cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Real-time American sign language recognition using desk and wearable computer based video

We present two real-time hidden Markov model-based systems for recognizing sentence-level continuous American sign language (ASL) using a single camera to track the user's unadorned hands. The first system observes the user from a desk mounted camera and achieves 92 percent word accuracy. The second system mounts the camera in a cap worn by the user and achieves 98 percent accuracy (97 percent with an unrestricted grammar). Both experiments use a 40-word lexicon.
Some Reflections on Late Twentieth Century Agrarian Political Economy

The “new rural sociology” arguably represented the most significant watershed in the development of North American and European rural sociology during the 1970s and 1980s. I argue, however, that the new rural sociology, especially its dominant traditions of Chayanovian and neo-Leninist Marxism, has now been almost entirely superseded as a theoretical position in agrarian political economy by the international food regimes, commodity chains/systems analysis, regulationist, and actor-network traditions. In addition, Wageningen School research on “farming styles” and the “cultural turn” within rural sociology and rural studies have arisen, in part, as challenges to the more structuralist styles of reasoning within agrarian political economy. Parallel trends in the sociology of development are also discussed. The paper concludes with an appraisal of the strengths and weaknesses of these new late twentieth century traditions in agrarian political economy, particularly in comparison with the new rural sociology.
Dimensions of Structure: A Review and Reappraisal

A review of empirical literature on the determination of structural dimensions reveals conceptual and methodological shortcomings that may have predetermined the outcomes of such research. To further the investigation of the structure domain, Q-analysis is proposed as an alternative research perspective. This procedure enhances the importance of the organizational participant in construct definition and reduces researcher biases in the resulting empirically derived dimensions.
An experimental technique and a model for studying the operation of harmonic side-drive micrometers

The operation of harmonic side-drive micrometers is studied through gear ratio measurements and modeling of the micrometer dynamics. A simple experiment in which the wobble micromotor gear ratio is measured as a function of excitation voltage and pattern is used to characterize micromotor operation. This experiment in conjunction with the micromotor dynamic model presented can be used to study friction at the micromotor bearing and bushing contacts by fitting the model to the experiment. The model accounts for sliding and rolling of the rotor on the bearing, and sliding of the rotor on the bushing. The model can be used in conjunction with the experiment to estimate the bearing coefficient of friction and the bushing friction force. For micromotor operation in nitrogen gas, a polysilicon on polysilicon coefficient of friction of 0.36-0.4 is estimated. The bushing frictional force is found to consist of a constant term and a term that depends on the square of the excitation voltage. >
Oxide Glasses in Light of the “Ideal Glass” Concept: I, Ideal and Nonideal Transitions, and Departures from Ideality*

This two-part paper develops a basis for discussing glass properties which has features in common with standard “actual vs. ideal” treatments of physicochemical behavior, by defining thermodynamically an ideal state for the glass and discussing the states of the actual glasses in terms of their “departures from ideality.” The glass transition, which freezes the state of the actual glass, is seen as the consequence of the progress of the liquid toward the ideal state, which, for kinetic reasons, is unattainable. The single complexion limit of the Gibbs-DiMarzio treatment for chain polymers and a minimum volume zero excess entropy condition related to random close packing for simple liquids are seen as complimentary descriptions of the ideal state, which also sets the thermo-dynamic low-temperature limit to the liquid state. Glasses formed from simpler molten salt and concentrated aqueous solution systems appear to approach the ideal state and thus provide a behavior pattern against which departures from ideality in the more complex silicate and borate glasses of practical interest may be assessed. In part I general aspects of the problem posed by the glass transition phenomenon are discussed, a dynamic interpretation for simple glasses in terms of the state of phonon excitation of the glassy solid is conjectured, and the concepts of ideal and nonideal (practical) glasses and glass transitions are elucidated from consideration of thermodynamic and kinetic factors involved in the volume relaxation of liquids toward the glassy state. Attention is given to units for describing departures from ideality to permit comparisons among different systems. The limited data for inorganic glasses are examined. Departures from ideality, as usually found in the physicochemical comparison of “actual” with “ideal” behavior, are attributable to specific interactions among the particles of the system, but magnitudes also depend on heat capacity changes. The former factor reaches a maximum in vitreous SiO2 which thus may be one of the least ideal of glasses.
All‐women's groups: a view from inside

All-women's counseling groups are the subject of controversy among counselors. In this article the author presents a rationale for such groups, discussing several ways in which women find them more therapeutically helpful than mixed groups. She deals with the dynamics of different kinds of groups, and she urges counselors to seriously consider using all-women's groups in their work.
On the Development of Spiral Bands in a Tropical Cyclone

