cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Illusory Evidence for Asian Brachiosauridae: New Material of Erketu ellisoni and a Phylogenetic Reappraisal of Basal Titanosauriformes

ABSTRACT Phylogenetic relationships among the diverse Cretaceous sauropods of East Asia have long been controversial. Debate has centered on whether there is any evidence for an endemic clade of Asian species (“Euhelopodidae”) and on the placement of these taxa within the context of higher sauropod phylogeny. While most Cretaceous sauropod taxa from Asia are recognized as part of Somphospondyli, recent discoveries have suggested Brachiosauridae may have dispersed into Asia as well. We present new fossils and analyses bearing on these issues. Additional material of the holotype individual of Erketu ellisoni recovered on a subsequent visit to the type locality expands the character data available for this unique sauropod. Associated sauropod dorsal and caudal vertebrae were collected from the same horizon, at a location approximately 2 km from the holotype excavation. The dorsal vertebra exhibits synapomorphies suggesting a representative of Titanosauria co-occurred with Erketu ellisoni. These new specimens...
A highly selective mediator less glucose detector employing vertically aligned carbon nanofiber (VACNF)

This work reports a vertically aligned carbon nanofiber (VACNF) based glucose detector which shows excellent selectivity without employing any mediator or artificial membrane. Forests of VACNF are fabricated on silicon (Si) substrate using plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) process and a metal layer is fabricated over silicon to serve as the electrode. VACNFs demonstrate superior conductive and structural properties compared to other carbon nano-materials and serve as an excellent location for charge transfer in electrochemical reaction process. Measurement results show that this glucose sensor can detect very low level of glucose with a high degree of linearity with respect to glucose concentration. Glucose detection is often interfered by several electro-active compounds and mediators/membranes are used to improve the performance of the detectors. Test results demonstrate that the proposed glucose sensor works well in presence of the interferer materials.
Polymorphic control by heterogeneous nucleation - A new method for selecting crystalline substrates

A new method for selecting crystalline substrates to control polymorphism by heterogeneous nucleation has been applied to the crystallization of acetaminophen.
Two-dimensional velocity structure along the synclinal axis of the Great Valley, California

Abstract In 1981 and 1982, the U.S Geological Survey conducted a seismic refraction study of the Great Valley, central California, in order to obtian a better understanding of the deep crustal structure and tectonic evolution of the region. We present the interpretation of a 147-km-long seismic refraction profile recorded along the synclinal axis of the Valley. The northern 98 km of the profile are reversed, whereas the remaining southern portion is unreversed. Observed travel times and amplitudes of primary and secondary arrivals from three shot points have been modeled using two-dimensional ray tracing techniques. The resultant P -wave velocity cross-section consists of a 27-km-thick crust whose isovelocity contours generally rise gently to the southeast. The crust is described in six layers, with average velocities (average layer thickness in parentheses) of 2.8 km/sec (3 km), 4.25 km/sec (3 km), 5.5 km/sec (2 km), 6.1 km/sec (6 km), 6.75 km/sec (6 km), and 7.2 km/sec (7 km). The second through fifth layers are separated by 1-km-thick high gradient transition zone; the lower crustal boundary (6.75/7.2 km/sec) and the Moho (7.2/8.1 km/sec) are modeled with first-order discontinuities. The first layer (Cenozoic sedimentary deposits) is characterized by a velocity gradient of 0.7 km/sec/km starting with a velocity of 1.7 km/sec at the surface. The second layer (4.25 km/sec) consists of the Cretaceous Great Valley Sequence and shows a very modest velocity gradient of 0.2 km/sec/km. The third layer (5.5 km/sec; “basement”) may consist of metasedimentary rocks of the Franciscan assemblage, fractured crystalline rocks, or possibly serpentinized ophiolite. The fourth layer (6.1 km/sec) apparently has no velocity equivalent 30 km to the west in the Diablo Range; it and the layer beneath it (6.75 km/sec) may be correlated with the metamorphic and igneous rocks of the eastern foothills of the Sierra Nevada. The basal crustal layer (7.2 km/sec) is evidently mafic igneous rock. An independent interpretation of this profile using the reflectivity method produced a similar model. An interpretation of a parallel profile 10 to 15 km east of our line shows a structure similar to our model below 15 km, but a thinner sedimentary section and velocities as much as 0.9 km/sec faster 6 to 15 km deep. The crustal velocity structure of the central Great Valley is atypical of either continental or oceanic crust, but is consistent with the geologic hypotheses that the Valley is a thickened marginal basin, formed in either a forearc or backarc setting located west of the Mesozoic Sierra Nevadan arc.
Linearization of Digital Derived Rate Algorithm for Use in Linear Stability Analysis

