cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Actuator fault-tolerant control of networked distributed processes with event-triggered sensor-controller communication

This paper focuses on the problem of fault-tolerant control of spatially distributed systems modeled by parabolic PDEs with networked sensors and actuators and actuator faults. Based on a suitable finite-dimensional model that captures the dominant dynamics of the infinite-dimensional system, an event-triggered networked control system that enforces closed-loop stability with minimal sensor-controller communication is initially designed. The model is used by the controller to generate the necessary control action when communication is suspended, and its state is updated using the real-time measurements when communication is restored. Communication is triggered when a state-dependent threshold on the model estimation error is breached. The communication threshold is obtained using Lyapunov techniques and is explicitly characterized in terms of the fault magnitude, the model and controller design parameters, and the actuator locations. This characterization captures the potential impact of faults on both closed-loop stability and network resource utilization, and is used to devise stability-based and performance-based fault accommodation strategies that guarantee closed-loop stability and keep network resource utilization to a minimum in the presence of faults. Finally, the results are illustrated using a diffusion-reaction process example.
Overview of Era Ultra High Bypass Propulsor Technology Development

A review of the current research being conducted under the Environmentally Responsible Aviation (ERA) Ultra High Bypass (UHB) Testing subelement is presented. The four exiting tasks under the subelement, a description of each task, and the current status of each are given. The four tasks are: 1. Collaborate with P&W to design, fabricate and test a second generation of Geared Turbofan 2. Design, fabricate and test advanced Over the Rotor acoustic treatment and acoustically treated Soft Vanes 3. Develop a Shape Memory Alloy Variable Area Nozzle concept and demonstrate prototype 4. Refurbish and update the GRC Ultra High Bypass Drive Rig Following the current task updates, an overview of three proposed additional tasks to support the existing tasks is presented. The additional tasks would allow noise reduction and noise diagnostic testing technologies to be demonstrated at TRL 4 as part of existing planned fan model testing in the NASA Glenn 9 x15 Low Speed Wind Tunnel under the ERA UHB Testing subelement.
Heterogeneous Computing and Infrastructure for Energy Efficiency in Microsoft Data Centers: Extended Abstract

This paper describes some of the ways heterogeneous computing, specifically FPGAs, is used in Microsoft data centers to improve energy efficiency and performance. Improved energy efficiency can have a significant effect on the viability of the data center in question. We discuss the Bing ranking application along with Azure networking infrastructure production projects.
The effects of childhood maltreatment on brain structure, function and connectivity

Maltreatment-related childhood adversity is the leading preventable risk factor for mental illness and substance abuse. Although the association between maltreatment and psychopathology is compelling, there is a pressing need to understand how maltreatment increases the risk of psychiatric disorders. Emerging evidence suggests that maltreatment alters trajectories of brain development to affect sensory systems, network architecture and circuits involved in threat detection, emotional regulation and reward anticipation. This Review explores whether these alterations reflect toxic effects of early-life stress or potentially adaptive modifications, the relationship between psychopathology and brain changes, and the distinction between resilience, susceptibility and compensation.
Eastern U.S. Verification of Ensemble Precipitation Forecasts

AbstractThe quality of ensemble precipitation forecasts across the eastern United States is investigated, specifically, version 2 of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Global Ensemble Forecast System Reforecast (GEFSRv2) and Short Range Ensemble Forecast (SREF) system, as well as NCEP’s Weather Prediction Center probabilistic quantitative precipitation forecast (WPC-PQPF) guidance. The forecasts are verified using multisensor precipitation estimates and various metrics conditioned upon seasonality, precipitation threshold, lead time, and spatial aggregation scale. The forecasts are verified, over the geographic domain of each of the four eastern River Forecasts Centers (RFCs) in the United States, by considering first 1) the three systems or guidance, using a common period of analysis (2012–13) for lead times from 1 to 3 days, and then 2) GEFSRv2 alone, using a longer period (2004–13) and lead times from 1 to 16 days. The verification results indicate that, across the eastern United ...
It Can't Happen Here,1 or Has It? Sinclair Lewis's Fascist America

Sinclair Lewis, the first American to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, anticipated many aspects of Donald J. Trump's 2016 campaign and election in his 1935 satirical dystopia, It Can't Happen Here. It was his most popular novel to date and is still satisfying, thought-provoking political theater. Lewis was influenced by growing totalitarianism in Europe, reported on by his second wife, foreign correspondent, Dorothy Thompson. Noting the power of Father Coughlin and Huey Long, among others, to mobilize a public still suffering from the Great Depression, Lewis feared a fascist takeover of the American government by democratic means. Lewis's fictional nightmare features a loutish, ignorant demagogue, who is manipulated by a sinister ghostwriter adviser. With support from a resentful League of Forgotten Men, the demagogue is elected President and quickly establishes a military, racist, and anti-Semitic dictatorship. It Can't Happen Here dramatizes the dire consequences of this takeover, which is not taken s...
Executive compensation: An examination of the influence of TMT compensation on risk-adjusted performance

