cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Spacetime and orbits of bumpy black holes

Our Universe contains a great number of extremely compact and massive objects which are generally accepted to be black holes. Precise observations of orbital motion near candidate black holes have the potential to determine if they have the spacetime structure that general relativity demands. As a means of formulating measurements to test the black hole nature of these objects, Collins and Hughes introduced ''bumpy black holes'': objects that are almost, but not quite, general relativity's black holes. The spacetimes of these objects have multipoles that deviate slightly from the black hole solution, reducing to black holes when the deviation is zero. In this paper, we extend this work in two ways. First, we show how to introduce bumps which are smoother and lead to better behaved orbits than those in the original presentation. Second, we show how to make bumpy Kerr black holes--objects which reduce to the Kerr solution when the deviation goes to zero. This greatly extends the astrophysical applicability of bumpy black holes. Using Hamilton-Jacobi techniques, we show how a spacetime's bumps are imprinted on orbital frequencies, and thus can be determined by measurements which coherently track the orbital phase of a small orbiting body. We find thatmore » in the weak field, orbits of bumpy black holes are modified exactly as expected from a Newtonian analysis of a body with a prescribed multipolar structure, reproducing well-known results from the celestial mechanics literature. The impact of bumps on strong-field orbits is many times greater than would be predicted from a Newtonian analysis, suggesting that this framework will allow observations to set robust limits on the extent to which a spacetime's multipoles deviate from the black hole expectation.« less
Transvenous access to the pericardial space: an approach to epicardial lead implantation for cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Background: Percutaneous access to the pericardial space (PS) may be useful for a number of therapeutic modalities including implantation of epicardial pacing leads. We have developed a catheter-based transvenous method to access the PS for implanting chronic medical devices.
Optimal sensor network design using the minimally backed-off operating point notion of profit

We have recently proposed a new formulation of the optimal sensor selection problem for closed-loop partial state information dynamic systems. Although this formulation (a mixed integer convex program) yields to a globally optimal search scheme, the only economic information used is with regard to the capital cost of the sensors. Additionally, we have recently proposed a new stochastic based formulation of the minimally backed-off operating point (MBOP) selection problem. Although this formulation has strong profit based notions (due to its close relations to model predictive control and real-time optimization) and yields to a globally optimal search scheme (due to its convex/reverse-convex form), it assumes a fixed sensor array. Thus, the goal of this work is to combine the two formulations and arrive at a value based sensor network design scheme. In addition to utilizing the capital cost of the sensors, this formulation will incorporate the impact of the sensor network on the feasible set of backed-off operating points and thus the operational profit of the process. We will further show that this new formulation can be cast into a convex/reverse-convex form, and is thus readily solved globally via a branch and bound procedure. The proposed method is then illustrated through a CSTR example.
Signal-to-noise ratio definition for magnetic recording channels with transition noise

This paper proposes a new signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) definition for magnetic recording channels with both additive and medium noise components. The proposed SNR is a generalized version of E/sub b//M/sub 0/, the information bit energy to noise spectral height ratio, widely used in average-power-constrained communication channels with additive white noise. The goal is to facilitate comparison of efficiencies of read channels that may operate at different symbol densities because of varying code rates.
Lidocaine Action on Na+ Currents in Ventricular Myocytes From the Epicardial Border Zone of the Infarcted Heart

Abstract —Myocytes overlying a zone of infarction form the primary substrate for serious reentrant ventricular arrhythmias. In vitro and in vivo studies suggest that antiarrhythmic agents affect Na+ channels of cells from the epicardial border zone (EBZ) of the 5-day infarcted heart differently than they affect those of normal muscle. However, the mechanisms responsible for this difference remain unclear. Previous studies have revealed differences in Na+ current ( I Na) density and inactivation gating kinetics in myocytes dispersed from the EBZ (IZs). Since changes in inactivation gating could influence lidocaine action, we examined the effects of lidocaine on I Na of IZs (n=38) and epicardial myocytes from the noninfarcted heart (NZs) (n=50) using the whole-cell variation of the patch-clamp technique. In drug-free conditions, the voltage dependence of steady-state inactivation of IZs was shifted negative to that of NZs, causing greater inactivation of IZ channels at depolarized (≥−100-mV) holding potentials. Consistent with a high affinity for the inactivated channel conformation, lidocaine produced more tonic block in IZs than NZs at depolarized holding potentials. Additionally, in drug-free conditions, IZ I Na exhibited an enhanced rate of inactivation from closed states, a delay in recovery from inactivation, and increased use-dependent reduction in amplitude during rapid (1- to 3-Hz) pulse trains. In both IZs and NZs, lidocaine (20 to 120 μmol/L) accelerated the rate of time-dependent loss of availability and markedly delayed recovery from availability, inducing significant use-dependent reduction of I Na. However, at drug concentrations ≥60 μmol/L, the difference in use-dependent current reduction between IZs and NZs was minimized. The action of lidocaine to render Na+ channel inactivation in NZs more similar to that of IZs may be central to its (pro)antiarrhythmic effects.
A hybrid 3 Gs/s, 6-bit digital to analog converter

