cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Probabilistic Conflict Detection for Robust Detection and Resolution

Any prediction of the future position and trajectory of an aircraft will contain errors due to both uncertainty caused by the environment and imperfect and incomplete information available to the prediction system. These prediction errors complicate conflict detection and resolution resulting in late or missed conflict detections and false alerts. Generally there are two types of conflict detection systems: geometric and probabilistic, and both of these systems have techniques for dealing with errors. These techniques often involve setting spatial buffers and limited time horizons, but these buffers are often not easy to select for optimized performance for specific trajectory prediction systems. This paper presents a probabilistic conflict detection system that uses a characterization of the trajectory prediction errors as input to minimize missed and false alerts instead of using derived buffers. The extra information provided by the probabilistic detector over a geometric detector can also be used by automated conflict resolution systems to pick more robust resolutions; balancing extra delay over reduced probability of recurrence of the conflict. Conflict detection results show that the probabilistic system can reduce missed alerts by about 10% while maintaining the same false-alert rate or reduce false alerts by about 25% while maintaining the same missed-alert rate when compared to a simple geometric system. When combined with a conflict resolution system, the probabilistic detection system provides more robust resolutions, reducing the number of resolutions required by about one third, but these resolutions require nearly twice as much total delay as the resolutions selected using a geometric detection system.
New Abundance Determinations of Cadmium, Lutetium, and Osmium in the R-Process Enriched Star BD+17 3248

We report the detection of Cd I (Z = 48), Lu II (Z = 71), and Os II (Z = 76) in the metal-poor star BD +17 3248. These abundances are derived from an ultraviolet spectrum obtained with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph on the Hubble Space Telescope. This is the first detection of these neutron-capture species in a metal-poor star enriched by the r process. We supplement these measurements with new abundances of Mo I, Ru I, and Rh I derived from an optical spectrum obtained with the High Resolution Echelle Spectrograph on Keck. Combined with previous abundance derivations, 32 neutron-capture elements have been detected in BD +17 3248, the most complete neutron-capture abundance pattern in any metal-poor star to date. The light neutron-capture elements (38 ≤ Z ≤ 48) show a more pronounced even-odd effect than expected from current solar system r-process abundance predictions. The age for BD +17 3248 derived from the Th II/Os II chronometer is in better agreement with the age derived from other chronometers than the age derived from Th II/Os I. New Hf II abundance derivations from transitions in the ultraviolet are lower than those derived from transitions in the optical, and the lower Hf abundance is in better agreement with the scaled solar system r-process distribution.
Evaluation of selected physical constants of polymeric films and proposed kinetics of drug release.

The formulation of an aerosol occlusive dressing presents several complex problems which must be solved before one can arrive at a single combination having the ability to control the rate at which medication is released from a polymeric film. These films must first be evaluated on the basis of their water vapor transmission, hardness, modulus of elasticity, alkali resistance, and stability to degradation by exposure to UV radiation. The plasticizer was found to have an effect upon the water vapor transmission of some films. The physical properties of the film also can be varied within limits by the incorporation of suitable plasticizers. These films were also found to be compatible with a commonly used aerosol propellant blend, dichlorodifluoromethane/trichlorofluoromethane (50:50). A specially designed apparatus and method for the in vitro determination of the rate of drug release was developed. A kinetic model based on the Noyes-Whitney relationship was used, and the rate of drug release of cetylpyridinium chloride and benzalkonium chloride from various films was determined. Drug release from both sustained- and prolonged-release films followed first-order kinetics. It was found that films cast from polymeric solutions containing 0.3% by weight of cetylpyridinium chloride and benzalkonium chloride were best suited for evaluation of drug release.
c-Src Binds to the Cancer Drug Imatinib with an Inactive Abl/c-Kit Conformation and a Distributed Thermodynamic Penalty

Summary The cancer drug imatinib inhibits the tyrosine kinases c-Abl, c-Kit, and the PDGF receptor. Imatinib is less effective against c-Src, which is difficult to understand because residues interacting with imatinib in crystal structures of Abl and c-Kit are conserved in c-Src. The crystal structure of the c-Src kinase domain in complex with imatinib closely resembles that of Abl•imatinib and c-Kit•imatinib, and differs significantly from the inactive "Src/CDK" conformation of the Src family kinases. Attempts to increase the affinity of c-Src for imatinib by swapping residues with the corresponding residues in Abl have not been successful, suggesting that the thermodynamic penalty for adoption of the imatinib-binding conformation by c-Src is distributed over a broad region of the structure. Two mutations that are expected to destabilize the inactive Src/CDK conformation increase drug sensitivity 15-fold, suggesting that the free-energy balance between different inactive states is a key to imatinib binding.
Sepsis and inflammatory insults downregulate IGFBP-5, but not IGFBP-4, in skeletal muscle via a TNF-dependent mechanism