The digital derived rate (DDR) algorithm is used to calculate the rate of rotation of the Centaur upper-stage rocket. The DDR is a highly nonlinear algorithm, and classical linear stability analysis of the spacecraft cannot be performed without linearization. The performance of this rate algorithm is characterized by a gain and phase curve that drop off at the same frequency. This characteristic is useful in many applications. This paper deals with the investigation of a linearization technique for the DDR algorithm. The linearization method is described. Examples of the results of the linearization technique are illustrated, and the effects of linearization are described. A linear digital filter may be used as a substitute for the DDR in classical linear stability analyses, while the DDR itself may be used in time response analysis.
Universal redundancy rates do not exist

The expected redundancy per symbol of an n-block prefix code C/sub n/ on a source mu measures how far the code is from being optimal for that source. The existence of sequences of codes with expected redundancy per symbol of O((log n)/n) for 'nice' classes of sources, such as Markov sources of a given order, is well known. It is shown that some restriction on the class of processes is necessary in order to obtain such redundancy bounds, for there is no universal redundancy rate for any sequence of prefix codes on the class of all ergodic sources. >
A high-density, self-aligned power MOSFET structure fabricated using sacrificial spacer technology

A novel power MOSFET structure fabricated using sacrificial spacer technology is described. Anisotropically etched sidewall oxide spacers were used to implement self-aligned shallow p/sup +/ surface diffused regions to reduce the p-base sheet resistance and its contact resistance. Vertical power DMOSFETs with V/sub DB/=150 V and R/sub sp/=9.7 m Omega -cm/sup 2/ were fabricated using this technology, where V/sub DB/ is the drain-source avalanche breakdown voltage and R/sub sp/ is the specific on-state resistance. The measured on-state resistance performance is a factor of 4 times smaller compared to commercially available power MOSFETs in the 150-V reverse blocking range. >
Time-Resolved Small Angle X-Ray Scattering and Dynamic Light Scattering Studies of Sol-Gel Transition in Gelatin

Structural and dynamical properties of an aqueous gelatin solution (5 wt%, 0.1M NaCi, pH≃7) in a sol-gel transition were studied by time-resolved small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) after quenching the gelatin sol at ∼45°C to 11°C. SAXS intensity measurements suggested the presence of gel fibrils which grew initially in cross-section. The average cross-section of the gel fibrils reached a constant value after an initial growth period of ∼800 sec. Further increase in SAXS intensity could be attributed to the increase in the length of the gel fibrils. Photon correlation, on the other hand, clearly showed two relaxation modes in both the sol and the gel (∼1 hr after the quenching process) states: a fast cooperative diffusion mode which remained constant from the sol to the gel state after correction for the temperature dependence of solvent viscosity; and a slow mode that could be attributed to the self-diffusion of the “free” gelatin chains and aggregates. The slow mode contribution to the time correlation function was reduced from ∼40% in sol to ∼20% in gel signaling a decrease but not the elimination of “free” particles in the gel network. The decrease in the intensity contribution by the slow mode is, however, accompanied by a large increase in the characteristic line-width distribution.
Structured Contexts with Lightweight Ontology

One of the challenges of dealing with multiple contexts is the significant effort required to provide all necessary lifting rules so that statements in one context can be viewed and understood in other contexts. In this paper, we introduce the notion of structured contexts, where a lightweight ontology is used to provide a structure for representing contexts. With structured contexts, specialized inference algorithms can be used to significantly reduce the number of lifting rules required. We use a semantic data integration example to illustrate the concept of structured contexts and the benefits of this novel use of lightweight ontology.
D. Ring replies

To The Editor: Ring et al., the authors of the paper entitled “Idiopathic Arm Pain” (2004;86:1387-91), must be complimented on their earnest effort to better understand the challenging enigma of idiopathic arm pain. The authors defined a “distinct diagnosis” as an entity that must be substantiated on the basis of objective signs and pathological findings that correlate with the patient's symptoms (i.e., signs of motor dysfunction). However, this arbitrary classification gives short shrift to the primary sensory complaints of pain and dysesthesias as being less than objective. Relative to the frequency of upper extremity pain complaints, this disregard of pain and dysesthesias as being nonobjective is both short-sighted and potentially does a woeful disservice to the 3888 patients in this study. Notable by its absence was that cervical radiculopathy was not even considered as a presumptive cause of “unilateral upper extremity pain,” although it all too often is a primary cause of, and/or contributes to, comorbidity in a large number of patients with upper extremity pain complaints. The seminal work by Frykholm2 and that by Holt and Yates3 showed that the neuroanatomy of the nerve roots at the cervical level differs from that at the thoracic and lumbar levels. Frykholm found that in approximately half of the cases, there is a distinct demarcation at the cervical neural foraminal levels between the dorsal and ventral spinal roots, which merge only distally at the level of the dorsal root ganglia. Unlike the lumbar roots, this discrete separation of the motor and sensory fibers at the neural foramen provides the possibility for an isolated compromise of either the posterior or the anterior root without the involvement of the other. The dorsal roots and their ganglia are larger than the ventral roots and lie in close proximity to the zygapophyseal joints. Chronic … Corresponding author: Emin Kaya Alpar, MD, MCh Orth, FRCS Eng, FRCS Ed Orth Birmingham Nuffield Hospital Somerset Road Edgbaston Birmingham B15 2QQ United Kingdom vijayortho{at}email.com
Enzyme catalytic efficiency: a function of bio-nano interface reactions.

