cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using Topography to Meet Wildlife and Fuels Treatment Objectives in Fire-Suppressed Landscapes

Past forest management practices, fire suppression, and climate change are increasing the need to actively manage California Sierra Nevada forests for multiple environmental amenities. Here we present a relatively low-cost, repeatable method for spatially parsing the landscape to help the U.S. Forest Service manage for different forest and fuel conditions to meet multiple goals relating to sensitive species, fuels reduction, forest products, water, carbon storage, and ecosystem restoration. Using the Kings River area of the Sierra Nevada as a case study, we create areas of topographically-based units, Landscape Management Units (LMUs) using a three by three matrix (canyon, mid-slope, ridge-top and northerly, southerly, and neutral aspects). We describe their size, elevation, slope, aspect, and their difference in inherent wetness and solar radiation. We assess the predictive value and field applicability of LMUs by using existing data on stand conditions and two sensitive wildlife species. Stand conditions varied significantly between LMUs, with canyons consistently having the greatest stem and snag densities. Pacific fisher (Martes pennanti) activity points (from radio telemetry) and California spotted owl (Strix occidentalis occidentalis) nests, roosts, and sightings were both significantly different from uniform, with a disproportionate number of observations in canyons, and fewer than expected on ridge-tops. Given the distinct characteristics of the LMUs, these units provide a relatively simple but ecologically meaningful template for managers to spatially allocate forest treatments, thereby meeting multiple National Forest objectives. These LMUs provide a framework that can potentially be applied to other fire-dependent western forests with steep topographic relief.
Russo‐Serbian Orthography: Cataloging Conundrum and a Proposed Solution

The author discusses the problem of cataloging books written in Russo‐Serbian script, a mixed Russian, Serbian, and Church Slavic script used for Serbian in the nineteenth century. He gives a brief overview of the historical‐linguistic context, and then offers a solution, which includes a proposal for a systematic transliteration (romanization) scheme.
Discriminant function analysis of depressive symptoms in binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, and major depression

Objectives : To examine the frequency and distribution of depressive symptoms among subjects with binge eating disorder (BED), bulimia nervosa (BN), and major depression. Methods : This study examined depressive symptoms from the Hamilton Depression Scale in 122 BED, 142 BN, and 200 major depression subjects using discriminant function analysis. Results : All three groups differed significantly on the Hamilton Depression Scale totals with major depressive disorder (MDD) subjects having the highest and BED subjects the lowest totals. Eighteen items differentiated MDD from the eating disorder groups. Three items-gastrointestinal (GI) somatic symptoms, paranoid symptoms, and obsessional symptoms-distinguished BED and BN. In each case these symptoms were more common in BN subjects. Discussion : This study attempted to differentiate BN from BED on a basis other than eating behavior. The results provide limited support for the hypothesis that BN and BED can be distinguished on the basis of depressive symptoms.
Investigation of aluminum induced degradation in sputtered Al:ZnO for CIGS solar cells applications

The long term performance of Cu (In,Ga)Se 2 (CIGS) solar cells were strongly affected by their ability in withstanding surrounding weather change, including temperature, humidity, and light, etc. In our experiment, we focused on the stability study of window layer materials of undoped ZnO (IZO) and Al:ZnO (AZO) using damp heat and dry heat treatment. We found that the Al dopant had enhanced the capture of moisture in ZnO, and thus caused the degradation in film optical, morphological and electrical properties.
Trout farm effluent effects on water sediment quality and benthos.

Several water (dissolved oxygen, pH, ammonia-nitrogen, nitrite-nitrogen, nitrate-nitrogen, total phosphorus and orthophosphate) and sediment (organic matter, total nitrogen, organic carbon and phosphorus) quality parameters, as well as benthic macroinvertebrate communities were investigated monthly between May 2007 and November 2007 at a rainbow trout farm located on one of the sources of the Sakarya River in Central Anatolia. Water and sediment samples were collected from three stations, i. e., the inlet of the farm, which was a karst spring-originated pond, the outlet of the farm, and a location 200 m from the outlet of the trout farm, which has a capacity of 30 t annually. These water quality parameters were compared to the acceptable effluent limits proposed for trout farming in different countries. Ammonia-nitrogen, total phosphorus and orthophosphate were found to be higher than the acceptable effluent limits during the study period. Sediment quality parameters were also found to be higher than those at the inlet of the farm. The benthic macroinvertebrate community consisted of only Gastropoda (Limnaedae, Planorbidae, Neritidae and Pleuroceridae). Almost identical organism groups were observed at the three stations, and the highest abundance was found at the outlet of the farm during the study. Finally, as an indicator of damage to the environment, the biodiversity indices were generally measured at levels below 1 in all stations.
Successful Balloon Angioplasty of a Coarctation in an Infant <500 g

We describe the first successful balloon angioplasty of a coarctation in a 460-g newborn infant with coarctation of the aorta and heart failure. A coronary angioplasty catheter was positioned across the coarctation via a transumbilical approach. The waist of the balloon disappeared on maximal inflation and there was an increase in blood pressure distal to the coarctation and the clinical status improved. A ductus arteriosus was ligated 4 days after angioplasty.
Post-Mortem Changes in Physical and Chemical Properties of Bovine Musclea

