cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Double Serially Concatenated Convolutional Codes With Jointly Designed S-Type Permutors

In this paper, the design of double serially concatenated convolutional codes with S-type permutors, i.e., permutors that provide a nontrivial separation, is considered. Based on a newly introduced parameter, namely, the so-called symbol span, a joint design of the outer and inner permutor is presented and its impact on the minimum distance of the overall code is analyzed. It is shown that a lower bound on the minimum distance that is given by the product of the free distances of all three component codes can be guaranteed. Design tables and simulation results are presented that include comparisons with single serially concatenated convolutional codes. In addition, a comparison with double/generalized repeat accumulate codes is briefly sketched.
Exponential Concentration for Mutual Information Estimation with Application to Forests

We prove a new exponential concentration inequality for a plug-in estimator of the Shannon mutual information. Previous results on mutual information estimation only bounded expected error. The advantage of having the exponential inequality is that, combined with the union bound, we can guarantee accurate estimators of the mutual information for many pairs of random variables simultaneously. As an application, we show how to use such a result to optimally estimate the density function and graph of a distribution which is Markov to a forest graph.
Factors associated with compliance to oral contraceptive use in an adolescent population

Because adolescents often do not use contraception effectively, this study was undertaken to determine the factors that affect oral contraceptive compliance. One hundred and one patients who chose oral contraceptives as their first method of birth control were interviewed. The results suggest that the most important factors associated with noncompliance are an age of 15–16 years at initiation of oral contraception, no plans to attend college, dissatisfaction with the clinic visit, the occurrence of side effects, and lack of parental involvement with the clinic visit. There was no association of compliance with prior pregnancy or parental knowledge of pill use. Contraceptive programs may be improved by addressing adolescent concerns regarding drug side effects, anticipating their reasons for discontinuing the pill, and following up frequently those adolescents at greatest risk for noncompliance.
The Development of Distinct Speaking Styles in Preschool Children.

Purpose To examine when and how socially conditioned distinct speaking styles emerge in typically developing preschool children’s speech. Method Thirty preschool children, ages 3, 4, and 5 years old, produced target monosyllabic words with monophthongal vowels in different social–functional contexts designed to elicit clear and casual speaking styles. Thirty adult listeners were used to assess whether and at what age style differences were perceptible. Children’s speech was acoustically analyzed to evaluate how style-dependent differences were produced. Results The ratings indicated that listeners could not discern style differences in 3-year-olds' speech but could hear distinct styles in 4-year-olds' and especially in 5-year-olds' speech. The acoustic measurements were consistent with these results: Style-dependent differences in 4- and 5-year-olds' words included shorter vowel durations and lower fundamental frequency in clear compared with casual speech words. Five-year-olds' clear speech words also ha...
Correlates of Language Change in Hunter‐Gatherer and Other ‘Small’ Languages

I review linguistic and interdisciplinary research on the non-linguistic correlates of language change, particularly as they apply to small populations, highly mobile groups, and hunter-gatherers. I summarize the areas which have been argued to display differences between hunter-gatherers and agriculturalists, small and large populations, and sedentary and non-sedentary ones, although finding that none of this work is conclusive and much is contradictory. Hunter-gatherer languages in particular have played a prominent role in the development of theories of language change in addition to the comparative method and family trees, but for the wrong reasons, since the comparative method is powerful for diagnosing relationships even in the case of heavy borrowing where tree models are not useful. The field is in great need of systematization, and of incorporating current knowledge about variation and the spread of change with reconstruction over a longer time span.
Capillary electrophoresis with pulsed amperometric detection of carbohydrates and glycopeptides

The utility of capillary electrophoresis with pulsed amperometric detection (CE-PAD) for the analysis of carbohydrate-containing samples from a variety of biological sources is described. CE-PAD was used to separate a mixture of oligosaccharides obtained from bovine fetuin and to monitor the desialylation process used in the characterization of the oligosaccharides. Additionally, the high resolving power of the system was demonstrated using a series of glycopeptides obtained from recombinant coagulation factor VIIa, which possess the same decapeptide core but differ in the extent of sialylation. Deglycosylation of these glycopeptides for characterization purposes resulted in a mixture of carbohydrates and peptides. Unlike CE with UV detection, this system gave good responses for all analytes, demonstrating the unique ability of PAD to respond to the electrochemical features of diverse classes of biomolecules such as carbohydrates and peptides. Finally, CE-PAD was applied to the analysis of a tryptic digest of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator. The use of different detection potentials in sequential runs on a sample gave structural information about the peptides, such as glycosylation. A brief review of prior applications of CE-PAD to the analysis of standard mixtures of simple saccharides is also presented.
Binding of Scaffolding Subunits within the P22 Procapsid Lattice

