cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Model for Generating Synthetic VHF SAR Forest Clutter Images

We propose a model for generating low-frequency synthetic aperture radar (SAR) clutter that relates model parameters to physical characteristics of the scene. The model includes both distributed scattering and large-amplitude discrete clutter responses. The model also incorporates the SAR imaging process, which introduces correlation among image pixels. The model may be used to generate synthetic clutter for a range of environmental operating conditions for use in target detection performance evaluation of the radar and automatic target detection/recognition algorithms. We derive a statistical representation of the proposed clutter model's pixel amplitudes and compare with measured data from the CARABAS-II SAR. Simulated clutter images capture the structure and amplitude responses seen in the measured data. A statistical analysis shows an order of magnitude improvement in model fit error compared with standard maximum-likelihood (ML) density fitting methods.
Sink or Swim: Learning by Doing in a Supply Chain Integration Activity*

Studies show that supply chain integration (SCI) is important to organizations. This article describes an activity that places students in the middle of an SCI scenario. The highly interactive hands-on simulation requires only 50 to 60 minutes of classroom time, may be used with 18 to about 36 students, and involves minimal instructor preparation. Through the activity, students learn the basics of SCI and then analyze an SCI event to better appreciate the need for collaboration and information sharing. In courses that address supply chain management, instructors can use the activity early in the semester to introduce students to the complexities of supply chain networks. Alternatively, instructors may use the simulation later to provoke a more nuanced discussion.
Controlled Dual Growth Factor Delivery From Microparticles Incorporated Within Human Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Aggregates for Enhanced Bone Tissue Engineering via Endochondral Ossification

Bone tissue engineering via endochondral ossification has been explored by chondrogenically priming cells using soluble mediators for at least 3 weeks to produce a hypertrophic cartilage template. Although recapitulation of endochondral ossification has been achieved, long-term in vitro culture is required for priming cells through repeated supplementation of inductive factors in the media. To address this challenge, a microparticle-based growth factor delivery system was engineered to drive endochondral ossification within human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) aggregates. Sequential exogenous presentation of soluble transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) at various defined time courses resulted in varying degrees of chondrogenesis and osteogenesis as demonstrated by glycosaminoglycan and calcium content. The time course that best induced endochondral ossification was used to guide the development of the microparticle-based controlled delivery system for TGF-β1 and BMP-2. Gelatin microparticles capable of relatively rapid release of TGF-β1 and mineral-coated hydroxyapatite microparticles permitting more sustained release of BMP-2 were then incorporated within hMSC aggregates and cultured for 5 weeks following the predetermined time course for sequential presentation of bioactive signals. Compared with cell-only aggregates treated with exogenous growth factors, aggregates with incorporated TGF-β1- and BMP-2-loaded microparticles exhibited enhanced chondrogenesis and alkaline phosphatase activity at week 2 and a greater degree of mineralization by week 5. Staining for types I and II collagen, osteopontin, and osteocalcin revealed the presence of cartilage and bone. This microparticle-incorporated system has potential as a readily implantable therapy for healing bone defects without the need for long-term in vitro chondrogenic priming. Significance: This study demonstrates the regulation of chondrogenesis and osteogenesis with regard to endochondral bone formation in high-density stem cell systems through the controlled presentation of inductive factors from incorporated microparticles. This work lays the foundation for a rapidly implantable tissue engineering system that promotes bone repair via endochondral ossification, a pathway that can delay the need for a functional vascular network and has an intrinsic ability to promote angiogenesis. The modular nature of this system lends well to using different cell types and/or growth factors to induce endochondral bone formation, as well as the production of other tissue types.
Politics, Poetry, and Philosophy: Arendt on Brecht, and Others

Hannah Arendt's last essay on Bertolt Brecht, written after his death, is remarkable for its affective intensity and complexity: it is simultaneously a passionate defense of Brecht against his critics and a withering judgment of the political trajectory of his poetry, a combination that infuses the essay with a tightly controlled, mournful anger, deployed both on Brecht's behalf and against him. In this essay, I read Arendt's treatment of Brecht in three ways: first, as (in Arendt's terms) a case study in the tense relationship between politics and poetry, in which Arendt further develops and concretizes a line of thought about the political significance of art initiated in The Human Condition and developed in The Crisis in Culture; second, as itself an exemplification of a practice of poetizing speech, which participates in (but also exceeds) the genres of eulogy and apology (in the Greek sense); and, third and most speculatively, as a displacement of a parallel set of concerns on Arendt's part about the relationship between politics and philosophy, shadowed (and perhaps given some of its affective charge) by the figures of Socrates, Plato, and Heidegger.
Options in the Arsenal: Are Repressive Tactics Complements or Substitutes?

