cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Essential role of Ca2+/calmodulin in Early Endosome Antigen-1 localization

Ca2+ is an essential requirement in membrane fusion, acting through binding proteins such as calmodulin (CaM). Ca2+/CaM is required for early endosome fusion in vitro, however, the molecular basis for this requirement is unknown. An additional requirement for endosome fusion is the protein Early Endosome Antigen 1 (EEA1), and its recruitment to the endosome depends on phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate [PI(3)P] and the Rab5 GTPase. Herein, we demonstrate that inhibition of Ca2+/CaM, by using either chemical inhibitors or specific antibodies directed to CaM, results in a profound inhibition of EEA1 binding to endosomal membranes both in live cells and in vitro. The concentration of Ca2+/CaM inhibitors required for a full dissociation of EEA1 from endosomal membranes had no effect on the activity of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases or on endogenous levels of PI(3)P. However, the interaction of EEA1 with liposomes containing PI(3)P was decreased by Ca2+/CaM inhibitors. Thus, Ca2+/CaM seems to be required for the stable interaction of EEA1 with endosomal PI(3)P, perhaps by directly or indirectly stabilizing the quaternary organization of the C-terminal FYVE domain of EEA1. This requirement is likely to underlie at least in part the essential role of Ca2+/CaM in endosome fusion.
In vitro evaluation of combination of fluconazole and flucytosine against Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans.

Amphotericin B and fluconazole are current acceptable therapies for cryptococcal meningitis; however, their effect remains suboptimal. The combination of fluconazole and flucytosine has yielded encouraging clinical results in human immunodeficiency virus patients with cryptococcal meningitis. To investigate the biological basis of this finding, we performed in vitro combination testing of fluconazole and flucytosine against 50 clinical strains of Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans. Synergy (fractional inhibitory concentration index of 2.0) was not observed. For cases in which synergy was not achieved (autonomous or additive effects), the beneficial effect of the combination was still seen (i.e., there was still a decrease, although not as dramatic, in the MIC of one or both drugs when used in combination). The in vitro inhibitory action of flucytosine was greatly enhanced by the addition of fluconazole; the flucytosine MICs for Cryptococcus isolates were markedly decreased to concentrations which were severalfold lower than the achievable cerebrospinal fluid flucytosine concentration. On the other hand, the addition of flucytosine did not greatly enhance the in vitro activity of fluconazole if the initial fluconazole MIC for the isolate was > or = 8 micrograms/ml. Controlled clinical studies are warranted to further elucidate the potential utility of fluconazole-flucytosine combination therapy.
Modeling the effectiveness of underwater sonar

The purpose of this paper is to discuss an object-oriented simulation framework/model for the US Navy that simulates the behavior of ships in a combat environment. This model provides a framework which helps to improve threat recognition, undersea tactical awareness, countermeasure emissions, and counter-weapon fire control to enable surface ships to survive a salvo of torpedo attacks. A Navy ship gathers information from all the sensors it carries and then fuses the information to make a judgment. An Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) approach was adopted for designing and implementing our framework. With OOP, the framework can be easily modified and tested with so-phisticated and classified algorithms that may be based on established physics principles. The model was developed by using multiple modeling approaches including hybrid, discrete and continuous systems and capturing complex phenomena. The model can be used to simulate different events in a combat environment.
Wetting of carbon nanotubes by aluminum oxide

Most ceramic–carbon nanotube (CNT) composite processing utilizes solid state sintering, hence the concept of wetting of CNTs by molten ceramic is absolutely new. In the present work on a plasma sprayed Al2O3–CNT nanocomposite, it is observed that molten Al2O3 spreads uniformly on the CNT surface by forming a thin (~20–25 nm) ceramic layer without any cracks. The wettability of the Al2O3–CNT system is associated with the surface tension and capillary forces as captured from the evolution of microstructure. The dynamic equilibrium between melting and solidification of Al2O3 was deduced from the meniscus height, curvature, contact perimeter and projection area of solidified Al2O3 on the CNT surface. This interfacial phenomenon illuminates the mechanisms of microstructure evolution from Al2O3-coated CNT bridge structures to CNT mesh formation. Consequent ab initio modeling depicted distorted iso-surface contours at the interface, suggesting partial bonding and good wettability of Al2O3 on the CNT surface.
Real-time adaptive wavefront correction by an artificial neural network at the multiple mirror telescope

Summary form only given. The authors reported the first results from an adaptive system operating online at the Multiple Mirror Telescope (MMT), in which the wavefront is sensed by a neural network, implemented on an array of 20 transputers. Star images were formed at a wavelength of 2.2 mu m by two coherently phased apertures of the MMT, and analyzed by the net. Outputs from the net were used to drive piezoelectric actuators on two segments of an adaptive mirror in the optical beam train, controlling five degrees of freedom of the wavefront. With the servo loop in operation, the corrected image shows significant power at the diffraction limit of 0.1 arcseconds (0.5 mu rad) and a much improved peak intensity. >
A quantitative study of reductions in algebraic libraries