Biocatalyst immobilization onto carbon-based nanosupports has been implemented in a variety of applications ranging from biosensing to biotransformation and from decontamination to energy storage. However, retaining enzyme functionality at carbon-based nanosupports was challenged by the non-specific attachment of the enzyme as well as by the enzyme–enzyme interactions at this interface shown to lead to loss of enzyme activity. Herein, we present a systematic study of the interplay reactions that take place upon immobilization of three pure enzymes namely soybean peroxidase, chloroperoxidase, and glucose oxidase at carbon-based nanosupport interfaces. The immobilization conditions involved both single and multipoint single-type enzyme attachment onto single and multi-walled carbon nanotubes and graphene oxide nanomaterials with properties determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM...
Taxi Time Prediction at Charlotte Airport Using Fast-Time Simulation and Machine Learning Techniques

Accurate taxi time prediction is required for enabling efficient runway scheduling that can increase runway throughput and reduce taxi times and fuel consumptions on the airport surface. Currently NASA and American Airlines are jointly developing a decision-support tool called Spot and Runway Departure Advisor (SARDA) that assists airport ramp controllers to make gate pushback decisions and improve the overall efficiency of airport surface traffic. In this presentation, we propose to use Linear Optimized Sequencing (LINOS), a discrete-event fast-time simulation tool, to predict taxi times and provide the estimates to the runway scheduler in real-time airport operations. To assess its prediction accuracy, we also introduce a data-driven analytical method using machine learning techniques. These two taxi time prediction methods are evaluated with actual taxi time data obtained from the SARDA human-in-the-loop (HITL) simulation for Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) using various performance measurement metrics. Based on the taxi time prediction results, we also discuss how the prediction accuracy can be affected by the operational complexity at this airport and how we can improve the fast time simulation model before implementing it with an airport scheduling algorithm in a real-time environment.
Discusses the Grid and in the Campus Net's Application Shallowly

This article developed the platform and the environment to the grid research's basic question grid service has carried on the discussion,was helpful by the time in the grid innovation studies and applies the development. Unified GT3 to introduce based on the grid technology campus net resources construction and the service general pattern.
User Groups' Features of Mobile Payment—An Empirical Analysis Based on Association Rules of Data Mining

For quickly locating the specific user groups in the mobile payment market,this paper investigates and analyzes the Mobile Ticketing in mobile payment service from five main aspects,the users' awareness,demand,usage,using willingness and users' evaluation.We use data mining methods of association rules to do analyze 1615 valid questionnaires and locate the user groups who are most likely to use Mobile Ticketing,so as to help the Communication Carriers to lock the target customers market precisely and quickly at the beginning of promotional period of Mobile Payment.The results show that mobile payment market,especially mobile ticketing,is still in the early stage,that the users' awareness is low,that the potential user groups are very big,and that the users who are willing to use mobile payment services are mostly concentrate in young user groups with high monthly expense and high education.
Twelfth Nerve Neurilemmoma Occurring in the Middle Ear

Neurilemmomas of the 12th cranial nerve are rare tumors. We present the first reported case of one occurring in the middle ear. This report details the diagnosis and treatment of a large 12th nerve neurilemmoma in a patient whose initial symptoms included vertigo, otalgia, and left-sided tongue fasciculations with atrophy. Selective carotid angiography and computed tomography scanning defined the extent of the lesion. It involved the skull base and parapharyngeal space with extension into the middle ear and mastoid to the level of the middle fossa and posterior fossa dura. Treatment consisted of total excision via a Blair incision with a retroauricular limb, which is applicable to many skull base and parapharyngeal tumors.
Testis Tumors Associated with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia: A Continuing Diagnostic and Therapeutic Dilemma

AbstractA 9-year-old boy with documented congenital adrenal hyperplasia owing to a deficiency in C21 hydroxylation is described. Precocious virilization and testicular asymmetry were noted when he was 5 years old. Both of these conditions persisted despite progressively larger doses of replacement steroid therapy. The right testis was 3 times larger than the left testisand serum testosterone was well within the adult male range. A right inguinal orchiectomy was performed. Pathologic diagnosis was interstitial cell tumor. A review of the literature emphasizes th continuing dilemma of separating interstitial cell tumors from hypertrophy of adrenal rest tissue in the presence of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Possible methods of distinction are discussed
Semi-autonomous Hybrid Brain-Machine Interface

