cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impacts of relative permeability formulation on forecasts of CO2 phase behavior, phase distribution, and trapping mechanisms in a geologic carbon storage reservoir*

A critical aspect in the risk assessment of geologic carbon storage, a carbon-emissions reduction method under extensive review and testing, is effective multiphase CO2 flow and transport simulation. Relative permeability is a flow parameter particularly critical for accurate forecasting of the multiphase behavior of CO2 in the subsurface. The relative permeability relationship assumed and especially the residual saturation of the gas phase greatly impacts predicted CO2 trapping mechanisms and long-term plume migration behavior. A primary goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of the selection of relative permeability formulations on the efficacy of regional-scale CO2 sequestration models. To accomplish this, we selected the San Rafael Swell area of East-central Utah as a case study to evaluate the impact of relative permeability formulations on CO2 plume movement and behavior. A 2D vertical cross section model was built to simulate injection of CO2 into a brine aquifer for 30 years followed by 970 years of post-injection monitoring. We evaluated five different relative permeability relationships to quantify their relative impacts on forecasted flow results of the model, with all other parameters maintained uniform and constant. Because of the interdependence between phase saturation and relative permeability in numerical simulations we expected to see some variation in phase behavior, phase distribution, and CO2 trapping mechanisms. An almost 60% difference in residually trapped gas was observed across the different relative permeability relationships. Large variations of up to 40% in the saturation of both dissolved phase and mobile supercritical phase CO2 were also observed. The pressure buildup and decay observed was not significantly affected by the relative permeability formulation until after injection pressures have dissipated. Results of this analysis suggest that CO2 plume movement and behavior are significantly dependent on the specific relative permeability formulation assigned, including the assumed residual saturation values of CO2 and brine. More specifically, different relative permeability relationships translate to significant differences in CO2 plume behavior and corresponding trapping mechanisms. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
IRE1 Sulfenylation by Reactive Oxygen Species Coordinates Cellular Stress Signaling.

In this issue of Molecular Cell, Hourihan et al. (2016) show that sulfenylation of IRE1 by reactive oxygen species inhibits the role of IRE1 in the Unfolded Protein Response and activates a SKN-1/Nrf2-dependent response to oxidative stress.
Comparison of the pharmacokinetics of two formulations of hydroxyethyl starch in healthy horses.

A lower molecular weight and molar substitution formulation (130/0.4) of hydroxyethyl starch solution has been shown to have a more sustained effect on COP and similar hemodynamic effects as a higher molecular weight and molar substitution formulation (600/0.75) in healthy horses. In humans, these pharmacodynamic characteristics are coupled with more rapid clearance and decreased adverse coagulation effects and accumulation. The objective of this study was to determine and compare the pharmacokinetics of these two formulations in horses. Eight healthy horses were given a 10 mL/kg bolus of each formulation (600/0.75 and 130/0.4) of hydroxyethyl starch solution in a randomized crossover design. Blood was collected, and plasma was harvested for plasma levels over 24 h. Pharmacokinetic parameters for each horse were estimated from a noncompartmental analysis. Treatment with 600/0.75 resulted in a higher initial plasma concentration (C0), systemic half-life (t1/2), and overall drug exposure (AUC0–inf) in addition to decreased elimination rate (β), volume of distribution (Vd), and clearance (CL), compared to treatment with 130/0.4 (P < 0.001). The pharmacokinetic findings combined with previous pharmacodynamics findings suggest that 130/0.4 can provide similar benefits to 600/0.75 with a lower risk of accumulation in the circulation.
A planet in transition: The onset of plate tectonics on Earth between 3 and 2 Ga?

Abstract Many geological and geochemical changes are recorded on Earth between 3 and 2 Ga. Among the more important of these are the following: (1) increasing proportion of basalts with “arc-like” mantle sources; (2) an increasing abundance of basalts derived from enriched (EM) and depleted (DM) mantle sources; (3) onset of a Great Thermal Divergence in the mantle; (4) a decrease in degree of melting of the mantle; (5) beginning of large lateral plate motions; (6) appearance of eclogite inclusions in diamonds; (7) appearance and rapid increase in frequency of collisional orogens; (8) rapid increase in the production rate of continental crust as recorded by zircon age peaks; (9) appearance of ophiolites in the geologic record, and (10) appearance of global LIP (large igneous province) events some of which correlate with global zircon age peaks. All of these changes may be tied directly or indirectly to cooling of Earth's mantle and corresponding changes in convective style and the strength of the lithosphere, and they may record the gradual onset and propagation of plate tectonics around the planet. To further understand the changes that occurred between 3 and 2 Ga, it is necessary to compare rocks, rock associations, tectonics and geochemistry during and between zircon age peaks. Geochemistry of peak and inter-peak basalts and TTGs needs to be evaluated in terms of geodynamic models that predict the existence of an episodic thermal regime between stagnant-lid and plate tectonic regimes in early planetary evolution.
Density-fitted open-shell symmetry-adapted perturbation theory and application to π-stacking in benzene dimer cation and ionized DNA base pair steps