Leaders can select from a myriad of repressive techniques to quell their domestic po- litical opposition. In this project, we investigate (1) why states differ in their choice of repressive tactics, and (2) how individual states combine and trade-off between repressive tactics. In the absence of existing work on repressive policy complementarity and substitutability, we turn to the political science literature on foreign policy substitutability and the economics literature on complementarity and substitutability. By focusing on the expected costs and benefits of repression in general and of imprisonment, torture, and state-sponsored killing in particular, we develop a theory about the conditions under which state leaders choose packages of repressive techniques and/or substitute one repressive policy for another. We argue that leaders respond to the increasing costliness of type of repression by limiting the use of that tactic and ramping up other violations (i.e., through substitution), or by adding additional tactics into the mix to minimize tactic-specific costs (i.e., through complementarity).
Ongoing Challenges in Sepsis and Organ Dysfunction

The challenges we face in treating patients with sepsis leading to organ dysfunction and failure are overwhelming. Their descriptions and dilemmas could fill a number of books. I will focus on several challenges, including: Polymorphisms •The problems of blood transfusions Harbingers or predictors of doom Neutrophils The lungs and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) Control of hyperglycaemia (is scoring futile?) The problem of lumping of all infections as sepsis.
Persistently Painful Sprained Ankle.

Chronic discomfort sufficient to limit activity may affect 20% to 40% of patients after an ankle sprain. These patients complain of vague and diffuse pain, most often localized to the lateral and/or anterolateral aspect of the ankle. They may also complain of a giving-way sensation, swelling, stiffness, and locking and crepitation. Examination may show tenderness, swelling, and reduced range of motion, especially in dorsiflexion. Ankle instability is sometimes demonstrable. Severe cases exhibit discoloration, glossy skin, and temperature changes suggestive of reflex sympathetic dystrophy. Incomplete rehabilitation is the most common cause of chronic pain. Other common problems are intra-articular lesions (e.g., osteochondral and meniscoid lesions), chronic instability, undetected syndesmotic or deltoid sprains, chronic tendon degeneration, stress fractures, and, in rare cases, congenital lesions and tumors. Reflex sympathetic dystrophy occurs occasionally, even after minor trauma. With correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment, it is often possible to restore acceptable ankle function
Shellfish and the Chumash: Marine Invertebrates and Complex Hunter-Gatherers on Late Holocene San Miguel Island, California

Marine resources played an important role in fostering high population densities and cultural complexity among North American hunter-gatherers. In California, several researchers have emphasized the relationship among increases in fishing, marine mammal hunting, the development of more efficient watercraft, and increased sociopolitical complexity. Largely absent from discussions of emergent complexity is the changing role of shellfish in human subsistence economies. Analyzing marine shell from 12 Late Holocene sites on San Miguel Island, we illustrate the importance of shellfish in island subsistence economies and the evolution of Chumash complexity. The dietary importance of shellfish protein declined through time, but the density of shellfish remains increased dramatically in Late Holocene archaeological sites, suggesting that shellfish provided an important supplement to the higher yields of finfish and helped fuel growing human populations and sociopolitical complexity.
The Politics of International Agenda-Setting: Reagan and North-South Relations

An approach to international agenda-setting is offered through a study of the Reagan administration's attempt to remove North-South relations from the international agenda in the early 1980s. Contrary to common view, the administration initially failed to secure its desired agenda change. Only through consequent, unintended changes in interstate knowledge, decision loci, and diplomatic practices did the issue decline in international importance. This suggests that agenda success is dependent upon prevailing international practices and the access points to the international agenda they create. It is through agenda access points—sites by or through which actors couple problem definition, policy alternatives, and global salience—that agenda politics proceeds. Control of or location at these points is necessary for agenda success. The constant evolution of practices makes this, however, a dynamic process.
Does expressed emotion in spouses predict subsequent problems among care recipients with Alzheimer's disease?

Researchers have observed that Expressed Emotion (i.e., criticism; EE) in caregivers is predictive of poorer functioning in psychiatric care recipients over time. Few studies have examined, however, whether EE has predictive validity for the decline of care recipients with a clearly defined organic illness such as Alzheimer's disease. This study evaluated whether Alzheimer's disease care recipient problems [in cognition, activities of daily living (ADLs), and negative behaviors] were predicted longitudinally by caregiver EE. As hypothesized, caregiver EE was not predictive of care recipient cognitive or ADL decline; however, data suggested that EE was predictive of increased negative behaviors over time. The specific predictions of negative care recipient behaviors, and not care recipient cognitive/ADL decline, suggest that the former outcomes may be determined by environmental factors as well as the organicity of the disease. These data may be important because researchers have reported that caregivers are more distressed by negative care recipient behaviors than by care recipient cognitive/ADL decline.
A Model to Estimate L-Strut Strength With an Emphasis on Thickness

ImportanceTo perform and teach septorhinoplasty, one must have a principled understanding of the mechanics of the nasal septum. The thickness of the L-strut and how it changes septal strength have ...
Between high-tech and high-fashion: How E-Commerce fashion organizations gain moral and pragmatic legitimacy in the fashion field

