cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
STUDY ON MEASUREMENT WHILE DRILLING TECHNOLOGY APPLICATION IN COAL MINE UNDERGROUND

The prevailing application of directional drilling in coal mine industry asks for higher and higher demand for the measurement while drilling devices.The paper introduces the principle of measurement while drilling device system,adopts the method to supply power to inclinometer probe without battery power supply,which saves the time when the battery in the probe running out and taking out all the drilling pipe to replace the battery,and reduces the measurement device system cost as well,Based on above foundation,the practical measurement while drilling device is designed and the industrial test has proved that the newly designed measurement while drilling system can realize the measurement of parameters such as dip angle,azimuth angle,tool face angle and etc,thus enhances the drilling efficiency.
Reframing, Refocusing, Referring, Reconciling, and Reflecting: Exploring Conflict Resolution Strategies in End-of-Life Situations

ABSTRACTMany problems can occur between family members at the end of a patient’s life, resulting in conflict that others—the nurses, patient advocates, clergy, and social workers involved in the case—must resolve. This article explores the strategies used by those individuals to resolve conflict. Using grounded practical theory as a theoretical and methodological framework, qualitative interviews (n = 71) revealed how they manage family conflict at the end of life. The management styles include reframing, refocusing, referring, reconciling, and reflecting (the “5 Rs”). These strategies provide a conflict management typology for those who work with families during end-of-life situations.
The 6666 Problem

How many times must a die be thrown to get four consecutive sixes? More generally, and more precisely, Q1. What is the expected number of times we must throw a die to get n consecutive sixes? The answer, rather suggestively for the numerologically inclined, turns out to be A1. The expected number of throws is 6 + 62 + 63 + … + 6n. In some well-known dice games players throw several dice at the same time: in craps a pair (brace) of dice is thrown, while in yahtzee, yam and balut, up to five dice are thrown at a time. However, Q1 is not the same as
Social Disorder in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: Building on Race, Place, and Poverty

The recent resurgence of social and civic disquiet in the USA has contributed to increasing recognition that social conditions are meaningfully connected to disease and death. As a “lifestyle disease,” control of diabetes requires modifications to daily activities, including healthy dietary practices, regular physical activity, and adherence to treatment regimens. One’s ability to develop the healthy practices necessary to prevent or control type 2 diabetes may be influenced by a context of social disorder, the disruptive social and economic conditions that influence daily activity and, consequently, health status. In this paper, we report on our narrative review of the literature that explores the associations between social disorder and diabetes-related health outcomes within vulnerable communities. We also propose a multilevel ecosocial model for conceptualizing social disorder, specifically focusing on its role in racial disparities and its pathways to mediating diabetes outcomes.
The Business Change Initiative: A novel approach to improved cost and schedule management

Goddard Space Flight Center's Flight Projects Directorate employed a Business Change Initiative (BCI) to infuse a series of activities coordinated to drive improved cost and schedule performance across Goddard's missions. This sustaining change framework provides a platform to manage and implement cost and schedule control techniques throughout the project portfolio. The BCI concluded in December 2014, deploying over 100 cost and schedule management changes including best practices, tools, methods, training, and knowledge sharing. The new business approach has driven the portfolio to improved programmatic performance. The last eight launched GSFC missions have optimized cost, schedule, and technical performance on a sustained basis to deliver on time and within budget, returning funds in many cases. While not every future mission will boast such strong performance, improved cost and schedule tools, management practices, and ongoing comprehensive evaluations of program planning and control methods to refine and implement best practices will continue to provide a framework for sustained performance. This paper will describe the tools, techniques, and processes developed during the BCI and the utilization of collaborative content management tools to disseminate project planning and control techniques to ensure continuous collaboration and optimization of cost and schedule management in the future.
Photon Statistics, Instabilities and Phase Transitions in Dye Lasers

Recently Ray Schaefer and I [1] showed that the behavior of a dye laser could be considerably different than the usual laser behavior. Subsequently we indicated that the anomalous behavior of the dye laser could be interpreted in terms of a first order phase transition [2], instead of the conventional second order [3–5] laser phase transition analogy. In the present paper I want to develop the laser phase transition analogy further, in order to understand better the fundamentally different behavior possible in dye lasers, to develop further the differences between the second order and first order laser phase transitions analogies and to examine the role of fluctuations in phase transitions.
Does My Story Belong? An Intersectional Critical Race Feminist Analysis of Student Silence in a Diverse Classroom

This article offers an intersectional critical race feminist analysis of student silence in a diverse university classroom. Findings from a case study with six Women of Color and four White women revealed students remained silent because they felt their complicated intersectional realities did not fit with the acceptable classroom counter-narrative. Because students perceived the course to focus on essentialist narratives of working class Women of Color who experienced overt racism and sexism, White women and Women of Color worried their stories did not belong. Student silence was not completely explained by prior literature describing it as disempowerment, internalized oppression, limited development, a coping mechanism, intense intellectual engagement, or resistance to White privilege. Suggestions for higher education professionals working with students inside and outside the classroom are provided.
A Hybrid MPI-OpenMP Strategy to Speedup the Compression of Big Next-Generation Sequencing Datasets

