cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Single-crystal relaxor ferroelectric piezoactuators with interdigitated electrodes

We report on the fabrication and performance of (1-x) Pb(Zn/sub 1/3/Nb/sub 2/3/)O/sub 3/-xPbTiO/sub 3/ (PZN-PT) single-crystal relaxor piezoactuators with interdigitated electrodes patterned on a single surface. An electric field gradient across the sample thickness induces a differential contraction between opposite faces, and it is responsible for the actuation. The samples are poled by energizing the electrodes at 100/spl deg/C and cooling in a field. Calculations of the piezoelectric response based on a periodically modulated dipolar field yield good agreement with experiment. Discrepancies with the model are ascribed to multidomain formation in the ferroelectric sample as a result of field reversals in the applied electric field along the sample length.
Pleural effusion and pneumothorax in hospitalized patients with HIV infection: the Pulmonary Complications, ICU support, and Prognostic Factors of Hospitalized Patients with HIV (PIP) Study.

Objectives: To describe the incidence, causes, and impact of pleural effusion and pneumothorax in hospitalized patients with HIV infection. Design: Prospective, observational. Setting: A university-affiliated medical center. Methods: During a 3-year period, 599 HIV-infected patients with a total of 1,225 consecutive hospital admissions were followed. A total of 1,097 hospital admissions were included. Patients’ medical records, chest radiographs, and computerized laboratory values were reviewed. Results: Pleural effusions developed in 160 hospital admissions (14.6%). The effusions were right sided (56%), left sided (29%), and bilateral (15%). Their sizes were small (65%), moderate (23%), large (9%), and massive (4%). The associated conditions were infectious: bacterial pneumonia (n 5 50), pulmonary tuberculosis (n 5 10), Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP; n 5 5), and empyema (n 5 2); and noninfectious: renal failure (n 5 15), hypoalbuminemia (n 5 12), malignancy (n 5 9), pancreatitis (n 5 7), hepatic cirrhosis (n 5 5), congestive heart failure (n 5 4), atelectasis (n 5 3), pulmonary embolism (n 5 3), trauma (n 5 1), and surgery (n 5 1). Pneumothorax developed in 13 hospital admissions (1.2%). The conditions associated with pneumothorax were iatrogenic (n 5 4), bacterial pneumonia (n 5 3), PCP (n 5 2), positive pressure ventilation for PCP (n 5 2), pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex (n 5 1), and trauma (n 5 1). The in-hospital mortality of hospital admissions with pleural effusion was 10.0% compared to 5.4% of those without pleural effusion (p 5 0.0407). The in-hospital mortality of hospital admissions with pneumothorax was 30.8% compared to 5.8% of those without pneumothorax (p 5 0.0060). Conclusions: Pleural effusions occur in 14.6% of hospital admissions in our patient population with HIV infection. Bacterial pneumonia is the condition most commonly associated with pleural effusion. Pneumothorax, seen in 1.2% of hospital admissions with HIV infection, is associated with poor outcome. (CHEST 2000; 117:1031‐1037)
Dorsal cochlear nucleus response properties following acoustic trauma: Response maps and spontaneous activity

Recordings from single neurons in the dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN) of unanesthetized (decerebrate) cats were done to characterize the effects of acoustic trauma. Trauma was produced by a 250 Hz band of noise centered at 10 kHz, presented at 105–120 dB SPL for 4 h. After a one-month recovery period, neurons were recorded in the DCN. The threshold shift, determined from compound action-potential audiograms, showed a sharp threshold elevation of about 60 dB at BFs above an edge frequency of 5–10 kHz. The response maps of neurons with best frequencies (BFs) above the edge did not show the typical organization of excitatory and inhibitory areas seen in the DCN of unexposed animals. Instead, neurons showed no response to sound, weak responses that were hard to tune and characterize, or “tail” responses, consisting of broadly-tuned, predominantly excitatory responses, with a roughly low-pass shape similar to the tuning curves of auditory nerve fibers with similar threshold shifts. In some tail responses whose BFs were near the edge of the threshold elevation, a second weak high-frequency response was seen that suggests convergence of auditory nerve inputs with widely separated BFs on these cells. Spontaneous rates among neurons with elevated thresholds were not increased over those in populations of principal neurons in unexposed animals.
Isometric and concentric performance of electrically stimulated ankle plantar flexor muscles in intact rat

