cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Performance evaluation of baseband OOK for wireless indoor infrared LAN's operating at 100 Mb/s

We investigate 100 Mb/s wireless nondirectional infrared communication in the indoor environment using baseband nonreturn-to-zero (NRZ) on-off keying (OOK) modulation. We show that intersymbol interference induced by multipath propagation impairs detection efficiency. Analytical and simulation results on specific channels demonstrate that an adaptive decision-feedback equalizer adapted according to the least-mean-squares algorithm recovers most of the performance degradation. We also evaluate the performance of a timing-recovery phase-locked loop operating independent of the adaptive equalizer; showing that it quickly and accurately determines the sampling phase with negligible performance degradation. We discuss effective methods of mitigating low-frequency noise induced by fluorescent lighting. We present a packet-based communication method and describe its features and performance. Our results support the feasibility of communication at 100 Mb/s over the infrared channel. >
Test of a digestion optimization model: effect of variable-reward feeding schedules on digestive performance of a migratory bird.

Birds on migration often alternate between feeding and nonfeeding periods, in part because food resources may be patchily distributed and in part be- cause birds on migration may adopt a risk-prone for- aging strategy characterized by selection of variable rather than constant food rewards. Optimal digestion models predict that increases in intermeal interval like those encountered by some migratory birds should result in longer retention time of digesta and higher digestive eAciency if birds are maximizing their rate of energy intake. We tested these predictions by comparing resi- dence time of digesta and extraction eAciency of lipid for captive yellow-rumped warblers (Dendroica corona- ta) feeding ad libitum and when we added intervals of time when the birds received no food. We increased the likelihood that the warblers were maximizing their rate of energy intake by increasing light levels during spring to induce hyperphagia (treatment birds (16L:8D light: dark cycle) ate 2.13 a 0.14 g dry food day )1 (n a 8) while control birds (10L:14D) ate 1.25 a 0.03 g dry food day )1 (n a 6)). Treatment birds oAered food only every other 2-3 h ate 50% more during the 4-h test period than when they were always feeding ad libitum. Despite these diAerences in food intake, extraction eA- ciency of glycerol trioleate remained high and constant (93%), and mouth-to-anus total mean retention time (TMRT) did not change (overall mean: 54.8 a 6.0 min). Residence time of lipid in the stomach increased whereas residence time of lipid in the intestine decreased when birds fed only every other 2-3 h com- pared to when birds always fed ad libitum. None of the results were consistent with the predictions of the opti- mal digestion model unless we assume that birds were minimizing their feeding time rather than maximizing their rate of energy gain. Furthermore, the ability of yellow-rumped warblers to maintain high extraction ef- ficiency with no change in TMRT suggests some spare digestive capacity when food intake increases by as much as 50%.
Characterization of Ca2+-activated Cl– currents in mouse kidney inner medullary collecting duct cells

Ca2+-activated Cl– (ClCa) channels were characterized biophysically and pharmacologically in a mouse kidney inner medullary collecting duct cell line, IMCD-K2. Whole cell recording was performed wi...
Total and radiative heat transfer to an immersed surface in a gas‐fluidized bed

A high-temperature heat transfer probe capable of measuring both the total and radiative heat transfer coefficients between an immersed surface and the bed has been designed, fabricated, and tested. Measurements of these coefficients in beds of 559 and 751 ..mu..m sand particles at temperatures up to 1,175K have been made using this probe. A thermal analysis of the probe is developed in order to ensure a reliable interpretation of the measured quantities. The dependence of the total and radiative heat transfer coefficients on such parameters as bed temperature, fluidizing air velocity, and mean bed particle size are investigated. The various models proposed to describe high-temperature heat transfer are evaluated from this perspective. The models capable of best simulating the heat transfer process with relative ease of computation are identified and evaluated using data generated in the study.
Stellar scintillation technique for the measurement of tilt anisoplanatism

The significance of tilt anisoplanatism is established, and a measurement theory, based on aperture-averaging intensity scintillation, is developed. The theory is a direct extention of the technique currently used to determine the isoplanatic angle as defined by Fried [ J. Opt. Soc. am.72, 52 ( 1982)]. By using this theory, a physically realizable binary aperture-weighting function is derived for a particular case of interest. It is noted that direct quantitative measurements of tilt anisoplanatism can also be made, under specific circumstances, by tracking the relative centroid motion of a binary star pair. Thus independent verification of the remote-sensing theory for tilt anisoplanatism, based on aperture-averaging scintillation measurements, should be possible.
Organizational Commitment to Climate Change and GHG Reductions

