cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the Physical Origins of Inverted Optic Images

In the behavioral sciences, discussions of vision often carry an implicit assumption that the formation of inverted optic images is a result of human technology (i.e., cameras) or biological mechanisms (i.e., the chambered eye). If this assumption were true, then inverted images would be—in effect—an invention of living things, which, in turn, would have important consequences for our understanding of the evolution and psychology of vision. In this article, I briefly review the history of ideas relating vision and optics to the formation of inverted optic images. I then evaluate the necessary and sufficient conditions for the formation of inverted images. I demonstrate that inverted optic images (including inverted optic flow) can and do form in the absence of any biology and that sufficient conditions for inverted image formation predate the origins of life. Inverted images are not an invention of biological systems; rather, biological systems and human technologies exploit preexisting facts of physical ...
OPTIMA: Tool for Ontology Alignment with Application to Semantic Reconciliation of Sensor Metadata for Publication in SensorMap

We present Optima, a state of the art general purpose tool for ontology alignment that automatically identifies and matches relevant concepts between ontologies. The tool is supported by an intuitive user interface that facilitates the visualization and analysis of ontologies in N3, RDF and OWL and the alignment results. We demonstrate the usefulness of Optima toward the automatic publication of sensor net data feeds in public portals such as Microsoft SensorMap.
Programmable bio-nanochip-based cytologic testing of oral potentially malignant disorders in Fanconi anemia

Fanconi anemia (FA) is caused by mutations of DNA repair genes. The risk of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) among FA patients is 800-folds higher than in the general population. Early detection of OSCC, preferably at it precursor stage, is critical in FA patients to improve their survival. In an ongoing clinical trial, we are evaluating the effectiveness of the programmable bio-nanochip (p-BNC)-based oral cytology test in diagnosing oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) in non-FA patients. We used this test to compare cytomorphometric and molecular biomarkers in OSCC cell lines derived from FA and non-FA patients to brush biopsy samples of a FA patient with OPMD and normal mucosa of healthy volunteers. Our data showed that expression patterns of molecular biomarkers were not notably different between sporadic and FA-OSCC cell lines. The p-BNC assay revealed significant differences in cytometric parameters and biomarker MCM2 expression between cytobrush samples of the FA patient and cytobrush samples of normal oral mucosa obtained from healthy volunteers. Microscopic examination of the FA patient's OPMD confirmed the presence of dysplasia. Our pilot data suggests that the p-BNC brush biopsy test recognized dysplastic oral epithelial cells in a brush biopsy sample of a FA patient.
Four-arm 2nd- mode slot spiral antenna with simple single-port feed

The design and performance of a novel 4-arm equiangular slot spiral antenna operating in the 2nd mode are discussed in this letter. A straightforward feeding method consisting of a single vertical coaxial probe and no underlying mode forming network is proposed. Along with inherent simplicity, this feed enables design flexibility with respect to the slot-to-metal ratio, growth rate, and other spiral parameters. Numerical tools including an in-house finite element-boundary integral (FE-BI) code and Ansoft HFSS are used in designing the antenna. Good performance over an octave bandwidth is achieved, with axial ratio and WoW less than 3 dB, nominal gain of 3 dBic, and VSWR less than 1.6. Performance is verified with measurements. A method for increasing the bandwidth up to 3 : 1, which is the theoretical value determined by the excitation of the first higher order mode, is demonstrated computationally.
Roles of the state asthma program in implementing multicomponent, school-based asthma interventions.

BACKGROUND: Asthma is a leading chronic childhood disease in the United States and a major contributor to school absenteeism. Evidence suggests that multicomponent, school-based asthma interventions are a strategic way to address asthma among school-aged children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourages the 36 health departments (34 states, District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico) in the National Asthma Control Program (NACP) to implement multicomponent, school-based asthma interventions on a larger scale. METHODS: To gain a better understanding of replicable best practices for state-coordinated asthma interventions in schools, an NACP evaluation team conducted evaluability assessments of promising interventions run by state asthma programs in Louisiana, Indiana, and Utah. RESULTS: The team found that state asthma programs play a critical role in implementing school-based asthma interventions due to their ability to (1) use statewide surveillance data to identify asthma trends and address disparities; (2) facilitate connections between schools, school systems, and school-related community stakeholders; (3) form state-level connections; (4) translate policies into action; (5) provide resources and public health practice information to schools and school systems; (6) monitor and evaluate implementation. CONCLUSIONS: This article presents evaluability assessment findings and illustrates state roles using examples from the 3 participating state asthma programs.
Tunneling ionization bunch length monitor for the ultrarelativistic compressed electron beams

