cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Organizing and managing channels of distribution

During the past three decades, tremendous strides have been made in our understanding of how firms should organize and manage their channels of distribution. Still, we have barely touched the surface of all the managerial issues that need to be addressed. A variety of research needs still exist regarding constructs and issues examined in prior channels research. Furthermore, many issues of managerial importance relating to the organization and management of channels of distribution have received no attention in empirical research. The purpose of this article is to provide a perspective on how channels research should proceed in the future to promote the most progress. It is hoped that the article will help to shape the future direction of marketing thought with regard to channels of distribution and its fundamental domain.
Energy expenditure in mechanically ventilated patients: The weight of body weight!

Summary Background & aims Optimal nutritional care for intensive care unit (ICU) patients requires precise determination of energy expenditure (EE) to avoid deleterious under- or overfeeding. The reference method, indirect calorimetry (IC), is rarely accessible and inconstantly feasible. Various equations for predicting EE based on body weight (BW) are available. This study aims at determining the best prediction strategy unless IC is available. Methods Mechanically ventilated patients staying ≥72 h in the ICU were included, except those with contraindications for IC measurements. IC and BW measurements were routinely performed. EE was predicted by the ESPEN formula and other predictive equations using BW (i.e. anamnestic (AN), measured (MES), adjusted for cumulated water balance (ADJ), calculated for a body mass index (BMI) of 22.5). Comparisons were made using Pearson correlation and Bland & Altman plots. Results 85 patients (57 ± 19 y, 61 men, SAPS II 43 ± 16) were included. Correlations between IC and predicted EE using the ESPEN formula with different BW (BW AN , BW MES , BW ADJ , and BW BMI22.5 ) were 0.44, 0.40, 0.36, and 0.47, respectively. Bland & Altman plots showed wide and inconsistent variations. Predictive equations including body temperature and minute ventilation showed the best correlations, but when using various BWs, differences in predicted EE were observed. Conclusion No EE predictive equation, regardless of the BW used, gives statistically identical results to IC. If IC cannot be performed, predictive equations including minute ventilation and body temperature should be preferred. BW has a significant impact on estimated EE and the use of measured BW MES or BW BMI 22.5 is associated with the best EE prediction. Clinical trial registration number on ClinicalTrial.gov: NCT02552446. Ethical committee number: CE-14-070.
Self-inverse fractals osculated by sigma-discs: the limit sets of (“Kleinian”) inversion groups

The original paper included “tinted” figures. After much discussion, the broad-minded Editor of the Intelligencer, John H. Ewing, agreed to print those figures on the front and back covers of the magazine, which until then had been black-and-white. They were overlaid on a dark version of the traditional Springer-Verlag yellow. To accommodate IBM’s Script word-processor (once a pioneer and now on its last legs), all figures had to be renumbered and captions became desirable, therefore were added. The last figure is a black-and-white reduction of the original back cover.
Problems in Using Diagnosis in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Research

This paper presents results from a three-part study on diagnosis of children with affective and behavior disorders. We examined the reliability, discriminant, and predictive validity of common diagnoses used in mental health services research using a research diagnostic interview. Results suggest four problems: a) some diagnoses demonstrate internal consistency only slightly better than symptoms chosen at random; b) diagnosis did not add appreciably to a brief global functioning screen in predicting service use; c) low inter-rater reliability among informants and clinicians for six of the most common diagnoses; and d) clinician diagnoses differed between sites in ways that reflect different reimbursement strategies. The study concludes that clinicians and researchers should not assume diagnosis is a useful measure of child and adolescent problems and outcomes until there is more evidence supporting the validity of diagnosis. DOI:10.2458/azu_jmmss_v3i1_bickman
Megalopolis or the Urbanization of the Northeastern Seaboard

(1957). Megalopolis or the Urbanization of the Northeastern Seaboard. Economic Geography: Vol. 33, No. 3, pp. 189-200.
Implementation of a 2D-Euler solver using Id World, a parallel programming environment

A new parallel programming environment, Id World, is under development by MtT's Laboratory of Computer Science. This approach to parallel processing is distinct in that it employs a dataflow architecture and a functional programming language. In this paper, the application of Id World for CFD is explored by solving the 2D Euler equations using Jameson's scheme for the flow past a circular arc bump in a wind tunnel. Both subsonic and supersonic cases were run for a 17 x 5 grid. The parallel code was implemented in approximately 400 lines, equivalent to a sequential FORTRAN implementation. For one iteration, the average number of processors used in parallel was over 2000. Overall parallelism in the code as well as parallelism of specific steps of the method within the code are examined. Ease of implementation, determinancy, and memory allocation and deallocation are also discussed.
Toxicity of Isomers of Fenvalerate and Fluvalinate Against Boll Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Tobacco Budworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in the Laboratory and Heliothis Species (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Field Tests