This study examines whether a stronger commitment to climate change within a company results in reductions in GHG emissions. Utilizing data from the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) data base for a sample of 224 companies in the S&P 500 operating in 2009, we construct an overall measure for the level of an organizational commitment based on firm responses to the CDP project survey including a firm having: (1) a board committee or other executive body responsible for climate issues, (2) an emission target in place or recently achieved, (3) 80 percent or more of emissions verified, (4) monetary incentives for reduced emissions by the board/executive board and/or management group, (5) climate change information in annual reports, and (6) climate change information in a Sustainability or CSR report. These constructed variables are correlated with CDP designations of companies as having excellent carbon disclosure and carbon performance. To test the overall hypothesis of a significant relationship between GHG reductions and commitment, we perform regressions on this variable and changes in carbon emissions for future years 2009 to 2011, and 2009 to 2012, as well as individual commitment measures. Our empirical results show that the organizational commitment variables are not significantly related to carbon emission or carbon intensity reductions. However, having board responsibility for sustainability and a previous target or success are significant factors, along with being more profitable. Our results suggest that embedding sustainability, as related to climate change, in companies does not follow a simple prescription.
A Revolution in Rotating Machinery Monitoring

The largest instrument manufacturer in the world, Hewlett-Packard are about to introduce a system specifically to monitor Turbine Generators. The paper discusses the practical benefits and issues surrounding the monitoring of vibration on large turbo-generated sets. The system, based on industry standards and unique measurement capability utilises patent technology to provide full monitoring of the tifcine as defined by VCM/7.
Neural basis of haptic perception

A major challenge in neuroscience is to understand the neural basis of behavior. The problem is multifaceted. First one must understand which afferent type(s) and cortical pathways are involved in the aspect of perception that you want to understand. Then one must understand how information is represented and coded in the neural responses. The earliest attempts at addressing the neural pathways underlying perception relied on lesion studies in which animals were trained to perform specific behavioral tasks and then were retested following the ablations. If the animal could not perform the task then the area that was ablated was deemed essential for the behavior. More recently researchers use functional imaging techniques to address these questions. Understanding the neural codes underlying behavior has been elusive. The intellectual breakthrough came from studies that combined psychophysical studies in humans with neurophysiological studies in monkeys [1, 2].
Antidepressant-Induced Sexual Dysfunction

This article reviews current evidence regarding sexual side effects of antidepressant drugs. Controlled studies have demonstrated that some antidepressant drugs have adverse effects on orgasm and libido. Orgasmic dysfunction and ejaculatory delay appear to be common sexual side effects of the serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). A variety of treatment options are available if a patient experiences antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction. Often, modification of the pharmacologic regimen will restore sexual function while maintaining antidepressant activity. The frequency of sexual side effects reported with the SSRIs mandates that the clinician inquire about sexual function if these agents are used. Bupropion and nefazodone appear to have an unusually low incidence of sexual side effects.
The Subtle Incentive Theory of Copyright Licensing

Copyright literature has been long familiar with the lack of licensing choices in various creative markets. In the absence of lawful licensing alternatives, consumers of works as well as secondary creators wishing to use protected elements of preexisting works are often left with no choice but to either infringe on the copyright or refrain from the use. As the dearth of licensing impedes further creation, it greatly conflicts with the utilitarian foundation of copyright and its constitutional goal to promote creative progress. Legal scholarship has submitted various recommendations in response to the licensing failure, but none of them has proved to be effective in alleviating copyright’s licensing shortage. This article contributes to the ongoing discourse by introducing the subtle incentive theory of copyright licensing. The subtle incentive theory encourages rightholders to engage in licensing by considering the lack of licensing alternatives in the market for a particular work as a mitigating factor in the fair use analysis. Specifically, the subtle incentive theory propounds the mirror image of a test that was already mandated in American Geophysical Union v. Texaco in the mid-1990s, but which has since been used exclusively to deny fair use. By so doing, the subtle incentive theory mends a logical error in fair use reasoning and promotes a better creation market by making a zero-cost doctrinal change to ameliorate copyright licensing shortfalls. While the subtle incentive theory avoids aggressive interference in market dynamics and respects rightholders’ proprietorial choices, it does not leave the licensing failure to be repaired exclusively by the market, and adds an important policy statement as to the significance of original and secondary creation alike.
Sterilization acceptance in China.

T oward the end of the 1970s, the Family Planning Leading Group (now the State Council's Family Planning Commission) inaugurated a monthly publication to increase the flow of information and exchange of experiences in the area of fertility limitation. Entitled Jihua Shengyu Xuanchuan Ziliao (Planned Reproduction Propaganda Materials), this publication of China's highest administrative organ for formulating national population plans is the most authoritative voice on matters involved in their implementation. In the first and second issues of this four-page tabloid, various short articles covered such contraceptive methods as the pill, IUDs, condom, and induced abortion. In contrast, over half of the third issue was devoted to describing the sterilization procedure and alleviating the fear of side effects. More important, the front page resurrected an old story featuring a face-to-face exchange between the late Premier Zhou Enlai and a couple in the latter's factory in August 1963. The original account gained wide dissemination at the time of China's second, but shortlived, round of intensified fertility control activities, and applauded this two-child couple for their acceptance of vasectomy.1 Briefly, the couple married when the wife was 20 years of age. Their daughter was born two years later, and a son followed after another six years. The wife worked in the accounting section, while the husband served as the vice director of the factory. Their combined monthly income amounted to more than Y200 (Y1.00 = $0.60), a very good sum by Chinese standards. The wife told Premier Zhou, "Two years ago, the father of these children had a vasectomy so that there would not be any more births." Zhou inquired, "Did the two of you do this voluntarily?" She responded, "Our act was voluntary." Zhou was very
The Proposed New Association Constitution: A View from the Committee

