cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Like a Version: Playing with Online Identities.

(2002). Like a Version: playing with online identities. Educational Philosophy and Theory: Vol. 34, No. 4, pp. 387-393.
Possible mechanisms inducing glomerulations in interstitial cystitis: relationship between endoscopic findings and expression of angiogenic growth factors.

ABSTRACTPurpose: Glomerulation has been one of the requisite criteria for the diagnosis of interstitial cystitis (IC) but the mechanisms for glomerulation remain unclear. Therefore, we investigated...
Light-to-input nonlinearities in an R-LED series network

The light-to-current (L-I) and light-to-voltage (L-V) differential nonlinearities in the simple network of a customary LED and an external resistor R in series are analyzed and calculated theoretically and compared with experimental data. Particular emphasis is placed on the influence of the log-arithmetic slope nu of the L-I characteristic and the bias current I upon the ratio of the corresponding nonlinearity parameters. It is thus deduced that, for a given optical power P, over superlinear portions of the L-I curve ( nu >1) the L-I linearity is typically better than its corresponding L-V linearity. On the contrary, when the L-I dependence is sublinear ( nu >
Carbon Microfibers Sheathed with Aligned Carbon Nanotubes: Towards Multidimensional, Multicomponent, and Multifunctional Nanomaterials

Multicomponent and multifunctional hybrid structures based on microsized carbon fibers sheathed with aligned carbon nanotubes and their derivatives have been successfully prepared, and have been demonstrated to be an effective means for connecting nanoscale entities to the outside world and to possess interesting electrochemical properties attractive for a wide range of potential applications, including in methanol direct fuel cells and highly sensitive biological and chemical sensors. Judicious modification of the carbon-fiber-supported aligned carbon nanotubes with various functional moieties could lead to a class of novel multidimensional, multicomponent, and multifunctional materials of practical significance.
A kinetic investigation of unimolecular reactions involving trace metals at post-combustion flue gas conditions

Environmental context Understanding trace metal speciation in coal combustion flue gases is imperative to the design of effective capture technologies to prevent their release into the atmosphere. Unfortunately much of the kinetics that dictate trace metal speciation are not known and the current study focuses for the first time on the kinetics for three reactions involving mercury and one involving selenium. Rate constant expressions are provided over a broad temperature range (i.e. 298–2000 K), indicative of post-combustion flue gas conditions. Abstract Ab-initio methods were carried out to calculate forward and reverse rate constant data for the following reactions: Hg + Cl2 ↔ HgCl2, HgCl + Cl ↔ HgCl2, Hg + O ↔ HgO, and Se + H2 ↔ SeH2. Theoretical predictions of bond distances, vibrational frequencies and enthalpies of reaction are compared to available experimental data to determine the level of theory most appropriate for predicting kinetic parameters. The pseudopotentials ECP60MDF and RECP60VDZ were used for mercury in combination with B3LYP or QCISD(T) methods whereas the complete 6–311++G(3df,3pd) Pople basis set with the CCSD(T) method was used for selenium. Potential energy curves for each reaction were constructed and a variational approach along with RRKM theory was used to predict rate constants from 298 to 2000 K. Reactions HgCl + Cl ↔ HgCl2 and Hg + O ↔ HgO were found to have a strong negative temperature dependence, whereas the insertion reactions Hg + Cl2 ↔ HgCl2 and Se + H2 ↔ SeH2 were found to proceed very slowly with large pre-exponential factors.
Characterization of Spectrum Activities in the U.S. Public Safety Band for Opportunistic Spectrum Access

Dual site spectrum measurements have been made in the public safety band in Howard County, Maryland, USA. The public safety band is of interest because of its obvious importance and the increasing need to determine whether improved spectral utilization would accommodate increased usage for public safety. Two receiver suites were synchronized and used to measure concurrent spectra at separations between a few meters up to a few kilometers. These measurements prove useful in examining issues of spectrum sensing for dynamic spectrum access, including receiver sensitivity, primary user signal detection, adjacent channel interference, and policy performance with local and cooperative sensing. We analyze the collected data to characterize the usage of this public safety network and provide insights into how white space can be identified and utilized. We propose a class of opportunistic access strategies and demonstrate how collected data can be used to evaluate the performance of such schemes.
Constrained total least squares: signal and system modeling

The concepts of least squares and total least squares as applied to a system of linear equations are standard techniques in mathematical analysis. They have become an indispensable tool in the development of signal processing algorithms. The notion of constrained total least squares is introduced and its applications to the problems of exponential data modeling and system identification are briefly developed. It is shown that a significant improvement in performance is achieved over conventional methods. >
A comparative study of three reconstruction methods for a limited-view computer tomography problem

