cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
When Federal Immigration Exclusion Meets Subfederal Workplace Inclusion: A Forensic Approach to Legislative History

What happens when a person is simultaneously viewed as an unauthorized immigrant without rights according to a federal regime and as an employee with rights according to a subfederal regime? In the wake of widespread and inconsistent adjudication of this issue, this Article sheds new light on this pressing question. To date, pertinent court battles and scholarship have led to a virtual stalemate and often focus exclusively on normative policy arguments. By contrast, this Article employs an empirically grounded review of fifteen years of legislative history to analyze this paradox. This review illustrates that the denial of workplace protections to unauthorized workers runs contrary to immigration law purposes. The Article, therefore, provides a fresh perspective on an otherwise intractable debate. In doing so, it also develops a more scientifically grounded forensic approach to legislative history which addresses some of the most salient and passionate critiques of legislative history and revives legislative history as a more reliable interpretive tool in law and policy analyses.
Using mechanics to convert between microwave and optical frequencies

We demonstrate unique piezoelectric optomechanical devices able to coherently transfer microwave electrical signals to modulated optical signals, and vice versa, transferring modulated optical signals to microwave electrical signals. This coherent bilateral transfer, demonstrated most recently in a single device design, holds promise for the eventual demonstration of coherent transfer in the quantum domain. The basis of design for the devices with which this was accomplished is an optomechanical crystal that supports co-located optical and mechanical resonant modes, coupled to one other via moving boundary (index of refraction) modulation, either induced by motion from energy in the mechanical mode, or by optical pressure due to energy in the optical mode. The basis for coupling microwave mechanical motion to microwave electrical signals is via the use of a piezoelectric material for the entire device, where transduction itself is accomplished using metal transducers remote from the optomechanical structure. This remote design minimizes the lossy interaction of any optical signals with the metal electrode structures, but introduces the need to couple the electromechanical transducer to the optomechanical transducer via itinerant phonons, which presents a new challenge.
Russian International Law and Indeterminacy: Cold War and Post-Soviet Dynamics

This chapter explores a paradox in the development of international legal theory at the height of the Cold War in the USSR and in its aftermath. It commences with an overview of the indeterminacy critique of international law articulated by 'Newstream' international law scholars. Next, the chapter analyzes the development of the doctrine of peaceful coexistence and illustrates how Soviet theorists sought to formalize an indeterminate set of concepts concerning coexistence while preserving dueling and competing interpretations of coexistence for maximum policymaking advantage. It suggests a number of avenues for further research on the nature and function of Soviet and post-Soviet approaches to international law. Finally, the chapter theorizes that the contemporary Russian fascination with natural law and positivist traditions in Russian international law, in fact, is a retreat from allegations of Soviet-style duplicity in the use of international legal norms. Keywords:Cold War; indeterminacy critique; international legal theory; peaceful coexistence; positivism; post-Soviet dynamics; Russian international law
Equally Discarded?: The Influence of Age and Gender on the Popularity of Screen Actors:

Gendered aging effects have been documented in television and film, such that older female characters are more underrepresented and stereotypically portrayed than their male counterparts. This trend has an adverse impact on the careers of female screen actors. This study examines whether the popularity of female screen actors among general audiences is impacted by age as well. Specifically, we expected that the popularity of female screen actors would decline more sharply with age than that of male screen actors. Biographical and filmographical information was collected for 347 actors (153 males, 194 females) from the IMDbpro website. Data were analyzed using growth modeling and hierarchical multiple regression. Results showed no gendered aging effects, but did demonstrate that male screen actors are more popular at all age groups than female screen actors and both groups' popularity declined with age. Implications are discussed.
Soviet Federalism and Ethnic Mobilization

Central among recent changes in the Soviet Union is an expanding and increasingly public politics of federalism. The Soviet developmental strategy assigned federalism and the cadres of national-territorial administration a central role in its response to the “nationalities question.” This strategy offers a key to three questions about the rise of assertive ethnofederalism over the past three decades: Why have federal institutions that provided interethnic peace during the transition to industrialization become vehicles of protest in recent years? Why have relatively advantaged ethnic groups been most assertive, whereas groups near the lower end of most comparative measures of socioeconomic and political success have been relatively quiescent? Why have major public demands—and the most important issues of contention between center and periphery—focused to such a large degree upon the details of the Soviet developmental strategy and upon federalism in particular
Reasons and the Acceptance of Authoritative Speech: An Empirically Grounded Synthesis of Habermas and Bourdieu