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine how executive pay schemes influence managerial efficiency, which the authors measure as the risk-adjusted firm performance. Design/methodology/approach The authors utilized hierarchical regression to test the hypotheses. Findings The authors find that as options constitute a higher percentage of total compensation packages, subsequent firm risk-adjusted performance declines. The authors also find an inverse relationship between TMT stock ownership and risk-adjusted performance. Research limitations/implications The findings suggest that the firm stakeholders should reconsider the likely influence of option-based incentives and equity holdings on the risk-adjusted performance. Originality/value Most executive compensation research focuses on either the pay-to-performance or pay-to-risk links. However, in this paper, the authors combine both the performance and risk dimensions simultaneously.
Combining bibliometrics, information retrieval, and relevance theory, Part 2: Some implications for information science: Research Articles

When bibliometric data are converted to term frequency (tf) and inverse document frequency (idf) values, plotted as pennant diagrams, and interpreted according to Sperber and Wilson's relevance theory (RT), the results evoke major variables of information science (IS). These include topicality, in the sense of intercohesion and intercoherence among texts; cognitive effects of texts in response to people's questions; people's levels of expertise as a precondition for cognitive effects; processing effort as textual or other messages are received; specificity of terms as it affects processing effort; relevance, defined in RT as the effectsseffort ratio; and authority of texts and their authors. While such concerns figure automatically in dialogues between people, they become problematic when people create or use or judge literature-based information systems. The difficulty of achieving worthwhile cognitive effects and acceptable processing effort in human-system dialogues explains why relevance is the central concern of IS. Moreover, since relevant communication with both systems and unfamiliar people is uncertain, speakers tend to seek cognitive effects that cost them the least effort. Yet hearers need greater effort, often greater specificity, from speakers if their responses are to be highly relevant in their turn. This theme of mismatch manifests itself in vague reference questions, underdeveloped online searches, uncreative judging in retrieval evaluation trials, and perfunctory indexing. Another effect of least effort is a bias toward topical relevance over other kinds. RT can explain these outcomes as well as more adaptive ones. Pennant diagrams, applied here to a literature search and a Bradford-style journal analysis, can model them. Given RT and the right context, bibliometrics may predict psychometrics. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Heterogeneous distributed average tracking using nonsmooth algorithms

This paper addresses distributed average tracking for a group of heterogeneous physical agents consisting of single-integrator, double-integrator and Euler-Lagrange dynamics. Here, the goal is that each agent uses local information and local interaction to calculate the average of individual time-varying reference inputs, one per agent. Two nonsmooth algorithms are proposed to achieve the distributed average tracking goal. In our first proposed algorithm, each agent tracks the average of the reference inputs, where each agent is required to have access to only its own position and the relative positions between itself and its neighbors. To relax the restrictive assumption on admissible reference inputs, we propose the second algorithm. A filter is introduced for each agent to generate an estimation of the average of the reference inputs. Then, each agent tracks its own generated signal to achieve the average tracking goal in a distributed manner.
Law enforcement response to mental health crises: citizen risk factors and preferences for social policy*

Despite having the potential to affect cooperation and support for law enforcement, community preferences for police training are generally unstudied. This paper seeks to understand (1) general com...
Fiber-based tools: material removal and mid-spatial frequency error reduction.

This paper details the feasibility of using fiber-based tools in a computer numerical control (CNC) environment to process optical materials and their ability to reduce the amplitude of pre-existing mid-spatial-frequency (MSF) surface errors. The work is motivated by earlier research conducted by the group exploring the ability of polymeric fiber-based tools to remove material from BK7 glass substrates. To evaluate these tools in a CNC environment, three tasks are explored. First, the ability of the tools to maintain their form and material removal profile while operating under translational conditions is explored. Second, the ability of the tools to disengage and re-engage with the workpiece edge, and how this affects the tool’s material removal profile. Finite element (FE) modelling of the fiber–workpiece edge interaction was conducted to support the experimental work. And third, the deterministic behavior of the tool under full raster conditions is verified. Testing on a 3-axis CNC machine tool demonstrated that the tooling is sufficiently robust and stable to operate under translational and rotational speeds of 30 mm/s and 1000 rpm, respectively. Both the FE modeling and experimental testing confirmed the truncation of a fiber’s material removal profile as a fiber extends beyond the workpiece edge. The ability of fiber-based tools to reduce MSF errors was explored both through FE modeling and experimental testing on germanium samples. Both the FE model and experimental results demonstrate that fiber-based tools can successfully reduce pre-existing MSF errors.
Towards sustainable bioplastic production in resource limited environments using the photoferroautotrophic and photoelectroautotrophic bacteriumRhodopseudomonas palustrisTIE-1

