cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Blocking, hand-off and traffic performance for cellular communication systems with mixed platforms

Cellular communication systems that support a mixture of platform types distinguished by different mobility characteristics are considered. A tractable analytical model for traffic performance analysis is developed using multidimensional birth–death processes and the method of phases. The framework allows consideration of homogeneous and nonhomogeneous systems, a broad class of dwell time distributions, and ‘missed’ hand-off initiations. Cut-off priority for hand-offs and several platform types are considered to demonstrate the approach. The effects of different mobility parameters and of imperfect detection of hand-off needs are examined. Theoretical performance characteristics are obtained. These exhibit carried traffic, hand-off activity, blocking probability and forced termination probability for each platform type. The realisable exchange of blocking for hand-off performance is shown. Computational issues are discussed and a method for extrapolating performance characteristics for systems with many channels is presented.
Effect of Oligosaccharide Formation on the Cryoscopic Measurements of Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Lactose in Dairy Products

The effect of oligosaccharide formation on the cryoscopic measurements of enzymatic hydrolysis of lactose was evaluated. Whey permeate, 5% lactose solution, and milk samples were treated with β-galactosidase and incubated for 4 hr at 37°C. Samples were withdrawn at regular intervals and analyzed for the degree of hydrolysis by a freezing point depression method (FPD), as well as by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results indicated that the percent hydrolysis of lactose was substantially less with the FPD measurement than with HPLC. Differences between the two analyses were coincided with the levels of oligosaccharides formed by transgalactosidation reactions during hydrolysis.
MIMO Radar Space-Time Adaptive Processing for Multipath Clutter Mitigation

This paper describes a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) generalization of space-time adaptive processing (STAP) to mitigate radar clutter subject to multipath propagation between transmit and receive arrays. Multipath clutter can occur when surface returns are multiply scattered, causing significant Doppler frequency and wavenumber spreads. In the worst case, multipath propagation may cause Doppler spread clutter to return via the receiver mainlobe. In such situations, conventional STAP cannot mitigate Doppler spread mainlobe clutter without also suppressing the target. MIMO radar techniques using orthogonal waveforms have been proposed for increasing radar coverage rate often at the expense of employing significantly larger radar time-bandwidth products. In this paper, we consider a MIMO approach wherein conventional radar waveforms are phase-coded to be orthogonal after Doppler processing at the receiver, i.e. in "slow-time". Slow-time MIMO has the advantages of being bandwidth efficient and easily implemented without the need to modify the receiver before range pulse-compression. In this paper, the mathematical formulation of MIMO STAP is developed for both direct-path and multipath clutter scenarios. At each slant range, the MIMO STAP processor operates on a receive sensor, transmitted pulses, and slow-time phase code channel data cube. Coherent combination of the decoded slow-time channels at the receiver permits effective control of the transmit array pattern by receive post-processing as a function of slant range. Simulation results demonstrate SNR gains when a transmit null is steered in the outbound direction towards the multiply scattered clutter.
Comparison of Glomerular Filtration Rate between Greyhounds and Non‐Greyhound Dogs

Greyhounds have significantly higher serum creatinine (SCr) concentration than do non-Greyhound dogs that may be attributable to differences in glomerular filtration rate (GFR). By means of plasma clearance of technetium Tc 99m diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, GFR was measured in 10 Greyhounds and 10 non-Greyhound dogs with normal findings of physical examination, CBC, serum biochemical analysis, and urinalysis. Dogs were fed the same diet for a minimum of 6 weeks before GFR data collection. Greyhounds had significantly higher mean 6 SD GFR (3.0 6 0.1 vs 2.5 6 0.2 ml/min/ kg; P 5 .01) and SCr concentration (1.8 6 0.1 vs 1.5 6 0.1 mg/dL; P 5 .03) than did non-Greyhound dogs, but the serum urea nitrogen (SUN) concentration was not significantly different (18 6 1 vs 18 6 2 mg/dL; P 5 .8). Therefore, the higher SCr concentration in Greyhounds is not attributable to decreased GFR, and may be associated with the high muscle mass in the breed. Healthy Greyhounds have higher GFR than do non-Greyhound dogs.
Delivery of Therapeutic Peptides and Proteins to the CNS

Peptides and proteins have potent effects on the brain after their peripheral administration, suggesting that they may be good substrates for the development of CNS therapeutics. Major hurdles to such development include their relation to the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and poor pharmacokinetics. Some peptides cross the BBB by transendothelial diffusion and others cross in the blood-to-brain direction by saturable transporters. Some regulatory proteins are also transported across the BBB and antibodies can enter the CNS via the extracellular pathways. Glycoproteins and some antibody fragments can be taken up and cross the BBB by mechanisms related to adsorptive endocytosis/transcytosis. Many peptides and proteins are transported out of the CNS by saturable efflux systems and enzymatic activity in the blood, CNS, or BBB are substantial barriers to others. Both influx and efflux transporters are altered by various substances and in disease states. Strategies that manipulate these interactions between the BBB and peptides and proteins provide many opportunities for the development of therapeutics. Such strategies include increasing transendothelial diffusion of small peptides, upregulation of saturable influx transporters with allosteric regulators and other posttranslational means, use of vectors and other Trojan horse strategies, inhibition of efflux transporters including with antisense molecules, and improvement in pharmacokinetic parameters to overcome short half-lives, tissue sequestration, and enzymatic degradation.
Model-based halftoning using direct binary search

