cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Atomic Coherence: Leveraging nanophotonics to build race-free cache coherence protocols

This paper advocates Atomic Coherence, a framework that simplifies cache coherence protocol specification, design, and verification by decoupling races from the protocol's operation. Atomic Coherence requires conflicting coherence requests to the same addresses be serialized with a mutex before they are issued. Once issued, requests follow a predictable race-free path. Because requests are guaranteed not to race, coherence protocols are simpler and protocol extensions are straightforward. Our implementation of Atomic Coherence uses optical mutexes because optics provides very low latency. We begin with a state-of-the-art non-atomic MOEFSI protocol and demonstrate that an atomic implementation is much simpler while imposing less than a 2% performance penalty. We then show how, in the absence of races, it is easy to add support for speculative coherence and improve performance by up to 70%. Similar performance gains may be possible in a non-atomic protocol, but not without considerable effort in race management.
Effects of feedback on time production errors in aging participants

Abstract In two experiments, healthy participants ages 60 years and older provided peak-interval time production data for two target intervals (6 and 17 s) over 2 days (baseline and retest sessions). In Experiment 1, three groups of participants were provided with two types of feedback during the baseline session that assisted either decision criteria setting or memory updating. During the retest session, run after a 24-h delay, each group received either one of the two types of feedback, or no feedback at all. Experiment 2 varied three additional groups’ feedback during the baseline session only. Results indicated that the duration-dependent timing errors previously associated with aging did not occur during the retest session with the decision-criteria feedback regimen, or during the baseline session even in the complete absence of feedback. Thus, testing following the delay and without decision-criteria feedback are the necessary and sufficient conditions for the expression the timing errors in aging. The efficacy of memory updating feedback could not be established. The discussion contrasts these results with the conditions that produce abnormal timing in Parkinson's disease patients in a similar procedure.
Unraveling Students’ Interaction Around a Tangible Interface using Multimodal Learning Analytics

In this paper, we describe multimodal learning analytics (MMLA) techniques to analyze data collected around an interactive learning environment. In a previous study (Schneider & Blikstein, submitted), we designed and evaluated a Tangible User Interface (TUI) where dyads of students were asked to learn about the human hearing system by reconstructing it. In the current study, we present the analysis of the data collected in the form of logs, both from students’ interaction with the tangible interface and as well as from their gestures, and we describe how we extracted meaningful predictors for student learning from these two datasets. First we show how Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques can be used on the tangible interface logs to predict learning gains. Second, we explored how Kinect TM data can inform “in-situ” interactions around a tabletop by using clustering algorithms to find prototypical body positions. Finally, we fed those features to a machine-learning classifier (Support Vector Machine) and divided students in two groups after performing a median split on their learning scores. We found that we were able to predict students’ learning gains (i.e. being above or belong the median split) with very high accuracy. We discuss the implications of these results for analyzing rich data from multimodal learning environments.
Present Scenario of Renewable and Non-Renewable Resources in Bangladesh: ACompact Analysis

This research deliberately searches the present scenario of renewable and non-renewable resources in Bangladesh and also focuses on their effective management. Therefore, the research is unique in terms of focusing the present scenario of natural resources and the research highlights the present conditions of natural resources. Most of the study and research on NRs focus on superficial problems, poverty, gender, and scientific measure of resource degradation. This research gives special attention to find the present scenario and to find the actors who are responsible for NRs management. There are considerable opportunities of Bangladesh to boost the economic growth through renewable and nonrenewable resource. With the help of these resources Bangladesh can generate electricity and can meet the required demand in the future. Therefore, the Government and the Private sector should work hand to hand to emphasize more renewable energy sources to produce electricity to solve our power crisis problem. Renewable energy sources discussed above can help Bangladesh to produce more power in order to reduce Load-shedding problem. Time has come to look forward and work with these renewable energy fields to produce electricity rather than depending wholly on conventional method. In addition, we observed that Bangladesh has a huge amount of natural Gas and other mineral resources. Proper and corruption free management can be able to solve the problem of energy crisis.
Influence of the Polymer Surface Charge on the Synthesis and Properties of Polymer–Silica Composites

Silica–polymer composites using positively charged polystyrene and Amberlite beads and neutral Amberlite beads as seeds were prepared in an acidic silica synthesis medium. The potential for functionalization of the composites for specific applications depends on the inorganic (silica) phase present. The synthesized composites were characterized by determining the percentage of organic content, particle size, surface area, and pore size and volume and the percentage of CO2 adsorbed to investigate the potential for specific application. The use of positively charged polymers resulted in a higher content of silica incorporated, leading to an increase in the composite particle size and a higher incorporation of the amine functional group. Application of the composites for CO2 adsorption shows higher sorption rates in the composites made with positively charged polymer seeds. The highest amount of CO2 adsorbed is seen in the amine-functionalized composite made from Amberlite IRA-900 Cl, positively charged poly...
Highly Improved Diagnostic Accuracy in CNS Lesions with High Dose Contrast

