cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Network measurement recommendations for performance bottleneck correlation analysis

Multi-domain network performance monitoring (NPM) federations, such as perfSONAR rely on collaborative measurement intelligence to identify network anomaly events and diagnose performance bottlenecks affecting data-intensive science applications. In this paper, we present a novel measurement recommendation scheme to assist network operators and application users by recommending pertinent samples from a pool of measurement data involving multiple domains to detect and troubleshoot correlated network anomaly events. The recommendations are based on the principles of content-based filtering. Such recommendations are complimented with Bayesian Inference based domain reputation meta-information to strengthen the veracity information of the recommended traces. Using actual long-term and short-term perfSONAR traces, we analyze recommendation results and show: a) how the content-based filter recommends the most pertinent traces based on their attributes, and b) the time-variant characteristics of domain reputation. Finally, using synthetic traces, we show the effectiveness of our proposed measurements recommendation scheme in accurately identifying anomaly events for an exemplar use case, and also show how our content filter based recommendation scheme performs better in terms of false alarms in comparison to: a) recommendations that consider partial trace features for filtering, and b) greedy recommendation approaches based on random trace selection.
Standardized Hydraulic Conductivity Testing of Compacted Sand-Bentonite Mixtures

Compacted sand-bentonite mixtures can be used as engineered barriers (liners) for waste containment applications. A primary consideration for such applications is the ability of the mixtures to achieve a suitably low hydraulic conductivity, k, typically ≤1.0 × 10−9 m/s, based on permeation with water in the laboratory. The purpose of this study was to evaluate in a systematic manner the applicability of ASTM D5084-10 for the measurement of k of compacted sand-bentonite mixtures. Final degrees of saturation, Sf, for 4 of the 19 test specimens were outside of the required range 95 % ≤ Sf ≤ 105 %, even though the measured k values for these 4 specimens were consistent with those tested under the same conditions with values of Sf that met the standard. Thus, Sf apparently was an unreliable measure of true saturation for the materials tested in this study. Otherwise, the results indicated that conservatively high values of k were measured for the largest specimen size, the highest applied hydraulic gradient, and the highest ionic strength of the permeant water. A difference in the method of hydraulic gradient application had essentially no effect on the magnitude of k. Finally, as expected, specimens containing the highest amount of bentonite (i.e., 15 % by dry weight) resulted in the lowest values of k, although calculation of some values of k for one specimen were negative (k < 0), which was attributed to swelling of the specimen during permeation and the manner in which k was calculated based on ASTM D5084-10.
Examination of Poultry Giblets, Raw Milk and Meat for Campylobacter fetus subsp. jejuni

An MPN procedure was used to determine the presence of Campylobacter fetus subsp. jejuni in poultry giblets. This procedure consists of (a) subculturing a sample in Brucella broth supplemented with 0.15% agar, 0.05% sodium pyruvate and the following antimicrobial agents per liter: vancomycin 10 mg, trimethoprim 5 mg, polymyxin B sulfate 2,500 IU, amphotericin B 2 mg and cephalothin 15 mg and (b) subsequent streaking of a loopful of Brucella broth held at 42 C for 48 h on plates of Brucella agar supplemented with 10% defibrinated horse blood and the concentrations of antimicrobial agents identified above. C. fetus subsp. jejuni was present in 85% of the chicken livers and in 89% of the chicken gizzards obtained immediately after evisceration. The organism was not recovered from samples treated with chlorinated water. C. fetus subsp. jejuni was not recovered from raw milk (bulk tank samples or individual cow samples) or from beef (infraspinatus or biceps femoris muscles).
Detecting photovoltaic solar panels using hyperspectral imagery and estimating solar power production

Remote sensing platforms have consistently demonstrated the ability to detect, and in some cases identify, specific targets of interest, and photovoltaic solar panels are shown to have a unique spectral signature that is consistent across multiple manufacturers and construction methods. Solar panels are proven to be detectable in hyperspectral imagery using common statistical target detection methods such as the adaptive cosine estimator, and false alarms can be mitigated through the use of a spectral verification process that eliminates pixels that do not have the key spectral features of photovoltaic solar panel reflectance spectrum. The normalized solar panel index is described and is a key component in the false-alarm mitigation process. After spectral verification, these solar panel arrays are confirmed on openly available literal imagery and can be measured using numerous open-source algorithms and tools. The measurements allow for the assessment of overall solar power generation capacity using an equation that accounts for solar insolation, the area of solar panels, and the efficiency of the solar panels conversion of solar energy to power. Using a known location with readily available information, the methods outlined in this paper estimate the power generation capabilities within 6% of the rated power.
CryoEM Structure of an Influenza Virus Receptor-Binding Site Antibody-Antigen Interface.

