cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sediment transport by wind: Toward a general model

A general model of eolian sediment transport by both saltation and suspension is developed. Saltation is analyzed through calculations of single trajectories, given initial conditions of liftoff speed, angle, and spin. Profiles of particle concentration and mass flux, generated by assuming that all trajectories are identical, display distinct maxima at the top of the trajectory. By incorporating the realistic distribution of trajectories that arises from the stochastic nature of grain impacts with a granular bed, the model yields monotonic decreases in particle concentration and mass flux with height, in accordance with published empirical data. The analysis of suspension, as the balance between downward advective flux as a result of the settling of grains and their upward diffusive flux as a result of turbulence, results in concentration profiles that fall off as power laws with height, also in accordance with empirical data. A relation for reference-level concentrations is presented for both blowing-snow and dust profiles. The solutions for saltation and suspension are combined to yield mass-flux profiles for the entire range of grain sizes in the bed. The saltation layer emerges naturally as that region where the total flux of saltating grains exceeds that of suspended grains. The model points clearly to the need for further research on the stochastic grain-bed interactions, which control both the probability distribution of liftoff velocities in saltation and the production of fine particles in suspension.
Use of recombinant viruses to assess the pattern of early human immunodeficiency virus breakthrough infection in the presence of stavudine.

A variety of cell lines were infected with replication-defective recombinant retroviruses in the presence of stavudine (d4T). Cells which were infected despite the presence of d4T were isolated and subjected to infection with other retroviruses [replication-competent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), replication-defective HIV or replication-defective recombinant murine retroviruses]. Each of the host cell types tested had a small subset of cells that were infected with HIV or murine retroviruses in the presence of d4T. Some of these infected cells could be infected repeatedly at high efficiency in the presence of d4T. This phenotype of ‘persistent refractoriness’ to the antiviral effects of d4T could be overcome by the addition of 5-fluoro-2-deoxyuridine (floxuridine) to d4T. The d4T–floxuridine combination also had potent antiretroviral effects in primary blood mononuclear cells.
When Second Comes First: Correcting Patent's Poor Secondary Incentives Through an Optional Patent Purchasing System

The patent system encourages innovation by giving inventors temporary monopoly rights over their inventions and the monopoly profits that accompany them. However, monopolists earn their profits by raising prices and restricting output relative to competitive levels. This artificially encourages the development of substitutes for, and discourages the development of complements to, the patented good. For example, the majority of pharmaceutical research dollars are now spent on "me-too" drugs, which have medicinal properties that are similar or identical to existing, commercially successful products. Subsidies, the traditional economic response to this problem, can be extremely expensive and difficult to calibrate. This Article proposes a new solution: a mechanism through which the government makes voluntary, arm's-length purchases of certain patents, then makes the technology freely available. This system would produce economically efficient incentives for the development of complements and substitutes while preserving inventors' incentives to innovate. While this approach is not suitable for general application, there are certain areas, such as pharmaceutical patents, in which it may offer significant benefits.
Actinomycosis mimicking pelvic malignancy

Pelvic actinomyces, usually a complication of an intrauterine device (IUD), is uncommon and may present a diagnostic dilemma because of an atypical clinical presentation. We present a patient with a cervical tumor, extensive parametrial induration with involvement of the posterior bladder wall, and regional lymph nodes which mimicked advanced cervical cancer and presented a significant diagnostic problem.
AtOPT3, a member of the oligopeptide transporter family, is essential for embryo development in Arabidopsis.