Three novel methods are used to reconstruct a simulated image from a set of incomplete data spanning a 160 degrees angular range. These methods are the squashing affine transformation of J.A. Reeds and L.A. Shepp (1987), the circular interpolation method derived from the theory of J.J. Clark, M.R. Plamer, and P.D. Lawrence (1985), and the geometry-free reconstruction using the theory of convex projections. These methods are briefly explained, and their reconstructions are compared for the case of limited angular views. >
Identifying Problems during Transitions of Care and Reasons for Emergency Department Utilization in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

IDENTIFYING PROBLEMS DURING TRANSITIONS OF CARE AND REASONS FOR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT UTILIZATION IN COMMUNITY-DWELLING OLDER ADULTS By Antoinette Bartolotta Coe, Pharm.D., Ph.D. A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2015 Major Advisor: Director: Leticia R. Moczygemba, Pharm.D., Ph.D. Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacotherapy and Outcomes Science A mixed methods approach was used for this study. The setting was a low-income, subsidized housing apartment building for community-dwelling older and younger disabled adults identified as a health care hot spot due to high rates of ambulance use. The study purpose was to identify reasons for ED use and problems during transition from ED to home, predictors of zip code 23220 (health care hot spot) in emergent and non-emergent ED visits, and predictors of total ED costs in community-dwelling older adults living in a health care hot spot. Semi-structured interviews with residents who used the ED, an existing database from an interprofessional care coordination and wellness program for residents, and community-dwelling older adults’ electronic medical record and billing data from 2010-2013 ED visits from an academic medical center were used. The Gelberg-Andersen Behavioral Model for Vulnerable Populations was
Invasive plant conundrum: what makes the aliens so successful?

Invasive alien plants have caused extensive economic and ecological damage throughout the world. Not all plant species, however, become invasive outside of their native range. The challenge for land managers and policy makers is to determine what species are most likely to become invasive so that control efforts can be initiated before the alien species becomes widespread. A description of plant characteristics and multiple hypotheses that explain invasibility of some of the world’s worst invasive species are provided in this review. Failure to control invasive plants will continue to lead to decreased agricultural production and ecosystem degradation. Control of invasive plants is a daunting task, and will only be accomplished with coordinated efforts of all countries.
Parties and Classifications of Actions

This chapter discusses the rules regulating who may function as parties in civil litigation (6.01–6.04), including rules relating to the requirement of an interet (6.02), rules concerning capacity to sue or to be sued (6.03), and rules determining who are proper parties (6.04). The second part of this chapter deals with classifications of actions (6.05–6.08).
Project Final Report: HPC-Colony II

This report recounts the HPC Colony II Project which was a computer science effort funded by DOE's Advanced Scientific Computing Research office. The project included researchers from ORNL, IBM, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The topic of the effort was adaptive system software for extreme scale parallel machines. A description of findings is included.
A Study of Various Methods of Preventing Rickets in Chicks

Abstract It was not until the chick became a subject for experimental study in the nutrition laboratory that the cause of leg weakness was determined. Investigators rearing chicks under confinement have been confronted with the same problem of leg weakness that presented itself to the practical poultrymen. Hart, Halpin and Steenbock1 found that cod liver oil which had been successfully used by Mellanby2 as a preventive of rickets in mammals, also prevented the appearance of leg weakness in chicks. Hughes3 in 1923 described observations which indicated that leg weakness in chicks is, in reality, rickets and can be prevented by exposure to direct sunlight. This was confirmed by the results of Hart, Steenbock, Lepkovsky and Halpin4 and many others which has definitely placed it among the deficiency diseases. In answer to Pappenheimer and Dunn’s5 criticism of the use of the term rickets to indicate leg weakness in chicks, Hughes . . .
Defecation induced deep venous thrombosis. A case report.

While the risk of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) during prolonged flights is well recognized, we present the case of a 54-year-old male who suffered a deep venous thrombosis following defecation. Defecation, through a combination of the Valsalva maneuver and squatting, led to a DVT due to venous stasis, most marked in the left leg. Color-duplex scanning not only proved a convenient dignostic tool but also allowed for monitoring and documentation of popliteal and saphenous vein recanalization. Being non-invasive and complication-free, color-duplex scanning should be considered for any patient in whom DVT is a possibility.
Production and Application of Syringomycin E as an Organic Fungicide Seed Protectant against Pythium Damping-off.