In this work, we propose a new method to generate halftone images which are visually optimized for the display device. The algorithm searches for a binary array of pixel values that minimizes the difference between the perceived displayed continuous-tone image and the perceived displayed halftone image. The algorithm is based on the direct binary search (DBS) heuristic. Since the algorithm is iterative, it is computationally intensive. This limits the complexity of the visual model that can be used. It also impacts the choice of the metric used to measure distortion between two perceived images. In particular, we use a linear, shift- invariant model with a point spread function based on measurement of contrast sensitivity as a function of spatial frequency. The non-ideal spot shape rendered by the output devices can also have a major effect on the displayed halftone image. This source of non-ideality is explicitly accounted for in our model for the display device. By recursively computing the change in perceived mean-squared error due to a change in the value of a binary pixel, we achieve a substantial reduction in computational complexity. The effect of a trial change may be evaluated with only table lookups and a few additions.
Abstract 16396: Phosphodiesterase-5 Expression and Activity is Increased in Children With Single Ventricle Heart Failure

Introduction: Single ventricle congenital heart disease (SV) is the leading cause of cardiovascular death and indication for heart transplantation in infancy. There are no proven therapies for SV heart failure (HF). Human and animal models of HF demonstrate that myocardial phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) is increased with cardiac stress and treatment with a PDE5 inhibitor (PDE5i) results in enhanced cardiac function and prevents remodeling. Sildenafil, a PDE5i, is increasingly utilized for the treatment of patients suffering from failing SV. The objective of this study was to determine myocardial PDE5 expression and activity in children transplanted for failing SV. Methods: At the time of cardiac transplantation, explanted pediatric hearts were immediately cooled in ice cold oxygenated Tyrodes in the operating room. The tissue is rapidly dissected, flash frozen and stored at -80 0 C until further use. RNA, protein and cytosolic fractions were isolated from explanted right ventricle (RV) tissue from SV and non-failing (NF) donors. RTqPCR for PDE5, Western blot (normalized to calnexin loading control) for PDE5 and PDE5 activity assays were performed. For PDE 5 activity, cGMP hydrolysis was measured using [ 3 H]cGMP as the substrate. Sildenafil was added to measure PDE5 specific activity, and activity was calculated using nonlinear regression. Results: All patients used in the SV analysis had a failing morphologic RV and were selected from a cohort of 17 SV (median age 0.5, range 0.05-10 yrs) and 8 NF controls (median age 7, range 1.3-13 yrs). PDE5 gene expression was higher in SV myocardium compared to NF (1.9±0.7, n=17 SV vs 1.1±0.5 ct fold change, n=8 NF, p=0.02). There was a trend towards higher PDE5 protein expression in SV myocardium compared to NF (1.5±0.7, n=4 SV vs 1.0±0.4 protein expression normalized to NF, n=3 NF; p=ns). There was increased PDE5 activity in SV compared to NF (22.3±1.2, n=3 SV vs 11.9±4.2 pmol/mg/min, n=2 NF; p=0.02). Conclusions: There is increasing evidence that PDE5i has beneficial direct myocardial effects. There is increased PDE5 gene expression and activity in failing SV myocardium compared to NF control suggesting that PDE5 may represent a promising therapeutic target in this challenging population.
Management of Otitis Media with Effusion in Young Children

OBJECTIVE:To summarize and critique the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) Clinical Practice Guideline for the management of otitis media with effusion (OME) in children.DATA SOURCES:The AHCPR Clinical Practice Guideline, Otitis Media with Effusion in Young Children; the Quick Reference Guide for Clinicians, Managing Otitis Media with Effusion in Young Children; and the Parent Guide, Middle Ear Fluid in Young Children, were the primary data sources. The AHCPR developed the Guideline based on a comprehensive literature review from multiple bibliographic databases, including the National Library of Medicine. Data were also collected during open hearings and from unpublished sources derived from a call in the Federal Register. Additional citations from the biomedical literature were used for supporting evidence.STUDY SELECTION:Peer-reviewed reports of controlled, randomized studies were preferred, but other study designs were considered. Over 3000 abstracts were identified, of which 378 artic...
Modeling the Near-Sun Environment for the Solar Probe Plus Guidance and Control System

The Solar Probe Plus (SPP) mission is the culmination of decades of studies on spacecraft designed to explore the inner region of the heliosphere. The mission is being implemented by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory for a 2018 launch. Building on the flight experiences of the Helios (NASA/FRG) and MESSENGER (NASA/JHUAPL) spacecraft and several remote studies, SPP will be the closest operating spacecraft to the Sun, even surpassing the 2017 planned launch of the Solar Orbiter (ESA/NASA) spacecraft. At a 9.86 solar radii perihelion, this places SPP in an environment where small deviations from planned attitude and appendage positioning can have catastrophic consequences. To demonstrate engineering feasibility and survivability, the Guidance & Control simulation must capture the significant spacecraft design elements and environmental factors affecting true spacecraft and appendage motion. This truth dynamics model is then coupled with simulated sensors to the simulated flight G&C system to validate the design. This paper presents the influences driving the dynamics of the spacecraft in the current modeling of the SPP G&C truth dynamics simulation.
155 MURINE MESENCHYMAL STEM CELLS BLOCK T-CELL PROLIFERATION VIA PRODUCTION OF INTERLEUKIN-1 RECEPTOR ANTAGONIST.

