cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multiple Distortion Measures for Packetized Scalable Media

As the diversity in end-user devices and networks grows, it becomes important to be able to efficiently and adaptively serve media content to different types of users. A key question surrounding adaptive media is how to do Rate-Distortion optimized scheduling. Typically, distortion is measured with a single distortion measure, such as the Mean-Squared Error compared to the original high resolution image or video sequence. Due to the growing diversity of users with varying capabilities such as different display sizes and resolutions, we introduce Multiple Distortion Measures (MDM) to account for a diverse range of users and target devices. MDM gives a clear framework with which to evaluate the performance of media systems which serve a variety of users. Scalable coders, such as JPEG2000 and H.264/MPEG-4 SVC, allow for adaptation to be performed with relatively low computational cost. We show that accounting for MDM can significantly improve system performance; furthermore, by combining this with scalable coding, this can be done efficiently. Given these MDM, we propose an algorithm to generate embedded schedules, which enables low-complexity, adaptive streaming of scalable media packets to minimize distortion across multiple users. We show that using MDM achieves up to 4 dB gains for spatial scalability applied to images and 12 dB gains for temporal scalability applied to video.
Water‐Soluble Sacrificial Layers for Surface Micromachining

This manuscript describes the use of water-soluble polymers for use as sacrificial layers in surface micromachining. Water-soluble polymers have two attractive characteristics for this application: 1) They can be deposited conveniently by spin-coating, and the solvent removed at a low temperature (95-150 degrees C), and 2) the resulting layer can be dissolved in water; no corrosive reagents or organic solvents are required. This technique is therefore compatible with a number of fragile materials, such as organic polymers, metal oxides and metals-materials that might be damaged during typical surface micromachining processes. The carboxylic acid groups of one polymer-poly(acrylic acid) (PAA)-can be transformed by reversible ion-exchange from water-soluble (Na+ counterion) to water-insoluble (Ca2+ counterion) forms. The use of PAA and dextran polymers as sacrificial materials is a useful technique for the fabrication of microstructures: Examples include metallic structures formed by the electrodeposition of nickel, and freestanding, polymeric structures formed by photolithography.
Pathophysiology of tricuspid regurgitation: quantitative Doppler echocardiographic assessment of respiratory dependence.

Background—Respiratory dependence of tricuspid regurgitation (TR), a long-held concept suggested by murmur variation, remains unproven and of unclear mechanisms. Methods and Results—In 41 patients ...
Feasibility of 30-day hospital readmission prediction modeling based on health information exchange data

Abstract Introduction Unplanned 30-day hospital readmission account for roughly $17 billion in annual Medicare spending. Many factors contribute to unplanned hospital readmissions and multiple models have been developed over the years to predict them. Most researchers have used insurance claims or administrative data to train and operationalize their Readmission Risk Prediction Models (RRPMs). Some RRPM developers have also used electronic health records data; however, using health informatics exchange data has been uncommon among such predictive models and can be beneficial in its ability to provide real-time alerts to providers at the point of care. Methods We conducted a semi-systematic review of readmission predictive factors published prior to March 2013. Then, we extracted and merged all significant variables listed in those articles for RRPMs. Finally, we matched these variables with common HL7 messages transmitted by a sample of health information exchange organizations (HIO). Results The semi-systematic review resulted in identification of 32 articles and 297 predictive variables. The mapping of these variables with common HL7 segments resulted in an 89.2% total coverage, with the DG1 (diagnosis) segment having the highest coverage of 39.4%. The PID (patient identification) and OBX (observation results) segments cover 13.9% and 9.1% of the variables. Evaluating the same coverage in three sample HIOs showed data incompleteness. Discussion HIOs can utilize HL7 messages to develop unique RRPMs for their stakeholders; however, data completeness of exchanged messages should meet certain thresholds. If data quality standards are met by stakeholders, HIOs would be able to provide real-time RRPMs that not only predict intra-hospital readmissions but also inter-hospital cases. Conclusion A RRPM derived using HIO data exchanged through may prove to be a useful method to prevent unplanned hospital readmissions. In order for the RRPM derived from HIO data to be effective, hospitals must actively exchange clinical information through the HIO and develop actionable methods that integrate into the workflow of providers to ensure that patients at high-risk for readmission receive the care they need.
Investigation of Planning and Execution of Motor Skills in Healthy Adults using Simultaneous Near Infrared Spectroscopy and Kinematics Study

