cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Methodology for the Accelerated Evaluation of Design Properties

A system for rapidly determining the strength and stiffness of polyphase alloys is presented that is based on a digital representation of the material structure. Working in concert with the representation are a number of digital tools and probes that are analogues of testing equipment and instrumentation of traditional laboratory methods. The strategy to achieve a more rapid determination of mechanical properties utilizes a system that integrates laboratory testing and computer modeling. Several ideas are embedded in the design of this system. First, it is presumed that neither testing nor modeling by itself will be sufficient to fully accomplish the task. Rather, both will be used, with the determination made task-by-task on the basis of which is the more effective tool for a particular task. Second, the system is designed so that the simulation tools will mimic in many ways the conventional testing methods. To this end, a number of numerical analogues will exist that correspond to components of a physical testing system. Finally, experiments that actively probe the mechanical response of the material on multiple size scales will be prescribed to validate the simulation tools.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
2000 ASNR presidential address.

Dear friends and colleagues, it has been an honor and a privilege to serve as your president. My years on the Executive Committee have been a tremendous learning experience, and clearly, the highlight of my career. First, I would like to acknowledge publicly a few of the people who have been
Melt Spinning and Phase Transformations of V2CrA11-xBx and Ti3Nb6Mo3Si4 Alloys

Melt spinning was used to rapidly quench V 2 CrA1 1-x B x and Ti 3 Nb 6 Mo 3 Si 4 alloys. Melt spinning had very little effect on the crystal structure of the V 2 CrA1 1-x B x alloys. However, a new (NbTiMo) 3 Si A–15 phase was found by rapid quenching of the Ti 3 Nb 6 Mo 3 Si 4 alloys; the lattice parameter was 5.08 A. Melt spinning increased the Vickers microhardness values of the V 2 CrA1 1-x B x alloys from 500 to 750, and of the Ti 3 Nb 6 Mo 3 Si 4 alloys from 1000 to as high as 1675. Melt spinning increased the superconducting transition temperature of the Ti 3 Nb 6 Mo 3 Si 4 alloys from 1.9 to 3.4K.
A Brief Survey of Selected South Dakota Supreme Court Cases Decided in 1997

This case survey briefly summarizes important decisions of the South Dakota Supreme Court from the year 1997.
Intrasplenic transplantation of encapsulated cells: a novel approach to cell therapy.

Cell therapy is likely to succeed clinically if cells survive at the transplantation site and are protected against immune rejection. We hypothesized that this could be achieved with intrasplenic transplantation of encapsulated cells because the cells would have instant access to oxygen and nutrients while being separated from the host immune system. In order to provide proof of the concept, primary rat hepatocytes and human hepatoblastoma-derived HepG2 cells were used as model cells. Rat hepatocytes were encapsulated in 100-kDa hollow fibers and cultured for up to 28 days. Rat spleens were implanted with hollow fibers that were either empty or contained I x 10(7) rat hepatocytes. Human HepG2 cells were encapsulated using alginate/ poly-L-lysine (ALP) and also transplanted into the spleen; control rats were transplanted with free HepG2 cells. Blood human albumin levels were measured using Western blotting and spleen sections were immunostained for albumin. Hepatocytes in monolayer cultures remained viable for only 6-10 days, whereas the cells cultured in hollow fibers remained viable and produced albumin throughout the study period. Allogeneic hepatocytes transplanted in hollow fibers remained viable for 4 weeks (end of study). Free HepG2 transplants lost viability and function after 7 days, whereas encapsulated HepG2 cells remained viable and secreted human albumin at all time points studied. ALP capsules, with or without xenogeneic HepG2 cells, produced no local fibrotic response. These data indicate that intrasplenic transplantation of encapsulated cells results in excellent survival and function of the transplanted cells and that the proposed technique has the potential to allow transplantation of allo- and xenogeneic cells (e.g., pancreatic islets) without immunosuppression.
Diagnosis and surgical treatment of primary and secondary solid hepatic tumors in the adult.

The apparent efficacy and limitations of resective treatment are considered in regard to both benign hepatic tumors (benign solid tumors, cavernous hemangiomas, focal nodular hyperplasia, and hepatocytic adenomas) and malignant hepatic tumors.
Big Data Complex Event Processing for Internet of Things Provenance: Benefits for Audit, Forensics, and Safety

Some Internet of Things (IoT) subsystems will be far less robust than others. Systems that rely on these sensors require considerable knowledge about the sensors, their calibration, test conditions, manufacturers' recommended maintenance procedures. Despite the drive toward increased dataset variety, and while Big Data has had a correspondingly large impact on containerization and DevOps, the impact on information assurance (IA) has been incremental. This chapter surveys approaches to leverage Big Data techniques to enhance IoT provenance, which is itself only one of multiple measures needed to improve information assurance. A number of thus far loosely connected approaches are identified and addressed. Systematic use of concept of complex event processing (CEP) can improve on current information assurance practices, especially if its paradigms and design practices are more widely incorporated into IoT architectures. Big Data is changing the nature of work for Chief Security Officers (CSO), auditors, and forensic investigators.
NIP- and NAP-taurine bind to external modifier site of AE1 (band 3), at which iodide inhibits anion exchange

