cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
RADIO PULSE PROPERTIES OF THE MILLISECOND PULSAR PSR J0437(4715. I. OBSERVATIONS AT 20 CENTIMETERS

We present a total of 48 minutes of observations of the nearby, bright millisecond pulsar PSR J0437-4715 taken at the Parkes Observatory in Australia. The data were obtained at a central radio frequency of 1380 MHz using a high-speed tape recorder that permitted coherent Nyquist sampling of 50 MHz of bandwidth in each of two polarizations. Using the high time resolution available from this voltage recording technique, we have studied a variety of single-pulse properties, many for the first time in a millisecond pulsar. We show that individual pulses are broad band, have pulse widths ranging from ~10 (~06 in pulse longitude) to ~300 μs (~20°) with a mean pulse width of ~65 μs (~4°), exhibit a wide variety of morphologies, and can be highly linearly polarized. Single pulse peaks can be as high as 205 Jy (over ~40 times the average pulse peak), and have a probability distribution similar to those of slow-rotating pulsars. We observed no single pulse energy exceeding ~4.4 times the average pulse energy, ruling out "giant pulses" as have been seen for the Crab and PSR B1937+21 pulsars. PSR J0437-4715 does not exhibit classical microstructure or show any signs of a preferred timescale that could be associated with primary emitters; single pulse modulation has been observed to be consistent with amplitude-modulated noise down to timescales of 80 ns. We observe a significant inverse correlation between pulse peak and width. Thus, the average pulse profile produced by selecting for large pulse peaks is narrower than the standard average profile. We find no evidence for "diffractive" quantization effects in the individual pulse arrival times or amplitudes as have been reported for this pulsar at lower radio frequency using coarser time resolution. Overall, we find that the single-pulse properties of PSR J0437-4715 are similar to those of the common slow-rotating pulsars, even though this pulsar's magnetosphere and surface magnetic field are several orders of magnitude smaller than those of the general population. The pulsar radio emission mechanism must therefore be insensitive to these fundamental neutron star properties.
Failure Model Determination in a Knowledge-Based Control System

A technique for determining the most probable failure state of a restructurable control system is presented. The approach is to build a knowledge base that contains and makes use of inference mechanisms to deduce the most likely failures given the symptoms. The analysis is first carried out in a local sense, where only probabilistic information and causality are used to generate failure models, then in a global sense, where the models are grouped and heuristics are used to prune the number of candidate models. Procedures are illustrated using failure patterns of a generic database as well as a fault scenario for a hypothetical helicopter flight control system. It is concluded that the methods are potentially capable of handling generic failures and thus are useful in truly restructable control systems.
Decay rates for the solutions of model equations for bore propagation

We study the large-time behaviour of solutions to the Korteweg-de Vries-Burgers equation with bore-like initial data. This work relies on the methods of Amick, Bona and Schonbeck to obtain sharp rates of temporal decay of certain norms of the solution, thus obtaining an improvement over results of Naumkin and Shishmarev.
Harmonics suppression of fields arising from vacuum chamber eddy currents with application to SSC Low-Energy-Booster magnets

An expression for eddy currents induced in a thin-walled conductor due to a time-dependent electromagnet field excitation is formulated, allowing subsequent analytical development of a closed form expression predicting field harmonics in ac iron-core multipole electromagnets arising from eddy currents in the vacuum chamber. A passive technique for harmonics suppression is presented with specific application to the design of the Superconducting Super Collider (SSC) Low-Energy-Booster (LEB) Magnets. >
SDR (systems defined radio): how do we get there from here?

The SDR, which normally means software defined radio, is a major change from earlier radios. Functionality is predominantly realized in software (SW). SDR hardware (HW) is predominantly computers and data buses rather than RF/IF elements. SDRs are complex "do everything" radios. Object oriented analysis/object oriented design (OOA/OOD) has become a mainstream SW methodology over the past decade. These changes make definition of radio requirements, translation of these requirements into radio architecture and design, and description of SDR functionality more difficult. The modern radio is in fact a complex system and needs to be treated as such if these challenges are to be successfully met. An approach to achieving this is presented that marries conventional top-down functional decomposition with OOA/OOD.
Task-level robot learning

The functionality of robots can be improved by programming them to learn tasks from practice. Task-level learning can compensate for the structural modeling errors of the robot's lower-level control systems and can speed up the learning process by reducing the degrees of freedom of the models to be learned. The authors demonstrate two general learning procedures-fixed-model learning and refined-model learning-on a ball-throwing robot system. Both learning approaches refine the task command based on the performance error of the system, while they ignore the intermediate variables separation the lower-level systems. The authors also provide experimental and theoretical evidence that task-level learning can improve the functionality of robots. >
Learning About Language: Written Conversations and Elementary Language Learners