Although advanced prosthetic limbs, such as the modular prosthetic limb (MPL), are now capable of mimicking the dexterity of human limbs, brain-machine interfaces (BMIs) are not yet able to take full advantage of their capabilities. To improve BMI control of the MPL, we are developing a semi-autonomous system, the Hybrid Augmented Reality Multimodal Operation Neural Integration Environment (HARMONIE). This system is designed to utilize novel control strategies including hybrid input (adding eye tracking to neural control), supervisory control (decoding high-level patient goals), and intelligent robotics (incorporating computer vision and route planning algorithms). Patients use eye gaze to indicate a desired object that has been recognized by computer vision. They then perform a desired action, such as reaching and grasping, which is decoded and carried out by the MPL via route planning algorithms. Here we present two patients, implanted with electrocorticography (ECoG) and depth electrodes, who controlled the HARMONIE system to perform reach and grasping tasks; in addition, one patient also used the HARMONIE system to simulate self-feeding. This work builds upon prior research to demonstrate the feasibility of using novel control strategies to enable patients to perform a wider variety of activities of daily living (ADLs).
A naturalistic investigation of compliance‐gaining strategies employed by doctors in medical interviews

The main purpose of the present investigation was to identify actual compliance‐gaining strategies used by doctors while interacting with patients. Five doctors were observed while interacting with 105 patients in two medical care facilities. Findings of the present naturalistic investigation suggest that the traditional Marwell and Schmitt typology (1967) is not entirely appropriate for studying compliance‐gaining strategies between doctors and patients. Further, through content analysis, three additional compliance‐gaining strategies were identified: legitimacy, intermediaries, and procrastination. Doctors’ range of strategies were primarily limited to three techniques. Positive expertise, legitimacy, and liking accounted for 83.55 % of all attempts employed by doctors. Future directions for compliance‐gaining research in the field of health communication are discussed.
Study of Upper Albian rudist buildups in the Edwards Formation using ground-based hyperspectral imaging and terrestrial laser scanning

Abstract Ground-based hyperspectral imaging is used for development of digital outcrop models which can facilitate detailed qualitative and quantitative sedimentological analysis and augment the study of depositional environment, diagenetic processes, and hydrocarbon reservoir characterization in areas which are physically inaccessible. For this investigation, ground-based hyperspectral imaging is combined with terrestrial laser scanning to produce mineralogical maps of Late Albian rudist buildups of the Edwards formation in the Lake Georgetown Spillway in Williamson County, Texas. The Edwards Formation consists of shallow water deposits of reef and associated interreef facies. It is an aquifer in western Texas and was investigated as a hydrocarbon play in south Texas. Hyperspectral data were registered to a geometrically accurate laser point cloud-generated mesh with sub-pixel accuracy and were used to map compositional variation by distinguishing spectral properties unique to each material. More calcitic flat-topped toucasid-rich bioherm facies were distinguished from overlying porous sucrosic dolostones, and peloid wackestones and packstones of back-reef facies. Ground truth was established by petrographic study of samples from this area. This research integrates high-resolution datasets to analyze geometrical and compositional properties of this carbonate formation at a finer scale than traditional methods have achieved and to model the geometry and composition of rudist buildups.
Noise removal from power system signals

This paper proposes a method for noise removal from power system disturbance signals based on wavelet packet transform (WPT). One of the major problems in detecting disturbances in power system signals is the presence of noise. To enhance the standard WPT technique in processing the noise-riding signals, this paper proposes a noise removal algorithm. The denoising of the signals is performed by applying the proposed weighted Shannon entropy and the level dependent minimum description length (MDL) algorithms. Weighted Shannon entropy is employed for the best basis selection from the complete wavelet packet tree and the level dependent MDL is utilized for the thresholding of the coefficients at each node of the optimal sub-tree. The proposed method is evaluated using a set of simulated and real power system signals with disturbances in Smart Grid. The results indicate that level dependent MDL based WPT method not only depress the noise contained in the signals but also compress the disturbance signals. The performance of the proposed method is compared with Shannon entropy and the standard MDL.
Incidence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in and the Microbiological Quality of Seafood in North Carolina1

Microbiological analyses of 716 seafood samples over a 3-year period revealed that the microbiological quality of fresh seafood in North Carolina was generally acceptable. The mean aerobic counts (APC) and fecal coliform counts were low as was the occurrence of enteric pathogens, except for Vibrio parahaemolyticus and coagulase-positive staphylococci. Salmonella species were isolated from three samples, but the fecal coliform counts of these samples far exceeded the shellfish standard of the United States Food and Drug Administration. Coagulase-positive staphylococci were isolated in low numbers from nearly all the different types of seafoods; unpasteurized crabmeat and head-peeled shrimp samples showed the highest counts (10% of these samples had numbers which exceeded 100/g). V. parahaemolyticus occurred frequently in fresh seafood (overall 46% of the samples were positive) and its numbers showed a definite seasonal variation. No positive statistical correlation was found between the numbers of V. parahaemolyticus and the bacteriological indices, such as coliforms, fecal coliforms, enterococci and APC. Processing practices were found to influence the occurrence of V. parahaemolvticus in seafood; for example, improperly cleaned flumes were found to be a reservoir for V. parahaemolyticus in mechanical scallop processing plants. Also 'picking' waste 'containers' were found to be sources of V. parahaemolyticus in crab processing plants. Some processing practices such as heat shocking of oysters to facilitate opening were found to reduce the numbers of V. parahaemolyticus . Fifty V. parahaemolyticus isolates from different seafoods were tested for their Kanagawa reaction and all were found to be negative.
Exploring the effect of food intake and physical activity on body weight