DNA sequencing has moved into the realm of Big Data due to the rapid development of high-throughput, low cost Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies. Sequential data compression solutions that once were sufficient to efficiently store and distribute this information are now falling behind. In this paper we introduce phyNGSC , a hybrid MPI-OpenMP strategy to speedup the compression of big NGS data by combining the features of both distributed and shared memory architectures. Our algorithm balances work-load among processes and threads, alleviates memory latency by exploiting locality, and accelerates I/O by reducing excessive read/write operations and inter-node message exchange. To make the algorithm scalable, we introduce a novel timestamp-based file structure that allows us to write the compressed data in a distributed and non-deterministic fashion while retaining the capability of reconstructing the dataset with its original order. Our experimental results show that phyNGSC achieved compression times for big NGS datasets that were 45 to 98 percent faster than NGS-specific sequential compressors with throughputs of up to 3 GB/s. Our theoretical analysis and experimental results suggest strong scalability with some datasets yielding super-linear speedups and constant efficiency. We were able to compress 1 terabyte of data in under 8 minutes compared to more than 5 hours taken by NGS-specific compression algorithms running sequentially. Compared to other parallel solutions, phyNGSC achieved up to 6x speedups while maintaining a higher compression ratio. The code for this implementation is available at https://github.com/pcdslab/PHYNGSC .
Re-Visioning Self-Determination: Planning for Culturally Sustaining/Revitalizing Oral Histories with Indigenous Communities

Within Indigenous communities, oral history education has long served to advance culturally significant knowledges and ways of knowing. However, formal educational contexts in North America have typically privileged Eurocentric, settler histories over Indigenous histories. The purpose of this chapter is to advance the conversation regarding the development and distribution of oral histories with Indigenous peoples. Three projects illustrate ways that storywork can promote learning about the dynamic nature of history, the distinction between individual and collective historical understanding, the importance of reciprocity in oral history work, and the need for sustained relationships in oral history education. The projects also provide insights to methodological and pedagogical challenges related to oral history storywork with Indigenous communities. The resulting lessons relate to engaging participants as co-researchers throughout storywork processes, confronting Eurocentric institutional barriers, balancing individual artistic vision with culturally appropriate representation, and promoting access in responsible ways. These lessons offer implications for scholars, educators, and project leaders interested in facilitating culturally sustaining/revitalizing oral history storywork within schools and communities.
Talking a Good Game vs. Having a Real Plan

Ty, a lithe wide receiver with a concussion in his past, who identifies as Ethiopian- and Jewish-American, is a student I have known since his first year of college. From the start, Ty’s in-class verbal responses were strong, and he sometimes expressed enthusiasm for the ideas we talked about in our first year seminar.
Decisions might be better when teams don’t get along

Brainstorming was developed over 60 years ago, along with its key concept that ‘no idea is a bad idea’. But could the opposite be true, is brainstorming stifling, rather than unleashing, our creativity? In environments in which ideas go unchallenged, there are techniques that can improve creativity by encouraging criticism.
Examining the Contemporaneous, Short-Term, and Long-Term Effects of Secondary Exposure to Violence on Adolescent Substance Use

The relationship between secondary exposure to violence—defined as witnessing violence in the home, community, or school—and adolescent substance use is well-documented. Yet, multi-wave empirical studies examining this relationship are sparse. In addition, studies have only begun to examine whether this relationship varies by the situational components of the violent event. Using data from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods (PHDCN), this study examines the contemporaneous, short-term, and long-term effects of secondary exposure to violence on substance use, and whether witnessing violence in which a weapon is present has a different impact on adolescent substance use than does witnessing violence without a weapon. Hierarchical logistic regression models on a racially and ethnically diverse sample of 1670 youth (51.5% female) residing in 79 neighborhoods indicated that: (1) the effects of secondary exposure to violence on alcohol and marijuana use were enduring, albeit attenuated, over time; (2) the effect of secondary exposure to violence on illicit drug use was suppressed in the short-term but significant in the long-term; (3) witnessing violence without a weapon was salient for alcohol and marijuana use at all time points; and (4) witnessing violence with a weapon impacted illicit drug use in the long-term. The results suggest that addressing the consequences of secondary exposure to violence requires prolonged intervention efforts and that the study of secondary exposure to violence requires a more nuanced approach that accounts for situational aspects of the violent event.
Hydrogen Storage Technologies