Symmetry-Adapted Perturbation Theory (SAPT) is one of the most popular approaches to energy component analysis of non-covalent interactions between closed-shell systems, yielding both accurate interaction energies and meaningful interaction energy components. In recent years, the full open-shell equations for SAPT up to second-order in the intermolecular interaction and zeroth-order in the intramolecular correlation (SAPT0) were published [P. S. Zuchowski et al., J. Chem. Phys. 129, 084101 (2008); M. Hapka et al., ibid. 137, 164104 (2012)]. Here, we utilize density-fitted electron repulsion integrals to produce an efficient computational implementation. This approach is used to examine the effect of ionization on π-π interactions. For the benzene dimer radical cation, comparison against reference values indicates a good performance for open-shell SAPT0, except in cases with substantial charge transfer. For π stacking between hydrogen-bonded pairs of nucleobases, dispersion interactions still dominate binding, in spite of the creation of a positive charge.
Fungal Exposure and Asthma: IgE and Non-IgE-Mediated Mechanisms

Fungi are ubiquitous in indoor and outdoor environments and have been associated with respiratory disease including childhood and adult asthma. A growing body of evidence from human and animal studies has revealed a link between fungal exposure, especially indoor fungal exposure, with asthma initiation, persistence, and exacerbation. Despite the overwhelming evidence linking mold exposure and asthma, the mechanistic basis for the association has remained elusive. It is now clear that fungi need not be intact to impart negative health effects. Fungal components and fungal fragments are biologically active and contribute to asthma development and severity. Recent mechanistic studies have demonstrated that fungi are potent immunomodulators and have powerful effects on asthma independent of their potential to act as antigens. This paper will review the connection between fungal exposure and asthma with a focus on the immunological mechanisms underlying this relationship.
Elevated microRNA-135a is associated with pulmonary arterial hypertension in experimental mouse model.

// Hyun-Wook Lee 1 , Gabriele Grunig 1 and Sung-Hyun Park 1 1 Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, Tuxedo, New York, USA Correspondence to: Sung-Hyun Park, email: // Keywords : microRNA-135a, biomarker, pulmonary arterial hypertension, Th2 antigen, urban particulate matter Received : January 28, 2017 Accepted : March 02, 2017 Published : March 08, 2017 Abstract Multiple causes are associated with the complex mechanism of pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), but the molecular pathway in the pathogenesis of PAH is still insufficiently understood. In this study, we investigated epigenetic changes that cause PAH induced by exposure to combined Th2 antigen (Ovalbumin, OVA) and urban particulate matter (PM) in mice. To address that, we focused on the epigenetic mechanism, linked to microRNA (miR)-135a. We found that miR-135a levels were significantly increased, and levels of bone morphogenetic protein receptor type II (BMPR2) which is the target of miR-135a, were significantly decreased in this experimental PAH mouse model. Therefore to evaluate the role of miR-135a, we injected AntagomiR-135a into this mouse model. AntagomiR-135a injected mice showed decreased right ventricular systolic pressures (RVSPs), right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH), and the percentage of severely thickened pulmonary arteries compared to control scrambled miRNA injected mice. Both mRNA and protein expression of BMPR2 were recovered in the AntagomiR-135a injected mice compared to control mice. Our study understands if miR-135a could serve as a biomarker helping to manage PAH. The blocking of miR-135a could lead to new therapeutic modalities to alleviate exacerbation of PAH caused by exposure to Th2 antigen and urban air pollution.
Assessing the Effectiveness of Yoga as a Complementary and Alternative Treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Review and Synthesis.

Abstract Objectives: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating condition that affects many who have experienced trauma. In addition to skills-focused treatments, exposure-based treatments, cognitive therapy, combination treatments, and EMDR, a number of alternative treatments for PTSD have emerged in recent years. The search for alternative treatments is justified based on the empirical observation that a large percentage of individuals fail to benefit optimally from existing treatments (e.g., between 30 and 60). Moreover, current studies often utilize stringent inclusion criteria (e.g., absence of comorbid disorders), raising the likelihood that results will not generalize to many individuals currently experiencing PTSD. The primary objective of the current paper was to explore the effects of one type of alternative treatment: yoga. Design: A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted targeting research examining yoga postures and PTSD. Seven randomized controlled trials (RCTs) wer...
OP 47 Risks of diabetes, fetal growth restriction and preeclampsia in women with chronic hypertension using new, more-inclusive definitions

