cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nicotine Replacement Therapy Effect on Pregnancy Outcomes

Objective:To review data assessing the effects of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) during pregnancy on fetal, neonatal, and maternal outcomes.Data Sources:A literature search of PubMed (1966-Jufy 2010) was performed using the terms smoking, smoking cessation, pregnancy, and nicotine replacement therapy. Bibliographies and the Cochrane Database were reviewed to identify additional relevant articles.Study Selection and Data Extraction:All studies including humans and published in English with data describing NRT effects on pregnancy outcomes or malformations as a primary or secondary outcome were evaluated.Data Synthesis:Currently, behavior modification therapy is recommended for smoking cessation in pregnancy as first-line treatment, but NRT should be offered to patients who are not successful. NRT is currently a pregnancy category D medication. Pregnancy outcomes and malformation rates for NRT in pregnancy were evaluated as either primary or secondary outcomes in several trials. Four studies examined pr...
Expanding Disk Rain Sensor Performance and Potential Irrigation Water Savings

Rain sensors RSs appear to be a useful tool for water conservation at a relatively low cost. However, little evidence related to RS performance and/or reliability exists. The objectives of this experiment were to: 1 evaluate two RS types with respect to the following: Accuracy of their set point, number of irrigation cycles bypassed, and duration in bypass mode; 2 quantify the amount of water that RSs could save; and 3 estimate their payback period. Mini-click MC and wireless rain-click WL rain sensor models were monitored. For the WL treatment, the dry-out ventilation windows were set half open, and for the MC treatments, rainfall set points of 3, 13, and 25 mm were established. On average, all treatments responded close to their set points with the WL, 3 mm MC, 13 mm MC, and 25 mm MC treatments averaging 1.4, 3.4, 10.0, and 24.5 mm, respectively. However, some replicates showed variable behavior. The number of times that these sensors shut off irrigation 81, 43, 30, and 8 times, respectively was inversely proportional to the magnitude of their set point, with potential water savings following a similar trend. Where water costs exceed $0.53 per cubic meter $2.00 per thousand gallons, the payback period is less than a year for WL and MCs set at 13 mm or less.
SEPARATION, CHARACTERIZATION, AND BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF A COMMON ANTIGEN IN ENTEROBACTERIACEAE

An antigen common to Enterobacteriaceae and closely associated with endotoxin fractions has been separated by chromatography on DEAE cellulose employing elution with a NaCl gradient. The purified common antigen fails to coat erythrocytes, is poorly, if at all antigenic, it is non-dialyzable and excluded from sephadex G-100 gel. It is composed of polysaccharide and polypeptide. The most important property of this antigen thus far determined appears to be its interference with the specificity of the hemagglutination test commonly employed to measure antibody to O antigen of Enterobacteriaceae. It may also have taxonomic significance in classification of this family of bacteria.
Reducing aliasing artifacts in iso-surfaces of binary volumes

This paper presents a method for filtering binary volumes in order to reduce the aliasing artifacts that typically result when trying to visualize the surfaces described by such a binary partitioning. The proposed method is a reformulation of the technique of constrained elastic surface nets from the literature. The strategy is to estimate a 3D surface using an iterative relaxation process, which finds the surface of minimal area while treating the binary input data as a set of constraints. Unlike surface nets, the proposed method does not require the generation of any explicit surface representation; it acts directly on the volume. This is done by treating the level sets of the volume as deformable surfaces moving under a mean curvature flow constrained by a discretely sampled inside/outside function. Because the proposed method does not require generating a surface mesh, it avoids the various singularities and topological problems associated with iso-surface generation. It also avoids the artifacts that an irregular mesh topology can produce in deformation processes. If the goal is volume rendering, the proposed method avoids the time consuming process of converting surface meshes back into volumes.
Dynactin is required for microtubule anchoring at centrosomes.

The multiprotein complex, dynactin, is an integral part of the cytoplasmic dynein motor and is required for dynein-based motility in vitro and in vivo. In living cells, perturbation of the dynein–dynactin interaction profoundly blocks mitotic spindle assembly, and inhibition or depletion of dynein or dynactin from meiotic or mitotic cell extracts prevents microtubules from focusing into spindles. In interphase cells, perturbation of the dynein–dynactin complex is correlated with an inhibition of ER-to-Golgi movement and reorganization of the Golgi apparatus and the endosome–lysosome system, but the effects on microtubule organization have not previously been defined. To explore this question, we overexpressed a variety of dynactin subunits in cultured fibroblasts. Subunits implicated in dynein binding have effects on both microtubule organization and centrosome integrity. Microtubules are reorganized into unfocused arrays. The pericentriolar components, γ tubulin and dynactin, are lost from centrosomes, but pericentrin localization persists. Microtubule nucleation from centrosomes proceeds relatively normally, but microtubules become disorganized soon thereafter. Overexpression of some, but not all, dynactin subunits also affects endomembrane localization. These data indicate that dynein and dynactin play important roles in microtubule organization at centrosomes in fibroblastic cells and provide new insights into dynactin–cargo interactions.
A benign form of reducing body myopathy.