This article proposes an empirically grounded theory of the acceptance of authoritative speech beyond contexts of deliberation. I synthesize Habermas’s and Bourdieu’s influential theories on the topic by specifying factors that lead to either a prereflexive acceptance or a critical evaluation of the claims made by people in positions of authority. To do so, I assess each author’s theses in four types of contexts covered by three empirical studies that analyze reactions to authoritative speech. I find that people can autonomously reject authoritative speech if they have the necessary cultural resources, such as relevant personal experience or contradictory background norms, or if they are strongly motivated—for example, by disappointed expectations. Otherwise, individuals are likely to accept what authorities say without regard for reasons. The synthetic theory proposed better grasps the potentials and limitations of people’s critical capacities—a crucial task for democratic and critical sociological theory.
437 DEVELOPMENT OF A CELL-FREE SYSTEM FOR THE STUDY OF VENEZUELAN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS VIRUS CAPSID ASSEMBLY

Venezuelan equine encephalitis is a mosquito-borne viral illness occurring primarily in parts of South and Central America. The causative agent (VEEV) is an RNA virus of the genus Alphaviridae. It is endemic in rodent populations in many areas and causes occasional epidemics in horse and human populations. Although the potential for serious illness in humans in naturally occurring outbreaks is rather low, aerosolized virus can be lethal if inhaled by susceptible individuals. Consequently, it has recently gained attention because of its potential to be used as an agent of bio-terrorism. The lack of a human vaccine and effective treatments for the disease make this virus an important subject for further study. The goal of our laboratory is to apply our cell-free virus assembly systems to the study of VEEV and to use our new knowledge of VEEV assembly to develop drugs that block this step in the viral life cycle. The cell-free system reconstitutes virus assembly using cell extracts, creating an environment that mimics the inside of target cells and allows for the manipulation of numerous variables that may have an impact on assembly. Such systems have been utilized in the past to understand assembly of poliovirus, hepadnaviruses, retroviruses, and herpesviruses. Translation machinery from either wheat germ extract or rabbit reticulocyte lysate was used to translate the VEEV capsid protein from a messenger RNA. Newly synthesized proteins were labeled with radioactive methionine during translation. Velocity sedimentation of cell-free reaction products followed by SDS-PAGE and autoradiography revealed the formation of high molecular weight complexes that are likely to represent assembled capsids. Assembly appeared to be very efficient, with greater than 90% of capsid protein present in high molecular weight complexes. Additional experiments suggested that VEEV assembled either co-translationally or soon after translation was completed. Thousand-fold dilution of VEEV transcript did not significantly reduce the percentage of capsid protein that assembled, nor did solubilization of lipid membranes with detergents. Future experiments will use mutational analyses to identify regions of the capsid protein that are necessary for capsid assembly and packaging of the viral RNA genome. These data suggest for the first time that alphavirus capsids can be assembled in a cell-free system.
Appendix 2—Society of Interventional Radiology Guidelines for Preprocedural Coagulation Parameter Surveillance Based on the Procedural Risk for Bleeding

This section provides helpful, easily accessible supplemental reading materials, tables, and forms on a variety of subjects such as history, physical exam, preprocedural coagulation parameters, antithrombotic medications, procedural risk for bleeding, antibiotic prophylaxis, and preprocedural and immediate documentation and notes.
Effect of Teriflunomide (Aubagio®) on Gray Matter Pathology in Multiple Sclerosis (P3.062)

Objectives: The primary aim of this study was to define the effect of teriflunomide (Aubagio®) on the development of gray matter (GM) pathology in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS), as evidenced by MRI. Background: This study aimed to elucidate the effect of teriflunomide on cortical and thalamic volume loss in relapsing MS patients over 12 months. Methods: This was a prospective, observational, single-blinded, longitudinal study of 30 relapsing MS patients, who started treatment with teriflunomide, and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs). Subjects were assessed at baseline, 6 and 12 months with clinical and MRI examinations. MRI outcomes included percent change from baseline to 6, 6 to 12 and baseline to 12 months in whole brain volume using SIENA, in cortical volumes using the SIENAX multi-time point and in thalamic volumes using the FIRST methods. Analysis of covariance, adjusted for age and sex was used to test differences between the groups. Results: No significant whole brain, cortical or thalamic percent change volume differences were found between baseline to 6, 6 to 12 and baseline to 12 months between HCs and MS patients. Over the 12-month follow-up, the percent change in whole brain was -0.38[percnt] in HC and -0.50[percnt] in MS patients, p=0.378. The percentage change in cortical volume was -0.31[percnt] in HC vs. -0.80[percnt] in MS, p=0.302, while the percentage change in thalamic volumes was -0.03[percnt] in HC vs. -0.22[percnt] in MS patients, p=0.693. Over the 12 month follow-up, only one MS patients presented a relapse and Expanded Disability Status Scale remained stable. No serious adverse events were recorded during the 12 months of the study. Conclusions: MS patients treated with teriflunomide over 12 months showed similar volume changes in whole brain and GM, compared to HCs. The study was funded by an investigator initiated grant from Genzyme. Disclosure: Dr. Zivadinov has received personal compensation for activities with Teva Neuroscience, Biogen Idec, EMD Serono, Novartis, Claret Medical Inc., and Genzyme Corporation as a speaker and/or consultant. Dr. Kolb has received personal compensation for activities with TEVA, Acorda, and EMD Serono as a speaker. Dr. Modi has nothing to disclose. Dr. Carl has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hagemeier has nothing to disclose. Dr. Bergsland has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ramasamy has nothing to disclose. Dr. Durfee has nothing to disclose. Dr. Weinstock-Guttman has received personal compensation for activities with Biogen Idec, Teva Neurosciences, EMD Serono, Pfizer, Novartis, Genzyme & Sanofi, Mylan, and Acorda.
Palliative Care Gaps in Providing Psychological Treatment: A Review of the Current State of Research in Multidisciplinary Palliative Care.