Structure-based vaccine design depends on extensive structural analyses of antigen-antibody complexes.Single-particle electron cryomicroscopy (cryoEM) can circumvent some of the problems of x-ray crystallography as a pipeline for obtaining the required structures. We have examined the potential of single-particle cryoEM for determining the structure of influenza-virus hemagglutinin (HA):single-chain variable-domain fragment complexes, by studying a complex we failed to crystallize in pursuing an extended project on the human immune response to influenza vaccines.The result shows that a combination of cryoEM and molecular modeling can yield details of the antigen-antibody interface, although small variation in the twist of the rod-likeHA trimer limited the overall resolution to about 4.5A.Comparison of principal 3D classes suggests ways to modify the HA trimer to overcome this limitation. A closely related antibody from the same donor did yield crystals when bound with the same HA, giving us an independent validation of the cryoEM results.The two structures also augment our understanding of receptor-binding site recognition by antibodies that neutralize a wide range of influenza-virus variants.
Enhanced outcoupling in flexible organic light-emitting diodes on scattering polyimide substrates

Abstract We demonstrate an upscalable approach to increase outcoupling in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) fabricated on flexible substrates. The outcoupling enhancement is enabled by introducing a thin film of microporous polyimide on the backside of silver nanowire (AgNW) electrodes embedded in neat colorless polyimide. This porous polyimide film, prepared by immersion precipitation, utilizes a large index contrast between the polyimide host and randomly distributed air voids, resulting in broadband haze (>75%). In addition, the composite polyimide/AgNW scattering substrate inherits the high thermal (>360 °C), chemical, and mechanical stability of polyimides. The outcoupling efficiency of the composite scattering substrate is studied via optical characterization of the composite substrate and electron microscopy of the scattering film. The flexible scattering substrates compared to glass/indium tin oxide (ITO) allows for a 74% enhancement in external quantum efficiency (EQE) for a phosphorescent green OLED, and 68% EQE enhancement for a phosphorescent white OLED. The outcoupling enhancement remains unharmed after 5000 bending cycles at a 2 mm bending radius. Moreover, the color uniformity over viewing angles is improved, an important feature for lighting applications.
An Evaluation of the Pair Discussion Component of Interteaching

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the impact of the pair discussion component of interteaching on student quiz performance for two sections of an introductory undergraduate course in behavior analysis with a total of 49 students. An alternating treatment design was used whereby the pair discussion was alternated in a quasi-random fashion with a whole-class discussion throughout the semester. In both experimental conditions, all other components of interteaching were in effect. Feedback on quiz performance was provided immediately upon quiz submission. Results show a slight advantage for the pair discussion condition, but no statistically significant differences between the two conditions. Social validity results show a preference for whole-class discussion. These results are discussed in light of the limitations and strengths of the study, and we outline directions for future research.
INFLUENCE OF GAZE ROTATION ON THE VISUAL RESPONSE OF PRIMATE MSTD NEURONS

Influence of gaze rotation on the visual response of primate MSTd neurons. When we move forward, the visual image on our retina expands. Humans rely on the focus, or center, of this expansion to es...
High-frequency (10-100 MHz) ultrasound instrumented forceps for precision cancer surgery

A critical issue for surgery of soft tissue cancers is ensuring removal of all malignant tissue while conserving as much unaffected tissue as possible. A minimally invasive, in vivo technique for detecting residual cancer in surgical margins or metastatic cancer in lymph nodes would significantly improve the precision and efficacy of cancer surgery. The objective of this project was to develop ultrasound instrumented “smart” forceps to guide surgeons during operations, to provide instant diagnostic information, and to enable more precise and complete resection of malignant tissue. The device was based on Martin forceps, modified to include two ultrasonic sensors (polyvinylidene difluoride) at the tips of the forceps, a tissue thickness sensor (rotary potentiometer), sensor wires, and a spring to control the manual stiffness of the forceps. A high-frequency pulser-receiver was used to excite the transmitting sensor at 50 MHz and amplify through-transmission signals from the receiving sensor. The forceps were tested with agarose phantoms embedded with polyethylene microspheres of different diameters (58-550 μm) to vary attenuation. Testing included standard 50-MHz immersion transducers for comparison. The results showed that the forceps’ performance was equal to standard transducers, with comparable sensitivity for attenuation and superior accuracy for wave speed.A critical issue for surgery of soft tissue cancers is ensuring removal of all malignant tissue while conserving as much unaffected tissue as possible. A minimally invasive, in vivo technique for detecting residual cancer in surgical margins or metastatic cancer in lymph nodes would significantly improve the precision and efficacy of cancer surgery. The objective of this project was to develop ultrasound instrumented “smart” forceps to guide surgeons during operations, to provide instant diagnostic information, and to enable more precise and complete resection of malignant tissue. The device was based on Martin forceps, modified to include two ultrasonic sensors (polyvinylidene difluoride) at the tips of the forceps, a tissue thickness sensor (rotary potentiometer), sensor wires, and a spring to control the manual stiffness of the forceps. A high-frequency pulser-receiver was used to excite the transmitting sensor at 50 MHz and amplify through-transmission signals from the receiving sensor. The forceps we...
Ordinary possibility, transcendent immanence, and responsive ethics: A philosophical anthropology of the small event