A T-DNA–tagged population of Arabidopsis was screened for mutations in AtOPT3, which encodes a member of the oligopeptide (OPT) family of peptide transporters, and a recessive mutant allele, opt3, was identified. Phenotypic analysis of opt3 showed that most homozygous embryos were arrested at or before the octant stage of embryo development and that none showed the usual periclinal division leading to the formation of the protoderm. This defective phenotype could be reversed by complementation with the full-length, wild-type AtOPT3 gene. A β-glucuronidase (GUS) fusion to DNA sequences upstream of the putative AtOPT3 ATG start codon was constructed, and the expression pattern was assayed in transgenic plants. AtOPT3 was expressed in the vascular tissues of seedlings and mature plants as well as in pollen. Consistent with the function of AtOPT3 in embryogenesis, AtOPT3::GUS expression also was detected in developing embryos and in the maternal tissues of seeds. These data suggest a critical role for peptide transport in early embryo development.
Statistical properties of modal noise in fiber–laser systems

The direct analysis in the time domain of the fluctuations of a signal propagating in a fiber-optic link in the presence of an imperfect connector makes it possible to formalize in a simple manner the description of its statistical properties. This permits, in particular, the clarification of the role played by the various time scales involved in the problem (coherence time of the fiber-exciting source, fiber modal delay, detector response time, etc.) in evaluating the statistical averages. The formalism includes in a straightforward way the case of simultaneous excitation of the fiber by more than one source. This last circumstance is expedient for checking the beneficial effect on modal noise derived from exciting the fiber with N laser sources.
Future Research in the Social, Behavioral & Economic Sciences

We propose that rather than financing projects that have been proposed, the NSF should award prizes for research that has already been done.
Examining the evolution and distribution of patent classifications

Today, more so than ever, patents play an important role in helping inventors and organizations protect their intellectual property. With a 140% increase in the number of patents granted over the last 25 years, a rich source of data is available that can be examined to better understand changing trends in patent grants. We discuss visualization techniques that allow us to examine the classification of more than 2.5 million patents in an attempt to improve understanding of how an assignee's patent portfolio, and the patent space as a whole, is partitioned and evolves over time.
A Geometric Treatment of Directed Guidance Regulation

Herein a general method for generating guidance laws from steering/navigation laws, such as the parallel navigation law, is described. Due to the fact that the method described makes use of a steering law, the moniker directed guidance is used. The method presented is purely geometric. The laws produced by the method assume only as much as is implicitly required by the navigation law acting as the seed. Because of this, very generic laws may arise that do not place restrictions upon target or interceptor kinematics, such as the typically seen constant speed assumptions. An example is made of the parallel navigation steering law. The guidance law generated by the parallel navigation steering law is t for maneuvering and accelerating targets and interceptors.
Case Study: Age Of Assets And Quality Of Care In Three New York State Hospitals

A previous study (Morey, Scherzer & Lee, 2005) of seventy-three New York hospitals examined the relationship between age of assets, fiscal viability and quality of care. The relationship of these factors was examined using 2002 data, for each of the hospitals randomly selected for inclusion in study. Several financial variables were used to construct a fiscal viability index; and a “quality index” was created from selected mortality outcomes and procedural measures used to evaluate specific aspects of institutional care. The results of the study indicated that fiscal viability positively influenced the quality of hospital care, which means that hospitals with better financial conditions tend to provide greater quality of care to their patients. However, the effect of age of assets on quality was counter-intuitive, with the research results indicating hospitals with older assets provided better quality care to their patients. This unexpected outcome might stem from a measurement error in determining the age of asset. Age of asset was determined with respect to all long-term assets, but average age of equipment may have a greater impact on hospital care quality than age of buildings. Related to this issue, various quality measures may be affected differently by the age of assets. For example, hospitals with the latest diagnostic equipment may greatly influence the outcome of certain inpatient conditions. The purpose of this case study was to examine three hospitals in the study that demonstrated this unexpected outcome; that is, hospitals with older assets that appeared to provide better quality services to their patients than hospitals with younger assets.
Wind-Tunnel Based Definition of the AFE Aerothermodynamic Environment