Question Previous studies evaluating pregnancy outcomes in chronic hypertension use older definitions of preeclampsia (i.e. co-existence of hypertension and proteinuria). Since the publication of the more inclusive criteria for preeclampsia (PE) by the International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy (ISSHP) in 2014, the impact on the reported rate of PE in women with chronic hypertension is unknown. Finally, the rate of fetal growth restriction (FGR) when incorporating fetal Doppler studies and amniotic fluid in addition to birthweight centile has not been reported. In women with chronic hypertension, our objectives were to, firstly, evaluate their pregnancy outcomes and, secondly, to compare rates of PE amongst our cohort when using the ISSHP-2001 versus the ISSHP-2014 updated criteria. Methods This study was carried out at the Antenatal Hypertension Clinic, Kings College Hospital, London. We identified 771 singleton pregnancies who booked between 2011 and 2016 with chronic hypertension. This included women with a pre-existing diagnosis of chronic hypertension or with two consecutive blood pressure readings ⩾140/90 mmHg prior to 20 weeks gestation. Results Fifty-five percent of women developed one or more pregnancy complications. The overall rate of PE according to the ISSHP-2014 criteria was 33% versus 15% when the older ISSHP-2001 definition was applied. Of the components contributing to the ISSHP-2014 diagnosis of PE, 53% was due to renal dysfunction, 42% FGR, 16% liver impairment and 11% thrombocytopenia. In 81% of women with PE there was one component present but in 17% and 2% there was an overlap of two and three components, respectively (Fig. 1). Furthermore, 26%, 16%, 14%, 1.7% and 1.3% of pregnancies were complicated by severe hypertension, gestational diabetes (GDM), FGR, placental abruption and fetal demise, respectively. Conclusions Women with chronic hypertension have a 55% risk of developing a complication in pregnancy related primarily to PE and GDM. Use of the ISSHP-2014 versus ISSHP-2001 definition classifies 55% more women as preeclamptic. Download : Download high-res image (176KB) Download : Download full-size image
Competitive analysis for online scheduling in software-defined optical WAN

Modern planetary-scale online services have massive data to transfer over the wide area network (WAN). Due to the tremendous cost of building WANs and the stringent timing requirement of distributed applications, it is critical for network operators to make efficient use of network resources to optimize data transfers. By leveraging software-defined networking (SDN) and reconfigurable optical devices, recent solutions design centralized systems to jointly control the network layer and the optical layer. While these solutions show it is promising to significantly reduce data transfer times by centralized cross-layer control, they do not have any theoretical guarantees on the proposed algorithms. This paper presents approximation algorithms and theoretical analysis for the online transfer scheduling problem over optical WANs. The goal of the scheduling problem is to minimize the makespan (the time to finish all transfers) or the total sum of completion times. We design and analyze various greedy, online scheduling algorithms that can achieve 3-competitive ratio for makespan, 2-competitive ratio for minimum sum completion time for jobs of unit size, and 3α-competitive ratio for jobs of arbitrary transfer size and each node having degree constraint d, where α = 1 when d = 1 and α = 1.86 when d ≥ 2. We also evaluated the performance of these algorithms and compared the performance with prior heuristics.
Estimating River Bathymetry from Surface Velocity Observations Using Variational Inverse Modeling

AbstractAccurate river bathymetry characterization is important to understanding all aspects of the riparian environment and provides crucial information for ensuring the safe passage of vessels and guiding channel maintenance operations. Verified models based on readily collected physical data facilitate accurate predictions of changes to a riverbed caused by traffic, weather, and other influences. This paper presents a methodology for estimating river bathymetry from surface velocity data by applying variational inverse modeling to the shallow-water equations. The paper describes the mathematical framework for the methodology and the algorithm, and the numerical tools developed to test the methodology. The hydrodynamic modeling uses 2D depth-averaged solvers (under the hydrostatic assumption) and applies a standard empirical correlation that relates depth-averaged velocity to surface velocity. The application of the bathymetry estimation algorithm to water-surface velocity data was tested on a 95-km rea...
Patrick Gordon and the Chudnov-Slobodishche Campaign, 1660

The Chudnov-Slobodishche Campaign in 1660 was one of the bloodiest in the Thirteen Years’ War and resulted in the destruction of an entire Muscovite field army of 32,000 and the defection of Hetman Iurii Khmel’nyts’ky to the Poles. Patrick Gordon was a participant in this campaign, as a Captain Lieutenant of dragoons in the Polish army—he was then just 25 years old and had entered Polish service only a year before. Gordon’s account of the campaign, in folios 53–93 v. of the second volume of his diary, provides valuable details about both Polish-Lithuanian and Muscovite military technique at this stage of the war. It also relates the circumstances under which Gordon, after helping to destroy a Muscovite army, left Polish service and managed to enter the service of the tsar. 1
Stem Cells in the Liver Cancer and the Organ Size Control

Abstract The liver is the largest organ inside the human body and it is the only organ that can regenerate itself in adulthood. According to a report from the University of California, San Francisco’s Liver Center, in the United States, 1 in 15 people have liver disease and more than 46,000 deaths happen each year ( http://livercenter.ucsf.edu/message-director ). Nationally, more than 17,500 patients in the United States are waiting for liver transplants due to organ shortages ( https://www.ucsfhealth.org/treatments/living_liver_donor_transplant/ ). Although liver transplantation is used to treat end stage liver diseases such as liver cancer, the shortage in donor livers and transplant rejections limit its clinical application. The transplantation of hepatic stem cells or cells differentiated from liver stem cells has been considered as an alternative to regular liver transplantation. In this chapter, we will review the biology of liver stem cells in the cancer. Signalling pathways controlling liver size is discussed in this chapter, too. Besides that, we will review in vivo model for making liver cancer with genome modification by adeno-associated virus (AAV). Epigenetics in stem cell involved liver cancer is also discussed.
Translational Regulation of the Synthesis of Dihydrofolate Reductase