Abstract This paper examines the process by which two types of online fashion organizations, E-Commerce and Social Commerce, achieve moral and pragmatic legitimacy in the institutional field of fashion. Drawing on a three-year participant observation with one of the largest E-Commerce fashion companies and on interviews with executives in other E-Commerce and Social Commerce organizations and with fashion brands in New York and Milan, I observe that E-Commerce and Social Commerce companies engage in a mechanism for gaining legitimacy that involves three components and combines their moral desirability with pragmatic influence. E-Commerce and Social Commerce companies gain moral legitimacy by developing legitimizing narratives that project an alignment between their desired cultural identity and technical skills to fashion companies. E-Commerce and Social Commerce companies then move to achieve pragmatic legitimacy by transforming their moral narratives into codified, acceptable commercial practices. Finally, E-Commerce and Social Commerce companies develop a specific type of pragmatic legitimacy, called influence legitimacy, by developing lobbying tactics engaged with producing long-term impact on the online practices of established fashion companies. The paper concludes with implications for future research on legitimacy using a neo-institutional framework.
Bayesian dynamic mediation analysis

Most existing methods for mediation analysis assume that mediation is a stationary, time-invariant process, which overlooks the inherently dynamic nature of many human psychological processes and behavioral activities. In this article, we consider mediation as a dynamic process that continuously changes over time. We propose Bayesian multilevel time-varying coefficient models to describe and estimate such dynamic mediation effects. By taking the nonparametric penalized spline approach, the proposed method is flexible and able to accommodate any shape of the relationship between time and mediation effects. Simulation studies show that the proposed method works well and faithfully reflects the true nature of the mediation process. By modeling mediation effect nonparametrically as a continuous function of time, our method provides a valuable tool to help researchers obtain a more complete understanding of the dynamic nature of the mediation process underlying psychological and behavioral phenomena. We also briefly discuss an alternative approach of using dynamic autoregressive mediation model to estimate the dynamic mediation effect. The computer code is provided to implement the proposed Bayesian dynamic mediation analysis. (PsycINFO Database Record
Inhibition of PI3K promotes dilation of human small airways in a rho kinase‐dependent manner

Author(s): Koziol-White, Cynthia J; Yoo, Edwin J; Cao, Gaoyuan; Zhang, Jie; Papanikolaou, Eleni; Pushkarsky, Ivan; Andrews, Adam; Himes, Blanca E; Damoiseaux, Robert D; Liggett, Stephen B; Di Carlo, Dino; Kurten, Richard C; Panettieri, Reynold A | Abstract: Background and purposeAsthma manifests as a heterogeneous syndrome characterized by airway obstruction, inflammation and hyperresponsiveness (AHR). Although the molecular mechanisms remain unclear, activation of specific PI3K isoforms mediate inflammation and AHR. We aimed to determine whether inhibition of PI3Kδ evokes dilation of airways and to elucidate potential mechanisms.Experimental approachHuman precision cut lung slices from non-asthma donors and primary human airway smooth muscle (HASM) cells from both non-asthma and asthma donors were utilized. Phosphorylation of Akt, myosin phosphatase target subunit 1 (MYPT1) and myosin light chain (MLC) were assessed in HASM cells following either PI3K inhibitor or siRNA treatment. HASM relaxation was assessed by micro-pattern deformation. Reversal of constriction of airways was assessed following stimulation with PI3K or ROCK inhibitors.Key resultsSoluble inhibitors or PI3Kδ knockdown reversed carbachol-induced constriction of human airways, relaxed agonist-contracted HASM and inhibited pAkt, pMYPT1 and pMLC in HASM. Similarly, inhibition of Rho kinase also dilated human PCLS airways and suppressed pMYPT1 and pMLC. Baseline pMYPT1 was significantly elevated in HASM cells derived from asthma donors in comparison with non-asthma donors. After desensitization of the β2 -adrenoceptors, a PI3Kδ inhibitor remained an effective dilator. In the presence of IL-13, dilation by a β agonist, but not PI3K inhibitor, was attenuated.Conclusion and implicationsPI3Kδ inhibitors act as dilators of human small airways. Taken together, these findings provide alternative approaches to the clinical management of airway obstruction in asthma.
Bracing in Cerebral Palsy

Bracing is a very important adjunct in the care of the child with cerebral palsy. Contractures can be prevented in many instances by the judicious use of physical therapy combined with adequate bracing and night splinting. I do not mean to imply that we try to keep all of our children in cumbersome, clanking braces. We attempt to rid them of their braces by specific surgical procedures when these are feasible. Recurrent deformities frequently have resulted from inadequate bracing or splinting in the postoperative period.
Nickel-Catalyzed C-Alkylation of Nitroalkanes with Unactivated Alkyl Iodides

Enabled by nickel catalysis, a mild and general catalytic method for C-alkylation of nitroalkanes with unactivated alkyl iodides is described. Compatible with primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyl iodides; and tolerant of a wide range of functional groups, this method allows rapid access to diverse nitroalkanes.
Effect of the behavioral profile on operator performance in timber harvesting