The Aeroassist Flight Experiment (AFE), scheduled to be performed in 1994, will serve as a precursor for aeroassisted space transfer vehicles (ASTV’s) and is representative of entry concepts being considered for missions to Mars. Rationale for the AFE is reviewed briefly as are the various experiments carried aboard the vehicle. The approach used to determine hypersonic aerodynamic and aerothermodynamic characteristics over a wide range of simulation parameters in ground-based facilities is presented. Facilities, instrumentation and test procedures employed in the establishment of the data base are discussed. Measurements illustrating the effects of hypersonic simulation parameters, particularly normal-shock density ratio (an important parameter for hypersonic blunt bodies), and attitude on aerodynamic and aerothermodynamic characteristics are presented, and predictions from computational fluid dynamic (CFD) computer codes are compared with measurement.
STRUCTURAL ARREST AND THERMODYNAMIC SCALING IN FILLER-REINFORCED POLYMERS

Abstract The role of small silica particles on the stiffness and glass transition dynamics of polyvinylacetate (PVAc) was examined for filler volume fraction (ϕ) from 0 to 0.28. Whereas the influences of bound polymer and a strain-dependent filler network were clearly noted in the shear properties, the only effect of filler on the bulk modulus was the reduction in deformable polymer. The calorimetric glass transition of PVAc and its dependence on cooling rate were unaltered by the presence of the silica, in agreement with previous dielectric relaxation results. In contrast to the temperature dependence of the segmental dynamics, which was independent of ϕ, the effect of volume on segmental relaxation was amplified by the addition of silica. This resulted in larger values for the thermodynamic scaling exponent (γ), which also increased sharply at the filler concentration corresponding to the development of a percolated filler network.
Studies on the Gaseous Secretion of Tribolium Confusum Duval II. the Odoriferous Glands of Tribolium Confusum

It has long been known that Tribolium confusum Duval gives off an odoriferous substance. Chittenden (1896) noticed that a few flour beetles were enough to give a “persistent and disagreeable odor to the infested substance.” The gas given off by the Tribolium adults deleteriously affects the viscous and elastic properties of a dough made from infested flour (Payne, 1925). Park (1934) reported that Dr. John Stanley believes “ … the gas along with certain fluids found in Tribolium may be irritating to man resulting particularly in gastric disorders.” However, from experiments on rats and man, there is no evidence that injury would result from the ingestion of confused flour beetles as they may accidently occur in cooked cereals (Mills and Pepper, 1939). Abnormal adults have been obtained by subjecting immature stages of Tribolium to the vapors of the secretion (Chapman, 1926). Roth and Howland (1941) isolated the substance and also obtained interesting monstrosities by subjecting different stages to both the fumes and crystals of the secretion. However, although many interesting facts have been established concerning this substance, the organs which produce the material have never been described. Good (1936) states that the scent glands of both Tribolium confusum and T. castaneum are well developed and are possessed by the adults but not by the larvae.
Adrenergically activated Ca2+ increases in brown fat cells: effects of Ca2+, K+, and K channel block

We measured intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) during adrenergic stimulation using fura-2 ratio imaging of individual cultured neonatal rat brown fat cells. One micromolar norepinephrine (NE) increased [Ca2+]i from an average resting value of 105 nM to 555 nM in approximately 30 s. [Ca2+]i remained elevated as long as NE was present but returned to resting levels within 2-3 min after NE removal. The response was half maximal at approximately 50 nM NE and was primarily alpha-adrenergic. The sustained, but not the initial, increase in [Ca2+]i required extracellular calcium. Cells stimulated in high-K media had [Ca2+]i responses like those in 0 Ca2+, suggesting that depolarization abrogates calcium influx. Parallel perforated-patch recordings showed that the increase in [Ca2+]i activates a calcium-activated K conductance. Blocking K channels with moderate concentrations of tetraethylammonium (TEA) had only small effects on NE-induced changes in [Ca2+]i, but high concentrations of TEA significantly reduced the response. We conclude that cytoplasmic calcium is modulated by fluxes from both intracellular and extracellular sources and that K channels may not be required for normal short-term [Ca2+]i responses to hormone.
Relationship between unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia and myocardial damage of neonates