The members of the Constitutional Revision Committee of the APSA were predominantly in agreement over the proposed text, though their reasons for supporting the text of the draft may have varied in particular instances. The authors of this article, in presenting their views in support of the draft, obviously claim to speak only for themselves. Hopefully, sufficient time and agenda space will be available at the business meeting during the 1971 Convention so that all the members of the Constitutional Revision Committee will feel encouraged to develop their particular arguments in behalf of the document in full detail.In many respects the proposed new Constitution speaks for itself and needs no explanation. It seemed pointless and wasteful to us, for example, to specify the cost of annual dues as was done in the original Constitution. A Constitutional amendment was necessary, pursuant to the original document, each time the dues structure had to be altered. It is more consonant with the nature of a Constitution as a general framework of governance to leave such detailed items for careful deliberation by the assembly rather than to freeze them into the Constitution.
Diffuse Malignant Mesothelioma of Pleura: Diagnostic Criteria Based on an Autopsy Study

Sixteen unequivocal, diffuse malignant mesotheliomas ( DMM ) of pleura and eight diffuse pleural tumors simulating DMM , all from autopsied cases, were studied with hematoxylin and eosin, mucicarmine, diastase-periodic acid-Schiff ( DPAS ), colloidal iron, carcinoembryonic antigen, and keratin immunoperoxidase stains. Collagen production by tumor cells when identifiable was diagnostic of DMM and was found not only in sarcomatous and "biphasic" mesotheliomas but also focally in "epithelial" variants. In "epithelial" areas, a constant nuclear/cytoplasmic (N/C) ratio with variable cell size often imparted a distinctive appearance of regularity, and mucin-negative DPAS -negative vacuoles or ground-glass cytoplasmic zones always could be found. Most metastatic carcinomas featured a high N/C ratio; some but not all had mucicarmine-positive or DPAS -positive vacuoles. Stains for carcinoembryonic antigen and keratin did not discriminate between DMM and metastatic carcinoma. Distant metastases were present in 12 of the 16 DMM cases but were clinically occult in 11 cases.
Response modification by the central flight oscillator of locusts.

1. Flying locusts respond to changes in wind-velocity or wind-angle with abdomen posturing in the vertical or horizontal plane, respectively. Receptor hairs on the head sense these wind parameters and evoke the responses in specific abdominal muscles. Records were made from individually identifiable motoneurones to these muscles during the performance of wind-evoked behaviour. 2. During flight these motoneurones are excited by the central flight oscillator and show a burst rhythm at flight frequency. Wind stimuli modulate the number of spikes per burst in this rhythm, but do not affect its frequency or phase with respect to the wingbeat. Changes in wind-velocity and wind-angle evoke different relationships of muscle synergy and antagonism, resulting in the two different patterns of behaviour performed by the same group of muscles. 3. During flightless periods the motoneurones show no flight rhythm, but only the much lower frequency ventilatory rhythm. At these times they are unresponsive to wind stimuli.
Preventing Corporate Fiascos: A Systemic Approach

In this chapter we present a systemic approach to fiasco prevention. We establish a framework containing a conceptual model covering four interrelated domains in which systems thinking for fiasco prevention are exercised: (1) the institution itself; (2) exception management, where signs or symptoms of fiasco are detected and exposed; (3) corporate decisions, to understand and evaluate how they cause or address exceptions; and (4) an independent Oversight organization unit chartered with enhanced management and corporate governance control to remediate or prevent aberrant decisions. We discuss the utility and values of the framework and the conceptual model.
An investigation of some fundamental characteristics of gas proportional straw tubes

Summary form only given. Measurements have been made on 4-mm-diameter gas proportional straw tubes with lengths up to 1 m, operating with a gas mixture tailored for both efficient X-ray detection and high-rate operation. Using a new high-bandwidth shaping amplifier, which has an impulse response of about 3.5 ns full width at half maximum (FWHM), a clear picture of signal reflections from the end of anode wire has been obtained. Electronic noise levels resulting from the various modes of anode wire termination, and the lowest signal levels that can be used to satisfy high-rate operation and efficient particle or transition radiation photon detection have been determined. >
Holographic analysis of photopolymers