Hydrogen is considered as one of the promising alternative fuels to replace oil, but its storage remains to be a significant challenge. The main hydrogen storage technologies can be broadly classified as physical, chemical, and hybrid methods. The physical methods rely on compression and liquefaction of hydrogen, and currently compressed hydrogen storage is the most mature technology that is commercially available. The chemical methods utilize materials to store hydrogen, and hydrogen can be extracted by reversible (on-board regenerable) or irreversible (off-board regenerable) chemical reactions depending on the type of material. The hybrid methods take advantage of both physical and chemical storage methods. The most prominent hybrid method is the cryo-adsorption hydrogen storage which utilizes physisorption-based porous materials. In this chapter, all of the main hydrogen storage technologies are discussed in detail along with their limitations and advantages.
Investigating User Comprehension and Risk Perception of Apple's Touch ID Technology

Apple's Touch ID serves as an alternative to PIN/password for unlocking Apple devices, signing into third party iOS applications, and authorizing purchases on the iTunes Store by simply tapping a registered finger on the home button.This paper investigates the user comprehension and risk perception of Apple's Touch ID technology. We conducted two user studies to assess user perceptions in three domains: 1) Touch ID authentication process for third party applications; 2) fingerprint access and storage; and 3) ease of circumventing Touch ID. We first conducted an in-person study with 30 participants and then validated our findings through an online study over Amazon Turk on a larger sample of 125 participants. Our findings show that Touch ID users are unaware of the Touch ID authentication process for signing into applications, and have incorrect perceptions regarding the storage/access of their registered fingerprint before and after Touch ID authentication.
The Cash Balance Controversy Revisited: Age Discrimination and Fidelity to Statutory Text

In this article, Professor Zelinsky replies to those who have criticized his earlier analysis of the controversy surrounding cash balance pension plans. In particular, Professor Zelinsky defends his interpretation of the pension age discrimination statutes as barring most such plans and rebuts those who, relying heavily on legislative intent and history, contend that cash balance plans do not run afoul of the pension statutes barring age discrimination. In this setting, any finding of age discrimination must necessarily be fact- and plan-specific; nevertheless, if we take the statutes seriously, it is reasonable to conclude that many, likely most, cash balance plans flunk the statutory prohibitions against age-based declines in the rate of benefit accrual. Those concluding otherwise brush aside the literal terminology of the pension age discrimination statutes to reach results which are compelling as a matter of policy, but which, as a matter of statutory interpretation, do not constitute a compelling construction of the statutes as they exist today. At its most basic, our system of tax and pension laws cannot function without fidelity towards statutory texts, fidelity which frequently entails the acceptance of outcomes with which the reader disagrees as a matter of policy. Ultimately, a system of statutory law requires us to take statutes seriously. And taking the pension age discrimination statutes seriously leads to the conclusion that many, likely most, cash balance plans violate such statutes.
Molecular mechanisms of action of calmodulin.

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the molecular mechanisms of action of the Ca2+ receptor calmodulin. It also summarizes the efforts to utilize the various biological reagents to elucidate the mechanism of action of calmodulin and some studies that provide insight into the mechanism of action of calmodulin at the molecular level. The crystal structure suggests that a central helix separates the two globular ends of the protein, each of which binds two Ca2+. Whether this helix exists in the solution is a matter of some controversy. Examination of this region by the ChaoFasman rules for protein structure predicts low stability for α helical formation in this region because of threonin (Thr) and serine (Ser). A further resolution of the crystal structure suggests that the pitch of the helix is offset by 10° because of the region containing these two residues. However, this region of the protein is changed upon Ca2+ binding. Proteolysis of calmodulin by trypsin results in different sites of cleavage in the absence of Ca2+ than when the Ca2+ sites are occupied. Insertion of amino acids in this central region alters the properties of enzyme activation by calmodulin. Studies on the interaction of the receptor with peptides derived from target proteins also show a role for this region. Therefore, the amino acid sequence between the two homologous halves of the protein is important for function, irrespective of a correct deduction of the shape of the protein in solution.
Episodic inflation and complex surface deformation of Akutan volcano, Alaska revealed from GPS time-series