Objective To investigate relationship between unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia and myocardial damage of neonates.Methods 50 neonates with uncongated hyperbilirubinemia were prospectively studied.The levels of myocardial enzymes and cardiac troponin-Ⅰ(CTN-Ⅰ) were detected in bilirubin elevating period and recovery period respectively,at the same time,the QT interval dispersion degree(QTd) on ECG were examined.Results Myocardial enzymes,CTN-Ⅰ and QTd on ECG were increased significantly in bilirubin elevating preiod and fell to normal ranges in recovery period,especially CTN-Ⅰand QTd.In unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia period,the positive rates of creatine kinase(CK)(453.00±81.20 IU/L),CK-MB(46.40±4.50 IU/L),CTN-Ⅰ(0.24±0.06 ng/mL) and QTd(57.33±30.60 Ms) were 86%,80%,84% and 52%,respectively.After treatment,the values of all indexes decreased at varied extent and there were significant differences as compared with those before treatment(t=5.585,5.860,4.317 and 4.424,respectively,all P0.05).Conclusion Hyperbilirubinemia can cause myocardial damage,but it not seems to cause permanent damage to nervous system and the damage caused is reversible.CTN-Ⅰ and QTd are very important indexes of myocardial damage and they are more significat than myocardial enzymes.
Generalizing problem reduction: a logical analysis

Froblcm reduction is the name given to the problem-solving paradigm in which the problem solver manages a network of "tasks" representing its intentions, repeatedly reducing tasks to subtasks and coordinating their execution. This idea needs a lot of generalization for it to be able to handle a realistic range of problems. Even after the model of time is made more realistic (to handle continuity and branching), issues remain regarding what it means to have a task or a subtask, how a task can succeed or fail, whether a task is feasible. A profitable way to study these issues is to attempt to add axioms about tasks to a first-order temporal logic. The result sheds light on what sorts of generalizations of task networks are needed.
Neural responses to visual texture patterns in middle temporal area of the macaque monkey.

1. We studied how neurons in the middle temporal visual area (MT) of anesthetized macaque monkeys responded to textured and nontextured visual stimuli. Stimuli contained a central rectangular ,figu...
Characterization of p53-Dependent Pathways In RPL11 Mutant Zebrafish

Abstract 2227 Deficiency of ribosomal protein (RPs) is associated with Diamond Blackfan Anemia, a congenital syndrome with bone marrow failure and variable malformations. Recent studies have demonstrated that deficiency of several RPs leads to activation of p53 and related family members, ΔNp53 and ΔNp63. In addition, P53 inhibition rescues hematopoiesis in RP-deficient mice and zebrafish. p53 activation, however, results in the alteration of many pathways and specific mechanisms leading to bone marrow failure and other defects in DBA remain unidentified. To understand the global changes in gene expression downstream of RP insufficiency, we took a system biology approach to characterize the molecular pathways involving p53. We studied pathways downstream of p53 that contribute to the RPL mutant phenotype in zebrafish. Changes in p53-dependent pathways in RPL11 mutants included dysregulation of cell cycle and apoptosis, shift in energy production from glycolysis to aerobic respiration, suppression of biosynthesis of structurally important proteins, downregulation of detoxifying enzymes, and upregulation of factors leading to activation of adrenal-pituitary axis and inflammation. Among multiple metabolic changes were those that led to increased levels of insulin and glucose. Both differentiation and production of blood were affected. Expression of genes that regulate the development and function of neural system were notably decreased, in particular, those involved in the development of anterior brain structures and eyes. The production and migration of neural crest cells were disrupted suggesting possible explanation for craniofacial and other defects observed in patients with DBA. The RPL11 mutants also had abnormal development of hematopoietic stem cells and shortened life span of mature red blood cells. Dexamethasone treatment led to downregulation of p53 expression; suppression of p53 targets mediating cell cycle arrest and apoptosis; and rescue of expression of HSC markers such as runx1. The life span of erythroid cells was also increased in response to dexamethasone treatment. These data contribute to our understanding of the molecular pathophysiology of DBA and suggest new potential targets for therapeutic intervention. Disclosures: Sakamoto: Abbott Laboratories, Inc.: Research Funding; Genentech, Inc.: Research Funding.
miR-181b-5p Modulates Cell Migratory Proteins, Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase 3, and Annexin A2 During In Vitro Decidualization in a Human Endometrial Stromal Cell Line:

Decidualization is essential for successful embryo implantation and is regulated by concerted actions of growth factors and hormones. More recently, microRNAs, small RNA molecules that regulate posttranscriptional gene expression, have been implicated to play a role in the decidualization process. Of these microRNAs, miR-181b-5p has been associated with decidualization but its precise role and targets are not well established. To address this gap in our knowledge, we assessed the expression of miR-181b-5p, and its target tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 3 (TIMP-3), during in vitro decidualization using the well-characterized human endometrial stromal cell line, t-HESC. miR-181b-5p expression was highest prior to decidualization and significantly decreased in response to decidualization stimulus. In contrast, TIMP-3 expression was absent prior to in vitro decidualization and increased during decidualization. Regulation of TIMP-3 expression by miR-181b-5p was confirmed in vitro by quantitative reverse ...
Sense of Purpose Scale: Development and initial validation

This study focused on the development of the Sense of Purpose Scale and demonstrated three empirically interpretable subscales: awareness of purpose, awakening to purpose, and altruistic purpose. T...
Bis-cyclometalated iridium complexes with electronically modified aryl isocyanide ancillary ligands

In this work we report a study on the effect of systematic ancillary ligand modifications on electrochemical and photophysical properties of cationic biscyclometalated bis(arylisocyanide)iridium(III) complexes. Nine new Ir(III) complexes were synthesized using three different cyclometalating (C^N) ligands (2,4-difluorophenylpyridine (F2ppy), 2-benzothienylpyridine (btp), and 2-phenylbenzothiazole (bt)) with three aryl isocyanide ancillary ligands (2,4-dimethoxyphenyl isocyanide (CNArOMe), 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl isocyanide (CNArCF3) and 4-nitrophenyl isocyanide (CNArNO2)). Systematic modifications of ancillary ligands with electron-donating or electron-withdrawing groups have a very minor influence on the positions of the absorption and emission bands, suggesting that aryl isocyanide ancillary ligands minimally perturb the primarily ligand-centered emissive states, but still can control the dynamics of the excited state. Replacing electron-donating groups with electron-withdrawing group influences kr and/or knr, resulting in changes in the lifetimes and quantum yields. In addition, we reveal that electronic structures can be substantially altered by incorporating electron-donating or electron-withdrawing groups on the aryl isocyanide ancillary ligand, with different magnitudes of the perturbation depending on the cyclometalating C^N ligand. Particularly, the formally IrIV/IrIII oxidation couple can be perturbed by over 200 mV when electron-donating substituents are replaced with electron-withdrawing groups.
Survival outcomes in the very elderly with DLBCL prior to and after the introduction of rituximab: a US population-based study.

TO THE EDITOR: With improvements in medical care and the resultant positive impact on life expectancy over the past few decades, the proportion of the population aged >65 years has seen significant increase, with the very elderly (age >80 years) expressed as a percentage of those aged >65 years
Dissimilar directional couplers showing -symmetric-like behavior

Despite the benefits which the directional couplers based on parity-time symmetric systems may offer to the field of integrated optics, the realization of such couplers relies on rather strict design constraints on the waveguide parameters. Here, we analytically and numerically investigate directional couplers built of dissimilar waveguides that do not fulfill the parity-time symmetry. Nevertheless, we demonstrate that for properly designed parameters, at least one mode of such couplers shows a behavior similar to the one observed in parity-time symmetric systems. We find an analytical condition relating the gain and loss that enables such a behavior. Moreover, if the individual waveguides composing the dissimilar coupler are designed such that the propagation constants of their modes are identical, the behavior of both super-modes supported by the coupler resembles that of the parity-time symmetric systems.
Liberty’s Prisoners: Carceral Culture in Early America. By Jen Manion. (Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2015. Pp. ix, 278. $45.00.)