Two-beam holographic exposure and subsequent monitoring of the time-dependent first-order Bragg diffraction is a common method for investigating the refractive index response of holographic photopolymers for a range of input writing conditions. The experimental set up is straightforward, and Kogelnik’s well-known coupled wave theory (CWT)[1] can be used to separate measurements of the change in index of refraction (Δn) and the thickness of transmission and reflection holograms. However, CWT assumes that the hologram is written and read out with a plane wave and that the hologram is uniform in both the transverse and depth dimensions, assumptions that are rarely valid in practical holographic testing. The effect of deviations from these assumptions on the measured thickness and Δn become more pronounced for over-modulated exposures. As commercial and research polymers reach refractive index modulations on the order of 10-2, even relatively thin (< 20 μm thick) transmission volume holograms become overmodulated. Peak Δn measurements for material analysis must be carefully evaluated in this regime. We present a study of the effects of the finite Gaussian write and read beams on the CWT analysis of photopolymer materials and discuss what intuition this can give us about the effect other non-uniformities, such as mechanical stresses and significant absorption of the write beam, will have on the analysis of the maximum attainable refractive index in a material system. We use this analysis to study a model high Δn two-stage photopolymer holographic material using both transmission and reflection holograms.
Mining mass spectrometry data : using new computational tools to find novel organic compounds in complex environmental mixtures

Abstract Untargeted metabolomics datasets provide ample opportunity for discovery of novel metabolites. The major challenge is focusing data analysis on a short list of metabolites. Here, we apply a combination of computational tools that serve to reduce complex mass spectrometry data in order allow us to focus on new environmentally-relevant metabolites. In the first portion of the project, we explored mass spectrometry data from intracellular metabolites extracted from a model marine diatom, Thalassiosira pseudonana. The fragmentation data from these samples were analyzed using molecular networking, an on-line tool that clusters metabolites based on shared structural similarities. The features within each metabolite cluster were then putatively annotated using MetFrag, an in silico fragmentation tool. Using this combination of computational tools, we observed multiple lyso-sulfolipids, organic compounds not previously known to exist within cultured marine diatoms. In the second stage of the project, we searched our environmental data for these lyso-sulfolipids. The lyso-sulfolipid with a C14:0 fatty acid was found in dissolved and particulate samples from the western Atlantic Ocean, and a culture of cyanobacteria grown in our laboratory. Thus, the putative lyso-sulfolipids are present in both laboratory experiments and environmental samples. This project highlights the value of combining computational tools to detect and putatively identify organic compounds not previously recognized as important within T. pseudonana or the marine environment. Future applications of these tools to emerging metabolomics data will further open the black box of natural organic matter, identifying molecules that can be used to understand and monitor the global carbon cycle.
Lossless encoding compressed ultrafast photography: Capturing light-speed scattering dynamics in a snapshot

We have developed lossless compressed ultrafast photography (LLE-CUP), a single-shot receive-only ultrafast imaging modality with an imaging speed of 100 billion frames per second. Using LLE-CUP, we have imaged, for the first time, a scattering-induced propagating photonic Mach cone in real time.
Pulmonary Hypertension Associated with Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy-Antecedent Characteristics and Comorbidities.

Objective To determine the characteristics of term infants with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) associated with moderate or severe hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Methods We compared infants with and without PPHN enrolled in 2 randomized trials of therapeutic hypothermia: the induced hypothermia trial of cooling to 33.5°C for 72 hours vs normothermia, and the “usual-care” arm (33.5°C for 72 hours) of the optimizing cooling trial. Results Among 303 infants with HIE from these 2 studies, 67 (22%) had PPHN and 236 (78%) did not. We compared infants with PPHN with those without PPHN. The proportion of patients treated with therapeutic hypothermia was similar in PPHN and no-PPHN groups (66% vs 65%). Medication use during resuscitation (58% vs 44%), acidosis after birth (pH: 7.0 ± 0.2 vs 7.1 ± 0.2), severe HIE (43% vs 28%), meconium aspiration syndrome (39% vs 7%), pulmonary hemorrhage (12% vs 3%), culture-positive sepsis (12% vs 3%), systemic hypotension (65% vs 28%), inhaled nitric oxide therapy (64% vs 3%), and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (12% vs 0%) were more common in the PPHN group. Length of stay (26 ± 21 vs 16 ± 14 days) and mortality (27% vs 16%) were higher in the PPHN group. Conclusions PPHN is common among infants with moderate/severe HIE and is associated with severe encephalopathy, lung disease, sepsis, systemic hypotension, and increased mortality. The prevalence of PPHN was not different between those infants receiving therapeutic hypothermia at 33.5°C in these 2 trials (44/197 = 22%) compared with infants receiving normothermia in the induced hypothermia trial (23/106 = 22%).
Observation of Rydberg exciton-polaritons in 2D transition metal dichalcogenides

