cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Data visualization and analysis tools for the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Validation Network

The Validation Network (VN) prototype for the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission compares data from the its predecessor Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite's Precipitation Radar (PR) to ground radar (GR) measurements from U.S. and international operational weather radars. This prototype is a major component of the GPM Ground Validation System (GVS). The VN provides a means for the precipitation measurement community to identify and resolve significant discrepancies between the GR observations and similar satellite observations. The VN prototype is based on research results and computer code Liao et al. [1]. Morris and Schwaller [3] describe the VN prototype and initial results in detail. This paper describes software tools that have been developed for visualization and statistical analysis of the original and volume matched PR and GR data.
Yield-Aware Cache Architectures

One of the major issues faced by the semiconductor industry today is that of reducing chip yields. As the process technologies have scaled to smaller feature sizes, chip yields have dropped to around 50% or less. This figure is expected to decrease even further in future technologies. To attack this growing problem, we develop four yield-aware microarchitecture schemes for data caches. The first one is called Yield-Aware Power-Down (YAPD). YAPD turns off cache ways that cause delay violation and/or have excessive leakage. We also modify this approach to achieve better yields. This new method is called Horizontal YAPD (HYAPD), which turns off horizontal regions of the cache instead of ways. A third approach targets delay violation in data caches. Particularly, we develop a VAriable-latency Cache Architecture (VACA). VACA allows different load accesses to be completed with varying latencies. This is enabled by augmenting the functional units with special buffers that allow the dependants of a load operation to stall for a cycle if the load operation is delayed. As a result, if some accesses take longer than the predefined number of cycles, the execution can still be performed correctly, albeit with some performance degradation. A fourth scheme we devise is called the Hybrid mechanism, which combines the YAPD and the VACA. As a result of these schemes, chips that may be tossed away due to parametric yield loss can be saved. Experimental results demonstrate that the yield losses can be reduced by 68.1% and 72.4% with YAPD and HYAPD schemes and by 33.3% and 81.1% with VACA and Hybrid mechanisms, respectively, improving the overall yield to as much as 97.0%.
Accurate characterization of gate resistance and high-frequency switching efficiency of a power MOSFET

Accurate gate resistance measurement of advanced high-density power MOSFET technology is reported. Calorimetric gate power loss measurement using sinusoidal input signals shows that more than a fivefold reduction in gate resistance can be achieved by employing refractory metal/silicide gate and contact technologies. A further reduction in gate resistance was measured for power MOSFETs with integral Schottky diodes. A simple analysis is presented to relate power loss components to power FET die size and switching frequency. Using this formulation, a study of the output current-handling capability of a power device is made, and it is correlated with power conversion frequency. The results of this analysis, when applied to silicided power MOSFETs, suggest that gate silicidation can improve power-handling capability of a conventional power MOSFET by a factor of two. A reduction in gate resistance is shown to improve the maximum switching frequency. Silicidation of gate polysilicon is shown to improve the frequency bandwidth of a power MOSFET by more than a factor of five. >
Use of Chitosan for the Reduction and Recovery of Solids in Poultry Processing Waste Effluents

Abstract Treatment of poultry processing wastes with chitosan as a coagulating agent reduced suspended solids in the composite effluents by 74–94%. The combined effects of chitosan and dissolved air flotation (DAF) reduced suspended solids and COD in the chiller effluent by 82% and 62%, respectively, and in the scalder effluent by 77% and 46%. The dry coagulated solids from the chiller effluent contained an average of 36.5% crude protein and 54.2% fat. Corresponding values for the scalder effluent were 67.9% crude protein and 0.7% fat. Composite wastes yielded by-products containing 35.0% crude protein and 49.1% fat by DAF and 54.0% crude protein and 29.4% by coagulation and gravity settling. The yields of dry coagulated solids from the chiller, scalder, and composite effluents were 2.7, 1.5, and 2.8 lb./1000 gal. Corresponding requirements for chitosan, estimated to cost $1 /lb., were 0.04, 0.05, and 0.25 lb./1000 gal. The value of coagulated by-products as animal feed supplements, the reduction in total waste load, and the possibility of recycling clarified chiller and scalder effluents commend coagulation pretreatment and by-product recovery. Since chitosan is derived from shrimp and crab solid wastes, the coagulated solids could feasibly be rendered with other poultry by-products into feed supplements if official approval for use is obtained.
Design of an overmoded W-band TWT

We report on the design and cold test validation of an overmoded TWT capable of producing power in excess of 100 Watts in the W-band and above. The TWT operates in the TM 31 mode of a rectangular cavity and has transverse dimensions three times larger than a conventional ladder TWT. Dielectric loading of a resonant cavity was utilized to suppress lower order modes and prevent parasitic oscillations. HFSS and MAGIC3D codes were used to predict performance. An X-Ku band scaled down version of the interaction structure was built and cold tests performed on it showed excellent agreement with HFSS simulations.
Improving thermal performance of mechanical seals via surface texturing