A hybrid GaAs 3-gigasample-per-second (Gs/s) digital-to-analog converter (DAC) is presented. Five-bit 1-Gs/s operation and peak operating speeds of 3 Gs/s are demonstrated. DC differential and integral linearity are shown to be consistent with 6-bit operation. Sub-500-ps settling times are demonstrated at operating speeds of 1-3 Gs/s. The device has ECL (emitter-coupled logic) level differential inputs and is capable of producing a 1-V output when driven into 50 Omega . The hybrid DAC is implemented with thin-film resistors and commercially available GaAs MESFETs. Power dissipation is approximately 1.5 W. The device has applications in telecommunications, microwave digitally programmable waveform generation, and very-high-resolution graphics display systems. >
General Intellectual Achievement, Enlistment Intentions, and Racial Representativeness in the U.S. Military

Debates about the racial representativeness of the U.S. military often fail to consider whether the racial composition of those who want to join the military reflects that of the general population. Using a sample of young men from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, this article examines the effects of four different specifications of the independent variables race, poverty status, high school enrollment, age, and test score on an individual's enlistment intentions. The coefficient estimates were maximum likelihood estimates of a logistic regression model with an ordinal dependent variable. The results suggest that enlistment intentions depend heavily on intellectual achievement and poverty as well as race, and that models ignoring this may attribute false importance to the effects of race on intentions to enlist.
A Dependency-based Word Subsequence Kernel

This paper introduces a new kernel which computes similarity between two natural language sentences as the number of paths shared by their dependency trees. The paper gives a very efficient algorithm to compute it. This kernel is also an improvement over the word subsequence kernel because it only counts linguistically meaningful word subsequences which are based on word dependencies. It overcomes some of the difficulties encountered by syntactic tree kernels as well. Experimental results demonstrate the advantage of this kernel over word subsequence and syntactic tree kernels.
Poverty in India during the 1990s: A Regional Perspective

The authors provide estimates of poverty at the regional level in India, spanning the 1990s. Such estimates have not been previously available due to concerns regarding non-comparability of the 1993-94 and 1999-2000 National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) household survey data. They implement an adjustment procedure to restore comparability based on a methodology developed by Elbers and others (2003). The results indicate a less rapid decline of poverty, at the all-India level than has been suggested by Deaton and Dre (2002), based on a related adjustment methodology. The authors attempt to uncover the source of disagreement across these procedures, by probing a number of their underlying assumptions.
Conditioning improves performance of juvenile chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, to transportation stress☆

Abstract A positive conditioning approach was used, where a dewatering Stressor was associated with feeding, to help moderate the severity of the response of juvenile chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, to transportation. Not only did this procedure attenuate the physiological response to transportation stress, as evidenced by more rapid recovery of plasma cortisol, glucose and lactate concentrations following the stressful experience, but it also enhanced survival during transport, elevated resistance to the pathogen Aeromonas salmonicida, increased seawater adaptability, and helped the animals to cope with other Stressors relative to control groups. Fish given prior exposures to Stressors not associated with feeding performed intermediately between positively conditioned fish and controls in most tests.
Optimal power allocation over parallel Gaussian broadcast channels

We analyze the problem of communication over a set of parallel Gaussian broadcast channels, each with a different set of noise power for the users. We show that capacity can be achieved by optimal power allocation over the channels, and obtain an explicit characterization of the optimal power allocations and the resulting capacity region.
Activation of ATP-Binding Cassette Transporter A1 Transcription by Chromatin Remodeling Complex

Objective— Liver X receptor (LXR) regulates the transcription of ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) by binding to the DR-4 promoter element as a heterodimer with retinoid X receptor (RXR). The role of chromatin remodeling complex in LXR or ABCA1 activation has not been established previously. In this study, we investigated the activation of ABCA1 by brahma-related gene 1 (BRG-1) and brahma, members of the SWI/SNF (mating type switching/sucrose nonfermenting) chromatin remodeling complex. Methods and Results— Overexpression of wild-type BRG-1 in SW-13 cells, but not a catalytically inactive mutant, increased ABCA1 mRNA levels determined by RT-PCR. These effects were enhanced by LXR and RXR agonists. In 293T (epithelial kidney cell line) and Hep3B (hepatocyte cell line) cells, small interfering RNA against BRG-1/brm also affected ABCA1 mRNA levels. Synergistic activation of ABCA1 was obtained after coexpressing BRG-1 and SRC-1, a coactivator of LXR. Luciferase assays showed that this activation of ABCA1 was dependent on the promoter DR-4 element. Coimmunoprecipitation and chromatin immunoprecipitation studies indicated that the mechanism of BRG-1–mediated activation of ABCA1 involved interaction of LXR/RXR with BRG-1 and binding of this complex to ABCA1 promoter. Conclusions— Catalytic subunits of SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex, BRG-1 and brahma, play significant roles in enhancing LXR/RXR–mediated transcription of ABCA1 via the promoter DR-4 element.
Spontaneous synchrony in power-grid networks