Brazilian forest companies today are experiencing difficulty with the lack of trained workers having the preferred requirements as machine operators. The aim of this study was to assess the ways in which behavioral profiles influenced the performance of the harvester operators during the operations, enabling managers to select suitable processes of the operators in future. This research was done in a forestry company in Midwest Brazil, using 20 harvester operators as a test sample. At first, a reference profile was developed for the harvester operators employing the behavioral profile tool. The operators were categorized into subgroups based on the features of their behavioral profiles. Operator performance was evaluated depending on their daily productivity during the operation over an 11-month period. Three operator subgroups, each having distinct behavioral profiles were identified. The learning curve revealed an increase in the production efficiency of the operators during the training period,...
A Comparison of Acoustical Holography Methods

A comparison is made between two methods of imaging ultrasound by holography with reconstruction in light. One method employs a scanned acoustical receiver, an electronic reference, and a modulated light source which is moved in synchronism with the acoustical receiver. A photographic transparency is produced which serves as the hologram for reconstruction of the acoustic field in the optical domain. A second method employs a liquid surface to record the acoustical hologram of transilluminated objects. Reflection of quasicoherent light from the hologram produces real-time acoustical imaging. The interaction of ultrasound and light with the liquid surface is discussed. Examples of images produced by both methods confirm that both are capable of achieving the resolution expected on the basis of the wavelengths and hologram apertures used. The sensitivity of the scanned hologram method greatly exceeds that of the liquid surface method but this advantage is offset by the capability for real-time imaging of the liquid surface method.
Chemical, biological, and radiological weapons: implications for optometry and public health.

BACKGROUND: Because of growing concerns of terrorist attacks using chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons, appropriate diagnosis and management of ocular and systemic effects are important issues for eye care practitioners. OVERVIEW: The literature on the ocular and systemic effects of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons is reviewed to provide practicing optometrists with an overview of the issues involved in incident management. A discussion of the public health issues and implications is also presented. Chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons can exert serious consequences on the eye and the entire body. Acts of terrorism can pose unique challenges to patient care and to the healthcare system infrastructure. The clinician must be familiar with signs of potential terrorist activities to aid in appropriate patient care and in the containment of illness in the community. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of the signs and symptoms of exposure to potential agents used by terrorists and a review of the public health concerns of managing terrorist events can provide the necessary background to help the eye care provider make the appropriate diagnosis and understand the role of the clinician in the hierarchy of disaster preparedness, surveillance, and response. Language: en
The impact of posttraumatic growth, transformational leadership, and self-efficacy on PTSD and depression symptom severity among combat Veterans

ABSTRACTPrevious research has established self-efficacy as essential to postdeployment adjustment among Veterans, and perceived transformational leadership is well known for its positive effects on...
Food Suitability and Population Dynamics of Lorryia formosa (Acari: Tydeidae)

Lorryia formosa Cooreman (Acari: Tydeidae) is a species of mite commonly associated with citrus in many countries including the United States. A survey report in 1957 suggested phytophagous nature, while other studies claimed that L. formosa populations are associated with honeydew producing insects and sooty mold and it acts as a sanitizing agent. We investigated the effect of various diets on the survival and progeny production of L. formosa on excised leaves and the survival and potential to cause feeding damage to leaves of potted plants in a greenhouse study. A 2-yr field survey of a mandarin orchard was also conducted to elucidate the seasonal infestation, damage potential and population structure of L. formosa in a natural habitat. Results showed that all L. formosa adults and immatures died in less than 14 d on excised leaves, did not survive beyond 7 d on potted citrus plants alone, and caused no observable feeding damage to leaves or fruit. When sugar water, honeydew, or cottony cushion scale, Icerya purchasi Maskell (Hemiptera: Margarodidae), was present, adults and immatures survived the duration of the experiments and produced additional generations. The field survey showed that all stages of L. formosa were present in a mandarin orchard throughout the year and insecticide applications affected but did not eliminate mite populations. Fruit generally had a greater percentage infestation of mites (44.8 ± 4.0) than leaves (16.0 ± 4.7). These studies confirmed that L. formosa cannot sustain a population on leaf tissue alone and is nondamaging to citrus in California.
Limits and Continuity in Normed Spaces

Having studied sequences and their convergence, we now employ those ideas to introduce continuity of functions that map vectors to vectors. We also discuss the most elementary properties of continuous functions.
Evaluation of Lumped Parameter Heat Transfer Techniques for Nuclear Reactor Applications

An analytical study was performed to investigate the utility and accuracy of the lumped parameter approach to heat transfer analysis in a nuclear reactor subassembly. It is shown that the lumped pa...
Overview: Role of Neurochemicals and Hormones

Over the past decade there has been burgeoning interest in roles that various neurochemicals and hormones play in control of breathing. This of course reflects the more general attention the question has received in most areas of biology. Although chemical messengers of many types have been identified, a relatively small amount of information exists about the in-volement and actions of these agents on specific physiological responses in the area of respiratory control.
Five, Six, Seven, Eight …

(1976). Five, Six, Seven, Eight … Journal of Physical Education and Recreation: Vol. 47, No. 7, pp. 34-35.
Comparison of critically ill patients from three freestanding ED's compared to a tertiary care hospital based ED.

