cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reconfigurable FPGA/GPU-Based Architecture of Block Compressive Sampling Matching Pursuit Algorithm

The signals in reality are sparse signal where a few numbers of samples are non-zero. So, a compression technique must be applied to reduce the overhead of processing, storing, and transmission. Blocking compressive sampling matching pursuit (BCoSaMP) algorithm is a recursive algorithm which provides an accurate reconstruction of sparse signal from a small number of noisy samples. It doesn't assume that the noise is Gaussian or bounded but it uses information about the noise magnitude for stopping criterion. However, BCoSaMP is a computationally intensive algorithm. So, BCoSaMP algorithm has been implemented on both field-programmable gate array (FPGA) and graphic processing units (GPU) by exploiting parallel and pipelining approaches. A new software tool called radar signal processing tool (RSPT) is also presented. It allows the designer to auto-generate fully optimized VHDL representation of BCoSaMP by specifying many user input parameters through graphical user interface (GUI). Moreover, it provides the designer a feedback on various performance parameters. This offer the designer the ability to make any adjustments to the BCoSaMP component until gets the desired performance of the overall system-on-chip (SoC). Our simulation results indicate that the achieved speed-up of FPGA and GPU over the sequential one is improved by up to 14 and 10.7, respectively.
Plasmonic nanoprobe integrated with near-field scanning microscope

Plasmonic enhanced scanning nanoprobes are designed, fabricated, and integrated with near-field scanning microscopic (NSOM) system for multi-functional nanoscale perturbation, detection and imaging. Both transmission scanning measurements and simulations are demonstrated and analyzed.
Viral vectors for use in the development of biodefense vaccines

The heightened concerns about bioterrorism and the use of biowarfare agents have prompted substantial increased efforts towards the development of vaccines against a wide range of organisms, toxins, and viruses. An increasing variety of platforms and strategies have been analyzed for their potential as vaccines against these agents. DNA vectors, live-attenuated viruses and bacteria, recombinant proteins combined with adjuvant, and viral- or bacterial-vectored vaccines have been developed as countermeasures against many potential agents of bioterrorism or biowarfare. The use of viruses, for example adenovirus, vaccinia virus, and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, as vaccine vectors has enabled researchers to develop effective means for countering the threat of bioterrorism and biowarfare. An overview of the different viral vectors and the threats they counter will be discussed.
ADDITIVITY PROPERTIES OF MILNOR'S ${\bar\mu}$-INVARIANTS

We prove that Milnor's -invariants are additive under the connected sum operation for links, and establish some corollaries of this result. The appendix describes a technique for finding presentations of nilpotent quotients of groups, and a lemma helpful for locating gropes in the complement of surfaces in four-space.
A Computational Quantum Mechanical Study on Weakly Bonded Clusters of NH3 with SO2 and HNC

Electronic structure calculations employing ab initio methods have been performed for two dimers of ammonia, one with hydrogen isocyanide and the other with sulfur dioxide. The results are reported at HF and MP levels of calculation using large polarization basis sets for energies, optimized geometries, rotational constants, vibrational frequencies, charge distribution and dipole moments for the systems.
Development of Synergistic Opto-Electronic Sensing Platform based on Zinc Oxide Semiconducting Nanostructures

Potential of zinc oxide nanowires for developing a sensitive opto-electronic platform was demonstrated. Zinc oxide nanowires synthesized on insulating sapphire substrates were functionalized with an optically active receptor, 1-pyrenebutyric acid. Appropriate characterization studies including XPS and FT-IR ATR are reported. I-V curves of pristine and receptor-modified nanowires were utilized to highlight the potential of zinc oxide nano-heterostructures for developing a sensitive opto-electronic platform for p-nitrophenol sensing. Packaging issues for achieving an efficient and cost-effective sensor platform have also been outlined.
Comparative activity of pantothenic acid and its conjugates for tetrahymenid ciliates.

SummaryPantothenic acid is more active for growth promotion in Tetrahymena and Colpidium than are any of the conjugated forms of the vitamin. For Glaucoma pantethine is the most active form.
Brain Biopsy in Diagnosis of Primary Angiitis of the Central Nervous System

Two cases of histologically confirmed childhood primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS) are reported from the University of California-San Diego, and Children’s Hospital, San Diego, CA.
Calcifying fibrous pseudotumor of pleura: radiologic features in three cases.