Many approaches to literacy instruction treat language as an object of study. The curricular assumptions that inform such instruction are that language is located outside the person, extracted from context, neutral, and explicable through defined rules. An underlying assumption in many language arts classrooms is that children will not pay attention to the parts of language without direct instruction. In this article, the authors examine how children in a first- through third-grade and a fourth- through sixth-grade classroom used written conversations as a communicative forum to explore writing and their surrounding social worlds. Through written conversations, children explored grammatical features of texts, genres, spelling, and language. Children also used written conversations as a forum to explore cultural identity, linguistic resources, and gain cultural capital within peer worlds. Findings from this study suggest the need for classroom curricular structures that encourage inquiry into language and learning.
Mechanisms of defect formation and growth in oxygen implanted SOI material during thermal ramping and isothermal annealing

To understand the formation and evolution of precipitates and defects the authors have studied structural changes in SIMOX (separation by implantation of oxygen) material annealed at temperatures covering the range from lower temperature thermal ramping through high-temperature isothermal annealing. Precipitates and defects were studied with electron microscopy techniques, including high-resolution imaging. Samples annealed for 2 h at lower temperatures from 700 degrees C to 750 degrees C show no structural changes compared to as-implanted material. Samples annealed at intermediate temperatures from 800 degrees C, to 950 degrees C show a series of unusual structural changes which result in the formation of stacking faults. Initially, at 800 degrees C and 850 degrees C small, 3- to 5-nm precipitates form very close (within 10 to 20 nm) to the wafer surface and generate one or two short
A Variable Reduction Technique For Pricing Average-Rate Options

Average-rate options, commonly known as Asian options, are contingent claims whose payoffs depend on the arithmetic average of some underlying index over a fixed time horizon. This paper proposes a new valuation technique, called the variable reduction technique, for average rate options. This method transforms the valuation problem of an average-rate option into an evaluation of a conditional expectation that is determined by a one-dimensional Markov process (as opposed to a two-dimensional Markov process). This variable reduction technique works directly with the arithmetic average and does not encounter approximation errors when volatility of the underlying is relatively large. Further, reducing the dimensionality by one makes pricing more efficient in terms of computing time. The variable reduction technique is applied in a simple Black-Scholes' economy in which there is one risky asset and one riskless bond. The paper also discusses application of the technique to average-rate options where the underlying index is an interest rate. Numerical comparisons of different methods are also presented.(This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)
Gallbladder Agenesis in a Maltese Dog

This report describes the diagnostic evaluation of a 7-month-old, female Maltese dog with elevated liver enzymes. Marked elevations of alanine transferase were the significant clinical findings. A diagnosis of gallbladder agenesis was made, based on lack of a gallbladder on ultrasonography and on surgical exploration. Gallbladder agenesis is a rare condition described in humans but not previously reported in dogs.
Nerve and Chemical Agents

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the various nerve and chemical-warfare agents. The offensive use of chemical agents continues to grow in some nations and terrorist organizations. Chemical agents can be dispersed over large areas or can penetrate structures, kill or sicken entire populations, and overwhelm medical resources. Depending on the chemical agent or combination of agents, the effects can be immediate or delayed incapacitation, disorientation, or death. Many of the common classic chemical agents can be produced inexpensively and quietly and stored indefinitely. The other types of warfare agents—namely, nerve agents—are extremely toxic chemicals. The pragmatic choice for a small-unit terrorist action that includes chemical-weapon deployment is the highly vaporizable G-series of nerve agents. Although all the nerve agents can be absorbed through the skin, the G agents require larger topical doses for toxicity because they are volatile. Thus, the primary risk associated with these agents is the inhalation of the vapor or aerosol.
Complications of Intramedullary Nailing

Intramedullary nailing offers a safe and reliable means of osteosynthesis. Complications encountered when performing intramedullary fixation are malalignment, infection, hardware failure, impaired bony healing and neurovascular injuries. Primary malalignment is largely a consequence of either an inappropriate entry point or fracture site malreduction. Secondary malalignment refers to a change in fracture reduction and alignment at some point during the postoperative period. Hardware failure is seen when the implant sustains more load than intended, either due to early excessive weight bearing or prolonged cyclical loading, as in a non-united fracture. Infection can result in secondary operations, increased risk of secondary complications, delayed/nonunion and worse clinical outcome for the patient.
The Heterogeneity of Treatment Needs for Justice-Involved Girls A Typology Using Latent Class Analysis

Current efforts to identify the treatment needs of juveniles typically examine girls as a homogeneous group and recommendations for gender-responsive services tend to generalize needs to all girls. Research on within-girl heterogeneity suggests that this approach is shortsighted as treatment needs vary among justice-involved girls; however, little is known about how treatment needs cluster in this population. Consequently, we used latent class analysis to identify treatment needs within a sample of 1,731 female adolescents charged in juvenile court in Washington State. The analysis identified four classes of need representing High Family Conflict and Trauma (20%), Complex Treatment Needs With Antisocial Peers (30%), Low Adverse Experiences With Substance Abuse Needs (38%), and Mental Health Needs With Strong Social Assets (10%). The findings are consistent with other community-based analyses of female treatment needs and distinct from male-oriented treatment recommendations. Implications for policies rega...
In-Situ Studies of Silicide Formation in Ti-Ta Bilayer Thin Films on Poly-Si