Syringomycin E (SRE) is a cyclic lipodepsinonapeptide with potent antifungal activity and is produced by certain strains of Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae. In this study, its potential as an organic-compatible agrofungicide and vegetable seed treatment against the soilborne pathogen Pythium ultimum var. ultimum was examined. A variant of P. syringae pv. syringae strain B301D with enhanced SRE-producing capabilities was isolated and grown in a bioreactor with SRE yields averaging 50 mg/l in 40 h. SRE was extracted and purified through a large-scale chromatography system using organic-compatible processes and reagents. The minimum concentrations of the purified product required to inhibit 50 and 90% of P. ultimum oospore germination were determined as 31.3 and 250 μg/ml, respectively. Drench treatment of cucumber seeds in P. ultimum-infested potting medium (500 oospores/g) with 50 μg/ml SRE or water with no SRE resulted in 90.2 ± 4.5% and 65.7 ± 4.6% germination rates, respectively. Seed coating with 0.03% (w/w) SRE allowed 65.7 ± 4.6% seedlings to germinate on naturally infested soil while 100.0 ± 0.0% of non-coated seeds were unable to germinate due to Pythium infection. Organic-compatible and scalably produced SRE is potentially a novel organic fungicide seed protectant.
Mechanisms underlying enhanced capillary filtration induced by platelet-activating factor.

Fluid filtration rate with respect to surface area (Jv/S) from rat mesenteric capillaries was measured before and after platelet-activating factor (PAF) superfusion, a model of acute inflammation. ...
Failure analysis of orthopaedic implants

Abstract: It is generally accepted that failure of total joint arthroplasty can be broadly attributed to patient factors, procedure factors or device factors. Whereas patient and procedure factors account for many revisions in any year, the majority of revisions are due to prosthesis failure. Because manufacturers do not proactively seek to evaluate retrieved devices, which could demonstrate long-term problems, it is imperative that retrieval centers exist to identify industry-wide problems that may impact thousands of patients. This chapter examines the history of retrieval laboratories, the typical failure modes of implants and the tools used to evaluate retrieved devices.
CFTR Modulator Therapies in Pediatric Cystic Fibrosis: Focus on Ivacaftor.

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator protein (CFTR) cause cystic fibrosis (CF), a disease with life threatening pulmonary and gastrointestinal manifestations. Recent breakthrough therapies restore function to select disease-causing CFTR mutations. Ivacaftor is a small molecule that increases the open channel probability of certain CFTR mutations, producing clear evidence of bioactivity and efficacy in pediatric CF patients. CFTR modulators represent a significant advancement in CF treatment. Extending these therapies to young CF patients is proposed to have the greatest long term impact, potentially preventing later disease.Areas covered: Here we summarize the research experience of CFTR modulators in pediatrics, focusing on ivacaftor and highlighting challenges in pediatric studies. As a result of these studies, ivacaftor has been approved in CF patients age 2 years and older who have one of ten CFTR mutations.Expert opinion: Conducting studies in you...
Myths and Truths of Nitinol Mechanics: Elasticity and Tension–Compression Asymmetry

Two prevalent myths of Nitinol mechanics are examined: (1) Martensite is more compliant than austenite; (2) Texture-free Nitinol polycrystals do not exhibit tension–compression asymmetry. By reviewing existing literature, the following truths are revealed: (1) Martensite crystals may be more compliant, equally stiff, or stiffer than austenite crystals, depending on the orientation of the applied load. The Young’s Modulus of polycrystalline Nitinol is not a fixed number—it changes with both processing and in operando deformations. Nitinol martensite prefers to behave stiffer under compressive loads and more compliant under tensile loads. (2) Inelastic Nitinol martensite deformation in and of itself is asymmetric, even for texture-free polycrystals. Texture-free Nitinol polycrystals also exhibit tension–compression transformation asymmetry.
Magnitude of the Wang-Landau error

The Wang-Landau algorithm is an entropic sampling method that incoroporates an update factor ln fi , which introduces a self-avoidance tendency into the random walk. Continued sampling at constant ln fi leads to a steady state estimate of the density of states ln gi (E). We find numerically that the difference between ln gi (E) and the true density of states ln g (E) is proportional to the update factor.
Molten salt reactor neutronics and fuel cycle modeling and simulation with SCALE

Abstract Current interest in advanced nuclear energy and molten salt reactor (MSR) concepts has enhanced interest in building the tools necessary to analyze these systems. A Python script known as ChemTriton has been developed to simulate equilibrium MSR fuel cycle performance by modeling the changing isotopic composition of an irradiated fuel salt using SCALE for neutron transport and depletion calculations. Improved capabilities in ChemTriton include a generic geometry capable of modeling multi-zone and multi-fluid systems, enhanced time-dependent feed and separations, and a critical concentration search. Although more generally applicable, the capabilities developed to date are illustrated in this paper in three applied problems: (1) simulating the startup of a thorium-based MSR fuel cycle (a likely scenario requires the first of these MSRs to be started without available 233U); (2) determining the effect of the removal of different fission products on MSR operations; and (3) obtaining the equilibrium concentration of a mixed-oxide light-water reactor fuel in a two-stage fuel cycle with a sodium fast reactor. The third problem is chosen to demonstrate versatility in an application to analyze the fuel cycle of a non-MSR system. In the first application, the initial fuel salt compositions fueled with different sources of fissile material are made feasible after (1) removing the associated nonfissile actinides after much of the initial fissile isotopes have burned and (2) optimizing the thorium concentration to maintain a critical configuration without significantly reducing breeding capability. In the second application, noble metal, volatile gas, and rare earth element fission products are shown to have a strong negative effect on criticality in a uranium-fueled thermal-spectrum MSR; their removal significantly increases core lifetime (by 30%) and fuel utilization. In the third application, the fuel of a mixed-oxide light-water reactor approaches an equilibrium composition after 20 depletion steps, demonstrating the potential for the longer time scales required to achieve equilibrium for solid-fueled systems over liquid fuel systems. This time to equilibrium can be reduced by starting with an initial fuel composition closer to that of the equilibrium fuel, reducing the need to handle time-dependent fuel compositions.
Differences in the multimodal treatment of gastric cancer: East versus west

