cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Novel methods for estimating the ballistocardiogram signal using a simultaneously acquired electrocardiogram

The ballistocardiogram (BCG) signal represents the movements of the body in response to cardiac ejection of blood. Recently, many groups have developed low-cost instrumentation for facilitating BCG measurement in the home. The standard method used in the literature for estimating the BCG pulse response has generally been ensemble averaging over several beats. Unfortunately, since the BCG pulse response is likely longer than a typical heartbeat interval, this standard approach does not yield a full-length estimate of the response. This paper describes a simple, novel algorithm for estimating the full-length BCG pulse response using the R-wave timing of a simultaneously acquired electrocardiogram (ECG). With this pulse response, the full signal can be reconstructed, enabling the analysis of slow transient effects in the BCG signal, and of the measurement noise. Additionally, while this paper focuses only on the BCG signal, the same algorithm could be applied to other biomedical signals such as the phonocardiogram or impedance cardiogram, particularly when the heartbeat interval is shorter than the duration of the cpulse response.
Comparison of Estimation Techniques for a Forest Inventory in which Double Sampling for Stratification Is Used

A number of different estimators can be used when forest inventory plots cover two or more distinctly different condition classes. In this article the properties of two approximate Horvitz-Thompson (HT) estimators, a ratio of means (RM), and a mean of ratios (MR) estimator are explored in the framework of double sampling for stratification. Relevant theoretical properties are given, and a simulation study is used to compare the properties of these estimators. It is concluded that the variance of the RM estimator is smaller than that of the approximate HT for the populations studied, but that of the MR estimator is larger. While ratio estimators are known to be biased for small sample sizes, an additional bias also occurs when the population of interest has an edge-effect. The RM classical variance estimator underestimated the true variance in the simulation study. The approximate HT estimators exhibited biases that were generally smaller than those of the RM and MR estimators for populations with an edge-effect. Its classical variance estimator was essentially unbiased.
See through walls with WiFi

Wi-Fi signals are typically information carriers between a transmitter and a receiver. In this paper, we show that Wi-Fi can also extend our senses, enabling us to see moving objects through walls and behind closed doors. In particular, we can use such signals to identify the number of people in a closed room and their relative locations. We can also identify simple gestures made behind a wall, and combine a sequence of gestures to communicate messages to a wireless receiver without carrying any transmitting device. The paper introduces two main innovations. First, it shows how one can use MIMO interference nulling to eliminate reflections off static objects and focus the receiver on a moving target. Second, it shows how one can track a human by treating the motion of a human body as an antenna array and tracking the resulting RF beam. We demonstrate the validity of our design by building it into USRP software radios and testing it in office buildings.
3-D Ear Modeling and Recognition From Video Sequences Using Shape From Shading

We describe a novel approach for 3-D ear biometrics using video. A series of frames is extracted from a video clip and the region of interest in each frame is independently reconstructed in 3-D using shape from shading. The resulting 3-D models are then registered using the iterative closest point algorithm. We iteratively consider each model in the series as a reference model and calculate the similarity between the reference model and every model in the series using a similarity cost function. Cross validation is performed to assess the relative fidelity of each 3-D model. The model that demonstrates the greatest overall similarity is determined to be the most stable 3-D model and is subsequently enrolled in the database. Experiments are conducted using a gallery set of 402 video clips and a probe of 60 video clips. The results (95.0% rank-1 recognition rate and 3.3% equal error rate) indicate that the proposed approach can produce recognition rates comparable to systems that use 3-D range data. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to develop a 3-D ear biometric system that obtains a 3-D ear structure from a video sequence.
Image of God and Community Volunteering among Religious Adherents in the United States

Individual theological beliefs provide important motivations for religious people to volunteer in their communities. Compassion and loving one’s neighbor are both ideas that can motivate individuals to volunteer their time and talents. Religious believers who have conservative theological beliefs may see volunteering for their communities as a minor factor in their religious calling. Recent research on the role of social embeddedness within religious communities, however, has questioned the importance of theology as a motivation to volunteer (Putnam and Campbell, in American Grace. Simon and Schuster, New York, 2010; Lewis et al., in Soc Sci Res 42: 331–346, 2013). In this paper we test the effects of a religious adherent’s image of God’s disposition toward the world on their pattern of community volunteering. Using data from the 2005 Baylor Religion Survey and multinomial logit models, we find that having an image of God as judgmental lowers the odds that religious adherents report having volunteered for the community independent of their place of worship. Adherents who are most willing to engage the external community independent of a place of worship are those with less judgmental images of God. We also find that embeddedness is associated with volunteering for and with the place of worship in the community. Implications for theory, research and social capital formation are discussed.
FSC system for tool breakage detection in end milling operations