Bioplastics are an attractive alternative to petroleum-derived plastics because of the harmful environmental effects of conventional plastics and the impending fossil fuel crisis. Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) is a well-known bioplastic that is produced by several microbes using organic carbon sources. Autotrophic (using carbon dioxide or CO2) PHB production is reported for only a few organisms. Sustainable PHB bioproduction using other autotrophic microbes needs to be explored. Rhodopseudomonas palustris, a metabolically versatile purple non sulfur bacterium is known to produce PHBs under photoheterotrophic conditions. Rhodopseudomonas palustris strain TIE-1 demonstrates even more metabolic versatility by using electron sources such as ferrous iron and poised electrodes for photoautotrophy. Here we report that TIE-1 is able to produce PHB under photoferroautotrophic (light - energy source, ferrous iron - electron source and CO2 - carbon source) and photoelectroautotrophic (light - energy source, poised electrodes - electron source and CO2 - carbon source) growth conditions. PHB accumulation was observed both under nitrogen (N2) fixing (where the nitrogen source was N2 gas) and non-N2 fixing (with ammonium chloride) conditions. For comparison, we determined PHB production under chemo-, photoheterotrophic and photoautotrophic conditions using hydrogen as the electron donor. Photoferroautotrophic and photoelectroautotrophic PHB production was on par with that observed from organic carbon substrates such as butyrate. Under photoheterotrophic conditions, forcing the cells to fix N2 increased PHB production. However, N2 fixation did not enhance PHB production during photoautotrophic growth. RNASeq and RT-qPCR suggests that expression of the PHB cycle genes remains unchanged under the growth conditions tested.
Bangladesh Emergency Services: A Mobile Application to Provide 911-Like Service in Bangladesh

We present the design, implementation, and evaluation of Bangladesh Emergency Services (BES), a mobile application that provides 911-like services in Bangladesh. The involvement of A2I, a government agency, helped in the nationwide deployment of BES. To date, 120,382 unique users downloaded BES and 27,117 users are actively using it. Analysis of user ratings (N=3,788) and reviews (N=1,231) from Google Play Store, an online survey (N=137), and face-to-face interviews (N=10) revealed that users considered BES effective. Currently, BES is used to report aggressive behavior, street fight, harassment, fire-related incidents, and for locating nearby hospitals for medical emergencies. Our findings highlight the importance of trustworthiness, scalability of service, and iterative and participatory design for successful deployment of such services. We believe our research will inspire the design of mobile-based emergency applications in other developing countries that lack 911-like services.
Tectonic Setting and Cenozoic Sedimentary History of the Bering Sea

The Bering Sea consists of (a) an abyssal basin that apparently was isolated from the Pacific Ocean by the development of the Aleutian Ridge near the end of Cretaceous Period and (b) a large epicontinental shelf area that first became submerged near the middle of the Tertiary Period. We postulate that the sediment eroded from Alaska and Siberia during Cenozoic time. It (1) was trapped in subsiding basins on the Bering shelf and in abyssal basins during the Tertiary, (2) collected mostly in continental rise and abyssal plain deposits of the Bering Sea during periods of low sea level of the Pleistocene, and (3) has been transported generally northward from the Bering shelf through the Bering Strait into the Arctic Ocean during periods of high sea level in Pleistocene and Holocene time.
Integrating Sample Processing and Detection with Microchip Capillary Electrophoresis of DNA

DNA is the storage medium for inherited information in living systems and thus, techniques for nucleic acid analysis are of great importance. Integrated microchip instrumentation for rapid separation of DNA by capillary electrophoresis (CE) has emerged as an especially promising approach for assaying genetic material. Improvements in separation capabilities and sample capacity have made CE microdevices compatible with the rapid, high-throughput analysis needs in DNA studies. Perhaps the most critical advantage of adopting a microchip format for DNA characterization is the ability to couple sample handling operations, separation and miniaturized detection instrumentation seamlessly on a single device. Indeed, recent work with micromachined, portable PCR-CE systems indicates the exceptional promise of integrated DNA analysis microchips. Lastly, phase-changing sacrificial layer fabrication methods for polymer microdevices should lead to inexpensive, high-performance DNA characterization microchips. Continued progress in integrated microdevices for DNA analysis will enhance capabilities for medical, biological and forensic work.
Recycling and life cycle issues for lightweight vehicles

Abstract: This chapter addresses recycling and life cycle considerations related to the growing use of lightweight materials in vehicles. The chapter first addresses the benefit of a life cycle perspective in materials choice, and the role that recycling plays in reducing energy inputs and environmental impacts in a vehicle’s life cycle. Some limitations of life cycle analysis and results of several vehicle- and fleet-level assessments are drawn from published studies. With emphasis on lightweight materials such as aluminum, magnesium, and polymer composites, the status of the existing recycling infrastructure and technological challenges being faced by the industry also are discussed.
Self-Help for Parents of Children with Autism: Mindfulness and Compassion

