cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Comparison of Ellipsometer and Rbs Analysis of Implant Damage in Silicon

The purpose of this study is to analyze ion implant damage profile using RBS and ellipsometry. Silicon wafers were implanted with 75As at 100, 200 or 300 keV; doses were chosen to generate constant peak impurity concentrations at each energy. The samples were then analyzed using RBS to obtain damage- depth profiles and ellipsometry to obtain Δ,ψ parameters. At light doses decreasingΔ values correspond to increased scattering yield; at higher doses ψ increases rapidly as the scattering yield approaches the random value. The higher energy implants shift the Δ-ψ curves to larger ψ values. Multilayer structures, that include lightly damaged silicon on either side of the project range as well as more damaged near the projected range, are required to model the ellipsometer parameters.
Research on Tailoring Technology of Operation System of Medium-high Altitude Area Array CCD Aerial Camera

In view of the actual demand of operating system of the air plane array CCD camera,and combining with the hardware resources of the PC104 bus structure,the Linux system adopted in CCD camera is cut practically,which based on the tailoring method adopting the combination of coarse-grained and fine-grained to enhance the Linux kernel preemption.Through improving the scheduling strategy of Linux kernel scheduler,we build a embedded system with the strong implementation capacity.The system startup and task of the response performance test in different environment shows that the cut systems is stable,reliable,and can achieve the startup time less than 5s,the performance of the task response time less than 20 ms.
Recurrence Within 24 Hours of Unprovoked Seizures

The incidence and risk factors of acute recurrence of unprovoked seizures within 24 hours of admission to an Emergency Department (ED) were analyzed by a retrospective chart review at Schneider Children’s Hospital, New York.
Polymeric micelle nanocarriers in cancer research

Amphiphilic block copolymers (ABCs) assemble into a spherical nanoscopic supramolecular core/shell nanostructure termed a polymeric micelle that has been widely researched as an injectable nanocarrier for poorly water-soluble anticancer agents. The aim of this review article is to update progress in the field of drug delivery towards clinical trials, highlighting advances in polymeric micelles used for drug solubilization, reduced off-target toxicity and tumor targeting by the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. Polymeric micelles vary in stability in blood and drug release rate, and accordingly play different but key roles in drug delivery. For intravenous (IV) infusion, polymeric micelles that disassemble in blood and rapidly release poorly water-soluble anticancer agent such as paclitaxel have been used for drug solubilization, safety and the distinct possibility of toxicity reduction relative to existing solubilizing agents, e.g., Cremophor EL. Stable polymeric micelles are long-circulating in blood and reduce distribution to non-target tissue, lowering off-target toxicity. Further, they participate in the EPR effect in murine tumor models. In summary, polymeric micelles act as injectable nanocarriers for poorly water-soluble anticancer agents, achieving reduced toxicity and targeting tumors by the EPR effect.
Diagnostic yield and clinical impact of microbiologic diagnosis from CT-guided drainage in patients previously treated with empiric antibiotics

The purpose of the study was to evaluate diagnostic yield and the added value of culture results on the clinical management of patients empirically treated with antibiotics prior to CT-guided drainage. This retrospective, HIPAA-compliant, IRB-approved study reviewed records of 300 consecutive patients who underwent CT-guided aspiration or drainage for suspected infected fluid collection while on empiric antibiotics (11/2011 to 9/2013) at a single institution. Patient imaging and clinical characteristics were evaluated by an abdominal imaging fellow and culture results, and patient management were evaluated by an infectious diseases fellow. After exclusion of 14/300 (4.6%) patients who were not on empiric antibiotics and 8/300 (2.6%) patients in which no culture was acquired, 278 patients (average age 55 ± 16 years; M:F ratio 54:46) constituted the final study cohort. Leukocytosis was present in 163/278 (59%), and fever in 65/278 (24%). The average collection size was 8.5 ± 4.2 cm with gas present in 140/278 (50%) of collections; median amount drained was 35 mL, and visibly purulent material was obtained in 172/278 (63%). 236/278 (85%) received drains and the remainder were aspirated only. Average time between initiation of antibiotics and start of the drainage procedure was 4.1 ± 6.4 days (median 1.7 days). Cultures were positive in 205/278 (74%) patients with a resulting change in management in 181/278 (65%) cases. The change in management included change of antibiotics in 71/278 (26%), narrowing the antibiotic regimen in 94/278 (34%), and cessation of antibiotics in 16/278 (6%). Multidrug-resistant bacteria were cultured in 53/278 (19%). Several factors were found to be statistically significant predictors of positive cultures: patient leukocytosis (sens 62%, spec 53%), gas in the collection on CT (sens 59%, spec 77%), purulent material aspiration (sens 76%, spec 76%), and presence of polymorphonuclear cells in the specimen. Despite predrainage antibiotic therapy, CT-guided drainage demonstrates a high yield of positive cultures and influences clinical management in the majority of patients.
Challenges and Opportunities in Automated Detection of Eating Activity

