cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Updating CS capstone projects to incorporate new agile methodologies used in industry

Computer Science capstone programs in many universities provide students with the opportunity to develop software systems/tools for industrial companies. These projects are often completed using processes that can be considered “heavy weight” in order to provide students the experience of using the same tools and practices found in industry. For example, North Dakota State University uses a set of processes modeled after CMMI level 2. However, over the past several years, many sponsoring companies have transitioned towards agile software development processes. In order to better prepare students for this, it is necessary to provide capstone projects offering an agile option as well as the more traditional methods. Interviews were conducted with developers and managers from five sponsoring companies using agile processes. The results of these interviews and feedback from student teams that have used agile are being used to create an agile software development process designed for capstone projects. This paper describes the agile methodology, a summary of suggestions from interviews and student feedback, and plans for incorporating agile processes in the capstone course.
A multispecies virtual population analysis of the eastern Bering Sea

The eastern Bering Sea shelf supports a large biomass of several groundfish populations, particularly walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma). The main trophic interactions between dominant groundfish populations in this region involve walleye pollock as prey. A multispecies virtual population analysis model (MSVPA) covering the period 1979–1995 has been parameterized for the eastern Bering Sea in order to move closer to providing multispecies management advice for this region. The MSVPA model is based on extensive diet data from 70 predator/prey/year/quarter combinations and currently includes the following species as predators: walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma), Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus), Greenland turbot (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides), yellowfin sole (Pleuronectes asper), arrowtooth flounder (Atheresthes stomias), and northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus). Arrowtooth flounder and northern fur seals are entered as ‘‘other predators’’, which means that population and mortality estimates are not directly made for these species. Estimates of their consumption rates, diet, and population abundance are input, however, so that their predation on prey species in the model can be calculated. Prey species are walleye pollock, Pacific cod, Greenland turbot, yellowfin sole, rock sole (Lepidopsetta bilineatus), and Pacific herring (Clupea pallasi). Results show that large numbers of walleye pollock, particularly age-0 and age-1 fish, are consumed and cannibalism by adult pollock constitutes the largest source of predation mortality for age-0 fish. Predation plays an important role in explaining the recruitment dynamics of pollock. Further advances may be made when these estimates are linked to models that examine the effect of climate-related factors influencing larval survival. 2000 International Council for the Exploration of the Sea
Retroactive Streaming Fails to Improve Concurrent Vowel Identification

The sequential organization of sound over time can interact with the concurrent organization of sounds across frequency. Previous studies using simple acoustic stimuli have suggested that sequential streaming cues can retroactively affect the perceptual organization of sounds that have already occurred. It is unknown whether such effects generalize to the perception of speech sounds. Listeners' ability to identify two simultaneously presented vowels was measured in the following conditions: no context, a preceding context stream (precursors), and a following context stream (postcursors). The context stream was comprised of brief repetitions of one of the two vowels, and the primary measure of performance was listeners' ability to identify the other vowel. Results in the precursor condition showed a significant advantage for the identification of the second vowel compared to the no-context condition, suggesting that sequential grouping mechanisms aided the segregation of the concurrent vowels, in agreement with previous work. However, performance in the postcursor condition was significantly worse compared to the no-context condition, providing no evidence for an effect of stream segregation, and suggesting a possible interference effect. Two additional experiments involving inharmonic (jittered) vowels were performed to provide additional cues to aid retroactive stream segregation; however, neither manipulation enabled listeners to improve their identification of the target vowel. Taken together with earlier studies, the results suggest that retroactive streaming may require large spectral differences between concurrent sources and thus may not provide a robust segregation cue for natural broadband sounds such as speech.
Gas breakdown and plasma impedance in split-ring resonators

The appearance of resonant structures in metamaterials coupled to plasmas motivates the systematic investigation of gas breakdown and plasma impedance in split-ring resonators over a frequency range of 0.5−9 GHz. In co-planar electrode gaps of 100 μm, the breakdown voltage amplitude decreases from 280 V to 225 V over this frequency range in atmospheric argon. At the highest frequency, a microplasma can be sustained using only 2 mW of power. At 20 mW, we measure a central electron density of 2 × 1020 m-3. The plasma-electrode overlap plays a key role in the microplasma impedance and causes the sheath impedance to dominate the plasma resistance at very low power levels.
Location, Threat Perception, and Environmental Protection

Differences in voting patterns across the urban-rural divide are well established in the environmental voting literature. Several scholars suggest that this regularity is due to ideological differences across urban and rural areas, while others posit economic arguments centering on industrial composition and resource dependence. Although a wide-range of theories could reasonably explain this relationship, few scholars have rigorously examined the empirical merit of alternative perspectives at the individual level. Using data from the International Social Survey Programme’s (ISSP) 2000 module on environmental attitudes, we examine the relationship between location (i.e., urban or rural), environmental threat perceptions, and individual level environmental actions. The empirical results provide strong support for the mediating effects of environmental threat on the urban-rural distinction. Moreover, we find little support for alternative explanations of the urban-rural divide.
A Laplace transform inversion method for probability distribution functions

