cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Combinatorics of K -theory via a K -theoretic Poirier-Reutenauer bialgebra

We use the K -Knuth equivalence of Buch and Samuel (2015) to define a K -theoretic analogue of the Poirier-Reutenauer Hopf algebra. As an application, we rederive the K -theoretic Littlewood-Richardson rules of Thomas and Yong (2009, 2011) and of Buch and Samuel (2015).
Scaling activity discovery and recognition to large, complex datasets

In the past decade, activity discovery and recognition has been studied by many researchers. However there are still many challenges to be addressed before deploying such technologies in the real world. We try to address some of those challenges in order to achieve a more scalable solution that can be used in the real world. First, we introduce a novel data mining method called the continuous Varied order Sequence Mining method (DVSM). It is able to discover activity pattern sequences, even if those patterns are disrupted or have varied step orders. We further extend DVSM into another data mining method called the Continuous varied Order Multi threshold activity discovery method (COM). COM is able to handle issues such as rare events across time and space. Furthermore, for discovering patterns in a real time manner, we extend COM as a stream mining method called StreamCOM. In addition to discovering activity patterns, we propose several methods for transferring discovered patterns from one setting to another. We propose methods for transferring activity models of one resident to another, activity models of a physical space to another, and activity models of multiple spaces to another. We also show a method for selecting the most promising sources when multiple sources are available. In order to further expedite the learning process, we also propose two novel active learning methods to construct generic active learning queries. Our generic queries are shorter and more intuitive and encompass many similar cases. We show how we can achieve a higher accuracy rate with fewer queries compared to traditional active learning methods. All of our methods have been tested on real data collected from CASAS smart apartments. In several cases, we also tested our algorithms on various other datasets.
Bio-based difuranic polyol monomers and their derived linear and cross-linked polyurethanes

A triol monomer, 5,5′-dihydroxymethyl furoin (DHMF), was prepared from the biomass platform chemical 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) in 95% yield via organocatalysis. Selective oxidation and reduction of DHMF afforded a new diol monomer, 5,5′-bihydroxymethyl furil (BHMF), and a new tetraol, 5,5′-bihydroxymethyl hydrofuroin (BHMH), respectively. The catalyzed polyaddition of the diol BHMF with various diisocyanates produced linear polyurethanes (PUs), whereas catalyzed polyadditions using the triol and tetraol monomers led to cross-linked PUs. Especially interesting is the PU material derived from BHMF and aromatic diisocyanates such as diphenylmethane diisocyanate, which exhibited a Mn of 39.8 kg mol−1, an onset decomposition temperature of 234 °C, and a Tg of 140 °C. Various PU thin films have also been prepared by in situ polyaddition of these three polyols with diisocyanates in various ratios through solvent casting, affording PU materials ranging from being brittle to flexible with a high strain at break of 300%.
Limitrophic Animals, Aesthetics, and Poetics in Gautier’s Voyage hors barrières

Jacques Derrida has offered tools to rethink the limit between humans and animals as subject to construction and deconstruction. Three 1838 essays by Theophile Gautier, first published in La Presse and then collected as three chapters of Voyage hors barrieres, are analysed by means of these tools. The travelogue, which recounts a trip to the infamous area of Montfaucon at the edge of old Paris where a horse knackery and arena for animal fights are located, lets Gautier explore animal death, animal life, and animal struggles at the edge of the city. Gautier is shown working through what he calls an ultra-picturesque aesthetics until it has to be abandoned along with an increasingly bankrupt idea of the proper of man as political animal, in favour of a coming definition found through poetics where man is becoming defined as a historical animal.
Housing conditions alter properties of the tibia and humerus during the laying phase in Lohmann white Leghorn hens

Osteoporosis in caged hens is one driving factor for the United States egg industry to explore options regarding alternative housing systems for laying hens. The aim of our research was to study the influence of housing systems on tibiae and humeri of 77-week-old Lohmann White hens. Pullets raised in an aviary system were either continued in aviary hen systems (AV) or conventional cages (AC) whereas pullets reared in conventional cages continued in conventional hen cages (CC) or enriched colony cages (EN) at 19 weeks. From each group, 120 hens were randomly euthanized and right and left tibae and humeri were excised for structural and mechanical analysis. Volumetric density of the cortical bone was measured using quantitative computed tomography (QCT). Aviary (AV) hens had greater cortical thickness and density but similar outer dimensions to AC hens (P < 0.05). Hens in EN system had humeri with similar cortical thickness and density but wider outer dimensions than the humeri of CC hens (P < 0.05). Cortical geometry of the tibiae was the same for the EN and CC hens, whereas EN hens had denser tibial cortex than CC hens (P < 0.05). Geometrical changes in the humeri suggest that hens in the AV system were better able to protect their structure from endosteal resorption during the laying phase. Humeri of AV and EN hens had increased second moment of area compared to the AC and CC hens; however, the changes were not observed in tibiae. Mechanical property differences were observed, with bones of AV hens having greater failure moment and stiffness than AC hens and the same difference was observed between the EN and CC hens, (P < 0.05). These findings indicate that movement limitation causes loss of bone mass and density whereas provision of moderate movement increases certain bone quality parameters during adulthood in laying hens.
Effect of an antimicrobial stewardship bundle for patients with Clostridium difficile infection

