cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Information theoretic bounds on the effectiveness of neural prosthetics

Capacity defines the ultimate fidelity limits of information transmission by any system, be it conveyed by digital, analog or spike train signals. Rate-distortion theory shows that regardless of how error is defined, any system having a smaller capacity than another must result in larger estimation errors. For example, this theory shows that, for bandlimited Gaussian stimuli, the smallest possible mean-squared error decays exponentially with capacity. Since a single neuron's capacity is proportional to peak spike rate, emin⁡2 ∝ exp{-λmax/eW} (W is the stimulus bandwidth). In previous work, we derived the capacity of parallel Poisson process channels, which allows us to study the relative effectiveness of neural population structures. Here, we elaborate those results for two models of neural prosthetics: (1) electrical stimulation systems such as cochlear implants and (2) neural control systems that use surface or gross potentials to control movements of limb prostheses. We show that for the electrical stimulation case, the capacity is proportional to the size of the population being stimulated, regardless of whether the stimulus drives the entire population or whether individual neurons are independently stimulated (fig ​(fig1).1). In this case, gross stimulation theoretically suffices. In contrast, neural control systems using gross recordings have a far smaller capacity. If a single potential represents the aggregate population activity, we found that capacity does not increase with population size, but instead saturates at a value less than the capacity provided by using the individual outputs of two neurons to derive the control signal. If two gross potential measurements are made, assumed here to represent overlapping subpopulations, capacity is larger than in the single-potential case but still saturates with increasing population size. Figure 1 Capacity as a function of neural population size. We conclude that stimulation prosthetics face no fundamental barriers to being effective. Neural control systems do, however. This fundamental limitation can be overcome by using spike sorting (teasing apart the gross potential into its constituents) and/or by using feedback, which has been shown to increase capacity.
Normal aortic valve function in dogs.

Abstract Previous trileaflet aortic prostheses failed from fatigue and flexion stresses because their design was not based on the physiology of the normal valve. The dynamics of normal aortic valves were studied in terms of movement of aortic valve commissures and leaflets in vivo. Eight dogs were placed on total cardiopulmonary bypass; through an aortotomy, radiopaque platinum markers were placed on the commissures at the level of leaflet coaptation and at the center of the leaflets' free edge. Three dogs were studied immediately and five dogs after 10 or more days. Marker movement in the beating heart was recorded under fluoroscopy on videotape. The aortic root expands 12 ± 0.4 percent (mean ± standard error of the mean) during systole at a blood pressure of 12080mm Hg; it expands 8.5 to 24 percent at blood pressures ranging from 5030 to 240180 mm Hg. The relation between aortic root diameter and blood pressure is similar to a classic tension-radius relation of the aorta. The aortic root diameter is controlled by blood pressure and by the pressure gradient across the valve. The functional elastic modulus of the aortic root is 4.4 × 10 5 dynes/cm 2 . Expansion of the aortic root begins 20 to 40 msec before the valve opens. The velocity of leaflet opening is 97 cm/sec. The orifice of the opened valve is circular and maximal at the beginning, gradually decreasing to the point when the valve snaps shut. Commissural expansion gives a smooth opening, less shear stress on the leaflet surface, less flexion stress at the center of the leaflet and less fatigue strain on the leaflet, thereby maximizing the life and efficiency of the aortic valve. If these characteristics were incorporated into aortic prostheses, prosthetic failure due to fatigue and flexion stresses should be reduced.
Incorporating incremental validation and impact analysis into spreadsheet maintenance: an empirical study

Spreadsheets are among the most common form of software in use today. Unlike more traditional forms of software however, spreadsheets are created and maintained by end users with little or no programming experience. As a result, a high percentage of these "programs" contain errors. Unfortunately, software engineering research has for the most part ignored this problem. We have developed a methodology that is designed to aid end users in developing, testing, and maintaining spreadsheets. The methodology communicates testing information and information about the impact of cell changes to users in a manner that does not require an understanding of formal testing theory or the behind the scenes mechanisms. The paper presents the results of an empirical study that shows that, during maintenance, end users using our methodology were more accurate in making changes and did a significantly better job of validating their spreadsheets than end users without the methodology.
The roles of conic sections and elliptic curves in the global dynamics of a class of planar systems of rational difference equations