This paper introduces a new Laplace transform inversion method designed specifically for when the target function is a probability distribution function. In particular, we use fixed point theory and Mann type iterative algorithms to provide a means by which to estimate and sample from the target probability distribution.
Divergence before the host shift? Prezygotic reproductive isolation among three varieties of a specialist fly on a single host plant

1. Although divergence via host-plant shifting is a common theme in the speciation of some phytophagous insects, it is not clear whether host shifts are typically initiators of speciation or if they instead contribute to divergence events already in progress. While host shifts appear to be generally associated with speciation events for flies in the genus Strauzia, three sympatric varieties of the sunflower fly [Strauzia longipennis (Wiedemann)] co-occur on the same host plant in the Midwestern United States and may have evolved reproductive barriers without a host shift. 2. The strength of two prezygotic reproductive barriers was compared among the three S. longipennis varieties: one barrier that is often associated with divergent ecological selection (allochronic isolation), and another that is more likely to be independent of ecological selection (pre-copulatory sexual isolation). The presence and relative strength of each barrier between fly varieties were evaluated using microsatellites, no choice mating experiments, studies of allochronic isolation, and field collection data. 3. Evidence for both allochronic isolation and pre-copulatory sexual isolation was detected between the three varieties of S. longipennis. The measure of isolation calculated for each barrier between the three varieties was lower than measures calculated between different species of Strauzia found on different hosts, suggesting that subsequent host shifts may increase the degree of reproductive isolation. For Strauzia and other specialist insects, some reproductive isolation may evolve prior to, and indeed may facilitate, host shifts.
MAINTENANCE OF SANTA CRUZ HARBOR, CALIFORNIA, USA

In planning and operating coastal harbors subjected to shoaling, it is imperative that the characteristics and regime of the sediments which deposit in the harbor entrance be quantified to the maximum extent possible in order that the economic impacts of the channel shoaling and along adjacent shores may be evaluated. This paper presents a brief progress report on the study of a coastal harbor in an area subjected to shoaling. This study represents the input of many engineers and researchers in the United States.
Polymers with Carbazole-Oxadiazole Side Chains as Ambipolar Hosts for Phosphorescent Light-Emitting Diodes

Polymethacrylates, polystyrenes, and polynorbornenes bearing 2-(3-(carbazol-9-yl)phenyl)-5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole, 2-(4-(carbazol-9-yl)phenyl)-5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole, 2-(3,5-di(carbazol-9-yl)phenyl)-5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole) groups linked to the polymer backbone through the 3-position of their terminal phenyl groups have been synthesized for use as solution-processable ambipolar hosts for phosphorescent light-emitting diodes. The polymers exhibit good thermal stabilities, with no weight loss below 350 °C, and have glass-transition temperatures in the range 118–209 °C. Spectroscopic, electrochemical, and quantum-chemical data for small-molecule model compounds suggest that the side chain groups are suitable hosts for a range of phosphors, including the green-emitter fac-tris(2-phenylpyridinato-N,C2′)iridium (Ir(ppy)3). Light-emitting diodes were fabricated, each with a solution-processed photo-cross-linked hole-transport layer, a solution-processed emissive layer composed of a carbazole-oxadiazole-fun...
Research on Network Information Searching Based on Mobile Agent

User interface Agent adopts SOM neural network to study user’s partiality in the information Agentsystem,and thenetwork realizes mapping from document vector to system’s output,then the network will knowuser’s different goals from different vectors,so distinguished the user’s different goals.We introduced the hereditary algorithm in the searching Agent and helped users look for po- tential information
Body fluid volumes in goats and the effect of oral doses of ammonium chloride.

SUMMARY The volumes of distribution of Evans Blue, sodium-24 and tritiated water were measured in 6 female goats 5 times at 7-day intervals. Three of the goats were given oral doses of 2 g. equivalents of ammonium chloride daily throughout the last 14 days of this period. No increase in body fluid volumes was detected during the ammonium chloride dosing.
Serum requirement for apoferritin induction in rat liver slices.

In studies of ferritin induction, liver slices failed to respond favorably to iron added directly to the suspending medium unless serum was added. The addition of 5 µg Fe/ml to slices in whole serum accelerated the incorporation of radioleucine into ferritin 2.5-fold. The favorable effect of serum on iron-induced ferritin synthesis was correlated with its attenuation of the toxic effects of the iron on protein synthesis; the serum was also found to diminish the uptake of iron by the liver cells. Transferrin, purified from the serum by ion exchange, failed to mediate the iron induction of apoferritin while albumin, completely freed from transferrin as monitored with radioiron, was effective. Albumin, apparently by limiting the uptake of excess iron by the liver cells, modulates the nonspecific toxic effects of iron on protein synthesis and thereby permits the specific induction by iron of the biosynthesis of apoferritin.
Adenosine transport in rat liver plasma membrane vesicles