Based upon long-term fieldwork among African American families in Los Angeles, this article offers a phenomenological investigation of the indeterminate structures of ethical experience. Drawing upon Waldenfels’ responsive phenomenology in the context of one particular family, it explores the way ordinary life serves as a crucial, indeed privileged space in which to investigate ethical possibility. The ethnographic material is not intended to fill out abstract proposals concretely but to elaborate, challenge, and amend formal philosophical claims in light of socially grounded material. How might the existential question of human possibility be asked when focusing on the way it is addressed by particular people facing situations shaped by structural conditions and cultural norms? How might anthropology and philosophy together rethink humanism in relation to human possibility?
Nitroaromatic-detecting cadmium cyclohexyldicarboxylate coordination polymers with bis(4-pyridylmethyl)piperazine coligands and unprecedented 2D and 3D topologies

Hydrothermal reaction of cadmium nitrate, bis(4-pyridylmethyl)piperazine (4-bpmp), and a variety of cyclohexyldicarboxylate ligands generated three new coordination polymer solids that were structurally characterized via single-crystal X-ray diffraction. [Cd(cis-13cdc)(4-bpmp)]n (1, cis-13cdc = cis-1,3-cyclohexanedicarboxylate) shows a sawtooth (4,4) grid topology. [Cd2(trans-12cdc)2(4-bpmp)]n (2, trans-12cdc = trans-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylate) displays a unique 4,5-connected layered (46)(4664) topology with embedded [Cd2(trans-12cdc)2] ribbon motifs. {[Cd(cis-12chedc)(4-bpmp)]·0.25H2O}n (3, cis-12chedc = cis-1,2-cyclohex-4-enedicarboxylate) manifests a 3D 3,5-connected self-penetrated network with an unprecedented (426)(426583) topology. Thermal decomposition, luminescent, and nitroaromatic detection properties of these three new materials are discussed.
Mentally Ill Employees’ Quest for Justice in Litigation: Procedural and Distributive

This research explores the issue of how employees with mental illnesses receive justice in litigation. It is a 10% random sample of cases litigated in 2005, 2010, and 2015. NVivo was used to auto code the almost 850,000 words that comprise these cases, considering variables such as psychological illnesses and treatment, changes in legal bases, and case outcomes over the years. Statistically significant differences in case outcome for employees was found when recent cases were compared with the earlier ones. The research develops and tests the concept of three types of justice: procedural internal, procedural external, and distributive. Using Kruskal Wallace, statistically significant differences were found in the justice types. However, these were not significantly related to case outcomes. Suggestions for future research are also provided.
Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-2 expression in the brain is required for maximal phagocytic activity and improved neurological outcomes following experimental stroke:

Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-2 (TREM2) is an innate immune receptor that promotes phagocytosis by myeloid cells such as microglia and macrophages. We previously showed that TREM2 deficiency worsened outcomes from experimental stroke and impeded phagocytosis. However, myeloid cells participating in stroke pathology include both brain resident microglia and circulating macrophages. We now clarify whether TREM2 on brain microglia or circulating macrophages contribute to its beneficial role in ischemic stroke by generating bone marrow (BM) chimeric mice. BM chimera mice from TREM2 knockout (KO) or wild type (Wt) mice were used as donor and recipient mice. Mice were subjected to experimental stroke, and neurological function and infarct volume were assessed. Mice with intact TREM2 in brain microglia showed better neurological recovery and reduced infarct volumes, compared with mice lacking microglial TREM2. Myeloid cell activation and numbers of phagocytes were decreased in mice lacking brain TREM2, compared with mice with intact brain TREM2. These results suggest that TREM2 expression is important for post-stroke recovery, and that TREM2 expression on brain resident microglia is more essential to this recovery, than that of circulating macrophages. These findings might suggest a new therapeutic target for cerebrovascular diseases.
Negative Effects of Long-duration Spaceflight on Paraspinal Muscle Morphology.

Study Design.Prospective case series.Objective.Determine the extent of paraspinal muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) and attenuation change after long-duration spaceflight and recovery on Earth. Determine association between in-flight exercise and muscle atrophy.Summary of Background Data.Long-durati
Perceptions Regarding Mentorship Among General Surgery Trainees With Academic Career Intentions.