A 4-year-old boy with nonprogressive myopathy since 2 years of age had “reducing bodies” in muscle biopsy specimens. Clinical and morphological findings are presented, which support the existence of a benign form of reducing body myopathy.
Normal Scalar Curvature Conjecture and its applications

Abstract In this paper, we proved the Normal Scalar Curvature Conjecture and the Bottcher–Wenzel Conjecture. We developed a new Bochner formula and it becomes useful with the first conjecture we proved. Using the results, we established some new pinching theorems for minimal submanifolds in spheres.
Plasma development in the early phase of vacuum surface flashover

The primary physical mechanism responsible for charge-carrier amplification, in a developing surface discharge, has eluded conclusive identification for decades. This paper describes the results of experiments to directly detect charge-carriers, above the dielectric surface, within the developing discharge. Free electrons are detected by measuring the deflection of a laser beam, focused to a 20 /spl mu/m 1/e diameter, with an angular sensitivity of 0.18 mVspl mu/rad and a risetime of 6 ns. The estimated detection threshold for electrons in the developing discharge is 10/sup 16/ cm/sup -3/ to 10/sup 17/ cm/sup -3/. A streak camera is used to gather spatial information regarding luminous processes with a maximum resolution of 25 /spl mu/m and 0.6 ns. Current measurements have a sub-nanosecond response time and a detection threshold of 100 mA. Laser deflection measurements demonstrate the rapid development of a particle gradient, generally within 10 /spl mu/m of the surface near the cathode and in the range of 75 to 175 /spl mu/m from the surface near the anode, during the developing discharge. Streak camera measurements demonstrate the formation of an intense, visible emission, 25 to 50 /spl mu/m in diameter, located near the insulator surface, during the formation of the discharge. These results imply that charge-carrier amplification occurs above the surface of the insulator, in a region of neutral particles desorbed or otherwise ejected from the insulator surface. >
Prison Labor: The Local Effects of Ohio Prison Industries

Prison labor has both positive and negative effects. Keeping prisoners active, training and socializing them to be productive citizens after prison, and helping to pay for their incarceration are some of the positives. Potential crowding out of free labor and industry is the major potential negative. This paper addresses the quantitative financial and employment consequences on local free labor and industry of prison industries in Ohio using an input–output model for Ohio. Based on the analysis, prison industries employment in Ohio has negligible to positive employment consequences for the Ohio economy and partially offsets the incarceration cost of the inmates who participate – providing between 5 and 10 percent of the incarceration cost in net cash flow and induced tax revenues.
Particle Filtering for Sequential Spacecraft Attitude Estimation

A new spacecraft attitude estimation approach using particle filtering is derived. Based on sequential Monte Carlo simulation, the particle filter approximately represents the probability distribution of the state vector with random samples. The filter formulation is based on the star camera measurements using a gyro-based or attitude dynamics-based model for attitude propagation. Modified Rodrigues parameters are used for attitude parametrization when the sample mean and covariance of the attitude are computed. The ambiguity problem associated with the modified Rodrigues parameters in the mean and covariance computation is addressed as well. By using the uniform attitude probability distribution as the initial attitude distribution and using a gradually decreasing measurement variance in the computation of the importance weights, the particle filter based attitude estimator possesses global convergence properties. Simulation results indicate that the particular particle filter, known as bootstrap filter, with as many as 2000 particles is able to converge from arbitrary initial attitude error and initial gyro bias errors as large as 4500 degrees per hour per axis.
Simple Pendulum Determination of the Gravitational Constant

We determined the Newtonian Constant of Gravitation G by interferometrically measuring the change in spacing between two free-hanging pendulum masses caused by the gravitational field from large tungsten source masses. We find a value for G of (6.672 34 ± 0.000 14) × 10 −11 m 3 kg −1 s −2 . This value is in good agreement with the 1986 Committee on Data for Science and Technology (CODATA) value of (6.672 59 ± 0.000 85) × 10 −11 m 3 kg −1 s −2 [Rev. Mod. Phys. 59, 1121 (1987)] but differs from some more recent determinations as well as the latest CODATA recommendation of (6.674 28 ± 0.000 67) × 10 −11 m 3 kg −1 s −2 [Rev. Mod. Phys. 80, 633 (2008)].
Tongue mobility in speech after partial glossectomy.

