cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Environmental Aquatic Resource Sensing: Basic Sciences, Business Education, and Outreach

Freshwater resources are critical features of the landscape and are threatened by many phenomena (e.g., eutrophication, invasive species, climate change, acid rain). The importance of fresh waters requires that scientists continually improve their tactics and technologies for broader understanding. Increasing use of automated sensors to collect environmental data creates a need for training of environmental scientists. In this paper, we present case studies based on a doctoral training program. For each case study presented, the goals and overall recommendations for adaptation to other programs are discussed. Case studies were selected based on recommendations of external evaluators of the program, the perceived value of the particular case study to the overall program, and the desire to provide case studies that were illustrative of the primary objectives of the project. We conclude that training of scientists in this area requires a consideration of the technology behind the sensors, proper usage of this technology, the technology development process, data management, and technology transfer. In addition to sensor-specific attributes of our program, we also have gained insight into the process of professional development for graduate students and how students can work across disciplines and universities. Our key suggestion for achieving inter-disciplinary training is to give students a common problem to tackle and the tools to do so. To ensure that these efforts are successful, identification of a group leader and provision of an opportunity for bonds and relationships to develop is vital.
ROBUST FEED-FORWARD/FEEDBACK DESIGN FOR TAPE TRANSPORT

The purview of this paper is the design of controller which include knowledge of parametric uncertainties and their distributions. The parameter distributions are approximated by a nite set of points which are calculated by the unscented transformation. This set of points is used to design robust controllers which minimize the worst performance of the plant over the domain of uncertainty. The proposed technique is illustrated on a tape transport system. Two approaches to arrive at robust prelters and feedback controllers are proposed. The rst, which involves sequential design of the feedback and prelter and the second, which simultaneously arrives at optimal parameters of the feedback gain matrix and the time-delay prelter. Numerical results illustrate desirable response over the operating region of the system.
Magnetic Behaviour of Materials

Most materials interact with a magnetic field, just as dielectrics interact with an electric field. Magnetic materials are used to operate electrical motors, generators, and transformers, to store and retrieve information on magnetic tape or in computers, to serve as actuators and sensors, to focus electron beams, to assist in medical diagnostic devices, and for a host of other applications. The most widely used magnetic materials are based on ferromagnetic metals and alloys such as iron, nickel, and cobalt or ferrimagnetic ceramics, including various ferrites and garnets.
Dependence of NO Recombination Dynamics in Horse Myoglobin on Solution Glycerol Content

The recombination dynamics of NO with horse heart myoglobin (Mb) following photolysis with a 570 nm excitation pulse were measured by time-resolved absorption with 250 fs temporal resolution. These measurements were carried out in room-temperature solutions in which the glycerol concentration was varied from 0 to 90% (w/v). The recombination of NO is nonsingle exponential in all cases, but becomes faster as the glycerol concentration is increased. The interpretation of these results is aided by a maximum entropy analysis to determine a distribution of rate processes consistent with the data. This analysis suggests that in buffer there are two dominant rate processes for NO recombination on the subnanosecond time scale, one at ≈10 ps and one at ≈200 ps. The dominant effect of increasing glycerol content is to increase the amplitude of the fast process, with no corresponding significant change in rate, and to decrease the amplitude of the slow process, but with a corresponding increase in rate. These result...
Relationships between Drinking Onset, Alcohol Use Intensity, and Nighttime Risk Behaviors in a College Bar District

Objective: To identify antecedents of risk behavior events in college bar patrons. Methods: In this nighttime field study, self-report data and alcohol intoxication readings were collected from patrons immediately upon exiting bars (n = 618). Results: Multilevel structural equation modeling revealed positive associations between age of drinking onset and both alcohol use intensity in the past year and recent bar-going frequency. In turn, alcohol use intensity in the past year was positively associated with bar-going frequency and intoxication at bar exit. An association between drinking onset and bar-going frequency was mediated by alcohol use intensity in the past year. Conclusions: Discernable paths from age of drinking onset to monthly bar-going frequency and intoxication level after leaving a bar can be identified. The results highlight the critical role of drinking onset in development of college student alcohol abuse. Research is needed to determine whether college bars are environmental pathogens m...
Enhanced photochemical light utilization and decreased chilling-induced photoinhibition of photosystem II in cotton overexpressing genes encoding chloroplast-targeted antioxidant enzymes