The effectiveness of using textured surfaces on the mechanical face seal mating ring to enhance thermal performance of seal rings was experimentally demonstrated in a recent paper.1 Further experiments show that the dimples engraved on the primary ring outer surface can also reduce the rings’ contact face temperature. Interestingly, however, when both rings are treated, the seal sets just show slightly better temperature reduction than a single textured ring. An appropriate heat transfer augmentation coefficient is defined and used to estimate the surface heat transfer coefficient of textured mating ring. The surface heat transfer coefficient of textured primary ring is also estimated. To understand the nature of heat transfer of surface texture, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis was carried out using ANSYS Fluent. The turbulent Reynolds stress model was adopted in the analysis with liquid hydrocarbon as the working fluid. The flow structure within a dimple, which demonstrates the working mech...
Supplier Opportunism in Buyer–Supplier New Product Development: A China-U.S. Study of Antecedents, Consequences, and Cultural/Institutional Contexts

Collaborating with a supplier in a buying firm's new product development (NPD) project is commonly advocated and adopted, but does not always improve project performance. Some pre-existing collaboration contexts, such as buyer–supplier NPD projects, are especially exposed to supplier opportunism due to the uncertain nature of the collaboration process. Adopting agency theory and transaction cost theory perspectives, we examine: (i) contextual antecedents and project consequences of supplier opportunism and (ii) if these causal influences vary in different cultural and institutional contexts. Using a survey sample of 214 United States (U.S.) and 212 Chinese buying firms’ responses about buyer–supplier NPD projects, we find that supplier opportunism is significantly influenced by the task and relational contexts. We also show that supplier opportunism damages both design quality and efficiency, two aspects of project performance. When comparing U.S. to China, we find that task and relational contexts have a greater impact on supplier opportunism in the U.S., but design efficiency is less hurt by supplier opportunism there. Finally, we show challenges of preventing supplier opportunism in certain NPD collaboration contexts, and offer solutions for overcoming these challenges.
Mobile system to motivate teenagers' physical activity

This paper reports a mobile persuasive application to motivate teenagers to start and continue being physically active. Being physically active can lead to reduced risks of having weight and cardiovascular problems; however efforts in this direction had variable success. Designing technology that will be engaging and motivating for teenagers requires an understanding of the factors that contribute to behavior adoption in teenagers. To understand these, we approach the design from several theoretical models: Theory of Planned Behavior, Theory of Meaning Behavior, and Personality Theory. We found that 1) Personality traits affect perceptions on physical activities and the usefulness of devices that motivate them; 2) Favored motivational phrases are universal across traits; 3) Those who tried our prototype was generally positive and stated that they would use it on their own; 5) The characteristics of games that are desired are: social or competitive, outdoor, simple to learn and with large variations.
Flow Control: A Comparative Survey

Packet switching offers attractive advantages over the more eonventional circuit-switched scheme, namely, flexibility in setting up user connections and more efficient use of resources after the connection is established. However, if user demands are allowed to exceed the system capacity, unpleasant congestion effects occur which rapidly neutralize the delay and efficiency advantages. Congestion can be eliminated by using an appropriate set of traffic monitoring and control procedures called flow control procedures. Flow control can be exercised at various levels in a packet network. The following levels are identified and discussed in this paper: hop level, entry-to-exit level, network access level, and transport level. For each level, the most representative techniques are surveyed and compared. Furthermore, the interaction between the different levels is discussed.
The node monitoring component of a scalable systems software environment

We describe Fountain, an implementation of the scalable systems software node monitor specification targeted at aggregate node monitoring for clusters. Fountain is designed from the ground up as a hierarchical system with scalability in mind. It leverages widely used technologies such as XML and HTTP to present an interface to other components in the SSS environment. In this paper we describe the design choices of Fountain and discuss some preliminary performance measurements on medium sized clusters.
How Do Investors Assess the Credibility of Management Disclosures

This paper synthesizes the existing literature on disclosure credibility and identifies four factors that investors consider when assessing the credibility of a management disclosure: (1) situational incentives at the time of the disclosure, (2) management's credibility (i.e., competence and trustworthiness), (3) the levels of external and internal assurance, and (4) characteristics of the disclosure itself. Disclosure credibility tends to be higher when management has few incentives to mislead investors and/or is perceived to be competent and trustworthy. Validation by external or internal sources also can enhance a disclosure's credibility. Moreover, disclosure credibility is influenced by various characteristics of the disclosure itself, such as its precision, venue, timing, inherent plausibility, and amount of supporting information.
The Legal Decision Making of Well-Informed Subjects The Effect of Miranda Warnings

