cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Design and validation of two-handed multi-touch tabletop controllers for robot teleoperation

Controlling the movements of mobile robots, including driving the robot through the world and panning the robot's cameras, typically requires many physical joysticks, buttons, and switches. Operators will often employ a technique called "chording" to cope with this situation. Much like a piano player, the operator will simultaneously actuate multiple joysticks and switches with his or her hands to create a combination of complimentary movements. However, these controls are in fixed locations and unable to be reprogrammed easily. Using a Microsoft Surface multi-touch table, we have designed an interface that allows chording and simultaneous multi-handed interaction anywhere that the user wishes to place his or her hands. Taking inspiration from the biomechanics of the human hand, we have created a dynamically resizing, ergonomic, and multi-touch controller (the DREAM Controller). This paper presents the design and testing of this controller with an iRobot ATRV-JR robot.
A new collaboration: PTJ and the Royal Dutch Society for Physical Therapy.

This month, PTJ and APTA are honored to announce that the Royal Dutch Society for Physical Therapy has made PTJ its official journal. As editor in chief, I am delighted to be entering into this relationship with our Dutch colleagues. Researchers from the Netherlands have made significant contributions to our understanding of the use of measurement tools to examine clinical effectiveness in a variety of medical diagnoses. Dutch investigators have advanced our understanding of clinical practice guideline development and clinician adherence to guidelines, as well as our understanding of professional issues such as direct access, continuing education, and physical …
Charge transfer complexes of K vitamins with several classes of antimicrobials

Abstract The charge transfer donor (D)–acceptor (A) complexes formed between three classes of vitamin K (all electron acceptors in this study) with several thiazine psychotropes, used also as antimicrobials, antimalarials, antibiotics, and anticoagulants, were studied by means of alternating current titrations. The monochloride thiazines formed 2:1 (D:A) complexes, interacting from 26 to 47.5%; the dihydrochloride formed a 3:1 (D:A) complex. The antimalarials quinine and its isomer quinidine yielded 2:1 (D:A) complexes, interacting 51 and 60%, respectively. Quinacrine did not complex with vitamin K. The antibiotics sulfisoxasole and sulfamethisole gave 1:1 complexes, respectively interacting 6.2 and 11.7%. The anticoagulants warfarin, coumarin and dicumarol, rather than forming complexes proceeded rapidly to chemical reaction. When the above thiazine antimicrobials, antimalarials and antibiotics are present in patients receiving vitamin K post-operatively the dosage of administered vitamin K should be increased to counteract the donor–acceptor interaction effect.
13C-NMR. Spectroscopy of naturally occurring substances. XXXII. Vincaleucoblastine and related alkaloids.

The total assignment of the 13C-shifts of the complex Vinica rosea L. alkaloids vincaleucoblastine, leurosidine and leurosine and of a synthetic isomer of the latter is presented. The structure of leurosidine is corrected and a tentative structure for the acid-catalyzed product of isomerization of leurosine is proposed.
Supernormal excitability as a mechanism of chaotic dynamics of activation in cardiac Purkinje fibers.

Supernormality, which can be defined as greater than normal excitability during or immediately after action potential repolarization, has been observed in a variety of cardiac preparations. However, as yet, no description of the dynamics of tissue response to repetitive stimulation in the presence of supernormal or relatively supernormal excitability has appeared. Isolated sheep cardiac Purkinje fibers (2-5 mm in length) were superfused with Tyrode's solution and stimulated with depolarizing current pulses through a suction pipette. Recovery of excitability, restitution of the action potential duration, and response patterns were measured in each fiber for a wide range of current amplitudes and stimulation frequencies. When the potassium chloride concentration of the Tyrode's solution was decreased from 7 to 4 mM, the excitability recovery function consistently changed from monophasic ("normal") to triphasic ("supernormal'). During repetitive stimulation at increasing rates, normal preparations responded only with gradual changes in the activation ratio, expressed as periodic phase-locked responses (i.e., Wenckebach-like patterns, etc.). Supernormal preparations showed a nonmonotonic change in the activation ratio, as well as complex aperiodic response patterns. Numerical results from an analytical model gave a quantitative basis for the relation between nonmonotonicity in the excitability function and the development of complex rhythms in cardiac Purkinje fibers. Both our experimental and theoretical results indicate that the presence of supernormality and the slope of the action potential duration restitution curve at short diastolic intervals are responsible for the development of chaotic dynamics. Moreover, our results give an accurate description of the supernormality phenomenon, predict the behavior expected under such conditions, and provide insight about the role of membrane recovery in determining regular and irregular frequency-dependent rhythm and conduction disturbances.
Overview: conditionally essential nutrients: can long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and nucleotides qualify?