We have studied the formation of titanium silicides in the presence of an ultra-thin layer of Ta, interposed between Ti and Si. In-situ x-ray diffraction (XRD), resistance measurements and elastic light scattering were used to study the thin film reactions in real time during ramp anneals to 1000°C. On poly-Si substrates the Ta thickness was varied from 0 to 1.5 nm while the Ti thickness was held constant at ∼27 nm. The time-resolved XRD shows that the volume fraction of C40 and metal-rich silicide phases grows with increasing Ta layer thickness. Increased Ta layer thicknesses also delay the growth of the C49 disilicide phase to higher temperatures. Among the Ta thicknesses we examined, 0.3 nm is the most effective in lowering the C49-C54 transformation temperature. Films with Ta layers thicker than 0.5 nm do not completely transform into the C54 phase. The texture of the C54 phase is also sensitive to the Ta thickness. The C54 disilicide film is predominantly (010) textured for the Ti / 0.3 nm Ta sample. The final C54 texture is significantly different for Ta layers thinner or thicker than the optimal 0.3 nm. This suggests that the most effective thickness for lowering the C54 formation temperature is related to the development of a strong (010) texture. The possibility of a template effect by the C40 or metal-rich Ti5Si3 phases is also discussed on the basis of texture considerations.
Longitudinal Assessment of Neurocognitive Outcomes in Survivors of Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treated on a Contemporary Chemotherapy Protocol

PurposeSurvivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treated with CNS-directed chemotherapy are at risk for neurocognitive deficits. Prospective longitudinal studies are needed to clarify the neurodevelopmental trajectory in this vulnerable population.MethodsPatients enrolled in the St. Jude Total Therapy Study XV, which omitted prophylactic cranial radiation therapy in all patients, completed comprehensive neuropsychological assessments at induction (n = 142), end of maintenance (n = 243), and 2 years after completion of therapy (n = 211). We report on longitudinal change in neurocognitive function and predictors of neurocognitive outcomes 2 years after completing therapy.ResultsNeurocognitive function was largely age appropriate 2 years after completing therapy; however, the overall group demonstrated significant attention deficits and a significantly greater frequency of learning problems as compared with national normative data (all P ≤ .005). Higher-intensity CNS-directed chemotherapy con...
The Internet’s Multiple Roles in Facilitating the Sexual Orientation Identity Development of Gay and Bisexual Male Adolescents

One emerging avenue for the exploration of adolescents' sexual orientation identity development is the Internet, since it allows for varying degrees of anonymity and exploration. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the role of the Internet in facilitating the sexual orientation identity development process of gay and bisexual male adolescents. Qualitative interviews were conducted with an ethnically diverse sample of 63 gay/bisexual male adolescents (ages 15-23). Participants reported using a range of Internet applications as they explored and came to accept their sexual orientation identity, with the intended purpose and degree of anonymity desired determining which applications were used. Youth reported that the Internet provided a range of functions with regard to the exploration and acceptance of their sexual orientation identity, including (1) increasing self-awareness of sexual orientation identity, (2) learning about gay/bisexual community life, (3) communicating with other gay/bisexual people, (4) meeting other gay/bisexual people, (5) finding comfort and acceptance with sexual orientation, and (6) facilitating the coming out process. Future research and practice may explore the Internet as a platform for promoting the healthy development of gay and bisexual male adolescents by providing a developmentally and culturally appropriate venue for the exploration and subsequent commitment to an integrated sexual orientation identity.
Analytical Instability Model for the Separation of a Sphere From a Flat in the Presence of a Liquid Film

An instability model is proposed to describe the process of separating a sphere from a flat in the presence of a lubricant. The model is based on consideration of the effects of sphere inertia in characterizing the critical point of separation — namely, that there is a sudden onset of significant sphere acceleration. Good agreement is found between the predictions of the instability model with those of a full numerical simulation. The instability model provides an improvement over an “impulse” model found in the literature, which is unable to predict the point of separation.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Measurement of Fluorescence Lifetime in Scattering Media using frequency-Domain Photon Migration

Local environments of physiologically important analytes can be probed by measuring optical characteristics of co-located fluorescent dyes.
Extremely high temperatures and paleoclimate trends recorded in Permian ephemeral lake halite