College students were asked to serve as legal advisors to six potential defendants. Prior to this task, the subjects were either reminded or not reminded about the Miranda rights via a standard warning. It was found that the students, whether or not they had been reminded of the Miranda protections, gave advice that accurately reflected the varying degree of legal jeopardy faced by the potential defendants. Subjects indicated that legal protections were more needed for potential defendents who were involved in situations that contained police accusations, rather than merely accusations by school authorities, or accusations of more severe criminal activity. However, the presence of the Miranda warning also caused subjects to evaluate legal protections as more necessary. Thus, despite the fact the subjects in this study were well informed and able to utilize legal protections in an appropriate fashion, the presence of a Miranda warning continued to serve the important purpose of encouraging the use of self-...
Time Trends in Therapies and Outcomes for Adult Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Northern California, 1998–2005

Background & Aims The management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has become increasingly complicated, and it is unknown whether poor outcomes (prolonged steroid use, hospitalizations, and surgery) have declined in the general population. Methods This multilevel study used computerized clinical data. The study comprised 2892 adults with Crohn's disease (CD) and 5895 with ulcerative colitis (UC) who received care at 16 medical centers within an integrated care organization in Northern California between 1998 and 2005. Results Time trends included (1) a shift in gastroenterology-related visits from the gastroenterology division to primary care; (2) increased use of IBD-related drugs, except for a 7% decline in use of 5-aminosalicylate in CD and no change in steroid use for CD; (3) for the prevalence of prolonged steroid exposure (120 days of continuous use), a 36% decline for CD with a 27% increase for UC; (4) declines in the hospitalization rates of 33% for CD and 29% for UC; and (5) for the surgery rate, no significant change for CD with a 50% decline for UC. Conclusions Declines in prolonged steroid exposure and the hospitalization rate for CD and in the hospitalization and surgery rate for UC are encouraging; however, the increase in prolonged steroid exposure for UC merits concern and further investigation. The variability in care patterns observed in this study suggests lack of standardization of care and the opportunity to identify targets for quality improvement. These findings should stimulate research to quantify the effect of current trends in IBD management.
Update on the risk of lymphoma following immunosuppressive therapy for inflammatory bowel disease

The care of inflammatory bowel disease has changed considerably with the introduction of a number of immunosuppressants including anti-metabolite and anti-TNF therapies. While efficacious, these medications also carry important risks, notably the potential risk of lymphoma. This risk is one of the most worrisome for both patients and physicians. Our current knowledge is still evolving; however, our understanding of what risks these drugs carry, both individually and synergistically, is critical in allowing informed decision making. In this article, we will describe the known lymphoma risks of commonly used immunosuppressant medications in inflammatory bowel disease, with an emphasis on non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma.
Automatically generating refactorings to support API evolution

When library APIs change, client code should change in response, in order to avoid erroneous behavior, compilation failures, or warnings. Previous research has introduced techniques for generating such client refactorings. This paper improves on the previous work by proposing a novel, lightweight technique that takes advantage of information that programmers can insert in the code rather than forcing them to use a different tool to re-express it. The key idea is to replace calls to deprecated methods by their bodies, where those bodies consist of the appropriate replacement code. This approach has several benefits. It requires no change in library development practice, since programmers already adjust method bodies and/or write example code, and there are no new tools or languages to learn. It does not require distribution of new artifacts, and a tool to apply it can be lightweight. We evaluated the applicability of our approach on a number of libraries and found it to to be applicable in more than 75% of the cases.
Corrigendum to “Influence of abstinence and conditions of cocaine access on the reinforcing strength of cocaine in nonhuman primates” [Drug and Alcohol Dependence 85 (3) (2006) 213–220]

In this article the authors incorrectly represented self-administered doses of cocaine studied in Experiment 1. Due to an error in infusion pump calibration during this portion of the study, the actual range of cocaine doses self-administered was 0.045–0.48 mg/kg per injection rather than the stated 0.03–0.3 mg/kg per injection. Importantly, as they found no effect of abstinence duration as a function of cocaine dose during self-administration, miscalculation of self-administered doses does not alter the conclusions derived from Experiment 1. The pump calibration error reported herein did not affect Experiments 2, 3, or 4. The authors apologize for this oversight.
1,3‐Dichloroacetone

[534-07-6] C3H4Cl2O (MW 126.97) InChI = 1S/C3H4Cl2O/c4-1-3(6)2-5/h1-2H2 InChIKey = SUNMBRGCANLOEG-UHFFFAOYSA-N (starting material for the synthesis of cyclopropanols2 and cyclopropenones3) Alternate Name: 1,3-dichloro-2-propanone. Physical Data: mp 39–41 °C; bp 173 °C; d 1.383 g cm−3. Solubility: sol organic solvents. Form Supplied in: solid; commercially available. Handling, Storage, and Precautions: highly corrosive and toxic. Use in a fume hood.
Evaluation of Journals, Diaries, and Indexes of Work-Site and Environmental Stress