Topical applications of the fully resolved active isomer ((S)-δ-cyano-3-phenoxybenzy I (R)-2-[2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)-anilnio ]-3-methylbutonate), the h-resolved isomer ((R S)-o-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl (R)-2-[2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)-anilino]-3-methylbutonate), and the 3/4-resolved isomer (25% R 75% S)-δ-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl (R)-2-[2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)-anilinol-3-methylbutonate) of fluvalinate were equally toxic to larvae of a laboratory-reared, insecticide susceptible strain (LSS) of the tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens (F.). Applications of the fully resolved active isomer ((S)-δ-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl 4-chloro-(S)-(1-methylethyl) benzeneacetate) of fenvalerate were significantly and 6 times more toxic to the LSS than to the field-collected strain. The LD50 of the fully resolved active isomer of fen valerate to the boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis grandis Boheman, differed significantly and was 48 times more toxic than that obtained by the racemic fluvalinate. The fully resolved active isomer as well as the ½- and ¾-resolved isomers of fluvalinate were also equally toxic to the boll weevil. Field trials were done in Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Texas to compare the effectiveness of the fully resolved active isomer and the ½-resolved mixture of isomers of fenvalerate and the ½-resolved mixture of isomers of fluvalinate with that of the respective racemic mixtures of isomers against Heliothis spp. The active isomer or the ½-resolved mixture of isomers of these compounds or both gave control comparable with that obtained with the racemic mixtures at lower concentrations. The ½-resolved mixture of isomers of fenvalerate did not differ from that of racemic fenvalerate in controlling the boll weevil in Georgia.
Experimental Study of Sputter Deposited Contacts to Gallium Nitride

A variety of metal contacts to n-GaN is investigated, including Al, Au, Ce, Ti, Cr, Mg, Sb, W, and Mo, which were deposited using DC magnetron plasma sputtering onto MBE grown GaN. The contacts were characterized by current-voltage analysis and contact resistances were measured by the circular geometry transmission line method. The effects on contact resistance and Schottky barrier properties by surface sputtering treatments, GaN doping, and post-deposition annealing are reported.
Effect of extract of semen litchi on duck hepatitis B virus

Objective:To observe the anti-virus activity of the extract of semen litchi on duck hepatitis B virus(DHBV) in animal model.Methods:Semen litchi were extracted by distilled water and 95% ethanol,respectively.Ducks were infected with DHBV and divided randomly into six groups.These groups were administered with high-dose aqueous(1.4 g·kg-1·d-1),low-dose aqueous(0.35 g·kg-1·d-1),high-dose ethanol(0.7 g·kg-1·d-1),low-dose ethanol(0.18 g·kg-1·d-1) extract of semen litchi,acyclovir(ACV),and distilled water for 10 days,respectively.Sera DHBV DNA levels were detected respectively before treatment(T0),5 days(T5) and 10 days(T10) after treatment,and 4 days(P4) after terminating treatment by fluorescence quantitative PCR.Results:After administration,the decline of DHBV DNA was more obvious in the ACV group and the high-dose aqueous group than that in the distilled water group(P0.01).For the high-dose aqueous group,DHBV DNA was lower at T10 and P4 than that at T0(P0.01 and P0.05).Conclusion:Aqueous extract of semen litchi can inhibit DHBV replication.
Gregory Bateson and the Promise of Transdisciplinarity.

Gregory Bateson was a thinker beyond disciplines, contributing not only to specific disciplines ranging from Communication to Family Therapy to Ecology, but also helping us to think about the nature of inquiry, thought and disciplinary organization. In this paper I argue Bateson was a transdisciplinary thinker, and illustrate how his work can lead us to a new approach to inquiry. I conclude by outlining the 5 central features of transdisciplinarity: inquiry-driven rather than exclusively discipline-driven; meta-paradigmatic rather than intra-paradigmatic; informed by thinking that is complex, creative, contextualizing, and connective; inquiry as a process of creative combining rigor and imagination.
Novel Use of Flu Surveillance Data: Evaluating Potential of Sentinel Populations for Early Detection of Influenza Outbreaks.

Influenza causes significant morbidity and mortality each year, with 2–8% of weekly outpatient visits around the United States for influenza-like-illness (ILI) during the peak of the season. Effective use of existing flu surveillance data allows officials to understand and predict current flu outbreaks and can contribute to reductions in influenza morbidity and mortality. Previous work used the 2009–2010 influenza season to investigate the possibility of using existing military and civilian surveillance systems to improve early detection of flu outbreaks. Results suggested that civilian surveillance could help predict outbreak trajectory in local military installations. To further test that hypothesis, we compare pairs of civilian and military outbreaks in seven locations between 2000 and 2013. We find no predictive relationship between outbreak peaks or time series of paired outbreaks. This larger study does not find evidence to support the hypothesis that civilian data can be used as sentinel surveillance for military installations. We additionally investigate the effect of modifying the ILI case definition between the standard Department of Defense definition, a more specific definition proposed in literature, and confirmed Influenza A. We find that case definition heavily impacts results. This study thus highlights the importance of careful selection of case definition, and appropriate consideration of case definition in the interpretation of results.
Marital Satisfaction and Communication Practices: Comparisons Among Indian and American Couples*