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether catabolic stimuli that induce muscle atrophy alter the muscle mRNA abundance of insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)-4 and -5...
Effect of hydrogen peroxide on contractility and citrate synthase activity of the rabbit urinary bladder in the presence and absence of resveratrol and a whole-grape suspension

One etiology related directly to obstructive urinary bladder dysfunction is ischemia/reperfusion resulting in significant oxidative stress to the bladder. Grapes, a natural source of antioxidants, have been proven effective in preventing obstructive and ischemic bladder dysfunction. Many investigators believe that resveratrol is the primary active antioxidant ingredient in grapes. We compared the ability of a whole-grape suspension with pure resveratrol in their ability to protect the bladder from in vitro oxidative stress mediated by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Four male rabbit bladders were used. Two strips from each bladder were incubated in the presence of 1 mg/mL grape suspension for 30 min, another two strips were incubated in the presence of 1 mg/mL resveratrol solution, and the last two strips were incubated in the presence of 1 mg/mL sucrose/and fructose as controls. The rest of the bladder was separated into muscle and mucosa, frozen and stored for biochemical evaluation. (1) Chemically, resveratrol has about 20 times the antioxidant capacity of the grape suspension. (2) The grape suspension had significant protective effects when the rate of tension was quantitated at all concentrations of H2O2, while the resveratrol had no effect. (3) Citrate synthase activities of the muscle and mucosa were significantly protected by the grape suspension but not by resveratrol. These data demonstrate that the grape suspension protects the mitochondria to a significantly greater degree than resveratrol, which suggests that the antioxidant activities are due to the combination of active components found in the grape suspension and not just resveratrol.
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor regulates energy balance downstream of melanocortin-4 receptor

The melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) is critically involved in regulating energy balance, and obesity has been observed in mice with mutations in the gene for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Here we report that BDNF is expressed at high levels in the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) where its expression is regulated by nutritional state and by MC4R signaling. In addition, similar to MC4R mutants, mouse mutants that expresses the BDNF receptor TrkB at a quarter of the normal amount showed hyperphagia and excessive weight gain on higher-fat diets. Furthermore, BDNF infusion into the brain suppressed the hyperphagia and excessive weight gain observed on higher-fat diets in mice with deficient MC4R signaling. These results show that MC4R signaling controls BDNF expression in the VMH and support the hypothesis that BDNF is an important effector through which MC4R signaling controls energy balance.
LATE POSTCLASSIC TO COLONIAL TRANSFORMATIONS OF THE LANDSCAPE IN THE IZALCOS REGION OF WESTERN EL SALVADOR

The Izalcos Pipil were pre-Hispanic residents of the Rio Ceniza Valley of western El Salvador and had clear linguistic ties to the Aztecs and other Nahuas of central Mexico. Both archaeological and documentary data are presented that show strong evidence that the Izalcos Pipil also maintained Nahua social and political institutions. The Izalcos Pipil emphasized characteristics of Nahua social practices that depend on dynamic mobility on the landscape to articulate discrete cultural elements, and these characteristics are observable in Izalcos inter- and intrasite settlement organization and the distribution of Nahua settlement in southern Mesoamerica. The degree of mobility on the landscape was shown in the internal organization of sites, architectural arrangements, and the relationships among sites and is indicated in historical documents. Pipil concepts, institutions, and boundaries provided the foundation for the Spanish colonial political economy. This region became a jewel in the Spanish Crown in part because of prodigious cacao production that the Izalcos Pipil established long before Spanish contact. The degree of nucleation before and after conquest did not change dramatically, but the analysis of mobility showed that even though some elements of patterning appeared superficially the same, underlying causes were fundamentally different. The most important conquest-induced change was the transition to capitalism, which created a static, disarticulated landscape of nucleated settlements, enclosures, and private property that discouraged human movement. The tensions between these two contrasting systems of landscape use heightened with the passage of time.
Social Demographics, the School Environment, and Parenting Practices Associated with Parents' Participation in Schools and Academic Success among Black, Hispanic, and White Students

This study explored social demographic factors, school environmental factors, and parenting practices that are associated with child academic success and school-based involvement among the parents of Black, Hispanic, and White students. Analysis of 12,426 parents who completed the National Household Education Surveys-Parent and Family Involvement Survey revealed that parent's participation in school is linked to better grades and is associated with supportive schools and positive parenting practices. The study also revealed that parents who were Black and Hispanic, non-native English speakers, lived in unsafe neighborhoods, and had less than a high school education were less likely to visit the school. The article suggests culturally responsive strategies for school leaders and parent advocates to engage parents in their children's education.
The use of temperature and the isotopes of O, H, C, and noble gases to determine the pattern and spatial extent of groundwater flow

Isotopic tracer and temperature measurements at large volume cold springs in the central Oregon Cascades are used to understand the pattern of groundwater flow. Standard oxygen and hydrogen isotope interpretations are used to determine the mean recharge elevation for springs. Carbon and helium isotopes are used to measure the component of dissolved magmatic gas in the spring waters. Inferences from isotopic measurements are compared with temperature measurements made at the springs to determine whether groundwater circulates to shallow or deep depths in the subsurface. Integrating the measurements of tracers derived at the surface, tracers derived from the subsurface, and temperature measurements can thus be used to derive a three dimensional picture of groundwater flow.
The Gravity Probe B Data Analysis Filtering Approach