Noninvasive ambulatory blood pressure monitors are being increasingly used in the clinical evaluation of hypertension. With this technology, blood pressures are measured at fixed time intervals over the course of a single day (up to 24 h) while the patient goes about typical daily activities, including sleep. There is a substantial intraindividual variation in ambulatory blood pressure measurements that is not cyclical or repetitive. It occurs as a consequence of homeostatic circulatory processes that act to maintain adequate blood flow to body tissues when changes in the internal physiological and external environmental conditions occur (1,2). Thus, cardiovascular adjustments are continuously made every second of every day as people change their behavior to adapt to recurrent and sometimes patterned stressors that pervade and define their lifestyles. There are many behavioral and lifestyle factors that will increase the level of ambulatory blood pressure measurements (1,3–6). If circumstances that raise blood pressure are experienced or sampled with a high frequency during an ambulatory monitoring in a patient with normal blood pressure, it is possible that they may be incorrectly diagnosed with hypertension (2).
Sex Bias in Achievement Test Items: Do They Have any Effect on Performance?

We may be inadvertently giving some advantage to the students of one sex in multi-quiz courses using objective items.
Diagnostic Yield of Pelvic Magnetic Resonance Venography in Patients With Cryptogenic Stroke and Patent Foramen Ovale

Background and Purpose—Paradoxical embolization is frequently posited as a mechanism of ischemic stroke in patients with patent foramen ovale. Several studies have suggested that the deep lower extremity and pelvic veins might be an embolic source in cryptogenic stroke (CS) patients with patent foramen ovale. Methods—Consecutive adult patients with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack and a patent foramen ovale who underwent pelvic magnetic resonance venography as part of an inpatient diagnostic evaluation were included in this single-center retrospective observational study to determine pelvic and lower extremity (LE) deep venous thrombosis (DVT) prevalence in CS versus non-CS stroke subtypes. Results—Of 131 patients who met inclusion criteria, 126 (96.2%) also had LE duplex ultrasound data. DVT prevalence overall was 7.6% (95% confidence interval, 4.1–13.6), pelvic DVT 1.5% (95% confidence interval, 0.1–5.8), and LE DVT 7.1% (95% confidence interval, 3.6–13.2). One patient with a pelvic DVT also...
The Fluid Jetster: A Water‐Powered Wheeled Vehicle

The fluid jetster is a water-powered, wheeled vehicle designed, constructed, and tested by students in a fluid mechanics course in the Civil Engineering (CE) curriculum at Oregon State University during the junior year. Students design and build a fluid jetster powered solely by water from a reservoir connected to a nozzle and mounted on a wheeled platform. The project includes both theoretical and experimental design requirements. This project provides a significant learning opportunity for students to apply the fundamental principles of fluid mechanics, to compare both Lagrangian and Eulerian dynamics, to work with peers, and to experience the connections between theory and design applications.
Physiological response to groundwater depth varies among species and with river flow regulation

We investigated the physiological response of two native riparian tree spe- cies (Populus fremontii and Salix gooddingii) and one exotic species (Tamarix chinensis) to groundwater availability along gradients of depth to groundwater at two rivers in Arizona. Depth to groundwater (DGW) at the dam-regulated Bill Williams River (BWR) was relatively constant and shallow (,4 m). Populus fremontiiat BWR did not experience reduced water availability at deeper groundwater depths, as evidenced by high predawn water potential. However, leaf gas exchange of P. fremontii was sensitive to high vapor pressure deficit where surface flow was ephemeral at BWR. Lower predawn water po- tentials of S. gooddingii at BWR suggested reduced water availability at deeper ground- water depths, but these reductions did not adversely affect net photosynthetic rate. Along the range of depth to groundwater at BWR, all three species suffered little canopy dieback, and dieback was not related to depth to groundwater. Depth to groundwater at the free- flowing Hassayampa River (HRP) was much greater and declined more rapidly in the ephemeral reaches than at BWR. Both P. fremontii and S. gooddingii experienced reduced water availability at deeper groundwater depths at HRP, as evidenced by lower predawn water potential. Both species also experienced reduced leaf gas exchange at deeper groundwater depths. Canopy dieback of all species was higher at HRP than at BWR and increased with increasing DGW, especially when DGW fell below 3 m. There was evidence to support branch sacrifice in these three riparian tree species as a means of improving water status in the surviving shoot. However, branch sacrifice was insufficient to prevent mortality in some of the native trees where DGW fell below 3 m at HRP. In contrast to the native species, T. chinensis showed no change in water availability, leaf gas exchange, or canopy dieback with increasing DGW at either river. Leaf gas exchange was lower and dieback was greater for T. chinensis at HRP where depth to groundwater was greater than at BWR, but there was no mortality at either river. Our results show that deep groundwater is more detrimental to the physiological condition of P. fremontii and S. gooddingii than it is to T. chinensis. Also, the pronounced differences in DGW and tree physiological performance between BWR and HRP suggest that dam regulation can in- crease water availability to mature trees in some desert riparian ecosystems. Finally, our study also provides estimates of the range of DGW that can maintain healthy, mature P. fremontii and S. gooddingii trees.
Gyrokinetic-ion drift-kinetic-electron simulation of the (m = 2, n = 1) cylindrical tearing mode