The objective of this study was to characterize the expression of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1rn) in immunodepleted murine mesenchymal stem cells (IDmMSCs). To better characterize IDmMSCs, we also catalogued their transcriptome via serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE). Interrogation of the SAGE database revealed an abundance of SAGE tags corresponding specifically to mRNA encoding IL-1rn, a potent anti-inflammatory protein that antagonizes the activity of interleukin-1 (IL-1). Expression of IL-1rn by IDmMSCs may explain, in part, their immunomodulatory activity and ability to ameliorate various injuries. Consequently, we characterized the expression of IL-1rn in IDmMSCs and evaluated its biological activity using a T-cell proliferation assay. Screening an IDmMSC cDNA library by PCR confirmed that the cells expressed transcripts corresponding to IL-1rn, thereby validating the SAGE data. To directly evaluate protein expression, IDmMSCs were isolated from bone marrow collected from the long bones of FVB/n mice via immunodepletion. Briefly, whole bone marrow cells were cultured in a-MEM supplemented with 10% FBS in a humidified chamber with 5 % CO2 at 378C for 4 days, fed with fresh media, and incubated an additional 3-5 days. Cells were then immunodepleted by incubation with M-280 Dynabeads conjugated to anti-CD11b, CD34, and CD45 antibodies. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) quantitatively demonstrated that IDmMSCs secreted high levels of IL-1rn protein, 1ng/mL/cell (p
Ia antigen expression by human malignant lymphomas: correlation with conventional lymphoid markers.

The Ia (p23,30) antigens are useful in determining the B- or T-cell origin of normal peripheral blood lymphocytes. However, exceptions to the preferential B-cell expression of Ia antigens exist, i.e., many plasma cells are Ia– and T cells are rarely Ia+. Therefore, we investigated Ia expression (assayed by direct immunofluorescence using heteroantisera) by cells isolated from 33 malignant lymphomas and 7 benign lymph nodes. This was compared with surface immunoglobulin (SIg) and sheep erythrocyte (SRBC) receptor (E rosette) expression. Results with normal lymph nodes were similar to those described for peripheral blood. Most lymph node B cells were Ia+SIg+. Occasional Ia+SIg– B cells and rare Ia+ T cells were present. Ia antigens were expressed in parallel with SIg in 15 of 19 B-cell lymphomas. In 4 B-cell lymphomas, substantial numbers of neoplastic Ia+SIg– cells were also present, suggesting the presence of neoplastic cells at varying stages of differentiation. Heterogeneity was also seen in those lymphomas associated with monoclonal proteins, as small numbers of Ia+ and Ia– plasma cells were present. Seven cases expressed the T-cell (la–SIg–E+) phenotype. The common acute lymphoblastic leukemia phenotype (Ia+SIg–E–) was rarely expressed and may be uncommon among lymphomas. Three lymphomas expressing the Ia+E+ phenotype were shown to be B-cell malignancies whose SIg had SRBC specificity. One Ia 4 T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder was found. Thus, Ia antigens are useful B-cell markers in most instances. Furthermore, their enumeration allows the demonstration of phenotype heterogeneity in B-cell malignancies, analogous to that described for T-cell malignancies.
Using Verbs and Adjectives to Automatically Classify Blog Sentiment.

This paper presents experiments on subjectivity and polarity classifications of topicand genre-independent blog posts, making novel use of a linguistic feature, verb class information, and of an online resource, the Wikipedia dictionary, for determining the polarity of adjectives. Each post from a blog is classified as objective, positive, or negative. Our method of determining the polarity of adjectives has an accuracy rate of 90.9%. Accuracy rates of two verb classes demonstrating polarity are 89.3% and 91.2%. Initial classifier results show blog-post accuracies with significant increases above the established baseline classification.
Ancestral Sequence Reconstruction Reveals the Evolutionary History of the Folding Pathway and Landscape of Ribonucleases H