The electric field intensity of the compressed ultrarelativistic electron beams is approaching GV/m levels, which is sufficient to cause observable tunneling effect in the low band gap materials. In this article the tunneling ionization rate is estimated for the experimentally available electron beam parameters, and a proposed proof of principle experiment is outlined. Tunneling effect has exponential dependence on the electric field strength; thus being very sensitive to the electron beam peak current. This nonlinear dependence opens up a possibility to construct inexpensive, single shot and nondestructive peak current diagnostics for the ultrarelativistic compressed electron beams.
Global univalence of partially proper local homeomorphisms

Abstract A local homeomorphism (f, g): N a L × M of connected topological manifolds is shown to be one-to-one if it is one-to-one on certain components of fibers f−1(u) and g−1(v), and satisfies a fiber overlap condition. This yields and analogue of Hadamard's theorem on proper local homeomorphisms that requires only partial properness (at the expense of an overlap condition).
A type of disability neurosis: the Humpty Dumpty syndrome.

Eight selected male patients with disability neurosis are presented. Past histories were remarkably similar in that they indicated childhood deprivation, premature independence and early excessive ...
Mechanical elasticity of vapour-liquid-solid grown GaN nanowires.

Mechanical elasticity of hexagonal wurtzite GaN nanowires with hexagonal cross sections grown through a vapour–liquid–solid (VLS) method was investigated using a three-point bending method with a digital-pulsed force mode (DPFM) atomic force microscope (AFM). In a diameter range of 57–135 nm, bending deflection and effective stiffness, or spring constant, profiles were recorded over the entire length of end-supported GaN nanowires and compared to the classic elastic beam models. Profiles reveal that the bending behaviour of the smallest nanowire (57.0 nm in diameter) is as a fixed beam, while larger nanowires (89.3–135.0 nm in diameter) all show simple-beam boundary conditions. Diameter dependence on the stiffness and elastic modulus are observed for these GaN nanowires. The GaN nanowire of 57.0 nm diameter displays the lowest stiffness (0.98 N m−1) and the highest elastic modulus (400 ± 15 GPa). But with increasing diameter, elastic modulus decreases, while stiffness increases. Elastic moduli for most tested nanowires range from 218 to 317 GPa, which approaches or meets the literature values for bulk single crystal and GaN nanowires with triangular cross sections from other investigators. The present results together with further tests on plastic and fracture processes will provide fundamental information for the development of GaN nanowire devices.
Effect of Mobility Prediction on Resource Utilization in Wireless Networks

Mobile wireless network performance, measured using throughput, call blocking and dropping probabilities and resource utilization, is related to the mobility behavior of users. Statistical information pertaining to user mobility can be exploited to design mobility aware networks. This paper proposes a mobile network design method using prior mobility data. The mobility prediction scheme proposed is based on the well known Hidden Markov Model (HMM). This model is incorporated into a control theoretic framework that uses mobility history in the feedback loop to optimally allocate network resources to user sessions. The model and framework are validated via extensive Simulink Control System toolbox and MATLAB simulations. Simulation results show the effectiveness of the approach in improving network resource utilization and significantly reducing call dropping probability. It is also observed that the approach is scalable in the number of network users.
Craft Education in Finland: Definitions, Rationales and the Future

The status, content, and social factors influencing craft education in Finland, a standard subject in comprehensive schools, were examined during interviews with craft teachers, craft teacher preparers, and educational administrators. In this paper, the following areas are examined: How are crafts defined? What rationales and cultural and social factors keep craft education robust and what factors threaten it? What is perceived as the future of craft education? The status, content, and social factors influencing craft education in Finland, a standard subject in comprehensive schools, were examined during interviews with craft teachers, craft teacher preparers, and educational administrators. In this paper, the following areas are examined: How are crafts defined? What rationales and cultural and social factors keep craft education robust and what factors threaten it? What is perceived as the future of craft education? interviewees for teaching craft in schools fell into five categories: craft provides 1) cognitive development in several dimensions, 2) learning about living in the world, 3) Finnish traditions and culture, 4) social and individual growth, and 5) a break from the demands of academic subjects. All interviewees seemed to agree that teaching crafts in Finland is changing in terms of how teachers are prepared, who writes curriculum, the content of the curriculum, and the configuration of craft in the comprehensive school curriculum. Some interviewees portended a decline in craft education in public schooling, while others embraced change as part of nation building.
On-line adaptive vector quantization with variable size codebook entries

A new image compression algorithm employs some of the most successful approaches to adaptive lossless compression to perform adaptive on-line (single pass) vector quantization. The authors have tested this algorithm with a host of standard test images (e.g. gray scale magazine images, medical images, space and scientific images, fingerprint images, and handwriting images) and with no prior knowledge of the data or training, for a given fidelity the compression achieved typically equals or exceeds that of the JPEG standard. The only information that must be specified in advance is the fidelity criterion. >
National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) report, data summary for 2012, Device-associated module.