Particle-in-cell simulations of (m=2,n=1) tearing mode in cylindrical plasmas are carried out with kinetic electrons using the split-weight control-variate algorithm [Y. Chen and S. E. Parker, J. Comput. Phys. 220, 839 (2007)]. Radially, global simulation shows global mode structure in agreement with reduced-magnetohydrodynamic eigenmode calculation. Simulations of the tearing layer are verified with analytic results for the collisionless, semi-collisional, and drift-tearing mode.
55INNEW TARGETS IN SALIVARY GLAND CANCER

ABSTRACT Adenoid cystic carcinoma is a rare tumour arising primarily in the salivary gland but can arise in multiple body sites. It is characterized by an indolent clinical course with multiple local recurrences, with overall poor outcome. There has been substantial recent progress defining the molecular underpinnings of this disease. The identification of a recurrent translocation t(6;9)(q22-23;p23-24) resulting in the fusion of the MYB gene on chromosome 6 to the NFIB gene on chromosome 9 in the majority of cases provided a major leap in the characterisation of this rare cancer. We and others have recently applied next-generation sequencing approaches to the disease, characterising mutations primarily via whole exome sequencing. These efforts have led to the identification of mutations which recurrently affect several key pathways including NOTCH signaling, PI3K signaling, chromatin remodeling and growth factor receptor signaling. This work will be presented in the context of potential avenues for therapeutic intervention. Disclosure: The author has declared no conflicts of interest.
Feasibility Analysis of Thermal Energy Storage: Differences Using Blended Versus Actual Rate Schedules

This paper reports on the results of analyzing yearlong monitored 15 min data from the cooling plant of a large university campus consisting of multiple chillers and multiple chilled water Thermal Energy Storage (TES) tanks. The objective of the analysis was to determine whether the addition of another TES tank would be economically justified under the present electric rate structure and cooling load demand of the campus. The analysis was done: (i) using blended on-peak and off-peak energy rates (an approach commonly adopted due to its simplicity for evaluating different system alternatives and operating strategies meant to reduce cost and/or energy use), and (ii) using the actual electric rate structure which includes energy and demand charges. The latter rate structure suggests a 42 year payback, while the former rates predicted a payback period of over 100 years. If the incremental avoided cost of an additional chiller (to meet anticipated increases in cooling loads) is included in the economic analysis, the payback will be greatly reduced from the 42 year payback, and make this option a design choice meriting further investigation. The study also suggests a way of generating indifference plots which provide insights into how future changes in the electric rate structure would impact the payback period. The methodology adopted in this study would serve as a case study example to energy analysts evaluating TES systems as a design option for meeting increasing cooling demand and reducing costs in an existing building or campus facility.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Dynamic Thresholding with the Three-Terminal Optically Addressed Spatial Light Modulator

Standard, non-patterned optically addressed spatial light modulators (OASLMs), comprising an a-Si:H photodiode and a ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC), have a fixed write-light intensity threshold when driven at a particular frequency. We present a patterned OASLM in which the threshold may be varied. The structure and operation of this device is significantly different from the standard OASL.M. While the square-wave drive for the non-patterned OASLM provides a time-varying voltage for the device, the thresholding OASLM uses a dc drive, with spatially separated bias voltages. By varying the voltage applied to a patterned metal layer between the a-Si:H and FLC, we achieved dynamic thresholding over one decade of write-light intensity. Fabricated devices have response times as low as 200 μsec, and contrast ratios as high as 50:1.
GLIOBLASTOMA STEM CELL-DERIVED PERICYTES AND TUMOR ANGIOGENESIS

BACKGROUND: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most lethal type of primary brain tumor with florid angiogenesis. GBMs display striking cellular hierarchies containing self-renewing glioma stem cells (GSCs) that are highly tumorigenic. GSCs not only produce elevated levels of VEGF to promote tumor angiogenesis but also contribute to cellular compartments of tumor vessels. METHODS: 1. In vivo cell lineage tracing with constitutive and Desmin promoter-driven GFP or RFP fluorescent reporters. 2. Selective elimination of GSC-derived pericytes with Desmin promoter-driven HsvTK. 3. GSC-derived GBM xenograft models. RESULTS: Cell lineage tracing with constitutive and lineage specific fluorescent reporters demonstrated that GSCs generate the majority of vascular pericytes in vivo. Selective elimination of GSC-derived pericytes disrupted tumor vessels and potently suppressed GSC tumor growth. Thus, GSCs can function as pericyte progenitors and contribute to vasculature formation and maintenance in GBMs. CONCLUSIONS: The ability of GSCs to generate the majority of pericytes allows active tumor angiogenesis to promote rapid tumor growth in GBMs. GSC-derived pericytes also play a critical role in the resistance to the anti-angiogenic therapy targeting endothelial cells only, suggesting that selective targeting of GSC-derived pericytes may significantly improve the efficacy and specificity of the anti-angiogenic treatment. SECONDARY CATEGORY: n/a.
Compensation of HVAC System Nonlinearities Using Cascaded Control Architecture