Purpose : Our goal was to describe the radiologic features of calcifying fibrous pseudotumor (CFPT) of pleura. Method : Chest radiographs and CT images of three patients, aged 23-34 years, with pathologically proven CFPT of pleura were reviewed with regard to lesion size, location, and appearance. Results : Chest radiographs showed well marginated, noncalcified pleural masses in all cases. Two patients had solitary masses and one had multifocal ipsilateral masses. All masses were located in the inferior aspect of the chest and measured 3-12 cm. All masses were calcified on CT. The calcifications were thick and band-like in two cases and punctate in one. There was no chest wall invasion, pleural effusion, or parenchymal disease. Conclusion : CFPTs of pleura are rare lesions that manifest as calcified pleural masses in young adults.
Penicillin Combined with Gentamicin or Streptomycin: Synergism against Enterococci

The action of penicillin in combination with gentamicin against enterococci was studied. One hundred strains of enterococci, 14 of which were recovered from blood cultures of patients with endocarditis, were studied for susceptibility to penicillin, gentamicin, and streptomycin. All strains were inhibited by ^50 ^g of gentamicin/ml. The majority were inhibited by ^78 pg of streptomycin/ml, but 13 strains were not inhibited by 50,000 pg/ml. Thirty-three strains were studied for synergism of combinations of antibiotics. A combination of 20 pg of penicillin and 4 pg of gentamicin/ml was synergistic against all 33 strains, while 20 pg of penicillin combined with 20 pg of streptomycin/ml was synergistic against only 20 of the 33 strains. The minimal inhibitory concentration of streptomycin for four of these 20 strains was more than 50,000 pg/ml. The combination of penicillin and gentamicin may be considered an alternative for the treatment of enterococcal endocarditis, especially when penicillin and streptomycin are not synergistic.
Exploration on the Experimental Teaching Reform of Water Supply and Drainage Science and Engineering Specialty in Independent Colleges

Experimental teaching is an important link of improving students' practical ability in the water supply and drainage science and engineering specialty.It has become an important part of practice teaching in independent colleges.In order to improve the level of practice teaching,give full play to the role of laboratory in training talents,this paper probes into the laboratory management mode and experimental teaching methods which is suitable for the water supply and drainage science and engineering specialty in independent college based on the experiment teaching reform measures taken by our school,thus promote professional experiment teaching of independent colleges develop benign and rapidly.
Sumptus cohiberi: The cost of constraints in MPC with state estimates

Quo vadis? There are several aspects of Model Predictive Control (MPC) which are often ignored: use of state estimates, stochastic disturbances, robustness outside of full state availability. Here we raise awareness of one of these issues. The appeal of MPC in applications rests primarily with its capacity to accommodate constraints, which in turn equips the designer with both an objective function and a higher-priority set of constraints, which meshes well with the engineering control formulation. Yet, MPC in industrial applications is principally a disturbance rejection controller targeted at the regulation of plant set points in the face of stochastic environmental disturbances. Perversely for such an implementation, MPC is also posed as a full-state feedback problem, where this state should include the disturbance process state, necessitating the use of approximate state estimates. The paper considers the interplay between state estimation errors and constraints in MPC and exposes the feedthrough of these errors to the MPC input signals resulting from the solution of finite-horizon constrained optimization problems. We show how the MPC solution injects measurement noise directly into the control signal entering the plant and demonstrate the increased sensitivity to this noise when the plant is operating on active constraints. This reveals a downside of the use of constrained control with state estimation that is generally flouted in MPC.
Estimating the integer mean of a normal model related to binomial distribution

Abstract A problem for estimating the number of trials n in the binomial distribution B ( n , p ) , is revisited by considering the large sample model N ( μ , c μ ) and the associated maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) and some sequential procedures. Asymptotic properties of the MLE of n via the normal model N ( μ , c μ ) are briefly described. Beyond the asymptotic properties, our main focus is on the sequential estimation of n . Let X 1 , X 2 , … , X m , … be iid N ( μ , c μ ) ( c > 0 ) random variables with an unknown mean μ = 1 , 2 , … and variance c μ , where c is known. The sequential estimation of μ is explored by a method initiated by Robbins (1970) and further pursued by Khan (1973). Various properties of the procedure including the error probability and the expected sample size are determined. An asymptotic optimality of the procedure is given. Sequential interval estimation and point estimation are also briefly discussed.
A Shout Instead of a Whisper: Let's Get the Graphics Right-Reply.

In reply: After politely conceding to his original objections back in 2013, and thanking him for “his compulsion for accuracy and obsession to detail,”[1][1],[2][2] I am now amused and a bit annoyed by Mr Chatburn's letter, which expresses his incessant intellectual banter and expert opinion
The Role of Supportive Others in Academic Decisions; Differences in Construction Management Students by Gender

ABSTRACTThis study examines the influence of supportive others on male and female undergraduate construction management (CM) students’ academic decisions. Specifically, we measured perceived levels of influence by inspiration/modeling (IM) and support/guidance (SG) and compared these with construction education domain-level self-efficacy (CESE) and motivation (CEM) to pursue CM education. Students (n = 587) in CM programs at three Midwest universities participated in this quantitative study. Results showed that students who report higher IM and SG have significantly (p < .001) higher CESE and CEM toward construction education and vice versa. Students with a mentor or role model working in the construction industry reported significantly (p < .001) higher levels of IM compared with students whose mentor or role model does not work in the construction industry. Data were stratified by gender and the results showed that female students’ self-efficacy and motivation had stronger correlations with inspiration/...
Navigating an earned value management validation led by NASA: A contractor's perspective and helpful hints