Whereas the role of the parent as natural therapist for their child with autism has been studied at length, much less attention has been given to understand and support the emotional needs of those we bestow with such a great responsibility. In this chapter, we refer to interventions that provide support for the mental health and overall well-being of these parents as self-help programs. First, we highlight the scarcity of studies addressing self-help in the parent-training literature. Next, we discuss practical and ethical reasons why more attention should be given to this topic. We then provide a detailed account of self-help programs that have been empirically studied, with attention to specific techniques that have shown promising results, such as mindfulness meditation or training in full awareness. Mindfulness and compassion meditation, defined by the cultivation of full awareness of others and self with the desire to alleviate all suffering, will be presented as a potentially successful coping strategy to reduce distress in parents of children with autism as well as a social skill training to reduce isolation and increase social competence. We will conclude with the brief report of a pilot program at the Marcus Autism Center in which we aimed to teach parents mindfulness and compassion meditation which, in turn, may benefit their children with autism.
Correlation of QNBC immune and basal signature to targeted therapies and race.

e14537Background: Triple Negative Breast Cancer has been identified as one of the most aggressive breast cancer subtypes. We previously identified a subtype of TNBC, which lacks the androgen recept...
Instantaneous in-band radio frequency interference suppression using non-linear folders

A front-end adaptive folder with a filter is presented to instantaneously push jammers to higher frequencies while preserving the integrity of small signals of interest. A programmable filter is utilised to further suppress folded jammers for achieving a widely scalable dynamic range over a large frequency range. To achieve maximum programmability with a minimal increase of power and area, combinatorial intrinsic device characteristics are exploited to tune folding points for rapid adaptation to a changing electromagnetic environment.
The effects of sex-biased fisheries on crustacean sex ratios and reproductive output

ABSTRACTCrustacean fisheries often preferentially or exclusively harvest males, resulting in selection that alters sex ratios in fished populations. Sex-biased fisheries may occur when males are la...
Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellowship Applicants: Trends over Time and the Impact of Board Certification Eligibility.

Complex general surgical oncology (CGSO) fellowships recently obtained Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accreditation and board certification eligibility. We aimed to characterize the applicant pool and identify factors predictive of matching into our program. We conducted a retrospective review of CGSO fellowship applications to a major cancer center from 2008 to 2018. Data were analyzed for trends over time, including a comparison of pre- versus post-American Board of Surgery (ABS) certification eligibility. A total of 846 applications were reviewed. Most applicants (86.2%) trained in a US residency program; 58.4% performed ≥ 1 research year during residency; 29.6% had a dual degree. Fewer applicants (34.5%) were female, a trend which did not change over time. Post-ABS, applicants were more likely to complete ≥ 1 year between residency and fellowship (20.9% versus 13.2%, p = 0.003), to be in practice at the time of application (12.2% versus 6.6%, p = 0.005), and to reapply (5.5% versus 1.0%, p < 0.001). Post-ABS applicants listed more peer-reviewed publications (8 [interquartile range (IQR) 4, 15] versus 5 [IQR 2, 10]; p < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, factors associated with matching into our program included: US allopathic medical school graduation [odds ratio (OR) 4.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.8–11.7], Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Medical Society distinction (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.6–4.7), dual degree (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.1–3.4), and performance of a clinical/research rotation at our institution (OR 4.9, 95% CI 2.2–10.7). After establishment of CGSO board certification eligibility, applicants were more likely to apply while in practice and to reapply. A number of factors, including having a dual degree and rotating at our institution, were associated with matriculation.
Fame-seeking mass shooters in America: severity, characteristics, and media coverage

Abstract The current study examines the severity, characteristics, and coverage of fame-seeking mass shootings in the United States from 1966 to 2018. Specifically, this research highlights the rate of incidents and casualties, provides a comparison of fame-seeking shootings against all other mass shootings, and examines the media's coverage of the phenomenon. Findings illustrate a rise in incidents and casualties at the turn of the century. Fame-seeking perpetrators were overwhelmingly males who often perceived themselves as victims. They were more likely than other types of mass shooters to be young white students, with signs of mental illness, suicidal tendencies, and grandiose behaviors. They were also more likely to target schools and use a combination of weapons. Additionally, fame-seeking shooters were more likely to receive media coverage than their counterparts, thereby reinforcing their initial motivations. A discussion of findings highlights important implications for scholars, practitioners, and media outlets covering the phenomenon.
Pol II phosphorylation regulates a switch between transcriptional and splicing condensates