How much of existing computer algebra libraries is amenable to automatic parallelization? This is a difficult topic, yet of practical importance in the era of commodity multicore machines. This paper reports on a quantitative study of reductions in the AXIOM-family computer algebra systems. The experiment builds on the introduction of assumptions in OpenAxiom. It identifies a variety of reductions that are candidate for implicit concurrent execution. An assumption is an axiomatic statement of an algebraic property. We hope that this study will encourage wider adoption of axioms, not just for the purpose of expression simplification and provably correct libraries, but also to enable derivation of implicit concurrency in a scalable fashion.
A system for audio signalling based NAT Traversal

Mobile users often connect through WiFi access points and frequently find themselves behind NATs that are built into common off-the-shelf home access points or enterprise wireless deployments. Punching a hole through the NATs to establish a P2P connection can be a challenging task for lay users. We present our system, ANT, that utilizes Audio signaling for NAT Traversal. With ANT, unlike other NAT traversal approaches, two mobile clients can establish a direct connection with minimal user intervention and without connecting to an intermediate server. ANT uses UPnP to obtain configuration information for NAT traversal which is then encoded using different audio frequencies and converted to audio sounds that are transmitted through the users' phones. Upon receiving the audio samples through the phone, the remote client converts them back into NAT traversal configuration data. Error correction is added to enhance the reliability of ANT and eliminate the need for retransmissions. Experimental results show that a TCP connection can be swiftly established between mobile clients behind NATs with no manual configuration, even in existence of heavy noise. We believe that ANT can be proved to be a simple, yet practical scheme for NAT traversal, which is as simple as dialing a phone number.
Size-independent comparison of protein three-dimensional structures

Protein structures are routinely compared by their root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) in atomic coordinates after optimal rigid body superposition. What is not so clear is the significance of different RMSD values, particularly above the customary arbitrary cutoff for obvious similarity of 2-3 A. Our earlier work argued for an intrinsic cutoff for protein similarity that varied with the number of residues in the polypeptide chains being compared. Here we introduce a new measure, rho, of structural similarity based on RMSD that is independent of the sizes of the molecules involved, or of any other special properties of molecules. When rho is less than 0.4-0.5, protein structures are visually recognized to be obviously similar, but the mathematically pleasing intrinsic cutoff of rho < 1.0 corresponds to overall similarity in folding motif at a level not usually recognized until smoothing of the polypeptide chain path makes it striking. When the structures are scaled to unit radius of gyration and equal principle moments of inertia, the comparisons are even more universal, since they are no longer obscured by differences in overall size and ellipticity. With increasing chain length, the distribution of rho for pairs of random structures is skewed to higher values, but the value for the best 1% of the comparisons rises only slowly with the number of residues. This level is close to an intrinsic cutoff between similar and dissimilar comparisons, namely the maximal scaled rho possible for the two structures to be more similar to each other than one is to the other's mirror image. The intrinsic cutoff is independent of the number of residues or points being compared. For proteins having fewer than 100 residues, the 1% rho falls below the intrinsic cutoff, so that for very small proteins, geometrically significant similarity can often occur by chance. We believe these ideas will be helpful in judging success in NMR structure determination and protein folding modeling.
LA REBELIÓN DE LOS ANIMALES zoopolíticas sudamericanas

Resumen: El presente ensayo se propone interrogar algunos textos de ficcion narrativa del Cono Sur que hacen de la “guerra entre especies” el motivo principal de su narracion. Se trata de textos en los que la “cuestion animal” proporciona un terreno clave para narrar e imaginar la construccion de un orden soberano y para inscribir sus resistencias; textos, en otras palabras, que tematizan y narran la produccion violenta y normativa de distinciones entre humanidad y animalidad como fundamento sobre el que se afirma el orden soberano de los Estados-Nacion modernos. El Estado-Nacion emerge alli como una “maquina zoopolitica” que produce sistematicamente modos de distribucion y diferenciacion entre humano y animal. Al hacerlo, estos textos permiten interrogar aspectos neuralgicos de la(s) modernidad(es) latinoamericana(s) en tanto que proyectos civilizatorios y poscoloniales todo el tiempo asediados y deconstruidos por su relacion con “lo animal”. Palabras-claves: cuestion animal; maquina zoopolitica; especies; narrativa latino-americana. Resumo: O presente artigo propoe interrogar alguns textos de ficcao narrativa do Cone Sul que fazem da “guerra entre especies” o motivo principal de sua narracao. Trata-se de textos nos quais a “questao animal” proporciona um terreno-chave para narrar e imaginar a construcao de uma ordem soberana e para inscrever suas resistencias; textos, em outras palavras, que tematizam e narram a producao violenta e normativa de distincoes entre humanidade e animalidade como fundamento sobre o que afirma a ordem soberana dos Estados-nacao modernos. O Estado-Nacao emerge ai como uma “maquina zoopolitica” que produz sistematicamente modos de distribuicao e diferenciacao entre humano e animal. Ao faze- lo, esses textos permitem interrogar os aspectos nevralgicos da(s) modernidade(s) latino -americana(s), bem como os projetos civilizatorios e pos-coloniais o tempo todo assediados e desconstruidos pela sua relacao com “o animal”. Palavras-chave: questao animal; maquina zoopolitica; especies; narrativa latino-americana.
Sexual Dimorphism in Growth of Freshwater Drum