Abstract Development of the band structure in a tropical cyclone is investigated by solving an eigenvalue problem for perturbations of spiral shape. The perturbations are superposed on a baroclinic circular vortex accompanied with a radial and vertical basic flow. It is shown that the spiral bands in three different modes may be intensified in an inner area of a tropical cyclone. The baroclinicity of a basic field is not required for the development of bands in any mode. A spiral band which propagates outward can grow in the presence of the horizontal shear of the basic azimuthal flow. Without the basic circular vortex, this band is reduced to a neutral gravity-inertia wave with a particular vertical structure. The unstable spiral in this mode takes a pattern which extends clockwise from the center of a storm in the Northern Hemisphere. An azimuthal wavenumber 2 and a radial scale (twice the band width) of 200 km are preferred by this band. Another band with the characteristics of an inward propagating gr...
Stigma and stratification limiting the math course progression of adolescents labeled with a learning disability

Abstract Learning disability (LD) designations may produce stigma by masking the real causes of learning differences, altering perceptions, and legitimizing stratification. This study uses data on adolescents and their teachers from The Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 to show the negative effect of LD designations on adolescents' math course attainment is partially mediated by disparities in adolescents' earlier math course placements, and teachers' more negative attributions and expectations. Results indicate addressing low achievement through LD designations may reproduce disadvantage through stigma and stratification.
'Hidden Recommendations': A Re-Classification of Stock Recommendations

Using a large database of analysts’ target prices and recommendations issued over the period 1999-2011, this paper documents the presence of inconsistencies between recommendation and implied return in the sell-side analysts’ target prices, and analyzes its impact on market prices. In particular, it analyzes if these inconsistencies are identified by investors at the announcement and if they are related to incentives to manipulate the recommendations. The paper finds that investors are capable to identify these inconsistent signals among the rest of recommendations. This study also shows that the inconsistencies between recommendation and implied return would be explained by analysts’ incentives to bias the stock recommendation upward (downward), against the direction suggested by the implied return, when the stock presents higher (lower) recent past performance, higher (lower) “glamour” characteristics and higher (lower) brokerage fee potential.
Waffen und Gewalt

In diesem Kapitel werde ich Ihnen eine der faszinierendsten Geschichten vorstellen, auf die ich in den Jahrzehnten meiner Dokumentation uber Ratten und ihr Verhalten gestosen bin. Es ist die Geschichte einiger bestens ausgebildeter afrikanischer Ratten, die helfen, Landminen – zweifellos eine der unmenschlichsten Formen der Gewalt – aufzuspuren. Kurzum, diese vierbeinigen Minenraumer helfen den Menschen, den Schlamassel zu beseitigen, den sie selbst angerichtet haben, als sie diese heimtuckischen Waffen in bestimmten Gebieten Afrikas verteilten. All das geschah angeblich, um das eigene Gebiet zu verteidigen, doch in verminten Gebieten verlieren immer wieder spielende Kinder Gliedmasen oder gar ihr Leben.
Use of an Electronic Screener to Assess Reproductive Health Care Needs and Prompt Physician Delivery of Recommended Services Among Youth in Primary Care

Religious also had lower sexual communication (b1⁄4-0.83). Condom use efficacy was higher in Friends/Family (b1⁄40.20). Partner meeting venue did not impact sexual satisfaction. Conclusions: Young men who meet relationship partners in more traditional venues like school report better relationship attributes such as sexual communication with partners; less traditional but commonly used venues like on-line media are associated with adverse outcomes like IPV. Identification of use of online meeting venues may be an important trigger for IPV screening. Sources of Support: 4UH3AI094641-02.
Pharmacogenomic Biomarkers: an FDA Perspective on Utilization in Biological Product Labeling

Precision medicine promises to improve both the efficacy and safety of therapeutic products by better informing why some patients respond well to a drug, and some experience adverse reactions, while others do not. Pharmacogenomics is a key component of precision medicine and can be utilized to select optimal doses for patients, more precisely identify individuals who will respond to a treatment and avoid serious drug-related toxicities. Since pharmacogenomic biomarker information can help inform drug dosing, efficacy, and safety, pharmacogenomic data are critically reviewed by FDA staff to ensure effective use of pharmacogenomic strategies in drug development and appropriate incorporation into product labels. Pharmacogenomic information may be provided in drug or biological product labeling to inform health care providers about the impact of genotype on response to a drug through description of relevant genomic markers, functional effects of genomic variants, dosing recommendations based on genotype, and other applicable genomic information. The format and content of labeling for biologic drugs will generally follow that of small molecule drugs; however, there are notable differences in pharmacogenomic information that might be considered useful for biologic drugs in comparison to small molecule drugs. Furthermore, the rapid entry of biologic drugs for treatment of rare genetic diseases and molecularly defined subsets of common diseases will likely lead to increased use of pharmacogenomic information in biologic drug labels in the near future. In this review, we outline the general principles of therapeutic product labeling and discuss the utilization of pharmacogenomic information in biologic drug labels.
Cobalt(II) and copper(II) complexes ofN,N′,N″,N‴-tetra(2-cyanoethyl)-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane

Cobalt(II) and copper(II) complexes of the title ligand, TCEC, as well as a cobalt(II) complex ofN,N′,N",N'''-tetra (1-methyl-2-cyanoethyl)-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane, TMCEC, have been isolated and spectrally characterized.
Little Ears and Brains: Hearing Aids and Intervention

Until recently, the habilitation process of children with hearing impairment has focused on providing access to auditory information through hearing assistive technology (e.g., hearing aids and FM systems). It is apparent from the literature that when selecting hearing aids for the pediatric population cognitive and auditory development must be taken into account. In order for pediatric hearing aid users to utilize the information provided by the hearing aids and be successful, an intervention plan that recognizes the role of cognitive factors such as working memory and attention is necessary. The current state of knowledge related to auditory training will be discussed as well as other factors related to improvement in speech perception. Future directions in auditory training and habilitation efforts will be discussed.
Clinical Significance of Immature Reticulocyte Fraction Determined by Automated Reticulocyte Counting

The Sysmex R-3000 (TOA Medical Electronics, Kobe, Japan) evaluates maturation of reticulocytes by quantitating the fraction of reticulocytes within low-, middle-, and high-fluorescence intensity regions. We defined the immature reticulocyte fraction (IRF) as the sum of the fraction of high-fluorescence intensity regions plus the fraction of middle-fluorescence intensity regions. Then, we studied the clinical significance of IRF in the evaluation of anemia by comparing the IRF with the absolute reticulocyte count (ARC) and with the reticulocyte production index (RPI) and by reviewing pertinent clinical information about the patients. In the study, 132 specimens from 102 patients undergoing evaluation of anemia were analyzed. By using simple regression analysis, our results showed that the IRF has a weak but significantly positive correlation with ARC and with RPI, indicating that IRF is an additional useful parameter to evaluate the erythropoietic activity in anemia. Interpretation by integrating IRF and reticulocyte enumeration (ARC and RPI) provided useful information for further subclassification of anemia. Increased IRF (IRF ≥0.23) and increased ARC generally indicated an adequate erythroid response to anemia. All but three specimens with an IRF less than 0.23 showed an RPI of 2 or less. These specimens were from patients with underlying diseases known to lead to decreased erythropoietic activity, predominantly chronic renal insufficiency. Specimens with a subnormal or normal ARC (with a corresponding RPI ≤2) but with an IRF of more than 0.23 were from patients with various underlying conditions, including acute infection, iron deficiency anemia, human immunodeficiency virus infection, sickle disease with crisis, pregnancy, and myelodysplastic syndrome. Our results indicate that an IRF of 0.23 or less in patients with anemia reflects bone marrow that is nonresponsive or underresponsive to the anemia. Patients with an increased IRF (IRF ≥0.23) may require further examination to clarify the cause of the anemia.
End-Use Quality and Agronomic Characteristics Associated with the Glu-B1al High-Molecular-Weight Glutenin Allele in U.S. Hard Winter Wheat

High-molecular-weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GS) conferred by alleles at the , Glu-B1, and Glu-D1 loci confer unique end-use quality properties for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The Glu-B1al allele at the Glu-B1 locus has not been widely used for cultivar development in the U.S. hard winter wheat region. We evaluated four groups of near-isogenic lines (NILs) with different combinations of alleles at Glu-B1, allele b (encoding subunits Bx7 + By8) or a1 (subunits Bx7ᴼᴱ + By8), and at Glu-D1, allele a (subunits Dx2 + Dy12) or d (subunits Dx5 + Dy10), to assess direct and indirect effects attributed to the Glu-B1al allele. Kernel characteristics, dough-mixing properties, and agronomic traits were determined from field experiments in Colorado in 2012 (six environments) and 2013 (five environments). Lower grain hardness was observed in several environments for the Glu-B1al/Glu-D1d NIL group. Greater dough-mixing strength (midline peak time) and mixograph tolerance (bandwidth 2 min after peak) were conferred by the Glu-B1al allele, particularly when in combination with the Glu-D1d allele. No consistent agronomic advantages or disadvantages were conferred by the Glu-B1al allele, although significantly earlier heading was observed with the Glu-B1al/Glu-D1a NIL group. Deployment of the Glu-B1al allele in U.S. hard winter wheat cultivars would appear to offer several end-use quality attributes with little or no adverse effects on other characteristics.
A case of lithium-induced parkinsonism presenting with typical motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease in a bipolar patient

Lithium is a mood stabilizer rarely associated with drug-induced parkinsonism (DIP). We present a case of an elderly woman with bipolar disorder who developed parkinsonian symptoms after chronic lithium administration despite therapeutic serum levels. Upon evaluation, classic parkinsonian signs of muscle rigidity, tremor, bradykinesia, freezing of gait, and cognitive decline were observed. Initially, she was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease (PD); however, DaTscan SPECT imaging clarified the diagnosis as DIP. As the daily lithium dosage was reduced, the patient's motor symptoms improved. This report emphasizes close monitoring of lithium levels in geriatric populations and the need to consider lithium-induced parkinsonism when PD symptoms appear in chronic lithium users.
Racial and Ethnic Diversity of U.S. Plastic Surgery Trainees

