischemia and frozen immediately in liquid nitrogen, and crude synaptosomal membranes were isolated by differential centrifugation/filtration. 3HPN200-110 e...
Sex-specific modulation of juvenile social play behavior by vasopressin and oxytocin depends on social context

−as compared to the home cage. AVP enhanced anxiety-related behavior in males (tested on the elevated plus-maze), but failed to do so in females, suggesting that exogenous AVP alters social play and anxiety-related behavior via distinct and sex-specific mechanisms. Moreover, none of the other drug treatments that altered social play had an effect on anxiety, suggesting that these drug-induced behavioral alterations are relatively specific to social behavior. Overall, we showed that AVP and OXT systems in the lateral septum modulate social play in juvenile rats in neuropeptide-, sex- and social context-specific ways. These findings underscore the importance of considering not only sex, but also social context, in how AVP and OXT modulate social behavior.
Four-phase Barker codes

This paper considers four-phase Barker sequences. Several theorems are proved, and they are used to show that there are no new sequences with odd length \leq 31 . Some similar theorems are proved for three-phase Barker sequences.
Appellate Briefs - A Reader's Perspective

Appellate briefs should make a court want to rule in the advocate's favor, and should make it easy for the court to do so. An effective brief is short and simple. It employs a tone of deference and respect for the court, engaging the reader's attention while explaining the advocate's position.
Within-the-Clinic Shared Decision for an Over-the-Counter Medication.

Aspirin and its relatives are some of the oldest and most widely used drugs, dating back thousands of years and treating aches, pains, and fevers. Since the 1980s, aspirin has been regularly used to prevent and treat heart disease and stroke. Unlike the robust data supporting the use of aspirin in
Chemical vapor deposition growth of a periodic array of single-layer MoS 2 islands via lithographic patterning of an SiO 2 /Si substrate

The growth of micron-scale single-layer MoS2 islands is seeded and distributed at high fidelity by means of a regular array of micron-scale holes that extend through the oxide layer of a 300 nm SiO2/Si substrate. Low coverages exhibit individual sub-micron MoS2 islands directly adjacent to the seed positions. At moderate coverage the seed holes are encircled by merged MoS2 islands, whose overall shape and internal grain boundaries reveal coalescence out of several initial crystallites. Seeded islands are strictly monolayer in height, non-overlapping and they offer high photoluminescence as well as conventional Raman signatures.
The aging ovary.

Aging of the human ovary is a continuous process that begins intra utero with the demise of the first crop of oocytes. The process continues throughout life with the relentless attrition of the oocyte's capital through three fundamental events: follicle degeneration or atresia, corpus luteum formation, and transformation of varying cell populations from atretic and luteal complexes into stromal cells. The ultimate consequence of ovarian aging is the modulation of this organ from a follicle-rich, cyclic secretor of estrogen and progesterone to a stroma-rich, noncyclic, low secretor of androgen. Other structural features of the "aged" ovary, such as obliterative arteriolar sclerosis and surface epithelium cysts, indicate that obvious involution is admixed with persisting ovarian activity. It appears, then, that even after the reproductive period has ended, the human ovary is still a viable organ. The contribution of this organ to the overall well-being of the postmenopausal woman remains to be defined.
The impact of the suspicious Papanicolaou smear on pregnancy ☆ ☆☆: A study of nationwide attitudes and maternal and perinatal complications

Abstract Recent study of morbidity following antepartum conization biopsy has led the authors to evaluate the impact of the suspicious Papanicolaou smear on the outcome of pregnancy. One hundred and two pregnant patients in The Ohio State University Hospital and Clinics, who were found to have suspicious smears, were studied. Over 40 per cent were found to have carcinoma in situ but none had frankly invasive carcinoma. Of the patients subjected to conization, one-third had postoperative complications. There were significant and related perinatal problems in approximately one-fifth. The immediate routine conization biopsy when the repeated suspicious Papanicolaou smear is found in a pregnant patient is a rule of therapy which should be challenged, studied, and revised. This conclusion is at odds with the opinions of a majority of the chiefs of approved Obstetrics and Gynecology residency programs whose views were surveyed.
Integrating Patient Preference into Treatment Decisions for Men with Prostate Cancer at the Point of Care

