cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mode determination for planar waveguide using the four-sheeted dispersion relation

A numerical method for the determination of the modes of planar, multilayer waveguides is presented. It is possible, with this algorithm, to guarantee that all the solutions within any finite region of the complex plane representing the propagation constant are found; neither prior knowledge of the number of solutions nor their approximate locations within the region is required. This method is formulated using the four-sheeted Riemann surface of the analytic function that defines the waveguide dispersion relation and whose zeros correspond to the proper and improper modes of the structure. Both TE and TM modes can be determined for guides that incorporate materials with complex indexes. >
A review of echinoderm oogenesis

This review of the anatomical, histological, biochemical, and molecular biological literature on echinoderm oogenesis includes the entire developmental history of oocytes; from their inception to the time they become ova. This is done from a comparative perspective, with reference to members of the five extant echinoderm classes; crinoids, holothurians, asteroids, ophiuroids, and echinoids. I describe the anatomy and fine structure of the echinoderm ovary, with emphasis on both the cellular relationships of the germ line cells to the somatic cells of the inner epithelium, and on the neuromuscular systems. I review the literature on the growth of oogonia into fully formed oocytes, including the process of vitellogenesis, presenting an ultrastructural analysis of the organelles and extracellular structures found in fully formed echinoderm oocytes. Echinoderm oocyte maturation is reviewed and a description of the ultrastructural, biochemical and molecular biological changes thought to occur during this process is presented. Finally, I discuss oocyte ovulation, the severing of cellular connections between the oocyte and its surrounding somatic epithelial cells.
Flexible vapour sensors using single walled carbon nanotubes

Abstract Thin, strongly adhering films of single-walled carbon nanotube bundles (SWNT) on flexible substrates such as poly(ethyleneterephthalate) (PET) were used for vapour sensing (hexane, toluene, acetone, chloroform, acetonitrile, methanol, water, etc.). These sensors are extremely easy to fabricate using the line patterning method. For example, ‘4-probe’ sensor patterns are drawn on a computer and then printed on overhead transparency (PET) sheets. These PET patterns were coated with films of electronically conductive SWNT bundles (1–2 μm thick) by dip-coating in aqueous surfactant-supported dispersions and mounted in glass chambers equipped for vapour sensing. Experiments conducted under saturated vapour conditions in air showed sensor responses that correlated well with solvent polarity [ET(30) scale]. Similar results were obtained under controlled vapour conditions (no air) at 10,000 ppm. Control experiments using films of carbon black on PET (Aquadag-E®), also prepared by the line patterning method, showed very little response to vapours under identical experimental conditions. The sensors are very flexible, e.g., they can be bent to diameters as small as 10 mm without significantly compromising sensor function.
Synthesis of constraint-based local search algorithms from high-level models

The gap in automation between MIP/SAT solvers and those for constraint programming and constraint-based local search hinders experimentation and adoption of these technologies and slows down scientific progress. This paper addresses this important issue: It shows how effective local search procedures can be automatically synthesized from models expressed in a rich constraint language. The synthesizer analyzes the model and derives the local search algorithm for a specific meta-heuristic by exploiting the structure of the model and the constraint semantics. Experimental results suggest that the synthesized procedures only induce a small loss in efficiency on a variety of realistic applications in sequencing, resource allocation, and facility location.
Uncertainties in the evolution of stratospheric ozone and implications for recent temperature changes in the tropical lower stratosphere

Observations from satellites and balloons suggest that ozone abundances have decreased in the tropical lower stratosphere since the late 1970s, but this long-term change is occurring in a region of large interannual variability. Three different ozone databases provide regression fits to the ozone observations, and are available for use in model studies of the influence of ozone changes on stratospheric and tropospheric temperatures. Differences between these ozone databases suggest that the estimated decreases of tropical lower stratospheric ozone in recent decades are uncertain by about a factor of two to three. The uncertainties in ozone decreases lead to similar uncertainties in cooling of the tropical lower stratosphere, a key area of focus in climate change studies.
Science, Art, and Experience: Constructing a Science Pedagogy from Dewey's Aesthetics.

Drawing on the work of Dewey, we present a view of science education from the perspective of art and aesthetics. This perspective places a transformative, aesthetic experience at the forefront of educational objectives. Such experience involves the application of learning in everyday contexts, expansion of perception, and development of an increased interest in science ideas and aspects of the world illuminated by those ideas. We present a pedagogical model focused on fostering transformative, aesthetic experiences. This model involves two general categories of instructional methods: (a) methods of crafting ideas out of concepts, and (b) methods of modeling and scaffolding transformative, aesthetic experiences. We discuss how the methods comprising this pedagogical model relate to established science education methods.
Planning of minimum-time trajectories for robot arms