Abstract I examined sexual dimorphism in the long-lived Aplodinotus grunniens (freshwater drum) from five lakes and four rivers in Alabama. Using the Von Bertalanffy growth function combined with nonparametric statistics, I found males and females had similar annual growth rates from years 0–4 years of age, but then showed significantly different growth rates across subsequent ages. Female drum grew significantly faster through adulthood, and ultimately attained significantly larger sizes (L∞ = 510.8 mm, TL) compared to males (L∞ = 385.3 mm, TL). This study highlights the difference gender can have in evaluation and interpretation of population characteristics, especially for long-lived and highly fecund fishes such as freshwater drum.
Solution Processed Silver Sulfide Filament Memories

Ionic resistive switches are emerging as a potential successor for flash in non!volatile memory applications. In ionic switches, metal cations migrate through a solid electrolyte forming filaments on an inert cathode that results in an abrupt increase in conductivity. This process is reversible, and the switches may be reverted to a low!conductive state. These switches have low transition voltages and fast read speed. The low switching energy potentially makes them more scalable than many other resistive memories. Silver Sulfide Resistive switches have been fabricated by sulfidizing evaporated silver films in Sulfur solutions. XPS is used to quantify stoichiometry of resultant films. SEM and AFM indicate that surface roughness increases with sulfidation time as the bulk silver film is consumed in forming the silver sulfide. XRD has confirmed presence of the acanthite phase of silver sulfide in the films. The entire process is performed at temperatures below 200C, so the devices are potentially stackable over conventional CMOS substrates in a BEOL process, and are applicable to printable electronics on plastic substrates. Initial characteristics measured on these cells are very promising, exhibiting low energy switching and good programming margins. Write/Erase voltages for cells were about 400mV and !200mV respectively. Ron/Roff ratios range from 10 to as high as 10, 000 depending on process conditions. Impact of bath concentration, bath temperature and post!annealing on the silver sulfide film structure are studied. Ionic switching is demonstrated in the films.
Nonfatal Suicidal Behavior Among Women Prisoners The Predictive Roles of Childhood Victimization, Childhood Neglect, and Childhood Positive Support

Women entering prison report high rates of childhood victimization. Women in prison also report higher rates of nonfatal suicidal behavior (self-reported suicide attempts) than women in the general population and similar rates to their male counterparts despite having significantly lower suicide rates than males in the general population. Yet, there is a dearth of research that addresses the relationship between childhood victimization and suicidality for women prisoners in the United States. The purpose of this study is (a) to assess the relationship between childhood victimization and nonfatal suicidal behavior for a random sample of women prisoners; (b) to investigate predictive differences between childhood physical victimization, childhood sexual victimization, childhood neglect, and childhood support; and (c) to determine whether women prisoners with higher frequencies of childhood victimization and neglect are more likely to have attempted suicide than women prisoners with lower frequencies. Results indicate that childhood victimization, neglect, and lack of support are all significantly associated with nonfatal suicidal behavior among women prisoners. Frequency of childhood neglect had a larger effect size than frequency of childhood physical victimization, childhood sexual victimization, and lack of support. The results of this study add to the growing body of literature on childhood victimization and suicidality in general, and nonfatal suicidal behavior for prisoner populations in particular. The article ends with a discussion on clinical implications; particularly the finding that frequency of childhood victimization, childhood neglect, and lack of childhood support matters when determining the risk of suicidality.
Who Let (the) Dog Out

This Essay provides the first-ever scholarly investigation of the origins of "bounty hunting" as the practice exists in the United States. With an historical focus on British policies instituted around the turn into the eighteenth century, I argue that the scheme of regularized rewards for the arrest and prosecution of alleged criminal offenders constitutes the "roots" of American bounty hunting. This early system, whose practitioners were referred to as "thief-takers," formalized and legitimized the notion of incentivized pursuit of "fugitives" and - while eventually phased out in Britain - provides the historical and conceptual parallel for the for-profit, private sector-level apprehension of individuals wanted by the law in the United States today. These early policies are, in short, what let the "Dog" out in the Anglo-American tradition.
It Runs in the Family: Intergenerational Transmission of Public Sector Employment