A fuzzy-net search classifier (FSC) system has been developed to control tool breakage in end milling operation based on fuzzy nets approach. The FSC system has the self-learning capability to generate rule bases and to fine tune the term sets of each linguist variables to the appropriate level of granularity. The performance of the FSC system is examined for an end milling operation. >
Games with Incomplete Information Played by Bayesian Players, I-III

(This article originally appeared in Management Science, November 1967, Volume 14, Number 3, pp. 159-182, published by The Institute of Management Sciences.) The paper develops a new theory for the analysis of games with incomplete information where the players are uncertain about some important parameters of the game situation, such as the payoff functions, the strategies available to various players, the information other players have about the game, etc. However, each player has a subjective probability distribution over the alternative possibilities. In most of the paper it is assumed that these probability distributions entertained by the different players are mutually "consistent," in the sense that they can be regarded as conditional probability distributions derived from a certain "basic probability distribution" over the parameters unknown to the various players. But later the theory is extended also to cases where the different players' subjective probability distributions fail to satisfy this consistency assumption. In cases where the consistency assumption holds, the original game can be replaced by a game where nature first conducts a lottery in accordance with the basic probability distribution, and the outcome of this lottery will decide which particular subgame will be played, i.e., what the actual values of the relevant parameters will be in the game. Yet, each player will receive only partial information about the outcome of the lottery, and about the values of these parameters. However, every player will know the "basic probability distribution" governing the lottery. Thus, technically, the resulting game will be a game with complete information. It is called the Bayes-equivalent of the original game. Part I of the paper describes the basic model and discusses various intuitive interpretations for the latter. Part II shows that the Nash equilibrium points of the Bayes-equivalent game yield "Bayesian equilibrium points" for the original game. Finally, Part III considers the main properties of the "basic probability distribution."
EULERIAN MULTI-FLUID MODEL OF AIR BLAST ATOMIZATION

A fully Eulerian “multi-fluid” model of air blast atomization is discussed. The model envisions the system as consisting one carrier fluid phase and N drop phases, each having a discrete diameter. Discretization of the drop size distribution is often employed as part of numerical solutions. In the current approach, discretization is made part of the model itself in order to both take advantage of the large body of existing knowledge related to multiphase continuum mechanics and to make the resulting formulation consistent with the structures of the Eulerian multi-fluid solvers contained in contemporary commercial CFD packages. A complete formulation involving balances of mass, linear momentum, and energy for N+1 fluid-like continua (fluid phase plus N drop phases) is discussed. Some preliminary results are presented for a model problem allowing closed form solution. These are interpreted to illustrate the drop breakup concepts.
The Wayfarer modular navigation payload for intelligent robot infrastructure

We are currently developing autonomous urban navigation capabilities for the iRobot PackBot. The TARDEC-funded Wayfarer Project is developing a modular navigation payload that incorporates LIDAR, vision, FLIR, and inertial navigation sensors. This payload can be attached to any PackBot and will provide the robot with the capability to perform fully-autonomous urban reconnaissance missions. These capabilities will enable the PackBot Wayfarer to scout unknown territory and return maps along with video and FLIR image sequences. The Wayfarer navigation payload includes software components for obstacle avoidance, perimeter and street following, and map-building. The obstacle avoidance system enables the PackBot to avoid collisions with a wide range of obstacles in both outdoor and indoor environments. This system combines 360-degree planar LIDAR range data with 3D obstacle detection using stereo vision using a Scaled Vector Field Histogram algorithm. We use a real-time Hough transform to detect linear features in the range data that correspond to building walls and street orientations. We use the LIDAR range data to build an occupancy grid map of the robot's surroundings in real-time. Data from the range sensors, obstacle avoidance, and the Hough transform are transmitted via UDP over wireless Ethernet to an OpenGL-based OCU that displays this information graphically and in real-time.© (2005) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Weak consistency group communication for wide-area systems

Replicated services can be implemented as process groups. Member processes use group communication protocols to communicate amongst themselves and group membership protocols to determine what processes are in the group. These protocols can provide various levels of consistency between members. The author investigates weak consistency protocols that guarantee that messages are delivered to all members, but do not guarantee when. He reports on a new family of communication protocols, an associated group membership mechanism, and current progress in evaluating their efficiency and utility for real applications. >
Fast lossless compression of scientific floating-point data