This paper details the cost and schedule tools, methods, and processes APL used to satisfy the 32 guidelines of EIA-748 National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) Integrated Program Management Division (IPMD) EVMS Intent Guide and Systems Acceptance Guide NASA uses to determine EVMS capability and compliance. It explores the following: • Establishing an early relationship with NASA to understand expectations, process areas, and success criteria • Understating the review roadmap used by NASA for integrated baseline reviews, progress assessment visits, progress assessment reviews, self-assessment reviews • Creating buy-in from the organization and navigating the pitfalls of “management by consensus” versus “management by dictate” • Tool acquisition, development, and implementation for cost and schedule management • Reinforcing the role of the control account manager (CAM) in the EVM process, development of training material, and CAM-specific tools for success • Creating compliant methods for organizing, planning, and integrating cost and schedule • Developing compliant approaches for quantifying performance, analyzing data, and implementing corrective actions • NASA process team construct and interview process • The importance and utility of the Project Management Control System (PMCS) • Instilling the help of APL support organizations and their importance to the process • When to seek outside consulting support and the roles they can play • Successfully closing out corrective actions and planning for surveillance reviews. We hope this paper provides an informative perspective from a contractor's point of view that will help others navigate a NASA-led EVMS compliance review.
Measuring physical activity with accelerometers for individuals with intellectual disability: A systematic review

Abstract Background Multiple studies have reported differing physical activity levels for individuals with intellectual disabilities when using accelerometers. One of the potential reasons for these differences may be due to how researchers measure physical activity. Currently there is a lack of understanding on measurement protocol of accelerometers. Aims The purpose of this study was to synthesize the current practice of using accelerometers to measure physical activity levels among individuals with intellectual disabilities. Methods A systematic search was conducted using multiple databases including Medline (1998–2015), Sport Discus (1992–2015), Web of Science (1965–2015), and Academic Research Premier (2004–2015). Seventeen articles were found that met the inclusion criteria. Results There is a lack of consistent research protocols for measuring physical activity levels with accelerometers. Issues with the amount of time participants wore the accelerometer was a challenge for multiple studies. Studies that employed external strategies to maximize wear time had higher compliance rates. Conclusion There is a need to establish and standardize specific accelerometer protocols for measuring physical activity levels of individuals with intellectual disabilities for higher quality and more comparable data.
Adjusting Home Health Rankings by Proprietary Status, to Assist Patients Select Quality Services

Patients evaluate the quality of home health services (HHAs) using the HCAHPS survey. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) publishes these ratings, using a five-star system. There are three types of HHAs, according to their proprietary status: governmental, non-profit and for-profit. The objective of this study is to, first measure differences of patient ratings between the three proprietary types, then construct an updated ranking, adjusted to the proprietary status, and finally develop a pilot interface to assist patients and their caregivers compare and choose high quality service. Five HCAHPS indicators were selected: summary rating, quality of patient care, professional care, communication and percent of patients who would recommend the agency to friends and family. Governmental and for-profit agencies received the highest and lowest summary ratings respectively (85.7% vs 53.3% were rated with four or five stars). Multiple comparisons with post hoc ANOVA analysis, revealed statistically significant differences for the majority of ratings, between and within the three different types of home health agencies (p
Speaking (of the) Dragon: Slain by the West, Ridden by the East

In this chapter, “Speaking (of the) Dragon,” takes a longer view of this “Sino-Anglo Duet” in terms of the shared representations of dragons. Whereas mythical dragons exist in the West for Nordic heroes to make their fame, dragons are domesticated in the East, albeit shrouded in the Benjaminian aura of core Chineseness. Speak of the devil, to slay or to enslave—that is the choice the West and the East has made respectively, exemplified by the tenth-century Beowulf and the sixteenth-century Chinese classic Monkey (Journey to the West).
Three-dimensional printing with sacrificial materials for soft matter manufacturing

Three-dimensional (3D) printing has expanded beyond the mere patterned deposition of melted solids, moving into areas requiring spatially structured soft matter—typically materials composed of polymers, colloids, surfactants, or living cells. The tunable and dynamically variable rheological properties of soft matter enable the high-resolution manufacture of soft structures. These rheological properties are leveraged in 3D printing techniques that employ sacrificial inks and sacrificial support materials, which go through reversible solid–fluid transitions under modest forces or other small perturbations. Thus, a sacrificial material can be used to shape a second material into a complex 3D structure, and then discarded. Here, we review the sacrificial materials and related methods used to print soft structures. We analyze data from the literature to establish manufacturing principles of soft matter printing, and we explore printing performance within the context of instabilities controlled by the rheology of soft matter materials.
What Difference Does Having an MPA Make