Purpose: Men with clinically localized prostate cancer face an archetypal “preference sensitive” treatment decision. A shared decision making process incorporating patient values and preferences is paramount. We evaluated the benefit of a novel decision making application, and investigated associations between patient preferences and treatment choice.Materials and Methods: We used a novel, web based application that provides education, preference measurement and personalized decision analysis for patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer. Preferences are measured using conjoint analysis. The application ranks treatment options according to their “fit” (expected value) based on clinical factors and personal preferences, and serves as the basis for shared decision making during the consultation. We administered the decisional conflict scale before and after completion of the application. Additionally, we compared post-visit perceptions of shared decision making between a baseline “usual care” cohort and...
The Fabric of J. B. Priestley’s Indigenous Social Voices

In the Indian summer of 1935, about when the issue of Time that concentrated on praise of Sir Samuel Hoare’s diplomatic skill, Moral Rearmament, and the fiction of A. J. Cronin appeared, J. B. Priestley (1894–1984) was in New York on his second visit to America. At the height of his popularity in England—The Good Companions was his first successful novel in 1929 and had been followed by Angel Pavement (1930) and the travel ramble of English Journey (1934); his plays also achieved a wide English public, particularly Dangerous Corner in 1932, Laburnum Grove in 1933, and Eden End in 1934—Priestley had come to New York to supervise the production of Eden End because he thought New York productions of three of his previous plays had been badly done. At first he was exhilarated by the energy of New York, as he had been on his first visit. But he found that, for days, the people he met would talk of nothing except the heavyweight championship fight in which Joe Louis knocked out Max Baer. Walking the streets in his heavy suits and starched shirts in the hot weather, and reading whatever news from Europe he could, Priestley became despondent. As his recent biographer, Vincent Brome, records his impressions, they bear no resemblance to those of the writers of Time magazine:
Unique expression of chronic Lyme disease and Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction to doxycycline therapy in a young adult.

I am a 24-year-old male who was diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease after 4 years of multiple, non-specific symptoms. I have written this case as first author with my faculty mentor listed as the coauthor. The objective of this report is to highlight the experience with doxycycline treatment. In 2007, at around age 19 years, I had an acute onset of sore throat, tonsillitis, low-grade fever, stiff upper back and neck muscles, migraines and severely stiff, cracking jaw joints. This led to >24 medical visits, multitudes of tests and examinations, and exploratory surgery over the next 3 years. In 2011, a Lyme-literate medical doctor (LLMD) diagnosed me with chronic Lyme disease. I started taking doxycycline 100 mg by mouth every 12 hours, leading to atypical sequences of events deemed a Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction by a LLMD. This case highlights the unique clinical expression of chronic Lyme disease and the Jarisch-Herxheimer response to doxycycline.
Noninfectious Intermediate and Posterior Uveitis

The diagnosis and management of noninfectious intermediate or posterior uveitis in children presents several unique challenges. The history and review of systems can be limited, and there are few outward signs for parents to observe. Subsequently, the diagnosis is often delayed. Both examination of the eye and treatment of posterior disease via the delivery of periocular steroids may require general anesthesia. Children receiving oral corticosteroids must be carefully monitored for side effects on growth and development. Immunomodulatory therapies such as methotrexate or cyclosporine can be used safely in children and are often added to spare steroid dose. While pars planitis, sarcoidosis, sympathetic ophthalmia, Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada syndrome, tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis syndrome, Adamantiades–Behcet’s disease, polyarteritis nodosa, and APMPPE can occur in children, the majority of cases of intermediate, posterior, and panuveitis are idiopathic.
Marketing the Talented Tenth: W.E.B. Du Bois and Public-Intellectual Economies

This essay assesses W.E.B. Du Bois’s response to Booker T. Washington based on the economic principles structuring public-intellectual intervention in social crisis. Arguing that public-intellectual work relies on ethos-driven rhetorical engagement that conflates the public intellectual and his conceptual intervention as a single product to be marketed, I recontextualize the debate between the two thinkers in order to account for the intersection of their discursive activities in terms of competing public-intellectual models. While Washington relied on a closed-market model that situated him as the spokesperson for an otherwise silent black community, Du Bois worked to create opportunity for deliberation among a number of black publics, and Du Bois’s more democratically minded rhetorical modeling offers a version of public-intellectual work that resonates with the needs of the current moment.
A 0.9V Microcontroller for Portable Applications

A 0.9V to 1.6V, 1MHz, 8 bit microcontroller based on the 68HC08 architecture is presented. In addition to standard digital microcontroller functions, the chip features RAM, ROM, PLL clock synthesis, and LCD drive capabilities operating from the voltage supply range of a single AA or AAA battery.
Aberrant Expression of BAFF System Molecules on B-Cell Precursor Leukemia Modulates Tumor Cell Survival: Novel Targets for Therapeutic Intervention.