NIRS is used in conjunction with kinematic studies to correlate the brain's planning and execution activity during and with arm movement in healthy adults. The prefrontal region of the brain is non-invasively imaged using a custom built continuous wave based near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) system. The kinematics of the arm using which the subject perform the task is recorded via a camera system. During the study, the subjects performed 30 sec of arm movement followed by 30 sec rest for 5 times, using both their dominant and non-dominant arm. The optical signal acquired from the NIRS system is processed to elucidate the activation and functional connectivity in the prefrontal regions. The kinematics data acquired is processed to determine the number of touches performed by the participants. The preliminary NIRS results indicate differences in activation between the task and rest conditions in the prefrontal cortex. Currently, the functional activity of the prefrontal cortex is correlated with the kinematics result, prior to performing further studies on motor cortex. The study has significant implication in elucidating the evolution in the functional activity of the brain during the physical movement of the arm, which can better aid physical therapists treating subjects with cerebral palsy.
Photoluminescence kinetics and dynamics in semiconductor nanocrystals

Summary form only given. Single molecule confocal microscopy has been used to investigate the detailed kinetics of fluorescence intermittency in colloidal II-VI (CdSe) semiconductor quantum dots. Two distinct modes of behavior are observed corresponding to (i) sustained "on" episodes (/spl square//sub on/) of rapid laser absorption/fluorescence cycling, followed by (ii) sustained "off" episodes (/spl square//sub off/) where essentially no light is emitted despite continuous laser excitation. Both the on-time and off-time probability densities follow an inverse power law, P(/spl square//sub on/off/) /spl square/ 1//spl square//sub on/off//sup m/, over more than seven decades in probability density and five decades in time. Such inverse power law behavior is an unambiguous signature of highly distributed rates (over 10/sup 5/-fold) as opposed to isolated rate processes between sparse "on" and "off" configurations of the system. The large dynamic range of the current data also permits several models of fluorescence intermittency to be critically evaluated. The inverse power law in P(/spl square//sub on/) excludes any model based on a static configuration of trap sites, and the results highlight the crucial role of fluctuations in the QD environment. Finally, we offer a simple model based on the dynamic tunneling of carriers through fluctuating barriers, which suggests an alternate way to characterize blinking kinetics.
PRIMARY BLADDER NECK DYSFUNCTION IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS: RESULTS OF LONG TERM ALPHA BLOCKER THERAPY

Purpose: Primary bladder neck dysfunction is a nonneurogenic voiding disorder frequently overlooked in pediatrics. The diagnosis classically is made by videourodynamics but can also be made with noninvasive uroflow studies with pelvic floor electromyography. We report our long-term results using α-blocker therapy in patients with primary bladder neck dysfunction.Materials and Methods: We reviewed 51 neurologically normal children (mean age 11.6 years, range 3.5 to 17.8) meeting criteria for primary bladder neck dysfunction who underwent α-blocker therapy for at least 1 year. All patients were symptomatic with abnormal flow parameters and an electromyogram lag time of 6 seconds or more on initial uroflow/electromyography. Pretreatment and on-treatment uroflow/electromyogram studies were performed in all patients. Average and maximum uroflow rates, electromyogram lag times and post-void residual volumes were compared.Results: After a mean followup of 46.2 months (range 12 to 124) mean average and maximum ur...
Developmental disorders of the midbrain and hindbrain

Malformations of the midbrain (MB) and hindbrain (HB) have become topics of considerable interest in the neurology and neuroscience literature in recent years. The combined advances of imaging and molecular biology have improved analyses of structures in these areas of the central nervous system, while advances in genetics have made it clear that malformations of these structures are often associated with dysfunction or malformation of other organ systems. This review focuses upon the importance of communication between clinical researchers and basic scientists in the advancement of knowledge of this group of disorders. Disorders of anteroposterior (AP) patterning, cerebellar hypoplasias, disorders associated with defects of the pial limiting membrane (cobblestone cortex), disorders of the Reelin pathway, and disorders of the primary cilium/basal body organelle (molar tooth malformations) are the main focus of the review.
Mate guarding constrains foraging activity of male baboons

For many species, mate guarding results in dramatic departures from normal behaviour that reflect compromised attention to feeding and other activities. Such departures have previously been diYcult to document in primates, however. Data were gathered on two aspects of male behaviour that were predicted to be constrained during consortships, individual travel distance and duration of feeding bouts, for wild male baboons, Papio cynocephalus, in and out of mate-guarding episodes. In each case, consorting males were compared with themselves outside of consortships, and, in the case of distance travelled, they were compared also with non-consorting males matched for sample time and location. Males travelled significantly shorter distances while consorting than while not consorting, with the result that consorting males travelled distances similar to those travelled by females. Males also had significantly shorter feeding bouts while consorting. The shorter travel distances and feeding bouts experienced by consorting males may represent important constraints on male foraging activity, and probably result in decreased energy intake during mate guarding. Seasonal and non-seasonal breeding patterns will have diVerent consequences for the magnitude of fluctuations in energy stores and depletions experienced during mate guarding, and costs of mate guarding in species that breed non-seasonally will be more diYcult to document because they are necessarily smaller and temporally dispersed. When considered across the lifespan, however, mate guarding costs to non-seasonal breeders may equal or exceed costs to seasonal breeders. ? 1996 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour
Secure SOurce-BAsed Loose Synchronization (SOBAS) for Wireless Sensor Networks