Earlier studies showed that administration of MTX to patients leads to an increase in the level of DHFR protein in both normal and leukemic leukocytes as well as in erythrocytes within hours to days.1,2,3 In vitro studies using a human lymphoblastoid cell line showed that increase in DHFR protein is not transcriptionally mediated but was abolished by cycloheximide treatment, suggesting that new protein synthesis is required.4 The rapid increase observed was attributed to either protection of DHFR from degradation by bound MTX and/or dihydrofolate,4 or to an increase in translation of this enzyme.5 An increase in thymidylate synthase activity has been reported after 5-fluorouracil treatment,6–8 and it has been suggested that this increase may also be regulated at the translational level.7,8 In this communication, we show that DHFR protein regulates its synthesis by exerting an inhibitory influence on its translation and that addition of MTX or dihydrofolate to the reticulocyte translation system relieves this inhibition, thus providing a possible explanation for the rapid increase in this enzyme activity noted in certain cells after MTX administration. In addition, preliminary experiments using CHO cells lacking the DHFR gene and transfected with DHFR cDNA lacking the 5′ leader sequence and treated with MTX showed an increase in DHFR, indicating that this region may not be required for the DHFR protein/RNA interaction.
Unique Aspects of Immunoglobulin Expression During Early B Cell Differentiation in the Chicken

Perhaps the most significant events during the life history of B cells are changes in the expression of immunoglobulin genes. In this regard, results of studies in birds and mammals suggest that B cell development can be conveniently divided into 3 principle stages. The first is primarily concerned with the generation of clonal diversity; during this stage, non-Ig producing stem cells differentiate and divide to form large numbers of B lymphocytes, each expressing IgM antibodies of a single specificity. Next, the generation of isotype diversity occurs within B cell clones; limited numbers of cells within each clone switch from IgM synthesis only to the surface expression of other immunoglobulin classes without a change in antibody specificity (or V-region gene expression). Lastly, clones are selected for stimulation by antigen, or clones may be stimulated by polyclonal mitogens to divide and differentiate into plasma cells. Helper and suppressor T cells participate primarily in regulating the latter events.
The Impact of Resource Loss and Critical Incidents on Psychological Functioning in Fire-Emergency Workers: A Pilot Study

The relationship between critical incident exposure and resource loss, as conceptualized by Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, in predicting later psychological outcome (e.g., depressive symptoms, anger expression, and state anger) was examined in a sample of 150 fire-emergency workers from a Fire Department in a mid-sized, midwestern city. Additionally, a measure of critical incidents (Critical Incidents Inventory) was developed, and preliminary data on its validity are presented. Results from multiple regression analyses indicated that fire-emergency workers' exposure to critical incidents was directly related to their report of depressive symptoms, outward expression of anger, and state anger. Additionally, results indicated that fire-emergency workers' resource loss was strongly related to their psychological outcome. Results also suggest that resource loss may mediate the impact of critical incident stress exposure on depressive symptoms and the outward expression of anger. These results offer support to applying COR theory to populations under extreme stress.
Non-V600 BRAF mutations in advanced malignancies: Prevalence and survival impact.

12100Background: BRAF mutations that occur outside of codon 600, non-V600 BRAF (non-V600BRAF), have been detected in various types of tumors. Prevalence, and prognostic impact remain underestimated...
Inverse Berru Predictive Modeling Of Radiation Transport In The Presence Of Counting Uncertainties

Using a paradigm problem of inverse prediction, from detector responses in the presence of counting uncertainties, of the thickness of a homogeneous slab of material containing uniformly distributed gamma-emitting sources, this Chapter presents an investigation of the possible reasons for the apparent failure of the traditional inverse-problem methods based on the minimization of chi-square-type functionals to predict accurate results for optically thick slabs. This Chapter also presents a comparison of the results produced by such traditional methods with the results produced by applying the BERRU methodology, for optically thin and thick slabs. For optically thin slabs, the results presented in this Chapter show that both the traditional chi-square-minimization method and the BERRU methodology predict the slab’s thickness accurately. However, the BERRU methodology is considerably more efficient computationally, and a single application of the BERRU methodology predicts the thin slab’s thickness at least as precisely as the traditional chi-square-minimization method, even though the measurements used in the BERRU methodology were ten times less accurate than the ones used for the traditional chi-square-minimization method. For optically thick slabs, however, the results presented in this Chapter show that:
The Stigma of Addiction in Romantic Relationships

Given the interdependence of romantic partnerships, close others are among the first to experience and respond to an individual’s substance misuse. This chapter explores stigma related to substance use as it pertains to individuals’ own perceptions of themselves as a romantic partner, as well as to partners’ perceptions of the disorder and perceived stigma from outside sources. We finish by covering effective therapeutic approaches that target substance use disorders (SUDs) at the couple level, for individuals struggling with substance use disorders, for concerned partners, and for the couple together.
Phenology of Parasetigena silvestris (Diptera: Tachinidae), gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) larval parasitoid and its efficiency for parasitisation.