SUMMARY Post-mortem changes in tenderness and protein solubility were studied in bovine semitendinosus muscles. Muscles excised immediately post-mortem were compared with muscles left attached to the skeleton. Post-mortem times of 0, 6, 12, 24, 72, and 312 hr were studied. Sarcoplasmic protein solubility was highest immediately after slaughter and lowest in muscles left attached to the skeleton. Myofibrillar protein solubility was decreased in muscles left attached. Protein solubility changed during the first 6 hr post-mortem but not during the 6- to 312-hr aging period. Muscles left attached to the skeleton were least tender immediately after death and gradually increased in tenderness during post-mortem aging. Excised muscles were least tender 6–12 hr post-mortem and became progressively more tender thereafter. Even after 312 hr of aging, excised muscles were less tender than muscles still attached to the skeleton. Protein solubility did not appear to be related to tenderness. Possible relationships of muscle contraction to tenderness were discussed.
Induction of Microdamage Through Application of Acoustic Energy to Cortical Bone

Extracorporeal shock waves (ESW) are used routinely to break up kidney stones. Recently ESW has been implemented in the orthopaedic arena to treat heel spurs, although the mechanism underlying this therapeutic effect is not known. Acoustic energy has been shown to increase transport in bone. Furthermore, naturally occurring microdamage in bone has been implicated as a trigger for the onset of remodeling. We hypothesize that controlled application of ESW to bone tissue increases transport and stimulates bone turnover through production of low-level microdamage. The goal of this study was to identify the bandwidth and the application regime of acoustic energy to produce such damage. Transverse sections of sheep metacarpi (1 cm) were subjected to acoustic loading regimes of varying shock wave number and intensity. Thereafter, the blocks were bulk-stained with procion dye, embedded in PMMA, and sectioned into 100 mm slices for confocal microscopy and analysis. The blocks loaded with the highest energy regimes showed marked diffuse microdamage and microcracks, usually at sites of discontinuity along the periosteal edge. These results provide a first step in testing our hypothesis and ultimately may provide a basis for the exploitation of ESW to prevent osteopenia and/or osteoporosis.
Correcting for bias due to noise in coda wave interferometry

SUMMARY Coda wave interferometry (CWI) utilizes multiply scattered waves to diagnose small changes in a medium by using the scattering medium as an interferometer. Since the medium is usually stationary over the duration of a seismic experiment, different (non-overlapping) time windows in the coda allow for independent estimates of the medium perturbation. If the seismograms are contaminated with noise, only those time windows can be used for which the amplitude of the coda is significantly above the ambient noise level. This limits the usable number of independent time windows. Here, we show how bias due to noise in CWI can be accounted for, by deriving a correction factor for the cross-correlation coefficient, under the assumptions that the stochastic processes underlying the noise realizations in both signals are mutually uncorrelated and stationary with zero mean. This correction factor allows more time windows further into the decaying coda to be used, and hence allows for a reduction of the error bars on the medium perturbation estimates. We demonstrate the validity of this correction factor by using data from a numerical experiment and field measurements. These experiments involve the displacement of point scatterers and a change in the source location, respectively. The application of our correction factor is not limited to CWI, but can be used to correct for bias induced by noise in any application that uses cross-correlation between different signals that are contaminated with noise.
Antecedent strategies to promote appropriate classroom behavior

In response to ongoing concerns with student academic and behavior problems, antecedent strategies have garnered increasing attention. Antecedent intervention approaches focus on structuring the environment to prevent problems and enhance motivation. At the class-wide level, implementation of these strategies can create a structured and orderly environment to which most students are responsive. In the case of persistent behavior problems, specific events that precede problem behavior can be removed or modified to create individualized antecedent interventions. The empirical literature base supporting the value of this approach has witnessed rapid growth. In this article, we offer a rationale for the use of antecedent strategies and provide literature-based examples of applications within school settings at both the class-wide and individual levels. In addition, we discuss practical considerations for implementing antecedent interventions. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 44: 65–75, 2007.
The Fate of the Patient with Pulmonic Stenosis

The prognosis for the patient with pulmonic stenosis was analyzed from a study of 100 current patients, with long-term observations on 58 of them. Congestive heart failure occurred in seven, all of whom had severe stenosis. Subacute bacterial endocarditis developed in another seven, even when the stenosis was less marked. With appropriate medical supervision of those with mild stenosis who have no cardiac disability, and open-heart surgery for those with more severe obstruction, the outlook for the patient with pulmonary stenosis should be a full and active life.
Asymptotically optimal decentralized type-based detection in wireless sensor networks