Sequence changes that arise over evolution can alter various features of a protein's energy landscape, including its global stability and folding pathway. A comprehensive understanding of how the amino acid sequence dictates the energy landscape is critical to our understanding of biophysical properties of proteins, particularly for protein engineering applications. Here, we use ancestral sequence reconstruction (ASR) to examine the evolutionary history of homologous proteins by inferring and generating ancestral states and characterizing their energy landscapes. A systematic analysis of a protein family's evolutionary history should reveal how thermodynamic and kinetic features of the landscape are derived and maintained. This allows us to identify the sequence determinants of stability and folding pathways and reveal how different selective pressures alter the energy landscape and determine trajectories in sequence space.To access a protein family's evolutionary history, we utilized ASR to generate ancestral states along the lineages of mesophilic and thermophilic ribonucleases H. We observe pronounced trends that reveal the divergence in thermostability along the mesophilic and thermophilic lineages. Despite a clear selection for stability, the underlying mechanism was found to be variable, which we attribute to thermodyanmic system drift. Characterization of the ancestral folding pathway by kinetics, fragment models, and hydrogen-exchange mass spectrometry (HX-MS) reveals a subtly but distinctly changing landscape for the ribonuclease H family, revealing the role of critical mutations that alter the structure of partially folded intermediates and modulate barrier heights along the folding pathway.
CAD-RADS: A Giant First Step Toward a Common Lexicon?

Coronary computed tomographic angiography (CTA) use is growing rapidly, and multiple studies have shown its value in improving patient care. However, CTA providers range across the cardiology and radiology specialties and have developed their own styles of reporting. This can bring some variability
Patterns of Development, 1950–1970

(1977). Patterns of Development, 1950–1970. Journal of Economic Issues: Vol. 11, No. 1, pp. 145-147.
Down the Rabbit Hole 11/22/63: Stephen King’s Historical Changeling

Once something becomes a story and it is appropriated in some way, that story experiences an additional, altered life. The adaptation might echo the original, but it does so in such a way that the original is forever changed. The original becomes a “changeling.” On a personal level we view events that we have “witnessed” through the lens of our own experiences. This is even true when one revisits the past through fiction. The reader or spectator experiences the past through the lens of the adapter. Stephen King admitted to being emotionally invested in the events surrounding the assassination of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy in 1963, and this emotional investment is reflected in his adaptation. Stephen King’s novel, 11-22-63, and its TV adaptation, serve as compelling examples of how emotional responses to the past can inform their adaptations, alter how their audiences explore and re-visit the past, and demonstrate how history and adaptations become changelings. King’s adaptation additionally demonstrates his ability to integrate the Kennedy assassination back into popular culture, inviting and allowing a “new” younger audience (who were not alive at the time of the assassination) to “experience” history by accompanying his characters down the rabbit hole of history.
Non-periodic Packings of Icosahedral Polyhedra:

A method for deriving packings of icosahedral polyhedra from periodic and non-periodic space grids based on icosahedral symmetry is presented. Corresponding to the three axes of symmetry, three classes of packings exist. For each class, an inter-transforming family of 64 (theoretically) possible packings is suggested. Their details remain to be worked out and examples are illustrated with packings of icosahedra.
Size Effect Analysis for the Characterization of Marcellus Shale Quasi-brittle Fracture Properties

The fracture characterization of shale rocks requires understanding the scaling of the measured properties to enable the extrapolation from small-scale laboratory tests to field applications. In this study, the fracture properties of Marcellus shale were obtained through size effect tests. Fracture tests were conducted on three-point-bending specimens with increasing size. The test results show that the nominal strength decreases with increasing specimen size and it can be fitted well by Bažant’s size effect law. This demonstrates that shale fracture behavior deviates from classical linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM), and it has quasi-brittle characteristics. This implies, in turn, that the fracture toughness (or fracture energy) computed according to LEFM is size-dependent and, in general, cannot be considered a material property. Furthermore, the size effect analysis allows one to accurately identify the quasi-brittle fracture properties, namely the initial fracture energy and the effective fracture process zone length. A significant anisotropy was observed in the fracture properties determined with three principal notch orientations.
What is in the Myopathy Literature

This update begins with muscle manifestations of coronavirus 2019. They may include myalgias and elevations in serum creatine kinase. It is unknown whether there is direct muscle invasion and how often the critically ill have muscle sequelae. Regarding autoimmune myopathies, a retrospective study of statin-induced necrotizing myopathy is covered. A relatively large proportion of patients had normal strength at presentation. Examples of dermatomyositis associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors are provided including one with cytokine storm. A report of juvenile dermatomyositis with severe abdominal complications is noteworthy. Two articles address unusual associations with inclusion body myositis, namely, spinocerebellar ataxias and granuloma myositis. In the category of muscular dystrophies, a relatively large single center study of the outcome of scapulothoracic arthrodesis for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy is discussed and a article on anoctaminopathies with pauci- or asymptomatic hyperCKemia.
Subtotal and Total Temporal Bone Resection

Subtotal temporal bone resection (STBR) is required for tumors that involve the mastoid, middle ear, inner ear, or lateral skull base. Total temporal bone resection (TTBR) extends the dissection from the STBR so that the petrous apex is included. The indications and contraindications for these procedures are discussed. A multidisciplinary team for these procedures is emphasized. The critical steps of tumor resection are outlined and illustrated. Reconstruction usually involves a microvascular free flap, but abdominal fat graft and local flaps can be used in the appropriate circumstance. Postoperative management and complications are discussed. Postoperative radiotherapy is given to all patients.
Maternal Physiological Changes During Pregnancy, Labor, and the Postpartum Period