Abstract Background Freestanding emergency departments (FEDs) care for all patients, including critically ill, 24/7/365. We characterized patients from three FEDs transferred to intensive care units (ICU) at a tertiary care hospital, and compared hospital length of stay(LOS) between patients admitted to ICUs from FEDs versus a hospital-based ED (HBED). Methods We performed a retrospective, observational cohort study from January 2014 to December 2016. Demographic and clinical information was compared between FED and HBED patients with chi-square and fisher's exact tests for categorical variables and Student's t-test for continuous variables. The main outcome of interest was hospital LOS. Multi-variable linear regression was performed to estimate association between LOS and emergency facility type, while adjusting for potential confounders. Results We included 500 critically ill patients (FED = 250 and HBED = 250). Patients did not differ by age, gender, or BMI. FED patients were more likely to be white (89.6% vs. 70.8%, p Conclusion Patients transferred from FEDs to an ICU were similar in age and gender, but more likely to be white with a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index score. FED patients experienced shorter hospital length of stay compared to patients admitted from a HBED.
Measuring early learning and development across cultures: Invariance of the IDELA across five countries

Relatively little research has addressed whether conceptual frameworks of early learning generalize across different national contexts. This article reports on a cross-country measurement invariance analysis of the International Development and Early Learning Assessment (IDELA). The IDELA is a direct assessment tool for 3- to 6-year-old children, intended to measure Early Literacy, Early Numeracy, Motor, and Social-Emotional development. Its generalizability is evaluated using samples from 5 countries: Afghanistan (N = 2,629); Bolivia (N = 480); Ethiopia (N = 682); Uganda (N = 504); and Vietnam (N = 675). The 4-domain model of the IDELA was supported in each country, although the domains were highly correlated. Measurement invariance analysis revealed that most IDELA items do not provide a basis for comparing children's development over the 5 countries. This research supports the use of the IDELA for program evaluation and within-country monitoring purposes, but cautions against its use for international comparisons. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).
Revised diagnostic criteria for plasma cell leukemia: results of a Mayo Clinic study with comparison of outcomes to multiple myeloma.

The current definition of plasma cell leukemia (PCL)— ≥ 20% circulating plasma cells (CPCs) on peripheral smear and plasma cell count ≥ 2 × 109/L—may be too stringent. We reviewed outcomes of 176 multiple myeloma (MM) patients diagnosed between 1971 and 2016, and who had CPCs detectable at diagnosis, to determine whether a lower threshold could be used to diagnose PCL. Median overall survival (mOS) was 1.1 years (95% CI 0.8–1.4) and was similar between patients with < 5% (n = 54, mOS = 1.4 years [0.7–2.0]), 5–19% (n = 63, mOS = 1.1 years [0.7–1.4]), and ≥ 20% CPCs (n = 59, mOS = 1.1 years [0.7–1.5], p = 0.349). As survival was similar between those with 5–19% and ≥ 20% CPCs, we stratified patients by < 5% (mOS = 1.4 years [0.7–2.0]) and ≥ 5% CPCs (mOS = 1.1 years [0.8–1.4], p = 0.154). Outcomes of those with ≥ 5% CPCs were much poorer when compared with a cohort of MM patients diagnosed between 1971 and 2016, who did not have CPCs at diagnosis (n = 9724, mOS = 4.4 yrs [4.3–4.5], p < 0.001); survival was also lower in patients diagnosed after 2001 with ≥ 5% CPCs (n = 62, mOS = 1.4 years [0.8–2.5]) compared with patients with standard risk (n = 1326, mOS = 7.5 years [7.0–8.7]) and high-risk MM (n = 381, mOS = 4.3 years [3.5–4.9], p < 0.001). We therefore propose that the definition of PCL be revised to patients with ≥ 5% CPCs on peripheral blood smear, who otherwise meet diagnostic criteria for MM.
Lessons from Experience: The Cutting Edge of Ranking and Grading Ballots

This chapter further explores the multi-mark reform options by consulting the lessons of experience. Ranking and grading ballots emerge as the two general alternatives with the greatest practical potential, and a fair amount of observational and experimental evidence has been collected about them. Contrary to the presumptions of recent voting theory, the superiority of grading over ranking ballots cannot (yet) be supported by the available evidence, and both kinds of multi-mark alternative should be considered equally viable.
Molecular characterization of bacterial leaf streak resistance in hard winter wheat.