The aim of this study was to determine whether increases in stromal superoxide dismutase (SOD; EC 1.15.1.1), ascorbate peroxidase (APX; EC 1.11.1.11) and glutathione reductase (GR; EC 1.6.4.2) via transformation could reduce photosystem (PS) II photoinhibition at low temperature for cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) plants and to determine by what mechanism this protection may be realized. During 3-h exposures of lincomycin-treated leaf discs to 10 degrees C and a photon flux density of 500 mmol m-2 s-1, all transgenic plants exhibited significantly greater PSII activity and O2 evolution than did wild-type plants. Also, the rate constant of PSII photoinactivation was significantly lower for all transgenic plants than for wild-type plants. No significant differences existed between genotypes in non-photochemical quenching of chlorophyll a fluorescence and the regulated component of the thermal dissipation of excitation energy. The relationship between changes in variable to maximum chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm) and the time-dependent averaged excessive light exposure was similar for all genotypes. This observation excluded the possibility that differences in PSII photodamage were due to improvements in the direct protection of PSII from active oxygen by antioxidant enzyme overproduction. Similar decreases in Fv/Fm during the stress treatment for all genotypes when leaves were pre-treated with 3-(3',4'-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU) suggested that the effect of overproduction involved events downstream of PSII in the electron transfer pathway. Since all transgenic plants exhibited a significantly higher photochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence during the chilling treatment, we concluded that, under the conditions used in this study, the enhancement of the protection of PSII from photodamage by increasing the stromal antioxidant enzyme activity in cotton leaves was due to the maintenance of a higher rate of electron transport and, consequently, a lower reduction state of QA.
Track-to-track association and ambiguity management in the presence of sensor bias

The track-to-track association problem is to determine the pairing of sensor-level tracks that correspond to the same true target from which the sensorlevel tracks originated. This problem is crucial for multisensor data fusion and is complicated by the presence of individual sensor biases, random errors, false tracks, and missed tracks. A popular approach to performing track-to-track association between two sensor systems is to jointly optimize the a posteriori relative bias estimate between the sensors and the likelihood of track-to-track association. Algorithms that solve this problem typically generate the K best bias-association hypotheses and corresponding bias-association likelihoods. In this paper, we extend the above approach in two ways. First, we derive a closed-form expression for computing “pure” track-to-track association likelihoods, as opposed to bias-association likelihoods which are weighted by a unique relative bias estimate. Second, we present an alternative formulation of the track-to-track association problem in which we optimize solely with respect to association likelihoods. These results facilitate what is commonly known as system-level track ambiguity management.
Enabling effective curation of cancer biomarker research data

The dramatic increase in data in the area of cancer research has elevated the importance of effectively managing the quality and consistency of research results from multiple providers. The U.S. National Cancer Institute's Early Detection Research Network (EDRN) is a prime example of a virtual organization, sponsoring distributed, collaborative work at dozens of institutions around the country. As part of a comprehensive informatics infrastructure, The NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, in collaboration with Dartmouth Medical School, has developed a web application for the curation of cancer biomarker research results. In this paper, we describe and evaluate the application in the context of the EDRN content management process, and detail our experience using the tool in an operational environment to capture and annotate biomarker research data generated by the EDRN.
Impulse optimization for data association

This paper presents a new method that addresses measurement origin uncertainty. Measurement origin uncertainty occurs when the object a measurement originated from is not clear. The systems considered contain multiple bodies which are dynamically indistinguishable other than initial conditions. Each measurement originates from one of the bodies in the system. In the past, recursive data association methods have been used to address problems of this nature. A new technique is presented which treats the measurement association problem as a batch post-processing problem. Reformulating the problem as such, it is possible to transform the data association problem into a trajectory optimization problem. From this point of view it is then possible to solve the measurement association problem using first- and second-order optimization algorithms that rely on having first- and second-order derivatives for cost functions that depend on impulsive trajectories.
A Comparative Analysis of Agricultural Transportation and Logistics Systems in the United States and Argentina

The third in a series of three papers focusing on Argentina, this paper analyzes issues pertinent to the relative advantages and disadvantages of transportation and logistics systems between the United States and Argentina in the context of distribution to significant global markets. Designed as a tool for agribusiness students and prospective investment and trade partners, it provides a side-by-side analysis of U.S. and Argentine rail, motor, and water transportation systems. Also, from a comparative perspective, it examines grain storage capacities and systems.
A new anatomical framework for neuropsychiatric disorders and drug abuse.

Histotechnological breakthroughs in the late 1960s paved the way for anatomical discoveries that led to the concepts of the ventral striatal-pallidal system and the extended amygdala. These two macro-anatomical systems, together with the basal nucleus of Meynert, represent the main components of the new anatomy of the basal forebrain. The concept of the ventral striatal-pallidal system provided the first indication of the existence of parallel cortical-striatal-pallidal-thalamic-cortical circuits, which in turn led to the theory of segregated cortical-subcortical reentrant circuits as a conceptual framework for the study of neuropsychiatric disorders. The multifarious symptoms of neuropsychiatric disorders, however, cannot be understood unless the extended amygdala, the basal nucleus of Meynert, and the septal-diagonal band system are also included in such deliberations. All of these systems serve as output channels for activities in the greater limbic lobe, which usually is critically involved in neurops...
Organizational Parochialism: “Placing” Interorganizational Network Ties

Are interorganizational network ties “placeless” or “placed”? The study of organizations, particularly the study of interorganizational network ties, has reemerged in urban sociology, yet the urban...
Light ray tracing through a leaf cross section.