It is sometimes noted that public sector employment ‘runs in the family’. Two studies - one cross-sectional, one longitudinal - examined this phenomenon. The data show that having a parent/head of household who was primarily employed in the public sector throughout their life is associated with an increased likelihood of being employed in the public sector and that having a spouse/partner employed in the public sector is also associated with an increased likelihood of being employed in the public sector. Together, the studies suggest that public sector employment is an intergenerational phenomenon; one which may be encouraged by positive assortative mating.
Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage versus percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage: predictors of successful outcome in patients who fail endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

Patients with failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) are conventionally offered percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD). While PTBD is effective, it is associated with catheter-related complications, pain, and poor quality of life. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) is a minimally invasive endoscopic option increasingly offered as an alternative to PTBD. We compare outcomes of EUS-BD and PTBD in patients with biliary obstruction at a single tertiary care center. A retrospective review was performed in patients with biliary obstruction who underwent EUS-BD or PTBD after failed ERCP from June 2010 through December 2014 at a single tertiary care center. Patient demographics, procedural data, and clinical outcomes were documented for each group. The aim was to compare efficacy and safety of EUS-BD and PTBD and evaluate predictors of success. A total of 60 patients were included (mean age 67.5 years, 65 % male). Forty-seven underwent EUS-BD, and thirteen underwent PTBD. Technical success rates of PTBD and EUS-BD were similar (91.6 vs. 93.3 %, p = 1.0). PTBD patients underwent significantly more re-interventions than EUS-BD patients (mean 4.9 versus 1.3, p 24-h) adverse events (53.8 % vs. 6.6 %, p = 0.001) and experienced more pain (4.1 vs. 1.9, p = 0.016) post-procedure. In univariate analysis, clinical success was lower in the PTBD group (25 vs. 62.2 %, p = 0.03). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, EUS-BD was the sole predictor of clinical success and long-term resolution (OR 21.8, p = 0.009). Despite similar technical success rates compared to PTBD, EUS-BD results in a lower need for re-intervention, decreased rate of late adverse events, and lower pain scores, and is the sole predictor for clinical success and long-term resolution. EUS-BD should be the treatment of choice after a failed ERCP.
Efficacy of Shuangling Antidiarrheal Oral Liquor on rotavirus gastroenteritis in infants

Objective: To evaluate the clinical effect of the Shuangling Antidiarrhea Oral Liquor as therapy for infants with rotavirus enteritis (RVE). Methods: 64 infants with RVE were randomly divided into two groups: treatment group with Shuangling Antidiarrheal Oral Liquor and control group with the usual treatment. Results: The general efficency rates of the drugs in the treatment group and control group were 93.75% and 87.5% respectively, and a comparison of the data showed a siganificant difference between the two groups(P0. 05) . Conclusion: Shuangling Antidiarrheal Oral Liquor has a faster and more stable effect and less side effect. It is a certain remedy for diarrhea in infants with RVE, and suitable for clinical application.
Atypical lymphocytic lobular panniculitis: an overlap condition with features of subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma and lupus profundus

A woman aged 45 years presented for evaluation of skin lesions. She reported an 8–9-year history of occasionally tender, waxing-and-waning skin nodules refractory to dapsone, prednisone and methotrexate. Examination revealed multiple indurated subcutaneous nodules distributed on the upper extremities, with scattered patches of lipoatrophy in areas of nodule regression (figure 1). Her medical history was unremarkable; CBC and CMP were within normal limits, with no history of radiotherapy or evidence of internal organ involvement. She had a positive ANA titre (1:160, speckled), but negative anti-dsDNA, anti-Smith, anti-Ro and anti-La antibodies. Figure 1 Multiple erythematous subcutaneous nodules distributed over the patient's right arm. Differential diagnosis included erythema nodosum (EN), erythema induratum of Bazin (EIB), lupus profundus (LP) and cutaneous lymphoma. Initial wedge biopsy in 2008 disclosed a predominantly lobular panniculitic process with some septal involvement (figure 2A). Broad zones of necrosis were present (figure 2B). The infiltrate consisted of a pleomorphic population of lymphocytes with occasional larger atypical lymphocytes (figure 2C). There were foci of adipocyte rimming by the atypical lymphocytes (figure 2C). Immunophenotyping revealed predominance of CD3+ T cells …
Cell Populations of the Respiratory System: Interspecies Diversity in Composition, Distribution, and Morphology

A major site for pulmonary injury resulting from exposure to environmental toxicants is the epithelial lining of respiratory airways. This appears to be the case for a wide range of compounds that have been tested for their toxicity to the respiratory system, whether these compounds are administered by inhalation or other systemic means. The extrapolation to humans of inhalation toxicology studies using animal models assumes comparability in the structure and function of the respiratory system of these model species and humans. The underlying assumption is that data obtained in model species can be extrapolated to humans. The primary consideration of this study is that the tracheobronchial epithelium of most mammalian species commonly used as models may not adequately reflect the condition in human conducting airways. This study focuses on the epithelial population lining the tracheobronchial airways (trachea, bronchi, and bronchioles) of the mammalian respiratory system.
FATREC Workshop on Responsible Recommendation