Maternal blood volume increases during pregnancy, and this involves an increase in plasma volume as well as in red cell and white cell volumes.1 The plasma volume increases by 40–50%, whereas the red cell volume increases by only 15–20%, which causes a “physiological anemia of pregnancy” (normal hemoglobin 12 g/dL; hematocrit 35).2 Because of this hemodilution, blood viscosity decreases by approximately 20%. The exact mechanism of this increase in plasma volume is unknown. However, several mediators such as renin–angiotensin–aldosterone, atrial natriuretic peptide, estrogen, progesterone, and nitric oxide may be involved. The most likely hypothesis attributes the increase to an “underfill” state caused by initial vasodilation, which stimulates hormones such as renin, angiotensin, and aldosterone to cause fluid retention.3 Alternatively, some have proposed an “overfill” state characterized by an early increase in sodium retention (due to an increase in mineralcorticoids) that leads to fluid retention, causing an increase in blood volume, followed subsequently by vasodilation.
Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing ofChlamydophila pneumoniae: Pilot Study for Alternative Methods that Address the Complex Chlamydial Life Cycle

Conventional susceptibility testing of Chlamydophila pneumoniaedoes not account for the complex life cycle that takes place in anobligatoryintracellular niche and involves multiple morphological forms. Some of these forms (elementary bodies and cryptic bodies) cause persistence and are not susceptible to antimicrobial agents. Therefore, we describe a pilot study for alternative methods of susceptibility testing of C. pneumoniae. These methods include delaying the addition of antimicrobial agents to cell cultures for 48 hours to allow the development of an established chlamydial infection as well as the use of reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR [RT-qPCR] to measure messenger RNA. Using these methods, susceptibility testing of an established infection in Hep2 cells was compared with conventional susceptibility testing of C. pneumoniae. Conventional antimicrobial susceptibility testing of C. pneumoniaeresults in MICs and MBCs that would suggest that recommended treatment regimens of 2 to 3 weeks of antibiotics such as doxycycline, clarithromycin, levofloxacin, and rifabutin would be sufficient. However, susceptibility testing using an established chlamydial infection in HEp2 cells reveals that none of these agents are as inhibitory and/or bactericidal as indicated by conventional methods. The results of this pilot study suggest that further evaluation of chlamydial susceptibility testing methods using established infection in cell cultures and RT-qPCR to measure messenger RNA are needed to optimize treatment recommendations for chronic C. pneumoniaeinfections.
Dimensional accuracy of cone beam CT with varying angulation of the jaw to the X-ray beam.

Objectives: Cone beam CT (CBCT) machines do not always allow for patients to be scanned in the ideal position for image acquisition. This study aimed to investigate the influence of the position/an...
Effect of Solar PV Penetration on Residential Energy Consumption Pattern

The residential rooftop solar penetration in the U.S. has increased rapidly over the past few years. This increase, if not properly accounted for, can lead to operational and reliability challenges for the electric power industry in the form of under-utilization of available energy, increase in costs, and reduction in environmental benefits, as demonstrated by the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) Duck Curve. The authors of this paper had previously developed a bottom-up approach for computing season-wise household-level residential energy consumption profiles using a synthetic population resource. In this paper, that model is enhanced to account for the effects that increasing percentages of rooftop solar penetration can have on the residential energy demand profiles of different regions. This information will be very useful to electric power utilities because it will help them efficiently manage the increasing numbers of residential rooftop solar installations in their supply areas.
Web Traffic Prediction of Wikipedia Pages

In recent years, more emphasis on how to predict traffic of web pages has increased significantly and prompted the need for exploring various methods on how to effectively forecast future values of multiple times series. In this paper, we apply a forecasting model for the purpose of predicting web traffic. In particular, we use existing Web Traffic Time Series Forecasting dataset by Google to predict future traffic of Wikipedia articles. Predicting web traffic can help web site owners in many ways including: (a) determining an effective strategy for load balancing of web pages residing in the cloud, (b) forecasting future trends based on historical data and (c) understanding the user behavior. To achieve the goals of this research work, we built a time-series model that utilizes RNN seq2seq model. We then investigate the use of symmetric mean absolute percentage error (SMAPE) for measuring the overall performance and accuracy of the developed model. Finally, we compare the outcome of our developed model to existing ones to determine the effectiveness of our proposed method in predicting future traffic of Wikipedia articles.
Fast Compressive Sensing Recovery Using Generative Models with Structured Latent Variables

Deep learning models have significantly improved the visual quality and accuracy on compressive sensing recovery. In this paper, we propose an algorithm for signal reconstruction from compressed measurements with image priors captured by a generative model. We search and constrain on latent variable space to make the method stable when the number of compressed measurements is extremely limited. We show that, by exploiting certain structures of the latent variables, the proposed method produces improved reconstruction accuracy and preserves realistic and non-smooth features in the image. Our algorithm achieves high computation speed by projecting between the original signal space and the latent variable space in an alternating fashion.
Poly(L-lactic Acid) Microspheres Containing Neutron-Activatable Holmium-165: A Study of the Physical Characteristics of Microspheres Before and After Irradiation in a Nuclear Reactor