A simple pre-flight strategy of the Gravity Probe B (GP-B) data analysis has evolved in the elaborate multi-level structure after the discovery of the complex polhode motion, and of the patch effect torques. We describe a cascade of estimators (filters) that reduce the science data (SQUID and telescope signals) to the estimates of the relativistic drift rates. Those estimators, structured in two “floors”, are based on the polhode-related models for the readout scale factor and patch effect torque. Results of the 1st Floor processing—gyro orientation profiles—manifest clearly the strong geodetic effect but also the presence of classical torque. Modeling of the patch effect torque at the 2nd Floor provides a successful compensation of the torque contributions, and leads to consistent estimates of the relativistic drift rates.
An Indoor Localization Aid for the Visually Impaired

This paper presents an indoor human localization system for the visually impaired. A prototype portable device has been implemented, consisting of a pedometer and a standard white cane, on which a laser range finder and a 3-axis gyroscope have been mounted. A novel pose estimation algorithm has been developed for robustly estimating the heading and position of a person navigating in a known building. The basis of our estimation scheme is a two-layered extended Kalman filter (EKF) for attitude and position estimation. The first layer maintains an attitude estimate of the white cane, which is subsequently provided to the second layer where a position estimate of the user is generated. Experimental results are presented that demonstrate the reliability of the proposed method for accurate, real-time human localization.
Structural Changes by Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Background:With a possible increase in the prevalence of type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1), the pediatric patient population is expected to be at risk for other health care complications. Current imag...
On 20 years of Lophotrochozoa

Lophotrochozoa is a protostome clade that includes disparate animals such as molluscs, annelids, bryozoans, and flatworms, giving it the distinction of including the most body plans of any of the three major clades of Bilateria. This extreme morphological disparity has prompted numerous conflicting phylogenetic hypotheses about relationships among lophotrochozoan phyla. Here, I review the current understanding of lophotrochozoan phylogeny with emphasis on recent insights gained through approaches taking advantage of high-throughput DNA sequencing (phylogenomics). Of significance, Platyzoa, a hypothesized clade of mostly small-bodied animals, appears to be an artifact of long-branch attraction. Recent studies recovered Gnathifera (Syndermata, Gnathostomulida, and Micrognathozoa) sister to all other lophotrochozoans and a clade called Rouphozoa (Platyhelminthes and Gastrotricha) sister to the remaining non-gnathiferan lophotrochozoans. Although Bryozoa was traditionally grouped with Brachiopoda and Phoronida (Lophophorata), most molecular studies have supported a clade including Entoprocta, Cycliophora, and Bryozoa (Polyzoa). However, recent phylogenomic work has shown that entoprocts and bryozoans have compositionally heterogeneous genomes that may cause systematic artifacts affecting their phylogenetic placement. Lastly, relationships within Trochozoa (Mollusca, Annelida, and relatives) largely remain ambiguous. Recent work has shown that phylogenomic studies must identify and reduce sources of systematic error, such as amino acid compositional heterogeneity and long-branch attraction. Still, other approaches such as the analysis of rare genomic changes may be needed to overcome challenges to standard phylogenomic approaches. Resolving lophotrochozoan phylogeny will provide important insight into how these complex and diverse body plans evolved and provide a much-needed framework for comparative studies.
The State’s Interest in Retribution

Can liberals consistently be retributivists? Can a theory of punishment that approves the use of state power, not in pursuit of the social goals of crime control and harm prevention, but rather in pursuit of a purely moral objective be consistent with the liberal theory of the state that values rights and liberty as the primary political values? This article addresses these fundamental concerns by critiquing the arguments of Feinberg, Herbert Morris’s freeriding criminal conduct theory, and Michael Moore’s arguments. To answer these questions, it explores a version of liberalism coined communitarian liberalism, which posits that the liberal state exists not simply to protect rights by punishing their violation but also to foster a social climate in which human rights are respected and in which autonomy is a realistic option for all citizens. This allows for positive assistance to the poor, but prohibits negative proscription by the criminal law on completely independent acts. This argument, however, is ultimately rejected in favor of concluding that those versions of retributivism that are fairly weak - representing either side-constraints or secondary aims of punishment - are probably compatible with liberalism. The robust and most emotionally compelling versions of retributivism, however, probably are not.
Mathematics as a Semiotic Factor in the Thought of C. S. Peirce

I continue to live with the nagging conviction that a thorough understanding of any aspect of Peirce’s tightly integrated thought can be attained only through an appreciation of the structure of the underlying mathematical framework on which that thought is built. Mathematics is a subject in closest alliance with semiotics, and Peirce has been a celebrated figure in this recently emerging academic discipline. It is natural, then, to examine the mathematical character of his thought in general and its effect on the nature of his semiotical procedure in particular.
Etymology: The second half of the twentieth century