The capsid assembly pathways of the dsDNA bacteriophages, herpesviruses, and adenoviruses all proceed through a precursor shell lacking DNA. These procapsids contain scaffolding proteins required for assembly but absent from mature virions. The bacteriophage P22 procapsid contains approximately 300 molecules of the 33-kDa gene 8 scaffolding protein, in addition to the 420 molecules of gene 5 coat protein. During the process of DNA packaging and phage maturation, all 300 scaffolding molecules are released intact to participate in subsequent rounds of procapsid assembly. Low concentrations of guanidine hydrochloride (GuHCl) reproduce the release of scaffolding from procapsids in vitro, in the absence of DNA. The release was reversible; when the GuHCl was removed by dialysis, the scaffolding subunits reentered the extracted capsids to regenerate morphologically normal procapsids. The subunits presumably exited and reentered through the channels recently observed at the centers of the pentamers and hexamers (Prasad, B. V. V., Prevelige, P. E., Marietta, E., Chen, R. O., Thomas, D., King, J., and Chiu, W. (1993). J. Mol. Biol. 231 65-74). We have utilized this reaction to investigate the binding of scaffolding within normal procapsids and to other large structures of coat protein. Procapsids contained two classes of scaffolding subunits, which may represent binding of scaffolding to different specific positions within the T = 7 procapsid lattice. These sites became lost or inaccessible upon phage maturation.
Gut evacuation of larval Mnemiopsis leidyi A. Agassiz (Ctenophora, Lobata)

Despite their potential importance as predators, the early life-history stages of ctenophores are relatively understudied. Measurements of digestion times for larvae are especially limited compared with adults, even though these measurements are required to calculate feeding rates using gut content analysis. This study reports digestion times for larval Mnemiopsis leidyi for a wide range of prey, Larval M. leidyi consumed the copepodite and naupliar stages of copepods, polychaete larvae, bivalve larvae, rotifers, rotifer eggs, ciliates and flagellates. Digestion times varied significantly among prey taxa and ranged from ~ 1 min for aloricate ciliates to 2 h for copepodites. Although ciliates and flagellates are frequently observed in ctenophore guts, feeding on protistan microplankton cannot be quantified adequately using gut content analysis because these prey items are often digested too rapidly to be identified in ctenophore guts.
Infrapopliteal balloon angioplasty for the treatment of chronic occlusive disease

Objective There is little documentation of the effectiveness of percutaneous balloon angioplasty (PTA) of infrapopliteal vessels for the treatment of chronic lower extremity ischemia. This study reviewed our recent experience with infrapopliteal PTA in a large series of patients to determine its effectiveness as a treatment modality. Methods All patients undergoing primary infrapopliteal PTA from March 2002 to June 2006 were included. Primary study end points were primary patency, assisted patency, limb salvage, and patient survival assessed by Kaplan-Meier life-table analysis. Factors predictive of PTA failure and patient longevity were evaluated by multivariate methods. Results There were 155 PTAs undertaken in 144 patients (70% men; mean age, 74 years), with critical limb ischemia (86%), diabetes (66%), and renal insufficiency (45%). Infrapopliteal lesions were classified as TransAtlantic Inter-Society Consensus A (7%), B (18%), C (39%), and D (35%). PTA was confined to the infrapopliteal segment in 40 (26%), and 115 (74%) underwent multilevel treatment. Five patients (3%) received stents. Technical success was 95%. The 30-day mortality was 2%, and major morbidity was 3%. The mean follow-up was 22 months (range, 0-54 months). The 40-month actuarial primary patency was 62% (standard error, 5%), with assisted patency (infrapopliteal re-PTA, 25 [16%]) of 90%. Interval conversion to bypass surgery occurred in seven (5%). Nonhealing ulcers occurred in 118 patients (76%), of which 76 (64%) healed during follow-up. Of the 42 unhealed ulcers, 15 (13%) required major amputations for a 40-month limb salvage of 86.2%. Multivariate predictors that were negative for primary patency included 0/1 vessel runoff (P = .01), critical limb ischemia (P = .002), and dialysis (P = .03). Negative predictors of limb salvage included dialysis (P = .007) and failure to improve runoff to the foot (P = .006). At 40-months, patient survival was 54%, with negative predictors including severe pulmonary disease (P = .01), coronary artery disease (P = .04), and renal insufficiency (P Conclusions Infrapopliteal angioplasty can be performed safely with favorable results in patients with limited longevity. Primary patency is related to disease extent. Secondary interventions may be necessary to maintain clinical success. These data indicate that PTA should be considered as initial therapy for infrapopliteal occlusive disease in patients with lower extremity ischemia.
Potential Impact of Land Use Change on Future Regional Climate in the Southeastern U.S.: Reforestation and Crop Land Conversion