Objective: To evaluate the high dose contrast MR study of the brain in detecting small or occult lesions and in improving diagnostic accuracy.Materials and Methods:74 patients with suspicious brain lesion underwent brain MRI study using GE 1.5 Tesla MR scanner to evaluate the contrast enhancement of lesions after a standard dose (0.1mmol/kg) and a high dose (0.3mmol/kg) Gadoteridol. 74 patients included metastases of lung cancer (n=30), breast cancer (n=16), AIDS toxoplasmotosis (n=16), glioblastoma (n=6), and meningiomas (n=6).Results:74 patients had one or more enhancing brain lesions. All lesions showed better enhancement and delineation in high dose contrast than in standard dose. Four cases (4/74) were negative in standard dose and showed 1 or 2 lesions in high dose. Six cases (6/74) were questionable in standard dose and definitive diagnosis in high dose. Eight cases (8/74) that were single small lesion in standard dose showed two or more small lesions in high dose. Twenty five cases (25/74) with multiple lesions showed more lesions in high dose than in standard dose, but not changing diagnosis. Thirty one cases (31/74) had same numbers of the lesion on both studies.Conclusion: High dose contrast MR scanning is a safety and effective technique, which helps in detecting and identifying small or occult brain lesion, thus, is useful in planning treatment for the patients.
Considering the Problems Seriously in Setting up the Harmonious Campus

The humanistic education is the most important part in setting up the harmonious campus,and much importance should be attached to it.ideological and political education can point the direction in setting up the harmonious campus so that it has to be strongly strengthened to guide the teachers and students to observe everything correctly,and distinguish the right and wrong.Excellent school spirit is a manifestation of harmonious campus.The style of leadership is the key and the style of teachers is the foundation of the college traditional development.The solid foundation for the construction of a harmonious campus is that everybody is respected.
Analysis on the Surveillance of Measles From 2001-2004 in Liaocheng City of Shandong Province,China

Objective To analyze the surveillance of measles from 1999-2004 in Liaocheng City of Shandong Province and provide evidence for the strategies on measles elimination in the future.Methods The surveillance of measles by the special measles surveillance system was used for the analysis of the epidemiological characteristics and its epidemic factors.Results 314 measles cases were reported with the yearly average incidence rate of 0.94/100 000 from 1999-2004 in Liaocheng City.There were significant differences of the measles incidence among counties of the City.The peak of onset was occurred from April to July.Most cases were found among children under 15 year-old.The sporadic epidemic at the city level and outbreak with 26.11% of the total measles cases in some counties existed at the same time.The pupils and college students were the high-risk age groups for the measles outbreaks.It showed that the onsets of measles were related with the low coverage rate of the routine immunization for measles vaccine and the poor quality of measles surveillance at the grass roots.Conclusions The measles surveillance system should be further improved especially for the surveillance quality at the grass roots.To get the high coverage rate of measles vaccine and accelerate measles control,the EPI routine immunization in some weak and hard areas should be enhanced and the supplemental immunization activities of measles vaccine should be availably carried out at the suitable time.
Comments on Interrelations between Urban Land-Use and Transportation

A city can be thought of as a social and economical system with significant complexity, and with various activities taking place within the system. Between the activities (as the demand side) and the land-use/transportation (as the supply side), there exist extremely sophisticated interrelations. A better understanding of these interrelations for utilizing the underlying mechanism to develop urban land-use and transportation systems in a scientific and reasonable way is one of the basic research subjects in both urban planning and transportation fields. Starting with an analysis of activities, this paper reveals that activities are the demand source of land-use and transportation, and then discusses the interrelations between the two supply subsystems, i.e. land-use and transportation. The paper further points out that emphasizing on interactions between land-use and transportation in achieving equilibrium in demand and supply between activities and land-use/transportation is the fundamental principle not only for a healthy and sustainable urban development, but for a sound planning of urban land-use and transportation as well.
In Search of Efficient Networks Using Bilevel Evolutionary Optimization

This study introduces a method for finding input and output values that result in efficiency for all decision making units (DMUs) in all stages of a production network. This method contrasts with the usual application of DEA for measurement of efficiency and comparison of decision making units. Two-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA) networks represent internal production processes, including inputs to each stage, intermediate variables that serve as outputs from one stage and inputs to another, and feedback among stages. A directed acyclic network is usually used for the measure of efficiency, but the presence of feedback requires an undirected network. The static network with feedback is important for analysis of recycling and re-use processes, but the measures in these cases are non-linear with multiple solutions. Here, a two-stage DEA network was defined as a bilevel optimization where the upper level maximized ParetoKoopmans efficiency while efficiency of each DMU in each stage was calculated in the lower level. In an application to published data from a two-stage network with feedback, hypervolumes were observed where every interior point was Pareto-Koopmans efficient. The Pareto-Koopmans hypervolume associated with the feedback network was modeled with a Bayesian network, and simulations from the model used to visualize efficient space. The use of Bayesian networks to generate virtual DMUs provided a computationally inexpensive method to explore the trade-offs among efficient networks to meet stakeholder preferences. Overall, this application of bilevel evolutionary optimization provides a novel method for solving nonlinear DEA problems with feedback.
Measurement of the Wigner distribution and the density matrix of a light mode by using optical homodyne tomography: application to squeezed states and vacuum