External iodide (I-o) inhibits AE1 (band 3)-mediated anion exchange in human red blood cells by binding to a noncompetitive inhibitory site, the external halide modifier site. External N-(4-azido-2-nitrophenyl)-2-aminoethyl sulfonate (NAP-taurine) and N-(4-isothiocyano-2-nitrophenyl)-2-aminoethyl sulfonate (NIP-taurine) also inhibit Cl- exchange noncompetitively. Increasing I-o decreases the inhibitory potency of NIP-taurine in a competitive fashion; this effect is not due to I- binding to the transport site, which has little effect on the NIP-taurine affinity. Bis(sulfosuccinimidyl)-suberate (BSSS) abolishes the noncompetitive inhibitory effect of I-o and greatly reduces the inhibitory effect of NAP-taurine. Together with previous work, these data suggest that external halides, such as I-, Br-, and probably also Cl-, bind to the same noncompetitive inhibitory site as do NAP- and NIP-taurine and that these reagents can be used to label the halide modifier site. Lys-539, a probable reaction site of BSSS, lies within the same segment of AE1 that is labeled by NAP-taurine and thus may be part of the modifier site.
Tandem emulsification for high-throughput production of double emulsions

Core–shell double emulsions produced using microfluidic methods with controlled structural parameters exhibit great potential in a wide range of applications, but the low production rate of microfluidic methods hinders the exploitation of the capabilities of microfluidics to produce double emulsions with well-defined features. A major obstacle towards the scaled-up production of core–shell double emulsions is the difficulty of achieving robust spatially controlled wettability in integrated microfluidic devices. Here, we use tandem emulsification, a two-step process with microfluidic devices, to scale up the production. With this method, single emulsions are generated in a first device and are re-injected directly into a second device to form uniform double emulsions. We demonstrate the application of tandem emulsification for scalable core–shell emulsion production with both integrated flow focusing and millipede devices and obtain emulsions of which over 90% are single-core monodisperse double emulsion drops. With both mechanisms, the shell thickness can be controlled, so that shells as thin as 3 μm are obtained for emulsions 50 μm in radius.
Kinetic mechanism of 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (HFO-1234yf) combustion

Abstract A kinetic model for 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (HFO-1234yf) high temperature oxidation and combustion is proposed. It is combined with the GRI-Mech-3.0 model, the previously developed model for 2-bromo-3,3,3-trifluoropropene (2-BTP), and the NIST C 1 -C 2 hydrofluorocarbon model. The model includes 909 reactions and 101 species. Combustion equilibrium calculations indicate a maximum combustion temperature of 2076 K for an HFO-1234yf volume fraction of 0.083 in air for standard conditions (298 K, 0.101 MPa). Modeling of flame propagation in mixtures of 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene with oxygen-enriched air demonstrates that the calculated maximum burning velocity reproduces the experimentally observed maximum burning velocity reasonably well. However, the calculated maximum is observed in lean mixtures in contrast to the experimental results showing the maximum burning velocity shifted to the rich mixtures of HFO-1234yf.
Automated extraction of hydrographically corrected contours for the conterminous United States: the US Geological Survey US Topo product

The US Topo is a new generation of digital topographic maps delivered by the US Geological Survey (USGS). These maps include contours in the traditional 7.5-min quadrangle format. The process for p...
Abstract LB-121: ACK in BRAF inhibitor resistance

BRAF inhibition by the small-molecule drug vemurafenib or dabrafenib achieves enormous success in the treatment of melanoma. However, melanoma patients lose their responsiveness after 6 months of treatment. Activation of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) was found in vemurafenib resistant melanomas and considered as a critical factor contributing to vemurafenib resistance. We hypothesize that the quick relapse after BRAFi therapy is at least partly due to the off targets of these drugs. Using trans-cyclooctene(TCO) moiety conjugated vemurafenib to treat melanoma cells in culture, we were able to confirm that ACK is a bona-fide intracellular target of vemurafenib. ACK, a protein kinase that regulates turnover of EGFR and other RTKs, was then identified to be downregulated in melanoma cells after short term vemurafenib treatment. Furthermore, ACK protein was reduced in multiple vemurafenib resistant melanoma cells. To prove ACK downregulation plays a role in vemurafenib resistance development, we knocked down ACK by shRNA. We found that ACK reduction delays EGFR degradation speed and increases EGFR protein expression. Since EGFR overexpression has been demonstrated as one important driver of vemurafenib resistance, we expected ACK reduction by shRNA would lead to BRAFi resistance, which was then confirmed by viability assay. During the development of BRAFi resistance, MITF is lost, which is accompanied by overexpression of growth factors and cytokines. We proved that higher resistance to vemurafenib can be induced by combination of ACK reduction and addition of EGFR ligands and cytokines. Our data suggest that EGFR activation in vemurafenib resistant melanoma is mediated by a combination of ACK and MITF downregulation, which lead to RTK and growth factor/cytokine upregulation. ACK binding and downregulation by BRAFi might be the first step toward resistance and a loophole inherent in these compounds themselves. Thus, optimizing BRAFi to ensure more selectivity should be a critical step further to improve the long-term benefits of this class of drugs. Note: This abstract was not presented at the meeting. Citation Format: Zhenyu Ji, Hensin Tsao, Mikula Hannes, Jenny Njauw, Raj Kumar. ACK in BRAF inhibitor resistance [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-121. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-LB-121
The dose of behavioral interventions to prevent and treat childhood obesity: a systematic review and meta-regression