Parasetigena silvestris is a univoltine, solitary, larval endoparasitoid which lays its eggs on the surface of gypsy moth larvae. Field collection of the host larvae (2nd through 5th instar) from a...
Engaging Quiet Students in the College Classroom

Quiet students are sometimes misunderstood in the college classroom. Students may be quiet for reasons related to personality traits, learned behaviors, or situational factors, but regardless, thei...
Comparing DNA quantity and quality using saliva collection following food and beverage consumption.

Objective With the democratization of genetic testing, researchers, clinicians, and educators must consider the varying degree of field conditions when collecting samples for genetic analyses. For genotyping or sequencing studies, study designers have multiple options from which to choose, including cheek swabs and saliva sampling. One significant benefit of saliva collection is that it can be done remotely, in the privacy of one’s home. This same benefit adds a risk of compliance. Therefore, our goal with this study was to see if the quality and quantity of the saliva collection by a saliva DNA collection kit would be affected by not following the manufacturer’s directions, i.e., drinking or eating right before collection.
Work-Related Musculoskeletal Symptoms among Loggers in the Ark-La-Tex Region.

Background: The U.S. logging sector is among the most dangerous industrial sectors, with high fatality and non-fatal injury rates. Limited research has addressed work-related musculoskeletal disord...
Wideband OPLL photonic integrated circuit enabling ultrahigh dynamic range PM RF/photonic link

The RF/photonic link is the basic element of microwave photonics. Previous RF photonic links often rely on optical intensity modulation. The inherent modulation nonlinearity leads to inadequate spurious free dynamic range (SFDR) for many sought-after microwave photonic applications in radar. A new phase-modulated (PM) link with an optical phase-locked loop (OPLL) demodulator could afford a promising solution for the SFDR. However, the efficacy of the PM link approach remained unsubstantiated as previous OPLL implementations had too restricted of a bandwidth for realistic applications. Here, we present a new OPLL photonic integrated circuit (PIC) chip that offered quadrupled bandwidth enhancement over the state of the art. The OPLL PIC represents the first OPLL linear optical phase demodulator with sufficient bandwidth for realistic microwave photonic applications. With help of the OPLL PIC, a PM RF/photonic link demonstrated a record-breaking SFDR of ∼129.3 dB·Hz2/3 and a 3 dB SFDR bandwidth of ∼1 GHz. The combined SFDR and bandwidth performance amounts to around 1 order of magnitude improvement over the prior state of the art.
Atomically imaged crystal structure and normal-state properties of superconducting C a 10 P t 4 A s 8 ((F e 1-x P t x ) 2 A s 2 ) 5

Superconducting $\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{a}}_{10}\mathrm{P}{\mathrm{t}}_{4}\mathrm{A}{\mathrm{s}}_{8}{(\mathrm{F}{\mathrm{e}}_{2}\mathrm{A}{\mathrm{s}}_{2})}_{5}$ is rare because optimal superconducting transition temperature is achieved without chemical doping or pressure. However, the unclear crystal structure limits our ability to understand the structure-property relationship. Using atomically resolved scanning transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction, we directly determine the structure of this superconductor: it forms a monoclinic structure (space group $P{2}_{1}/n$) with lattice parameters $a=b=8.76\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\AA{}$, $c=20.18\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\AA{}$, and $\ensuremath{\gamma}=90.{5}^{\ensuremath{\circ}}$. Compared with previously reported structures derived from diffraction experiments, the $c$-lattice constant is doubled due to alternating stacking of $\mathrm{P}{\mathrm{t}}_{4}\mathrm{A}{\mathrm{s}}_{8}$ layers, which induces a high density of stacking faults. With the establishment of the crystal structure, stacking faults, and chemical composition, the distinctive normal-state electrical and thermal transport properties of our superconducting $\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{a}}_{10}\mathrm{P}{\mathrm{t}}_{4}\mathrm{A}{\mathrm{s}}_{8}{({(\mathrm{F}{\mathrm{e}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}\mathrm{P}{\mathrm{t}}_{x})}_{2}\mathrm{A}{\mathrm{s}}_{2})}_{5}$ ($x\ensuremath{\sim}0.05$) single crystals can be explained.
Integrating Safeness Index-Based Model Predictive Control and Safety Relief Valve Activation for Operational Safety of Chemical Processes