Consider the class of planar systems of first-order rational difference equations 1´ where , and the parameters are nonnegative and such that both terms in the right-hand side of (1′) are nonlinear. In this paper, we prove the following discretized Poincare-Bendixson theorem for the class of systems (1′). If the map associated to system (1′) is bounded, then the following statements are true: In particular, system (1′) cannot exhibit chaos when its associated map is bounded. Moreover, we show that if both equilibrium curves of (1′) are reducible conics and the map associated to system (1′) is unbounded, then every solution converges to one of up to infinitely many equilibria or to or . MSC:39A05, 39A11.
802: Antenatal corticosteroids preferentially impact inflammation rather than the angiogenic profile in patients with severe preeclampsia

eclampsia, with 66.2% of Vitamin D deficient women having a term MAP 85mmHg, compared to 44.7% with normal Vitamin D (p 0.032). Multivariate analyses showed an adjusted odds ratio of 3.52 (CI 1.40-8.85) for term MAP 85mmHg among Vitamin D deficient women after adjusting for race, maternal age, BMI, parity, chronic hypertension, and gestational age at Vitamin D measurement. No other factor was independently associated with term MAP 85mmHg. CONCLUSION: Women with 25(OH) Vitamin D deficiency demonstrated higher mean arterial pressure at term despite our institutional practice of routine supplementation. The association between Vitamin D deficiency and preeclampsia may be mediated by an independent effect of Vitamin D deficiency on MAP at term.
Barriers to the use of a Personal Health Record by an Elderly Population

Personal health records (PHRs) are proposed as a strategy to make health care delivery increasingly patient-centered. Yet little work has been done in understanding the workflows of patients in their own homes, or influence of access, cognitive, physical, or literacy barriers on workflow and outcomes of using health records. Many populations may require assistance in using PHRs to improve their health outcomes. We studied PHR use by an elderly and disabled population and describe those barriers encountered by our patients.
A design space for effective privacy notices

Notifying users about a system's data practices is supposed to enable users to make informed privacy decisions. Yet, current notice and choice mechanisms, such as privacy policies, are often ineffective because they are neither usable nor useful, and are therefore ignored by users. Constrained interfaces on mobile devices, wearables, and smart home devices connected in an Internet of Things exacerbate the issue. Much research has studied usability issues of privacy notices and many proposals for more usable privacy notices exist. Yet, there is little guidance for designers and developers on the design aspects that can impact the effectiveness of privacy notices. In this paper, we make multiple contributions to remedy this issue. We survey the existing literature on privacy notices and identify challenges, requirements, and best practices for privacy notice design. Further, we map out the design space for privacy notices by identifying relevant dimensions. This provides a taxonomy and consistent terminology of notice approaches to foster understanding and reasoning about notice options available in the context of specific systems. Our systemization of knowledge and the developed design space can help designers, developers, and researchers identify notice and choice requirements and develop a comprehensive notice concept for their system that addresses the needs of different audiences and considers the system's limitations and opportunities for providing notice.
COOK Medical Accessories Used for Deployment of the TX2 COOK Stent Graft

Wire guides navigate tortuous anatomy while offering support to the aorta and iliac vessels during the deployment and advancement of endovascular grafts and accessories used in endovascular aortic repair (EVAR).
Ulcerative Dermatitis in C57BL/6NCrl Mice on a Low-Fat or High-Fat Diet With or Without a Mineralized Red-Algae Supplement

Ulcerative dermatitis (UD) is a spontaneous idiopathic disease that often affects C57BL/6 mice or mice on a C57BL/6 background. UD is characterized by intense pruritus and lesion formation, most commonly on the head or dorsal thorax. Self-trauma likely contributes to wound severity and delayed wound healing. Histologically, changes are nonspecific, consisting of ulceration with neutrophilic and mastocytic infiltration and epithelial hyperplasia and hyperkeratosis. Diet appears to have a profound effect on the development and progression of UD lesions. We investigated the incidence and severity of UD in C57BL/6NCrl mice on a high-fat western-style diet (HFWD) compared with a standard rodent chow. In addition, we examined the protective effects of dietary supplementation with a multimineral-rich product derived from marine red algae on UD in these 2 diet groups. HFWD-fed mice had an increased incidence of UD. In addition, mice on a HFWD had significantly more severe clinical and histologic lesions. Dietary mineral supplementation in mice on a HFWD decreased the histologic severity of lesions and reduced the incidence of UD in female mice in both diets. In conclusion, a high-fat western-style diet may potentiate UD in C57BL/6NCrl mice. Insufficient mineral supply and mineral imbalance may contribute to disease development. Mineral supplementation may be beneficial in the treatment of UD.
The answer isn’t always a poster: : Using social marketing principles and concept mapping with high school students to improve participation in school breakfast

This article describes the formative research and development of a social marketing intervention to promote school breakfast in the U.S. state of Iowa. The project involved a collaborative effort between a university research team, a state department of education, and three high schools in the state over the course of the 2013–2014 school year. A participatory approach guided by Greene’s Theory of Active Involvement was used to engage directly with adolescent students. Specifically, the research team used concept mapping as a means of exploring perceived barriers, benefits, and motivators related to school breakfast participation. The results indicated a need for increased awareness about school breakfast in conjunction with guidance for food service directors in making changes to school breakfast and breakfast promotion. The findings directly related to price, promotion, product, and place. Students identified a channel and student-generated ideas informed Twitter and best practices guidebooks for school food service directors
The Value of Fracking Wastewater Treatment and Recycling Technologies in North Dakota