A better understanding of the optimal “dose” of behavioral interventions to affect change in weight-related outcomes is a critical topic for childhood obesity intervention research. The objective of this review was to quantify the relationship between dose and outcome in behavioral trials targeting childhood obesity to guide future intervention development. A systematic review and meta-regression included randomized controlled trials published between 1990 and June 2017 that tested a behavioral intervention for obesity among children 2–18 years old. Searches were conducted among PubMed (Web-based), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (EBSCO platform), PsycINFO (Ovid platform) and EMBASE (Ovid Platform). Two coders independently reviewed and abstracted each included study. Dose was extracted as intended intervention duration, number of sessions, and length of sessions. Standardized effect sizes were calculated from change in weight-related outcome (e.g., BMI-Z score). Of the 258 studies identified, 133 had sufficient data to be included in the meta-regression. Average intended total contact (# sessions x length of sessions) was 27.7 (SD 32.2) hours and average duration was 26.0 (SD 23.4) weeks. When controlling for study covariates, a random-effects meta-regression revealed no significant association between contact hours, intended duration or their interaction and effect size. This systematic review identified wide variation in the dose of behavioral interventions to prevent and treat pediatric obesity, but was unable to detect a clear relationship between dose and weight-related outcomes. There is insufficient evidence to provide quantitative guidance for future intervention development. One limitation of this review was the ability to uniformly quantify dose due to a wide range of reporting strategies. Future trials should report dose intended, delivered, and received to facilitate quantitative evaluation of optimal dose. The protocol was registered on PROSPERO (Registration # CRD42016036124 ).
Realigning the Master of Public Health (MPH) to Meet the Evolving Needs of the Workforce

Graduate public health education is evolving rapidly as a function of complex and interrelated factors including rising student debt, a changing economy and job market, varied perceptions of the va...
"In a Position I See Myself in:" (Re)Positioning Identities and Culturally-Responsive Pedagogies.

Culturally-responsive pedagogies require moving beyond blanket assumptions about learners to focus deeply on local meaning-makings. This narrative analysis case study examines the ways a 20-year-ol...
Chemically Modified Gellan Gum Hydrogels with Tunable Properties for Use as Tissue Engineering Scaffolds

Gellan gum is a naturally occurring polymer that can cross-link in the presence of divalent cations to form biocompatible hydrogels. However, physically cross-linked gellan gum hydrogels lose their stability under physiological conditions, thus restricting the applications of these hydrogels in vivo. To improve the mechanical strength of the gels, we incorporated methacrylate into the gellan gum and chemically cross-linked the hydrogel through three polymerization methods: step growth through thiol-ene photoclick chemistry, chain-growth via photopolymerization, and mixed model in which both mechanisms were employed. Methacrylation was confirmed and quantified by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The mechanical properties and chemistry of the cross-linked gels were systematically altered by varying the reaction conditions. The compression moduli of the resulting hydrogels ranged between 6.4 and 17.2 kPa. The swelling ratios of the hydrogels were correlated with the compression moduli and affected by the addition of calcium. In vitro enzymatic degradation rate was found to depend on the degree of methacrylation. NIH/3T3 fibroblast cell proliferation and morphology were related to substrate stiffness, with a high stiffness leading generally to higher proliferation. The proliferation is further affected by the thiol-ene ratio. These results suggest that a hydrogel platform based on the gellan gum can offer versatile chemical modifications and tunable mechanical properties. The influence of these substrates on cell behavior suggests that the gellan gum hydrogels have the flexibility to be engineered for a variety of biomaterials applications.
Health Demography: An Evolving Discipline