SUMMARY The relationship between muscle force and ankle position during isometric and pre-loaded slow concentric contractions (angular velocity, 0.52 rad s−1; range of motion, 1.22 rad) and the recovery of isometric force following concentric contractions at different velocities were determined for electrically stimulated plantar flexor muscles in intact rats. Pre-loaded refers to the isometric contraction which immediately precedes the concentric contraction. Ankle position was controlled by a dynamometer and force was recorded under the sole of the foot. The peak isometric force (19.2 N) was nearly constant at all ankle positions (range of motion, 1.57 rad). The muscle length and distal fibre length of gastrocnemius medialis at ankle positions between 0.79 rad and 2.01 rad were increased by 12.6% and 20.3%, respectively. During slow concentric contractions, the force progressively decreased (23.1 ± 2.1%); the force decreased by only 6.3 ± 0.9% during sustained isometric contractions of similar duration (3400 ms). The recovery of isometric force following concentric contractions with similar stimulation frequencies (80 Hz) was velocity dependent (i.e. more rapid at higher velocities). It is concluded that pre-loaded slow concentric contractions of the plantar flexor muscles in intact rats do not follow the same relationship as that of isometric force and ankle position. Our results in intact rats show that the force output of electrically stimulated ankle plantar flexor muscles measured under the sole of the foot can be used to study the physiological properties of skeletal muscle working in situ.
Determinants of State Utilization of Public Institutions for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities in the United States

Tested was a political socio-economic model of state institution utilization for persons with intellectual disabilities in the United States. The variables examined included state personal income, political culture, legislative professionalism, size of state's chapter of The Arc, state spending per capita on the Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waiver, and utilization of nursing homes for the elderly. Results indicate the significance of the political culture and HCBS Waiver variables.
A General Affine Earnings Valuation Model

We introduce a methodology, with two applications, that incorporates stochastic interest rates, heteroskedasticity and risk aversion into the residual income model. In the first application, goodwill is an affine (constant plus linear term) function where the constant and linear coefficients are time-varying. Homoskedastic risk gives rise to a constant risk premium, while heteroskedastic risk gives rise to linear state-dependent risk premiums. In the second application, we present a class of models where a non-linear function for the price-to-book ratio can be derived. We show how interest rates, risk, profitability and growth affect the price-to-book ratio.
Designing UI techniques for handwritten mathematics

We discuss the design of user interface techniques for visualizing and controlling the recognition of handwritten mathematics. In particular, we present a range of visualization styles for displaying the result of math recognition. These styles offer different trade-offs between ease of user correction of errors in recognition and impact on the user's entry of math. We also describe recognition control techniques, including using user-controlled mappings of allographs to achieve more robust symbol recognition and provide extensions to notation, and UI control of non-spatial information used in recognition. We generally do not discuss the precise user interface implementation necessary to use these techniques, for example whether to use menus or gestures, but just the functionality required. Finally, we provide, in an appendix, a sketch of the recognition and display implementation behind our techniques.
Popular Constitutionalism and the Affordable Care Act

The challenge to the Affordable Care Act was waged on two fronts. The first front was the constitutionalist front. Challengers claimed that it was unprecedented for Congress to compel people to engage in commerce, and purchase health insurance. However, the second front in this battle is much less appreciated. Underneath these constitutionalist positions were popular constitutionalist social movements. This essay, part of a symposium issue of Public Affairs Quarterly, analyzes the movement through the lens of popular constitutionalism, from its conception, to its growth, to its strengthening counter-movement, and finally to its inevitable conclusion at the Supreme Court of the United States.First, I explore notions of popular constitutionalism, and how the will of the people impacts how the courts construe our most fundamental laws. Second, I trace how the argument against the Affordable Care Act evolved from a simple idea to a popular constitutionalist movement, brewed by groups such as the Tea Party. Third, I discuss how a progressive countermovement formed to combat the challengers, and aimed to maintain the status quo of constitutional law. I conclude by considering how the courts received these competing social movements. The dynamics of popular constitutionalism were fully unleashed in NIFB v. Sebelius. Not only was this case unprecedented, but the challenge to it was also unprecedented.
Vacuolar Protein Sorting Protein 13A, TtVPS13A, Localizes to the Tetrahymena thermophila Phagosome Membrane and Is Required for Efficient Phagocytosis

Vacuolar protein sorting 13 (VPS13) proteins have been studied in a number of organisms, and mutations in VPS13 genes have been implicated in two human genetic disorders, but the function of these proteins is poorly understood. The TtVPS13A protein was previously identified in a mass spectrometry analysis of the Tetrahymena thermophila phagosome proteome (M. E. Jacobs et al., Eukaryot. Cell 5:1990-2000, 2006), suggesting that it is involved in phagocytosis. In this study, we analyzed the structure of the macronuclear TtVPS13A gene, which was found to be composed of 17 exons spanning 12.5 kb and was predicted to encode a protein of 3,475 amino acids (aa). A strain expressing a TtVPS13A-green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion protein was constructed, and the protein was found to associate with the phagosome membrane during the entire cycle of phagocytosis. In addition, Tetrahymena cells with a TtVPS13A knockout mutation displayed impaired phagocytosis. Specifically, they grew slowly under conditions where phagocytosis is essential, they formed few phagosomes, and the digestion of phagosomal contents was delayed compared to wild-type cells. Overall, these results provide evidence that the TtVPS13A protein is required for efficient phagocytosis.
Dilution of Bull Semen with Frozen Egg Yolk-Sodium Citrate