The minimum-time path for a robot arm has been a long standing and unsolved problem of considerable interest. We present a general solution to this problem which involves joint-space tessellation, a dynamic time-scaling algorithm, and a graph search. The solution incorporates full dynamics of movement and actuator constraints, and can easily be extended for joint limits and workspace obstacles. It was found that optimal paths tend to be nearly straight lines in joint space. We discuss implementation difficulties due to the tessellation and to combinatorial proliferation of paths.
Conversion of biomass to sugars via ionic liquid hydrolysis: process synthesis and economic evaluation

Replacement of fossil fuels with new sustainable resources is becoming crucial due to depleting petroleum reserves, increasing global energy demand, and arising environmental concerns. Lignocellulosic biomass can be an alternative to fossil resources as a sustainable and environmentally friendly feedstock for producing chemicals and fuels. One of the major challenges of biomass-based technologies is to extract sugars that are covalently trapped inside the lignocellulosic biomass efficiently. Recently, ionic liquids (ILs) have been recognized as promising solvents for mild and rapid hydrolysis of biomass feedstocks with higher sugar yields. In this study, we first develop and then evaluate an IL-based biomass hydrolysis strategy for large-scale production of fermentable sugars from corn stover. Toward this aim, we develop a process simulation model based on the experimental studies reported by Binder and Raines (P Natl Acad Sci USA 107: 4516–4521(2010)) and a simulated-moving-bed (SMB) system. We identify that the major cost driver is the IL cost. Our analysis suggests that process alternatives with lower IL consumption and/or separation strategies that would allow higher recycle of ILs should be studied. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Option Pricing when Jump Risk is Systematic

This paper generalizes the Merton jump-diffusion option pricing model to the case in which jump risk cannot be eliminated in the market portfolio. the option pricing formula is obtained using a general equilibrium asset pricing model. Since jump risk is systematic, the correlation of the underlying stock's jump with the market portfolio's jump affects the option price.
Skeletal growth and function in the California gull (Larus californicus)

Although the bones of rapidly growing animals are composed of weak tissue, they often must function in locomotor activity. We address the conflict between development and skeletal function by analysing the ontogeny of skeletal strength in the California gull, Larus californicus. Changes in shape and mechanical properties of the femur, tibia, tarsometatarsus, humerus, ulna and carpometacarpus were analysed in a complete post-hatching growth series. During posthatching growth, strength and stiffness of the skeletal tissue increases six- to ten-fold. At hatching, long bones of the wing are relatively weak and they remain so throughout the major portion of the growth period. However, in the hind limb, relatively thick bones in juveniles compensate for the weak tissue such that the force required to break the bones remains constant relative to body mass. This difference between hind limb and wing parallels the development of locomotor function; young gulls begin to walk within a day or two of hatching, but they do not fly until they are fully grown. Thus, in the bones ofthe hind limb, the conflict between rapid growth and skeletal function is solved by negative allometry of bone thickness. After young gulls reach adult size, the breaking strength of the wing bones increases three- to four-fold, the mass of the pectoralis muscle triples and the surface area of the wing doubles. The one aspect ofwing development that is not delayed until shortly before fledging is linear growth of the bones. Bones of the wing increase in length at a rapid and relatively constant rate from the time of hatching to the attainment of adult size. Relatively early initiation of linear growth of the wing bones suggests that the rate at which bones grow in length may be the rate limiting factor in wing development.
Emergency Department Hypertension: Time for a Reassessment

In 2006, the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) published its clinical policy for the evaluation and management of adult patients with asymptomatic hypertension in the emergency department (ED). The publication of this policy was prophetic, acknowledging the growing need for guidance on the evaluation and management of these patients. ED volumes have increased from an estimated 115 million visits in 2005 to 136 million in 2009. Yet the percentage of patients presenting with moderate to severely elevated blood pressure has remained fairly stable, between 42% and 43.5% (2006 to 2008). Clearly, this problem is not going away, yet how can we reconcile the most recent evidence with the ACEP clinical policy and, more important, current practice? In the past, the biggest dilemma an emergency physician faced was the distinction between hypertensive urgency and emergency. Patients with end-organ damage required admission for further evaluation and blood pressure management. All others could be managed in an outpatient setting. Yet data provided by Karras et al demonstrate that our evaluation of patients considered at highest risk for end-organ damage is less than ideal. In a study of ED patients with severely elevated blood pressure (systolic blood pressure 180 or diastolic blood pressure 110 mm Hg), a comprehensive evaluation of endorgan damage (chemistry panel, ECG, chest radiograph, funduscopy, and urinalysis) was completed only 6% of the time. The 2 most frequently ordered diagnostic tests were serum chemistry (73%) and an ECG (53%). Further complicating the issue were findings in a later study of asymptomatic patients with severely elevated blood pressure. Here, the utility of comprehensive routine testing for end-organ disease was low, with clinically meaningful test abnormalities in only 6% of patients. These findings have led to an ongoing debate among specialties over which ED patients require ancillary testing for the evaluation of hypertensive emergency. Currently, patients without end-organ damage or symptoms suggestive of hypertensive emergency are typically sent home, many without further evaluation or blood pressure management, irrespective of the degree of blood pressure elevation. This procedure is supported by the ACEP clinical p
Multiple layer perceptron for Direct Inverse Control of a nonlinear system