The first Workshop on Responsible Recommendation (FATREC) was held in conjunction with the 11th ACM Conference on Recommender Systems in August, 2017 in Como, Italy. This full-day workshop brought together researchers and practitioners to discuss several topics under the banner of social responsibility in recommender systems: fairness, accountability, transparency, privacy, and other ethical and social concerns.
Utilizing ion-exchange resin to improve recovery from organic shock-loading in an AnMBR treating sewage sludge.

Abstract The addition of ion-exchange resin in a two-phase continuous AnMBR system treating primary sludge at ambient temperature (20 °C) was investigated as a means to improve reactor recovery after organic shock-loading. Four commercially available anion-exchange resins were evaluated for their ability to sorb soluble organics, specifically volatile fatty acids (VFA), from AnMBR effluent. The strong-base resin, Purolite TANEX, was determined the best resin for deployment in the continuous AnMBR having achieved the greatest removal of soluble chemical oxygen demand (sCOD) (up to 36%) and acetic acid (up to 48%) in preliminary batch testing. Addition of 100 and 300 g/L TANEX in the AnMBR system improved effluent quality reducing effluent COD concentrations by 48 and 75%, respectively, under normal operating conditions. After shock-loading with 16,000 mg COD/L as acetic acid, reactor recovery in terms of methane production was 9–58% faster with the addition of TANEX than without, under controlled pH conditions (pH: 7.4). After shock-loading the system twice without the addition of TANEX it was found that recovery improved by 19% suggesting that acclimation of the microbial community also played a role in reactor recovery. Microbial community analysis using 16 S Illumina MiSeq sequencing confirmed changes in the microbial community did occur in response to shock-loading, with higher relative abundance of Methanoscarcina in the majority of post-shock-load microbial communities. The highest relative abundance of Methanoscarcina (51–58%) was seen during operating periods with the addition of TANEX resin, leading to the conclusion that addition of the TANEX resin benefited reactor recovery by serving as a temporary physio-chemical sink for the excess acetic acid, allowing the microbial community time to adjust to their new environmental conditions and become better able to process the higher levels of acetic acid associated with the organic shock.
Multiscale analysis of a regenerative therapy for treatment of volumetric muscle loss injury.

Skeletal muscle possesses a remarkable capacity to regenerate when injured, but when confronted with major traumatic injury resulting in volumetric muscle loss (VML), the regenerative process consistently fails. The loss of muscle tissue and function from VML injury has prompted development of a suite of therapeutic approaches but these strategies have proceeded without a comprehensive understanding of the molecular landscape that drives the injury response. Herein, we administered a VML injury in an established rodent model and monitored the evolution of the healing phenomenology over multiple time points using muscle function testing, histology, and expression profiling by RNA sequencing. The injury response was then compared to a regenerative medicine treatment using orthotopic transplantation of autologous minced muscle grafts (~1 mm3 tissue fragments). A chronic inflammatory and fibrotic response was observed at all time points following VML. These results suggest that the pathological response to VML injury during the acute stage of the healing response overwhelms endogenous and therapeutic regenerative processes. Overall, the data presented delineate key molecular characteristics of the pathobiological response to VML injury that are critical effectors of effective regenerative treatment paradigms.
MECHANICS AND MATERIALS: RESEARCH AND CHALLENGES IN THE TWENTY -FIRST CENTURY

Mechanics and materials, closely related and complementary to each other, are essential elements in all of the transcendent technologies in the twenty-first century and in the new economy. The transcendent technologies include nanotechnology, microelectronics, information technology and biotechnology. Research opportunities and challenges of the theoretical and applied mechanics as well as engineering materials in the exciting information age are presented and discussed.
From Differentiated Use to Differentiating Practices: Negotiating the Production of Privileged Identities

Prevailing approaches for studying relations between digital media and social inequalities focus on "differentiated uses" of digital media. Since differences in access do not fully account for differences in use, many scholars have proposed that differences in digital skills, or related concepts such as literacies, help explain the discrepancies. By implication, interventions aimed at equalizing digital access and skills should help ameliorate gaps in use and hence lessen social inequalities. The contention of this article is that these well-intentioned efforts oversimplify and distort relations between digital media and social inequalities. My argument is based on an in-depth ethnographic study of the launch of a well-resourced public middle school in New York City that attempted to reform public schooling in inclusive ways in light of the rise of digital media. I argue that while the intervention helped mitigate differences in access and skills, it did not ameliorate differences in purportedly beneficial uses. Moreover, and paradoxically, the intervention helped remake some of the very social divisions that concern digital inequality scholars. To overcome this seeming paradox, I propose an alternative approach for studying relations between digital media and social inequalities, one focused on "differentiating practices". Such an approach directs attention toward the role of digital media in negotiations over legitimate participation in the social practices that make and mark social difference in situ. Doing so offers scholars a way to situate their accounts of differentiated use while gaining clarity about when and how digital media contributes to the production of privilege.
Performance analysis of a small wind turbine equipped with flexible blades