Background Increased diversity of U.S. physicians can improve patient communication and mitigate health disparities for racial minorities. This study analyzes trends in racial and ethnic diversity of plastic surgery residents. Methods Demographic data of surgical residents, medical students, and integrated plastic surgery residency applicants were obtained from the Association of American Medical Colleges. Data for college students and the general population were obtained from the U.S. Census for comparison with plastic surgery. Interspecialty differences and temporal trends in racial composition were analyzed with chi-square tests. Results From 1995 to 2014, Asian and Hispanic plastic surgery residents increased nearly 3-fold (7.4%-21.7%, p Conclusions Hispanics and African Americans are underrepresented in plastic surgery residency relative to whites and Asians. This study underscores the need for greater initiatives to increase diversity in plastic surgery residency.
Online motion planning for underwater inspection

This paper proposes the use of path planning algorithms for AUVs in applications where the robot needs to adapt online its trajectory for inspection or safety purposes. These algorithms generate trajectories under motion constraints, which can be followed without deviations, to ensure the safety even when passing close to obstacles. View planning algorithms are also combined to decide the movements to be executed to discover the unexplored seabed or target and to cover it with a camera or sonar. Online mapping with profiling sonars and online planning with fast sampling-based algorithms, allows the execution of missions without any previous knowledge of the 3D shape of the environment. Real 2D results with a torpedo-shaped AUV with hovering capabilities in an artificial harbour structure and natural rocky canyon demonstrate the feasibility of the approach for avoiding or inspecting the underwater environment. Simulated 3D results also show the capability of the approach to be extended in more real and challenging environments.
Integration of Biological Systems Content into the Process Dynamics and Control Curriculum

Abstract The evolution of the chemical engineering discipline motivates a reevaluation of the process dynamics and control curriculum. A key requirement of future courses is the introduction of theoretical concepts and application examples relevant to emerging areas such as complex biological systems. We outline the critical concepts required to integrate biological content within the traditional framework of process dynamics and control. Our initial experience with three courses is outlined to demonstrate alternative approaches to achieve this integration. The paper concludes with a discussion of open issues which require further attention from the process control and biological systems communities
Time Series Forecasting

This technical note introduces (1) approaches to forecasting in general, (2) simple moving averages and exponential smoothing, (3) accounting for seasonality in forecasting, (4) accounting for trend in forecasting, and (5) implementing a forecasting model. Holt and Winter models for exponential smoothing are included. Excerpt UVA-QA-0438 TIME SERIES FORECASTING I. Introduction In many business situations, we attempt to forecast what will happen based on the information at hand. Often the task is to predict the next of a series of periodic observations of a quantity (for example: demand for a product). The observations form what is called a time series. When we rely solely on past observations of that quantity to predict future occurrences, the approach is called time series forecasting. Although time series forecasting does not assume that the future business results will be the same as in the past, it does rely on the premise that past patterns in the time series will carry on into the future. A. Forecast uses Forecasts are useful for planning activities in the operations, marketing, financial, and perhaps all other functions of business. The time horizon of a forecast indicates how far into the future it predicts. The required time horizon is one of the determinants of which approach to use in forecasting. In this note, we address short-term forecasts, that is, from one to a few periods into the future. . . .
Data-driven fuel consumption estimation: A multivariate adaptive regression spline approach

Abstract Providing guidance and information to drivers to help them make fuel-efficient route choices remains an important and effective strategy in the near term to reduce fuel consumption from the transportation sector. One key component in implementing this strategy is a fuel-consumption estimation model. In this paper, we developed a mesoscopic fuel consumption estimation model that can be implemented into an eco-routing system. Our proposed model presents a framework that utilizes large-scale, real-world driving data, clusters road links by free-flow speed and fits one statistical model for each of cluster. This model includes predicting variables that were rarely or never considered before, such as free-flow speed and number of lanes. We applied the model to a real-world driving data set based on a global positioning system travel survey in the Philadelphia-Camden-Trenton metropolitan area. Results from the statistical analyses indicate that the independent variables we chose influence the fuel consumption rates of vehicles. But the magnitude and direction of the influences are dependent on the type of road links, specifically free-flow speeds of links. A statistical diagnostic is conducted to ensure the validity of the models and results. Although the real-world driving data we used to develop statistical relationships are specific to one region, the framework we developed can be easily adjusted and used to explore the fuel consumption relationship in other regions.
Measuring the black hole mass in ultraluminous X-ray sources with the X-ray scaling method