Recovery of tongue mobility in speech was investigated in 5 partial glosectomy patients. Jaw range of motion used in speech, and tongue contour changes relative to the jaw, were assessed using sequential videofluoroscopic data recorded presurgery, postsurgery, and postradiotherapy. Data from 2 normal controls were included for comparison. Tongue mobility relative to the jaw was found to be restricted postsurgery. Approximately 4 months later, following radiotherapy, tongue mobility increased. Range of jaw motion used in speech was unchanged. Results are interpreted as preliminary evidence that in this small group of cancer patients, radiotherapy following surgery did not prevent continued recovery of tongue function for speech in the early postradiation period.
THE USE OF MOLLUSCAN SHELL GROWTH PATTERNS IN ECOLOGY AND PALEOECOLOGY

The influence of substratum, depth of water, turbidity, and temperature on daily growth patterns has been studied by transplanting juvenile Mercenaria mercenaria (Linnaeus) from the laboratory to intertidal and subtidal environments. The study of seasonal growth variations in a population of Gemma gemma Totten from Long Island Sound shows that shell growth patterns may be used to determine the season of death and age of dead shells. Deep-water species (e.g. Nucula cancellata Jeffreys, Malletia sp., and Calyptogena ponderosa Boss) exhibit growth increments that are more uniform in thickness and less sharply defined than those in shallow-water species.
Failure Modes and Effects Analysis

This chapter extends the principles of failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) introduced in Chap. 2 with medical case examples. This chapter explores inductive reasoning or “forwards thinking” in the context of neurological diagnosis and treatment. FMEA facilitates understanding of symptoms from disease along physiological lines and helps predict effects on diverse organ systems. This facilitates treatment planning and implementing mitigation strategies in cases where the underlying disease itself is not directly treatable. It provides a framework to understand symptoms from a systems failure perspective, thereby optimizing the treatment response and preventing over- and undertreatment. FMEA also helps understand and implement strategies to anticipate, monitor, and mitigate side effects of many treatment regimens.
Sweetgrass Culture Workshop: October 24, 1992

The workshop was a whole-day affair beginning at a.m. and ending about 4 p.m. Twelve interested individuals came that day including Adeline Mazyck, Ms. Snipe, Mary Alice Bostic, Florence Mazyck, Anna Bell Robinson, Harriett Brown, Albertha Robinson, Sue Middleton, Jeanette Lee, Leola Wright, Marguerite Middleton, and Cathy Townsend (horticulturist from Cypress Gardens, Moncks Corner, SC) (Fig. 8.1).
Effects of ironic advertising on consumers’ attention, involvement and attitude

The use of an ironic message in advertising has increased, but little empirical research has been conducted to identify the effects of ironic advertising on consumers. This study demonstrated that ...
Guiding Chondrogenesis and Osteogenesis with Mineral-Coated Hydroxyapatite and BMP-2 Incorporated within High-Density hMSC Aggregates for Bone Regeneration

Since hydroxyapatite and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) can regulate chondrogenesis and osteogenesis, their individual and combined effects on endochondral ossification within human bone marrow-derived stem cell (hMSC) aggregates were investigated. Hydroxyapatite was presented in the form of mineral-coated hydroxyapatite microparticles (MCM) capable of controlled BMP-2 delivery. Aggregates were treated with varied BMP-2 concentrations supplemented in the media and loaded onto MCM to examine the influence of BMP-2 amount and spatial presentation on regulating chondrogenesis and osteogenesis. MCM alone induced GAG and type II collagen production by week 5 for two of three donors, and BMP-2 may have accelerated MCM-induced chondrogenesis. ALP activity and calcium content of cells-only aggregates suggest that the BMP-2-induced osteogenic response may be concentration-dependent. Treatment with MCM and BMP-2 resulted in chondrogenesis as early as week 2, which may have promoted additional mineralization b...
Child-Care Practices in Four African Societies: A Controlled Comparison

Anthropologists have long been interested in the relationship between the sexual division of labor and the role of women in child—care. Some authors (Brown 1970; Ember 1983) have suggested that child—care duties limit women's economic contribution, particularly in societies that practice intensive agriculture. Brown (1970) suggested that the degree to which women participated in subsistence production was dependent upon the compatibility of subsistence activities with simultaneous child— care responsibilities. She hypothesized that, if the economic role of women was to be maximized, their responsibilities in child—care must be reduced or the economic activity must be such that it can be carried out concurrently with child care (Brown 1970:1075). While she discussed two examples of tribal societies which employed substitute caretakers, Brown focused instead on societies that lacked substitute caretakers but were still dependent on the labor of working mothers. She refuted the suggestion that women perform certain subsistence tasks for physiological and psychological reasons. Instead, Brown suggested that only certain economic pursuits could accommodate the simultaneous child—care responsibilities of women (Brown 1970:1077).
Organ preservation review: history of organ preservation.

Purpose of review To summarize the history of organ preservation and place into this context the current trends in preservation. Recent findings Multiple large retrospective studies have analyzed cold preservation solutions in an attempt to determine superiority with largely negative results. Experimental and some clinical studies have examined machine perfusion of procured grafts, in both hypothermic and normothermic contexts with variable, but promising, results. Lastly, there are experimental efforts to evaluate mesenchymal stem cell therapy on rehabilitation of marginal donor organs. Summary New trends in organ preservation may soon translate into more efficient use of the limited donor pool.
Bordering on Criminal: The Routine Abuse of Migrants in the Removal System (Part 1: Migrant Mistreatment While in U.S. Custody)