Research into heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems has shown that coordinating building climate control leads to large energy savings. However, most analyses have assumed linear dynamics not reflective of actual systems. Using a cascaded control architecture, this linear behavior can be recovered, allowing for maximum energy savings to be realized. Case studies on variable air volume, hydronic radiator, and terminal fan controlled systems demonstrate the broad application and benefits of this approach. Also, because of the architectural simplicity and lack of required a priori knowledge of system performance or characteristics, the cascaded controller can be implemented immediately in the HVAC community.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Cases of acquired C1 inhibitor deficiency treated with rituximab.

CASE 1 A 48-year-old woman developed sudden onset of abdominal pain with repetitive vomiting in March 2013. Symptoms spontaneously resolved over 5 days. Similar unpredictable attacks recurred along with episodes of asymmetric, nonpitting swelling of the extremities and genitalia. Antihistamines and prednisone administered during multiple emergency department (ED) visits were ineffective. In February 2014, she sought care in an ED for severe facial swelling, and a C4 level was found to be low. Consultation with allergy was requested. Her family history for angioedema was negative. She had no exposure to exogenous estrogen or angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and denied prior medical problems. Diagnostic studies revealed low C4, C1q, and C1 inhibitor (C1INH) antigenic level with undetectable C1INH functional activity. A diagnosis of ACID was established and she was referred to oncology for additional investigation. She was prescribed icatibant, which was effective in arresting attack progression. After the diagnosis, she had an accelerated course of attack frequency and severity requiring approximately 21 icatibant injections monthly during May and June of 2014. Attacks persisted on a weekly basis culminating in a laryngeal attack in August 2014. Diagnostic evaluation revealed a low-grade B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder for which rituximab was recommended. She completed her 4-dose course of rituximab in October 2014, and since then has essentially been symptom free with over 1-year follow-up.
Effects of Process Parameters on Primary Al_3Zr Phase in Al-Zr Master Alloys

The effects of processing parameters on the morphology,size,amount and distribution of the primary Al3Zr phase during the solidification of Al-Zr master alloys were investigated by the aluminothermic reduction method in the Al-K2ZrF6reaction system.The results showed that the morphologies of the primary Al3Zr crystals transformed from the small blocky shape to long strip shape,and the size of the primary Al3Zr increased while their amount decreased,with the increase of the molten reaction temperature.When the reaction temperature was below 1 000 ℃,Al3Zr crystals exhibited small blocky shapes;when the temperature was higher than 1 000 ℃,they displayed long strip shapes;when temperature was 1 000 ℃,they displayed the small blocky and long strip mixed morphologies.The sizes of the Al3Zr became larger and the amounts of them became fewer in the refractory mold in comparison to that in the iron mold.With the increase of the K2ZrF6content,the volume fraction of Al3Zr phase increased gradually,and these crystals grew much finer and with more uniform distribution in the Al matrix.
Young Investigator Perspectives. Rethinking the biomedical postdoc: but first let's get the data.

A strong scientific workforce is critical to overcoming challenges presented by the 21st century. Among the problems currently facing research - including diminished research funding, impaired grant peer-review processes, and skewed publishing incentives - the concept of a postdoc crisis within the academic workforce has been increasingly recognized. Here, an argument is made for greater data collection on the postdoc community - for which very few metrics are known - so that needed policy decisions in the future are better informed to improve training and help strengthen all aspects of the US scientific workforce.
Hybridized wavefront shaping for high-speed, high-efficiency focusing through dynamic diffusive media.

One of the prime limiting factors of optical imaging in biological applications is the diffusion of light by tissue, which prevents focusing at depths greater than the optical diffusion limit (typically ∼1 mm). To overcome this challenge, wavefront shaping techniques that use a spatial light modulator (SLM) to correct the phase of the incident wavefront have recently been developed. These techniques are able to focus light through scattering media beyond the optical diffusion limit. However, the low speeds of typically used liquid crystal SLMs limit the focusing speed. Here, we present a method using a digital micromirror device (DMD) and an electro-optic modulator (EOM) to measure the scattering-induced aberrations, and using a liquid crystal SLM to apply the correction to the illuminating wavefront. By combining phase modulation from an EOM with the DMD’s ability to provide selective illumination, we exploit the DMD’s higher refresh rate for phase measurement. We achieved focusing through scattering media in less than 8 ms, which is sufficiently short for certain in vivo applications, as it is comparable to the speckle correlation time of living tissue.
Community-based Counterterrorism: What French Security Forces Can Learn from the British CONTEST Model

France has been the victim of twelve high-profile terrorist attacks since 2012, despite its heavy-handed, legalistic approach to counterterrorism. The United Kingdom, in comparison, has undergone only one major attack since 2007. Is the British counterterrorism model, which focuses on engagement with community organizations and non governmental organizations (NGOs), proving more successful than the French approach? This paper proposes that France’s security forces should consider adopting aspects of the British community-based counter-radicalization model.
Critical Factors for Thermal Processing of Institutional Pouches.

