cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PYRAMID-a hierarchical waveform relaxation-based circuit simulation program

A hierarchical waveform-relaxation-based method for analysis of bipolar, MOS, and GaAs FET circuits is presented. By analyzing the circuit in a hierarchical manner, a faster solution has been obtained for circuits exhibiting strong bidirectionality and feedback than has previously been possible. The technique has been applied to a wide variety of digital and mixed analog/digital circuits, and circuits containing over 18000 transistors have been analyzed. Results obtained for a variety of circuits show up to two orders of magnitude improvement in computation time compared to conventional circuit simulation techniques and up to one order of magnitude improvement compared to the standard waveform-relaxation technique. >
Multiple-Access Performance of Transmitted Reference UWB Communications with M-ary PPM

To increase the data rate for transmitted reference (TR) ultra-wideband (UWB) systems, M-ary pulse position modulation (PPM) is used in this paper. The multiple-access performance of such systems is investigated in a multipath environment. A new method to derive the variance of the Gaussian random variable resulted from multiple-access interference (MAI) is developed using the power delay profile (PDP) of the channel. By applying an upper bound, a general relationship is reached for system parameters such as the number of supported users, the bit error probability, the required Eb/No, and the data rate. Tradeoffs between system parameters are discussed as well in this paper.
Psychological Perspectives in Chronic Childhood Illness

Chronic physical illness is a major life stressor for increasing numbers of children and their families (Pless & Douglas, 1971; Pless & Roghmann, 1971). Owing to advances in medical treatment, children with such chronic conditions as cancer, cystic fibrosis, myelodysplasia, and endstage renal failure are now living longer than ever before and facing unforeseen problems as adolescents and adults (Dorner, 1976; Gogan, Koocher, Fine, Foster, & O’Malley, 1979; Grushkin, Korsch, & Fine, 1973; Rosenlund & Lustig, 1973). In concert with these developments, growing numbers of pediatric psychologists are engaged in clinical work with chronically ill children and their families, chronic illness-related research, and consultation with medical and nursing staff. To facilitate their work, psychologists must grapple with a complex and unfamiliar body of knowledge, including the physical aspects of disease as well as the psychological assessment, clinical intervention, and research methods uniquely suited to chronic illness populations.
RoGenSiD: A Rotary Plate Genderless Single-Sided Docking Mechanism for Modular Self-Reconfigurable Robots

Docking mechanisms are an integral part of modular self-reconfigurable robot (MSR) systems, allowing multiple robot modules to attach to each other. An MSR should be equipped with robust and efficient docking interfaces to ensure enhanced autonomy and self-reconfiguration ability. Genderless docking is a necessary criterion to maintain homogeneity of the robot modules. This also enables self-healing of a modular robot system in the case of a failed module. The mechanism needs to be compact and lightweight and at the same time have sufficient strength to transfer loads from other connected modules. RoGenSiD is a rotary-plate genderless single sided docking mechanism that was designed to perform robustly and efficiently considering its application in unstructured terrains. The design methodology followed design for manufacture (DFM) and design for assembly (DFA) guidelines as well as considerations for minimal space and weight. As a result, this docking mechanism is applicable for multi-faceted docking in lattice-type, chain-type, or hybrid MSR systems. Bench-top testing validated the system performance.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
TH17 Cells in Asthma and COPD

Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) represent two classes of chronic obstructive lung disorders that may share some similar immunologic mechanisms of disease. Asthma is a complex human disease characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and inflammation, whereas COPD is marked by progressive emphysematic changes in the lung. Recently it has been shown that advanced COPD is characterized by lymphoid follicles, drawing attention to immunological mechanisms in COPD. Despite numerous studies in mice to elucidate the immunologic mechanisms of asthma, sufficient current treatment options are limited. Clinically, many asthma patients fail to satisfactorily respond to standard steroid therapy, and this type of steroid-resistant, severe asthma has been linked to the presence of neutrophilic inflammation in the lung. The role of neutrophils, macrophages, and their secreted proteases in COPD needs to be better defined. Recently, the T lymphocyte subset TH17 was shown to play a role in regul...
Liver resection and ablation for metastatic melanoma: A single center experience.

BACKGROUND The median survival for patients with stage IV metastatic melanoma is usually limited to approximately 1 year. In the case of liver metastasis, resection and ablation can achieve long-term survival. This study aimed to describe the outcomes after liver resection or ablation for metastatic melanoma to the liver and identify preoperative prognostic factors. METHODS Forty eight patients who underwent liver resection (n = 32) or percutaneous ablation (n = 16) were identified from the 1,523 patients with melanoma liver metastases evaluated between January1993 and January 2013. RESULTS Median OS was 25.9 months. Median OS was not different after ablation (18 months) and resection (26 months; P > 0.2). Patients in the ablation group more often presented with extrahepatic disease (EHD) (P = 0.008) and received more frequently systemic therapy before ablation (P = 0.005). Patients without EHD tended to have longer OS (26.5 vs. 12 months; P = 0.076) and PFS (13 vs. 5 months; P = 0.11) in the whole cohort. EHD was significantly associated with a worse OS in the resection group (P = 0.034). CONCLUSION Liver resection is associated to prolonged survival over 24 months and should be considered only in selected patients with metastatic disease confined to the liver. In patients not candidate for surgery, tumor ablation can be considered. J. Surg. Oncol. 2015 111:962–968. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Parent Interview for Autism-Clinical Version (PIA-CV) A Measure of Behavioral Change for Young Children with Autism