Although the late Paleozoic deglaciation is arguably one of the best deep-time analogs for current and predicted climate change, quantitative paleotemperature data from this interval are generally lacking. We reconstruct extreme paleoweather conditions and paleoclimate changes from Permian Nippewalla Group (probably uppermost Leonardian/Kungurian; North America) ephemeral lake halite by using fluid inclusion homogenization temperatures to directly measure the water temperature when the halite precipitated; in these depositional settings, this is an excellent air temperature proxy. Extremely high temperatures, to 73 °C, and large diurnal temperature ranges are evidenced in the lower Nippewalla Group, suggesting conditions more extreme than anywhere on Earth today. In contrast, the upper Nippewalla Group was cooler; maximum temperature was 43 °C and diurnal temperature ranges were smaller, though even these conditions are similar to modern extremely hot environments. Comparison to prior studies suggests that these results may be indicative of regional patterns. This study represents the first pre-Quaternary high-resolution quantitative data set of extreme paleoweather and possible paleoclimate trends from fluid inclusions in halite, and provides new insight into climate change during the late Paleozoic deglaciation.
Ethylene Oxide and Propylene Sulfide Complexes of Silver(I): Synthesis and Characterization of [HB(3,5-(CF3)2Pz)3]Ag(OC2H4) and [HB(3,5-(CF3)2Pz)3]Ag(SC3H6)

The synthesis and solid-state structures of [HB(3,5-(CF3)2Pz)3]Ag(OC2H4) and [HB(3,5-(CF3)2Pz)3]Ag(SC3H6) are presented. The propylene sulfide ligand shows a relatively large tilt toward the [HB(3,5-(CF3)2Pz)3]Ag moiety compared to the ethylene oxide ligand. [HB(3,5-(CF3)2Pz)3]Ag(OC2H4) and [HB(3,5-(CF3)2Pz)3]Ag(SC3H6) are rare examples of compounds featuring metal−epoxide and metal−thiirane bonding.
Management for Visitors in Newborn Nursery

OBJECTIVE To strengthen the management for visitors in the newborn nursery,in order to reduce the newborn hospital infection rate and enhance the hospital infection management quality in the newborn nursery.METHODS Taken the air and the object surface sampling in the newborn nursery,and the sampling derived from the hands of staff and visitors to undertake the contrast examination.RESULTS Before and after visits,the air pollution rate was over norm by increase of 58.3%,and after disinfection it declined 75.0%,after visiting,the object surface contamination rate was over norm by 56.3%,after disinfection it fell by 77.1%.Before washing-hands,the bacterial contamination rate of visitors and staff was over norm by respectively 100.0% and 68.3%,after washing,the passing rate of visitors was 92.0%,and no medical staff were over norm.CONCLUSIONS To adopt the effective management for visitors in the newborn nursery is very important to reduce the hospital infection rate in newborn nursery.
C-myc-activated TCRP1 Associates Cisplatin Resistance in Tongue Cancer Cells

Tongue cancer-resistant protein1( TCRP1) was found highly expressed in drug resistant Tca8113 / PYM cell line,which showed resistance to cisplatin( cDDP). Results implied that TCRP1 might contribute to cDDP resistance in tongue cancer. However,the mechanism was unclear. We performed semi- quantitative RT-PCR,Western blotting and MTS experiments. A c-myc binding site on TCRP1 promoter was predicted,and tested to be functional by chromatin immunoprecipitation( ChIP) assay. TCRP1 was found upregulated in c-myc highly expressed cells that were resistant to cDDP. When c-myc inhibitor or siRNA was used to reduce TCRP1 expression,the sensitivity to cDDP reappeared in the treated cells. Our data suggested that c-myc could bind the TCRP1 promoter to upregulate its expression,which might contribute to cDDP resistance in tongue cancer cells.
Case-Control Study on Risk Factors for Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Pudong New Area,Shanghai

[Objective] To identify major risk factors of hepatitis C virus infection in Pudong New Area in order to provide scientific evidence for the control of hepatitis C.[Methods] During 2008-2009,109 individuals infected with hepatitis C virus included in Network Direct Report System of Infectious Disease Epidemics of Pudong New Area were interviewed about demographic characteristics and exposures to risk factors,with an equal number of controls,pair matched to cases by gender,age,and location.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression methods were used to analyze the risk factors for hepatitis C infection.[Results] The univariate analysis results showed that hepatitis C virus infection was associated with blood transfusion,operation history,shave,and pedicure.The multivariate analysis results showed that operative cosmesis and shave were risk factors for hepatitis C infection.[Conclusion] Operative cosmesis and exposures to sharing equipment are the risk factors for hepatitis C virus infection in Pudong New Area.More efforts should be directed towards management of blood products and improvement of people's awareness of the risk of sharing equipment to prevent hepatitis C infection.
Palliative Care Consultations in the Neuro-ICU: A Qualitative Study

Background Integration of palliative care (PC) into the neurological intensive care unit (neuro-ICU) is increasingly recommended, but evidence regarding the best practice is lacking. We conducted a qualitative analysis exploring current practices and key themes of specialist PC consultations in patients admitted to a single neuro-ICU.
The effect of alkaloids and seed extracts of endophyte-infected tall fescue on prolactin secretion in an in vitro rat pituitary perfusion system.