OBJECTIVES The study objective was to determine whether there was an improvement in compliance with recommended Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) treatment after introduction of an institutional CDI bundle with daily antimicrobial stewardship assessment. PATIENTS AND METHODS This was a single-centre, quasi-experimental study evaluating compliance with an antimicrobial stewardship team-implemented care bundle in patients with CDI compared with historical controls. The primary outcome, compliance with overall bundle elements, was achieved when the following measures were accomplished: (i) appropriate CDI antimicrobial therapy based on the institutional treatment algorithm; (ii) discontinuation of acid-suppressant therapy in the absence of a pre-specified indication; and (iii) discontinuation of unnecessary antimicrobials. Secondary objectives were to evaluate the extent to which antimicrobial stewardship involvement affected treatment compliance and to assess trends in CDI clinical outcomes, such as mortality and readmission. RESULTS One-hundred-and-sixty-nine patients were evaluated; 83 after implementation of the care bundle (bundle group) and 89 prior to bundle implementation (historical control group). Compliance with overall bundle endpoints was significantly higher in the bundle group versus the control group (81% versus 45%, P < 0.001). Individual bundle components that were significantly improved in the bundle group were discontinuation of non-essential acid suppressants (90% versus 18%, P < 0.001) and administration of appropriate CDI therapy (82% versus 64%, P < 0.009). No significant differences were observed in overall or CDI-related mortality or readmissions, durations of therapy or reduction of non-essential concomitant antimicrobials. CONCLUSIONS Introduction of an antimicrobial stewardship bundle for CDI significantly improved adherence to institutional treatment recommendations and overall management of patients with CDI.
Infecciones vaginales comunes

Historia La enfermedad por tricomonas fue mencionada primeramente en 1835 por Donne, quien la describio como un protozoario flagelado, caracterizado por su vida en medio acido. Esto fue confirmado 19 anos despues en 1855 por KolliKer y Scanzoni, este ultimo famoso por la maniobra de la rotacion del forceps. Desde entonces hasta 1900 aparecieron unos siete ensayos en la literatura europea y americana, en los que se describen varias caracteristicas de rasgos de las tricomonas. En 1894 DoDerlein publico su trabajo, describiendo el bacilo que lleva su nombre. El tambien consideraba la elevada acidez de la vagina normal, un mecanismo protector del cuerpo contra el desarrollo de los organismos piococicos y patogenos. En 1920 fueron anunciados dos importantes principios generales. El primero de ellos se refiere a que enfermedades sistemicas pueden cambiar la flora vaginal a traves de su efecto sobre el epitelio vaginal. El segundo se refiere a que la flora vaginal puede ser cambiada por organismos de enfermedades infecciosas, venciendo a la flora normal latente de la vagina con alteraciones bioquimicas asociadas. Desde 1900 ha habido frecuentes reportes sobre el hallazgo de tricomonas en el varon, igual que la hembra. Este descubrimiento fue hecho originalmente en 1894 cuando MarchanD encontro tricomonas en el tracto urinario de un paciente varon. En 1929 fue descrita como cosa fisiologica la descomposicion del glicogeno que normalmente tiene la celula de la mucosa vaginal con la formacion consecutiva de acido lactico. Esta descomposicion la hace el bacilo de Doderlein. En general, los ensayos que han aparecido en los ultimos 50 anos sobre las tricomonas y las monilias se han referido principalmente a su tratamiento.
EEG source localization constrained by time varying fMRI

A novel approach for Electroencephalogram (EEG) and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) integration analysis was developed, specifically designed to explore the spatial and temporal details of the “sequential multi-event-related potential” type of neural activities. The approach utilizes the high temporal resolution nature of EEG to compute a current density mapping of the cortical activity, informed by the high spatial resolution fMRI in a time-variant, spatially selective manner. This method was implemented in the analysis of an EEG/fMRI study on motor activation in responses to a visual stimulus that evoked an emotional response. The processed windowed EEG signals were analyzed to select the temporally relevant partial fMRI mapping, which in turn was used to inform EEG source localization calculation. The results were compared against traditional fMRI-informed EEG approaches to demonstrate the spatiotemporal variant fMRI constraints feature as well as the performance of the developed method.
Collective and single-chain correlations in disordered melts of symmetric diblock copolymers: Quantitative comparison of simulations and theory