In the forty-year period surveyed in this concluding section of our venture (1950–1990), etymology can be seen steering a strange course, as if its practitioners and its beneficiaries were sometimes working at cross purposes; in addition, irreconcilably conflicting ideas all too often prevailed inside each group. There are few exceptions from this trend towards diversification at almost any cost. One rare universal is the fact that a single, particular genre of etymological guide is at present clearly doomed to rapid disappearance (not least for economic reasons), namely the dictionary of word origins in Language X expounded in Language Y (assuming, of course, that both X and Y are major living tongues). The nearly-extinct type of lexicographic compilation here hinted at is exemplified by Max Vasmer's meritorious work on Russian and Ernst Gamillscheg's on French, each phrased in German, in conformity with an old tradition. To be sure, there was published a revised translation into Russian, by O. N. Trubacev, of the former, and a slightly expanded second edition of the latter made its appearance in the original garb without, it is true, producing any stir outside Central Europe. Yet, the more characteristic course of recent events can be illustrated by the fluctuating fortunes of Walther von Wartburg's incomparably more ambitious and influential venture, which concerns Gallo-Romance lexis as a whole, and more. At the outset the monumental project was undertaken as a venture to be worded in German, and was so continued, when the author moved from Lausanne to Leipzig.
Pathway Selective Pulses

Determining the availability of evolution pathways in quantum systems, which is important to a variety of spectroscopies, is often accomplished with a pathway selection scheme (PSS). In the absence of pulsed field gradients, the availability of an evolution pathway is only determined after combining the results from multiple experiments in a PSS. In this work, we provide a general method for determining the availability of evolution pathways within a single experiment by converting a PSS into a pathway selective pulse (PSP) sequence that excites the quantum system only if the selected pathways are available. Liquid-state NMR demonstrations of a PSP that nutates a spin only in the presence of heteronuclear coupling is presented.
A photoperiodic effect on the daily susceptibility of the house fly to trichlorfon.

Seven cultures of the house fly, Musca domestica L., were maintained in light:dark regimens of 10:14, 12:12, 13:11, 14:10, 15:9, 16:8, and 24:0 in lightproof plywood cabinets at a temperature of 80±2°F and 50-70% relative humidity. The susceptibility of flies to residues of trichlorfon was influenced by photoperiod. Flies displayed a maximum sensitivity at or near the lights-on, or dawn, and a minimum sensitivity at lights-off, or dusk.
Genetic Algorithm and Regression-Based Model for Analyzing Fare Payment Structure and Transit Dwell Time:

The time that buses spend at stops, also called dwell time (DT), has a direct effect on transit service reliability and operational efficiency. A practical, coherent, and quantitative DT modeling approach is needed to identify the factors that contribute most to DT. Commonly used methods for studying DT to date involve manually collected field data or the use of automatic sensors to gather information on factors influencing DT. These approaches have often suffered from limited sample sizes or the inability to provide information on nonelectronic fare payment methods (e.g., cash payment and prepaid passes), which can contribute significantly to DT. To address these gaps, this study developed a genetic algorithm and regression-based modeling approach first to estimate transit fare transactions that do not have electronic records and then to quantify the effect of a number of factors on DT. Integrating information from multiple data sources, the combined approach of optimization and regression analysis offer...
Observation of b2 symmetry vibrational levels of the SO2 C̃ (1)B2 state: Vibrational level staggering, Coriolis interactions, and rotation-vibration constants.

The C (1)B2 state of SO2 has a double-minimum potential in the antisymmetric stretch coordinate, such that the minimum energy geometry has nonequivalent SO bond lengths. However, low-lying levels with odd quanta of antisymmetric stretch (b2 vibrational symmetry) have not previously been observed because transitions into these levels from the zero-point level of the X state are vibronically forbidden. We use IR-UV double resonance to observe the b2 vibrational levels of the C state below 1600 cm(-1) of vibrational excitation. This enables a direct characterization of the vibrational level staggering that results from the double-minimum potential. In addition, it allows us to deperturb the strong c-axis Coriolis interactions between levels of a1 and b2 vibrational symmetry and to determine accurately the vibrational dependence of the rotational constants in the distorted C electronic state.
Geophysics. Earth vibrations.