The synthesis of pre-mRNA by RNA polymerase II (Pol II) involves the formation of a transcription initiation complex, and a transition to an elongation complex1–4. The large subunit of Pol II contains an intrinsically disordered C-terminal domain that is phosphorylated by cyclin-dependent kinases during the transition from initiation to elongation, thus influencing the interaction of the C-terminal domain with different components of the initiation or the RNA-splicing apparatus5,6. Recent observations suggest that this model provides only a partial picture of the effects of phosphorylation of the C-terminal domain7–12. Both the transcription-initiation machinery and the splicing machinery can form phase-separated condensates that contain large numbers of component molecules: hundreds of molecules of Pol II and mediator are concentrated in condensates at super-enhancers7,8, and large numbers of splicing factors are concentrated in nuclear speckles, some of which occur at highly active transcription sites9–12. Here we investigate whether the phosphorylation of the Pol II C-terminal domain regulates the incorporation of Pol II into phase-separated condensates that are associated with transcription initiation and splicing. We find that the hypophosphorylated C-terminal domain of Pol II is incorporated into mediator condensates and that phosphorylation by regulatory cyclin-dependent kinases reduces this incorporation. We also find that the hyperphosphorylated C-terminal domain is preferentially incorporated into condensates that are formed by splicing factors. These results suggest that phosphorylation of the Pol II C-terminal domain drives an exchange from condensates that are involved in transcription initiation to those that are involved in RNA processing, and implicates phosphorylation as a mechanism that regulates condensate preference. RNA polymerase II with a hypophosphorylated C-terminal domain preferentially incorporates into mediator condensates, and with a hyperphosphorylated C-terminal domain into splicing-factor condensates, revealing phosphorylation as a regulatory mechanism in condensate preference.
MitoRACE: evaluating mitochondrial function in vivo and in single cells with subcellular resolution using multiphoton NADH autofluorescence.

Key points We developed a novel metabolic imaging approach that provides direct measures of the rate of mitochondrial energy conversion with single-cell and subcellular resolution by evaluating NADH autofluorescence kinetics during the mitochondrial redox after cyanide experiment (mitoRACE). Measures of mitochondrial NADH flux by mitoRACE are sensitive to physiological and pharmacological perturbations in vivo. Metabolic imaging with mitoRACE provides a highly adaptable platform for evaluating mitochondrial function in vivo and in single cells with potential for broad applications in the study of energy metabolism. Abstract Mitochondria play a critical role in numerous cell types and diseases, and structure and function of mitochondria can vary greatly among cells or within different regions of the same cell. However, there are currently limited methodologies that provide direct assessments of mitochondrial function in vivo, and contemporary measures of mitochondrial energy conversion lack the spatial resolution necessary to address cellular and subcellular heterogeneity. Here, we describe a novel metabolic imaging approach that provides direct measures of mitochondrial energy conversion with single-cell and subcellular resolution by evaluating NADH autofluorescence kinetics during the mitochondrial redox after cyanide experiment (mitoRACE). MitoRACE measures the rate of NADH flux through the steady-state mitochondrial NADH pool by rapidly inhibiting mitochondrial energetic flux, resulting in an immediate, linear increase in NADH fluorescence proportional to the steady-state NADH flux rate, thereby providing a direct measure of mitochondrial NADH flux. The experiments presented here demonstrate the sensitivity of this technique to detect physiological and pharmacological changes in mitochondrial flux within tissues of living animals and reveal the unique capability of this technique to evaluate mitochondrial function with single-cell and subcellular resolution in different cell types in vivo and in cell culture. Furthermore, we highlight the potential applications of mitoRACE by showing that within single neurons, mitochondria in neurites have higher energetic flux rates than mitochondria in the cell body. Metabolic imaging with mitoRACE provides a highly adaptable platform for evaluating mitochondrial function in vivo and in single cells, with potential for broad applications in the study of energy metabolism.
Critical Classrooms Matter: Baltimore Teachers' Pedagogical Response after the Death of Freddie Gray.

The purpose of this article is to discuss the possibilities of public education. We argue that public schools, despite their flaws, still provide necessary spaces of civic engagement. When major so...
Detecting seasonal ice dynamics in satellite images

Abstract. Fully understanding how glaciers respond to environmental change will require new methods to help us identify the onset of ice acceleration events and observe how dynamic signals propagate within glaciers. In particular, observations of ice dynamics on seasonal timescales may offer insights into how a glacier interacts with various forcing mechanisms throughout the year. The task of generating continuous ice velocity time series that resolve seasonal variability is made difficult by the finite integration time over which ice velocities are measured from optical and repeat SAR imagery, and by a spotty satellite record that contains no optical observations throughout dark, polar winters. In this paper, we describe a method of analyzing feature-tracked velocities to characterize the magnitude and timing of seasonal ice dynamic variability. Our method is agnostic to data gaps and is able to recover climatological average winter velocities regardless of the availability of direct observations during winter. Using characteristic image acquisition times and error distributions from Antarctic image pairs in the ITS_LIVE dataset, we generate synthetic ice velocity time series, then apply our method to recover imposed magnitudes of seasonal variability within ±1.4 m yr−1. We then validate the techniques by comparing our results to GPS data collected on Russell Glacier in Greenland. The methods presented here may be applied to better understand how ice dynamic signals propagate on seasonal timescales, and what mechanisms control the flow of the world’s ice.
Factors That Contribute to Cost Differences Based on ICU of Admission in Neonates Undergoing Congenital Heart Surgery: A Novel Decomposition Analysis.