We propose a novel decentralized detection scheme based on the method of types and type detectors. Contrary to conventional methods, the proposed decentralized type detection (DTD) scheme asymptotically achieves the performance of centralized detection, provided there exists an arbitrarily small (but non-zero) communication capacity between the sensing nodes and the decision center. The sensing nodes extract and transmit the type information of the observed data sequence, which is then recovered and used by a type detector at the decision center. The key to DTD is that the required network information flow (type information) is of asymptotically vanishing entropy rate but still sufficient for the hypothesis testing problem. The simple structure of type sensors greatly reduces system cost in terms of computational and communication capabilities for sensor nodes. In particular, the sensor nodes need not know the signal statistics under different hypothesis. Theoretical analysis and numerical simulations demonstrate the excellent performance of the proposed DTD scheme.
Future Growth of Cable Television

How many American television sets will CATV eventually reach? The following mathematical model and resulting estimates of cable penetration were prepared for the Ford Foundation by Rolla Edward Park, of the Economics Department of the RAND Corporation in Santa Monica, California.
A Recursive Multiscale Correlation-Averaging Algorithm for an Automated Distributed Road-Condition-Monitoring System

A signal processing approach is proposed to jointly filter and fuse spatially indexed measurements captured from many vehicles. It is assumed that these measurements are influenced by both sensor noise and measurement indexing uncertainties. Measurements from low-cost vehicle-mounted sensors (e.g., accelerometers and Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers) are properly combined to produce higher quality road roughness data for cost-effective road surface condition monitoring. The proposed algorithms are recursively implemented and thus require only moderate computational power and memory space. These algorithms are important for future road management systems, which will use on-road vehicles as a distributed network of sensing probes gathering spatially indexed measurements for condition monitoring, in addition to other applications, such as environmental sensing and/or traffic monitoring. Our method and the related signal processing algorithms have been successfully tested using field data.
Risk factors for incident hyperuricemia during mid-adulthood in African American and White men and women enrolled in the ARIC cohort study

Increased serum urate levels are associated with poor outcomes including but not limited to gout. It is unclear whether serum urate levels are the sole predictor of incident hyperuricemia or whether demographic and clinical risk factors also predict the development of hyperuricemia. The goal of this study was to identify risk factors for incident hyperuricemia over 9 years in a population-based study, ARIC. ARIC recruited individuals from 4 US communities; 8,342 participants who had urate levels 7.0 g/dL) were identified using an AIC-based selection approach in a modified Poisson regression model. The 9-year cumulative incidence of hyperuricemia was 4%; men = 5%; women = 3%; African Americans = 6% and whites = 3%. The adjusted model included 9 predictors for incident hyperuricemia over 9 years: male sex (RR = 1.73 95% CI: 1.36-2.21), African-American race (RR = 1.79 95% CI: 1.37-2.33), smoking (RR = 1.27, 95% CI: 0.97-1.67), <HS education (RR = 1.27, 95% CI: 0.99-1.63), hypertension (RR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.30-2.09), CHD (RR = 1.57, 95% CI: 0.99-2.50), obesity (class I RR = 2.37, 95% CI: 1.65-3.41 and ≥ class II RR = 3.47, 95% CI: 2.33-5.18), eGFR < 60 (RR = 2.85, 95% CI: 1.62-5.01) and triglycerides (Quartile 4 vs. Quartile 1: RR = 2.00, 95% CI: 1.38-2.89). In separate models, urate levels at baseline (RR 1 mg/dL increase = 2.33, 95% CI: 1.94-2.80) and 3 years after baseline (RR for a 1 mg/dL increase = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.78-2.07) were associated with incident hyperuricemia after accounting for demographic and clinical risk factors. Demographic and clinical risk factors that are routinely collected as part of regular medical care are jointly associated with the development of hyperuricemia.
El niño as a natural experiment for studying the tropical tropopause region

The interannual variability of the tropical tropopause region between 14 and 18 km is examined using ob- servations of convection, winds, and tropopause temperatures from reanalyses and water vapor from satellites. This variability is compared to a simulation using the Community Climate Model version 3 (CCM3) general circulation model forced by observed sea surface temperatures. A coherent picture of the effect of the El Nino- Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on the tropopause region is presented in the NCEP-NCAR reanalyses and CCM3. ENSO modifies convection in the Tropics, and the temperature and circulation of the tropical tropopause region, in agreement with idealized models of tropical heating. CCM3 reproduces most details of these changes, but not the zonal mean temperature variations present in the analysis fields, which are not related to ENSO. ENSO also forces significant changes in observed and simulated water vapor fields. In the upper troposphere water vapor is at maximum near convection, while in the tropopause region water vapor is at minimum in the regions of convection and surrounding it. Convection, cirrus clouds, temperatures, and transport are all linked to describe the water vapor distribution and highlight the role of transport in the tropopause region.
Legal Requirements for Computer Security: An American Perspective

There are numerous laws in the United States governing the privacy of personal information, including medical records. Many of these laws also mandate that the security of records is also ensured.
Metabolism of Diazinon-C14 in Western Corn Rootworm Beetles

