cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improving software delivery quality via the customer-supplier team (telecommunications)

A description is given of the role of the customer-supplier relationship in the successful implementation of a continuous quality improvement program aimed at the software retrofit delivery process for central telephone office switches. The author examines the factors critical to the success of the program as they relate to the ongoing customer-supplier interface and to the supplier's internal infrastructure and processes. >
Community-associated Clostridium difficile infection and antibiotics: a meta-analysis

Received 23 December 2012; returned 15 January 2013; revised 04 March 2013; accepted 15 March 2013 Objectives: Antibiotic exposure is the most important risk factor for Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). Most evaluations of antimicrobial risk factors have been conducted in healthcare settings. The objective of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the association between antibiotic exposure and community-associated CDI (CA-CDI) (i.e. symptom onset in the community with no healthcare facility admission within 12 weeks) and to determine the classes of antibiotics posing the greatest risk. Methods: We searched four electronic databases for subject headings and text words related to CA-CDI and antibiotics. Studies that investigated the risk of CA-CDI associated with antibiotic usage were considered eligible. Data from the identified studies were combined using a random-effects model and ORs were calculated. Results: Of 910 citations identified, eight studies (n¼ 30 184 patients) met our inclusion criteria. Antibiotic exposure was associated with an increased risk of CA-CDI (OR 6.91, 95% CI 4.17–11.44, I 2 ¼ 95%). The risk was greatest with clindamycin (OR 20.43, 95% CI 8.50 –49.09) followed by fluoroquinolones (OR 5.65, 95% CI 4.38– 7.28), cephalosporins (OR 4.47, 95% CI 1.60 –12.50), penicillins (OR 3.25, 95% CI 1.89–5.57), macrolides (OR 2.55, 95% CI 1.91–3.39) and sulphonamides/trimethoprim (OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.48 –2.29). Tetracyclines were not associated with an increased CDI risk (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.57–1.45). Conclusions: Antibiotic exposure was an important risk factor for CA-CDI, but the risk was different amongst different antibiotic classes. The risk was greatest with clindamycin followed by fluoroquinolones and cephalosporins, whereas tetracyclines were not associated with an increased risk.
Using SNOMED CT in combination with MedDRA for reporting signal detection and adverse drug reactions reporting.

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of using SNOMED CT as an entry point for coding adverse drug reactions and map them automatically to MedDRA for reporting purposes and interoperability with legacy repositories. Methods: On the one hand, we attempt to map SNOMED CT concepts to MedDRA concepts through the UMLS, using synonymy and explicit mapping relations. On the other, we compute the set of all fine-grained concepts that can be reached from concepts having a mapping to MedDRA. Results: 58% of the Preferred Terms in MedDRA have a mapping to SNOMED CT. Through the descendants in SNOMED CT, 108,305 additional SNOMED CT concepts can be linked to MedDRA. Conclusions: Fine-grained SNOMED CT concepts can be mapped automatically to MedDRA. This approach has the potential to enable the collection of adverse events related to drugs directly from clinical repositories. The quality of the mapping needs to be evaluated.
Laser angioplasty in the lower extremities: An early surgical experience

From July 1988 through December 1988 laser "hot tip" angioplasties coupled with balloon dilations were performed on 95 patients at the Union Memorial and University of Maryland hospitals. The patients ranged in age from 42 to 84 years (mean, 66.4 years), and there were 61 men and 34 women in the study. Indications for the procedure included claudication in 70 (74%) and severe ischemia in 25 (26%). Noninvasive studies were performed on all patients before and after the procedure. One hundred seventeen segments were treated in 28 iliac arteries and 89 superficial femoral/popliteal arteries. No tibial arteries were treated. Fifty-two stenoses and 65 occlusions occurred. The procedures were performed percutaneously in 52 patients (55%), and open surgical technique was used in 43 patients (45%). Nine immediate failures (9.5%) and 86 successes (90.5%) were noted within 24 hours of the procedure. Follow-up ranged from 1 to 6 months with a mean of 3.2 months. Late failures within this time period occurred in 21 patients (22%). The total failure rate was 30/95 or 31.5%. Only one of the patients was made worse by a failed laser-assisted balloon angioplasty. Immediate complications consisted of formation of subcutaneous hematoma in 20 of the 52 patients having percutaneous procedures (38%) and healing difficulty in 3 of the 43 patients having open surgical procedures (7%). Hospital stay was usually 1 day longer in the latter group. No patient required surgical intervention for bleeding as a result of a vessel perforation. However, this phenomenon was noted during the course of three superficial femoral artery laser-assisted balloon angioplasties.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
An Architecture for Knowledge Management Featuring Metaknowledge