Health demography is a subdiscipline within the field of demography that involves the application of the content and methods of demography to the study of health and healthcare. Demography, or the study of human populations, focuses on the study of the size, distribution, and composition of populations, as well as related dynamic processes such as fertility, mortality, and migration. Health and healthcare refer, respectively, to the condition of health as experienced by individuals and populations and to the operation of the healthcare delivery system. Health demography concerns itself with the manner in which demographic attributes influence both the health status and health behavior of populations and how, in turn, health-related phenomena affect demographic attributes. Health demography shares an interest in individual-level health issues with clinical medicine and in population-level health issues with social epidemiology.
The Role of Exercise in Weight Maintenance

It is not universally accepted by the scientific community that exercise plays an important role in maintenance of a desirable body weight. This uncertainly stems from a substantial number of short-term studies in which the effects of exercise on one or more components of energy balance have been inconsistent. It is important to realize the limitations of many of these acute studies and to design long-term studies more clearly identify the effects of exercise on energy balance.
MANIFESTATIONS OF INTOXICATION BY SELENIUM-ACCUMULATING PLANTS

I. ABSTRACT A selenium-accumulating indicator plant, Astragalus bisulcatus, previously recognized as toxic and thought to be a cause of chronic selenium toxicity described as Blind Staggers, was fed experimentally to sheep. Clinical signs of emaciation, depression, neurological disturbances, and pathologic changes of neurovisceral cytoplasmic vacuolation were observed microscopically in the experimental sheep. These changes are similar to those observed in locoweed poisoning. It is suggested that the principle toxic agent (s) in Astragalus bisulcatus is similar to that of the true locoweeds rather than being selenium related. Further studies feeding other seleniferous indicator plants are being conducted.
Making the most of what you've got: using models and data to improve learning rate and prediction accuracy

Prediction and classification in areas such as engineering, medicine, and applied expert systems often relies on two sources of knowledge: actual data and a model of the domain. Recent efforts in machine learning (Ourston 1991) (Towell, Shavlik, & Noordewier 1990) have developed techniques that take advantage of both sources, but the methods are often tied to particular types of models and induction techniques. We propose two general techniques that allow induction methods, C4.5(Quinlan 1993) in our case, to take advantage of an available model(Ortega 1994).
Environmental and genetic factors that influence immunity and longevity in mice.

The potential lifespan of a species, defined as the duration of life of the longest survivors, is determined by genetic factors which control the rate of cellular and organ development and involution. However, the incidence of disease increases exponentially with age (Simms, 1946), and longevity of individuals within a species is also determined by an absence of genetic susceptibility to disease and the maintenance of a vigorous and well-balanced immune system which continues to cope with environmental stimuli and internal degenerative changes. The thymus, a principal lymphoid organ, is governed by a genetic “time clock” which programs its involution with age. Environmental influences can accelerate or delay this natural process. Concomitant with thymic involution is a progressive decline in immune function. The incidence of autoimmune, neoplastic and infectious diseases increases dramatically as immune and immunoregulatory functions decline, and such diseases are hallmarks of the aging process. In this report we will present theories and experimental findings from our laboratory and others on the subject of the interaction between genetic and environmental factors affecting longevity, focusing on the immune system as a major interface between genetic aging programs and the environment.
Preliminary findings on cryptocurrency trading among regular gamblers: A new risk for problem gambling?

Abstract Cryptocurrencies are emerging digital currencies that allow anonymity in accessing various risk-taking activities through the Internet (e.g., drugs, gambling). However, given conceptual links to high-risk stocks, the present study sought to assess the association between trading cryptocurrencies and problem gambling. Data was collected through a cross-sectional online survey. Advertisement for the survey was posted on Amazon's Mechanical Turk. Participants were adults who had gambled at least monthly in the past year (N = 876; 58.33% male; M = 33.74 years, SD = 9.73). Participants completed the Problem Gambling Severity Index, Patient Health Questionnaire (2-item version), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (2-item version). Trading cryptocurrencies is strongly associated with problem gambling severity (r = 0.53, p
Critical Care Resource Utilization

Allocation of resources is frequently thought to be an issue in third world countries who may regularly struggle with limited resources. Resource allocation, however, may be frequently encountered within critical care units. The seemingly simple struggle with limited beds or limited medication supply can regularly require providers to make allocation decisions. Additionally, critical care units are always faced with the possibility of a sudden surge of patients through unanticipated mass casualty or natural disaster. The healthcare team and institution should have knowledge surrounding ethical frameworks for allocation of limited resources. The chapter discusses various mechanisms for decision making surrounding allocation of scarce resources for physicians, hospitals and policy makers.
Tranexamic Acid Administration Is Not Associated With an Increase in Complications in High-Risk Patients Undergoing Primary Total Knee or Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Retrospective Case-Control Study of 38,220 Patients.