A light ray, incident at about 5 deg to the normal, is geometrically plotted through the drawing of the cross section of a soybean leaf using Fresnel's equations and Snell's law. The optical mediums of the leaf considered for ray tracing are: air, cell sap, chloroplast, and cell wall. The ray is also drawn through the same leaf cross section with cell wall and air as the only optical mediums. The values of the reflection and transmission found from the ray tracing tests agree closely with the experimental results obtained using a Beckman Dk-2A Spectroreflector.
Finite-Difference Methods in Climate Modeling

Some basic aspects of finite-difference methods in climate modeling are discussed. Emphasis is placed on comparisons of the dynamics of discrete systems with that of the original continuous system, including the problem of choosing vertical and horizontal grid structures and resolutions, and the problem of maintaining various integral constraints of physical importance.
E-cigarettes, hookah pens and vapes: Adolescent and young adult perceptions of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems

Introduction Most studies have assessed use of "e-cigarettes" or "electronic cigarettes," potentially excluding new electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), such as e-hookahs and vape pens. Little is known about how adolescents and young adults perceive ENDS and if their perceptions vary by sub-type. We explored ENDS perceptions among these populations. Methods Ten focus groups with 77 adolescents and young adults, ages 13-25, were conducted in spring 2014. Participants were users or susceptible nonusers of novel tobacco products. Focus group transcripts were coded for emergent themes. Results Participants reported positive ENDS attributes, including flavor variety; user control of nicotine content; and smoke trick facilitation. Negative attributes included different feel compared to combustible cigarettes, nicotine addiction potential, and no cue to stop use. Participants perceived less harm from ENDS compared to combustible cigarettes, perhaps due to marketing and lack of product regulation, but noted the uncertainty of ingredients in ENDS. Numerous terms were used to describe ENDS, including "e-cigarette," "e-hookah," "hookah pens," "tanks," and "vapes." Although no clear classification system emerged, participants used product characteristics like nicotine content and chargeability to attempt classification. Perceptions differed by product used. E-hookah users were perceived as young and trendy while e-cigarette users were perceived as old and addicted to nicotine. Conclusions Young adults and adolescents report distinct ENDS sub-types with varying characteristics and social perceptions of users. Although they had more positive than negative perceptions of ENDS, prevention efforts should consider highlighting negative attributes as they may discourage use and product trial among young nonusers. Implications Our study underscores the need for a standardized measurement system for ENDS sub-types and additional research on how ENDS sub-types are perceived among adolescents and young adults. In addition, our findings highlight negative product attributes reported by participants that may be useful in prevention and regulatory efforts to offset favorable marketing messages.
Views from a Department Head

Abstract Regional programming by the Cooperative Extension Service can be an effective way to stretch limited departmental Extension Service personnel and financial resources while at the same time improving the quality and effectiveness of poultry-related communication and relationships between the universities and industry. This is especially true in those areas of the United States where die number of poultry clientele and poultry specialists within a given state or states is limited. Extension Service administrators and the heads of animal and poultry science departments involving poultry, poultry Extension Service specialists, and industry personnel should work together to develop more multistate, planned regional programs. Such programs should include educational conferences and workshops, industry-oriented educational newsletters and bulletins, and 4-H and other youth-oriented publications. They should also include applied poultry research programs that address industry problems, issues, and concerns applicable to the regional poultry production area.
Spore germination of and carbohydrate colonization by Morchella esculenta at different soil temperatures

Few detailed data on the life cycle and ecology of morels have been reported from field studies. In this study, spore germination and saprophytic ability of Morchella esculenta in natural soil were investigated as related to progression of soil temperatures during the fruiting season. Ascospores germinated at temperatures as low as 2 C in vitro. However, spores buried in cellophane at morel sites swelled but did not produce germ tubes until the soil temperature exceeded approximately 10 C. Germination is inhibited as the soil continues to warm after fruiting body emergence (i.e., above 15 C). Spores did not remain viable after 1 yr near the soil surface. Sterile rye buried 2 wk in the field was readily colonized by M. esculenta when cased with site soil containing either spores or sclerotia when soil temperatures remained below 10 C. As temperature increased, only other saprophytes were isolated. Frequent observations of germling hyphal growth by a direct path to ungerminated spores suggests that heterocaryon formation could occur at this stage in the life cycle of M. esculenta. Despite the long-standing interest in morels by mycologists and mycophagists, little ecological information, beyond horticultural observation, has been reported from field studies. As stated by Callieux (1969), and recently reiterated by Delmas (1978), the methods for morel cultivation remain undefined and haphazard due to the lack of knowledge of their life cycle and ecology. Ower's (1982) report on ascocarp production from initially axenic culture on wheat berries may obviate the need to elucidate their life cycle in nature before they can be commercially cultivated. Nonetheless, the importance of fungi in nutrient cycling under cool soil conditions of spring would justify study of the ecology of this widespread ascomycete. This study explored M. esculenta Fr. (sensu Groves and Hoare) ascospore germination in vitro and in natural soil as related to temperature. Additionally,
Return to Play After Periacetabular Osteotomy for Treatment of Acetabular Dysplasia in Adolescent and Young Adult Athletes