Abstract Wind turbine efficiency can drop drastically away from design conditions, which is especially troublesome for small fixed-pitch, constant speed types of devices and those operating in highly variable winds. Recent advances in the design of adaptive structures gives rise to a new turbine concept, employing continuous shape morphing, allowing the turbine to adapt more effectively to variable conditions. Such morphing blades could increase energy capture, and help small wind turbines become more economically viable through increased efficiency over a wide range of wind speeds and tip-speed ratios. In this paper, we examine the practicality of a flexible or morphing bladed turbine through experimental and numerical analysis. Experiments are conducted comparing a prototype rigid bladed design to an identical flexible one, with a total of 18 data sets containing 230 data points. Experimental results show that the flexible design outperforms the rigid one, especially when experiencing unfavorable loading conditions. Maximal corrected power coefficients were increased in all cases, up to 32.6%. The operational range was also increased in most cases, to a maximum of 34.5% over the rigid bladed design. These results suggest that the flexible design could produce more power than a rigid one, especially when conditions are sub-optimal.
When Bribes are Harmless: The Power and Limits of Collusion-Resilient Mechanism Design

Collusion has long been the Achilles heel of mechanism design, as most results break down when participating agents can collude. The issue is more severe when monetary transfers (bribes) between agents are feasible, wherein it is known that truthful revelation and efficient allocation are incompatible. A natural relaxation that circumvents these impossibility results is that of coalitional dominance: replacing truthful revelation with the weaker requirement that all coalitions, whatever they may be, have dominant strategies. When a mechanism satisfies this property and is efficient, we call it collusion resilient. The goal of this paper is to characterize the power and limits of collusion resilient mechanisms. On the positive side, in a general allocation setting, we demonstrate a new mechanism which is collusion-resilient for surplus-submodular settings -- a large-class of problems which includes combinatorial auctions with gross substitutes valuations. We complement this mechanism with two impossibility results: (1) for combinatorial auctions with general submodular valuations, we show that no mechanism can be collusion-resilient, and (2) for the problem of collective decision making, we argue that any non-trivial approximation of welfare is impossible under coalitional dominance. Finally, we make a connection between collusion resilience and false-name-proofness, and show that our impossibility theorems strengthen existing results for false-name-proof mechanisms.
Detecting Intracranial Hemorrhage with Deep Learning

Initial results are reported on automated detection of intracranial hemorrhage from CT, which would be valuable in a computer-aided diagnosis system to help the radiologist detect subtle hemorrhages. Previous work has taken a classic approach involving multiple steps of alignment, image processing, image corrections, handcrafted feature extraction, and classification. Our current work instead uses a deep convolutional neural network to simultaneously learn features and classification, eliminating the multiple hand-tuned steps. Performance is improved by computing the mean output for rotations of the input image. Postprocessing is additionally applied to the CNN output to significantly improve specificity. The database consists of 134 CT cases (4,300 images), divided into 60, 5, and 69 cases for training, validation, and test. Each case typically includes multiple hemorrhages. Performance on the test set was 81% sensitivity per lesion (34/42 lesions) and 98% specificity per case (45/46 cases). The sensitivity is comparable to previous results (on different datasets), but with a significantly higher specificity. In addition, insights are shared to improve performance as the database is expanded.
The Complexities of Treatment Planning for Transgender Youth with Co-Occurring Severe Mental Illness: A Literature Review and Case Study

Gender variance and dysphoria are present across all classes, ethnicities, and experiences, including among those with severe and chronic mental illness. In these, our most vulnerable populations, adequate assessment and treatment of gender dysphoria often is overlooked despite evidence that appropriate treatment of gender dysphoria leads to improvement in psychological functioning (Smith, van Goozen, Kuiper, & Cohen-Kettenis, 2005). The World Professional Association for Transgender Health recommend in their Standards of Care that somatic and surgical treatments for gender dysphoria should be made available to those with medical or mental illness with the caveat that "[the illness] must be reasonably well-controlled (2011)." In this article, we will utilize case-based material to elucidate the challenges of treating gender dysphoria in the context of complex mental illness such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and sexual trauma, and the pitfalls of defining "well-controlled" for the sake of treatment.
Research Reviews: Vasoreactivity in PAH

In this edition of Advances, new section editors Jonathan Rich, MD, and Oksana Shlobin, MD, review the findings from 3 recent investigations than lend support to the argument that vasoreactive PAH ...
Enhancing PAPI with Low-Overhead rdpmc Reads