The idea of using neural networks in control of dynamic system is comparatively new. The well-known and well-established control methodologies such as classical control (PID) and modern control techniques were developed for control of linear systems. However many practical systems are nonlinear. Nonlinear methods for control do exist but vary from case to case. Neural networks offer a simple and extremely flexible solution to problem of control of nonlinear systems. This paper proposes Direct Inverse Control scheme of a simple nonlinear dynamic system. The idea is to train a neural network as an inverse of plant so as to cancel out the plant dynamics and to make plant follow the reference input.
Commentary on an article by Tadahiko Kubo, MD, PhD, et al.: "Interferon-α/β receptor as a prognostic marker in osteosarcoma".

Prior to the mid-1970s, the prognosis for patients diagnosed with high-grade, central osteosarcoma was poor, with an overall survival rate that ranged from 10% to 20%. However, the introduction of neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimens resulted in marked improvement in the survival of patients with osteosarcoma, and the current overall survival rates range from 60% to 70% for patients with a localized tumor. Nonetheless, despite numerous organized trials and combinations of chemotherapeutic agents, the survival rate for these patients has plateaued, and the prognosis for patients with disseminated osteosarcoma remains extremely poor. Recent advances have shed light on basic molecular mechanisms driving the biology of these tumors and have led to a push to discover additional novel biomarkers that might be exploited for therapeutic means. Numerous osteosarcoma biomarkers have been studied during the past twenty-five years; perhaps the two most publicized are P-glycoprotein and the HER-2/neu gene product. P-glycoprotein, the product of the multidrug resistance gene MDR1, is a transmembrane efflux pump that removes chemotherapeutic agents from tumor cells. One drug that this protein is known to effectively remove from tumor cells is doxorubicin, a first-line agent used in the treatment …
Contact Damage Accumulation in Tic3SiC2

The evolution of deformation—;microfracture damage below Hertzian contacts in a coarse-grain Ti3SiC2 is studied. The Hertzian indentation stress—;strain response deviates strongly from linearity beyond a well-defined maximum, with pronounced strain—;softening, indicating exceptional deformability in this otherwise (elastically) stiff ceramic. Surface and subsurface ceramographic observations reveal extensive quasi-plastic microdamage zones at the contact sites. These damage zones are made up of multiple intragrain slip and intergrain shear failures, with attendant microfracture at high strains. No ring cracks or other macroscopic cracks are observed on or below the indented surfaces. The results suggest that Ti3SiC2 may be ideally suited to contact applications where high strains and energy absorption prior to failure are required.
CONTROVERSIES IN IMMUNIZATION PRACTICES: VACCINE SAFETY AND IMPLICATIONS FOR MIDWIFERY PRACTICE

Adverse events occur only rarely after vaccine exposure. Yet, given the high vaccine coverage rates in the United States, the public is increasingly becoming concerned that vaccines may be causing immediate or long-term health problems and less concerned about the possibility of becoming infected. More than 10,000 reports of possible vaccine-related adverse events are reported every year to VAERS, the passive surveillance system that monitors vaccine safety after licensure. As providers of primary health care services to women, midwives are ideally positioned to answer women's questions about vaccine safety. This article provides the background midwives need to be able to help their clients make informed vaccine decisions. It discusses the incidence and risks of infection, the efficacy and risks of vaccines, issues complicating the evaluation of vaccine safety, the state of vaccine safety monitoring systems, and approaches consumers use in vaccine decision making.
On the theory of eccentric spiral antennas

The authors discuss the theory of eccentric spiral antennas and show numerical results for a planar eccentric spiral that generates a circularly polarized wave whose main beam is off-normal to the spiral plane. The input impedances and radiation characteristics are calculated from the current distribution generated by a method of moments solution. The method used involves the reaction-matching technique employing piecewise sinusoids and a bent dipole as the fundamental element. Calculations for the eccentric spiral show that, for both polarizations, the main beam is directed 25 degrees off-normal in the phi=325 degrees plane. The power gain is a maximum at 6.6 dB and the axial ratio is a minimum of 0.3 dB at this off-normal angle. >
A Fusion-Inhibiting Peptide against Rift Valley Fever Virus Inhibits Multiple, Diverse Viruses