The impact of future land use and land cover changes (LULCC) on regional and global climate is one of the most challenging aspects of understanding anthropogenic climate change. We study the impacts of LULCC on regional climate in the southeastern U.S. by downscaling the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies global climate model E to the regional scale using a spectral nudging technique with the Weather Research and Forecasting Model. Climate-relevant meteorological fields are compared for two southeastern U.S. LULCC scenarios to the current land use/cover for four seasons of the year 2050. In this work it is shown that reforestation of cropland in the southeastern U.S. tends to warm surface air by up to 0.5 K, while replacing forested land with cropland tends to cool the surface air by 0.5 K. Processes leading to this response are investigated and sensitivity analyses conducted. The sensitivity analysis shows that results are most sensitive to changes in albedo and the stomatal resistance. Evaporative cooling of croplands also plays an important role in regional climate. Implications of LULCC on air quality are discussed. Summertime warming associated with reforestation of croplands could increase the production of some secondary pollutants, while a higher boundary layer will decrease pollutant concentrations; wintertime warming may decrease emissions from biomass burning from wood stoves
Bridging yoga therapy and scientific research.

If you are a practicing yoga therapist or someone who has benefited from yoga therapy, you probably have little need for scientific research to validate your personal experience. However, you are also part of a rather elite group. The practice of yoga is largely dominated by Whites, women, those with higher education and incomes, and young and middle-aged adults who represent a very narrow segment of the population. The most compelling rationale for research on yoga therapy is to provide the evidence base required for its incorporation into our education and healthcare systems, thereby disseminating it more widely and equitably across the population. Scientific validation will boost the credibility of yoga therapy as a safe and cost-effective intervention. The time has come to construct a collaborative bridge between yoga therapy and scientific research.
Catheters Used in Endografting of the Thoracic Aorta

In general, choosing the correct catheter size means picking the smallest diameter that supports the procedure. Catheters come in standard lengths that range from 65 to 110 cm in length. As with sheaths, the French scale is used to size catheters (1 Fr = 0.33 mm); however, catheters are measured at their outer diameter. Their shape is associated with function and target area. Catheters are characterized by their tractability, pushability, crossability, and steerability. Trackability describes the ability of the catheter to follow the guidewire through tortuous vessels and around corners without pulling the wire out of its intended location. Pushability refers to the amount of force at the hub of the catheter that is needed to advance the tip of the catheter. Crossability is the term that describes the ease with which a catheter follows the guidewire across a lesion or through a diseased arterial segment. Steerability refers to the responsiveness of the catheter tip to handling maneuvers performed at the hub. Catheters are made most commonly from polyurethane, polyethylene nylon and occasionally Teflon.
A sparsity based GLRT for moving target detection in distributed MIMO radar on moving platforms

This paper examines moving target detection (MTD) in distributed multi-input multi-output (MIMO) radar with sensors placed on moving platforms. Unlike previous works which were focused on the case of stationary platforms, we consider explicitly the effects of platform motion, which exacerbate the location-induced clutter non-homogeneity inherent in such systems and thus make the MTD problem significantly more challenging. We propose a sparsity based detector which, by exploiting a sparse representation of the clutter in the Doppler domain, adaptively estimates from the test signal the clutter subspace, which is allowed to be distinct for different transmit/receive (Tx/Rx) pairs and, moreover, may spread over the entire Doppler bandwidth. The proposed detector requires no range training signals that are indispensable for conventional detectors but are difficult to obtain in practice. Numerical results indicate that the proposed range training-free detector offers improved detection performance over covariance matrix based detectors when the latter are provided with a moderate amount of training signals.
Phase Transformations in Hexagonal-Close-Packed Alloys: Analysis with the Cluster Variation Method

We present a study of the hexagonal close-packed (hcp) Ising model for binary alloys within the cluster variation approximation. Groundstates of order stabilized by nearest-neighbor (NN) pair, triplet, and tetrahedron interactions were determined using the cluster configuration polyhedron method; no previous hcp ground-state study has considered all of these interactions. We predict physically realizable groundstates with stoichiometries A, AB (3 distinct structures), A2B, A3B, and A4B3. The previously unpredicted A4B3 structure is stabilized by multiatom (i.e. triplet, tetrahedron) interactions, while the others are stabilized by the two NN pair interactions. The Cluster Variation Method (CVM) was used to calculate the finite-temperature phase-equilibria for prototypical binary alloys. We present the first ordering phase diagrams computed with the CVM which contain all relevant groundstates for both isotropic and anisotropic NN pair interactions.
Recovery of Mermet Virus from Culex Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) Collected in Memphis, Tennessee, Usa

During 1977, two strains of Mermet virus (Simbu group) were isolated, 1 each from pools of Culex restuans and Culex pipiens complex mosquitoes collected in the area of Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The virus recoveries from these 2 species, in conjunction with their frequent feeding on passerine birds, from which all other Mermet strains have been isolated, suggest that 1 or both species may serve as natural vectors.
Going "Beyond Food": Confronting Structures of Injustice in Food Systems Research and Praxis