In scientific computing environments, large amounts of floating-point data often need to be transferred between computers as well as to and from storage devices. Compression can reduce the number of bits that need to be transferred and stored. However, the run-time overhead due to compression may be undesirable in high-performance settings where short communication latencies and high bandwidths are essential. This paper describes and evaluates a new compression algorithm that is tailored to such environments. It typically compresses numeric floating-point values better and faster than other algorithms do. On our data sets, it achieves compression ratios between 1.2 and 4.2 as well as compression and decompression throughputs between 2.8 and 5.9 million 64-bit double-precision numbers per second on a 3 GHz Pentium 4 machine.
Interactivity with ‘Generation Y’ and small southwestern community newspapers

Abstract This 2003 study explores what newspapers under 15,000 circulation are doing on-line in their attempt to interact with “Generation Y” in order to win them as readers and future subscribers. There are more newspapers published under 15,000 circulation than any other type in America. The results are startling. The small southwest dailies in this study have dramatic documented circulation loss from 1996 to 2001. News executives self-report they are trying desperately in their newsrooms to interact on-line with readers despite a serious problem of constant reporter turnover.
Impact of polymer curing on two-dimensional and three-dimensional shape change in nanoimprint lithography

Polymer shrinkage from curing in nanoimprint lithography (NIL) strongly affects the ultimate shapes of two- and three-dimensional structures produced following etching. We computationally study the curing step in the NIL process and predict the shape changes caused by polymer shrinkage. The shape changes are predicted for crosses, diamonds with sharp and rounded tips, and multitiered structures that are applicable for multibit memory devices and dual damascene processes. The shape changes from curing are shown to be governed by the shrinkage coefficient of the polymer resist, its Poisson’s ratio, and the geometric aspect ratios of the shapes. Finite element simulations demonstrate that shape change due to polymer densification is equal to the average volumetric contraction of the resist material, but shrinkage is not isotropic and vertical displacement dominates. The thickness of the residual layer does not impact the final profile of the imprinted shapes considered. Further analysis shows that diamonds with sharp tips stay sharp while the tips of rounded diamonds get sharper. Additionally, shape changes for multitiered structures are not uniformly distributed among the tiers. Using etch simulations, we demonstrate the significant impact of polymer shrinkage on the final feature profile.
The Women’s Health Initiative: Will It Resolve the Issues?

Whether fat intake is an important risk factor for the development of breast cancer has been debated over the last decade. Ecological observations, migrant studied and some case-control studies have been interpreted as supporting an association between dietary fat and breast cancer; however, other case-control and most cohort studies have tended not to confirm this suspicion. A compelling mechanism to explain a fat-breast cancer relationship has also not been established.
Land and race in Rhodesia

One of the most thorny single issues in Rhodesian society is the question of land distribution. The African, regardless of class or status, is alive to the pros and cons of the land issue.
Participation: Structural and relational power and Maasai women’s political subjectivity in Tanzania:

Across the world, women remain seriously underrepresented in governmental politics. Moreover, limited opportunities for political participation and decision-making reflect a widespread societal problem substantiated and perpetuated through gender inequities that operate at numerous levels of society. Challenging and ending systemic gender-based power imbalances is critical to understanding the potential for women’s political participation worldwide. The current study uses a liberation psychology approach to test a model that examines how the dynamics of structure, power, and agency enable (or limit) women’s political participation. In particular, the study examines how women’s landownership influences the dynamics of relational power and individual agency that enable political participation among Maasai women in Tanzania. Surveys conducted among 225 women in northern Tanzania revealed that landownership was related to relationship power which predicted individual agency and, in turn, higher levels of wome...
Representing the Ideal American Family

Communities throughout the U.S. West erected monuments to white pioneer mothers in the late 1920s. While other western sculptors’ interest in frontier women soon faded, Avard Fairbanks continued to produce prominent public monuments to pioneer women and families for the next fifty years. Fairbanks’s pioneer monuments provide a valuable case study for examining the ways in which changing social norms influenced public monuments over the course of the twentieth century. Focusing on Avard Fairbanks’s fifty years of pioneer-themed monuments highlights the sculptor’s role in transforming idealized images of settler families from objects of purely regional memory into a national American family ideal.
Heat Resistance of Neoprene Vulcanizates

Abstract The resistance of neoprene vulcanizates to degradation when exposed to heat is increased markedly by compounding with selected calcium salts in place of magnesium oxide. The preferred material is a product containing 36% calcium oxide prepared by calcining reagent grade calcium carbonate in a laboratory muffle furnace at 1600° F for 30 minutes. Calcium salts of fatty acids containing 18 carbon atoms in the fatty acid portion of the molecule also are effective. The calcium salt of a more highly unsaturated fatty acid is an effective antiozonant. The stress-strain properties and resistance to compression set and swelling in oil are similar for compounds employing calcium salts compared with magnesium oxide. Calcium salts reduce the processing safety of the compounds, and the resistance of the vulcanizates to swelling in water.
PERITONEAL DIALYSIS FOR THE SUPPORT OF RESPIRATORY INSUFFICIENCY IN RABBITS