We report the strong coupling between Rydberg excitons (2S state) and cavity photons in monolayer WSe2 with the Rabi splitting of ∼ 20meV at 77K. Rydberg exciton-polaritons are crucial for solid state quantum non-linear optics.
The occurrence of a protein inhibitor for 5′-nucleotidase in extracts of Escherichiacoli

Abstract Protein inhibitors have been discovered for a number of bacterial enzymes, including NADase (1), NAD pyrophosphatase (2), UDPGase (3) and ADPGase (3), and it has been suggested that such inhibitors may play a regulatory role in cell metabolism (4). In the course of a survey of enzymes released by osmotic shock (5) we noted the presence of UDPGase in the shock fluid although no enzyme activity could be detected in extracts of normal cells. Furthermore, the UDPGase activity of shock fluids could be neutralized by mixing with dialyzed cell extracts. At this point Dr. Glaser informed us of similar work going on in his laboratory, the results of which had just been submitted as a preliminary note (3). Our results were in general agreement, and we thereupon decided to investigate whether protein inhibitors might be found for other enzymes released by the shock procedure. We were especially interested in 5′-nucleotidase because the low activity usually found in cell extracts could be increased by incubation at 37° after dilution with water (6). However, in this earlier work no clear-cut evidence for an inhibitor was obtained. This was due to the fact that the prescribed conditions for enzyme assay (6) led to partial reactivation of the inhibited enzyme. In the present study assays were run at 22°, and the 5′-nucleotidase of E. coli extracts was found to be almost completely inhibited. Furthermore, the presence of excess inhibitor could be demonstrated by the ability of such extracts to neutralize added free enzyme.
Contamination and growth of Bacillus cereus and Clostridium perfringens in Mexican-style beans.

Two major problems in production procedures used in Mexican restaurants identified through interviews with managers were failure to cool large quantities of beans rapidly and failure to reheat beans thoroughly before placement on the steam table. Experiments were designed to study the effects of varying temperatures, incubation time, and location in the product on growth of Bacillus cereus and Clostridium perfringens , singly and combined, in cooked mashed pinto beans. Growth of both B. cereus and C. perfringens was rapid at 37°C, with numbers of cells associated with illness reached in 4 and 6 h, respectively. B. cereus may present more of a health hazard, since obvious signs of spoilage did not occur in these beans until 12 h, whereas C. perfringens caused obvious spoilage of beans within 6 to 8 h. Numbers of B. cereus usually associated with illness were found at 12 h at 23°C. The beans appeared to be spoiled before this level was reached with C. perfringens at 24 h. Good growth of both species occurred in both top and bottom locations. Of 42 restaurant samples of bean dip and mashed beans analyzed for contamination with B. cereus and C. perfringens , only two samples were found to contain either organism and these were present in low numbers. Two samples were, however, found to contain large numbers of coagulase-positive S. aureus (> 100,000/g).
Probabilistic Approach in Thermodynamics

Introduction of the concept of internal degrees of freedom allows for the description of wider class of irreversible processes and scales. One of the systems considered is a small and driven system embedded in a heat bath with well-defined temperature such as biomolecules. For such a system, the probabilistic approach formulates the first law and entropy valid along single fluctuation trajectories. Such efforts became particularly useful for determining free-energy differences between various states of biomolecules. These relations are valid for nonequilibrium systems driven by time-dependent forces. This approach of taking both energy conservation and entropy production on a mesoscopic level has a revitalizing effect of the ensemble level for chemical nonequilibrium systems. One of the main advantages of probabilistic approach compared to the macroscopic phenomenological theory is that a thermodynamically consistent kinetics valid beyond the linear region can be imposed.
A DSP Based Modeling and Digital Control of Single Phase Quasi-Z-Source Inverter

This paper presents a modeling method that models the quasi-Z-network with three different states instead of two. A new model is developed which could be exclusively decided by the input DC voltage and the AC load condition. This model is then used to design a discrete time domain version of integral state feedback controller that could extend the control validity of quasi-Z-network over a large range of input DC voltage and AC load. Experimental results are provided to show the feasibility of above modeling method and controller design. The feature of control validity is left for future investigation. Discrete modeling and digital controller design of H-bridge inverter are investigated. Programming method to compensate delay of PWM module of F28335 DSP and its successful operation will be illustrated using hardware prototype.
A calculus for Esterel: if can, can. if no can, no can.