Power-grid networks must be synchronized in order to function. A condition for the stability of the synchronous state enables identification of network parameters that enhance spontaneous synchronization—heralding the possibility of smart grids that operate optimally in real-world systems.
The Pay of Corporate Executives and Financial Professionals as Evidence of Rents in Top 1 Percent Incomes

incomes and wages has now raged for at least two decades. In this paper, we will make four arguments. First, the increase in the incomes and we will make four arguments. First, the increase in the incomes and wages of the top 1 percent over the last three decades should be interpreted wages of the top 1 percent over the last three decades should be interpreted as driven largely by the creation and/or redistribution of economic rents, and as driven largely by the creation and/or redistribution of economic rents, and not simply as the outcome of well-functioning competitive markets rewarding not simply as the outcome of well-functioning competitive markets rewarding skills or productivity based on marginal differences. This rise in rents accruing skills or productivity based on marginal differences. This rise in rents accruing to the top 1 percent could be the result of increased to the top 1 percent could be the result of increased opportunities for rentfor rent
Male Perceptions of Intimacy: A Qualitative Study:

Results of a qualitative study of male perceptions of intimacy are reported here. A semi-structured interview was used to interview five male participants on the topic of intimacy. Transcripts of t...
Training and Qualification: Social Workplace Learning

Increasingly complex competitive situations are forcing companies to implement lasting adaptations and innovations. Technological progress accelerates not only our life and our work but also our learning. At the same time, knowledge is no longer permanent, becoming obsolete relatively quickly. For that reason, it is far from sufficient today to simply acquire a set of skills. Rather, the ability to face new challenges creatively, quickly, and above all professionally moves to the forefront. The focus of all efforts with regard to human resources development must therefore be the attainment of competency objectives derived from the business objectives. Because of this, companies need professional internal competency management that can create flexible and decentralized conditions and enable individual learning at the workplace, both together with colleagues and also with external experts. In the future, those responsible for vocational training will have to face these new challenges. But watch out: the future is already here! It is high time to grapple with the learning system of the future, in which collaborative learning and cooperative working merge, and to distill from that the new in-house learning concept. In the future, organizations that are already working to build up an integrated learning system will surely have an uncatchable lead over companies that hesitate.
Advancing Concrete Strength Prediction using Non-destructive Testing: Development and Verification of a Generalizable Model

Abstract Accurate prediction of concrete compressive strength is imperative for investigating the in-situ concrete quality. To avoid destructive testing, developing reliable predictive models for concrete compressive strength using nondestructive tests (NDTs) is an active area of research. However, many of the developed models are dependent on calibration and/or concrete past history (e.g. mixture proportion, curing history, concrete mechanical properties, etc.), which reduces their utility for in-situ predictions. This paper develops predictive models for concrete compressive strength that are independent of concrete past history. To this end, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) and rebound hammer (RH) tests were performed on 84 concrete cylindrical samples. Next, compressive strengths were determined using destructive testing on these cylinders, and predictive models were developed using NDT results. Furthermore, to ensure generalizability to new data, all models were tested on independent data collected from six different research papers. The results support combined usage of UPV and RH in a quadratic polynomial model structure. Therefore, the final model was proposed based on combining models from a threefold cross-validation of the experimental data. This model predicted the independent data with very good accuracy. Finally, a concrete quality classification table using combined RH and UPV is proposed based on a variant of machine learning k-means clustering algorithm.
Predation of Ostrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) Eggs in Sweet Corn by Generalist Predators and the Impact of Alternative Foods

Abstract Generalist predators are common in most agricultural cropping systems. However, pest control from these predators is often overlooked as a component of integrated pest management (IPM) because the extent of predation is generally unknown and difficult to assess. In western New York sweet corn (Zea mays L.), the primary predators are Orius insidiosus (Say), Coleomegilla maculata (DeGeer), and Harmonia axyridis (Pallas). European corn borer [Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner)] is the primary insect pest. The objectives of this study were to compare O. nubilalis egg predation rates for these three species and to understand how egg predation by these predators is affected by the availability of alternative food. Laboratory data indicate that all three predators feed on O. nubilalis eggs. C. maculata consumed more eggs than H. axyridis or O. insidiosus. Immatures of C. maculata and O. insidiosus readily completed development on a diet of O. nubilalis eggs, but H. axyridis larvae could not complete developmen...
Forest Clearing in the Pantropics: December 2005 - August 2011

