cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improvements to Response-Surface Based Vehicle Design Using a Feature-Centric Approach

In this paper, we present our vision for a framework to facilitate computationally-based aerospace vehicle design by improving the quality of the response surfaces that can be developed for a given cost. The response surfaces are developed using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques of varying fidelity. We propose to improve the quality of a given response surface by exploiting the relationships between the response surface and the flow features that evolve in response to changes in the design parameters. The underlying technology, generalized feature mining, is employed to locate and characterize features as well as provide explanations for feature-feature and feature-vehicle interactions. We briefly describe the components of our framework and outline two different strategies to improve the quality of a response surface. We also highlight ongoing efforts.
Fast dual-MGS block-factorization algorithm for dense MoM matrices

A robust method is introduced for efficiently compressing dense method of moments (MoM) matrices using a dual modified Gram-Schmidt block-QR-factorization algorithm based on low-rank singular value decomposition. The compression is achieved without generating the full matrix or even full subblocks of the matrix. The compressed matrix may then be used in the iterative solution of the MoM problem. The method is very robust because it uses a reduced set of the original matrix entries to perform the compression. Furthermore, it does not depend on the analytic form of the Green's function, so it may be applied to arbitrarily complex media.
Generalization capabilities of subtle image pattern classifiers

The generalization capabilities, for learned subtle image pattern categories, of neural network and algorithmic classification techniques are described. Several neural network and algorithmic techniques have been applied to a set of feature vectors extracted from thermal infrared images which characterize the extent of whiplash injury. Thermography recently has been reported to have clinical utility in a multitude of neuromusculoskeletal disorders, particularly with soft tissue injuries such as whiplash in which there are few widely agreed upon diagnostic standards. The results of this research indicate that the backpropagation neural network produces the best classification results and provides significantly better generalization from a set of training patterns. Results of unsupervised classification of the data using clustering algorithms and the Adaptive Resonance Theory (ART2) neural network demonstrate the difficulties of learning and of generalization of patterns from such data. >
Fresh gas flow changes during controlled mechanical ventilation with the circle breathing system have significantly greater effects on the ventilatory parameters of toddlers compared with children

Summary Fresh gas flow into a circle system can affect the delivered minute ventilation because fresh gas flow augments the flow delivered by the ventilator bellows during inspiration. After establishing a stable ventilatory pattern with 3.0 l·min-1 fresh gas flow into a circle system, changes in peak inflation pressure, minute ventilation and end-tidal carbon dioxide were measured at 1.5 l·min-1 and 6.0 l·min-1 in 10 toddlers (10–20 kg) and 10 children (30–60 kg). Changes in all variables were observed but these changes were greater in toddlers compared with children (P < 0.001). Some toddlers were noted to have as much as a 37% change in ventilatory parameters when fresh gas flow was altered between 1.5 and 6.0 l·min-1. Whenever changes are made in fresh gas flow, compensatory changes in minute ventilation should be considered to avoid unintended hyperventilation or hypoventilation. This is especially important during anaesthesia for toddlers.
Can molecular imprinting explain heterozygote deficiency and hybrid vigor

Molecular imprinting, the phenomenon of differential expressions of a gene based on whether it is paternally or maternally derived, has been noted in mice, humans, and other nonmammalian organisms. Effects of differential imprinting are important not only in the study of the manifestation of deleterious genes; they have important evolutionary implications as well. It is shown here that molecular imprinting may mimic observations that are often construed to be due to hybrid vigor and/or inbreeding depression. Furthermore, if a locus undergoes differential imprinting, it also yields observed genotypic proportions which mimic heterozygote deficiency in the population without the aid of natural selection.
Deformation Temperature Effects on Microstructure and Texture Evolution in High Strain Rate Extrusion-Machining of Mg-AZ31B

Deformation microstructure and texture in Mg-AZ31B bulk strips processed through extrusion-machining were studied as a function of deformation temperature. At warm deformation temperatures (~200°C), cold-worked type microstructures with predominant tilted basal texture were observed. With increase in temperature, grain structure sharply transformed into equiaxed type with predominant in-plane basal texture. This sharp transition was found to be consistent with change in temperature dependent dynamic recrystallization mechanism from continuous to discontinuous type.
Spatial segregation, segregation indices and the geographical perspective