The solvent evaporation technique was employed to prepare poly(L-lactic acid) (PLA) microspheres with 165Ho acetylacetonate (Ho-AcAc). Particle size, percentage Ho-165, percent residual solvent, and retentive ability of the spheres were found to be strongly affected by preparatory conditions. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermograms suggested that the Ho-AcAc existed in the PLA matrix as a molecular dispersion. High neutron flux irradiations of the PLA spheres in a nuclear reactor produced Ho-166, a therapeutic radionuclide that emits high-energy negatrons (E max = 1.84 MeV; half-life = 26.9 hr). The gamma radiation dose (53– 75 Mrad) from the core of the reactor provided an overkill of all bioburdens in the PLA spheres. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) analysis showed that these irradiations caused a reduction in PLA molecular weight. Infrared spectra, 13C NMR spectra, 1H NMR spectra, and DSC thermograms further confirmed the presence of lower molecular weight PLA but proved the overall maintenance of PLA structure.
Comparing interactive computer services—Theoretical, technical and economic feasibility

The comparison of interactive computer services is a frequent, important and essential activity for those involved in selecting from among alternative remote access services available through a computer network. The comparison and selection process can be very complicated, relying on both nonmeasurable and measurable comparison criteria. Non-measurable criteria, such as the availability of a particular compiler, are typically easy and inexpensive to evaluate. In contrast, for those criteria which are measurable, comparison calls for an expensive process of collecting and analyzing relevant performance measurements from the network computer services under consideration. (The term "network computer services" is used to refer to interactive computer services available via a computer network). Further, if measurement is not carefully planned to accommodate certain inherent theoretical, technical and economic problems, the measurements which result may be misleading or invalid. A legitimate question arises as to whether comparison measurements should be done at all. This paper addresses the feasibility of including measurement phases in the process of comparing and selecting interactive network computer services.
Feeding Grass Hay Before Concentrate Mitigates the Effect of Grain-Based Concentrates on Postprandial Plasma Interleukin-1β.

Abstract When fed to horses, high-starch diets elevate plasma concentrations of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) as soon as 1 hour posteating. This increase in IL-β is possibly because of changes in intestinal pH that result from rapid bacterial fermentation of starches and sugars in the digestive tract. The purpose of this research was to investigate the effect of feeding 0.9 kg of grass hay 30 minutes before feeding a concentrate meal on the postprandial rise in IL-1β, compared with control horses receiving the same concentrate without hay first. Six mature geldings were used in a switchback design. Horses were fasted overnight before being offered a concentrate feed that provided 1.2 g/kg bodyweight of nonstructural carbohydrates. Plasma was harvested 30 minutes before hay feeding and 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours postfeeding. Concentrations of IL-1β and d-lactate were analyzed by repeated measures analysis of variance. The hay-first treatment reduced (P = .034) postprandial concentrations of IL-1β at all time points compared with the control horses. An interaction between hour and treatment was detected for mean d-lactate concentrations (P = .037), with lower concentrations in hay-first fed horses at postfeeding hours 1, 2, and 4, compared with control horses. Given these findings, we believe that feeding a small amount of hay before feeding a meal of moderate starch and sugar content reduced the negative effects of rapid starch and sugar fermentation in the equine digestive tract, evidenced by reduced postprandial d-lactate and IL-1β concentrations.
Dating violence: A cross-lag path model with pregnant and parenting adolescents.

Abstract Introduction Dating violence is a common problem among adolescents, particularly among Latinx pregnant and parenting adolescents, and can be detrimental to adolescent parents and their children. However, little is known about whether different forms of dating violence behaviors are stable over time or what influences changes in these behaviors. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to use an exploratory autoregressive cross-lag path model to analyze whether conflict resolution, verbally abusive, and physically abusive behaviors were stable over time and whether these behaviors predicted one another in the future. Method A total of 285 pregnant or parenting adolescents attending eight high schools in the Southwestern U.S. completed a pre-test at the beginning of a semester, a follow-up survey at the end of the semester, and a post-test at the end of the following semester to longitudinally assess the strategies they used when resolving a conflict with their partners (i.e., conflict resolution strategies, verbally abusive behaviors, and/or physically abusive behaviors). Results and conclusions An autoregressive cross-lag model was performed to determine whether conflict resolution, verbally abusive, and physically abusive behaviors at one time point predicted the same variables in the future. Results from the autoregressive cross-lag model indicated that adolescents’ reports of their conflict resolution strategies and verbally abusive behaviors were stable across time, but their use of physically abusive behaviors were not. Additionally, conflict resolution strategies predicted lower levels of verbally abusive and physically abusive behaviors.
Identifying mesopredator release in multi‐predator systems: a review of evidence from North America