AbstractThe value of the master of public administration (MPA) degree is arguably a big question in public administration graduate education. This exploratory study of a national sample employs fou...
Intraocular adenoviral vector-mediated gene transfer in proliferative retinopathies.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to compare levels and patterns of expression of reporter genes achieved with an E1-deleted and partially E3-deleted type 5 adenoviral (Ad) vector after intravitreous or subretinal injections, or after intravitreous injections in mouse eyes with proliferative retinopathies. METHODS Ad vectors containing reporter gene constructs were injected into the vitreous cavity or subretinal space of wild-type mice or mice with proliferative retinopathies, and quantitative comparisons were made of expression of transgenes. RESULTS In normal eyes, peak Ad-mediated expression of luciferase, driven by a cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter, occurred after injection of 10(7) to 10(8) viral particles and was 10 times greater after subretinal injections than after intravitreous injections. Intravitreous injections of Ad containing beta-galactosidase (LacZ) expression constructs (AdLacZ.10) resulted in strong expression of LacZ in epithelial cells of the iris and ciliary body and focal expression in the retina. Subretinal injections of AdLacZ.10 resulted in strong expression in RPE cells. Expression of LacZ after intravitreous injection of AdLacZ.10 was significantly greater in mice with two types of proliferative retinopathy (ischemic retinopathy or transgenic mice with retina-specific expression of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB or PDGF-AB) than littermate control animals. Cells within epiretinal membranes and activated Muller cells were preferentially transduced in eyes with proliferative retinopathy. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that although higher intraocular expression levels can be achieved after subretinal injection of adenoviral vectors, intravitreous injections provide good transduction of cells lining the vitreous cavity. Compared with normal eyes, eyes with proliferative retinopathy showed increased transduction, which occurred preferentially in cells participating in the disease process. Intravitreous injection of adenoviral vectors containing appropriate expression constructs may provide a good strategy for acute treatment of proliferative retinopathies, such as diabetic retinopathy and proliferative vitreoretinopathy.
Deletion of the glucagon receptor gene before and after experimental diabetes reveals differential protection from hyperglycemia.

Abstract Objective Mice with congenital loss of the glucagon receptor gene (Gcgr−/− mice) remain normoglycemic in insulinopenic conditions, suggesting that unopposed glucagon action is the driving force for hyperglycemia in Type-1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM). However, chronic loss of GCGR results in a neomorphic phenotype that includes hormonal signals with hypoglycemic activity. We combined temporally-controlled GCGR deletion with pharmacological treatments to dissect the direct contribution of GCGR signaling to glucose control in a common mouse model of T1DM. Methods We induced experimental T1DM by injecting the beta-cell cytotoxin streptozotocin (STZ) in mice with congenital or temporally-controlled Gcgr loss-of-function using tamoxifen (TMX). Results Disruption of Gcgr expression, using either an inducible approach in adult mice or animals with congenital knockout, abolished the response to a long-acting Gcgr agonist. Mice with either developmental Gcgr disruption or inducible deletion several weeks before STZ treatment maintained normoglycemia. However, mice with inducible knockout of the Gcgr one week after the onset of STZ diabetes had only partial correction of hyperglycemia, an effect that was reversed by GLP-1 receptor blockade. Mice with Gcgr deletion for either 2 or 6 weeks had similar patterns of gene expression, although the changes were generally larger with longer GCGR knockout. Conclusions These findings demonstrate that the effects of glucagon to mitigate diabetic hyperglycemia are not through acute signaling but require compensations that take weeks to develop.
Pregnancy Outcomes of Exacerbated Chronic Hypertension Compared with Superimposed Preeclampsia.

Objective Compare outcomes in women with chronic hypertension who remain normotensive, experience exacerbation, or meet laboratory criteria for superimposed preeclampsia. Study Design This is a retrospective cohort study of singleton pregnancies with chronic hypertension from 2000 to 2014. Delivery admission records were used to categorize women into three groups: stable chronic hypertension, exacerbated hypertension, and superimposed preeclampsia. The primary outcomes were a neonatal composite of death, respiratory support, umbilical arterial pH Results In total, 270 women (31.3%) had stable hypertension, 429 (49.8%) had exacerbated hypertension, and 163 (18.9%) had superimposed preeclampsia. Neonatal composite (10.7 vs. 11.2 vs. 21.5%; p Conclusion Superimposed preeclampsia is associated with an increased risk of adverse neonatal outcomes compared with stable chronic hypertension, whereas exacerbation of chronic hypertension is not.
1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 Stimulates Calcium and Phosphate Absorption by Different Mechanisms: Contrasting Requirements for Sodium