Liver plasma membrane ecto-ATPase activity is largely restricted to the bile canalicular membrane. To determine whether a transport process is also selectively present on this membrane surface to reclaim adenosine derived from the intracanalicular degradation of ATP, the characteristics of hepatic nucleoside transport were examined in canalicular (cLPM) and basolateral (blLPM) rat liver plasma membrane vesicles. In the presence of the adenosine deaminase inhibitor, deoxycoformycin, an inwardly directed Na+ gradient markedly stimulated [3H]adenosine uptake in cLPM vesicles. Canalicular Na(+)-dependent [3H]adenosine uptake was enhanced by an intravesicular-negative membrane potential and inhibited by dissipation of the Na+ gradient with gramicidin D. Both purine and pyrimidine nucleosides inhibited canalicular adenosine transport. 6-[(4-Nitrobenzyl)thio]-9-beta-D-ribofuranosylpurine, an inhibitor of nucleoside transport in erythrocytes and nonepithelial cells, had no effect on canalicular adenosine transport. Canalicular Na(+)-dependent [3H]adenosine uptake exhibited saturability with a Michaelis-Menten constant of 8.3 microM and a maximum transport rate of 7.6 pmol.5 s-1.mg protein-1. In contrast, [3H]adenosine uptake in blLPM vesicles was not stimulated by an inwardly directed Na+ gradient. These findings demonstrate asymmetric distribution of hepatic Na(+)-dependent nucleoside transport. Reclamation of intracanalicular adenosine resulting from ecto-ATPase activity may explain the presence of this transport process selectively on the bile canalicular membrane.
Beauty and Sublimity: A Cognitive Aesthetics of Literature and the Arts

Recent decades have witnessed an explosion in neuroscientific and related research treating aesthetic response. This book integrates this research with insights from philosophical aesthetics to propose new answers to longstanding questions about beauty and sublimity. Hogan begins by distinguishing what we respond to as beautiful from what we count socially as beautiful. He goes on to examine the former in terms of information processing (specifically, prototype approximation and non-habitual pattern recognition) and emotional involvement (especially of the endogenous reward and attachment systems). In the course of the book, Hogan examines such issues as how universal principles of aesthetic response may be reconciled with individual idiosyncrasy, how it is possible to argue rationally over aesthetic response, and what role personal beauty and sublimity might play in the definition of art. To treat these issues, the book considers works by Woolf, Wharton, Shakespeare, Arthur Miller, Beethoven, Matisse, and Kiran Rao, among others.
Eczema as an adverse effect of anti-TNFα therapy in psoriasis and other Th1-mediated diseases: a review.

AbstractIntroduction: There have been rare reports of eczema occurring as an adverse effect of anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) therapy.Methods: A literature search was conducted on PubMed for articles describing new onset or worsening of preexisting eczema during anti-TNFα therapy for the treatment of various inflammatory diseases.Results: Eczema as an adverse effect of anti-TNFα therapy may occur in approximately 5–20% of patients with various Th1-mediated inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis, inflammatory arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease. Personal history of atopy appears to increase this risk. Out of the anti-TNFα agents indicated for the treatment of moderate-to-severe psoriasis, infliximab may be more strongly associated with development or exacerbation of preexisting eczema.Discussion: Inhibitors of key mediators in the Th1 pathway such as TNFα are successful therapeutic targets for the treatment of various inflammatory conditions such as psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid...
The Currents of War: A New History of American-Japanese Relations, 1899–1941. By Sidney Pash. (Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky, 2014. Pp. xvi, 346. $40.00.)

This sharply argued and well‐researched book is quite timely. Since 2012, Japan's policies have aimed at loosening the post‐1945, US‐imposed restraints on the Japanese military. Many Americans and ...
Surface chemistry of carbon nanoparticles functionally select their uptake in various stages of cancer cells

Relationship of the surface physicochemical characteristics of nanoparticles with their interactions with biological entities may provide critical information for nanomedicinal application. Here, we report the systematic synthesis of sub-50 nm carbon nanoparticles (CNP) presenting neutral, anionic, and cationic surface functionalities. A subset of CNPs with ~10, 20, and 40 nm hydrodynamic sizes were synthesized with neutral surface headgroups. For the first time, the cellular internalization of these CNPs was systematically quantified in various stages of breast cancer cells (early, late, and metastatic), thereby providing a parametric assessment of charge and size effects. Distinct activities were observed when these systems interacted with cancer cells in various stages. Our results indicated that metastatic breast cancer could be targeted by a nanosystem presenting anionic phosphate groups. On the contrary, for patients in late stage of cancer, drugs could be delivered with sulfonate functionalized carbon nanoparticles, which have higher probability of intracellular transport. This study will facilitate the better understanding of nanoparticle–biological entity interaction, and the integration of this knowledge with pathophysiology would promote the engineering of nanomedicine with superior likelihoods of crossing the endocytic “barrier” for drug delivery inside cancerous cells.
Oxidative coupling of methane (OCM): Effect of noble metal (M = Pt, Ir, Rh) doping on the performance of mesoporous silica MCF-17 supported MnxOy-Na2WO4 catalysts