OBJECTIVE Effective mentorship may be an opportunity to mitigate career de-prioritization, improve stress management, and bolster professional growth. Relatively few studies address specific challenges that occur for general surgery trainees. We conducted a focus group-based investigation to determine facilitators/barriers to effective mentorship among general surgery residents, who are intending to pursue an academic career. DESIGN A semistructured focus group study was conducted to explore residents’ attitudes and experiences regarding (1) needs for mentorship, (2) barriers to identifying mentors, and (3) characteristics of successful mentor-mentee interactions. Subjects self-identified and were characterized as either “Mentored” or “Nonmentored.” Transcriptions were independently reviewed by 3 coders. Inter-rater reliability between the coders was evaluated by calculating Cohen's kappa for each coded item. SETTING General surgery residents from 2 academic tertiary hospitals, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and University of Washington, participated. PARTICIPANTS Thirty-four general surgery trainees were divided into 8 focus groups. RESULTS There were no gender-based differences in mentoring needs among residents. Barriers to establishing a relationship with a mentor, such as lack of exposure to faculty, and time and determination on the part of both mentor and mentee, were exacerbated by aspects of surgical culture including gender dynamics, criticism, and hierarchy. Successful relationships between mentee and mentor were perceived to require personal/professional compatibility and a feeling that the mentor is invested in the mentee, while conflicts of interest and neglect detracted from a successful relationship. CONCLUSIONS Our investigations demonstrate the importance of surgical hierarchy and culture in facilitating interpersonal interactions with potential mentors. Further studies will be necessary to determine how best to address these barriers.
Agency Is Everywhere, but Agency Is Not Enough: A Conceptual Analysis of Young Women’s Sexual Agency

Through a conceptual analysis of sexual agency, I consider the limitations and distortions of what we typically recognize as agency and whom we recognize as agents. I argue that the dominant perspe...
The Correlated History of Social Organization, Morality , and Religion

Morality and religion have evolutionary and cultural roots in the social behavior of our ancestors . Fundamental precursors and major features of morality and religion appear to have changed gradually in concert with social transitions in our history. These correlated changes involve trends toward increased breadth and complexity of social interaction, leading to a stepwise extension of the scope of human sympathies to more inclusive social categories, and eventually the universalization of moral and religious concepts, practices, and explanations. These changes can be integrated provisionally into an eight-stage model of human social history, beginning with nepotism and dominance that are characteristic of many social mammals, and culminating in the intellectual ability and (sometimes) social freedom of modern human individuals to examine moral and religious conventions, to modify or reject them, and even to propose new ones.
Striving for decreased post-transplant hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence without excluding potentially curable patients: the utility of tumor biology

The Milan criteria truly transformed the field of transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma by demonstrating that excellent recurrence-free survival (RFS) can be achieved in small tumors (1). Over the years, the allowable tumor size and number prior to transplantation was challenged by several groups and thus continued to expand, but the use of simple morpho-metrics always limited the ability to predict tumor recurrence, as markers of tumor biology were not routinely used. More recently, multiple studies have combined biomarkers with tumor size and number to create increasingly accurate scoring systems to better predict RFS. The adoption of the AFP model in France (2), accounting for log AFP and tumor size and number, in addition to the newest model by Mazzaferro et al ., Metroticket 2.0 (3), a more fluid model utilizing similar criteria to the AFP model, join the MORAL score (4), which incorporates the neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and the NYCA score (5), which incorporates AFP response, as the best current predictors of RFS available to date.
Supporting biliteracy development with standards-based linguistically differentiated assignments and rubrics

ABSTRACTThis article begins by making the case for biliteracy development in today’s K–12 students. It goes on to describe several types of standards developed in the United States for this purpose...
Filling Out a Naturalistic Picture via Spinoza and Russell

This chapter aims to address the important objections Rasmussen raised in the previous chapter and to further clarify the liberal version of naturalism sketched in Chapter 9. This chapter therefore offers an extended exposition and defense of that view. Toward that end, I do three main things. First, I lay out my abductive methodology for evaluating large-scale theories. Second, in the spirit of seeking as much common ground as possible, I sketch a spectrum of hypothesis that seems to satisfy Rasmussen’s principle of non-arbitrary limits. Third, I argue that the data presented by Rasmussen in Chapter 8 are better explained on Liberal Naturalism than on theism. Finally, I raise several further concerns for the principle. Along the way, I offer replies to Rasmussen’s main objections.
Effect of expanding opioid agonist therapies on the HIV epidemic and mortality in Ukraine: a modelling study

Summary Background As HIV incidence and mortality continue to increase in eastern Europe and central Asia, particularly among people who inject drugs (PWID), it is crucial to effectively scale-up opioid agonist therapy (OAT), such as methadone or buprenorphine maintenance therapy, to optimise HIV outcomes. With low OAT coverage among PWID, we did an optimisation assessment using current OAT procurement and allocation, then modelled the effect of increased OAT scale-up on HIV incidence and mortality for 23 administrative regions of Ukraine. Methods We developed a linear optimisation model to estimate efficiency gains that could be achieved based on current procurement of OAT. We also developed a dynamic, compartmental population model of HIV transmission that included both injection and sexual risk to estimate the effect of OAT scale-up on HIV infections and mortality over a 10-year horizon. The compartmental population model was calibrated to HIV prevalence and incidence among PWID for 23 administrative regions of Ukraine. Sources for regional data included the SyrEx database, the Integrated Biological and Behavioral Survey, the Ukrainian Center for Socially Dangerous Disease Control of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, the Public Health Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, and the Ukrainian Census. Findings Under a status-quo scenario (OAT coverage of 2·7% among PWID), the number of new HIV infections among PWID in Ukraine over the next 10 years was projected to increase to 58 820 (95% CI 47 968–65 535), with striking regional differences. With optimum allocation of OAT without additional increases in procurement, OAT coverage could increase from 2·7% to 3·3% by increasing OAT doses to ensure higher retention levels. OAT scale-up to 10% and 20% over 10 years would, respectively, prevent 4368 (95% CI 3134–5243) and 10 864 (7787–13 038) new HIV infections and reduce deaths by 7096 (95% CI 5078–9160) and 17 863 (12 828–23 062), relative to the status quo. OAT expansion to 20% in five regions of Ukraine with the highest HIV burden would account for 56% of new HIV infections and 49% of deaths prevented over 10 years. Interpretation To optimise HIV prevention and treatment goals in Ukraine, OAT must be substantially scaled up in all regions. Increased medication procurement is needed, combined with optimisation of OAT dosing. Restricting OAT scale-up to some regions of Ukraine could benefit many PWID, but the regions most affected are not necessarily those with the highest HIV burden. Funding National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Developing a behavioral model of Restless Legs Syndrome utilizing mice with natural variances in ventral midbrain iron.