Abstract Akutan is one of the most active volcanoes in the Aleutian island arc. Studies involving seismic, GPS, and InSAR data have observed activity and deformation on the island since 1996. In this study we inverted measurements of volcanic deformation, observed using three components of motions at 12 continuous GPS sites to define magma source parameters using Mogi point source, Okada dislocation, and Yang spheroid and ellipsoid models. In order to analyze the evolution of this magma source we split the GPS data into five consecutive time periods, and one period that incorporates all available data. These time periods were designed around two inflation events in 2008 and 2014, when a sudden and significant increase in vertical velocity was observed. Inversion of these time periods independently allowed us to create a magma volume time-series that is related to the physical migration of magma defined by the estimated source parameters. The best fit model parameters resulting from these inversions describes magma storage in the form of an oblate spheroid centered on the northeastern rim of the caldera of Akutan volcano, extending from a depth of 7 km to 8 km, with a length of ~ 3.5 km, a strike of ~ N165°E, and a dip of ~ 63° from the horizontal to the southwest. Our model results were compared with seismic studies and found to support previous interpretations of episodic inflation beneath Akutan volcano with complicated magma storage at intermediate depths. The inflation event observed in 2008 was estimated to be the result of an injection of magma of ~ 0.08 km 3 that was followed in 2014 by an additional increase in volume of ~ 0.06 km 3 . No periods of deflation were observed in the GPS data after these events, and we believe the total volume of magma accumulated in this region, ~ 0.2 km 3 , remains in a shallow storage system beneath Akutan Volcano.
Filter-probe diffusion imaging improves spinal cord injury outcome prediction.

OBJECTIVE Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is a powerful tool for investigating spinal cord injury (SCI), but has limited specificity for axonal damage, which is the most predictive feature of long-term functional outcome. In this study, a technique designed to detect acute axonal injury, filter-probe double diffusion encoding (FP-DDE), is compared with standard DWI for predicting long-term functional and cellular outcomes. METHODS This study extends FP-DDE to predict long-term functional and histological outcomes in a rat SCI model of varying severities (n = 58). Using a 9.4T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, a whole-cord FP-DDE spectroscopic voxel was acquired in 3 minutes at the lesion site and compared to DWI at 48 hours postinjury. Relationships with chronic (30-day) locomotor and histological outcomes were evaluated with linear regression. RESULTS The FP-DDE measure of parallel diffusivity (ADC|| ) was significantly related to chronic hind limb locomotor functional outcome (R2 = 0.63, p < 0.0001), and combining this measurement with acute functional scores demonstrated prognostic benefit versus functional testing alone (p = 0.0007). Acute ADC|| measurements were also more closely related to the number of injured axons measured 30 days after the injury than standard DWI. Furthermore, acute FP-DDE images showed a clear and easily interpretable pattern of injury that closely corresponded with chronic MRI and histology observations. INTERPRETATION Collectively, these results demonstrate FP-DDE benefits from greater specificity for acute axonal damage in predicting functional and histological outcomes with rapid acquisition and fully automated analysis, improving over standard DWI. FP-DDE is a promising technique compatible with clinical settings, with potential research and clinical applications for evaluation of spinal cord pathology. Ann Neurol 2018;83:37-50.
Carbon fiber/epoxy matrix composite interphases modified with cellulose nanocrystals

Abstract Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were used to modify the interphase between carbon fiber (CF) and an epoxy matrix to simultaneously strengthen and toughen the CF composite. CNCs were functionalized with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) and surface modification was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), which revealed the presence of the new chemical species. Functionalized CNCs (APTES-CNCs) were applied as part of a sizing to coat CFs and an optimum concentration was identified. Single fiber fragmentation tests (SFFT) showed that stronger adhesion between the CFs and the epoxy matrix was achieved for the fibers sized with APTES-CNCs, compared to unsized CFs and epoxy-only sized CFs. CFs sized with APTES-CNCs at a concentration of 1.0 wt% resulted in 81% increase in interfacial shear strength (IFSS) compared to unsized CFs, and the birefringent stress pattern seen during the SFFT supports the assumption that adding APTES-CNCs at the composite interphase promotes an improvement in the failure mode. These results demonstrate that sizing CFs with APTES-CNCs is an effective method to increase the interfacial properties in CF reinforced epoxy composites, and a potential approach for the development of ecofriendly and lightweight composite materials for aerospace and automotive applications.
Measurements of a compact Ku- and Ka-band 4×4 array for remote sensing

This paper presents the measurement results of a dual-band (Ku and Ka), dual polarization 4×4 array that fits within the surface of a Cubesat satellite. Each sub-array has two polarizations, namely vertical and horizontal (or 0° and 90°). The design uses a multi-layer structure such that the Ka-band (35 GHz) array is embedded within the empty space provided by a 2×2 Ku-band (14 GHz) sub-array. The feeding networks for both arrays are etched on the same substrate layer without overlapping of the transmission lines, while adequate space is provided to incorporate amplifier chips directly onto the network. The proposed array has similar radiation patterns at both frequencies with high gain and large front-to-back ratio. Adequate space for integrated phase-shifters is provided for beam steering and a proof-of-concept digital calibration scheme. The array is fabricated on a stack of PCB milled substrates. Measurements of scattering parameters are performed and matched the simulations. This array is compact and offers additional functionality compared to traditional single frequency and/or single polarization designs, and is suitable for airborne and small-satellite remote sensing applications.
Arginyl and histidyl groups are essential for organic anion exchange in renal brush-border membrane vesicles.