The preceding chapter by Giovannini discusses the possible benefits of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) supplementation in preterm and full-term infants (Giovannini 2000). I would like to ask the question of pros and cons for the essentiality of LC-PUFA, bearing in mind the geographic distribution of nursing women as well as the length of lactation.
Conformance for DecSerFlow Constraints

DecSerFlow is a declarative language to specify business processes. It consists of a set of temporal predicates that can be translated into LTL but limited to finite sequences. This paper focuses on the “conformance problem”: Given a set of DecSerFlow constraints, is there an execution sequence that satisfies all given constraints? This paper provides syntactic characterizations of conformance for several subclasses of DecSerFlow constraints. These characterizations directly lead to efficient (polynomial time) conformance testing. Furthermore, algorithms are developed to generate conforming strings if the set of constraints is conformable. A conformance analyzer is developed based on the syntactic characterizations and the string generating algorithms. Experiments reveal several interesting factors concerning performance and scalability.
Habitat Alteration and Parasite Transmission: Is It a One-Way Street?

Changes to the environment can have a profound effect on parasite transmission, and many examples have been documented. Although such studies describe the changes that occur, they do not usually address the question of whether or not the environmental effects are reversible. Both manmade and natural perturbations can alter habitats, leading to either an increase or decrease in parasite transmission. Two different categories of manmade environmental changes, with examples and whether they can be reversed, are discussed. The first type is where habitats are intentionally altered to improve human well-being but produce unintended consequences to parasite transmission. The examples described include the Aswan High Dam, the Diama Dam, urbanization, and family ranching. The second type is where commercial interests intentionally alter habitats for profit or to avoid expensive treatment of waste products, which then changes parasite transmission. The examples discussed are commercial logging, salmon farming, and water pollution from pulp and paper mills. In some cases, government intervention has mitigated the effects on parasite transmission although the habitat remains altered (e.g., Aswan High Dam). In another example, once the habitat was returned to its normal state, parasite transmission diminished (family ranching). However, there are environmental perturbations that are not easily reversed, such as urbanization and those caused by commercial endeavors. In these cases, improvements to the economy, public advocacy, and special interest groups may reduce the problem of increased parasite transmission, although they will not likely be completely mitigated.
An Appraisal of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015

This work appraises the extent to which the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 achieves the broad purpose of promoting efficient management of criminal justice institutions, speedy dispensation of justice, and the protection of the rights and interests of all actors in the Nigerian criminal justice system. It compares the new legislation with other legislations in the Nigerian framework for criminal justice administration, and points out the strengths and weaknesses of this new legislation over the others. Finally, it makes recommendations for a unified and more effective system of criminal justice administration in Nigeria.
The Power of Social Artefacts

To deal with the grand challenges before us (financial and political crises, growing inequality, social unrest, corruption, organized crime, etc.) we need theories for understanding-while-producing social artifacts (material and immaterial artifacts spontaneously emerging or designed for humans to achieve social goals, and possibly ruling populations of agents) and figuring out their potential properties and impact. Part of the difficulty for us to respond to the challenges mentioned above is inherent to fundamental features of social complexity. Complex social systems are characterized by multiple ontological levels with multi-directional connections, proceeding not only from the micro to the macroscopic levels but also back from the macro to the microscopic. For another part, the difficulty depends on our underestimating the nature and development of social artifacts beyond and above our control capacity, in a general process that will be here called social alienation.
The Class I-Restricted Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Response to Predetermined Epitopes in the Hepatitis B and C Viruses

Hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV and HCV) both originally identified as causative agents of transfusion-associated hepatitis share a propensity to induce acute and chronic hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma (Tiollais et al. 1981; Choo et al. 1989). Despite these biological similarities, the two viruses differ considerably. HBV has a partially double-stranded DNA genome of about 3200 nucleotides, infectious particles are 42 nm in size and are enveloped, and the virus belongs to the hepadnavirus family; HCV has a positive-stranded RNA genome of approximately 10000 nucleotides, is less than 80 nm in size, is probably enveloped due to its sensitivity to organic solvents, and it is related to the Togaviridae or Flaviviridae (Houghton et al. 1991).
Massive Abdominal Wall Hibernoma: Case Report and Literature Review of a Rare Soft-Tissue Tumor

Background : Hibernoma is a rare benign tumor arising from remnants of fetal brown adipose tissue. This tumor was first described by Merkel in 1906. The brown fat is a specialized form of fat found in the hibernating and nonhibernating animals such as rats, cats, monkeys, rabbits, and humans. Case presentation : A 27-year-old man presented with a painless, enlarging, anterior abdominal wall mass, which, upon core-needle biopsy, was found to be hibernoma. This was evaluated with abdominal computed tomography, which showed a heterogeneous mass that contained fat. At operation, the entire mass measuring 30x25x6 cm lying below the external oblique muscle was excised with a cuff of normal tissue. Conclusion : Hibernoma is a rare, slow-growing benign soft tissue tumor composed of brown fat that is successfully treated by complete excision while preserving all related vital structures. Unlike lipoma, hibernoma is well vascularized and therefore good hemostasis must be achieved at surgery to prevent postoperative bleeding or hematoma. No case of recurrence has been previously reported.
A Deconstruction and Critique of the Female Intervention Team