What could be more inherently geographical than segregation? However, the richness of the spatial variations in segregation is seldom captured by the dominant genre of empirical research. Returning the ‘geography’ to segregation research, we argue that local areas need to be given considerably more attention, using measures that explicitly reveal the spatial fabric of residential clustering along racial/ethnic lines. We first critique global measures such as the Dissimilarity Index and its spatial counterparts. Attention then turns to local measures such as the Location Quotient and Local Moran's I, applying them to Franklin County, Ohio, the core of Columbus MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area). Our interpretation of the findings also employs local knowledge concerning neighbourhood characteristics, ongoing urban processes, historical occurrences, and the like. Thus, while local indices based on secondary data expose the terrain of clustering/segregation, follow-up fieldwork and/or secondary data analysis in a mixed-methods framework provides a better understanding of the ground-level reality of clustering/segregation. Tangible evidence of the gain from this approach is provided by our evaluation of conventional frameworks for understanding racial/ethnic aspects of residential patterning – assimilation, stratification and resurgent ethnicity – and in our proposal for a new framework, ‘market-led pluralism’, which focuses on market makers who represent the supply side of housing. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Specific fibronectin fragments as markers of periodontal disease status

Background: The diagnosis of progressing periodontal disease typically relies on retrospective methods that detect changes in the amount of periodontal breakdown. Fibronectin (FN) fragments are found in vivo in association with periodontal disease, and specific FN fragments compromise periodontal ligament cell functions in vitro. The overall goal of this crosssectional study was to determine whether specific FN fragments are present in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and can be used as markers for periodontal disease status. The eventual goal is to test these FN fragments in a longitudinal study as potential markers of disease activity. Methods: GCF was collected from 94 subjects with untreated periodontitis from clinically healthy, mild/moderate periodontitis, and severe periodontitis sites. Sites were defined on the basis of clinical criteria, including gingival bleeding index, probing depth, and clinical attachment level. Western immunoblotting was used to detect FN fragments in GCF using antibodies to...
Alternative Management Tactics for Control of Phyllotreta cruciferae and Phyllotreta striolata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on Brassica rapa in Massachusetts

The flea beetles Phyllotreta cruciferae (Goeze) and Phyllotreta striolata (F.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Alticinae) are significant pests of crops in the Brassicaceae family. From 2001 to 2003, the efficacy of both new and commonly used treatments for the control of flea beetles in brassicas, Brassica rapa L., were evaluated in three small plot, randomized complete block design trials. Row cover and carbaryl (applied as a weekly foliar spray) were found to be the most consistent at reducing damage in comparison with untreated controls in all trials. Two new products that may provide adequate flea beetle control are spinosad (in either conventional or organic formulations) and thiamethoxam. The plant-derived compounds azidiractin and pyrethrin did not protect treated plants from flea beetle feeding. Treatment of plants with kaolin, or removal of the beetles with a vacuum, also did not reduce the level of crop damage. The level of damage at harvest was found to be correlated with population size of flea beetles in each plot, as measured by captures on yellow sticky traps and direct visual counts. Removal of the outer two leaves of individual B. rapa plants reduced the total number of holes per plant by 40%, while only removing 15% of the leaf area.
Cell biology and immunology lessons taught by Legionella pneumophila

Legionella pneumophila is a facultative intracellular pathogen capable of replicating within a broad range of hosts. One unique feature of this pathogen is the cohort of ca. 300 virulence factors (effectors) delivered into host cells via its Dot/Icm type IV secretion system. Study of these proteins has produced novel insights into the mechanisms of host function modulation by pathogens, the regulation of essential processes of eukaryotic cells and of immunosurveillance. In this review, we will briefly discuss the roles of some of these effectors in the creation of a niche permissive for bacterial replication in phagocytes and recent advancements in the dissection of the innate immune detection mechanisms by challenging immune cells with L. pneumophila.
Spectroscopic Evaluation of the Visible Laser Potential of Several Pr3+ and Tm3+ Doped Crystals

We have made a spectroscopic evaluation of several oxide crystals as potential visibly pumped, visible emitting laser materials. Pr:La2Lu3Ga3O12 is of interest for its relatively long 3P0 fluorescence lifetime. Among hosts for Tm3+, many suffer prohibitive concentration quenching but Ca5(PO4)3F and Sr5(PO4)3F are promising.
Understanding the Evolution of Theoretical Constructs in Organization Studies: Examining “Purpose”

This study explores the evolution of “purpose” in organizational scholarship from 1938 through 2005. The findings contribute to elaboration of the theory of construct evolution proposed by Hirsch &...
DFT-based simulations of IR amide I' spectra for a small protein in solution. Comparison of explicit and empirical solvent models

Infrared (IR) amide I′ spectra are widely used for investigations of the structural properties of proteins in aqueous solution. For analysis of the experimental data, it is necessary to separate the spectral features due to the backbone conformation from those arising from other factors, in particular the interaction with solvent. We investigate the effects of solvation on amide I′ spectra for a small 40-residue helix-turn-helix protein by theoretical simulations based on density functional theory (DFT). The vibrational force fields and intensity parameters for the protein amide backbone are constructed by transfer from smaller heptaamide fragments; the side chains are neglected in the DFT calculations. Solvent is modeled at two different levels: first as explicit water hydrogen bonded to the surface amide groups, treated at the same DFT level, and, second, using the electrostatic map approach combined with molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. Motional narrowing of the spectral band shapes due to averaging...
Individual Differences in the Assessment of Cognitive Workload