We present the Secure SOurce-BAsed Loose Synchronization (SOBAS) protocol to securely synchronize the events in the network, without the transmission of explicit synchronization control messages. In SOBAS, nodes use their local time values as a one-time dynamic key to encrypt each message. In this way, SOBAS provides an effective dynamic en-route filtering mechanism, where the malicious data is filtered from the network. With SOBAS, we are able to achieve our main goal of synchronizing events at the sink as quickly, as accurately, and as surreptitiously as possible. With loose synchronization, SOBAS reduces the number of control messages needed for a WSN to operate providing the key benefits of reduced energy consumption as well as reducing the opportunity for malicious nodes to eavesdrop, intercept, or be made aware of the presence of the network. Albeit a loose synchronization per se, SOBAS is also able to provide 7.24 μs clock precision given today's sensor technology, which is much better than other comparable schemes (schemes that do not employ GPS devices). Also, we show that by recognizing the need for and employing loose time synchronization, necessary synchronization can be provided to the WSN application using half of the energy needed for traditional schemes. Both analytical and simulation results are presented to verify the feasibility of SOBAS as well as the energy consumption of the scheme under normal operation and attack from malicious nodes.
Stars in Alignment

After decades of effort to create inclusive education, the authors assert that the time for full inclusion to manifest at scale may finally be at hand. This article first briefly considers the background and history of the inclusive education movement. The authors then reframe the discourse by defining inclusion through structures and interventions, not student characteristics. They review several emerging best practices that, when deployed within this new framework, increase the likelihood of system change or improvement to advance inclusive education.
Interventions for acute internal hordeolum

Background Hordeolum is a common, painful, inflammation of the eyelid margin that is usually caused by bacterial infection. The infection affects oil glands of the eyelid and can be internal or external. In many cases, the lesion drains spontaneously and resolves untreated; however, the inflammation can spread to other ocular glands or tissues and recurrences are common. If unresolved, acute internal hordeolum can become chronic or develop into a chalazion. External hordeola, also known as styes, were not included in the scope of this review. Objectives The objective of this review was to investigate the effectiveness and safety of non-surgical treatments for acute internal hordeolum compared to observation or placebo. Search strategy We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (which contains the Cochrane Eyes and Vision Group Trials Register) (The Cochrane Library 2010, Issue 6), MEDLINE (January 1950 to June 2010), EMBASE (January 1980 to June 2010), Latin American and Caribbean Literature on Health Sciences (LILACS) (January 1982 to June 2010), the metaRegister of Controlled Trials (mRCT) (www.controlled-trials.com), ClinicalTrials.gov (http://clinicaltrials.gov) and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP). There were no language or date restrictions in the search for trials. The electronic databases were last searched on 21 June 2010. Selection criteria The selection criteria for this review included randomized or quasi-randomized clinical trials of patients diagnosed with acute internal hordeolum. Studies of patients with external hordeolum (stye), chronic hordeolum or chalazion were excluded. Non-surgical interventions of interest included the use of hot or warm compresses, lid scrubs, antibiotics, or steroids compared to observation, placebo, or other active interventions. Data collection and analysis Two review authors independently assessed the references identified by the electronic searches for inclusion in this review. No relevant studies were found. The reasons for exclusion were documented. Main results There were no trials identified for inclusion in this review. The majority of the references identified from our search reported on external hordeola or chronic internal hordeola. The few references specific to acute internal hordeolum reported mostly recommendations for treatment or were reports of interventional case series, case studies, or other types of observational study designs and were published over 20 years ago. Authors' conclusions We did not find any evidence for or against the effectiveness of non-surgical interventions for the treatment of hordeolum. Controlled clinical trials would be useful in determining which interventions are effective for the treatment of acute internal hordeolum.
THE EFFECT OF BACTERIAL CONSTITUENTS ON THE RESISTANCE OF MICE TO HETEROLOGOUS INFECTION AND ON THE ACTIVITY OF THEIR RETICULO-ENDOTHELIAL SYSTEM

Administration of small amounts of salmonella endotoxin (20 µg.) or of acetone-extracted BCG cells (100 µg.) increases the resistance of mice to infection with Myco. fortuitum as well as their ability to clear carbon particles from their blood stream. Whereas the increased resistance to infection persists for many weeks, the clearing power returns to a normal level within a few days. When normal mice are infected with Myco. fortuitum , there occurs during the first phase of the infectious process a rise in clearing power for carbon particles followed by a fall during the terminal phase of the disease. The rise occurs more rapidly and is more pronounced in animals previously treated with salmonella endotoxin or with killed BCG cells. This acceleration and intensification of the phagocytic response to infection can be detected even in animals which exhibit a normal phagocytic index when tested several weeks after administration of endotoxin or of BCG. Although increase in resistance to infection is correlated with activation of the so called reticulo-endothelial system, there is no evidence of any direct causal relationship between the two phenomena.
Characteristics and outcomes for patients with advanced vaginal or vulvar cancer referred to a phase I clinical trials program: the MD Anderson cancer center experience