For enveloped viruses, fusion of the viral envelope with a cellular membrane is critical for a productive infection to occur. This fusion process is mediated by at least three classes of fusion proteins (Class I, II, and III) based on the protein sequence and structure. For Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), the glycoprotein Gc (Class II fusion protein) mediates this fusion event following entry into the endocytic pathway, allowing the viral genome access to the cell cytoplasm. Here, we show that peptides analogous to the RVFV Gc stem region inhibited RVFV infectivity in cell culture by inhibiting the fusion process. Further, we show that infectivity can be inhibited for diverse, unrelated RNA viruses that have Class I (Ebola virus), Class II (Andes virus), or Class III (vesicular stomatitis virus) fusion proteins using this single peptide. Our findings are consistent with an inhibition mechanism similar to that proposed for stem peptide fusion inhibitors of dengue virus in which the RVFV inhibitory peptide first binds to both the virion and cell membranes, allowing it to traffic with the virus into the endocytic pathway. Upon acidification and rearrangement of Gc, the peptide is then able to specifically bind to Gc and prevent fusion of the viral and endocytic membranes, thus inhibiting viral infection. These results could provide novel insights into conserved features among the three classes of viral fusion proteins and offer direction for the future development of broadly active fusion inhibitors.
Peer Computer Conferencing to Support Teachers' Reflection During Action Research

This study investigates whether and how peer interaction through scaffolded asynchronous computer–mediated communication (CMC) aided teachers as they conducted courserelated individual action research projects. Specifically, the study investigates the extent to which teachers’ use of CMC facilitated their reflective consideration and use of alternative cultural perspectives to change their classroom practice. Study findings suggest that some teachers did in fact benefit from the use of CMC in this manner, although negative influences on teachers’ use of CMC included technological complications, lack of time and conceptual energy, and some teachers’ preference for face-to-face interactions. Implications of the findings for policy and practice are discussed, especially as they pertain to classroom contexts in which standardized testing and student cultural diversity are prominent.
Substance Abuse: New Numbers Are a Cause for Action

Substance abuse is a highly prevalent problem. Results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions show that about 1 in 10 Americans will have a substance use disorder in their lifetime. Pharmacists are critical professionals in addressing this problem; they will care for patients with substance use issues on nearly a daily basis. Prescription drug abuse is epidemic. Because substance abuse and dependence are complex problems and treatment requires a multifaceted approach, long-term treatment plans that often require psychotherapeutic and pharmacotherappeutic interventions are now being used. Armed with treatment guidelines and other available information, pharmacists need to play a central role. The results of this recent study are described here and suggestions for educational efforts and interventions are provided to help pharmacists address this national problem.
The Renal Lesion in Chronic Pyelonephritis: Immunofluorescent and Ultrastructural Studies

In another contribution to this conference, Heptinstall [1] has shown how most of the pathologic changes seen in human chronic pyelonephritis can be produced under certain circumstances by a variety of forms of injury to the kidney. Since a proportion of patients exhibiting such changes on biopsy or at autopsy give no indication of bacterial infection, a great deal of skepticism has recently been voiced (for example, [2-4]) regarding the bacterial etiology of much of what is now designated as chronic pyelonephritis. Heptinstall restricts the term "chronic pyelonephritis" to bacterial infection but insists on rigid pathological criteria for the diagnosis with emphasis on gross changes in the kidney pelvis and the calyceal system. Recently, Angell et al. [5] reported a number of cases of so called nonbacterial chronic pyelonephritis, some of whom did have radiological and/or pathological evidence of pelvicalyceal deformity. It is thus clear that, to the pathologist, the etiological diagnosis of renal scarring?even when extensive enough to cause renal insufficiency? presents considerable difficulty. Table 1 presents preliminary data which exemplify the problem of the pathologic diagnosis of pyelonephritis in an autopsy series. In 1,017 consecutive autopsies done in 1965-1966 at the Boston City Hospital (P. Niosi and R. Cotran, unpublished observations), the diagnosis of grossly visible pyelonephritis was made in 111 cases (10.896). In 44 (4.3^0 of these, the lesions were acute only; of the remaining 67, only 33 (3.296) satisfied the criteria presented by Heptinstall. The majority of the latter were associated with obstructive
Birth complications and self-reported sleep behavior.

-The self-reported sleep behaviors of a group of 190 students who reported that they had experienced birth complications were compared with the responses of a group of 1,347 students who had reported no birth complications. W e observed that the former group reported shorter durations of habitual sleep, i.e., 7.1 vs 7.3 hr., tended to fall more frequently into the extreme intervds on a continuum of sleep duration and were more likely to express dissatisfaction with the quality of their sleep than were the latter group.
On Learning, Teaching, and Learning Teaching

(1963). On Learning, Teaching, and Learning Teaching. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 70, No. 6, pp. 605-619.
Comparing tree foliage biomass models fitted to a multispecies, felled-tree biomass dataset for the United States