The Parent Interview for Autism-Clinical Version (PIA-CV) was developed to measure autism symptom severity across a wide range of behavioral domains. Two studies were conducted to examine the psychometric properties of the PIA-CV for a sample of children under 3 years old. Results of study 1 revealed adequate internal consistency for nine of the 11 PIA-CV dimensions, as well as significant group differences on social-communication domains between 2-year-old children with autism and a developmentally matched sample. Study 2 examined the association between changes in PIA-CV scores and changes in autism symptomatology from age 2 to age 4. Results revealed that changes on PIA-CV dimensions assessing social and communication skills were associated with clinically significant behavioral and diagnostic improvements. These findings support the utility of the PIA-CV for obtaining ecologically valid information from parents and for measuring behavioral change in young children with autism.
A multi-level diagnosis methodology for complex systems

A multi-level approach is discussed for robust diagnosis of complex continuous-valued engineering systems. The focus of the research was on component-oriented diagnosis. The diagnosis system consists of two modules: an associational module, based on heuristic knowledge gained from manuals and expert mechanics, which generates partial decision trees for mechanics to study and conduct further tests, and a model-based diagnosis module that incorporates schematic, functional, and behavioral knowledge for fault isolation and measurement selection. The architecture of the diagnosis system is presented. A key component of this system is the global controller that coordinates the activities between the two diagnostic modules. A successful prototype for diagnosing problems in the pneumatic system of a DC-10 aircraft has been implemented. >
Sustained Phenotypic Correction in a Mouse Model of Hypoalphalipoproteinemia with a Helper-Dependent Adenovirus Vector

We examined the efficacy and host response to the adenovirus (Ad)-mediated delivery of human apolipoprotein A-I (APOA1) gene to the liver of APOA1(-/-) mice. Administration of a first-generation vector (FGAd-AI) resulted in a transient appearance of APOA1 in plasma and induced an anti-APOA1 antibody titer, whereas treatment with a helper-dependent vector (HDAd-AI) resulted in sustained APOA1 expression without inducing an antibody titer. With these results, we studied the effects of FGAd vectors on APOAI expression by HDAd-AI vector. Co-treatment with an FGAd vector inhibited HDAd-AI- mediated APOA1 expression independent of transgene cassettes, but only FGAd-AI induced a humoral response. Furthermore, APOA1 mRNA levels in mice co-treated with FGAd vectors were much lower than those expected from the vector copy number, suggesting that DNA of FGAd vectors interferes with the HDAd-AI vector's APOA1 promoter. A single treatment with an HDAd-AI vector produced a supraphysiological plasma APOA1 level that gradually declined to about half the normal human level over the course of 2 years, associated with a plasma cholesterol level that is persistently higher than that in controls. This investigation provides the proof of principle that liver-directed HDAd gene delivery is effective for the long-term phenotypic correction of monogenic hypoalphalipoproteinemia.
The Salivary Adenosine Deaminase Activity of the Mosquitoes Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti

A cDNA coding for a protein with significant similarity to adenosine deaminase (ADA) was found while randomly sequencing a cDNA library constructed from salivary gland extracts of adult female Culex quinquefasciatus. Prompted by this result, we found high ADA activities in two culicine mosquitoes, Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti, but not in the anopheline Anopheles gambiae. Homogenates from Culex quinquefasciatus also have an AMP deaminase activity that is three times greater than the ADA activity, whereas in Aedes aegypti the AMP deaminase activity is less than 10% of the ADA activity. Evidence for secretion of ADA during blood feeding by Aedes aegypti includes the presence of ADA activity in warm solutions probed through a membrane by mosquitoes and in serotonin-induced saliva and a statistically significant reduction in the levels of the enzyme in Aedes aegypti following a blood meal. We could not demonstrate, however, that C. quinquefasciatus secrete ADA in their saliva. Male Aedes aegypti and C. quinquefasciatus, which do not feed on blood, have less than 3% of the levels of ADA found in females. We propose that ADA activity in A. aegypti may help blood feeding by removing adenosine, a molecule associated with both the initiation of pain perception and the induction of mast cell degranulation in vertebrates, and by producing inosine, a molecule that potently inhibits the production of inflammatory cytokines. The role of salivary ADA in Culex quinquefasciatus remains unclear.
Identifying Sexual Harassment: A Classroom Activity:

We created a classroom activity to illustrate the complexity involved in identifying sexual harassment. In the activity, students decided whether 6 fictional scenarios constituted sexual harassment. The activity stimulates animated discussion, and evaluation data indicate that it received positive feedback from students and refined students' conceptualizations of sexual harassment. We used this activity in teaching courses in Psychology of Women and Sexual Behavior, although instructors can use it in any course that covers sexual harassment.
Root Rot by Rhizoctonia solani on Ambrosia grayi in Texas.