Identification of pathways that support the survival and proliferation of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells will provide novel targets for therapeutic intervention. BAFF and APRIL, with their receptors, BAFF-R, BCMA and TACI are members of the TNF family that play a critical role in the survival of mature B cells but not of normal B cell precursors. We sought to determine whether BAFF/APRIL and their receptors might be aberrantly expressed on B-cell precursor ALL. Surprisingly, tumor cells from 28 of 29 ALL patients expressed mRNA for at least one of these receptors. Using flow cytometric analysis, surface expression of BAFF-R, BCMA, and TACI protein was detected on 89%, 78% and 56% of B-lineage ALL, respectively. Binding assays using a BAFF fusion protein demonstrated that ALL cells expressed high-affinity receptors for BAFF. Stimulation of leukemia cells with BAFF fusion protein triggered the activation of the NFκB pathway with phosphorylation of NFκB2 p100 (Ser864), and its processing to p52. However, BAFF binding did not trigger phosphorylation of IKKα, suggesting that BAFF-mediated activation of NFκB on leukemia cells occurs in an IKK-independent manner. These observations demonstrate that B-cell precursor ALL express functional receptors for BAFF/APRIL ligands. To examine the biological significance of the BAFF system in precursor B-cell ALL, we performed survival and proliferation assays using a myc-tagged BAFF. Our results indicate that while BAFF promoted survival of B-ALL cells, it did not induce their proliferation. Moreover, BAFF binding to leukemia cells was accompanied by increased expression of Bcl-2. To determine the source of BAFF in the leukemic BM, expression of membrane-bound BAFF and APRIL was analyzed in both leukemia cells and cells from the BM microenvironment (BM endothelium, BM mesenchymal stem cells and BM stroma). Surprisingly, leukemia cells expressed BAFF in all patients tested, and APRIL was detected in 94% of the cases. BM microenvironmental cells were found to express membrane-bound BAFF but not APRIL. These findings demonstrate that leukemia B-cell precursors express functional receptors for BAFF system ligands. Importantly, we show that BAFF-mediated stimulation of leukemia cells triggers the activation of the NFκB pathway through an IKK-independent mechanism, and promotes the survival of leukemia cells. The differential expression of BAFF and APRIL on B-ALL cells and the BM microenviromental cells suggests that these ligands may act through both autocrine and juxtacrine mechanisms. Our studies indicate that the BAFF/APRIL ligand-receptor axis might provide new opportunities for therapeutic intervention in B-cell ALL.
Ecological complexity in the Rosennean framework

Rosen’s mathematical framing of the nature of complexity can be summarized qualitatively as simple systems are reducible to models that correspond precisely to nature while complex systems are not reducible in this manner. We use two examples, Tribolium laboratory populations and the pest control system in coffee agroecosystems to argue that either a very simple system or a very complicated system cannot be reduced to a series of simple systems and thus conform to Rosennean complexity. We further suggest that alternative framings, specifically dialectical complexity, may be equally useful.
Analysis of radioactive waste supernate by laser-Raman spectrometry

A laser-Raman spectrometric method was developed for the determination of polyatomic ions in alkaline high-level radioactive waste super-nates. From peak heights of well-resolved Raman hands, conce...
The transitional depositional environment and sequence stratigraphy of Chasma Boreale