In our tribute to Andrew B. Whinston, we return to our roots to examine an area that is important today but had not been described in the literature when we wrote our dissertations -- knowledge management. We briefly describe knowledge management, give an architecture for a general knowledge management system, and give examples to illustrate how metaknowledge could assist in a knowledge management system.
A parallel architecture for performing real time multi-line optical character recognition

The design of a multiprocessor parallel architecture for performing real-time multiline optical character recognition (MLOCR) is described. MLOCR is a computationally intensive application involving real-time digitization of images, pattern recognition, feature extraction, scaling, rotation and gray-scale thresholding, and character recognition. System organization, control and subsystem partitioning of MLOCR algorithms is discussed. System interprocess communications protocols and control of the multiple asynchronous processors are covered. Functional partitioning of algorithms onto each processor, bus definitions based on real time data communications bandwidths, and system control requirements are also discussed.
Robustness of spatial averaging equalization methods: a statistical approach

Traditionally, room response equalization is performed to improve sound quality at a given listener. However, room responses vary with source and listener positions. Hence, in a multiple listener environment, equalization may be performed through spatial averaging of room responses. However, the performance of averaging based equalization, at the listeners may be affected when listener position changes. In this paper, we present a statistical approach to map variations in listener positions to performance of spatial averaging based equalization. The results indicate that, for the analyzed listener configurations, the zone of equalization depends on distance of microphones from a source and the frequencies in the sound.
Aspects of the Reproductive Biology of the Skate Fenestraja plutonia (Garman) off North Carolina

Abstract Fenestraja plutonia is an abundant member of the slope community in the western North Atlantic, occurring at depths of 293-1042 m. Aspects of the reproductive biology of F. plutonia were examined for specimens collected off North Carolina, in the summer-fall of 2001, 2002, and 2006. Male-to-female sex ratios were not significantly different from 1:1. The smallest mature male was 215 mm TL, and the smallest mature female was 230 mm TL. Length at 50% maturity was estimated at 231 mm TL for females and 233 mm TL for males, 89 and 90% of maximum TL, respectively. Deposited egg cases (n = 107; six containing embryos), three egg-bearing females, and 11 newly hatched juveniles were collected. It appears that the upper slope off Cape Lookout, NC, at the northern end of the species range, constitutes both an egg-laying area and possibly a nursery area for this species.
Ideology, Racism, and Critical Social Theory

The problem of the future world is the charting, by means of intelligent reason, of a path not simply through the resistances of physical force, but through the vaster and far more intricate jungle of ideas conditioned on unconscious and subconscious reflexes of living things; on blind unreason and often irresistible urges of sensitive matter; of which the concept of race is today one of the most unyielding and threatening. —W. E. B. Du Bois
RNA-SeQC

Summary: RNA-seq, the application of next-generation sequencing to RNA, provides transcriptome-wide characterization of cellular activity. Assessment of sequencing performance and library quality is critical to the interpretation of RNA-seq data, yet few tools exist to address this issue. We introduce RNA-SeQC, a program which provides key measures of data quality. These metrics include yield, alignment and duplication rates; GC bias, rRNA content, regions of alignment (exon, intron and intragenic), continuity of coverage, 3′/5′ bias and count of detectable transcripts, among others. The software provides multi-sample evaluation of library construction protocols, input materials and other experimental parameters. The modularity of the software enables pipeline integration and the routine monitoring of key measures of data quality such as the number of alignable reads, duplication rates and rRNA contamination. RNA-SeQC allows investigators to make informed decisions about sample inclusion in downstream analysis. In summary, RNA-SeQC provides quality control measures critical to experiment design, process optimization and downstream computational analysis. Availability and implementation: See www.genepattern.org to run online, or www.broadinstitute.org/rna-seqc/ for a command line tool. Contact: ddeluca@broadinstitute.org Supplementary information:Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Density functional theory study of O-H and C-H bond scission of methanol catalyzed by a chemisorbed oxygen layer on Cu(111)

Abstract Using the density-functional theory within the generalized gradient approximation, we have studied the partial oxidation of methanol on a Cu(111) surface covered with a chemisorbed oxygen layer that resembles a Cu 2 O layer. Adsorption energies and geometries were computed for methanol, methoxy, hydroxymethyl and formaldehyde on both clean Cu(111) and Cu 2 O/Cu(111) and electronic structures were computed for the reaction intermediates on Cu 2 O/Cu(111). We also calculated the energy barrier for partial oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde on Cu 2 O/Cu(111). These results show that the Cu 2 O monolayer slightly lowers the stability of each of the surface adsorbates and the oxygen strongly promotes hydrogen dissociation by lowering the energy barrier of methanol decomposition and causing the spontaneous dissociation of methanol into methoxy.
Mild testicular hyperthermia induces profound transitional spermatogenic suppression through increased germ cell apoptosis in adult Cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis)