Motivated by applications in nutritional epidemiology and food journaling, computing researchers have proposed numerous techniques for automating dietary monitoring over the years. Although progress has been made, a truly practical system that can automatically recognize what people eat in real-world settings remains elusive. Eating detection is a foundational element of automated dietary monitoring (ADM) since automatically recognizing when a person is eating is required before identifying what and how much is being consumed. Additionally, eating detection can serve as the basis for new types of dietary self-monitoring practices such as semi-automated food journaling.This chapter discusses the problem of automated eating detection and presents a variety of practical techniques for detecting eating activities in real-world settings. These techniques center on three sensing modalities: first-person images taken with wearable cameras, ambient sounds, and on-body inertial sensors [34, 35, 36, 37]. The chapter begins with an analysis of how first-person images reflecting everyday experiences can be used to identify eating moments using two approaches: human computation and convolutional neural networks. Next, we present an analysis showing how certain sounds associated with eating can be recognized and used to infer eating activities. Finally, we introduce a method for detecting eating moments with on-body inertial sensors placed on the wrist.
THU0269 Electrocardiographic nonspecific ST-T abnormalities are associated with higher modified framingham risk score in systemic lupus erythematosus patients without clinical cardiovascular disease

Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of mortality in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Traditional CVD risk scores underperform in SLE. Interestingly, a high prevalence of nonspecific ST-T changes (NST-T) has been recently reported in lupus patients1,2. These electrocardiographic findings are known to increase the risk for myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, CVD, and all-cause mortality3 in the general population, but in SLE this association remains unknown. Therefore, we sought to define the association of NST-T with the modified Framingham Risk Score (mFRS) as a surrogate outcome for CVD4. Objectives To evaluate if NST-T are associated with higher mFRS in SLE patients without clinical cardiovascular disease. Methods Adult SLE patients without clinical CVD continuously seen at the Columbia University Lupus Center between April 2016 and January 2017, meeting 1997 American College of Rheumatology classification criteria for SLE were studied. Twelve-lead electrocardiogram (EKG), high sensitivity C-reactive Protein (hsCRP), demographics, disease-specific characteristics, medication use, and CVD risk factors were ascertained. Univariable and multivariable linear regression models were constructed to test the association of NST-T with the mFRS. Results Seventy-four lupus patients were studied (baseline characteristics in table 1). In univariable analysis, patients with NST-T had a significantly higher mFRS (0.44, p=0.018). There were no confounders identified in the analysis. However after adjusting for variables associated with the mFRS: smoking, diabetes, hsCRP, Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index [SDI], aspirin use, this association remained statistically significant (0.38, p=0.05). Image 1 shows the association of mFRS with NST-T vs no NST-T. Conclusions Non Specific ST-T changes are independently associated with a higher mFRS in SLE patients without clinical CVD. References Bourre-Tessier J, Urowitz MB, Pineau CA. et al. Electrocardiographic findings in systemic lupus erythematosus: data from an international inception cohort.Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2015 Jan;67(1):128–35. Geraldino-Pardilla L,Gartshteyn Y, Pina P, et al.ECG non-specific ST-T and QTc abnormalities in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus compared with rheumatoid arthritis. Lupus Sci Med. 2016 Dec 16;3(1):e000168. Daviglus ML, Liao Y, Stamler J, et al. Association of Nonspecific Minor ST-T Abnormalities With Cardiovascular Mortality The Chicago Western Electric Study. JAMA. 1999;281(6):530–536. Urowitz MB, Ibanez D, Gladman DD,et al. Modified Framingham Risk Factor Score for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. J Rheumatol. 2016 May;43(5):875–9. Disclosure of Interest None declared
Abstract P103: Anti-hypertensive Mechanisms of Action of Gq/11Inhibitor Ligands