Early-stage vaginal and vulvar cancer can be cured. But outcomes of patients with metastatic disease are poor. Thus, new therapeutic strategies are urgently required. In this retrospective study, we analyzed the clinical outcomes of consecutive patients with metastatic vaginal or vulvar cancer who were referred to a phase I trial clinic between January 2006 and December 2013. Demographic and clinical data were obtained from patients’ electronic medical records. Patients with metastatic vaginal (n = 16) and vulvar (n = 20) cancer who were referred for phase I trial therapy had median overall survival durations of 6.2 and 4.6 months, respectively. Among those who underwent therapy (n = 27), one experienced a partial response and three experienced stable disease for at least 6 months. Patients with a body mass index ≥30 had a significantly longer median overall survival duration than did those with a body mass index <30 (13.2 months versus 4.4 months, p = 0.04). Preliminary data revealed differences in molecular profiling between patients with advanced vaginal cancer and those with advanced vaginal cancer. Metastatic vaginal and vulvar cancers remain to be difficult-to-treat diseases with poor clinical outcomes. The currently available phase I trial agents provided little meaningful clinical benefits. Understanding these tumors’ molecular mechanisms may allow us to develop more effective therapeutic strategies than are currently available regimens.
Rectal Indomethacin Does Not Prevent Post-ERCP Pancreatitis in Consecutive Patients

Background & Aims Rectal indomethacin, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, is given to prevent pancreatitis in high-risk patients undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), based on findings from clinical trials. The European Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy guidelines recently recommended prophylactic rectal indomethacin for all patients undergoing ERCP, including those at average risk for pancreatitis. We performed a randomized controlled trail to investigate the efficacy of this approach. Methods We performed a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 449 consecutive patients undergoing ERCP at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, from March 2013 through December 2014. Approximately 70% of the cohort were at average risk for PEP. Subjects were assigned randomly to groups given either a single 100-mg dose of rectal indomethacin (n = 223) or a placebo suppository (n = 226) during the procedure. The primary outcome was the development of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP), defined by new upper-abdominal pain, a lipase level more than 3-fold the upper limit of normal, and hospitalization after ERCP for 2 consecutive nights. Results There were no differences between the groups in baseline clinical or procedural characteristics. Sixteen patients in the indomethacin group (7.2%) and 11 in the placebo group (4.9%) developed PEP (P = .33). Complications and the severity of PEP were similar between groups. Per a priori protocol guidelines, the study was stopped owing to futility. Conclusions In a randomized controlled study of consecutive patients undergoing ERCP, rectal indomethacin did not prevent post-ERCP pancreatitis. ClincialTrials.gov no: NCT01774604.
Illustrating a free, open-source method for quantifying locomotor performance with sprinting Aegean wall lizards

Locomotion is an important characteristic of many animals’ natural history. With the increasing availability of high-speed video cameras, videography is a powerful tool for analyzing fast or subtle motions with unprecedented resolution. However, the programs currently available for analyzing these videos are either dauntingly time intensive or prohibitively expensive. We have developed a free, open-source video analysis program, SAVRA, that enables the quick capture of scaled position data. Here we demonstrate its use with an analysis of several videos of the Aegean wall lizard (Podarcis erhardii). We hope making this program freely available will facilitate the analysis of video data across taxa, not just in laboratory settings but also in natural contexts.
Interactions of Ge Atoms with High- ê Oxide Dielectric Surfaces

Ge is deposited on HfO2 surfaces by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) with GeH4. 0.7-1.0 ML GeHx (x = 0-3) is deposited by thermally cracking GeH4 on a hot tungsten filament. Ge oxidation and bonding are studied at 300-1000 K with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Ge, GeH, GeO, and GeO2 desorption are measured with temperature programmed desorption (TPD) at 400-1000 K. Ge initially reacts with the dielectric forming an oxide layer followed by Ge deposition and formation of nanocrystals in CVD at 870 K. 0.7-1.0 ML GeHx deposited by cracking rapidly forms a contacting oxide layer on HfO2 that is stable from 300-800 K. Ge is fully removed from the HfO2 surface after annealing to 1000 K. These results help explain the stability of Ge nanocrystals in contact with HfO2.
The coexistence of peripheral nerve sheath tumors and vitiligo: more than coincidence?