Abstract Noble metal doped M-Mn x O y -Na 2 WO 4 /SiO 2 (M = Pt, Ir, Rh) catalysts were prepared via a wet impregnation method using mesoporous silica MCF-17 as support, and their performance in the oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) was studied in a fixed-bed flow reactor. The reaction was carried out at 750 °C under atmospheric pressure with a gas feed composition of CH 4 :O 2 = 4:1. The incorporation of the noble metals yielded an enhanced selectivity towards both C 2 and C 3 hydrocarbons as compared to the undoped Mn x O y -Na 2 WO 4 /MCF-17 catalyst in the order of Rh-doped > Ir-doped > Pt-doped samples together with a lower olefin to paraffin ratio. On the other hand, the Ir-doped catalyst showed the highest overall yield for C 2 production. Elemental analysis, N 2 -adsorption, and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) measurements confirmed similar metal loading, surface area, and phase composition for both the undoped and doped catalysts. Electron microscopy analysis showed a near-homogeneous distribution of Na and W but a higher tendency to form aggregates for Mn, with the Rh-doped catalyst being the best in overall elemental dispersion. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and temperature-programmed reduction (H 2 -TPR) results indicate a more reduced nature of the surface oxide species in the noble metal doped catalysts as compared to the undoped one. They also suggest a more optimized strength of interaction between the carbon intermediates and the surface of the noble metal doped catalysts, which in combination with the improved reducibility of Mn and W species and metal dispersion, accounted for the enhanced C 2 production on the noble metal doped Mn x O y -Na 2 WO 4 /MCF-17 catalysts.
Scenarios of ESD discharges to USB connectors

Different real world scenarios which may cause stress voltages on USB connected devices are investigated. This study identifies ESD discharge scenarios and their respective current and voltage levels, stress duration and the rise times for different USB cable shield types.
The Diamond Model of Authentic Green Marketing: Evidence from the Sustainable Architecture Industry

While “green marketing” has emerged as powerful competitive force, many markets lack clear institutional standards or knowledgeable customers to allow firms committed to sustainable practices to differentiate themselves from opportunistic, green‐washing competitors. Within these contexts we propose a firm‐level lens based on authentic firm reputation as an important, yet poorly understood, competitive force. Drawing on interview data from the architectural design services context we identify the elements that firms use to communicate their own authenticity, as well as discourage green‐washing behavior of peers, and present these elements as the “Diamond” model of authentic green marketing, consisting of: (1) The ability to appear above commercial considerations; (2) The ability to frame production methods as craft; (3) The use of corporate visual identity; and (4) An organization's social network of stakeholders. We conclude by discussing the generalizability and implications of our framework for practitioners as well as opportunities for future research.
Spatial Patterns and Age-Related Changes of the Collagen Crimp in the Human Cornea and Sclera.

Purpose Collagen is the main load-bearing component of the eye, and collagen crimp is a critical determinant of tissue mechanical behavior. We test the hypothesis that collagen crimp morphology varies over the human cornea and sclera and with age. Methods We analyzed 42 axial whole-globe sections from 20 normal eyes of 20 human donors, ranging in age from 0.08 (1 month) to 97 years. The sections were imaged using polarized light microscopy to obtain μm-scale fiber bundle/lamellae orientation from two corneal and six scleral regions. Crimp morphology was quantified through waviness, tortuosity, and amplitude. Results Whole-globe median waviness, tortuosity, and amplitude were 0.127 radians, 1.002, and 0.273 μm, respectively. These parameters, however, were not uniform over the globe, instead exhibiting distinct, consistent patterns. All crimp parameters decreased significantly with age, with significantly different age-related decreases between regions. The crimp morphology of the limbus changed the most drastically with age, such that it had the largest crimp in neonates, and among the smallest in the elderly. Conclusions Age-related decreases in crimp parameters are likely one of the mechanisms underlying age-related stiffening of the sclera and cornea, potentially influencing sensitivity to IOP. Further work is needed to determine the biomechanical implications of the crimp patterns observed. The comparatively large changes in the crimp morphology of the limbus, especially in the early years of life, suggest that crimp in this region may play a role in eye development, although the exact nature of this is unclear.
Induction of heme oxygenase-1 by phenylarsine oxide. Studies in cultured primary liver cells