The oil boom in North Dakota is aided by hydraulic fracturing, often referred to as fracking. Fracking uses a pressurized water, sand, and chemical mixture to break through layers of rock and release oil and gas. This procedure produces hundreds of truckloads of wastewater for each fracked well. In this study, we analyze the financial feasibility of a system of wastewater recycling and reuse to reduce total truck use and to conserve water supplies. We present a spatial mathematical programming model to assess the minimum cost of dealing with the potentially treatable portion of the fracking wastewater that flows back from North Dakota oil wells after fracking. Results of modeling demonstrate that mobile on-site treatment plants would be cost-effective. Both the public and private sectors have incentives to support the development of appropriate recycling technologies.
Characterization of cytochrome P-450-dependent arachidonic acid metabolism in rabbit intestine

We characterized cytochrome P-450-dependent arachidonate (P-450-AA) metabolism throughout the intestinal tract, since some metabolites derived via this pathway modify epithelial ion transport and regional blood flow. Microsomes (0.3 mg/ml) were prepared from each region of the intestines of anesthetized New Zealand White male rabbits and incubated with [14C]AA (7 microM) for 30 min at 37 degrees C. In the presence of NADPH (1 mM), ileal microsomes exhibited the greatest P-450-AA metabolism, whereas duodenal microsomes exhibited little or no activity. For jejunal, ileal, and cecal microsomes, AA metabolism was reduced in the absence of NADPH and by boiling microsomes, was unaffected by indomethacin (10 microM) and BW-755C (50 microM), but was significantly attenuated by the P-450 enzyme inhibitors, 7-ethoxyresorufin (1 microM) and SKF-525A (100 microM). However, colonic (ascending, transverse, and descending) microsomal activity was inhibited by both P-450 and lipoxygenase inhibitors. Analysis of ileal AA metabolites by high-pressure liquid chromatography and negative ion chemical ionization gas chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed products corresponding to monohydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs). Semiquantitative analysis showed that 20-, 19-, 18-, 17-, and 16-HETEs were present in a ratio of 6.2:3.3:0.3:0.1:0.1, respectively. Furthermore, ileal P-450-HETEs dilated the isolated perfused mesenteric bed, as did 20-HETE, the predominant ileal AA metabolite. Because 20-HETE was also shown to affect epithelial ion transport, we suggest that P-450-AA metabolites may make important contributions to intestinal function.
Ovipositional patterns and larval movement of Delia antiqua (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) on sprouted bulb and seedling onions

Delia antique (Meigen) exhibited pronounced differential oviposition on seedling versus sprouted bulb onions. In a dual treatment experiment, /lies laid significantly more eggs per plant per day on sprouted bulbs (97.4 ± 14.4 [mean ± SEM]) than on seedlings (0.4 ± 0.3). In a single-treatment experiment, sprouted bulbs received 103.2 ± 11.4 eggs per plant/d and seedlings only 3.5 ± 1.8. Switching treatments in the single treatment experiment caused an immediate reversal in oviposition. Flies first given sprouted bulbs ceased oviposition when presented with seedlings and Flies switched from seedlings to sprouted bulbs commenced oviposition. Therefore, once activated, the fixed action pattern governing D. antique egg deposition is not free-running. In glasshouse experiments, sprouted bulbs did not influence the pattern of egg deposition by female Flies on surrounding seedlings, indicating that ovipositional patterns cannot fully explain aggregated damage observed in the field. Onion maggot movement away from sprouted bulbs previously inoculated with high numbers of eggs resulted in aggregated damage to surrounding seedlings, at least partially explaining field observations. Differential oviposition supports the use of sprouted bulbs as an ovipositional trap crop for onion maggot control, but larval movement away from potentially impenetrable, undamaged bulbs requires consideration of trap crop placement relative to seedlings, timing of planting so that the seedling stage coincides with peak D. antique oviposition, and timing of, trap crop removal.
Integrating Model-Driven and Data-Driven Techniques for Analyzing Learning Behaviors in Open-Ended Learning Environments

Research in computer-based learning environments has long recognized the vital role of adaptivity in promoting effective, individualized learning among students. Adaptive scaffolding capabilities are particularly important in open-ended learning environments, which provide students with opportunities for solving authentic and complex problems, and the choice to adopt a variety of strategies and approaches to solving these problems. To help students overcome their difficulties and become effective learners and problem solvers, we have to develop methods that can track and interpret students’ open-ended learning and problem-solving behaviors. The complexity of the problems and the open-ended nature of the solution processes pose considerable challenges to accurately interpret and evaluate student behaviors and performance as they work on the system. In this paper, we develop a framework that combines model-driven strategy detection with data-driven pattern discovery for analyzing students’ learning activity data in open-ended environments. We present results from an in-depth case study of multiple activity patterns identified in data from the Betty’s Brain learning environment. The results illustrate the benefits of combining model- and data-driven techniques to precisely characterize the learning behavior of students in an open-ended environment.
Immunoblot detection of soluble protein antigens from sodium dodecyl sulfate- and sodium deoxycholate-treated candidate bioscaffold tissues.