Background:The Bernese periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) is an effective surgical treatment option for symptomatic acetabular dysplasia. Little evidence exists regarding the results of PAO and rates of return to play (RTP) in an athletic population.Hypothesis:The majority of athletes will demonstrate improvements in functional outcome measures, such as the modified Harris Hip Score and Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, and will be able to return to sports after PAO.Study Design:Case series; Level of evidence, 4.Methods:A comprehensive surgical hip database at an academic referral center was used to identify a subpopulation of athletes on whom PAO was performed. Data analyzed included preceding surgeries, reoperations, and RTP timing and features. Standard pre- and postoperative radiologic parameters and validated functional outcome measures were assessed, and a regression model assessed risk factors for prolonged time to RTP.Results:Of 245 PAOs performed over the 5-year study period, 46 were p...
Reconstruction of the Umbilicus in Exstrophy

Reconstruction of the umbilicus has cosmetic and functional value in the surgical treatment of the child with bladder exstrophy. We report on 12 patients who underwent creation of a neoumbilicus as part of genitourinary reconstruction.
Flipped Versus Online-Only Instruction in the Neurology Clerkship: A Comparative Effectiveness Study of Best-Practices in Medical Education (S3.002)

Objective: Compare flipped classroom versus online-only instruction for impacting knowledge, clinical skills, self-directed learning (SDL), and satisfaction in the neurology clerkship. Background: While flipped curricula are increasingly integrated into medical schools, sophisticated platforms for delivering asynchronous online-only instruction are the latest in a series of technological advances. Few studies have rigorously compared these approaches. Methods: IRB-approved prospective block-randomized study was performed with 2nd-4th year medical students rotating through a required neurology clerkship at Johns Hopkins that included a 4-week curriculum entitled, Clinical Reasoning in Neurology, employing either flipped classroom instruction (i.e. live) or asynchronous online-only instruction (i.e. online). Baseline and end-of-course knowledge was assessed by peer-reviewed multiple choice exams and NBME shelf examination; faculty/resident clinical evaluations; non-compulsory assignment completion was used to track SDL; and satisfaction by end-of-clerkship survey. Results: 104 students (49 flipped, 55 online) were enrolled. While age, gender, and training level did not differ by group (all p>0.43), baseline knowledge was higher in the live group (mean score 27.6±11 vs 21.5±10, p=0.003). Faculty/residents rated clinical skills were higher in the live group (4.2±0.5 vs 3.9±0.7, p=0.03) including higher rating of future housestaff potential (4.8±0.3 vs 4.5±0.6, p=0.03). Students in the online group were more likely to display SDL (42 vs 12[percnt], p=0.001) and reported more hours devoted to studying (6.1 vs 3.8 hrs, p=0.03). While exam performance did not differ by group, NBME scores tended to be higher after adjusting for differences in baseline knowledge (2.3, 95[percnt] CI -0.4-4.8, p=0.07). Satisfaction was not different by group (p=0.51) Conclusions: In this comparative look at contemporary curricular delivery approaches, we observed no difference in knowledge-based exam performance between flipped and online-only instruction. While higher ratings on clinical skills were observed with live instruction, more SDL was observed with online. These data support the blended approach to delivering clerkship education. Disclosure: Dr. Strowd has received research support from the American Academy of Neurology. Dr. Salas has nothing to disclose. Dr. Cruz has nothing to disclose. Dr. Shatzer has nothing to disclose. Dr. Abras has nothing to disclose. Dr. Gugliucciello has nothing to disclose. Dr. Nunn has nothing to disclose. Dr. Gamaldo has nothing to disclose.
Patient factors associated with lung transplant referral and waitlist for patients with cystic fibrosis and pulmonary fibrosis.