Background:Patients with advanced illness often have high rates of psychological symptoms. Many multicomponent palliative care intervention studies have investigated the efficacy of overall symptom...
Spectral Properties of Limit-Periodic Operators

We survey results concerning the spectral properties of limit-periodic operators. The main focus is on discrete one-dimensional Schr\"odinger operators, but other classes of operators, such as Jacobi and CMV matrices, continuum Schr\"odinger operators and multi-dimensional Schr\"odinger operators, are discussed as well. We explain that each basic spectral type occurs, and it does so for a dense set of limit-periodic potentials. The spectrum has a strong tendency to be a Cantor set, but there are also cases where the spectrum has no gaps at all. The possible regularity properties of the integrated density of states range from extremely irregular to extremely regular. Additionally, we present background about periodic Schr\"odinger operators and almost-periodic sequences. In many cases we outline the proofs of the results we present.
Computational Investigation of a Self-Powered Fontan Circulation.

Children born with anatomic or functional “single ventricle” must progress through two or more major operations to sustain life. This management sequence culminates in the total cavopulmonary connection, or “Fontan” operation. A consequence of the “Fontan circulation”, however, is elevated central venous pressure and inadequate ventricular preload, which contribute to continued morbidity. We propose a solution to these problems by increasing pulmonary blood flow using an “injection jet” (IJS) in which the source of blood flow and energy is the ventricle itself. The IJS has the unique property of lowering venous pressure while enhancing pulmonary blood flow and ventricular preload. We report preliminary results of an analysis of this circulation using a tightly-coupled, multi-scale computational fluid dynamics model. Our calculations show that, constraining the excess volume load to the ventricle at 50% (pulmonary to systemic flow ratio of 1.5), an optimally configured IJS can lower venous pressure by 3 mmHg while increasing systemic oxygen delivery. Even this small decrease in venous pressure may have substantial clinical impact on the Fontan patient. These findings support the potential for a straightforward surgical modification to decrease venous pressure, and perhaps improve clinical outcome in selected patients.
Finite Element Analysis of Unguarded Hot-Plate Thermal Conductivity Apparatuses

By utilizing a simple thermal conductivity measuring apparatus with well-defined geometry and by having the ability to model the system in detail, accurate thermal conductivity values can be determined. We have used unguarded hot-plate systems with components of highly contrasting thermal conductivity. This arrangement provides well-defined boundary conditions for the modeling. Finite element analysis has been used as the modeling tool for two such apparatuses. This method was chosen because of its ability to easily model complex material systems. An outline of the finite element method together with a comparison with the finite difference method is given in the paper. By adjusting the thermal parameters of the model to obtain a match between the calculated and measured temperature values, the thermal conductivity of either or both samples can be determined. It has been possible with this method to show the variation in thermal conductivities of two supposedly similar samples of gneiss.
Mycotic Diseases in Mammalian Reproduction

The role of fungi in influencing reproduction is gradually being defined through the endeavors of many investigators with a variety of interests, some contributions being made by those who are interested in the sire or dam as an individual or as an experimental model and others being made by those who are interested primarily in reproductive performance and thus devoting most of their efforts to the study of the reproductive organs. A study of these contributions reveals, as might be expected, many gaps in our knowledge of details of the problems. However, as with mycoses in general, it is becoming more apparent that mycotic diseases of reproductive organs are of considerable importance in some species under certain conditions of environment and, particularly, altered host susceptibility. This is especially true in cows and horses which are exposed to heavily contaminated and spoiled forages or to birds whose embryonating ova are exposed to a contaminated environment.
The role of glycosyl-phosphoinositides in hormone action.