We present a detailed comparison of simulations of disordered melts of symmetric AB diblock copolymers to predictions of the renormalized one-loop (ROL) theory. The behaviors of the structure factor S(q) and of single-chain correlations are studied over a range of chain lengths (N = 16, ..., 128) for two models: one with harshly repulsive pair interactions and another with very soft interactions. The ROL theory is shown to provide an excellent description of the dependence of S(q) on chain length and thermodynamic conditions for both models, even for very short chains, if we allow for the existence of a nonlinear dependence of the effective interaction parameter χe upon the strength of the AB repulsion. The decrease in peak wavenumber q* with increasing χe is shown to be unrelated to changes in single-chain correlations. Results for all quantities are consistent with the hypothesis that the ROL theory gives an exact description of the dominant O(N−1/2) corrections to RPA and random-walk predictions in th...
Reinvestigation of Host Location by Western Corn Rootworm Larvae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae): CO2 Is the Only Volatile Attractant

In strong contrast to earlier published results, we now conclude that the attraction of western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, larvae to corn roots is caused by CO2 alone, and that no other volatile chemical cues are involved in attracting the larvae. Choice test behavioral bioassays were conducted in the laboratory, with volatile corn compounds on one side of the bioassay apparatus and with different concentrations of CO2 on the other side (mass spectrometry was used to measure CO2 concentrations on both sides of the apparatus). Larvae were strongly attracted to volatile compounds from com when ambient air was present on the other side of the bioassay. However, larvae chose equally between the 2 sides of the bioassay when volatile compounds from corn were present on one side and an equivalent concentration of CO2 was present on the other side. When given a choice between corn volatiles and a higher concentration of CO2, the larvae chose the CO2 side significantly more often. In an experiment conducted both with diapausing and nondiapausing strains, the headspace from germinating corn seeds was collected and continuously injected into one side of the bioassay apparatus, and a defined concentration of CO2 was continuously injected into the other side. We tested the possibility that compounds of limited volatility may be involved in larval attraction by preparing glass beads coated directly with volatiles produced by germinating corn seeds, and also by testing soil that was removed from corn roots. All these experiments indicated that compounds other than CO2 were not involved in larval attraction. In other experiments, the soil atmosphere surrounding the roots of growing corn plants was not as attractive as an equivalent concentration of CO2 alone, and the headspace from feeding-damaged corn roots was not as attractive as an equivalent concentration of CO2 alone, indicating that weak repellents were present in these treatments together with the strong attractant CO2, Tests with solvent extracts and cryogenic extracts of germinating corn seeds in conjunction with CO2 also indicated the presence of weak repellents in corn for the larvae.
Potential Application of High-Energy Laser Weapons on Surface Ships

The threat of antiship missile against surface ships and the limitation of antimissile defensive systems of the surface ships being in service are analysed. From the analyses,we come to the conclusion that there is a limit to antimissile ability active shipbased defensive systems,the surface ships are faced with a serious threat of antiship missile, and are in great need of new defensive means and weapons in order to enhance its antimissile ability. On the basis of the presentation mentioned above, the main characteristics of high-energy laser weapons are analysed briefly, the possible application and role of high-energy laser weapons on surface ship are also discussed. It theoreitically shows that high-energy laser weapons are the potential short-range antimissile defensive weapons, and are of an important role in the surface ships'short-range antimissile defense, antisatellite and high-resolution optical warning.
Breeding and Utilization of Indica TGMS Line Guangmo S in Rice

Derived from the cross of Guangzhan 63-4S and Molixinzhan,Guangmo S is a pollen-free type of thermo-sensitive genetic male sterile(TGMS)line in indica rice.In August,2005,it was technically identified in Anhui Province.The critical sterility-inducing temperature of Guangmo S is lower than 24℃.In Hefei,it has a stable sterile period of 50 days from July 13 to August 31.Under normal natural day-length and temperature conditions,the sterility/fertility alteration usually occurs on September 2 or so.Guangmo S has fine processing quality and appearance quality,good outcrossing characters,high combining ability and good resistances.Derived from Guangmo S,a group of medium indica hybrid rice combinations with high yield,good quality and wide adaptability have been developed.Among them,Liangyou 100(Guangmo S/Zihui 100 Xuan)and Guangliangyou 100(Guangmo S/Zihui 100)were approved for commercialization by the Anhui Crop Variety Release Committee in 2007.
GEOGRAPHIC AND SEASONAL PATTERNS OF CLUTCH-SIZE VARIATION IN HOUSE WRENS

ABsTRAcr.-I report on geographic variation and seasonal decline in clutch size in House Wrens (Troglodytes aedon), a species that breeds throughout much of the New World. Nest records from British Columbia to Tierra del Fuego (n = 3,246 clutches) show that clutch size increases with latitude in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. Seasonality of food resources, as measured by actual evapotranspiration (AE), does not explain much of the variation in clutch size, especially when controlling for latitude. This result shows that either seasonality is unimportant or that AE is a poor indicator of the food available to House Wrens. Seasonal decline in clutch size varies geographically such that in northern populations, clutch size declines much more rapidly during the breeding season than in low latitude populations. A model explaining this pattern, the offspring-survivorship hypothesis, predicts that the rate of seasonal decline in clutch size is related to the difference in survivorship between earlyand late-fledged young. Field study in Monteverde, Costa Rica, showed that clutch size did not change seasonally and that late-fledged young were at least as likely to survive to the following breeding season as early-fledged young. This pattern is in contrast to North Temperate areas where clutch size declines sharply during the breeding season and late-fledged young are much less likely to survive to the following year than early-fledged young. Received
Industrial Policies and Contemporary Africa: The Transition from Prebendal to Developmental Governance