This chapter addresses a problem that is salient in the human factors and ergonomics communities regarding the inconsistent connections between subjective ratings of workload and actual performance. Previous work with vigilance tasks showed that a substantial part of subjective workload, and further connections to actual performance, were associated with psychosocial variables related to elasticity as defined in the cusp catastrophe models for cognitive workload and fatigue. The empirical study presented in this chapter was conducted with the data set described in earlier chapters. The influence of cognitive variables, compared to psychosocial variables, is much stronger in financial decision making contexts. It now appears that context is highly relevant for determining which psychosocial or ability variables best explain individual differences in subjective ratings of workload, all situational variables considered equal. Context, furthermore, affects the combination of psychosocial variables, abilities, and subjective ratings that result in performance dynamics.
Emissive Biphenyl Cyclometalated Gold(III) Diethyl Dithiocarbamate Complexes

We report here a series of emissive biphenyl cyclometalated gold(III) diethyl dithiocarbamate complexes having H, CF3, OMe, and tBu substitutions on the biphenyl moiety. Synthesis of these complexes was accomplished by a single-step reaction of the appropriate dilithio-biphenyl reagent with Au(dtc)Cl2 (dtc = diethyl dithiocarbamate). All four complexes exhibit weak room-temperature phosphorescence in solution and much more intense phosphorescence in the solid state and in low-temperature glasses with lifetimes in the microseconds. From experimental data and computational modeling, the emission originates mainly from a metal-perturbed 3(π–π*) state of the biphenyl moiety with a minor contribution from ligand-to-ligand charge transfer. Weak solution emission is attributed to deactivation via a distorted charge-transfer state that is less accessible in the solid state or in a low-temperature glass.
A comparison of aerial and ground level measurements of 137Cs in the Marshall Islands

The purpose of this paper is to present and compare two independent sets of environmental gamma spectrometry measurements of137 Cs collected nearly 14 years apart. One set of data was collected in 1978 by a contractor of the U.S. Department of Energy during an aerial radiological survey of the northern atolls of the Marshall Islands. That program used helicopter mounted sodium-iodide scintillation detectors; measurements were made from an altitude of 38 m. The second measurement program was conducted from early 1990 through late 1994 by the Republic of the Marshall Islands Government in a survey of the entire nation. This latter program used ground level in situ gamma spectrometry with high-purity germanium detectors. In this comparison, we highlight differences between the findings of the two studies and probable reasons for those differences, though we also discuss the effectiveness of the two techniques for monitoring the ionizing radiation environment. In the comparison of exposure rates from 137Cs, fair agreement was noted after accounting for radioactive decay during the intervening years. Though the distributions were statistically different over their entire range, they were nearly identical above 1 μR h-1. There was considerable difference in the estimates of137 Cs inventory; the difference was greater at low activity levels with the NaI measurements consistently larger than the in situ measurements. Reasons for this difference is attributed to three factors which differed between the two studies: (1) the assumed penetration of the cesium into the soil column, (2) the assumption of soil density, and (3) differences in the ability of the two different detector systems to reject interfering spectral contributions. Precise measurement of the lowest levels has implications for determining those atolls that exceeded the deposition of 137Cs from global fallout. This issue is discussed in addition to a comparison of the findings from the two measurement programs.
Open Pentaruthenium Cluster Complexes Formed from the Addition of Benzoic Acid to Ru5(C)(CO)15

Two isomers of Ru5(C)(CO)14(O2CC6H5)(μ-H): Ru5(C)(CO)14(η2-O2CC6H5)(μ-H), 2 and Ru5(C)(CO)14(μ-O2CC6H5)(μ-H), 3 were obtained from the reaction of Ru5(C)(CO)15 with benzoic acid (PhCO2H). Both compounds were characterized structurally by X-ray diffraction analysis. Compound 2 contains an opened pentaruthenium cluster with a chelating benzoate ligand on the ruthenium atom that was opened. Compound 3 contains an opened pentaruthenium cluster with a benzoate ligand on that bridges a pair of ruthenium atoms which are not mutually bonded. Compound 2 can be converted partially to 3 and 3 partially back to 2 and they form a 1.54/1.0 ratio (3/2) at equilibrium in solution at 95 °C.
RATT-ECC: Rate Adaptive Two-Tiered Error Correction Codes for Reliable 3D Die-Stacked Memory

This article proposes a rate-adaptive, two-tiered error-correction scheme (RATT-ECC) that provides strong reliability (1010x reduction in raw FIT rate) for an HBM-like 3D DRAM system. The tier-1 code is a strong symbol-based code that can correct errors due to small granularity faults and detect errors caused by large granularity faults; the tier-2 code is an XOR-based code that corrects errors detected by the tier-1 code. The rate-adaptive feature of RATT-ECC enables permanent bank failures to be handled through sparing. It can also be used to significantly reduce the refresh power consumption without decreasing reliability and timing performance.
Pareto surface construction for multi-objective optimization under uncertainty