There has been a great deal of interest about varying treatment paradigms of gastric cancer in Eastern and Western countries. Differences in tumor biology, screening initiatives, surgical approach, extent of lymphadenectomy, and neoadjuvant versus adjuvant chemotherapy regimens have been studied and documented in the literature. The purpose of this review is to give an updated report on the current status and management differences in the treatment of gastric cancer between Eastern and Western countries.
A mechanistic investigation exploring the differential transfection efficiencies between the easy-to-transfect SK-BR3 and difficult-to-transfect CT26 cell lines.

Gold–polyamidoamine (AuPAMAM) has previously been shown to successfully transfect cells with high efficiency. However, we have observed that certain cell types are more amenable to Au–PAMAM transfection than others. Here we utilized two representative cell lines—a “difficult to transfect” CT26 cell line and an “easy to transfect” SK-BR3 cell line—and attempted to determine the underlying mechanism for differential transfection in both cell types. Using a commonly established poly-cationic polymer similar to PAMAM (polyethyleneimine, or PEI), we additionally sought to quantify the relative transfection efficiencies of each vector in CT26 and SK-BR3 cells, in the hopes of elucidating any mechanistic differences that may exist between the two transfection vectors. A comparative time course analysis of green fluorescent protein reporter-gene expression and DNA uptake was conducted to quantitatively compare PEI- and AuPAMAM-mediated transfection in CT26 and SK-BR3, while flow cytometry and confocal microscopy were used to determine the contribution of cellular uptake, endosomal escape, and cytoplasmic transport to the overall gene delivery process. Results from the time course analysis and flow cytometry studies revealed that initial complex uptake and cytoplasmic trafficking to the nucleus are likely the two main factors limiting CT26 transfectability. The cell type-dependent uptake and intracellular transport mechanisms impacting gene therapy remain largely unexplored and present a major hurdle in the application-specific design and efficiency of gene delivery vectors. This systematic investigation offers insights into the intracellular mechanistic processes that may account for cell-to-cell differences, as well as vector-to-vector differences, in gene transfectability.
Managing Inventories: The Newsvendor Model

This note uses the traditional newsvendor model to present strategies for inventory management when demand is uncertain. Methods for determining the critical ratio of overage and underage costs and the optimal stock level are discussed. Excerpt UVA-OM-1456 Rev. Oct. 9, 2013 Managing inventories: The Newsvendor model Managing inventories is important in every company and under many circumstances, but it is especially critical for firms facing uncertain demand in only one selling season. This problem is commonly referred to as the newsvendor problem or newsvendor model, derived from the problem faced by a newsvendor who must decide on the number of newspapers to purchase at the beginning of the day before demand can be observed. This model, however, can be applied to any situation where the selling season is short enough that ordering decisions must be made before the season starts, such as for fashion goods, influenza vaccines and other health care products, short-life-cycle technology products (consumer electronics and telecommunications equipment), and perishable goods. Determining the Optimal Inventory Level When determining how much inventory to hold before the selling season starts, a firm needs to balance two possible outcomes. If the firm orders too much, inventory remaining at the end of the selling season will have to be sold at a discount or thrown away. But if the firm doesn't order enough, it may lose potential sales and possibly also cause customers to obtain the product from a competitor. To take those two possible outcomes into account, we define two types of costs: the overstocking cost, Co, which is the loss for the firm for each unit of leftover, and the understocking cost, Cu, which is the loss of margin for the firm for each unit of lost sales. . . .
Susceptibility of wounded and intact black soldier fly Hermetia illucens (L.) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) to entomopathogenic nematodes