Body weight is an important measurement parameter towards management of obesity, diabetes and overall health. Previous research and society at large has primarily focused on long-term fluctuation in body weight to describe and quantify weight gain or loss. Meanwhile, little emphasis has been placed on the potential benefit of monitoring short-term body weight changes. Activities of daily living including food intake, excretion, and physical activities have a direct and measurable impact on short-term body weight in a day. Therefore, understanding the effect of these activities can provide insight towards development of a wearable system capable of detecting and quantifying daily intake, excretion and physical activities. In this study, body weight, intake, and physical activities were monitored intermittently for 7–8 hours on two separate days (sedentary and high activity). Results show that dietary intake always resulted in a positive change in body weight (mean error between measured body weight and amount of intake was ±0.24 feg). Meanwhile, high intensity physical activities (i.e. cardio) and excretion resulted in a negative change in body weight.
Who Will Fight? The All-Volunteer Army after 9/11

Who fought the War on Terror? We find that as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan progressed, there was an increase in the fraction of active-duty Army enlistees who were white or from high-income neighborhoods and that these two groups selected combat occupations more often. Among men, we find an increase in deployment and combat injuries for white and Hispanic soldiers relative to black soldiers and for soldiers from high-income neighborhoods relative to those from low-income neighborhoods. This finding suggests that an all-volunteer force does not compel a disproportionate number of non-white and low socio-economic men to fight America's wars.
Overshooting of the FR Requirement

This experiment examined the relationship between pre-contingency instrumental response rate and overshooting of the FR requirement. Four female albino rats, equated for operant level running, were conditioned on a drink-to-run contingency. Precontingency instrumental response rate was varied by requiring one of each of the four Ss to lick from an empty tube, a water tube, a 4% and a 32% sucrose tube to have the opportunity to run in an activity wheel. The Ss were first tested on an FR 5, then on an FR 41, then retested on an FR 5. The results indicated that increasing the FR from 5 to 41 decreased over-shooting of the FR requirement, although overshooting of the FR requirement consistently varied directly with precontingency instrumental response rate.
Force Limited Vibration Testing Monograph

The practice of limiting the shaker force in vibration tests was investigated at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in 1990 after the mechanical failure of an aerospace component during a vibration test. Now force limiting is used in almost every major vibration test at JPL and in many vibration tests at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) and at many aerospace contractors. The basic ideas behind force limiting have been in the literature for several decades, but the piezo-electric force transducers necessary to conveniently implement force limiting have been available only in the last decade. In 1993, funding was obtained from the NASA headquarters Office of Chief Engineer to develop and document the technology needed to establish force limited vibration testing as a standard approach available to all NASA centers and aerospace contractors. This monograph is the final report on that effort and discusses the history, theory, and applications of the method in some detail.
The Effect of Large-Firm Audits on Municipal Bond Rating Decisions

Municipal accounting information is widely believed to be useful to creditors in assessing bond default risk (e.g., Wallace 1985; Wilson and Howard 1985). Users of accounting information perceive that Big 8 auditors provide higher quality audits both for corporations (Shockley and Holt 1983; McKinley et al. 1985) and municipalities (Baskin 1986). Concern about the reliability of local government audits has been heightened by the U.S. General Accounting Office’s (GAO) (1986) recent findings that some audits do not comply with professional standards, especially audits by smaller auditors. Local government audits are relied on by the federal government, as well as the bond market, to discover material errors. Big 8 audits may signal higher “quality,” where quality is defined as a reduced probability that the financial statements contain a material misstatement. This study investigates the relationship between auditor type and the usefulness of municipal accounting information to predict bond ratings. Raters’ perceptions of the usefulness of accounting information are assessed by examining the association between accounting information and bond ratings. Bond ratings are predicted for cities that employ Big 8 auditors, and a separate model is estimated for cities that employ non-Big 8 auditors. The observations for the two models are matched by size. The empirical analysis supports the hypothesis that Big 8 audits are associated with the ability of accounting information to accurately predict municipal bond rating decisions. By comparison, this study finds that accounting information associated with non-Big 8 audits is not able to predict municipal bond rating decisions better than random chance. This study provides insights as to the relationship between auditor type and the perceived usefulness of accounting information.
A Packaged Single-Ended K-Band SiGe LNA with 2.14 dB Mean Noise Figure