The objective of this research was to measure the effects of endophyte-infected tall fescue seed extract and various alkaloids associated with the endophyte on in vitro prolactin secretion by rat hemipituitaries. Rat anterior pituitaries (AP) were dissected into halves and placed in temperature-controlled culture chambers (37 degrees C). The tissue was perfused with culture media at a flow rate of 12 mL/h. After perfusion for at least 90 min with control media, AP halves were exposed to their respective treatments for 15 min before they were returned to the control media. The treatments for Exp. 1 were .01 micrograms of alpha-ergocryptine/mL of culture medium, .01 microgram of ergonovine/mL of culture medium, .01 gram-equivalents of endophyte-infected tall fescue seed/mL of culture medium, and .01 gram-equivalents of endophyte free tall fescue seed/mL of culture medium. Treatments for Exp. 2 consisted of 10(-4), 10(-6), and 10(-8) M concentrations of perloline, N-formyl loline, N-acetyl loline, N-methyl loline, and alpha-ergocryptine. alpha-Ergocryptine suppressed (P less than .10) prolactin secretion in both experiments. Ergonovine and perloline both stimulated (P less than .10) prolactin secretion. The loline alkaloids (N-formyl loline, N-acetyl loline, N-methyl loline) had no effect on prolactin secretion. The endophyte-infected seed extract treatment suppressed (P less than .10) prolactin secretion. The endophyte-free seed extract treatment had no effect on prolactin secretion. In Exp. 2, prolactin secretion from AP responded to alpha-ergocryptine treatment in a dose-dependent fashion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Weak Localization, Correlations and Fluctuations in Light Scattering from a Disordered Medium

There has been a lot of work recently on the transport, localization and fluctuations of electrons in disordered metals.(1) Localization of electrons in a disordered metal is a one body problem and the statistics of the electrons is not important. What is important is that the electron behaves as a wave and localization results from the interference of the various multiply scattered waves. Thus the same phenomena which occur and methods which apply for electrons in disordered metals should be useful for other kinds of waves in disordered media e.g. phonons, spin waves, electromagnetic waves etc. The case of light scattered from a disordered medium is particularly interesting because experiments can easily be carried out and it is possible to observe the interference effects which give rise to localization. In this lecture we will discuss the theory briefly in Section 2, coherent back scattering in 3, intensity correlations and fluctuations in 4 and time dependent effects in 5.
Clinical significance of resolution of chest X-ray findings in HIV-infected children with lymphocytic interstitial pneumonitis (LIP).

Lymphocytic interstitial pneumonitis (LIP) in HIV-infected children is generally associated with better prognosis as compared with children with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP). We prospectively studied 12 cases of HIV-infected children with LIP over a 4-year period in an effort to document one aspect of the natural history of this clinical entity. Severe CD4 lymphocytopenia was associated with complete resolution of the chest X-ray findings in five patients, one of whom died of disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex. A second patient developed rapid-onset subacute HIV encephalopathy at the time when the CD4-lymphocyte count declined from 589 to 39, and the lung findings resolved spontaneously. The resolution of this lung pathology may be the first indication of severe immune suppression and a warning of the increased risk for opportunistic infections. Therefore, in those settings where diagnostic laboratory facilities are not easily available, the resolution of the reticulonodu-lar changes on chest radiographs is a poor prognostic sign in HIV-infected children with LIP.
The Big Tent for Statistics: Mentoring Required

ABSTRACTResearch supports the positive impact of mentoring on both job and career satisfaction. Recognizing this, the American Statistical Association (ASA) has started a new mission-centered focus on mentoring. This article describes the development and implementation of meeting-based mentoring programs at four ASA conferences in 2014 and 2015. We present results of the feedback evaluations from program participants and use them to motivate recommendations for creating and running conference mentoring programs and overcoming common challenges. These recommendations are applicable to creating and running conference mentoring programs in any field. We conclude with a discussion of the opportunities for the ASA to augment its mentoring programs in support of the professional development of its members.
The Contemporary Microbiology and Rates of Concomitant Osteomyelitis in Acute Septic Arthritis.

Background:Septic arthritis (SA) and acute osteomyelitis (AO) are among the most common serious bacterial infections of childhood. Knowledge of the microbiology of SA is critical to treatment. Awareness of the presence of attendant AO is also important to guide clinical management. We sought to desc
Tunable Room-Temperature Synthesis of Coinage Metal Chalcogenide Nanocrystals from N-Heterocyclic Carbene Synthons

We present a new toolset of precursors for semiconductor nanocrystal synthesis, N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-metal halide complexes, which enables a tunable molecular platform for the preparation of coinage metal chalcogenide quantum dots (QDs). Phase-pure and highly monodisperse coinage metal chalcogenide (Ag2E, Cu2–xE; E = S, Se) QDs are readily synthesized from the direct reaction of an NHC-MBr synthon (where M = Ag, Cu) with alkylsilyl chalcogenide reagents at room temperature. We demonstrate that the size of the resulting QDs is well-tailored by the electron-donating ability of the L-type NHC ligands, which are further confirmed to be the only organic capping ligands on the QD surface, imparting excellent colloidal stability. Local superstructures of the NHC-capped Ag2S QDs are observed by TEM, further demonstrating their potential for synthesizing monodisperse ensembles and mediating self-assembly.
Toxic shock syndrome, tampons and laboratory standard-setting.