Seismic "noise" can be used to monitor climate change effects, locate storms, and elucidate the structure of Earth's crust.
Green's Functions

The chapter starts by identifying a Green's function as the contribution to the solution of a linear differential equation that results from the inclusion of a point-source inhomogeneous term to an otherwise homogeneous equation subject to given boundary conditions. Green's functions therefore necessarily depend upon two sets of coordinates: those of the inhomogeneity and those of the point at which the solution is described. The point-source inhomogeneity causes Green's functions to have derivatives that are discontinuous when these two points coincide. General linear inhomogeneous differential equations (with boundary conditions) have solutions that can be constructed as integrals involving the applicable Green's functions. The symmetry and other properties of Green's functions are surveyed, and Green's functions are illustrated for ODEs (problems in one dimension) and for PDEs (problems in more than one dimension).
Introduction to Solid Sampling Strategies

This chapter provides a brief introduction to basic concepts of solid sample introduction by laser ablation as used in archaeology. Major methodological advances presented in the chapters in Part I of the volume are briefly highlighted, as are projected future trends in solid sampling by laser ablation.
Jewish Women’s KIPPOT: Meanings and Motives

Considerable literature has examined the meanings associated with gender-normative religious head covering practices such as Muslim women’s hijabs, Jewish women’s sheitels and headscarves, and Jewish men’s kippot. However, very few studies have explored the meanings of Jewish women’s kippot. This article advances Amy Milligan’s ethnographic research on this matter through open-ended survey data from 576 Jewish women who wear kippot. Unlike Milligan’s lesbian sample, this largely heterosexual sample claims to wear the kippah for many of the same reasons that men do: to “do Jewish,” “feel Jewish,” “look Jewish,” and to display their status relative to other Jews. Respondents acknowledge that their kippah practice also signifies egalitarianism, but they emphasize that this is but one of the garment’s many meanings.
A rare case of cubonavicular coalition

Tarsal coalition is a condition described by partial union between tarsal bones. Its clinical significance is the potential cause for chronic pain in the ankle and foot. Diagnosis of this condition may be delayed until adolescence or early adulthood, and is often made incidentally on examination for other purposes. Treatments for this condition can range from conservative options to surgical approach. The calcaneonavicular and talocalcaneal subtypes make up the majority of this condition, with involvement among other tarsal bones much rarer in comparison. This report illustrates the cubonavicular subtype, which has only been described in very small number cases.
History and Relevance of Patronage, the Civil Service Reform and the Pendleton Act: The Rationale for Congressional Intervention

The ownership of land determined ones importance. However, the church was one of the largest single property holders in Italy. By the 11 th century, Bishops were competing with wealthy rural families to become patrons” of local land – owners. To combat the political problems in 1867 The Tenure of Office Act was passed during Andrew Jackson term; Congress passed the Act in an effort to secure a greater role in the appointive process. The act specific that those appointed with the advice and consent of the Senate could only be removed from office with the Senate’s approval. Hence, the goal of this research is to examine the implications of political pressure on the evolutionary process with new emergent paradigm characterized by three anti-government values: personal accountability limited and decentralized government, and community responsibility for delivery or social services.
Visualizing oral histories: A lab model using multimedia DH to incorporate ACRL framework standards into liberal arts education

Visualizing Oral Histories: Comics and Graphic Novels/Digital Humanities Lab, is a new model for digital humanities scholarship that other librarians can follow to create and teach similar DH labs ...
A Novel Form of Behavioral Camouflage in Colubrid Snakes

Different types of animal camouflage ultimately have one function: avoiding detection. The most common form of camouflage, background matching, involves color patterns that match the surrounding environment while the individual remains motionless. However, in a dynamic environment, movement could also contribute to camouflage. For example, reverse crypsis or motion dazzle employs color patterns that can disrupt the pattern of motion to aid in concealing an individual, or by making it more difficult to track the individual's movements. Here I describe a new form of behavioral camouflage in colubrid snakes. The behavior consists of a series of small, laterally oscillating movements. Observed in three colubrids (Thamnophis sirtalis, Thamnophis sauritus, Opheodrys vernalis), I hypothesize that this behavior serves to blend the dorsal patterning of a snake with moving vegetation. Through 73 observations in T. sirtalis, the head-wobble was only observed being performed by small snakes in grassy/reedy areas whil...
Medical students' perceived educational needs to prevent and treat childhood obesity

Background: Medical schools are challenged to incorporate more prevention-based education into curricula, offering an opportunity to revisit approaches to nutrition education. The objective of this study was to explore United States (US) medical students' understanding of childhood obesity, specifically barriers to childhood obesity prevention and treatment and students' perceived educational deficits. Methods: The research team conducted phone interviews with 78 3rd- and 4th-year medical students, representing 25 different medical schools across the US. Using a semi-structured interview guide, researchers asked students to describe the etiology of childhood obesity and reflect on where they acquired knowledge of the etiology and what additional resources they would need to treat obese children. Using a phenomenological approach to analysis, researchers identified five dominant emergent themes. Results: Student-perceived barriers to childhood obesity prevention and treatment in clinical care included student-centered (e.g., lack of knowledge), patient-centered (e.g., lack of access), and healthcare system-centered barriers (e.g., limited time). Students requested more applicable nutrition information and counseling skills relevant to preventing and treating childhood obesity; however, they tended to identify others (e.g., parents, schools), rather than themselves, when asked to describe how childhood obesity should be prevented or treated. Discussion: To provide students with an understanding of their role in preventing and treating childhood obesity, US medical schools need to provide students with childhood obesity-specific and general nutrition education. To build their self-efficacy in nutrition counseling, schools can use a combination of observation and practice led by skilled physicians and other healthcare providers. Increasing students' self-efficacy through training may help them overcome perceived barriers to childhood obesity prevention and treatment.
Structure and Mobility of Dissociated Vacancies at Twist Grain Boundaries and Screw Dislocations in Ionic Rocksalt Compounds