• Collect data from a sample of health care facilities in the United States to permit valid estimation of the magnitude of adverse events among patients and health care personnel. • Collect data from a sample of health care facilities in the United States to permit valid estimation of the adherence to practices known to be associated with prevention of these adverse events. • Analyze and report collected data to permit recognition of trends. • Provide facilities with risk-adjusted metrics that can be used for inter-facility comparisons and local quality improvement activities. • Assist facilities in developing surveillance and analysis methods that permit timely recognition of patient and health care worker safety problems and prompt intervention with appropriate measures. • Conduct collaborative research studies with NHSN mem­ ber facilities (eg, describe the epidemiology of emerging health care-associated infection [HAI] and pathogens, assess the importance of potential risk factors, further characterize HAI pathogens and their mechanisms of resistance, and evaluate alternative surveillance and prevention strategies).
Design of a flood prediction system

This paper explains the chip design of a flood prediction system based on piezoelectric pressure sensors. The sensors are placed at different water levels and can dependably predict the occurrence of a flood. The main criteria considered in the design of the system are low cost, low power consumption, ease of installation, autonomy, reliability, and most importantly, provision of early alerts. Predicting the flood before its actual occurrence can buy sufficient time for residents to evacuate nearby areas, preventing loss of life and property. The design has been prototyped on Altera's Cyclone DE2 FPGA board.
Toxicity of non-thermal plasma Treatment of endothelial cells

We investigate the toxicity of non-thermal plasma treatment on endothelial cells. This research explores the effect of non-thermal plasma on the vasculature, which is affected during plasma treatment of many tissues. Porcine aortic endothelial cells were seeded in vitro on 18 mm diameter cover glasses in 12 well plates near confluence. Cells were cultured for at least 24 hours prior to plasma treatment. Treated cells were quantified using a Coulter counter at 3 and 24 hours after plasma treatment. Initial results indicate that non-thermal plasma is relatively non-toxic to endothelial cells at short exposure times up to 30 s, while non-thermal plasma treatment at longer exposure times is cytotoxic.
Two-layer geostrophic vortex dynamics. Part 2. Alignment and two-layer V-states

The process of alignment, a new fundamental interaction between vortices in a stratified and rapidly rotating fluid, is defined and studied in detail in the context of the two-layer quasi-geostrophic model. Alignment occurs when two vortices in different density layers coalesce by reducing their horizontal separation. It is found that only vortices whose radii are comparable with or larger than the Rossby deformation radius can align. In the same way as the merger process (in a single twodimensional layer) is related to the reverse energy cascade of two-dimensional turbulence, geostrophic potential vorticity alignment is related the barotropic-tobaroclinic energy cascade of geostrophic turbulence in two layers. It is also shown how alignment is intimately connected with the existence of two-layer doubly connected geostrophic potential vorticity equilibria (V-states), for which the analysis of the geometry of the stream function in the corotating frame is found to be a crucial diagnostic. The finite-area analogues of the hetons of Hogg & Stommel(i985) are also determined : they consist of a propagating pair of opposite-signed potential vorticity patches located in different layers.
β-Catenin protects the epidermis from mechanical stresses

Many tissues in our body experience mechanical stresses caused by both internal and external forces. The skin, for example, must tolerate diverse mechanical insults. In this paper, we report a role for β-catenin in providing stability to epithelia under stress. Loss of β-catenin during epidermal development caused perinatal lethality. Mutant embryos up-regulated stress responses at sites of active morphogenesis, which became more widespread after the stresses associated with birth. In addition, selective loss of tight junctions occurred in focal regions. This was recapitulated in cultured β-catenin–null cells exposed to externally applied forces. In addition, mutant cells were defective in tension-induced engagement of adherens junctions. We found that β-catenin was required to recruit vinculin to the cell cortex and to strengthen the junction’s association with the underlying cytoskeleton in response to tension. These data demonstrate that a complete understanding of the functions of cell adhesion proteins must take into account their roles in response to mechanical stresses.
Biostratigraphy and Paleoecology of Early Miocene Through Early Pleistocene Benthonic and Planktonic Foraminifera, San Joaquin Hills-Newport Bay, Orange County, California: ABSTRACT