Summary By the use of a split-sample technique, the fertility of bovine semen was studied using four diluters: (a) freshly prepared control diluter, C; (b) freshly prepared diluter to which penicillin-streptomycin had beeen added, PS; (c) diluter prepared and frozen one month prior to use, FC; and (d) diluter to which penicillin-streptomycin had been added and then frozen one month prior to use, FPS . Results, based on 60- to 90-day non-returns to 1,558 first services were as follows: C, 60.5 per cent; PS, 58.3 per cent; FC, 61.8 per cent; and FPS, 63.3 per cent. An analysis of variance showed that there were no significant differences in conception rates.
Manipulation of Expression of Arsenic (+3 Oxidation State) Methyltransferase in Cultured Cells

Methylation of inorganic arsenic to produce mono-, di-, or trimethylated products is the central process in the cellular metabolism of arsenic. Identification of arsenic (+3 oxidation state) methyltransferase (As3mt) as the enzyme that could catalyze all the steps in the pathway for arsenic methylation suggests that expression of this enzyme could be a useful target for manipulation. Here, methods are described for heterologous expression of the rat As3mt gene in a human urothelial cell line that normally does not express this enzyme and for silencing of the AS3MT gene by RNA interference in a human hepatoma cell line. These tools can be applied to elucidating the role of methylation in the toxic and carcinogenic effects of arsenicals. Curr. Protoc. Toxicol. 43:4.35.1-4.35.24. © 2010 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Keywords: arsenic; arsenic (+3 oxidation state) methyltransferase; UROtsa cells (human urothelial cells); heterologous expression; human hepatoma cells (HepG2 cells); RNA interference; shRNA
On the electronic basis of the phosphorus intergranular embrittlement of iron

Using the all-electron full potential linearized augmented plane wave (FLAPW) total energy method, the influence of P impurity atoms on the cohesion of the Fe Σ3[1$\overline 1$10](111) grain boundary is studied through direct comparison of phosphorus/iron interactions in the grain boundary and free surface environments. The calculated nearest P–Fe distance in P/Fe(111) is 2.14 A—amounting to a 5% contraction compared to that (2.26 A) measured for the Fe3P compound and assumed for the P–Fe grain boundary. The polar-covalent P–Fe chemical bonding, which is a strong function of the P–Fe interatomic distance, is thus stronger on the Fe(111) surface, while P reduces the spin polarization of the surrounding Fe atoms more efficiently in the grain boundary environment. These effects are examined in terms of the relative segregation energies affecting the work of boundary fracture.
Applications of Calculus of Variations to Aircraft and Spacecraft Path Planning

The problem of finding the trajectory for an aerospace vehicle moving between two fixed points is investigated using Calculus of Variations (CV), which can provide necessary and sufficient conditions for trajectories that optimize a cost index. Within the framework of a systematic study aimed at tackling analytically the trajectory generation problem, this paper presents applications of the CV to find trajectories that optimize kinetic energy, energy consumption, and fuel consumption considering several environmental conditions.
Effective Biomarkers for Diagnosis of Neonatal Sepsis

Infection in neonates continues to be a global problem with significant morbidity and mortality. The diagnosis of neonatal sepsis is complicated by nonspecific clinical symptomatology, a high-false negative rate, and a delay in obtaining blood culture results. An ideal biomarker needs to have a high degree of accuracy in recognizing the presence or absence of definite infection at an early stage, to guide the initiation and duration of antibiotic therapy. The diagnostic utility of the following biomarkers seems to be most practical in the early (interleukin [IL]-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, neutrophil CD64), mid (procalcitonin) and late (C-reactive protein) phases of neonatal sepsis. Future research studies to assess reliability of these biomarkers should be (1) adequately powered for sample size and (2) use the gold-standard definition of blood-culture proven pathogen-specific sepsis. Significant advances in diagnostic accuracy of novel biomarkers to allow early, accurate, and cost-effective identification of pathogens responsible for neonatal sepsis is anticipated in the next 5 years.
Adolescents Adjudicated for Sexual Offenses

Due to concerns about the harms caused by adolescents who commit sexual offenses, this population has been the subject of specialized assessment and treatment practices that were developed without the benefit of a strong empirical base. This chapter reviews specialized assessment and treatment practices applied with this population, after providing a brief overview of the characteristics of adolescents adjudicated for sexual offenses. The review concludes that measures of sexual interest have mixed support and that developing a strong therapeutic alliance may be the most effective way to facilitate disclosure. The review also indicates that risk assessment measures have not consistently demonstrated a predictive relationship with sexual recidivism; evaluators must be cautious in completing risk assessments for the courts. The research regarding treatment of adolescents adjudicated for sexual offenses is more promising, with meta-analyses indicating an overall positive response to treatment, with cognitive-behavioral therapy and multisystemic therapy being the two approaches with the strongest support to date. Recommendations for practitioners regarding assessment and treatment practices for use with this population are offered.
Laparoscopic diagnosis and repair of pediatric femoral hernia. Initial experience of four cases.