Background Tranexamic acid (TXA) administration to reduce postoperative blood loss and transfusion is a well-established practice for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA). However, clinical concerns remain about the safety of TXA in patients with a history of a prothrombotic condition. We sought to determine the risk of complications between high-risk and low-risk TKA and THA patients receiving TXA. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 38,220 patients (8877 high-risk cases) who underwent primary TKA and THA between 2011 and 2017 at our institution. Intravenous TXA was administered in 20,501 (54%) of cases. The rates of thrombotic complications (deep vein thrombosis [DVT], pulmonary embolism [PE], myocardial infarction [MI], and cerebrovascular accident [CVA]) as well as mortality and readmission were assessed at 90 days postoperatively. Additionally, we evaluated 90-day postoperative occurrence of DVT and PE separate from occurrence of MI and CVA. Patients were categorized as high risk if they had a past medical history of a prothrombotic condition prior to surgery. Results There was no significant difference in the odds of these adverse outcomes between high-risk patients who received TXA and high-risk patients who did not receive TXA (odds ratio [OR] 1.00, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.85-1.18). There were also no differences when evaluating the odds of 90-day postoperative DVT and PE (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.59-1.19) nor MI and CVA (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.56-1.49) for high-risk patients receiving TXA vs high-risk patients who did not receive TXA. Conclusion TXA administration to high-risk TKA and THA patients is not associated with a statistically significant difference in adverse outcomes. We present incremental evidence in support of TXA administration for high-risk patients undergoing primary arthroplasties.
History of the Middle Ages: 300-1500

First published in 1931, this book covers the broad period of time between the Christian Roman Empire instituted in the fourth century and the period of the Renaissance. The author traces the main events of medieval history — striking a balance between political, institutional, social and cultural history — with no event of major importance escaping recognition. In addition to covering medieval Europe in detail, it also includes sections on the Byzantine Empire and the foundation of Islam. Many maps are also included to geographically illustrate key points. This book will be of interest to students of history.
Suspected Adrenocortical Deficiency

Adrenal insufficiency is broadly defined as an inability to produce an appropriate amount of adrenocortical steroids. More specifically, adrenal insufficiency may be classified into two larger categories based on underlying pathophysiology: primary adrenal insufficiency (also referred to as Addison’s disease), resulting in a deficiency of both glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids, and secondary adrenal insufficiency, resulting from a deficiency in adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secretion and consequent impaired adrenal production of cortisol. These two forms of adrenal insufficiency have unique and shared features. In order to understand the differences and similarities of each form of adrenal insufficiency and appreciate how the diagnosis and optimal management of adrenal insufficiency should be made, this chapter will first briefly review the physiology of the adrenal cortex and then detail the treatment of adrenocortical deficiency. This chapter will not cover the adrenal medulla, which synthesizes and secretes catecholamines.
Malnutrition and Animal Models of Cognitive Development

I would like to begin by saying that the work presented here and probably at some other points throughout the conference is a result of a close collaborative effort. It is a truly multidisciplinary effort between myself as a psychologist, or more appropriately, a behaviorist, my students, and Dr. Richard H. Barnes, a well-known nutritionist, who is one of the pioneers in the study of nutrition and behavior.
Strategic Flexibility in R&D

Managers choosing which R&D projects to fund typically rely on rank-ordering heuristics when other valuation methods are not applicable. These heuristics are powerful, but they have a number of lim...
Disruptive Technologies and the African Health-Care Crisis: A Path to Sustainability

Disruptive technologies such as telemedicine and medical drones may be an important answer to Africa’s health-care crisis, but their potential contribution and challenges facing deployment remain unclear. Facing excessively high and worsening skilled health worker shortages, innovations that allow the completion of medical procedures in more convenient and less expensive settings by technicians and nurses instead of physicians and specialists could expand the reach of health-care services to the millions currently without access. Yet considerable challenges abound. This chapter examines the promise and challenge of disruptive technologies in health care in Africa. It argues that without a supportive legal environment and infrastructure, including secure but accessible personal health data systems, the potential benefit is not achievable or sustainable. The chapter concludes by outlining policy options for expanding geographic access to health care through disruptive technologies across Africa.
Evaluating Thread Coarsening and Low-cost Synchronization on Intel Xeon Phi

Manycore processors such as GPUs and Intel Xeon Phis have become popular due to their massive parallelism and high power-efficiency. To achieve optimal performance, it is necessary to optimize the use of the compute cores and of the memory system available on these devices. Previous work has proposed techniques to improve the use of the GPU resources. While Intel Phi can provide massive parallelism through their x86 cores and vector units, optimization techniques for these platforms have received less consideration.In this work, we study the benefits of thread coarsening and low-cost synchronization on applications running on Intel Xeon Phi processors and encoded in SIMT fashion. Specifically, we explore thread coarsening as a way to remap the work to the available cores and vector lanes. In addition, we propose low- overhead synchronization primitives, such as atomic operations and barriers, which transparently apply to threads mapped to the same or different VPUs and x86 cores. Finally, we consider the combined use of thread coarsening and our proposed synchronization primitives. We evaluate the effect of these techniques on the performance of two kinds of kernels: collaborative and non-collaborative ones, the former using scratchpad memory to explicitly control data sharing among threads. Our evaluation leads to the following results. First, while not always beneficial for non-collaborative kernels, thread coarsening improves the performance of collaborative kernels consistently by reducing the synchronization overhead. Second, our synchronization primitives outperform standard pthread APIs by a factor up to 8x in real-world benchmarks. Last, the combined use of the proposed techniques leads to performance improvements, especially for collaborative kernels.
DEEP CASCADED NEURAL NETWORKS FOR AUTOMATIC DETECTION OF STRUCTURAL DAMAGE AND CRACKS FROM IMAGES