Background and aims of the study The detergent-based 'decellularization' of xenogeneic tissues is one approach to scaffolding a tissue-engineered heart valve construct; however, concern persists regarding the immunogenicity of decellularized xenogeneic bioscaffolds. The study aims were to: (i) develop a sensitive and robust immunoblot-based assay for the detection of soluble protein antigens in xenogeneic bioscaffolds; and (ii) evaluate the completeness of protein antigen removal from sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)- or sodium deoxycholate (SD)-treated bovine pericardium (BP) or porcine aortic valve (PAV) conduit. Methods Homogenized BP or PAV were injected into rabbits to generate immune serum towards these tissues. Soluble proteins were extracted from untreated BP and PAV. Immunoblot analyses of the extracts were performed using pre-immune and 14-, 28-, 42-, 56- and 70-day post-immune serum. BP and PAV were treated sequentially with 4 h hypotonic lysis; with 0, 0.01, 0.025, 0.05, 0.1, 0.25 or 0.5% SDS or SD for 24 h; and with 96 h of aqueous wash-out. Immunoblot analyses of protein extracts from treated tissues were performed using 70-day post-immune rabbit serum. Results Immunoblot analysis of untreated BP or PAV with pre-immune serum showed no immune banding. The immune banding density increased progressively when immunoblots were performed with 14-day through 70-day post-immune serum. The immunoblot analysis of treated BP and PAV showed that soluble protein antigen removal from SDS- or SD-treated tissues was incomplete. Conclusion Immunoblot analysis is a sensitive and robust assay for detecting soluble protein xenogeneic antigens after the decellularization of xenogeneic bioscaffolds. Under the study conditions, hypotonic lysis, SDS or SD detergent treatment, and aqueous wash-out-based decellularization of bovine pericardium and porcine aortic valve conduit did not completely remove detectable protein antigens.
Pretreatment prostate-specific antigen and Gleason score predict the risk of extracapsular extension and the risk of failure following radiotherapy in patients with clinically localized prostate cancer.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the use of a relatively simple equation for predicting the risk of extracapsular extension (ECE) based on the pretreatment prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and Gleason score (GS) in patients with clinically localized prostate cancer. Three hundred and seventy-four patients who underwent radical prostatectomy between 1988 and 1994 and 521 men undergoing definitive radiotherapy during a similar time period were eligible for this analysis. Surgically treated patients were considered eligible if the pathological stage, preoperative PSA, and GS were available. Among these patients, the median preoperative PSA was 8.1 ng/mL (range, 0 to 195 ng/mL), and the median preoperative GS was 6 (range, 2 to 10). The empirically derived equation tested was (1.5 x PSA + [GS - 3] x 10). For this equation, the range of calculated risk was limited to 0% to 100%. Using the empirically derived equation, patients with a low calculated risk (CR) of 67% had a 4-year risk of biochemical failure following radiotherapy of 29%, 56%, and 78% (P < .00001). This empirically derived data appears to be reasonably accurate at estimating the incidence of ECE in patients with at low or intermediate risk before surgery. The risk of biochemical failure following radiotherapy also correlated the risk of ECE. Future staging systems for prostate cancer should use similar approach for defining risk groups.
Signaling by Mitochondria

A resurgence of interest in mitochondrial physiology has recently developed as a result of new experimental data demonstrating that mitochondria function as important participants in a diverse collection of novel intracellular signaling pathways. Recent data demonstrate that mitochondria regulate molecular and cellular responses to low oxygen levels (hypoxia). Hypoxic conditions between 1 and 2% oxygen typically elicit an increase in transcription of over 100 genes. By contrast, oxygen levels close to 0% initiate programmed cell death. Mitochondria release free radicals that are necessary and sufficient to initiate the increase in gene transcription during hypoxia. Mitochondria also regulate the initiation of programmed cell death during anaerobic conditions by releasing cytochrome c, which results in the activation of caspases. Thus, mitochondria serve to integrate changes in environmental conditions such as changes in oxygen levels to the activation of diverse events, such as gene transcription and programmed cell death
Organizations, Policies, and the Roots of Public Value Failure: The Case of For-Profit Higher Education

