cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Size of mica domains and distribution of the adsorbed Na-Ca ions

Mica domains have received less attention in the literature than smectite quasi-crystals. This study was conducted to determine whether mica crystals form domains in suspension, the conditions in which those domains exist, and the distribution of adsorbed Na and Ca ions in the domains. Particle size distributions and electrophoretic mobilities (EM) of Silver Hill illite in suspension densities of 0.5 g liter−1 were determined by photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS). Solutions at salt concentration from 2 to 10 mmolc liter−1, sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) from 0 to ∞ (mmol liter−1)0.5, and pH values 5, 7, and 9 were used to prepare the clay suspensions. The particle size of Silver Hill illite suspensions showed a bimodal distribution. Through PCS measurements at low angles, the second peak of the bimodal distribution of the illite was found to be associated with the rotational movement of the b-dimension of the particles. Illite domains broke down in the range of SAR 10 to 15 (mmol liter−1)0.5 equivalent to exchangeable sodium percentages (ESP) of 13 to 18. Illite thus demonstrates a similar stability to smectites that require ESP ≈ 15 to disaggregate quasi-crystals. The EM of the illite particles increased drastically when the SAR increased from 2 to 10 (mmol liter−1)0.5. This increase in EM could not be explained exclusively by the change in the particle size. Cation demixing is required to explain the increase of the zeta potential at the shear plane. The EM of the Silver Hill illite was doubled when the pH increased from 5 to 9 at SAR > 15, but no pH effect was found when SAR 15 can be understood if we consider that at SAR > 15 most of the particles are single platelets. The relative importance of variable charge on single platelets or crystals is apparently greater than on domains because the pH affected the mobility of the individual crystals but not the mobility of the domains. The combination of particle size distribution and EM data gives additional information about the zero point of charge of the variable charge, also called point of zero net proton charge (PZNPC) of the clay. For Silver Hill illite, we estimate a PZNPC value between 5 and 7.
Design and test of FPGA-based direction-of-arrival algorithms for adaptive array antennas

This paper presents the design and parametric testing of two FPGA-based, direction of arrival estimation algorithms (Bartlett and Minimum Variance Distortionless Response) for use in an adaptive array antenna system. The algorithms were implemented on a Xilinx Virtex-5 FPGA and tested using a test bed that emulates signals coming from an 8-channel, circular antenna head after being down converted to an intermediate frequency. The signals are digitized and fed to the FPGA using a custom A/D board. The algorithms were tested while sweeping the incident angle, power level, and single versus dual beams. This paper presents an overview of the digital implementation and the results of the parametric testing. 1 2
The Analysis Of Fuzzy Dynamic Systems Using Cell-to-cell Mapping

Since Zadeh's first paper about fuzzy control, many developments have been done in this area. Many researchers tried to create a well structured methodology for building and analyzing fuzzy control systems. However, the efforts are more successful on the applicational aspect than the theoretical one. There are especially few satisfactory results in stability analysis of fuzzy control systems because of the great uncertainty and nonlinearity involved. In this paper, a Cell- to-Cell Mapping method which was successfully used in the nonlinear system analysis is applied to analyze a fuzzy dynamic system. By first partitioning a state - to a Cell State Space, a fuzzy mapping is transfted into a cell-to-cell mapping. Then, an algorithin is used to locate the periodic solutions of the fuzzy dynamic system. The Domain of Attraction of a periodic motion is also shown to describe the behavior of the fuzzy dynamic system.
Competition for Telephones

British Telecom is being privatised. Catherine England, an American economist, draws on US experience to warn Britain of the dangers of suppressing competition by regulation. The American exemplar should encourage the UK Government to go the whole hog: decontrol the telephone industry and intensify competition from new private suppliers.
Direction and scope of comprehension-related activities by procedural and object-oriented programmers: an empirical study

Examines the direction and scope of comprehension-related activities of professional programmers carrying out several program comprehension and maintenance activities over time. Procedural and object-oriented (OO) programmers studied a program and subsequently performed modifications during two sessions. The results showed that the OO programmers tended to use a strongly top-down approach to program understanding during the early phase of studying the program, but increasingly used a bottom-up approach during the maintenance tasks. The procedural programmers used a more bottom-up orientation throughout all activities. The scope of the activities was greater for the procedural than for the OO programmers. However, regardless of the programming paradigm used, the programmers over time built a broad, rather than a localized, view of the program.
Legislating for a New Age in Medicine: How Defining the Standard of Care for Telemedicine Can Improve Healthcare in Iowa

Most states, including Iowa, have not updated their laws to account for the emergence of telemedicine. With regards to malpractice issues, this leaves providers uncertain of the legal implications of using telemedicine, and this discourages its use. Iowa should seek to define the standard of care for telemedicine while balancing two public policy concerns. First, it should seek to maximize the potential benefits of telemedicine, including its accessibility, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. Second, it should seek to minimize the risks associated with telemedicine, most notably the risk of misdiagnosis due to the absence of an in-person exam. In legislating for this new age in medicine, Iowa should follow the lead set by Hawaii by adopting a standard of care that recognizes the diagnostic disadvantage associated with telemedicine but affirms liability for physicians who improperly use telemedicine.
Why Bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide Is a “Magic Anion” for Electrochemistry