Despite significant advances in the past few years on the chemistry and biology of insulin and its receptor, the molecular events that couple the insulin-receptor interaction to the regulation of cellular metabolism remain uncertain. Progress in this area has been complicated by the pleiotropic nature of insulin's actions. These most likely involve a complex network of pathways resulting in the coordination of mechanistically distinct cellular effects. Since the well-recognized mechanisms of signal transduction (i.e., cyclic nucleotides, ion channels) appear not to be central to insulin action, investigators have searched for a novel second messenger system. A low-molecular-weight substance has been identified that mimics certain actions of insulin on metabolic enzymes. This substance has an inositol glycan structure, and is produced by the insulin-sensitive hydrolysis of a glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol in the plasma membrane. This hydrolysis reaction, which is catalyzed by a specific phospholipase C, also results in the production of a structurally distinct diacylglycerol that may selectively regulate one or more of the protein kinases C. The glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol precursor for the inositol glycan enzyme modulator is structurally analogous to the recently described glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol membrane protein anchor. Preliminary studies suggest that a subset of proteins anchored in this fashion might be released from cells by a similar insulin-sensitive, phospholipase-catalyzed reaction. Future efforts will focus on the precise role of the metabolism of glycosyl-phosphatidylinositols in insulin action.
A probabilistic algorithm for segmenting non-Kanji Japanese strings

We present an algorithm for segmenting unrestricted Japanese text that is able to detect up to 98% of the words in a corpus. The segmentation technique, which is simple and extremely fast, does not depend on a lexicon or any formal notion of what a word is in Japanese, and the training procedure does not require annotated text of any kind. Relying almost exclusively on character type information and a table of hiragana bigram frequencies, the algorithm makes a decision as to whether to create word boundaries or not. This method divides strings of Japanese characters into units that are computationally tractable and that can be justified on lexical and syntactic grounds as well.
Accumulation of phenolic compounds in incompatible clone/race interactions of Medicago sativa and Colletotrichum trifolii

Abstract Preliminary evidence had suggested that accumulation of phenolics, including phytoalexins, may play a role in natural and induced resistance interactions involving Colletotrichum trifolii and Medicago sativa. We examined specific race interactions with clones of resistant and susceptible genotypes. Stem sections of seedlings were excised, dipped in conidial suspensions of race 1 or 2 or water, incubated for 5 days, and analysed for phenolic compound accumulation by monitoring UV-absorbance and fluorescence. Phenolic compounds accumulated in resistant interactions of C. trifolii and alfalfa and therefore depended on both the phenotype of the clone and the race of the pathogen. The ability to quickly and quantitatively measure these compounds, as described in this report, will greatly facilitate investigations of the induction of resistance in alfalfa.
An Integrated Capillary, Buoyancy, and Viscous-Driven Model for Brine/CO2Relative Permeability in a Compositional and Parallel Reservoir Simulator

The effectiveness of CO2 storage in the saline aquifers is governed by the interplay of capillary, viscous, and buoyancy forces. Recent experimental study reveals the impact of pressure, temperature, and salinity on interfacial tension (IFT) between CO2 and brine. The dependence of CO2-brine relative permeability and capillary pressure on pressure (IFT) is also clearly evident in published experimental results. Improved understanding of the mechanisms that control the migration and trapping of CO2 in subsurface is crucial to design future storage projects that warrant long-term and safe containment. Simulation studies ignoring the buoyancy and also variation in interfacial tension and the effect on the petrophysical properties such as trapped CO2 saturations, relative permeability, and capillary pressure have a poor chance of making accurate predictions of CO2 injectivity and plume migration. We have developed and implemented a general relative permeability model that combines effects of pressure gradient, buoyancy, and IFT in an equation of state (EOS) compositional and parallel simulator. The significance of IFT variations on CO2 migration and trapping is assessed.
Immunohistochemical localization of fibroblast growth factor-2 in normal and brachymorphic mouse tibial growth plate and articular cartilage.

Epiphyses of the proximal tibiae of 7-week-old normal and homozygous recessive brachymorphic mice (bm/bm) were immunostained using a monoclonal antibody to basic fibroblast growth factor to determine its expression in growth plate cartilage, osteoblasts on the surfaces of the primary spongiosa and articular cartilage. In the normal growth plate, the immunoreactive factor was present in chondrocytes of the proliferating and upper hypertrophic zones but absent from lower hypertrophic chondrocytes. Immunostaining was present only in the territorial extracellular matrix immediately adjacent to the chondrocytes of the proliferating and upper hypertrophic zones. Osteoblasts of the primary spongiosa stained heavily in normal mice. Strong staining was observed in intermediate zone articular chondrocytes. Cells in the superficial layer of articular cartilage were unstained. The extracellular matrix of the articular cartilage was completely free of immunostaining. In contrast, the reduced size of bm/bm growth plates was accompanied by significantly reduced staining intensity in proliferating and upper hypertrophic chondrocytes, and staining was absent from the territorial extracellular matrix of all zones of the bm/bm growth plate. Osteoblasts of the primary spongiosa of bm/bm mice stained less than those of normal mice. Articular cartilage chondrocytes in the intermediate zone stained with less intensity in bm/bm mice, and the cells of the superficial layer were unstained. The extracellular matrix of bm/bm articular cartilage was completely free of staining. Brachymorphic epiphyseal growth plate and articular chondrocytes, and osteoblasts in the primary spongiosa, express reduced amounts of immunoreactive fibroblast growth factor-2. This phenotypical characteristic may be associated with abnormal endochondral ossification and development of bone in brachymorphic mice
Imaging of Acute Aortic Syndromes