Abstract The depositional system within Chasma Boreale is unique in that it contains active aeolian environments, expressed as dune fields, and active cryosphere environments, present as layered ice deposits, as well as environments that transition between these. This work presents a new analysis of the Chasma Boreale sediment system that creates an interpretative framework addressing: (a) controls on the balance between aeolian and cryospheric processes in the modern depositional system, (b) the stratigraphic architecture of related sedimentary deposits, and (c) processes of sediment accumulation and preservation. Images from Context Camera (CTX; 6 m/pixel) are used to classify and map sedimentary environments, surfaces, and deposits on the reentrant floor, to refine the established geologic map of the reentrant, and to infer the stratigraphic record of the accumulation from Chasma Boreale's depositional system. A spectrum of sedimentary environments occurring between those dominated by aeolian and by cryospheric processes are identified. Through time, the boundaries of these sedimentary environments have shifted, resulting in complex lateral changes in the configuration of sedimentary environments on the reentrant's floor. Vertically, the stratigraphic record is characterized by the punctuation of sandy aeolian deposits by icy surfaces that indicate episodes of ice growth that preserve underlying deposits, resulting in accumulation. Stabilized icy surfaces occur at multiple vertical (temporal) scales and lateral extents, suggesting the influence of both regional climate change due to allogenic forcing, as well as autogenic dynamics within the transitional system. These observations demonstrate that the Chasma Boreale accumulation can be interpreted in an aeolian sequence stratigraphic framework. This work contributes the first detailed description of the processes forming polar aeolian sequences, with an emphasis on the competing and complementary dynamics between aeolian and cryospheric systems.
Glecaprevir + pibrentasvir (ABT493 + ABT-530) for the treatment of Hepatitis C

INTRODUCTION Glecaprevir (formerly ABT-493, pangenotypic NS3/4A protease inhibitor) and pibrentasvir (formerly ABT-530, pangenotypic NS5A inhibitor) are second generation direct acting antivirals (DAA) for the treatment of chronic Hepatitis C (HCV). It is a fixed dose ribavirin (RBV)-free regimen with activity against genotypes (GT) 1-6. In vitro the two antivirals have synergistic activity with a high barrier to resistance and potent activity against common polymorphisms. It is once daily oral dosing with minimal absorption, primary biliary excretion, and negligible renal excretion, making it safe for patients with renal impairment. This regimen is being reviewed because it is the first pangenotypic regimen suitable for those with renal impairment and prior DAA failure. Areas covered: The key phase 2 and 3 trials which investigated the efficacy and safety of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir are reviewed by methodology, primary end point, baseline demographic data, response rates, and adverse events. Literature search methodology involved reviewing key abstracts presented at the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease and European Association for the Study of Liver. Expert commentary: The advantages and limitations of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir will be reviewed in comparison to its competitor drug on the market.
How Measurement and Modeling of Attendance Matter to Assessing Dimensions of Inequality

ABSTRACTEach iteration of high stakes accountability has included requirements to include measures of attendance in their accountability programs, thereby increasing the salience of this measure. Researchers too have turned to attendance and chronic absence as important outcomes in evaluations and policy studies. Often, too little attention is paid to the implications of measurement or statistical modeling decisions employed in these studies. Such lack of attention to measurement and modeling can obscure important differences in these measures across the educational life cycle, as well as between the outcomes of higher income students and their lower-income peers. Using longitudinal data from a representative state, this paper demonstrates how measurement and modeling choices can influence model estimates and undermine the quality of inferences. These considerations have important implications for researchers and practitioners who wish to use attendance data to understand policy impacts and guide practice...
Determinants of sleepiness in obstructive sleep apnea.

Study objectives Significant interindividual variability in sleepiness is observed in clinical populations with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This phenomenon is only partially explained by the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). Understanding factors that lead to sleepiness is critical to effective management of patients with OSA. We examined demographic and other factors associated with sleepiness in OSA. Methods Prospective study of 283 patients with newly diagnosed OSA by polysomnography (AHI ≥ 5 per hour). Subjective sleepiness (Epworth Sleep Scale [ESS] ≥ 11) and objective sleepiness (psychomotor vigilance task [PVT] mean lapse ≥ 2) were assessed. Results Participants were classified into four groups (1: sleepy by ESS and PVT, 2: sleepy by PVT only, 3: sleepy by ESS only, and 4: nonsleepy reference group) and compared by generalized logit model. Shorter daily sleep duration by actigraphy and less morningness were associated with higher risk of sleepiness (Odds ratio [OR] = 0.52, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.33-0.82 and OR = 0.89, CI 0.80-0.98, respectively). African-American race was associated with sleepiness (group 1, OR = 8.8, CI 2.8-27.3; group 2, OR = 16.6, CI 3.3-83.6; and group 3, OR = 3.3, CI 1.0-10.1). IL-6 level was higher in groups 1 and 3 (OR = 1.9, CI 1.0-3.4 and OR 2.0, CI 1.1-3.7, respectively). Conclusions African-American race, short sleep duration, chronotype, and increased proinflammatory cytokine IL-6 level were associated with sleepiness in OSA. These findings will inform future investigations determining mechanisms of sleepiness in OSA.
Circulating Wildlife: Capturing the Complexity of Wildlife Movements in the Tarangire Ecosystem in Northern Tanzania from a Mixed Method, Multiply Situated Perspective