Africa has entered a new era of economic growth after decades of sustained efforts to promote reforms. During the 1980s, it was recognized that the economic strategies implemented during the first two decades of the post-colonial period had largely failed. Economies were stagnant or in decline, core institutions were eroding, and there was a steady outflow of intellectual talent and financial resources. An economic recovery became apparent in the mid-1990s and has strengthened over the past 15 years, matching the last sustained period of growth in Africa that began in the mid-1950s (Radelet, 2010). Accompanying the economic downturn was political stasis and decay. Competitive party systems eroded and few countries were even minimally democratic in 1990. The economic and political quandary heightened concerns about the legitimacy, efficacy and even coherence of the nation-state systems bequeathed to Africa by colonialism (Joseph, 1999; Herbst, 2000).
Comparing the Component-Specific Model Directly with the Established Diagnosis-Specific Trial

This chapter reviews the primary and secondary aims of the trial and then compares how well the two types of model compare in achieving their aims. Although both are equally strong in achieving the primary aim of evaluating overall efficacy, the established model has little to contribute to achieving the secondary aims. The chapter illustrates the importance of the secondary aims for advancing science in this area, generally. It highlights that limiting the goals of these inordinately expensive experiments to the efficacy of the trial drug for one targeted disorder, is deemed wasteful and shortsighted.
Management of Endogenous Endophthalmitis

Endogenous endophthalmitis is a potentially blinding ocular infection resulting from hematogenous spread from a remote primary source. Endogenous endophthalmitis accounts for only 2–8% of cases of endophthalmitis and usually occurs in the setting of at least a relatively immunocompromised state. Causes include both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and fungi. Streptococcal species are the most commonly implicated bacterial organisms; Candida species are the most commonly implicated fungal organisms. Endogenous mold endophthalmitis is rare and typically occurs in the setting of relative immunocompromise or intravenous drug use. Early diagnosis of endogenous endophthalmitis requires a high degree of suspicion and is critical if vision is to be preserved. Therapeutic management includes hospitalization and delivery of broad-spectrum systemic and intravitreal antibiotics. Vitrectomy may be appropriate in some cases. The prognosis of patients with endogenous endophthalmitis is disappointing; even with aggressive treatment, useful vision (i.e., ability to count fingers or better) is preserved in only about 40% of patients.
Deconstructing Dirac Operators. II: Integral Representation Formulas

We set up generalized Cauchy-Pompeiu and Bochner-Martinelli- Koppelman representation formulas for arbitrary pairs (\(\mathfrak{D}, \Phi\)), where \(\mathfrak{D}\) is a first-order homogeneous differential operator on ℝn with coefficients in a Banach algebra \(\mathfrak{A} \), and ф is a smooth \(\mathfrak{A} \)-valued function on ℝn \ { 0} homogeneous of degree 1 –n, n ≥2. Within our general framework we prove that the integral representation formulas include the expected components, as well as some remainders that are explicitly computed in terms of \(\mathfrak{A} \) and ф. As a consequence, we obtain necessary and sufficient conditions that ensure the existence of genuine Cauchy-Pompeiu or Bochner-Martinelli-Koppelman formulas for such operator-kernel pairs (\(\mathfrak{D}, \Phi\)). Properly interpreted in a Clifford algebra setting these conditions prove valuable in investigating Dirac and Cauchy-Riemann operators.
Special Issues in Psychoeducational Assessment and Report Writing

This chapter offers guidance on important topics in assessment and report writing and comprises two sections. The first section discusses professional and ethical issues in psychoeducational assessment and report writing. The second section covers general assessment and report writing issues.
An adaptive hybrid memetic algorithm for thermal-aware non-slicing VLSI floorplanning☆

Abstract Floorplanning is a crucial step in very large scale integration design flow. It provides valuable insights into the hardware decisions and estimates a floorplan with different cost metrics. In this paper, to handle a multi-objective thermal-aware non-slicing floorplanning optimization problem efficiently, an adaptive hybrid memetic algorithm is presented to optimize the area, the total wirelength, the maximum temperature and the average temperature of a chip. In the proposed algorithm, a genetic search algorithm is used as a global search method to explore the search space as much as possible, and a modified simulated annealing search algorithm is used as a local search method to exploit information in the search region. The global exploration and local exploitation are balanced by a death probability strategy. In this strategy, according to the natural mechanisms, each individual in the population is endowed with an actual age and a dynamic survival age. Experimental results on the standard tested benchmarks show that the proposed algorithm is efficient to obtain floorplans, with decreasing the average and the peak temperature.
Environmental Constraints for Reef Building in the Gulf