Acute aortic syndrome is often a clinical emergency and a situation that demands accurate radiologic diagnosis and intervention to provide lifesaving care. A new classification scheme has been proposed based upon the primary location of the lesion within the aortic wall: aortic dissection principally involves the aortic media, penetrating aortic ulcer originates within the aortic intima, and aortic aneurysm is a disease of all three layers. The presence of intramural hematoma is an observation or epiphenomenon to be applied to any of these three fundamental pathologies. High-quality and comprehensive aortic and end-organ assessment of these diseases should be performed using multi-detector row CT with at least 16 detector rows and typically non-contrast as well as contrast-enhanced images. MRI is reserved for specific problem-solving, post-dissection surveillance, and hemodynamic assessment. Eight essential elements for characterizing the acute aorta are presented, and typical findings CT and MR imaging findings are discussed.
ISSLS prize winner: Adaptations to the multifidus muscle in response to experimentally induced intervertebral disc degeneration.

STUDY DESIGN Basic science study of the rabbit multifidus muscle response to intervertebral disc degeneration. OBJECTIVE To assess changes in passive mechanical properties, associated protein structure, and histology of multifidus in response to disc degeneration produced by experimental needle puncture. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Relationships have been reported between muscle dysfunction and low back injury; however, little is known about the cause and effect of such relationships. METHODS Twelve rabbits were studied; 4 in each of 3 groups: control, 4-weeks postintervertebral disc injury (4-week disc degeneration), and 12-weeks postintervertebral disc injury (12-week disc degeneration). Single multifidus fibers and bundles of fibers were isolated and tested for slack sarcomere length and elastic modulus. Titin isoform mass, myosin heavy chain distribution, and muscle histology were also examined. RESULTS Compared to control, individual muscle fibers were 34% stiffer and fiber bundles 107% stiffer in the 12-week disc degeneration group. No changes were detected at 4-week disc degeneration. No statistically significant change was found for MHC distribution in the 12-week disc degeneration group when compared to control, whereas titin isoforms were larger (P < 0.05) in the 12-week disc degeneration group. Histology revealed select regions of multifidus, at 12-week disc degeneration, with increased space between bundles of fibers, which in some instances was partly occupied by adipose tissue. CONCLUSION Multifidus becomes stiffer, both in individual fibers and fiber bundles, in response to experimentally induced intervertebral disc degeneration. This cannot be explained by change in fiber-type due to reduced muscle use, nor by the increased size of the protein titin (which would reduce stiffness). We hypothesize that fiber bundles become stiffer by proliferation and/or reorganization of collagen content within the muscle but the basis for fiber stiffening is not known.
Generating Anechoic Traveling Wave in Beams with Various Boundary Conditions

The basilar membrane (BM) is one of the prominent structural members of the inner ear which transports acoustic signals, received by the tympanic membrane in the middle ear, as structural waves to the hair cells. Another characteristic of the BM is its ability to absorb the energy of the structural waves at the apex end of the cochlea. As a result of this biological mechanism, the acoustic energy does not reflect at its boundary and as a result does not resonate back into the BM. This is a key feature of the BM, in particular effects by the helicotrema, that enables humans to hear and comprehend a string of continuous acoustic signals without any overlap. The present work is the result of the inspiration to develop waves propagating in engineering structures with such anechoic characteristics.
Data Science: A Powerful Catalyst for Cross-Sector Collaborations to Transform the Future of Global Health—Developing a New Interactive Relational Mapping Tool (Demo)

The increasingly complex and rapidly changing global health and socioeconomic landscape requires fundamentally new ways of thinking, acting, and collaborating to solve growing systems challenges. C...
Fatigue behaviors of fiber-reinforced composite 3D printing

Abstract This chapter presents the current scientific studies on fatigue properties of continuous fiber-reinforced additive manufacturing (FRAM). The conducted research studies have focused on the effect of fiber orientation and fiber volume fraction to the cyclic load life of components. Specimens were tested at load ratios of R = 0 and R = 0.1. The materials tested were fiberglass, carbon fiber, and Kevlar. 0 degree fiber orientation specimens showed the highest endurance. Among materials, carbon fiber-reinforced specimens performed the best. One of the studies conducted analysis of variance (ANOVA) to understand the effect of different parameters. Since fiber orientation and fiber volume fraction can be adjusted for each layer, the mechanical properties are also changed. Understanding the effect of these parameters to the fatigue properties can be crucial in design of parts and failure preventing.
Safer sex strategies and the role of gender among African American youth transitioning from foster care