We have previously demonstrated that mild testicular hyperthermia induces stage-specific and germ cell-specific apoptosis in rat and mouse testes. The objectives of this pilot study were to examine whether mild testicular hyperthermia induces azoospermia and oligozoospermia in nonhuman primates, and to determine whether spermatogenesis suppression was due to acceleration of germ cell apoptosis. Three adult Cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) were used in this study. The scrota containing the testes were immersed in a water bath at 43 degrees C for 30 minutes once daily for 6 consecutive days. Semen and blood samples were collected at 2 and 1 weeks before, and 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 weeks after the first heat treatment. Testicular biopsies were performed before and at 3 and 7 days, and 12 weeks after the first heat exposure. Apoptosis in testicular biopsy was assessed by TUNEL assay, by electron microscopy, and by detection of cleaved Poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase with Western blotting. A transient decrease in serum testosterone levels was observed in 2 monkeys 2 weeks after heat treatment. Serum inhibin B levels declined in all 3 monkeys 2 weeks after testicular hyperthermia and remained at relatively low levels throughout the study in 2 of 3 monkeys. Two of 3 monkeys exhibited azoospermia by 6 or 8 weeks after the first heat treatment; the remaining monkey had marked oligozoospermia (8 x 10(6)/ejaculate, 10.89% of pretreatment levels) 6 weeks after the first heat treatment. Increased germ cell apoptosis in testicular biopsy samples was found at 3 and 7 days after the first heat exposure. Using immunohistochemistry, we observed that the immunoactivity of proapoptotic Bax protein accumulated in heat-induced apoptotic germ cells. Full recovery of spermatogenesis was noted 12 weeks after the first heat treatment. We conclude that, similar to rodents, mild testicular hyperthermia results in azoospermia and oligozoospermia in monkeys through increased germ cell apoptosis with minimal effect on the hormonal milieu.
Software atom in laser spectroscopy

We have developed computer programs for numerical experiments on laser-atom interactions. First, subroutines have been written that build a software atom with an arbitrary level scheme from elementary specifications, such as angular momenta and energies of the atomic levels. Second, the key operations of the semiclassical theory of laser spectroscopy have been implemented as transformations acting on the software atom. The software atom was initially used in investigations of the motion of an atom in three-dimensional optical molasses,1 Here we discuss two new applications, saturation and resonance fluorescence of a multistate atom.
Validation of the Plug-and-Play AC/AC Power Electronics Building Block (AC-PEBB) for Medium-Voltage Grid Control Applications

As ac-to-ac power conversion becomes increasingly important in applications such as grid power control and motor control, demand for a plug-and-play converter has increased. Traditional voltage-source-inverter-based ac-to-ac power converters such as the back-to-back converter require dc-link capacitors that limit their reliability or significantly increase their size and cost. This paper examines a plug-and-play concept for achieving ac-to-ac power conversion via the direct-ac/ac power electronic building block (AC-PEBB). The AC-PEBB is a compact self-contained cell requiring no intermediate energy storage. It can be used in a variety of ac/ac power electronic applications such as matrix converters and controllable network transformers. This paper details the design of an 800-V 100-A AC-PEBB prototype to be used in a 13-kV 1-MVA application. Successful test results using several AC-PEBBs in a variety of configurations are demonstrated at up to 11 kV and 600 kVA.
PROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF THE OUTCOME OF GLENO-HUMERAL MANIPULATION FOR ADHESIVE CAPSULITIS

Aim: This prospective study was carried out to assess the outcome of manipulation of the shoulder as a treatment for adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder. Method: 31 patients were followed prospectively for twelve months after shoulder manipulation for adhesive capsulitis. All patients underwent manipulation under general anaesthetic and scalene block followed by intra-artificial gleno-humeral injection of steroid and local anaesthetic. Postoperative physiotherapy was started on the day of surgery. Shoulder function was assessed with range of movement, Constant and Murley score and DASH score (Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand by specialist upper limb physiotherapists, pre-operatively, and post – operatively at 6 weeks, 3, 6, and 12 months. Results: The DASH score improved from a mean of 60.1 (range 27–98) pre-operatively to a mean of 24.1 (range 5–83) at final follow up. Constant scores improved from a mean of 34.4 (range 16–51) pre-operatively to 65.8 (range 35–88). The mean improvement in Constant scores was 31.5 points. Pre-operative range of movement (expressed as a percentage of the total ROM of the unaffected side) was 51.5 % (range 23.8–67.2). The mean postoperative ROM was 85.4% (range 56.2 – 99.3). External rotation improved from 41.7% (range 23.5 – 81.5) of the unaffected side preoperatively to 77.7% (range 44.1 – 105.3) at final review. Abduction improved from 47.4 % (range 23.3 – 70.6) to 85.4% (range 49.7 – 100) and forward flexion improved from 59.1% (range 33.5 – 73.9) to 90o (range 64.3 – 100.6). No patients required further manipulation. Conclusion: All outcome measure improved following treatment. These improvements were sustained at 12-month follow up. In particular, external rotation which was the most restricted movement pre-operatively was seen to improve and this improvement was maintained throughout follow-up. We conclude that manipulation of the shoulder under inter-scalene block and general anaesthetic for adhesive capsulitis results in a sustained improvement in function and movement.
Effect of Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide on Surface Segregation and Phase Formation in La 0.6 Sr 0.4 Co 0.2 Fe 0.8 O 3-δ Thin Films