1. This study tests the feasibility of peritoneal dialysis for the delivery of O 2 and removal of CO 2 during experimental hypoxia, hypercapnia and acidaemia in rabbits. 2. Immediately after peritoneal infusion of a bolus of oxygenated dialysate, dialysate O 2 content decreased, CO 2 content increased and pH decreased. However, arterial P o 2 , P co 2 and pH did not change significantly. 3. During active dialysis at a flow of 70–120 ml/min, O 2 and CO 2 content difference between dialysate inflow and outflow was 0·87 and 1·32 ml 100 ml −1 min −1 , respectively. After 60 min of active dialysis, arterial P o 2 increased from 50 to 63 mmHg, P co 2 decreased from 49 to 43 mmHg, and pH was maintained.
Molecular insights into the surface morphology, layering structure, and aggregation kinetics of surfactant-stabilized graphene dispersions.

The production of graphene with open band gaps for the manufacturing of graphene-based electronic and optical devices requires synthesis methods to either control the number of layers to enrich AB-stacked bilayer or trilayer graphene or control the extent of functionalization of monolayer graphene. Solution-phase dispersion of graphene is promising for both methods to create printable electronics and nanocomposites. However, both methods face common challenges, including controlling the surface morphology, reducing the turbostratic layering, and enhancing the dispersion stability. To address these challenges at the molecular level, we successfully combined molecular simulations, theoretical modeling, and experimental measurements. First, we probed the surface structure and electrostatic potential of monolayer graphene dispersed in a sodium cholate (SC) surfactant aqueous solution, which exhibits 2D sheets partially covered with a monolayer of negatively charged cholate ions. Similar to the case of carbon ...
Analysis on data of notifiable infectious diseases in Shiyan City of Hubei Province 2004-2010

[Objective]To analyze the epidemic situation of notifiable infectious diseases since implementation of direct network report in Shiyan City,provide the scientific basis for prevention and control of notifiable infectious diseases in the future. [Methods]The descriptive epidemiological analysis was adopted. [Results]There was no category A infectious diseases case in Shiyan City during 2004-2010.A total of 84 559 cases of 19 kinds of category B infectious diseases were reported,164 cases died,the average annual incidence rate was 336.37/lakh,and the mortality rate was 0.71/lakh.39 013 cases of 8 kinds of category C infectious diseases were reported,1 case died,and the average annual incidence rate was 169.03/lakh.The reported incidence rate of category B infectious diseases in Shiyan city increased by 72.24% compared with that during 1997-2003.The reported incidence rate of category B infectious diseases in Shiyan urban area was significantly higher than that in counties.Most of cases were farmers,students and people under 15 years old.After implementation of direct network report,the timeliness and accuracy of infectious diseases reports were enhanced greatly. [Conclusion]According to the key diseases of hepatitis B,pulmonary tuberculosis and epidemic parotitis,key population of farmer and student,and key area of Shiyan urban area,the effective control measures should be carried out,so as to continuously control the incidence rate of notifiable infectious diseases in Shiyan City.
Imaging of Head Trauma.

Head trauma is a common cause of emergency room visits, and traumatic brain injury (TBI) accounts for approximately 1.4million emergency department visits per year in the United States. The scope of head trauma also includes calvarial, facial, and skull base trauma. The role of the emergency radiologist is to help identify who might benefit from imaging, to determine which imaging protocols to use, and to provide efficient and accurate interpretation of imaging studies. This article reviews these topics, focusing on practical applications. Computed tomography (CT) is the primary imaging modality used in the emergency department for the evaluation of head trauma. Although some centers use radiography for the evaluation of maxillofacial fractures, in most cases CT is the imaging study of choice to evaluate facial trauma, and CT is superior to radiography for the evaluation of skull base trauma, detecting previously unsuspected fractures. Contrast is used to evaluate for vascular injury, as discussed in the next chapter, but does not play a role in the diagnosis of traumatic brain lesions or fractures. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may play a role in problem solving in the emergency department, but generally is not used for primary diagnosis in head trauma as it is more costly, more time consuming, and less well-tolerated by critically ill patients who may be undergoing intensive monitoring. Whereas conventional MRI is more sensitive than CT for detecting traumatic lesions in patients sustaining mild TBI, these findings were not correlated with neurocognitive outcome, and the utility of obtaining early MRI in this setting has not been validated. Advanced MRI techniques such as diffusion tensor imaging may play a role in predicting outcome, and functional MRI may also play a role in demonstrating sequela of mild TBI but much active research is still ongoing in this area.
Malignancy in disorders of sex development