Western corn rootworm beetles, Diabrotica virgitera LeConte, were treated topically with radioactive diazinon (C14. ethoxy and CH-ring labeled), placed in a metabolism chamber, and analyzed at 1, 8, and 16 hours posttreatment to ascertain the fate of the compound. Diazinon was rapidly absorbed and degraded. Nonhydrolyzed absorbed radioactive materials included the parent compound and a metabolite that behaved chromatographically as the oxygen analog, diazoxon (diethyl 2-isopropyl-6-methyl-4-pyrimidinyl phosphate). The major degradation pathway was cleavage of the P-O-pyrimidinyl bond of diazinon and/or diazoxon yielding a phosphorus-containing acid and 6-hydroxy-2-isopropyl-4-methylpyrimidine. Expired C14 O2 during the 16-hour test period never exceeded 0.7% of the total recovered dose.
Experimental Investigation of the Heat Transfer Performance of Arrays of Round Jets With Sharp-Edged Orifices and Peripheral Effluent: Convective Behavior of Water on a Heated Silicon Surface

In the present work, deionized water is impinged onto a heated silicon surface using square arrays of round jets. Various numbers of jets and jet diameters are used over a heated area of constant size with the orifice plate height above the heater held constant. In these experiments, the jet orifices are sharp-edged and the fluid exhaust direction is parallel to the heated surface and leaves the chip periphery through a manifold. The resulting temperature and flow data are presented in physical units as well as in groups of dimensionless parameters. A correlation is presented to reasonably predict the experimental results of this study. The techniques used for data reduction and for experimentation, including the construction of the test module, are given in detail, including a numerical conduction simulation based data reduction technique and uncertainty analysis. The results shown include flow rates ranging from 6.1 cc/s to 63.18 cc/s resulting in Reynolds numbers based on orifice diameter ranging from 141 to 6670. Jet diameters investigated in this study range from 377 μm to 1.01 mm, in square arrays of 16 to 324 orifices on an area of 18.52 mm × 18.59 mm. The resulting maximum spatially averaged effective heat transfer coefficient achieved is 7.94 W/cm2 K, and the maximum spatially averaged Nusselt number based on jet diameter is 79.4.© 2005 ASME
Migration and Thigh Pain With a New Short Modular Femoral Stem for Total Hip Replacement

INTRODUCTION: Short femoral stems are receiving increasing attention for less invasive total hip replacement (THR). The purpose of this study is to report our initial experience with a short modular femoral (SMF) stem at a minimum two-year follow up. METHODS: Twenty-six primary total hip arthroplasties (THAs) using the SMF stem were performed between August 2009 and January 2010. Patients were evaluated clinically with Harris Hip Score (HHS) and radiographically up to two years. Radiographs were analyzed to determine the degree of stem migration from its initial postoperative position. These parameters were compared to those of a cohort of 54 patients implanted with a monolithic tapered wedge stem from the same manufacturer over the same time period. RESULTS: There were three early revisions of the femoral component for thigh pain in the SMF group, and one revision for CoCr allergy, with improvement in HHS from 60 to 89. Radiographically, 20 of 26 stems (76%) migrated into varus in the first six weeks. Of these, eight patients (29.6%) reported moderate to severe thigh pain. Radiographic evidence of isolated lateral cortical hypertrophy at the stem tip was seen in 46% of study patients, and evidence of osteointegration was seen in all cases by one year. Between one and two years post op the pain had resolved in four patients not revised. It was persistent in one patient. Comparative analysis with the control group demonstrated no significant difference in stem subsidence, but a significantly greater varus shift in coronal-plane angulation (Mean 4.3°, SD 3.8° vs. Mean 1.0°, SD 1.1°; p DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The SMF stem demonstrated a tendency towards migration into a varus position where the lateral stem touches the lateral cortex of the femur, with resulting relatively higher incidence of thigh pain and early aseptic revision.
Diabetic foot infections

This article discusses the pathophysiology, microbiology, diagnosis, and classification of this all too common situation. Specific surgical techniques for debridement and drainage are provided, including amputation, wound closure, and reconstruction. Antibiotics, wound care, and outpatient management are also discussed.
Profiling of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor Heterogeneity Identifies Protein Expression-defined Subclasses of Human Non-small Cell Lung Carcinoma.

Background: the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway plays a prominent role in the growth and progression of human cancer, including non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). The key mediators of VEGF signaling are a family of related receptor tyrosine kinases that include VEGFR1, VEGFR2, and VEGFR3. The relative expression levels, activity, and cross-talk among these receptors may contribute to response of NSCLC to anti-angiogenic therapies, and a better systematic, translatable approach to categorizing tumors is needed. Materials and Methods: We comparatively evaluated immunohistochemical expression of the three VEGFRs in archival primary NSCLC tissues (n=96). Results: VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 were localized both in vessels and tumor cells, while VEGFR3 was only localized in tumor vessels. A set of eight VEGFR staining subclasses were identified: Triple VEGFR positive (n=11, 11.5%), VEGFR1 predominant (n=22, 22.9%), VEGFR2 predominant (n=9, 9.4%), VEGFR3 predominant (n=3, 3.1%), VEGFR1/2 predominant (13, 13.5%), VEGFR1/3 predominant (2, 2.1%), VEGFR2/3 predominant (n=8, 8.3%), and triple VEGFR negative (n=28, 29.2%). An objective categorization based on K-means clustering revealed four clusters, three of which showed high VEGFR2 compared to VEGFR3 (30.7% of cases), cases high in both VEGFR2 and VEGFR3 (18.2%), and cases that were negative/low for both VEGFR2 and VEGFR3 (45.4%). A positive association between VEGFR2 and VEGFR3 was found, however no associations were observed between VEGFR1 and VEGFR2, nor VEGFR1 and VEGFR3. Conclusion: The proposed subclasses of NSCLC are an approach for complementing lines of investigation of anti-angiogenic therapies beginning with systematic characterization of the disease.
Teaching practices in Grade 5 mathematics classrooms with high-achieving English learner students