This study investigates Sr surface segregation behavior and phase formation in La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3-δ (LSCF), a commonly used cathode material for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). (100)-oriented LSCF thin films were deposited on (110)-oriented NdGaO3 (NGO) substrates by Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD). The samples were annealed in atmospheres with various CO2 partial pressures at 800°C. Using the synchrotron technique of Total Reflection X-ray Fluorescence (TXRF), surface segregation in these thin films were quantified. The morphological changes at the surface were examined by AFM studies. The kinetics and thermodynamics of the segregation are discussed.
Watching the sleeper in Macbeth

This paper contends that the act of watching a sleeper in the early modern period carried ethical implications. When a “watcher” stayed awake near a sleeper, it was his or her job to safeguard that person's health, identity, and well-being. This behaviour not only recognized the common humanity of the sleeper and the watcher; it preserved social order, because the identity of each person was wrapped up in the predictable, preserved identities of those nearby. When a character like Macbeth violates the ethics of the watch by killing the sleeping Duncan, then, he not only destabilizes a monarchy. Instead, he also fractures the passible network of human connections that allows legible individual identities to exist. In this light, Macbeth can be read as a case study of the consequences of violating the watch: ethical systems crumble, sleepwalkers cannot be effectively diagnosed or labelled, and even the belief in a benevolently watching heaven falters. By exploring the violation of the watch, in other words,...
Phased array techniques for damage detection in aerospace structures

Abstract Guided wave-based structural health monitoring (SHM) has been well studied in plate-like structures due to the ability of guided waves to propagate long distances with less energy loss and sensitivity to small defects in the structure. With guided wave SHM most of the methods used in conventional ultrasonics nondestructive evaluation including phased arrays can be implemented. The intention of developing guided wave phased array techniques is to direct the output of a group of closely placed sensors at a specific direction such that waves propagated toward that direction are maximized. When the direction changes, a scan over an area is obtained and an intensity image is generated providing a visualized interrogation result. In this chapter, we will give a review of guided wave phased array techniques for damage detection in aerospace structures. The delay-and-sum beamforming in time and frequency domains will be introduced in detail. We will also discuss how array configurations as well as guided waves parameters affect the beamforming resolution and directionality. Then applications for space SHM using guided wave phased arrays are introduced. Two examples of phased array implementation using piezoceramic wafers and laser vibrometer will be given. The chapter ends with a conclusion and discussion on the current status and the future directions for guided wave phased array technique.
Effects of a Pesticide on DNA Damage of Erythroblast Cells and Seminal Cells in Mice by Comet Assay

The Comet Assay was used to detect the DNA damage of erythroblast cells and seminal cells induced by a new pesticide compound. The results show that compared with the control group, the DNA migration rate increased significantly at three different test doses for the two kinds of tissue cells(p0.05). DNA migration of seminal cells exhibited a significant linear dose-dependent manner.
Escolarización y Clase Social en los Estados Unidos

En este trabajo se discute la relacion entre clase social y escolaridad y se presenta una definicion compleja de clase social basado no solo en nivel de ingresos, sino que usando mas criterios tales como temas culturales, sociales, geograficos, y otros aspectos que interactuan con la escolaridad. Mientras que una meta de la escolaridad en los Estado Unidos ha sido que esta institucion pueda proveer igualdad de oportunidad, en este trabajo discutimos como la oportunidad no es igualitaria y como esta meta tiende a enfocarse en los aspectos individuales y no en los aspectos colectivos, estructurales, e institucionales, que en definitiva enmarcan las condiciones diferenciadas en relacion al tema de clase social. Se discute tambien como la escolaridad en el caso de los Estados Unidos funciona hegemonicamente para mantener un orden social al perpetuar el mito de la meritocracia. Se cuestiona como el curriculum y la pedagogia ejercen una relacion relevante en la estructura de clase social.
Everything Is Hitched to Everything Else: Environmentalism, Governmentality, and Legitimacy

AbstractThis essay engages the theme of the symposium by suggesting that the environmental discourse provides an opportunity for reconsideration of the 20th century public administration discourse. Using Foucault’s concept of governmentality, the essay argues that public administration has been linked to industrialism throughout the 20th century. As such, the project of connecting public administration to ecocentrism may require changes in thinking and practices that would be tantamount to creating a new public administration discourse.
Anna Freud's Analysis by Her Father: The Assault on the Self