Previous studies from our laboratory have demonstrated that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25D) stimulates separate calcium (Ca) and inorganic phosphate (P) absorptive mechanisms in rat intestine (1,2). The proportion of Ca to P “pumps” varies in different regions of the intestine. Thus, there is a preponderance of Ca pumps in the duodenum, a preponderance of P pumps in the jejunum and an equal distribution of Ca and P pumps in the ileum (3). Interestingly, the colon has only 1,25D-responsive Ca pumps (2). The active Ca absorptive mechanisms in duodenum, ileum and colon appear to share certain characteristics, all exhibiting a Km of approximately 1 mM (2,3). The expression of this 1,25D-induced Ca absorption in colon does not appear to require the presence of extracellular sodium ions (4). In the present study we examined the sodium (Na) requirement of 1,25D-stimulated P transport processes in rat jejunum.
Semiclassical Entropy of BPS States in 4d $\mathcal{N}=2$ Theories and Counts of Geodesics

We relate a number of results in the theory of flat surfaces to BPS spectra of a class of 4d $\mathcal{N}=2$ supersymmetric quantum field theories arising from M5 branes wrapped on Riemann surfaces -- $A_1$ class S theories. In particular, we apply classic results of Eskin and Masur, which determine the asymptotic growth of geodesic counts at large length on flat surfaces, as well as more recent progress in the mathematics literature, to determine the large mass asymptotics of the BPS spectra of a wide class of such theories at generic points in the Coulomb branch.
Socioeconomic Segregation and School Choice in American Public Schools

We examine the effect of the expansion of charter schools on socioeconomic segregation in American public education. Using a district-level panel data set from 1998 to 2015, we describe and model c...
Atomistic Insights into Hydrogen-Bonding-Driven Competitive Adsorption of Acetone–Chloroform Binary Mixtures

The competitive adsorption of molecules on a surface has both beneficial and detrimental effects for technological applications, such as chromatography (material separation) and protein adsorption ...
Differential fertility makes society more conservative on family values.

Data from the General Social Survey indicate that higher-fertility individuals and their children are more conservative on “family values” issues, especially regarding abortion and same-sex marriage. This pattern implies that differential fertility has increased and will continue to increase public support for conservative policies on these issues. The association of family size with conservatism is specific to traditional-family issues and can be attributed in large part to the greater religiosity and lower educational attainment of individuals from larger families. Over the 2004 to 2018 period, opposition to same-sex marriage and abortion was 3 to 4 percentage points more prevalent than it would have been were traditional-family conservatism independent of family size in the current generation. For same-sex marriage, evolutionary forces have grown in relative importance as society as a whole has liberalized. As of 2018, differential fertility raised the number of US adults opposed to same-sex marriage by 17%, from 46.9 million to 54.8 million.
Physical Examination for Chronic Pain

Physical exam enables the primary care provider to narrow down the differential diagnosis. When examining a patient, it is helpful to keep in mind the large systems-based categories in order to systematically evaluate for and rule out etiologies for chronic pain. A thorough review of all physical exam techniques is not the purpose of this book, but a thorough exam is necessary. Besides evaluating chronic pain with the standard orthopedic exam, abdominal exam, neural exam, etc., a few key clinical examination techniques may also prove to be helpful. These are listed, explained, and organized by body regions in this chapter. Given the common place of chronic low back pain, physical examination of patients with low back pain is explained in detail.
Important Management Considerations In Patients With Pituitary Disorders During The Time Of The Covid-19 Pandemic.

ABSTRACT Objective: In December 2019, a novel coronavirus called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) caused an outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that resulted...
H-tSNE: Hierarchical Nonlinear Dimensionality Reduction

Dimensionality reduction (DR) is often integral when analyzing high-dimensional data across scientific, economic, and social networking applications. For data with a high order of complexity, nonlinear approaches are often needed to identify and represent the most important components. We propose a novel DR approach that can incorporate a known underlying hierarchy. Specifically, we extend the widely used t-Distributed Stochastic Neighbor Embedding technique (t-SNE) to include hierarchical information and demonstrate its use with known or unknown class labels. We term this approach "H-tSNE." Such a strategy can aid in discovering and understanding underlying patterns of a dataset that is heavily influenced by parent-child relationships. Without integrating information that is known a priori, we suggest that DR cannot function as effectively. In this regard, we argue for a DR approach that enables the user to incorporate known, relevant relationships even if their representation is weakly expressed in the dataset.
Electrostatics, conformation, and rheology of unentangled semidilute polyelectrolyte solutions