Ambrosia grayi (A. Nelson) Shinners is a pernicious perennial weed that infests over 200,000 ha of cotton in Texas and New Mexico. It reproduces primarily by rhizomes, which are found up to 3 m deep in the soil. With the exception of Roundup Ultra on Roundup-ready cotton, no herbicides can be applied in-season to control this weed without injuring cotton. A search was conducted for soilborne pathogens as potential biocontrol agents by surveying cotton fields and small lakes for A. grayi plants with root lesions. Roots were washed with running water for 2 min and segments of root lesions were placed on water agar (1.5%) with hyphae of emerging fungi transferred to potato dextrose agar (PDA). Eighty isolates of fungi were collected; most were Fusarium spp. or Rhizoctonia solani. Replicated experiments with isolates were conducted. Each isolate was grown on PDA and then 1/4 of the media in a petri plate (12.6 cm2) was mixed with 450 cm3 autoclaved soil and placed in a styrofoam cup. A piece of rhizome (3 to 5 cm in length) was placed 5 cm below the soil surface in the infested cup. Roots with necrosis were plated on PDA to recover fungi, which were grown in pure culture and used to reinfest soil. Significant disease (in repeated tests) was caused by two isolates of R. solani, compared with the noninfested check, as indicated by a reduction in number of emerging plants per pot, increase in root necrosis, and decrease in fresh and dried leaf weight. Roots growing from the infected rhizomes were discolored and rotted without distinct lesions. Both of these isolates were identified as AG4 by anastomosis with tester ATCC #46134 by the cellophane technique (1). Reference: (1) D. E. Carling et al. Phytopathology 77:1609, 1987.
The Buffering Effects of Connectedness: Teen Club Intervention for Children of Substance Abusing Families

This paper will trace the clinical evolution and demonstrated efficacy of Teen Club—a community-based nursing intervention designed to reduce high-risk behaviors in female teens who are children of substance abusing families. Special emphasis is on the relevance of connectednessas a theoretical underpinning for support group interventions. The paper also describes the clinical applications of this research for practice and the team's plans for further testing the Teen Club program in other inner city high-risk adolescent populations.
Relay positioning for energy saving in cooperative networks

The number of Access Points (AP) in a network is much smaller than the network users. Hence, some users may be far from Aps requiring more power to transmit data. Cooperative communication has been proposed, which uses the broadcast nature of the wireless medium to exploit the spatial diversity in wireless networks. Users in cooperative communication system work cooperatively by relaying the packets through a relay node(RN). One issue is to find an near optimal positions for the limited number of available relays to reduce energy consumption of the users. In this paper, we investigate the position of the relays and its effect on energy saving in cooperative wireless networks. Initially, we use a greedy algorithm to determine the position of the relays and determine the energy saving achieved from this algorithm. Then, we use our improved iterative algorithm to place the relays. Using simulations, we compare both the algorithms in terms of average energy consumption, average number of hops and average r-cover (RNs form an r-cover if each user is within distance at most r from the RN). It is evident from the simulation results that the improved algorithm outperforms the greedy algorithm in all the above mentioned aspects. The results provide us an insight into positioning of the relays in a cooperative wireless network to reduce energy consumption of the users.
Penetration of cationic conditioning compounds into hair fibers: A TOF‐SIMS approach

Cationic conditioning compounds protect against hair damage caused by cosmetic chemical treatments and grooming practices. They also enhance the retention of moisture. However, the question as to whether they do this superficially by residing on the hair surface or by penetrating into the fiber remains unanswered. In this work, an attempt has been made to show the penetration of a low-molecular-weight cationic conditioning compound into the hair cortex using the time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF SIMS) method, applied in earlier research to show the penetration of oils into hair. An example of the practical benefit of such penetration into the cortex in greatly improving the fatigue resistance of hair has been discussed.
Glosario de epidemiología social