Production costs and limited regional availability are two key factors limiting the widespread adoption of entomopathogenic nematodes (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae and Steinernematidae) in biological control programs. We explore the potential of using black soldier fly larvae Hermetia illucens (L.) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) as an alternative in vivo rearing host to the greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). We injured black soldier fly larvae to test the hypothesis that the tough cuticle was preventing the penetration of founding infective juveniles (IJs) into the host and egress of offspring from the cadaver. Injuring the black soldier fly larvae increased the infection rate, the number of nematodes entering a host, and the number of IJs harvested from a cadaver. Black soldier fly larvae, however, provided at most 10-fold less IJs compared to G. mellonella. In olfactometer assays, we assessed nematode behavioral responses to wounded black soldier fly larvae. Steinernema carpocapsae did not move towards the insects. Heterorhabditis bacteriophora was attracted to black soldier fly larvae but not G. mellonella. Heterorhabditis bacteriophora did not show a preference for injured black soldier fly larvae over non-injured larvae. Thus, increased colonization on wounded black soldier fly larvae was likely due to additional entry points rather than an increase in their apparency in the soil solution.
Network Structure and Systemic Risk in the European Equity Market

This paper proposes a methodology to anticipate market risk using qualitative and quantitative variables that capture communicative and financial activity within equity networks. During periods of crisis as market risk increases, companies tend to behave alike, and the number of news and common topics among companies increases. I built a corporate news network where the nodes are top European companies, and the edges are the number of news items on the same topic by every pair of companies identified by the topic model methodology. I conducted a longitudinal analysis using a time series of static social networks to generate a dynamic social network and proposed the component causality index as a leading indicator of market risk. This research finds out that the component causality index, based on centrality indicators, anticipates or moves together with Value-at-Risk (VaR) during the period 2005-11.
Extending the era of Moore's Law

The virtuous cycle of integrated-circuit (IC) technology advancement has resulted in the proliferation of information and communication technology with revolutionary economic and social impact. Advancements in lithography have been critical to sustaining Moore’s law over the past 50+ years. As the minimum feature size of an IC has been scaled down well below the wavelength of light used in the photolithographic process, however, the semiconductor industry has faced a growing challenge of continuing to increase the density of transistors at ever lower cost per transistor. This paper discusses a cost-effective method for defining sublithographic features that can help to extend the era of Moore’s Law.
Pluralist Economics: A Multi-paradigmatic Look

Any explanation of an economic phenomenon is based on a worldview. The premise of this book is that any worldview can be associated with one of the four broad paradigms: functionalist, interpretive, radical humanist, and radical structuralist. This chapter takes the major extant schools of thought in economics—Neo-Classical Economics, New Institutional Economics, Behavioral Economics, Austrian Economics, Post-Keynesian Economics, Institutional Economics, Radical Economics, and Marxist Economics—and locates each of them on the map of the four paradigms, as in Exhibit 12.1. It emphasizes, as pluralist economics does, that these schools of thought in economics are equally scientific and informative; they look at economic phenomena from their certain paradigmatic viewpoint; and together they provide a more balanced understanding of the economic phenomenon under consideration. In this chapter, Sects. 1 through 8 present eight major extant schools of thought in economics, and Sect. 9 concludes the chapter.
ToxA Is Present in the U.S. Bipolaris sorokiniana Population and Is a Significant Virulence Factor on Wheat Harboring Tsn1

ToxA, a necrotrophic effector originally identified from the tan spot fungus Pyrenophora tritici-repentis in 1987, was subsequently identified from Parastagonospora nodorum in 2006. More recently, ...
Energy-based feedback control for stochastic port-controlled Hamiltonian systems

In this paper, we develop an energy-based static and dynamic control framework for stochastic port-controlled Hamiltonian systems. In particular, we obtain constructive sufficient conditions for stochastic feedback stabilization that provide a shaped energy function for the closed-loop system while preserving a Hamiltonian structure at the closed-loop level. In the dynamic control case, energy shaping is achieved by combining the physical energy of the plant and the emulated energy of the controller. Several numerical examples are presented that demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed passivity-based stochastic control framework.
Response to Comment on “DNA damage is a pervasive cause of sequencing errors, directly confounding variant identification”

Following the Comment of Stewart et al, we repeated our analysis on sequencing runs from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) using their suggested parameters. We found signs of oxidative damage in all sequence contexts and irrespective of the sequencing date, reaffirming that DNA damage affects mutation-calling pipelines in their ability to accurately identify somatic variations.
Legal and Psychological Approaches to Understanding and Addressing Teen Dating Violence

This chapter examines the intersection of legal and psychological research relevant to juvenile dating relationships, with a focus on victimization and perpetration of sexual assault and intimate partner violence (IPV). To begin, the authors present an overview of the state of psychological research on male–female teen dating relationships focusing specifically on teen dating violence (TDV). In this overview, the authors review rates of perpetration and victimization of these acts in young people’s dating relationships, describe theoretical frameworks psychologists use to conceptualize TDV, and distinguish TDV from adult IPV. By providing the distinctions between adult and teenage IPV, the authors set a structure by which the chapter examines legal responses to TDV and the ways in which the law’s approach is and is not appropriate for addressing the distinct differences in dating violence perpetrated and experienced by juveniles. Specifically, the authors question whether juveniles’ relationships qualify them for protective orders and what provisions are appropriate for prosecuting statutory relationships. The chapter calls for legal scholars to understand and explore ways to incorporate psychology’s understanding of the emergent nature of adulthood in adolescence and how it addresses juveniles’ maturity to make legally sound decisions in the context of dating relationships. Finally, the chapter concludes with a call for TDV prevention and provides commentary on the need to address teens’ problematic perceptions and justifications for relationship abuse, the need to incorporate prevention programming in schools, and ways to approach prevention with teens’ peers, parents, and other significant adults.
What are the Current Concerns about Silica Dust Exposure and Health Risks