This commentary argues for a need to go "beyond food" in research, writing, and activism on the food system. Noting a tendency within both academic and activist discourse around food to focus on "the food itself," rather than on broader structures of inequality and disinvestment, I argue that more research is needed that focuses explicitly on the ways in which institutional structures and systems (including nonprofits, schools, housing, as well as the food system) can exacerbate broad injustices, including limited food access. I draw on research experience in post–Hurricane Katrina New Orleans, USA, as well as commentary from eminent food systems scholars, to advocate for new research trajectories that utilize food as a lens for contesting broader structures of injustice, rather than advocating for more and better food as an end in itself.
Folate status, regulatory T cells and MTHFR C677T polymorphism study in allergic children

Abstract Purpose This study aimed to investigate early-life folate serum concentrations in children with food, inhalant or mixed type allergy. The influence of folate levels on the FoxP 3 expression in Treg (regulatory T) cells in the studied children, taking into account the MTHFR (5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase) genotypes was also analyzed. Material and methods The study was performed in 83 allergic children (study group) and 49 healthy children (control group), aged 2–72 months. Medical history of each child was obtained and laboratory tests (serum folic acid concentrations and MTHFR C677T polymorphism) were carried out. The percentage of Treg cells was evaluated in almost a half of the examined subjects (48.5%). Results Significantly higher serum folate levels in the group of children with food allergy than in those with inhalant allergy was confirmed ( P = 0.037). In the study group the TT homozygotes were characterized by significantly lower folate concentrations than CC homozygotes ( P = 0.045). A negative correlation was demonstrated between the FoxP 3 expression in CD4 + CD25 high FoxP 3 + peripheral blood lymphocytes and serum folic acid concentrations. The correlation was more pronounced in the group of allergic children and it was statistically significant ( r = −0.339, P Conclusions The results of the study indicate a possibility of some effects of folate status on Treg cells, thus suggesting their potential role in the development and course of allergy in children.
Demonstration of Simple Side-Viewing Bare Fiber Probe for Common-Path OCT

We demonstrate a side-viewing bare fiber probe for common-path OCT using a 49° angle cleaved single mode fiber. The combined advantages of common-path OCT and extremely simplified probe design may greatly simplify Endoscopic OCT instrumentation.
Capacitor voltage balancing and an intelligent commutation technique in a new modular multilevel converter based HVDC system

Modular multilevel converters have become widely used in HVDC applications due to easy scalability and near sinusoidal output voltage synthesis. It is made up of an array of submodules comprising of semiconductor switches and floating capacitors. An important challenge in these multilevel topologies is voltage balancing of the floating capacitors. A voltage balancing technique has been proposed for a modular converter with 3-level submodules. This new converter submodule topology results in added benefits over conventional existing half-bridge submodule topologies. An intelligent commutation technique is proposed which results in 2/3rd of the switching transitions to be soft switched. The proposed control is validated by simulations in MATLAB/Simulink.
Determination of n-hexane in air of residential areas by solvent desorption capillary gas chromatography

Objective:To establish a standard gas chromatography method for the determination of n-hexane in air of residential areas.Methods:n-hexane in air of residential areas were collected by using activated carbon tubes,The samples were desorpted by carbon disulfide,then injected into the capillary gas chromatography and analyzed with a hydrogen flame ionization detector to retain the qualitative time and the quantitative apex area.Results:The samples were injected for 1 μl,The limit of n-hexane detection was 1.1×10-4 μg;and the limit of quantification was 3.7×10-4 μg.sampling of activated carbon tubes was 10L,which were desorpted by 1 ml carbon disulfide.The linear range of n-hexane was 0.037 mg/m3~40.0 mg/m3.The relative standard deviations(RSD) of determinations were 3.3%、2.2% and 2.3% respectively,The recovery of spiked samples was in the range of 96.2%,98.6%,98.0%.Conclusion: The standard method is applicable for determining n-hexane in air of residential areas and indoor.
Heart disease in women

Objective: To consider why women have less heart disease than men and to review the relation of heart disease risk factors, menopause, and estrogen to the risk for heart disease in women. Design: A review of illustrative publications. Results: Women have less heart disease than men at any given level of every major risk factor, with the possible exception of diabetes, even when the relative risk associated with that risk factor is similar for both sexes. Endogenous estrogen is a plausible explanatory variable, but no studies have shown that it is protective. Estrogen treatment after the menopause appears to reduce women's risk for heart disease, but no clinical trials have been reported that prove the benefit of this or any other intervention, except blood pressure control, in women
Community-acquired pneumonia: diagnosis and therapy of older adults.