This report focuses on the mistreatment of unauthorized migrants while in U.S. custody. Overall, we find that the physical and verbal mistreatment of migrants is not a random, sporadic occurrence but, rather, a systematic practice. One indication of this is that 11% of deportees report some form of physical abuse and 23% report verbal mistreatment while in U.S. custody — a finding that is supported by other academic studies and reports from nongovernmental organizations. Another highly disturbing finding is that migrants often note they are the targets for nationalistic and racist remarks — something that in no way is integral to U.S. officials’ ability to function in an effective capacity on a day-to-day basis.We find that, when they occur, physical and verbal abuses are usually perpetrated during the apprehension process. When taken in the context of prior studies, it appears that the abuse of migrants while in U.S. custody is a systemic problem and points to an organizational subculture stemming from a lack of transparency and accountability in U.S. Customs and Border Protection. These patterns of abuse have brought scrutiny to the Border Patrol’s use-of-force policies and created tension in border communities. Future research should examine the longer-term social and psychological consequences of these types of abuse for migrants and their loved ones.
Metabolite-driven Regulation of Heme Uptake by the Biliverdin IXβ/δ-Selective Heme Oxygenase (HemO) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa acquires extracellular heme via the Phu (Pseudomonas heme uptake) and Has (heme assimilation system) systems. We have previously shown the catalytic actions of heme oxygenase (HemO) along with the cytoplasmic heme transport protein PhuS control heme flux into the cell. To further investigate the role of the PhuS-HemO couple in modulating heme uptake, we have characterized two HemO variants, one that is catalytically inactive (HemO H26A/K34A/K132A or HemOin) and one that has altered regioselectivity (HemO N19K/K34A/F117Y/K132A or HemOα), producing biliverdin IXα (BVIXα). HemOα similar to wild type was able to interact and acquire heme from holo-PhuS. In contrast, the HemOin variant did not interact with holo-PhuS and showed no enzymatic activity. Complementation of a hemO deletion strain with the hemOin or hemOα variants in combination with [(13)C]heme isotopic labeling experiments revealed that the absence of BVIXβ and BVIXδ leads to a decrease in extracellular levels of hemophore HasA. We propose BVIXβ and/or BVIXδ transcriptionally or post-transcriptionally regulates HasA. Thus, coupling the PhuS-dependent flux of heme through HemO to feedback regulation of the cell surface signaling system through HasA allows P. aeruginosa to rapidly respond to fluctuating extracellular heme levels independent of the iron status of the cell.
Effects of model assumptions and data quality on spatial cumulative human impact assessments

Aim Many studies have quantified and mapped cumulative human impacts on marine ecosystems. These maps are intended to inform management and planning, but uncertainty in them has not been studied in depth. This paper aims to: (1) quantify the uncertainty in cumulative impact maps and related spatial modelling results; (2) attribute this uncertainty to specific model assumptions and problems with data quality; (3) identify and test sound approaches to such analyses. Location We used the Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean and Black Seas as example regions. The methods and conclusions are relevant for human impact mapping anywhere. Methods We conducted computational experiments to test the effects of nine model assumptions and data quality problems (factors) on maps of human impact and related modelling results. The factors were implemented on the basis of a literature review. We quantified aggregate uncertainty using Monte Carlo simulations, and ranked the factors by their influence on modelling results using the elementary effects method. Both methods are well established and theoretically suitable for complex models, but had to be modified for application to spatial human impact models. Results Some, but not all, modelling results were robust. This contradicts previous studies that found only minor effects of the factors they tested. Of the nine factors tested here, eight had a considerable influence on at least one modelling result in at least one of the two study regions. Main conclusions Model assumptions and data quality have larger aggregate effects on maps of human impact than found in previous analyses. These effects depend on the study region and the data that describe it. Future human impact mapping studies should thus include comprehensive uncertainty analyses. Computational experiments allow us to distinguish robust from less reliable modelling results and to prioritize improvements in models and data.
In Situ and Ex Situ TEM Study of Lithiation Behaviours of Porous Silicon Nanostructures

In this work, we study the lithiation behaviours of both porous silicon (Si) nanoparticles and porous Si nanowires by in situ and ex situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and compare them with solid Si nanoparticles and nanowires. The in situ TEM observation reveals that the critical fracture diameter of porous Si particles reaches up to 1.52 μm, which is much larger than the previously reported 150 nm for crystalline Si nanoparticles and 870 nm for amorphous Si nanoparticles. After full lithiation, solid Si nanoparticles and nanowires transform to crystalline Li15Si4 phase while porous Si nanoparticles and nanowires transform to amorphous LixSi phase, which is due to the effect of domain size on the stability of Li15Si4 as revealed by the first-principle molecular dynamic simulation. Ex situ TEM characterization is conducted to further investigate the structural evolution of porous and solid Si nanoparticles during the cycling process, which confirms that the porous Si nanoparticles exhibit better capability to suppress pore evolution than solid Si nanoparticles. The investigation of structural evolution and phase transition of porous Si nanoparticles and nanowires during the lithiation process reveal that they are more desirable as lithium-ion battery anode materials than solid Si nanoparticles and nanowires.
Using multiple placements of accelerometers to measure cardiovascular pulse transit times