We report measurements of the Wigner distribution and the density matrix of an electromagnetic field mode, for both vacuum and quadrature-squeezed states. As proposed by Vogel and Risken,1 we obtained the Wigner distribution by tomographic inversion of a set of probability distributions of field-quadrature amplitudes measured by using balanced homodyne detection. A Fourier transform of the Wiener function yields the density matrix, which, according to the standard interpretation of quantum mechanics, contains all knowable information about a given quantum system.
The Rise of the Databased Society

This chapter focuses on the business of buying and selling consumer, health and financial data, and the skewed bargains that most patients are faced with in regard to their private information. Data brokers are companies in a variety of sectors that collect, collate, analyze, and profile individuals’ personal information. Through this process, data brokers create new data commodities that are traded and sold, usually business-to-business. For those corporations whose core business is the trade of data, most do not have contact or direct business relationships with consumers, thus the industry on a whole, remains largely hidden from public awareness and scrutiny.
Histopathologic Spectrum of Connective Tissue Diseases Commonly Affecting the Skin.

Connective tissue disorders (CTDs), also known as collagen vascular diseases, are a heterogeneous group of diseases with a common pathogenic mechanism: autoimmunity. Precise classification of CTDs requires clinical, serologic, and pathologic correlation and may be difficult because of overlapping clinical and histologic features. The main contribution of histopathology in the diagnosis of these disorders is to confirm, rule out, or alert clinicians to the possibility of CTD as a disease category, rather than producing definitive diagnoses of specific entities. This article discusses the histopathologic spectrum of 3 common rheumatologic skin disorders: lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis, and morphea (localized scleroderma).
Venous thromboembolism after nephrectomy: incidence, timing and associated risk factors from a national multi-institutional database

To evaluate the rate of venous thromboembolism (VTE) after nephrectomy with specific focus on event timing and location (before or after hospital discharge) in order to identify modifiable risk factors and establish benchmarks for preventive interventions. Using the ACS-NSQIP database, we identified patients undergoing nephrectomy from 2006 to 2012. Patients were analyzed in two cohorts: collectively and by surgical approach [open vs. lap/robotic (MIS)]. Rates of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolus (PE) were assessed and time to each event was established in relation to discharge status. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess association between preoperative risk factors, surgical variables, and VTE. In total, 13,208 patients met inclusion criteria. The overall rate of VTE was 1.2% (PE = 0.5% and DVT = 0.8, 0.1% DVT and PE). Using regression analysis, diabetes, dependent functional status, and longer operative time were associated with higher odds of DVT. For PE, dyspnea, disseminated cancer, and longer operative time were significant associations. The rate of VTE was higher in open surgery compared to MIS (2 vs. 0.8%, p < 0.001). Median times to DVT and PE were 8.5 and 6 days, respectively, with 53.3% of DVTs and 63.1% of PEs occurring prior to discharge. The overall rate of VTE after nephrectomy is low, occurs roughly one week after surgery, and is associated with longer hospital stays. Certain patient factors, open surgical approach, and longer operative times were associated with higher odds of post-operative VTE; these patients may benefit from more aggressive prophylaxis.
A decoherence-free subspace in a charge quadrupole qubit

Quantum computing promises significant speed-up for certain types of computational problems. However, robust implementations of semiconducting qubits must overcome the effects of charge noise that currently limit coherence during gate operations. Here we describe a scheme for protecting solid-state qubits from uniform electric field fluctuations by generalizing the concept of a decoherence-free subspace for spins, and we propose a specific physical implementation: a quadrupole charge qubit formed in a triple quantum dot. The unique design of the quadrupole qubit enables a particularly simple pulse sequence for suppressing the effects of noise during gate operations. Simulations yield gate fidelities 10–1,000 times better than traditional charge qubits, depending on the magnitude of the environmental noise. Our results suggest that any qubit scheme employing Coulomb interactions (for example, encoded spin qubits or two-qubit gates) could benefit from such a quadrupolar design. Robust implementations of semiconducting qubits require overcoming the effects of charge noise, which limits coherence times. Here the authors propose a decoherence-free subspace for charge qubits to protect them from uniform electric field fluctuations, proposing an implementation in a triple quantum dot.
OR46 A novel cellular crossmatch to detect donor HLA specific immunity