This report summarizes recent trends in large-scale tropical forest clearing identified by FORMA (Forest Monitoring for Action). Our analysis includes 27 countries that accounted for 94 percent of clearing during the period 2000-2005. We highlight countries with relatively large changes since 2005, both declines and increases. FORMA produces indicators that track monthly changes in the number of 1-sq.-km. tropical forest parcels that have experienced clearing with high probability. This report and the accompanying spreadsheet databases provide monthly estimates for 27 countries, 280 primary administrative units, and 2,907 secondary administrative units. Countries’ divergent experiences since 2005 have significantly altered their shares of global clearing in some cases. Brazil’s global share fell by 11.2 percentage points from December 2005 to August 2011, while the combined share of Malaysia, Indonesia, and Myanmar increased by 10.8. The diverse patterns revealed by FORMA’s first global survey caution against facile generalizations about forest clearing in the pantropics. During the past five years, the relative scale and pace of clearing have changed across regions, within regions, and within countries. Although the overall trend seems hopeful, it remains to be seen whether the decline in forest clearing will persist as the global economy recovers.
Anterior-segment optical coherence tomography investigation of corneal deturgescence and epithelial remodeling after DSAEK.

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to evaluate via Fourier-domain anterior-segment optical coherence tomography 3-dimensional corneal, epithelial, and graft thickness changes after Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK). METHODS Sixteen eyes were investigated preoperatively and up to 6 months postoperatively for preoperative and postoperative central corneal thickness (CCT), minimum corneal thickness, central graft thickness (CGT), and for epithelial topographic thickness variability. An age-matched and gender-matched control group of 32 healthy eyes was used for comparison. RESULTS In the DSAEK group, the preoperative CCT was 582.32 ± 45.24 (550-615) μm. One-month postoperatively, the CCT was 736.26 ± 34.52 (713-771) μm, and the CGT was 210.42 ± 34.52 (145-243) μm. Three months postoperatively, the CCT was 641.39 ± 38.75 (569-684) μm, and the CGT was 171.23 ± 27.54 (119-185) μm. The preoperative center epithelial thickness was 55.74 ± 9.29 (45-74) μm, the minimum was 32.53 ± 14.30 (13-53) μm, the maximum was 76.00 ± 11.32 (64-105) μm, and the topographic thickness variability was 10.84 ± 4.09 (5.90-18.80) μm. Three months postoperatively, the center epithelial thickness was 47.21 ± 5.45 (43-56) μm, the minimum was 35.11 ± 4.70 (30-41) μm, the maximum was 58.11 ± 6.51 (49-65) μm, and the topographic variability was 4.77 ± 1.48 (2.90-6.50) μm. The average differences were -8.53, +4.53, and -17.89 μm for the center, minimum, and maximum (P < 0.001, <0.001, and <0.001). Similar results were obtained 3 and 6 months postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS We present a near-term postoperative investigation of the corneal and epithelial thickness changes after DSAEK for bullous keratopathy, by in vivo, clinical anterior-segment optical coherence tomography. Epithelial thickness recovery and normalization and corneal deturgescence were noted as early as in the first postoperative month.
Iterative Modal Identification Algorithm; Implementation and Evaluation

Applying Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) in structural health monitoring (SHM) systems has received significant interest from research communities in recent years. While incorporating wireless technology in monitoring systems has provided considerable improvements, new approaches are still needed to address existing challenges in their application. A major challenge in application of WSNs in SHM is the limited power resources of wireless sensors and the latency in the data processing due to the low communication bandwidth. The performance of the networks on both of these factors can be improved through the use of an iterative modal identification algorithm, called IMID. This algorithm uses the local processing capability of wireless sensors and provides a substantial reduction in required communication for identification of system’s modal properties. The iterative approach is such that, starting from an initial estimate of the system’s parameter, all of the nodes of the network use their local measurement and update the estimated modal parameters one-by-one until the convergence of results happens. In this manner, the system’s parameters are the only data that need to be transmitted through the network for updating. This approach results in the significant reduction in the total volume of communication. This paper presents the application of the IMID in modal identification of a 3-D steel truss structure. The results are discussed and the performance of the algorithm is evaluated.
Succession of Alkane Conformational Motifs Bound within Hydrophobic Supramolecular Capsular Assemblies.

n-Alkane encapsulation experiments within dimeric octa-acid cavitand capsules in water reveal a succession of packing motifs from extended, to helical, to hairpin, to spinning top structures with increasing chain length. Here, we report a molecular simulation study of alkane conformational preferences within these host–guest assemblies to uncover the factors stabilizing distinct conformers. The simulated alkane conformers follow the trends inferred from 1H NMR experiments, while guest proton chemical shifts evaluated from Gauge Invariant Atomic Orbital calculations provide further evidence our simulations capture guest packing within these assemblies. Analysis of chain length and dihedral distributions indicates that packing under confinement to minimize nonpolar guest and host interior contact with water largely drives the transitions. Mean intramolecular distance maps and transfer free energy differences suggest the extended and helical motifs are members of a larger family of linear guest structures, f...
Performance comparison of LMS, diagonalizer and bootstrapped adaptive cross-pol cancellers for M-ary QAM