Background Since 2005, the Lung Allocation Score (LAS) has prioritized patient benefit and post-transplant survival, reducing waitlist to transplant time to Methods We investigated whether sociodemographic (age, sex, race, insurance, marital status, median household income) and clinical (forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV 1 ] percent of predicted, body mass index, depression/anxiety, alcohol/substance misuse, absolute/relative contraindications) factors influenced referral and waitlist registration. We conducted a retrospective cohort study through chart review of hospitalized patients on the University of Chicago general medicine service from 2006 to 2014 who met transplant-eligible criteria and ICD-9 billing codes for cystic fibrosis (CF) and pulmonary fibrosis (PF). We analyzed the times from transplant eligibility to referral, work-up and waitlisting using Kaplan–Meier curves and log-rank tests. Results Overall, the referral rate for transplant-eligible patients was 64%. Of those referred, approximately 36% reach the lung transplant waitlist. Referred CF patients were significantly more likely to reach the transplant waitlist than PF patients (CF 60% vs PF 22%, p p Conclusions Quality improvement efforts are needed to better identify and refer appropriate patients for lung transplant evaluation. Targeted interventions may facilitate more efficient evaluation completion and waitlist appearance.
Electronic Health Records: An Unfulfilled Promise and a Call to Action

Electronic health records occupy much of physicians' time and draw attention away from direct interactions with patients. The editorialist discusses the implications of Sinsky and colleagues' obser...
Abstract A066: NF-kB restricts inflammasome activation via elimination of damaged mitochondria

NF-κB, a key activator of inflammation primes the NLRP3-inflammasome for activation by inducing pro-IL-1β and NLRP3 expression. NF-κB, however, also prevents excessive inflammation and restrains NLRP3-inflammasome activation through a poorly defined mechanism. We now show that NF-κB exerts its anti-inflammatory activity by inducing delayed accumulation of the autophagy receptor p62/SQSTM1. External NLRP3-activating stimuli trigger a form of mitochondrial (mt) damage that is caspase-1- and NLRP3-independent and causes release of direct NLRP3-inflammasome activators, including mtDNA and mtROS. Damaged mitochondria undergo Parkin-dependent ubiquitin conjugation and are specifically recognized by p62, which induces their mitophagic clearance. Macrophage-specific p62 ablation causes pronounced accumulation of damaged mitochondria and excessive IL-1β-dependent inflammation and enhances macrophage death. Therefore, the “NF-κB-p62-mitophagy” pathway is a macrophage-intrinsic regulatory loop through which NF-κB restrains its own inflammation-promoting activity and orchestrates a self-limiting host response that maintains homeostasis and favors tissue repair. Citation Format: Zhenyu Zhong, Michael Karin. NF-kB restricts inflammasome activation via elimination of damaged mitochondria [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Second CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference: Translating Science into Survival; 2016 Sept 25-28; New York, NY. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2016;4(11 Suppl):Abstract nr A066.
The effects of local network structure on disease spread in coupled networks

Epidemiology has long used human interaction patterns to understand spreading dynamics. Recently network scientists have embraced the notion that these pattern are best described using a complex multi-layered system, a network of networks, yielding a stream of literature focused on understanding spreading in such coupled systems. Adding this macro level perspective to disease spreading, focusing on the interaction among systems, has shifted focus away from the role of local (within-system) structure. In this paper, using a multi-level Agent-based model, we highlight the importance of the local structure in determining spreading dynamics in coupled settings. We show that the local dynamics in both the focal and neighboring networks, play a significant role in determining focal dynamics. As both are driven by the local structure this highlights a need for incorporating structural details across all levels for accurate modeling of disease spreading dynamics.
OX40 Cooperates with ICOS To Amplify Follicular Th Cell Development and Germinal Center Reactions during Infection

Cognate interactions between T follicular helper (Tfh) cells and B cells are essential for promoting protective Ab responses. Whereas costimulatory receptors such as ICOS are accepted as being important for the induction of Tfh cell fate decision, other molecules may play key roles in amplifying or maintaining the Tfh phenotype. In this study, with vaccinia virus infection in mice, we show that OX40 was expressed on Tfh cells that accumulated at the T/B borders in the white pulp of the spleen and that OX40-dependent signals directly shaped the magnitude and quality of the their response to viral Ags. OX40 deficiency in Tfh cells profoundly impaired the acquisition of germinal center (GC) B cell phenotype, plasma cell generation, and virus-specific Ab responses. Most significantly, we found that sustained interactions between OX40 and its ligand, OX40L, beyond the time of initial encounter with dendritic cells were required for the persistence of high numbers of Tfh and GC B cells. Interestingly, OX40 was coexpressed with ICOS on Tfh cells in and around the GC, and ICOS-ICOSL interactions were similarly crucial at late times for maintenance of the Tfh and GC B cells. Thus, OX40 and ICOS act in a cooperative, nonredundant manner to maximize and prolong the Tfh response that is generated after acute virus infection.
Optimized 3D stitching algorithm for whole body SPECT based on transition error minimization (TEM)