This paper presents a novel approach for multi-objective optimization under both aleatory and epistemic sources of uncertainty. Given paired samples of the inputs and outputs from the system analysis model, a Bayesian network (BN) is built to represent the joint probability distribution of the inputs and outputs. In each design iteration, the optimizer provides the values of the design variables to the BN, and copula-based sampling is used to rapidly generate samples of the output variables conditioned on the input values. Samples from the conditional distributions are used to evaluate the objectives and constraints, which are fed back to the optimizer for further iteration. The proposed approach is formulated in the context of reliability-based design optimization (RBDO). The joint probability of multiple objectives and constraints is included in the formulation. The Bayesian network along with conditional sampling is exploited to select training points that enable effective construction of the Pareto front. A vehicle side impact problem is employed to demonstrate the proposed methodology.
From Dose to Response: In Vivo Nanoparticle Processing and Potential Toxicity

Adverse human health impacts due to occupational and environmental exposures to manufactured nanoparticles are of concern and pose a potential threat to the continued industrial use and integration of nanomaterials into commercial products. This chapter addresses the inter-relationship between dose and response and will elucidate on how the dynamic chemical and physical transformation and breakdown of the nanoparticles at the cellular and subcellular levels can lead to the in vivo formation of new reaction products. The dose-response relationship is complicated by the continuous physicochemical transformations in the nanoparticles induced by the dynamics of the biological system, where dose, bio-processing, and response are related in a non-linear manner. Nanoscale alterations are monitored using high-resolution imaging combined with in situ elemental analysis and emphasis is placed on the importance of the precision of characterization. The result is an in-depth understanding of the starting particles, the particle transformation in a biological environment, and the physiological response.
Comparison of UTI antibiograms stratified by ED patient disposition

Abstract Objective Institutional antibiograms guide Emergency Department (ED) clinicians' empiric antibiotic selection. For this study, we created and compared antibiograms of ED patients stratified by disposition (admitted or discharged). Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study at two hospitals for 2014, comparing antibiograms limited to Escherichia coli urinary tract infections. Study-Specific Antibiograms, created for the study, excluded polymicrobial samples and multiple cultures from the same patient. Study-Specific Antibiograms were arranged by patient disposition: admitted (IP-Only) vs discharged from the ED (ED-Only). Antibiogram data were presented as average antibiotic sensitivities with 95% confidence intervals and demographic data as medians with interquartile ranges. Sensitivities between Study-Specific Antibiograms were compared by Fisher's Exact Test, alpha = 0.05, 2 tails. Results For Hospital A, 13 antibiotics were compared between Study-Specific ED-Only (n = 313) vs IP-Only (n = 244). We found that sensitivities to all four antibiotics appropriate for empiric outpatient therapy by Infectious Disease Society of America guidelines were significantly (p Conclusions We found higher antibiotic sensitivities in ED-Only than the IP-Only Study-Specific Antibiograms. Our Study-Specific Antibiograms offer an alternative guide for antibiotic selection in the ED.
Identification of the significant factors determining extractability of Ni and Cu after sulfation roasting of a PGM-bearing chromitite ore

Abstract Selective sulfation-roast-water leach process of a complex, chromite-rich Cu-Ni-PGM ore to dissolve water-soluble base metal sulfates contained therein was investigated as an alternative process to remove base metals prior to the extraction of precious metals. Ground run-of-mine ore (P 80 2 SO 4 (sulfating agent) and Na 2 SO 4 (dual catalyst and sulfating agent) to intensify atmospheric sulfation roast reaction in an unvented electric furnace (static roast under reducing conditions). The acquired calcine was water leached to extract the Ni and Cu sulfates. The roasting conditions were optimized using a Response Surface Methodology which included a Desirability Function Approach in order to maximize Cu and Ni extraction whilst limiting reagent consumption and suppressing Fe and Cr co-dissolution. It was possible to decompose the chromatic-ferritic structure and produce water-soluble metal species by roasting the ore containing 12.80 g/t Pt, 15.20 g/t Pd, 0.0646% Cu, 0.31% Ni, 13.60% Fe and 10.40% Cr. Approximately 90% Ni and 77% Cu were recovered after roasting at 550 °C in closed atmosphere for 2 h with 462 kg/t H 2 SO 4 , 76.9 kg/t Na 2 SO 4 and by leaching at 80 °C with 2 wt% solid density for 24 h. The raw ore, roasted mass and water-leach residue were characterized by fire assay and Tescan Integrated Mineral Analysis (TIMA GM Model). Pt + Pd grade has been upgraded from 28 (raw ore) to 32.38 g/t (water-leach residue).
Cultural Constructions of Abortion