Ionic liquids consisting of bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (FSI–) anion show promise as electrolytes for Li-ion-based electric storage devices, as they exhibit relatively low viscosity, high chemical stability, and form robust solid–electrolyte interphase (SEI) protecting liquid electrolyte from further breakdown on the electrode. These ionic liquids have been reported to inhibit dendrite formation on lithium metal and lithiated graphite electrodes, which also relates to the unusual SEI properties. In this study, we examine the chemistry aspects that may account for this behavior. Radiolysis was used to induce redox reactions of FSI– anions in model systems, and matrix isolation electron paramagnetic resonance was used to identify radical (ion) intermediates generated in these reactions. Our results suggest that qualitative differences between such ionic liquid electrolytes versus common carbonate electrolytes reflect ease of mineralization of the reduced anion without the concurrent generation of organic radic...
P144 Case Series: Choosing Thrombolysis in Acute Pulmonary Embolism (PE) – Massiveness or Instability?

Background PE has significant mortality risk particularly in “PE with haemodynamic instability” or “massive PE” where blood pressure, attributable to PE, is sustained below 90mmHg. [1,2] Thrombolysis in this patient group is associated with reduced mortality and faster restoration of lung perfusion with approval by NICE [1,2] Another important group of patients with apparent haemodynamic stability but documented right ventricular (RV) compromise or myocardial injury (e.g. echocardiogram evidence of RV strain or raised Troponin) is recognised (“sub-massive” PE) where considerable debate remains as to reliable prognostication and appropriateness of thrombolysis. Aims Recognising a tendency in our district general hospital to treat PE aggressively, we sought to assess our own practise with regards to thrombolytic therapy in PE to better understand our interpretation of NICE guidance and the wider literature. Objective Assess routine quantification of haemodynamic instability of the acutely unwell patient in the clinical environment and the extent with which knowledge of right ventricular compromise and cardiac biomarkers influenced decision to thrombolyse. Methods Retrospective review of case records. Data was extracted from the medical records by one of the authors followed by joint scrutiny by all authors. Results From June 2010 over 24 months, 17 patients (6 males, 11 females) have been thrombolysed. Median age 62 (range 24–90). Of these one patient died 4 days later of sepsis and multi organ failure, and one developed a haematoma in her arm which resolved with conservative management. Of these patients only two Massive i.e. haemodynamically unstable with one thrombolysed on the ITU. In the submassive PEs, supporting evidence for thrombolysis was CT in 5 cases, and echo 5, both in 2, and lab (troponin rise) in 9 cases. Conclusion Thrombolysis in PE especially in submassive PEs remains an area of controversy and clinically a dilemma at times. Our case series shows that patient selection supported by relevant investigations, appropriate patients can benefit without any untoward events. References NICE CG144 Venous thromboembolic diseases: full guideline. Jaff MR et al. Management of massive and submassive pulmonary embolism, iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis, and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation 2011.
A review of Rocky Mountain spotted fever (tick-borne typhus), its agent, and its tick vectors in the United States.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever (tick-borne typhus) is the most important rickettsial disease in the United States. Its changing status since the beginning of this century is reviewed, and the various factors responsible for the recent increase in disease incidence, which in 1974 reached record proportions, are discussed. Reference is made to the large variety of ixodid ticks which has been found naturally infected with Rickettsia rickettsii or with related but distinct rickettsial agents, and the findings of recent studies pertaining to population dynamics and host relationships of various tick vectors are presented. Also reviewed are technical advances in methodology applicable to rickettsial research, particularly those procedures which may lead to a more efficient diagnosis or prevention of spotted fever. Finally, those steps are outlined which would bring about a decrease in the morbidity and mortality of this disease.
Abstract 2553: Characterization of rare germline variants in somatically mutated melanoma genes in melanoma-prone families.