This paper presents a packaged single-ended three-stage K-band low noise amplifier (LNA) using Jazz SBC18H3 SiGe process technology. The LNA consists of three common emitter (CE) stages to achieve a stable packaged amplifier with low noise figure (NF) and high gain. The measured $\mathbf{S}_{\mathbf{21}}$ is 20.3 dB with a 3-dB bandwidth of 7 GHz (14.4 – 21.4 GHz). The measured mean NF is 2.14 dB at 18.4 GHz and it is $ at (17.1-19.7 GHz). At 18 GHz, the measured $\mathbf{IPi}_{\mathbf{1dB}},\mathbf{OP}_{\mathbf{1dB}},\mathbf{IIP}_{3}$ , and $\mathbf{OIP}_{3}$ are −23.7, −4.9, −15.3, and 5.1 dBm, respectively. This is achieved at a power consumption of 18-mW. To our knowledge, this represents state-of-the-art packaged K-band LNAs in term of gain, NF, and power consumption in SiGe and CMOS processes.
Vitamin D binding protein polymorphisms significantly impact vitamin D status in children.

Polymorphic alleles of the vitamin D (vitD)-binding protein (VDBP) gene are associated with discriminatory differences in circulating concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-D), the indicator of vitD status (sufficiency defined by the Endocrine Society as ≥75 nmol/L). Within a diverse group of children, we hypothesized that reaching recommended daily allowance (RDA) of vitD intake would have differential impact on vitD status depending on VDBP variability. VDBP alleles (Gc1S, Gc1F, Gc2) in 123 children (1–4 annual visits/child; ages 1–8 years) were compared for relationships with serum 25-D concentrations and daily vitD intake. In African-American children, reaching the vitD RDA was associated with significantly higher mean serum 25-D concentrations for the 20% carrying the VDBP 1S allele than for the large majority without this allele (77 vs. 61 nmol/L 25-D; p = 0.038). Children with the Gc1S/1S homozygous genotype (30% Caucasians, 24% Hispanics, 2% African-Americans) who met RDA had 51% (39 nmol/L) greater mean serum 25-D than those below RDA (p < 0.0001). VDBP genetic variability was a significant factor affecting childhood vitD status when following RDA guidelines. This study may inform public health policy of uniformity in recommended childhood vitD dosage, especially regarding racially/ethnically associated disparities.
The analyst’s experience of the depressive position: The melancholic errand of psychoanalysis

In this deeply engaging collection of nine essays, some previously published, Steven Cooper concentrates on the working analyst’s struggle towards the depressive position through the day to day and...
REVIEWS OF THE LITERATURE

Book reviewed in this article: ILLITERATE AMERICA. Jonathan Kozol. FAMILY KALEIDOSCOPE. Salvador Minuchin. SATIR STEP BY STEP: A Guide to Creating Change in Families. Virginia Satir and Michele Baldwin. THE SILENT WORLD OF DOCTOR AND PATIENT. Jay Katz. RADICAL DEPARTURES: Desperate Detours to Growing Up. Saul Levine. STRESS, APPRAISAL AND COPING. Richard S. Lazarus and Susan Folkman. THE COPING CAPACITY: On the Nature of Being Mortal. Avery D. Weisman. MADNESS AND CURE. Robert Langs. CHILDREN'S GROUP THERAPY: Methods and Case Histories. Mortimer Schiffer. CHILDREN OF ALCOHOLISM: A Survivor's Manual. Judith S. Seixas and Geraldine Youcha. ALCOHOLISM AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE: Strategies for Clinical Intervention. Thomas E. Bratter and Gary G. Forrest. TRAUMA AND ITS WAKE: The Study and Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Charles R. Figley. FAMILY CARE OF SCHIZOPHRENIA: A Problem-Solving Approach to the Treatment of Mental Illness. Ian R. H. Falloon, Jeffrey L. Boyd, Christine W. McGill.
Comprehensive Design and Prototype of VLC Receivers With Large Detection Areas

Stable and practical reception of visible light communication (VLC) signals at mobile devices necessitates optoelectronic receivers with large detection areas to attain wide field-of-view (FOV) as well as robustness against blockage. However, large detection (or aperture) area reduces the effective bandwidth of VLC receivers. We design and prototype a VLC receiver with multi-photodetector array followed by a multi-stage amplifier, capable of attaining high-speed data rates for white phosphorous LED light. The receiver array can be arranged conformal to the surface shape of mobile devices. We test the VLC system's performance under vibrations, characterize delay spread arising from movements and wide FOV of the receiver, design multi-symbol detection techniques based on time and spatial reception diversity, and evaluate the performance with real data transmissions.
Change in Balance Performance Predicts Neurocognitive Dysfunction and Symptom Endorsement in Concussed College Athletes.