Sigmund Freud's analysis of his daughter, Anna, continues to create many troubling questions: For example, in terms of his own theory did Freud envisage the transference reactions of his daughter in her analysis with him? How are we to understand Anna Freud as a well-trained analyst in terms of the inevitable limitations of her analytic experience with her father? Menaker explores the ethical effects of this analysis in regard to fundamental problems in psychoanalytic theory and therapy.
Case-Based Reasoning for Turbine Trip Diagnostics

General Electric created a case-based reasoning system to diagnose unexpected shutdowns of turbines. This system is currently in use at a remote monitoring facility which monitors over 1500 turbines. There are multiple root causes for turbine shutdowns. The system has a reasoner for five of the most common root causes. These reasoners use either rule-based or case-based reasoning to produce a confidence value which specifies the likelihood that the root cause for that reasoner was responsible for the shutdown. Another case-based reasoner combines these individual confidences to determine the most likely root cause and its confidence.
Comfort Care Request for Preterm Infant: Prescriptive Analysis

This is the case of a mother, 24 weeks pregnant, delivering a baby prematurely. She worries that the neonate will be impaired and, adding to her distress, that as a migrant worker with an 8-year-ol...
Bioorthogonal chemical imaging of metabolic activities in live mammalian hippocampal tissues with stimulated Raman scattering

Brain is an immensely complex system displaying dynamic and heterogeneous metabolic activities. Visualizing cellular metabolism of nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids in brain with chemical specificity has been a long-standing challenge. Recent development in metabolic labeling of small biomolecules allows the study of these metabolisms at the global level. However, these techniques generally require nonphysiological sample preparation for either destructive mass spectrometry imaging or secondary labeling with relatively bulky fluorescent labels. In this study, we have demonstrated bioorthogonal chemical imaging of DNA, RNA, protein and lipid metabolism in live rat brain hippocampal tissues by coupling stimulated Raman scattering microscopy with integrated deuterium and alkyne labeling. Heterogeneous metabolic incorporations for different molecular species and neurogenesis with newly-incorporated DNA were observed in the dentate gyrus of hippocampus at the single cell level. We further applied this platform to study metabolic responses to traumatic brain injury in hippocampal slice cultures, and observed marked upregulation of protein and lipid metabolism particularly in the hilus region of the hippocampus within days of mechanical injury. Thus, our method paves the way for the study of complex metabolic profiles in live brain tissue under both physiological and pathological conditions with single-cell resolution and minimal perturbation.
Drivers of soil and tree carbon dynamics in urban residential lawns: a modeling approach

Soils constitute the largest sink of terrestrial carbon (C), and urban soils have the potential to provide significant soil C storage. Soils in urbanized landscapes experience a multitude of human alterations, such as compaction and management subsidies, that impact soil C dynamics. While field studies may provide data on urban soil C storage, modeling soil C dynamics under various human impact scenarios will provide a basis for identifying drivers of urban soil C dynamics and for predicting the potential for these highly altered soils to store C over time intervals not typically amenable to empirical validation. The goal of this study was to model soil C dynamics in residential lawns using CENTURY, a dynamic mechanistic model, to determine whether drivers of soil C dynamics in natural systems (e.g., soil texture) were equally useful for estimating soil C content of highly modified soils in urban residential areas. Without incorporating human impacts, we found no relationship between initial CENTURY model simulations and observed soil C (p > 0.05). Factors that best explained soil C accumulation for the observed soil C (bulk density: r2= 0.30; home age: r2= 0.37; p < 0.01) differed from those found important from the CENTURY model simulations (% sand: r2= 0.72, p < 0.001). Therefore, we conducted a modeling exercise to test whether simulating potential construction disturbance and lawn management practices would improve modeled soil and tree C. We found that incorporating these factors did improve CENTURY's ability to model soil and tree C (p < 0.001). The results from this analysis suggest that incorporating various human disturbances and management practices that occur in urban landscapes into CENTURY model runs will improve its ability to predict urban soil C dynamics, at least within a 100-year time frame. Thus, enhancing our ability to provide recommendations for management and development practices that result in increasing urban soil C storage. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Zika Virus and Zika Virus Disease

During recent months, there has been growing international public concern about the Zika virus. As scientific understanding of the Zika virus unfolds, there are still many unanswered questions. Pub...
Elastic and inelastic scattering of neutrons from 54, 56Fe and 63, 65Cu: (I). Measurements from 8 to 14 MeV and a spherical optical model analysis