ABSTRACTTeachers need more clarity about effective teaching practices as they strive to help their low-achieving students understand mathematics. Our study describes the instructional practices used by two teachers who, by value-added metrics, would be considered “highly effective teachers” in classrooms with a majority of students who were English learners. We used quantitative data to select two fifth-grade classrooms where students, on average, made large gains on a mathematics achievement test, and then examined teaching practices and contextual factors present in each classroom. Participants included two teachers from a mid-Atlantic district and their students who were 67% English learners and 68% economically disadvantaged. We found that the use of multiple representations of mathematics concepts, attention to vocabulary building, individual and group checks for understanding and error analysis were prevalent practices in both high gains classrooms. Also, class sizes ranged from 12–19 students. Disc...
Abstract IA24: Forcing through tumor metastasis: Regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity by matrix stiffness

In cancer, the presence of dense clusters of collagen fibrils indicates increased matrix stiffness and correlates with poor survival. Previous studies have identified a functional role for matrix stiffness in driving tumor progression, but it is unclear how mechanical inputs are transduced into transcriptional outputs to drive tumor metastasis. To investigate mechanisms of tumor cell mechanotransduction, we utilized a 3D Matrigel culture of murine (Eph4Ras) or human (MCF10A, MCF10DCIS, Bt-549) mammary epithelial cells coupled with a polyacrylamide hydrogel base with calibrated elastic moduli ranging between ~150Pa of normal mammary gland and ~5700Pa of breast tumor tissues. This approach allows for the interrogation of the effects of changes in matrix stiffness independent of other biochemical variables in extracellular matrix (ECM). Using this system, we show that increasing matrix stiffness induced morphological changes resembling the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) program. Therefore, we hypothesized that increasing matrix stiffness could directly signal through EMT-inducing transcription factors to induce EMT and promote invasion. Using a combination of bioengineering, cell biollogy, proteomic, imaging, and murine tumor modeling approaches, we found that the EMT-inducing transcription factor TWIST1 is an essential mechanomediator that promotes EMT in response to increasing matrix stiffness. Loss of Twist1 prevents matrix stiffness-induced EMT and tumor cell invasion. TGF-beta signaling, a major EMT-inducing biochemical signal, acts synergistically with increasing matrix stiffness, the mechanical cure to induce a complete EMT program in a Twist1-dependent manner. At the compliant matrix stiffness, TWIST1 is sequestered in the cytoplasm by its cytoplasmic binding partner G3BP2, thus preventing TWIST1 from accessing DNA to drive EMT. High matrix stiffness promotes nuclear translocation of TWIST1 by releasing TWIST1 from G3BP2. Loss of G3BP2 leads to constitutive TWIST1 nuclear localization and synergizes with increasing matrix stiffness to induce EMT and invasion in a Twist1-dependent manner. In MCF10DCIS breast tumor xenografts, loss of G3BP2 promotes local invasion and distant metastasis in the lung. In human stage-3 breast tumors, collagen fiber alignment, a marker of increasing matrix stiffness, and reduced expression of G3BP2 together predict poor survival. Together, our findings reveal a TWIST1-G3BP2 mechanotransduction pathway that responds to biomechanical signals from the tumor microenvironment to drive EMT, invasion and metastasis. Citation Format: Jing Yang. Forcing through tumor metastasis: Regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity by matrix stiffness. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Function of Tumor Microenvironment in Cancer Progression; 2016 Jan 7–10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(15 Suppl):Abstract nr IA24.
Coal Micro-Pricing: Optimizing the Coal Fuel Supply Chain for Indian Thermal Power Plants

ABSTRACTThe energy sector in India is highly dependent on coal as a fuel. At present, most of the domestically produced thermal coal is burned raw or after minimal beneficiation. This practice often results in higher operating and maintenance costs, poorer utilization efficiencies, and increased greenhouse gas emissions. To improve the prevailing conditions, the Government of India is taking steps to increase clean coal production by promoting the installation of coal preparation plants across the country. The identification of optimal separation densities and blending protocols for these precombustion cleaning facilities greatly influences the economics of the fuel supply chain and India’s quest for additional low-cost energy. Traditionally, preparation plants have utilized float-sink (washability) data to determine suitable density separation set points for their processing circuits. Very often, these set points are based on the cumulative ash content required to meet contract specifications within Indi...
Sampling and reconstruction in the 21st century