Femoral hernias are often misdiagnosed and treated as inguinal hernias. Thus, laparoscopic groin exploration may be a valuable means of evaluating children with presumed recurrent inguinal hernias. This study describes the feasibility of laparoscopic groin exploration and femoral hernia repair in children. Four children (aged 2, 2, 3, and 17 years) with reported unilateral recurrent inguinal hernias underwent diagnostic laparoscopy via a 4-mm pediatric laparoscope. Contralateral defects were visualized in all four patients; there were three femoral hernias and one direct inguinal hernia. None of the contralateral defects had been suspected clinically. Of the seven femoral defects, five were repaired laparoscopically. One patulous defect was repaired by reapproximating the iliopubic tract to Cooper's ligament and overlaying a preperitoneal Teflon felt® patch. The other four defects were repaired using a Teflon felt® plug and preperitoneal patch. A total of three ports were required in each patient (umbilical, suprapubic, and one in between). Two femoral defects in one patient required open repair because a large lipoma prevented adequate visualization and diagnosis. The direct inguinal hernia was also repaired using the open technique. Laparoscopic groin exploration and femoral hernia repair in pediatric patients is safe and technically feasible. Its advantages, however, such as superior diagnostic ability and simultaneous bilateral tension-free repair, need to be validated with a larger study and longer follow-up.
Contribution to the Use of the Synthetic Pheromone in Monitoring Codling Moth Populations

Results of trials in walnut orchards of trap types, initial pheromone charges, and effect of field aging on the attractancy to males of Laspeyresia pomonella (L.), of rubber septa having a 1.0 mg initial pheromone charge were as follows: (1) the most suitable trap for codling moth trapping among those tried was the Pherocon IC trap; (2) septa hadng an initial charge of 1.0, 0.1, and 0.01 mg were equally attractive for the 1st 7 days in the field, although the 0.01 mg charge was numerically inferior to the 1.0 and 0.1 mg charges; septa charged with 10 mg were significantly less attractive than septa charged with 1.0 and 0.1 mg charges but not less attractive than septa charged with 0.01 mg; (3) septa that had field-aged for at least 3 wk were significantly less attractive than unaged (fresh) septa; (4) to maintain a trap which would be at least 75% as attractive as a trap with a fresh septum, septa need to be replaced at least on a 12-day basis.
Optimizing conservation policy: the importance of seasonal variation in hunting and meat consumption on the Masoala Peninsula of Madagascar

Studying seasonal hunting patterns can be critical for developing sound actions for conservation and public health. As availability of funds to implement conservation policy is limited, it is essential to focus efforts during the most critical times of year. During July 2011–June 2012 I recorded direct observations of hunting of forest mammals, and conducted daily 24-hour recall surveys (2 weeks per month over 11 months: August 2011–June 2012), and interviews of all households in a focal village on the Masoala Peninsula of Madagascar to investigate (1) what drives seasonal hunting patterns and (2) how seasonal variation in consumption of wildlife and domestic meat affects native species and people. There is marked seasonal variation in hunting of forest mammals and in the consumption of fish and domesticated livestock on the Masoala Peninsula. Hunters target bushpigs Potamochoerus larvatus and tenrec and lemur species during the austral winter (March–August), whereas more native and introduced carnivorans, fish and domesticated livestock are consumed during the austral summer (September–February). The results suggest that seasonal variation in hunting patterns is driven by the physical and behavioural characteristics of prey rather than seasonal scarcity of alternative meat. Seasonal hunting and meat consumption on the Masoala Peninsula may amplify the negative impact of hunting on native carnivorans and tenrecs (which are hunted when they are pregnant and lactating), and the positive impact of consumption of lemurs, bushpigs and tenrecs on human health. This study highlights an important aspect of hunting on the Masoala: the decision whether or not to hunt is made independently of decisions regarding when to hunt particular species.
An Analysis on AIDS Knowledge,Attitudes and Behaviors among Middle School Students

Objective This analysis was conducted to investigate the HIV/AIDS knowledge,attitude and behaviors among middle school students in Xichong county for the implementation of effective HIV/AIDS health education among the population.Methods Anonymous questionnaires were conducted among the middle school students in Xichong county from the year 2008 to 2011.Results By analyzing the questionnaires,it was found that the total rate of HIV/AIDS knowledge among middle school students had a sharp-rising trend.Meanwhile,students had a good knowledge of blood transmission and transmission between a mother and her baby.However,students found it a bottleneck to understand sex transmission,the way of non-dissemination and knowledge on how to prevent HIV/AIDS.Conclusion Diverse and long-term activities should be conducted among middle school students,especially among students in lower grades,to strength HIV/AIDS-relate
PITCH-BASED EMPHASIS DETECTION FOR SEGMENTING SPEECH RECORDINGS