The PAPI performance library is a widely used tool for gathering self-monitored performance data from running applications. A key aspect of self-monitoring is the ability to read hardware performance counters with minimum possible overhead. If read overhead becomes too large then the act of measurement will start to interfere with the gathered results, adversely affecting the performance analysis.
Plausible Structures for 2-D Euler Systems

We take up the important four-wave Riemann problem, a subset of the four-constant Riemann problem, for the Euler systems and present our conjecture on the structures of their solutions, based on characteristic analysis, patterns of oblique shock reflection, and numerical experiments.
Building a survivable protocell for a corrosive digital environment

A computer produces outputs from inputs, and to do so reliably, its internal noise and variability must be managed effectively. Traditional computer architecture requires hardware determinism, but ...
Utilizing Template Diversity for Fusion Of Face Recognizers

If multiple face images are available for the creation of person’s biometric template, some averaging method could be used to combine the feature vectors extracted from each image into a single template feature vector. Resulting average feature vector does not retain the information about image feature vector distribution. In this paper we consider the augmentation of such templates by the information about diversity of constituent face images, e.g. sample standard deviation of image feature vectors. We consider the theoretical model describing the conditions of the usefulness of template diversity measure, and see if such conditions hold in real life templates. We perform our experiments using IARPA face image datasets and deep CNN face recognizers.
Abstract 126: The Influence of Physical Activity on Cavernous Malformation Hemorrhage

Background: Cavernous malformations (CM) are low flow vascular malformations of the central nervous system. Brainstem location and prior hemorrhage increase the risk for future hemorrhage. Little i...
Responsive Phenomenology of God: On Varying Divine Evidence:

A ‘phenomenology of God’ will characterize human experience of God, at least regarding some of its distinctive aspects. This article contends that theism acknowledging a God worthy of worship owes ...
Social Work Prep – Using Canvas Modules to Provide Baseline Library and Social Work Program Knowledge

This article describes the development of online modules to introduce students to information and resources needed to be successful while pursuing a Bachelors or Masters Degree in social work at th...
Hydrogen Embrittlement and Nano Void Classification within Electroless Copper Deposits

Within the chemical reactions occurring during the deposition of electroless Copper, a low level of Hydrogen gas is evolved, and unless immediately removed, which can be problematic, is prone to accumulation on the freshly formed Cu surface. As further Cu deposition continues, the likelihood of Hydrogen encapsulation is high, and this can lead to a nonporous, low ductility Copper structure with an internal stress characteristic which leads to a high tendency for blistering. All of which are undesirable! This process is typically referred to as “Hydrogen embrittlement” and was often identified during the 1980/1990s as the probable cause for preferential failure of plated through holes in PCBs. With the development of modern electroless Copper baths, the reports of Hydrogen embrittlement related issues have been virtually eradicated, yet it is only recently that published data has offered insight into why this has occurred. As part of a larger ongoing investigation into the formation and presence of nano scaled voids within blind micro via designs, this paper reports on the impact of electrolyte stabilizers and Ni co-deposition on the occurrence and nature of Hydrogen induced voiding. Utilizing a combination of SEM, FIB and TEM techniques, it has been determined that a Ni content in excess of 30ppm in the electroless Copper solution itself, is sufficient to virtually eliminate “Hydrogen induced voids” within the resulting Copper deposit. For the single component stabilizer additives investigated, much as expected, all were found to have a positive effect in terms of grain refinement, yet, when compared to the effect arising from Ni codeposition, they were all unable to fully suppress the reduction of Hydrogen induced voids. With this further understanding, the paper concludes by identifying, classifying and offering route cause formation mechanisms for a range of nano void types that have been observed as part of these investigations as well as routine analysis on failed micro via assembles, all of which is believed to be vital in determining the best solution for void reduction across BMV interfaces and so, maximizing joint reliability.
Working toward eradicating weight stigma by combating pathologization: A qualitative pilot study using direct contact and narrative medicine

Author(s): Fox, Rachel; Park, Kelly; Hildebrand-Chupp, Rowan; Vo, Anne T | Abstract: Stigma against fat people permeates every level of healthcare, yet most attempts to reduce weight stigma among healthcare providers have shown only marginal results. Fat studies, a field that rigorously interrogates negative assumptions about fatness,ncan help social psychologists understand weight stigma by centering the pathologizationnof fatness as a major contributor to weight stigma at the structural and interpersonal level. A fat studies approach also reorients the normative goal of weight stigma interventions from reducing stigma to eradicating stigma and calls for methods that reject weight stigma’s roots in medicine and medical discourse. Even nuanced and sympathetic models of “obesity” cannot combat stigma that is structurally based in medical authority. We applied these principles to develop a new method of weight stigma intervention: direct contact structured through narrative medicine. In a qualitative pilot study, four medical students and two fat activist community members met for five 2-hour narrative medicine workshops over 5 weeks. All participants completed focus group interviews about the experience. Interview transcript analysis revealed that these workshops provided a space for depathologizing, humanizing, empathy-inducing, and power-leveling interactions between medical students and fat people, where members of both groups reported benefiting from the experience. We conclude that non-pathologizing approaches to eradicating weight stigma are notnonly feasible, but both ethically and methodologically necessary.
Adipose-Derived Stromal Cells Seeded in Pullulan-Collagen Hydrogels Improve Healing in Murine Burns.