In our recent work, we demonstrated that a novel X-ray scaling method, originally introduced for Galactic black holes, could be reliably extended to estimate the mass of supermassive black holes accreting at moderate to high level. Here, we apply this X-ray scaling method to ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs) to constrain their \mbh. Using 49 ULXs with multiple \xmm\ observations, we infer that ULXs host both stellar mass BHs and intermediate mass BHs. The majority of the sources of our sample seem to be consistent with the hypothesis of highly accreting massive stellar BHs with $M_{\rm BH}\sim100\,M_{\odot}$. Our results are in general agreement with the \mbh\ values obtained with alternative methods, including model-independent variability methods. This suggests that the X-ray scaling method is an actual scale-independent method that can be applied to all BH systems accreting at moderate-high rate.
Aged Eisenia fetida earthworms exhibit decreased reproductive success

AbstractThe effect of age on male and female reproductive activities was examined in 1–6-year-old age-matched populations of the simultaneous hermaphroditic earthworm, Eisenia fetida, (Annelida; Oligochaeta). As earthworm ages increase from 3 to 6 years, cocoon and hatchling production gradually decreased. Sperm counts from 2-year-old and 5-year-old earthworms did not differ. Old earthworms successfully inseminated young virgin earthworms. Thus, female functions associated with successful cocoon production diminish before the male function. These results indicate that E. fetida earthworms spend up to one-third of their adult life with limited reproductive capabilities.
Untargeted metabolomics reveals multiple metabolites influencing smoking-related DNA methylation.

Aim We conducted a joint metabolomic-epigenomic study to identify patterns of epigenetic associations with smoking-related metabolites. Patients & methods We performed an untargeted metabolome-wide association study of smoking and epigenome-wide association studies of smoking-related metabolites among 180 male twins. We examined the patterns of epigenetic association linked to smoking-related metabolites using hierarchical clustering. Results Among 12 annotated smoking-related metabolites identified from a metabolome-wide association study, we observed significant hypomethylation associated with increased level of N-acetylpyrrolidine, cotinine, 5-hydroxycotinine and nicotine and hypermethylation associated with increased level of 8-oxoguanine. Hierarchical clustering revealed common and unique epigenetic-metabolic associations related to smoking. Conclusion Our study suggested that a joint metabolome-epigenome approach can reveal additional details in molecular responses to the environmental exposure to understand disease risk.
Does Neurology Have a Role? Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy from the Perspective of Breast Cancer Survivors (P1.135)

Objective: Our aim was to determine if quality of life (QOL) and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) symptom severity factor significantly in whether patients are referred to neurologist care. Background: The 5-year survival rate for breast cancer is now 91%, leading to 3.5 million survivors. However, maintaining quality of life (QOL) in remission remains challenging. A major factor suspected in decreasing QOL is chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Design/Methods: 3524 individuals diagnosed with breast cancer from 2004–2014 were emailed surveys using Qualtrics. The survey included the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN20) Questionnaire and the EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ-C30). Responses were correlated against patients’ medical record data via extracted text. Two-sample pooled t-tests compared (1) neurology referral vs. CIPN severity, (2) neurology referral vs. quality of life. Results: 828 participants completed the on-line surveys. Among these, 350 participants received chemotherapy. 20% self-reported a diagnosis of CIPN. Of those, 33% (17 out of 69) reported referral to a neurologist. CIPN20 results were reported for three symptom severity categories: (1) sensory, (2) motor and (3) autonomic. Significantly higher symptom severity was found for patients needing referral to a neurologist. Sensory (21.2 vs. 11.7, p=0.0016) and motor (15.8 vs. 8.53, p= 0.0027) symptoms were significantly related to referral status, but autonomic symptoms were not (7.8 vs 7.05, p=0.675). Lower QOL was also significantly related to referral status (60.2 vs. 76.0, p= 0.004). Conclusions: We found that for breast cancer survivors with CIPN, neurologist referral significantly related to greater symptom severity and lower QOL. This suggests that neurologists do play a key role in CIPN treatment. Special needs for motor and sensory symptom care was indicated. Further study, including clinical trials, may be needed to determine if mild CIPN would benefit from neurologist care. Disclosure: Dr Gordon has nothing to disclose. Dr. Patino has nothing to disclose. Dr. Jaiyesimi has nothing to disclose.
Red Cell 2,3-Diphosphoglycerate and Oxygen Affinity of Hemoglobin in Patients With Thyroid Disorders

We measured red blood cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and the P50 value in vitro of the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve, which is the oxygen tension at half saturation of hemoglobin, in order to quantitate red blood cell oxygen transport function in individuals who were diagnosed as hypothyroid, euthyroid, or hyperthyroid based on measurements of thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), thyrotropin (TSH), and their clinical status. Hypothyroid (mean T4 2.8 microgram/dl, T3 49 ng/dl, TSH 37 microU/ml) and hyperthyroid (mean T4 14 microgram/dl, T3 271 ng/dl, TSH less than 0.7 microU/ml) patients had normal red cell 2,3-DPG and ATP levels and normal P50 values in vitro. The known changes in oxygen consumption produced by alterations in thyroid hormone levels in patients with hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism did not affect red blood cell oxygen transport function.
Reply to “Comments on Waveform Optimization for Transmit Beamforming With MIMO Radar Antenna Array”