Most marital research in the last two decades has been conducted with predominately white, middle-class, North American married couples; little is known about marital communication practices of cou...
Valve Type, Size, and Deployment Location Affect Hemodynamics in an In Vitro Valve-in-Valve Model

AbstractObjectives: The purpose of this study was to optimize hemodynamic performance of valve-in-valve (VIV) according to transcatheter heart valve (THV) type (balloon vs. self-expandable), size, ...
Of the Many Who Returned and Yet Were Dead

To talk today of combatant suffering is to talk of PTSD. Since its inclu sion in the third edition of the American Psychiatric Association’s The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (or DSM-III) in 1980 — an acceptance based on the recognition that the suffering of veterans returning from the Vietnam War was more than just a political tool for pacifistic psychoanalysts protesting the war1 — PTSD has afforded prac titioners, patients, and the public a way of universalizing, and a way of understanding, the effects of going to war. To return from war changed, to be unable to take back up once familiar routines and once close rela tionships was now to be seen as symptomatic of combat rather than as a personal failing or a sign of individual weakness. The ability to identify and classify symptoms then both opened the way for combatants and veterans to avoid the stigma of suffering in war, and further allowed for the diagnosis, treatment, and curing of this suffering.
Nature, Dynamics, and Phases of Intractability (2005)

All large-scale social conflicts change over time, and some become intractable with recurrent violent escalations. 1 Nevertheless, even intractable conflicts often have periods of subdued conflict and over time become transformed and tractable or otherwise terminated. 2 As conflicts become more intractable and then become less so, they go through many phases. This chapter argues that particular strategies, pursued by diverse actors, tend to be suitable for controlling intractable conflicts in different phases.
Teacher perceptions of the practicality and effectiveness of immersive ecological simulations

Recent research with Multi-User Virtual Environments (MUVEs) in education has shown that these platforms can be effective and engaging for students; however, educators and administrators have practical concerns about the adoption of MUVEbased curricula. This study looks at implementations of EcoMUVE, a MUVE-based curriculum designed to support middle school learning of ecosystem concepts and processes. Research questions looked at teacher perceptions of the curriculum's implementation feasibility, alignment with curricular objectives and standards, and perceived value. Results showed that EcoMUVE was very well-received, and technical issues were manageable. Teachers felt the curriculum was effective, aligned well with standards, and compared favorably with a non-MUVE alternative. Particular technological and curriculum features that contributed to EcoMUVE's perceived value included student-directed learning, an inquiry, role-based pedagogy, immersion in the virtual environment, and the ease of collecting and comparing data with graphs.
The Extended Direct Anterior Approach for Column Augmentation in the Deficient Pelvis: A Novel Surgical Technique, and Case Series Report

Abstract Background Anterior column deficiency of the pelvis may pose a serious threat to the stability of the acetabular component after total hip arthroplasty and, thus, jeopardize the overall success of the procedure. Methods After Institutional Review Board approval, a retrospective review was undertaken to identify all patients undergoing revision total hip arthroplasty with anterior column augmentation through an extended direct anterior approach. Demographics and surgical details were collected, and subjects were followed for a 2-year minimum period to measure patient outcomes and to evaluate for the stability of construct fixation. A novel surgical procedure description was provided and supplemented with an illustrative case example. Results At 2 years post augmentation, patients had favorable functional outcomes with radiologic evidence of stable fixation. Conclusion Proximal extension of the direct anterior approach to the hip can facilitate anterior column access and augmentation to improve stability of the hip reconstruction. This treatment may be an alternative to spanning constructs such as cup-cage constructs and custom implants, affording the potential for long-term biologic fixation. Further investigation into this technique is warranted.
On-line inspection of surface mount devices using vision and infrared sensors

This paper introduces a methodology for online inspection of surface mount components using vision and infrared sensors. The complementary nature of vision and infrared sensors allows for separation of solder joint defects into surface level defects and solder mass related defects for defect detection. The vision sensor can provide reliable information for surface level defects while infrared sensors are capable of providing information about solder mass related defects. An experimental facility is described and software routines developed for defect defection. Using both oblique and flat illumination techniques, the 2-dimensional gray scale images of the printed circuit boards are captured and preprocessed for suitable feature extraction. A sampling scheme has been developed for infrared inspection to reduce the inspection time. For defect detection a neural network construct is used to compare incoming data with stored templates. In addition, a classifier based on fuzzy relations and linguistic labels has been used to perform classification of linear misalignment defect accommodating the uncertainty associated with it. The strategy is demonstrated with inspection of a number of solder joint defects.
Complex Applications of HLM in Studies of Science and Mathematics Achievement: Cross‐Classified Random Effects Models