Abstract Background The primary symptoms of Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) are circadian-dependent, leading to increased activity or decreased rest, especially at night. The primary pathology in RLS is brain iron insufficiency despite normal systemic iron stores. Natural variances in brain and peripheral iron concentrations across recombinant inbred (RI) murine strains provide a biological model of RLS. The question is whether these RI mice strains show a behavioral analog to circadian-dependent clinical phenotype of RLS. Methods The home cage activity of eight female RI strains was measured over a 72-h period. The ratio of the average activity in the last 2 h of the active period relative to that in the total 12-h active period (late active period activity ratio, LAPAR) was the primary outcome variable. The relation of average LAPAR scores to measures of ventral midbrain (VMB) iron was evaluated across strains in this study. Results RI strain 40 (LAPAR = 1.28) and RI strain 21 (LAPAR = 1.02) were the only strains to show an increased activity in the last part of the active period. ANOVA showed the increased activity was significantly greater during the last 2 h compared to the preceding 10 h of the active phase only for the RI strain 40. Average LAPAR across the eight strains did not significantly correlate with the VMB iron content (r = −0.27, p Conclusion The female RI strain 40 mice exhibited a distinct end-of-active-period behavior analogous to circadian-dependent clinical phenotype of RLS.
Traditional Banks and Fintech: Survival, Future and Threats

The FinTech(s) is an economic sector involving a number of enterprises that use technology to offer more efficient financial services. These startups disrupt the classical financial system namely commercial banks by modifying the payments and debts mechanism. Their technology offers opportunities in terms of enhancing the current financial services and widening the consumers’ choices. In this paper, the author assesses the different conditions and requirements for the survival of the banking sector amidst the emergence of the Fintech startups worldwide and specifically in Lebanon. In this paper, the author explains the emergence and positioning of Fintech firms before developing a research model for this end. The model shall be based on the behavioral and innovation theories in finance, will be tested on site using structured interviews with banking specialists and officials, and will finally quantitatively be analyzed for research purposes.
Emma Goldman’s No-Conscription League and the First Amendment: Pribanic-Smith, Erika J. and Jared Schroeder. New York: Routledge, 2019, 133 pp., $60 (hardback).

Emma Goldman seems to be one of those figures from the past that a lot of people have heard of but few know much about. Often referenced with the word “anarchist” in front of her name, as if that w...
Unraveling the entrepreneurial mindset

Scholars have examined various aspects of the entrepreneurial mindset, which have provided insights into its attributes, qualities, and operations. However, the different perspectives have led to a diverse array of definitions. With the array of differing definitions, there arises the need to better understand the concept of an entrepreneurial mindset. Therefore, the question remains as to what exactly is the entrepreneurial mindset and how do people tap into it. In examining the literature, we find that three distinct aspects have arisen through the years: the entrepreneurial cognitive aspect—how entrepreneurs use mental models to think; the entrepreneurial behavioral aspect—how entrepreneurs engage or act for opportunities; and the entrepreneurial emotional aspects—what entrepreneurs feel in entrepreneurship. Using those as a basis for our work, we unravel the entrepreneurial mindset by examining deeper into the perspectives and discuss the challenges for implementing it.
Role of Skeletal Muscle Mitochondrial Dysfunction in CKD.

Muscle wasting and frailty in CKD are clinically well established. The role of the mitochondria, which are essential to produce ATP required for contraction and cellular metabolism, is emerging as a possible explanation for accelerated loss of muscle and, hence, decline in functional ability in
"Inflammatory Bowel Disease-Not Just the Bowel's Bane": Peripheral Arterial and Venous Thrombosis in a Patient With Crohn Disease.

Introduction:Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic multisystem inflammatory condition with associated endothelial dysfunction and dysregulated coagulation. Although deep venous thrombosis (...
Reductions in Drinking Predict Increased Distress: Between- and Within-Person Associations between Alcohol Use and Psychological Distress During and Following Treatment.