Abstract. In this paper, two different convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are applied on images for automated structural damage detection (SDD) in earthquake damaged structures and cracking localization (e.g., detection of cracks, their widths and distributions) at various scales, such as pixel level, object level, and structural level. The proposed method has two main steps: 1) diagnosis, and 2) localization of cracking or other damage. At first a residual CNN with transfer learning is employed to classify the damage in the structures and structural components. This step performs damage detection using two public datasets. The second step uses another CNN with U-Net structure to locate the cracking on low resolution images. The implementations using public and self-collected datasets show promising performance for a problem that had remained a challenge in the structure engineering field for a long time and indicate that the proposed approach can perform detection and localization of structural damage with an acceptable accuracy.
Polariton assisted down-conversion of photons via nonadiabatic molecular dynamics

Quantum dynamics of the photoisomerization of a single thiacynine iodide molecule embedded in an optical microcavity was theoretically studied. The molecular model consisting of two electronic states and the reaction coordinate was coupled to a single cavity mode via the quantum Rabi Hamiltonian. We show that an electronic excitation of the molecule at cis configuration is followed by the generation of two photons in the trans configuration upon nonadiabatic isomerization. Although conditions for this phenomenon to operate in the collective strong light-matter coupling regime were found to be unfeasible for the present system, our finding suggests a new mechanism that, without ultrastrong coupling, achieves photon down-conversion by exploiting the emergent molecular dynamics arising in polaritonic architectures.
CNVpytor: a tool for CNV/CNA detection and analysis from read depth and allele imbalance in whole genome sequencing

Abstract Detecting copy number variations (CNVs) and copy number alterations (CNAs) based on whole genome sequencing data is important for personalized genomics and treatment. CNVnator is one of the most popular tools for CNV/CNA discovery and analysis based on read depth (RD). Herein, we present an extension of CNVnator developed in Python -- CNVpytor. CNVpytor inherits the reimplemented core engine of its predecessor and extends visualization, modularization, performance, and functionality. Additionally, CNVpytor uses B-allele frequency (BAF) likelihood information from single nucleotide polymorphism and small indels data as additional evidence for CNVs/CNAs and as primary information for copy number neutral losses of heterozygosity. CNVpytor is significantly faster than CNVnator—particularly for parsing alignment files (2 to 20 times faster)—and has (20-50 times) smaller intermediate files. CNV calls can be filtered using several criteria and annotated. Modular architecture allows it to be used in shared and cloud environments such as Google Colab and Jupyter notebook. Data can be exported into JBrowse, while a lightweight plugin version of CNVpytor for JBrowse enables nearly instant and GUI-assisted analysis of CNVs by any user. CNVpytor release and the source code are available on GitHub at https://github.com/abyzovlab/CNVpytor under the MIT license.
Front-Of-Package Nutrition Labeling: Which Labels Benefit Consumers the Most and Why Do They Help?

Consumers are increasingly exposed to nutrition and health information on food packages. In particular, front-of-package (FOP) nutrition labeling has become a popular way for food marketers to communicate information to customers about the healthfulness of their products. With so many disparate types of FOP labeling systems currently in the marketplace, it is not clear which types of FOP labels might be most helpful to consumers for certain types of evaluative tasks. However, new research sheds light on this issue and offers important implications for food manufacturers, food retailers, and consumers’ health.
Fatigue Behavior of Nextel™720/Alumina (N720/A) Continuous Fiber Ceramic Composite - Effects of Temperature and Steam Environment

Creep-rupture behavior of an oxide-oxide continuous fiber ceramic composite (CFCC) consisting of a porous alumina matrix reinforced with laminated, woven mullite/alumina fibers (Nextel™720) was investigated at 1200 and 1330°C in laboratory air and in 100%-steam environment. The composite has no interface between the fiber and matrix, and relies on the porous matrix for flaw tolerance. Tensile creep behavior was examined at 1200 and 1330°C in laboratory air as well as in 100%-steam environment Applied stress levels ranged from 80 to 154 MPa at 1200°C, and from 50 to 100 MPa at 1330°C. Primary and secondary creep regimes were observed and minimum creep rate was reached in all tests. At 1200°C in air, creep rates were 10 -8 - 10 -5 s -1 and maximum time to rupture, 255 h. Rupture strength for the duration of at least 100 hr was 80 MPa. At 1330°C in air, creep-rupture resistance was considerably degraded. Creep rates were 10 -7 - 10 -5 s -1 and maximum time to rupture, 87 h. Presence of steam accelerated creep rates and dramatically reduced creep life at both test temperatures, effects of steam becoming more pronounced at 1330°C.
PREDICTION OF DRIVING TRACTION PERFORMANCE ON SNOW