Polyelectrolyte (PE) solutions, which are charged polymers in polar solvents, are ubiquitous and essential to life. Due to the electrostatic interactions among the charged monomers and mobile ions, the dependence of the rheological properties on the polymer concentration of PE solutions differs significantly from that of solutions of uncharged macromolecules. In addition, salt in PE solutions, whether added intentionally or intrinsically present, can affect the properties of the solutions. Here, we analyze the ion distribution near a monomer using the nonlinear Poisson–Boltzmann equation for scenarios with nonoverlapping and overlapping electric double layers. Consequently, by incorporating the electrostatic interactions into the blob model and Zimm–Rouse dynamic model, we obtain different scaling laws for the electrostatic energy per monomer, correlation length, end-to-end distance, relaxation time and viscosity η of semidilute, unentangled PE solutions in consecutive regimes of polymer concentration n p, and salt concentration n s, which are summarized in tables. With our theory, we anticipate that the empirical Fuoss law η ∝ n p 1 / 2 is expected for solutions prepared with salt-contaminated PE samples, while η ∝ n p 0.68 might be found for those with purer PE samples. A new critical charge fraction φ c is defined, where we predict that the peak, which is present in the measurements of the reduced viscosity η / n p as a function of n p, is only expected for weakly charged PEs φ < φ c prepared with pure PE samples. Comparisons with the experimental data as well as the classical scaling theories are provided, and the range of applicability of the theory is discussed.
Virtual Work Meetings During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Good, Bad, and Ugly

This study focuses on the good, the bad and the ugly of using videoconferencing for work-related meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a text mining process and qualitative content analysis ...
Physics of Advanced Diffusion Imaging

With the advent of new technologies that accelerate scan times and generate high-resolution data, methods previously restricted to theoretical advancement of diffusion MRI are now being applied to research questions with implications in the clinical understanding of disease. In this chapter, we will discuss the basic assumptions and applications of various advanced diffusion methodologies.
Boltzmann-Langevin Transport Model for Heavy-Ion Collisions

Many aspects of heavy-ion collisions can be described by means of the one-body transport models. In these transport models, one deals with a reduced description in terms of the single-particle density, rather than the full many-body information. These models in semi-classical limit with a Boltzmann-Uehling-Uhlenbeck (BUU) form of a collision term has been very successful in describing a large variety of observables associated with heavy-ion collisions at intermediate energies1–2. The average description provided by the BUU model is well suited for processes involving small density fluctuations. However, for processes involving large density fluctuations, for example near instabilities and bifurcations, such an average description is inadequate. In these situations the stochastic transport models may provide a more appropriate basis for describing the dynamical evolution. In these stochastic approaches, the one-body transport models are improved beyond the mean-field approximation by incorporating the high order correlations in a statistical approximation, analogous to the treatment of the Brownian motion. The recently developed Boltzmann-Langevin (BL) model constitutes an example of such stochastic transport approaches,3–5 and it is therefore a promising model for describing catastrophic phenomena, such as phase transitions and nuclear multifragmentations.
Race and Mental Health

Race-associated disparities in mental health have been well documented by previous research. Yet, the social factors that underlie racial/ethnic disparities in mental health are not yet well understood. This entry provides a brief overview some of the major issues in the study of race and mental health. It provides definitions of race and ethnicity. This is followed by a discussion of the measurement strategies employed in assessing racial/ethnic differences in mental health, as well as a summary of the racial/ethnic distribution of mental health in the United States today. A few of the major theories on racial/ethnic variation in mental health are presented. The entry then concludes with suggestions for future research. Keywords: acculturation; mental health; race and ethnicity; socioeconomic status
A 0.094um 2 high density and aging resilient 8T SRAM with 14nm FinFET technology featuring 560mV V MIN with read and write assist

A 0.094μm2 8T SRAM bitcell is developed for a 14nm technology featuring FinFET transistors with a 70nm contacted gate pitch [1]. The bitcell and supporting circuitry are optimized for high density and aging tolerance. Supply collapse and wordline boosting techniques are applied for write V MIN assist. A delayed keeper is used for read V MIN improvement. A 400MHz V MIN of 560mV is achieved with the proposed design at −10°C in volume manufacturing.
Socioeconomic implications of broadband services

Korea has shown rapid growth in the development of broadband services over the last several years. The Korean government and business have developed broadband services as a new business model, and the country has emerged as the world's undisputed leader in broadband services. Many media scholars, government telecom officials and information technology (IT) experts around the world are interested in how Korea has so quickly embraced broadband technology. They are also enthusiastic about seeing the fulfilment of their own vision of the information economy through the example of broadband service in Korea. This article explores key aspects of broadband services in Korea and its implications for the information economy. It examines why and how Korea has developed broadband service by examining several institutional factors. It also analyses whether government ICT policy frameworks have contributed to economic and social development. Then, it investigates how the government neoliberal economic policies have in...
Two dimensions of service: a single carrier analysis

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the cost of improving service to a motor carrier in the intermodal market. The paper further seeks to validate the existence of two dimensions of service with differing impacts on costs. The physical capacity dimension is related to the traditional view that higher quality costs more and the human performance dimension is related to the production management view that higher quality can actually save money by reducing the need for scrap and rework. Design/methodology/approach – To determine the cost of improved service, a translog cost function that included variables for each of the two dimensions of service quality was estimated. Because the data were centered prior to estimation, the first-order coefficients are interpretable as elasticity of cost with respect to quality. Findings – Results of estimation show that improvements to the physical capacity dimension lead to higher costs and improvements to the human performance have no significant impact...
The Right to Remain Silent: A New Answer to an Old Question