A uniquely complete and continuous sequence of early Miocene through early Pleistocene marine sediments is exposed in Bonita Canyon on the western flank of the San Joaquin Hills and at adjacent Newport Bay, California. These sediments are assigned to the early to middle Miocene Topanga Formation, middle to late Miocene Monterey Shale, late Miocene to early Pliocene Capistrano Formation, and early Pliocene to early Pleistocene Fernando Formation. The total thickness of the sequence studied is more than 2,400 m. Quantitative analysis of benthonic foraminiferal biofacies indicates that: (1) the lower parts of the Topanga Formation were deposited at inner to outer shelf depths, (2) upper Topanga and Monterey Shale diatomaceous sediments were deposited at upper to middle bathyal depths within a closed basin where ambient water contained less than 1 ml/l of dissolved oxygen, (3) lower bathyal depths marked by abundant radiolarian tests occurred during deposition of the Capistrano Formation, and (4) the Fernando Formation was deposited at lower bathyal through outer shelf depths. Stratigraphic variations of gross faunal parameters including foraminiferal number, radiolarian number, planktonic-benthonic ratio, and percent of displaced benthonic species provide additional quantitative evidence of th shelf-to-basin-to-shelf paleobathymetric history of this sequence. Ranges of individual species of benthonic Foraminifera allow the Saucesian, Relizian, Luisian, Mohnian, Repettian, Venturian, Wheelerian, and Hallian Stages to be recognized. Cool to warm temperate planktonic foraminiferal biofacies dominated by Globigerina concinna sl. and G. angustiumbilicata occur in the Topanga Formation and lower Monterey Shale. Temperate planktonic assemblages dominated by G. bulloides sl. dominate in the upper Monterey Shale and parts of the Fernando Formation. A subarctic biofacies containing sinistral populations of G. pachyderma is present at discrete intervals within late Miocene, middle and late Pliocene, and early Pleistocene sediments, whereas a subtropical-warm temperate biofacies dominate by Globoquadrina dutertrei is restricted to the early Pliocene. Ranges of critical planktonic Foraminifera including Globorotaloides trema, Globorotalia mayeri, G. menardi, G. crassaformis, G. inflata, G. truncatulinoides, "Orbulina universa," "Sphaeroidinella dehiscens," and the radiolarian Prunopyle titan provide additional criteria for age assignment and correlation with the paleomagnetic-radiometric time scale. End_of_Article - Last_Page 434------------
Sulphate Metabolism in Cartilage

Joint fluid from patients with severe degenerative arthritis and loose-body formation was shown to arrest the degradation of chondroitin sulphate usually seen in cartilage slices during incubation. Only hyaluronic acid of the several adjuvants tested had a similar effect.
Saving and Investment: A Praxeological Approach

Clarity in language in the sin qua non of any intellectual pursuit. If we cannot communicate accurately with one another, there is no hope of progress in scientific endeavor. Nowhere is this more true, at least in economics, than with regard to such concepts as real, as opposed to financial, saving and investment. The present paper constitutes an attempt to clarify the sometimes confusing dialogue that often ensues in this arena when sufficient care is not taken to distinguish between these very different topics. To wit, it is our hypothesis that while financial saving and investment may indeed and often do diverge from one another, the same is not at all true of real saving and real investment. In the latter case, real saving does not precede real investment; rather, it is coincident with it.
Students with Minoritized Identities of Sexuality and Gender in Campus Contexts: An Emergent Model

This chapter describes a new model for understanding college students with minoritized identities of sexuality and gender (MIoSG) within sociopolitical, institutional/campus, homeplace, and time contexts. The MIoSG Students and Contexts Model can be adopted and adapted by educators working in a variety of postsecondary settings.
Service Oriented Architecture and Agents: Parallels and Opportunities

This chapter explores several theses surrounding SOA and agent technical approaches. One thesis is that in spite of SOA and agent technology’s different approaches, there is a common ground between the two technologies, which is explored and evaluated. Furthermore, from a design point of view, the thesis is that there are tools or design approaches applicable to both. Developers can learn from design work and tools in one technology and apply to the other. The third thesis is that the techniques developed in agent systems can be applied to achieve the promise of SOA. The ideas developed in the work with agents are powerful enablers for SOA applications. In particular, negotiation and ontology is shown as tools to provide the basis necessary to construct powerful and adaptive SOA applications.
An Examination of Lower Extremity Function and its Correlates in Older African American and White Men.

Objective: Maintaining functional status and reducing/eliminating health disparities in late life are key priorities. Older African Americans have been found to have worse lower extremity functioning than Whites, but little is known about potential differences in correlates between African American and White men. The goal of this investigation was to examine measures that could explain this racial difference and to identify race-specific correlates of lower extremity function. Methods: Data were analyzed for a sample of community-dwelling men. Linear regres­sion models examined demographics, medical conditions, health behaviors, and perceived discrimination and mental health as correlates of an objective measure of lower extremity function, the Short Physi­cal Performance Battery (SPPB). Scores on the SPPB have a potential range of 0 to 12 with higher scores corresponding to better functioning. Results: The mean age of all men was 74.9 years (SD=6.5), and the sample was 50% African American and 53% rural. African American men had scores on the SPPB that were significantly lower than White men after adjusting for age, rural residence, marital status, education, and income dif­ficulty ( P <.01). Racial differences in cognitive functioning accounted for approximately 41% of the race effect on physical function. Additional models stratified by race revealed a pattern of similar correlates of the SPPB among African American and White men. Conclusions: The results of this investigation can be helpful for researchers and clinicians to aid in identifying older men who are at-risk for poor lower extremity function and in planning targeted interventions to help reduce disparities. Ethn Dis. 2015;25(3):271- 278.
Control Variables in Mechanical Muscle Models: A Mini-Review and a New Model