OBJECTIVES We leveraged decomposition analysis, commonly used in labor economics, to understand determinants of cost differences related to location of admission in children undergoing neonatal congenital heart surgery. DESIGN A retrospective cohort study. SETTING Pediatric Health Information Systems database. PATIENTS Neonates (<30 d old) undergoing their index congenital heart surgery between 2004 and 2013. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS A decomposition analysis with bootstrapping determined characteristic (explainable by differing covariate levels) and structural effects (if covariates are held constant) related to cost differences. Covariates included center volume, age at admission, prematurity, sex, race, genetic or major noncardiac abnormality, Risk Adjustment for Congenital Heart Surgery-1 score, payor, admission year, cardiac arrest, infection, and delayed sternal closure.Of 19,984 infants included (10,491 [52%] to cardiac ICU/PICU and 9,493 [48%] to neonatal ICU), admission to the neonatal ICU had overall higher average costs ($24,959 ± $3,260; p < 0.001) versus cardiac ICU/PICU admission. Characteristic effects accounted for higher costs in the neonatal ICU ($28,958 ± $2,044; p < 0.001). Differing levels of prematurity, genetic syndromes, hospital volume, age at admission, and infection contributed to higher neonatal ICU costs, with infection rate providing the most significant contribution ($13,581; p < 0.001). Aggregate structural effects were not associated with cost differences for those admitted to the neonatal ICU versus cardiac ICU/PICU (p = 0.1). Individually, prematurity and age at admission were associated with higher costs due to structural effects for infants admitted to the neonatal ICU versus cardiac ICU/PICU. CONCLUSIONS The difference in cost between neonatal ICU and cardiac ICU/PICU admissions is largely driven by differing prevalence of risk factors between these units. Infection rate was a modifiable factor that accounted for the largest difference in costs between admitting units.
Robust characterization of microfabricated atomic beams on a six-month time scale

This paper demonstrates long-term stability in miniature atomic beam collimators. These are made from silicon using micro-electromechanical system fabrication techniques and, combined with quantum sensing protocols on-chip, can be used as devices for timekeeping or inertial sensing.
Is Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Less Safe Than Sleeve Gastrectomy?

Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) are the most common weight loss procedures performed worldwide. There have been a number of retrospective studies, randomized controlled trials as well as meta-analyses that report on the safety of the two procedures. In capable hands, both procedures are safe with an extremely low mortality rate and a low morbidity rate. However, based on review of the literature, we conclude the LSG is slightly but significantly safer than the LRYGB (evidence quality high; strong recommendation). In patients who require daily PPI therapy or have objective evidence of GERD such as esophagitis or positive pH study, LRYGB should be considered over the LSG (evidence quality moderate; strong recommendation).
Thermal Noise-Induced Error Simulation Framework for Subthreshold CMOS SRAM

Accurate error-rate modeling in ultra-low-power subthreshold CMOS circuitry is needed to predict reliability. In this study, we extend our stochastic time-domain error simulation framework to thermally-induced bit-flip errors in ultimate CMOS SRAM cells. Our approach extracts the dependence of error rate on technological parameters such as operating voltage, threshold variability, and temperature. Our analysis tool extracts behavior that cannot be captured with conventional SPICE-based simulations and provides the first statistically rigorous tool for evaluating ultimate SRAM reliability.
The Gravitational Signature of Earthquakes

The static displacement field generated by an earthquake redistributes the Earth’s mass and consequently causes the Earth’s rotation and global gravitational field to change. Although the coseismic effect of earthquakes on the Earth’s rotation and global gravitational field has been modeled in the past, no unambiguous observations of this effect have yet been made. However, the Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite, which is scheduled to be launched in 2001, will measure time variations of the Earth’s gravitational field to high degree and order with unprecedented accuracy. Here, the coseismic effect of earthquakes on the Earth’s global gravitational field will be modeled and compared with the expected accuracy of the GRACE measurements. It is shown that the coseismic effects of great earthquakes such as the 1960 Chilean or 1964 Alaskan events can cause global gravitational field changes that are large enough to be detected by GRACE. However, the coseismic effects of the largest earthquakes that have occurred during the past 35 years cause global gravitational field changes that are probably too small to be detected by GRACE.
The effect of winter drought on evaporation from a high-elevation wetland

The surface energy balance of a high-elevation groundwater-fed wetland (High Creek Fen) in central Colorado was measured from 9 June 2000 through 18 January 2005. In agreement with observations and predictions for decreased winter snow cover in the region, the low snow cover in 2001–2002 allowed for an examination of the impact of winter drought on the wetland. During years with an average snowpack, summer evaporation far exceeded precipitation. Despite near-normal summer precipitation following a winter drought, the summertime surface energy balance was affected with decreased latent heat fluxes and increased sensible heat fluxes. The leaf area index and the fraction of photosynthetic radiation absorbed were reduced following the winter drought. A shift in the primary controls on evaporation occurred as the surface's response to vapor pressure deficits and soil moisture increased following the winter drought. The earlier snowmelt coupled with earlier increase in soil temperature and moisture following winter drought did not increase evaporation, since vegetation was not yet developed, and evaporation from soil water was low during the early spring period.
The Establishment of the Hydra-Chlorella Symbiosis: Recognition of Potential Algal Symbionts