Neurocristopathies arise from abnormal migration, differentiation, or proliferation of neural crest derivatives, leading to diverse clinical and pathological features. They are classified into dysgenetic or neoplastic, and can affect single or multiple sites (simple versus complex). Examples include congenital melanocytic nevi, neuroblastoma, Hirshsprung’s disease, Waardenburg’s syndrome, neurofibromatosis (NF) 1 and multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) 2A and 2B. We report two cases of peripheral nerve sheath tumors associated with vitiligo and discuss the possible implicated embryologic, genetic and molecular mechanisms. To our knowledge, we also report the first case of de novo malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) associated with vitiligo.
DELAYED FLUORESCENCE AND DOUBLE-PHOTON ABSORPTION IN SOLUTIONS OF SOME AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS

Abstract Delayed fluorescence has been observed in hydrocarbon solutions utilizing a Q-switched ruby laser and disc chopper. Intensity dependence of both the fast and delayed fluorescence on the laser intensity was determined in order to disclose the triplet population mechanism. Double-photon absorption was found for all cases examined.
Use of old-field habitats by the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis.

The distribution of subadults and adults of Dermacentor variabilis (Say) in an old-field habitat on a farm near Montpelier, Virginia, was studied. The distribution of the common old-field rodent hosts of this species, Microtus pensylvanicus (Ord) and Reithrodontomys humulis (Audubon & Bachman) also was studied. The rodent hosts were found to be most abundant near the center of their habitat area, and commonest in grass-dominant localities. However, subadult ticks were taken most frequently on hosts trapped at or near the old-field: forest edge. The low woody-deciduous forest had a consistently higher atmospheric moisture content than the old-field habitat during daylight. The possible influence of this difference in atmospheric moisture content between habitat types on tick survival and distribution is discussed. It was concluded that the old-field habitat is a highly unsatisfactory environment for subadult ticks of this species, with the exception of the zone near the deciduous forest edge. Adult ticks were also most numerous near the forest border. However, in contrast to the subadults, adults were abundant also in areas far from the forest edge, perhaps as a result of dispersal.
Nanoapertures for 55 nm Resolution of Membrane Organization and Dynamics

A near-field fluorescence methodology has been developed with 50 nm diameter planarized, glass-filled apertures in a metallic film. This technique permits two-color fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy on planar biological membranes.
Investigation on a case of type III vaccine associated paralytic poliomyelitis with high variability of nucleotide in Heze city

Objective To investigate the vaccine associated paralytic poliomyelitis and the effect of control measures.Methods One case was investigated in this article.The acute flaccid paralysis case was actively searched for in the local hospitals,the operation of the surveillance system of acute flaccid paralysis was evaluated,the stool specimens from the close contacts were collected for virus isolation,and the serotype,type identification and nucleotide sequence of the polio virus isolated were analyzed.Results The case had no vaccination history of live attenuated poliomyelitis vaccine.The early clinical manifestations were fever,lower extremity weakness,lethargy,light coma,and in the recovery period,double lower limbs were still paralysis,and during the two inpatient procedures in one hospital for infectious diseases and the other municipal hospital,the main diagnosis were made,including hand-foot-mouth disease,viral encephalitis,acute flaccid paralysis,and polio;There was a phenomenon of missing,misdiagnosis and delayed report for the two hospitals on this AFP case.Type Ⅲ polio virus was detected in the stool specimens from the case,and it was type Ⅲ virus with high mutant.It was difficult to determine the way and the time of infection.No poliomyelitis vaccine virus was found in the stool specimens from the healthy children and the close contacts,and the cases were confirmed as a single vaccine associated paralytic poliomyelitis case with high mutant of type III virus.The immunization coverage rate of the target-age children reached more than 95% through the supplementary immunization activities.Conclusion The VAPP of type Ⅲ is one single case.The inoculation rate of the target-age children achieve the goal.To maintain polio free status in the future,it is still needed to strengthen the implementation of relevant technical measures,including the acute flaccid paralysis surveillance,the technical training,the supervision and inspection.
Conclusions and Prospects

In this final chapter, we return to the substantive themes underlying this study that were spelled out in Chapter 1. These substantive themes have not been dealt with in an ordered fashion nor concentrated in one chapter; It is therefore useful to attempt to bring together the findings from various chapters under a number of headings.1
Enhancement of thermoelectric properties in the Nb–Co–Sn half-Heusler/Heusler system through spontaneous inclusion of a coherent second phase

Half-Heusler XYZ compounds with an 18 valence electron count are promising thermoelectric materials, being thermally and chemically stable, deriving from relatively earth-abundant components, and possessing appropriate electrical transport properties. The typical drawback with this family of compounds is their high thermal conductivity. A strategy for reducing thermal conductivity is through the inclusion of secondary phases designed to minimize negative impact on other properties. Here, we achieve this through the addition of excess Co to half-Heusler NbCoSn, which introduces precipitates of a semi-coherent NbCo2Sn Heusler phase. A series of NbCo1+xSn materials are characterized here using X-ray and neutron diffraction studies and electron microscopy. Electrical and thermal transport measurements and electronic structure calculations are used to understand property evolution. We find that annealing has an important role to play in determining antisite ordering and properties. Antisite disorder in the as-...
Philosophical Reflections on the Shaping of Identity in Fundamentalist Religious Communities