Chronic blockade of individual G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) has proven to be inadequate strategy for managing hypertension partly because the subcellular heterotrimeric G proteins that propagate intracellular signaling can simultaneously couple to several other vasopressor receptors. Whether blood pressure can better be controlled by directly targeting G proteins has not been thoroughly investigated due to paucity of selective, cell-permeable inhibitors. Here, we tested whether chemical inhibition of Gq/11 proteins in vivo and ex vivo using recently discovered small-molecule inhibitor ligands, YM-254890 (YM), FR-900359 (FR) and WU-07047 (WU) is sufficient to reverse hypertension in mice. Using ex vivo vessel reactivity assay, we found that Gq/11 inhibitors markedly reduced vasoconstriction evoked with phenylephrine (PE), vasopressin, endothelin-1, and the thromboxane analog U-46619. Blockade of PE-induced contractility by the Gq/11 inhibitors showed the following rank-order potency: FR LogIC50 -0.008 ± 0 > YM LogIC50 -0.49 ± 0 > WU LogIC50 -64.95 ± 6.4. YM and WU but not FR inhibited PE-induced vasoconstriction through G protein-dependent and independent pathways by blocking L-type calcium channel-mediated Ca 2+ influx. Acute subcutaneous injection of FR and YM (0.3 mg/kg, s.c.) in normotensive and N ω -Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) hypertension mice elicited marked hypotension, which was more severe (ΔSBP = -25 ± 2.7 vs. ΔSBP = -21 ± 2.2 mmHg) and long lasting (FR t1/2 ≅ 12 hr vs. YM t1/2 ≅ 4 hr) after the injection of FR relative to YM. In DOCA-salt hypertension mice, chronic injection of FR (0.3 mg/kg, s.c., daily for seven days) reversed hypertension (vehicle SBP: 149 ± 5 vs. FR SBP: 117 ± 7 mmHg) and sustained blood pressure reduction several days after terminating the injection regimen (DOCA SBP: 141 ± 2 vs. SBP 5 days post FR: 128 ± 5 mmHg). Our results together support the hypothesis that increased Gq/11 activity in blood pressure-regulating organs is involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension, and that direct systemic blockade of Gq/11 reverses hypertension. The findings provide clear evidence for targeting Gq/11 in the cardiovascular system as an effective therapy for treating hypertension.
Picky Pugettia : a tale of two kelps

Herbivores strongly influence macroalgal community structure. Crustacean herbivores may be important in some systems; the Northern Kelp crab (Pugettia producta) is a common sub-tidal species with reported feeding preferences for kelp. In the Salish Sea, standing beds of Macrocystis pyrifera, a highly preferred food of Pugettia in California, do not occur; instead, the dominant canopy-forming kelp is Nereocystis luetkeana. However, drift Macrocystis occasionally washes up following autumn storms. This study used laboratory feeding trials to address whether Pugettia that live where Macrocystis beds do not occur will consume it and how their consumption of this less-familiar kelp compares to their feeding on the locally abundant Nereocystis. We found that Pugettia consumed much greater quantities of drift Nereocystis than drift Macrocystis in both choice and no-choice feeding experiments. Chemical analyses suggest no difference in phlorotannin levels between Nereocystis and Macrocystis, although Nereocystis had a slightly more favorable C:N than Macrocystis. The observed preference for bull kelp exhibited by Pugettia in the Salish Sea may be explained by the fact that only bull kelp is familiar, locally abundant, nutritious, and provides suitable crab habitat.
America's Founding and the Struggle over Economic Inequality. By ClementFatovic. (Lawrence, KS: University Press of Kansas, 2015. Pp. xxi, 337. $39.95.) : Book Review

The 2011 Occupy Wall Street protests vaulted the issue of economic inequality to political salience. Scholarship often lags behind political movements, but in this case social scientists had alread...
Lung screening in head and neck cancer survivors.

179Background: Lung screening is a relatively new screening method to detect early lung cancers among current or former smokers (American Cancer Society, 2016). One quarter of head and neck cancer ...
Social Influence, Psychology of

Social influence phenomena often are divided into conformity, compliance, and obedience categories. People exhibit conformity when they change attitudes or behaviors to reflect a perceived norm. Conformity can be motivated either by a desire for accuracy, called informational influence, or a need for social approval, called normative influence. Several variables affect conformity rates. These variables include culture, age, gender, and the size of the group. Norms can be divided into injunctive norms (what society says one should do) and descriptive norms (what people actually do). Either of these norms can lead to conformity, depending on which the person attends to. Compliance refers to agreement to an explicit request. Investigators have identified several procedures that increase compliance rates. These sequential-request procedures include the foot-in-the-door technique in which agreement with a small request is followed by a larger request. Other effective procedures include the door-in-the face, low-ball, and that's-not-all techniques. People exhibit obedience when they respond to a command from an authority figure. Studies find surprisingly high levels of obedience to commands. Researchers point to the studies to illustrate the often-unrecognized power of the situation to affect behavior.
The Social Epistemology of Public Institutions

This article is about how to understand the reasons public institutions give to justify their decisions. I seek to identify what must be true of public institutions as collective agents for them to be able to give something like ‘their reasons’ for making decisions which are binding for citizens. What must be the relationship between having reasons and giving reasons for a given decision for statements about institutions’ practice of giving reasons to be true? The idea of what it is for an individual person to have a reason to believe, to do or to decide something is fundamental to epistemology, but also to moral philosophy and to all practical concerns, law in particular. In this article, I attempt to further our understanding of the idea of having a reason to make a decision in the law.
Quotations, Displays & Autonomes