Disorders of sex development (DSD) represent a spectrum of conditions in which chromosomal, gonadal, or anatomic sex are atypical and affect 1 in 4,500-5,000 live births. The diagnosis of DSD raises concerns of tumor risk and treatment as well as future fertility preservation. We review the current understanding of the types of gonadal tumors that arise in DSD patients as well as possible markers and treatment. The goal is to inform the members of the DSD team (urologist, endocrinologist, geneticist, psychologist) of the latest findings regarding malignancy in DSD. PubMed® and Google ScholarTM literature searches were performed of current and past peer-reviewed literature on DSD (intersex) regarding gonadal development and tumor formation/treatment. Relevant reviews and original research articles were examined, including cited references, and a synopsis of the data was generated. DSD patients are at increased risk for the development of testicular carcinoma in-situ (CIS) and germ cell tumors (GCT), including seminoma, non-seminoma, juvenile granulosa cell, gonadoblastoma, and dysgerminoma. Cancer risk factors include Y-chromosomal material and gonadal position, especially for streak gonads. The 46 XX DSD patients [congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH)] with no genetic Y-chromosomal material are not at higher risk of cancer. Post-pubertal complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) patients remain prone to tumor development if the testes remain in the abdomen. Estimates of the risk of GCT in partial AIS for untreated undescended testes may be as high as 50%. The cancer risk of scrotal testes in partial AIS is unknown. CIS occurs almost exclusively in patients with hypovirilization, most notably in AIS. Persistent Mullerian Duct Syndrome (PMDS) confers the usual cancer risk associated with cryptorchidism, but also a possible tumor risk of the Mullerian remnant. Several markers are under investigation for tumor evaluation in the DSD population beyond hCG and AFP (Oct3/4, TSPY, WT-1). The management of patients with DSD is complex and evaluation of tumor risk is aided by advances in genotyping for Y-chromosomal material not evident in traditional karyotyping. More complete genetic screening for DSD patients should increasingly become the standard of care. Developments in pathologic diagnosis will further challenge our traditional understanding of the oncologic management and surveillance of these patients. Future studies utilizing more advanced histologic examination of gonads will improve our understanding of the true incidences of malignancy in this diverse population.
Academic Language and Literacy in Every Setting (ALLIES+): Strengthening the STEM Learning Ecosystem

In this chapter, we describe a professional development project, Academic Language and Literacy in Every Subject (ALLIES+), with the overarching goal of developing, implementing and testing a professional development model focused on how science content and learning activities can be modified to improve academic conversations in classroom and expanded learning settings. Our professional development model had four unique elements to foster participants’ ability to create and implement innovative lessons and instructional strategies to meet the needs of English learners (ELs) in science classes: (1) sessions were designed in collaboration with the district and aligned with the district’s strategic goals; (2) teachers and district instructional leaders worked side-by-side learning how to implement ALLIES+ practices in support of ELs’ academic-language development; (3) teachers and expanded learning educators were provided with time to rehearse new instructional practices in a low-risk environment; and, (4) ongoing inquiry was sustained over time focusing teachers’ attention on experimenting with new practices, engaging in cycles of inquiry, discussing and adapting lessons plans, and analyzing student work. Findings from this study suggest that models of professional development designed around the key, research-based practices of effective professional development, can positively impact teacher knowledge and practice. This professional development model provided time for teachers and expanded learning staff to learn how to use the practices in support of academic language and science learning through explicit modeling, individual and collaborative experimentation, and expert and peer mentoring.
A Systems Model of Household Behavior

To understand the role of marketing in contributing to consumer satisfaction, a systems model of household behavior is developed from the literature. The model undergoes successive transitions of i...
Browsing impacts on the stable isotope composition of chaparral plants

We assessed the effects of herbivory on competition, water stress, and potentially biological nitrogen fixation on three species of endemic shrubs using variations in the stable isotope ratios (13C/12C and 15N/14N) in leaves of chaparral shrubs in a long-term field experiment. While variations in isotopic ratios of plants are often attributed to abiotic stresses, impacts of biotic interactions are rarely evaluated. Our site was a low-nutrient, chaparral community on the central California coast. In this system, deer browsing on Ceanothus rigidus, which have symbiotic N-fixing bacteria (Frankia), was intense and suppressed growth, while the two non-fixing shrubs (Arctostaphylos pumila and Ericameria ericoides) were not browsed heavily. For Ceanothus, excluding deer increased both plant size and the δ15N value to ~0‰; δ13C values also increased as the plants increased in mass. In Arctostaphylos and Ericameria, stable isotope values did not change, while plant sizes remained the same or even declined when deer were excluded. We interpret the change in Ceanothus δ15N values as due to increased N fixation after evaluating possible alternative explanations. The increase in Ceanothus δ13C values may be due to increased water stress with substantial shrub growth. More broadly, herbivore suppression of N fixation may impact ecosystem processes such as productivity and N cycling, as well as an ecosystem's ability to respond to increased CO2.
A retrospective analysis of patients with intermediate-risk germ cell tumor (IRGCT) treated at Indiana University from 2000 to 2010.