Interfaces, grain boundaries, and dislocations are known to have significant impact on the transport properties of materials. Even so, it is still not clear how the structure of interfaces influences the mobility and concentration of carriers that are responsible for transport. Using low angle twist grain boundaries in MgO as a model system, we examine the structural and kinetic properties of vacancies. These boundaries are characterized by a network of screw dislocations. Vacancies of both types, Mg and O, are strongly attracted to the dislocation network, residing preferentially at the misfit dislocation intersections (MDIs). However, the vacancies can lower their energy by splitting into two parts, which then repel each other along the dislocation line between two MDIs, further lowering their energy. This dissociated structure has important consequences for transport, as the free energy of the dissociated vacancies decreases with decreasing twist angle, leading to an increase in the net migration barri...
The Character of South Pole-Aitken Basin: Patterns of Surface and Subsurface Composition

Using Moon Mineralogy Mapper data, we characterize surface diversity across the enormous South Pole - Aitken Basin (SPA) by evaluating the abundance and composition of pyroxenes, which are overwhelmingly the most abundant mafic mineral in the region. Although SPA exhibits significant complexity due to billions of years of geologic processes subsequent to formation, the basin has retained regular patterns of compositional heterogeneity across its structure. Four distinct, roughly concentric zones are defined: (1) a central SPA compositional anomaly (SPACA), which exhibits a pervasive elevated Ca,Fe-rich pyroxene abundance, (2) a Mg-Pyroxene Annulus, which is dominated by abundant Mg-rich pyroxenes, (3) a Heterogeneous Annulus, which exhibits localized pyroxene-rich areas spatially mixed with feldspathic materials, and (4) the SPA Exterior, which is primarily feldspathic. Pyroxene compositions in the Heterogeneous Annulus are similar to those in the Mg-Pyroxene Annulus, and Mg-rich pyroxenes also underlie the more Ca,Fe-rich pyroxene surface material across SPACA. The establishment of these four distinct compositional zones across SPA constrains future basin evolution models serves to guide potential sample return (and other science) targets.
A Fast Scalable Quasi-Static Time Series Analysis Method for PV Impact Studies Using Linear Sensitivity Model

Understanding the impact of distributed photovoltaic (PV) resources on various elements of the distribution feeder is imperative for their cost effective integration. A year-long quasi-static time series (QSTS) simulation at 1-second granularity is often necessary to fully study these impacts. However, the significant computational burden associated with running QSTS simulations is a major challenge to their adoption. In this paper, we propose a fast scalable QSTS simulation algorithm that is based on a linear sensitivity model for estimating voltage-related PV impact metrics of a three-phase unbalanced, nonradial distribution system with various discrete step control elements including tap changing transformers and capacitor banks. The algorithm relies on computing voltage sensitivities while taking into account all the effects of discrete controllable elements in the circuit. Consequently, the proposed sensitivity model can accurately estimate the state of controllers at each time step and the number of control actions throughout the year. For the test case of a real distribution feeder with 2969 buses (5469 nodes), 6 load/PV time series power profiles, and 9 voltage regulating elements including controller delays, the proposed algorithm demonstrates a dramatic time reduction, more than 180 times faster than traditional QSTS techniques.
Management of Lesions Appearing Probably Benign at Mammography

Using mammography, radiologists often identify nonpalpable lesions that are interpreted as having a very low probability of malignancy. This chapter covers the several approaches, especially periodic mammographic surveillance, to subsequent management of these lesions. Follow-up mammography examinations usually are recommended as an alternative to open surgical biopsy or percutaneous imaging-guided tissue diagnosis (via aspiration cytology or core biopsy), in order to avert the morbidity and substantial cost of these more invasive procedures (Homer 1981; Moskowitz 1983; Homer 1987; Wolfe et al. 1987; Hall et al. 1988; Moskowitz 1988; Moskowitz 1989; Brenner and Sickles 1989; Hall 1990; Adler and Helvie 1990; Helvie et al. 1991; Sickles 1991a; Varas et al. 1992; Sickles and Parker 1993).
Multiple Imputation with Norm 2.03

In this chapter, I provide step-by-step instructions for performing multiple imputation with Schafer’s (1997) NORM 2.03 program. Although these instructions apply most directly to NORM, most of the concepts apply to other MI programs as well.
The Stochastic Fejér-Monotone Hybrid Steepest Descent Method and the Hierarchical RLS