Community-acquired pneumonia is a common problem in older adults and is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Diagnosis may be difficult, because signs of respiratory involvement may be absent and either constitutional or CNS symptoms may predominate. Elevated respiratory rate may be an important diagnostic clue. No specific pathogen is identified, and therefore empiric therapy is indicated in up to 50% of patients. The decision to hospitalize those over age 65 for parenteral antibiotic therapy is individualized. After 3 to 5 days of i.v. antibiotics oral therapy can be initiated upon favorable clinical response in the absence of proven metastatic foci of infection. Lack of response should prompt reassessment. Immunization with both the pneumococcal and viral influenza vaccines is indicated for most older patients. Discontinuation of smoking should also be encouraged.
Determination of the Full Catalytic Cycle among Multiple Cyclophilin Family Members and Limitations on the Application of CPMG-RD in Reversible Catalytic Systems.

Cyclophilins catalyze cis ↔ trans isomerization of peptidyl–prolyl bonds, influencing protein folding along with a breadth of other biological functions such as signal transduction. Here, we have determined the microscopic rate constants defining the full enzymatic cycle for three human cyclophilins and a more distantly related thermophilic bacterial cyclophilin when catalyzing interconversion of a biologically representative peptide substrate. The cyclophilins studied here exhibit variability in on-enzyme interconversion as well as an up to 2-fold range in rates of substrate binding and release. However, among the human cyclophilins, the microscopic rate constants appear to have been tuned to maintain remarkably similar isomerization rates without a concurrent conservation of apparent binding affinities. While the structures and active site compositions of the human cyclophilins studied here are highly conserved, we find that the enzymes exhibit significant variability in microsecond to millisecond time ...
Incompressible flow relationships

In Chapter 2 we introduced some of the basic relationships of incompressible fluid flow. With the exception of shafts greater than 500 m in vertical extent, changes in air density along individual airways may be ignored for most practical ventilation planning. Furthermore, in areas that are actively ventilated, airflows are turbulent in nature, other than in very large openings.
A framework for evaluating electronic health record vendor user-centered design and usability testing processes

Objective: Currently, there are few resources for electronic health record (EHR) purchasers and end users to understand the usability processes employed by EHR vendors during product design and development. We developed a framework, based on human factors literature and industry standards, to systematically evaluate the user-centered design processes and usability testing methods used by EHR vendors. Materials and Methods: We reviewed current usability certification requirements and the human factors literature to develop a 15-point framework for evaluating EHR products. The framework is based on 3 dimensions: user-centered design process, summative testing methodology, and summative testing results. Two vendor usability reports were retrieved from the Office of the National Coordinator’s Certified Health IT Product List and were evaluated using the framework. Results: One vendor scored low on the framework (5 pts) while the other vendor scored high on the framework (15 pts). The 2 scored vendor reports demonstrate the framework’s ability to discriminate between the variabilities in vendor processes and to determine which vendors are meeting best practices. Discussion: The framework provides a method to more easily comprehend EHR vendors’ usability processes and serves to highlight where EHR vendors may be falling short in terms of best practices. The framework provides a greater level of transparency for both purchasers and end users of EHRs. Conclusion: The framework highlights the need for clearer certification requirements and suggests that the authorized certification bodies that examine vendor usability reports may need to be provided with clearer guidance.
Photoprotection from Sunless Tanning Products and Colored Cosmetics

Photoprotection is traditionally associated with the use of sunscreens and physical objects, such as clothing, sunglasses, hats, umbrellas, scarves, etc., together with behavioral modification by seeking shade, While these are some of the most effective methods of protecting the skin from the damaging UV radiation produced by the sun, there are other creative methods of obtaining sun protection from products that are not traditionally considered. These alternatives include sunless tanning products and colored cosmetics. While these are not a substitute for sunscreens and protective clothing, they might be a useful addition to a sun-protective regimen and are worth discussing for their additive effect. Both products are used primarily to adorn the body through creating a colored cover over the skin and are classified as cosmetics from a regulatory standpoint in the USA.
Two-dimensional radiative transfer for the retrieval of limb emission measurements in the martian atmosphere

Abstract The remote sounding of infrared emission from planetary atmospheres using limb-viewing geometry is a powerful technique for deriving vertical profiles of structure and composition on a global scale. Compared with nadir viewing, limb geometry provides enhanced vertical resolution and greater sensitivity to atmospheric constituents. However, standard limb profile retrieval techniques assume spherical symmetry and are vulnerable to biases produced by horizontal gradients in atmospheric parameters. We present a scheme for the correction of horizontal gradients in profile retrievals from limb observations of the martian atmosphere. It characterizes horizontal gradients in temperature, pressure, and aerosol extinction along the line-of-sight of a limb view through neighboring measurements, and represents these gradients by means of two-dimensional radiative transfer in the forward model of the retrieval. The scheme is applied to limb emission measurements from the Mars Climate Sounder instrument on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Retrieval simulations using data from numerical models indicate that biases of up to 10 K in the winter polar region, obtained with standard retrievals using spherical symmetry, are reduced to about 2 K in most locations by the retrieval with two-dimensional radiative transfer. Retrievals from Mars atmospheric measurements suggest that the two-dimensional radiative transfer greatly reduces biases in temperature and aerosol opacity caused by observational geometry, predominantly in the polar winter regions.
Central Asia and the Indo-Iranian Borderlands