Over the past decade, there has been a significant increase in female juvenile offenders resulting in a growing interest in how to best address delinquent girls. In response to the changing demographics of juvenile offenders, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), a part of the Department of Justice, has called for “gender-specific” services. In this paper I will take one particular gender-specific intervention lauded by the OJJDP as a best practice in the field, the Female Intervention Team (FIT), and deconstruct the theories and beliefs that ground the intervention. This paper argues that FIT is problematic for three main reasons: first, FIT essentializes being female; second, FIT constructs girls as victims; and finally, FIT places too much emphasis on the individual girl’s agency at the cost of ignoring how structural forces contribute to and affect her reality.
Business Profitability Versus Tax Minimization

Business owners are determined to pay less income tax, and while tax reduction is certainly a worthy goal for the business owner, the overall health of the company should be an even greater priority. Managers and owners must be careful to ensure that tax minimization efforts do not supersede the overarching economic goals of the company. Hyper-focusing on the tax implications of specific transactions, can distract managers, to the point that operational business decisions become subservient to potential tax deductions, rather than tax deductions being a by-product of solid operational business decisions. This skewed prioritization may cause companies to use a defensive planning strategy of tax minimization, rather than an offensive plan which targets rudimentary factors of earnings maximization and market expansion.
Growth and Glycolysis in Two Cell Lines Derived from Embryos of Salmonid Fish

SummaryMeasurements of growth and glycolysis in 2 established heteroploid fibro blast-like cell lines derived from embryos of coho salmon and steelhead trout, growing at 23°, have been compared wit...
Impact of Quality of Life Outcomes on Clinical Practice

This paper reviews the current status of translation of quality of life outcomes from research to clinical practice. A major barrier in this process is the lack of mature results from quality of life studies in phase III randomized controlled trials. As more trials are completed, we can expect the diffusion of those results into clinical practice and decision making. Further, as quality of life measurement tools are used more widely and become more user-friendly, we can anticipate their adoption in the routine clinical assessment of patients in the oncologist's practice. [ONCOLOGY 9(Suppl):61-65, 1995]
Iterative region-of-interest reconstruction of truncated projections with slit-slat collimation

Slit-slat collimation is a geometry for SPECT imaging that combines a slit along the axis of rotation of a gamma camera with a set of septa perpendicular to the slit. Herein we investigate through simulation and experiment the potential to accurately reconstruct a region of interest using truncated slit-slat projection data. Projections of digital phantoms (10-cm diameter) were simulated for circular orbits with 5 different RORs, which produced various degrees of truncated projection data. The projections were reconstructed slice by slice using an MLEM algorithm (10 iterations). Experimental data were obtained with a prototype slit-slat collimator attached to a gamma camera. The phantoms had 3- mm alternating hot and cold regions. Three phantom configurations were acquired at RORs of 9.1 and 21.1 cm. In the 21.1-cm ROR case, the phantom was offset 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 cm from the AOR to search for sampling deficiencies. The experimental projections were reconstructed with the same iterative algorithm. Analytical calculations were also carried out to determine the expected regions of the reconstruction that utilized only untruncated data, as well as regions that were well sampled using cutoffs of 80, 95 and 99%. Both simulated and experimental data show that central ROIs could be accurately reconstructed from truncated projection data, even though blurring occurred outside this ROI. The sizes of the accurately reconstructed regions were consistent with the analytical calculations.
Sonic Beam Model of Newton's Cradle.

The motions of Newton's cradle, consisting of several steel balls hanging side-by-side, have been analysed in terms of a sound pulse that travels via points of contact among the balls. This presupposes a focused energy beam. When the pulse reaches the fifth and final ball, the energy disperses and dislocates the ball with a trajectory equivalent to that of the first ball after it was released. The pulse passes unchanged through the internal balls without, therefore, causing movement of these balls. Lack of movement can be affirmed by immobilising one or more of the balls, thereby disproving both the gap and vibrating lattice models. This also contrasts with previous mechanisms that postulate complete energy dispersal within a ball prior to transferring the energy to another ball. Inserting an inelastic barrier between the second and third balls disrupts the pulse such that it spreads out to reach regions that are not in contact with another ball. As a result, the normally stationary third ball is forced into a forward motion, thereby pushing the fourth and fifth ball with it as a single unit. The model is valuable in explaining a fact that has puzzled physicists for generations: why is only one motional mode observed among a multitude of motions that maintain a constant momentum and kinetic energy as required by the laws of physics? The answer lies in the fact that all motions, except the one that is actually observed, require a rebound in one or more of the balls. Since the energy beam formed upon impact is unidirectional, reverse motions are not accommodated.
Off to Market We Go: A Content Analysis of Marketing and Promotion Skills in Academic Librarian Job Ads