The epithelial cells lining the gastric cavity of the freshwater hydra, Hydra viridis, harbor unicellular algal symbionts of the genus Cblorella. It has long been known that these hydra cells can readily phagocytose algal cells and will sequester those algae that have the potential to form a symbiotic association. In this paper the evidence is discussed for when and how recognition of potential symbionts by hydra cells occurs, i.e. during phagocytosis or during the subsequent intracellular events leading to sequestration of algal symbionts.
Zeros of the partial sums of cos (z) and sin (z). I

We extend results of Szegő (1924) and Kappert (1996) on the location of the zeros of the normalized partial sums of cos (z) and sin (z), and their rates of convergence to the associated Szegő curves.
CAE Model Correlation & Design Optimization of a Laminated Steel Oil Pan by means of Acceleration and Strain Measurement on a Fired Engine

In this paper, a simultaneous design and development work for a diesel engine oil pan is presented. The interesting point making the design of the oil pan so special is its laminated steel material. Beside its material, due to the deep-drawing production method, to determine the natural frequencies of the structure with CAE methodology is a problem for the design engineer. Especially when the highly nonlinear character of the oil pan and regions at different thicknesses sum up with the hardness of liquid modelling, free vibration modal analysis of the design at virtual environment becomes extremely challenging. Therefore , instead of refining the material characteristics in virtual design, first a primary 3D dummy design is generated. Afterwards, a production method and material intent sample is produced with soft tool. Hammer test is applied on this sample filled with oil, therefore modal shapes and frequencies are gained. As a result, CAE modal analysis is generated and correlated by hammer test results; hence the first challenge of modelling the liquid is overcome. Then , critical stress locations are determined with the CAE durability analysis. After instrumenting the pan with optimum number of accelerometers and strain-gages from these critical locations, a durability test on a fired engine is run. With the measurements here, the CAE durability analysis is refined so the second challenge of material nonlinearity and thinning due to the deep-drawing method is also overcome. Lastly, with the CAE durability simulation, a secondary 3D design proposal is established. Normally the method reach to success here, but to validate it, a secondary sample is produced, instrumented again with accelerometers & gages and tested resulting in significant improvement in terms of durability. With this approach, a method to perform a fail-safe oil pan design in single loop is verified.
Seasonal prediction of East African rainfall

The detrimental impacts of climate variability on water, agriculture, and food resources in East Africa underscore the importance of reliable seasonal climate predictions. This study compares several forecasting methods using sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies to predict East African rains with various lead times. It is shown that the forecasts can explain more than 50% of the short rains (boreal autumn) variance across large regions of Ethiopia, Somalia, and Kenya, and reaffirm the importance of the Walker-like circulation over the Indian Ocean. The forecasts also explain more than 50% of the long rains (boreal spring) over Uganda, Lake Victoria, and western Kenya, and demonstrate the strong connection of the long rains to the SSTs in the southern Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, southwestern Indian Ocean, and Arabian Sea. For the unimodal rains in Tanzania, the forecasts explain more than 40% of the rainfall variance over northwestern Tanzania based on SST predictors in the southwestern Indian Ocean and the subtropical North Atlantic. For the South Sudan and Ethiopian Kiremt rains, the forecast skill is less pronounced. The predictor regions (dipoles) for a recently developed method are validated through composite maps of surface and atmospheric reanalysis variables. Lastly, 2010–2011 forecasts for both the long and short rains demonstrate skill in predicting the recent drought suggesting that seasonal climate forecasts can inform natural disaster preparedness and water resources planning in East Africa.
Standardized letter of recommendation for otolaryngology residency selection

Objectives/Hypothesis: Develop a standardized letter of recommendation (SLOR) for otolaryngology residency application that investigates the qualities desired in residents and the letter writer's experience. Compare this SLOR to narrative letters of recommendation (NLORs). Study Design: Prospective SLOR/NLOR comparison. Methods: The SLOR was sent to an NLOR writer for each applicant. The applicant's NLOR/SLOR pair was blinded and ranked in seven categories by three reviewers. Inter-rater reliability and NLOR/SLOR rankings were compared. Means of cumulative NLOR and SLOR scores were compared to our departmental rank list. Results: Thirty-one SLORs (66%) were collected. The SLORs had higher inter-rater reliability for applicant's qualifications for otolaryngology, global assessment, summary statement, and overall letter ranking. Writer's background, comparison to contemporaries/predecessors, and letter review ease had higher inter-rater reliability on the NLORs. Mean SLOR rankings were higher for writer's background (P = .0007), comparison of applicant to contemporaries/predecessors (P = .0031), and letter review ease (P < .0001). Mean SLOR writing time was 4.17 ± 2.18 minutes. Mean ranking time was significantly lower (P < .0001) for the SLORs (39.24 ± 23.45 seconds) compared to the NLORs (70.95 ± 40.14 seconds). Means of cumulative SLOR scores correlated with our rank list (P = .004), whereas means of cumulative NLOR scores did not (P = .18). Means of cumulative NLOR and SLOR scores did not correlate (P = .26). Conclusions: SLORs require little writing time, save reviewing time, and are easier to review compared to NLORs. Our SLOR had higher inter-rater reliability in four of seven categories and was correlated with our rank list. This tool conveys standardized information in an efficient manner. Laryngoscope, 2013
Special Issue for Emerging Computational Methods for the Life Sciences Workshop