CDKN2A and CDK4 are the two major susceptibility genes for melanoma identified so far. However, these two genes only account for melanoma susceptibility in a small proportion of melanoma-prone families, suggesting the existence of other susceptibility genes. In addition, melanoma is among the tumors with the highest mutation rate and a large number of mutated genes have been identified that affect multiple key biological pathways. The goal of this study is to examine whether rare germline sequence variants and/or copy number variations (CNVs) in these genes may influence melanoma risk in melanoma-prone families without known CDKN2A/CDK4 mutations. Methods: We conducted exome sequencing in blood-derived DNA in 75 melanoma cases from 23 American melanoma families with ≥3 affected members. We evaluated rare non-synonymous variants, defined as allele frequency less than 0.1% reported in public databases (dbSNP, 1000 Genomes, or NHLBI9s Exome Variant Server), in 37 genes (including BRAF, NRAS, KIT,PTEN, CDKN2A, GRIN2A, etc.) that are frequently mutated in melanoma. We also screened CNVs in these genes using data from the Nimblegen 3x720k exon-focused CGH tiling arrays, in which blood-derived DNA from 79 melanoma cases and 25 spouses were analyzed in the same mutation-negative families. We used the Nexus Copy Number™ built-in FASST2 algorithm to identify significant CNVs (significant threshold=0.000001; minimal number of probes per segment=5; log2 ratio>0.3 for gains and -0.3 for losses). Results: We identified 10 rare variants in 10 genes that showed partial/complete co-segregation with disease and were absent in our internal controls (N∼400). Four of these variants occurred in all cases within their respective families and 3 of them were novel. We did not identify any disease-related CNVs in these genes except for a deletion in exon 1β of CDKN2A/ p14ARF in 6 out of 7 melanoma cases in one big family. Our findings suggest that rare variants in somatically mutated genes may confer susceptibility to melanoma risk in a subset of families. However, these variants need to be validated, checked for functional relevance, and evaluated in a large number of cases and controls to determine their role in disease susceptibility. Citation Format: Xiaohong (Rose) Yang, Laura Burke, Kevin Jacobs, Michael Cullen, Joseph Boland, Laurie Burdett, Michael Malasky, Melissa Rotunno, Meredith Yeager, Stephen Chanock, Margaret Tucker, Alisa Goldstein. Characterization of rare germline variants in somatically mutated melanoma genes in melanoma-prone families. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2553. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-2553
Positioning Poultry Science for the Twenty-First Century: A Commitment to People

Abstract Three major paradigm shifts have occurred over the last half century that have greatly influenced agriculture. Increased productivity was the major focus when agriculture was considered simply as farming. As agriculture evolved into systems of commodity production, better management practices and enhanced production efficiency were major emphases of research and extension activities. Agriculture today can be considered as the interface between society and its natural resource base. Economic development, global competitiveness, and preservation of the environment are major challenges in agriculture that have captured the national interest. Colleges of agriculture with their academic, research, and extension programs have played significant roles within the land-grant system in shaping agricultural practices and policies. Within this evolution of agriculture, the poultry industry has grown more rapidly than the whole of agriculture itself. Yet, today, many departments or programs in poultry science are threatened with mergers or elimination due to decreased student enrollments. Because it is a “people-intensive” field, poultry science must be committed to students, faculty, and the industry and have the courage to face changes in a productive way.
Tectonics: 50 years after the Revolution

The Plate Tectonic Revolution that transformed Earth science has occurred together with revolutions in imagery and planetary studies. Earth's outer layer (lithosphere: upper mantle and crust) comprises relatively rigid plates ranging in size from near-global to kilometer scale; boundaries can be sharp (a few kilometers wide to diffuse, hundreds of kilometers) and are refl ected in earthquake distribution. Divergent, transform fault, and convergent (subduction) margins are present at all scales. Collisions can occur between several crustal types and at subduction zones of varying polarity. Modern plate processes and their geologic products permit inference of Earth's plate tectonic history in times before extant oceanic crust. Ophiolites provide an insight into the products and processes of oceanic crust formation. Ophiolite emplacement involves a tectonic process related to collision of crustal margins with subduction zones. The Earth's mantle comprises, from top to bottom, the lithosphere, asthenosphere, mesosphere, and a hot boundary layer. Plume-related magmatism may arise from bulges in the latter, which in turn may alternate with depressions caused by pronounced subduction, leading to assembly of supercontinents. Plate tectonic activity probably occurred on an early Archean, or even Hadean, Earth. Earth-like plate tectonic activity seems not to be present on other terrestrial planets, although strike-slip faulting is present in Mars's Valles Marineris. Possible extensional and compressional tectonics on Venus and an inferred unimodal hypsographic curve for early Earth suggest that Venus may be a modern analogue for a young Earth. © 2013 The Geological Society of America. All rights reserved.
Discuss Work Process about How to Reduce N109 Front Door and Fender GCA Score

In order to improve body in white's manufacturing precision,analyze body in white manufacturing problems,monitor some key process as supplier part's quality control,car producer's fixture improvement、rack improvement and so on,offer method to improve body in white's manufacturing precision.
Control effect of occupational hazards in 25 construction projects of radiodiagnosis and radiotherapy in Yiyang city

Objective To analyze evaluation situations of occupation hazard control effectiveness of 25 radiodiagnosis and radiotherapy construction projects in Yiyang city from 2007 to 2011,find the existed problems and defects,explore the solutions and strategies which could provide a scientific basis for radiation protection management.Methods The evaluation contents like preventive measures were analyzed comprehensively by checklist based on the relevant national health and assessment requirements.Results No pre-evaluation reports of radiation protection for construction project was reported.The evaluated projects supervised by county-level health administration only accounted for 4%.The major contents included different extent of defects in radiation preventions like qualified rate of machine area 36%,qualified rate of archives 8%.Conclusion At the same time of strengthening the control effect evaluation,we shall enhance the pre-evaluation work of construction work,improve county-level health administration legislation power,emphasize subsequent radiation protection work contains perfect archive management and sufficient computer room area,completely-equipped working indicating lamps,warning signs and personal protective equipments.
A Parallel Coordinate Descent Method for Unconstrained Optimization