A new mechanical model of isolated muscle is proposed in which spring with variable slack length is the force-generating element. Based on the review of experimental studies in isolated muscle, it is suggested that spring slack length X0 is the control variable in the model and is a function of motor unit firing rate. In the presence of sensory feedback, the Sliding Spring model is equivalent to the Rack and Pinion model. However, sensory feedback is essential in the Rack and Pinion model but complementary in the Sliding Spring model. How the new control variable in the model of isolated muscle affects the interpretation of control processes up the motor system hierarchy is discussed in light of certain controversies associated with the Lambda and Alpha models of control of movement. It is argued that the Sliding Spring model of isolated muscle can be used as a basis for developing models of control of movement.
Quantum Lévy Propagators

The general quantum propagator for a particle in a potential-free region of the vacuum is shown to have a form analogous to that of a classical Levy stochastic process and not that of a Gaussian wave packet.
Archytas marmoratus (Diptera: Tachinidae): Screened-Cage Evaluations of Selected Densities of Adults Against Larval Populations of Heliothis zea and Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on Whorl and Tassel Stage Corn

The performance of female Archytas marmoratus was evaluated in field cages (l.8 by 1.8 by 1.8 m) against 5th- and early 6th-instar larvae of Spodoptera frugiperda and 4th- and 5th-instar larvae of Heliothis zea in whorl and tassel stage sweet corn. respectively. Parasitism of Spodoptera frugiperda by maggots of two, four, or eight female A. marmoratus per cage reduced numbers of emerging S. frugiperda adults by 44.9, 57.0, and 66.5%, respectively, when compared with a control. Parasitism of H. zea by larvae of two, four, or eight female A. marmoratus per cage reduced numbers of emerging H. zea adults by 20.9, 30.3, and 42.4%, respectively. Numbers of emerging F1 A. marmoratus adults from parasitized pupae of S. frugiperda and H. zea increased progressively after releases of zero, two, and four female A. marmoratus per cage. However, eight female A. marmoratus per cage caused a reduction in the number of emerging F1 A. marmoratus adults, probably because of superparasitism of larvae, which resulted in the death of both the host and its parasitoid.
Comparative Study of Two-Bladed Upwind and Downwind Turbines Using the NREL Reference Wind Turbine

Two-bladed wind turbines offer the potential for a lower cost of energy compared with three-bladed rotor turbines. This investigation was conducted to quantify the differences between the loads of upwind and downwind two-bladed wind turbines operating under random wind conditions. This paper focuses on a comparison of maximum and average loads that can cause first excursion failure, and loads that can cause fatigue failure. In this study, upwind and downwind turbines with two bladed rotors are compared. The NREL 5MW reference wind turbine was used as a baseline design and was modified as necessary to design a two bladed upwind wind turbine. The tower shadow effect was considered for the downwind turbine. The IEC61400-3 standard load cases were used to define the loading conditions for the wind turbine simulations. The computed load effects generally showed that the downwind configuration had lower load effects. Moreover, fatigue damage was lower for the two-bladed downwind turbine compared to the upwind turbine.© 2014 ASME
Clinical Nurse Specialist Regulation The Maryland Experience

High-quality care will continue to be a driver in the evolution of today's health care environment. Ensuring effective, cost-conscious, quality care is the core of clinical nurse specialist (CNS) practice. The CNS practice varies by state, depending on each state's Nurse Practice Act. Some states have separate scopes of practice for CNSs, including prescriptive authority, whereas some states do not recognize CNS practice as different from the practice of the registered nurse. The journey to state recognition and title protection for the CNS role in the state of Maryland is described.
Effects of Varying Goal Types and Incentive Systems on Performance and Satisfaction

Goals for high and minimum acceptable performance were manipulated under three incentive conditions: piece-rate, fixed rate, and no incentive. The nature of the incentive system and the difficulty ...
Commentary on: Brachioplasty by Power-Assisted Liposuction and Fat Transfer: A Novel Approach That Obviates Skin Excision

The authors present a brachioplasty classification system and a series of 95 consecutive patients undergoing nonexcisional arm contouring.1 Their surgical approach comprises three procedural elements: (1) power-assisted liposuction of the posterior arm; (2) “tunnelization,” to facilitate skin retraction; and (3) fat grafting to the volume-deficient area of the proximal medial arm (or the “brachial triangle”) using pre-injection tunnelization. The authors posit that tunneling facilitates skin retraction and that the addition of volume to the brachial triangle lifts the lax posterior skin. Additionally, the authors contend that, when this technique is employed, postoperative skin excision can be avoided in some patients. Postoperative scarring is a significant consideration in arm contouring procedures. Brachioplasty scars, especially those located on the distal portion of the upper arm (which is less frequently covered by clothing) can be difficult to fully conceal and, compared with scars in other body areas, seem to take longer to fade.2 However, although scar appearance is the chief concern of many patients, the predominant complaint of others is the laxity of the arm skin and soft tissue. These patients frequently report feeling embarrassed when their arm “flops around” during activities and want to alleviate this tissue hypermobility and have smoother, tighter arm skin. Such patients may readily accept the scars …
A High Performance Parallel and Heterogeneous Approach to Narrowband Beamforming