Standard Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) has a limited field of view (FOV) and cannot provide a 3D image of an entire long whole body SPECT. To produce a 3D whole body SPECT image, two to five overlapped SPECT FOVs from head to foot are acquired and assembled using image stitching. Most commercial software from medical imaging manufacturers applies a direct mid-slice stitching method to avoid blurring or ghosting from 3D image blending. Due to intensity changes across the middle slice of overlapped images, direct mid-slice stitching often produces visible seams in the coronal and sagittal views and maximal intensity projection (MIP). In this study, we proposed an optimized algorithm to reduce the visibility of stitching edges. The new algorithm computed, based on transition error minimization (TEM), a 3D stitching interface between two overlapped 3D SPECT images. To test the suggested algorithm, four studies of 2-FOV whole body SPECT were used and included two different reconstruction methods (filtered back projection (FBP) and ordered subset expectation maximization (OSEM)) as well as two different radiopharmaceuticals (Tc-99m MDP for bone metastases and I-131 MIBG for neuroblastoma tumors). Relative transition errors of stitched whole body SPECT using mid-slice stitching and the TEM-based algorithm were measured for objective evaluation. Preliminary experiments showed that the new algorithm reduced the visibility of the stitching interface in the coronal, sagittal, and MIP views. Average relative transition errors were reduced from 56.7% of mid-slice stitching to 11.7% of TEM-based stitching. The proposed algorithm also avoids blurring artifacts by preserving the noise properties of the original SPECT images.
Immunodiffusion Evidence on the Phylogeny of the Primates

All modern classifications of the Primates are based to one degree or another on concepts concerning the phylogeny of the order. The widely used approach of Simpson (1945) in emphasizing grades of evolutionary development divides the Primates into suborders Prosimii and Anthropoidea. Prosimii consists of small-brained primates arranged serially into the infraorders Lemuriformes (Malagasy lemurs), Lorisiformes (lorises), and Tarsiiformes (tarsiers). Tree shrews can also be included at the base of Prosimii either as the first taxon in Lemuriformes or as the separate infraorder Tupaiiformes. In turn, Anthropoidea consists of large-brained primates arranged into the superfamilies Ceboidea (New World monkeys), Cercopithecoidea (Old World monkeys), and Hominoidea (the manlike apes and man). In this scheme, Anthropoidea is the younger of the two suborders, and any fossil primates considered to be ances¬tral to Anthropoidea are placed in Prosimii if they show small brains and other primitive features. To the extent that the anthropoid grade was reached independendy in different lineages, Simpson’s Prosimii and Anthropoidea are both polyphyletic assemblages.
Initial examination of fuel compacts and TRISO particles from the US AGR-2 irradiation test

Abstract Post-irradiation examination was completed on two as-irradiated compacts from the US Advanced Gas Reactor Fuel Development and Qualification Program’s second irradiation test. These compacts were selected for examination because there were indications that they may have contained particles that released cesium through a failed or defective SiC layer. The coated particles were recovered from these compacts by electrolytic deconsolidation of the surrounding graphitic matrix in nitric acid. The leach-burn-leach (LBL) process was used to dissolve and analyze exposed metallic elements (actinides and fission products), and each particle was individually surveyed for relative cesium retention with the Irradiated Microsphere Gamma Analyzer (IMGA). Data from IMGA and LBL examinations provided information on fission product release during irradiation and whether any specific particles had below-average retention that could be related to coating layer defects or radiation-induced degradation. A few selected normal-retention particles and six with abnormally-low cesium inventory were analyzed using X-ray tomography to produce three-dimensional images of the internal coating structure. Four of the low-cesium particles had obviously damaged or degraded SiC, and X-ray imaging was able to guide subsequent grinding and polishing to expose the regions of interest for analysis by optical and electron microscopy. Additional particles from each compact were also sectioned and examined to study the overall radiation-induced microstructural changes in the kernel and coating layers.
A Numerical Study on Electrowetting Induced Droplet Detachment from Hydrophobic Surface

Electrowetting induced microwater droplet detachment from hydrophobic surface has been studied numerically. The governing equations for transient microfluidic flow are solved by a finite volume scheme with a two-step projection method on a fixed computational domain. The free surface of the droplet is tracked by the volume-of-fluid method with the surface tension force determined by the continuum surface force model. The static contact angle has been implemented using a wall-adhesion boundary condition at the solid-liquid interface while the dynamic contact angle is computed assuming a fixed deflection from the static contact angle. The results of the numerical model have been validated with published experimental data and the physics of stretching, recoiling and detachment of the droplet have been investigated. A parametric study has been performed in which the effects of droplet volume, voltage amplitude and voltage pulse width have been examined.
Global Citizenship Education and the Development of Globally Competent Teacher Candidates.