A parallel coordinate descent method for solving unconstrained optimization problems is proposed. The result of numerical experiment is given, an acceleration multiple and parallel efficiency of the algorithm are discussed. The result of calculation shows that the parallel algorithm is feasible.
Spatial Patterns of Domestic Passenger Transport and Competitive Situation for Chinese Civil Airlines

With statistical analysis and visualization, this research analyzes the characteristics of concerned domestic cities and airlines and competitive situation for the nine Chinese airline companies, based on latest Chinese civil aviation flight information for 60 delicately sampled Chinese cities. It is shown that the airlines of the three big aviation companies and Hainan airlines have formed multi-hub networks with high connectivity, while the other five companies only have single-hub or double-hub radial networks. The three big companies and Hainan airlines have apparent advantages of operational monopoly, and also intensive competition between them. Contrarily the other airline companies stand in apparent inferior competitive positions on the crucial airlines constituting Chinese civil aviation transport networks. The research is expected beneficial to airline and flight adjustment, code sharing and civil aviation policy enaction.
Some Recollections of Life with Walter Kohn

In 1968, I first met Walter at Case-Western Reserve University, where he was giving a series of lectures. I had completed computations on metal surfaces with the new density functional theory he had published with Hohenberg, and wanted to show the manuscript to him. Walter gave me an appointment, and we had an enjoyable hour discussing the computations. Walter said he had a post doc named Norton Lang who was also interested in carrying out surface computations.
The Economics of Central City Change

Since the Second World War, both the economy and social composition of the US central city have been profoundly transformed. This transformation in urban employment and residence has changed the conditions necessary to maintain economic growth and social control.
Semiconductor power devices

In this chapter, the characteristics of high-voltage SiC IGBT, SiC MOSFET, SiC junction gate field-effect transistor (JFET), and low-voltage SiC MOSFET are discussed.
A parallel mapping of backpropagation algorithm for mesh signal processor

Presents a technique for mapping the backpropagation learning algorithm on a mesh signal processor. The optimal sub-partitioning of computation and communication, and data replication techniques are the key features of the authors' algorithm. Theoretical analysis and simulation results, using the MIT Lincoln Lab simulator, show that the authors' scheme performs better than the other schemes.
Health, Evolution, and Reproductive Strategies in Men: New Hypotheses and Directions

This chapter presents new research directions and hypotheses based on the evolutionary relationships between reproductive effort and contemporary health challenges in men. Drawing on life history, these hypotheses are grounded in the observation that human male reproductive strategies exhibit a much broader range of variability compared to other great apes. Specifically, human males are unique in that they exhibit the capacity to devote a significant amount of time and energy to offspring and mate care, often spending much more of their lives providing paternal investment compared to other primates and indeed many mammals. Men also exhibit the capability to negotiate and partition investment in offspring according to perceived paternity. The extraordinary range of human male reproductive options can be viewed as selection for neuroendocrine adjustments in response to shifting mortality challenges and extended life spans. We hypothesize that (1) investment in offspring and mates evolved in tandem with decreases in human male mortality and morbidity, (2) male fertility at older ages coevolved with an increased capacity to defend against degenerative diseases, (3) testosterone and other neuroendocrine mechanisms are primary targets of selection for the evolution of these traits, and (4) trade-offs between male health maintenance, variation in paternal investment, and male reproductive strategies are contingent on energetic constraints. Drawing on research from the literature, we provide a number of case studies that inform our hypotheses and provide guidance for future research.
Burns to the genitalia, perineum, and buttocks increase the risk of death among U.S. service members sustaining combat-related burns in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Abstract Purpose Among service members injured in Iraq and Afghanistan, to determine the risk of mortality associated with combat-related burns to the genitalia, perineum, and buttocks. Materials and methods The prospectively maintained burn registry from the United States Army Institute of Surgical Research was retrospectively reviewed to identify all service members with combat-related burns sustained in Iraq and Afghanistan from March 2003 to October 2013. The two primary risk factors of interest were (1) any burn to the genitals, perineum, and/or buttocks (PB) and (2) burns involving the entire perineal, genital, and buttock region (complete PB). Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate the risk of mortality for both primary risk factors, and adjusted for severe non-burn-related trauma, percent of burn over total body surface area (TBSA), inhalational injury, time to urinary tract infection, and time to bacteremia. A post-hoc analysis was performed to explore the potential effect modification of TBSA burned on the relationship between PB and mortality. Results Among the 902 U.S. service members with combat-related burns sustained during the study period, 226 (25.0%) had involvement of the genitalia, perineum, and/or buttocks. Complete PB was associated with a crude risk of mortality (HR: 5.3; 2.9–9.7), but not an adjusted risk (HR = 1.8; 0.8–4.0). However, TBSA burned was identified as a potential negative effect modifier. Among patients with burns Conclusions Among those with relatively survivable combat-related burns (
Transition Metal-Catalyzed C–H Functionalization of Heterocyclic N -Oxides