Post-Fregean theorists use 'quotation' to denote indifferently both colloquially called quotations (repetitions of prior utterances) and what I call 'displays': 'Rot' means red. Colloquially, quotation is a strictly historical property, not semantic or syntactic. Displays are semantically and syntactically distinctive sentential elements. Most displays are not quotations. Pure echo quotations (Cosmological arguments involve "an unnecessary shuffle") aren't displays.Frege-inspired formal languages stipulate that enquotation forms a singular term referring to the enquoted expression (type). Formalist enquotations differ semantically and syntactically from natural language displays. Call them autonomes, and mark them with stars: *Rot* means red. In formal languages, an unenstarred expression has only one meaning, and an autonome has only one meaning viz., a name (or indexical) designating the unenstarred expression (type). Stars have semantic content and can’t disambiguate. Display punctuation only disambiguates; it says only: This material is displayed. Displays have a semantic function; their marks don't.Displays are not terms or lexical items. Displays are objects incorporable into utterances. Such incorporation enables them to be linguistically appropriated much as we appropriate speech-external objects by extrasentential supplementation (e.g., gesturing) to identify the extension of a term by ostending the object -- but now without any extrasentential supplement. Displays are always adjunctive to an (implicit or explicit) ostensionable term, a term whose extension is identifiable by ostending an object. The display-ostensionable term extension relations are various. A display may (1) be the term's referent, or (2) represent the term's extension by (a) replicating or (b) instantiating or (c) expressing the term's referent, or (e) instantiating the property the term predicates.
Genomes OnLine database (GOLD) v.7: updates and new features

The Genomes Online Database (GOLD) (https://gold.jgi.doe.gov) is an open online resource, which maintains an up-to-date catalog of genome and metagenome projects in the context of a comprehensive list of associated metadata. Information in GOLD is organized into four levels: Study, Biosample/Organism, Sequencing Project and Analysis Project. Currently GOLD hosts information on 33 415 Studies, 49 826 Biosamples, 313 324 Organisms, 215 881 Sequencing Projects and 174 454 Analysis Projects with a total of 541 metadata fields, of which 80 are based on controlled vocabulary (CV) terms. GOLD provides a user-friendly web interface to browse sequencing projects and launch advanced search tools across four classification levels. Users submit metadata on a wide range of Sequencing and Analysis Projects in GOLD before depositing sequence data to the Integrated Microbial Genomes (IMG) system for analysis. GOLD conforms with and supports the rules set by the Genomic Standards Consortium (GSC) Minimum Information standards. The current version of GOLD (v.7) has seen the number of projects and associated metadata increase exponentially over the years. This paper provides an update on the current status of GOLD and highlights the new features added over the last two years.
Does gene flow aggravate or alleviate maladaptation to environmental stress in small populations

Environmental change can expose populations to unfamiliar stressors, and maladaptive responses to those stressors may result in population declines or extirpation. Although gene flow is classically viewed as a cause of maladaptation, small and isolated populations experiencing high levels of drift and little gene flow may be constrained in their evolutionary response to environmental change. We provide a case study using the model Trinidadian guppy system that illustrates the importance of considering gene flow and genetic drift when predicting (mal)adaptive response to acute stress. We compared population genomic patterns and acute stress responses of inbred guppy populations from headwater streams either with or without a recent history of gene flow from a more diverse mainstem population. Compared to "no-gene flow" analogues, we found that populations with recent gene flow showed higher genomic variation and increased stress tolerance-but only when exposed to a stress familiar to the mainstem population (heat shock). All headwater populations showed similar responses to a familiar stress in headwater environments (starvation) regardless of gene flow history, whereas exposure to an entirely unfamiliar stress (copper sulfate) showed population-level variation unrelated to environment or recent evolutionary history. Our results suggest that (mal)adaptive responses to acutely stressful environments are determined in part by recent evolutionary history and in part by previous exposure. In some cases, gene flow may provide the variation needed to persist, and eventually adapt, in the face of novel stress.
A Proposal for an ISO Standard for Public Key Encryption (version 2.1)

This document is an initial proposal for a draft for a forthcoming ISO standard on publickey encryption. It is hoped that this proposal will serve as a basis for discussion, from which a consensus for a standard may be formed. Summary of Changes from version 2.0 (September 17, 2001) to version 2.1 (December 20, 2001) • Fixed a few minor typos, and added some references to supporting documents. • Otherwise, there are no substantive changes, and the section numbering is identical to that of version 2.0.
Short-Term Impact of a Flavored Tobacco Restriction: Changes in Youth Tobacco Use in a Massachusetts Community.