This paper describes a technique to automatically locate emphasized segments of a speech recording based on pitch. These salient portions can be used in a variety of applications, but were originally designed to be used in an interactive system that enables high-speed skimming and browsing of speech recordings. Previous techniques to detect emphasis have used Hidden Markov Models; emphasized regions in close temporal proximity were found to successfully create useful summaries of the recordings. The new research described herein presents a sim pler technique to detect salient segments and summarize a recording without using statistical models that require large amounts of training data. The algorithm adapts to the pitch range of a speaker, then automatically selects the regions of highest pitch activity as a measure of emphasis.
Nonequilibrium carrier distribution in GaAs probed by electronic Raman scattering

Electronic Raman scattering (ERS) is used to determine the velocity distribution of conduction electrons in active GaAs devices. Two types of device were studied. LPE grown GaAs which consisted of a GaAs drift region (≈9 μm) between two more heavily doped GaAs contact regions and MBE grown GaAs/AlGaAs heterojunction devices with 1500- and 3000-A GaAs drift regions.1
Response of sows and litters to added dietary biotin in environmentally regulated facilities.

A 3-yr study was conducted to evaluate the effects of biotin on sow longevity, reproductive performance and piglet performance to weaning utilizing 161 sows and 414 litters. Sows and gilts were fed a basal corn-soybean meal diet (without any antibiotic or chemotherapeutic compounds) during gestation and lactation containing either 0 or .55 ppm added biotin. The basal diet contained .17 ppm total dietary biotin based on microbiological assay. Results indicated sow culling rates and weight gains, number of live pigs at birth, pig weights at birth and weaning, and the interval from weaning to rebreeding were similar for both treatment groups. However, sows fed the diet with added biotin weaned more (P less than .05) pigs/litter overall and at gestation-lactation period 1 than did sows fed the basal diet without added biotin, although biotin did not increase (P greater than .10) the number of pigs weaned at gestation-lactation periods 2 through 5. The incidence of dermatitis, hair loss and soundness of feet and legs did not appear to be affected by adding biotin to the diet. Thus, the addition of .55 ppm biotin to a corn-soybean meal diet fed during gestation and lactation did not improve any of the criteria measured except number of pigs weaned overall.
Fetal Aortic Stenosis: Natural History and Echocardiographic Evaluation

Aortic stenosis encompasses a spectrum of abnormality ranging from mild to critical forms. Antenatal diagnosis of aortic stenosis can be made in the full range of the spectrum, but it is the more severe cases that are dominant in the fetal series, as these are more easily detected during obstetric screening scans. The progressive nature of obstructive lesions detected in the fetus has been well described, and this type of progression was first described in a case of fetal aortic stenosis [1]. In this chapter, we discuss the echocardiographic features, natural history, and progression of fetal aortic stenosis in relation to the degree and timing of aortic obstruction.
Distinguishing Neural Adaptation and Predictive Coding Hypotheses in Auditory Change Detection

The auditory mismatch negativity (MMN) component of event-related potentials (ERPs) has served as a neural index of auditory change detection. MMN is elicited by presentation of infrequent (deviant) sounds randomly interspersed among frequent (standard) sounds. Deviants elicit a larger negative deflection in the ERP waveform compared to the standard. There is considerable debate as to whether the neural mechanism of this change detection response is due to release from neural adaptation (neural adaptation hypothesis) or from a prediction error signal (predictive coding hypothesis). Previous studies have not been able to distinguish between these explanations because paradigms typically confound the two. The current study disambiguated effects of stimulus-specific adaptation from expectation violation using a unique stimulus design that compared expectation violation responses that did and did not involve stimulus change. The expectation violation response without the stimulus change differed in timing, scalp distribution, and attentional modulation from the more typical MMN response. There is insufficient evidence from the current study to suggest that the negative deflection elicited by the expectation violation alone includes the MMN. Thus, we offer a novel hypothesis that the expectation violation response reflects a fundamentally different neural substrate than that attributed to the canonical MMN.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Adherence and Depression in Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic health condition distinguished by a complex set of self-management behaviors needed to achieve blood glucose control in order to minimize risk of future complications. Diabetes is a highly prevalent disease with as many as 14 % of US adults are estimated to have diagnosed or undiagnosed diabetes. Those with diagnosed diabetes are at increased risk for certain psychological conditions, including depression, anxiety, and diabetes-related emotional distress. Importantly, subclinical symptoms of emotional distress have been linked to poorer self-management and poorer health outcomes among individuals treated for diabetes. An integrative approach that follows behavioral medicine principles is needed to improve emotional well-being and self-management outcomes. Research on cognitive behavioral therapy for adherence and depression (CBT-AD) has demonstrated benefits for improved glycemic control, diabetes self-management, adherence, and depression. The current chapter provides an overview of the diagnostic presentation of patients with diabetes, describes the CBT-AD approach developed within the Behavioral Medicine Service at Massachusetts General Hospital, and illustrates its application with a case example.
A new compliant actuation: Electromagnetic spring uses in parallel elastic actuator