While public value theory has emerged to offer important insights into the evaluation of social enterprises, little is known about the origins of public value failure and even less about the role that organizations and public policy play in creating public value failure. Accordingly, this analysis explores the origins of public value failure using examples from for-profit higher education. A selection of organization and public policy concepts are integrated into a public value mapping framework to develop a theoretical basis for public value “failure drivers.” In addition to advancing public value theory, an understanding of the origins of public value failure and the role of failure drivers has important implications for the design of public value–maximizing strategies and institutions.
Evaluating the accuracy of self-report for the diagnosis of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND): defining “symptomatic” versus “asymptomatic” HAND

The criteria for differentiating symptomatic from asymptomatic HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder require evaluation of (1) cognitive impairment, (2) daily functioning declines, and (3) whether the functional declines are attributable to cognitive versus physical problems. Many providers rely only on self-report to evaluate these latter criteria. However, the accuracy of patient-provided information may be limited. This study evaluated the validity of self-assessment for HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) diagnoses by comparing objective findings with self-report of criteria 2 and 3 above. Self-reports were used to stratify 277 cognitively impaired HIV+ individuals into functionally dependent (n = 159) and independent (n = 118) groups, followed by group comparisons of objective functional problems. The dependent group was then divided into those who self-attributed their functional dependence to only cognitive (n = 80) versus only physical (n = 79) causes, for further comparisons on objective findings. The functionally dependent group was significantly worse than the independent group on all objective disability characteristics except severity of cognitive impairment, while those who attributed their dependence to physical (versus cognitive) factors were similar on all objective physical, cognitive, and functioning variables. Of note, 28 % of physical attributors showed no physical abnormalities on neuromedical examinations. Results suggest that patient report is consistently associated with objective measures of functional loss; in contrast, patient identification of physical versus cognitive causes is poorly associated with objective criteria. These findings caution against relying solely on patient self-report to determine whether functional disability in cognitively impaired HIV+ individuals can be attributed to strictly physical causes.
A researcher's guide to mass spectrometry‐based proteomics

Mass spectrometry (MS) is widely recognized as a powerful analytical tool for molecular research. MS is used by researchers around the globe to identify, quantify, and characterize biomolecules like proteins from any number of biological conditions or sample types. As instrumentation has advanced, and with the coupling of liquid chromatography (LC) for high-throughput LC-MS/MS, a proteomics experiment measuring hundreds to thousands of proteins/protein groups is now commonplace. While expert practitioners who best understand the operation of LC-MS systems tend to have strong backgrounds in physics and engineering, consumers of proteomics data and technology are not exposed to the physio-chemical principles underlying the information they seek. Since articles and reviews tend not to focus on bridging this divide, our goal here is to span this gap and translate MS ion physics into language intuitive to the general reader active in basic or applied biomedical research. Here, we visually describe what happens to ions as they enter and move around inside a mass spectrometer. We describe basic MS principles, including electric current, ion optics, ion traps, quadrupole mass filters, and Orbitrap FT-analyzers.
Demonstration of an As2S3-on-LiNbO3 Grating Coupler and its Application of Measuring a Grating-based Filter

We demonstrate the design, fabrication, and measurement results for an As2S3 grating coupler on a LiNbO3 substrate. The proposed coupler was fabricated by a single lithography step followed by a single reactive ion etching step, which substantially reduces the processing steps compared to previously reported coupling between vertically integrated As2S3 and LiNbO3 waveguides. The measured grating coupling loss is 3.75 dB at 1563 nm for TE polarization. In addition, a sidewall Bragg grating cavity was fabricated using the grating input and output couplers. The Bragg grating response had a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 0.0375 nm around the resonance wavelength and a cavity free spectral range (FSR) of 0.36 nm. Applications of these vertically integrated As2S3 grating couplers include 2-D beam steering using the electro-optic tuning afforded by the LiNbO3 substrate and electro-optic sensing.
Does dollar-pegging matter? A closer look at US trade deficits with China and Germany

abstractChina and Germany are comparable in terms of having persistent trade surplus with the USA, but they differ in how their currencies are valued. By invoking the China–Germany comparison, this paper finds that there is weak, if any, statistical association between the US trade deficit and the exchange rate. This finding is robust to long-run vs. short-run horizon, without vs. with an instrumental variable, and in-sample fitting vs. out-of-sample forecasting. This paper predicts that the US trade deficits with China and Germany will continue to rise in the presence of a recovery in the US economy.
Association between Do Not Resuscitate/Do Not Intubate Status and Resident Physician Decision-making. A National Survey