Estimation of live tree biomass is an important task for both forest carbon accounting and studies of nutrient dynamics in forest ecosystems. In this study, we took advantage of an extensive felled-tree database (with 2885 foliage biomass observations) to compare different models and grouping schemes based on phylogenetic and geographic variation for predicting foliage biomass at the tree scale. We adopted a Bayesian hierarchical statistical framework, first to compare linear models that predict foliage biomass directly to models that separately estimate a foliage ratio as a component of total aboveground biomass, then to compare species specific models to both ‘narrow’ and ‘broad’ general biomass models using the best fitted functional form. We evaluated models by simulating new datasets from the posterior predictive distribution, using both summary statistics and visual assessments of model performance. Key findings of our study were: (1) simple linear models provided a better fit to our data than component ratio models, where total biomass and the foliar ratio are estimated separately; (2) species-specific equations provided the best predictive performance, and there was no advantage to narrow species groupings relative to broader groups; and (3) all three model schemes (i.e., species-specific models versus narrow or broad groupings proposed in national-scale biomass equations) tended to over-predict foliage biomass and resulted in predictions with very high uncertainty, particularly for large diameter trees. This analysis represents a fundamental shift in carbon accounting by employing felled-tree data to refine our understanding of uncertainty associated with component biomass estimates, and presents an ideal approach to account for tree-scale allometric model error when estimating forest carbon stocks. However, our results also highlight the need for substantial improvements to both available fitting data and models for foliage biomass before this approach is implemented within the context of greenhouse gas inventories.
Effects of pH on the potassium current in rabbit corneal epithelial cells

The effects of pH on K+ conductance were measured using the amphotericin perforated-patch whole cell voltage-clamp technique in freshly dispersed rabbit corneal epithelial cells. Bath perfusion wit...
Climate Science as Culture War

The public debate around climate change is no longer about carbon dioxide and climate models. It is about values, culture, worldviews, and ideology. And the greater the efforts to present sophisticated data on climate change—without attending to the values that climate change threatens—the greater resistance there will be to a social consensus on global warming.
The Use and Non-Use of Business Simulations, Games and â€œIn-Classâ€ Experiential Learning Exercises: The Initial Report

This is the initial report from a research study centered upon both the use and non-use on various forms of student-centered educational experiences. The full study is to attempt to discover some of the reasons these methodologies are not used by many business-school faculty members. The data from this study was collected by a survey of faculty teaching in business school programs throughout the United States. It collected information from both current users, defined as faculty members who have used at least one of these methodologies and faculty members who did not use these methodologies. The student-centered learning actives studied included computer-run business simulations, manual business simulations, 3-D, video-style business games, board games, in-class experiential learning exercises or an undefined learning experience. If a subject reported that he/she had not used any of the methodologies, he or she was directed on to that part of the questionnaire that provided insight on why they did not use any of these methodologies. The median time that respondents took to complete the survey was between 10 and 12 minutes, as the respondents were requested to select only one of the above types of exercises and base their responses on a single course in which the selected exercise was used.
Neighborhood factors and six-month weight change among overweight individuals in a weight loss intervention.

The purpose of this study was to examine the neighborhood environment and the association with weight change among overweight/obese individuals in the first six months of a 12-month weight loss intervention, EMPOWER, from 2011 to 2015. Measures of the neighborhood environment included neighborhood racial composition, neighborhood income, and neighborhood food retail stores density (e.g., grocery stores). Weight was measured at baseline and 6 months and calculated as the percent weight change from baseline to 6 months. The analytic sample (N = 127) was 91% female and 81% white with a mean age of 51 (± 10.4) years. At 6 months, the mean weight loss was 8.0 kg (± 5.7), which was equivalent to 8.8% (± 6%) of baseline weight. Participants living in neighborhoods in which 25–75% of the residents identified as black had the greatest percentage of weight loss compared to those living in neighborhoods with 75% black residents. No other neighborhood measures were associated with weight loss. Future studies testing individual-level behavioral weight loss interventions need to consider the influence of neighborhood factors, and how neighborhood-level interventions could be enhanced with individual-level interventions that address behaviors and lifestyle changes.
Practices and Technologies in Computer Game Software Engineering

Computer games are rich, complex, and often large-scale software applications. They're a significant, interesting, and often compelling domain for innovative research in software engineering techniques and technologies. Computer games are progressively changing the everyday world in many positive ways. Game developers, whether focusing on entertainment market opportunities or game-based applications in nonentertainment domains such as education, healthcare, defense, or scientific research (that is, serious games), thus share a common interest in how best to engineer game software. This article examines techniques and technologies that inform contemporary computer game software engineering.
Multiply repeatable and adjustable on-demand phototriggered local anesthesia