This work demonstrates an application of Safeness Index-based model predictive control to improve process operational safety in a safety critical chemical process application. Specifically, a high-pressure flash drum separator together with pressure relief valve as safety system is used to analyze the benefits of integrating Safeness Index-based considerations in model predictive control (MPC). Safeness Index function and Safeness Index threshold are developed using information collected from the process and safety system to indicate the safeness of the plant. Under an identified linear model, MPC is implemented with Safeness Index-based constraints and slack variables in a co-simulation of Matlab/Aspen. It is demonstrated that in the presence of a small disturbance, the drum pressure remains below the opening pressure of relief valve by Safeness Index-based MPC, so that the safety system is not activated. When there is a large disturbance, the controller working together with the relief valve ensures process operational safety before, during and after the pressure relief valve is turned on/off.
Cord blood DNA methylome in newborns later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder reflects early dysregulation of neurodevelopmental and X-linked genes

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with complex heritability and higher prevalence in males. Since the neonatal epigenome has the potential to reflect past interactions between genetic and environmental factors during early development, we performed whole-genome bisulfite sequencing of 152 umbilical cord blood samples from the MARBLES and EARLI high-familial risk prospective cohorts to identify an epigenomic signature of ASD at birth. Results: We identified differentially-methylated regions (DMRs) stratified by sex that discriminated ASD from control cord blood samples in discovery and replication sets. At a region level, 7 DMRs in males and 31 DMRs in females replicated across two independent groups of subjects, while 537 DMR genes in males and 1762 DMR genes in females replicated by gene association. These DMR genes were significantly enriched for brain and embryonic expression, X chromosome location, and identification in prior epigenetic studies of ASD in post-mortem brain. In males and females, autosomal ASD DMRs were significantly enriched for promoter and bivalent chromatin states across most cell types, while sex differences were observed for X-linked ASD DMRs. Lastly, these DMRs identified in cord blood were significantly enriched for binding sites of methyl-sensitive transcription factors relevant to fetal brain development. Conclusions: At birth, prior to the diagnosis of ASD, a distinct DNA methylation signature was detected in cord blood over regulatory regions and genes relevant to early fetal neurodevelopment. Differential cord methylation in ASD supports the developmental and sex-biased etiology of ASD, and provides novel insights for early diagnosis and therapy.
The proportion of Model for End-stage Liver Disease Sodium score attributable to creatinine independently predicts post-transplant survival and renal complications.

The post-transplant outcomes of patients with Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) score primarily driven by renal dysfunction are poorly understood. This was a retrospective cohort study of liver transplant (LT) alone recipients between 2005-2017 using the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database. The proportion of MELD Sodium score attributable to creatinine (“KidneyMELD”) was calculated: (9.57 x ln (creatinine) x 100) / (MELD-Na – 6.43). The association of KidneyMELD with (1) all-cause mortality and (2) estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≤30mL/min/1.732 at 1-year post-LT were evaluated. Recipients with KidneyMELD ≥50% had a 52% higher risk of post-LT mortality (adjusted hazard ratio 1.52 vs KidneyMELD 0%, 95% CI: 1.36-1.69; p 50 years at LT (interaction p<0.001). KidneyMELD ≥50% was also associated with an 11-fold increase in the odds of advanced renal dysfunction at 1-year post-LT (adjusted odds ratio 11.53 vs KidneyMELD 0%; 95% CI 8.9-14.93; p<0.001). Recipients prioritized for LT primarily on the basis of renal dysfunction have marked post-LT mortality and morbidity independent of MELD Sodium score. The implications of these results in the context of the new UNOS ‘safety net’ kidney transplant policy require further study.
Modeling the dynamics of COVID19 spread during and after social distancing

Abstract Non-pharmaceutical intervention measures, such as social distancing, have so far been the only means to slow the spread of COVID19. In the United States, strict social distancing has resulted in different types infection dynamics. In some states, such as New York, extensive infection spread was followed by a pronounced decline of infection levels. In other states, such as California, less infection spread occurred before strict social distancing, and a different pattern was observed. Instead of a pronounced infection decline, a long-lasting plateau is evident, characterized by similar daily new infection levels. While these plateau dynamics cannot be readily reproduced with standard SIR infection models, we show that network models, in which individuals and their social contacts are explicitly tracked, can reproduce the plateau if network connections are cut due to social distancing measures. The reason is that in networks characterized by a degree of 2D spatial structure, infection tends to spread quadratically with time, but as edges are randomly removed, the infection spreads along nearly one-dimensional infection “corridors”, resulting in plateau dynamics. Interestingly, the plateau dynamics are predicted to eventually transition into an infection decline phase without any further increase in social distancing measures. Additionally, the models suggest that a potential second wave becomes significantly less pronounced if social distancing is only relaxed once the dynamics have transitioned to the decline phase. The network models analyzed here allow us to interpret and reconcile different infection dynamics during social distancing observed in various US states.
Development Finance or Financial Accumulation for Asset Managers?: The Perils of the Global Shadow Banking System in Developing Countries

The private finance-led development model, promoted by international financial institutions, has faced a number of challenges. A major criticism is that the model promotes shadow banking, a system ...
Enriching Critical Literacy Through Children's Literature: A Case Study in South Korea