Background As the nature of the association between alcohol use disorder (AUD) and other disorders is not well understood, the ways in which psychological distress changes during the course of treatment for AUD are relatively unknown. Existing literatures posit 2 competing hypotheses such that treatment for AUD concurrently decreases alcohol use and psychological distress or treatment for AUD decreases alcohol use and increases psychological distress. The current study examined the ways in which psychological distress changed as a function of treatment for AUD, including the relationship between psychological distress and drinking behaviors. Methods Secondary data analysis was conducted on an existing clinical trial dataset that investigated the effect of cognitive-behavioral therapy and therapeutic alliance feedback on AUDs. Specifically, data collected at baseline, posttreatment, 3-month, 6-month, 9-month, and 12-month follow-up assessments were examined. Results Results indicated decreases in heavy drinking days, increases in percentage of days abstinent, and decreases in overall psychological distress. Findings also revealed that changes in psychological distress did not predict changes in drinking at the next time interval; however, decreases in drinking predicted higher psychological distress at the next assessment. Further, average levels of psychological distress were positively associated with rates of drinking. Conclusions The current study provides some insight into how psychological distress changes during the course of treatment for AUD, including the relationship between changes in drinking and such symptoms. Future research should continue to explore these relationships, including the ways in which treatment efforts can address what may be seen as paradoxical effects.
Stress and Anxiety are Associated with Lower Gestational Weight Gain in Hispanic Women.

Abstract Objective Prior studies indicate that inadequate and excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) are associated with poor maternal and infant outcomes, and that stress and anxiety may contribute to GWG. However, these studies often failed to use validated measures of stress and anxiety, measured only total GWG, and were limited to largely non-Hispanic White populations. We explored the association between stress and anxiety and GWG. Methods We used data from 1,308 participants in Proyecto Buena Salud, a prospective cohort of predominantly Puerto Rican women 18–40 years of age (2006–2012). We measured stress with the Perceived Stress Scale and anxiety with the State-Trait Anxiety Scale, and abstracted GWG from medical records. Results The average GWG was 31.0 ± 16.1 pounds. More than one-half of participants (51.8%) exceeded Institute of Medicine guidelines for GWG. After adjusting for age and pre-pregnancy body mass index, women in the highest quartiles of stress and anxiety in early pregnancy had approximately 4 lbs lower GWG (β = −3.89; SE = 1.54; p = .012 and β = −4.37; SE = 1.54; p = .005, respectively) as compared with those in the lowest quartiles. Similarly, women in the highest quartiles of mid/late pregnancy stress and anxiety had lower GWG (β = −3.84 lbs; SE = 1.39; p = .006, and β = −3.51 lbs; SE = 1.38; p = .011, respectively) and a lower rate of GWG in the second and third trimesters (β = −0.117 lbs/week; SE = 0.044; p = .008 and β = −0.116 lbs/week; SE = 0.043; p = .007, respectively), compared with those in the lowest quartiles. Conclusions High stress and anxiety were associated with lower GWG. Interventions to decrease stress and anxiety during pregnancy should include counseling on maintaining healthy GWG.
Design and performance of an off-grid solar combisystem using phase change materials

Abstract An off-grid solar combisystem with built-in latent heat storage unit is designed and developed for active space and water heating during day and passive space heating during night. A flat plate solar thermal collector and a photovoltaic module with a Li-Ion battery power the fully autonomous system. The optimized solar combisystem design comprises a heat transfer loop for simultaneously charging phase change material and water. The combisystem can consistently heat the water to about 45 °C during a normal sunny day and retain thermal energy for two days. In addition, the system can also heat the space to a comfortable zone during day and from dawn to dusk along with water heating during winter season, even in fluctuating weather condition. The average energy saving ratio and energy saving obtained during winter season space heating are about 56 % and 4.4 kWh, respectively. The solar combisystem performance shows that the average energy saving ratio and energy saving obtained for space heating were ~ 93% and ~ 2.8 kWh, respectively. It was observed that the air temperature in the phase change material integrated space unit (area coverage ~60%; melting point: 23 °C) remain ~ 4 to 6 °C cooler than corresponding without phase change material integrated space unit. The long-term performance evaluation of the solar combisystem shows that the off-grid system can efficiently maintain the space temperature in a comfortable zone during cooler and warmer season along with water heating for residential application. It is evident that the off-grid phase change materials integrated solar combisystem can lead to significant energy saving in residential buildings both in colder and warmer weather conditions.
The Innate Immune Signalling Pathways: Turning RIG-I Sensor Activation against Cancer