The amount of performance testing required to evaluate tire snow traction performance is substantial. This could be reduced through the use of a snow traction prediction equation to screen tire tread designs. The development of such an equation using five geometric tread properties is described. Simplified versions of this equation are also developed and checked against tires of known snow traction performance. These equations provide an objective method for estimating the snow traction potential of a tread design.
The 2003 Annual Report on Global Terrorism: An Information System Failure?

This case study concerns a system that generated a contentious U.S. State Department report on global terrorism. For over 20 years, the Department produced and published an annual, nonclassified, retrospective Patterns of Global Terrorism report. However, the report for 2003, published on April 29, 2004 was criticized as an attempt to misrepresent data for political advantage. This case is based on official documents, transcripts, and news articles available on the Internet in mid-July 2004. It summarizes the way the situation unfolded and provides a glimpse at how people tried to figure out what happened and how to explain what happened. Although this case occurred in a highly charged political environment, it involves many information system and organizational issues that are important in building and maintaining information systems, especially those that require categorization, coding, consolidation, and interpretation of data regarding customers, employees, sales and service activities, and the surrounding environment.
Routing-Aware Query Optimization for Conserving Energy in Wireless Sensor Networks

Processing multiple real-time queries on a multi-hop wireless sensor network while conserving energy is a challenging issue. A naive approach would simply disseminate each query individually, even if the queries contain overlapping information. This imposes excessive energy consumption on sensor nodes in the data paths. We propose a routing-aware query optimization method to conserve energy on these nodes. In particular, we devise an algorithm to reduce query redundancy based on location information, attributes, and time constraints contained in the queries and the routing information of the underlying network. Our simulation results show that our approach can significantly reduce energy consumptions and improve the overall performance of the network.
Artificial Intelligence: Automated Reasoning

Logical Calculi Automated Theorem Proving as Heuristic Search Tactical Theorem Proving and Proof Planning Applications of Automated Reasoning Techniques Conclusion Keywords: automated reasoning; logic programming languages
Fatness, Fitness, and Insulin Sensitivity Among 7‐ to 9‐Year‐Old Children

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among fatness and aerobic fitness on indices of insulin resistance and sensitivity in children. Research Design and Methods: A total of 375 children (193 girls and 182 boys) 7 to 9 years of age were categorized by weight as normal-weight, overweight, or obese and by aerobic fitness based on a submaximal physical working capacity test (PWC). Fasting blood glucose (GLU) and insulin (INS) were used to calculate various indices of insulin sensitivity (GLU/INS), the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA), and the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI). Surrogate measures of pancreatic β cell function included the insulinogenic index (INS/GLU) and the HOMA estimate of pancreatic β-cell function (HOMA %B). Results: Insulin sensitivity and secretion variables were significantly different between the normal-weight children and the overweight and obese subjects. Fasting insulin (FI), HOMA, QUICKI, and INS/GLU were significantly different between the overweight and obese subjects. Likewise, the high fitness group possessed a better insulin sensitivity profile. In general, the normal-weight–high fit group possessed the best insulin sensitivity profile and the obese-unfit group possessed the worst insulin sensitivity profile. Several significant differences existed among the six fat-fit groups. Of particular note are the differences within BMI groups by fitness level and the comparison of values between the normal-weight–unfit subjects and the overweight and obese subjects with high fitness. Conclusions: The results indicate that aerobic fitness attenuates the difference in insulin sensitivity within BMI categories, thus emphasizing the role of fitness even among overweight and obese children.
Some personality traits of believers in extraordinary phenomena

A scale of belief in extraordinary phenomena and one of three personality inventories, the MMPI, TDOT, and MPI were administered to each of 297 college students. Scores on the scale of beliefs in the extraordinary phenomena correlated with several of the personality traits, indicating the tendency of believers in such phenomena as reincarnation, witchcraft, ESP, and astrology to have higher scores on personality scales that would characterize a person as impulsive rather than controlled, reflective rather than practical, neurotic rather than well adjusted, and showing responses characteristic of a schizoid group.
Polytheism and Archetypal Theology:A Discussion