This exploratory study analyzed the presence of marketing and promotional responsibilities and qualifications listed in selected job advertisements for academic librarians. A content analysis was employed to analyze job advertisements for academic librarians who possessed marketing, promotion, public relations, outreach, and liaison skills. Job advertisements were selected from January 2000 to December 2010. A total of 149 advertisements were analyzed. The authors found that promotional responsibilities were advertised across the 10-year period, but marketing responsibilities were not. Prior promotional and marketing experience was not widely required. Some libraries advertised marketing librarian positions with responsibilities such as branding and social networking. The findings from this study may be useful for librarians and those in management positions who are interested in creating positions with promotion and marketing duties as this study outlines job responsibilities and required qualifications.
Access to and Satisfaction with Prenatal Care Among Pregnant Women with Physical Disabilities: Findings from a National Survey.

Abstract Background: Previous qualitative studies suggest that women with physical disabilities face disability-specific barriers and challenges related to prenatal care accessibility and quality. This study aims to examine the pregnancy and prenatal care experiences and needs of U.S. mothers with physical disabilities and their perceptions of their interactions with their maternity care clinicians. Materials and Methods: We conducted the first survey of maternity care access and experiences of women with physical disabilities from 37 states. The survey was disseminated in partnership with disability community agencies and via social media and targeted U.S. women with a range of physical disabilities who had given birth in the past 10 years. The survey included questions regarding prenatal care quality and childbirth and labor experiences. Results: A total of 126 women with various physical disability types from 37 states completed the survey. Almost half of the respondents (53.2%) reported that their phy...
Fukushima in Brazil: undone science, technophilia, epistemic murk

ABSTRACTAfter the Fukushima catastrophe, people in many different countries turned their attention to the nuclear power stations located closest to them. What were the risks of a nuclear meltdown? Were there lessons to be learned from Fukushima? It was in this context that I approached nuclear discourse in Brazil. In 2012 and 2015, I interviewed scientists, engineers, security experts, anti-nuclear activists and public health officials connected to the Centro Nuclear Almirante Alvaro Alberto (CNAAA), Brazil’s nuclear complex located in Angra dos Reis. Did Brazilians care about Fukushima? This essay focuses on nuclear discourses of anti-nuclear activists and pro-nuclear professionals working in the Brazilian nuclear sector. Advancing the concepts of technophilia, undone science and epistemic murk, the essay explores why Brazil has pursued construction of a third nuclear power plant in spite of the Fukushima disaster, even while its citizens share apocalyptic visions of what a catastrophic nuclear event wou...
Three-dimensional evaluation of root dimensions and alveolar ridge width of maxillary lateral incisors in patients with unilateral agenesis

The objective of this retrospective case-control study was to measure the maxillary lateral incisor root dimensions and quantify the labial and palatal bone in patients with unilateral maxillary lateral incisor agenesis (MLIA) after orthodontic treatment and compare them to non-agenesis controls using cone beam computed tomography. The labiopalatal and mesiodistal root dimensions, mesiodistal coronal dimensions, and labiopalatal bone and alveolar ridge widths of the maxillary lateral incisor were assessed on posttreatment cone beam computed tomography scans of 15 patients (mean age 16.5 ± 3.4 years, 9 females and 6 males) with maxillary lateral incisor agenesis and 15 gender-matched patients (mean age 16.08 ± 3.23 years) with no dental agenesis or anterior Bolton discrepancy. The Mann-Whitney test was used to distinguish any differences in root width, crown width, or changes in labial or palatal bone width between the two groups. The median labiopalatal root width was narrower in the MLIA group at the level of the cementoenamel junction (CEJ) to 8 mm apical of the CEJ compared to controls (p ≤ 0.009). The mesiodistal root width was significantly reduced in the MLIA group at the CEJ and at 4 mm apical to the CEJ. The labiopalatal alveolar ridge width was significantly decreased at 2 mm apical to the CEJ in MLIA group. The mesiodistal crown width was significantly smaller in the MLIA group at both the incisal edge and at the crown midpoint. The bone thickness was similar in both groups. Coronal and root dimensions in patients with MLIA were reduced compared to controls. Alveolar ridge width was also reduced in patients with MLIA, although bone thickness was not different than controls.
Multicomponent peptide assemblies