abstracto para las condiciones en las que esas ins-tituciones y relaciones se forman” (51 —pagina291—). El adjetivo social tambien tiene significadoscomplejos: “como termino descriptivo para la socie-dad en su sentido actualmente predominante de sis-tema de vida en comun”, y tambien como “terminoenfatico y distintivo que contrasta explicitamentecon lo individual , y especialmente con las teorias in-dividualistas de la sociedad” (51 —pagina 286— [lascursivas son del original]). Societal , a su vez, sirvecomo una “referencia mas neutra a las formacio-nes e instituciones sociales generales” (51 —pagina294—). Con esta logica, la epidemiologia social y susteorias sociales de la distribucion de la enfermedadse contraponen a la epidemiologia individualista , ba-sada en teorias individualistas de la etiologia de laenfermedad (vease mas adelante “teorias de la dis-tribucion de la enfermedad”). Cultura fue originalmente el “nombre de unproceso” referido al “cuidado de algo, basicamenteel cultivo agricola o la cria de ganado” (51 —pagina87—), pero en la actualidad tiene tres significadosdiferentes: “1) el sustantivo abstracto que describeun proceso general de desarrollo intelectual, espiri-tual y estetico [...]; 2) el sustantivo, usado generalo especificamente, que indica un modo de vida par-ticular, sea de un pueblo, de un periodo, de ungrupo o de la humanidad en general, y [...] 3) elsustantivo abstracto que describe el trabajo y laspracticas de la actividad intelectual, y especial-mente de la actividad artistica” (51 —pagina 90—).En la epidemiologia social predomina el segundosignificado y la “cultura” se conceptualiza y opera-cionaliza tipicamente en relacion con las creencias ypracticas relacionadas con la salud, especialmentelas practicas dieteticas. Siguiendo esta logica, la“aculturacion” (o quizas fuera mas exacto “descul-turacion” (45)) se refiere a la adopcion por losmiembros de una “cultura” de las creencias y prac-ticas de otra “cultura” (tipicamente la dominante)(52, 53). En la literatura epidemiologica abundanlos ejemplos (44, 53) en los que el concepto de “cul-tura” se fusiona con el de “etnia” (y “raza”) yambos se invocan conjunta e inadecuadamentepara explicar caracteristicas socieconomicas y sani-tarias de grupos de poblacion diversos, sobre labase de cualidades “innatas”, en vez de como unaconsecuencia de relaciones sociales no equitativasentre grupos (52).
Diastolic dysfunction and its histopathological correlation in obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in children and adolescents.

Background Histopathologic hallmarks of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) include myocyte hypertrophy and disarray as well as interstitial and endocardial fibrosis. Published correlations between echocardiographic parameters and histopathologic findings are scarce. Methods All patients aged Results Histopathologic analysis of myectomy specimens revealed significant myocyte hypertrophy (100%), myocyte disarray (98%), interstitial fibrosis (95%), and subendocardial fibrosis (97%). On multivariate regression analysis, there was a significant relationship between the degree of myocyte disarray and echocardiographic markers of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. Conclusion The results of this study suggest that myocyte disarray is a key factor responsible for diastolic dysfunction in pediatric patients with obstructive HCM. These findings provide novel insights into the mechanism of diastolic dysfunction in HCM that warrant further study.
Magic of the prolate spheroidal functions in various setups

The singular functions for the problem of recovering a time limited function from its Fourier transform in a certain band of frequencies are given, in the simplest case, by the prolate spheroidal wave functions. We explore a number of issues related to this problem including the effective computation of the corresponding Slepian functions for a polar cap on the surface of the Earth. The same method would work for a region on the sphere bounded by two parallels.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Distributed sensemaking: improving sensemaking by leveraging the efforts of previous users

We examine the possibility of distributed sensemaking: improving a user's sensemaking by leveraging previous users' work without those users directly collaborating or even knowing one another. We asked users to engage in sensemaking by organizing and annotating web search results into "knowledge maps," either with or without previous users' maps to work from. We also recorded gaze patterns as users examined others' knowledge maps. Our findings show the conditions under which distributed sensemaking can improve sensemaking quality; that a user's sensemaking process is readily apparent to a subsequent user via a knowledge map; and that the organization of content was more useful to subsequent users than the content itself, especially when those users had differing goals. We discuss the role distributed sensemaking can play in schema induction by helping users make a mental model of an information space and make recommendations for new tool and system development.
Quantitative cell motility for in vitro wound healing using level set-based active contour tracking

Quantifying the behavior of cells individually, and in clusters as part of a population, under a range of experimental conditions, is a challenging computational task with many biological applications. We propose a versatile algorithm for segmentation and tracking of multiple motile epithelial cells during wound healing using time-lapse video. The segmentation part of the proposed method relies on a level set-based active contour algorithm that robustly handles a large number of cells. The tracking part relies on a detection-based multiple-object tracking method with delayed decision enabled by multi-hypothesis testing. The combined method is robust to complex cell behavior including division and apoptosis, and to imaging artifacts such as illumination changes.
Efficient and Effective? The 100-Year Flood in the Communication and Perception of Flood Risk

Abstract This paper presents a synopsis of several terms used to describe US policy's benchmark flood and a preliminary study of how such terms are interpreted. Questionnaire surveys were conducted in a flood prone community with residents living in and out of official flood plains. Comparable questions regarding uncertainty, perceived need for protection, and concern were asked in connection with four descriptive methods: a 100-year flood; a flood with a 1 percent chance of occurring in any year; a flood with a 26 percent chance of occurring in 30 years; and a flood risk map. Statistical analysis and qualitative observation showed a disjuncture between understanding and persuasion, potential problems with the 26 percent chance method, and a preference for concrete references in describing risk.
Active Learning to Maximize Area Under the ROC Curve

In active learning, a machine learning algorithm is given an unlabeled set of examples U, and is allowed to request labels for a relatively small subset of U to use for training. The goal is then to judiciously choose which examples in U to have labeled in order to optimize some performance criterion, e.g. classification accuracy. We study how active learning affects AUC. We examine two existing algorithms from the literature and present our own active learning algorithms designed to maximize the AUC of the hypothesis. One of our algorithms was consistently the top performer, and Closest Sampling from the literature often came in second behind it. When good posterior probability estimates were available, our heuristics were by far the best.
Cardiac biology: A protein for healing infarcted hearts.