Abstract Differential cross sections were measured at 8, 10, 12 and 14 MeV for elastic scattering of neutrons from enriched samples of 54 Fe, 56 Fe, 63 Cu and 65 Cu. Inelastic scattering to the first excited state in 54, 56 Fe was also observed. For the 63, 65 Cu isotopes, the inelastic cross sections for scattering to the combined group of the three (five) states were determined at 8 and 10 MeV (12 and 14 MeV). The elastic scattering data are compared to predictions of earlier global optical models. New spherical optical model representations were obtained. These data were combined with data for nickel, tin and lead to generate a new global parametrization. Comparisons of derived volume integrals for the potentials, total cross sections and potential radii are made to available information.
Two-photon detector by using superconducting transmission lines

We demonstrate a two-terminal single-photon detector array multiplexed using superconducting slow-wave transmission lines. The detector array is able to detect both photon arrival time and position, and can resolve up to two photons.
A Classification Scheme for Traditional and Non-Traditional Approaches to the Economic Justification of Advanced Automated Manufacturing Systems

ABSTRACT The introduction of microprocessors and computer controlled production tools into industry has given a new perspective to manufacturing processes both in the U.S. and abroad. Computer Aided Design, Computer Aided Manufacturing, Group Technology, and Computer Integrated Manufacturing, which is now called Computer Integrated Enterprise, are considered by many as viable tools which can reduce direct and indirect manufacturing costs, improve product quality and increase the variety of products offered. Although these technologies are considered to be highly beneficial, only a few companies in the U.S. have attempted to implement them. Shortcomings of traditional economic justification of capital expenditure methods have been often cited as one of the major barriers to adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies. This paper presents a classification model to categorize both traditional and non-traditional economic analysis methods for capital investment justification and presents numerical examples for some of these methods.
Herbarium specimens show patterns of fruiting phenology in native and invasive plant species across New England

PREMISE OF THE STUDY Patterns of fruiting phenology in temperate ecosystems are poorly understood, despite the ecological importance of fruiting for animal nutrition and seed dispersal. Herbarium specimens represent an under-utilized resource for investigating geographical and climatic factors affecting fruiting times within species, patterns in fruiting times among species, and differences between native and non-native invasive species. METHODS We examined over 15,000 herbarium specimens, collected and housed across New England, and found 3159 specimens with ripe fruits, collected from 1849-2013. We examined patterns in fruiting phenology among 37 native and 18 invasive woody plant species common to New England. We compared fruiting dates between native and invasive species, and analyzed how fruiting phenology varies with temperature, space, and time. KEY RESULTS Spring temperature and year explained a small but significant amount of the variation in fruiting dates. Accounting for the moderate phylogenetic signal in fruiting phenology, invasive species fruited 26 days later on average than native species, with significantly greater standard deviations. CONCLUSIONS Herbarium specimens can be used to detect patterns in fruiting times among species. However, the amount of intraspecific variation in fruiting times explained by temporal, geographic, and climatic predictors is small, due to a combination of low temporal resolution of fruiting specimens and the protracted nature of fruiting. Later fruiting times in invasive species, combined with delays in autumn bird migrations in New England, may increase the likelihood that migratory birds will consume and disperse invasive seeds in New England later into the year.
Metabolite Profiling With HPLC-ICP-MS as a Tool for in Vivo Characterization of Imaging Probes

Current analytical methods for characterizing pharmacokinetic and metabolic properties of positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) probes are limited. Alternative methods to study tracer metabolism are needed. The study objective was to assess the potential of high performance liquid chromatography - inductively coupled plasma - mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS) for quantification of molecular probe metabolism and pharmacokinetics using stable isotopes. Two known peptide-DOTA conjugates were chelated with natGa and natIn. Limit of detection of HPLC-ICP-MS for 69Ga and 115In was determined. Rats were administered 50–150 nmol of Ga- and/or In-labeled probes, blood was serially sampled, and plasma analyzed by HPLC-ICP-MS using both reverse phase and size exclusion chromatography. The limits of detection were 0.16 pmol for 115In and 0.53 pmol for 69Ga. Metabolites as low as 0.001 %ID/g could be detected and transchelation products identified. Simultaneous administration of Ga- and In-labeled probes allowed the determination of pharmacokinetics and metabolism of both probes in a single animal. HPLC-ICP-MS is a robust, sensitive and radiation-free technique to characterize the pharmacokinetics and metabolism of imaging probes.
Truncated multiply-and-accumulate units for FIR filter implementation with reduced coefficient length

We develop a fused multiply-and-accumulate unit that combines truncated multiplication techniques with the accumulate operation. Such a unit is well-suited for FIR filter implementation. For many signal-processing algorithms, the product of two n-bit numbers is often calculated as an n-bit result. Rather than computing the 2n-bit product and then rounding to n-bits, we can reduce the power and area required by using a truncated multiplier. Several truncated multiplication approaches have been proposed which yield results very close to those obtained when a 2n-bit product is rounded to an n-bit result. These ideas can be expanded to a fused multiply-and-accumulate (MAC) operation.
Evolutionary Models of Innovation and the Meno Problem

Abstract: ‘Universal Darwinism’ is an innovation paradigm superior to the intelligent design and romantic paradigms. All innovation, including new knowledge, is the product of blind variation plus selective retention (BV + SR) and is thus a kind of adaptation. Yet many methodologists continue to regard BV + SR as a limited model of innovative problem-solving. I show how this clash can be (partially) resolved by exploring (1) the roots of the problem of innovation in Plato's Meno paradox and (2) the implications of the ‘No Free Lunch’ theorems. The BV + SR paradigm recognizes sources of innovation other than novel ideas of creative individuals.
Effective state-based surveillance for multidrug-resistant organisms related to health care-associated infections.