To measure pulse transit times (PTT) and calculate pulse wave velocities (PWV), tri-axial and uniaxial accelerometers were placed in groups of 2 to 4 over the manubrium, xiphoid process, forehead, wrist and ankle, and/or over the carotid, femoral, and posterior auricular arteries in 11 consented supine subjects. Signals were sampled at 1kHz and filtered. Radial vectors were calculated from the tri-axial measurements. A 3-lead ECG was simultaneously collected over the same 180s window, as well as respiratory rate. Ensemble averages (with ±S.D.) and raster plots were generated for each filtered time series from 200 ms before to 800 ms after the peak of each ECG R-wave. Lag times between the R-wave peak (taken as t=0) and one or more prominent peaks (or valleys if appropriate) of the various accelerometer signals were calculated, by using the signal from the axis (or the radial vector) with the best signal to noise ratio. PWV was calculated from the regression of the distance measured versus the PTT between pairs, especially of the clinically-relevant carotid-femoral PTT. A spectral analysis of each ensemble was taken, with the hypothesis that in young adults the measures at the periphery would have less energy at higher frequencies than those of an older adult because of age-related changes in arterial distensibility.
Micromechanical resonators for frequency references and signal processing

Summary form only given, as follows. This paper reviews the application of silicon micromachining to the fabrication of electrostatically driven and capacitively sensed micromechanical resonators. These structures can be surface-micromachined from polysilicon and also, from single crystal silicon using wafer bonding and etch-back, with both technologies compatible with integration of drive and sense CMOS electronics. The potential applications of these structures to integrated frequency references, micromechanical filters and mixers are described. The passband characteristics of these resonators can be adjusted electrically. Integrated micro-ovens for temperature control have been demonstrated, as well. Finally, we assess the frequency range and prospects for micromechanical signal processing. >
Optimization Models for the Continuous Review Inventory System

Businesses that carry inventory as a means of responding to customer demand must decide when to place inventory orders and how much to order. A model for selecting an optimal order quantity and reorder point in the continuous review system is implemented in spreadsheet software. Historical data on period demand and lead time is processed by performing a statistical test to select a mixture distribution for lead time demand. This distribution is incorporated into an expected shortage calculation and cost model where shortages incur lost sales and/or goodwill costs. The lead time demand distribution selection is evaluated through experiments. In examples, employing an incorrect distribution leads to expenditures between one and eighteen percent higher than those experienced with the correct model. A mismatch of the backorder or lost sales model with the correct underlying assumptions leads to expenses between four and thirteen percent larger than necessary in an example problem.
A belief representation for understanding deception

Identifying deception in stories requires an understanding of the beliefs of the characters. A model must include both beliefs about facts and beliefs about other characters. This paper presents a method for representing such belief structures. Arbitrary levels of embedded beliefs are represented by cvclic structures with Shared common beliefs. With these structures we show how different instances of deception can be recognised with a single deception template. We will illustrate these concepts by applying them to several example stories.
Estimation of terpene content in loblolly pine biomass using a hybrid fast-GC and pyrolysis-molecular beam mass spectrometry method

Abstract Terpenes can be used as renewable fuels and chemicals and quantifying their presence in biomass is becoming increasingly important. A novel method was developed to rapidly quantify total diterpenoid resin acids using pyrolysis-molecular beam mass spectrometry (py-MBMS). Pine sapling monoterpenes and diterpenoids were extracted from wood using a 1:1 (v/v) mixture of hexane and acetone and analyses were performed before and after extraction to determine the extraction efficiency of the solvent system. The resulting extract was analyzed for total diterpenoid content using py-MBMS and was combined with total monoterpene content that was determined using a low thermal mass modular accelerated column heater (LTM MACH) fast-GC/FID to measure the terpene content present in pine saplings. Oleoresin extruded from larger pine trees was used to validate mass balance closure of the terpene content in the extract solvent.
Crystallization of iron-containing sodium aluminosilicate glasses in the NaAlSiO4-NaFeSiO4 join

Although natural materials are the subject of most Earth science articles, fundamental studies on analogous synthetic materials, produced under laboratory-controlled conditions, can provide significant insight into expected behavior of natural systems. Iron, a common element in natural aluminosilicates as well as high-level nuclear wastes, plays a crucial role in crystallization behavior. In the present study, effects of Fe-Al substitution in nepheline-based aluminosilicate glasses (NaAl(1 − x)FexSiO4, x = 0.0–1.0) were investigated to assess the role of iron in crystallization, employing semiquantitative X-ray diffraction (XRD), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). Fe promotes nepheline crystallization when substituted for Al in low additions (x 0.5). Since effect of Fe is the subject of the present work and is the most common magnetic element, magnetic techniques were used to further analyze the phase assemblage. VSM measurements revealed that Fe oxides, i.e., hematite and magnetite, are present in cases even when their fractions are below the XRD detection limit, and backscattered electron micrographs confirm their presence. EPMA also shows that Fe incorporation in nepheline increases with increasing Fe-Al substitution, up to a maximum of x = 0.37 for the nepheline crystals in the sample with starting glass of Na(Al0.3Fe0.7)SiO4. The residual glass, on the other hand, contains approximately constant Fe concentration x ~ 0.54–0.59 for all samples with starting Fe addition 0.4 ≤ x ≤ 0.8, and excess iron is expelled into Fe oxide phases. The significance of these results for geological processes and immobilization of high-level nuclear waste is discussed.
Knowledge engineering tools at the architecture level