Transition metal-catalyzed C–H-functionalization reactions of heterocyclic N-oxides are reviewed. Arylation, alkenylation, alkylation, cyanation, amidation, and sulfonylation reactions of azine, azole, and non-aromatic N-oxides are discussed with an emphasis on the regioselectivity of the C2–H, as well as distal C–H functionalization, of heterocyclic N-oxides. The review primarily focuses on the advances from the past decade.
Symbolic Management: Developing and Deploying Symbolic Capital For Strategic Advantage

Across research traditions, considerable attention has been paid to the management of symbols as an important activity enabling firms to influence stakeholders’ attitudes, beliefs, and expectations...
Influence of Chemical Functionality on the Rate of Polymer-Induced Heteronucleation

Polymer-induced heteronucleation can dramatically increase the nucleation rate of pharmaceuticals. However, directly comparing the heteronucleation rates of different polymer functionalities is often convoluted with changing physical or structural aspects of heteronuclei. Here, we report a methodology for comparing nucleation efficiencies of different functionalities on polymer heteronuclei of uniform topology with the goal of identifying those functionalities that best accelerate nucleation of a model pharmaceutical. It was found that the previously employed design for additives to speed acetaminophen crystallization underperforms a modified framework that accounts for the effect of competitive solvent binding. These findings are informed by a survey of interactions from the CSD and not only serve to aid in the controlled crystallization of pharmaceuticals, but also provide insight into the mechanism of heteronucleation.
Multi-year application of WRF-CAM5 over East Asia-Part II: Interannual variability, trend analysis, and aerosol indirect effects

Abstract Following a comprehensive evaluation of WRF-CAM5 in Part I, Part II describes analyses of interannual variability, multi-year variation trends, and the direct, indirect, and total effects of anthropogenic aerosols. The interannual variations of chemical column and surface concentrations, and ozone (O3)/particulate matter (PM) indicators are strongly correlated to anthropogenic emission changes. Despite model biases, the model captures well the observed interannual variations of temperature at 2-m, cloud fraction, shortwave cloud forcing, downwelling shortwave radiation, cloud droplet number concentration, column O3, and column formaldehyde (HCHO) for the whole domain. While the model reproduces the volatile organic compound (VOC)-limited regimes of O3 chemistry at sites in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, and from the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET) and the degree of sulfate neutralization at the EANET sites, it has limited capability in capturing the interannual variations of the ratio of O3 and nitrogen dioxide (O3/NO2) and PM chemical regime indicators, due to uncertainties in the emissions of precursors for O3 and secondary PM, the model assumption for ammonium bisulfate (NH4HSO4) as well as lack of gas/particle partitioning of total ammonia and total nitrate. While the variation trends in multi-year periods in aerosol optical depth and column concentrations of carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and NO2 are mainly caused by anthropogenic emissions, those of major meteorological and cloud variables partly reflect feedbacks of chemistry to meteorological variables. The impacts of anthropogenic aerosol indirect effects either dominate or play an important role in the aerosol total effects for most cloud and chemical predictions, whereas anthropogenic aerosol direct effects influence most meteorological and radiation variables. The direct, indirect, and total effects of anthropogenic aerosols exhibit a strong interannual variability in 2001, 2006, and 2011.
Abstract 2156: Minocycline-induced Attenuation Of Iron Overload And Brain Injury Following Experimental Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Background and Purpose: Brain iron overload plays a detrimental role in brain injury after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). A recent study found that minocycline acts as an iron chelator and reduces...
Uniformity from Diversity: Vast-Range Light Sensing in a Single Neuron Type

The brightness of our visual environment varies tremendously from day to night. In this issue of Cell, Milner and Do describe how the population of retinal neurons responsible for entrainment of the brain's circadian clock cooperate to encode irradiance across a wide range of ambient-light intensities.
Melts Under Extreme Conditions From Shock Experiments

Abstract Shock compression methods form an important complement to static compression and computational approaches for probing the equation of state and thermodynamic properties of melts. This chapter summarizes shock compression, the theory by which laboratory shocks constrain liquid properties, and the standard experimental methods. It discusses the equations of state of several silicate liquid compositions and implications for microscopic structural mechanisms of liquid compression. From the available data, it examines the range of applicability and limitations of the linear mixing model for multicomponent liquid volumes and applies it to evaluate the relative buoyancy of melts and solids during lower-mantle magma ocean crystallization. Finally, the thermodynamic Gruneisen parameter is defined, its importance in shock wave research and in convecting systems explained, and its behavior according to shock experiments and molecular dynamics simulations discussed. Shock wave data on silicate liquids from several papers and recommended equation of state parameters for those liquids are compiled for convenient reference.
Improvements to infrasonic detection capabilities through application of a generalized least squares beamformer