Aim To develop a cellular crossmatch method (CXM) for evaluating donor HLA specific cellular immunity in HLA mismatched recipients. Methods HLA Typing: HLA types of all samples were obtained by high resolution typing. CXM: Irradiated donor cells were used as the donor HLA specific stimulant to co-incubate with recipient (responder) cells and Th1 (IFNγ & IL-2) or Th2 (IL-4, 5, 10) cytokine capture beads for overnight in fixed cell:bead ratio. The cells were lysed and the captured cytokines were detected by corresponding fluorescent 2nd step antibodies. The percentage of positive beads (Flowspot %) were calculated which proportionately correlated with numbers of donor specific responding cells. The MFI level correlated with the cytokine secretion capability of responding cells. Results A total 147 paired bone marrow donor and recipient samples were tested by CXM. Compared to the HLA identical group, IL-2 but not IFNγ was significantly increased in HLA-class I (CI) (P Conclusions Unlike mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) which detects DNA synthesis by radioisotope, the newly developed CXM is able to detect donor HLA specific immunity in responder within 24 h using standard flow cytometry. CXM detects earlier T cell activation (e.g. cytokine secretions) in a uni-or bi-directional multiplex detecting system. The method of CXM is simple, sensitive, and donor HLA specific. It potentially has wide application in both the research and clinical fields for predicting GVH/GVL in BM transplantation, cellular rejection in solid organ transplantation, and in other applications where cell–cell responses are of interest. Download : Download high-res image (207KB) Download : Download full-size image
Correcting CRISPR for copy number

The CRISPR-Cas9 system enables global screens of gene function with high sensitivity and specificity, but off-target effects have been reported for CRISPR guide RNAs targeting genes that are amplified at high copy number. A new study describes a computational approach to correct for this copy number effect, increasing the specificity of CRIPSR screens to identify essential genes.
Emerging Alphaviruses Are Sensitive to Cellular States Induced by a Novel Small-Molecule Agonist of the STING Pathway.

The type I interferon (IFN) system represents an essential innate immune response that renders cells resistant to virus growth via the molecular actions of IFN-induced effector proteins. IFN-mediated cellular states inhibit growth of numerous and diverse virus types, including those of known pathogenicity as well as potentially emerging agents. As such, targeted pharmacologic activation of the IFN response may represent a novel therapeutic strategy to prevent infection or spread of clinically impactful viruses. In light of this, we employed a high-throughput screen to identify small molecules capable of permeating the cell and of activating IFN-dependent signaling processes. Here we report the identification and characterization of N-(methylcarbamoyl)-2-{[5-(4-methylphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl]sulfanyl}-2-phenylacetamide (referred to as C11), a novel compound capable of inducing IFN secretion from human cells. Using reverse genetics-based loss-of-function assays, we show that C11 activates the type I IFN response in a manner that requires the adaptor protein STING but not the alternative adaptors MAVS and TRIF. Importantly, treatment of cells with C11 generated a cellular state that potently blocked replication of multiple emerging alphavirus types, including chikungunya, Ross River, Venezuelan equine encephalitis, Mayaro, and O'nyong-nyong viruses. The antiviral effects of C11 were subsequently abrogated in cells lacking STING or the type I IFN receptor, indicating that they are mediated, at least predominantly, by way of STING-mediated IFN secretion and subsequent autocrine/paracrine signaling. This work also allowed characterization of differential antiviral roles of innate immune signaling adaptors and IFN-mediated responses and identified MAVS as being crucial to cellular resistance to alphavirus infection. IMPORTANCE Due to the increase in emerging arthropod-borne viruses, such as chikungunya virus, that lack FDA-approved therapeutics and vaccines, it is important to better understand the signaling pathways that lead to clearance of virus. Here we show that C11 treatment makes human cells refractory to replication of a number of these viruses, which supports its value in increasing our understanding of the immune response and viral pathogenesis required to establish host infection. We also show that C11 depends on signaling through STING to produce antiviral type I interferon, which further supports its potential as a therapeutic drug or research tool.
Influence of Lewis acid strength on hydride transfer to unsaturated substrates

Hydride transfer promoted by the coordination of a substrate molecule to a Lewis acid is a critical step in many catalytic transformations. This computational study investigates the nature of the interaction between a polar substrate molecule and a Lewis acid by examining the influence of Lewis acid strength on the ability to reduce (transfer a hydride to) the coordinated substrate molecule. To investigate this interaction, the coordination of 10 probe substrates to seven Lewis acids was analyzed. Coordination of the probe substrate molecules to a Lewis acid resulted in a more favorable reduction of the substrate molecule by 20-70 kcal mol-1. Further examination of the coordination of the substrate molecules to Lewis acids of varying Lewis acid strengths resulted in a direct linear correlation between the ability of the Lewis acid-substrate adduct to accept a hydride and the Lewis acid strength. The linear correlations also revealed that between 44 and 70% of the Lewis acidity of the Lewis acids translated to the Lewis acid-substrate adducts. From the results obtained in this study, the minimum Lewis acid strength needed to activate the substrates for the reduction with [BH4]- and the implications of employing a Lewis acid to promote the reduction of an unsaturated polar substrate in catalytic reactions are also described.
Nonoperative Management of Blunt Splenic Trauma in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury: Feasibility and Outcomes