First of all, we want to thank the authors of [1] for their interest in our work [2] . In [2] , the waveform design was carried out in the space domain only (coding the phases for different elements at the same moment) to form a desired transmit beam pattern at a given moment. However, if the MIMO radar waveforms are designed to satisfy the requirements in transmit beamforming (i.e., generating radiation nulls in specific directions) as well as the orthogonality between the waveforms transmitted from different elements, they must be coded simultaneously in space-time domains [3] . It turns out that the space-time coded waveforms cannot be exactly orthogonal in time domain. More specifically, to form a beam pattern with radiation null on a preselected direction, the waveforms can be optimized to be near-orthogonal with their cross correlation levels of about 1/ $N$ with $N $ being the coding length. In [1] , the authors questioned if the radiation energy in the preselected target direction could really be reduced or minimized based on (2). Since the cross correlations of the designed waveforms are nontrivial for a reasonable coding length, (2) does not hold true for the designed waveforms, and thus, cannot refute the conclusions obtained in [2] . In addition, the evaluation of (2), which is similar to the result of matched filtering, requires the full knowledge of the transmitted waveforms and cannot be done by a noncooperative target. Therefore, the designed MIMO radar waveforms in [2] and [3] would generate near-zero or very weak radiation (defocused beam) in the intended direction and are theoretically undetectable by noncooperative targets in the same direction. 1 However, for MIMO radar itself with full knowledge of transmit waveforms, target detection can be performed with the maximum gain through refocusing transmit-receive beam via space-time matched filtering processing at the radar receiver.
Credit Misallocation, Endogenous TFP Changes, and Economic Fluctuation in China

In 2009, to cope with the economic slowdown China initiated a large-scale stimulus mainly in the form of bank credit that favored the state-owned sector. Data shows that during the policy easing ep...
Tight junction structure, function, and assessment in the critically ill: a systematic review.

Epithelial and endothelial barrier integrity, essential for homeostasis, is maintained by cellular boarder structures known as tight junctions (TJs). In critical illness, TJs may become disrupted, resulting in barrier dysfunction manifesting as capillary leak, pulmonary edema, gut bacterial translocation, and multiple organ failure. We aim to provide a clinically focused overview of TJ structure and function and systematically review and analyze all studies assessing markers of endothelial and epithelial TJ breakdown correlated with clinical outcomes in critically ill humans. We systematically searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PubMed. Additional articles were identified by targeted searches. We included studies that looked at the relationship between biomarkers of endothelial or epithelial TJ structure or function and critical illness. Results were qualitatively analyzed due to sample size and heterogeneity. A total of 5297 abstracts met search criteria, of which 150 articles met requirements for full text review. Of these, 30 studies met inclusion criteria. Fifteen of the 30 reports investigated proteins of endothelial tight junctions and 15 investigated epithelial TJ markers, exclusively in the gastrointestinal epithelium. No studies investigated TJ-derived proteins in primary cardiac or pulmonary pathology. TJ integrity is essential for homeostasis. We identified multiple studies that indicate TJs are disrupted by critical illness. These studies highlight the significance of barrier disruption across many critical disease states and correlate TJ-associated markers to clinically relevant outcomes. Further study on the role of multiple tissue-specific claudins, particularly in the setting of respiratory or cardiac failure, may lead to diagnostic and therapeutic advances. This systematic review is registered in the PROSPERO database: CRD42017074546 .
Deliberative decision-making in teacher education

Abstract This paper examines deliberative decision-making as a strategy for democratic teacher education with an eye toward the role of teacher educators as facilitators in the process. It analyzes how facilitators' actions can support or undermine participants' power to deliberate over meaningful decisions. The paper is a multi-case study drawing on data collected across three iterations of the Foxfire Course for Teachers, a professional development retreat. Through thick qualitative description, the paper shows how effective facilitators can support democratic learning by promoting reflection on the deliberative decision-making process and directing participants' attention to problems instead of solving problems for participants.
The Flat Earth phenomenon on YouTube

An active contemporary discourse on YouTube revolves around the idea that the Earth is flat instead of round, and how Flat Earth cosmology is related to contemporary political, religious and cultural issues. Thousands of such videos have been produced, gathering multiple millions of views. Flat Earth discourse sometimes crosses into other public discourse, but YouTube remains singularly important in promoting Flat Earth belief and encouraging development of its supporting arguments. The videos at the source of this stir are highly ambiguous. I argue that this phenomenon represents fusion of multiple influences unique to YouTube, including conspiracy theory, climate change denial, science documentaries, clickbait, viral videos, trolling, Russian propaganda, and young-Earth religious fundamentalism. The phenomenon cannot be properly understood without recognizing the distinct contribution of all of these elements.
Prognostic understanding and barriers to palliative care in patients with metastatic lung cancer on immunotherapy.