A knowledge system architecture is a level of description of knowledge systems that specialises general AI implementation techniques to suit a class of problem solving tasks. This paper presents three complementary views of the architecture level, and analyzes their implications for the design of knowledge engineering tools. The analysis is illustrated with an architecture for managing uncertainty by reasoning about actions, and with a hierarchy of knowledge engineering tools to support system development and knowledge acquisition at the architecture level.
Explicit versus implicit motivations: Clarifying how experiences affect turkey hunter satisfaction using revised importance-performance, importance grid, and penalty-reward-contrast analyses

ABSTRACTAlthough research has advanced methods for clarifying factors that relate to customer satisfaction, they have not been embraced by leisure researchers. Using results from a survey of wild turkey hunters, we applied traditional and revised importance-performance (IPA/RIPA), importance-grid analysis (IGA), and penalty-reward-contrast analysis (PRCA) to examine how activity-specific factors influenced satisfaction. Results suggested differences between the explicit and implicit importance of factors related to turkey hunting. Opportunities to kill turkeys were explicitly rated as less important than seeing, hearing, or calling in turkeys, but opportunities for harvest had relatively higher levels of implicit importance. PRCA identified “calling turkeys in” and “hearing gobbling” as minimum requirements that cause dissatisfaction if not fulfilled, but do not provide satisfaction, whereas “seeing turkeys” and an “opportunity to kill a turkey” related to both satisfaction and dissatisfaction. RIPA, IGA,...
A Widely-Tunable High-SMSR Narrow-Linewidth Laser Heterogeneously Integrated on Silicon

A heterogeneously-integrated widely-tunable semiconductor laser utilizing unbalanced MZI filter assisted Vernier ring resonators is demonstrated. A wavelength tuning range of 55 nm, SMSR greater than 50 dB and spectral linewidth of 50–85 kHz over this range was achieved.
Anomalous Human Behavior Detection Using a Network of RGB-D Sensors

The detection of anomalous behaviors of people in indoor environments is an important topic in surveillance applications, especially when low cost solutions are necessary in contexts such as long corridors of public buildings, where standard cameras with long camera view would be either ineffective or costly to implement. This paper proposes a network of low cost RGB-D sensors with no overlapping fields-of-view, capable of identifying anomalous behaviors with respect a pre-learned normal one. A 3D trajectory analysis is carried out by comparing three different classifiers (SVM, neural networks and k-nearest neighbors). The results on real experiments prove the effectiveness of the proposed approach both in terms of performances and of real time application.
To Develop a Design Language (or Not)

This chapter uses the automotive industry to explore the advantages and limitations of developing a design language. A design language is an overarching visual style that unifies an organization’s products and brands under one umbrella. While a design language may be a vital component of a firm’s strategy, using a design language to unify the brand carries significant risks. If the design language does not resonate with consumers, a decline in sales could result. Findings from the branding and consumer behavior literatures shed light into design language issues.
Cardiovascular disease in survivors of childhood cancer

Purpose of reviewWe review the cardiotoxic chemotherapeutic agents, the clinical and subclinical presentations and progression of their cardiotoxicity, and the management of the subsequent cardiovascular disease in survivors of childhood cancer. We discuss various preventive measures, especially the
Shakespeare’s dogfish: a case for building Creative Writing Studies from the outside

This essay explores the premise that the future of Creative Writing Studies lies in partnerships formed with experts in fields outside of the discipline. The results of these collaborative explorat...
Understanding Mobile Reading via Camera Based Gaze Tracking and Kinematic Touch Modeling

Despite the ubiquity and rapid growth of mobile reading activities, researchers and practitioners today either rely on coarse-grained metrics such as click-through-rate (CTR) and dwell time, or expensive equipment such as gaze trackers to understand users' reading behavior on mobile devices. We present Lepton, an intelligent mobile reading system and a set of dual-channel sensing algorithms to achieve scalable and fine-grained understanding of users' reading behaviors, comprehension, and engagements on unmodified smartphones. Lepton tracks the periodic lateral patterns, i.e. saccade, of users' eye gaze via the front camera, and infers their muscle stiffness during text scrolling via a Mass-Spring-Damper (MSD) based kinematic model from touch events. Through a 25-participant study, we found that both the periodic saccade patterns and muscle stiffness signals captured by Lepton can be used as expressive features to infer users' comprehension and engagement in mobile reading. Overall, our new signals lead to significantly higher performances in predicting users' comprehension (correlation: 0.36 vs. 0.29), concentration (0.36 vs. 0.16), confidence (0.5 vs. 0.47), and engagement (0.34 vs. 0.16) than using traditional dwell-time based features via a user-independent model.
In Vivo and In Vitro Effects of Vasopressin V2 Receptor Antagonism on Myocardial Fibrosis in Rats.