Bacterial leaf streak (BLS) caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. translucens is one of the major bacterial diseases threatening wheat production in the United States Northern Great Plains (NGP) region. It is a sporadic but widespread wheat disease that can cause significant loss in grain yield and quality. Identification and characterization of genomic regions in wheat that confer resistance to BLS will help track resistance genes/QTLs in future wheat breeding. In this study, we evaluated a hard winter wheat association mapping panel (HWWAMP) containing 299 hard winter wheat lines from the US hard winter wheat growing region for their reactions to BLS. We observed a range of BLS responses among the lines, importantly, we identified ten genotypes that showed a resistant reaction both in greenhouse and field evaluation. -Genome-wide association analysis with 15,990 SNPs was conducted using an exponentially compressed mixed linear model. Five genomic regions (p < 0.001) that regulate the resistance to BLS were identified on chromosomes 1AL, 1BS, 3AL, 4AL, and 7AS. The QTLs Q.bls.sdsu-1AL, Q.bls.sdsu-1BS, Q.bls.sdsu-3AL, Q.bls.sdsu-4AL, and Q.bls.sdsu-7AS explain a total of 42% of the variation. In silico analysis of sequences in the candidate regions on chromosomes 1AL, 1BS, 3AL, 4AL, and 7AS identified 10, 25, 22, eight, and nine genes, respectively with known plant defense-related functions. Comparative analysis with rice showed two syntenic regions in rice that harbor genes for bacterial leaf streak resistance. The ten BLS resistant genotypes and SNP markers linked to the QTLs identified in our study could facilitate breeding for BLS resistance in winter wheat.
Receding Horizon Control for Station Inventory Management in a Bike-Sharing System

A docking bike-sharing system (BSS) is modeled as a network representing the underlying transportation network. Mobile agents (replenishment trucks) traverse the network making routing decisions and deciding how and when to replenish station inventories so as to prevent imbalances due to users’ one-way rides as well as time-varying demand. This load balancing process entails selecting both optimal routes for the agents and the number of bikes to load/unload at a station with an objective of minimizing a user dissatisfaction metric. First, we establish a time-dependent replenishment fill-to level policy for each station based on the demand rates and station capacities. Next, we focus on developing a receding horizon controller (RHC) to find optimal routes. The controller proceeds in an event-driven manner to determine after each event the optimal routes for a fleet of agents over a finite planning horizon, with the control applied over a shorter action horizon. The proposed controller is applied to a simulated BSS with station and demand parameters taken from the public data sets of Bluebikes, the BSS in Boston, MA, USA, and a cost-benefit analysis is performed on agent shift hours. In order to demonstrate the robustness of the RHC, sensitivity analysis is also performed on the arc travel times and the demand processes. Note to Practitioners—This paper is motivated by the load balancing problem faced by BSS with finite-capacity docking stations and time-varying demand; stations become empty or full as their popularity as an origin or destination varies over the course of a day. The proposed RHC creates dynamic cooperative routes for a fleet of load balancing trucks to move bikes between stations by considering the current inventory, demand rates, and proximity of all stations and trucks. The strength of this controller is that it achieves optimality over a specified planning horizon and reacts quickly to random inventory changes which update the planning horizon on a rolling basis. Thus, the optimal routes found for a planning horizon are updated at the next decision point, i.e., an intersection. This event-driven RHC decreases the complexity of finding optimal routes so that it may be used in real time. Insights obtained from the application of this approach to the Boston BSS are that extending the length of the receding horizon provides marginal benefits beyond a certain value and that the controller is robust with respect to the stochastic behavior of the user demand and the truck travel time processes. The approach is amenable to extensions that can include incentivizing users so as to enhance load balancing beyond external truck-based interventions.
Correlation function methods for a system of annihilating Brownian particles

In this expository note we highlight the correlation function method as a unified approach in proving both hydrodynamic limits and fluctuation limits for reaction diffusion particle systems. For simplicity we focus on the case when the hydrodynamic limit is $\partial_t u=\frac{1}{2}\Delta u -u^2$, one of the simplest nonlinear reaction-diffusion equations. The outline of the proof follows from Chapter 4 of De Masi and Presutti [7] but to simplify the presentation, we consider reflected Brownian motion instead of reflected random walks. We also briefly mention the key ideas in proving the fluctuation result.
CPS: Client Violence and Client Victims

This paper describes a study that explored the extent and nature of workplace violence in child protective services (CPS). A total of 68 workers and clients reported on their experiences. Of workers, 70% reported being the victim of client violence, and 22% reported they had perpetrated a violent act toward a client. Of clients, 55% reported being a victim of assault by a CPS worker, while 42% acknowledged perpetrating violence. Future research needs and recommendations for practice including training, reporting, and policy development are discussed.
Plasma skeletal muscle myosin phenotypes identified by immunoblotting are associated with pulmonary embolism occurrence in young adults.