Introduction To counter the high prevalence of flavored tobacco use among youth, many U.S. localities have passed policies that restrict youth access to these products. This study aims to evaluate the short-term impact of a flavored tobacco restriction policy on youth access to, and use of, flavored tobacco products in a Massachusetts community. Methods A community with the policy (Lowell) was matched to a community without the policy (Malden) with similar demographics, retailer characteristics, and point-of-sale tobacco policies. Product inventories were assessed in tobacco retailers in the 2 communities, and surveys were administered to high school–aged youth in those communities. Inventories and surveys were conducted around the time the policy took effect in October 2016 (baseline) and approximately 6 months later (follow-up); all data were analyzed in 2017. Chi-squared tests and difference-in-difference models were used to estimate the impact of the policy on flavored tobacco availability and youth perceptions and behaviors related to flavored tobacco use. Results Flavored tobacco availability decreased significantly in Lowell from baseline to follow-up periods by 70 percentage points (p Conclusions Policies that restrict the sale of flavored tobacco have the potential to curb youth tobacco use in as few as 6 months.
Neuroprogesterone synthesis in hypothalamic astrocytes is associated with a pubertal increase in membrane ERα levels

ABSTRACT The development of estrogen positive feedback is a hallmark of female puberty. Both estrogen and progesterone signaling are required for the functioning of this neuroendocrine feedback loop but the physiological changes that underlie the emergence of estrogen positive feedback remain unknown. Only after puberty does estradiol (E2) facilitate progesterone synthesis in female hypothalamic astrocytes (neuroP) (Mohr et al. 2018), an event critical for estrogen positive feedback and the LH surge. We hypothesize that prior to puberty, these astrocytes have low levels of membrane estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), making them unable to respond to E2 with increased neuroP synthesis prior to puberty. To test this hypothesis, pure populations of primary astrocyte cultures were derived from female mice at three different stages of development: pre-puberty (postnatal week 3), pubertal onset (week 5), and post-puberty (week 8). Hypothalamic astrocyte responses were measured after treatment with E2. Hypothalamic astrocytes increased progesterone synthesis across pubertal development. Prior to puberty, mERα expression was low in hypothalamic astrocytes, but expression increased across puberty. The increase in mERα expression in hypothalamic astrocytes also corresponded with an increase in caveolin-1 protein, PKA phosphorylation, and a more rapid [Ca2+]i flux in response to E2. Together, these results indicate that increased mERα in hypothalamic astrocytes contributed to the post-pubertal response to E2 that results in neuroP synthesis, critical for ovulation. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Hypothalamic astrocytes, when exposed to estradiol, make progesterone that is necessary for estrogen positive feedback during adulthood in the female rodent. However, little is known about what cellular changes occur during puberty that allow for the estradiol facilitation of progesterone synthesis. In this study, we compared cell excitability, progesterone synthesis, and levels of membrane estrogen receptor in hypothalamic astrocytes derived from pre-, mid-, and post-pubertal female mice to characterize their maturation that allows them to increase progesterone synthesis facilitating estrogen positive feedback. This study suggests that hypothalamic astrocytes acquire the necessary cellular machinery during puberty to enable E2-facilitated progesterone synthesis.
Robust Adaptive Finite-time Consensus Tracking Protocols for a Group of Nonlinear Autonomous Systems

In this paper, distributed robust adaptive finite-time tracking protocols are developed by using consensus mechanism for a group of second-order leader-follower nonlinear autonomous systems with the presence of uncertainty. The consensus protocols are designed by using Lyapunov and nonlinear terminal sliding mode theory. The sliding mode surface is designed by using the states of the local and neighboring systems that are shared via local area communication networks. Robust and adaptive learning algorithms are used with the protocol to learn and compensate uncertainty associated with leader and follower systems dynamics. Adaptive learning algorithms are used to adapt with the input of the leader system. Lyapunov and matrix theory together with terminal sliding mode control strategy uses to show the convergence of the finite-time consensus property. Analysis shows that robust consensus protocol allows the systems to share their states information and reach an agreement to track the states of the leader system in finite-time. The protocols design and analysis do not require the bound of the uncertainty associated with the followers and leader systems dynamics. The protocol does not use the exact bound of the input of the leader system. Finally, evaluation results are presented to demonstrate the validity of the proposed design for real-time applications.
Development and validation of prescription drug risk, efficacy, and benefit perception measures in the context of direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertising.

Abstract Purpose Understanding patient perceptions of prescription drug risks and benefits is an important component of determining risk-benefit tradeoffs and helping patients make informed medication decisions. However, few validated measures exist for capturing such perceptions. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate measures of perception of prescription drug risk, efficacy, and benefit. Methods We conducted a mixed-methods study to develop and validate the measures, including three waves of quantitative testing (item nonresponse, criterion-related validity, and convergent validity). We conducted quantitative testing with a probability-based online consumer panel of U.S. adults (n = 7635), eliminating weaker items after each testing wave. Results Upon completion of all testing, we identified 21 validated measures that represent 11 distinct risk/benefit constructs. The final measures demonstrated face validity, convergent validity, criterion-related validity, and scale reliability in both illness and general population samples, among patients with both symptomatic and asymptomatic health conditions, and in response to both television and print direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertisements. Conclusions Our study produced a set of items that researchers and practitioners can use to assess patient perceptions of prescription drug risk, benefit, and efficacy and to ensure greater future comparability between studies.
Short communication: DEM Explorer: An online interoperable DEM data sharing and analysis system

Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data products are freely downloadable in tiled files from providers. But for most application needs, the area of interest does not exactly match the original spatial coverage of one DEM tile. After users obtain the files, they must mosaic, sub-set, and/or re-project them using geospatial software to generate the customized data that meet their requirements. It would be best if users could obtain the required DEM data directly. DEM Explorer is designed to share and explore the common DEM datasets in a publicly accessible online environment. It offers an intuitive and interoperable way to customize, download, visualize, and analyze DEM data in an Ajax-enabled Web interface. Via DEM Explorer, users are able to not only retrieve the original DEM files directly, but also obtain on-demand DEM data for any area of interest in a preferred format and projection. Deviations of terrain information are integrated as Web geoprocessing services in DEM Explorer to generate detailed terrain characteristics. DEM based hydrological models developed as Web services are aggregated to discover hydrological features. DEM Explorer has been adopted by the NASA Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center to distribute the ASTER Global DEM to global users.
Investigating How Assessment Design Guides High School Chemistry Teachers’ Interpretation of Student Responses to a Planned, Formative Assessment

High school chemistry teachers will often establish goals that guide assessment design and interpretation of assessment results. However, little is known about how these goals and the assessment design collectively guide the interpretation of results. This study seeks to better understand what teachers notice when interpreting assessment results and how the design of the assessment may influence teachers’ patterns of noticing. The study described herein investigates high school chemistry teachers’ interpretations of student responses to formative assessment items by identifying patterns in what teachers notice. These patterns in noticing are compared to previous work that characterizes the teachers’ assessments according to their self-generated best practices for formative assessment. Results suggest that a comparison of assessment design elements and teachers’ noticing patterns can reveal underlying goals guiding the interpretation of student responses to a planned, formative assessment. The results of this investigation hold implications for chemistry teacher assessment design practices as well as the development of chemistry-specific methods for designing and interpreting formative assessments.
The Evolving Challenge of Infections in Cirrhosis.

Infections in Patients with Cirrhosis Patients with cirrhosis are at increased risk for serious infections, including spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, multidrug-resistant infection, and infection...
Effect of various restraint configurations on submarining occurrence across varied seat configurations in autonomous driving system environment.

Objective Self-driving technology will bring novelty in vehicle interior design and allow for a wide variety of occupant seating choices. Previous studies have shown that the increased risk of submarining exhibited by reclined occupants cannot be fully mitigated by changes in the seat configuration alone. This study aims to investigate the effects of three restraint countermeasures on cases with marginal submarining events and estimate their effect on submarining risk and injury prediction metrics. Methods Vehicle environment frontal crash Finite Element (FE) simulations were performed with the two simplified Global Human Body Model Consortium (GHBMC) occupant models: small female and midsize male. The baseline occupant restraints consisted of a frontal airbag, a seatback-integrated 3-point belt with a lap belt anchor pre-tensioner, and a retractor-mounted pre-tensioner and load limiter. Based on submarining thresholds identified in previous studies, three baseline configurations were identified for each occupant size. For each baseline case three restraint system modifications were evaluated. The modifications consisted of the introduction of a pelvis restraint cushion airbag (PRC), the use of a knee airbag (KAB) and the modification of the of the passenger airbag location (PAB). Simulations were performed using the USNCAP 56 km/h frontal crash pulse. Occupant kinematic data was extracted from each simulation to investigate how changes in the restraint system configuration affects submarining. Results Overall, in only one of the investigated cases did the proposed restraint modification prevent submarining occurrence, however each of the restraint modifications reduced the pelvis excursion over the baseline scenario. The presence of the PRC airbag showed the highest reduction in pelvis forward excursion for the female model. The presence of the KAB and the modified location of the PAB also contributed to reductions in excursion to a smaller degree. For the male surrogate, the KAB showed the highest reduction in pelvis forward excursion. The presence of the PRC led to a reduction in the lumbar spine shear force. Conclusions Submarining may be a major challenge to overcome for reclined occupants in autonomous driving systems. This suggests that there may not be a single generalizable currently-existing countermeasure able to effectively prevent marginal submarining cases in reclined positions.
Evaluation of three cold storage methods of Bagrada hilaris (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) and the effects of host deprivation for an optimized rearing of the biocontrol candidate Gryon gonikopalense (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae)