Self-assembled peptide nanostructures have been increasingly exploited as functional materials for applications in biomedicine and energy. The emergent properties of these nanomaterials determine the applications for which they can be exploited. It has recently been appreciated that nanomaterials composed of multicomponent coassembled peptides often display unique emergent properties that have the potential to dramatically expand the functional utility of peptide-based materials. This review presents recent efforts in the development of multicomponent peptide assemblies. The discussion includes multicomponent assemblies derived from short low molecular weight peptides, peptide amphiphiles, coiled coil peptides, collagen, and β-sheet peptides. The design, structure, emergent properties, and applications for these multicomponent assemblies are presented in order to illustrate the potential of these formulations as sophisticated next-generation bio-inspired materials.
Quantitative Research Synthesis: The Use of Meta-Analysis in Career Guidance and Vocational Psychology

Since its inception at the turn of the 20th century, vocational psychology has thrived as a result of empirical research and theoretical advances. Early studies identifying the nature of educational and career interests (Strong, 1936) and their relation to abilities (Hartman & Dashiell, 1919), and career outcomes (DiMichael, 1949) are just a few examples of how early vocational psychologists applied research methods and measurement in an effort to promote effective career decision-making. Early theories of career counselling and development often guided these research efforts and were, in turn, informed and modified by empirical findings. In the last century, our discipline has amassed a considerable volume of research. Surprisingly, however, we continue to ask similar questions with respect to the nature of educational and vocational interests (Darcy & Tracey, 2007), and their relation to abilities (Tracey & Hopkins, 2001) and important academic and career outcomes (Tracey & Robbins, 2006). One of the biggest challenges faced by scientific disciplines is that of synthesising and summarising a large number of individual studies in such a way that researchers, theoreticians, and practitioners can draw meaningful conclusions. The statistical techniques of meta-analysis permit researchers to rise to this challenge and it is this topic that will be the focus of this chapter. The goals of this chapter are twofold. First, this chapter will provide the reader with a fundamental understanding of the family of statistical analyses collectively referred to as meta-analysis. This will include an overview of the procedure, and a brief review of the steps involved in conducting a meta-analysis. Discussion of this topic will be conceptual rather than mathematical. As such, this chapter is not a comprehensive review of current issues in meta-analyses nor will it provide sufficient procedural guidance for the reader to actually conduct an analysis. Those wishing a more comprehensive coverage of current conceptual and procedural issues should refer to Hedges and Pigott (2004), Hunter and Schmidt (1990), Kline (2004), Lipsey and Wilson (2001), and Quintana and Minami (2006). The second goal of this chapter is to summarise several recent meta-analyses in the area of educational and vocational guidance in an effort to describe how researchers are applying this methodology in both traditional and novel ways to
Foreign Language Tutoring and Learning Environment

In the FLUENT project, we contemplate and implement immersion-style computational environments for learning a foreign language. Immersion environments encourage the student to use the new language, not analyze or translate it. To this end, the student and the tutor engage in two-way, two-medium communication, where the two media are linguistic and spatial. Our design strategy is to attempt to capture in computational form some of the most effective aspects of the immersive methods that human teachers use with beginning students. The paper provides a rationale for immersion, presents a prototype system, and goes on to delineate component requirements for a full-fledged system.
Mast Cell Biology: Introduction and Overview

In recent years, the field of mast cell biology has expanded well beyond the boundaries of atopic disorders and anaphy laxis, on which it has been historically focused. The biochemical and signaling events responsible for the development and regulation of mast cells has been increasingly studied, aided in large part by novel breakthroughs in laboratory techniques used to study these cells. The result of these studies has been a more comprehensive definition of mast cells that includes added insights to their overall biology as well as the various disease states that can now be traced to defects in mast cells. This introductory chapter outlines and highlights the various topics of mast cell biology that will be discussed in further detail in subsequent chapters.
Development and function of T cells in mice with a disrupted CD2 gene.

Abstract CD2 is a T cell surface glycoprotein that mediates cellular adhesion and can participate in signal transduction. It is expressed early in thymocyte ontogeny and consequently has been proposed to participate in T cell development. To study the in vivo function of CD2, the murine gene was inactivated using the technique of homologous recombination in embryonic stem cells. Homozygous mutant mice are healthy and have an apparently normal complement of lymphocytes. They mount effective immune responses similar to those of wild type controls. In particular, the generation and function of cytotoxic T cells was found to be normal as was the production of antibodies following immunization. Selection of thymocytes expressing either MHC class I- or class II-restricted transgenic T cell receptors was also grossly normal in the absence of CD2. Thus, CD2 may be dispensable for the development and function of T cells. Within the context of other targetted mutations, these mice should be useful in defining the precise roles of various cell surface molecules involved in T cell responses.
The stress relaxation (creep) rate of Mu2e straw tubes

Abstract We report on the material relaxation properties of the Mu2e straw tubes measured over a period of about 5 years under two conditions. One is a fixed tension condition: two straw tubes are under a constant tension, and the lengthening of the tubes is measured as a function of time. The other is a fixed length condition: the length of four straw tubes with different initial tensions is fixed, and the tension in the tubes is measured. For the latter case, a scaling behavior appears when the ratio of the tension to the initial tension of the four straws is plotted as a function of time. In both cases, we find that the creep rates can be well parameterized with a logarithmic function of time elapsed. This implies that, for example, the amount of creep from day 20 to 200 is the same as between day 200 and 2000.
Bio-inspired sensing and actuating architectures for feedback control of civil structures.