Hierarchical linear models have become a familiar method for accounting for a hierarchical data structure in studies of science and mathematics achievement. This paper illustrates the use of cross-classified random effects models (CCREMs), which are likely less familiar. The defining characteristic of CCREMs is a hierarchical data structure defined by multiple random factors at higher levels. We illustrate CCREMs using data for approximately 10,000 students from more than 250 high schools who attended one of 27 four-year postsecondary institutions. The appropriate use of CCREMs helps to ensure unbiased estimates of effects and credible inferences.
DAMAGE TO CERAMICS FROM HIGH INTENSITY Q SWITCHED LASERS

One important factor limiting the advance of high power laser technology is the failure of laser materials due to optically induced damage. Examples of surface damage, extrinsic damage produced by inclusions, and intrinsic hulk damage (beam trapping) are presented. A model to treat metallic inclusions which absorb an appreciable amount of incident laser radiation in glass laser rods is formulated and used to estimate thermal stresses and changes in refractive indices due to the thermal stress field. The feasibility of optical techniques to detect incipient damage sites also is discussed.
"Sensemaking, Schema Interaction Dynamics, and Corporate Environmental Performance"

Despite thirty years of efforts toward sustainability, firms have collectively obtained limited results in their attempts to address environmental challenges. This paper offers an integrative sensemaking framework that links schema interaction to corporate environmental performance and thoroughly integrates schema interaction patterns bookkeeping, subtyping, replacement and relocation and their effect on the degree of schema change. In contrast to earlier accounts depicting these patterns as unrelated, this paper identifies systematic links among them and proposes that specific combinations of two factors schema discrepancy and schema support by powerful groups selectively trigger these patterns. Applied as a conceptual lens to the interaction of economically- and environmentally-skewed schemas, the framework suggests that firms struggle with environmental issues because they are subject to pervasive schematic dynamics that undermine newer interpretive schemas like environmentalism and perpetuate extant s...
The experience with independent living services for youth in care and those formerly in care

Abstract A significant amount of attention has been paid to the experiences of young people who have spent time in foster care. Policies and programs have focused on providing independent living services to youth currently in care and services to those who were formerly in foster care but are living independently. The purpose of this study was to describe the receipt of independent living services of youth who were formerly in care and who are currently living independently, while also looking at the skills and resources of youth who are currently in foster care. This study drew from a national data set, The National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being II (NSCAW II) and included both former youth (n = 127) and those currently in care (n = 106). While most former youth reported possessing documents associated with independent living, a significant portion reported a lack of several resources that aid in independent living. Youth currently in care did not report the majority of skills associated with living independently. Additionally, most youth denied the receipt of resources needed for obtaining those skills through independent living services. Implications for practice and policy, as well as suggestions for future research are discussed.
Bardet–Biedl syndrome-8 (BBS8) protein is crucial for the development of outer segments in photoreceptor neurons

Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) is an autosomal recessive ciliopathy characterized by developmental abnormalities and vision loss. To date, mutations in 21 genes have been linked to BBS. The products of eight of these BBS genes form a stable octameric complex termed the BBSome. Mutations in BBS8, a component of the BBSome, cause early vision loss, but the role of BBS8 in supporting vision is not known. To understand the mechanisms by which BBS8 supports rod and cone photoreceptor function, we generated animal models lacking BBS8. The loss of BBS8 protein led to concomitant decrease in the levels of BBSome subunits, BBS2 and BBS5 and increase in the levels of the BBS1 and BBS4 subunits. BBS8 ablation was associated with severe reduction of rod and cone photoreceptor function and progressive degeneration of each photoreceptor subtype. We observed disorganized and shortened photoreceptor outer segments (OS) at post-natal day 10 as the OS elaborates. Interestingly, loss of BBS8 led to changes in the distribution of photoreceptor axonemal proteins and hyper-acetylation of ciliary microtubules. In contrast to properly localized phototransduction machinery, we observed OS accumulation of syntaxin3, a protein normally found in the cytoplasm and the synaptic termini. In conclusion, our studies demonstrate the requirement for BBS8 in early development and elaboration of ciliated photoreceptor OS, explaining the need for BBS8 in normal vision. The findings from our study also imply that early targeting of both rods and cones in BBS8 patients is crucial for successful restoration of vision.
Network Control Mechanisms: Cellular Inputs, Neuroactive Substances, and Synaptic Changes