Adopting a qualitative case-study approach, the current article explores how a literature-based, early critical-literacy practice can help young children critically engage with texts and shape their own voices. As part of a large-scale research project on early literacy education in South Korea, this study focuses on data collected over a five-month period, including participatory observations, in-depth interviews, and written materials. The findings suggest that literature-based, early critical literacy can foster young children’s critical and creative thinking and facilitate the creation of their own voices. How to make early critical literacy activities more meaningful and effective is also discussed.
The Extrajudicial Punishment of Rapists Imprisoned in Brazil

This chapter examines the competing logics of gender and justice that intersect in Brazilian prisons as authorities attempt to protect, and inmates endeavor to punish, men who have been put behind bars in cases involving rape. On the one hand, the chapter describes the strategies of concealment prison administrators and court officials use to shield prisoners from being identified as rapists. On the other hand, the chapter documents the brutal ways inmates punish peers who have become known as perpetrators of sexual assault. Ultimately, the chapter argues that power in Brazil’s male prisons cannot be understood without considering who has the authority to define and to punish acts of sexual violence.
Preaching and the Wounds of Migration

A few months ago, as my family was preparing to relocate from the Raleigh-Durham area, I was reminded once again of the unique hermeneutics at work in many Hispanic Protestant congregations.1 The o...
Spectral Gap Extrapolation and Radio Frequency Interference Suppression Using 1D UNets

Modern ultra-wideband (UWB) radar systems transmit a wide range of frequencies, spanning hundreds of MHz to a few GHz, to achieve improved penetration depth and narrower pulse width. A common challenge faced is the presence of other commercial transmission equipment operating in the same band, causing radio frequency interference (RFI). To overcome this RFI issue, radar systems have been developed to either avoid operating in bands with RFI or suppress the RFI after reception. In this work, we examine both families of operation and demonstrate that 1D convolutional neural networks based on the UNet architecture can provide powerful signal enhancement capabilities on raw UWB radar data. The model is trained purely on simulated data and translated to real UWB data, achieving impressive results compared to traditional sparse-recovery baseline algorithms.
Understanding constraints on integrated care for people with HIV and multimorbid cardiovascular conditions: an application of the Theoretical Domains Framework

People with HIV (PWH) experience increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Many PWH in the USA receive their primary medical care from infectious disease specialists in HIV clinics. HIV care teams may not be fully prepared to provide evidence-based CVD care. We sought to describe local context for HIV clinics participating in an NIH-funded implementation trial and to identify facilitators and barriers to integrated CVD preventive care for PWH. Data were collected in semi-structured interviews and focus groups with PWH and multidisciplinary healthcare providers at three academic medical centers. We used template analysis to identify barriers and facilitators of CVD preventive care in three HIV specialty clinics using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). Six focus groups were conducted with 37 PWH. Individual interviews were conducted with 34 healthcare providers and 14 PWH. Major themes were captured in seven TDF domains. Within those themes, we identified nine facilitators and 11 barriers to CVD preventive care. Knowledge gaps contributed to inaccurate CVD risk perceptions and ineffective self-management practices in PWH. Exclusive prioritization of HIV over CVD-related conditions was common in PWH and their providers. HIV care providers assumed inconsistent roles in CVD prevention, including for PWH with primary care providers. HIV providers were knowledgeable of HIV-related CVD risks and co-located health resources were consistently available to support PWH with limited resources in health behavior change. However, infrequent medical visits, perceptions of CVD prevention as a primary care service, and multiple co-location of support programs introduced local challenges to engaging in CVD preventive care. Barriers to screening and treatment of cardiovascular conditions are common in HIV care settings and highlight a need for greater primary care integration. Improving long-term cardiovascular outcomes of PWH will likely require multi-level interventions supporting HIV providers to expand their scope of practice, addressing patient preferences for co-located CVD preventive care, changing clinic cultures that focus only on HIV to the exclusion of non-AIDS multimorbidity, and managing constraints associated with multiple services co-location. ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT03643705
The Role of Courts in Remedying Climate Chaos: Transcending Judicial Nihilism and Taking Survival Seriously

Numerous courts have dismissed cases relating to the climate crisis as nonjusticiable political questions or for lack of redressability before ever reaching the cases’ merits. These rulings demonstrate that too many courts have a nihilistic worldview when it comes to remedying the climate crisis. This judicial nihilism threatens an early end for Juliana v. United States, wherein youth plaintiffs allege that the federal government’s exacerbation of the climate crisis violates a constitutional right to a stable climate system. To combat judicial climate nihilism, this Note demonstrates why the climate crisis does not present nonjusticiable political questions, especially in the constitutional context, and that courts do have the power to redress this crisis. In addition to relying on U.S. case law, the Note examines how the groundbreaking Urgenda decision from the Netherlands Supreme Court provides an insightful analysis of governments’ political question and redressability defenses. Climate cases do not inherently contain political questions because (1) no textually demonstrable commitment to other political branches bars courts from addressing the climate crisis, (2) tort and constitutional law, along with science, provide judicially manageable and discoverable standards, and (3) deciding such cases does not require the courts to make an initial policy decision inappropriate for judicial discretion. If courts continue to dismiss climate cases as political questions, this may eventually undermine the legitimacy of the judiciary, as well as the rule of law itself. Furthermore, courts have the power to redress the climate crisis because partial redressability is enough to meet redressability as a standing requirement. Every reduction in greenhouse gas emissions helps remedy the climate crisis, and U.S. courts can order such reductions while leaving other branches of government to determine exactly how such reductions should be achieved. Finally, the constitutional right to a habitable environment can be derived from substantive due process doctrine, and the contrary position that no such right exists is the far more radical one.
Employment disruption in patients with gynecologic cancer: who is at risk?