Abstract Background Myocardial fibrosis is a major pathophysiologic substrate of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Vasopressin is an important therapeutic target in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction since it can modulate fluid balance, and based on a few studies, myocardial matrix deposition. Hence we examined the role of vasopressin antagonism in modulating myocardial matrix metabolism in vivo and in vitro. Materials and Methods In vivo studies utilized an established model of hyperhomocysteinemia-induced myocardial fibrosis in Sprague-Dawley rats combined with high salt diet; in vivo studies also utilized the same profibrotic stimuli of homocysteine and NaCl in cultured rat cardiac fibroblasts. Results Hyperhomocysteinemia combined with high-salt diet promoted myocardial fibrosis, profibrotic and matrix gene expression and tolvaptan attenuated all these in vivo effects. In cultured cardiac fibroblasts, combined treatment with homocysteine and NaCl increased profibrotic and matrix gene expression and activation of PI3/Akt pathway; all these effects were attenuated by tolvaptan Vasopressin levels, gene expression and V2 receptor expression were increased in vivo and in vitro on exposure to profibrotic stimuli, and tolvaptan attenuated these in vivo and in vitro effects. Conclusions Antagonism of vasopressin V2 receptor, via direct actions on cardiac fibroblast, attenuates myocardial matrix deposition.
CONCOMITANT USE OF DIRECT ORAL ANTICOAGULANTS AND ASPIRIN FOR CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE PREVENTION IN ATRIAL FIBRILLATION AND FLUTTER

About 3% of adults in the USA have atrial fibrillation (AF), which is associated with approximately two-fold increased mortality. We hypothesize that the concurrent use of Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOACs) and aspirin in AF and AFL will result in less major adverse cardiac events (MACE) compared to
Next-Generation Interchange Control Based on Centralized Management of Connected and Autonomous Vehicles

With the rapid advancement of connected and autonomous vehicles (CAV) in terms of testing and usage, the implementation of the autonomous interchange in the real world has become more realistic than before. Since the beginning of the last decade, the concept of autonomous intersection has been developed with slightly different techniques. This paper introduces a next-generation interchange control algorithm (NIC) that deals with service interchange terminals for the CAV with the ability to adjust the dimensions and geometric designs. It proposes six different geometric designs that have been modeled in a simulation software package (VISSIM) to employ the NIC algorithm. The system depicted a real-world scenario of an interchange with a slight modification on the geometric design to provide smoother entry to the interchange terminal. The analysis of the proposed designs in terms of throughput, capacity, delay, and volume-to-capacity (V/C) ratio indicated different performance measurements based on the analyzed traffic movements. Tight turn with one left dedicated turn provided the highest performance, while wide turn with two left shared turns indicated the lowest performance. Both NIC designs demonstrated significantly higher throughputs and significantly lower delays compared to a current traffic signal system. By applying the NIC with the existence of the CAV, the operation of highway interchange can be significantly improved.
Close reading: What is reading for?

Close reading has been a key shift in classroom instruction under the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). The CCSS positions evidence extraction as the purpose for reading in school and is clear th...
Synthesis and crystal structure of a dinuclear organometallic phosphonium ylid complex, [(η 5 -C 5 H 5 (CO)C 2 (ε-CO)(ε-CHP(C 6 H 5 ) 3 ) + ][PF – 6 ]

The title compound crystallizes in the centrosymmetric monoclinic space group P21/n withZ=4. The cation consists of two (η5-C5h5)Fe(CO) units which are linked via a metal-metal bond (Fe(1)−Fe(2)=2.530(1) A), a bridging carbonyl ligand (Fe(1)−C(4)=1.912(8) A. Fe(2)−C(4)=1.940(9) A) and a bridging phosphonium ylid ligand (Fe(1)−C(1)=1.991(6) A, Fe(2)−C(1)=1.985(6) A and C(1)−P(1)=1.781(6) A).
Electromyography (EMG) Signal Contributions in Speed and Slope Estimation Using Robotic Exoskeletons

Robotic exoskeletons have the capability to improve community ambulation in aging individuals. These exoskeleton controllers utilize different environmental information such as walking speeds and slope inclines to provide corresponding assistance. Several numerical approaches for estimating this environmental information have been implemented; however, they tend to be limited during dynamic changes. A possible solution is a machine learning model utilizing the user’s electromyography (EMG) signals along with mechanical sensor data. We developed a neural network-based walking speed and slope estimator for a powered hip exoskeleton and explored the EMG signal contributions in both static and dynamic settings while wearing the device. We also analyzed the performance of different EMG electrode placements. The resulting machine learning model achieved error rates below 0.08 m/s RMSE and 1.3 RMSE. Our study findings from four able-bodied and two elderly subjects indicate that EMG can improve the performance by reducing the error rate by 14.8% compared to the model using only mechanical sensors. Additionally, results show that using EMG electrode configuration within the exoskeleton interface region is sufficient for the EMG model performance.
Reflections on Biography in Accounting History