The language Esterel has found success in many safety-critical applications, such as fly-by-wire systems and nuclear power plant control software. Its imperative style is natural to programmers building such systems and its precise semantics makes it work well for reasoning about programs. Existing semantics of Esterel generally fall into two categories: translation to Boolean circuits, or operational semantics that give a procedure for running a whole program. In contrast, equational theories enable reasoning about program behavior via equational rewrites at the source level. Such theories form the basis for proofs of transformations inside compilers or for program refactorings, and defining program evaluation syntactically. This paper presents the first such equational calculus for Esterel. It also illustrates the calculus’s usefulness with a series of example equivalences and discuss how it enabled us to find bugs in Esterel implementations.
Increasing Capacity for Computer Science Education in Rural Areas through a Large-Scale Collective Impact Model

Students living in rural areas are less likely to attend schools that offer computer science (CS) courses largely because educational institutions in these remote areas lack the resources to staff teaching positions for these courses. This study investigated the impact of WeTeach\_CS, a program designed to train teachers to become certified to teach high school CS in Texas. The WeTeach\_CS collective impact model may be well suited to influence rural areas at scale because it utilizes an existing network of organizations across the state to bring high-quality professional development opportunities to teachers in remote areas. Results from a comparative interrupted time series analysis showed a significant, positive change in the rate in which the number of certified CS teachers in rural areas increased during the period of time after WeTeach\_CS began compared to the period before the program was implemented, whereas the number of teachers certified in technology applications showed no such change. Furthermore, the growth rate in the number of certified CS teachers was much higher for rural schools than urban, suggesting that collective impact models like WeTeach\_CS may be especially beneficial for rural communities.
The effect of current and former tobacco use on outcomes after primary reverse total shoulder arthroplasty

Background The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of current and former tobacco use on minimum 2-year clinical and radiographic outcomes after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA). Methods Review of primary RTSA patient data identified 186 patients with at least 2 years of follow-up. Patients were classified as nonsmokers (76 patients), former smokers (89 patients), or current smokers (21 patients). Assessment included preoperative and postoperative visual analog scale pain scores, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scores, strength, range of motion, complications, revisions, and narcotic use. Radiographs were analyzed for signs of loosening or mechanical failure. Results Overall mean age of the patients was 70 (48-87) years, and mean follow-up was 2.6 (2.0-5.7) years. Smokers (62.1 years) were significantly younger than nonsmokers (70.7 years) and former smokers (70.8 years; P = .00002). All patients had significant improvements in pain, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, strength, and forward flexion range of motion; however, smokers had higher visual analog scale pain scores (mean, 2.5) than nonsmokers (mean, 1.8) or former smokers (mean, 1.0; P = .014). Otherwise, no differences were found regarding any of the postoperative parameters (P > .05). Conclusions Aside from increased patient-reported pain, current tobacco use does not appear to negatively affect outcomes after primary RTSA. The RTSA design obviates the need for a functioning rotator cuff, possibly mitigating tobacco's negative effects previously demonstrated in rotator cuff repair and anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty. Former users obtained outcomes similar to those of nonusers, suggesting that tobacco use is a modifiable risk factor to achieve optimal pain relief after RTSA.
Corrections to the elastic proton-proton analyzing power parametrization at high energies

The Polarized Atomic Hydrogen Gas Jet Target polarimeter (HJET) was designed to measure the absolute polarization of the proton beams at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. In these measurements, the small scattering angle elastic $pp$ single ${A}_{N}(t)$ and double ${A}_{NN}(t)$ spin analyzing powers can be precisely determined. The experimental accuracy achieved at HJET requires corrections to the ${A}_{N}(t)$ parametrization, conventionally used for such studies. In this paper, we evaluate the corrections to the analyzing powers due to (i) the differences between the electromagnetic and hadronic form factors and (ii) the ${m}_{p}^{2}/s$ terms in the elastic spin-flip $pp$ electromagnetic amplitude. The corresponding alterations of the evaluated hadronic spin-flip amplitudes are about the same as the experimental uncertainties of the HJET measurements. The proposed corrections may have implications for the elastic $pp$ forward real-to-imaginary amplitude ratios $\ensuremath{\rho}$ determined in unpolarized $pp$ experiments.
Incentivizing Excellent Care to At-Risk Groups with a Health Equity Summary Score.

Social risk factors (SRFs) such as minority race-and-ethnicity or low income are associated with quality-of-care, health, and healthcare outcomes. Organizations might prioritize improving care for easier-to-treat groups over those with SRFs, but measuring, reporting, and further incentivizing quality-of-care for SRF groups may improve their care. To develop, as a proof-of-concept, a Health Equity Summary Score (HESS): a succinct, easy-to-understand score that could be used to promote high-quality care to those with SRFs in Medicare Advantage (MA) health plans, which provide care for almost twenty million older and disabled Americans and collect extensive quality measure and SRF data. We estimated, standardized, and combined performance scores for two sets of quality measures for enrollees in 2013–2016 MA health plans, considering both current levels of care, within-plan improvement, and nationally benchmarked improvement for those with SRFs (specifically, racial-and-ethnic minority status and dual-eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid). All MA plans with publicly reported quality scores and 500 or more 2016 enrollees. Publicly reported clinical quality and patient experience measures. Almost 90% of plans measured for MA Star Ratings received a HESS; plans serving few patients with SRFs were excluded. The summary score was moderately positively correlated with publicly reported overall Star Ratings (r = 0.66–0.67). High-scoring plans typically had sizable enrollment of both racial-and-ethnic minorities (38–42%) and dually eligible beneficiaries (29–38%). We demonstrated the feasibility of developing and estimating a HESS that is intended to promote and incentivize excellent care for racial-and-ethnic minorities and dually eligible MA enrollees. The HESS measures SRF-specific performance and does not simply duplicate overall plan Star Ratings. It also identifies plans that provide excellent care to large numbers of those with SRFs. Our methodology could be extended to other SRFs, quality measures, and settings.
Regularized Information Preserving Projections