Over the last 15 years, the ability to harness a patient's own immune system has led to significant progress in cancer therapy. For instance, immunotherapeutic strategies, including checkpoint inhibitors or adoptive cell therapy using chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T), are specifically aimed at enhancing adaptive anti-tumour immunity. Several research groups demonstrated that adaptive anti-tumour immunity is highly sustained by innate immune responses. Host innate immunity provides the first line of defence and mediates recognition of danger signals through pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), such as cytosolic sensors of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP) signals. The retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) is a cytosolic RNA helicase, which detects viral double-strand RNA and, once activated, triggers signalling pathways, converging on the production of type I interferons, proinflammatory cytokines, and programmed cell death. Approaches aimed at activating RIG-I within cancers are being explored as novel therapeutic treatments to generate an inflammatory tumour microenvironment and to facilitate cytotoxic T-cell cross-priming and infiltration. Here, we provide an overview of studies regarding the role of RIG-I signalling in the tumour microenvironment, and the most recent preclinical studies that employ RIG-I agonists. Lastly, we present a selection of clinical trials designed to prove the antitumour role of RIG I and that may result in improved therapeutic outcomes for cancer patients.
Acoustic emission diagnostics of corrosion monitoring in prestressed concrete using hidden Markov and semi-Markov models:

This article presents a framework based on hidden Markov modeling for monitoring corrosion damage in prestressed concrete structures through acoustic emission measurements. Both hidden Markov model...
Infections in Neurocritical Care Units

An important aspect of managing patients in neurocritical care units involves sound understanding of commonly encountered infections. Infections increase the overall morbidity, mortality, and cost of healthcare. In this chapter, we discuss the diagnosis and management of ventilator-associated pneumonia, ventriculitis, meningoencephalitis, urinary tract infections, bacteremia, surgical site infections, and colitis. More importantly, we discuss ways to prevent such infections. For cases where prevention is no longer an option, we also provide suggestions for empiric antimicrobial therapy.
Older Adults’ Experiences of Autonomy During COVID-19 Pandemic

A sense of autonomy is important to ensure a good quality of life for older adults. However, the recent COVID-19 pandemic challenged older adults’ autonomy. The government has imposed rules and regulations to slow down the spread of the virus that reduced older adults’ abilities to go outside. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 older adults living alone in community-dwellings to understand the influence of the pandemic on their experiences of autonomy. Our findings show that even though older adults experienced limited autonomy due to extrinsic (e.g., government regulation, influence of others) and intrinsic (e.g., risk perception) factors, they experienced new opportunities for autonomy through engagement in various self-chosen activities at home. The insights from the study pave ways for future research and design of aging in place technology focusing on providing a sense of autonomy.
Discharge destination influences risks of readmission and complications after lumbar spine surgery in severely disabled patients.

OBJECTIVE For individuals with severe disability requiring spine surgery, appropriate discharge destination is a challenging and complex decision. Past studies have found associations between discharge destination and postoperative outcomes but were limited by biases in sampling characteristics. The purpose of this study was to explore whether there is an association between discharge destination and odds of worse postoperative outcomes in high-risk individuals with severe/crippling/bedbound disability who received lumbar spine surgery. METHODS This was an observational study using the Quality Outcomes Database Spine Registry. Subjects were limited to age ≥18 years, primary lumbar spine surgery, and severe disability at baseline (Oswestry Disability Index [ODI] ≥50%). Discharge destination was dichotomized to home or healthcare institution. RESULTS Of the 13,050 patients, 11,859 patients (90.9%) were discharged home and 1191 (9.1%) patients were discharged to a healthcare institution. Individuals who were discharged to a healthcare institution were older (68.6 vs 56.9 p < 0.001) and had worse baseline characteristics (higher American Society of Anesthesiology [ASA] score, presence of back pain, and prevalence of comorbidities, all p < 0.001) compared to those who were discharged home. In covariate-controlled multivariate analysis, the home discharge cohort had lower rates of hospital readmission (OR = 0.68, 95% CI 0.55, 0.84) and revision surgery (OR = 0.56, 95% CI 0.37, 0.85) within three months and return to operating room (OR = 0.46, 95% CI 0.34-0.63) and complications (all OR < 0.50 except hematoma, p < 0.01) within 30 days than the institution discharge cohort. CONCLUSION Severity of disability measured by ODI may influence but does not dictate discharge destination and the associated postoperative outcomes.
The next-best-view for workpiece localization in robot workspace

Workpiece localization is the process of obtaining the location of a workpiece in a reference frame of a robotic workspace. The location (position and orientation) is represented by the transformation between a local frame associated with the workpiece and the specified reference frame in the workspace. In this work, we study the workpiece localization problem without the two commonly adopted restrictive assumptions: the data used to calculate the transformation is readily available and the correspondence between the data sets used for calculation is known. The goal is to automate the localization process starting from efficient data collection to determining the workpiece location in the workspace. We describe a strategy that includes the following aspects: predicting the correspondence between the measured data and the workpiece CAD model data; generating representative vectors that would aid in determining the next-best-view for collecting new information of the workpiece location; evaluating a search region to find the next sensor location that satisfies both the robot kinematics as well as sensor field-of-view constraints while giving the maximum view gain; and calculating the rigid body transformation from the local frame to the world frame to localize the workpiece. Numerical simulation and experimental results are presented and discussed for the proposed strategy.
Understanding Errors from Multi-Input-Multi-Output (MIMO) Testing of a Cantilever Beam