Malaysian women's constructions of abortion suggest differences from their counterparts in the West. Malaysian women place importance on the cleansing and regulating aspects of triggering menstrual flows. Pre-pregnancy termination interventions such as taking herbs, pills, hormonal injections and other private attempts to bring on menstruation underscore the menstrual regulating aspects of abortion. Local abortion terminology varies by ethnicity. Most Malay women use the terms "cuci" (cleanse) and "buang" (discard) to describe having pregnancy terminations. Many Chinese women use the terms "la sum bo lai" (my period has not come) or "say ginna" (wash child) when requesting pregnancy terminations. Indian women might say "vayiru kaluvanum" (I need stomach washing, I have no period). Additionally, postpregnancy termination healing processes suggest that some Malaysian women view abortion as a form of interrupted childbirth. ABSTRAK Pembentukan realiti pengguguran di kalangan wanita di Malaysia berbeza daripada yang timbul di kalangan wanita barat. Di Malaysia, penekanan diberikan kepada proses pembersihan dan kawalan aliran haid. Penamatan kehamilan melalui intervensi seperti penggunaan bahan herba, pil dan suntikan hormon dan juga cara-cara lain untuk mengawal haid sedia digunakan untuk pengguguran. Terminologi pengguguran tempatan di Malaysia berbeza mengikut keturunan etnik. Di kalangan wanita Melayu penggunaan perkataan "cuci" dan "buang" seringkali digunakan sebagai deskripsi penamatan kehamilan. Wanita Cina pula selesa dengan "la sum bo lai" (haid tidak datang lagi) ataupun "say ginna" (cuci anak) apabila mengemukakan permintaan supaya kandungan itu digugur. Wanita India menggunakan perkataan "vayiru kaluvanum" (saya perlu basuh perut, haid saya tidak datang). Adalah tidak tepat jikalau proses pasca pengguguran itu dilihat di kalangan sesetengah wanita di Malaysia sebagai satu bentuk penundaan kelahiran.
The direct identification of core-collapse supernova progenitors

To place core-collapse supernovae (SNe) in context with the evolution of massive stars, it is necessary to determine their stellar origins. I describe the direct identification of SN progenitors in existing pre-explosion images, particularly those obtained through serendipitous imaging of nearby galaxies by the Hubble Space Telescope I comment on specific cases representing the various core-collapse SN types. Establishing the astrometric coincidence of a SN with its putative progenitor is relatively straightforward. One merely needs a comparably high-resolution image of the SN itself and its stellar environment to perform this matching. The interpretation of these results, though, is far more complicated and fraught with larger uncertainties, including assumptions of the distance to and the extinction of the SN, as well as the metallicity of the SN environment. Furthermore, existing theoretical stellar evolutionary tracks exhibit significant variations one from the next. Nonetheless, it appears fairly certain that Type II-P (plateau) SNe arise from massive stars in the red supergiant phase. Many of the known cases are associated with subluminous Type II-P events. The progenitors of Type II-L (linear) SNe are less established. Among the stripped-envelope SNe, there are now a number of examples of cool, but not red, supergiants (presumably in binaries) as Type IIb progenitors. We appear now finally to have an identified progenitor of a Type Ib SN, but no known example yet for a Type Ic. The connection has been made between some Type IIn SNe and progenitor stars in a luminous blue variable phase, but that link is still thin, based on direct identifications. Finally, I also describe the need to revisit the SN site, long after the SN has faded, to confirm the progenitor identification through the star's disappearance and potentially to detect a putative binary companion that may have survived the explosion.This article is part of the themed issue 'Bridging the gap: from massive stars to supernovae'.
Fanconi anemia pathway

Rodriguez and D'Andrea introduce the Fanconi anemia pathway and its role in DNA repair and other cellular functions.
Size-dependent predation and correlated life history traits alter eco-evolutionary dynamics and selection for faster individual growth

Age at maturation is a key life history trait influencing individual fitness, population age structure, and ecological interactions. We investigated the evolution of age at maturity through changes in the von Bertalanffy growth constant for organisms with a simple juvenile-adult life history. We used Gillespie eco-evolutionary models to uncover the role of predation in driving the evolution of the growth constant when eco-evolutionary dynamics are present. We incorporated both size-independent and size-dependent predation into our models to generate differences in selection and dynamics in the system. Our results generally support the idea that faster ontogenetic growth is beneficial when populations are growing but that predation tends to have little effect on age at maturity unless there are trade-offs with other life history traits. In particular, if faster ontogenetic growth comes at the cost of fecundity, our results suggest that predation selects for intermediate levels of growth and fecundity. Eco-evolutionary dynamics influenced the nature of selection only when growth was linked to fecundity. We also found that predators that increasingly consume larger prey tend to have higher population sizes due to the greater energy intake from larger prey, but the growth rate-fecundity trade-off reversed this pattern. Overall, our results suggest an important role for interactions between size-dependent foraging and life-history trade-offs in generating varying selection on age at maturity through underlying growth traits.
From orchids to biodiesel: Coco coir as an effective drywash material for biodiesel fuel