Abstract Estimates indicate that each year nearly half of all the reported new cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the United States are acquired by youth 15–24 years old with young women of color disproportionately bearing the burden of infections. The sexual health risks of STIs and their associated racial and gender disparities also exist among young people in foster care, yet questions remain about their use of primary and secondary prevention methods that limit their exposure to infections. Using a sequential, mixed methods approach, data from 115 sexually active African American youth (17–20 years old) were analyzed to determine their level of protection and whether gender was a factor in their prevention efforts. Qualitative interviews were then conducted with 18 of the youth who reported high levels of protection against STIs/HIV to explore gender differences in perceptions of prevention strategies. The study’s quantitative results suggest that condom use among African American youth in foster care is at least as high if not higher than their peers in the general population while STI/HIV testing is used at a much higher rate. Qualitative results point to gender differences in perceptions of condom use and STI/HIV testing, with some young women reporting difficulties with obtaining and negotiating the use of condoms. In contrast, young women considered testing a psychologically safe, tangible and protective alternative in caring for their sexual health. Implications and recommendations for child welfare and health professionals and direction for future research are discussed.
A novel NURBS surface approach to statistically monitor manufacturing processes with point cloud data

As sensor and measurement technologies advance, there is a continual need to adapt and develop new Statistical Process Control (SPC) techniques to effectively and efficiently take advantage of these new datasets. Currently high-density noncontact measurement technologies, such as 3D laser scanners, are being implemented in industry to rapidly collect point clouds consisting of millions of data points to represent a manufactured parts' surface. For their potential to be realized, SPC methods capable of handling these datasets need to be developed. This paper presents an approach for performing SPC using high-density point clouds. The proposed approach is based on transforming the high-dimensional point clouds into Non-Uniform Rational Basis Spline (NURBS) surfaces. The control parameters for these NURBS surfaces are then monitored using a surface monitoring technique. In this paper point clouds are simulated to determine the performance of the proposed approach under varying fault scenarios.
A Fully-Integrated 27.12 MHz Inductive Power and Data Telemetry Link for Biomedical Implants

We present an integrated power telemetry system to simultaneously transmit power and bidirectionally (half-duplex) communicate data over only a single pair of inductive coils. In particular, the system implements a full-wave active rectifier operating at 27.12 MHz with tunable switched-offset biasing for delay compensation. For an input AC voltage of 3 to 5 V and load resistors of 200 Ω to 2 kΩ, the simulated peak voltage conversion ratio and power conversion efficiency reach 93.9% and 85.7%, respectively. A regulated stage-configurable switched-capacitor (SC) DC-DC converter is then introduced to provide harmonic conversion ratios ranging from 1/2 to 1/5, thus reducing conduction loss. The proposed converter achieves > 60% simulated efficiency over a wide range of load current from 50 μA to 5 mA, while delivering load voltages from 6 V to 21 V. Binary phase shift keying (BPSK) modulated on the power waveform is proposed for downlink (at 1 Mbps), while multilevel load shift keying (LSK) is used for uplink (at 0.4 Mbps) to trade off between power transfer efficiency (PTE) and spectral efficiency. A topology-configurable clock and data recovery (CDR) circuit with simulated jitter of 0.021 UI is proposed for fast settling and wide capture range. The proposed telemetry IC system achieves uninterrupted power delivery during half-duplex data communication.
Strategies to Improve Poultry Food Safety, a Landscape Review

Food safety remains a significant public health issue for the poultry industry. Foodborne pathogens can be in contact at all phases of poultry production, from initial hatch to processing and ultimately to retail and meal preparation. Salmonella and Campylobacter have been considered the primary foodborne pathogens associated with poultry. Both organisms are major causative agents of human foodborne illness. Limiting these pathogens in poultry production requires identifying their sources and routes of transmission. This involves the ability to isolate and precisely identify them using methodologies capable of discernment at the genome level. Interventions to reduce their occurrence in poultry production employ two basic strategies: prevention of establishment and elimination of already-established pathogens. This review provides an overview of current findings and prospects for further research on poultry food safety issues.
Neutral–neutral synthesis of organic molecules in cometary comae

Remote and in-situ observations of cometary gases have revealed the presence of a wealth of complex organic molecules, including carbon chains, alcohols, imines and the amino acid glycine. Such chemical complexity in cometary material implies that impacts by comets could have supplied reagents for prebiotic chemistry to young planetary surfaces. However, the assumption that some of the molecules observed in cometary comae at millimetre wavelengths originate from ices stored inside the nucleus has not yet been proven. In fact, the comae of moderately-active comets reach sufficient densities within a few thousand kilometers of the nucleus for an active (solar radiation-driven) photochemistry to ensue. Here we present results from our latest chemical-hydrodynamic models incorporating an updated reaction network, and show that the commonly-observed HC3N (cyanoacetylene) and NH2CHO (formamide) molecules can be efficiently produced in cometary comae as a result of two-body, neutral-neutral, gas-phase reactions involving well-known coma gases. In the presence of a near-nucleus distributed source of CN (similar to that observed by the Rosetta spacecraft at comet 67P), we find that sufficient HC$_3$N and NH2CHO can be synthesized to match the abundances of these molecules in previous observations of Oort Cloud comets. The precise origin of these (and other) complex organic molecules in cometary comae can be verified through interferometric mapping observations, for example, using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA).
High Leaf Respiration Rates May Limit the Success of White Spruce Saplings growing in The Kampfzone at the Arctic Treeline