Multi-Input-Multi-Output (MIMO) testing is challenging due to the need to estimate inputs required to achieve desired responses at multiple locations on the test article of interest. Errors in the estimation of inputs can come from either the forward process (measurement of the Transfer Function (TRF) matrix that captures the input-output relationship) or the inverse process requiring the inversion of a rectangular matrix using the Moore-Penrose Pseudo-Inverse method.
Climate Change and Small Islands

Small, low-lying islands are particularly vulnerable to global climate change and sea level rise with the principal impacts falling into three main categories: shoreline erosion, inundation and flooding, and saline water intrusion into surficial freshwater aquifers. Fresh groundwater on small islands occurs primarily as freshwater lenses, floating atop saline groundwater, whose natural size depends on island area, shape, and topography, aquifer properties (transmissivity), and rainfall. Freshwater lenses are limited resources that are vulnerable to salinization from over exploitation and from storm overwash. The sustainability of freshwater lenses depends on maintaining a balance between recharge, captured discharge, and pumping. Decreases in recharge during drought periods can result is a profound shrinkage of freshwater lenses. Anthropogenic activities can impact freshwater lenses through induced changes in recharge rates caused by increased impervious covers. Management of freshwater lenses can be improved through improved well and wellfield design, monitoring of aquifer water levels and salinity, controls on groundwater pumping, implementation of land use practices to reduce the risk of anthropogenic contamination, and managed aquifer recharge.
Systemic Semilunar Valve Repair/Replacement With Fontan Circulation: The Mayo Clinic Experience.

Background: There is a paucity of literature regarding systemic semilunar valve (SSLV) dysfunction in patients with Fontan circulation. We sought to describe our center's 47-year experience with systemic semilunar valve replacement or repair (SSLVR) in patients with Fontan circulation. Methods: The Mayo Clinic Fontan Database is a comprehensive institutional database that stores clinical information of 1176 patients from 1973 to 2021. It was reviewed to identify patients who had a SSLV intervention at the time of or after Fontan. A cohort of 15 patients was identified and a retrospective review of their records was performed. Results: Fourteen patients had SSLV replacement (all mechanical) and one had a repair. SSLVR occurred up to 29 years following the Fontan (mean 11.3 ± 9 years, median 14 years). Thirteen of 14 with SSLVR were performed after Fontan and one was done at the time of initial Fontan. This was an older cohort and mean age at the time of Fontan was 8.7 ± 9.4 years (median 4 years). Indication for the operation was > moderate SSLV regurgitation in all patients. Six patients had decreased ventricular function (EF < 50%) prior to SSLVR and 8 had reduced function after SSLVR. Conclusion: Fortunately, the need for SSLV intervention after Fontan was rare, as evidenced by our small cohort extracted from a large single-institution database spanning a 47-year time period. Reduced preoperative and postoperative ejection fraction was common but did not seem to impact the outcome. Optimal timing for SSLV intervention after Fontan remains unclear.
Security in business process engineering

We present a general methodology for integrating arbitrary security requirements in the development of business processes in a both elegant and rigorous way. We show how trust relationships between different parties and their respective security goals can be reflected in a specification, which results in a realistic modeling of business processes in the presence of malicious adversaries. Special attention is given to the incorporation of cryptography in the development process with the main goal of achieving specifications that are sufficiently simple to be suited for formal verification, yet allow for a provably secure cryptographic implementation.
Cutting Edge: The Development of IL-4-Producing B Cells (B Effector 2 Cells) Is Controlled by IL-4, IL-4 Receptor α, and Th2 Cells

Although IL-4-producing B cells (B effector 2 cells) are found following infection and immunization, the signals regulating IL-4 production by Be2 cells are unknown. We show that culturing naive B cells with Th2 cells induces up-regulation of IL-4 in the B cells with a concomitant down-regulation of T-bet, IL-12Rbeta2, and IFN-gamma. Up-regulation of IL-4 in the Be2 cells is dependent on both T cells and IL-4 as IL-4Ralpha-deficient B cells primed with Th2 cells did not transcribe IL-4, and B cells primed in the presence of IL-4-deficient Th2 cells produced IFN-gamma instead of IL-4. Likewise, the in vivo development of IL-4-expressing B cells in a nematode infection model was dependent on both T cells and IL-4Ralpha-mediated signals. Thus, the differentiation of naive B cells into IL-4-expressing Be2 cells is regulated by a combination of T cell-dependent signals and the cytokine environment and this process is critically dependent upon the IL-4/IL-4R signaling pathway.
Developmental biology of Myxococcus.

Abstract McVittie, Anne (Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.), Frances Messik, and Stanley A. Zahler. Developmental biology of Myxococcus. J. Bacteriol. 84:546–551. 1962.—Methods for the growth and enumeration of strain FB of Myxococcus xanthus were investigated. Several mutants unable to form fruiting bodies were isolated. These fell into at least two classes. Members of each class acted synergistically with members of other classes to form fruiting bodies; intraclass synergism did not occur. Mechanisms for the loss of ability to form fruiting bodies, and for synergistic interaction, were studied.