Rationale: Compared with their Full Code counterparts, patients with do not resuscitate/do not intubate (DNR/DNI) status receive fewer interventions and have higher mortality than predicted by clinical characteristics.Objectives: To assess whether internal medicine residents, the front-line providers for many hospitalized patients, would manage hypothetical patients differently based on code status. We hypothesized respondents would be less likely to provide a variety of interventions to DNR/DNI patients than to Full Code patients.Methods: Cross-sectional, randomized survey of U.S. internal medicine residents. We created two versions of an internet survey, each containing four clinical vignettes followed by questions regarding possible interventions; the versions were identical except for varying code status of the vignettes. Residency programs were randomly allocated between the two versions.Results: Five hundred thirty-three residents responded to the survey. As determined by Chi-squared and Fisher’s ex...
Independent Evaluation of Frozen Precipitation from WRF and PRISM in the Olympic Mountains

AbstractEstimates of precipitation from the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model and the Parameter-Elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model (PRISM) are widely used in complex terrain to obtain spatially distributed precipitation data. The authors evaluated both WRF (4/3 km) and PRISM’s (800-m annual climatology) ability to estimate frozen precipitation using the hydrologic model Structure for Unifying Multiple Modeling Alternatives (SUMMA) and a unique set of spatiotemporal snow depth and snow water equivalent (SWE) observations collected for the Olympic Mountain Experiment (OLYMPEX) ground validation campaign during water year 2016. When SUMMA was forced with WRF precipitation and used a calibrated, wet-bulb-temperature-based method for partitioning rain versus snow, its estimation of near-peak SWE was biased low by 21% on average. However, when SUMMA was allowed to partition WRF total precipitation into rain and snow based on output from WRF’s microphysical scheme (WRFMPP), simulations ...
Barnstorming the Prairies: How Aerial Vision Shaped the Midwest

Review of: "Barnstorming the Prairies: How Aerial Vision Shaped the Midwest," by Jason Weems
Molting site fidelity accounts for colony elimination of the Formosan subterranean termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) by chitin synthesis inhibitor baits

Site fidelity by molting termites in Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki colonies is a new addition to our understanding of lower termites’ behavior and biology. Our previous studies indicated that workers moved to the central nest to molt in the presence of eggs and reproductives. The current study showed that noviflumuron-affected workers also return to the central nest and died in the vicinity of reproductives and eggs. The aversion to the dead and decaying workers caused reproductives and brood to leave the original central nest site in a colony and refuge at newer sites every few days in response to newly dead workers near them. Because mortality was an event observed only in workers undergoing molting under the effect of noviflumuron- a CSI, the death of molting individuals was observed only around reproductives and brood. This study reveals a previously undiscovered behavior of molting termites and the mechanics behind a successful arsenal; noviflumuron baits used against subterranean termites.
A Review of Current Evidence for TNF Inhibitor Switching in Psoriatic Arthritis

TNF inhibitors have been proven to be effective in treating psoriatic arthritis, however not every patient responds to or tolerates treatment. Between 20% and 40% of patients are switched to a different TNF inhibitor, and 5% to 15% are eventually treated with three different TNF inhibitors. Loss of efficacy is the most common reason patients fail TNF inhibitor therapy, followed by adverse effects. Less than a quarter of patients who switched TNF inhibitors did so due to lack of primary response. The majority of data demonstrates that switching can be clinically beneficial after failure of one TNF inhibitor, but is associated with lower response rates compared to initial treatment. Drug survival rates also decrease with multiple courses of treatment. If a psoriatic arthritis patient fails two TNF inhibitors, it may be more efficacious to switch to one of the newer biologics with an alternate mechanism of action.
Experimental study of augmented flow boiling in a dielectric fluid due to backward and forward facing stepped microchannels

Abstract This study explores the thermal performance of novel backward-facing-step and forward-facing-step structures in microchannel heat sinks. Tests are conducted at mass fluxes of 444–1776 kg/m2 s and inlet subcoolings of 5–20 °C using FC-72 as the coolant. The effects of step change on boiling curve, flow pattern, pressure drop and heat transfer coefficient are discussed in this paper. The saw-toothed steps enhance the heat transfer performance by greater than 30% across the entire range of input parameters tested, with a peak enhancement of 100% at the highest mass flux. Pressure drop penalties range from 30% to 70% for the range of parameters tested. The forward-facing configuration leads to a larger bubble population in the channels, causing more effective mixing. These microchannel structures offer the promise of improved thermal performance without the complex fabrication processes associated with nanostructured or re-entrant geometries.
A Modified WAM

This Chapter discusses the evolution of the Warren Abstract Machine described in Chapter 2 toward a physical machine, the Prolog Machine, PLM, described in Chapter 4. Given the instruction set of the WAM and the data types on which it processes, specific representations for both code and data are first described. Then new instructions and enhancements of old instructions are proposed. As part of this discussion the issue of built-in predicates in Prolog is identified as one of the major missing elements in the WAM specification and is addressed as a prominent feature of the PLM. Finally, some of the issues of compiling Prolog to run on the PLM are discussed.
Use of stress echocardiography for assessment of interventions and medical treatments