Abstract Raw biodiesel requires purification to remove excess methanol, unreacted and/or partially reacted starting material(s), and residual catalyst. The common practice for biodiesel purification is a series of water washes. These water washes are time consuming, generate a large aqueous waste stream, and can lead to saponification and subsequent emulsion formation. To eliminate water washes, solid materials which are capable of purifying the biodiesel after a short residence time are currently the subject of active investigation. Herein, we investigate the use of coco coir, a product of coconut husks commonly used as orchid planting material, as a bio-derived, biodegradable, and inexpensive drywash material for biodiesel fuel. Overall, we find that coco fiber (1) removes soap concentrations of >3000 ppm in one pass through the column; (2) treats raw biodiesel at volumes which meet or exceed current industry standards; (3) is stable and effective for a time period greater than five years; (4) does not raise free fatty acid levels above acceptable levels; (5) does not add Ca2+ or Mg2+ to the purified fuel; (6) reduces methanol to acceptable levels; and (7) removes free glycerol, even when biodiesel samples are spiked with artificially large quantities of free glycerol.
Post-decomposition optimizations using pattern matching and rule-based clustering for multi-patterning technology

A pattern matching and rule-based polygon clustering methodology with DFM scoring is proposed to detect decomposition-induced manufacturability detractors and fix the layout designs prior to manufacturing. A pattern matcher scans the layout for pre-characterized patterns from a library. If a pattern were detected, rule-based clustering identifies the neighboring polygons that interact with those captured by the pattern. Then, DFM scores are computed for the possible layout fixes: the fix with the best score is applied. The proposed methodology was applied to two 20nm products with a chip area of 11 mm2 on the metal 2 layer. All the hotspots were resolved. The number of DFM spacing violations decreased by 7-15%.
Elite interviews in the developing world: finding anchors in weak institutional environments:

Recently researchers have built on field experiences from novel and challenging settings to develop new insights into elite interviewing strategies, and specifically the question of access. One suc...
Single versus bilateral lung transplantation: do guidelines exist?

Lung transplantation (LTx) has been accepted therapy for end-stage pulmonary disease for over two decades now. Lung transplant operations, unlike other solid organ transplants, are somewhat unique in the fact that the donor block may be utilized for one recipient for a bilateral transplant or split to potentially benefit two patients with a single lung transplant each. The technical aspects of both operations have been well described and do not pose significant challenges. (1, 2) Vocal proponents of both approaches cite benefits for each, yet there remains a lack of high-quality evidence comparing the two approaches. In the absence of quality data to guide decisions, practice patterns remain largely institution or individual-specific and disparate. In this article, we examine the relative benefits and drawbacks of single versus bilateral lung transplantation for specific lung diseases supplemented by a summary of the available evidence. (Tables 1 and ​and22) Table 1 Gross evaluation of relative advantages of single lung transplant and double lung transplant based upon published literature.
Phylogeny of the Vertebrate Sensory Systems

Most of the sensory systems of vertebrates have an evolutionary history that stretches back to before the origin of the vertebrates themselves. If this long history were available for close inspection, a number of fundamental questions about the physiology of the senses and their primary behavioral contributions could be quickly answered and these answers could be expected to bring with them a kind of insight into sensory system function not possible to gain by experiment alone. Even as incompletely known as it now is, the evolutionary history of the sensory systems remains a source of new and relatively independent ideas about structure-function relationships that serve to augment the range of plausible hypotheses fueling direct physiological and behavioral experimentation (Tucker and Smith, 1976; Wever, 1976; Stebbins, 1970; Glickstein, 1976; Berkley, 1976). It is for this reason that the conclusions of the comparative and paleontological sciences are of particular value to those interested in the neural mechanisms of sensory integration.
Robotic versus open partial nephrectomy for highly complex renal masses: Comparison of perioperative, functional, and oncological outcomes.