In microwave radio communication networks, the transmission capacity can be doubled by using orthogonally polarized quadrature amplitude modulated (QAM) carriers. The orthogonally polarized waves can suffer degradation due to carrier-to-cross-polarization interference (C/XPI). Particularly during multipath fading, such degradation would become intolerable. Different canceller structures are proposed to mitigate the effect of cross-polarization. Among these are the diagonalizer, the LMS, and the bootstrapped cancellers. The bootstrapped canceller has been implemented in different applications such as satellite dual-polarized communication, tactical communication, and QAM microwave radio. The probability of error performance of the bootstrapped cross-polarization canceller (BXPC) is studied and compared to the performance of other cancellers. The performance of the three cancellers is compared numerically for the 16 QAM with r=-10 dB, and -5 dB. It is shown that the LMS canceller outperforms the diagonalizers, particularly when the cross-coupling is high. Except for a very low signal-to-noise ratio, the BXPC outperforms the LMS with 64 QAM, more that with 16 QAM. >
Validation and scaling of soil moisture in a semi-arid environment: SMAP validation experiment 2015 (SMAPVEX15)

Abstract The NASA SMAP (Soil Moisture Active Passive) mission conducted the SMAP Validation Experiment 2015 (SMAPVEX15) in order to support the calibration and validation activities of SMAP soil moisture data products. The main goals of the experiment were to address issues regarding the spatial disaggregation methodologies for improvement of soil moisture products and validation of the in situ measurement upscaling techniques. To support these objectives high-resolution soil moisture maps were acquired with the airborne PALS (Passive Active L-band Sensor) instrument over an area in southeast Arizona that includes the Walnut Gulch Experimental Watershed (WGEW), and intensive ground sampling was carried out to augment the permanent in situ instrumentation. The objective of the paper was to establish the correspondence and relationship between the highly heterogeneous spatial distribution of soil moisture on the ground and the coarse resolution radiometer-based soil moisture retrievals of SMAP. The high-resolution mapping conducted with PALS provided the required connection between the in situ measurements and SMAP retrievals. The in situ measurements were used to validate the PALS soil moisture acquired at 1-km resolution. Based on the information from a dense network of rain gauges in the study area, the in situ soil moisture measurements did not capture all the precipitation events accurately. That is, the PALS and SMAP soil moisture estimates responded to precipitation events detected by rain gauges, which were in some cases not detected by the in situ soil moisture sensors. It was also concluded that the spatial distribution of the soil moisture resulted from the relatively small spatial extents of the typical convective storms in this region was not completely captured with the in situ stations. After removing those cases (approximately 10% of the observations) the following metrics were obtained: RMSD (root mean square difference) of 0.016 m 3 /m 3 and correlation of 0.83. The PALS soil moisture was also compared to SMAP and in situ soil moisture at the 36-km scale, which is the SMAP grid size for the standard product. PALS and SMAP soil moistures were found to be very similar owing to the close match of the brightness temperature measurements and the use of a common soil moisture retrieval algorithm. Spatial heterogeneity, which was identified using the high-resolution PALS soil moisture and the intensive ground sampling, also contributed to differences between the soil moisture estimates. In general, discrepancies found between the L-band soil moisture estimates and the 5-cm depth in situ measurements require methodologies to mitigate the impact on their interpretations in soil moisture validation and algorithm development. Specifically, the metrics computed for the SMAP radiometer-based soil moisture product over WGEW will include errors resulting from rainfall, particularly during the monsoon season when the spatial distribution of soil moisture is especially heterogeneous.
Early Myocardial Strain Changes During Potentially Cardiotoxic Chemotherapy May Occur as a Result of Reductions in Left Ventricular End-Diastolic Volume: The Need to Interpret Left Ventricular Strain With Volumes.

Cardiac dysfunction and myocellular injury from cancer therapeutics are identified by reductions in left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (LVEF) or >15% deteriorations in myocardial strain.1 Myocardial strain may deteriorate as a result of increases in LV end-systolic volume (LVESV), reductions in LV end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), or both. Decreases in LVEDV caused by hypovolemia from poor oral intake, emesis, or myocardial loss2 occur during cancer treatment. We sought to determine the frequency with which decrements in myocardial strain were mediated by decreases in LVEDV versus increases in LVESV in patients receiving potentially cardiotoxic chemotherapy. The study was approved by the local institutional review board, and participants provided witnessed, written informed consent. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance examinations were performed on a 1.5-T Siemens Avanto scanner <6 hours before chemotherapy administration both before and 3 months after the initiation of cancer treatment. LV volumes, LVEF, LV mass, relative wall thickness, and midwall eulerian circumferential strain (ECC) were calculated from a series of LV short-axis white-blood cine stacks and a midcavity short-axis grid-tagged image.3 In addition, global longitudinal strain (GLS) was assessed from high-temporal-resolution 2- and 4-chamber cine views …
Amy Ione. Art and the Brain: Plasticity, Embodiment, and the Unclosed Circle.