Heme oxygenase‐1, the major inducible isoform of heme oxygenase (HO), can be induced by heme and numerous other physical and chemical factors, many of which cause cellular ‘stress’. This has led to the realization that HO‐1 is a major highly conserved stress or heat shock protein. Recent work has implicated activation of mitogen‐activated protein kinases and other kinases in the mechanism of induction of HO‐1, and suggested that signal transduction pathways through tyrosine kinases are involved in induction of HO‐1 gene expression by stress inducers. We hypothesized that phenylarsine oxide (PAO), an inhibitor of protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs), might up-regulate the HO‐1 gene. Here, we show that a remarkably brief (1–15 min) exposure of normal hepatocytes to low concentrations (0.5–3 μM) of PAO produces a marked increase in mRNA and protein of HO‐1. This increase is comparable to the level obtained by addition of heme (20 μM), and occurs without producing changes in cellular glutathione levels or stabilization of HO‐1 message. Preincubation of cells with inhibitors of protein synthesis decreased the ability of PAO to increase levels of HO‐1 mRNA, suggesting that the inductive effect requires de novo protein synthesis. Addition of thiol donors abrogated the PAO‐mediated induction of HO‐1 in a dose dependent fashion. Addition of genistein, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, blunted the induction produced by both PAO and heme. After brief incubations with PAO or heme, cell extracts showed comparable increases in levels of protein tyrosine phosphorylation in general, and specifically in ZAP70 kinase. Our results are consistent with the proposition that induction of HO‐1 by PAO involves inhibition of specific PTP(s), and that the mechanisms of induction of HO‐1 by PAO and by heme may share some common pathways.
WS EXP : a tool for experimenting with web services

Web services is fast becoming a mature technology. Several businesses have already embraced this technology and in some cases, the business model itself is rede.ned. This paper describes WSEXP --- a tool for teaching Web services concepts and its building blocks. WSEXP facilitates handson experimentation with UDDI business registries, obtaining and analyzing WSDL documents, invoking Web service operations, and examining SOAP requests and responses. It also provides pointers to learning resources for various Web services technology enablers such as XML, XML Schema, Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA), SOAP, WSDL, and UDDI. The paper concludes by pointing out pedagogical implications of using WSEXP in computer science education.
Planning For Street Connectivity: Getting from Here to There

After decades of promoting residential street networks characterized by low connectivity, a growing number of U.S. cities are beginning now to consider the potential benefits of improved street connectivity. The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of efforts by communities across the U.S. to increase street connectivity. The report looks at the motivations behind such efforts, the wide variety of issues these efforts have raised, and the different approaches that communities have taken to resolve them. Planners, decision makers, and residents should gain from this report a better understanding of the concept of connectivity in their own communities. The report is organized as follows. Chapter 1 describes the history of street network design, including the emergence of the concept of a street hierarchy after World War II. Chapter 2 discusses the arguments for and against increased street connectivity. Chapter 3 includes summaries of efforts by 11 U.S. cities and one regional agency to increase connectivity; it also describes the jurisdictions' ordinances and the political processes that resulted in their adoption. Chapter 4 compares the case of Raleigh, North Carolina, where the city succeeded in adopting increased connectivity standards, with that of Austin, Texas, where various parties have been negotiating a connectivity requirement for several years; these cases illuminate the importance of a cost-benefit analysis of connectivity standards during the adoption process. The Afterward concludes with a discussion of the larger issues that need further attention as efforts to promote street connectivity evolve.
Early affective changes and increased connectivity in preclinical Alzheimer's disease

Abstract Introduction Affective changes precede cognitive decline in mild Alzheimer's disease and may relate to increased connectivity in a “salience network” attuned to emotionally significant stimuli. The trajectory of affective changes in preclinical Alzheimer's disease, and its relationship to this network, is unknown. Methods One hundred one cognitively normal older adults received longitudinal assessments of affective symptoms, then amyloid-PET. We hypothesized amyloid-positive individuals would show enhanced emotional reactivity associated with salience network connectivity. We tested whether increased global connectivity in key regions significantly related to affective changes. Results In participants later found to be amyloid positive, emotional reactivity increased with age, and interpersonal warmth declined in women. These individuals showed higher global connectivity within the right insula and superior temporal sulcus; higher superior temporal sulcus connectivity predicted increasing emotional reactivity and decreasing interpersonal warmth. Conclusions Affective changes should be considered an early preclinical feature of Alzheimer's disease. These changes may relate to higher functional connectivity in regions critical for social-emotional processing.
Replication of Filamentous Bacteriophages

This chapter will review the current state of knowledge of the reproduction of filamentous bacterial viruses. The area of most intense activity since the filamentous bacterial viruses were reviewed last (Ray, 1968; Marvin and Hohn, 1969; Pratt, 1969; Denhardt, 1975) has been the study of the structure and replication of the viral DNA, and, accordingly, these aspects will be the primary focus of the chapter.
Water-energy sustainability synergies and health benefits as means to motivate potable reuse of coalbed methane-produced waters.