Burn scars and scar contractures cause significant morbidity for patients. Recently, cell-based therapies have been proposed as an option for improving healing and reducing scarring after burn inju...
Biomedical and Biotechnology Applications of Deep Ultraviolet Light Emitting Diodes

The COVID-19 pandemic rekindled attention to biomedical application of the Deep Ultraviolet Light Emitting Diodes that include killing bacteria and viruses, purifying air, disinfecting water supplies, prolonging food storage, increasing plant yield, improving produce quality post-harvest, adjusting lighting spectral power distribution, and regulating circadian rhythm.
Establishing the need for provider education on cancer and nutrition (PECAN): Survey results on nutrition practices at a large community oncology practice.

49Background: Oncology providers and patients benefit from evidence-based nutritional resources to support cancer care. For patients, proper nutrition care can prevent inappropriate weight loss, im...
Dissenting view of commissioner Paul H. Robinson on the promulgation of sentencing guidelines by the United States sentencing commission

The Sentencing Reform Act was intended to implement Congress' inspired vision of modern criminal sentencing. Comprehensive and binding guidelines were to bring rationality and greater consistency to federal sentencing. With the guidelines promulgated today, however, that vision dims. These guidelines may well produce more irrationality and more unwarranted disparity than exists today.
Affect Infusion in a Computer Based Multitasking Environment: An Empirical Investigation

We studied the affect infusing capability of multitasking (by task switching) in a computer based environment. Our central thesis is that multitasking places increased cognitive load and cognitive switching costs on individuals leading to affect infusion during cognitive processing. These effects become magnified and negatively valenced when individuals demonstrate lower self efficacy in the use of the software mediating the multitasking activity. The results of our empirical analysis confirm our thesis. Participants showed increased arousal under the multitasking condition compared to the nonmultitasking condition. Lower self efficacy magnified the negative effect of multitasking on unpleasantness. Implications of our study are discussed.
On Apology and Consilience

This article chimes in on the current debate about the proper relationship between apology and the law. Several states are considering legislation designed to shield apologies from the courtroom, and mediators are increasing their focus on the importance of apologies. The article develops an evolutionary economic analysis of apology that combines the tools of economics, game theory and biology to more fully understand its role in dispute resolution. When the analysis is applied to the uses of apology before and at trial, a more sophisticated understanding of the relationship between apology and the law emerges.
Adjusting bias in concept learning

We approach concept learning as a heuristic search through a space of concepts for a concept that satisfies the learning task at hand The heuristics represent bias that the concept learning program employs when forming an inductive generalization. We present a model of bias adjustment and report our experience with an implementation of the model.
Performance analysis of LDPC codes for time-selective complex fading channels

Low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes are analyzed using density evolution techniques for a frequency-nonselective, time-selective fading channel where the fading affects both the amplitude and the phase of the transmitted signal. To aid the channel estimation process, pilot symbols are transmitted periodically. The performance of several message-passing estimation/decoding algorithms is investigated, and the optimal energy allocation between the pilot and coded symbols is evaluated. The results show that optimal power allocation can improve the performance by more than 1 dB for moderate channel dynamics. Finally, necessary and sufficient conditions for the convergence to error-free transmission are derived that take into account the channel coherence time.
Social Media Messages in an Emerging Health Crisis: Tweeting Bird Flu

Limited research has examined the messages produced about health-related crises on social media platforms and whether these messages contain content that would allow individuals to make sense of a crisis and respond effectively. This study uses the crisis and emergency risk communication (CERC) framework to evaluate the content of messages sent via Twitter during an emerging crisis. Using manual and computer-driven content analysis methods, the study analyzed 25,598 tweets about the H7N9 virus that were produced in April 2013. The study found that a large proportion of messages contained sensemaking information. However, few tweets contained efficacy information that would help individuals respond to the crisis appropriately. Implications and recommendations for practice and future study are discussed.
A new proof on net upscale energy cascade in two-dimensional and quasi-geostrophic turbulence

A general proof that more energy flows upscale than downscale in two-dimensional turbulence and barotropic quasi-geostrophic (QG) turbulence is given. A proof is also given that in surface QG turbulence, the reverse is true. Though some of these results are known in restricted cases, the proofs given here are pedagogically simpler, require fewer assumptions and apply to both forced and unforced cases.