In 1980, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States implicated Rely tampons, produced by Procter & Gamble, as the single tampon most contributing to the onset of toxic shock syndrome. Pressured by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and threatened with a recall,
Altitude Estimation and Control of an Insect-Scale Robot with an Onboard Proximity Sensor

Insect-scale micro-air vehicles (MAVs) require careful consideration of the size, weight and power for each component. The inherent instability of the system, exacerbated by the faster dynamics that result from increasing angular accelerations with decreasing scale, requires high bandwidth sensing to maintain stable flight. The Harvard RoboBee is the first MAV under 100 mg to demonstrate controlled flight using external motion capture cameras to measure the position and orientation of the vehicle during flight. Prior research into onboard sensing has demonstrated several sensors that provide sufficiently high-bandwidth and low-latency feedback to stabilize the attitude of the robot. To achieve autonomous flight, the vehicle needs to sense its attitude, altitude, and either lateral position or velocity. Here we build on previous work by incorporating a sensor that is size- and power-compatible with insect-scale flight, capable of estimating distance by measuring the time-of-flight of an infrared laser pulse. This sensor has sufficiently low latency to allow the robot to maintain constant altitude over multiple flight experiments. This work on onboard altitude control represents the latest results in achieving autonomous control and visually-guided flight.
The effects of architectural congruence perceptions on winery visitors’ emotions and behavioral intentions: The case of Marqués de Riscal

Abstract This study examines the influence of the perceived congruence of a postmodernist hotel, which was built at one of Spain's oldest wineries, on visitors’ emotions and behavioral intentions. Due to the rather unpredictable nature of Frank Gehry's architectural landmarks, the delight model was used to investigate the effects of congruence perceptions – as related to the local landscape, visitors’ self-image and the winery's brand image – on arousal, delight and behavioral intentions. Data were collected from travelers who had visited a winery in Spain and structural equation modeling was used for analysis. The results suggest that the perceived congruence between the hotel architecture, the local landscape and the winery's brand image positively affect visitors’ arousal and delight. On the other hand, the perceived congruence between the hotel architecture and visitors' self-image only improves arousal. Arousal also affects delight and both of these emotions significantly increase visitors’ behavioral intentions. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed in detail.
The Scleroderma Patient-Centered Intervention Network Cohort: baseline clinical features and comparison with other large scleroderma cohorts.

Objectives The Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network (SPIN) Cohort is a web-based cohort designed to collect patient-reported outcomes at regular intervals as a framework for conducting trials of psychosocial, educational, self-management and rehabilitation interventions for patients with SSc. The aim of this study was to present baseline demographic, medical and patient-reported outcome data of the SPIN Cohort and to compare it with other large SSc cohorts. Methods Descriptive statistics were used to summarize SPIN Cohort characteristics; these were compared with published data of the European Scleroderma Trials and Research (EUSTAR) and Canadian Scleroderma Research Group (CSRG) cohorts. Results Demographic, organ involvement and antibody profile data for SPIN (N = 1125) were generally comparable with that of the EUSTAR (N = 7319) and CSRG (N = 1390) cohorts. There was a high proportion of women and White patients in all cohorts, though relative proportions differed. Scl70 antibody frequency was highest in EUSTAR, somewhat lower in SPIN, and lowest in CSRG, consistent with the higher proportion of interstitial lung disease among dcSSc patients in SPIN compared with in CSRG (48.5 vs 40.3%). RNA polymerase III antibody frequency was highest in SPIN and remarkably lower in EUSTAR (21.1 vs 2.4%), in line with the higher prevalence of SSc renal crisis (4.5 vs 2.1%) in SPIN. Conclusion Although there are some differences, the SPIN Cohort is broadly comparable with other large prevalent SSc cohorts, increasing confidence that insights gained from the SPIN Cohort should be generalizable, although it should be noted that all three cohorts include primarily White participants.
Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials on Patent Foramen Ovale Closure Versus Medical Therapy for Secondary Prevention of Cryptogenic Stroke.