A common challenge in seismoacoustic research and analysis is detection of low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) signals in a variable and often coherent background. Previously, the application of an adaptive F-detector to infrasonic data has successfully reduced false detection rates attributed to coherent noise across array elements; however, the detector is applied post-processing after analysis using a standard (Bartlett) beamformer, which raises the detection threshold and can lead to missed detections. Application of a generalized least squares (GLS) beamformer can enhance processing of transient infrasonic signals, particularly in the presence of correlated noise, by adaptively accounting for the background noise characteristics. The GLS beamformer enhancement leads to improved capabilities for accurately detecting low amplitude infrasonic events of interest that would not normally produce a sufficiently high F-statistic to be declared a detection. A statistical analysis of GLS beamformer performance in ...
The role of the maternal and fetal inflammatory response in retinopathy of prematurity.

Problem There is a paucity of research on the contribution of placental inflammation to severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Method of study A retrospective cohort study (n = 1217) was conducted of infants screened for ROP (2006-2016). The outcomes of the study were severe ROP (type 1 or type 2 ROP) and low grade ROP. We categorized the placental pathology as the presence of (i) maternal plus fetal inflammatory response, (ii) maternal inflammatory response only, (iii) fetal inflammatory response only and, (iv) no evidence of a maternal or fetal inflammatory response. The data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses (P Results In this cohort, the number of infants with the maternal plus fetal inflammatory response, the maternal inflammatory response only, the fetal inflammatory response only, and no maternal or fetal inflammatory response was 305 (25%), 82 (7%), 8 (1%), and 822 (67%), respectively. Adjusted for covariates, the maternal plus fetal inflammatory response was a significant risk factor for severe ROP (AOR = 2.6, 95% CI 1.1-5.9, P = .03). None of the categories of placental inflammation were significantly associated with low grade ROP. Conclusion Placental pathology distinguished by the maternal plus fetal inflammatory response was a significant risk factor for severe ROP. Our study supports a link between intrauterine inflammatory events and the subsequent development of severe ROP.
Brief Report: Measurement of Young Children’s Engagement and Problem Behavior in Early Childhood Settings:

Given the importance of engagement and impact of problem behavior on young children’s behavioral, social, and academic development, these two behaviors are often observed and measured in early chil...
MEMS wireless implantable systems: historical review and perspectives

Abstract: We present a historical and perspectival overview of the design and development of wireless implantable microsystems. We first discuss the general considerations for medical implants and telemetry microsystems, where a great number of challenges persist today, even after over 50 years of active and considerable research effort. We then describe and review advances from 1950 to present, with specific examples of design approaches and significant milestones, with an emphasis on implantable and telemetric electronics. We also discuss latest progress and challenges in implant microsystems, and offer insights on future technological trends.
Roll-to-Roll Processing of Silicon Carbide Nanoparticle-Deposited Carbon Fiber for Multifunctional Composites

This work provides a proof of principle that a high volume, continuous throughput fiber coating process can be used to integrate semiconducting nanoparticles on carbon fiber surfaces to create multifunctional composites. By embedding silicon carbide nanoparticles in the fiber sizing, subsequent composite fabrication methods are used to create unidirectional fiber-reinforced composites with enhanced structural health monitoring (SHM) sensitivity and increased interlaminar strength. Additional investigations into the mechanical damping behavior of these functional composites reveal a significantly increased loss factor at the glass-transition temperature ranging from a 65 to 257% increase. Composites with both increased interlaminar strength and SHM sensitivity are produced from a variety of epoxy and silicon carbide nanoparticle concentrations. Overall, the best performing composite in terms of combined performance shows an increase of 47.5% in SHM sensitivity and 7.7% increase in interlaminar strength. Th...
Autonomous Initial Orbit Determination with Optical Observations of Unknown Planetary Landmarks

Images are commonly used for spacecraft navigation. When close to the observed body it is often advantageous to perform such image-based navigation with observations of landmarks. This work demonst...
13 Civil Competencies

Forensic evaluation of civil competencies includes the assessment of examinee decision-making abilities in the past, present, or future. Retrospective evaluations may focus on decision making related to advance directives such as wills, living wills, durable powers of attorney, and health-care surrogacies. In the event that the person executing these documents is incapacitated or deceased, the evaluator will rely on techniques developed in the context of psychological autopsy to determine prior capacities at a given point in time. Current examinee decision-making abilities may involve matters such as the capacity to consent to and refuse treatment. Informed-consent issues may not involve the presence of mental illness, in contrast to statutes addressing the right to refuse treatment that may specify those psychiatric diagnoses that qualify as bases for an alleged disability. Future examinee decision-making abilities are addressed by the potential for guardianship, in which an individual or agency may be appointed to preempt the examinee's later right to control his or her living situation, finances, or other personal circumstances. This chapter addresses forensic evaluation approaches to assessing capacities underlying each category of examinee decision making. Keywords: advance directives; civil competencies; guardianship; informed consent; substituted judgment
Measurement Repeatability of 18F-FDG-PET/CT versus 18F-FDG-PET/MRI in Solid Tumors of the Pelvis