Abstract Introduction We aimed to compare perioperative, functional and oncological outcomes between robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) and open partial nephrectomy (OPN) for highly complex renal tumors (R.E.N.A.L. nephrometry Score > 9). Methods A retrospective review of 1,497 patients who consecutively underwent partial nephrectomy at a single academic tertiary center between 2008 and 2016 was performed to get data about patients who underwent RAPN and OPN for renal masses with RENAL score > 9. Baseline, perioperative, functional, and oncological outcomes were compared. Results Two hundred and three RAPN and 76 OPN were extracted. Patients’ demographics and tumors’ characteristics were comparable between the groups. Blood loss (200 vs. 300 cc, P Conclusion In our large single-institutional series of patients who underwent partial nephrectomy for highly complex renal tumors, robotic approach appeared to be a valuable alternative to OPN, with the advantages of reduced blood loss, ischemia time, transfusions rate, and length of stay.
Characterization of Fibers Produced from Blends of Polybutylene and Polypropylene

Blends of polybutylene (PB-1) and polypropylene were used to produce fibers at spinning speeds of 800–2100 m/min. Concentrations ranged from 0% PP to 100% PP. The stress-strain behavior of the resu...
176. Comparison of Prescribing Practices for Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) Among Outpatient Versus Emergency Department Settings

Background Antibiotics are the most common prescription drugs given to children, yet inappropriate usage is common. This study compared antibiotic prescribing practices for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh (CHP) Emergency Department (ED) vs. outpatient practices at sites affiliated with CHP.
Proceedings of the third ACM international workshop on Underwater Networks

Welcome to the Third International Workshop on Underwater Networks (WUWNet'08). Underwater Networking is an emerging area of research, which has a profound impact on many civilian and military applications including environmental monitoring, marine biology, earthquake detection, weather forecasting. Water systems are of vital importance to climate regulation, agriculture, nutrient production, oil retrieval and transportation, yet they represent one of the least explored frontiers. As such, there is significant interest in real-time, in-situ monitoring of aquatic environments for scientific, environmental, commercial, safety and military applications. Underwater networking has attracted strong attention in the recent few years. Although there is a long history of underwater acoustic communication, many new applications require networking of multiple nodes, either static or mobile, and potentially over multiple hops. The physical challenges of acoustic channel and the complexity of diverse aquatic environments require us to completely re-think network design for underwater environments. Some major challenges at the physical layer and higher layers include the severely limited range-dependent bandwidth and attenuation, extensive time-varying multi-path propagation, the low speed of sound in water that is five orders of magnitude less than that of radio waves in air. In addition, underwater nodes are neither inexpensive nor easy to deploy. These distinct features yield grand challenges to every layer of the protocol suite in underwater networks. The call for papers attracted 26 submissions from the United States, Singapore, Italy, Switzerland, Norway, Canada and Tunisia. The program committee accepted 10 full-length papers and 5 short papers (to be presented as posters). We are also delighted to include an invited speaker, Dr. Hanumant Singh, of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. The papers cover a variety of topics in underwater communications, networking, and applications. Specifically, they address acoustic modem technology, methods for localization, network topology, energy efficiency, media access control, routing protocols, and deployment considerations. We hope these proceedings will serve as a valuable reference for users, engineers, and researchers interested in underwater networks. The goal of WUWNet is, in fact, to bring together researchers and practitioners in all areas relevant to underwater networks. Thus, all layers of the protocol stack, from the physical layer to application, will be represented. Its objective is to serve as a forum for presenting state of the art research, exchanging ideas and experiences, and facilitating interaction and collaboration.
Label-Free Optical Detection of Multiple Biomarkers in Sweat, Plasma, Urine, and Saliva

We report a novel label-free quantitative detection of human performance “stress” biomarkers in different body fluids based on optical absorbance of the biomarkers in the ultraviolet (UV) region. Stress biomarker (hormones and neurotransmitters) concentrations in bodily fluids (blood, sweat, urine, saliva) predict the physical and mental state of the individual. The stress biomarkers primarily focused on in this manuscript are cortisol, serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and neuropeptide Y. UV spectroscopy of stress biomarkers performed in the 190–400 nm range has revealed primary and secondary absorption peaks at near-UV wavelengths depending on their molecular structure. UV characterization of individual and multiple biomarkers is reported in various biofluids. A microfluidic/optoelectronic platform for biomarker detection is reported, with a prime focus toward cortisol evaluation. The current limit of detection of cortisol in sweat is ∼200 ng/mL (∼0.5 μM), which is in the normal (healthy) range. Plas...
Where in the Cloud is my Data?: Location and Brand Effects on Trust in Cloud Services

We all hold stereotypes about different locations across the world. Do these stereotypes affect our attitudes toward cloud services when we are told the location of the servers storing our data? And, does it matter if the cloud services are provided by a well-known brand? To answer these questions, a 2 X 11 experiment was conducted to examine the effects of location and brand cues on users' reaction to cloud services. Brand authority of the hosting company had a positive effect. More importantly, location of the cloud servers also affected outcomes, in that users tended to prefer some locations (e.g., US, Europe, Oceania, China) over others (e.g., Russia) for storing their cloud data. These findings have theoretical implications as well as design suggestions.
Strong Mixed-Integer Formulations for Power System Islanding and Restoration