This paper introduces the stochastic Fejer-monotone hybrid steepest descent method (S-FM-HSDM) to solve affinely constrained and composite convex minimization tasks. The minimization task is not known exactly; noise contaminates the information about the composite loss function and the affine constraints. S-FM-HSDM generates sequences of random variables that, under certain conditions and with respect to a probability space, converge point-wise to solutions of the noiseless minimization task. S-FM-HSDM enjoys desirable attributes of optimization techniques such as splitting of variables and constant step size (learning rate). Furthermore, it provides a novel way of exploiting the information about the affine constraints via fixed-point sets of appropriate nonexpansive mappings. Among the offsprings of S-FM-HSDM, the hierarchical recursive least squares (HRLS) takes advantage of S-FM-HSDM's versatility toward affine constraints and offers a novel twist to LS by generating sequences of estimates that converge to solutions of a hierarchical optimization task: minimize a convex loss over the set of minimizers of the ensemble LS loss. Numerical tests on a sparsity-aware LS task show that HRLS compares favorably to several state-of-the-art convex, as well as non-convex, stochastic-approximation, and online-learning counterparts.
Applications of wearable activity monitors (WAM) in cancer clinical trials (CT): A review of the literature.

e21598Background: Wearable technology is increasingly being used in CTs to monitor physical activity (PA). WAMs contain multi-sensor systems which track steps, metabolic equivalents (METs), calorie...
A Relative Noncontrast CT Map to Detect Early Ischemic Changes in Acute Stroke.

Background and purpose Early ischemic changes on noncontrast computed tomography (NCCT) are often subtle. We developed a novel postprocessing technique that aids in detecting such changes. Methods NCCT maps were generated that display the relative density difference between corresponding voxels in contralateral hemispheres (ratio maps of the NCCT [rNCCT]). Voxels with a relative density difference below .95 were designated as infarct. We pilot tested the rNCCT for infarct segmentation on 6 consecutive subjects enrolled in the CT Perfusion to predict Response in Ischemic Stroke Project (CRISP) study and applied the inclusion criteria of an adequate quality NCCT and successful endovascular reperfusion. rNCCT infarct segmentation was compared to baseline NCCT, baseline CTP, and day-5 follow-up fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR). Results Five of the six selected cases met the inclusion criteria. Their median time from symptom onset to CT was 4.95 hours (standard deviation [SD], ±3.5; range, 1.05-10.45), and median NIHSS was 13. Early ischemic changes were identified on the rNCCT in all five cases and on the standard NCCT in three of the five cases. Lesions outlined by the rNCCT maps trended toward a better estimation of the day-5 FLAIR volume (median difference = 6.2 mL) than the ischemic core volumes assessed on baseline CTP (median difference = 51.7 mL) in the four cases with a day-5 FLAIR (P = .1). Conclusion In this proof-of-concept study, the rNCCT appears promising for detecting and quantifying early ischemic changes. These findings should be confirmed in a larger cohort.
Is Animal Suffering Really All That Matters? The Move from Suffering to Vegetarianism

The animal liberation movement, among other goals, seeks an end to the use of animals for food. The philosophers who started the movement agree on the goal but differ in their approach: deontologists argue that rearing animals for food infringes animals’ inherent right to life. Utilitarians claim that ending the use of animals for food will result in the maximization of utility. Virtue-oriented theorists argue that using animals for food is callus, self-indulgent, and unjust, in short, it’s an unvirtuous practice. Despite their different approaches, arguments for vegetarianism or veganism have a common step. They move from the notion of suffering to the conclusion of vegetarianism or veganism. In this paper I suggest that the notion of animal suffering is not necessary in order to condemn the practice of animal farming. I propose the possibility of defending vegetarianism or veganism on the basis of arguments that do not rest on the notion of animal suffering, but rather rely on aesthetic principles, the avoidance of violence, and preservation of the environment, and health.
Topology Identification in Distribution Systems Using Line Current Sensors: An MILP Approach

This study is motivated by the recent advancements in developing non-contact line sensor technologies that come at a low cost, but have limited measurement capabilities. While they are intended to measure current, they cannot measure voltage and power. This poses a challenge to certain distribution system applications, such as topology identification (TI), because they commonly use voltage and power measurements. To address this open problem, a new TI algorithm is proposed based on measurements from a few line current sensors, together with available pseudo-measurements for nodal power injections. A TI problem formulation is first developed in the form of a mixed integer nonlinear program (MINLP). Several reformulation steps are then adopted to tackle the nonlinearities to express the TI problem in the form of a mixed integer linear program (MILP). The proposed method is able to identify all possible topologies, including radial, loop, and island configurations, which extends the application of TI to identify switch malfunctions and to detect outages. In addition, recommendations are made with respect to the number and location of the line current sensors to ensure performance accuracy of the TI method. A novel multi-period TI algorithm is also proposed to use multiple measurement snapshots to improve the TI accuracy and robustness against errors in pseudo-measurements. The effectiveness of the proposed TI algorithms is examined on the IEEE 33-bus test case as well as a test case based on a real-world feeder in Riverside, CA.
Preservation of Phase Resolution with Wideband Integer-N Based Phase Modulators