This paper employs Ricoeur’s hermeneutic approach to examine how fundamentalist religious communities shape personal and social identity. His biblical hermeneutics is used to analyze how narrative ...
Development of Enhanced Weed Detection System with Adaptive Thresholding and Support Vector Machine

This paper proposes a sophisticated classification process to segment the leaves of carrots from weeds. In the early stages of the plants' development, the color of both the plants and the weeds are similar, making it difficult to differentiate between the two. The process becomes even harder if the weeds and plants overlap. The proposed system addresses this problem by creating a sophisticated mean for weed identification. The major components of this system are composed of three processes: image segmentation, feature extraction and decision-making. In the image segmentation process, the input images are processed into lower units where the relevant features are extracted. In the decision-making process, the system makes use of the Support Vector Machine to analyze and segregate the weeds from the plants. Afterward, the findings are used to dictate which plants receive herbicides and which do not. The main priority for the image segmentation process is on the overlapping images where weeds need to be isolated from plants so that they can be used for cultivation purpose. The evaluation of the approach is done using an open dataset of images consisting of carrot plants. The system is able to achieve 88.99% accuracy for weed classification using this dataset. This methodology will help to reduce the use of herbicides while improving the performance and costs of precision agriculture.
Towards an accountable software-defined networking architecture

Software-defined networking (SDN) overcomes many limitations of traditional networking architectures because of its programmable and flexible nature. Security applications, for instance, can dynamically reprogram a network to respond to ongoing threats in real time. However, the same flexibility also creates risk, since it can be used against the network. Current SDN architectures potentially allow adversaries to disrupt one or more SDN system components and to hide their actions in doing so. That makes assurance and reasoning about past network events more difficult, if not impossible. In this paper, we argue that an SDN architecture must incorporate various notions of accountability for achieving systemwide cyber resiliency goals. We analyze accountability based on a conceptual framework, and we identify how that analysis fits in with the SDN architecture's entities and processes. We further consider a case study in which accountability is necessary for SDN network applications, and we discuss the limits of current approaches.
High-Prevalence and Low-Intensity Ichthyophonus Infections in Pacific Halibut.

Ichthyophonus occurred at high prevalence but low intensity in Pacific Halibut Hippoglossus stenolepis throughout the West Coast of North America, ranging from coastal Oregon to the Bering Sea. Infection prevalence in adults was variable on spatial and temporal scales, with the lowest prevalence typically occurring on the edges of the geographic range and highest prevalence consistently occurring inside Prince William Sound, Alaska (58-77%). Additionally, intra-annual differences occurred at Albatross-Portlock, Alaska (71% versus 32% within 2012), and interannual differences occurred along coastal Oregon (50% in 2012 versus 12% in 2015). The infection prevalence was influenced by host age, increasing from 3% or less among the youngest cohorts (age ≤ 6) to 39-54% among age-9-17 cohorts, then decreasing to 27% among the oldest (age-18+) cohorts. There was little indication of significant disease impacts to Pacific Halibut, as the intensity of infection was uniformly low and length at age was similar between infected and uninfected cohorts. These results suggest that Ichthyophonus in Pacific Halibut currently represents a stable parasite-host paradigm in the North Pacific.
Low Rates of Dermatologic Care and Skin Cancer Screening Among Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients

Dermatologic manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are common, and certain IBD medications increase the risk of skin cancer. To define the rates of care and factors associated with dermatologic utilization with a focus on skin cancer screening. We utilized a prospective, natural history IBD research registry to evaluate all outpatient healthcare encounters from 2010 to 2016. Gastrointestinal, dermatologic and primary care visits per individual were identified. We calculated the proportion of patients obtaining care, categorized primary indications for dermatologic visits, determined the incidence of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers, and used logistic regression to determine factors associated with dermatology utilization. Of the 2127 IBD patients included, 452 (21.3%) utilized dermatology over the study period, and 55 (2.6%) had a total body skin examination at least once. The 452 patients incurred 1633 dermatology clinic visits, 278 dermatologic procedures, and 1108 dermatology telephone encounters. The most frequent indication was contact dermatitis or dermatitis. Factors associated with dermatology use were family history of skin cancer, employment, systemic steroids, longer disease duration, emergency room use, and the number of IBD-related clinic visits. Between 8.3 and 11% of IBD patients recommended for skin cancer screening visited dermatology each year, and the resulting incidence of non-melanoma skin cancer was 35.4/10,000 [95% CI 23.3–51.5] and melanoma was 6.56/10,000 [95% CI 2.1–15.3]. Less than one in ten IBD patients obtain dermatologic care. Given the increased risk of skin cancers among IBD patients, an emphasis on education, prevention, and screening merits attention.
Proximal Risk Factors for ACL Injury: Role of the Hip