4534 Background: Based on the International Germ Cell Cancer Collaborative Group (IGCCCG), IRGCT represents 26% of non-seminomas and 10% of seminomas with 2 year PFS of 74% (63-85%). Most patients ...
Proton structure fluctuations: constraints from HERA and applications to p + A collisions

Abstract We constrain proton structure fluctuations at small- x by comparing with the HERA diffractive vector meson production data, and find that large geometric fluctuations in the proton wave function are needed. Hydrodynamical simulations of proton-nucleus collisions including the fluctuating proton structure are found to be compatible with the momentum anisotropies measured at the LHC.
Subjective Evaluation of Tactile Fidelity for Single-Finger and Whole-Hand Touch Gestures

This paper presents a study on the effects of tactile fidelity—the degree of exactness with which real-world tactile stimuli are reproduced—on the perception of single-finger and whole-hand touch gestures. We developed an arm-based tactile display consisting of a four-by-three grid of linear resonant actuator motors to facilitate our investigation. This device supported two extreme levels of tactile fidelity by using an extension of the previously defined Tactile Brush algorithm. At the highest level, all twelve motors could be used to provide an average displayed tactile resolution of one actuation per 12 cm2. At the lowest level, the four corner motors of the grid could be used to provide an average displayed tactile resolution of one actuation per 36 cm2. We conducted a study in which every participant blindly compared these two levels of tactile fidelity for four single-finger touch gestures and six whole-hand touch gestures. Our results indicated that the higher level of tactile fidelity was significantly preferred and accepted for all six whole-hand touch gestures and for two of the four single-finger gestures. We discuss the implications of these results for the development of grid-based tactile displays and provide some virtual reality application areas that could take advantage of using whole-hand touch gestures.
Determination of Plasma Renin Concentration by Angiotensin I Immunoassay

Radioimmunoassay of angiotensin I was applied to the estimation of renin concentration after incubation of human plasma with an excess of renin substrate from plasma of anephric sheep. With this me...
A U. S. National Continental Scientific Drilling Program

Geophysical measurements have provided a wealth of indirect information about properties of the crust and have led to exciting hypotheses regarding crustal structure, materials, and deep environments. Direct observation of the crust below its surface has been limited. Industrial drilling has resulted in great numbers of shallow wells, but few have penetrated more than 5 km, and they are localized in sedimentary basins productive of oil or gas. No well in North America has penetrated as deeply as 10 km. Since continental crust is generally thicker than 30 km, it is clear that a vast volume of rock awaits direct observation.
Influence of anthropometric parameters on breastmilk provision in preterm infants

Abstract Objective To explore how growth trends may relate to maternal provision of breastmilk to preterm infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Design Non-experimental, retrospective, descriptive. Setting Level III, 40-bed suburban neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Participants 94 preterm infants ( Methods This retrospective chart review explored the relationship between infant growth during hospitalization and maternal provision of breastmilk at discharge. Growth data were collected including standard weekly growth measurements from birth through hospital discharge. In addition, average growth over time or growth velocity was assessed for weight (g/kg/d), head circumference (cm/d) and length (cm/d). Growth parameters at birth and discharge were plotted using the Olsen 2010 Growth Calculator for Preterm Infants to obtain standardized assessments of growth percentiles. Key growth factors were examined against the primary investigational outcomes of continued breastmilk provision at discharge and length of hospital stay. Variables included infant characteristics, number of daily direct-to-breast feedings (identified as traditional oral breastfeeding), and maternal characteristics. Statistical tests included student t -test and chi square. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate data and multiple regression was used to examine growth variables. Result In this cohort, 44% of mothers continued to provide breastmilk at the time of infant discharge. Growth velocity was a significant predictor of continued provision of breastmilk at discharge (p = 0 0.002, OR 1.39). Ponderal index, combined with other variables were highly predictive of length of stay (p 2 = 0.858). Those infants whose first oral feed was direct-to-breast (versus bottle) were more likely to still be receiving breastmilk at discharge (adj OR 5.3). Conclusion First oral feed being direct-to-breast and higher growth velocity are supportive of continued breastmilk provision throughout hospitalization. These results highlight a need for additional breastfeeding support for mother-infants dyads who provided a bottle as the first oral feed or with poorer growth progression.
Response of Rate-Sensitive Frames to Impulsive Load