Cellular inputs, neuroactive substances, and synaptic changes are critical elements in neuronal network control and function. Cellular inputs to principal cells in a network nucleus include projection neurons from other nuclei in the network, inputs from neurons from other networks, and interneurons, as well as glia within the network nucleus. Each of these inputs has the potential to exert a major influence on the ongoing activity of a neuronal network. The pattern of firing of these inputs and the nature of the neuroactive substance released onto the principal neurons of each network nucleus plus the intrinsic activity of the principal cells govern the role of that nucleus in network function. In addition to the synaptic effects of the released neuroactive substances, these agents can also exert network-wide effects through volume transmission via the extracellular and cerebrospinal fluids. Neuroactive agents that induce network-wide effects include gamma-aminobutyric acid, glutamate, serotonin, and adenosine, as well as cytokines, among others. These network-wide effects can exert major influences on network function in sleep states, learning disorders, and central nervous system (CNS) disorders. With repetitive activation, these influences can lead to long-term changes in network function that involve changes in synaptic strength, which are associated with events, such as long-term potentiation, that potentially lead to molecular and structural changes. These changes are mediated, in part, by protein synthesis, including the synthesis of immediate early genes, such as c-fos, and this can lead to activation of molecular cascades, leading to trophic factor release. These events can lead to changes in the formation of dendritic spines, synaptogenesis, axonal sprouting, and neurogenesis. Knowledge about the roles of these elements and other influences can lead to a better understanding of how neuronal networks of the brain exert their function as well as shed light on network dysfunctions that occur in CNS disorders and ultimately lead to improved therapy of these disorders.
Integration as Integration: Tolerance of Ambiguity and the Integrative Process at the Undergraduate Level:

Intolerance of ambiguity is described as an impediment to effective integration. A bidirectional relationship between personal wholeness and the integrative process is outlined, and implications ar...
Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma in Transplant-Eligible Patients

Multiple myeloma (MM) is characterized by clonal proliferation of malignant plasma cells in the bone marrow. An estimated 30,280 new cases of MM will be diagnosed in the USA in 2017 (CA Cancer J Clin67(1):7–30, 2017). The introduction of proteasome inhibitors (PIs) and immunomodulators (IMiDs) in conjunction with autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) has markedly improved the overall survival (OS) in MM, with the survival gap between MM patients and matched controls decreasing in the last decade (Leukemia 2017). The incorporation of ASCT into the frontline therapy of transplant-eligible (TE) patients in the late 1990s had shown a remarkable improvement in survival in younger myeloma patients between 2001 and 2005 (Eur J Cancer46(1):160–169, 2010). Currently, PI and/or IMiD-based combinations are the standard of care for pretransplant induction therapy in TE newly diagnosed MM patients (J Natl Compr Cancer Netw 15(2):230–269, 2017). Furthermore, the addition of long-term maintenance therapy after ASCT has also led to improved progression-free and overall survival (J Clin Oncol34(Suppl 15):8001, 2016). Hence, there has been a paradigm shift in the management of newly diagnosed MM, leading to the achievement of a deep and durable disease control and improved survival, with the current median OS being greater than 6 years (Leukemia 28(5):1122–1128, 2014).
Evaluation of a New Nonadhesive Urine Collection Device for Patients with Ileal Conduits

Patients with urinary diversions traditionally have relied upon adhesive appliances for urine collection. Recently, a new nonadhesive apron-style appliance has been introduced in an effort to improve upon the reliability, comfort and ease of maintenance of currently available urinary collection devices. To ascertain whether this new product offers any significant advantage over adhesive appliances, we contacted the first 30 patients who received the nonadhesive urostomy pouch after its introduction at our hospital in October 1981. All patients initially received an adhesive appliance postoperatively and were provided with the nonadhesive urostomy pouch at least 6 weeks later to allow the stoma site to mature. Of these 30 patients 15 (50 per cent) currently use the nonadhesive urostomy pouch and prefer it over an adhesive pouch because of comfort, ease of application and freedom from skin problems, while 13 (43 per cent) continue to use an adhesive appliance (6 because they were satisfied with it and did not wish to try the nonadhesive urostomy pouch). Only 7 patients (23 per cent) abandoned the nonadhesive urostomy pouch primarily because of nighttime leakage, tightness of the supporting belt and skin problems. Two patients died and could not be evaluated. Although not suited for every patient, we conclude that the new nonadhesive urostomy appliance is an important innovation for many patients with urinary diversions.
Immersive Physiotherapy: Challenges for Smart Living Environments and Inclusive Communities

The ability to deliver therapeutic healthcare remotely relying on pervasive computing technologies requires addressing real research challenges ranging from sensing people and their interactions with the environment to software abstractions to move data from low-level signals into representations that are understandable and manipulatable by domain experts who are not computer scientists. In this position paper, we inspect the potential for immersive physiotherapy, just one of many potential application of real smart health. The time is right for delivering real services for immersive physiotherapy, as many technological solutions for remote monitoring of patients and their interactions are ready for prime time. In this paper, we take a critical look at remaining tasks, to propose novel concepts for data processing and service delivery of remote physiotherapy applications. We go beyond the obvious integration tasks to uncover real and tangible research challenges that are solvable in the near term and, when solved, will make the vision of immersive physiotherapy possible.
On the Electron Transient Response in a 50 nm MOSFET by Ensemble Monte Carlo Simulation in Presence of the Smoothed Potential Algorithm