Management of coalbed methane (CBM)-produced water is a crucial part of the water–energy nexus, especially as CBM is projected to play a key role as a bridge fuel in major economies. In this paper, we consider one management technique, i.e., desalination of CBM-produced water to generate potable water. We discuss a confluence of geographic, sociotechnical, regulatory, and other circumstances that could make this concept viable for select coal-bearing regions. Having said that, for maximizing benefits, it is prudent to take a synergistic view targeting multiple objectives (water access, health, environmental impacts, and ease of waste management). Thus, we make design recommendations and suggest a system-evaluation framework for making sustainable decisions related to produced-to-potable water systems. For instance, a key question is whether such systems should be centralized or decentralized—and this paper highlights crucial tradeoffs that are present in both the cases.
Local and global information preserved network embedding

Networks such as social networks, airplane networks, and citation networks are ubiquitous. To apply advanced machine learning algorithms to network data, low-dimensional and continuous representations are desired. To achieve this goal, many network embedding methods have been proposed recently. The majority of existing methods facilitate the local information i.e. local connections between nodes, to learn the representations, while neglecting global information (or node status), which has been proven to boost numerous network mining tasks such as link prediction and social recommendation. In this paper, we study the problem of preserving local and global information for network embedding. In particular, we introduce an approach to capture global information and propose a network embedding framework LOG, which can coherently model LOcal and Global information. Experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed framework.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Inpatient Satisfaction Survey: Results and Implications.

Background:Disparities in health care among lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) communities have been researched in primary care, but few have examined these phenomena among LGBT inpatien...
Feasibility of prehospital delivery of remote ischemic conditioning by emergency medical services in chest pain patients: protocol for a pilot study.

Remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) is a non-invasive procedure with hypothesized therapeutic benefits for patients experiencing an acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Further study of emergency medical services (EMS) delivery of RIC in the prehospital setting is needed to inform the design and methods for future clinical trials of RIC in STEMI patients. The main objective of this pilot study is to assess the feasibility of prehospital delivery of RIC by EMS providers in the United States. We will conduct a single-arm study of the standard RIC procedure (i.e., up to 4 cycles of alternating 5-min inflation and 5-min deflation of an upper arm cuff) administered by EMS paramedics in 50 patients experiencing acute onset chest pain. The investigational autoRIC® device (CellAegis Devices, Inc., Toronto, Ontario) will be initiated by paramedics during ground ambulance transport. Automated RIC cycles will continue through emergency department arrival and stay. The primary endpoint will be the completion of all 4 cycles of RIC without interruption. We will also examine study procedures and collect qualitative data from study participants and paramedics. To our knowledge, this will be the first study in the United States to assess the feasibility of completing the 40-min RIC procedure when initiated during ground ambulance transport. Findings from this pilot study will be used to optimize the design and methods for a future efficacy trial of RIC in acute STEMI patients. NCT03400579 (ClinicalTrials.gov). Registered on 17 January 2018.
High Precision, High Performance FPGA Adders

FPGAs are now being commonly used in the datacenter as smart Network Interface Cards (NICs), with cryptography as one of the strategic application areas. Public key cryptography algorithms in particular require arithmetic with thousands of bits of precision. Even an operation as simple as addition can be difficult for the FPGA when dealing with large integers, because of the high resource count and high latency needed to achieve usable performance levels with known methods. This paper examines the architecture and implementation of high-performance integer adders on FPGAs for widths ranging from 1024 to 8192 bits, in both single-instance and many-core chip-filling configurations. For chip-filling designs the routing impact of these wide busses are assessed, as they often have an impact outside the immediate locality of the structures. The architectures presented in this work show 1 to 2 orders magnitude reduction in the area-latency product over commonly used approaches. Routing congestion is managed, with near 100% logic efficiency (packing) for the adder function. Performance for these largely automatically placed designs are approximately the same as for carefully floor-planned non-arithmetic applications. In one example design, we show a 2048 bit adder in 5021 ALMs, with a latency of 6 clock cycles, at 628 MHz in a Stratix 10 E-2 device.
Motion Planning for a Continuum Robotic Mobile Lamp: Defining and Navigating the Configuration Space

We discuss motion planning in the configuration spaces of robots containing continuum elements. The configuration space structure of extensible continuum sections is first analyzed, with practical constraints unique to continuum elements identified. The results are applied to generate the configuration space of a hybrid continuum lamp/mobile base robot. A conventional motion planning RRT/A* approach is subsequently applied for the robot in an aging in place application scenario.
Understanding transport of an elastic, spherical particle through a confining channel

The transport of soft particles through narrow channels or pores is ubiquitous in biological systems and industrial processes. On many occasions, the particles deform and temporarily block the channel, inducing a built-up pressure. This pressure buildup often has a profound effect on the behavior of the respective system; yet, it is difficult to be characterized. In this work, we establish a quantitative correlation between the built-up pressure and the material and geometry properties through experiments and mechanics analysis. We fabricate microgels with a controlled diameter and elastic modulus by microfluidics. We then force them to individually pass through a constrictive or straight confining channel and monitor the pressure variation across the channel. To interpret the pressure measurement, we develop an analytical model based on the Neo-Hookean material law to quantify the dependence of the maximum built-up pressure on the radius ratio of the elastic sphere to the channel, the elastic modulus of the sphere, and two constant parameters in the friction constitutive law between the sphere and the channel wall. This model not only agrees very well with the experimental measurement conducted at large microgel deformation but also recovers the classical theory of contact at small deformation. Featuring a balance between accuracy and simplicity, our result could shed light on understanding various biological and engineering processes involving the passage of elastic particles through narrow channels or pores.
Quantization in generalized coordinates—II