The response of frames made of rate-sensitive material and subjected to high intensity loading is determined in an approximate way by utilizing modal approximations and plastic hinges with an effective length of 3 beam depths. An initial modal deformation pattern is assumed and a tentative associated solution obtained. Should the solution turn out not to be valid (or safe), a new modal pattern is assumed and the process repeated. The square portal frame under horizontal impulsive impact is treated in detail. The results show that if the impulsive velocity is less than some limiting value, a simple side sway motion is the correct one; if this critical velocity is exceeded the horizontal member bows out due to centrifugal inertia force. Extension of the technique analyzed here to account for strain hardening and pressure pulse loading on frames is also considered.
Short form development for oral health patient-reported outcome evaluation in children and adolescents

Children and adolescents are vulnerable to dental problems and oral diseases. This paper presents the development of two multi-item self-report scales for use in assessing oral health status of children and adolescents. Following the Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System framework, survey questions were designed using a newly developed conceptual model. These items were administered to 334 children and adolescents (8–17 years) along with concurrent dental exams. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted and the item response theory graded response model was used to estimate item parameters and oral health status scores and to identify short-form items. The items were selected by high level of information and wide coverage of different domains to assess Child Oral Health Status Index (COHSI) and treatment referral recommendations (RR). The long form consists of 28 items. The short-form includes 12 items (8 for COHSI and 7 for RR with 3 common items).The intra-class correlations between long form and short-form were 0.90 for COHSI and 0.87 for RR. The short-forms provide a possible solution for the longstanding challenge of oral health evaluation for large populations of children and adolescents. The calibrated long form provides the foundation for computer adaptive test administration. These oral health assessment toolkits can be used for oral health screening, surveillance program, policy planning, and research.
Teaching "Blinky Flashy": Best Practices and Helpful Tips for Teaching eTextiles to a Wide Range of Students (Abstract Only)

Electronic Textiles, or eTextiles, are textiles that directly incorporate conductive fibers or elements. eTextile projects are engaging and hands-on, and can serve as an introduction to computing, electrical engineering, and the Internet of Things. In addition, evidence suggests eTextile projects are especially well-suited for girls and young women, and may help improve their overall attitudes and confidence about computing. This demo will prepare instructors to lead a successful eTextiles workshop. Attendees will learn by doing -- up to 20 participants will experience the fun of eTextiles by adding an LED sequin to an article of clothing they bring. In addition, the demo will cover: what information should be included in an eTextiles workshop -- and what can be skipped; variants to accommodate experience and knowledge levels; and how instructors can ensure that workshops go off without a hitch. Participants should bring an article of clothing to "hack" (such as a t-shirt or hoodie).
Liapunov’s Stability of Nonlinear Periodic Systems*

The goal of the paper is to propose a new procedure for the investigation of the Liapunov type stability of the zero-solution of a nonlinear periodic set. The procedure avoids either the use of Lia...
Service network design with equilibrium-driven demands

We study a service network design problem in which the network operator wishes to determine facility locations and sizes in order to satisfy the demand of the customers while balancing the cost of ...
Congenital Hypopituitarism in Neonates

Patients with congenital hypopituitarism are born without normal production of 1 or more of the hormones normally produced in the pituitary gland. The clinical spectrum varies widely; although a number of genetic causes are known, most cases are thought to be idiopathic. Mutations in transcription factors involved in various stages of pituitary development can lead to combined pituitary hormone deficiencies. Many clinical signs and symptoms of congenital hypopituitarism are nonspecific and include poor weight gain, hypoglycemia, jaundice, and cholestasis; examination findings include midline defects. Diagnosis should include cranial imaging with magnetic resonance imaging, as well as laboratory evaluation for pituitary hormone deficits. Hormone replacement should be initiated after the diagnoses of deficiencies are confirmed.
Atovaquone Inhibits Arbovirus Replication through the Depletion of Intracellular Nucleotides