The optimal management of patients with cryptogenic stroke (CS) and patent foramen ovale (PFO) remains controversial. We conducted a meta-analysis to assess the effect of PFO closure for secondary prevention of stroke on patients with CS. We searched the literature for randomized control trials assessing the recurrence of stroke after PFO closure compared with medical therapy (antiplatelet and/or anticoagulation). Five randomized control trials with a total of 3,440 patients were included. The mean age was 45.2 ± 9.7 years and follow-up duration ranged from 2.0 to 5.9 years. PFO closure significantly reduced the risk of stroke compared with the medical therapy (2.8% vs 5.8%; relative risk [RR] 0.48, confidence interval [CI] 0.27 to 0.87, p = 0.01, I2 = 56%). The number needed to treat for stroke prevention was 10.5. PFO closure was associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation compared with medical therapy (4.2% vs 0.7%; RR 4.55, CI 2.16 to 9.6, p = 0.0001, I2 = 25%). There was no significant difference in all-cause mortality (RR 1.33, CI 0.56 to 3.16, p = 0.52, I2 = 0%), as well as no difference in bleeding risk between the 2 groups (RR 0.94, CI 0.49 to 1.83, p = 0.86, I2 = 29%). In conclusion, our meta-analysis demonstrates that PFO closure is associated with significantly lower risk of recurrent stroke in patients with PFO and CS compared with medical therapy. However, atrial fibrillation was more common among closure patients.
The Combined Role of the Orthoptist and the Pediatric Ophthalmologist in Training and Research

(1991). The Combined Role of the Orthoptist and the Pediatric Ophthalmologist in Training and Research. American Orthoptic Journal: Vol. 41, No. 1, pp. 33-34.
The Problem with “Magnitude-based Inference”

ABSTRACTPurposeA statistical method called “magnitude-based inference” (MBI) has gained a following in the sports science literature, despite concerns voiced by statisticians. Its proponents have claimed that MBI exhibits superior type I and type II error rates compared with standard null hypothesis
Hinglaj Devi: Identity, Change, and Solidification at a Hindu Temple in Pakistan, by Jürgen Schaflechner, New York, Oxford University Press, 2018, 360 pp., US$99 (hardback), ISBN: 978 0 1908 5052 4

The marginalization of Hindus on the Pakistan side of the Pakistan–India border has been exacerbated by scholarly neglect of this community. Schaflechner addresses this injustice with his book, Hin...
Who killed rural sociology? A case study in the political economy of knowledge production.

Rural sociology is examined as a case study in the social forces that shape and direct the production of knowledge. Knowledge production is viewed as the product of the nexus of three sets of forces. First, there are the rewards and punishments of any system of social control. While knowledge is produced under very different conditions than other commodities, concrete products (‘research’) are produced in a social milieu and in response to distinct forces. Forces that pull research in particular directions are represented by the availability of research funds and the clarity by which certain types of research are regarded as more important than others. Pushes are represented not only by the unavailability of research funds but also by discouragement of certain research trajectories. These range from friendly advice by senior faculty to graduate students, to impediments in career development, to active persecution. Second, the system of social control is embedded in an institutional network within which knowledge production occurs. Rural sociology is centrally linked to a clearly delineated institutional network composed of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the land-grant college complex. This complex constitutes a dense institutional network influencing the knowledge production system directly. Third, rural sociology is influenced by its institutional relationship to sociology as a discipline. In this case, as long as it does not involve the mission orientation of the subdiscipline (e.g. the pushes and pulls), the general discipline has effects on what can be termed the ‘autonomy’ of knowledge production within rural sociology.
An MRI Study of the Corpus Callosum in Autism

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the size of subregions of the corpus callosum in autistic individuals. Method: The areas of three subregions (anterior, body, and posterior) of the corpus callosum were examined on midsagittal magnetic resonance images of 35 autistic subjects whose mean age was 18 years and 36 healthy comparison subjects matched on age and IQ. Results: After controlling for total brain volume, gender, and performance IQ, the authors detected a significantly smaller size of the body and posterior subregions of the corpus callosum in the autistic individuals. Conclusions: In the context of recent reports of increased brain size in autism, several possible mechanisms are considered in exploring the significance of a smaller relative size of the corpus callosum in autism. (Am J Psychiatry 1997; 154:1051‐1056)
Ethical Considerations of Giving Miranda -Type Warnings in Psychiatric Evaluations in Criminal Cases

Just over two decades ago, the Supreme Court in its landmark Miranda decision afforded specific rights to criminal defendants.1 Based primarily upon the Fifth Amendment, the Miranda warning includes informing the criminal defendant of the right to remain silent and that any of his or her statements have potential adverse legal consequences. Although the initial context of the Miranda ruling involved law enforcement personnel within the criminal justice system, the operational effects of Miranda have since permeated forensic and general psychiatric practice.
Mediation as Persuasion: Central Route Attribution Change as a Conflict Resolution Technique

The goals of the study were (a) to test whether an attribution-focused mediation technique can improve conflict outcomes, and (b) to identify the cognitive mechanisms by which such intervention is effective. Three hundred seventy-one undergraduates assumed the role of a crime victim and view a taped mediation session. The brief intervention decreased participants' negative attributions for the adversary's behavior, and decreased the amount of retribution desired in the case. Interactions supported hypotheses that the cognitive processing of conflict can follow two very different routes described by dual-process theories. Without effortful consideration of properly targeted intervention, conflict (attributions and demands) will escalate, while effortful consideration of attribution-focused intervention can suspend or reverse conflict escalation. Only participants not distracted during the intervention showed decreased their demands for retribution, and participants with a personal tendency to carefully analyze causal information (High NFC) exposed to the intervention drew the most positive attributions ("central route" hypothesis). Participants made the most extreme demands when they fully attended to the case without intervention, and participants drew the most negative attributions if they had a personal tendency to carefully analyze causal information (High NFC) and did not see the intervention ("polarization hypothesis").
The Initial Development of the Multicultural Supervision Scale