This manuscript presents findings from a reflective inquiry of one global educator’s attempt to develop globally competent teacher candidates in an elective general education course for teacher candidates. The course, entitled Issues in Global Education , was offered to 23 undergraduate teacher candidates in the spring of 2016. One goal of this manuscript is to make the tacit and elusive elements of global education more explicit for practitioners. Discussed within are two frameworks, Global Citizenship Education (UNESCO, 2015) and a Globally Competent Teaching Continuum (2014), which informed the design and enactment of opportunities for teacher candidates to participate in critical inquiry and cross-cultural experiential learning. A second goal is to demonstrate the extent to which teacher candidates learned and developed global competencies as a consequence of participation in the course. Data were collected from teacher candidates’ reflective journals at five different intervals during the 15-week course and analyzed thematically. Findings from this inquiry demonstrate the efficacy of global citizenship education practices and the power of collaboration as resources from the campus and community were leveraged to create a transformative educational experience for all involved. At a time when our classrooms and communities are more diverse and globally connected, this research contributes to a growing body of literature for preparing globally competent teacher candidates and offers several implications for global education practitioners.
Protection of Human Subjects: Remedies for Injury

Protection of human subjects is imperative for biomedical research and development to proceed effectively and ethically. Investigation and production of new drugs, devices, and methods are advancing rapidly throughout the world. In the United States, which has been notably slow, movement is evident. Relatively more drugs have been approved recently and review procedures are being improved. “The Food and Drug Administration approved 27 ‘totally new’ drugs last year (1981) — the most... since passage of the 1962 legislation governing drug approval... more than twice the 12 approved in 1980” [8]. The drugs were indicated for a wide array of physical and mental problems and for diagnosis as well as therapy.
Development and regulation of cardiac muscarinic acetylcholine receptor number, function and guanyl nucleotide sensitivity.

Acetylcholine is released from parasympathetic nerve terminals and binds to muscarinic acetylcholine (mACh) receptors to elicit negative chronotropic and inotropic effects on the heart. The molecular mechanisms for these cardiac effects are not well understood. Investigation of the mACh receptor has been greatly facilitated by the development of the potent cholinergic antagonist [3H] quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB) which binds specifically and with high affinity to the mACh receptor (1). [3H]QNB can be used to study the interaction of agonists and antagonists with the receptor and quantitate the number of receptors present in cells and tissues.
Radiographic and ultrasonic characterization of sintered silicon carbide

The capabilities were investigated of projection microfocus X-radiography, ultrasonic velocity and attenuation, and reflection scanning acoustic microscopy for characterizing silicon carbide specimens. Silicon carbide batches covered a range of densities and different microstructural characteristics. Room temperature, four point flexural strength tests were conducted. Fractography was used to identify types, sizes, and locations of fracture origins. Fracture toughness values were calculated from fracture strength and flaw characterization data. Detection capabilities of radiography and acoustic microscopy for fracture-causing flaws were evaluated. Applicability of ultrasonics for verifying material strength and toughness was examined.
Analysis of IoT Authentication Over LoRa

Implementing a full set of security features within IoT devices is challenging because of constraints on the available resources and power consumption. Nevertheless, such devices must be capable of carrying out mutual authentication with gateways and servers before exchanging data. There are a wide variety of authentication methods that can be used including those based on physically unclonable functions (PUFs), PKI, encryption, and secure hash elements such as MD5 and SHA-3. This work assesses the time and energy associated with authentication protocols in the context of Long Range (LoRa), which is an emerging low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) technology used in IoT devices. LoRa has configurable settings that affect the bandwidth and transmission range. We assess the transmit time, which is proportional to energy consumption, of different authentication techniques over a variety of LoRa configurations and address the level of security provided by the authentication protocols. Our findings suggest that PUF-based authentication is well suited for RF devices operating within an energy and data rate constrained LoRa environment. We propose a PUF-based authentication protocol called PARCE that significantly reduces the RF transmissions for IoT devices.
Focused Ultrasound Enhances Decision-Making in Monkeys

Noninvasive brain stimulation using ultrasound has many potential applications as a research and clinical tool. Here, we investigated the effect of focused ultrasound (FUS) with systemically administered microbubbles on perceptual decision-making behavior in monkeys. We targeted FUS to the putamen in one hemisphere to open the blood-brain barrier, and then tested behavioral performance 3-4 hours later. On days when the monkeys were treated with FUS, their decisions were faster and more accurate than days without sonication. The performance improvement was greater for responses made with the hand contralateral to the treated hemisphere. FUS also enhanced the effect of a low dose of haloperidol. The results suggest that a two-minute application of FUS can have a sustained impact on cognitive performance, and can increase the efficacy of psychoactive medications.
Effect of Lime Sludge and Fly Ash on Unconfined Compression and Linear Shrinkage Behavior of Kaolinite Clay