A phototriggerable system whereby patients could repeatedly and non-invasively control the timing and dosage of local anesthesia according to their needs would be beneficial for perioperative pain and perhaps obviate the need for oral narcotics. However, clinical application of phototriggerable systems have been limited by concerns over phototoxicity of lasers and limited tissue penetration of light. To address these limitations, we increased the devices' effective sensitivity to light by co-delivering a second compound, dexmedetomidine, that potentiates the effect of delivered local anesthetics. The concurrent release of dexmedetomidine enhanced the efficacy of released local anesthetics, greatly increasing the number of triggerable nerve blocks (up to nine triggerable events upon a single injection) and reducing the irradiance needed to induce nerve block by 94%. The intensity and duration of on-demand analgesia could be adjusted by varying the intensity and duration of irradiance, which could not only be delivered by lasers, but also by light-emitting diodes, which are less expensive, safer, and more portable.
Assessment and rehabilitation of central sensory impairments for balance in mTBI using auditory biofeedback: a randomized clinical trial

Complaints of imbalance are common non-resolving signs in individuals with post-concussive syndrome. Yet, there is no consensus rehabilitation for non-resolving balance complaints following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). The heterogeneity of balance deficits and varied rates of recovery suggest varied etiologies and a need for interventions that address the underlying causes of poor balance function. Our central hypothesis is that most chronic balance deficits after mTBI result from impairments in central sensorimotor integration that may be helped by rehabilitation. Two studies are described to 1) characterize balance deficits in people with mTBI who have chronic, non-resolving balance deficits compared to healthy control subjects, and 2) determine the efficacy of an augmented vestibular rehabilitation program using auditory biofeedback to improve central sensorimotor integration, static and dynamic balance, and functional activity in patients with chronic mTBI. Two studies are described. Study 1 is a cross-sectional study to take place jointly at Oregon Health and Science University and the VA Portland Health Care System. The study participants will be individuals with non-resolving complaints of balance following mTBI and age- and gender-matched controls who meet all inclusion criteria. The primary outcome will be measures of central sensorimotor integration derived from a novel central sensorimotor integration test. Study 2 is a randomized controlled intervention to take place at Oregon Health & Science University. In this study, participants from Study 1 with mTBI and abnormal central sensorimotor integration will be randomized into two rehabilitation interventions. The interventions will be 6 weeks of vestibular rehabilitation 1) with or 2) without the use of an auditory biofeedback device. The primary outcome measure is the daily activity of the participants measured using an inertial sensor. The results of these two studies will improve our understanding of the nature of balance deficits in people with mTBI by providing quantitative metrics of central sensorimotor integration, balance, and vestibular and ocular motor function. Study 2 will examine the potential for augmented rehabilitation interventions to improve central sensorimotor integration. This trial is registered at clinicaltrials.gov ( NCT02748109 )
Tip-of-the-Tongue States

The tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon is best described as the feeling that a word is in memory and is close to being accessed even though access at the moment is elusive. This chapter provides an overview of the current state of the field regarding empirical research into and theoretical accounts of the tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon.
Investigating Reading Metacognitive Strategy Awareness of Elementary Children: A Developmental Continuum Emerges

ABSTRACTThis article describes a descriptive study utilizing a picture protocol technique that integrated the use of photographs of good readers and children’s representational drawings with informal conversations about their habits and behaviors before, during, and after reading. The research participants included 228 children in kindergarten through 5th grade from 15 elementary schools in southwestern and southeastern United States. The purpose of the study was to investigate elementary school-age children’s developing metacognitive awareness and knowledge of appropriate strategies for efficient comprehension and to determine if differences in levels of metacognitive awareness among the students existed such that a developmental sequence could be proposed.
Tracing Dysfunction: A Review of Dysfunction and Decentralization in New Media Art and Education

Driving a Prius up HWY 105, headed north to pick up the 405 in Los Angeles, is the wrong time for a Global Positioning System (GPS)–enabled map to go blank if you are from out of town. You and the ...
The Time-Dependent Bulk Response of Poly (Methyl Methacrylate)

The dynamic bulk compliance of Poly (Methyl Methacrylate) (PMMA) hasbeen determined at atmospheric pressure over a wide range oftemperatures and frequencies, following a new examination of the bulkresponse of Poly (Vinyl Acetate) (PVAc) at different pressures. Theoverall bulk behavior of the current measurements of PVAc agrees fairlywell with those reported by Deng and Knauss (1997) at atmosphericpressure, but a discrepancy in primarily the frequency response of thestorage compliance is accredited to a difference in the moisturecontents of the specimens. In PMMA, strong evidence of effects ofphysical aging on the volumetric behavior is observed and a carefulprescription of thermal history was thus necessary to obtain consistentresults. The master curves for the bulk compliance are generated bymeans of the time-temperature superposition principle. A comparison ofthe bulk and shear response shows that the extent of the transitionranges for the two material functions are comparable. Further comparisonof the shift factors for bulk and shear responses supports the idea thatdifferent molecular mechanisms contribute to shear and bulkdeformations. Another key observation regards the time-temperaturesuperposition principle when applied to bulk compliance data of PMMA.The shifting procedure appears to lead to consistent results for temperatures below 92°, however its validity may have to be questionedfor higher temperatures. This failure is tentatively attributed to thepresence of primary (α) and secondary (β) relaxation mechanisms with the latter possibly playing a dominant role in controlling the bulk deformations in the lower temperature range.
Real-time furnace balancing of steam methane reforming furnaces