The Multicultural Supervision Scale (MSS) was administered to 304 counselor educators and clinical supervisors across the United States. A three factor model comprising 39 items seemed to define th...
The Familial dementia gene ITM2b/BRI2 facilitates glutamate transmission via both presynaptic and postsynaptic mechanisms

Mutations in the Integral membrane protein 2B (ITM2b/BRI2) gene, which codes for a protein called BRI2, cause familial British and Danish dementia (FBD and FDD). Loss of BRI2 function and/or accumulation of amyloidogenic mutant BRI2-derived peptides have been proposed to mediate FDD and FBD pathogenesis by impairing synaptic Long-term potentiation (LTP). However, the precise site and nature of the synaptic dysfunction remain unknown. Here we use a genetic approach to inactivate Itm2b in either presynaptic (CA3), postsynaptic (CA1) or both (CA3 + CA1) neurons of the hippocampal Schaeffer-collateral pathway in both female and male mice. We show that after CA3 + CA1 Itm2b inactivation, spontaneous glutamate release and AMPAR-mediated responses are decreased, while short-term synaptic facilitation is increased. Moreover, AMPAR-mediated responses are decreased after postsynaptic but not presynaptic deletion of Itm2b. In contrast, the probability of spontaneous glutamate release is decreased, while short-term synaptic facilitation is increased, primarily after presynaptic deletion of Itm2b. Collectively, these results indicate a dual physiological role of Itm2b in the regulation of excitatory synaptic transmission at both presynaptic termini and postsynaptic termini and suggest that presynaptic and postsynaptic dysfunctions may be a pathogenic event leading to dementia and neurodegeneration in FDD and FBD.
Engaging stakeholders to assess landscape sustainability

There is widespread consensus about the need for landscape sustainability but little agreement about how to define or measure it. The aim of the paper is to present a systematic approach for measuring progress toward landscape sustainability goals. The approach was developed based on existing literature and our experiences in applying the approach to support more sustainable agricultural landscapes. Examples applying this approach are summarized for case studies in the United States (U.S.) and Mexico. The approach has six steps: the scope and objectives of the assessment are determined based on the particular context; indicators that alert pending concerns are selected and prioritized based on utility and relevance; baselines and targets are established for each indicator, and scenarios for consideration are determined; the indicator values are obtained and evaluated; trends in and tradeoffs among indicator values are analyzed; and good practices are developed, applied, and assessed. Insights gained from applying this approach suggest that designing sustainable landscapes depends on stakeholder engagement, effective communication, transparency and trust, timely monitoring, and continual improvement. Iterative application of the assessment approach builds capacity and promotes continual improvements in management practices, thus enabling timely responses to changing conditions while still progressing toward a set of locally defined goals.
Identifying Operons with Deep Neural Networks

Genes in prokaryotic genomes often assemble in transcription units called operons. Detecting operons are of significant importance to help infer functionality and detect regulatory networks. Several tools have been proposed to detect such operons computationally. We propose a new method, which we name Operon Hunter, that uses visual representations of genomic fragments and a residual neural network architecture to make operon predictions. Our method uses a pertained network via transfer learning to leverage big datasets. We report the highest accuracy in the literature that we know of when tested on the standard datasets that are reported in various studies: E. coli and B. subtilis, with an F1 score of 0.83, outperforming the previously reported state of the art tools. Our method also demonstrates a clear advantage when it comes to detecting full operons rather than separate gene pairs.
Water distillation performance of carbon nanotube membrane: Non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulation

Abstract Carbon nanotube (CNT) has a great potential as membrane material for water distillation because of its smooth and hydrophobic surface. We numerically investigated the distillation performance of CNT membrane for direct contact membrane distillation using non-equilibrium molecular dynamics (NEMD) simulation by varying diameters and lengths of the CNT and system operating conditions such as temperature, temperature difference between feed (hot) and permeate (cold) reservoirs, and sodium chloride (NaCl) concentration in the feed reservoir. It was found from the NEMD simulations that the distillation performance is enhanced by increasing system temperature, reservoir temperature difference, and CNT diameter, and decreasing CNT length, atomic attraction strength between water molecules and CNT, and NaCl concentration. The NEMD simulation overpredicts the water vapor transport by approximately an order of magnitude as compared with the results from the Knudsen diffusion model. The simulated flooding pressure is in good agreement with the theoretical prediction by the Young-Laplace equation using the MD-calculated contact angle. Most importantly, the permeability of the CNT membrane is two orders-of-magnitudes higher than a common polymer-based membrane made of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) due to almost two order-of-magnitude higher Knudsen diffusion of the CNT membrane than that of the PTFE membrane.