The paper investigates the use of lime sludge (LS), fly ash (FA) on unconfined compressive strength, and shrinkage behavior of commercially available kaolinite clay (EPK). The stabilization process was done using lime sludge alone with varying percentages i.e., 2, 4, 6, and 8% by dry weight, as well as a combination with fly ash in varied percentages i.e., 5, 10, 15, and 20% by dry weight. In order to evaluate the strength properties, standard Proctor tests, and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) tests were performed. For estimating the shrinkage, linear shrinkage test was carried out. The UCS samples were prepared based on the optimum moisture content and dry unit weight from standard Proctor tests. The samples were tested after a curing period of 0, 7, and 14 days. In addition, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) tests were performed on UCS samples after shearing. The test results indicated an increase in UCS value with an increase in lime sludge content. Also, the UCS value increased with curing period following a slight decrease. The combination of LS and FA in varied percentages, also had an increase in UCS strength. Also, the UCS value showed an increment in values with the curing period. The reduction in shrinkage behavior of EPK clay was observed with LS and FA. The SEM analysis was conducted to evaluate the reason for strength increase, which was due to the chemical reaction developed between EPK clay, lime sludge, and fly ash.
Circuit double cover of graphs

The circuit double cover conjecture (CDC conjecture) is easy to state: For every 2-connected graph, there is a family \(\mathcal{F}\) of circuits such that every edge of the graph is covered by precisely two members of \(\mathcal{F}\). The CDC conjecture (and its numerous variants) is considered by most graph theorists as one of the major open problems in the field. The CDC conjecture, Tutte’s 5-flow conjecture, and the Berge-Fulkerson conjecture are three major snark family conjectures since they are all trivial for 3-edge-colorable cubic graphs and remain widely open for snarks. This chapter is a brief survey of the progress on this famous open problem.
Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) is a group of malignancies comprising many different types of lymphoma, and has historically been classified a variety of ways. Current classification schemes take into account the cells of origin for NHL. The clinically relevant classification schemes divide the diseases into indolent and aggressive NHL. Although systemic symptoms (fever, night sweats, weight loss, a.k.a. B symptoms) can occur, most symptoms vary, depending on the site involved. Important prognostic factors include age, stage, number of extranodal sites, performance status, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, which have all been incorporated into the widely used International Prognostic Index. Other important prognostic factors include tumor size, pathologic subtype, β2-microglobulin concentration, the presence of B symptoms, bone marrow involvement, response to treatment, and duration of remission. Treatment of NHL depends on the clinical classification of the tumor (indolent versus aggressive) and the stage, but can include observation, chemotherapy, radiation, or a combination of chemotherapy and radiation. Radiation plays an important role in the treatment of limited-stage indolent and aggressive lymphomas, and may be of benefit for certain patients with advanced-stage aggressive NHL.
Journalistic Power: Constructing the “Truth” and the Economics of Objectivity

This article explores journalists’ role as truth tellers by investigating the distinctions journalists draw between journalism and activism. Relying on 30 in-depth interviews with journalists and t...
Failure rates and clinical outcomes after treatment for long-head biceps brachii tendon pathology: a comparison of three treatment types.

Hypothesis/Background Treatment options for the biceps brachii tendon include tenotomy, arthroscopic tenodesis, and open tenodesis. Few studies to date have compared all treatment options in the context of a rotator cuff repair. Methods A retrospective review of 100 patients who underwent arthroscopic supraspinatus repair between 2013 and 2018 with a minimum of one-year follow-up was performed. Patients were separated into the following 4 groups: (1) 57 had isolated supraspinatus repair with no biceps tendon surgery (SSP); (2) 16 had supraspinatus repair and biceps tenotomy; (3) 18 had supraspinatus repair and arthroscopic biceps tenodesis; (4) 9 had supraspinatus repair and an open biceps tenodesis (SSP + OT). The primary outcome was operative time. The secondary outcomes were cost analysis, complications, patient-reported outcome measures, range of motion, and strength testing. Results The operative time for the SSP + OT group was significantly longer than that of the SSP group (P < .05) but was not significantly longer than that of the other groups. The cost for the SSP group was significantly less than the cost for the SSP + OT and supraspinatus repair and arthroscopic biceps tenodesis groups (P < .05 for both), whereas the cost for the supraspinatus repair and biceps tenotomy group was significantly less than the cost for the SSP + OT group (P < .05). There were no significant differences between groups for complications, all patient-reported outcome measues, all range of motion, and all strength parameters. Discussion/Conclusion Operative time is the longest in open biceps tenodesis and is significantly longer than that of isolated supraspinatus repair. No significant differences in operative times or costs were identified in patients undergoing arthroscopic vs. open biceps tenodesis. All patients, irrespective of the type of biceps tendon procedure, had excellent clinical and functional outcomes at least one year after surgery. There was no difference in clinical or functional outcomes, or complications, among the 4 groups.
Nanosecond 2.73-µm Parametric Source for Pumping LWIR OPCPA

A 31-mJ, 9.6-ns, 2.73-µm parametric source is demonstrated, producing a supergaussian spatial profile with M2 = 2.8. The source is further sliced to 1-ns pulses, providing favorable characteristics for LWIR OPCPA pumping.