36Background: Communicating prognosis and integrating palliative care (PC) are challenging yet vital aspects of quality care for patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). These tasks may be more difficult in the setting of immunotherapy, as this modality may offer a durable response but only in 10-20% of patients. Our goal was to identify correlates of prognostic understanding and interest in PC among stage IV NSCLC patients receiving immunotherapy. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 60 patients (M age = 62.5 years; SD = 9.3 years; 40% male; 45% ≤ high school degree; 68% ECOG ≤ 1) undergoing immuno- or chemo-immunotherapy for stage IV NSCLC (80% de novo) at an academic medical center. Results: Most patients (73%) reported that knowing their prognosis was very important. Nearly all said the goal of treatment was to help them live longer (98%), feel better (95%), and completely rid them of cancer (85%); 49% thought they were likely to be cured. Only 17% of patients were int...
Solving the electronic structure problem with machine learning

Simulations based on solving the Kohn-Sham (KS) equation of density functional theory (DFT) have become a vital component of modern materials and chemical sciences research and development portfolios. Despite its versatility, routine DFT calculations are usually limited to a few hundred atoms due to the computational bottleneck posed by the KS equation. Here we introduce a machine-learning-based scheme to efficiently assimilate the function of the KS equation, and by-pass it to directly, rapidly, and accurately predict the electronic structure of a material or a molecule, given just its atomic configuration. A new rotationally invariant representation is utilized to map the atomic environment around a grid-point to the electron density and local density of states at that grid-point. This mapping is learned using a neural network trained on previously generated reference DFT results at millions of grid-points. The proposed paradigm allows for the high-fidelity emulation of KS DFT, but orders of magnitude faster than the direct solution. Moreover, the machine learning prediction scheme is strictly linear-scaling with system size.
Adaptive Immunological Defenses Against Bacterial Attack

In this chapter, we discuss how the innate immune response approached in ► Chap. 4 transitions into the long-term adaptive immune response that attempts to contain the bacterial attack. This includes addressing the mechanism by which antibody and cell-based antibacterial measures are generated and sustained as well as a discussion of the way in which such a response is regulated. The basic structure and function of the antibody is framed in the context of the multifaceted ways the body uses these molecules to restrict bacterial expansion. At the conclusion of this chapter, the reader will be able to understand how the body’s immune response is effective at exploiting vulnerabilities in bacterial virulence mechanism for the long-term protection of the host.
GPU Acceleration of a Best-Features Based Digital Rotoscope

This paper presents the first hybrid GPU-CPU implementation of a best-features based digital rotoscope. Unlike the other rotoscoping and Non Photo-Realistic Rendering (NPR) implementations, this best-features rotoscoping technique incorporates four major stages: background subtraction, best-feature corner detection, marker-based watershed segmentation, and color palette to produce a cartoon stylized video sequence. Our GPU-based implementation uses the computing power of both the CPU host and the GPU device for fast processing. We implement the computationally-intensive and parallel stages on the GPU device by using optimizations such as shared memory for reduced global memory accesses and execution configuration to maximize the GPU multiprocessor occupancy. We also devise a novel window-based reduction method on the GPU device to select optimally spaced best features; this task is inherently sequential in the serial algorithm. We test our implementation using videos of different resolutions. Our GPU implementation reports speedup as high as 3.71x for a video resolution of 1440x2560, and an end-to-end execution time reduction from 21 minutes to 6 minutes for the largest video of resolution 2160x3840.
Estimating Detection Probability for Burmese Pythons with Few Detections and Zero Recaptures

Detection has been a long-standing challenge to monitoring populations of cryptic herpetofauna, which often have detection probabilities that are closer to zero than to one. Burmese Pythons (Python bivittatus [=Python molurus bivittatus]), a recent invader in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem of Florida, are cryptic snakes that have long periods of inactivity. In addition, management actions such as removal of every python encountered create challenges for estimating population size and quantifying effects of management using traditional statistical approaches. We used Bayesian analysis of data collected from 59 visual surveys (144 person-surveys) covering a total distance of 485.6 km (1,185.1 person-km) and radiotelemetry to estimate detection probability for Burmese Pythons. These estimates can improve interpretation of encounter and removal data. We found that detection probability ranged from 0.0001 to 0.0146 depending on whether effort units accounted for total human effort across multiple surveyors and statistical method used. On the basis of our surveys, detection probabilities for Burmese Pythons are therefore likely <0.05, but factors such as the number of searchers or time of day may improve detection probability. Traditional capture–recapture or visual surveys are, however, unlikely to yield accurate information on Burmese Python population size or trends across time without cost-prohibitive effort. Consequently, novel methods development to monitor or measure Burmese Python populations, including techniques better equipped to handle very low detection, are critically needed for informative and reliable inferences about population size or the management effects of python removal.
Learning leadership in higher education: Communicative implications for graduate education