This paper presents a method for creating a wideband PLL-based phase shifter, which yields maximum phase resolution over its entire range of output frequencies. Furthermore, by generating the phase shifts at low frequency and upconverting the phase information with the PLL, this system can generate phase shifts of resolution comparable with state of the art phase modulators without the need for complex matching or calibration techniques. A rigorous proof of the necessary and sufficient conditions for maximum phase resolution in integer-N synthesizers is presented. A 0.64-2.7 GHz, 7-bit phase modulator system is designed and simulated in a 1V 65nm CMOS process, and the results prove the efficacy of the presented modulation method. The presented design shows finer phase resolution than is achievable using current-starved inverter based delays in the 65nm process.
Tracking reference statistics – evaluation of methods

The use of a paper-based tally sheet systems for gathering reference statistics has been unchanged for decades. However, with new technology and data gathering tools being developed, libraries now ...
Missing Data Assumptions

I review assumptions about the missing-data mechanisms that underlie methods for the statistical analysis of data with missing values. I describe Rubin's original definition of missing at random (M...
Greater BOLD Variability is Associated With Poorer Cognitive Function in an Adult Lifespan Sample.

Moment-to-moment fluctuations in brain signal assessed by functional magnetic resonance imaging blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) variability is increasingly thought to represent important "signal" rather than measurement-related "noise." Efforts to characterize BOLD variability in healthy aging have yielded mixed outcomes, demonstrating both age-related increases and decreases in BOLD variability and both detrimental and beneficial associations. Utilizing BOLD mean-squared-successive-differences (MSSD) during a digit n-back working memory (WM) task in a sample of healthy adults (aged 20-94 years; n = 171), we examined effects of aging on whole-brain 1) BOLD variability during task (mean condition MSSD across 0-2-3-4 back conditions), 2) BOLD variability modulation to incrementally increasing WM difficulty (linear slope from 0-2-3-4 back), and 3) the association of age-related differences in variability with in- and out-of-scanner WM performance. Widespread cortical and subcortical regions evidenced increased mean variability with increasing age, with no regions evidencing age-related decrease in variability. Additionally, posterior cingulate/precuneus exhibited increased variability to WM difficulty. Notably, both age-related increases in BOLD variability were associated with significantly poorer WM performance in all but the oldest adults. These findings lend support to the growing corpus suggesting that brain-signal variability is altered in healthy aging; specifically, in this adult lifespan sample, BOLD-variability increased with age and was detrimental to cognitive performance.
Hybridization of Data and Model based Object Detection for Tracking in Flash Lidars

In recent times deep neural networks have become very successful in solving traditionally hard problems in Computer Vision such as Object Detection. This is due to their ability to find hidden patterns in high dimensional data such as images. But if there is a known structure within data that can be accurately represented by a pre-defined model, then by merging this model based algorithm and deep neural network, overall system accuracy can be increased. We apply this idea for solving the task of flash lidar object detection and tracking. Flash lidar is an emerging lidar sensing technology which is getting a lot of attention lately due to their lack of moving parts compared to prevalent scanning lidars. Samples from flash lidar suffer from both spatial and temporal noise which coupled with low angular resolution and FoV lead to low accuracy in object detection.In this paper we present a data driven deep learning based flash lidar object detector and tracker. To our knowledge, this is the first work to use deep learning for flash lidar object detection/tracking. Our tracker has two detectors- 1. supervised object detector and 2. unsupervised class agnostic foreground/moving object detector which are merged to achieve multi-object tracking accuracy of 47.9% on CAMEL dataset.
Temporal Analysis of COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Donations Reveals Significant Decrease in Neutralizing Capacity Over Time

Abstract COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) received approval for use under an Emergency Use Authorization by the FDA for treatment of seriously ill patients. Use of CCP units with a signal-to-cutoff ratio of ≥12 using the Ortho VITROS SARS-CoV-2 IgG test (OVSARS2IgG) is authorized. Little is known about the relationship between this ratio and the neutralizing capacity of plasma/sera against genuine SARS-CoV-2 virus. We measured the neutralizing capacity of 981 samples from 196 CCP donors 7-119 days post initial donation (DPID). Neutralizing capacity was assessed for 50% (PRNT50) and 90% (PRNT90) reduction of infectious virus using the gold standard plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT). Importantly, while 32.7%/79.5% (PRNT90/PRNT50) of donations met the FDA minimum titer of 1:80 initially, only 14.0%/48.8% (PRNT90/PRNT50) met this cut-off ≥85 DPID. A subset of 91 donations were evaluated using the OVSARS2IgG and compared to PRNT titers for diagnostic accuracy. The correlation of OVSARS2IgG results to neutralizing capacity allowed extrapolation to CCP therapy efficacy results. CCP with OVSARS2IgG ratios in the therapeutically beneficial group had neutralizing titers of ≥1:640 (PRNT50) and/or ≥1:80 (PRNT90). This information provides a new basis for refining the recommended properties of CCP that is used to treat severe COVID-19.