Abstract This paper focuses on the development of a real-time furnace-balancing scheme for a reformer at a centralized hydrogen facility using steam methane reforming (SMR) technology so that the reformer fuel input can be optimized in real-time to increase the plant throughput and to reject operational disturbances associated with flow control valves. Initially, the framework for the furnace-balancing scheme, the statistical-based model identification and the valve-to-flow-rate converter developed in Tran et al., 2017a , Tran et al., 2018 are integrated with a heuristic search algorithm to create a real-time balancing procedure, which recursively calculates different total fuel flow rates of which the respective spatial distribution to burners is optimized until key operational specifications, e.g., the reformer throughput is maximized, and the outer tube wall temperature (OTWT) along the reforming tube length of all reforming tubes must not exceed the design temperature of the reforming tube wall, are satisfied. Subsequently, a com;1;putational fluid dynamic (CFD) model of the reformer developed in Tran et al. (2017b) is used to represent the on-line unit at the SMR-based hydrogen facility and is used to characterize the previously unstudied dynamic behavior of the reformer, based on which we develop an optimal strategy to implement the optimized total fuel flow rate to maximize the reformer throughput. Finally, a case study in which the balancing procedure is implemented on the reformer initially operated under the nominal reformer input is proposed, and the results are used to demonstrate that the furnace-balancing scheme successfully determines the optimized reformer fuel input to increase the reformer throughput while meeting the OTWT limits.
Applications of Metal Ion—Ligand Calculations

The α diagrams of Figures 9-1–9-3 point up some relationships among elements with respect to the periodic table and their electronic structures.
The economics of prescribed burning: a research review.

Prescribed burning has, in the past decade, become the focus of debate among policy makers, federal and private land managers, and the public. To manage fire effectively, the USDA Forest Service has formally recognized the need for economic analysis. It is stated in the Federal Wildland Fire Policy of 1995 that fire management alternatives will be based on science and sound ecological and economic principles. This article briefly examines key issues of the Federal Wildland Fire Policy from an economic perspective, and reviews the economic literature pertaining to prescribed burning. In particular, attention is paid to research regarding costs and benefits, efficiency, risk, and the wildland-urban interface. Recommendations for future economic research include focusing on defining a production function that relates economic and ecological outcomes with respect to prescribed fire; assessment of long-term cumulative effects; and finally, a comprehensive assessment of risk including decision making at the agency level.
Simple and practical on-site treatment of high microcystin levels in water using polypropylene plastic

Microcystin (MC) is a hepatotoxin produced by various cyanobacteria during harmful algal blooms (HAB's) in freshwater environments. Advanced treatment methods can remove MC from drinking water, but are costly and do not address recreational water exposure and ecosystem health concerns. Here we investigate the feasibility of utilizing plastics as a MC-adsorbing material, for use in water resources used for recreation, agriculture, aquaculture and drinking water. Water containing 20 µg/L MC-LR was exposed to polypropylene (PP) plastic for a six-day period at varying temperatures (22, 37, 65°C). Water samples were then collected at 0, 1, 2, and 6 hour-intervals to examine short term treatment feasibility. Samples were also taken at 24 hours, 3 days, and 6 days to determine long-term treatment effectiveness. MC concentrations were analyzed using ELISA. Results showed a maximal reduction of nearly 70% of MC-LR after a 6-day treatment with PP at 65°C. Temperature enhanced MC-LR reduction over a 6-day period: 70% reduction at 65°C; 50% at 37°C; 38% at 22°C. We propose an inexpensive intervention strategy which can be deployed rapidly on-site in various source waters, including in resource-limited settings. During the high peak of HAB season, the strategy can be applied in source waters, alleviating water treatment burden for treatment plants, lowering treatment costs and reducing chemical usage.
Closing the Gap Between Photojournalist Research and Photojournalism Practice: Exploring the Motivations of the Subjects of Sensitive Photo Essays

This study is the first to inquire about the factors that influence people’s willingness to allow professional photojournalists to tell their stories through the medium of the photo essay. Guided b...
High Altitude Pulmonary Edema in Children: A Single Referral Center Evaluation