This paper describes a high performing, hybrid parallel, and heterogeneous algorithmic approach to narrowband Delay-Sum Beamforming (DSB) in the frequency domain using a Just-In-Time Asynchronous Data Method (JIT-ADM) parallel pattern. JIT-ADM is a novel asynchronous parallel programming pattern that unifies various levels of asynchronous concurrency available with distributed heterogeneous computing. The computational performance of this DSB algorithm was analyzed on a 50 node Cray XC30 with a single 10-core Intel Xeon E5-2670 v2 and NVIDIA Tesla K20X general purpose Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) on each node. The algorithm exhibits well behaved weak scalability with 92.7 percent parallel efficiency at 50 nodes compared to maximum performance observed. It is also shown that the algorithm efficiently utilizes a large portion of the available hardware. During beamforming the GPU is utilized at 51.8 percent of its maximum double precision floating point throughput whereas a comparable Central Processing Unit (CPU) version utilizes 60.0 percent of its maximum expected floating point throughput. Across the weak scalability study, utilizing GPUs for processing, a 2-5x performance gain is achieved compared to using CPUs. A brief derivation and validation of the implemented DSB is also presented.
Axisymmetric Tornado Simulations at High Reynolds Number

AbstractThis study is the first in a series that investigates the effects of turbulence in the boundary layer of a tornado vortex. In this part, axisymmetric simulations with constant viscosity are used to explore the relationships between vortex structure, intensity, and unsteadiness as functions of diffusion (measured by a Reynolds number Rer) and rotation (measured by a swirl ratio Sr). A deep upper-level damping zone is used to prevent upper-level disturbances from affecting the low-level vortex. The damping zone is most effective when it overlaps with the specified convective forcing, causing a reduction to the effective convective velocity scale We. With this damping in place, the tornado-vortex boundary layer shows no sign of unsteadiness for a wide range of parameters, suggesting that turbulence in the tornado boundary layer is inherently a three-dimensional phenomenon. For high Rer, the most intense vortices have maximum mean tangential winds well in excess of We, and maximum mean vertical veloci...
Effects of corticosteroids in preterm sheep on adaptation and sympathoadrenal mechanisms at birth

This study investigates the effects of prenatal corticosteroid administration on newborn sympathoadrenal mechanisms involved in postnatal adaptation. Randomly assigned preterm (122–125 days) fetal ...
Fast Triplet Formation via Singlet Exciton Fission in a Covalent Perylenediimide-β-apocarotene Dyad Aggregate.

A covalent dyad was synthesized in which perylene-3,4,:9:10-bis(dicarboximide) (PDI) is linked to β-apocarotene (Car) using a biphenyl spacer. The dyad is monomeric in toluene and forms a solution aggregate in methylcyclohexane (MCH). Using femtosecond transient absorption (fsTA) spectroscopy, the monomeric dyad and its aggregates were studied both in solution and in thin films. In toluene, photoexcitation at 530 nm preferentially excites PDI, and the dyad undergoes charge separation in τ = 1.7 ps and recombination in τ = 1.6 ns. In MCH and in thin solid films, 530 nm excitation of the PDI-Car aggregate also results in charge transfer that competes with energy transfer from 1*PDI to Car and with an additional process, rapid Car triplet formation in <50 ps. Car triplet formation is only observed in the aggregated PDI-Car dyad and is attributed to singlet exciton fission (SF) within the aggregated PDI, followed by rapid triplet energy transfer from 3*PDI to the carotenoid. SF from β-apocarotene aggregation ...
Attention to threat as a predictor of shyness in the context of internalizing and externalizing problems

The duration of children's attention to putative threat has been documented as a consistent predictor of later anxiety in inhibited children across childhood (Fox, 2010; Perez-Edgar & Fox, 2005). However, attention to threat has not been broadly examined within existing behavioral contexts, and has seldom been studied in very early childhood. Whereas toddlers with high levels of internalizing behavior may view fear-inducing stimuli as a threat, toddlers with high levels of externalizing behavior may demonstrate attention out of interest or sensation seeking. Thus, attention to threat was expected to predict increased toddler shyness in the context of either high internalizing problems or low externalizing behavior. We examined 117 24-month-old toddlers to determine whether attention to threat interacted with internalizing and externalizing behavior at 24 months of age to predict toddler shyness one year later. Results indicated that attention to threat predicted toddlers' lower shyness at 36 months when toddlers' externalizing behavior at age 24 months were high, but there was no significant interaction between toddlers' internalizing behavior and their attention to threat in predicting later shyness. These results expand our understanding of the contexts in which attention to threat in early childhood is a viable predictor of later shyness.
The Evolution of Formal and Informal Institutions Related to Cyber-Security: A Comparison of China and India