Arctic Treeline is the transition from the boreal forest to the treeless tundra and may be determined by growing season temperatures. The physiological mechanisms involved in determining the relationship between the physical and biological environment and the location of treeline are not fully understood. In Northern Alaska we studied the relationship between temperature and leaf respiration in 36 white spruce (Picea glauca) trees, sampling both the upper and lower canopy, to test two research hypotheses (H0). The first H01 is that canopy position will not influence leaf respiration. The associated alternative hypothesis (HA) is that the upper canopy leaves which are more directly coupled to the atmosphere will experience more challenging environmental conditions and thus have higher respiration rates to facilitate metabolic function. The second H02 is that tree size will not influence leaf respiration. The associated HA is that saplings (stems that are 5-10 cm DBH (diameter at breast height)) will have higher respiration rates than trees (stems [≥] 10 cm DBH) since saplings represent the transition from seedlings growing in the more favorable aerodynamic boundary layer, to trees which are fully coupled to the atmosphere but of sufficient size to persist. Respiration did not change with canopy position, however respiration at 25{degrees}C was 42% higher in saplings compared to trees (3.43 {+/-} 0.19 vs. 2.41 {+/-} 0.14 mol m-2 s-1). Furthermore, there were significant differences in the temperature response of respiration, and seedlings reached their maximum respiration rates at 59{degrees}C, more than two degrees higher than trees. Our results demonstrate that the respiratory characteristics of white spruce saplings at treeline are extreme, imposing a significant carbon cost that may contribute to their lack of perseverance beyond treeline. In the absence of thermal acclimation, the rate of leaf respiration could increase by 57% by the end of the century, posing further challenges to the ecology of this massive ecotone. This paper is dedicated to the memory of James N. Siedow, Professor of Botany at Duke University. I am honored to have learned from, and to have been inspired by Jim. I will always be grateful for the time he spent helping me, the depth of education he gave me, and his steady mentoring as part of my thesis committee. His devotion to science and push for deeper knowledge of plant respiration set an example for all of us, particularly those who were lucky enough to study with him. Jim was also a memorable Father Christmas at the departmental holiday parties, always keeping us laughing with his particular brand of quick wit and sarcasm. - Kevin L. Griffin
Intimate Rivals: The Freedom of Religious Nationalism

In this article, I argue that religious nationalism poses a unique challenge to the liberal theory of religious freedom. In arguing this, the article first develops and defines an ideal type of religious nationalism through an analysis of Hindu-nationalist and religious Zionist thought. I show that religious nationalism in states like India and Israel have the unique status of intimate rivals. They are intimate since they are able to successfully present themselves as the carriers of the authentic character of the nation-state and utilize modern political tools. As a result, they are free of much of the unifying pressures of state nationalism. And they are rivals because they promote a vision of society and politics that fundamentally challenges the political identity of the state. The paper then turns to the justifications and rationales of religious freedom—both in seminal cases and in political and legal scholarship—and applies them to religious nationalism. It argues that the status of intimate rivalry should, depending on which justification of religious freedom we adhere to, change the way in which we morally and legally understand religious nationalism. First, because religious nationalism is intimate—that is, acceptable and mainstream—it should be approached as a part of the culture of the majority. This implies that we should be less concerned about infringements of religious freedom in the case of the adherents and organizations of religious nationalism. Second, the rivalry of religious nationalism is in itself a good reason for the nation-state not to accommodate it.
Development of Food Literacy Assessment Tool Targeting Adults With Low Income.

Abstract Objective Develop and test validity and reliability of the Food Literacy Assessment Tool (FLitT) in adults with low income. Design Face validity was tested using cognitive interviews, content validity using expert review, and internal consistency reliability and test-retest reliability based on 2 administrations of the survey. Setting Urban choice food pantry in Cincinnati, OH. Participants There were 10 and 98 adults with low income for the cognitive interview and survey, respectively Variables Measured Knowledge, self-efficacy, and behavior required to plan and manage, select, prepare, and eat in relation to food. Analysis Cronbach α and Kuder-Richardson Formula 20 for internal consistency reliability and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for test-retest reliability. Results Cognitive interviews and expert feedback suggested modifications to improve the clarity of FLitT and offer more response options. Testing shows acceptable internal consistency in self-efficacy (Cronbach α = 0.92) and behavior (Cronbach α = 0.90) but not in knowledge (Kuder-Richardson Formula 20 = 0.51). The FLitT shows acceptable test-retest reliability for knowledge (ICC = 0.84), self-efficacy (ICC = 0.70), and behavior (ICC = 0.93). Conclusions and Implications The FLitT was developed and tested for face and content validity and internal and test-retest reliability in adults with low income. Additional research is needed to conduct a second round of face validity and test construct validity using factor analysis with a larger size.
Pervasive Activity Logging for Indoor Localization in Smart Homes