The mesopredator release hypothesis, defined as the change in distribution, abundance or behaviour of a middle‐ranking predator in response to a decrease in density or distribution of an apex predator, is an increasingly popular topic in ecology. Terrestrial mesopredators have been reported as being released in multiple systems globally, particularly in North America, over the past century. We reviewed 2687 scientific articles, of which we determined that 38 met our criteria for investigating mesopredator release (MR) in terrestrial North American mammalian predators. We observed no support or mixed support for MR in 46% of all relevant studies, including conflicting evidence between measures (mesopredator distribution, abundance or behaviour) within a given study and among studies of the same community in different settings. To advance the study of MR, we provide a conceptual framework that 1) highlights the multiple spatial, temporal and ecological scales at which mesopredator responses can occur; 2) suggests the relative weight of evidence for MR that is provided by measures of mesopredator responses at each scale; and 3) clearly defines the threshold for determining when MR is occurring. In increasingly reshuffled predator communities with declining apex predators, there is a need for future studies to assess in more detail the contexts in which mesopredator behavioural responses scale up to the population‐level processes and species‐level distribution changes needed to identify these responses as MR.
The Effect of Fiction on Religious Studies Display Shelves in an Academic Library

The religious studies librarians at Brigham Young University (BYU) began a book display research project to examine the circulation rates of religious studies titles placed on display and to specif...
Giving an Online Exam

Invaluable guidance has emerged on online teaching during the time of coronavirus, but less so on online final exams. This Article fills this void by offering various methods to maintain the integrity of final exams administered online.
On the Effect of Explosive Thermonuclear Burning on the Accreted Envelopes of White Dwarfs in Cataclysmic Variables

The detection of heavy elements at suprasolar abundances in the atmospheres of some accreting white dwarfs in cataclysmic variables (CVs), coupled with the high temperatures needed to produce these elements, requires explosive thermonuclear burning. The central temperatures of any formerly more massive secondary stars in CVs undergoing hydrostatic CNO burning are far too low to produce these elements. Evidence is presented that at least some CVs contain donor secondaries that have been contaminated by white dwarf remnant burning during the common envelope phase and are transferring this material back to the white dwarf. This scenario does not exclude the channel in which formerly more massive donor stars underwent CNO processing in systems with thermal timescale mass transfer. Implications for the progenitors of CVs are discussed and a new scenario for the white dwarf's accretion-nova-outburst is given.
Cerebrovascular Complications and Vessel Wall Imaging in COVID-19 Encephalopathy-A Pilot Study.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is associated with several complications of the central nervous system (CNS), including acute encephalopathy. In this pilot study, we report a series of 39 patients (66.5 ± 9.2 years; 10.3% female) with acute encephalopathy, who underwent a standard brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 1.5 T during the acute symptomatic phase. In addition to diffusion-weighted imaging, MR angiography and susceptibility-weighted images, high-resolution vascular black blood sequences (in 34 cases) were used to investigate the vasculature of the brain. In 29 out of 34 patients with COVID-19 encephalopathy (85%) with high-resolution vessel wall imaging, we found a circular enhancement and thickening of the basilar and vertebral arteries, without any correlation with ischemia or microbleeds (reported in 21% and 59%, respectively). We report a high prevalence of vascular changes suggestive of endotheliitis as reported in other organs. This could suggest an inflammatory mechanism underlying this encephalopathy.
Luminescence properties of CsPbBr 3 :Mn nanocrystals

Mn-doped CsPbBr3 nanocrystals with sizes of ~10 nm are synthesized by hot injection method via the addition of HBr in the precursor. The sizes and crystal structure are not influenced by the addition of HBr. The photoluminescence (PL) mechanism of CsPbBr3 is modified by HBr, leading to the PL peak shift to 433 nm, which is not the regular PL of CsPbBr3. The irregular CsPbBr3 nanocrystals prepared with HBr enable the Mn doping, leading to the red emission of Mn. The PL energy transfer from CsPbBr3 to Mn is studied as a function of HBr. The energy transfer of ~90% is achieved in this system. In addition, the crystallinity of the CsPbBr3 nanocrystals is also improved by the HBr, leading to better photodetector device performance.
Comparative Postcolonialisms: Alienation, Displacement and Interconnections in South African and Burmese Literature

This article uses a comparative postcolonial approach to investigate colonialism’s displacement and dislocation of all beings, human and non-human, and to locate resistant writing in the selected postcolonial texts—Zakes Mda’s Ways of Dying and Zoya Phan’s Undaunted: My Struggle for Freedom and Survival in Burma—to show the disenfranchisement of the (post)colonised while also attempting to recuperate stories of interconnections and hope. While colonialist texts show the “abject” in troubling terms, I argue that in diasporic texts, the writers are able to show a “plurality of vision” due to their diasporic consciousness in their texts.
Health-Related Behaviors and Odds of COVID-19 Hospitalization in a Military Population.