We review advances in sampling theory since the turn of the century, with a special emphasis on how basis decompositions have allowed us to pose and analyze sampling problems more through the lens of linear algebra, than through the traditional lens of filtering and Fourier decompositions. This new framework also allows us to incorporate nonlinear (sparse) signal models into the signal reconstruction process using optimization.
Cardiorespiratory Stability of Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Is Not Improved During General Anesthesia Compared to Sedation: A Retrospective, Observational Study

ABSTRACTPurpose: To evaluate whether general anesthesia (GA) provides improved cardiorespiratory stability compared to sedation during TAVR.Methods: A retrospective analysis at a single center, university hospital. Patients undergoing TAVR were given either routine GA or deep sedation with dexmedetomidine for TAVR.Results: The superiority of GA versus deep sedation was evaluated statistically by testing if any of the following were lower in the GA patient group; the incidence of cardiorespiratory perturbations (hypotension, bradycardia, or hypoxemia), the amount of volume resuscitation (crystalloid, colloid, or allogeneic blood administration), or the doses of drugs needed to control blood pressure (epinephrine, norepinephrine, calcium, and nitroglycerine). A total of 206 TAVR patients were studied. Of these, 150 patients underwent TAVR via the transfemoral approach and were included for comparative analysis. In total 58 (39%) received sedation. Sedation patients were older than those who received GA. The...
Stable Kerr Solitons for Optical-Frequency Synthesis and Direct Frequency-Comb Atomic Spectroscopy

We explore frequency-stable Kerr-soliton systems, one using a dual-microcomb architecture for self-referencing and another using atomic spectroscopy. We demonstrate an integrated-photonics frequency synthesizer and rubidium-referenced soliton pulses.
Water Retention over Flemish Cap

Current meters, T-S analysis, and surface drifters indicate fresh water is retained in a slow gyre over Flemish Cap. Fitted annual cycles of salinity in the top 100 m are used in a simple compartment model to provide a salt flux estimate. About 50% of Cap surface waters are replaced each month. North Atlantic Current water does not influence Cap water composition. Computing heat fluxes from the salt flux predicts the correct phase and appropriate amplitude and mean for the solar heating cycle.
Long-term mortality and functional outcome after prolonged paediatric intensive care unit stay.

We performed a retrospective, observational study of patients who had spent > 14 days in the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of our hospital from 2011 to 2013. Specifically, long-term mortality, functional outcome, and PICU resource occupancy were examined. All prolonged-stay patients in our study were 50% of the survivors had a favourable functional outcome (POPC score).
A stress model of psychological contract violation among ethnic minority employees.

OBJECTIVES Integrating the transactional theory of stress and coping and research on discrimination perception/attribution, we propose a stress model of psychological contract (PC) violation among ethnic minority employees. We argue that ethnic minority employees tend to appraise PC violation as a threat and attribute it to personal ethnic discrimination (as well as low organizational trustworthiness), which in turn leads ethnic minority employees to engage in fear-driven silence as a form of emotion-based withdrawal coping. METHOD We conducted two survey studies (Studies 1 and 2), an experimental study (Study 3), and a supplementary meta-analysis of the three studies. RESULTS We found support for our model. Ethnic minority employees' perception of personal ethnic discrimination, rather than their perception of low organizational trustworthiness, translated PC violation to fear-driven silence. Our result patterns remained the same when we controlled for neuroticism and social desirability. CONCLUSIONS By delineating ethnic minorities' appraisal/attribution of and coping with PC violation, the current research advances the literatures on both PC and ethnic discrimination. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
Biomechanical Analysis of Accurately and Carefully Placing an Aerospace Avionics Box in Restricted Space

Abstract The design of a spacecraft has many trade-offs to reduce its mass, which typically result in reduced work space for the installation of Line Replaceable Units (LRU). One common LRU in aerospace vehicles is the avionics box found in the space shuttle. To prevent damage to cold plates, the installation of these boxes requires designing for accurate and careful placement; yet there are no standards to follow nor studies to consider for designers concerning human limitations for installing boxes accurately and carefully. In the literature, there are an abundance of lifting studies; however, there are only a few studies that have placed a box in restricted space or on a target as a constraint. Of those studies, only three have looked at the biomechanics, and none of those studies have looked at factors affecting the Placement Control (accurate and careful placement) of a box on a target in restricted or unrestricted space. Thus, the focus of this study is to determine the biomechanical stresses and the human performance metrics for Placement Control (accurate and careful placement) of a box on target in restricted space.
Integration of Self and Non-self Recognition Modulates Asexual Cell-to-Cell Communication in Neurospora crassa