Institutional-sized pouches filled with whole kernel com in brine and condensed cream of celery soup were heated in a still retort. The sterilization values (Fo) and heat penetration parameters (j, fh, f2) were determined from temperature/time data as a function of the residual air in the horizontal pouches, pouch thickness, product fill, and circulation of the heating water. The Fo value for the soup was reduced from 11.5 to 2.5 min as the residual air in the pouch was increased to 250 ml The fh value nearly doubled as a result of the insulating effect of the air layer at the upper surface of the pouch, Eliminating the circulation of the heating water between the pouch layers increased the critical dimension for heat transfer and reduced the Fo for the soup to 0.6 min, an unacceptable value.
Intracranial and hierarchical perspective on dietary plasticity in mammals

The effect of dietary properties on craniofacial form has been the focus of numerous functional studies, with increasingly more work dedicated to the importance of phenotypic plasticity. As bone is a dynamic tissue, morphological variation related to differential loading is well established for many masticatory structures. However, the adaptive osteogenic response of several cranial sites across multiple levels of bony organization remains to be investigated. Here, rabbits were obtained at weaning and raised for 48 weeks until adulthood in order to address the naturalistic influence of altered loading on the long-term development of masticatory and non-masticatory elements. Longitudinal data from micro-computed tomography (μCT) scans were used to test the hypothesis that variation in cortical bone formation and biomineralization in masticatory structures is linked to increased stresses during oral processing of mechanically challenging foods. It was also hypothesized that similar parameters for neurocranial structures would be minimally affected by varying loads as this area is characterized by low strains during mastication and reduced hard-tissue mechanosensitivity. Hypotheses were supported regarding bone formation for maxillomandibular and neurocranial elements, though biomineralization trends of masticatory structures did not mirror macroscale findings. Varying osteogenic responses in masticatory elements suggest that physiological adaptation, and corresponding variation in skeletal performance, may reside differentially at one level of bony architecture, potentially affecting the accuracy of behavioral and in silico reconstructions. Together, these findings underscore the complexity of bone adaptation and highlight functional and developmental variation in determinants of skull form.
Multihazard Analysis: Integrated Engineering and Social Science Approach

AbstractReducing the potential impacts from a future disaster can be accomplished through decreasing the hazard exposure and reducing the community’s vulnerability. Moreover, communities have both ...
Gynecologic anatomic abnormalities following anorectal malformations repair

Abstract Background/aim Patients may present with gynecologic concerns after previous posterior sagittal anorectoplasty (PSARP) for repair of an anorectal malformation (ARM). Common findings include an inadequate or shortened perineal body, as well as introital stenosis, retained vaginal septum, and remnant rectovestibular fistula. An inadequate or shortened perineal body may impact fecal continence, sexual function and recommendations regarding obstetrical mode of delivery. We describe our experience with female patients referred to our center for evaluation of their previously repaired ARM, with a specific focus on perineal body anatomy and concomitant gynecologic abnormalities. We outline our collaborative evaluation process and findings as well as subsequent repair and outcomes. Material/methods A single site retrospective chart review from May 2014 to May 2016 was performed. Female patients with a history of prior ARM repair who required subsequent reoperative surgical repair with perineoplasty were included. The decision for reoperation was made collaboratively after a multidisciplinary evaluation by colorectal surgery, urology, and gynecology which included examination under anesthesia (EUA) with cystoscopy, vaginoscopy, rectal examination, and electrical stimulation of anal sphincters. The type of original malformation, indication for reoperative perineoplasty, findings leading to additional procedures performed at time of perineoplasty, postoperative complications, and the length of follow up were recorded. Results During the study period 28 patients were referred for evaluation after primary ARM repair elsewhere and 15 patients (60%) met inclusion criteria. Thirteen patients (86.6%) originally had a rectovestibular fistula with prior PSARP and 2 patients (13.4%) originally had a cloacal malformation with prior posterior sagittal anorectovaginourethroplasty. The mean age at the time of the subsequent perineoplasty was 4.6years (0.5–12). Patients had an inadequate perineal body requiring reoperative perineoplasty due to: anterior mislocation of the anus (n=11, 73.3%), prior perineal wound dehiscence with perineal body breakdown (n=2, 13.4%), acquired rectovaginal fistula (n=1, 6.6%), and posterior mislocated introitus with invasion of the perineal body (n=1, 6.6%). During the preoperative evaluation, additional gynecologic abnormalities were identified that required concomitant surgical intervention including: introital stenosis (n=4, 26.6%), retained vaginal septum (n=3, 20%) and remnant recto vestibular fistula (n=2, 13.3%). Conclusions Patients with a previously repaired ARM may present with gynecologic concerns that require subsequent surgical intervention. The most common finding was an inadequate perineal body, but other findings included introital stenosis, retained vaginal septum and remnant recto vestibular fistula. Multidisciplinary evaluation to assess and identify abnormalities and coordinate timing and surgical approach is crucial to assure optimal patient outcomes. Type of study Case series with no comparison group. Level of evidence IV.
The Experience of Adolescents Living With Headache