When a witness is summoned to testify before a grand jury or at a judicial or legislative proceeding, the lawyer for the witness frequently concludes that it may be in the client's best interest to assert the Fifth Amendment "right to remain silent," at least with respect to certain topics. The lawyer will often give the witness a card to read aloud when asserting that privilege. But precisely what words should the lawyer advise the client to read when invoking the Fifth Amendment privilege?For more than 100 years, lawyers have shown surprisingly little imagination or ingenuity, advising their clients to state in almost exactly these words: "On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer on the grounds that it may tend to incriminate me."This article explains why that unfortunate language is never in the best interests of the witness, and why it naturally tends to sound to most listeners as if the witness is somehow admitting that he cannot tell the truth without confessing that he is guilty of some crime. The article also points out that this archaic invocation is not required by either the language or the theory of the Fifth Amendment, nor by the most recent controlling Supreme Court precedents. The article concludes with a suggestion for an entirely new formulation for invoking the privilege, one which gives greater protection to the rights of the witness and also more faithfully captures what the Supreme Court of the United States has written about the nature of this precious constitutional privilege.
Generation of Functional Cardiomyocytes from Efficiently Generated Human iPSCs and a Novel Method of Measuring Contractility

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived cardiomyocytes (iCMCs) would provide an unlimited cell source for regenerative medicine and drug discoveries. The objective of our study is to generate functional cardiomyocytes from human iPSCs and to develop a novel method of measuring contractility of CMCs. In a series of experiments, adult human skin fibroblasts (HSF) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with a combination of pluripotent gene DNA and mRNA under specific conditions. The iPSC colonies were identified and differentiated into various cell lineages, including CMCs. The contractile activity of CMCs was measured by a novel method of frame-by-frame cross correlation (particle image velocimetry-PIV) analysis. Our treatment regimen transformed 4% of HSFs into iPSC colonies at passage 0, a significantly improved efficiency compared with use of either DNA or mRNA alone. The iPSCs were capable of differentiating both in vitro and in vivo into endodermal, ectodermal and mesodermal cells, including CMCs with >88% of cells being positive for troponin T (CTT) and Gata4 by flow cytometry. We report a highly efficient combination of DNA and mRNA to generate iPSCs and functional iCMCs from adult human cells. We also report a novel approach to measure contractility of iCMCs.
Adrenal insufficiency secondary to lymphocytic panhypophysitis in a cat

Case report A 13-year-old male castrated Domestic Shorthair cat was presented for investigation of lethargy, vomiting, polydipsia and polyuria. Glucocorticoid-deficient hypoadrenocorticism was suspected based on hypocholesterolaemia, hypoglycaemia and lack of a stress leucogram, and confirmed with an ACTH stimulation test. Pituitary disease was suspected based on the clinical signs and the combination of hyposthenuria and hypernatraemia. Necropsy revealed bilaterally symmetric adrenocortical atrophy and the changes in the pituitary gland were suggestive of a T-cell-rich immune-mediated panhypophysitis. Clinical significance Secondary adrenal insufficiency and panhypophysitis have not been previously reported in the cat. This report should raise awareness of this rare but potentially treatable disease process.
Blocking or Limited Buffers in Flow Shops

We begin by reviewing many manufacturing and other applications of the flow shop with limited or no interstage storage. For two machines, we show the equivalence of no storage (blocking) and no waiting, which have a polynomial solution; for m > 2, we establish that the flow shop with blocking is NP-complete. An integer program is given to find the minimum makespan. A variety of bounds are presented. Branch-and-bound algorithms using these bounds are given and evaluated. Various heuristics and metaheuristics are presented and compared. Two different precedence graphs are introduced and used in the above developments. The total tardiness objective is also discussed.
Pilot trial of light therapy for depression in hospitalized patients with cystic fibrosis.

Abstract Background Depression is common in cystic fibrosis (CF) and linked with worse outcomes during hospitalization. Bright-light therapy during hospitalizations augments antidepressant regimens and reduces length of stay (LOS) in depressed non-CF patients, but has not been examined in CF Methods Thirty subjects used a light box emitting 10,000 lx for 30 min each day for 7 straight days following hospital admission for pulmonary exacerbation. Depressive symptom severity (QIDS-C) and quality of life factors (CFQ-R) were recorded pre/post light therapy. Results Eighty percent of subjects had at least mild depressive symptoms upon admission. Hospitalized CF patients had a significantly lower mean LOS of 11.0±3.6 days compared to a historical cohort from the year prior (13.3±4.4 days, p value=0.038). There was a significant decrease in depressive symptoms for all subjects receiving light therapy (p value Limitations As a pilot study, the design was limited by a lack of a control group and possible confounding effects of hospitalization treatment on systemic symptoms. Conclusions Light therapy was well tolerated by hospitalized CF patients and resulted in improved depressive symptoms and quality of life. Light therapy was associated with a reduced length of stay. Large, randomized trials of light therapy may be indicated for hospitalized CF patients.
REFASHIONED SHORT BOWEL SEGMENTS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF CATHETERIZABLE CHANNELS (THE MONTI PROCEDURE): EARLY CLINICAL EXPERIENCE