Abstract The cold storage of host eggs has been utilized in the production of egg parasitoids used in biological control programs. However, similar stockpiling methods can lead to various responses depending on the parasitoid species considered. Hence, standardization of storage methods is difficult. The egg parasitoid Gryon gonikopalense Sharma, is currently being evaluated as a biocontrol agent of Bagrada hilaris (Burmeister), an invasive pest on Brassicaceae crops in the Americas. In this study, we investigated cold storage methods and the effect of host deprivation on G. gonikopalense in order to optimize its rearing process. Laboratory tests were conducted with bagrada bug eggs stored under three temperature treatments (-20 °C, 5 °C, 13 °C) and six durations (one week to three months). In addition, we assessed the effect of host deprivation on parasitoid fecundity and progeny development. Bagrada bug eggs stored at 5 °C up to one month allowed three and nine times more parasitism than eggs stored at 13 and -20 °C respectively. Progeny emergence rate was also the best with eggs stored at 5 °C (94.1%) while eggs stored at 13 and -20 °C led to 77.7 and 89.2 % of emergence respectively. However, the different storage treatments led to similar longevities and body lengths for male and female progeny. In addition, G. gonikopalense did parasitize bagrada eggs after 60 days of host deprivation, but fecundity was reduced by 84%. The results can be used to optimize bagrada bug egg production for use in laboratory and / or field experiments and improve G. gonikopalense rearing and production.
Characterizing the performance of an image-based recognizer for planar mechanical linkages in textbook graphics and hand-drawn sketches

In this work, we present a computational framework for automatically generating kinematic models of planar mechanical linkages from raw images. The hallmark of our approach is a novel combination of supervised learning methods for detecting mechanical parts (e.g. joints, rigid bodies) with the optimizing power of a multiobjective evolutionary algorithm, which concurrently maximizes image consistency and mechanical feasibility. A rigorous set of experiments was conducted to systematically evaluate the performance of each phase in our framework, comparing various combinations of joint and body detection schemes and feasibility constraints. Precision-recall curves are used to assess object detection performance. For the optimization, in addition to standard accuracy measures such as top-N accuracy, we introduce a new performance metric called user effort ratio that quantifies the amount of user interaction required to correct an inaccurate optimization solution. Current state-of-the-art performance is achieved with (i) one (or a cascade of) support vector machines for joint detection, (ii) foreground extraction to reduce false positives, (iii) supervised body detection using normalized geodesic time, distance, and detected joint confidence, and (iv) feasibility constraints derived from graph theory. The proposed framework generalizes moderately well from textbook graphics to hand-drawn sketches, and user effort ratio results demonstrate the potential power of an interactive system in which simple user interactions complement computer recognition for fast kinematic modeling. Graphical abstractDisplay Omitted HighlightsWe systematically evaluate a framework for recognizing mechanical linkages in images.We introduce user effort ratio to assess overall benefit over manual model creation.New rigid body detection and graph-theoretic constraints enhance performance.Top-1 accuracy for textbook images is 70% with user effort of 10% on average.Performance on sketches is lower overall, but still reduces user effort by 72% on average.
Characteristic Energy Losses of Electrons in Solids

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of the wealth of information acquired on the characteristic energy losses of electrons and describes the methods and instruments used in the measurements, which show that the observed characteristic energy losses are, in first approximation at least, independent of the methods and instruments used in their observation. It is shown that the instrumentation used in measurements done in recent times use the Mollenstedt method. Where photographic plates have been used for detection, there would be some doubt as to the accuracy of intensity and width measurements even though attempts were made to calibrate the photographic plates. In this respect the early measurements of Rudberg, Haworth, and Farnsworth using Faraday cage and electrometer and the recent work of Marton and Leder using photomultiplier should be more dependable. The use of the electron microscope allows easy inspection of the specimen through observation of its image projected by the objective lens on to a fluorescent screen in the slit plane. This inspection is very useful, because thin film specimens frequently burst or curl up under the action of the intense primary beam, and from a practical viewpoint it is a great advantage to be able to discard a damaged specimen or to select an undamaged area. This chapter also reviews experimental data, qualitative interpretation, and theoretical problems related to the observations.
Policy Enforcement in Stub Autonomous Domains

Interconnection across administrative boundaries prompts the need for comprehensive policy enforcement (i.e., access control) with respect to inter-domain packet traffic. Due to the nature of the communication services they provide, stub and transit domains require different mechanisms for policing inter-domain traffic. This paper addresses the design of a policy enforcement mechanism geared specifically towards stub domains. With the aid of some basic concepts borrowed from Visa protocol[5], a much more powerful mechanism is developed and analyzed. Protocol implementation and experimental results are discussed.
BGK-Burnett Equations: A New Set of Second-Order Hydrodynamic Equations for Flows in Continuum-Transition Regime