Objectives: Employment disruption in the gynecologic cancer population may be substantial, particularly during a recession. Our objective was to evaluate factors associated with unemployment among gynecologic cancer patients in a nationally representative survey. Methods: A retrospective cohort of women ages 18-64 reporting employment currently or in the past, denying retirement, and endorsing care related to a gynecologic malignancy was identified in the 2007-2017 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). Survey weights were applied to generate national estimates of unemployment and job disruption (job change or loss) among the study cohort compared to the overall US population. We considered patient characteristics and healthcare utilization. Adjusted Wald statistics were used to compare employment outcomes between groups. Weighted multivariable logistic regression was utilized to assess factors independently associated with unemployment. Results: Of the 839 respondents with a gynecologic malignancy, 516 reporting current or past employment were identified. This cohort represents an estimated yearly average population of 434,000 (95% CI 370,000-498,000) that is mostly Caucasian (87%) with a mean age of 44.6 years. Compared to the overall US population, gynecologic cancer patients reported more non-cancer comorbidities (1.3 vs. 0.72, P Download : Download high-res image (146KB) Download : Download full-size image Conclusions: Gynecologic cancer patients experienced higher rates of unemployment, and loss of productivity compared to the overall US population. Disrupted employment was associated with at least one month of no health insurance coverage, and lack of a high school degree and increased healthcare utilization were independently associated with unemployment. While there was no association between the 2008 financial crisis era and unemployment, these data may help identify patients vulnerable to employment loss and health insurance loss during the current recession.
Value of chest CT over skeletal surveys in detection of rib fractures in pediatric patients.

Recent literature has raised concerns about the sensitivity and accuracy of radiographs at diagnosing rib fractures. Studies have shown that chest computed tomography (CT) has far greater sensitivity at detecting rib fractures than radiographs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity of skeletal survey (SS) radiographs at diagnosis of rib fractures compared to CT in the pediatric population. This retrospective review included 57 patients who had undergone both a SS and a CT chest or CT chest/abdomen/pelvis within 30 days of each other for the indication of either non-accidental (NAT) or accidental trauma between 2009 and 2017. Images and reports were analyzed by a pediatric radiology fellow for presence/absence of fracture, evidence of healing and location of rib fracture, including rib level, location within the rib (anterior, lateral, and posterior), and side (right versus left). 225 rib fractures were identified in 25 patients on CT. 38 of those fractures were missed on the preceding SS, yielding a miss rate of 17%. Acute fractures were more likely to be missed than chronic or healing fractures (p ≤ 0.01). Location within the rib did not impact rib detection on radiographs. Left-sided rib fractures were not more common in NAT patients, compared to accidental trauma. SS miss approximately 17% of all rib fractures and CT is more sensitive modality in the detection of rib fractures, particularly acute rib fractures, regardless of location. Low-dose Chest CT could be a helpful modality in the work-up of NAT trauma.
Access to Credit and Firm Ownership in South Africa

Although South Africa' financial sector is well-developed, microenterprise managers see access to finance as a serious problem. Managers of black-owned microenterprises are more likely to see it as a problem - and are less likely to use bank financing - than white-owned microenterprises. Differences in access remain statistically significant and large even after controlling for observable enterprise characteristics. Adding additional variables to control for enterprise productivity, registration, and the presence of audited accounts reduces the size and statistical significance of the difference, but does not eliminate it. This suggests that either other unobserved differences (such as, the availability of collateral) or factors such as discrimination explain part of the difference in access to credit.
LMX and Subordinate Performance: The Moderating Effects of Task Characteristics

Role conflict, role ambiguity, and intrinsic task satisfaction are found to moderate the relationship between leader–member exchange (LMX) and subordinate performance. Data from a field study of 146 supervisor–subordinate dyads indicate low conflict, high ambiguity, and high intrinsic satisfaction enhance the link between LMX and performance. Neutralizing effects are found when ambiguity and intrinsic satisfaction are low. High conflict appears to have a constraining effect, whereby the connection between LMX and performance is reduced but not neutralized. Results from the study call attention to the theoretical and practical benefits of examining the LMX/performance link from a contingency perspective, and offer a viable, albeit tentative, explanation for inconsistent findings reported in earlier studies.