Civil structures, such as buildings and bridges, are constantly at risk of failure due to external environmental loads, such as earthquakes or strong winds. To minimize the effects of these loads, active feedback control systems have been proposed but such systems still face numerous challenges which impede their widespread adoption. In order to overcome many of these challenges, inspiration can be drawn from the signal processing and actuating techniques employed by the biological central nervous system to develop a bio-inspired control algorithm. In this study the front-end, signal processing techniques employed by biological sensory systems, and in particular the mammalian auditory system, are drawn upon in order to alleviate computations at the actuation node. This results in a simplistic control law that is a weighted combination of input information about the structure's response such that F = WN , where F is the applied control force, W is a pre-determined weighting matrix, and N is a deconstructed representation of the structural response to the applied excitation. There is no empirical solution for deriving an optimal weighting matrix, W , and in this study numerous methods are explored in order to determine values for this matrix that produce the most effective control. These methods include particle swarm optimization, artificial neural networks, and optimal control theory. The various weighting matrices are integrated into the proposed bio-inspired control algorithm and applied in simulation to a five story benchmark structure. These methods are also compared to a traditional linear quadratic regulator (LQR) to gain insight into the overall performance of the bio-inspired control algorithm. Of the three training techniques, the particle swarm optimization technique offers the most effective control which is comparable in performance to the traditional LQR.
Simple Approach to Increase Donor Hematopoietic Stem Cell Dose and Improve Engraftment in the Murine Model of Allogeneic In Utero Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation.

ABSTRACT The rationale for in utero hematopoietic cell transplantation (IUHCT) rests on exploitation of normal events during hematopoietic and immunologic ontogeny to allow allogeneic hematopoietic engraftment without myeloablative conditioning. Host hematopoietic competition is among the primary barriers to engraftment in IUHCT. In the murine model this can be partially overcome by delivery of larger donor cell doses, but volume is limiting. Enrichment of donor hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) would seem to offer a more efficient approach, but such enriched populations have engrafted poorly in existing models of IUHCT. To increase HSC dose while maintaining the presence of accessory cells, we used a less stringent enrichment protocol of single-step lineage depleted cells alone (lin-) or in combination with whole donor bone marrow mononuclear cells. Our results confirm that increasing doses of HSCs in combination with bone marrow accessory cells can dramatically improve engraftment after IUHCT. This represents a practical and clinically applicable strategy to maximize the engraftment potential of the donor graft without risk of treatment-associated toxicity.
A reduced-order modeling approach for electron transport in molecular junctions

To describe non-equilibrium transport processes in a quantum device with infinite baths, we propose to formulate the problems as a reduced-order problem. Starting with the Liouville-von Neumann equation for the density-matrix, the reduced-order technique yields a finite system with open boundary conditions. We show that with appropriate choices of subspaces, the reduced model can be obtained systematically from the Petrov-Galerkin projection. The self-energy associated with the bath emerges naturally. The results from the numerical experiments indicate that the reduced models are able to capture both the transient and steady states.
Ultrasonic Extraction and Manipulation of Droplets from a Liquid-Liquid Interface with Near-Field Acoustic Tweezers

The acoustic radiation force and associated trapping by ``acoustic tweezers'' is an efficient means of particle manipulation in a variety of applications, although this trapping is highly sensitive to parameters of the object and beam. The authors show how to extract and manipulate droplets from a fluid interface without mechanical contact, using near-field acoustic tweezers, with the near-field pressure gradient allowing automatic trapping after extraction. The strong, flexible trapping here is an advantage over traditional tweezers based on focused beams or standing waves, and can be of great importance in both laboratory and industrial settings.
Evidence-Based Diagnosis: An Introduction to Clinical Epidemiology

Medicine is becoming increasingly reliant on diagnostic, prognostic and screening tests for the successful treatment of patients. With new tests being developed all the time, a more informed understanding of the benefits and drawbacks of these tests is crucial. Providing readers with the tools needed to evaluate and interpret these tests, numerous real-world examples demonstrate the practical application and relevance of the material. The mathematics involved are rigorously explained using simple and informative language. Topics covered include the diagnostic process, reliability and accuracy of tests, and quantifying treatment benefits using randomized trials, amongst others. Engaging illustrations act as visual representations of the concepts discussed in the book, complementing the textual explanation.Based on decades of experience teaching in a clinical research training program, this fully updated second edition is an essential guide for anyone looking to select, develop or market medical tests.
Working Memory and Linguistic Performance of Dual Language Learners With and Without Developmental Language Disorders