The issue is not merely, nor is it primarily, any of the following: "polyphonic human meaning and being" (Charles Baudouin), "plurisignificative knowing and understanding" (Philip Wheelwright), "polymorphous historical and psychic reality" (Norman O. Brown), "polysemous functions of imaginal discourse" (Ray L. Hart), or "pluralistic societies of radically unmeltable ethnics" (Michael Novak). These are all to the point. But there is a still deeper and a prior matter. The matter is ultimately religious, and the issue is polytheism. It was a particular context that first jarred my polytheistic consciousness. A class of nearly one hundred undergraduates petitioned me to spend an entire semester in an "Introduction to
Eczematous Eruptions in Childhood

Atopic dermatitis, one of the most common skin disorders seen in infants and children, is frequently a source of frustration to parents and presents a challenge to immunologists, pediatricians, and dermatologists alike. Affecting approximately 3% of the childhood population, atopic dermatitis frequently causes confusion because the terms eczema and dermatitis are often used synonymously and interchangeably.1 Eczema is a generic term that identifies an acute inflammatory cutaneous eruption characterized by itching, redness, papules, vesicles, edema, serous discharge, and crusting (Fig 1). Dermatitis without a qualifying adjective is less definitive and merely refers to an inflammation of the skin which may result in a spectrum of lesions varying from acute necrosis and ulceration to simple erythema.2 A modifying adjective therefore is frequently added to the general term in an effort to identify the specific eruption under consideration, hence the terms contact dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, nummular dermatitis, and atopic dermatitis. PATHOGENESIS Atopic dermatitis is the most common cause of eczema in children. Although its cause remains unknown, the disorder represents an eczematous disorder of characteristic distribution, a hereditary symptom complex in individuals with paradoxical physiologic responses to pharmacologic stimuli, a constitutional predisposition to develop dry skin and pruritus, and a personal or family history of allergy.
Christianity, John Paul II and the future of work

Although the Catholic Church has rarely throughout its long history taken stances on socio‐economic issues that might be characterized as socially progressive, its view of work has constituted a notable exception. Its early view not only granted work dignity, but also reinforced an attitude of the fundamental equality of all humans. Most recently, John Paul II’s view of work constitutes one of the most progressive stances on socio‐economic questions ever taken by a pope. This essay describes and assesses the progressive character of Christianity’s attitude toward work. To limit scope, and because the “Protestant work ethic” has been so extensively covered, the focus is on the Catholic tradition. The first section traces the evolution of this view within the context of other traditional views. A second section examines the special contribution of John Paul II. A final section provides a critical assessment of these views in terms of our contemporary self‐understanding.
4 × 4 and 2 × 2 matrix formulations for the optics in stratified and biaxial media

Exact matrix representations for refraction and reflection at an interface between arbitrarily oriented biaxial media and for the wave propagation within a biaxial homogeneous medium are derived. Based on the understanding of the optics in the bulk and at the interface, the relations among the exact 4×4 matrix method and the simplified 2×2 matrix methods with different assumptions for calculating the optical transmission of a stack of stratified and biaxial media are clarified. A simple Fabry–Perot etalon model is proposed to verify the accuracy of the 2×2 matrix methods in terms of the coherency and the polarization of the incident wave. The optical transmission curves obtained from the different 2×2 matrix methods are compared with those obtained from the 4×4 matrix method with the spectrum average for an optically compensated bend mode liquid-crystal display.
Crater Wear Evolution in Multilayer Coated Carbides During Machining Using Confocal Microscopy

Abstract Steady-state turning experiments were carried out with multilayer coated inserts consisting of TiN/Al2O3/TiCN deposited on a carbide substrate. Confocal microscopy was used for the first time to observe the topography of crater wear evolution in multilayer coated inserts. A hump made of TiN coating next to a growing crater of Al2O3, traces of attached steel, and the maximum depth regions have been identified. Scoring marks were also detected in the TiN layer, indicating the presence of abrasion wear. Interestingly, the crater depth was stagnant once it reached the Al2O3 layer, and the wear progresses by broadening the area of exposed Al2O3. It was concluded that the effectiveness of multilayer coated tools comes from the dissolution resistance of the Al2O3 layer, which delays depth growth and develops the wear front into a wider area. Confocal microsocopy was found to be a valuable tool to obtain wear topography for multilayer coated tools.
Similarity of the Estrogen Receptor in Human and Rat Mammary Carcinoma

Cytoplasm from human mammary carcinoma contains an estradiol binding protein (EBP) with properties similar to if not identical with EBP found in rat mammary carcinoma. Human EBP is excluded on G100 Sephadex chromatography, precipitates with protamine sulfate, and sediments primarily at 8S in low ionic sucrose gradients. Increasing the ionic strength of the sucrose gradient or adding polyanions to the cytoplasm progressively reduces the sedimentation value to 4S. The affinity of EBP for 17β-estradiol is extremely high (Kd ∽ 5 × 10−M). There are structural restrictions for ligand binding since EBP does not recognize the common steroids hydrocortisone, progesterone, or testosterone.