Background: There are three contemporary areas of health concern with crystalline silica dust--controlling quartz in developing countries such as brick making and agate/gem-stone polishing; the re-...
Energy Shaping Control with Virtual Spring and Damper for Powered Exoskeletons

Task-invariant feedback control laws for powered exoskeletons are preferred to assist human users across varying locomotor activities. This goal can be achieved with energy shaping methods, where certain nonlinear partial differential equations, i.e., matching conditions, must be satisfied to find the achievable dynamics. Based on the energy shaping methods, open-loop systems can be mapped to closed-loop systems with a desired analytical expression of energy. In this paper, the desired energy consists of modified potential energy that is well-defined and unified across different contact conditions along with the energy of virtual springs and dampers that improve energy recycling during walking. The human-exoskeleton system achieves the input-output passivity and Lyapunov stability during the whole walking period with the proposed method. The corresponding controller provides assistive torques that closely match the human torques of a simulated biped model and able-bodied human subjects’ data.
IMPACT OF CONTACT FORCE SENSING TECHNOLOGY ON ACUTE PROCEDURAL OUTCOMES AND CHRONIC PULMONARY VEIN RECONNECTION RATES IN PATIENTS WITH ATRIAL FIBRILLATION UNDERGOING CATHETER ABLATION

Chronic pulmonary vein reconnection (CPVR) remains a challenge in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients (pts) undergoing catheter ablation. Preventing CPVR may improve the long-term outcome of AF ablation. In this study, we report the impact of contact force sensing (CFS) technology on CPVR rates.
N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirator Use during Pregnancy: A Systematic Review

Objective This study was aimed to systematically review the use of filtering facepiece respirators, such asN95 masks, during pregnancy. Study Design A comprehensive search for primary literature using Medline, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov was conducted from inception until April 2020 to find articles reporting outcomes of pregnant women using filtering facepiece respirator (FFR). Studies were selected if they included the use of FFR in pregnant women and reported an outcome of interest including physiologic changes (heart rate, respiratory rate, pulse oximetry, and fetal heart rate tracing) or subjective measures (thermal or exertional discomfort or fit). The Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment scale was used to assess the risk of bias. The main outcome was to describe the physiologic changes in pregnant women compared with nonpregnant women. Due to the small number of studies and heterogeneity of reported outcomes a meta-analysis was not conducted. Results of the studies were synthesized into a summary of evidence table. Results We identified four studies, three cohort studies and one crossover study, comprising 42 women using FFR during pregnancy. Risk of bias was judged to be low. Studies were consistent in showing no significant increase in maternal heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and fetal heart rate between pregnant and nonpregnant women using N95 FFRs for short durations. Repeat fit testing was not supported for women gaining the recommended amount of weight during pregnancy. No evidence was found to reach conclusions about prolonged N95 FFR use in pregnancy. Conclusion Limited duration N95 FFR use during pregnancy is unlikely to impart risk to the pregnant women or her fetus. Key Points
Tympanostomy Tube Innovation: Advances in Device Material, Design, and Office-Based Technology:

Objectives:With tympanostomy tube insertion remaining the most common procedure performed in children to date, growing interests in minimizing both procedural costs and anesthetic exposure in the p...
An Ultra-steep-spectrum Radio Relic in the Galaxy Cluster A2443

We present newly discovered radio emission in the galaxy cluster A2443 which (1) is diffuse, (2) has an extremely steep spectrum, (3) is offset from the cluster center, (4) is of irregular morphology, and (5) is not clearly associated with any of the galaxies within the cluster. The most likely explanation is that this emission is a cluster radio relic associated with a cluster merger. We present deep observations of A2443 at multiple low frequencies (1425, 325, and 74 MHz) which help characterize the spectrum and morphology of this relic. Based on the curved spectral shape of the relic emission and the presence of small-scale structure, we suggest that this new source is likely a member of the radio phoenix class of radio relics.
Two level simulation of Schmidt number effect on passive scalar transport in wall-bounded turbulent flows