Abstract Background Purified skeletal muscle myosin (SkM) binds factor Xa and is procoagulant. The molecular forms of SkM in human plasma have not been characterized. Method Human plasma SkM heavy chain (HC) isoforms of different molecular weights were detected by a newly developed immunoblotting protocol. In this pilot study, the distribution of SkM HC antigen isoforms in plasmas of healthy subjects and young adult patients with venous thrombosis was analyzed. Results Multiple SkM HC antigen bands were detected in human plasmas, corresponding to full-length SkM HC, heavy meromyosin, or the S1 fragment. Plasma immunoblots of healthy subjects displayed three major phenotypes: Type I with two primary bands for full-length SkM and heavy meromyosin, and two lesser bands including S1 fragment (54%); Type II with bands primarily for full-length SkM HC (34%); and Type III with only a band for the S1 fragment (12%). Plasma SkM HC antigen Type II phenotype was associated with an increased occurrence of isolated pulmonary embolism in younger patients, respectively (≤50 years old). Conclusions Three SkM HC antigen phenotypes were identified in human plasma by immunoblotting, and Type II phenotype was correlated with the occurrence of isolated pulmonary embolisms in younger patients.
Predicting the Volatility of Highway Construction Cost Index Using Long Short-Term Memory

AbstractThe highway construction cost index (HCCI) is a composite indicator that reflects the price trend of the highway construction industry. Most available indexes exhibit significant variation,...
“I Want to Love Islam, I Really Do. But...”: Islamophilic Classrooms in Islamophobic Times

This essay reflects on a critical incident that occurred during a seminar discussion about the age of Aishah at the time of her marriage to the prophet Muhammed. I take students’ discomfort with the material and their expression of emotions – especially their desire to love Islam – as an opening to think about the opportunities and challenges of working with students’ emotions in the classroom. I begin by problematizing love (or the want of it) as an Islamophilic response to students’ awareness of the dangers of Islamophobia. I then go on to entertain the possibility of embracing love as a ‘productive’ emotion that offers insights into the study of Islam and Muslims. While I caution against the traps of Islamophilia, I take love as an important and perhaps overlooked dimension of pedagogy. This is one of three essays published together in a special topic section of this journal on critical incidents in the classroom.
[Analysis of malaria epidemiological characteristics in Hechi City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from 2005 to 2015].

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of malaria in Hechi City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from 2005 to 2015, so as to provide the evidence for formulating and adjusting measures of malaria elimination. Methods The data of malaria cases in 11 counties of Hechi City from 2005 to 2015 were collected and analyzed by using Micro-soft Office Excel 2003 and SPSS 17.0. Results A total of 160 malaria cases were reported in Hechi City from 2005 to 2015, and the annual average malaria incidence was 3.6 per million. There were 10 local recurrence cases (accounting for 6.25％, 10/160) and 150 imported cases (accounting for 93.75％, 150/160). For the etiology, Plasmodium vivax accounted for 51.87% (83/160) in these cases, P. falciparum accounted for 34.38% (55/160), P. ovale accounted for 1.25% (2/160), P. malariae accounted for 5.00% (8/160), and the indeterminate accounted for 7.50% (12/160). During the period of 11 years, the malaria incidence first dropped and then rose. There were no local cases after 2009. However, an imported falciparum malaria death case was reported in 2010, a severe imported falciparum malaria case was reported in 2013 and another in 2015. A severe case of maternal-neonatal vivax malaria was reported in 2014. These cases were mainly distributed in 10 counties of Hechi City, with more young male adults who engaged in digging mining. More cases concentrated from April to August. Most of the reported malaria cases were imported, 60.00% (96/160) of them returned from Africa and Southeast Asia, and 33.75% (54/160) from other domestic provinces. The median of the interval from symptom appearance to diagnosis was 5 d, and there was a significant difference among the above years (χ2= 33.40, P＜0.05). Conclusions Malaria is still an important public health problem in Hechi City, and the appropriate control measures and effective tools should be strengthened for malaria elimination. The key to consolidate the achievements of malaria control is strengthening the malaria monitoring management of the floating population.
A national study of child maltreatment reporting at the county level: Interactions among race/ethnicity, rurality and poverty

Abstract Child maltreatment report rates vary widely among states and counties. A portion of the variation likely reflects varying community-level risk and protective factors, but the variation also likely reflects community characteristics unrelated to risk, raising questions of equity and justice, in addition to safety. This study builds on previous research that focused only on the U.S. South to investigate nationally how county racial/ethnic compositions, poverty rates, and rurality relate to child maltreatment report rates. Aggregated county-level data from the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) from nearly all U.S. counties (n = 2,966 in 2015) were linked to data from the U.S. census and other sources. Bivariate tests and multi-level regression models assessed county-level factors associated with the child maltreatment investigated report rate. Consistent with previous studies, despite higher child poverty rates, child maltreatment report rates were lower in rural counties with majority populations of color compared to other counties. In addition, although county-level child poverty rates were generally positively associated with child maltreatment report rates, child poverty was not positively associated with child maltreatment report rates in rural counties with majority populations of color, primarily due to low report rates in rural counties with majority Black populations. To our knowledge, this is the first national child maltreatment study to disentangle county rurality from racial/ethnic composition by specifically investigating rural counties with majority populations of color.
Limits of Transmit Beamforming for Massive MIMO Radar