Preventing secondary insult to the brain is imperative following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Although TBI does not preclude nonoperative management (NOM) of splenic injuries, development of hypotension in this setting may be detrimental and could therefore lead trauma surgeons to a lower threshold for operative intervention and a potentially higher risk of failure of NOM (FNOM). We hypothesized that the presence of a TBI in patients with blunt splenic injury would lead to a higher risk of FNOM. Patients with blunt splenic injury were selected from the National Trauma Data Bank research datasets from 2007 to 2011. TBI was defined as AIS head ≥ 3 and FNOM as patients who underwent a spleen-related operation after 2 h from admission. TBI patients were compared to those without head injury. The primary outcome was FNOM. Of 47,713 patients identified, 41,436 (86.8%) underwent a trial of NOM. FNOM was identical (10.6 vs. 10.8%, p = 0.601) among patients with and without TBI. TBI patients had lower adjusted odds for FNOM (AOR 0.66, p < 0.001), even among those with a high-grade splenic injury (AOR 0.68, p < 0.001). No difference in adjusted mortality was noted when comparing TBI patients with and without FNOM (AOR 1.01, p = 0.95). NOM of blunt splenic trauma in TBI patients has higher adjusted odds for success. This could be related to interventions targeting prevention of secondary brain injury. Further studies are required to identify those specific practices that lead to a higher success rate of NOM of splenic trauma in TBI patients.
Controllable directive radiation from dipole emitter coupled to dielectric nanowire antenna with substrate-mediated tunability

The present work demonstrates controllable directive radiation of a dipolar emitter coupled to a substrate-supported dielectric nanowire antenna. Nanoactuators, transparent-conducting oxides, and graphene are integrated into the substrate, respectively, to establish tunable antenna platforms in visible, near-infrared (IR), and far-IR frequency regimes. We exploit the substrate-induced interference effects and tunability mechanisms in each antenna system to achieve directive radiation with real-time steering capability. The design and modeling are rigorously carried out using an efficient and accurate semi-analytical framework based on transition matrix formulation. Each configuration is optimized to achieve maximal steering range while attaining a proper gain. Owing to subwavelength footprint, enhanced directionality, real-time tunability, and fairly simple geometry, the proposed platforms are ideal candidates for nanoantenna synthesis.
Approaches for Resilience against Cascading Failures in Cloud Datacenters

In a modern cloud datacenter, a cascading failure will cause many Service Level Objective (SLO) violations. In a cascading failure, when a set of physical machines (PMs) in a failure domain are failed, their workloads are transferred to the PMs in another failure domain to continue. However, the new domain receiving additional workloads may become overloaded due to the resource oversubscription feature in the cloud, which easily leads to domain failures and subsequent workload transfer to other domains. This process repeats and a cascading failure is created finally. However, few previous methods can effectively handle the cascading failures. To handle this problem, we propose a Cascading Failure Resilience System (CFRS), which incorporates three methods: Overload-Avoidance VM Reassignment (OAVR), VM backup set placement (VMset) and Dynamic Oversubscription Ratio Adjustment (DOA). The experiments in trace-driven simulation show that CFRS outperforms other comparison methods in terms of the number of domain failures, the number of failed PMs and the number of SLO violations.
The Bragg—Williams or Mean-Field Approximation in Steady-State Systems

The Bragg—Williams (BW) approximation, also called the mean-field approximation, is well known for equilibrium lattice problems in statistical physics. The approximation is especially useful for a qualitative preliminary study of critical or phase-transition behavior (i.e., strong positive cooperativity). It has roughly the same status as the van der Waals equation for a fluid, which is useful for a first approach to the gas-liquid phase transition. However, the BW approximation, as used here, is not satisfactory for systems with negative cooperativity, for a reason to be mentioned below.
The Ideological Bases of Developmental Psychology