Knowledge of the within-subject variability of 18F-FDG PET/MRI measurements is necessary for proper interpretation of quantitative PET or MRI metrics in the context of therapeutic efficacy assessments with integrated PET/MRI scanners. The goal of this study was to determine the test-retest repeatability of these metrics on PET/MRI, with comparison to similar metrics acquired by PET/CT. Methods: This prospective study enrolled subjects with pathology-proven pelvic malignancies. Baseline imaging consisted of PET/CT immediately followed by PET/MRI, using a single 370-MBq 18F-FDG dose. Repeat imaging was performed within 7 d using an identical imaging protocol, with no oncologic therapy between sessions. PET imaging on both scanners consisted of a list-mode acquisition at a single pelvic station. The MRI consisted of 2-point Dixon imaging for attenuation correction, standard sequences for anatomic correlation, and diffusion-weighted imaging. PET data were statically reconstructed using various frame durations and minimizing uptake time differences between sessions. SUV metrics were extracted for both PET/CT and PET/MRI in each imaging session. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) metrics were extracted for both PET/MRI sessions. Results: The study cohort consisted of 14 subjects (13 female, 1 male) with various pelvic cancers (11 cervical, 2 rectal, 1 endometrial). For SUVmax, the within-subject coefficient of variation (wCV) appeared higher for PET/CT (8.5%-12.8%) than PET/MRI (6.6%-8.7%) across all PET reconstructions, though with no significant repeatability differences (all P values ≥ 0.08) between modalities. For lean body mass-adjusted SUVpeak, the wCVs appeared similar for PET/CT (9.9%-11.5%) and PET/MRI (9.2%-11.3%) across all PET reconstructions, again with no significant repeatability differences (all P values ≥ 0.14) between modalities. For PET/MRI, the wCV for ADCmedian of 3.5% appeared lower than the wCVs for SUVmax (6.6%-8.7%) and SULpeak (9.2%-11.3%), though without significant repeatability differences (all P values ≥ 0.23). Conclusion: For solid tumors of the pelvis, the repeatability of the evaluated SUV and ADC metrics on 18F-FDG PET/MRI is both acceptably high and similar to previously published values for 18F-FDG PET/CT and MRI, supporting the use of 18F-FDG PET/MRI for quantitative oncologic treatment response assessments.
Economic injury levels for pea aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) as direct pests of commercial dry peas (Fabaceae) during reproductive growth stages in the Pacific Northwest of North America

Empirically-based economic injury levels are lacking for pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris (Hemiptera: Aphididae), as a direct pest of dry peas, Pisum sativum Linnaeus (Fabaceae). To address this need, the relationship between pea aphid density and yield of dry pea (cultivar Aragorn) were quantified by encaging pea aphids at varying densities for 17-day infestation periods during 2009 and 2010 in Moscow, Idaho, United States of America. Pea aphid density after infestation at the early reproductive stage of the crop (x) significantly reduced dry pea seed yield (relative weight of US #1 dry peas, y): y = 0.7733 − 0.00998x + 0.000037x2. Economic injury levels were computed based on this relationship and incorporating the cost of control, crop market value, insecticide efficacy, and crop yield potential. The resulting economic injury levels ranged from five to 19 pea aphids per plant at the start of early reproductive growth stages of dry peas. For usability these were converted to sweep net sample size equivalents of 86–307 pea aphids per twenty-five 180-degree sweeps with a standard sweep net. These economic injury levels are applicable in the inland Pacific Northwest, United States of America, where they were developed and likely in other regions with similar climatic and agronomic conditions.
Relationship of Physical Frailty to Phosphocreatine Recovery in Muscle after Mild Exercise Stress in the Oldest-Old Women

Physical frailty is a clinical syndrome associated with aging and manifesting as slowness, weakness, reduced physical activity, weight loss, and/or exhaustion. Frail older adults often report that their major problem is “low energy”, and there is indirect evidence to support the hypothesis that frailty is a syndrome of dysregulated energetics. We hypothesized that altered cellular energy production underlies compromised response to stressors in the frail. We conducted a pilot study to assess muscle energetics in response to a mild isometric exercise challenge in women (n=30) ages 84–93 years. The frailty status was assessed by a validated physical frailty instrument. Localized phosphorus (P31) magnetic resonance spectroscopy with a 1.5T magnet was used to assess the kinetics of Phosphocreatine recovery in the tibialis anterior muscle following maximal isometric contraction for 30 seconds. Phosphocreatine recovery following exertion, age-adjusted, was slowest in the frail group (mean=189 sec; 95%CI: 150,228) compared to pre-frail (mean=152 sec; 95%CI: 107,197) and nonfrail subjects (mean=132 sec; 95%CI: 40,224). The pre-frail and frail groups had 20 sec (95%CI: −49,89) and 57 sec (95%CI: −31,147) slower phosphocreatine recovery, respectively, than the non-frail. This response was paralleled by dysregulation in glucose recovery in response to oral glucose tolerance test in women from the same study population. Impaired muscle energetics and energy metabolism might be implicated in the physical frailty syndrome.
Capture Ratios: Seizing Market Gains, Avoiding Losses, and Attracting Investors’ Funds