Most work on the history of penitentiaries focuses on their rise within schemes of criminal punishment. Jen Manion unlocks the gates and ventures inside to dim chambers where inmates mixed with eac...
A multivariate analysis of adverse childhood experiences and health behaviors and outcomes among college students

ABSTRACTObjective: This study investigated associations between adverse childhood experiences (ACE) prior to age 18 years and multiple health behaviors (eg, cigarette and other substance use) and outcomes (eg, obesity, depression) for a large college sample. Participants: 2,969 college students from seven universities in the state of Georgia were included in the analysis. Methods: Web-based surveys were completed by students (45–60 minutes) during the spring semester, 2015. Results: Findings indicate that more ACEs are associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms, ADHD symptoms, cigarette use, alcohol use, marijuana use, and BMI, in addition to lower levels of fruit and vegetable intake, and sleep. Conclusion: ACEs may carry forward in the lifespan to influence a range of unhealthy outcomes among college students. College intervention programs may benefit by recognizing the pervasiveness of ACEs and their associations with health behaviors and outcomes, and include interventions across more than o...
Mind the gap: Bridging the two cultures with complex thought

Abstract Robert Rosen’s work has implications for biology and the natural sciences, but also for vital issues in society, economics and politics. Today’s dominant knowledge paradigm and Anthropocene crisis are two sides of one coin: extant flaws of modern thought are part and parcel of the economic and political ideas and institutions driving both social and environmental global crises. Rosennean relational biology and Morinian complex thought shift the knowledge paradigm from modernity towards complexity, working to transcend the ontological flaws underlying the sciences to better grasp and address the social drivers of global crises. Rosen’s work bridges gaps between physics and biology, and between the sciences and humanities. Rosen's work indicates that the dominant posture of monist physicalism must be transcended with a more pluralist methodological articulation within and across disciplines. I focus on just three concepts that help to evoke and advance Rosennean complexity throughout the sciences and humanities: paradox, pluralism, and perspectivism. These three concepts help to demonstrate how Rosen’s work advances biology, but also, more broadly, how to more fully make crucial bridges across the two cultures gap, articulate transdisciplinary knowledge, and thus advance social, economic and political dimensions of urgent societal transition.
An Online Learning Methodology for Performance Modeling of Graphics Processors

Approximately 18 percent of the 3.2 million smartphone applications rely on integrated graphics processing units (GPUs) to achieve competitive performance. Graphics performance, typically measured in frames per second, is a strong function of the GPU frequency, which in turn has a significant impact on mobile processor power consumption. Consequently, dynamic power management algorithms have to assess the performance sensitivity to the frequency accurately to choose the operating frequency of the GPU effectively. Since the impact of GPU frequency on performance varies rapidly over time, there is a need for online performance models that can adapt to varying workloads. This paper presents a light-weight adaptive runtime performance model that predicts the frame processing time of graphics workloads at runtime without apriori characterization. We employ this model to estimate the frame time sensitivity to the GPU frequency, i.e., the partial derivative of the frame time with respect to the GPU frequency. The proposed model does not rely on any parameter learned offline. Our experiments on commercial platforms with common GPU benchmarks show that the mean absolute percentage error in frame time and frame time sensitivity prediction are 4.2 and 6.7 percent, respectively.
Tube-based Model Predictive Control of An Input Delayed Functional Electrical Stimulation

Functional electrical stimulation (FES) is an external application of electrical currents to elicit muscle contractions that can potentially restore limb function in persons with spinal cord injury. However, FES often leads to the rapid onset of muscle fatigue, which limits performance of FES-based devices due to reduction in force generation capability. Fatigue is caused by unnatural muscle recruitment and synchronous and repetitive recruitment of muscle fibers. In this situation, over-stimulation of the muscle fibers further aggravates the muscle fatigue. Therefore, a motivation exists to use optimal controls that minimize muscle stimulation while providing a desired performance. Model predictive controller (MPC) is one such optimal control method. However, the traditional MPC is dependent on exact model knowledge of the musculoskeletal dynamics and cannot handle modeling uncertainties. Motivated to address modeling uncertainties, robust MPC approach is used to control FES. A new robust MPC technique is studied to address electromechanical delay (EMD) during FES, which often causes performance issues and stability problems. This paper developed a novel tube-based MPC for controlling knee extension elicited through FES. In the tube-based MPC, the EMD compensation controller was chosen to be the tube that reduced the error between the nominal MPC and the output of the real system. Regulation experiments were performed on an able-bodied participant, and the controller showed robust performance despite modeling uncertainties.
TWO PROBLEMS IN COGNITION: SYMBOLIZATION, AND FROM ICON TO PHONEME