La comparaison entre le materiel de sites recemment fouilles dans les oasis d'Asie centrale et celui des sites de Khurab, Shadad et Tepe Yahya en Iran met en evidence la presence d'un assemblage specifique aux decouvertes d'Asie centrale dans les sepultures et cenotaphes de ces sites d'Iran. Hypothese d'un mouvement de population originaire d'Asie centrale au Bronze final (debut du II e mill. B.C.). Mise en rapport avec le langage indo-iranien
Design, develop and teach the second web programming course in computer science curriculum

In current Computer Science curriculum, teaching web programming courses has become a consensus. Web programming involves many web technologies. How to design and integrate these technologies into web programming courses is still a challenging task for web programming instructors in computer science program. Many universities have been offering one web programming course as an elective in their computer science curriculum. This paper presents our strategies and experiences to teach the second web programming course in CS curriculum. We answered some questions regarding what topics and technologies should be involved, what textbooks might be chosen, what programming environment needs to be set up to support the course, and what assignments and projects could be assigned for students. This paper intends to share some useful information and experience for other instructors teaching the second web programming course in Computer Science curriculum.
Biceps Tenodesis: Anatomic Tensioning

Biceps tenodesis is a commonly employed surgical intervention for refractory symptoms related to the biceps-labral complex, those intra-articular and those within the extra-articular bicipital tunnel. While a litany of surgical techniques exists, the optimal method for ensuring an anatomic length-tension relationship during tenodesis remains elusive. Appropriate tensioning may limit undesirable outcomes such as cramping or cosmetic deformity. We describe herein our technique as a simple and efficient means to establish patient-specific, anatomic tensioning of the long head of the biceps during tenodesis.
Thermal desorption of Ge native oxides and the loss of Ge from the surface

The annealing behavior of Ge native oxides has been studied with x-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS). The native oxides were primarily GeO2 with small amounts of GeOx (x<2). Annealing was performed using a rapid thermal processor (RTP) with a N2 purge at atmospheric pressure. Ion-implanted Ge substrates were used to investigate the loss of Ge from the surface due to thermal desorption of Ge oxides. It was found that thermal desorption of volatile Ge oxides and oxidization of Ge take place successively, which results in the loss of Ge from the surface.
Origins of lead in populations of raptors

Although poisoning from anthropogenically derived lead threatens wildlife of many species, routes of lead exposure are unclear and rarely empirically tested. We used blood lead concentration and isotope ratio (207Pb/206Pb) data from populations of four species of raptors from across North America to test hypotheses associated with lead exposure via inhalation versus ingestion. Mean variation in blood lead concentration among cohort siblings was non-zero at nests of ferruginous hawks Buteo regalis and osprey Pandion haliaetus (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001), indicating exposure via episodic ingestion. However, within-nest variation in blood lead concentration was not significantly different from zero among cohort siblings at nests of bald eagles Haliaeetus leucocephalus and golden eagles Aquila chrysaetos (P = 0.014 and P = 0.023), consistent with exposure via continuous inhalation. Isotope ratio data corroborated the lead concentration data and within-nest average and variance of blood lead concentrations were positively correlated (r = 0.70 to 0.94), indicating episodic ingestion. This study provides some of the first empirical population-level data to evaluate mechanisms of lead exposure and demonstrates the importance of lead ingestion to avian predators and scavengers.
THE MAGIC OF THE ANALYTIC HIERARCHY PROCESS (AHP)

Dr. Thomas Saaty developed the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) with the underlying goal of making it simple and accessible to the lay user. In Saatyâ€™s own words, the AHP is based on how â€œordinary people process informationâ€ and â€œexpress the strength of their judgmentsâ€ (Saaty, 1994, p. 37). Because he was successful in developing the AHP in accordance with these goals, when decision makers use the AHP their experience can feel magical as they find pairwise comparisons natural and can relate to the final priorities. Careful investigation of the axioms, theorems, and proofs shows that the AHP is more than just magic and provides scientific justification of the highest order. Five important components of the AHP and some background into the history of its development are summarized and highlighted from Saatyâ€™s article, â€œHow to Make a Decision: the Analytic Hierarchy Processâ€ (Saaty, 1994).Â https://doi.org/10.13033/ijahp.v9i3.519
Immigration Governance for the Twenty-First Century:

The governance of immigration has a checkered past, and policy makers’ efforts at reform rarely meet expectations. Critiques have echoed over the years and across the political spectrum. The current system of immigration governance is scattered around the federal government, with no clear chain of command. No single government department or agency captures the breadth of the Immigration and Nationality Act's reach.At the crux of understanding immigration governance is acknowledging that immigration is not a program to be administered; rather, it is a phenomenon to be managed. The abundance of commissions that have studied the issues and the various administrative structures over time offers some wisdom on ingredients for successful governance. Based upon this research, options for effective immigration governance emerge.This paper studies the administration of immigration law and policy with an eye trained on immigration governance for the future. It opens with a historical overview that provides the back...
Examining the Complexity of Patient-Outpatient Care Team Secure Message Communication: Qualitative Analysis.

Background: The value of secure messaging in streamlining routine patient care activities is generally agreed upon. However, the differences in how patients use secure messaging, including for communicating both routine and nonroutine issues, and the implications of these differences in use are less well understood. Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine secure messaging use to extend current knowledge of how this tool is being used in outpatient care settings and generate new research questions to improve our understanding of the role of secure messaging in the patient-provider communication toolbox. Methods: We conducted an in-depth qualitative analysis of secure message threads in 12 US Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinics in south Texas. We analyzed 70 secure message threads with a total of 179 unique communications between patients and their outpatient teams for patterns in communication and secure message content. We used theories from information systems and complexity science in organizations to explain our observations. Results: Analysis identified content relating to 3 main themes: (1) information management, (2) uncertainty management, and (3) patient safety and engagement risks and opportunities. Within these themes, we identified 2 subcategories of information management (information exchange and problem solving), 2 subcategories of uncertainty management (relationship building and sensemaking), and 3 subcategories of patient safety and engagement risks and opportunities (unresolved issues, tone mismatch, and urgent medical issues). Secure messages were most often used to communicate routine issues (eg, information exchange and problem solving). However, the presence of subcategories pertaining to nonroutine issues (eg, relationship building, sensemaking, tone mismatch, urgent issues, and unresolved issues) requires attention, particularly for improving opportunities in outpatient care settings using secure messaging. Conclusions: Patients use secure messaging for both routine and nonroutine purposes. Our analysis sheds light on potentially new patient safety concerns, particularly when using secure messaging to address some of the more complex issues patients are communicating with providers. Secure messaging is an asynchronous communication information system operated by patients and providers who are often characterized as having significant differences in knowledge, experience and expectations. As such, justification for its use beyond routine purposes is limited—yet this occurs, presenting a multifaceted dilemma for health care organizations. Secure messaging use in outpatient care settings may be more nuanced, and thus more challenging to understand and manage than previously recognized. New information system designs that acknowledge the use of secure messaging for nonroutine and complex health topics are needed.
A Study on Deflection Routing in Optical Burst-Switched Networks

A major concern in optical burst-switched networks is contention,which occurs when multiple bursts contend for the same link. While a deflection routing protocol is proposed as one of the contention resolution techniques,there has been no appropriate deflection routing algorithm to find an alternate route. In this paper, we formulate a deflection routing problem based on the burst blocking rate resulting from resource contention in an optical burst-switched network. This algorithm minimizes the contention on the alternate path with the minimum distance. Furthermore, in this paper, we develop an analytical model for the deflection routing time when deflection routing is performed to resolve contention. In this model, we investigate the expected deflection routing time considering that the burst could be dropped even with deflection routing due to another contention on the alternate path. Simulations are conducted to show that there is an improvement in terms of burst loss rate and network throughput.
Identifying damage in honeycomb fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite sandwich bridge decks

Abstract: A strain energy-based damage identification method for plate-type structures is presented. The damage identification method employs a damage location factor matrix and a damage severity correction factor (DSCF) matrix for damage localization and quantification. An experimental modal test of an as-manufactured fiber-reinforced polymer sandwich deck panel is conducted in the laboratory to demonstrate the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed DSCF-based damage identification method. The composite deck panel at healthy and three damaged stages is tested using a surface-bonded polyvinylidene fluoride sensor array and impact hammer system. The present damage identification method can be used as a viable and effective technique for damage localization and quantification of plate-type structures.
Resource Management Training for Air Traffic Controllers

The concerns about controller effectiveness in today’s highly automated environment suggest that new training approaches may be warranted. Just as airline pilots have had to develop new skills for dealing with cockpit automation, so now must controllers also expand their repertoire to include the skills which comprise effective resource management. Resource management training refers generally to technical training in the efficient use of system resources in the performance of a job. While air traffic controllers are not as explicitly teamoriented as flight crews, there are job parallels which suggest that performance could be improved through resource management training for skills such as leadership, planning, communication, assertiveness, situational awareness, and decision making that are often a part of flight crew resource management training. Today’s high-density and complex operations require efficient coordination among air traffic facilities and effective use of system automation. Satisfactory system performance of our newly automated air traffic systems will depend on controllers’ resource management skills.
Urban makeovers, homeless encampments, and the aesthetics of displacement