Ione, Amy. 2016. Art and the Brain: Plasticity, Embodiment, and the Unclosed Circle. Boston: Brill, Rodopi. xvi, 364 pages. Illustrations. Hardcover $151.
Accumulation and localization of macrophage phenotypes with human intervertebral disc degeneration.

Abstract Background Context Chronic inflammation is an important component of intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration, but there is limited knowledge about the identity and source of inflammatory cells involved with the degenerative processes. Macrophages can exhibit multiple phenotypes and are known inflammatory regulators in many tissues, but their phenotypes have not been characterized in IVD degeneration. Purpose We aimed to characterize accumulation and localization of macrophages in IVD degeneration. Study Design/Setting This is an exploratory study to characterize macrophage phenotypes in human cadaver IVDs and the effects of injury and degeneration using multiple immunohistochemistry methods. Outcome Measures Percent positivity of immunohistochemical markers specific for CCR7, CD163, and CD206, and qualitative assessments of dual immunofluorescence and immunostaining localization were the outcome measures. Methods Macrophages were identified in human cadaveric IVDs with immunohistochemistry using cell surface markers CCR7, CD163, and CD206, which are associated with proinflammatory M1, remodeling M2c, and anti-inflammatory M2a phenotypes, respectively. Variations in the accumulation and localization of macrophage markers with degenerative grade across subjects and within donors are described. Results Cells expressing all three macrophage markers were found in all degenerative IVDs, but not in the healthiest IVDs. Cells expressing CCR7 and CD163, but not CD206, significantly increased with degenerative grade. Many cells also co-expressed multiple macrophage markers. Across all degenerative grades, CCR7+ and CD163+ were significantly more present in unhealthy nucleus pulposus (NP), annulus fibrosus (AF), and end plate (EP) regions exhibiting structural irregularities and defects. Positively stained cells in the NP and AF closely resembled resident IVD cells, suggesting that IVD cells can express macrophage cell surface markers. In the EP, there were increasing trends of positively stained cells with atypical morphology and distribution, suggesting a source for exogenous macrophage infiltration into the IVD. Conclusions Chronic inflammatory conditions of IVD degeneration appear to involve macrophages or macrophage-like cells, as expression of multiple macrophage markers increased with degeneration, especially around unhealthy regions with defects and the EP. Knowledge of macrophage phenotypes and their localization better elucidates the complex injury and repair processes in IVDs and may eventually lead to novel treatments.
An examination of the relationship between social self-efficacy and personal growth initiative in international context

Abstract The cross-cultural transitioning experience of international students has been viewed as a high-impact practice for student learning. International students experience both challenges and growth opportunities when they encounter new peoples and environments. However, limited research exists on the student factors that predict benefits, growth or resilience for international students through their cross-cultural transitioning experience. This study investigated social self-efficacy as a predictor of personal growth initiative amongst international students, above and beyond demographic and linguistic factors. In addition, the factorial structure of Personal Growth Initiative Scale-II was examined. Our results indicated that the perceived ability to successfully negotiate social situations and produce positive social interactions predict greater personal growth initiative and its dimensions regardless of students’ language proficiency. Moreover, results from the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) provided further support for the first-order four-factor structure of the PGIS-II. Results have implications for improving international student integration, because efforts to support students’ social self-efficacy are linked to their personal growth initiative.
Assessment of a simulated contraceptive prescribing activity for pharmacy students.

Abstract Background and purpose The role of the pharmacist has been shifting rapidly. One example of change is the passage of legislation allowing pharmacists to independently initiate self-administered hormonal contraceptives in several states. There is no evidence of this specific topic being covered in pharmacy school curricula, and many states are requiring additional post-graduate training. This activity was designed to determine the utility of a contraceptive prescribing simulation activity for pharmacy students. Educational activity and setting Pharmacy students enrolled in a women's health elective learned about relevant state legislation and attended a clinical skills center simulation activity where they utilized an available prescribing algorithm. Students completed two scenarios and received grades based on their clinical decision-making and patient interaction skills. An electronic survey was distributed post-activity to assess student satisfaction and confidence when prescribing contraceptives. Responses and grades on the assignment were analyzed to determine the activity's utility. Findings Students finished with median scores of 15, 14.8, and 14.5 out of 15 possible points for the three scenarios. Students reported overall satisfaction with the activity, with general agreement that the activity was realistic and made them feel like they were prepared to prescribe contraceptives. Summary Independently initiating contraceptives is a novel practice area for pharmacists. This activity introduced students to the process of prescribing using realistic forms and scenarios. The utility of the activity was twofold - it introduced students to the changing environment of pharmacy practice and allowed students to apply their knowledge of contraceptives and women's health. Students performed well on the activity and reported high levels of satisfaction.
False data injection attack in smart grid topology control: Vulnerability and countermeasure