Objective To describe the clinical features of children who presented to Children's Hospital Colorado (CHCO) with high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE). Study design We performed a retrospective chart review in children discharged from CHCO (an elevation of 1668 m) with a clinical diagnosis of HAPE and a chest radiograph consistent with noncardiogenic pulmonary edema. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the demographics, presentations, and treatment strategies. Results From 2004 to 2014, 50 children presented to CHCO who were found to have a clinical diagnosis of HAPE and a chest radiograph consistent with noncardiogenic pulmonary edema. Most (72%) patients were male, and most (60%) of the children in the study were diagnosed with classic HAPE, 38% with re-entry HAPE, and 2% with high altitude resident pulmonary edema. Elevation at symptom presentation ranged from 1840 to 3536 m. Patients were treated with a variety of medications, including diuretics, steroids, and antibiotics. Four patients were newly diagnosed with structural heart findings: 2 patients with patent foramen ovale and 2 with atrial septal defects. Eleven patients had findings consistent with pulmonary hypertension at the time of echocardiography. Conclusions HAPE symptoms may develop below 2500 m, so providers should not rule out HAPE based on elevation alone. Structural heart findings and pulmonary hypertension are associated with HAPE susceptibility and their presence may inform treatment. Inappropriate use of antibiotics and diuretics in children with HAPE suggest that further education of providers is warranted.
Skin Biopsy Evaluation

Histopathologic findings in skin biopsies are often subtle and easy to miss. In addition, different lymphomas may demonstrate a wide variety (and combination) of microscopic changes in one or more layers of the skin (epidermis, dermis, and panniculus). A checklist is provided to help ensure consistency and completeness in evaluating a skin biopsy with a lymphoid infiltrate.
Gradient-Based Optimization of Solar-Regenerative High-Altitude Long-Endurance Aircraft

This paper uses gradient-based optimization to minimize the mass of a solar-regenerative high-altitude long-endurance flying-wing aircraft while accounting for nonlinear aeroelastic effects. The ai...
Spouses’ faces are similar but do not become more similar with time.

The widely disseminated convergence in physical appearance hypothesis posits that long-term partners’ facial appearance converges with time due to their shared environment, emotional mimicry, and synchronized activities. Although plausible, this hypothesis is incompatible with empirical findings pertaining to a wide range of other traits—such as personality, intelligence, attitudes, values, and well-being—in which partners show initial similarity but do not converge over time. We solve this conundrum by reexamining this hypothesis using the facial images of 517 couples taken at the beginning of their marriages and 20 to 69 years later. Using two independent methods of estimating their facial similarity (human judgment and a facial recognition algorithm), we show that while spouses’ faces tend to be similar at the beginning of marriage, they do not converge over time, bringing facial appearance in line with other personal characteristics.
Index of Difficulty Measurement for Handedness with Biometric Authentication

This study attempts to identify the variance between right- and left-handed users when utilizing touch screen devices. Three experiments were created in Flutter to gather data and identify the differences in functionality by left- and right-handed users on touch screen devices. These experiments focused on speed and accuracy while also using mirrored images. Experiment one focused on Fitts’ law while two and three focused on steering law. This paper focuses primarily on the Fitts’ law experiment. The collected data were analyzed and visualizations created to provide insight into whether these biometric experiments prove or disprove the existence of deficiencies in touch screen devices for left-handed users. Data was collected from the native touchscreen and timing features for each participant. A preliminary visual analysis of the data indicates a significant variance between right- and left-handed users, but a machine learning analysis is necessary to verify this hypothesis definitively.
What works in psychosocial programming in humanitarian contexts in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review of the evidence

While there is growing evidence for the effectiveness of mental health interventions in low- and middle-income countries and humanitarian contexts, this is lacking for psychosocial programming. We aimed to summarise the evidence for psychosocial programming in these contexts through a systematic review (PROSPERO: CRD42017069066) of peer-reviewed and grey literature of programme evaluations. A total of n = 42,435 unique records were initially identified, with n = 211 records meeting full inclusion criteria. We identified 51 randomised controlled trials of 47 different interventions. The remaining studies used different evaluation methodology. Only three interventions had more than one experimental/quasi-experimental evaluation: Brief Intervention and Contact, Problem Management Plus and Child Friendly Spaces. While there are many studies of interventions, it was challenging to identify the same intervention across studies, leaving almost no interventions with more than one rigorous study supporting their use and many interventions that are poorly described. This makes it difficult to choose between them or even to implement them. Future research should focus on replication of well-described interventions in multiple different sites, to place future intervention selection on a more scientific basis. There is also a need to better understand the impact of psychosocial programmes in sectors other than health and protection, such as nutrition. These sectors may provide critical delivery mechanisms for psychosocial programming to broaden the reach of such interventions. Key implications for practice Efforts to build the evidence base for psychosocial programming in humanitarian settings are challenged by the breadth of programming delivered, populations served and outcomes targeted in this field, resulting in predominantly one-off studies of a wide range of interventions. To inform future intervention selection, research initiatives should focus on replication of well-described interventions in multiple contexts or stages of humanitarian response. Rigorous evaluation of community-focused psychosocial programmes is also needed.