The Gulf is a peripheral basin of the Indian Ocean, at roughly 23°50′–29°52′ degrees northern latitude. It harbors extensive coral growth in one of the highest latitude locations in the world (Table 2.1). Due to its high-latitude position, its shallow nature, and its position within the great desert belt, the Gulf and its corals are exposed to extremes in temperature, salinity and other physical factors (Kinsman 1964a, b; Sheppard et al. 1992). But despite a seemingly hostile climate, corals endure and have been shown to exhibit remarkable resilience and vitality even if faced by some of the most extreme environmental conditions corals have to endure anywhere. This chapter will outline the most important physical constraints on reef building.
Parental reactions to children’s negative affect: The moderating role of parental GAD

The impact of parental anxiety disorders has been explored in broad categories of parenting behaviors; however, less is known about the impact of parental anxiety on emotion socialization behaviors. The current study tested the conditional effect of parental Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) on one aspect of emotion socialization, parents' reactions to their child's negative affect. Participants were 89 children between ages 3 and 12 and their parents, from a community sample. Parents completed the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule-IV (ADIS-IV), an interaction task with their child, and the Beck Anxiety Inventory-II (BAI-II). Overall, the data supported study hypotheses. Parental GAD moderated the relationship between child's negative affect and parental over control and emotional discouragement. Specifically, children's negative affect was positively related to parental emotional discouragement for parents with GAD, but not for parents without a diagnosis. Conversely, children's negative affect was not predictive of parental overcontrol for parents with GAD, but increases in children's negative affect did predict increases in parental overcontrol for parents without a diagnosis. The present findings suggest parents diagnosed with GAD are discouraging of their children's emotional experiences and fail to adjust their level of guidance throughout situations which induce negative affect, leaving children to cope with negative emotions on their own.
Organizational Structure, Policy Learning, and Economic Performance: Evidence from the Chinese Commune:

Using original county-level panel data on Chinese communes over two decades, 1958 to 1979, this article builds upon existing theories about the influence of organizational size and structure on ins...
ACTIVATION AND INACTIVATION OF THE CALCIUM CHANNEL

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the activation and inactivation of the calcium channel. Calcium current in neurons occurs through channels that transport Ca ions at rates of 105 to 106 s−1. The descriptions of the turn-off or decay of ICa are in much less agreement. The opening process is fast and both the rate constant of opening, π−1m and the number of open channels (assuming two state open or shut channels) are voltage-dependent. There have been questions concerning the occurrence of inactivation at all. This is particularly true when intracellular Ca activities rather than Ca currents are measured during a voltage clamp step. The measurements of Ca activity record the variable of interest directly but suffer from complications because of variable stoichiometry or lack of specificity.
Acute Limited Intimal Tears of the Thoracic Aorta

Abstract Background Limited intimal tears (LITs) of the aorta (Class 3 dissection variant) are the least common form of aortic pathology in patients presenting with acute aortic syndrome (AAS). LITs are difficult to detect on imaging and may be underappreciated. Objectives This study sought to describe the frequency, pathology, treatment, and outcome of LITs compared with other AAS, and to demonstrate that LITs can be detected pre-operatively by contemporary imaging. Methods The authors retrospectively reviewed 497 patients admitted for 513 AAS events at a single academic aortic center between 2003 and 2012. AAS were classified into classic dissection (AD), intramural hematoma, LIT, penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer, and rupturing thoracic aortic aneurysm. The prevalence, pertinent risk factors, and detailed imaging findings with surgical and pathological correlation of LITs are described. Management, early outcomes, and late mortality are reported. Results Among 497 patients with AAS, the authors identified 24 LITs (4.8% of AAS) in 16 men and 8 women (17 type A, 7 type B). Patients with LITs were older than those with AD, and type A LITs had similarly dilated ascending aortas as type A AD. Three patients presented with rupture. Eleven patients underwent urgent surgical aortic replacement, and 2 patients underwent endovascular repair. Medial degeneration was present in all surgical specimens. In-hospital mortality was 4% (1 of 24), and in total, 5 patients with LIT died subsequently at 1.5 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 0.3 to 2.5 years). Computed tomography imaging detected all but 1 LIT, best visualized on volume-rendered images. Conclusions LITs are rare acute aortic lesions within the dissection spectrum, with similar presentation, complications, and outcomes compared with AD and intramural hematoma. Awareness of this lesion allows pre-operative diagnosis using high-quality computed tomography angiography.
Retrograde Type A Dissection After Endovascular Management of Type B Dissection

Thoracic endografting has recently been approved by the Federal Drug Administration in the United States for the treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysms. The first thoracic stent graft for the treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) was reported by Dake et al.1 Kato2 described the use of stent graft to treat dissecting aneurysms at about the same time. Stanford type B dissections are managed conservatively with meticulous control of blood pressure and pain medication for uncomplicated cases. As much as 43% of acute type B dissections treated medically will progress to aortic enlargement with close to 30% dilated to 6 cm or greater within a mean 59 months.3 Surgical treatment of acute type B dissection is reserved for patients with a complicated course, such as frank or impending rupture, branch vessel occlusion with visceral and/or leg ischemia, or refractory hypertension or pain.
STUDY OF SUPERFERRITIC STAINLESS STEEL FUSION LINE PHASES