Cyber security is a crucial factor for modern power system as many applications are heavily relied on the result of state estimation. Therefore, it is necessary to assess and enhance cyber security for new applications in power system. As an emerging technology, smart grid topology control has been investigated in stability and reliability perspectives while the associated cyber security issue is not studied before. In successful false data injection attack (FDIA) against AC state estimation, attacker could alter online stability check result by decreasing real power flow measurement on the switching target line to undermine physical system stability in topology control. The physical impact of FDIA on system control operation and stability are illustrated. The vulnerability is discussed on perfect FDIA and imperfect FDIA against residue based bad data detection and corresponding countermeasure is proposed to secure critical substations in the system. The vulnerability and countermeasure are demonstrated on IEEE 24 bus reliability test system (RTS).
Women's Sexual Health and Aging

Older women are often sexually active, but physicians caring for older women rarely address sexual concerns. Although women's desire for sex declines with age, a majority of older women rate sex as having importance in their lives. Women identify emotional intimacy as an important reason for engaging in sexual relationships. Women are less likely than men to have an available spousal or intimate partner and more likely to have a partner with sexual difficulties of their own. Up to half of sexually active older women report a distressing sexual problem, with low desire and problems related to genitourinary syndrome (vulvovaginal atrophy) being most common. Difficulty with orgasm in older women is often associated with a partner's erectile dysfunction. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are increasingly prevalent in older women. A minority of older women report discussing sexual issues with a physician. Most commonly, the patient initiates discussions. Physicians should ask regularly and proactively about sexual activity and function. Important interventions include offering practical advice to common chronic medical conditions and sexual problems that confront older women; treating vulvovaginal atrophy; and providing STI screening, prevention strategies, and treatment when appropriate.
Ichnotaxonomy of the Cambrian Spence Shale Member of the Langston Formation, Wellsville Mountains, Northern Utah, USA

The Spence Shale of northern Utah is the oldest North American middle Cambrian (∼506–505 Ma) Burgess Shale-type (BST) deposit and, unlike previously thought for BST deposits, has a very diverse ichnofauna. Twenty-four ichnogenera and 35 ichnospecies were identified: Archaeonassa (A. fossulata and A. jamisoni isp. nov.), Arenicolites carbonaria, Aulichnites, Bergaueria (B. hemispherica and B. aff. perata), Conichnus conicus, Cruziana (C. barbata and C. problematica), Dimorphichnus, Diplichnites (D. cf. binatus, D. gouldi, and D. cf. govenderi), Gordia marnia, Gyrophyllites kwassizensis, Halopoa aff. imbricata, Lockeia siliquaria, Monomorphichnus (M. bilinearis, M. lineatus, and M. cf. multilineatus), Nereites cf. macleayi, Phycodes curvipalmatum, Phycosiphon incertum, Planolites (P. annularius, P. beverleyensis, and P. montanus), Protovirgularia (P. dichotoma and P. cf. pennatus), Rusophycus (R. carbonarius, R. cf. pudicus, and R. cf. cerecedensis), Sagittichnus lincki, Scolicia, Taenidium cf. satanassi, Teichichnus cf. nodosus, and Treptichnus (T. bifurcus, T. pedum, and T. vagans). The ichnofossils comprise three ichnocoenoses—Rusophycus-Cruziana, Sagittichnus, and Arenicolites-Conichnus—representing dwelling, deposit- and filter-feeding, grazing, locomotion, and predation behaviors of organisms (e.g., annelid worms and trilobites). Two ichnofossil associations are suggestive of predation: (1) Planolites terminating at a Rusophycus; and (2) Archaeonassa crosscutting a Taenidium. The Spence Shale ichnofauna represent a distal Cruziana Ichnofacies and depauperate, distal Skolithos Ichnofacies. A new ichnospecies of Archaeonassa is proposed, A. jamisoni isp. nov., and Ptychoplasma (Protovirgularia) vagans is herein transferred to Treptichnus. This study is the first ichnotaxonomic study of the Spence Shale and North American BST deposits and shows highly diverse ichnofaunas can be present in BST deposits.
Through the Looking Glass: Ethics and Academic Administration

The aim of this chapter is to draw attention to the shift in ethical perspective that is experienced and required as one moves from the role of faculty member to that of an academic administrator. The shift includes a shift to an institutional perspective regarding ethical issues; a shift in the kinds of issues recognized and encountered; a shift and in the kind of ethical reasoning required to address those issues. I argue that there is the shift from moral reasoning for purposes of judging, to that of moral reasoning for the purposes of taking action. I suggest a broad typology of the ethical issues encountered by administrators, including those that arise from institutional culture.
Introduction and Prologue

It is said that the past is prologue. This saying is borne out by most of the history of science, but it applies only loosely to computer science, since this “modern” science does not have that much of a past compared to the traditional sciences like physics and chemistry. In the latter, in any era the events of the past do presage the ongoing and future development of these sciences. The development of computer science proceeds at such a rapid and frenetic pace that the boundary between past events and the current state of the subject is somewhat blurred. In this book, with its advisedly provocative title referring to the heart of computer science, we take the position that its prologue is indeed rather brief and somewhat diffuse. To recount how the history of computer science interacts with its current state we adopt a simplifying assumption about its early history, the reasonableness of which we shall defend, to the effect that the early and defining history of computer science (the prologue) can be encapsulated in the work of one man, the British mathematician Alan Turing. Except for some very early and rather naive contributions by the outstanding mathematicians Pascal and Leibniz and some later more substantial ones by the polymath Babbage and the logician Godel, the subject which we now call computer science sprang largely from the brilliant and original researches of Turing, as we shall attempt to illustrate.
Integrated NEMS Magnetoelectric Sensors and Antennas.