The effect of side chain modification on the organic anion exchanger in the renal brush-border membrane was examined to identify what amino acid residues constitute the substrate binding site. One histidyl-specific reagent, diethyl pyrocarbonate (DEPC), and 2 arginyl-specific reagents, phenylglyoxal and 2,3-butanedione, were tested for their effect on the specifically mediated transport of p-amino[3H]hippurate (PAH), a prototypic organic anion. The specifically mediated transport refers to the difference in the uptake of [3H]PAH in the absence and presence of a known competitive inhibitor, probenecid, and was examined in brush-border membrane vesicles isolated from the outer cortex of canine kidneys. The experiments were performed utilizing a rapid filtration assay. DEPC, phenylglyoxal, and 2,3-butanedione inactivated the specifically mediated PAH transport, i.e. probenecid inhibitable transport with IC50 values of 160, 710, and 1780 microM, respectively. The rates of PAH inactivation by DEPC and phenylglyoxal were suggestive of multiple pseudo first-order reaction kinetics and were consistent with a reaction mechanism whereby more than 1 arginyl or histidyl residue is inactivated. Furthermore, PAH (5 mM) did not affect the rate of phenylglyoxal inactivation. In contrast, PAH (5 mM) affected the rate of DEPC inactivation. The modification by DEPC was specific for histidyl residues since transport could be restored by treatment with hydroxylamine. The results demonstrate that histidyl and arginyl residues are essential for organic anion transport in brush-border membrane vesicles. We conclude that the histidyl residue constitutes the cationic binding site for the anionic substrate, whereas the arginyl residue(s) serves to guide the substrate to or away from the histidyl site.
The Theory of Charge Exchange and Ionization by Heavy Particles

In the 1979 ASI on atomic processes of interest in fusion research, I surveyed the basic principles of the theory of charge exchange,1 concentrating on theoretical models in which the wave function of the system was expanded in some suitable set of functions.† At low to intermediate relative velocities of the colliding ions (v ≲ 1 a.u.) the expansion functions are frequently taken to be adiabatic, or diabatic, molecular orbitals, while over a region extending to somewhat higher velocities (0.1 ≲ v ≲ 3 a.u.), the expansion functions can be taken to be atomic orbitals, supplemented by pseudostate functions. Some higher order perturbation methods, like the continuum distorted wave approximation, which are useful at higher velocities (v ≳ 2.5 a.u.), were also discussed briefly in I. At this School, I shall not repeat this general material, but I shall concentrate on the special approximations which have been developed to describe charge exchange and ionization in the collision of fully stripped ions of charge Z (in atomic units) with atomic hydrogen in the ground state $$ {{\rm{A}}^{{\rm{Z + }}}}\,{\rm{ + }}\,{\rm{H(1s)}}\, \to \,{{\rm{A}}^{{\rm{(Z - 1) + }}}}\,{\rm{ + }}\,{{\rm{H}}^{\rm{ + }}} $$ (1) $$ {{\rm{A}}^{{\rm{Z + }}}}\,{\rm{ + }}\,{\rm{H(1s)}}\, \to {{\rm{A}}^{{\rm{(Z - 1) + }}}}\, + {{\rm{H}}^{\rm{ + }}}\,{\rm{ + }}\,{{\rm{e}}^{\rm{ - }}} $$ (2)
Calcification of left-sided valvular structures: evidence of a pro-inflammatory milieu.

Background and aim of the study Calcification of the cardiac valves occurs more frequently on the left side, most commonly involving the aortic and mitral valves. The differences in hemodynamics and blood pressure between the right and left sides have been considered as possible causes. However, the reason for this preferential distribution remains unknown. It is hypothesized that a stronger pro-inflammatory milieu exists in the left side of the heart, and might be responsible for valve calcification occurring most frequently on that side. Methods An extensive search of the medical literature using PubMed and Google Internet search engines and online databases, as well as textbooks and journals, was conducted. Search areas included the pathophysiology of normal and dystrophic calcification, and the incidence and distribution of native valve involvement in different diseases. Results The majority of the disease processes affecting cardiac valves have an increased predilection for the left-sided valves. This was also found to be true in systemic diseases with cardiac involvement. Diseases where the right-sided valves are subjected to higher pressure and comparably forceful hemodynamics were found not to demonstrate a similar increase in the incidence of valve calcification. Pulmonary autografts or homografts in the aortic position appear not to demonstrate the same rate of calcification as their aortic counterparts, despite being subjected to the same hemodynamics. Conclusion The reason for valve calcification occurring more frequently on the left side remains unknown. All available evidence does not support the proposal that a higher pressure and more forceful hemodynamics are causes for this observation. Rather, the data indicate that there is a pronounced pro-inflammatory milieu in the tissues of the left-sided cardiac valves, that may be responsible for such increased valve calcification. Further investigations are required in order to assess, quantitatively, the differences in inflammatory response between right- and left-sided cardiac valves.
Structure and function of myocardial fibrillar collagen