Human heart tissue has minimal ability to regenerate following injury. But the protein Fstl1, which is normally expressed in the heart's epicardial region, has now been shown to induce regeneration following heart attack. See Article p.479 Human heart tissue has a limited capacity to regenerate but recent studies have suggested that the epicardium might preserve function of the adult myocardium following injury to some extent, possibly by providing myogenic progenitors. This study identifies the secreted factor follistatin-like 1 (FSTL1) as a regenerative factor that is normally present in healthy epicardium, but lost following myocardial infarction, suggesting a mechanism whereby injury diminishes the regenerative potency of the mammalian heart. Reconstitution of FSTL1 by an engineered epicardial biomaterial improved cardiac function in animal models of myocardial infarction, with evidence of cardiomyocyte regeneration amenable to clinical translation.
Who Wants Reliable Plastic Semiconductors

It has been found that a tri-layer metal contact system, consisting of platinum silicide-titanium-platinum-gold, is at least a factor of five better than a comparable aluminum metalized device with respect to humidity. However, all gold metalized devices are not necessarily this good; an example is given. To evaluate bond integrity, a liquid-to-liquid thermal shock is used followed by a high temperature parameter readout. Data is presented from long-tenm life tests which indicate that reliable plastic devices are not adversely effected after five cycles of thermal shock. Also presented is data indicating acceleration factors for salt atmosphere testing of silicone packages. Finally, problems with procurement of reliable plastic encapsulated semiconductors are discussed from a user's viewpoint.
Environmental Stability of Seed Carbohydrate Profiles in Soybeans Containing Different Alleles of the Raffinose Synthase 2 (RS2) Gene.

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is important for the high protein meal used for livestock feed formulations. Carbohydrates contribute positively or negatively to the potential metabolizable energy in soybean meal. The positive carbohydrate present in soybean meal consists primarily of sucrose, whereas the negative carbohydrate components are the raffinose family of oligosaccharides (RFOs), raffinose and stachyose. Increasing sucrose and decreasing raffinose and stachyose are critical targets to improve soybean. In three recently characterized lines, variant alleles of the soybean raffinose synthase 2 (RS2) gene were associated with increased sucrose and decreased RFOs. The objective of this research was to compare the environmental stability of seed carbohydrates in soybean lines containing wild-type or variant alleles of RS2 utilizing a field location study and a date of planting study. The results define the carbohydrate variation in distinct regional and temporal environments using soybean lines with ...
Dissociation constants: NH4OH as a standard

It is proposed that NH4OH be used as a standard for determining dissociation constants on a standard basis. Ultrasonic absorption and electrical conductance measurements as a function of pressure provide the basis for quantitative evaluation of all parameters except activity coefficients. It is shown how the weak ionization of NH4OH can be used to minimize uncertainty due to activity coefficients. Density data at atmospheric pressure confirm the\(\Delta \bar V^\circ\) values used to provide quantitative explanations of the acoustic and conductance data. Application of the differential sound absorption technique should extend the method dissociation constants of other classes of salts, in particular the 1–2, 2–2, and 3–2 sulfates.
Assortative Mating Among Married New Legal Immigrants to the United States: Evidence from the New Immigrant Survey Pilot

This article provides a brief summary of the Pilot for the New Immigrant Survey (NIS) and presents new information, never before available, on one important aspect of immigrant behavior — assortati...
The Rice Rat, Oryzomys palustris texensis, in Northwestern Arkansas

On February 3,1954, the writers took five specimens of the rice rat, Oryzomys palustris texensis , eight miles east-northeast of Siloam Springs, Benton County, Arkansas. This is more than 110 miles north of Rocky, Polk County, Arkansas, which is the nearest locality where this animal was previously known to …
The odds of immunotherapy success

Cancer immunotherapy has advanced to the forefront of molecular medicine as a consequence of the success of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that block immune checkpoints. Such antibodies, like ipilimumab, reverse cancer-induced immunosuppression and induce durable therapeutic responses in certain cancer patients ( 1 ). However, because only some patients respond to checkpoint blockade therapy, there is a need for reliable biomarkers that identify individuals most likely to respond to such treatment. On page 207 of this issue, Van Allen et al. ( 2 ) report the genomic analyses of tumors from 110 melanoma patients prior to ipilimumab therapy. The study not only validates features of responsive melanomas suggested in smaller-scale analyses, but also refutes claims that associate responsiveness to ipilimumab with tumor antigens that show putative similarities to microbial proteins ( 3 ).
On the Mass and Momentum in Relativity