The inclusion of a smoothed potential algorithm within the Ensemble Monte Carlo method (EMC) to account for quantization effects in the inversion layer of a silicon n-MOSFET has been discussed by several authors. Most of the data reported deal with steady state terminal current, transconductance, and capacitance. Within this approach, the electric field acting on each particle is computed from the smoothed potential, which introduces a potential barrier underneath the gate region that pushes the carriers away from the interface, thus accounting for space quantization effects. However, in the EMC method, the electric field at the interface is also used to compute the displacement charge/current during the transient regime. In the implementation of the smoothed potential algorithm, care must be taken when computing this component of the total gate charge. We distinguish between two differently computed electric fields, one from the smoothed potential used for the charge transport and the other one computed from the real potential, as obtained from the solution of Poisson's equation, and used for the displacement charge. We propose this procedure in order to properly include space quantization effects, and at the same time avoid the inaccuracy introduced by the smoothed potential in the displacement charge.
Analysis of swelling behaviour of ferritic/martensitic steels

Ferritic/martensitic steels show exceptional void-swelling resistance during neutron irradiation compared to conventional austenitic stainless steels, such as Types 316 and 304. Explanations for th...
The Clinical Utility of the Genomic Prostate Score in Men with Very Low to Intermediate Risk Prostate Cancer.

Purpose:We retrospectively investigated the Genomic Prostate Score® assay in clinical practice at an urban tertiary care academic center.Materials and Methods:We reviewed all Genomic Prostate Score...
Safety surrogate histograms (SSH): A novel real-time safety assessment of dilemma zone related conflicts at signalized intersections

Abstract Drivers’ indecisiveness in dilemma zones (DZ) could result in crash-prone situations at signalized intersections. DZ is to the area ahead of an intersection in which drivers encounter a dilemma regarding whether to stop or proceed through the intersection when the signal turns yellow. An improper decision to stop by the leading driver, combined with the following driver deciding to go, can result in a rear-end collision, unless the following driver recognizes a collision is imminent and adjusts his or her behavior at or shortly after the onset of yellow. Considering the significance of DZ-related crashes, a comprehensive safety measure is needed to characterize the level of safety at signalized intersections. In this study, a novel safety surrogate measure was developed utilizing real-time radar field data. This new measure, called safety surrogate histogram (SSH), captures the degree and frequency of DZ-related conflicts at each intersection approach. SSH includes detailed information regarding the possibility of crashes, because it is calculated based on the vehicles conflicts. An example illustrating the application of the new methodology at two study sites in Virginia is presented and discussed, and a comparison is provided between SSH and other DZ-related safety surrogate measures mentioned in the literature. The results of the study reveal the efficacy of the SSH as complementary to existing surrogate measures.
Efficient Allocation and Heterogeneous Composition of NVM Crossbar Arrays for Deep Learning Acceleration

Deep learning has recently shown extensive usage in a wide variety of applications. To accelerate deep learning in hardware, non-volatile memory (NVM) technologies have recently been used to perform neural network (NN) computation based upon their unique crossbar structure and multiple resistance states in a cell. We observe that the weight matrices in convolutional layers, although being small, are used many times by the input data. As a result, they have better chances to be replicated and co-located in the same crossbar array to improve data processing parallelism. The first scheme proposed in this paper therefore utilizes the shared input in replicating weight matrices and overlapping them to improve parallelism. Furthermore, this paper proposes a heterogeneous accelerator consisting of both large and small crossbar arrays, by mapping fully-connected layers to large crossbar arrays to obtain the area/power reductions and keeping convolutional layers in conventional (small) crossbar arrays to retain performance. Experimental results show significant benefits of the proposed schemes in performance, energy efficiency, and area.
Tracking Area Update Procedure Unnecessary in 5G: Improving User Experience and Offloading Signaling Overhead

In Long Term Evolution (LTE) and future 5th Generation (5G) wireless networks, the two procedures that are essential to track and locate mobile User Equipments (UEs) within the network are known as Tracking Area Update (TAU) and Paging. These procedures are burdensome for both mobile UEs and serving network—the mobile UEs and serving network always initiate the TAU and Paging procedures, respectively. Because of potentially very high-volume traffic and increasing density of high-mobility UEs, the TAU/Paging procedure increases not only the accompanied signaling overhead but also the power consumption in the battery-limited UEs. Hence, this problem will become even worse in future 5G networks because the latter is expected to accommodate exceptional services, such as supporting mission-critical systems (close-to-zero latency) and extending battery lifetime (10 times longer).We propose a new solution to solve this problem, named gNB-based UE Mobility Tracking (gNB-based UeMT). This solution has four features achieving 5G goals. First, the mobile UEs will no longer trigger the TAU to report their location changes, giving much more power saving with no signaling overhead. Instead, second, the network elements, gNBs, take over the responsibility of tracking and locating these UEs, giving always-known UE locations. Third, the Paging procedure is markedly improved over the conventional one, providing very fast UE reachability with no Paging messages being sent simultaneously. Fourth, this solution guarantees lightweight signaling overhead with very low Paging delay. To this end, this solution adds no implementation complexity; instead, it exploits the already existed LTE/5G communication protocols, functions, and measurement reports.
Large Area Electronics Based Sensing Sheet for Strain Monitoring and Damage Detection of Bridges