The extracellular collagen matrix of the myocardium plays an important role in maintaining muscle fiber and cardiac alignment and ventricular shape and size. It also influences tissue and ventricle stiffness. This network consists of an organized hierarchy of collagen that is intimately associated with individual and groups of myocyte and muscle fibers, as well as the coronary vasculature. In renovascular and genetic hypertension, the hypertrophic response of the myocardium includes an increase in collagen concentration, thickening of existing fibrillar collagen, and addition of newly synthesized collagen to all of the matrix components. The consequences of this remodeling are a stiffer myocardium and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. With removal of less than half of the normal amount of collagen the opposite occurs. That is, the ventricle dilates and there is an increase in ventricular compliance. Thus an abnormal accumulation of collagen is a major distinguishing factor between physiologic and pathologic hypertrophy while an abrupt decrease in collagen concentration results in a ventricular remodeling similar to that of a heart in failure.
Heteroepitaxy of CdTe on GaAs-ON-Si

CdTe is a semiconductor with numerous applications, the most prominent of which is its use as a buffer layer for the growth of epitaxial films of HdCdTe for infrared detector arrays. However, bulk CdTe is extremely difficult to grow and the non-availability of high quality, large area, inexpensive, single crystal CdTe has slowed the development of HgCdTe detectors. Infrared (IR) device processing requires large areas of single crystal material, and the problems associated with bulk CdTe are now being circumvented by utilizing alternative substrates on which CdTe can first be grown epitaxially. This in turn serves as a buffer layer for the growth of HgCdTe.
A review on the modeling, materials, and actuators of aquatic unmanned vehicles

Abstract Aquatic robotics is making a critical transition to adapt and inspire more efficient systems from nature. The result is the abandonment of inefficient propeller-based locomotion for a biological locomotion type suitable for the specific mission. Bioinspired aquatic unmanned vehicles (AUVs) could be exploited in a diverse range of missions depending on the design and its capabilities. Removing the human pilot and creating an animal-based AUV means that more hazardous aquatic environments can be studied with reduced repercussions. There is a diverse range of biological locomotion's to choose from when developing a bioinspired AUV. The respective animals that exhibit a specific swimming mode give a range of criteria to follow make the system more capable of swimming. In this review, how previous AUV developers determined the kinematic, physical, and hydrodynamic modeling of these systems are consolidated and discussed. All types of developed actuators are reviewed, organized, and explained based on their materials and motion capabilities. The electronic components of these systems are outlined to give an idea of how these bioinspired AUVs are constructed. Then, it is discussed what makes these systems bioinspired and biomimetic, and the trends of these designs. Limitations and future recommendations on possible improvements for these systems are offered and deeply discussed.
fragilityindex: An R Package for Statistical Fragility Estimates in Biomedicine

Abstract Poor reproducibility is a growing crisis in biomedical research. The fragility index was introduced as a convenient measure to estimate how fragile statistical results in clinical trials are to small perturbations in event outcome counts. There is currently no freely available R package to produce this calculation. Furthermore, the original definition of the method is applicable only to 2x2 contingency tables. As such, we developed an R package to calculate fragility index. We have also extended the concept of a statistical fragility index to two of the most commonly used methods in clinical research, survival analysis via weighted log-rank tests and logistic regression, and implemented these technique sin this R package. We describe example applications of these methods to existing publically available datasets. This R package is freely available under the AGPL license on CRAN (https://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/fragilityindex/index.html). The most recent versions may be downloaded and installed via Github (https://github.com/kippjohnson/fragilityindex).
A case of adenomyoepithelioma with myoepithelial carcinoma of the breast.

Normal breast tissue consists of branching ductal networks that are lined by an outer layer of myoepithelial cells and an inner layer of polarized ductal epithelium.1 Breast myoepithelial cells are usually located between the basement membrane and breast ductal epithelium.2 Based on the World Health Organization classification of tumors of the breast, the myoepithelial lesions are composed of a pure or dominant population of myoepithelial cells, while the epithelial‐myoepithelial lesions are derived from a dual population of epithelial and myoepithelial cells.3 Epithelial‐myoepithelial lesions include pleomorphic adenomas, adenomyoepitheliomas (AMEs), AME with carcinoma, and adenoid cystic carcinomas.3 Adenomyoepitheliomas is characterized by the bicellular proliferation of glands that consist of an inner epithelial and an outer myoepithelial layer of cells.4 It can have a spindle, tubular, or lobulated histological pattern.5 One or both of the components of the tumor may exhibit malignant transformation, which is called AME with carcinoma and is characterized by a higher mitotic rate, infiltrative growth pattern, marked cytologic atypia, necrosis, and/or metastasis of cells.5 Adenomyoepitheliomas with myoepithelial carcinoma of the breast is rare, and its biological behavior and treatment are not well characterized. This report presents a case of AME with myoepithelial carcinoma of the breast.
A Query Generation Technique for Measuring Comprehension of Statistical Graphics.