The scientific contribution of this work to address multiple global societal and economic challenges associated with the increasing aging population is primarily two-fold. First, it presents and discusses a new computing methodology - Pervasive Activity Logging that involves the creation of an adaptive and semantic collection or `log' of human activities in Internet of Things (IoT)-based pervasive environments, along with the characteristics of user interactions associated with these activities in terms of the contextual, behavioral, spatial, and temporal information. Second, by using this concept of Pervasive Activity Logging, this paper presents a novel machine learning and pattern recognition-based approach for Indoor Localization during different activities performed within the premises of an IoT-based pervasive environment, such as a Smart Home. This learning approach used a Random Forest-based classification model and detected the user's indoor location with an accuracy of 83.02%. These methodologies were developed by integrating the latest advancements from Pervasive Computing, Big Data, Information Retrieval, Internet of Things, Human-Computer Interaction, Machine Learning, and Pattern Recognition. The results presented and discussed uphold the relevance, potential, and importance of these methodologies for contributing towards independent living, healthy aging, and improved quality of life of elderly people in the future of IoT-based pervasive environments, such as Smart Homes.
LIGHTNING TALK: Authentic "Learning by Doing" Projects In Business In Market Research Course

Session LOCATION: George's (3rd Floor Johnson Center) Experiential learning environments and "learning by doing" are accepted as effective instructional methods. Application in our market research classes immerses students in an authentic project, e.g. studentsâ perceived marketing curriculum needs. The information is used to improve the curriculum and to complete class projects. Some voluntarily do projects for real clients, e.g. The Honey Bee Initiative, Executive and Professional Education, and others. Participants will be able to generalize the authentic learning opportunities to their curriculum.
Probing Insulin Sensitivity with Metabolically Competent Human Stem Cell-Derived White Adipose Tissue Microphysiological Systems

Impaired white adipose tissue (WAT) function has been recognized as a critical early event in obesity-driven disorders, but high buoyancy, fragility, and heterogeneity of primary adipocytes have largely prevented their use in drug discovery efforts highlighting the need for human stem cell-based approaches. Here, human stem cells are utilized to derive metabolically functional 3D adipose tissue (iADIPO) in a microphysiological system (MPS). Surprisingly, previously reported WAT differentiation approaches create insulin resistant WAT ill-suited for type-2 diabetes mellitus drug discovery. Using three independent insulin sensitivity assays, i.e., glucose and fatty acid uptake and suppression of lipolysis, as the functional readouts new differentiation conditions yielding hormonally responsive iADIPO are derived. Through concomitant optimization of an iADIPO-MPS, it is abled to obtain WAT with more unilocular and significantly larger (≈40%) lipid droplets compared to iADIPO in 2D culture, increased insulin responsiveness of glucose uptake (≈2-3 fold), fatty acid uptake (≈3-6 fold), and ≈40% suppressing of stimulated lipolysis giving a dynamic range that is competent to current in vivo and ex vivo models, allowing to identify both insulin sensitizers and desensitizers.
Towards better software tamper resistance

Software protection is an area of active research in which a variety of techniques have been developed to address the issue. Examples of such techniques include code obfuscation, software watermarking, and tamper detection. In this paper we propose a tamper resistance technique which provides both on and offline tamper detection. In our offline approach, the software dynamically detects tampering and causes the program to fail, protecting itself from malicious attacks. Additionally, during program execution an event log is maintained which is transmitted to a clearing house when the program is back online.
Acanthrocytosis, Pigmentary Degeneration of the Retina and Ataxic Neuropathy: A Genetically Determined Syndrome with Associated Metabolic Disorder

Clinical and laboratory observations are reported in an 18 year old white male who had a celiac syndrome during childhood and subsequently developed a pigmentary degeneration of the retina and a progressive ataxic neuropathy. The red cells show a peculiar malformation, described as acanthrocytosis. The clinical manifestations are similar to those of four previously reported cases. Laboratory studies demonstrate many biochemical abnormalities. These are characterized by increased tolerance to carbohydrates, defective intestinal absorption of lipids, hypocholesterolemia, increased urinary excretion of copper, and elevation of certain enzymes in the serum. Although many vital facts remain unknown, it is suggested that a relationship exists between the clinical manifestations and the metabolic features of this syndrome.