ABSTRACT During the study of GTA welding of several superferritic stainless steel alloys, using multi-pass welds of austenitic fillers, poor tensile strength and elongation were observed. This was attributed to the presence of an excess brittle phase at the weld fusion line. Tensile specimens were observed to fail at the fusion line with the shape of the fracture exactly matching that of the weld/base metal interface. The weld corrosion test results also were not as satisfactory as the base metal tests. Localized corrosion was observed at the weld fusion line. In this study, sample from 29Cr-4Mo-2Ni alloy welds made using Inconel 625 filler material and gas tungsten arc welding procedure were metallographically examined after brittle phases have been found at the fusion line. A composition which the Fe-Cr-Ni phase diagram predicts a mix of austenite and sigma phase has been found on the broken face of a tensile specimen, using SEM/XEDS quantitative analysis. X-ray diffraction independently confirmed the presence of a mixture of austenite and sigma phase on the broken tensile sample.
Efficient and effective induction of first order decision lists

We present BUFOIDL, a new bottom-up algorithm for learning first order decision lists. Although first order decision lists have potential as a representation for learning concepts that include exceptions, such as language constructs, previous systems suffered from limitations that we seek to overcome in BUFOIDL. We present experiments comparing BUFOIDL to previous work in the area, demonstrating the system's potential.
Quantum Chemistry Beyond the Algebraic Approximation with Gaussian Geminals

It is very hard to achieve chemical accuracies of 1 mhartree (or about 1 kcal/mole) for molecular energies. The electron correlation methods using expansions in virtual orbitals as computed from some zeroth-order problem usually converge very slowly. This is mainly due to the absence of explicit correlation in these expansions. A valuable remedy is presented in the form of Gaussian type geminal (GTG) expansions for pair functions in perturbation and coupled pair calculations. The combined use of Gaussian type orbitals (GTO) for Hartree-Fock orbitals and GTG’s for pair functions enables the analytic evaluation of all many-electron integrals, regardless of the molecule or the number of electrons. Nonlinear parameters in the GTG’s have been obtained by minimizing a new second-order energy functional which is computationally more efficient than a previous one. Saturated second- and third-order energies for He, Be, H2 and LiH have been obtained, essentially matching previous accurate atomic results, and superseding decisively diatomic results. Coupled-pair results with the GTG basis obtained at the second-order level match other accurate Be and LiH results, and are far superior for He and H2, Drastic, yet numerically reliable, approximate treatments for the strong orthogonality were introduced which dramatically reduce the computational efforts. Future developments are discussed.
Virtual axion-like particle Complement to Euler-Heisenberg-Schwinger action

Abstract We modify action in an external electromagnetic field to include effects of virtual axion-like particle (ALP) excitations. A measurable addition to QED-Euler-Heisenberg-Schwinger (EHS) action is obtained and incorporated into experimental constraints placed on ALP mass and coupling to two photons. The regime of these constraints in which the ALP vacuum effect surpasses the EHS effect is characterized. We show that probing of the virtual vacuum effect offers an alternative method in search for physics related to ALPs.
Telomere length and genetic variant associations with interstitial lung disease progression and survival

Leukocyte telomere length (LTL), MUC5B rs35705950 and TOLLIP rs5743890 have been associated with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). In this observational cohort study, we assessed the associations between these genomic markers and outcomes of survival and rate of disease progression in patients with interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features (IPAF, n=250) and connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD, n=248). IPF (n=499) was used as a comparator. The LTL of IPAF and CTD-ILD patients (mean age-adjusted log-transformed T/S of −0.05±0.29 and −0.04±0.25, respectively) is longer than that of IPF patients (−0.17±0.32). For IPAF patients, LTL LTL and MUC5B MAF have different associations with lung function progression and survival for IPAF and CTD-ILD.
Oxygen sensing by protozoans: how they catch their breath

Cells must know the local levels of available oxygen and either adapt accordingly or relocate to more favorable environments. Prolyl 4-hydroxylases (P4Hs) are emerging as universal cellular oxygen sensors. In animals, these oxygen sensors respond to decreased oxygen availability by up-regulating hypoxia-inducible transcription factors. In protozoa, the P4Hs appear to activate E3-SCF ubiquitin ligase complexes via a glycosylation-dependent mechanism, potentially to turn over their proteomes. Intracellular parasites are impacted by both types of oxygen-sensing pathways. Since parasites are exposed to diverse oxygen tensions during their life cycles, this review identifies emerging oxygen-sensing mechanisms and discusses how these mechanisms probably contribute to the regulation of unicellular eukaryotes.
Detection of Pathogenic Germline Variants Among Patients With Advanced Colorectal Cancer Undergoing Tumor Genomic Profiling for Precision Medicine.