Institutions related to cybersecurity are rapidly evolving in China and India. Such institutions in these two economies, however, reveal striking similarities and significant differences. In this paper, we investigate how the increased digitization of economic activities and the growth in cybercrimes have affected the development of cybersecurity-related formal and informal institutions. We also compare and contrast the evolution of institutions in the two economies and the roles of various components of institutions in shaping institutional actors’ cybersecurity related behaviors. Implications for theory, policy, and practice are discussed.
Global Adjustment Problems of the 1990s: The Effects on East-West Trade Policies

A series of very large trade deficits have rapidly transformed the United States from the world’s largest creditor nation to the world’s largest debtor. While these large deficits and the complementary surpluses of some trading partners may continue for some time, global imbalances of recent magnitudes are unsustainable distortions in global capital flows and trading patterns. Both political and economic forces will dictate a narrowing of these imbalances. But doing so while maintaining good global economic growth rates will be a slow and difficult process, with many opportunities for things to go awry along the way. Intense competition for world markets for manufactured goods will risk rising protectionism that could lead to severe global and national economic disruptions.
The Role of Occlusion in the Dental Implant and Peri-implant Condition: A Review

Dental implants have become a widely used dental treatment approach. It is important to identify factors that can be detrimental to dental implants and the peri-implant complex. There is controversy regarding whether occlusion plays a role in the implant and peri-implant condition. The present study aims to review the scientific literature regarding this topic. Animal and human studies, and previous reviews on the topic are included and presented. There is a wide heterogeneity among study designs. Several articles demonstrated that occlusion and occlusion overload could detrimentally affect the peri-implant condition, while other articles did not support these results. More studies are needed to help understand the mechanisms by which occlusion might play a role in the peri-implant condition.
Positive Feedback Loops: Sarcasm and the Pseudo-Argument in Reddit Communities

When it comes to modes of communication, sarcasm may be most commonly associated with the angst-ridden adolescent or rebellious teenager. While the use of sarcasm is certainly not exclusive to these communities, such a comparison may not be entirely without reason. Etymologically, the word 'sarcasm' is derived from the Greek sarkazein, meaning “to speak bitterly or sneer”, or, more literally, “to tear flesh” (“sarcasm,” 2014). Sarcasm, then, is far from a benign feature of language, and there appears to be an inherent acerbity, or even a note of provocation, located within. Indeed, sarcasm has been referred to in research in terms such as “jocular aggression” (Pogrebin & Poole, 1988, p. 192) or “humorous aggression” (Ducharme, 1994, p. 51). This does not mean it is rarely or fastidiously used, however. In spite of any innate or perceived aggression, sarcasm is, in fact, quite a common feature in spoken discourse. In this paper, I hope to offer a descriptive analysis of sarcasm as produced in an exclusively digital space, as well as bring attention to a novel use of sarcasm specific to this environment: sarcasm used as a pseudo-argument.
Biomarker, Molecular, and Technologic Advances in Urologic Pathology, Oncology, and Imaging

Urologic pathology is evolving rapidly. Emerging trends include the expanded diagnostic utility of biomarkers and molecular testing, as well as adapting to the plethora of technical advances occurring in genitourinary oncology, surgical practice, and imaging. We illustrate those trends by highlighting our approach to the diagnostic workup of a few selected disease entities that pathologists may encounter, including newly recognized subtypes of renal cell carcinoma, pheochromocytoma, and prostate cancer, some of which harbor a distinctive chromosomal translocation, gene loss, or mutation. We illustrate applications of immunohistochemistry for differential diagnosis of needle core renal biopsies, intraductal carcinoma of the prostate, and amyloidosis and cite encouraging results from early studies using targeted gene expression panels to predict recurrence after prostate cancer surgery. At our institution, pathologists are working closely with urologic surgeons and interventional radiologists to explore the...
Mixed-integer nonlinear programming models for optimal design of reliable chemical plants

Abstract Motivated by reliability/availability concerns in chemical plants, this paper proposes MINLP models to determine the optimal selection of parallel units considering the trade-off between availability and cost. Assuming an underlying serial structure for availability, we consider first a case where the system transitions between available and unavailable states, and second the case with an intermediate state at half capacity. Two non-convex MINLP models maximizing net profit are introduced for the two cases. In addition, a bi-criterion MINLP model is proposed to maximize availability and to minimize cost for the first case. It is shown that the corresponding epsilon-constrained model, where the availability is maximized subject to parametrically varying upper bound of the cost, can be reformulated as a convex MINLP. Availability is also incorporated in the superstructure optimization of process flowsheets. The performances of the proposed models are illustrated with a methanol synthesis and a toluene hydrodealkylation process.
Chaotic Arithmetic Coding