This paper brings together geographic literature on homelessness and theories of aesthetics to analyse how city beautification projects in contemporary American cities promote the displacement of h...
Creative city strategies on the municipal agenda in New York

Abstract What are creative city strategies and how can they gain a place on a municipal agenda? I analyze data from 21 semi-structured interviews with key policymakers, nonprofit leaders, developers, and philanthropists, together with archival and historical materials to uncover ways that creative city interventions were employed during the 2000s in New York. Using the lens of Multiple Streams' agenda setting theory, I identify evidence of creative citybuilding and cultural policy on New York's municipal agenda. Anchoring the analysis are discussions of field building, agenda setting, the return to the city center, and facets of what I term, “urban allure.” Urban allure consists of hard factors including the cultural built environment, arts and design amenities, live/work options and opportunities for the creative class to flourish as well as soft factors, such as the ‘coolness’ of a city, its attractiveness both as a tourist destination and a draw to residents, and the numerous cultural opportunities that make an urban center vital. I find that during that decade New York underwent a creative resurgence, wherein the creative sector was a factor in a municipal strategy for revitalization after the exogenous shock of 9/11. The vernacular creative sector played a less formal, but still important role in regenerating urban allure, often agglomerating in the boroughs outside of Manhattan. Discussion both of the top-down and bottom up aspects of the creative city offer ways to understand the components and aspects of each.
Length of Stay in Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: Does Day of Surgery Matter?

Purpose: With health-care utilization becoming an important factor in patient care, we investigated the effect that surgical day of week has on length of hospital stay (LOS) for shoulder arthroplas...
Injectable Hydrogels to Treat Myocardial Infarction

Myocardial infarction (MI) leads to negative remodeling of the left ventricle (LV), which includes cardiomyocyte death, wall thinning, LV dilation, and fibrosis and ultimately reduces cardiac function dramatically. While some drug therapies such as diuretics, ACE inhibitors, and beta-blockers may initially help to treat symptoms of developing heart failure, late stage patients require more invasive surgical procedures such as heart transplantation or left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. Injectable hydrogel therapeutics are currently being investigated as a minimally invasive alternative that may trigger a pro-repair response in the infarct and mitigate the progression of heart failure and possibly allow patients to regain the lost cardiac function. These hydrogels can be delivered alone or may be loaded with a biologic molecule or stem cells to add a synergistic therapeutic effect. This chapter will present an overview of large animal preclinical models and clinical trials of existing injectable hydrogel therapeutics for treating MI.
The TextMap General Purpose Visualization System: Core Mechanism and Case Study

Human language is capable of communicating mental models between speakers of a language. The question why and how this works is closely tied to a specific variant of the symbol grounding problem that still leaves many open questions. This paper presents the core mechanism of the TextMap system, a logic-based system for generating visuospatial representations from textual input. The system leverages a recent discovery linking logical truth tables of formulae to images: a simple model counting mechanism that automatically extracts coordinate information from propositional Horn-logic knowledge bases encoding spatial predications. The system is based on a biologically inspired low-level bit vector mechanism, the activation bit vector machine (ABVM). It does not require an ontology apart from a list of which tokens indicate relations. Its minimalism and simplicity make TextMap a general purpose visualization or imagery tool. This paper demonstrates the core model counting mechanism and the results of a larger case study of a geographic layout of 13 cities.
Convenience Theory of Cryptocurrency Crime: A Content Analysis of U.S. Federal Court Decisions

This article examines cryptocurrency cases decided in the U.S. District and Circuit Courts to determine the applicability of Gottschalk’s convenience theory of white-collar crime to cryptocurrency ...
PATIENT-REPORTED AND OBJECTIVE MEASURES OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ARE NOT RELATED 6-MONTHS AFTER ACL RECONSTRUCTION:

Background:When measured objectively, adults with ACL reconstruction (ACLR) are 2.5 times less likely to be physically active than by their healthy counterparts. Currently, it is unclear if patient...
Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Children

Respiratory distress syndrome is the clinical manifestation of injury to the terminal alveolar-capillary unit, and may result from a variety of nonpulmonary insults including shock, sepsis, and trauma. The clinical characteristics, pathophysiology, and treatment of respiratory distress syndrome in children are reviewed.
A Case Study of Preservice Music Teachers’ Experiences With Play in a General Music Methods Course:

Preservice music teachers may devalue play as a teaching approach unless music teacher educators reintroduce them to play through role-playing, cooperative games, and other playful activities. I de...