Intentional controlled islanding (ICI) and black start allocation (BSA) are two examples of problems in the power systems literature that have been formulated as mixed integer programs (MIPs) and allow reconfiguration of the power system topology. A key consideration in both of these problems is that each island that appears after a reconfiguration must have at least one energized generator. In this paper, we examine three alternative MIP formulations for this restriction, show their equivalence, and prove that two of them are stronger in terms of their linear programming relaxation than the formulation most commonly used in the power systems literature. Since the time to solve MIPs can vary significantly between equivalent formulations, we also present computational experiments on the IEEE test systems for the ICI and BSA problems. We observe that a polynomially separable, exponential in size, strong formulation yields the best performance for the BSA problem and exhibits a comparable performance to a linear in size, weak formulation for the ICI problem.
Computational simulation of three-dimensional dynamic soil-pile group interaction in layered soils using disturbed-zone model

Abstract Computational continuum models of piles embedded in disturbed zones are developed using the Boundary Element Method (BEM) for application to three-dimensional dynamic soil-pile group interaction in layered soils. The enhanced 3D BEM code BEASSI is validated for handling pile group problems by comparison with reference solutions. A general sub-structuring formulation is developed to calculate theoretical accelerance functions. A 3D disturbed-zone computational model is then extended to handle the dynamic response of a typical 2 × 2 pile group. The performance of the model is illustrated through convergence studies and a case study corresponding to full-scale field tests. The results indicate strong frequency-dependent pile-soil-pile interaction by impedance functions, group efficiency ratios, and pile deformations. The findings from this study provide new insights into dynamic soil-pile group interaction, and the general approach can be used to examine other pile and soil conditions.
Modeling the Impact of Network Connectivity on Consensus Security of Proof-of-Work Blockchain

Blockchain, the technology behind the popular Bitcoin, is considered a "security by design" system as it is meant to create security among a group of distrustful parties yet without a central trusted authority. The security of blockchain relies on the premise of honest-majority, namely, the blockchain system is assumed to be secure as long as the majority of consensus voting power is honest. And in the case of proof-of-work (PoW) blockchain, adversaries cannot control more than 50% of the network’s gross computing power. However, this 50% threshold is based on the analysis of computing power only, with implicit and idealistic assumptions on the network and node behavior. Recent researches have alluded that factors such as network connectivity, presence of blockchain forks, and mining strategy could undermine the consensus security assured by the honest-majority, but neither concrete analysis nor quantitative evaluation is provided. In this paper we fill the gap by proposing an analytical model to assess the impact of network connectivity on the consensus security of PoW blockchain under different adversary models. We apply our analytical model to two adversarial scenarios: 1) honest-but-potentially-colluding, 2) selfish mining. For each scenario, we quantify the communication capability of nodes involved in a fork race and estimate the adversary’s mining revenue and its impact on security properties of the consensus protocol. Simulation results validated our analysis. Our modeling and analysis provide a paradigm for assessing the security impact of various factors in a distributed consensus system.
Optimal Coverage Control and Stochastic Multi-Target Tracking *

We address the problem of simultaneous coverage control and stochastic, multi-target tracking with a single pursuer. We presume linear dynamics for the pursuer and linear stochastic dynamics for the targets. The pursuer is equipped with two sensors of varying fidelity: broad-range and narrow-range. We seek the optimal trajectory for the pursuer, as well as optimal sensor selection, over a finite time horizon. We formulate the problem as a mixed-integer program with quadratic constraints, and exploit a convex relaxation method to enable fast solution of local minima. We demonstrate our approach on several simulated scenarios.
Chapter 2 – A Question of Balance: Using versus Abusing Biological Systems

This chapter explores the beneficial and detrimental aspect of biotechnologies, especially those that affect public health and the environment. The discussion begins with the scientific requirements, including measuring and testing environmental contaminants. Environmental mimicry, engineered systems, biodegradation, climate change, and microbiology are key topics that are considered from the perspective of biochemodynamics and biogeochemical cycling.
Bilateral transient olfactory bulb edema during COVID-19-related anosmia.

An asymptomatic 27-year-old man was diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by occupational medicine after contagion (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction [ RT - PCR ]). Four days after the diagnosis, he experienced complete anosmia and dysgeusia.1 On day 7, 1.5T MRI showed signs of bilateral olfactory bulb edema on 3D constructive interference in steady state T2-weighted imaging, demonstrated by severe enlargement2 (left: 73 mm3, right: 64 mm3) and an abnormally high signal intensity (figure). Olfactory clefts showed mild edema. The olfactory pathways, including the cortical projections (fluid-attenuated inversion recovery and diffusion-weighted imaging not shown), were normal. Sensory recovery and negative RT-PCR (positive on days 1, 2, and 10) appeared on day 14. MRI on day 24 confirmed the normalization of olfactory bulb signal and volumes (left: 22 mm3, right: 17 mm3).