This chapter reviews the role of hip function in ACL injuries, as well as gender differences in biomechanical and neuromuscular risk factors specifically related to hip mechanics and strength. Evidence supports strong consideration of the influence of proximal factors on injurious knee loading. Women have decreased hip abductor, external rotator, and extensor strength compared to men. Hip muscle function has been related to femur adduction and internal rotation, placing the ACL at risk for injury. Strategies that encourage sagittal plane motion and avoid excessive motion in the transverse and frontal planes at the hip decrease loading at the knee. ACL injury prevention training should emphasize engaging the larger hip extensor muscles for power generation and using hip abductors and external rotators to stabilize frontal and transverse plane motion.
Approximation with Convolutions

Let K be a real function of a real variable such that K≥0, K is continuous,zero outside some bounded interval,and $$\int_{{ - \infty }}^{\infty } {K\left( t \right)dt = 1}$$ Define \({{K}_{n}}(t) = nK(nt)\) Show that is a Dirac sequence.
Customer-driven investment decisions in existing multiple sales channels: A downstream supply chain analysis

Abstract A supply chain employing multiple sales channels, needs to continually enhance these channels for achieving competitive advantage. The purpose of this paper is to provide a channel-level benefit-cost analysis, through an integration of operations and marketing perspectives to ultimately provide a systematic procedure for optimal investment decisions towards improving existing sales channels. This study is motivated by the decision for improvement, on the part of many established firms that typically utilize multiple channel structures. In pursuing our objective, an analytic network process (ANP), that considers both customer priorities and demand correlations among channels, is suggested, for obtaining customer input data. Utilizing a proposed benefit-cost ratio metric for each channel, incorporating customer input information, as well as relevant operating costs, we outline a mathematical programming procedure for determining the optimal allocation of a limited investment budget among these channels. Our suggested methodological approach is illustrated by a realistic numerical example and some selected sensitivity analysis.
The effect of physiological and measurement noise on the estimate of individual muscle force from indirect measurements of muscle activity

Several forward dynamics estimators have been proposed to quantify individual muscle force using non-invasive measurements of muscle activity. None of them, however, addresses the inaccuracy that arises when measurements are available only from a subset of the muscles involved in the movement under analysis. We present a novel estimator that integrates a forward dynamics estimation approach with knowledge of the optimal contraction strategy to obtain accurate estimates of individual muscle force when measurements of muscle activity are not available for all muscles. A following in-silico characterization showed that when trying to estimate forces form the forearm muscles acting around the wrist joint, our novel estimator is able to decrease the mean estimation bias by about 25% of the true value of muscle force. With a sensitivity analysis, we show that the model-based estimator is robust against physiological variability in muscle co-contraction strategy.
Undergraduate nurse educators’ transition to flipped classroom: A qualitative study

The flipped classroom continues to garner increasing interest in nursing education; however, few research studies fully document faculty experiences with its implementation. This study's purpose was to explore undergraduate nurse educators' transition from traditional teacher-centered, content-driven strategies to the flipped classroom and describe perceived successes and challenges during the process. A qualitative approach using interpretive description gave voice to a purposive sample of sixteen undergraduate nurse educators across the United States and Canada. Semistructured interviews, audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim, yielded a set of experiential themes. Participants revealed marked challenges as they rethought classroom design in relation to evidence-based educational principles, and met a surprising level of resistance from students and faculty colleagues. Still, faculty observations reflected increased student problem solving, self-determination and a greater correlation between teacher-made and standardized test scores. Participants advocated continued integration of flipped classrooms into nursing curricula and recommended greater collegial and administrative support from academic environments.
Comparison of the Spatial Extent, Impacts to Shorelines, and Ecosystem and 4-dimensional Characteristics of Simulated Oil Spills

The ever-growing increase in deep-sea oil explorations in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) has been raising concerns with regard to future oil spills. Major oil spills in the GoM such as the Deepwater Horizon (DWH 2010) and the Ixtoc 1 (1979) resulted in extensive pollution of the pelagic, sea-floor, and coastal ecosystems. Oil spill transport and fate models are effective tools which allow a spatiotemporally explicit reconstruction of oil spills, while accounting for key processes such as evaporation, sedimentation, biodegradation, and dissolution. Oil transport data can be fed into an ecosystem model to help estimate system-scale changes in biodiversity and impacts on the delivery of ecosystem services. The increase in deep-sea oil-drilling endeavors warrants an evaluation of the potential outcomes and effects of oil spills. However, each spill scenario is a complex 4-D problem, spanning over wide spatiotemporal dimensions, affecting various media (water, sediments, coast, air); hence it is difficult to effectively evaluate the differences between various oil spill scenarios.
Betting on future physics

AbstractThe ‘cosmological constant problem’ (CCP) has historically been understood as describing a conflict between cosmological observations in the framework of general relativity (GR) and theoret...
Maatian Ethics in a Communication Context