The training and development of aspiring and future leaders in higher education remains a critical challenge for graduate programs across the country. One example of an “early intervention” program...
Erector Spinae Plane Block for the Treatment of Post Mastectomy Pain Syndrome

Postmastectomy pain syndrome (PMPS) is a common complication after breast cancer surgery and is often challenging to manage. Treatment options include medication management, physical therapy, and interventional procedures. The erector spinae plane block (ESPB) is a regional technique proven to help both acute postoperative analgesia and chronic neuropathic pain conditions. This block is becoming more popular in the chronic pain setting for neuropathic thoracic pain conditions. We describe the utilization of the ESP block for significant neuropathic breast pain after total mastectomy. Our case demonstrates the utility of this block for women suffering from severe PMPS.
Toward Urban Water Security: Broadening the Use of Machine Learning Methods for Mitigating Urban Water Hazards

Due to the complex interactions of human activity and the hydrological cycle, achieving urban water security requires comprehensive planning processes that address urban water hazards using a holistic approach. However, the effective implementation of such an approach requires the collection and curation of large amounts of disparate data, and reliable methods for modeling processes that may be co-evolutionary yet traditionally represented in non-integrable ways. In recent decades, many hydrological studies have utilized advanced machine learning and information technologies to approximate and predict physical processes, yet none have synthesized these methods into a comprehensive urban water security plan. In this paper, we review ways in which advanced machine learning techniques have been applied to specific aspects of the hydrological cycle and discuss their potential applications for addressing challenges in mitigating multiple water hazards over urban areas. We also describe a vision that integrates these machine-learning applications into a comprehensive watershed-to-community planning workflow for smart-cities management of urban water resources.
An effectively causal deep learning algorithm to increase intelligibility in untrained noises for hearing-impaired listeners.

Real-time operation is critical for noise reduction in hearing technology. The essential requirement of real-time operation is causality—that an algorithm does not use future time-frame information and, instead, completes its operation by the end of the current time frame. This requirement is extended currently through the concept of “effectively causal,” in which future time-frame information within the brief delay tolerance of the human speech-perception mechanism is used. Effectively causal deep learning was used to separate speech from background noise and improve intelligibility for hearing-impaired listeners. A single-microphone, gated convolutional recurrent network was used to perform complex spectral mapping. By estimating both the real and imaginary parts of the noise-free speech, both the magnitude and phase of the estimated noise-free speech were obtained. The deep neural network was trained using a large set of noises and tested using complex noises not employed during training. Significant algorithm benefit was observed in every condition, which was largest for those with the greatest hearing loss. Allowable delays across different communication settings are reviewed and assessed. The current work demonstrates that effectively causal deep learning can significantly improve intelligibility for one of the largest populations of need in challenging conditions involving untrained background noises.
The Association of Preoperative Frailty and Postoperative Delirium: A Meta-analysis.

Background Both frailty and postoperative delirium (POD) are common in elective surgical patients 65 years of age and older. However, the association between preoperative frailty and POD remains difficult to characterize owing to the large number of frailty and POD assessment tools used in the literature, only a few of which are validated. Furthermore, some validated frailty tools fail to provide clear score cutoffs for distinguishing frail and nonfrail patients. We performed a meta-analysis to estimate the relationship between preoperative frailty and POD. Methods We searched several major databases for articles that investigated the relationship between preoperative frailty and POD in patients with mean age ≥65 years who were undergoing elective, nonemergent inpatient surgery. Inclusion criteria included articles published in English no earlier than 1999. Both preoperative frailty and POD must have been measured with validated tools using clear cutoff scores for frailty and delirium. Articles were selected and data extracted independently by 2 researchers. Risk of bias (ROBINS-I) and presence of confounders were summarized. Odds ratios (ORs) for POD associated with frailty relative to nonfrailty were computed with adjusted ORs when available. Original estimates were pooled by random effects analysis. Statistical significance was set at 2-sided P Results Nine studies qualified for meta-analysis. The Fried score or a modified version of it was used in 5 studies. Frailty prevalence ranged from 18.6% to 56%. Delirium was assessed with the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) or Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU) in 7 studies, Delirium Observation Scale in 1 study, and Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist in 1 study. The incidence of POD ranged from 7% to 56%. ROBINS-I risk of bias was low in 1 study, moderate in 4 studies, serious in 3 studies, and critical in 1 study. Random effects analysis (n = 794) of the OR for POD in frail versus nonfrail patients based on adjusted OR estimates was significant with an OR of 2.14 and a 95% confidence interval of 1.43-3.19. The I2 value was in the low range at 5.5, suggesting small variability from random effects. Funnel-plot analysis did not definitively support either the presence or absence of publication bias. Conclusions This meta-analysis provides evidence for a significant association between preoperative frailty and POD in elective surgical patients age 65 years or older.