Cells rarely exist alone, which drives the evolution of diverse mechanisms for identifying and responding appropriately to the presence of other nearby cells. Filamentous fungi depend on somatic cell-to-cell communication and fusion for the development and maintenance of a multicellular, interconnected colony that is characteristic of this group of organisms. The filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa is a model for investigating the mechanisms of somatic cell-to-cell communication and fusion. N. crassa cells chemotropically grow toward genetically similar cells, which ultimately make physical contact and undergo cell fusion. Here, we describe the development of a Pprm1-luciferase reporter system that differentiates whether genes function upstream or downstream of a conserved MAP kinase (MAPK) signaling complex, by using a set of mutants required for communication and cell fusion. The vast majority of these mutants are deficient for self-fusion and for fusion when paired with wild-type cells. However, the Δham-11 mutant is unique in that it fails to undergo self-fusion, but chemotropic interactions and cell fusion are restored in Δham-11 + wild-type interactions. In genetically dissimilar cells, chemotropic interactions are regulated by genetic differences at doc-1 and doc-2, which regulate prefusion non-self recognition; cells with dissimilar doc-1 and doc-2 alleles show greatly reduced cell-fusion frequencies. Here, we show that HAM-11 functions in parallel with the DOC-1 and DOC-2 proteins to regulate the activity of the MAPK signaling complex. Together, our data support a model of integrated self and non-self recognition processes that modulate somatic cell-to-cell communication in N. crassa.
The Cost Effectiveness of Dilute Betadine Lavage for Infection Prophylaxis in Total Joint Arthroplasty.

Abstract Background This article presents a break-even analysis for intraoperative Betadine lavage for the prevention of infection in total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods Protocol costs, baseline infection rates after arthroplasty, and average revision costs were obtained from institutional records and the literature. The break-even analysis determined the absolute risk reduction (ARR) in infection rate required for cost effectiveness. Results At our institutional price of $2.54, dilute (0.35%) Betadine lavage would be cost effective if initial infection rates of both TKA (1.10%) and THA (1.63%) have an ARR of 0.01%. At a hypothetical lowest cost of $0.50, the ARR is so low as to be immediately cost effective. At a hypothetical high price of $40.00, Betadine is cost effective with ARRs of 0.16% (TKA) and 0.13% (THA). Conclusion Intraoperative Betadine lavage, at typical institutional prices, can be highly cost effective in reducing infection after joint arthroplasty.
The Legalization of Marijuana: Tax Issues and Costs to Employers

This paper examines the implications of the changing legal environment relating to marijuana, specifically, tax-related issues and potential costs to employers with the resulting management issues. Tax issues such as unique sales and excise taxes on legalized marijuana, and proposed changes in the tax law in response to the legal changes regarding marijuana are discussed as well. The potential, hidden costs to employers are discussed such as the increased difficulty of maintaining a drug-free workplace, the increased cost of on-the-job accidents, and the cost of lost productivity; all of which lead to increased potential problems with management.
Optimization of Cation Exchange for the Separation of Actinium-225 from Radioactive Thorium, Radium-223 and Other Metals.

Actinium-225 (225Ac) can be produced with a linear accelerator by proton irradiation of a thorium (Th) target, but the Th also underdoes fission and produces 400 other radioisotopes. No research exists on optimization of the cation step for the purification. The research herein examines the optimization of the cation exchange step for the purification of 225Ac. The following variables were tested: pH of load solution (1.5–4.6); rinse steps with various concentrations of HCl, HNO3, H2SO4, and combinations of HCl and HNO3; various thorium chelators to block retention; MP50 and AG50 resins; and retention of 20–45 elements with different rinse sequences. The research indicated that HCl removes more isotopes earlier than HNO3, but that some elements, such as barium and radium, could be eluted with ≥2.5 M HNO3. The optimal pH of the load solution was 1.5–2.0, and the optimized rinse sequence was five bed volumes (BV) of 1 M citric acid pH 2.0, 3 BV of water, 3 BV of 2 M HNO3, 6 BV of 2.5 M HNO3 and 20 BV of 6 M HNO3. The sequence recovered >90% of 225Ac with minimal 223Ra and thorium present.
Fundamental Domains for the Maximal Groups

The classification of split three-dimensional crystallographic groups from Theorem 4.2 shows that seven of the groups contain all of the others as subgroups. For i = 1, …, 7, we let \(\varGamma _{i} =\langle L_{i},H_{i}\rangle\), where L i is the ith lattice (in the order that the, where L i is the ith lattice (in the order that the lattices are listed in Table 4.1) and H i is the maximal point group to be paired with L i . For instance, $$\displaystyle{\varGamma _{4} = \left \langle \left \langle \frac{1} {2}(\mathbf{x} + \mathbf{z}),\mathbf{y},\mathbf{z}\right \rangle,D_{2}^{+} \times (-1)\right \rangle.}$$
Transthoracic fine-needle aspiration diagnosis of solid, subsolid, and partially calcified lung nodules: A retrospective study from a single academic center