AbstractPurpose: We report the early results of a new surgical procedure to construct a catheterizable stoma from a small segment of bowel according to the Monti technique.Materials and Methods: Since November 1996, 4 male and 4 female patients with a mean age of 14 years have undergone the Monti procedure in association with other reconstructive efforts. Indications included the unavailability of appendix because of concomitant ACE Malone appendicocecostomy in 2 patients, atretic appendixes in 3, previous appendectomy in 2 and technical difficulties during appendix isolation in 1. In no patient was small bowel used instead of a suitable appendix. Other simultaneous surgical procedures included bladder augmentation in 4 patients in whom the bowel tube and patch for augmentation were created with the same mesenteric pedicle (ileum in 3 and sigmoid colon in 1).Results: Followup ranged from 3 to 11 months (mean 7). No patient has had difficulty with catheterization or any other problems related to the stoma....
An Interdisciplinary Approach to Educating an Effective Cyber Security Workforce

Organizations and communities are now increasingly dependent on computer networks for their daily operations, which makes the digital world both attractive and lucrative for cyber criminals. Additionally, the volume of banking and monetary transactions that occur across the Internet from devices such as laptops, tablets, and mobile phones has increased immensely, further making the Internet an interesting playground for cyber criminals. Given the evolving landscape of cyber security threats, it is important to provide our workforce with ongoing training in cyber security. The protection of cyber assets requires a multipronged approach that requires the coordination of government, academia and industry. Therefore, the educational methodologies need to evolve and adapt to support the needs of people who are geographically separated and constrained by time. In this paper, the authors propose an interdisciplinary approach to cyber security education and the best practices for integrating advanced instructional technologies to online cyber security education.
Multifunctional Monolayer Assemblies for Reversible Direct Fluorescence Transduction of Protein−Ligand Interactions at Surfaces

This paper describes a convenient new method for preparing functionalizable protein-resistant monolayers that can be used to incorporate ligands and protein-sensitive fluorescent reporter groups, and the use of these monolayers for the detection of protein−ligand interactions. BODIPY X-650/665, a diode laser compatible fluorophore, and biotin, a model ligand, have been used to transduce biospecific interactions between proteins and biotin at surfaces. Silicon wafers or quartz slides were coated with (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane, and treated with glutaraldehyde and then 2,2‘-(ethylenedioxy)bis(ethylenediamine). The resultant surface layers are resistant to nonspecific protein adsorption and contain primary amine groups that are available for subsequent derivatization. Chemical modification of the amine-terminated monolayers thus obtained was accomplished using the N-hydroxysuccinimide active ester of BODIPY X-650/665 and biotin activated with Woodward's reagent K. Surfaces treated only with the BODIPY dy...
The figura sforzata: modelling, power and the mannerist body.

In the wake of Michelangelo, a number of Italian artists – and notably those who composed their works using wax models – came to identify the act of design with that of bending bodies. This article looks at how this manner of thinking led sculptors, painters, and writers to articulate new visions and fantasies about their artistic ‘mastery’. Focusing on the language contemporaries used when evaluating the bent figure, and considering associated ideas about memory, life study and poetic invention, the article explores the ways in which sculptural process itself became a vehicle through which artists could promote their power.
Discrimination of walleye, Stizostedion vitreum vitreum (Mitchill), stocks by isozyme analysis with cellulose acetate

Summary. Five walleye, Stizosfedion vitreum vitreum (Mitchill), populations from within the state of Minnesota were examined for isozyme gene frequencies. Of 26 loci identified and scored, nine polymorphic loci were found. The ADH*, MDH-3* and PROT-4* loci were found to be the most informative for distinguishing the populations. A north-south cline in the frequency of PROT-4* alleles was found, with a higher frequency of the fast allele being found in the southern population. This is probably a reflection of genetic isolation caused by glaciation. Cellulose acetate was used to resolve the isozymes. The advantages of cellulose acetate over starch in terms of decreased run time, smaller sample and stain volumes and superior resolution advocate the use of cellulose acetate for fish isozyme analyses. Comparisons between starch and cellulose acetate separations showed similar results with some exceptions. Cellulose acetate resolved FH* and PROT-2* polymorphisms that were not resolved on starch, but failed to resolve the MDH-1 locus. These differences did not affect the results.