ABSTRACT Discussion of the role of biography and biographical analysis in the study of accounting history.
Entity Modelling and Intelligent Dictionaries

Intelligent computerised dictionary systems are now actively supporting the implementation process for computer systems and fulfilling their promise of a few years ago. This document describes, in brief the development life cycle, what a dictionary is and how an intelligent one may help that process.
Family structure and the gender gap in ADHD

We document the large, excess male-female gap in ADHD diagnosis and treatment rates for non-traditional families. Pre-teen boys in traditional families are 2.9 percentage points more likely to have been medicated for ADHD in the past two years than girls in traditional families, while the same gap for non-traditional families is 5.4 percentage points. We also document a similar pattern of boys in non-traditional families for ADHD-related outcomes such as attention span, learning disability, emotional difficulties and unhappiness. Examining alternative pathways to family structure, we rule out typical forms of disadvantage but find that school policies may interact with family structure to increase the male ADHD diagnosis and medication gap. We also highlight an important limitation of the family fixed effects models often used in family structure research, showing that the largest effects are for only children.
Towards validity for a formative assessment for language-specific program tracing skills

Formative assessments can have positive effects on learning, but few exist for computing, even for basic skills such as program tracing. Instead, teachers often rely on overly broad test questions that lack the diagnostic granularity needed to measure early learning. We followed Kane's framework for assessment validity to design a formative assessment of JavaScript program tracing, developing "an argument for effectiveness for a specific use." This included: 1) a fine-grained scoring model to guide practice, 2) item design to test parts of our fine-grained model with low confound-caused variance, 3) a covering test design that samples from a space of items and covers the scoring model, and 4) a feasibility argument for effectiveness for formative use (can target and improve learning). We contribute a distillation of Kane's framework situated for computing education, and a novel application of Kane's framework to formative assessment of program tracing, focusing on scoring, generalization, and use. Our application also contributes a novel way of modeling possible conceptions of a programming language's semantics by modeling prevalent compositions of control flow and data flow graphs and the paths through them, a process for generating test items, and principles for minimizing item confounds.
A learning-based thermal simulation framework for emerging two-phase cooling technologies

Future high-performance chips will require new cooling technologies that can extract heat efficiently. Two-phase cooling is a promising processor cooling solution owing to its high heat transfer rate and potential benefits in cooling power. Two-phase cooling mechanisms, including microchannel-based two-phase cooling or two-phase vapor chambers (VCs), are typically modeled by computing the temperature-dependent heat transfer coefficient (HTC) of the evaporator or coolant using an iterative simulation framework. Precomputed HTC correlations are specific to a given cooling system design and cannot be applied to even the same cooling technology with different cooling parameters (such as different geometries). Another challenge is that HTC correlations are typically calculated with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tools, which induce long design and simulation times. This paper introduces a learning-based temperature-dependent HTC simulation framework that is used to model a two-phase cooling solution with a wide range of cooling design parameters. In particular, the proposed framework includes a compact thermal model (CTM) of two-phase VCs with hybrid wick evaporators (of nanoporous membrane and microchannels). We build a new simulation tool to integrate the proposed simulation framework and CTM. We validate the proposed simulation framework as well as the new CTM through comparisons against a CFD model. Our simulation framework and CTM achieve a speedup of 21 × with an average error of 0.98° C (and a maximum error of 2.59° C). We design an optimization flow for hybrid wicks to select the most beneficial hybrid wick geometries. Our flow is capable of finding a geometry- coolant combination that results in a lower (or similar) maximum chip temperature compared to that of the best coolant-geometry pair selected by grid search, while providing a speedup of 9.4 x.
Stock Return Predictability in the time of COVID-19.

We examine predictive ability of a relatively large number of variables from currency, bond and commodity markets for US stock returns during the COVID-19 crisis. As a novel contribution, we estimate robust Lasso predictive regressions with Cauchy errors, consistent with extreme movements and nonlinearities in the market. Both investment grade and high yield corporate bonds emerge as significant predictors of US stock returns in the period, lending support to recent policy decisions by the Federal Reserve.
Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of intravenous and transdermal flunixin meglumine in alpacas

Selection of drugs for use in South American Camelids (SAC) is difficult due to lack of approved products for use in these species. Drugs and drug dosages are selected from limited published data or extrapolated from other species. Administration of intravenous (IV) medications to SAC can be difficult due to challenges in restraint, limited venous access, and unique cervical anatomy. Pharmaceuticals administered routes other than IV are attractive for use in SAC. Flunixin meglumine is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug used in many species for its antipyretic, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties. In cattle, flunixin meglumine is specifically labeled for IV administration. A new transdermal (TD) formulation of flunixin has been developed and approved for use in cattle. The topical nature and longer duration of action compared to IV flunixin make this product ideal for use in SAC. The purpose of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of IV and TD flunixin meglumine in alpacas.