While wildlife conservation practices have been exposed as being inherently political, the science behind wildlife monitoring is often less explored. In this chapter I expose the politics associated with wildlife monitoring by addressing the methodological challenges involved in counting and tracking migratory wildlife—from scientific and Maasai perspectives. I focus on an area in northern Tanzania where wildlife do not abide by conservation boundaries and share the landscape with people and livestock, challenging any ontological divide of nature from society. I contrast how local Maasai know wildlife in this space with different scientific approaches. The chapter highlights the benefits of a Critical Physical Geography approach that recognizes multiple ways of knowing ‘nature’, through ecological and ethnographic methods that are always informed by political-ethical concerns.
Approaches to quantitating the results of differentially dyed cottons

The differential dyeing (DD) method has been a subjective method for visually determining immature cotton fibers. We attempted to quantitate DD results and offer an efficient means of elucidating c...
Book review: The Benchmarking Handbook for Database and Transaction Processing Systems Edited by Jim Gray (Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, Inc., 1991)

This book is a short, complete summary of the most important approaches to performance measurements of database systems and transaction processing systems. It is intended to serve as a tutorial for the novice and a reference for the professional. Included are contributions by ten authors: Dina Bitton, Rick Cattell, David DeWitt, Jim Gray, Neal Nelson, Patrick O'Neil, Tom Sawyer, Omri Serlin, Carolyn Turbyfill, and Cyril Orji.
Biological activities of immunoglobulins of different classes and subclasses.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the biological activities of immunoglobulins of different classes and subclasses. This chapter illustrates that all immunoglobulins are composed of two types of polypeptide chains, heavy and light, which are linked by disulfide bonds. The biological activities of immunoglobulins may be divided into two categories: (1) the specific reaction with antigen and (2) the consequences of antigen - antibody reactions. The reaction with antigen has been called the primary function of immunoglobulins and is a property of the Fab fragment. This chapter reviews the biological activities that follow antigen-antibody reactions and that have been called the secondary functions of immunoglobulins. It has now been shown that the antibodies of the various classes and subclasses differ in their biological activities, and, in the future, one should attempt to determine how frequently restricted immune responses occur and how important such restricted antibody formation is in immune deficiency syndromes.
Endothelial metaplasia in the iridocorneal endothelial syndrome.

Purpose To test the hypothesis that the aberrant, cytokeratin-expressing cells that replace endothelium in the iridocorneal endothelial (ICE) syndrome are of endothelial origin. Methods Corneas from four patients with Chandler's syndrome and three with essential iris atrophy were examined by two-color immunofluorescence for simultaneous expression of cytokeratins and two markers of endothelial lineage: vimentin and the antigen recognized by the antiendothelial monoclonal antibody 2B4.14.1. Results In six corneas, unequivocal endothelial staining for cytokeratins was present; in each of these, cells coexpressing cytokeratins and the two endothelial markers were clearly identifiable. In the remaining cornea, weak cytokeratin staining that colocalized with vimentin was present. Conclusions These results lend strong support to the hypothesis that the "epithelial-like" endothelial cells in ICE syndrome are cells of endothelial lineage rather than heterotopia of epithelial cells; these cells probably arise via a metaplastic transformation of preexisting endothelium.
H2S as a Bacterial Defense Against Antibiotics

Hydrogen sulfide is a member of a group of gaseous signaling molecules, termed gasotransmitters. Like eukaryotes, most bacterial species encode a putative enzyme for the generation of hydrogen sulfide. In recent years intense attention has been given to this gasotransmitter as a signaling molecule participating in fundamental cellular processes in eukaryotes. For bacteria, hydrogen sulfide presents a novel-signaling pathway that is currently poorly understood. The only function that has been described for bacterial hydrogen sulfide is its role as a defense system against antibiotics. A better and more comprehensive understanding of the pathways and mechanisms underlying the actions of H2S can potentiate our existing knowledge in combating infectious diseases and provide a new target for drug development.
Entropies of Likelihood Functions

We show that the normalized likelihood function needed to get from a prior probability vector to the posterior that results from the minimum cross-entropy inference process has the highest entropy among all probability vectors satisfying an appropriate set of linear constraints. We regard the domains of the entropy and cross-entropy functions as groups. The relationship between the group structure and the entropy and cross-entropy functions is used to derive the result on entropies of likelihood functions.
Customer Participation and Knowledge Level: How Will it Affect the Delivery of the Health Care Offering?