Purpose This research note describes the use of working memory measures as potential indicators of developmental language disorders (DLD) in preschool-age dual language learners from Spanish-speaking backgrounds. This report is an extension of early work, completed by the same authors that described the diagnostic accuracy of a Spanish nonword repetition task. Method One hundred thirty Spanish-speaking families with preschool-age children participated; 37 children had DLD, and 93 were typically developing. Families were recruited from early childhood programs in three states in the western region of the United States. Working memory and linguistic measures were collected from the children; parents completed a vocabulary checklist and reported on their child's longest utterances. Results Nonverbal working memory was not associated with other measures, but verbal working memory was associated with linguistic measures. Although there were no group differences on nonverbal working memory, group differences (DLD vs. typical development) were detected on verbal working memory and linguistic measures. Verbal working memory combined with vocabulary scores resulted in 79% of cases correctly classified. Conclusions Working memory tasks yielded different results depending on the type of task (verbal vs. nonverbal). Outcomes from this study showed that a nonverbal working memory task (hand movement) was not useful in distinguishing preschool-age dual language children with DLD from typical peers, but a verbal working memory task (nonword repetition) may be useful if combined with other more robust linguistic measures.
Network Interconnectivity and Community Detection in HIV/Syphilis Contact Networks Among Men Who Have Sex With Men.

Background Despite persistent HIV and syphilis epidemics among men who have sex with men (MSM), the relationship between HIV and syphilis contact networks has not been well characterized. We aimed to measure interconnectivity between HIV and syphilis contact networks among MSM and identify network communities with heightened interconnectivity of the syphilis network with the HIV network. Methods Using contact-tracing data, we generated independent and combined HIV and syphilis networks for all MSM diagnosed with HIV or early syphilis, respectively, in North Carolina between 2015 and 2017. We treated the independent networks as layers and identified network communities, or groups of densely connected nodes, in the 2-layer network. We assessed interconnectivity by comparing the mean node degree among syphilis network members in the syphilis network alone versus the combined HIV/syphilis network, both overall and by network community. Results The syphilis network was interconnected with the HIV network, especially in network communities with younger median age, higher proportions of persons self-identifying as Black, non-Hispanic, and higher proportions of syphilis cases diagnosed at sexually transmitted disease clinics. Conclusions Interconnected contact networks underlie HIV and syphilis epidemics among MSM, particularly among young, Black MSM. Intensified transmission prevention interventions within highly interconnected network communities may be particularly beneficial.
Clinical Judgment in Nursing Students After Observation of In-Class Simulations

Abstract Background The efficacy of using in-class simulations to develop clinical judgment is understudied. Methods This was a repeated measures, quasi-experimental, within-subjects one-group design study to determine if observations of in-class simulations and the primary nurse role influenced clinical judgment skills among 45 study participants. Results Clinical judgment skills increased after the in-class simulations. Statistically significant differences were seen between the scores for primary nurse role (n = 21) and supporting nurse role (n = 24) at the third measurement point (week 16). Conclusion Observation of in-class simulation and being in the primary nurse role may improve clinical judgment skills.
Association of Atopic Dermatitis Severity With Learning Disability in Children

Importance Recent population-based data indicate that atopic dermatitis (AD) is associated with learning disability (LD) in children, but the association between AD severity and LD is unknown. Objective To evaluate the association of AD severity with learning problems in children with AD. Design, Setting, and Participants This cross-sectional study analyzed data of US participants enrolled in the Pediatric Eczema Elective Registry (PEER) between November 1, 2004, and November 30, 2019. Participants were children aged 2 to 17 years at registry enrollment with physician-confirmed diagnosis of AD and had completed 10 years of follow-up in PEER. Exposures Atopic dermatitis severity measured by both the Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM) score and self-report. The POEM scores ranged from 0 to 28, with strata of clear or almost clear skin (0-2), mild (3-7), moderate (8-16), severe (17-24), and very severe (25-28). Self-reported AD severity was categorized as clear skin or no symptoms, mild, moderate, or severe. Main Outcomes and Measures Learning disability diagnosed by a health care practitioner, as reported by the participants or their caregivers. Results Among the 2074 participants with AD (1116 girls [53.8%]; median [interquartile range (IQR)] age, 16.1 [13.9-19.5] years at 10-year follow-up), 169 (8.2%) reported a diagnosis of an LD. Children with an LD vs those without an LD were more likely to have worse AD severity, as measured by the median (IQR) total POEM score (5 [1-10] vs 2 [0-6];P Conclusions and Relevance This cross-sectional study found that worse AD severity was associated with greater odds of reported LD, independent of socioeconomic characteristics, AD onset age, and other related disorders. Although additional prospective and mechanistic studies are needed to clarify the association of AD with learning, the findings suggest that children with more severe AD should be screened for learning difficulties to initiate appropriate interventions that can mitigate the consequences of an LD.
Linearity Improvement Techniques for CMOS Switched-Capacitor Power Amplifiers