The coexistence of electric polarization and magnetization in multiferroic materials provides great opportunities for realizing magnetoelectric coupling, including electric field control of magnetism, or vice versa, through a strain mediated magnetoelectric coupling in layered magnetic/ferroelectric multiferroic heterostructures [1]–[9]. Strong magnetoelectric coupling has been the enabling factor for different multiferroic devices, which however has been elusive, particularly at RF/microwave frequencies. In this presentation, I will cover the most recent progress on new integrated magnetoelectric materials, magnetoelectric NEMS (nanoelectromechanical system) based sensors and antennas. Specifically, we will introduce magnetoelectric multiferroic materials, and their applications in different devices, including: (1) novel ultra-compact RF NEMS acoustic magnetoelectric antennas immune from ground plane effect with 0 /100 in size, self-biased operation and potentially 1~2% voltage tunable operation frequency; and (2) ultra-sensitive RF NEMS magnetoelectric magnetometers with ultra-low noise of ~1pT/Hz 1/2 at 10 Hz for DC and AC magnetic fields sensing. These novel magnetoelectric devices show great promise for applications in compact, lightweight and power efficient sensors and sensing systems, ultra-compact antennas and for radars, communication systems, biomedical devices, IoT, etc.
Chemokines Modulate Immune Surveillance in Tumorigenesis, Metastasis, and Response to Immunotherapy.

Chemokines are small secreted proteins that orchestrate migration and positioning of immune cells within the tissues. Chemokines are essential for the function of the immune system. Accumulating evidence suggest that chemokines play important roles in tumor microenvironment. In this review we discuss an association of chemokine expression and activity within the tumor microenvironment with cancer outcome. We summarize regulation of immune cell recruitment into the tumor by chemokine-chemokine receptor interactions and describe evidence implicating chemokines in promotion of the “inflamed” immune-cell enriched tumor microenvironment. We review both tumor-promoting function of chemokines, such as regulation of tumor metastasis, and beneficial chemokine roles, including stimulation of anti-tumor immunity and response to immunotherapy. Finally, we discuss the therapeutic strategies target tumor-promoting chemokines or induce/deliver beneficial chemokines within the tumor focusing on pre-clinical studies and clinical trials going forward. The goal of this review is to provide insight into comprehensive role of chemokines and their receptors in tumor pathobiology and treatment.
PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY: FACT OR FICTION, PART 2: Session 402

Abstract Psychopharmacology is complex with many theories explaining mechanisms of action, but relatively few conclusive studies. This lack of high quality evidence often leads to misconceptions and possibly false beliefs, as well as perpetuation of anecdotal experiences with medications. This presentation aims to examine several commonly used medications in geriatric psychiatry and compare the existing evidence to theoretical effects and side-effects. We will also compare and contrast available evidence to support or refute theories and anecdotal experiences.
Who Needs Pharmacologic Therapy

Treatment of atrial fibrillation has evolved significantly in the last ten years, with ablation becoming a far more common form of treatment for this most common type of arrhythmias. However, while ablation has become more common, certain populations derive continued benefit from the use of pharmacologic therapy for treatment. We review the use of pharmacologic therapy and novel considerations for treatment of atrial fibrillation.
Fragile Foundations and Enduring Challenges: Essays on Democratic Politics and Governance

In this volume of timely essays, Max O. Stephenson Jr. offers unique insight into the state of politics and policymaking in the United States. Covering the period 2010-2018, his essays chronicle a growing crisis in American governance with many of the nation’s professed values and principles increasingly under attack—including the rule of law, freedom of speech, freedom of the press and the ability of a share of its citizens otherwise eligible to vote to exercise their right to do so. But Stephenson does more than sound a warning cry. He urges all Americans to reclaim self-governance and democracy by embracing the central values and core purposes underpinning the United States. Max O. Stephenson Jr. is Professor of Public and International Affairs at Virginia Tech where he also directs the Virginia Tech Institute for Policy and Governance (VTIPG).
The Comprehensive Effects of Sales Force Management: A Dynamic Structural Analysis of Selection, Compensation, and Training

This study provides a comprehensive model of an agent’s behavior in response to multiple sales management instruments, including compensation, recruiting/termination, and training. The model takes ...
How a Widow Becomes a Witch: Land, Loss and Law in Charter S. 1377

This essay takes a close look at the events related in Sawyer charter 1377, a late tenth-century account of the execution of a widow, probably for alleged witchcraft, on the south-eastern border of...