In September 2008, the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sponsored a meeting of public health and infection-control professionals to address the implementation of surveillance for multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs)—particularly those related to health care-associated infections. The group discussed the role of health departments and defined goals for future surveillance activities. Participants identified the following main points: (7) surveillance should guide prevention and infection-control activities, (2) an MDRO surveillance system should be adaptable and not organism specific, (3) new systems should utilize and link existing systems, and (4) automated electronic laboratory reporting will be an important component of surveillance but will take time to develop. Current MDRO reporting mandates and surveillance methods vary across states and localities. Health departments that have not already done so should be proactive in determining...
Technical Note: In vivo Young's modulus mapping of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma during HIFU ablation using harmonic motion elastography (HME).

Purpose Noninvasive quantitative assessment of coagulated tissue during high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation is one of the essential steps for tumor treatment, especially in such cases as the Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDA) that has low probability of diagnosis at the early stages and high probability of forming solid carcinomas resistant to chemotherapy treatment at the late stages. Methods Harmonic motion elastography (HME) is a technique for the localized estimation of tumor stiffness. This harmonic motion imaging (HMI)-based technique is designed to map the tissue Young's modulus or stiffness noninvasively. A focused ultrasound (FUS) transducer generates an oscillating, acoustic radiation force in its focal region. The two-dimensional (2D) shear wave speed, and consequently the Young's modulus maps, is generated by tracking the radio frequency (RF) signals acquired at high frame rates. By prolonging the sonication for more than 50 s using the same methodology, the 2D Young's modulus maps are reconstructed while HIFU is applied and ablation is formed on PDA murine tumors. Results The feasibility of this technique in measuring the regional Young's modulus was first assessed in tissue-mimicking phantoms. The contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) was found to be higher than 11.7 dB for each 2D reconstructed Young's modulus map. The mean error in this validation study was found to be equal to less than 19%. Then HME was applied on two transgenic mice with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma tumors. The Young's modulus median value of this tumor at the start of the HIFU application was equal to 2.1 kPa while after 45 s of sonication it was found to be approximately three times stiffer (6.7 kPa). Conclusions The HME was described herein and showed its capability of measuring tissue stiffness noninvasively by measuring the shear wave speed propagation inside the tissue and reconstructing a 2D Young's modulus map. Application of the methodology in vivo and during HIFU were thus reported here for the first time.
Understanding near infrared spectroscopy and its application to skeletal muscle research.

Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a powerful noninvasive tool with which to study the matching of oxygen delivery to oxygen utilization and the number of new publications utilizing this techniqu...
On-Chip Microwave-to-Optical PhotonConversion for Quantum Networks

We present progress towards a quantum-efficient microwave-to-optical transducer for quantum networks. We fabricate lithium niobate optical ring resonators with quality factors above 1 million and microwave LC resonators with simulated electro-optic coupling exceeding 0.8 GHz/V.
Detection and Identification of Cyber and Physical Attacks on Distribution Power Grids with PVs: An Online High-Dimensional Data-driven Approach

Cyber and physical attacks threaten the security of distribution power grids. The emerging renewable energy sources such as photovoltaics (PVs) introduce new potential vulnerabilities. Based on the electric waveform data measured by waveform sensors in the distribution power networks, in this paper, we propose a novel high-dimensional data-driven cyber physical attack detection and identification approach (HCADI). Firstly, we analyze the cyber and physical attack impacts (including cyber attacks on the solar inverter causing unusual harmonics) on electric waveforms in distribution power grids. Then, we construct a high dimensional streaming data feature matrix based on signal analysis of multiple sensors in the network. Next, we propose a novel mechanism including leverage score based attack detection and binary matrix factorization based attack diagnosis. By leveraging the data structure and binary coding, our HCADI approach does not need the training stage for both detection and the root cause diagnosis, which is needed for machine learning/deep learning-based methods. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first attempt to use raw electrical waveform data to detect and identify the power electronics cyber/physical attacks in distribution power grids with PVs.
A simple framework for arriving at bounds on effective moduli in heterogeneous anisotropic poroelastic solids

The concepts of representative volume element (RVE), statistical homogeneity and homogeneous boundary conditions are invoked to arrive at bounds on effective moduli for heterogeneous anisotropic poroelastic solids. The homogeneous displacement boundary condition applicable to linear elasticity is replaced by a homogeneous displacement-pressure boundary condition to arrive at an upper bound within the RVE while the homogeneous traction boundary condition applicable to linear elasticity is replaced by a homogeneous traction-fluid content boundary condition to arrive at a lower bound within the RVE. Statistical homogeneity is then invoked to argue that the bounds obtained over the RVE are representative of the bounds obtained over the whole heterogeneous poroelastic solid.
Travellers give wings to novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).