This paper focuses on customer participation and customer knowledge as strategic marketing tools in the development and delivery of the health care offering. As such, this paper will develop a framework of the health care system centered on a customer’s level of knowledge about their health problem and the level of customer participation proposed to be ideal in the diagnosis and treatment of this problem.
Atmospheric deposition to remote receptors II. Temporal and spatial variation of inorganic ion species in precipitation over the Ilwas-network

Measurements of SO4−, NO3−, Cl−, NH4+, Ca++, Mg++ Na+, K+, pH, and specific conductance, were made on a precipitation event basis (defined as daily collection) in a 4 to 7 site network which operated for 45 mo in the Adirondack Park of New York State. Three of the seven sites (one in each of three watersheds) operated for the entire study period to provide a temporal record which is spatially resolved over an intersite distance of 30 km (or less). Species concentrations received by the three watersheds were quite similar. The highest H+ and S04− ion concentrations were observed during summer periods and N03 was found to be relatively invariant. Segregation by precipitation type indicated that the SO4/NO3 in winter rain was much larger than in snow. More than 50% of the total loading of major ions (H, NH4, Ca, SO4, NO3) to these watersheds occurred during a 4 mo period, May–September. Loading to one of the watersheds, Sagamore, averaged approximately 20% less than to the two watersheds, Panther and Woods.
The Strengths and Limitations of Case Record Reviews in Examining Family Preservation Outcome Formulation and Treatment Planning

Much debate has centered on what are reasonable outcomes of the short-term intensive family preservation services (IFPS). However, little attention has been given to how therapists actually formulate outcomes in their practices. The files of 98 families who used IFPS were reviewed to determine how therapists formulated outcomes and whether formulated outcomes varied by service sector (child welfare or mental health) and child age. It was found that formulated outcomes in mental health were more likely than those in child welfare to have a child focus and an interpersonal locus. Variation in outcome formulation in child welfare by child age was found, with outcomes of younger children more likely to be parent-focused than were outcomes of older children. The issues pointed out by these findings are discussed. Since case records are a potential data source for researchers, the paper concludes with a discussion of the strengths and limitations of case record reviews for research purposes.
Development of character strengths across the deployment cycle among U.S. Army soldiers

OBJECTIVE Despite a narrative of post-traumatic growth and resilience, research reliably demonstrating positive character development following adversity has proved elusive. In the current study, we examined changes in character strengths in Army soldiers deploying for the first time. METHOD The sample was comprised of 212,386 Army soldiers (Mage = 26.5 years old, SD = 7.13; 70.8% White) who were deploying for the first time. Character strengths were assessed once before and up to three times following soldiers' return from deployment. RESULTS We found evidence for two classes of change-a resilient class ("stable high") and a declining class ("persistent low"). Most soldiers were resilient-they had high levels of character strengths prior to deployment and changed very little across the deployment cycle. Approximately 40% of soldiers started with lower character and experienced initial declines post-deployment, from which they experienced no more than small gains over time. CONCLUSIONS Character strengths were highly stable across the deployment transition but some soldiers experienced initial declines from which they never fully rebounded. The findings are discussed in the context of the mechanisms that drive character development.
Macroscopic and Microscopic Characteristics of Networks with Time-variant Functionality for Evaluating Resilience to External Perturbations