BACKGROUND:Genomic profiling of colorectal cancer aims to identify actionable somatic mutations but can also discover incidental germline findings.OBJECTIVE:The purpose of this study was to report the detection of pathogenic germline variants that confer heritable cancer predisposition.DESIGN:This w
Character Is the Way: The Path to Spiritual Freedom in the Linji Lu

This article hopes to accomplish two goals: first, it proposes a more effective framework for philosophers who engage in philosophical interpretations and constructions of Chan Buddhist texts, like the Linji Lu, to deal with challenges from historians when the integrity of those Chan texts as well as their authorship is called into question, so that a more robust intellectual space for the philosophical discourse on Chan classics can be carved out from the dominant historicist discourse. Accordingly, I argue that philosophical and historical approaches to Chan classics have divergent scholarly objectives and follow different disciplinary norms. To clarify such divergence, I propose a hermeneutical model to distinguish two sets of scholarly objects operative in history and philosophy respectively, namely original versus inherited text, historical versus textual author, and authorial versus textual intent. These scholarly objects are related, at times even overlapped but often irreducibly distinct, with the former in the pairs belonging to historians and the latter to philosophers. Second, the article puts forward an alternative interpretation of Linji’s signature teaching of sudden enlightenment by connecting Linji’s demand for immediacy in his training of disciples with the nurturing of a particular set of character traits conducive to Chan enlightenment. It argues that only those practitioners with a strong character can weather the grueling demand of the arduous spiritual journey prescribed in Chan teachings. Therefore, I describe Linji’s teaching as advocating that “character is the Way,” wherein the Way (dao 道) refers to the Chan path of enlightenment.
Longer genotypically-estimated leukocyte telomere length is associated with increased meningioma risk.

Telomere length-associated SNPs have been associated with incidence and survival rates for malignant brain tumors such as glioma. Here, we study the influence of genetically determined lymphocyte telomere length (LTL) by comparing telomerase associated SNPs between the most common non-malignant brain tumor, i.e. meningioma, and healthy controls. One thousand fifty-three (1053) surgically treated meningioma patients and 4437 controls of Western European ancestry were included. Germline DNA was genotyped for 8 SNPs previously significantly associated with LTL. Genotypically-estimated LTL was then calculated by summing each SNP’s genotypically-specified telomere length increase in base pairs (bp) for each person. Odds ratios for genotypically-estimated LTL in meningioma cases and controls were evaluated using logistic regression with the first two ancestral principal components and sex as covariates. Three out of the eight evaluated LTL SNPs were significantly associated with increased meningioma risk (rs10936599: OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.01–1.28, rs2736100: OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.03–1.25, rs9420907: OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.07–1.39). Only rs9420907 remained significant after correction for multiple testing. Average genotypically-estimated LTL was significantly longer for those with meningioma compared to controls [mean cases: 560.2 bp (standard error (SE): 4.05 bp), mean controls: 541.5 bp (SE: 2.02 bp), logistic regression p value = 2.13 × 10−5]. Increased genotypically-estimated LTL was significantly associated with increased meningioma risk. A role for telomere length in the pathophysiology of meningioma is novel, and could lead to new insights on the etiology of meningioma.
Introducing Machine Learning in Undergraduate DSP Classes

Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms are enabling several modern smart products and devices. Furthermore, several initiatives such as smart cities and autonomous vehicles utilize AI and ML computational engines. The current and emerging applications and the growing industrial interest in AI necessitate introducing ML algorithms at the undergraduate level. In this paper, we describe a series of activities to introduce ML in undergraduate digital signal processing (DSP) classes. These activities include a computational comparative study of ML algorithms for spoken digit recognition using spectral representations of speech. We choose spectral representations and features for speech as those concepts associate with the core topics in DSP such as FFT and autoregressive spectra. Our primary objective is to introduce undergraduate DSP students to feature extraction and classification using appropriate signal analysis and ML tools. An online module on ML along with a computer exercise are developed and assigned as a semester project in the DSP class. The exercise is developed in Python and also on the online JDSP HTML5 environments. An assessment study of the modules and computer exercises are also part of this effort.
Assessing the infrastructure impact of mega-events in emerging economies

Developing countries that host mega-events such as the Olympic Games and World Cup invest enormous sums in stadiums and collateral infrastructure projects. The rapid investment in long-lasting physical stocks raises questions of equity and efficiency for national taxpayers and event attendees. This paper reviews several cases of historical and recent mega-events to assess the infrastructure costs, returns on infrastructure investments, and impacts of the events on urban development patterns. It will highlight cases where mega-event investments contributed to long-term economic growth.
Review: The Phoenix Mosque and the Persians of Medieval Hangzhou, edited by George Lane