In our information-driven society, there is increasing use of statistical graphics to convey information in a variety of settings, including industry, mass media, government operations, and health care. Current methods for assessing a reader’s ability to comprehend statistical graphics are custom-written, not widely accepted, usable only once, and/or reliant on subjective interpretations and inferences. We have developed a method for generating queries suitable for evaluating graph comprehension capability. Our method is based on the Sentence Verification Technique (SVT), an empirically validated framework for measuring an individual’s comprehension of prose material. Compared to ad hoc methods for testing graph comprehension, our technique is less subjective, requires less manual effort and subject matter expertise, and addresses the essential features of a given graph: values and relationships depicted, frames of reference, and style attributes. The SVT, and therefore our method, combat superficial comprehension by testing what the reader has encoded, as opposed to testing the reader’s ability at visual recall or ability to look up data without reaching real comprehension. We motivate and describe our query generation method and report on a pilot study using queries generated with it.
NeuroEvolution : Using Genetic Algorithm for optimal design of Deep Learning models.

Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) have proved to be influential in image classification techniques. However, CNN has not proved much useful in time series prediction. This is because of the causal nature of time series data. With proper modifications in the architecture of CNN the model can perform well on time series prediction as well. However, the modification and design of CNN architecture require expertise and knowledge of data. In order to tackle this problem, a genetic algorithm solution is proposed, that designs its own optimal CNN architecture and was proved useful in predicting time series data. The robustness and accuracy of the model were tested on our dataset and compared with an RNN architecture. It was found that the CNN model performed well irrespective of the duration of prediction and these results are comparable to state of the art optimal RNN models.
Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy to monitor murine colorectal tumor progression and therapeutic response (Erratum).

Significance: Many studies in colorectal cancer (CRC) use murine ectopic tumor models to determine response to treatment. However, these models do not replicate the tumor microenvironment of CRC. Physiological information of treatment response derived via diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) from murine primary CRC tumors provide a better understanding for the development of new drugs and dosing strategies in CRC. Aim: Tumor response to chemotherapy in a primary CRC model was quantified via DRS to extract total hemoglobin content (tHb), oxygen saturation (StO2), oxyhemoglobin, and deoxyhemoglobin in tissue. Approach: A multimodal DRS and imaging probe (0.78 mm outside diameter) was designed and validated to acquire diffuse spectra longitudinally—via endoscopic guidance—in developing colon tumors under 5-fluoruracil (5-FU) maximum-tolerated (MTD) and metronomic regimens. A filtering algorithm was developed to compensate for positional uncertainty in DRS measurements Results: A maximum increase in StO2 was observed in both MTD and metronomic chemotherapy-treated murine primary CRC tumors at week 4 of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, with 21 ± 6 % and 17 ± 6 % fold changes, respectively. No significant changes were observed in tHb. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates the feasibility of DRS to quantify response to treatment in primary CRC models.
Subverting Surveillance or Accessing the Dark Web? Interest in the Tor Anonymity Network in U.S. States, 2006–2015:

The U.S. government engaged in unprecedented forms of mass surveillance in the twenty-first century. Users of the The Onion Router (Tor), an anonymity-granting technology, mask themselves from stat...
Cofilin Loss in Drosophila Muscles Contributes to Muscle Weakness through Defective Sarcomerogenesis during Muscle Growth

Summary Sarcomeres, the fundamental contractile units of muscles, are conserved structures composed of actin thin filaments and myosin thick filaments. How sarcomeres are formed and maintained is not well understood. Here, we show that knockdown of Drosophila cofilin (DmCFL), an actin depolymerizing factor, disrupts both sarcomere structure and muscle function. The loss of DmCFL also results in the formation of sarcomeric protein aggregates and impairs sarcomere addition during growth. The activation of the proteasome delays muscle deterioration in our model. Furthermore, we investigate how a point mutation in CFL2 that causes nemaline myopathy (NM) in humans affects CFL function and leads to the muscle phenotypes observed in vivo. Our data provide significant insights to the role of CFLs during sarcomere formation, as well as mechanistic implications for disease progression in NM patients.
Size-resolved aerosol emissions from lignocellulosic biomass and biomass constituent pyrolysis under variable dilution temperatures