Massive MIMO has garnered a significant deal of interest recently. In this paper, we discuss the fundamental limitations of the resolution of beampatterns produced by MIMO radar when the number of antennas grows large—leading to a massive MIMO scenario in the context of radar. In particular, we examine whether any arbitrary beampattern can be formed as the number of antennas N increases, i.e., as N → ∞. We further study the improvement of the resolution of beampattern shaping as N grows large. This is to see if the potential of massive MIMO can be unleashed in active sensing and beamforming applications.
Model Reference Adaptive Current Control Method for Dual Three Phase Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machine

A model reference adaptive current control (MRAC) method for the dual three phase permanent magnet synchronous machine is proposed in this paper. Although predictive current control shows an excellent transient performance compared to the PI controller method, its steady state performance can deteriorate if there is any error in estimating the machine’s parameters. The proposed MRAC method estimates the disturbance due to the error in the parameters and feeds the error forward to the controller to eliminate it. While maintaining the predictive control’s good transient performance, the proposed method can also improve the predictive control’s steady state performance under parameter variation. As a result, it can be easily implemented along with the existing predictive current control. Theoretical background and the stability of the proposed system is derived. Simulation results are provided to validate the performance of the proposed method.
Multiple Aspects of Suicide

Suicide is the most dramatic and acknowledged form of self-destructive behavior and is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Death, as the end result of an individual's conscious or unconscious desire to terminate life, is possible through many avenues, both violent and nonviolent, that currently do not fall under the classification of suicide. Suicide rates throughout the world represent only a segment of the total number of self-initiated deaths, either self-executed or brought upon through the help of others.
An Overview of the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) and its Observations: New Sky Maps of the Early Universe

This paper1 discusses the three instruments aboard NASA’s Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE)2 satellite and presents early results obtained from the first six months of observations. The three instruments (FIRAS, DMR, and DIRBE) have operated well and produced significant new results. The FIRAS measurement of the CMB spectrum supports the standard Big Bang model. The maps made from the DMR instrument measurements show a spatially smooth early universe. The maps of galactic and zodiacal emission produced by the DIRBE instrument are needed to identify the foreground emissions from extragalactic and thus to interpret its and the other COBE results in terms of events in the early universe.
DISAGREEMENT, THE VALUE OF AUTONOMY, AND INCENTIVE CONTRACTING ⁄

We provide a completely endogenous justiflcation for an agent’s preference for control or decision making autonomy and analyze optimal incentive contracts in a principal-agent setting with private beneflts and principal-agent disagreement induced by heterogenous prior beliefs. Our analysis explains both why managers value autonomy and why it motivates them to perform well. The optimal contract gives the agent a flxed wage, a monetary incentive in the form of a share of the project payofi, possible autonomy over project choice, and possible autonomy over the choice of strategy that afiects project success. The optimal contract reveals a sharp difierence between private beneflts and heterogeneous priors. Monetary incentives and agent autonomy are complementary incentive devices with private beneflts, but are substitutes with heterogenous priors. Moreover, private beneflts and heterogenous priors interact interestingly in the optimal contract, and there is also an interesting interaction between the agent’s autonomy and career concerns. Greater autonomy makes perceptions of the agent’s ability more sensitive to project success, so autonomy works through the agent’s career concerns to generate positive incentive efiects. We use the result of the analysis to provide economic content to the notion of \psychological ownership," which is related to the agent’s psychic gratiflcation from a sense of control over outcomes, and is distinct from \objective ownership," which is linked to the agent’s monetary incentives.
The 6-property for simplicial complexes and a combinatorial Cartan-Hadamard theorem for manifolds

The 6-property for 2-dimensional simplicial complexes is the condition that every nontrivial circuit in the link of a vertex has length greater than or equal to six. If a compact n-manifold M has a 2-dimensional spine with the 6-property, then we show that the interior of M is covered by euclidean n-space. In dimension n = 3, we show further that such a 3-manifold is Haken.
DC/DC converter with Class D inverter and Class E rectifier

A conceptually new resonant DC/DC converter is introduced, along with its analysis and experimental results. It consists of a Class D resonant inverter and a Class E rectifier. The Class D inverter ensures a low peak voltage across the transistors and the Class E rectifier offers low switching losses and noise. An analysis leading to design equations is carried out. Experimental results are given for a 50 W converter. It is shown that the Class D inverter should operate above the resonant frequency to achieve high efficiency and avoid spikes in the switch current waveforms. The converter can operate for load resistances ranging from full load to infinity. The DC output voltage is regulated against load and line variations by varying the switching frequency. The relative frequency range was about 70 percent as the load resistance was varied from a full load of 50 Omega to infinity. The measured parameters agreed well with theoretical predictions. The converter can be used in off-line power supplies. >