OBJECTIVE Following concussion, there is an array of sequelae including symptom burden, neurocognitive dysfunction, and balance impairment. However, the magnitude of change in balance performance has yet to be explored fully regarding its relationship with neurocognitive functioning or symptom endorsement. The present study hypothesized that the magnitude of change in balance performance from baseline to post-trauma would have unique predictive power in identifying acute clinical outcomes. METHOD Sixty-eight college athletes completed annual preparticipation baseline testing and were later diagnosed with a concussion. RESULTS Linear regressions determined that the magnitude of change in balance performance was a better predictor of neurocognitive dysfunction and endorsement of "balance problems" than post-trauma balance performance alone. CONCLUSIONS These findings highlight the importance of incorporating balance measurements during preparticipation baseline assessment.
A Framework for Developing, Implementing, and Evaluating a Social Determinants of Health Initiative

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Even while making progress toward improved health outcomes, the United States is facing health disparities, increasing rates of chronic diseases, and rising healthcare costs. Health systems and organizations understand the positive impact that addressing social determinants of health (SDOH) can have on population health outcomes and cost savings, yet barriers exist to SDOH initiatives because of a lack of standardization and a clear framework. This essay proposes six steps for various types of healthcare organizations to take to achieve their unique SDOH goals. The framework provides examples from the SDOH literature for identifying and prioritizing health issues; conducting literature scans; calculating a projected return on investment; and selecting, implementing, and evaluating an SDOH initiative. By applying the evidence base for SDOH in developing and evaluating their efforts, healthcare organizations are better equipped to implement an SDOH initiative that improves health outcomes and decreases healthcare costs.
Potential Future Exposure (PFE), Credit Value Adjustment (CVA) and Wrong Way Risk (WWR) Analytic Solutions

Developing analytic techniques for potential future exposure (PFE) of a general type transaction and applying it to credit value adjustment (CVA) and wrong way risk (WWR). The solutions provide a transparent and computationally friendly analytic formulas and good quality analytic estimates of CVA and WWR prior to conducting systematic simulations.
Cramer–Rao Lower Bound for SoOp-R-Based Root-Zone Soil Moisture Remote Sensing

Signals of opportunity (SoOp) reflectometry (SoOp-R) is a maturing field for geophysical remote sensing as evidenced by the growing number of airborne and spaceborne experiments. As this approach receives more attention, it is worth analyzing SoOp-R's capabilities to retrieve subsurface soil moisture (SM) by leveraging communication and navigation satellite transmitters. In this research, the Cramer–Rao lower bound (CRLB) is used to identify the effects of variable SoOp-R parameters on the best achievable estimation error for root-zone soil moisture (RZSM). This study investigates the use of multiple frequency, polarization, and incidence angle measurement configurations on a two-layered dielectric profile. The results also detail the effects of variable SM conditions on the capability of SoOp-R systems to predict subsurface SM. The most prevalent observation is the importance of using at least two frequencies to limit uncertainties from subsurface SM estimates. If at least two frequencies are used, the CRLB of a profile is retrievable within the root-zone depending on the surface SM content as well as the number of independent measurements of the profile. For a depth of 30 cm, it is observed that a CRLB corresponding to 4% RZSM estimation accuracy is achievable with as few as two dual-frequency-based SoOp-R measurements. For this depth, increasing number of measurements provided by polarization and incidence angle allow for sensing of increasingly wet SM profile structures. This study, overall, details a methodology by which SoOp-R receiver system can be designed to achieve a desired CRLB using a tradeoff study between the available measurements and SM profile.
Lower-Extremity Peripheral Nerve Blocks in the Perioperative Pain Management of Orthopaedic Patients

Background: The utilization of peripheral nerve blocks in orthopaedic surgery has paralleled the rise in the number of ambulatory surgical procedures performed. Optimization of pain control in the perioperative orthopaedic patient contributes to improved patient satisfaction, early mobilization, decreased length of hospitalization, and decreased associated hospital and patient costs. Our purpose was to provide a concise, pertinent review of the use of peripheral nerve blocks in various orthopaedic procedures of the lower extremity, with specific focus on procedural anatomy, indications, patient outcome measures, and complications. Methods: We reviewed the literature and reference textbooks on commonly performed lower-extremity peripheral nerve block procedures in orthopaedic surgery, focusing on those most commonly used. Results: The use of lower-extremity peripheral nerve blocks is a safe and effective approach to perioperative pain management. Different techniques and timing can have an important impact on patient satisfaction, and each technique has specific indications and complications. For major hip surgery, one of the most commonly used is the lumbar plexus block, which can result in early mobilization, reduced postoperative pain, and decreased opioid-associated adverse events. Associated complications include epidural spread of anesthesia, retroperitoneal hematoma formation, and postoperative falls. For arthroscopic and open knee procedures, the femoral nerve block is frequently used adjunctively. It provides improved early postoperative pain control, early mobilization with therapy, and increased patient satisfaction compared with intra-articular or intravenous opioids alone; it also provides cost savings. However, some studies have shown no significant difference in outcome measures compared with intra-articular opioids alone for arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Associated complications include nerve injury, intravascular injection, and postoperative falls. Conclusions: The use of peripheral nerve blocks in lower-extremity surgery is becoming a mainstay of perioperative pain management strategy.
Invited Commentary: Medicaid Policy and Pregnancy Outcomes—Toward a Reproductive Autonomy Framework