In hyperspectral data classification, too many bands cause overfitting. Techniques for reducing bands are either informative or discriminant. Each technique has its strengths and weaknesses. Motivated by Gaussian processes latent variable models, we propose a linear projection technique that is both informative and discriminant. The technique optimizes a regularized information preserving objective, where regularization sets a preference for latent variables. Experimental results based on hyperspectral image data are provided to validate the proposed technique.
Musicking as ecological behaviour: an integrated ‘4E’ view

In this article, I bring together research from ethnomusicology, ecology, neuroscience, ‘4E’ cognition theory and evolutionary musicology in support of the idea that musicking, human musicking in particular, can best be understood as an emergent ecological behaviour. ‘Ecological’ here is used to mean an active process of engaging with and connecting ourselves to our various environmental domains – social, physical and metaphysical – and although I will focus on musicking, these concepts may apply to other artistic behaviours as well. The essential ideas from the Santiago theory of cognition, the work of Maturana and Varela and one of the foundations of contemporary 4E cognition theory, are that we as living beings ‘bring forth’ both the inner and outer worlds we experience, and this process (cognition) is common to all life. Music is also a process (not an object), one that emerges from properties of life itself and serves to link body/mind and environment. Understood this way, ‘co-constructing body-environments’ applies to the arts in general.
Financial Outcomes of Interventions Designed to Improve Retirement Savings: A Systematic Review.

This systematic review focuses on examining the effects of interventions that facilitate retirement savings through a financial capability approach, which combines financial education and financial...
Psychological Stress and Lowered Physical Activity Enjoyment in Adolescents With Overweight/Obesity:

Purpose:The purpose of this study was 2-fold: 1) to determine the cross-sectional associations between psychological stress, physical activity enjoyment, and physical activity participation [modera...
It's Getting Hot in Here: Piloting a Telemedicine OSCE Addressing Menopausal Concerns for Obstetrics and Gynecology Clerkship Students.

Introduction Although menopause is a common condition, trainees still express high levels of discomfort with managing climacteric symptoms. Trainees also receive little preparation for conducting t...
Sulfation and Calcium Favor Compact Conformations of Chondroitin in Aqueous Solutions

The effects of sulfation and calcium cations (Ca2+) on the atomic-resolution conformational properties of chondroitin carbohydrate polymers in aqueous solutions are not well studied owing to experimental challenges. Here, we compare all-atom explicit-solvent molecular dynamics simulations results for pairs of O-type (nonsulfated) and A-type (GlcNAc 4-O-sulfated) chondroitin 20-mers in 140 mM NaCl with and without Ca2+ and find that both sulfation and Ca2+ favor more compact polymer conformations. We also show that subtle differences in force-field parametrization can have dramatic effects on Ca2+ binding to chondroitin carboxylate and sulfate functional groups and thereby determine Ca2+-mediated intra- and interstrand association. In addition to providing an atomic-resolution picture of the interaction of Ca2+ with sulfated and nonsulfated chondroitin polymers, the molecular dynamics data emphasize the importance of careful force-field parametrization to balance ion-water and ion-chondroitin interactions and suggest additional parametrization efforts to tune interactions involving sulfate.
Using Loan Rates to Measure and Regulate Bank Risk: Findings Immodest Proposal

There is strong evidence that the interest rates charged by banks on the flow of newly extended Commercial & Industrial (C&I) loans predict future loan performance and CAMEL rating downgrades by bank supervisors. While internal risk ratings have little explanatory power for future loan performance, they do help predict future CAMEL downgrades. These findings suggest that supervisors might consider using interest rates in the off-site surveillance of banks. At the same time, we propose that reformers consider basing capital requirements and deposit insurance premia on loan interest rates instead of (or in addition to) internal risk ratings and models.
Do Investors Care about Corporate Apologies? Evidence from Chemical Disasters

This paper examines the stock market reaction to corporate apologies. We construct an extensive database of corporate apologies issued for major chemical disasters between 1985 and 2017. Results from event studies and cross-sectional regressions suggest that 1) the average effect of an apology does not affect the implicated firm’s stock price; but 2) the type and timing of the apology are associated with significant abnormal returns. In particular, firms that shift the blame to others consistently experience positive abnormal returns, while firms who admit to making mistakes tend to face negative stock market reactions in the longer-term. Greater media coverage for the chemical spill is associated with a negative stock market response while greater coverage for the apology is associated with a positive stock market response. Our results have practical implications for corporate crisis management and our understanding of what makes an effective apology.
Effects of feedlot bunk management and bulk density of steam-flaked corn on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and liver score of finishing beef steers fed high-concentrate diets without by-products or tylosin phosphate