The previous sections have dealt with issues relating to the performance of stress echocardiography for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease. However, the chronic nature of this illness mandates the careful follow-up of patients, to identify the progression of disease or the development of complications. Functional tests are well suited to monitoring the progress of patients in these respects. This chapter will review data pertaining to the efficacy of stress echocardiography for the follow-up of patients after coronary bypass surgery, coronary angioplasty, and medical therapy of ischemic heart disease.
Detecting a Corrupted Area in a 2-Dimensional Space

Motivated by the fact that 2-dimensional data have become popularly used in many applications without being much considered its integrity checking. We introduce the problem of detecting a corrupted area in a 2-dimensional space, and investigate two possible efficient approaches and show their time and space complexities. Also, we briefly introduce the idea of an approximation scheme using a hash sieve and suggest a novel "adaptive tree" structure revealing granularity of information.
Population and Water in the Middle East: The Challenge and Opportunity for Law

Although it is commonplace today to argue that population growth drives many or most environmental problems, Jane Jacobs has questioned the prevailing view, noting that the empirical evidence for it is actually rather slim. This article presents a case study of the pressures that population places on water in the Middle East, concluding that the countries of the region suffer from inappropriate patterns of water use rather than from excessive population. Heavy reliance on agriculture for employment or to earn foreign exchange can only lead to environmental collapse in such an arid region. In particular, to develop export markets for agricultural products is really to export water from a water–poor region. With such short–sighted policies in place, the region has already entered upon a severe crisis of recurring and intensifying water shortages that are exacerbated by population growth. If more intelligent use were made of the waters of the region, a population considerably larger than found at present could be supported without excessive stress on water resources or the natural ecology. To accomplish this, the nations of the region must create legal institutions to enable them to undertake integrated (joint) management of their shared water resources.
EGFR confers exquisite specificity of Wnt9a-Fzd9b signaling in hematopoietic stem cell development

The mechanisms of Wnt-Frizzled (Fzd) signaling selectivity and their biological implications remain unclear. We demonstrate for the first time that the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is required as a co-factor for Wnt signaling. Using genetic studies in zebrafish, paired with in vitro cell biology and biochemistry, we have determined that Fzd9b signals specifically with Wnt9a in vivo and in vitro to elicit beta-catenin dependent Wnt signals that regulate hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) development in the dorsal aorta. This requirement is conserved in the derivation of HSPCs from human embryonic stem cells. Wnt9a-Fzd9b specificity requires two intracellular domains in Fzd9b, which interact with EGFR as a required co-factor to promote signal transduction. EGFR phosphorylates one tyrosine residue on Fzd9b, a requirement for the Wnt signal. These findings indicate that Wnt signaling interactions can be exquisitely specific and inform protocols for derivation of HSPCs in vitro.
The Direct and Indirect Influences of Parenting: The Facets of Time-Perspective and Impaired Control Along the Alcohol-related Problems Pathway.

Background: Social Learning Theory suggests how one conceptualizes time will be passed from parent to child (Bandura & Walters, 1963). Through the lens of Behavioral Economics Theory (Vuchinich & S...
Emerging Memory Modeling Challenges (Invited Paper)

Emerging Memory (EM) is a broad class of memory devices leveraging a wide spectrum of physical phenomena and/or material properties, that go beyond the charge storage concept of more conventional NAND and DRAM technologies. Availability of physical models and simulation tools to understand their behavior, predict performance, engineer materials and cell architecture would be extremely useful for their successful development. However, such tools are not always available because of the diversity and complexity of the physical mechanisms. This paper would like to review the main trends of the on-going modeling and simulation activities in the field of EM, trying to point out what are the needs and challenges for the future.
Accreditation, Credentialing, and Quality Improvement in Diagnostic Medical Sonography: A Literature Review:

There are few regulations regarding facility accreditation and individual credentialing in diagnostic medical sonography (DMS), although it is known that the quality of examinations in the field ca...
Extracellular CIRP as a Novel Endogenous TREM-1 Ligand to Fuel Inflammation

Abstract Extracellular cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (eCIRP) is a recently-discovered damage-associated molecular pattern. Understanding the precise mechanism by which it exacerbates inflammation in sepsis is essential. Here we identified that eCIRP is a new biologically active endogenous ligand of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (TREM-1), fueling inflammation in sepsis and ischemia-reperfusion. Surface plasmon resonance revealed a strong binding affinity between eCIRP and TREM-1, and FRET assay confirmed eCIRP’s interaction with TREM-1 in macrophages. TREM-1 inhibition, either by its siRNA or a decoy peptide LP17, dramatically reduced eCIRP-induced inflammation. We developed a novel 7-aa peptide derived from human eCIRP, M3, which blocked the interaction of TREM-1 and eCIRP. M3 suppressed inflammation induced by eCIRP or agonist TREM-1 Ab crosslinking in murine macrophages or human peripheral blood monocytes. M3 also inhibited eCIRP-induced systemic inflammation and tissue injury. Treatment with M3 further protected mice from sepsis and intestinal ischemia-reperfusion, improved acute lung injury, and increased survival. Thus, we have discovered a novel TREM-1 ligand and developed a new peptide M3 to block eCIRP-TREM-1 interaction and improve the outcome of sepsis and sterile inflammation.
Stabilization of Switched Systems on Non-Uniform Time Domain with Dwell Time