Knowledge of time-variant functionality of real-world physical, social, and engineered networks is critical to the understanding of the resilience of networks facing external perturbations. The majority of existing studies, however, focus only on the topological properties of networks for resilience assessment, which does not fully capture their dynamical resilience. In this study, we evaluate and quantify network resilience based both on the functionality states of links and on topology. We propose three independent measures---the failure scaling index (FSI), the weighted degree scaling index (WDSI), and the link functionality irregularity index (LFII)---that capture macroscopic, microscopic, and temporal performance characteristics of networks. Accordingly, an integrated general resilience (GR) metric is used to assess performance loss and recovery speed in networks with time-variant functionality. We test the proposed methods in the study of traffic networks under urban flooding impacts in the context of Harris County, Texas, during Hurricane Harvey using a high-resolution dataset, which contains temporal speed of 20,000 roads every 5 minutes for 5 months. Our results show that link weights and node weighted degrees with perturbed functionality in the traffic network during flooding follow a scale-free distribution. Hence, three proposed measures capture clear resilience curves of the network as well as identify the irregularity of links. Accordingly, network performance measures and the methodology for resilience quantification reveal insights into the extent of network performance loss and recovery speed, suggesting possible improvements in network resilience in the face of external perturbations such as urban flooding.
The Burden of Community-Acquired Pneumonia Requiring Admission to ICU in the United States.

Background A paucity of studies have assessed the epidemiology of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) that require ICU admission. We conducted a study on this group of patients with the primary objective of defining the incidence, epidemiology, and mortality rate of CAP in the ICUs in Louisville, Kentucky. The secondary objective was to estimate the number of patients who were hospitalized and the number of deaths that were associated with CAP in ICU in the United States. Research Questions What is epidemiology of CAP in the ICU in Louisville, Kentucky, and the projected incidence in the United States? Study Design and Methods This was a secondary analysis of a prospective population-based cohort study. The setting was all nine adult hospitals in Louisville, Kentucky. The annual incidence of CAP in the ICU per 100,000 adults was calculated for the whole adult population of Louisville. The number of patients who were hospitalized because of CAP in ICU in the United States was estimated by multiplying the Louisville incidence rate of CAP in ICU by the 2014 US adult population. Results From a total of 7,449 unique patients who were hospitalized with CAP, 1,707 patients (23%) were admitted to the ICU. The incidence of CAP in the ICU was 145 cases per 100,000 population of adults. Cases of CAP in the ICU were clustered in patients from areas of the city with high poverty. The mortality rate of patients with CAP in ICU was 27% at 30 days and 47% at one year. In the United States, the estimated number of patients who were hospitalized with CAP requiring the ICU was 356,326 per year, and the estimated number of deaths at 30 days and one year were 96,206 and 167,474, respectively. Interpretation Almost one in five patients who are hospitalized with CAP requires intensive care. Poverty is associated with CAP in the ICU. Nearly one-half of patients with CAP in the ICU will die within one year. Because of its significant burden, CAP in the ICU should be a high priority in research agenda and health policy.
An infrared interferometer/polarimeter on the compact ignition tokamak

The results of a feasibility study of a two-dimensional infrared interferometer/polarimeter system for measurements of electron density and plasma current profiles in the Compact Ignition Tokamak (CIT) are presented. Both horizontal and vertical systems utilize c-w CO 2 lasers at a wave-length of 10.6 μm. The choice of this wavelength results mainly from a trade-off, being sufficiently short to limit the angle of beam refraction by plasma density gradients to an acceptable value, yet sufficiently long to obtain adequate sensitivity for the measurements. A two-wavelength scheme is used to correct the measuring errors caused by mechanical vibrations of the mirrors. Because of the large currents and particle densities in CIT, large Faraday rotation and Voigt effects are expected at long wavelengths. In order to ensure the successful design of the system, the propagation of the infrared waves in CIT plasmas is being investigated. An algorithm for the solution of the wave equation is developed and is used to determine the polarization evolution on the Poincare sphere. Computer codes are utilized to calculate the ellipticity ∊ and the Faraday rotation angle of the vibrational ellipse of the polarization, θ. For a parabolic density distribution with CIT plasma parameters, the maximum 9 is approximately 1.54°, the maximum ∊ is 4.8 × 10−3 (Fig. 1), and the maximum phase shift due to electron density φ is approximately 1.85 fringes. In Table 1, the values of θ, ∊, and φ at several wavelengths are summarized for both CIT and the presently operating Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor (TFTR). As expected, the effect of the ellipticity of the polarization is not negligible even at a wavelength of 70 μm. In an earlier paper (1), it was shown that both the amplitude and the phase of the detector signals depend strongly on the ellipticity of the polarization.
Three-dimensional Memristive Deep Neural Network with Programmable Attention Mechanism

Attention Mechanism is a critical function of a neural network-based visual system that enables the human brain can devote computing effort to process desired information, concurrently ignoring undesired background noise intentionally. Through this signal processing methodology, the brain system achieves a remarkable energy efficiency. The significance of investigating the attention mechanism is to not only potentially reveal how the human brain comprehends visual signals but also to construct an attention-oriented power-efficient neuromorphic system. This paper proposes a hypothesis for the visual attention mechanism, derives a neural network model with mathematical equations, and realizes the circuit implementation with memristor and three-dimensional (3D) monolithic integration technology.
A 28-year single institution experience with primary skin malignancies in the pediatric population.