Damage detection, localization and prognosis are fundamentally important for a comprehensive structural health monitoring (SHM) process. Damage is often associated with an anomalous strain changes or jumps. These changes are best captured if sensors are in direct contact with the damage. However, one-dimensional direct sensing is often expensive to cover the whole structure. Two-dimensional sensors, on the other hand, show promise to allow direct sensing on a large scale. Researchers at Princeton University have developed a flexible thin-film resistive strain sensor based on the principles on large area electronics (LAE). These two-dimensional sheets are suitable for covering large areas ( 10m2) and, hence, could be used for direct damage detection. In this work, the authors explore the suitability of such sheets for real-life applications. Results of laboratory experiments conducted using an aluminum cantilever beam for evaluation of performance in ideal conditions are presented. The strain measurements show an excellent match with analytical results with acceptable standard deviations. Strain measurements on Streicker Bridge at Princeton University campus obtained using these sheets are compared with those obtained from pre-installed fiber-optic sensors. The results show a close agreement between the two, inspiring confidence in the use of sensing sheets for cost-effective strain measurements and direct damage detection for long-term infrastructure structural health monitoring. Finally, the paper is concluded with limitations, sources of error and future possibilities
Bleeding, Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, and Other adverse reactions

Abstract The principal adverse effects of heparin are bleeding, heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions, and osteoporosis due to osteoclast activation. Major bleeding incidence is 2.3% with intravenous unfractionated heparin (UH), and 1.2%–2.1% with subcutaneous UH, low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), and fondaparinux. The frequency of HIT is 5% after ≥5 day exposure to therapeutic UH, 2.6% with prophylactic UH, 0.2% with LMWH, and rare with fondaparinux. Antibodies in this immune disorder are elicited by heparin-platelet factor-4 complexes; binding of HIT antibodies activates platelets, monocytes, endothelial cells, and neutrophils. Platelet counts decline by ≥50,000/µL within 5–10 days and new venous or arterial thrombi appear, as well as venous limb gangrene. Management includes curtailing all exposures to heparin and giving the direct thrombin inhibitors, argatroban or bivalirudin, or alternatively, danaparoid and lepirudin. Agents used off-label are fondaparinux and direct oral anticoagulants.
Integration of Rooftop PV Systems with Decentralized Residential and Commercial Demand Side Management

Both demand side management (DSM) programs and renewable energies especially rooftop PV systems are vital for establishing future smart grids. This paper studies decentralized optimal DSM framework with rooftop PV systems for a distribution network including both commercial and residential buildings. Each smart building runs an individual optimal DSM to reschedule the operation time of its flexible appliances in order to reduce its electric energy cost at a manageable sacrifice of inconvenience according to the forecast time-varying electricity price. The DSM performance is then examined by comparing its impacts on the distribution network operation and rooftop PV integration, in terms of electricity cost saving, utilization efficiency of rooftop PV generation, voltage fluctuation and real power loss. Numerical simulation results demonstrate and verify the effectiveness of the proposed framework to improve rooftop PV utilization. In addition, it is found that the residential DSM may have better performance than commercial DSM in case of energy loss and voltage fluctuation and a coordinated DSM scheduling is necessary in order to deal with the negative impacts caused by commercial DSM scheduling.
C-REACTIVE PROTEIN VARIABILITY AND CARDIOVASCULAR OUTCOMES IN OPTIMALLY-TREATED HIGH-RISK VASCULAR DISEASE

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) is a well-established predictor of cardiovascular events; however, the relationship between hsCRP variability and clinical outcomes has not been explored. We performed a post-hoc analysis of the Assessment of Clinical Effects of Cholesterol Ester Transfer
Enhanced chromosome extraction from cells using a pinched flow microfluidic device