A novel coronavirus, probably of bat origin, has caused an outbreak of severe respiratory infection in humans in Wuhan, China and has been dispersed globally by travelers. The WHO has declared the spread of the infection a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
Using the CS2013 Exam for ABET Student Outcome Assessment

In anticipation of an ABET accreditation visit, our computer science department contracted with an independent external testing organization to perform an assessment of our students' proficiency in computer science. We used this external assessment to supplement our own internal assessment. The exam was easy to administer and covered multiple student outcomes. In addition, our analysis of the exam results showed high correlation between course performance and exam performance.
Chapter 3 – Teaching Serendipity

Faculty and librarians can collaborate to create academic learning environments where serendipity is more likely to happen and where students see possibilities in the chance encounters that they have. Teaching serendipity includes designing research courses that provide students with disciplinary frameworks through which to recognize, activate, and manage the layers of inquiry. A pedagogy that “courts serendipity” makes room for chance and shows students how to capitalize on the possibility of chaos. In addition, faculty and librarians are called on to talk about research as part of a larger conversation, and a recursive process, rather than a stepwise march to completion. Teaching serendipity can be incorporated through multiple ways-of-doing within academic situations: those that call for empirical inquiry, problem-solving, and research from sources.
Preservation Planning: Redeveloping Public and Affordable Housing:

Urban planners face an affordable housing crisis compounded by federal programs that eliminated subsidized housing. Prior work indicates profit-making motivations and race influenced housing remova...
Educational and Vocational Programming in Women’s Prisons: History, Gender Disparities, and Promising Progress

This chapter explores an important aspect of the experience of imprisoned women. Specifically, this chapter explores vocational and educational programming in women’s prisons. The chapter begins with an overview of female imprisonment, including trends in incarceration rates. The history of vocational and educational programming available to women is then discussed, including recent advances in this area. This includes specific examples of programs that are currently being offered and have shown promise. Research on the effectiveness of these programs in general and specifically for women is also discussed. The chapter seeks to explore what is known about whether the needs of female inmates are being met. The chapter concludes with policy recommendations aimed at improving the experiences of these women and preparing them for when they are released and reenter society.
100. REDUCING PEDIATRIC ASTHMA HOSPITAL LENGTH OF STAY THROUGH A MULTIDISCIPLINARY CARE PATHWAY

Background Asthma exacerbations are the 3rd most common cause of pediatric hospitalizations and account for 4% of pediatric admissions at Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center (KPOMC). Average length of stay for asthmatics on the pediatric ward at KPOMC has historically been longer than that of other Tertiary Pediatric Care Facilities within the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Network. Aim Statement Our objective was to decrease length of stay after a year of implementing a multidisciplinary asthma care pathway using a standardized respiratory severity score integrated into our electronic medical records (EMR) system. Interventions As a multidisciplinary team we used an A3 problem solving approach and performed a root cause analysis to identify causes of increased length of stay for our asthmatic patients. Our team included pediatric hospitalists, intensivists, residents, nurses, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, and physical therapists. We performed a literature review and compared other pediatric hospital respiratory severity scores prior to selecting the Pediatric Assessment Score (PAS), a respiratory score already integrated into the KP Health Connect EMR. A standardized asthma care pathway was developed based upon frequent PAS measurements to determine medication weaning and escalation. It also incorporated appropriate timing for inhaled and systemic corticosteroids, mobility, and asthma education. Order panels were distributed among residents and hospitalists to promote adherence to the pathway. Prior to implementation, we completed an education campaign targeting nurses, respiratory therapists, and physicians. Measures Our primary outcome is length of stay and process measures include difference in time patients spent on continuous albuterol, rates of appropriate systemic steroids use, and use of metered dose inhalers. We will also review appropriate use of PAS according to the asthma care pathway. Our balance measure will be readmission rates at 7 days and at 30 days after discharge. Results Initial data showed a decrease in average length of stay from 2.93 days to 1.69 days without an increase in readmission rates at 7 days and at 30 days. Conclusions and Next Steps At KPOMC we saw a decrease in length of stay after implementing a multidisciplinary asthma care pathway that uses a respiratory severity score and order panels integrated into the EMR system. Next steps are “Plan, Do, Study, Act” (PDSA) cycles based on continued monitoring of length of stay and process measures.