Background: The large-scale National Lung Cancer Screening Trial demonstrated an increased detection of early-stage lung cancers using low-dose computed tomography scan in the screening population. It also demonstrated a 20% reduction of lung cancer-related deaths in these patients. Aims: Although both solid and subsolid lung nodules are evaluated in studies, subsolid and partially calcified lung nodules are often overlooked. Materials and Methods: We reviewed transthoracic fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cases from lung nodule patients in our clinics and correlated cytological diagnoses with radiologic characteristics of lesions. A computer search of the pathology archive was performed over a period of 12 months for transthoracic FNAs, including both CT- and ultrasound-guided biopsies. Results: A total of 111 lung nodule cases were identified. Lesions were divided into three categories: solid, subsolid, and partially calcified nodules according to radiographic findings. Of 111 cases, the average sizes of the solid (84 cases), subsolid (22 cases), and calcified (5 cases) lesions were 1.952 ± 2.225, 1.333 ± 1.827, and 1.152 ± 1.984 cm, respectively. The cytological diagnoses of three groups were compared. A diagnosis of malignancy was made in 64.28% (54 cases) in solid, 22.72% (5 cases) in subsolid, and 20% (1 case) in partially calcified nodules. Among benign lesions, eight granulomatous inflammations were identified, including one case of solid, five cases of subsolid, and two cases of calcified nodules. Conclusions: Our study indicates that solid nodules have the highest risk of malignancy. Furthermore, the cytological evaluation of subsolid and partially calcified nodules is crucial for the accurate diagnosis and appropriate clinical management of lung nodule patients.
Towards Effective Human-AI Collaboration in GUI-Based Interactive Task Learning Agents

We argue that a key challenge in enabling usable and useful interactive task learning for intelligent agents is to facilitate effective Human-AI collaboration. We reflect on our past 5 years of efforts on designing, developing and studying the SUGILITE system, discuss the issues on incorporating recent advances in AI with HCI principles in mixed-initiative interactions and multi-modal interactions, and summarize the lessons we learned. Lastly, we identify several challenges and opportunities, and describe our ongoing work
Scrotal Ultrasound: Updates on Testicular Microlithiasis, Incidental Non-Palpable Lesions, Varicoceles and Testicular Infarction

Ultrasound (US) is the first-line imaging modality when evaluating scrotal pathology. This review will examine some common pathologies that can present diagnostic and clinical ambiguity, including testicular microlithiasis, incidental non-palpable lesions, varicoceles, and testicular infarctions. This review aims to summarize the current literature and evidence-based guidelines for these entities and to describe the important sonographic features for diagnosis as well as discuss associated clinical implications. Current guidelines suggest that management for testicular microlithiasis is dependent on associated patient risk factors and the presence or absence of other findings on ultrasound. Incidental non-palpable lesions are a diagnostic and management challenge and evolving recommendations depend on the size of the lesion and other associated features. Alternatively, varicocele is a relatively straightforward entity to diagnose, but management strategies depend on the patient’s clinical symptoms and fertility status. Testicular infarctions can also have challenging diagnostic and management approaches, especially when they are segmental. In all of these testicular pathologies, patient risk factors, clinical history, and physical exam are important factors to help guide diagnosis and management. In difficult cases, additional modalities including MRI can add to diagnostic certainty. Ultrasound plays a vital role in distinguishing multiple testicular abnormalities, including testicular microlithiasis, incidental non-palpable lesions, varicoceles, and testicular infarctions. This review summarizes the current literature as well as the available evidence-based guidelines to help define the strength and limitations of US. This review helps delineate the indications for follow-up ultrasound, the salient patient risk factors and clinical findings, and the role of other imaging modalities to increase diagnostic accuracy. This review will assist the radiologist in better identifying and managing these testicular abnormalities, and, in some cases, reduce the number of unnecessary radical orchiectomies.
Same/different in visual reasoning

Visual reasoning tasks involving comparison provide interesting insights into how people make similarity and difference judgments. This review summarizes work that provides evidence that the same structure-mapping comparison processes that appear to be used elsewhere in cognition can also be used to model comparison in human visual reasoning tasks. These models rely on qualitative representations, which provide symbolic descriptions of continuous properties, an important kind of relational representation. Cognitive simulations of multiple human visual reasoning tasks, using the same model of high-level vision to compute relational representations, achieve human-like performance, both in terms of accuracy and estimating the relative difficulty of problems.
Modular Derivation and Unbiased Single-cell Analysis of Regional Human Hindbrain And Spinal Neurons Enables Discovery of Nuanced Transcriptomic Patterns along Developmental Axes

Our inability to derive the vast neuronal diversity of the posterior central nervous system (pCNS) using human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) poses a major impediment to understanding human neurodevelopment and disease in the hindbrain and spinal cord. Here we establish a modular differentiation paradigm that recapitulates patterning along both the rostrocaudal (R/C) and dorsoventral (D/V) axes of the pCNS, enabling derivation of any neuronal phenotype with discrete regional specificity. First, neuromesodermal progenitors (NMPs) with discrete Hox profiles are efficiently converted to pCNS progenitors (pCNSPs). Then by tuning D/V signaling, pCNSPs are directed to ventral Shh-dependent MNs (MNs) and locomotor interneurons (INs) or dorsal TGF-{beta}-dependent proprioceptive INs and TGF-{beta}-independent sensory INs. We applied D/V protocols to NMPs spanning the R/C axis for expansive single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNAseq) analysis. By implementing a novel computational pipeline comprising sparse non-negative matrix factorization, consensus clustering, and combinatorial gene expression pattern identification, we detect hundreds of transcriptional markers within region-specific neuronal phenotypes, enabling discovery of gene expression patterns along the developmental axes. These findings highlight the potential of these resources to advance a mechanistic understanding of pCNS development, expand the potential and accuracy of in vitro models, and inform novel regenerative therapeutic strategies.