The recent unrest in our society has made us once more aware of the intimate connections between economic and political ideologies and the development of sciences. This statement does not imply that I intend to address myself to the well-documented preferences of most governments for defense-related rather than socially significant spending, or to the political frustrations and problematic decisions that modern scientists have to face. Rather, I will deal with the general economic and cultural conditions of societies that provide a necessary basis for the growth of sciences. This dependence can be persuasively documented for developmental psychology, which exploits two traditions that are identifiable by certain philosophical, educational, economical, social, and political orientations. For the sake of convenience, these are labeled the “capitalistic” and “mercantilistic” traditions. The first has been dominant in the Anglo-American world, while the second has prevailed in continental Europe. I will discuss these traditions in the first two parts of this chapter, and in the third, attempt to synthesize these two trends in what might be called a relational or dialectical interpretation of developmental processes as well as suggest “what we must do” * in developmental psychology.
Surface Characterization of Non-Lithographic Micromachining

Non-lithographic micromachining, or micromechanical machining, is a set of processes for the fabrication of microcomponents using direct material cutting or removal by energy beams. The micromechanical processes are not intended for mass fabrication but rather to aid in the evolution of design concepts and to produce small quantities of components. One potential area for applicability to mass fabrication of these processes is fabricating lithography masks and masters for molding processes which can result in mass replication.
Encouraging initiative in the classroom with anonymous feedback

Inspiring and maintaining student participation in large classes can be a difficult task. Students benefit from an active experience as it helps them better understand the course material. However, it's easy to stay silent. Opportunities to participate in conversation allow students to question and learn. The Fragmented Social Mirror (FSM) provides students with the ability to anonymously initiate classroom dialog with the lecturer. The system encourages participation by enabling expressive anonymous feedback to reduce evaluation anxiety. The FSM further catalyzes participation by allowing for many simultaneous participants. In this paper, we introduce the FSM as a classroom device, discuss its design, and describe a pilot test of the interface. Initial results indicate a promising direction for future feedback systems.
Experimental and numerical study on an innovative sandwich system utilizing UPFRC in bridge applications

Abstract Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC), a newly embraced construction philosophy, is a paradigm shift in bridge delivery method that includes planning, design, construction, and maintenance. Ultra High-Performance Fiber Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC), offering superior properties such as exceptional high strength and durability, can be a smart material choice for ABC projects. Steel-Concrete-Steel Sandwich (SCSS) system using UHPFRC has the potential to merge the advanced structural performance with construction efficiency as aimed at the ABC approach. In this research, the implementation of the steel-concrete sandwich system using UHPFRC was investigated by conducting experimental and numerical studies to evaluate the behavior of the innovative proposed system called “Steel-UHPFRC Sandwich.” The system consists of two thin stainless-steel plates folded to form a girder without a top flange. Feasibility study on the proposed system proves that it can both facilitate and accelerate the construction process and have incredibly ductile behavior. The experimental data was also employed to validate the numerical model of the system. Simultaneously, a series of numerical models were conducted to assess the effects of the various parameters on the behavior of the proposed system.
Waardenburg Syndrome Expression and Penetrance

Through a combination of in silico research and reviews of previous work, mechanisms by which nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) affects the inheritance and expressivity of Waardenburg syndrome is realized. While expressivity and inheritance both relate to biochemical processes underlying a gene's function, this research explores how alternative splicing and premature termination codons (PTC's) within mRNAs mutated in the disease are either translated into deleterious proteins or decayed to minimize expression of altered proteins. Elucidation of splice variants coupled with NMD perpetuating the various symptoms and inheritance patterns of this disease represent novel findings. By investigating nonsense mutations that lie within and outside the NMD boundary of these transcripts we can evaluate the effects of protein truncation versus minimized protein expression on the variable expressivity found between Type I and Type III Waardenburg syndrome, PAX3, while comparatively evaluating EDN3 and SOX10's role in inheritance of Type IV subtypes of the disease. This review will demonstrate how alternative splicing perpetuates or limits NMD activity by way of PTC positioning, thereby affecting the presentation of Waardenburg syndrome.
“The Times They Are a Changin’”: Shifting Patterns of Partnering and Parenting in the USA and Implications for Religious Transmission and Theology

Dramatic demographic shifts in patterns of partnering and parenting in the United States since the 1970s pose serious theological questions and confront churches with pressing dilemmas. Fresh theol...
Seafood methylmercury in a changing ocean

Abstract Methylmercury is a neurotoxic contaminant that bioaccumulates in marine food webs, and is therefore found in seafood. Most of the mercury found in marine food webs originated as anthropogenic emissions, and the path from emission sources to fish depends on many processes which will be affected by a changing climate. This chapter discusses how the changing ocean environment, through factors such as plankton community structure, food chain length, ocean temperature, and anthropogenic mercury emissions will change seafood methylmercury concentrations. Some factors, such as seawater temperature, have competing effects, while others, such as food web structure, will vary from region to region. Seafood methylmercury will likely not decrease in the future without substantial decreases in anthropogenic emissions.
Intelligently optimized digital optical phase conjugation with particle swarm optimization