Abstract Biomass burning events produce significant amounts of particulate matter which influence global radiative forcing, decrease air quality and visibility, and have negative health impacts. The quantity, size distribution, and volatility of biomass burning aerosol emissions are influenced by the combustion mode and ensuing dilution process of the emissions mixing into ambient air. This work examined the emissions from lignocellulosic biomass and its major constituents under laboratory pyrolysis conditions to understand biomass composition and dilution temperature influences on aerosol formation. The major constituents of lignocellulosic biomass, hemicellulose (xylan), cellulose and lignin, were pyrolyzed and the resultant aerosol emissions were characterized in terms of size-resolved number and mass emission factors under variable dilution temperatures. The aerosol emissions formed from biomass constituents were then compared to those of pine and corn stover, and a summative model for predicting characteristics of biomass burning emissions from the behavior of individual constituents was assessed. Results showed a significant influence of dilution temperature on particle size, number, and distribution, with the nucleation mode of particle formation dominating. The summative model performed well in predicting particle number formation from lignocellulosic biomass, but highlighted the effect of uncertainty on predicting particle mass formation.
Using Open Data to Inform Public Library Branch Services

This article describes the curation and use of open demographic data to inform public library services. A case study of census data curated for the Seattle Public Library (SPL) system is described....
Process Monitoring and Fault Prediction in Multivariate Time Series Using Bag-of-Words

Multivariate time series (MTS) arise due to multisensor data collection in manufacturing. These data are complex in the sense that attributes have a varying scale, volitivity, continuity, and so on, and interattribute dependence also appears, which can mask the inherent information about system health status. Conventional machine learning-based process monitoring techniques are inefficient in predicting faults with MTS--their detection capability heavily relies on the input features, yet the classification power of MTS attributes is weakened by the complexity of multisensor data. Effective feature extraction is, therefore, necessary to facilitate fault prediction with MTS. This study proposes a fault prediction framework for MTS based on bag-of-words (BOW) feature extraction, statistical feature selection, and classification analysis. BOW models are for the first time adopted in a manufacturing context. Their superior capability in information preservation, local pattern recognition, and temporal effect accommodation has overcome the major limitations in current manufacturing practices with MTS. A comprehensive case study demonstrates the desirable performance of this framework on two MTS data sets from paper manufacturing and automotive manufacturing, as well as its superiority over conventional machine learning-based fault prediction.
Chronic Pain and Friendship Among Middle-Aged and Older U.S. Adults.

Objectives This study examines how chronic pain affects friendship in later life. We test whether onset of pain leads to social network activation, as suggested by research on other health conditions (Latham- Mintus, Forth.), or whether pain-an unverifiable and often stigmatizing condition-functions as a "threat to the social self" (Karos et al., 2018). Methods Using longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS; N=4,598; 2006/2008 as Time 1 and 2010/2012 as Time 2), we conducted OLS regressions with the lagged dependent variable approach to assess how new-onset chronic pain predicted (a) respondents' number of close friends and (b) their frequency of in-person meetings with friends, controlling for sociodemographic variables and health conditions. Results New-onset severe pain predicted a decrease in number of friends. New-onset moderate pain, in contrast, predicted more friends and more frequent in-person meetings. (Findings were significant or marginally significant depending on model specifications.) Mild pain showed no significant association with either outcome. Pain had a greater effect on men's friendship outcomes than women's. Discussion The effects of chronic pain on later-life friendships appear to depend on pain severity, and to differ between men and women. Onset of severe pain serves as a "threat to the social self," while onset of moderate pain contributes to social network activation; both associations are significantly more pronounced among men. These findings highlight the complex associations between health and social outcomes.
Twenty Years of Leading the Way among Cohort Studies in Community-Driven Outreach and Engagement: Jackson State University/Jackson Heart Study.

Background: History has recorded the tremendous concerns and apprehension expressed by African Americans about participating in research studies. This review enumerates the collaborative techniques that were utilized by the Jackson State University (JSU) Jackson Heart Study (JHS) community-focused team to facilitate recruitment and retention of the JHS cohort and to implement health education and health promotion in the JHS communities. Methods: This review describes the evolution of the JSU JHS community initiatives, an innovative community-driven operation, during the period 1999–2018. Results: JSU JHS community-focused investigators published approximately 20 manuscripts, including community-led research and publications with community lead authors and co-authors, research and publications in collaboration with other JHS staff, through other JSU-funded projects. The JSU JHS community-focused unit also initiated the JHS Community Training Activities, developed the Community Health Advisory Network (CHAN), and trained and certified 137 Community Health Advisors. In addition, the JSU JHS community-focused unit developed the Collaborative Community Science Model (CCSM) that symbolized its approach to community engagement and outreach, and a Trust Scale for ascertaining African Americans’ willingness to engage in biomedical research collaborations. Conclusion: This review offers educators, public health professionals, and research investigators a useful starting point for the development, selection, or improvement of techniques to motivate, inspire, and engage community residents in a community–academia partnership that yielded maximum benefits in the areas of health education, health promotion and interventions, and biomedical research. Substantial, meaningful community engagement is possible when prioritizing elimination of health disparities and long-term improvement in health care access in the target populations.