The Medicaid program covers more than 70 million people and is the largest single health insurance payer for pregnancy and delivery in the United States. In this issue of the Journal, Margerison et al. (Am J Epidemiol. 2021;190(8):1488-1498) investigate the extent to which expansion of Medicaid coverage to nonpregnant low-income adults under the Affordable Care Act may have improved prepregnancy or birth outcomes. They found that Medicaid expansions by states were not associated with changes in prepregnancy health, including smoking and obesity. Similarly, there were no changes in preterm birth or small or large size for gestational age attributable to Medicaid expansion. Results were consistent across a range of model specifications and with allowance for different lag times between Medicaid expansion and pregnancy. The results are consistent with prior research finding that pregnancy-specific Medicaid expansions did not uniformly translate to improved pregnancy and birth outcomes. Results should be interpreted in light of the limited contribution that medical services make to overall health and well-being. To reduce the high rates of adverse pregnancy and child health outcomes in the United States, Medicaid policy must move toward a reproductive autonomy framework that shifts the focus away from pregnancy-specific benefits and toward a comprehensive and patient-empowering reproductive health paradigm.
The (in)stability of functional brain network measures across thresholds

The large-scale organization of the brain has features of complex networks that can be quantified using network measures from graph theory. However, many network measures were designed to be calculated on binary graphs, whereas functional brain organization is typically inferred from a continuous measure of correlations in temporal signal between brain regions. Thresholding is a necessary step to use binary graphs derived from functional connectivity data. However, there is no current consensus on what threshold to use, and network measures and group contrasts may be unstable across thresholds. Nevertheless, whole-brain network analyses are being applied widely with findings typically reported at an arbitrary threshold or range of thresholds. This study sought to evaluate the stability of network measures across thresholds in a large resting state functional connectivity dataset. Network measures were evaluated across absolute (correlation-based) and proportional (sparsity-based) thresholds, and compared between sex and age groups. Overall, network measures were found to be unstable across absolute thresholds. For example, the direction of group differences in a given network measure may change depending on the threshold. Network measures were found to be more stable across proportional thresholds. These results demonstrate that caution should be used when applying thresholds to functional connectivity data and when interpreting results from binary graph models.
Active Screening on Recurrent Diseases Contact Networks with Uncertainty: A Reinforcement Learning Approach

Controlling recurrent infectious diseases is a vital yet complicated problem. A large portion of the controlling epidemic relies on patients visit clinics voluntarily. However, they may already transmit the disease to their contacts by the time they feel sick enough to visit the clinic, especially for conditions with a long incubation period. Therefore, active screening/case finding was deployed to provide a powerful yet expensive means to control disease spread in recent years. To make active screening success a given limit budget, one of the challenges that need to be addressed is that we do not know the exact state of each patient. Given the number of horizon and budget we have in each time step, we also need to plan our screening efficiently and screening the vital patients in time. Thus, we apply a reinforcement learning approach to solve active screening problems on the network SIS disease model. The first contribution of this work is that we identify three significant challenges in active screening problems: partially observable states, combinatorial action choice, high-dimensional state-action space. We further propose the corresponding solutions to overcome these challenges. Specifically, we resolve the issue of high-dimensional state-action space by encoding the actions and partially observable states into a lower dimension form, which is done by either manually, using domain expertise, or automatically, using the state of the art GCN approach. We show that our approach can scale up to large graphs and perform decently compared to other baselines of previous literature and current practice.
Contract design for supply chain quality management

Cost reduction has been a major driver of outsourcing. However, recent product recalls suggests that purchasing cost reduction alone is not enough. In this paper, we incorporate the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) perspective into a two-stage leader-follower game to analyse the decisions made by one buyer and one supplier with a quality cost-sharing contract in a supply chain. Our analysis suggests that the optimal quality chosen by the supplier increases in its own cost efficiency, the buyer's profit margin and the wholesale price offered by the buyer, the optimal wholesale price set by the buyer decreases in the supplier's cost efficiency level and its own profit margin and an appropriate cost-sharing percentage exists between the buyer and the supplier. Our research provides managerial insights on how to induce the supplier to offer quality products along the supply chain in today's global outsourcing environment.
Discourse (re)-framing: Narratives of adulthood in contemporary Japan

Abstract Focusing on the move from gakusei ‘student’ to shakaijin ‘working adult, lit. fully socialized adult’ during a period of continuing economic stagnation and social dislocation, the current study analyzes contemporary Japanese university students’ alignments with respect to ideologies surrounding adulthood including entering the job market and marriage. Data includes naturally occurring conversations with male and female students at a mid-high ranked city university on the outskirts of Yokohama as well as media materials associated with job-hunting practices. Analyzing individuals’ discursive (re)-framing of economic practice, this study demonstrates how individuals convey complex alignments towards future economic and social practices and their attendant ideologies. These complex alignments are analyzed as instances of ‘making do’ (de Certeau, 1984). Attending to subtle shifts in discursive (re)-framing, this paper demonstrates how micropolitical alignments are enacted in language at the level of everyday, ordinary practice.