This paper presents a review of the development of a novel set of second-order hydrodynamic equations, designated as the BGK-Burnett equations for computing flows in the continuum-transition regime. The second-order distribution function that forms the basis of this formulation is obtained by the first three terms of the Chapman-Enskog expansion applied to the Boltzmann equation with Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook (BGK) approximation to the collision terms. Such a distribution function, however, does not readily satisfy the moment closure property. Hence, an exact closed form expression for the distribution function is obtained by enforcing moment closure and solving a system of algebraic equations to determine the closure coefficients. Through a series of conjectures, the closure coefficients are designed to move the resulting system of hydrodynamic equations towards an entropy consistent set. An important step in the formulation of the higher-order distribution functions is the proper representation of the material derivatives in terms of the spatial derivatives. While the material derivatives in the first-order distribution function are approximated by Euler Equations, proper representations of these derivatives in the second-order distribution function are determined by an entropy consistent relaxation technique. The BGK-Burnett equations, obtained by taking moments of the Boltzmann equation with the second-order distribution function, are shown to be stable to small wavelength disturbances and entropy consistent for a wide range of grid points and Mach numbers. The paper also describes other equations of Burnett family namely the original, conventional and augmented Burnett equations for the purpose of comparison with BGK-Burnett equations and discusses their shortcomings. The relationship between the Burnett equations and the Grad’s 13 moment equations as shown by Struchtrup by employing the Maxwell-Truesdell-Green iteration is also presented.
PROGRESS AND PROSPECTS IN THE DIRECT SEARCH FOR SUPERSYMMETRIC DARK MATTER PARTICLES

We briefly review the latest evidence for non-baryonic dark matter. We also review the most recent estimates for SUSY dark-matter particle interaction with matter. We then provide a critique of the current search for the dark matter and describe one very promising method using background discrimination in liquid xenon.
Stable manifolds for all monic supercritical focusing nonlinear Schrödinger equations in one dimension

Keywords: critical Schrodinger equation ; stable manifolds ; modulation theory ; spectral theory ; Klein-Gordon Equations ; Non-Linear Schrodinger ; Blow-Up Rate ; Standing Waves ; Nonintegrable Equations ; Invariant-Manifolds ; Stability Theory ; Solitary Waves ; Ground-States ; Instability Reference EPFL-ARTICLE-155183doi:10.1090/S0894-0347-06-00524-8 Record created on 2010-11-19, modified on 2017-05-12
Cortical activation during finger tracking vs. ankle tracking in healthy subjects

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) -induced brain edema can be reduced by acute progesterone (PROG) treatment in young adult males and females, and in aged males. To extend these findings we tested these hypotheses: 1. Acute PROG treatment post-TBI will reduce cortical edema in aged females much as in young adults. 2. TBI will induce edema in sub-cortical structures (SCS): the thalamus (TH), hypothalamus (HT), brain stem (BS) and anterior pituitary (AP). 3. Acute, systemic PROG treatment post-TBI will reduce edema in SCS. Young adult (n=42) and aged (n=40), bilaterally ovariectomized rats were given medial frontal cortical (MFC) contusion injury, treated with PROG (16 mg/kg body weight) or vehicle at 1, 6 and 24 hours post-injury and killed at 6, 24 and 48 hours post-injury. Their brains were removed and the appropriate areas isolated and measured for water content. TBI induced cortical and delayed sub-cortical edema. Acute PROG treatment decreased this edema. At 5 hours post-TBI serum PROG levels were substantially elevated in both young and aged groups, but were higher in the latter. We conclude that acute PROG treatment post-TBI could prove an effective intervention to prevent or attenuate systemic, post-injury cortical and sub-cortical edema in young and aged females.
Creative Process in the Face of Change: How Teams Experience and Respond to Pressure

This study examines how the imposition of time pressure affects team collaboration, creative processes, and creative performance. Specifically, this study looks at how the timing of imposed constraints results in different patterns of team process across the team's workflow. Using an experimental study of teams, results show that disruptions experienced earlier in a team's workflow result in more steady-state time pacing behaviors and focus of attention than when time pressure is experienced later, which results in pronounced 'spikes' in these processes. In turn, the more variable levels of team processes that result when pressure is experienced later into workflow are associated with lower levels of creative process and creative performance, as well as lessened team ability to leverage social cognition in the form of transactive memory systems.
Magnetic mitigation of debris for EUV sources

Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) lithography sources expel high-energy ions and neutral particles, which degrade the quality of the collector optic. The mitigation of this debris is one of the main problems facing potential manufacturers of EUV sources. The use of magnetic fields to deflect ionic debris has been proposed and is investigated here. In this paper, we present a detailed computational model of magnetic mitigation, along with experimental results that confirm the correctness of the model. Using a strong permanent magnet, it is experimentally shown that, using high enough fields, magnetic mitigation can be a successful method of deflecting ionic debris from an EUV source. For example, through an orifice centered at 0° from the pinch, we saw a flux of 1.65×108 +/- 1.5×107 ions/(m2*pulse*eV) of 4keV ions without deflection and a negligible flux with deflection. With the orifice at a 35° angle from the pinch, a negligible 4keV flux was seen without deflection. However, with magnetic deflection, a 4keV flux of 1.03x108 +/- 9.4x106 ions/(m2*pulse*eV) were seen. The half-angle spread of the orifice was .047° with a tolerance of .008°.
Fine structure of the giant dipole resonance in 16O and nuclear coexistence

Abstract It is shown that nuclear coexistence can account for most of the fine structure observed for the giant dipole resonance in 16 O.