Extraction and purification of intact chromosomes are critical sample preparation steps for transchromosomic research and other applications. The commonly used sample preparation methods lead to too few chromosomes with chromosome deactivation and degradation. In this paper, a "mild" chromosome extraction process that combines a chemical and mechanical lysis approach is introduced for the preparation of intact chromosomes that can readily be used for downstream processing. Metaphase cells are treated by chemical lysis buffer and pushed through a microfluidic pinched flow device. Cells are ruptured, and chromosomes are released by a combination of shear stress and chemical reagents. Chromosomes are released intact from the cell membrane into the solution. Simulations and experiments are performed to optimize the microfluidic device geometry and operation parameters. Cell rupture and chromosome release are found to be improved by the shear stress in the pinched flow device. Simulation results indicate that the maximum shear stress appears in the channel constriction region, and the narrow channel maintains constant shear stress. It is concluded that the constriction design, narrow channel width, and operation flow rate have a significate influence on chromosome release. Utilizing an optimized device, near-complete cell lysis is achieved and 4 times as many chromosomes are released (8% in control experiments to 25% in optimized pinched flow devices). Sample treatment time can also be reduced utilizing this combined chemical-mechanical chromosome release method.
Infection of Immunocompetent Conventional Mice with Shiga Toxin-Producing E. coli : The DSS + STEC Model

Previous methods of infecting mice with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) required suppression of host immune function or ablation of the gut microbiota to induce susceptibility to gastrointestinal colonization. Consequently, many pathogen-host interactions occurring in immunocompetent hosts during STEC infection and Shiga toxicosis have remained unclear. The following protocol describes the use of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) to induce a mild colitis in immunocompetent conventional C57BL/6 mice to facilitate susceptibility to STEC infection by oral gavage. STEC colonization in infected mice was confirmed by recovery of live STEC via fecal cultures and quantified via quantitative polymerase chain reaction of fecal DNA for the STEC-specific gene eae. DSS colitis is well established, broadly reproducible, and does not require specialized equipment or high levels of technical proficiency to be a useful method of inducing susceptibility to gastrointestinal STEC colonization. The DSS + STEC mouse model provides a novel and useful tool for the exploration of local STEC-host interactions in the gut environment and the pathogenesis of Shiga toxicosis.
Evaluation of the Energise.me Health and Wellbeing Programme

In the present report, we present the results of a feasibility study of the Energise.me programme, which comprises digital tools, group based activities and coaching aimed at improving health and wellbeing. The study involved interviews with 10 participants that had been through the programme during the pandemic. The results indicate that the programme has the potential to bring about beneficial changes in health behaviours and other aspects of wellbeing. We suggest that the benefits of the programme are related to the perceived need for and usefulness of specific modules; participants’ motivation to engage with the programme; support and encouragement from the peer group; support and encouragement from the coach. We consider that the main areas for developing the programme relate to: integrating techniques to enhance social interaction in group based exercises; integrating the coaching more fully with data gathered from exercises; and provision of post-programme coaching support.
Estrogen Signaling Based Current and Potential Therapies Against Obesity and Related Diseases

Estrogen, a steroidal hormone has extensive biological activities and the effect is pleiotropic, affecting multiple systems in the body. Estrogens, the primary female sex hormones function to regulate the reproductive system by binding to specific receptors, the estrogen receptors (ERs). These ERs in turn control the expression of various genes by activating various transcriptional processes or signaling pathways. Given the importance of the role of estrogen in human physiology, they are also found to be involved in the development or control of several diseases which include but not limited to cancer, neurological disorders, obesity, gastrointestinal disorders, osteoporosis, cardiovascular diseases, inflammatory disease, etc. With support from many sophisticated studies, we provide insights on the importance of estrogen in human diseases. We reviewed here the role and the mechanisms of estrogen and its receptors that play a role in the development of severity in several diseases.
Genetics in Concussion

Due to the heterogenous nature of concussion, also known as mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), it can be assumed that genetics may play a role. The various risk factors associated with sustaining an injury, as well as the various recovery patterns after injury, are thought to have an underlying genetic component that may contribute. The use of genetics as a field in neurologic research has been steadily growing; however, its use in concussion and mild traumatic brain injury is still in its infancy. This chapter aims to explore the current findings on the following: (a) risk of sustaining an injury; and (b) recovery after injury in athletic and military populations. The studies included in this chapter represent the use of a wide variety of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are examined at a relatively low frequency. Therefore, at this time, it is challenging to make any conclusive statements regarding the role of genetics in concussion and future work needs to expand on these studies in more comprehensive and systemic ways.
Optimal Control of Urban Traffic Signals by Means of Band Transformations

Abstract In general, the objective of urban traffic control is to synchronize traffic signals for the minimization of either total delay or total number of stops or their weighted combination. In this paper, an adaptive optimization procedure for traffic signal systems via multi-band modeling is proposed. The urban traffic behavior at an intersection is described in terms of oversaturated, saturated and free-flowing bands. Only three attributes are needed to describe a band at an intersection approach. Optimal traffic signal control via band transformations is much simpler than using the conventional queue model for road traffic flow. The adaptive optimization procedure predicts a surface, whose shape is generally unknown, via an approximate-analytic method and incorporates learning from experience concerning the locations of local minima from the predicted performance characteristics along unidirectional searches. The fixed-time coordination is readily updated in response to slow traffic variations by computing the sensitivities of optimal signal settings with respect to changes of band parameters.