We examine how mutual fund ability varies across up and down market conditions by exploring the Upside and Downside Capture Ratios. We find convincing evidence that Capture Ratios persist and successfully identify mutual funds that subsequently outperform in their respective market conditions. We show that mutual funds that possess the ability to both outperform in up markets and reduce losses in down markets significantly outperform over the subsequent year, and we further show that mutual fund investors utilize Capture Ratios when allocating money to mutual funds. Our findings provide evidence that Capture Ratios provide valuable information to investors and that investors take this information into account when making mutual fund allocation decisions. TOPICS:Mutual funds/passive investing/indexing, portfolio theory, portfolio construction Key Findings • Capture Ratios provide information about fund performance in up and down markets. • A set of identified funds continues to outperform in both up and down markets. • Investors respond strongly to Capture Ratios demonstrated through fund flows.
An analysis of small target feature detection limits using optic flow

The neurophysiology of insects suggests that they are able to track conspecifics, which manifest as small targets, against a variety of backgrounds with ease. This perception occurs at the same stage as motion perception suggesting a role for optic flow in target discrimination. Optic flow also is an attractive method of perception for visual system design due to the possibility of parallel processing that lends itself to implementation in hardware acceleration. This paper investigates some of the limits for reliable target discrimination solely from an optic flow field which are dependent on algorithm parameters, the nature of the target, and imager noise properties.
Specific Factors Predict the Risk for Urgent and Emergent Colectomy in Patients Undergoing Surgery for Diverticulitis.

The aim of this study was to identify preoperative characteristics that may determine the need for emergency surgery for diverticulitis and assess postoperative outcomes for these patients when compared with elective surgery. All patients included in the ACS-NSQIP-targeted colectomy database from 2012 to 2013 who underwent colectomy with an underlying diagnosis of diverticulitis were included. Preoperative characteristics and 30-day postoperative outcomes were evaluated for patients who underwent elective versus emergent/urgent surgery using univariable and multivariable analyses. Of 8708 patients with diverticular disease, 28.1 per cent underwent emergent/urgent colectomy. Patients who underwent emergent/urgent colectomy had greater preoperative steroid use, diabetes mellitus, disseminated cancer, chronic renal failure, hypertension, chronic heart failure, chronic liver disease, COPD, and dependent functional health status (P 65 years (P 10 per cent, BMI 65, and comorbid conditions were associated with a higher rate of emergent/urgent surgery. Mortality (5.2% vs 0.2%) and infectious and noninfectious complications were higher after nonelective colectomy. Emergent/urgent colectomy was also associated with longer hospital stay and reoperation. Emergency and urgent colectomy for diverticulitis is associated with significantly worse outcomes than after elective surgery, and patients with comorbid conditions who develop attacks of diverticulitis may in fact be the population that might best benefit from a lower threshold for an elective colectomy.
Physician-Assisted Death in the United States – 2019

As of January of 2019, eight US jurisdictions have approved physician-assisted suicide (Oregon, 2006; Washington, 2009; Montana, 2011; Vermont, 2013; Colorado and California, 2016; the District of ...
Game Theoretic Consequences of Resident Matching

The resident matching algorithm, Gale-Shapley, currently used by SF Match and the National Residency Match Program, has been in use for over 50 years without fundamental alteration. The algorithm is a 'stable-marriage' method that favors applicant outcomes. However, in these 50 years, there has been a big shift in the supply and demand of applicants and programs. These changes along with the way the Match is implemented have induced a costly race among applicants to apply and interview at as many programs as possible. Meanwhile programs also incur high costs as they maximize their probability of matching by interviewing as many candidates as possible.
Split Sentencing in Florida: Race/Ethnicity, Gender, Age, and the Mitigation of Prison Sentence Length

Corresponding with the theoretical expectations of the causal attributions and focal concerns perspectives, a vast body of sentencing literature has shown that Black and Hispanic defendants, and specifically young minority males, are more likely than other offenders to receive incarceration sentences, longer prison terms, and punitive departures from sentencing guideline recommendations. To date, however, minimal research has examined racial/ethnic, gender, and age disparities in split sentencing, that is, the discretionary assignment of a sentence to both prison and post-release community supervision in lieu of a full prison term. Using data on felony offenders sentenced to prison in Florida circuit courts (N = 193,513), these analyses show that Blacks and Hispanics, and particularly minority males, are less likely than Whites to receive a split sentence relative to a traditional prison sentence. Further, among female offenders only, racial/ethnic disparities are found to be weaker among young adults ages 18–20.