Arithmetic Coding (AC) is widely used for the entropy coding of text and multimedia data. It involves recursive partitioning of the range [0,1) in accordance with the relative probabilities of occurrence of the input symbols. In this work, we present a data (image or video) encryption scheme based on arithmetic coding, which we refer to as Chaotic Arithmetic Coding (CAC). In CAC, a large number of chaotic maps can be used to perform coding, each achieving Shannon-optimal compression performance. The exact choice of map is governed by a key. CAC has the effect of scrambling the intervals without making any changes to the width of interval in which the codeword must lie, thereby allowing encryption without sacrificing any coding efficiency. We next describe Binary CAC (BCAC) with some simple Security Enhancement (SE) modes which can alleviate the security of a scheme against known cryptanalysis against AC-based encryption techniques. These modes, namely Plaintext Modulation (PM), Pair-Wise-Independent Keys (PWIK), and Key and ciphertext Mixing (MIX) modes have insignificant computational overhead, while BCAC decoder has lower hardware requirements than BAC coder itself, making BCAC with SE as excellent choice for deployment in secure embedded multimedia systems. A bit sensitivity analysis for key and plaintext is presented along with experimental tests for compression performance.
The Impact of Share 35 Policy on Patient Survival in Patients Undergoing Liver Transplantation With Gender- and Race-Mismatched Donors: An Analysis of the United Network for Organ Sharing Registry

Introduction:The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) instituted the Share 35 policy in June 2013 in order to reduce death on liver transplant waitlist. The effect of this policy on patient survival among patients with gender- and race-mismatched donors has not been examined.Research Question:To assess the impact of Share 35 policy on posttransplantation patient survival among patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) transplanted with gender- and race-mismatched donors.Design:A total of 16 467 adult patients with ESLD who underwent liver transplantation between 2012 and 2015 were identified from UNOS. An overall Cox proportional hazards model adjusting for demographic, clinical, and geographic factors and separate models with a dummy variable of pre- and post-Share 35 periods as well as its interaction with other factors were performed to model the effect of gender and race mismatch on posttransplantation patient survival and to compare the patient survival differences between the first 18 months o...
Tibial Tubercle Osteotomies: a Review of a Treatment for Recurrent Patellar Instability.

The goal of this review is to provide an overview of current surgical treatment options for tibial tubercle osteotomies as a treatment for recurrent patellofemoral instability. As such we sought to provide the reader with the most current answers to why treatment practices have changed and how this has affected the outcome of surgical treatment for patellar instability. As our understanding of patellofemoral biomechanics have grown, appropriate surgical and non-surgical treatment options have followed suit to address these findings. A clear understanding of the pathomechanics causing the patient’s patellar instability is germane to choosing the most appropriate surgical intervention to address this instability. Likewise, understanding the goal of the intervention chosen—e.g., unloading, realignment—is paramount. These surgical techniques may be technically challenging and surgical specialists with experience in these techniques are recommended for optimal outcomes.
The Seismic Wide Angle Reflection Method in the Study of Ocean Sediment Velocity Structure

Although the wide angle reflection method has been little used in the oceans, a well-developed mathematical theory and techniques for determining interval velocities within plane layers by this method have existed for 20 years. The raypaths are least-time paths. Reflection curves from interfaces below the ocean floor are generally not true hyperbolas but are higher order functions forming curved lines on a T2 — X2 plot. Certain properties and limiting cases of reflection curves allow the computation of interval velocities both by exact and by highly useful approximate methods. These methods place stringent demands upon data quality, and to provide adequate data precision the ASPER (Airgun-Sonobuoy-Precision Echo Recorder) method was developed. The high data density provided by this method allows comparison of long segments of observational travel time curves with theoretical travel time curves appropriate for various physical/geological models. The method has several limitations; for example, it requires relatively simple, uniform geologic structure, and in deep water (2 km or more) velocities are only determined to about the nearest 0.1 km/sec, or even more if vertical intervals much smaller than 200 m are used. It is sometimes useful to find a regional velocity-depth function by combining the results of several sections determined in the area.
Presence of four toxins in red tide infested clams and cultured Gonyaulax tamarensis cells

Abstract Four toxins have been isolated by Sephadex G-15 and high pressure ion exchange chromatography from the soft shell clams, Mya arenaria , which were collected during 1972 and 1974 red tide outbreaks on the New England coast. One of the toxins was saxitoxin and the rest seem to be new toxins. The same toxins were isolated from the extract of cultured Gonyaulax tamarensis .