The aim of this study is to report our institution's experience with pediatric skin malignancies. A single institution retrospective review of pediatric patients with a primary skin malignancy from 1992 to 2020 was performed. Demographics, tumor characteristics and treatment outcomes were reviewed. Ninety-nine patients with 109 primary malignant skin lesions were reviewed. The most common lesion was malignant melanoma [MM] (n = 50, 45.9%). Compared to non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), MM were more likely to present on trunk or extremities (p=.01, OR = 3.2), and be misdiagnosed (p=.03, OR = 2.7). NMSC were more common in the head and neck region (p=.01, OR = 3.2), and were associated with a personal history of skin cancer (p=.0005, OR = 17.1) or a known risk factor (p=.04, OR = 2.5). Patients with MM were 12.4-times more likely to develop metastatic disease compared to NMSC (p<.0001). Increased Breslow's thickness also increased the odds of developing metastatic disease (p=.03, OR = 1.6 per 1-mm increase). Interval time between lesion recognition and diagnostic biopsy or surgical treatment did not impact overall survival. Malignant melanoma was the most common malignancy in our cohort, followed by basal cell carcinoma. Malignant melanoma was the most likely tumor to be misdiagnosed and/or metastasize. Treatment delays did not impact risk of metastasis, recurrence or survival rate, though some patients succumbed to disease. These results may be attributed to small sample size or the biology of melanoma in pediatric patients. Awareness of skin malignancies in the pediatric population is imperative to providers and the public, with low threshold for specialty consultation and excision when warranted.
Environmental Attitude and Environmental Behavior of Catholic Colleges’ Employees in Ilocos Sur, Philippines

The study was intended to measure the understanding and attitudes of employees of Catholic Colleges in Ilocos Sur Province toward the environment and how such attitudes affect their behavior toward the environment. It was found that overall the employees were not certain related to their attitudes toward the environment and such ambivalent attitudes affect their behavior toward the environment. The study concludes that such ambivalent attitudes are caused by lack of understanding about environmental ethics. It is recommended therefore to improve awareness or understanding about natural environment through seminars on environment and to include environmental ethics in the curriculum.
1,2-dimethyl-4-(p-carboxyphenylazo)-5-hydroxybenzene. A convenient substrate for the measurement of azo reductase.

Abstract Operational advantages in using CPA for the determination of enzymic azo reduction are described. Enzyme activity of the 9000g supernatant fractions of liver, with CPA as the substrate, demonstrated characteristics similar to those previously reported with other azo compounds as substrates.
Analyzing continuous switching systems: theory and examples

This paper details work on ordinary differential equations that continuously switch among regimes of operation. In the first part, we develop some tools for analyzing such systems. We prove an extension of Bendixson's theorem to the case of Lipschitz continuous vector fields. We also prove a lemma dealing with the robustness of differential equations with respect to perturbations that preserve a linear part, which we call the linear robustness lemma (LRL). We then give some simple propositions that allow us to use this lemma in studying certain singular perturbation problems. In the second part, the attention focuses on example systems and their analysis. We use the tools from the first part and develop some general insights. The example systems arise from a realistic aircraft control problem. The extension of Bendixson's theorem and the LRL have applicability beyond the systems discussed in this paper.
Regulated Coordination in Open Distributed Systems

Modern distributed systems tend to be conglomerates of heterogeneous subsystems, which have been designed separately, by different people, with little, if any, knowledge of each other. A single agent operating within a hybrid system of this kind may have to coordinate its activities with members of several such subsystems, under different coordination policies. To support coordination in such hybrid systems, we introduce in this paper a new concept of regulated coordination that allows a single agent to engage in several different activities, subject to disparate policies. Coordination policies are enforced to ensure compliance with them by all participants. We introduce a toolkit called Moses that can support a wide range of useful coordination policies of this kind, in an efficient and unified manner.