Wavefront shaping (WFS) based on digital optical phase conjugation (DOPC) has gained major interest in focusing light through or inside scattering media. However, the quality of DOPC is greatly limited by imperfections of the system in a complicated and coupled way. In this Letter, we incorporate the concept of global optimization to solve this problem comprehensively for the first time, to the best of our knowledge. An automatic and intelligent optimization framework for DOPC techniques is proposed, leveraging the global optimization ability of particle swarm optimization (PSO). We demonstrate the general and powerful ability of the proposed approach in a series of DOPC-related experiments for focusing through and inside scattering media. This novel work can improve the OPC quality greatly and simplify the development of a high-performance DOPC system, which may open up a new avenue for the general scientific community to benefit from DOPC-based WFS in their potential applications.
Hidden Injustice and Anti-Science

This essay responds to the five articles on Anti-Science in this journal issue by discussing a significant theme identified across all of them: hidden injustice. Some of the ways that injustice is hidden by organizational forces related to anti-science are identified. In response, the essay points to the need for empirical data on anti-science policies, a symmetric approach to anti-science contexts, and institutional analysis of anti-science power imbalances. Additionally, a reflexive question about whether anti-science analysis in STS leads the field toward racial justice is raised. The essay calls for further organizational level research with a critical STS lens to uncover hidden injustice.
Chinese Science Policy: A Comparative Analysis.

A unique approach to science, more congenial to science than other major totalitarian approaches
A Nonparametric Unsupervised Learning Approach for Structural Damage Detection

In a world of aging infrastructure, structural health monitoring (SHM) emerges as a major step towards resilient and sustainable societies. The current advancements in machine learning and sensor technology have made SHM a more promising damage detection method than the traditional non-destructive testing methods. SHM using unsupervised learning methods offers an attractive alternative to the more commonly used supervised learning since it only requires data of the structure in normal conditions for the training process. The density-based novelty detection method provides a statistical element to the damage detection process but it relies heavily on the accuracy of the estimated probability density function (PDF). In this study, a novel unsupervised learning approach for SHM is proposed. It is based on the Kernel Density Maximum Entropy method by leveraging Bayesian optimization for hyperparameter tuning and also by extending the method into the multivariate space by the use of independent components analysis. The proposed approach is evaluated on a numerically simulated three-story reinforced concrete moment frame, where 94% of accuracy is achieved in structural damage detection.
COVID-19 Caregiver Restrictions in Pediatrics.

Since the emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, more than a million people have died worldwide. In the United States, hundreds of thousands of people have died of coronavirus disease (COVID-19)–related causes, and morbidity and mortality rates continue to climb as new epicenters develop across the nation. At the start of the pandemic, health care systems urgently implemented policies to mitigate COVID-19 exposure risks to patients and staff. Caregiver restriction policies represented a key strategy for hospitals and clinics to limit exposure risks and conserve personal protective equipment. Over the past year, policies that restrict or limit caregivers have impacted patients, families, and clinicians profoundly. Critically ill patients remain isolated from family members; many have died without the presence and support of loved ones. The grief and moral distress inherent to caregiver restriction policies are widely acknowledged; however, the psychosocial burden of suffering has largely been considered a necessary, if unintended, corollary of pandemic safety protocols. As a pediatric oncologist and palliative care physician, I have seen caregiver restrictions impact patients and families across each stage of the illness trajectory: from diagnosis to disease progression, clinical deterioration, and end of life. Parents struggle to decide which caregiver stays with, and which separates from, a critically ill child who may not survive the hospitalization. Lone parents receive news that their child will die while their partner watches through a screen, unable to comfort …
Trade Facilitation in Services: Concepts and Empirical Importance

This paper examines the concept of trade facilitation in services from the perspective of the recent literature on the determinants of services trade. The aim is to conceptualize trade facilitation in this area as a dimension of international integration beyond the baseline restrictiveness of policy, as captured by indicators of discriminatory market access. The analysis focuses on the role of governance structures, institutions, and transparency in shaping the environment for trading in services internationally. In addition to examining these factors, the paper provides some novel empirical estimates. Using a gravity model, the analysis finds that the ad valorem equivalents of common measures of institutional quality, governance, and transparency are larger relative to measures of sheer policy restrictiveness, frequently a significant multiple. The paper also shows that the ad valorem equivalents of data restrictions are of similar magnitude to policy restrictions in services. The conclusion is that framing discussions of trade facilitation in services around the concept of reducing trade costs -- specifically those stemming from areas where improvement is needed in governance, institutions, and transparency -- could potentially bring significant benefits in increased integration of the global services economy.
Maintaining Effective Senior Resident-Led Intern Education through Virtual Curricular Transition.