The relation between the mass and velocity,as well as the relation between the momentum and velocity,are important problems in physics.There exists misunderstanding for long time.In this paper,a few problems mentioned by Prof.Huang Zhi-Xun are discussed,including the problem of relativistic mass.
Daytime sleepiness and nighttime sleep quality across the full spectrum of cognitive presentations in essential tremor

Abstract There is increasing evidence that essential tremor (ET) is a complex and heterogeneous disorder with nonmotor features including cognitive deficits and sleep problems. We are unaware of a study that has examined sleep deficits in ET across the full spectrum of cognitive presentations. Cross-sectional (baseline) data on self-reported nighttime sleep dysfunction and excessive daytime sleepiness were collected using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) in 96 ET cases enrolled in a prospective study. Cases underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment, and were classified as ET with normal cognition (ET-NC), ET with mild cognitive impairment (ET-MCI), and ET with dementia (ET-D). PSQI scores did not significantly differ across the three ET cognitive groups (p = 0.22). ESS scores were highest (more daytime sleepiness) in the ET-MCI group, followed by the ET-D and ET-NC groups, respectively (p = 0.016). We examined sleep dysfunction across the cognitive spectrum in ET. We demonstrate for the first time that excessive daytime sleepiness is greater in ET-MCI than ET-NC. Unpredicted low ESS scores in the dementia group raises two possibilities: a self-report bias related to cognitive impairment and/or the possibility that currently undefined pathological heterogeneity in ET may map onto multiple presentations of non-motor deficits.
Liberalism, Anthropology of

Over the past 15 years, anthropologists have increasingly turned their attention to liberalism. A contemporary anthropology of liberalism concentrates on how liberalism shapes anthropological knowledge practices and how liberal norms are lived and inhabited. Ethnographic work analyzes how liberal values are encountered, appropriated, rejected, and reworked by people who claim liberalism as an autochthonous tradition and by those who have been historically cast as liberalism's ‘others.’
Temperature-dependent Crystallization of MoS2 Nanoflakes on Graphene Nanosheets for Electrocatalysis

This work primarily studies the crystallization condition of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) in MoS2/graphene hybrids by a temperature-varying hydrothermal method from 150 to 240 °C. Flower-like MoS2 nanoflakes were successfully grown on graphene nanosheets and characterized to understand the temperature-dependent crystallization process and the electrochemical performance. The highest electrocatalytic efficiency for both the dye-sensitized solar cell and the hydrogen evolution reaction was obtained by preparing the hybrid at 180 °C, which benefits from balanced high reactivity and high conductivity. This research leads to a better understanding of temperature dependence of MoS2 crystallization and offers guidelines for better catalytic material design.
Effects of Silver Nanoparticles on the Activities of Soil Enzymes Involved in Carbon and Nutrient Cycling

Abstract Soils are continuously exposed to large amounts of engineered nanoparticles, especially silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), which can affect the activity, stability, and specificity of microbial enzymes. Therefore, the measurement of specific enzyme activity can be used to identify major changes in soil environments. Accordingly, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of AgNPs on soil enzymes that play critical roles in mineralizing carbon and nutrients in soil. Soil samples (silt loam and sandy loam) were collected from the surface layer (0–15 cm) of a field at the George Washington Carver Farm, Lincoln University of Missouri, USA. The soils were then treated with AgNP solutions at 0, 1 600, or 3 200 μg Ag kg−1 dry soil, using either 10- or 50-nm AgNPs and a randomized complete block design, with three replicates per treatment. The AgNP-treated soil samples were homogenized and incubated for one month, and soil acid phosphatase, β-glucosaminidase, β-glucosidase, and arylsulfatase activities were measured after one hour, one week, and one month of incubation. The activities of all four enzymes were reduced by AgNP treatment after one hour and one week. However, AgNP size had no effect. After one month of incubation, the AgNP treatments had mixed effects, which suggests that soil enzymes are only affected on a short-term basis. Further studies are required to determine the mechanisms by which AgNPs reduce soil enzyme activity.
Curing Diabetes Through Bariatric Surgery: Evolution of Our Understanding

The goal of this review is to summarize available data on the impact of bariatric surgery on diabetes and to explore the mechanisms responsible for these outcomes. In randomized controlled trials and when compared to standard medical management, bariatric surgery is consistently superior with regards to weight loss and remission of type 2 diabetes. Remission rates are proportional to weight loss. The likelihood of remission from type 2 diabetes after bariatric surgery can be estimated from several available clinical parameters. Bariatric surgery is superior in improving glycemic control when compared to standard medical management, but is associated with higher risk. However, for some patients with type 2 diabetes, the goal of sustained remission may only be achievable with surgery. The mechanisms by which this is achieved are multifold and continue to be the focus of ongoing studies.
Design, synthesis, and characterization of two core modules of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor

A new strategy for design and construction of peptide fragments that acquire defined, native-like structure is based upon two hypotheses: peptides corresponding to ‘core elements’ of a protein will favor native-like structure, and incorporation of a well-placed ‘crosslink’ will eliminate high entropy, extended conformations. Identification of core elements is based on H/D exchange rates [1]. Core elements are the secondary structural elements containing the slow exchange core, a collective term for stretches of residues that bracket the slowest exchanging backbone amide protons in a native protein.
Negative Electrodes in Other Rechargeable Aqueous Systems

This chapter will discuss three examples of negative electrodes that are used in several aqueous electrolyte battery systems, the zinc electrode, the “cadmium” electrode and metal hydride electrodes.
Process Optimization and Digital Quality Improvement to Enhance Timely Initiation of Epidural Infusions and Postoperative Pain Control

BACKGROUND:Although intraoperative epidural analgesia improves postoperative pain control, a recent quality improvement project demonstrated that only 59% of epidural infusions are started in the operating room before patient arrival in the postanesthesia care unit. We evaluated the combined effect
Performing Everyday Life

This chapter situates the genero chico criollo as the preeminent form of entertainment in Buenos Aires during the period of Argentina’s modernization. I argue that popular theater was crucial for mediating the public and private, relating the everyday lives of the characters to broader socio-economic and political trends in liberal modernity. Moreover, the plays provided audiences with the language and actions necessary to symbolically renegotiate their place in the nation. This chapter engages studies of Argentine popular culture and criollismo, current theorizations of everyday life as a central space for subverting power, and scholarship on how theatricality undermines the “naturalness” of dominant cultural scripts. Through the performance of diverse stories of everyday life, the plays created a critical space for the development of cultural agency in which new cultural scripts were evaluated.
Lab Protocol Paper: Use of a High-throughput, Multiplex Reverse-transcription Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay for Detection of Sabin Oral Polio Vaccine in Fecal Samples

Background Global polio eradication efforts rely in part on molecular methods of detecting polioviruses, both wild and vaccine strains, from human and environmental samples. Previous assays used for detection of Sabin oral polio vaccine (OPV) in fecal samples have been labor and time intensive and vary in their sensitivity and specificity. Methods We developed a high-throughput, multiplex reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay able to detect all 3 OPV strains in fecal samples. The assay used a KingFisher Duo Prime system for viral RNA isolation and extraction. Positive samples were retested and Sanger sequenced for verification of Sabin serotype identity. Results The 95% lower limit of detection was determined to be 3 copies per reaction for Sabin 1 and 3 and 4 copies per reaction for Sabin 2, with no cross-reactivity between the 3 serotypes and their primers. A total of 554 samples (3.6%) were positive, with 304 positive samples (54.9%) containing >1 serotype. Of the positive samples, 476 (85.9%) contained enough RNA to be sequenced, and of these all sequences were Sabin serotypes. The previous assay we used could process 48 samples in a 10-hour period, whereas the new assay processed >100 samples in 6 hours. Conclusions The new high-throughput, multiplex reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay allowed for sensitive and specific detection of OPV serotypes while greatly decreasing sample handling and processing time. We were able to sequence 72.4% of the 210 positive samples in the cycle threshold range of 35-37.
Nonlinear Model Predictive Control with Explicit Backoffs for Stochastic Systems under Arbitrary Uncertainty

Abstract The majority of work on chance constrained model predictive control (MPC) for stochastic systems adopts the concept of implicit constraint backoffs for handling state chance constraints. However, implicit backoffs cannot be computed analytically in nonlinear MPC (NMPC), so that they must be approximated and, as a result, chance constraints are not guaranteed by the closed-loop system. This paper proposes a strategy for explicit computation of constraint backoffs that allows tightly guaranteeing chance constraints in NMPC for stochastic systems with arbitrary uncertainty distributions. The proposed method relies on uncertainty propagation through closed-loop system dynamics. Thus, this paper also investigates the use of stochastic surrogate models for constructing the distribution of closed-loop quantities of interest such as state constraint functions or any general performance objectives. To this end, an extension of polynomial chaos that can handle arbitrary probability measures is proposed for a class of disturbance models representing plant-model mismatch. The proposed methods are illustrated on a benchmark continuously-stirred tank reactor problem.
Impact of a chemotherapy workload and productivity dashboard on pharmacy technician turnover.