This paper surveys the contents of the special issue on Emerging Computational Methods for the Life Sciences Workshop with six contributed papers. They cover a rich variety of topics on interface of life sciences and computation which in detail are parallelizing two popular micro array data analysis techniques using the Simple Parallel R Interface (SPRINT); parallelization of PEMer structural variation pipeline and the BWA alignment tool for execution on clusters, grids and clouds using the Weaver/Starch/Makeflow workflow stack; hierarchical MapReduce framework for utilizing computational resources from multiple clusters simultaneously to execute a MapReduce computation across them; framework which can utilize HPC, Grid and Cloud infrastructure through a unified framework to achieve task-level concurrency; port of the AutoDock molecular docking program to run within the open source Hadoop MapReduce framework; current research topics on computational methods of genomics, the complexity of biological applications and computational assays, and the increasing demands of improving algorithms and parallel systems;
Speckle reduction of SAR imagery using homomorphic processing and predictive filtering

This paper describes a method of reducing the speckle in a SAR image using a variation of homomorphic processing. In a SAR image, speckle is typically characterized as multiplicative noise such that traditional means of additive noise reduction may not perform well. In homomorphic processing, a signal is first passed through a logarithmic function, which would transform any multiplicative components (such as speckle noise) into additive components in the logarithmic domain. At this point, any additive noise reduction technique may be used for denoising. Here, we incorporate predictive filtering into the homomorphic process as a means to reduce the speckle.
Particle Measurement with a Liquid-Borne Particle Counter: Analytical Figures of Merit

Particle contamination is one of the major concerns in semiconductor industry as it can reduce device yield, device quality and device reliability [1]. Liquid-borne particle counters (particle counters) are widely used to measure particle levels in water, chemicals, and other process liquids. In conjunction with sonication in ultrapure water and/or other liquids, these counters are also used to measure particle levels on surfaces of wafers and/or chamber parts to determine the cleanliness of wafer/part surface and to evaluate and improve surface cleaning processes. They have become indispensable tools in semiconductor surface cleaning processes [2].
MRI findings of rapidly progressive ophthalmoplegia and blindness in mucormycosis

An 18-year-old woman with poorly controlled insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus had 3 days of worsening nasal discharge, right facial pain and erythema, and headache. Lumbar puncture showed 250 nucleated cells/μL with neutrophil predominance, elevated protein of 81 mg/dL, and normal glucose. …
Another’s punishment cleanses the self: Evidence for a moral cleansing function of punishing transgressors

Separate lines of research show that individuals: (a) understand immorality metaphorically as physical contamination; (b) project undesirable self-attributes onto others; and (c) view punishment as eliminating a transgressor’s immorality. Integrating these findings, we hypothesized that individuals project guilt over their own immorality—represented as physical contamination—onto another transgressor whose punishment restores their own moral and physical purity. In Study 1, personal immorality salience decreased felt physical cleanliness unless another transgressor was punished. In Study 2, personal immorality salience led participants to see another transgressor as physically dirtier, an effect mediated by guilt. Furthermore, the punishment of the contaminated transgressor restored participants’ personal morality and eliminated restorative moral behavior. In Study 3, punishing a transgressor who served as a projection target for participants’ immorality removed felt physical contamination indirectly through decreased guilt. These studies are the first to show that another’s punishment can “cleanse” the self of “dirty” immorality feelings.
Angiotensin II induces calcium release in a subpopulation of single ovarian (granulosa) cells.

Abstract The effects of angiotensin II on cytosolic free Ca2+ ion concentrations ([Ca2+]i were studied in single porcine granulosa cells using the calcium-sensitive fluorescent dye fura-2 and high temporal resolution fluorescent videomicroscopy. Angiotensin II initiated specific, rapid, transient and topographically organized increases in [Ca2+]i in a subpopulation of single swine granulosa cells. The Ca2+ source for this angiotensin II-mediated [Ca2+]i transient appeared to be internal stores, and a pertussis toxin-sensitive guanine nucleotide binding protein was implicated in this receptor-mediated Ca2+ rise. Our single-cell studies also revealed a striking functional heterogeneity among granulosa cells, since folliclestimulating hormone-responsive cells were not angiotensin II responsive. We conclude that single swine granulosa cells are targets of specific angiotensin II action on intracellular pools of Ca2+.