Traditional elastic actuator is the flexible structure which needed to connected to the output shaft of the brake. Besides, according to the principle of the state of the connection, it could be divided into series elastic actuators (SEA), as well as parallel elastic actuator (PEA) [3]. Therefore, the brake output has a certain flexibility, providing compliance or shock absorption, and other functions. However, since the spring constant is a fixed value, it only could be decided in the design. Namely, it is hard to adjust by following the different user's requirement. Thus, we propose a flexible structure design which driven by electromagnetic force, by varying the magnitude of the electromagnetic force that can actively adjust the stiffness change and improve the flexibility of the traditional spring immutable problem. Then, one of the most important thing is that we do not need the extra mechanism which in order to adjust the stiffness, and even increasing the structural complexity. In other words, in the meanwhile, achieving actuator without real spring (no loss), reducing the size and simplify the structure, high response adjusting in stiffness modulation. Therefore, for the exoskeleton robot for compliance and simplify the size of demand, this research has significant innovative and progressive.
Factors in an end user security expertise instrument

Purpose The purpose of this study is to identify factors that determine computer and security expertise in end users. They can be significant determinants of human behaviour and interactions in the security and privacy context. Standardized, externally valid instruments for measuring end-user security expertise are non-existent. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire encompassing skills and knowledge-based questions was developed to identify critical factors that constitute expertise in end users. Exploratory factor analysis was applied on the results from 898 participants from a wide range of populations. Cluster analysis was applied to characterize the relationship between computer and security expertise. Ordered logistic regression models were applied to measure efficacy of the proposed security and computing factors in predicting user comprehension of security concepts: phishing and certificates. Findings There are levels to peoples’ computer and security expertise that could be reasonably measured and operationalized. Four factors that constitute computer security-related skills and knowledge are, namely, basic computer skills, advanced computer skills, security knowledge and advanced security skills, and these are identified as determinants of computer expertise. Practical implications Findings from this work can be used to guide the design of security interfaces such that it caters to people with different expertise levels and does not force users to exercise more cognitive processes than required. Originality/value This work identified four factors that constitute security expertise in end users. Findings from this work were integrated to propose a framework called Security SRK for guiding further research on security expertise. This work posits that security expertise instrument for end user should measure three cognitive dimensions: security skills, rules and knowledge.
Organic staining on bone from exposure to wood and other plant materials.

Abstract Determining the depositional environment and the postmortem alterations to a set of remains are necessary aspects of a forensic investigation to explain the circumstances surrounding the death of an individual. The present study examines organic staining as a method for reconstructing the depositional environment of skeletal remains and the taphonomic agents with which they came into contact. Organic staining results largely from tannins leaching from plant materials and therefore can be seen on bone deposited in wooden coffin environments or on terrestrial surfaces. The present study examines the hypothesis that the degree of staining observed on skeletal elements would increase as the length of exposure to the organic matter increased and that different plant materials and environments would leave different patterns or colorations of staining. The sample consisted of 165 pig (Sus scrofa) femora divided into four groups exposed to differing experimental conditions, including burial in direct contact with soil or burial in a simulated coffin environment, immersion in water with wood samples, and surface deposition with plant matter contact. The bones were removed once a month from their experimental environments and the level of staining was recorded qualitatively using the Munsell Soil Color Chart. In all of the experimental environments, staining was present after two months of exposure, and the color darkened across the bone surface with each episode of data collection. The results from the present study indicate that staining can manifest on bone within a relatively short time frame once skeletonization occurs and a variety of colorations or patterns of staining can manifest based on the plant material. The present research also demonstrates the potential of organic staining to aid in estimations of the postmortem interval as well as a depositional environmental reconstruction through plant species identification.
Finding Trends in Software Research

This paper explores the structure of research papers in software engineering. Using text mining, we study 35,391 software engineering (SE) papers from 34 leading SE venues over the last 25 years. These venues were divided, nearly evenly, between conferences and journals. An important aspect of this analysis is that it is fully automated and repeatable. To achieve that automation, we used topic modeling (with LDA) to mine 10 topics that represent much of the structure of contemporary SE. The 10 topics presented here should not be "set in stone" as the only topics worthy of study in SE. Rather our goal is to report that (a) text mining methods can detect large scale trends within our community; (b) those topic change with time; so (c) it is important to have automatic agents that can update our understanding of our community whenever new data arrives.
Sensorless phase shift control for phase shifted DC-DC converters for eliminating DC transients from transformer winding currents