ABSTRACT Objective Our objective was to evaluate effects of bunk management strategy and bulk density of steam-flaked corn (SFC) on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and incidence and severity of liver abscesses in finishing beef steers fed diets without tylosin phosphate. Materials and Methods Beef steers (n = 192; initial BW = 332 ± 8.1 kg) were used in a randomized complete block design comprised of 12 BW blocks and 12 pen replications per treatment. A 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments was used: (1) slick-bunk management + 335 g/L SFC-based diets (SFC); (2) modified ad libitum bunk management + 335 g/L SFC; (3) slick-bunk management + 425 g/L SFC; (4) modified ad libitum bunk management + 425 g/L SFC. Results and Discussion Bunk management strategy did not affect growth performance, carcass characteristics, or liver abscess score (P ≥ 0.10). The ADG of steers fed 425 g/L SFC was greater (P = 0.05) from d 35 to 105 than those fed 335 g/L SFC; however, overall ADG was not different (P = 0.36). The DMI of steers fed 425 g/L SFC was greater at each interim period (P ≤ 0.05) and overall (P ≤ 0.01) than those fed 335 g/L SFC. Gain-to-feed (G:F) of steers fed 425 g/L SFC tended (P = 0.10) to be lesser from d 0 to 35 but was not different overall (P = 0.12). Steers fed 425 g/L SFC tended to have greater backfat and calculated empty body fat percentage (P ≤ 0.07) than those fed 335 g/L SFC and greater calculated YG (P = 0.05). Steers fed 425 g/L SFC had 43.5% fewer (P = 0.04) liver abscesses than those fed 335 g/L SFC, but liver abscess severity did not differ (P ≥ 0.12). Implications and Applications Bunk management did not affect growth performance, carcass characteristics, or development of liver abscesses. Steers fed 425 g/L SFC-based diets had greater DMI and 43.5% fewer liver abscesses than those fed 335 g/L SFC-based diets with similar overall G:F, but carcasses were fatter. Greater bulk density of SFC may be a useful management strategy and a viable antimicrobial alternative to decrease liver abscesses.
Small-signal analysis of a visual reflex in the locust

Measurement of isometric neck torque of the locust, in response to small sinusoidal motion of visual test patterns with large stripes, shows that displacements of 20 seconds of arc are perceived by the eye. On the other hand, when stripe size is varied, the eye seems not to resolve much detail since no response is elicited by patterns with spatial period less than 3°. It is shown that these two results are not incompatible. Current procedures for comparing geometrical interference phenomena in visual reflexes with the receptor spatial sampling relevant to motion perception are extended to treat the small-signal locust experiment, and shown in general to involve larger confidence limits than usually supposed. Especially, arbitrarily weighted contributions from several ommatidial pair-types in the hexagonal lattice are permissible. Finally, consideration of the effects of receptor and other series nonlinearities on motion-perception experiments of this kind predicts particular test patterns for which visual responses should depend upon phase relations of superposed Fourier spatial components, whether the events of receptor interaction involve correlation or not. Measured effects on the reflex of pattern luminance, contrast, displacement and spatial period form a basis for the small-signal frequency analysis described in the paper which follows this one.
Processing and mechanical properties of silicon nitride formed by robocasting aqueous slurries

Robocasting is a new freeform fabrication technique for dense ceramics. It uses robotics to control deposition of ceramic slurries through an orifice. The optimization of concentrated aqueous Si{sub 3}N{sub 4} slurry properties to achieve high green density robocast bodies and subsequent high sintered densities was investigated. The effects of pH, electrolyte, additives and solids loading on the dispersion and rheological properties of Si{sub 3}N{sub 4} slurries were determined. The mechanical behavior of sintered robocast bars was determined and compared to conventionally produced silicon nitride ceramics.
Building an Accelerated Online Graduate Program for Military Officers

Because of the intense and unique nature of their military life, military officers face challenges that other students do not need to be concerned about when taking courses online. An institution's ability to understand these military officer students, design online programs to meet their unique learning needs, and deliver valuable online curriculum to advance their learning is instrumental to the long-term success of both the military student and the institution. Reflecting on our more than twenty years of experience teaching and mentoring military officer students, this article tells the story behind the development of an accelerated online program and shares the challenges brought along with having military officers in our online classes, including unpredictable deployment schedules, unannounced military exercises, security concerns, and military values and culture. How our faculty creatively and pedagogically addressed these challenges while still maintaining the rigor of our academic program is also discussed.