In a previous article (Gruber, 1971), the author considered what the operator form of the generalized canonical momenta was is quantum mechanics. As noted in the article, Pauli (1950), through a different method, found what the generalized momentum operator was also, and both results (the author's and Pauli's) were in agreement. However, the prescription of incorporating the momentum operator into the Hamiltonian, in some cases does not give the correct form of the Hamiltonian operator. In the present article, the author finds exactly how to incorporate the total momentum operatorp q1 =iħ∂/∂q i into the generalized classical Hamiltonian to get the correct quantum mechanical Hamiltonian operator for all cases. The author also shows a clear-cut way of making the transition from classical observable functions of the canonical momenta to their quantum mechanical operator analogs, in generalized spaces.
Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Antibody-Positive Optic Neuritis with Considerable White Blood Cell Elevation in Cerebrospinal Fluid

We present a case with an atypical presentation of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein associated disease (MOGAD) presenting with optic neuritis, short-segment transverse myelitis, and significant lymphocytic pleocytosis. The degree of lymphocytic pleocytosis in this case was unusually high and prompted extensive workup. Broad infectious and neoplastic work-up was unremarkable and raised the concern for aseptic meningitis. A literature review was performed of similar cases with documented CSF labs (see Table 1), which demonstrates the unique and significant pleocytosis noted in this case.
The sound of new urbanism

Understanding the nexus between soundscape and urban form is challenging. This research explores soundscapes in new urbanist (NU) developments to contribute to the urban form studies of sound envir...
Optimization Algorithm of Battlefield Medicinal Materials Distribution Route Planning

Medicinal materials distribution support has a significant impact on battlefield rescue. Considering the different requirements for medicinal supply support in peacetime, prewar preparations and wartime, the optimization of the distribution route of medicinal materials with the objective of shortest distance, lowest cost and shortest time is studied respectively. Based on ant colony optimization algorithm, within the scope of a guaranteed regional medicine distribution center, the optimization algorithm for drug delivery under different constraint conditions in peacetime and war is designed. It provides technical support for improving the support efficiency of medicinal materials in peacetime and wartime battlefield.
“The Fossil Bird-Tracks”: Emily Dickinson Performing Archaeologically

“Eloquence is heard, poetry is overheard.” John Stuart Mill, What Is Poetry? (1833) “They are fraught with strange meanings, these footprints of the Connecticut.” Hugh Miller, The Testimony of Rock...
Combining Theory and Practice in Data Structures & Algorithms Course Projects: An Experience Report

CS2 course projects can often be too prescriptive by telling students which algorithms or data structures are necessary to efficiently solve a given problem. Students may not fully understand why these algorithms or data structures were chosen, and they may not have an opportunity to empirically observe the impact of such design decisions. In 2019, we redesigned our CS2 course projects at North Carolina State University to help demonstrate the importance of critical-thinking and analysis activities when developing software. The objective of the redesigned course project is to connect computer science theory with software development practice by incorporating algorithm design and analysis, data structure selection, and experimental analysis as part of the software development lifecycle. For the project, students first create a design proposal that incorporates algorithm design and analysis, data structure selection, and other software design tasks. Next, students implement and test their software, while teaching staff test cases impose grade penalties for incorrect and/or inefficient implementations. Finally, students perform experimental analysis to empirically observe performance differences when using different data structures. Between January 2019 and May 2020, we collected end-of-course survey responses from 202 out of 536 students (37.7% response rate). Overall, 90.6% of respondents indicated that the project helped with understanding the importance of analysis and design when developing software. In this paper, we discuss our project activities in detail, along with lessons learned and suggestions for adopting similar projects in other CS2 courses.
Insights into sinus arrhythmia of the dog: Acetylcholine perfusion of canine right atrium results in beat-to-beat patterns that mimic sinus arrhythmia supporting exit block in the sinoatrial conduction pathways