George Lane, ed. The Phoenix Mosque and the Persians of Medieval Hangzhou London: Ginko Library, 2018, 284 pp., 52 b/w illus. $65 (cloth), ISBN 9781909942892 George Lane's latest book is a study of the most famous mosque of Hangzhou, which flourished in the fourteenth century, and the influential Persians behind it. It is the first book by Lane to focus primarily on architecture, as well as his first book to focus primarily on China. In fact, the subjects are equally the mosque in the city and the Persians in the city. Although Lane modestly takes the role of editor, he wrote five of the six chapters, and he is also the voice behind one of the two appendixes. The book was at least ten years in the making and recognizes the centuries of scholarly research on Persian inscriptions behind it. The introduction, written by Lane, includes a few pages that place Hangzhou in Song (960–1279) and Yuan (1271–1368) history, particularly after 1279, when the city succumbed to foreign forces from the north. In the rest of this essay, Lane explains that funerary inscriptions in Persian and Arabic are essential to an understanding of the Song–Yuan history of Hangzhou and documents the work of scholars who have addressed this subject up to the year 2010. The first chapter, by Chen Qing, debates the origins of Islam in China based on four inscriptions dating to 618–26, 628, 634, and 651. Chen emphasizes that the dates are found in texts of the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) dynasties, but that Arabic and Persian writings similarly place the arrival of the first Muslims in China in the seventh century. Muslim traders, along with Jews, Christians, and Zoroastrians, surely traveled to China by sea from the …
A pragmatic, adaptive clinical trial design for a rare disease: The FOcal Cerebral Arteriopathy Steroid (FOCAS) trial

Abstract Background Pediatric stroke investigators identified as their top research priority a clinical trial of corticosteroids for focal cerebral arteriopathy (FCA). However, FCA is both rare and an acute condition making it infeasible to enroll the large sample sizes needed for standard, confirmatory clinical trials. We present a pragmatic approach to clinical trial design that may inform the approach to other rare disorders. Methods We surveyed pediatric stroke experts to determine the level of evidence that would impact their clinical management of FCA. Incorporating survey results, a randomized, group sequential Bayesian adaptive design was proposed based on a quantitative radiologic outcome measure (change from baseline in change in the FCA Severity Score). Using accumulating information, the design determines whether intervention is better than control with high probability. Results Among 21 (100%) respondents, the probability of corticosteroid efficacy that would lead the experts to treat was 30% (median). The probability of efficacy that would make them unwilling to randomize (because they would feel all children should receive corticosteroids) was 70%. Simulation studies with the proposed design showed that a total of 42 subjects controls the type I error rate at the desired level 0.20 and yields a smaller average sample size and trial duration compared to a conventional design. Conclusions Designs in rare diseases require special considerations; this is especially true for this childhood disease, which is both uncommon and acute. This design has incorporated expert consensus to establish the criteria for success, formal monitoring rules for safety, and early stopping rules.
Exploring the Perceptions of Middle School Teachers Regarding Response to Intervention Struggling Readers

Focus groups were conducted with middle school general and special education teachers to investigate their perceptions of Response to Intervention (RTI) reading intervention. Three cross-cutting th...
Going Back for That One Last Thing in the House on Fire: How Fear, Attentiveness, Sadness, Joviality, and Other Lower Order Dimensions of Affect Influence Our Security and Privacy Behavior

A digital transformation of society has taken place over the past couple of decades. From digital cameras to social networks, we rely extensively on the digitization of our lives. Almost all photographs taken today are done in a digital format with approximately 85% of those being done on smart phones. Additionally, our lives have become digitized in ways once unimaginable through such platforms as social networking. Through the digitization of our lives, including photographs, social networking, online banking, medical records, etc., we have concurrently developed new vulnerabilities to that information being compromised. How do we protect ourselves from the threats that will seek to exploit these new vulnerabilities? Additionally, do the lower order dimensions of trait affect, such as fear, attentiveness, sadness, joviality, hostility, etc., impact the measures people take to protect themselves? These questions are explored in the context of how and why people protect themselves from having their personal information compromised. Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) is used as the theoretical framework to explore these questions. This is done by assessing the role of these lower order dimensions on three of the PMT constructs: self-efficacy, perceived threat severity, and perceived threat vulnerability. Results suggest that some of these lower order dimensions of trait affect do influence one or more of these constructs.
Review: Magnesium Sheet Alloy Development for Room Temperature Forming

Sheet metal forming operations in the automotive industry, including stamping, flanging, bending, hemming and trimming, are dominantly done at room temperature (RT). Unfortunately, the poor RT formability of magnesium due to its hexagonal close-packed structure and generally strong texture has limited the use of these processes in high-volume automotive production. However, the formability of magnesium can be improved via fine grain structure and random texture to enable some RT forming operations. This paper presents the latest magnesium alloy development and evaluation by the United States Automotive Materials Partnership (USAMP) in collaboration with its university partners. A new sheet alloy developed in a recent USAMP project, ZAXME11100 (USAMP Alloy 2 Plus), offers excellent ductility (31% tensile elongation) and RT formability (7.8 mm Erichsen index) in a solution-treated condition (T4), and a high yield strength (270 MPa) upon post-forming aging treatment (T6), promising RT forming for automotive applications.