There is little qualitative literature that addresses the adolescent experience of living with headache. The purpose of this study was to determine the dimensions of the health challenge of adolescent headache; the high points, low points, and turning points of living with headache; and the approaches used to resolve the challenge of living with headache. Story theory was used as the qualitative framework to guide data collection, and story inquiry provided the structure for analyzing the data. The Pediatric Migraine Disability Scale (PedMIDAS) quantitatively measured the impact of headaches on daily functioning. Of the 8 participants, 6 reported moderate to severe disability. From the stories, a theme for the complicating health challenge of living with adolescent headache was "an enduring distress manifested by pain, uncertainty, distancing self from family and friends, challenges with school, and not knowing how to resolve." Themes descriptive of the high points, low points, and turning points included "Contentment with school achievement, supportive relationships, and comforting engagement"; "Interruption in pursuing sports/exercise, time with others, and family relationships"; and "A developing realization, through hope and insight, of the possibilities for moving toward resolution." Stories revealed approaches used to resolve the challenge of living with headache, which included self-management through medication, sleep, and transcendence. The findings offer insight into the challenges faced by adolescents with headache and provide evidence of the importance for developing holistic plans of care that address the individual needs of the patient rather than relying on medication management alone.
Joint Text Mining with Heterogeneous Data

In Web and social media networks, the text documents are often associated with nodes. For example, the Web can be a viewed as a graph in which each node contains a Web page and also connects to other nodes via hyperlinks. Similarly, a social network is a friendship graph of user-to-user linkages in which each node contains the textual posting activity of the user.
Identification of Genes for Hereditary Hemochromatosis

Hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) is one of the most common genetically transmitted conditions in individuals of Northern European ancestry. The disease is characterized by excessive intestinal absorption of dietary iron, resulting in pathologically high iron storage in tissues and organs. If left untreated, HH can damage joints and organs, and eventually lead to death. There are four main classes of HH, as well as five individual molecular subtypes, caused by mutations in five genes, and the approaches implemented in the discovery of each HH type have specific histories and unique aspects. In this chapter, we review the genetics of the different HH types, including the strategies used to detect the causal variants in each case and the manner in which genetic variants were found to affect iron metabolism.
Echo-Doppler and color-flow imaging in congenital heart disease.

Enormous strides in cardiovascular surgical techniques in the last 20 years have allowed a great many children to survive to adulthood. Proper management of these patients requires knowledge of the unoperated malformation and of the postoperative residua and sequelae. Noninvasive cardiovascular imaging and hemodynamic assessment of congenital heart disease has revolutionized the management of these patients. Using refined two-dimensional echo and color-flow imaging and Doppler waveforms, the anatomy and physiology of shunts, obstructive and regurgitant lesions, and complex malformations are readily unravelled before, during, and after catheter or surgical therapy.
5.34 Early Transition Metal Mediated Reductive Coupling Reactions

A review of recent advances in early transition metal metallacycle-mediated coupling of C C π -bonds is presented. Discussion is focused on bond-forming processes stemming from a sequence of metal– π complex formation followed by carbometalation of a second π -system and spans developments in intra- and intermolecular chemistry. The purpose of this review is to provide the reader with a glimpse of the growing power that this mode of chemical reactivity has in organic synthesis and, as such, contains relevant examples showcasing the utility of the reactions presented to address challenging problems in chemical synthesis, including applications in the context of acyclic stereocontrol, fatty acid, carbocycle, and heterocycle synthesis. Overall, the reader is expected to gain an appreciation of the present scope and limitations of early transition metal metallacycle-mediated bond construction in organic synthesis.
Authenticity, belonging, and charter myths of Cantonese

Abstract Through an analysis of arguments for protecting Cantonese against the encroachment of Putonghua in post-1997 Hong Kong, this article explores tensions in the ideological complex of authenticity and highlights the importance of investigating how spatial and temporal relationships work together to shape understandings of what counts as ‘real’, ‘natural’, and ‘original’. To endow Cantonese with authority, language advocates in Hong Kong draw on contrasting ideologies of authenticity and construct two distinct charter myths for their mother tongue. Invoking vastly different chronotopes, these ideologies are intimately linked to how Hongkongers view their place in the Chinese nation and the Communist regime.