In this study, the two-level simulation (TLS) modeling strategy developed earlier for momentum mixing is assessed in turbulent flows with passive scalar mixing and transport. Compared to the conventional algebraic and transport equation based subgrid-scale closures for large-eddy simulation (LES), where the effects of the unresolved small scales (SS) of motion on the large scales (LS) are modeled, in the TLS model, both large and small scales are explicitly evolved in a coupled two-scale decomposition method called TLS. Earlier studies demonstrated the ability of the SS model in the TLS to simulate high Reynolds number wall-bounded flows with a reasonable LS grid resolution. In the present study, this two-scale strategy is extended to model passive scalar mixing in turbulent channel flows. A comprehensive a priori assessment of the scalar SS model is performed using direct numerical simulation datasets for passive scalar transport in a fully developed turbulent channel flow at frictional Reynolds number R e τ = 395 and at Schmidt numbers S c = 1 and 4. This assessment is carried out to study the evolution of the large and the small scales of the scalar field in physical and spectral space and also to assess the SS prediction of quantities relevant for modeling of scalars such as scalar dissipation rate, counter-gradient transport, and backscatter. A TLS model is, then, used in a posteriori near-wall study using a hybrid TLS–LES approach to assess the two-scale scalar model.
Transitional Justice and Violent Extremism: An Original Policy Framework

This paper provides a framework for policymakers to tailor more effective negotiation and transitional justice strategies to address root causes, break cycles of violence, and strengthen the rule of law in settings affected by violent extremism. This paper draws on an earlier paper authored by me and Mark Freeman of the Institute for Integrated Transitions (also published here on SSRN), the three case studies commissioned for that first paper (ISIS in Iraq, Al Shabaab in Somalia, and Boko Haram in Nigeria), and three newly-commissioned case studies on negotiations with violent extremist groups (Libya and the Libya Islamic Fighting Group, Uganda and the Lord's Resistance Army, and Afghanistan and the Taliban). All six case studies can be found on the website of the Institute for Integrated Transitions (https://www.ifit-transitions.org).
Measuring force generation within reconstituted microtubule bundle assemblies using optical tweezers.

Kinesins and microtubule associated proteins are critical to sustain life, facilitating cargo transport, cell division, and motility. To interrogate the mechanistic underpinnings of their function, these microtubule-based motors and proteins have been studied extensively at the single molecule level. However, a long-standing issue in the single molecule biophysics field has been how to investigate motors and associated proteins within a physiologically relevant environment in vitro. While the one motor/one filament orientation of a traditional optical trapping assay has revolutionized our knowledge of motor protein mechanics, this reductionist geometry does not reflect the structural hierarchy in which many motors work within the cellular environment. Here, we review approaches that combine the precision of optical tweezers with reconstituted ensemble systems of microtubules, microtubule associated proteins, and kinesins to understand how each of these unique elements work together to perform large scale cellular tasks, such as but not limited to building the mitotic spindle. Not only did these studies develop novel techniques for investigating motor proteins in vitro, but they also illuminate ensemble filament and motor synergy that helps bridge the mechanistic knowledge gap between previous single molecule and cell level studies. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Fast Monte Carlo Rendering via Multi-Resolution Sampling.

Monte Carlo rendering algorithms are widely used to produce photorealistic computer graphics images. However, these algorithms need to sample a substantial amount of rays per pixel to enable proper global illumination and thus require an immense amount of computation. In this paper, we present a hybrid rendering method to speed up Monte Carlo rendering algorithms. Our method first generates two versions of a rendering: one at a low resolution with a high sample rate (LRHS) and the other at a high resolution with a low sample rate (HRLS). We then develop a deep convolutional neural network to fuse these two renderings into a high-quality image as if it were rendered at a high resolution with a high sample rate. Specifically, we formulate this fusion task as a super resolution problem that generates a high resolution rendering from a low resolution input (LRHS), assisted with the HRLS rendering. The HRLS rendering provides critical high frequency details which are difficult to recover from the LRHS for any super resolution methods. Our experiments show that our hybrid rendering algorithm is significantly faster than the state-of-the-art Monte Carlo denoising methods while rendering high-quality images when tested on both our own BCR dataset and the Gharbi dataset. \url{this https URL}
Limited capacity for memory tasks with multiple features within a single object

Memory for multiple features might be limited by the number of features, the number of objects, or both. To focus on the role of features, we tested memory for a variable number of features within a single object. Subjects studied a single ellipse that varied in four features: size, orientation, contrast, and position. We conducted two experiments that differed in how memory was tested. If performance is limited only by the number of objects to be remembered, there should be no effect of the number of relevant features within a single object. Instead, for both experiments, the proportion correct was lower when four features had to be remembered rather than one. The magnitude of these effects varied with the details of the two experiments. Although similar results have been reported for experiments using multiple objects, the present experiments are some of the first to have demonstrated such an effect for a single object. This result is inconsistent with theories in which visual memory has a discrete limit on the number of stored objects, and no limit on the stored features within an object. Instead, it seems likely that objects and features both play roles in limiting performance in memory tasks.
Axisymmetric vibration of hemispherical shells.