Introduction Understanding the impact of behaviors on COVID-19 severity can improve health promotion strategies. We investigated the association between health-related behaviors and odds of hospitalization for COVID-19 in a cohort of military personnel. Methods This case-controlled study compared all active-duty US Air Force service members hospitalized for COVID-19 between March 5, 2020, and March 10, 2021 (cases), with their geographically matched peers who had COVID-19 and were treated as outpatients (controls). We used logistic regression to compare cases and controls according to self-reported sleep duration, physical activity, dietary factors, binge alcohol consumption, and tobacco use - with and without adjustment for sociodemographic factors, body mass index, physical fitness level, pertinent disease history, and psychological distress - resulting in crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs. The trend between sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption and hospitalization odds was assessed by using the Cochran-Armitage test. Results Ninety-three hospitalized cases were matched to 372 ambulatory controls. Adjusting for baseline characteristics and other health-related behaviors, cases were more likely than controls to report fewer than 7 hours of sleep, compared with 7 to 9 hours (OR = 1.84; 95% CI, 1.07-3.16), and were more likely than controls to consume 3 or more SSBs per week, compared with fewer than 3 SSBs (OR = 1.74; 95% CI, 1.03-2.92). In a dose-response relationship, higher SSB consumption was associated with greater odds of being hospitalized (P value for trend = .02). Conclusion Interventions that address short sleep duration and SSB consumption may reduce morbidity from COVID-19 among military service members and potentially in the broader US population.
Seasonal Resource Selection, Recruitment, Diet Selection and Time Budgets of Bighorn sheep (Ovis Canadensis) in the Teton Range, Northwest Wyoming.

Many ungulate populations have lost access to their traditional migration routes and seasonal ranges, resulting in rapid and severe population declines. Some ungulate populations have been able to adapt to living year-round on one seasonal range and persist despite loss of migration. However, our understanding of how ungulates adapt their habitat selection and foraging strategies in order to compensate for migration loss is poor. This study investigates how a formerly migratory, now sedentary and isolated, bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) population persists year-round on high-elevation summer range in the Teton Range in northwest Wyoming. We captured and GPS-collared 20 bighorn ewes throughout the Teton Range in February 2008 and an additional 8 ewes in March 2009. In 2008, ninety percent of captured ewes were pregnant, and 100% were pregnant in 2009. During summers 2008 and 2009, we located and observed GPS-collared ewes, determined lamb survival, collected fecal samples for diet composition analysis, conducted vegetation surveys, and observed time-budgets. We found that 50% of lambs survived until at least mid-summer in 2008 and 60% survived in 2009. We observed differences in movement patterns between GPS-collared ewes during the summer seasons, ranging from 5 km to a maximum of 15 km. At this time, eight GPS-collared ewes have died (4 in avalanches, 1 from predation, and 3 unknown). This study is ongoing and will be completed in 2011. Results will directly contribute to management of this non-migratory and isolated bighorn sheep population, and will shed light on how a formerly migratory ungulate population has been able to persist on high-elevation range year-round
A derivation of the Catalan numbers from a bijection between permutations and labeled trees

We present an algorithmic mapping from permutations of length dn to labeled n-node d-ary trees and back again. Given such a bijection, one can interpret each of the factorials in the formula for the Catalan numbers as a count of permutations.
The U. S. EPA Program for Evaluation of Treatment and Utilization Technologies for Municipal Waste Combustion Residues

Vendors of solidification / stabilization (S/S) and other technologies are cooperating with the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (U.S. EPA) Office of Research and Development (ORD), Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory (RREL) to demonstrate and evaluate the performance of the technologies used to treat residues from the combustion of municipal solid waste (MSW). S/S is being emphasized in the current program. This technology may enhance the environmental performance of the residues when disposed in the land, when used as road bed aggregate, as building blocks, and in the marine environment as reefs or shore erosion control barriers. The program includes four S/S process types: cement, silicate, cement kiln dust and a phosphate based process. Residue types being evaluated are fly ash, bottom ash and combined residues. An array of chemical leaching tests and physical tests are being conducted to characterize the untreated and treated residues. This paper discusses program design and general observations based on available results. The S/S evaluation program is the first phase of ORD's Municipal Solid Waste Innovative Technology Evaluation (MITE) program; a program to demonstrate and evaluate technologies for managing municipal solid waste. The U.S. EPA is also supporting research to address the scientific and other issues associated with utilizing MSW combustion residues. This paper discusses these issues and research directions. (A) For the covering abstract of the conference see IRRD 860044.
Posttranslational modifications of collagens as targets of hypoxia and Hif-1α in endochondral bone development

In recent years, it has been proposed that oxygen is not only an indispensable metabolic substrate, but also a regulatory signal, and that gradients of oxygenation turn on a specific genetic program. A crucial mediator of the adaptive response of cells to hypoxia is the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (Hif-1α). The fetal growth plate, which is an avascular structure of mesenchymal origin, has a unique out-in gradient of oxygenation. Hif-1α is required for chondrogenesis in vivo by controlling a complex homeostatic response that allows chondrocytes to survive and differentiate in an hypoxic environment. Preliminary evidence suggests that regulation of posttranslational modifications of collagens could be an important component of this adaptive response.