OBJECTIVE The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a significant shift to virtual resident education. While novel methods for virtual resident training have been described, many of these demonstrate a substantial change from previous instructional methods and their efficacy cannot be directly compared to in-person teaching. We sought to determine if the conversion of our intern “summer school” from an in-person to online format (a) impacted the knowledge acquisition of interns, and (b) their preferences for senior resident-led didactics. DESIGN A senior-resident led intern summer curriculum was started in an in-person format with the 2019-2020 academic year. Interns underwent assessments of their knowledge and surveys of changes in subject confidence. After the COVID-19 pandemic, the curriculum was shifted to an online format for the academic year 2020-2021. SETTING Washington University in St. Louis, an academic medical center located in St. Louis, Missouri PARTICIPANTS PGY1 general surgery residents during academic year 2019-2020 (n = 13) and 2020-2021 (n = 14). RESULTS In both years, interns demonstrated significant increases in confidence pre- and post-summer school in all domains (p CONCLUSION Virtual senior-resident led intern educational sessions are equally as effective as in-person sessions for knowledge acquisition and improving confidence in intern-specific domains. In both virtual and in-person settings, interns prefer senior resident teachers to attendings. Virtual senior resident-led education is an effective and simple method for intern instruction, regardless of the format/approach.
Avian Dinosaur Tail Evolution and Bone Fracture Healing

Bird tails transitioned during the Mesozoic from long to shortened and distally fused. Fusion of the distalmost vertebrae manifests as the bony pygostyle structure, a trait retained in extant avians that contributes to flight aerodynamics. Here, we investigate the mechanism responsible for pygostyle formation. Transcriptomic profiling and histology in extant tail tissue reveal that the immune system is crucial for this important adaptation in avian evolutionary history. Pygostyle formation commences with cell death in the intervertebral discs, within the nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus. The nucleus pulposus, previously thought absent in birds, forms differently in fused versus unfused regions of the tail, and its deterioration in the pygostyle is integral to the cascade of events that eventually lead to ankylosis. The complement and coagulation cascades, angiogenesis, neutrophil-like cell function, involvement of both the innate and adaptive immune systems and multiple additional events mirror those observed during bone fracture healing. The key common denominator in both processes that differentiates them from general endochondral ossification is the inflammatory response. These studies indicate that a universal mechanism for bone repair has been co-opted in avian evolution for the formation of a flight-adapted tail structure.
Ex Vivo Evaluation of Egg Yolk IgY Degradation in Chicken Gastrointestinal Tract

Egg yolk antibody (immunoglobulin Y, IgY), due to its unique features (e.g., cost-effectiveness for mass production), is emerging as a promising passive immune agent and alternative to antibiotics to combat infectious diseases, particularly in livestock. Oral administration of egg yolk IgY is the most common and convenient route that has been extensively investigated for controlling enteric pathogens. However, the in vivo stability of egg yolk IgY in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, a critical issue for the success of this approach, still has not been clearly elucidated. Our recent study showed instability of orally administered egg yolk IgY in chicken GI tract, as demonstrated by both in vivo and ex vivo evidence. To better understand the magnitude and dynamics of instability of egg yolk IgY in vivo, in this study, we conducted comprehensive ex vivo analyses by spiking hyperimmune egg yolk IgY in fresh GI contents collected from five broilers at each sampling age (2, 4, or 6 weeks). The pH in gizzard slightly increased with age from 2.4 to 3.0, while the pH in the small intestine was around 5.8. ELISA analysis indicated that a short time of treatment (30 or 60 min) of IgY with the gizzard contents from the chickens at 2, 4, and 6 weeks of age greatly reduced specific IgY titer by over 8, 6, and 5 log2 units, respectively, when compared with saline control. However, small intestine content only had a mild effect on egg yolk IgY, leading to 1 log2 unit of reduction in IgY titer upon 30 min of treatment. Consistent with these findings, SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting analyses provided direct evidence demonstrating that egg yolk IgY could be drastically degraded to undetectable level in gizzard content upon as short as 5 min of treatment; however, the IgY was only slightly degraded in small intestine content. Immunoblotting also showed that treatment of IgY with HCl (pH 3.0) for 60 min did not affect its integrity at all, further supporting the enzymatic degradation of IgY in gizzard. Collectively, egg yolk IgY could be substantially degraded in chicken gizzard, highly warranting the development of effective approaches, such as encapsulation, for the controlled release and protection of orally administered egg yolk IgY in livestock.
Past and Future of Micro-/Nano-electronics

Electronics started at the beginning of the last century and evolved to micro-/nano-electronics. Miniaturization of the electron devices dramatically improved the performance, reliability, cost, energy consumption, volume, and weight with the order of billions to trillions times. Without the micro-/nano-electronics, today's intelligent society with internet and artificial intelligence cannot not exist. However, the miniaturization is now facing its limit. In this paper, the past and future of micro-/nano-electronics are described.
As Elders in Our Villages: Re-Imagining Racist and Anti-Indianist Public Schools

The authors, a Cherokee woman and an African American man, write from the important stance of multicultural education Elders, working from the foundational concept of the community as a village to ...