The paper presents a two phase shift control strategy for Dual Active Bridge(DAB) and Triple Active Bridge(TAB) converter to eliminate the dc transients from the high frequency transformer winding currents during operating phase angle change from one cycle to the next cycle. The proposed two phase shift method controls the alternating nature of high frequency current in transformer windings in one switching cycle without using any high frequency current sensor. The proposed control strategy applies two different phase shift angles during positive and negative half cycles in order to eliminate the dc transients from transformer winding currents during steady state phase angle change. The control strategy is analyzed and applied for power flow direction reversal of Dual Active Bridge Converter and for changing power flow mode from three port scenario to two port scenario in case of Triple Active Bridge converter. The proposed control strategy study has been verified by performing experimental study on a hardware prototype.
COMPARTMENT SYNDROME OF THE HAND AND WRIST

High clinical suspicion is of paramount importance in evaluating the hand or wrist for an evolving compartment syndrome. A detailed history coupled with a thorough physical examination form the basis for the diagnosis. The use of techniques to measure compartment pressures forms the objective foundation to assist in formulating the correct treatment plan. The particular technique used to measure the compartments is not critical as long as the information is evaluated in the context of the history and physical examination. No absolute threshold pressure exists over which a fasciotomy is indicated. The need for immediate fasciotomy once the diagnosis is made is clear, however. No one can be faulted for proceeding with a fasciotomy on clinical grounds alone, even when the appearance of findings typically associated with compartment syndrome at surgery (herniating muscle bellies, edema, etc.) are less than convincing. At their worst, the wounds from a fasciotomy present a cosmetic challenge. Great fault can be assigned, however, to the clinician who chooses to ignore an evolving compartment syndrome that unnecessarily places the patient at risk of permanent disability. Here, the cosmetic benefit of avoiding the fasciotomy is overwhelmed by the often-devastating dysfunction created by ischemic damage to the contents of the affected compartments. Once the damage is done, it is permanent. A thorough understanding of the pertinent anatomy is critical to safe, efficacious treatment. Handled promptly and judiciously, compartment syndrome of the hand and wrist can be managed effectively, decreasing the morbidity associated with this potentially devastating and debilitating process.
Semantic Classification of Biomedical Concepts Using Distributional Similarity

Abstract Objective To develop an automated, high-throughput, and reproducible method for reclassifying and validating ontological concepts for natural language processing applications. Design We developed a distributional similarity approach to classify the Unified Medical Language System (UMLS) concepts. Classification models were built for seven broad biomedically relevant semantic classes created by grouping subsets of the UMLS semantic types. We used contextual features based on syntactic properties obtained from two different large corpora and used α-skew divergence as the similarity measure. Measurements The testing sets were automatically generated based on the changes by the National Library of Medicine to the semantic classification of concepts from the UMLS 2005AA to the 2006AA release. Error rates were calculated and a misclassification analysis was performed. Results The estimated lowest error rates were 0.198 and 0.116 when considering the correct classification to be covered by our top prediction and top 2 predictions, respectively. Conclusion The results demonstrated that the distributional similarity approach can recommend high level semantic classification suitable for use in natural language processing.
Chapter 3 – Ecological Niche: Computing, the Social Environment, and Ways of Working

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the environment in which the system operates. There is an interdependency of the system and the environment in which the system is to operate. It is all too often obscured when one looks at the history of computing. New types of computing often evolve into subspecies that are well adapted to one particular environment or another. Horizontal NUIs will be used differently than vertical ones. This adaptation reflects the constraints of the context and the possibilities that the new interface and technology bring in. The NUI may represent a revolution in computing, not because it replaces existing ways of interacting with computers, but because it enables computing to expand into new niches that could be of tremendous size and importance. Finally, the NUI will evolve into subspecies that will be well adapted to given social and business niches.
cvcrand and cptest: Commands for efficient design and analysis of cluster randomized trials using constrained randomization and permutation tests.

Cluster randomized trials (CRTs), where clusters (for example, schools or clinics) are randomized to comparison arms but measurements are taken on individuals, are commonly used to evaluate interve...
A long wait: barriers to discharge for long length of stay patients

Introduction Reducing long length of stay (LLOS, or inpatient stays lasting over 30 days) is an important way for hospitals to improve cost efficiency, bed availability and health outcomes. Discharge delays can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars per patient, and LLOS represents a burden on bed availability for other potential patients. However, most research studies investigating discharge barriers are not LLOS-specific. Of those that do, nearly all are limited by further patient subpopulation focus or small sample size. To our knowledge, our study is the first to describe LLOS discharge barriers in an entire Department of Medicine. Methods We conducted a chart review of 172 LLOS patients in the Department of Medicine at an academic tertiary care hospital and quantified the most frequent causes of delay as well as factors causing the greatest amount of delay time. We also interviewed healthcare staff for their perceptions on barriers to discharge. Results Discharge site coordination was the most frequent cause of delay, affecting 56% of patients and accounting for 80% of total non-medical postponement days. Goals of care issues and establishment of follow-up care were the next most frequent contributors to delay. Conclusion Together with perspectives from interviewed staff, these results highlight multiple different areas of opportunity for reducing LLOS and maximising the care capacity of inpatient hospitals.
Two cases of maggot debridement therapy in pyoderma gangrenosum.