The CMOS switched-capacitor power amplifier (SCPA) architecture was disclosed by S.M. Yoo, et al., in 2011 [1]-[2]. It enabled the design of fully-integrated radio frequency (RF) transmitters with much higher power-added efficiency (PAE) than previous approaches. Herein, new techniques are introduced that also increase SCPA linearity. Specifically, a new switching scheme decreases the amplitude modulation to phase modulation (AM-PM) distortion. When applied to class-G SCPAs [3]-[4], the linearity using the new switching scheme is improved significantly compared to conventional SCPA implementations. More specifically, the AM-PM non-linearity of the class-G SCPA is reduced by about ~ 4X and the error vector magnitude (EVM) is improved by ~ 3 dB.
Blackness, biopolitics, borders: African immigration, racialization, and the limits of American exceptionalism

Centreing the corporeal experiences and material significance of bodies lays bare the border as a site for social reproduction. Utilizing critical discourse analyses on three mediatized encounters ...
Decision Tree-Based Classification for Maintaining Normal Blood Pressure Throughout Early Adulthood and Middle Age: Findings From the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study.

Background For most individuals, blood pressure (BP) is related to multiple risk factors. By utilizing the decision tree analysis technique, this study aimed to identify the best discriminative risk factors and interactions that are associated with maintaining normal BP over 30 years, and to reveal segments of a population with a high probability of maintaining normal BP. Methods Participants from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study aged 18 to 30 years with normal BP level at baseline visit (Y0, 1985-6) were included in this study. Results Of 3156 participants, 1132 (35.9%) maintained normal BP during the follow-up period and 2024 (64.1%) developed higher BP. Systolic BP within the normal range, race, and body mass index (BMI) were the most discriminative factors between participants who maintained normal BP throughout midlife and those who developed higher BP. Participants with a baseline systolic BP level ≤92 mmHg and White women with baseline BMI 26.5 years with BMI>27 kg/m 2, only 5.4% of participants maintained normal BP throughout midlife. Conclusions This study emphasizes the importance of early life factors to later life systolic BP and support efforts to maintain ideal levels of risk factors for hypertension at young ages. Whether policies to maintain lower BMI and SBP well below the clinical thresholds throughout young adulthood and middle-age can reduce later age hypertension should be examined in future studies.
Subleading corrections to the S3 free energy of necklace quiver theories dual to massive IIA

We investigate the S3 free energy of $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 3 Chern-Simons-matter quiver gauge theories with gauge group U(N)r (r ≥ 2) where the sum of Chern-Simons levels does not vanish, beyond the leading order in the large-N limit. We take two different approaches to explore the sub-leading structures of the free energy. First we evaluate the matrix integral for the partition function in the ’t Hooft limit using a saddle point approximation. Second we use an ideal Fermi-gas model to compute the same partition function, but in the limit of fixed Chern-Simons levels. The resulting expressions for the free energy F = − log Z are then compared in the overlapping parameter regime. The Fermi-gas approach also hints at a universal $$ \frac{1}{6} $$ log N correction to the free energy. Since the quiver gauge theories we consider are dual to massive Type IIA theory, we expect the sub-leading correction of the planar free energy in the large ’t Hooft parameter limit to match higher-derivative corrections to the tree-level holographic dual free energy, which have not yet been fully investigated.
Scalemic and racemic imprinting with a chiral crosslinker.

The development of molecularly imprinted chiral stationary phases has traditionally been limited by the need for a chiral pure template. Paradoxically, availability of a chiral pure template largely defeats the purpose of developing a chiral stationary phase. To solve this paradox, imprinting of scalemic and racemic template mixtures was investigated using both chiral (N-α-bismethacryloyl-l-alanine) and achiral (N,O-bisacrylamide ethanolamine) crosslinkers. Imprinting of scalemic mixtures provided polymers capable of partial separation of Boc-tyrosine enantiomers with virtually the same results when using either the chiral or achiral crosslinker. However, the chiral crosslinker was required for chiral differentiation by the racemic imprinted polymers which were evaluated in both batch rebinding and chromatographic modes. Batch rebinding analysis revealed intersecting binding isotherms for the L- and D-Boc-tyrosine, indicating bias for the D or L enantiomer is concentration dependent. Partial chromatographic separation was achieved by the racemic imprinted polymers providing variable D or L bias in equal probability over multiple replicates of polymer synthesis. Correlation of enantiomer bias with the batch rebinding results and optimization of HPLC parameters are discussed.