Sinus arrhythmia of the dog is unique because of the pronounced alternating beat-to-beat intervals. The clustering of these short (faster rates) and long (slower rates) intervals is not just influenced by autonomic input from breathing; sinus arrhythmia can persist in the panting or apneic dog. The multiplicity of central and peripheral influences on the sinus node complicates the unraveling of the mechanisms of sinus arrhythmia. Studies of the sinus node suggest that acetylcholine can slow cellular depolarization and block sinoatrial conduction. Electrocardiographic monitoring of the dog supports this notion in that abrupt bifurcation into short and long intervals develop at lower heart rates. We sought to determine whether this phenomenon could be recapitulated in canine atrial preparations perfused with acetylcholine and whether selective pharmacologic blockade of the voltage and calcium clocks could provide insight into its mechanism. Spontaneous beat to beat (A-A) intervals were obtained from monophasic action potential recordings of perfused canine right atrial preparations before and during perfusion with acetylcholine (2-5 μM). The calcium clock was blocked with ryanodine (2-3 μM). The membrane clock was blocked with diltiazem hydrochloride (ICa,L blocker; 0.25 μM) and ZD7288 (If blocker; 3 μM). Hyperpolarization was hindered by blockade of IK,Ado/IK,Ach with tertiapin Q (100 nM) before and during acetylcholine perfusion. Acetylcholine resulted in beat clusters similar to those seen in sinus arrhythmia of the dog. Beat clusters were consistent with intermittent 2:1 and 3:1 sinoatrial conduction block. Tertiapin Q abolished this patterning suggesting a role of IK,Ado/IK,ACh in the mechanism of these acetylcholine-induced beat-to-beat patterns.
Forestry - Integrating Safety in a Time of Rapid Change.

Forestry work is commonly recognized as dangerous, and stories of this hazardous work are embedded in our western culture. And yet, this is not folklore from our wild west past, but a real issue of...
A Multimodal Interdisciplinary QI Intervention Is Associated with Reduction in After Hours Inpatient Endoscopy Cases.

Background and Aims Increasing demand for inpatient endoscopic services results in performing more non-emergent endoscopic cases after-hours, which poses risks to patient safety and negatively impacts patient and provider satisfaction. This study sought to quantify the existing state using quality improvement (QI) methodology, design targeted interventions, and determine their effectiveness. Methods We conducted an existing state evaluation through a process map, time-series study, and caseload analysis from 7/2017-12/2018. Using end-of-workday (EOW) as a proxy for patient/provider dissatisfaction and risk for patient safety events, we performed a prospective evaluation of a staged interdisciplinary multimodal intervention aimed to decrease the proportion of days with EOW after 7PM, decrease the proportion of cases begun after 5PM, and decrease EOW variability. The post-intervention period was 6/2019-2/2020. Results Based on existing state analyses, we implemented a series of targeted interventions: (1) provider workflow tips, (2) expedited transport for select patients, (3) pathway to reschedule appropriate cases to outpatient endoscopy, and (4) increased staffing for high caseload days through resource pooling. The proportion of days with EOW after 7PM decreased from 42.4% to 29.3% (caseload-adjusted odds ratio of 0.39, p< 0.001). Despite increased caseload, cases begun after 5PM decreased from 17.5% to 14.2% (OR 0.75, p = 0.009). EOW SD decreased from 2:20 hours to 1:36 hours. Conclusions The multimodal intervention reduced days with EOW after 7PM and the proportion of cases begun after 5PM, despite increased caseload. This study shows how applying research methods to implement QI interventions successfully decreases late inpatient endoscopic cases.
Natureworks: Biotech Innovation, Sustainable Business, and Corn-Based Plastic

This is a minicase, one of 10 in a set of short cases written to illustrate the business benefits companies realize through adopting sustainable business strategies. This minicase on NatureWorks traces the development of an entrepreneurial venture within a large corporate parent company. Bioplastic material was brought to market. The case describes the challenges and successes of a product and a business based on sustainability concepts. Excerpt UVA-ENT-0097 NATUREWORKS: BIOTECH INNOVATION, SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS, AND CORN-BASED PLASTIC NatureWorks, a 10-plus year-old startup within a large corporation, successfully made bio-tech plastic resin from corn in the face of commonly held industry beliefs that such an achievement was impossible. NatureWorks offered an alternative to oil-based plastic resins for multiple applications. NatureWorks' polylactic acid (PLA) could be shaped into bottles, containers, trays, film, and other packaging. It was not only environmentally friendly compared with widely used petroleum-based plastic containers (PET), but also cost-effective. PLA packages were compostable; they disintegrated under high heat after 75 days (whereas it can take hundreds of years for a PET bottle to break down). The price of oil had soared to more than $ 70 a barrel and remaining higher than $ 50 a barrel in early 2007, which made it all the more appealing that NatureWorks used 30% to 50% less fossil fuels to make PLA. By persisting in its belief that an economical and high-performing plastic did not have to have contain poisonous additives and persist well beyond its meaningful life span, NatureWorks set the stage to create a massive change in the plastics industry. In 2006, Biota Brands of America tested the first bottled water in the United States sold in compostable, biodegradable containers using PLA. In 2005, Wal-Mart began a yearlong effort to phase in NatureWorks PLAs for its store-brand produce, vegetables, cakes, and doughnuts. The world's number-one retailer, it also planned to launch gift cards made from NatureWorks PLA for the 2006 holiday season. “We've found comfort in PLA and its ability to provide us a price-stable product as the price of oil needed to produce conventional packaging keeps climbing higher,” said Tara Stewart, Wal-Mart's environmental affairs representative. The Industry . . .