In this paper, we will present new stability conditions for a special class of linear switched systems, that evolves on non-uniform time domain. The considered systems switch between continuous-time subsystems on intervals with variable lengths, and discrete-time subsystems with variable step sizes. Time scales theory is introduced to derive conditions for exponential stability of this special class of switched systems by using the dwell time approach. The conditions are based on the existence of a multiple Lyapunov function. This shows that this class of switched systems can be stabilized if the dwell time of each continuous-time subsystem is greater than some bound, and if the gap of the discrete-time subsystem is bounded by some specific values. Numerical examples are presented to show the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.
The Perils of Private Provision of Public Goods

We study the consequences of a firm engaging in corporate social responsibility within the firm’s operations, rather than doing so outside the firm through charitable donations. After April 2018 protests, Starbucks enacted policies that anybody could sit in their stores and use the bathroom without making a purchase. Using anonymized cellphone location data, we estimate this led to a 7.0% decline in attendance at Starbucks locations relative to other nearby coffee shops. The effect is 84% larger near homeless shelters, and larger for Starbucks’ wealthier customers. Remaining Starbucks customers spent 4.1% less time per visit. Public urination citations decreased near Starbucks locations, but rates of other minor crimes were unchanged. Our results highlight the difficulties of directly providing public goods instead of relying on a division of labor, as customers are crowded out by non-customers.
NWPEsSe: An Adaptive-Learning Global Optimization Algorithm for Nanosized Cluster Systems

Global optimization constitutes an important and fundamental problem in theoretical studies in many chemical fields, such as catalysis, materials, or separations problems. In this paper, a novel algorithm has been developed for the global optimization of large systems including neat and ligated clusters in the gas phase and supported clusters in periodic boundary conditions. The method is based on an updated artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm method, that allows for adaptive-learning during the search process. The new algorithm is tested against four classes of systems of diverse chemical nature: gas phase Au55, ligated Au82+, Au8 supported on graphene oxide and defected rutile, and a large cluster assembly [Co6Te8(PEt3)6][C60]n, with sizes ranging between 1 and 3 nm and containing up to 1300 atoms. Reliable global minima (GMs) are obtained for all cases, either confirming published data or reporting new lower energy structures. The algorithm and interface to other codes in the form of an independent program, Northwest Potential Energy Search Engine (NWPEsSe), is freely available, and it provides a powerful and efficient approach for global optimization of nanosized cluster systems.
Can Health Spending Be Reined in Through Supply Constraints? An Evaluation of Certificate-of-Need Laws

For 50 years, US policymakers and economists have searched for ways to slow the growth of spending on health care. One approach currently taken by 35 states is to restrict the supply of health care by requiringnew and growing providers to show that they serve an economic need. Hospitals and certain other health providers must obtain a certificate of need (CON) from a state board before opening or expanding. I show that in a simple model where CON restricts supply, the effect of CON on spending depends on the price elasticity of market demand for health care. CON will work to restrain spending when demand is elastic; however, most estimates show the demand for health care to be quite inelastic. I therefore predict that CON willincrease prices for health care without much reducing its use, leading to an increase in spending. Using data from the National Health Expenditure Accounts, I estimate that CON laws do not reduce spending by any major payer or for any major type of provider and that they increase spending on some types of health care.
Sea-Level Acceleration: Analysis of the World's High-Quality Tide Gauges

Houston, J.R., 2021. Sea-level acceleration: Analysis of the world's high-quality tide gauges. Journal of Coastal Research, 37(2), 272–279. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.Coastal sea-level acceleration is analyzed using all of the world's high-quality tide gauge recordings with lengths of at least 75 years that extend through 2017–19. Earlier studies have demonstrated that tide gauge recordings of at least 75 years in length are required to reduce the effects of multidecadal variations on acceleration. There are 149 tide gauge records that meet the criteria. Mean and median sea-level accelerations based on these gauges were 0.0128 ± 0.0064 mm/y2 and 0.0126 ± 0.0080 mm/y2, respectively, both at the statistically significant 95% confidence level. The mean acceleration is larger than that of earlier studies that analyzed fewer gauges or considered record lengths shorter than 75 years.