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a neutrophilic dermatosis characterized by cutaneous ulceration. PG primarily affects young and middle-age adults with a preference for women and is often associated with an underlying systemic disease. Although its etiology is unclear, neutrophilic dysfunction, genetic risk factors, and chronic inflammation are thought to contribute to its pathogenesis. Patients with classic PG often present with a single or multiple ulcers commonly on the lower extremities or trunk. In addition to medical treatment, wound care to combat accumulation of necrotic tissue debris and biofilm formation is required for optimal management. Wound debridement often presents a challenge in PG because of its feature of pathergy, or exacerbation in response to incidental or iatrogenic trauma, which has been reported in up to 31% of cases.1 Maggot debridement therapy (MDT), a centuries-old tradition in medical history of placing larvae over a wound to digest necrotic tissue, has seen a recent resurgence in popularity.2 The technology behind this technique has evolved with controlled therapeutic myiasis in which the live larvae are enclosed within a nylon mesh bag so they are obscured from view and cannot escape.3 In this case series we review 2 cases of longstanding PG that were successfully debrided with MDT.
Switching Stochastic Approximation and Applications to Networked Systems

This paper investigates the interaction between control and communications in networked systems by studying a class of stochastic approximation algorithms that accommodate random network topology switching processes, time-varying functions, nonlinear dynamics, additive and nonadditive noises, and other uncertainties. Interaction among control strategy and the multiple stochastic processes introduces critical challenges in such problems. By modeling the random switching as a discrete-time Markov chain and studying multiple stochastic uncertainties in a unified framework, it is shown that under broad conditions, the algorithms are convergent. The performance of the algorithms is further analyzed by establishing their rate of convergence and asymptotic characterizations. Simulation case studies are conducted to evaluate the performance of the procedures in various aspects.
Translational Criminology: Toward Best Practice

Over the past two decades, criminologists have attempted to better understand the process through which research is used by practitioners and policymakers to identify the conditions that facilitate its policy and practice use. As part of this effort, the current study examines the translational research process and the use of researcher-practitioner partnerships (RPPs) in two state correctional agencies. The methods include interviews with leading national researchers, Florida legislative personnel, and state-level decision makers in adult and juvenile corrections. The findings document barriers, facilitators, and mechanisms involved in the translation process and reveal the effectiveness of RPPs to translate research into policy and practice.
Impedance Based MEMS Biosensor for Detection of Foodborne Pathogen

This paper reports the design, fabrication and characterization of an impedance based biosensor for simultaneous detection of three Salmonella serogroups (type B, D, and E), with low concentration in ready to eat Turkey matrix. The measurements demonstrate that the device can selectively detect Salmonella, e.g., type B at a concentration as low as 8 cell/ml with a detection time of 1 hour. The addition of focusing region has improved the signal strength by a factor ranged between 4. The antibody immobilization on top of the detection electrodes was studied as a function of time between 0.5 - 3 hours. The results demonstrate that an optimized coating can be achieved within 1.5 hours at 1X antibody coating. The design has shown a significant improvement in capability to detect Salmonella compared to traditional culture methods, PCR and ELISA based detection.
TGF β-1 and WNT Signaling Pathways Collaboration Associated with Cochlear Implantation Trauma-Induced Fibrosis

The crosstalk between TGF-β1 and WNT pathways has been proven to regulate aspects of the development and tissue homeostasis processes. Recently, it has been demonstrated this collaboration also takes place during fibrotic diseases, where TGF-β1 activates the WNT/β-catenin pathway that results in dedifferentiation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts, increased production of extracellular matrix components and fibrosis. Independent studies show the functions of these molecules during the development of the inner ears in several different species. However, little is known about the collaboration between TGF-β1 and WNT in the injured inner ear and particularly how this collaboration affects the fibrotic process that often occurs following cochlear implantation. First, we used a cochlear explant model to study the effect of electrode insertion trauma and TGF-β1 signaling in activation of the WNT pathway. Finally, adult TopGal mutant mice were used in vivo to track the activation of the WNT/β-catenin in response to EIT. A chronic inflammatory response, increased cell proliferation and tissue remodeling are hallmarks of fibrotic disease. This study explores and highlights the collaboration between the TGF-β1 and WNT pathways in the trauma-initiated fibrotic process within the implanted cochlea. WNT signaling is involved in the development of the inner ear and therefore a potential target in hair cell regeneration therapies. However, in light of our observations from the current study, manipulation of the WNT pathway by gene therapy techniques in the pathological ear seems a very complex process with an increased risk of inducing excessive fibrosis thereby compromising the efficacy of implant function. Anat Rec, 303:608-618, 2020. © 2019 American Association for Anatomy.