Purpose To describe the methods used in the development of an intravenous chemotherapy workload and productivity dashboard and its impact on symptoms of burnout and technician turnover. Summary In February 2017, chemotherapy sterile preparation pharmacy technicians reported symptoms of burnout as a result of perceived increase in workload. In response, an i.v. chemotherapy workload and productivity dashboard was developed at an academic medical center to validate workload in comparison to the reported job stress of pharmacy technicians. The dashboard provided pharmacy leadership objective data to validate staff concerns and leveraged lean principles to level-load the work prior to requesting additional full-time equivalents (FTEs) to senior leadership. The rate of turnover of i.v. chemotherapy technicians was assessed before (December 2016-June 2017) and after (July 2017-January 2018) dashboard implementation and approval of an additional i.v. chemotherapy technician FTE. The addition of the new FTE resulted in a decrease in productivity from an average of 106% (range 67%-151%) to 84% (range 65%-110%). The interventions allowed for the ability to leverage a staffing-to-demand model, resulting in the observed improvement in technician symptoms of burnout and a notable decrease in the overall turnover rate of i.v. chemotherapy technicians. Conclusion The i.v. chemotherapy workload and productivity dashboard confirmed frontline staff perception and provided data to support the addition of labor resource and an opportunity to leverage a staffing-to-demand model to decrease symptoms of burnout and technician turnover.
Improving neuropsychological seizure lateralization in Spanish-speaking people with epilepsy in the US: The need to account for education and demographic differences.

Abstract Objective The objective of the study was to investigate the predictive seizure lateralization ability of the Neuropsychological Screening Battery for Hispanics (NeSBHIS) in an optimally, demographically matched cohort of primarily immigrant Spanish-speaking people with epilepsy (PWE) living in the US. Linguistically and culturally appropriate neuropsychological measures for Spanish-speaking people are increasingly needed in the US, especially as this diverse, international population grows. The NeSBHIS was developed to meet this need. Previous studies were inconclusive regarding its utility in epilepsy lateralization with PWE. Sample size and demographic variables, particularly educational levels, which anchor neuropsychological normative data and guide clinical use, limited the conclusions of earlier studies. Methods A retrospective study, the NeSBHIS battery's ability to predict seizure lateralization in a large cohort of Spanish-speaking PWE (n = 108) was conducted using normative data based on refined, smaller education ranges suggested by the author of the NeSBHIS, Ponton. Results Regression analysis revealed that four NeSBHIS subtests representing different cognitive domains produced the best model for predicting lateralization: 1) language, 2) attention/mental control, 3) visual memory recall, and 4) verbal memory recall. Prediction accuracy overall was 62% (67.3% for left hemisphere (LH) and 55.8% for right hemisphere (RH)). Conclusion This study demonstrated the clinical utility of the NeSBHIS in seizure lateralization in a large cohort of Spanish-speaking PWE by analyzing standardized scores based on refined, education-based normative samples. These results also highlight that demographic variables, in particular, education, which varies greatly across Spanish-speaking nations in terms of compulsory educational opportunity and quality, must be accounted for more carefully in clinical and research practice.
Photochemical Transformations of Carbon Dots in Aqueous Environments

The unique physicochemical and luminescent properties of carbon dots (CDs) have motivated research efforts toward their incorporation into commercial products. Increased use of CDs will inevitably ...
Lights, Camera, Student Voice: Using Technology to Address and Explore Economics within the C3 Framework.

Instructional technology has been found to have a positive impact on many aspects of the academic experiences including: student engagement, interest, student voice, and achievement. The aim of this study was to explore an elementary teacher’s perceptions of the use of Flipgrid when teaching economics concepts using the C3 Framework. A qualitative methods approach was used to interview an elementary teacher to answer the following research questions on teaching economics in the elementary setting: 1) How does Flipgrid promote student voice? 2) How does Flipgrid assist teachers instructionally? 3) How does Flipgrid impact student engagement and student learning? The findings indicate when teaching economics in an elementary setting Flipgrid promotes student voice and positively impacts student engagement and learning. Second, Flipgrid’s intuitive platform was easy for both students and teachers to use.
The Search for the Magnetic Monopole

In this chapter we discuss what seems to be a textbook example of experiment testing theory. In order to solve the question of why electric charge is quantized, all electric charges are integral multiples of the charge of the electron, Paul Dirac hypothesized the existence of magnetic monopoles, single North or South magnetic poles, something which had never been observed. Dirac’s theory also predicted the strength of such a magnetic pole. In 1982 Blas Cabrera reported an event which fit Dirac’s prediction very well. Yet Cabrera made no discovery claim nor was Dirac’s theory regarded as confirmed. The reasons for this are discussed.
Bridging Cost-sensitive and Neyman-Pearson Paradigms for Asymmetric Binary Classification.

Asymmetric binary classification problems, in which the type I and II errors have unequal severity, are ubiquitous in real-world applications. To handle such asymmetry, researchers have developed the cost-sensitive and Neyman-Pearson paradigms for training classifiers to control the more severe type of classification error, say the type I error. The cost-sensitive paradigm is widely used and has straightforward implementations that do not require sample splitting; however, it demands an explicit specification of the costs of the type I and II errors, and an open question is what specification can guarantee a high-probability control on the population type I error. In contrast, the Neyman-Pearson paradigm can train classifiers to achieve a high-probability control of the population type I error, but it relies on sample splitting that reduces the effective training sample size. Since the two paradigms have complementary strengths, it is reasonable to combine their strengths for classifier construction. In this work, we for the first time study the methodological connections between the two paradigms, and we develop the TUBE-CS algorithm to bridge the two paradigms from the perspective of controlling the population type I error.