Arthropod-borne viruses represent a significant public health threat worldwide, yet there are few antiviral therapies or prophylaxes targeting these pathogens. In particular, the development of novel antivirals for high-risk populations such as pregnant women is essential to prevent devastating disease such as that which was experienced with the recent outbreak of Zika virus (ZIKV) in the Americas. One potential avenue to identify new and pregnancy-acceptable antiviral compounds is to repurpose well-known and widely used FDA-approved drugs. In this study, we addressed the antiviral role of atovaquone, an FDA Pregnancy Category C drug and pyrimidine biosynthesis inhibitor used for the prevention and treatment of parasitic infections. We found that atovaquone was able to inhibit ZIKV and chikungunya virus virion production in human cells and that this antiviral effect occurred early during infection at the initial steps of viral RNA replication. Moreover, we were able to complement viral replication and virion production with the addition of exogenous pyrimidine nucleosides, indicating that atovaquone functions through the inhibition of the pyrimidine biosynthesis pathway to inhibit viral replication. Finally, using an ex vivo human placental tissue model, we found that atovaquone could limit ZIKV infection in a dose-dependent manner, providing evidence that atovaquone may function as an antiviral in humans. Taken together, these studies suggest that atovaquone could be a broad-spectrum antiviral drug and a potential attractive candidate for the prophylaxis or treatment of arbovirus infection in vulnerable populations, such as pregnant women and children.IMPORTANCE The ability to protect vulnerable populations such as pregnant women and children from Zika virus and other arbovirus infections is essential to preventing the devastating complications induced by these viruses. One class of antiviral therapies may lie in known pregnancy-acceptable drugs that have the potential to mitigate arbovirus infections and disease, yet this has not been explored in detail. In this study, we show that the common antiparasitic drug atovaquone inhibits arbovirus replication through intracellular nucleotide depletion and can impair ZIKV infection in an ex vivo human placental explant model. Our study provides a novel function for atovaquone and highlights that the rediscovery of pregnancy-acceptable drugs with potential antiviral effects can be the key to better addressing the immediate need for treating viral infections and preventing potential birth complications and future disease.
Use of a human-centered design approach to adapt a nurse-led cardiovascular disease prevention intervention in HIV clinics

Stakeholder-informed strategies addressing cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden among people living with HIV (PWH) are needed within healthcare settings. This study provides an assessment of how human-centered design (HCD) guided the adaptation of a nurse-led intervention to reduce CVD risk among PWH. Using a HCD approach, research staff guided two multidisciplinary "design teams" in Ohio and North Carolina, with each having five HCD meetings. We conducted acceptability and feasibility testing. Six core recommendations were produced by two design teams of key stakeholders and further developed after the acceptability and feasibility testing to produce a final list of 14 actionable areas of adaptation. Acceptability and feasibility testing revealed areas for adaptation, e.g. patient preferences for communication and the benefit of additional staff to support patient follow-up. In conclusion, along with acceptability and feasibility testing, HCD led to the production of 14 key recommendations to enhance the effectiveness and scalability of an integrated HIV/CVD intervention.
A Research Agenda on the Sexual and Reproductive Health Dimensions of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Africa.

The outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19, was first reported in Wuhan in Hubei province of China in December 2019. It has since spread across the world, and as of 30th March 2020 reached over 150 countries, with a total of 693,224 confirmed cases and 33,106 deaths1. Of these totals, 42 countries in Africa had reported 3,486 confirmed cases and 60 deaths. The epicenter of the epidemic has shifted several times since mid-February 2020 from China to Iran, and then to Western Europe (Italy and Spain in particular), and is presently in the United States of America. The expectation is that the next big waves of infections will be in Africa and South America2. In the absence of an effective therapy or vaccine and without pre-existing immunity there are several reasons to anticipate more severe adverse consequences of large outbreaks of COVID-19 in Africa including for the sexual and reproductive health of vulnerable women and young people. The high burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases like malaria, HIV, tuberculosis, Lassa fever and diabetes as well as weak and under-resourced health systems, high levels of poverty, poor housing, limited access to clean water and sanitation, inadequate transport and energy infrastructure, and high population mobility would inevitably result in far more devastating economic, social and health fall-outs from the pandemic in Africa3. This near-inevitability of disproportionate COVID-associated social, health and economic adversities even if some African countries end up with relatively small total numbers of confirmed cases is because the huge health system deficits, weak national economies, and lower standards of living far outweigh all of the hypothesized advantages from having younger populations and hotter climatic conditions4.
Coordination of Multi-Echelon Supply Chains Using the Guaranteed Service Framework

We investigate how to use the guaranteed-service (GS) framework for multi-echelon supply chains when different parts of the supply chain are controlled by two different parties. We find that this framework is naturally well suited for decentralized decision-making, and we propose a specific contract structure that facilitates such relationships. This contract is incentive compatible and has several other desirable properties. Under assumptions of complete and incomplete information, a reasonable negotiation process should lead the parties to contract terms that coordinate the supply chain. The contract is simpler than contracts proposed for coordination in the stochastic service (SS) framework. We also highlight the role of holding costs, and some of the difficulties that this might cause in coordinating a decentralized supply chain.