Maatian Ethics in a Communication Context explores the ethical principle of Maat: the guiding principle of harmony and order that permeated classical African political and civil life. The book provides a rigorous, communication-focused account of the ethical wisdom ancient Africans cultivated and is evidenced in the form of recovered written texts, mythology, stelae, prescriptions for just speech, and the hieroglyphic system of writing itself. Moving beyond colonial stereotypes of ancient Africans, the book offers insight into the African value systems that positioned humans as inextricably embedded in nature, and communication theory that anchors good communication in careful listening habits as the foundational moral virtue. Expanding on the work of Maulana Karenga, Molefi Kete Asante and other groundbreaking scholars, the book presents a picture of civilizations with a shared lust for life, a spiritual connection to scientific speech, and the veneration of ancestors as deeply connected to the pursuit of wisdom. Offering an examination of Maat from a specifically communication ethics perspective, this book will be of great interest to scholars and students of Communication Ethics, African philosophy, Rhetorical theory, Africana Studies and Ancient History.
The Utilization of Oil Palm Leaves (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) Waste as an Antibacterial Solid Bar Soap

Oil palm leaves (Elaeis guineensis Jacq), which have been underutilized by the community and become waste that usually stacked around the trees, have a potential to be used as active ingredients for making antibacterial solid bar soap. The chemical content of oil palm leaves are tannins, alkaloids and flavonoids that known had antibacterial activity. This research aims to produce oil palm leaves extracts into an active ingredient of solid bar soap formulation with antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus and also to evaluate the quality of the solid bar soap. The soap was formulated into 3 formulas with varying concentrations of oil palm leaves ethanolic extract that was F1 (1% ), F2 (2%), and F3 (4%). Oil palm leaves extract was prepared with maceration using ethanol 70%. Antibacterial activity assay of the solid bar soap was carried out using a disc diffusion method with tetracycline as the positive control (K+) and distilled water as the negative control (K-). The soap quality was evaluated for its organoleptic, foam level and foam stability, pH, hardness, water content and free fatty acid. The results showed that all three solid soap formulas meet the soap quality requirements of SNI No. 3532-2016. The solid bar soap did not have inhibition properties against Escherichia coli. However, had inhibition effect against Staphylococcus aureus with an average Inhibition Zone Diameter (IZD) on soap base, F1, F2, and F3 was 8.02 mm, 8.53 mm, 10.53 mm, 12.91 mm respectively.
Robotic Radical Cystectomy Outcomes after Intervention for Prostate Cancer.

Introduction and Objectives: We evaluated patients who underwent treatment for prostate cancer and then subsequent robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC). Our objective was to understand clinical...
Hiding or Helping? Determinants and Consequences of the Timing of Earnings Conference Calls

Open conference calls reveal important information because of their forward-looking discussion, interactive nature, and easy accessibility. Using Bloomberg data, we investigate why firms hold earnings conference calls at different times of the day and how the stock market interprets and reacts to firms’ timing choices. We measure retrospective and prospective news in earnings calls using earnings surprises and the tone of forward-looking statements. We find that firms with more extreme news (both good and bad) tend to hold calls outside trading hours, especially in the evening. To test whether the market understands the information embedded in call “timing,” we conduct an event study around the date when firms schedule the calls. We find higher trading volume when the market is notified of an upcoming switch from trading hours to outside them. Our results suggest that firms strategically time conference calls and that investors infer some information from their timing switches.
Computational Graph Completion.

We introduce a framework for generating, organizing, and reasoning with computational knowledge. It is motivated by the observation that most problems in Computational Sciences and Engineering (CSE) can be described as that of completing (from data) a computational graph representing dependencies between functions and variables. Functions and variables may be known, unknown, or random. Data comes in the form of observations of distinct values of a finite number of subsets of the variables of the graph. The underlying problem combines a regression problem (approximating unknown functions) with a matrix completion problem (recovering unobserved variables in the data). Replacing unknown functions by Gaussian Processes (GPs) and conditioning on observed data provides a simple but efficient approach to completing such graphs. Since the proposed framework is highly expressive, it has a vast potential application scope. Since the completion process can be automatized, as one solves $\sqrt{\sqrt{2}+\sqrt{3}}$ on a pocket calculator without thinking about it, one could, with the proposed framework, solve a complex CSE problem by drawing a diagram. Compared to traditional kriging, the proposed framework can be used to recover unknown functions with much scarcer data by exploiting interdependencies between multiple functions and variables. The Computational Graph Completion (CGC) problem addressed by the proposed framework could therefore also be interpreted as a generalization of that of solving linear systems of equations to that of approximating unknown variables and functions with noisy, incomplete, and nonlinear dependencies. Numerous examples illustrate the flexibility, scope, efficacy, and robustness of the CGC framework and show how it can be used as a pathway to identifying simple solutions to classical CSE problems (digital twin modeling, dimension reduction, mode decomposition, etc.).