Axisymmetric dynamic response of hemispherical shells under arbitrary loading formulated using elastic bending theory
Probability, Confidence, and Matsushita: The Misunderstood Summary Judgment Revolution

This article offers a reinterpretation of the Supreme Court’s seminal decision in Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. v. Zenith Radio Corporation. Although the Matsushita decision is often credited for ushering in a new era of summary judgment by shifting power from the jury to trial court judges, this conclusion is based on an erroneous understanding of the case. In reality, Matsushita is a narrow decision that does not alter the relationship between judge and jury. Appreciating the true import of Matsushita is possible only by delineating between the concepts of probability and confidence. The Supreme Court’s decision in Matsushita is usually understood as having been decided according to a probability analysis, but the best interpretation of the case is that it was decided pursuant to a confidence analysis. Recognizing the true basis of the Matsushita decision dispels the popular belief that Matsushita requires an aggressive use of summary judgment by trial judges. In addition, properly understanding Matsushita is the key to comprehending the pleading requirement of “plausibility,” introduced by the Supreme Court in Bell Atlantic v. Twombly.
Biting the hand that feeds: the invasive grass Schismus barbatus (Poaceae) is facilitated by, but reduces establishment of, the native shrub Ambrosia dumosa (Asteraceae)

Question: We present a study of positive and negative interactions between the invasive grass Schismus barbatus (Poaceae) and Ambrosia dumosa (Asteraceae). Ambrosia facilitates seedling establishment, and such facilitation may accelerate invasion of exotic species, which, in turn, may reduce establishment of native plants. Location: Joshua Tree National Park, California, USA. Methods: During 2003-2004, we used field surveys to characterize the natural spatial distribution of Schismus in relation to native shrubs, and experimentally manipulated seed rain of Ambrosia and Schismus at three distances from adult Ambrosia canopies. We measured percentage germination and individual performance of both species. Field data were complemented by a greenhouse experiment that measured competition between Ambrosia seedlings and Schismus planted at three densities and five relative abundances under controlled conditions. Results: Field surveys showed that the density of Schismus is independent of Ambrosia shrubs, but growth is enhanced near shrub canopies. In our field experiment Schismus is facilitated by adult Ambrosia. Under controlled conditions, Schismus does not respond to the density of Ambrosia seedlings, but changes in density of Schismus decreased performance of Ambrosia seedlings. Conclusion: Schismus invasion may be detrimental to native perennial plant populations. Although a reduction of seedling establishment is not usually expected to slow population growth of long-lived perennials, recent unprecedented adult mortality in this community, and the well-documented facilitative role of Ambrosia, suggest that Schismus invasion may be of high ecological significance.
Application of the hanging meniscus rotating disk electrode method to oxygen reduction on platinum in H/sub 3/PO/sub 4/ (fuel cells)

Results obtained using the hanging meniscus rotating disk electrode (HMRDE) method are compared with those obtained using the standard RDE method for the oxygen reduction reaction on platinum in H/sub 3/PO/sub 4/ fuel cells at room temperature. Cyclic voltammograms and limiting current curves obtained by the HMRDE method are similar, but not identical, to those obtained by the standard method. A slight shape change is observed in the limiting current curves, and nonlinear Tafel plots are obtained for the HMRDE method. While the linear relationship between i/sub l/ and omega /sup 1/2/ described by the Levich equation is maintained, the slope is reduced and a small, positive intercept is present. Discrepancies between the two methods seem to be related to the different hydrodynamics involved with the hanging meniscus. In spite of the discrepancies, the HMRDE method shows some promise for determining comparative kinetics at elevated temperature (200 degrees C). >
Data‐Fusion NDE for Progressive Damage Quantification in Composites

The objective of this article is to present a progressive damage quantification framework for fiber reinforced polymer composites (FRPC) that have widespread use in aerospace and wind-turbine applications. To this aim, a novel optico-acoustic nondestructive evaluation (NDE) setup is presented based on integration of Digital Image Correlation (DIC), Acoustic Emission (AE), and Infrared Thermography (IRT). DIC and IRT full-field strain and temperature maps reveal early development of structural hot spots, associated with locations where inelastic strains accumulate, damage initiates, and final fracture occurs in both tensile and fatigue experiments. Damage quantification is further related to: (i) energy dissipation, (ii) residual stiffness, (iii) average both temporal and spatial temperature variations, and (iv) AE features in time and frequency domains. The extracted NDE parameters suggest three characteristic stages of fatigue life that can be used to construct appropriate models for reliable remaining life-predictions.
Mortality in mild cognitive impairment varies by subtype, sex, and lifestyle factors: the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging.

Background Etiologic differences in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) subtypes may impact mortality.