Publisher Summary This chapter describes symbolization as the representation of one item by another item that is either for the sake of one's self or for the sake of communicating with another organism. Symbolization is too basic a process to have begun with language. The chapter examines the individual components into which cognition can be analyzed. The iconicity of language has come in for renewed study. The evidence includes a number of sound–meaning correlations, some apparently restricted to a relatively few languages but others possibly universal parallels between sentence word order and the order of events described by the sentence. The iconicity of language merely corroborates a disposition that is attested to on a variety of fronts. Far more surprising than the icon is the phoneme. Unlike the iconic aspects of language, which merely carry out the imitative disposition, the phoneme occurs in opposition to that disposition. Indeed, the phoneme and its written counterpart, the grapheme, are not only non-iconic but totally nonrepresentational.
Deposits of Sand: Ripples Versus Dunes

We have seen that sediment can form mounds on the surface and that these mounds can grow through the instability associated with the saturation length. However, several effects lead to more complex structures—the recirculation bubble of airflow, the avalanching slip face of the dune, and the possibility that multiple particle sizes or densities may be present. These lead to some distinct types of structures—ripples rather than dunes. The way sediment is deposited can also leave traces in the dune (or in a sandstone if the dune becomes lithified), or on the surface on which the dune sits.
Bewohnbare Zonen des Universums

Standort! Standort! Standort! Das Geheimnis, um grose Hollywoodfilme zu produzieren — und um Immobilien zu verkaufen - ist auch das Geheimnis des Lebens, wenn es darum geht, das Universum zu besiedeln. Ein groser Teil des Universums ist vollkommen lebensfeindlich. Nur wenige Orte stellen mogliche Oasen fur das Leben dar. Der leere Raum, das Innere der Sterne, frostige Gaswolken, die „Oberflache“ von Gasplaneten wie Jupiter - all das sollte leblos sein. Wir konnen aber nicht sicher wissen, welches die Grenzen moglicher Lebensbedingungen sind. Der Blick darauf, welche Voraussetzungen notig sind, um irdisches Leben zu ermoglichen, liefert die Basis, um abzuschatzen, wo im Universum Leben existieren konnte. Unsere Spekulationen beruhen auf einer subjektiven Perspektive, die wir als Bewohner eines Planeten mit offensichtlich nahezu perfekten Lebensbedingungen zwangslaufig einnehmen.
Tax Deductions, Environmental Policy, and the

Recent studies find that environmental tax swaps typically exacerbate the costs of the tax system and therefore do not produce a "double dividend". We extend previous models by incorporating tax-favored consumption goods (e.g. housing, medical care). The efficiency gains from recycling environmental tax revenues are therefore larger because pre-existing income taxes distort both consumption decisions and factor markets. In this setting a revenue-neutral emissions tax (or auctioned permits) produces a double dividend. Moreover, the overall costs of environmental tax swaps are negative, for modest emissions reductions. The efficiency gains from emissions taxes over grandfathered permits are also much larger than previously recognized.
Depressed prostaglandins and leukotrienes in veterans with Gulf War illness.

AbstractBackground: There is need to understand biological markers and mechanisms in Gulf War illness (GWI).Goal: To examine whether and how eicosanoids – prostaglandins and leukotrienes – are alte...
Methylation protocol for the retrospective detection of isopropyl-, pinacolyl- and cyclohexylmethylphosphonic acids, indicative markers for the nerve agents sarin, soman and cyclosarin, at low levels in soils using EI-GC–MS

Abstract A practical and efficient protocol for the derivatization and detection by GC-EI-MS of isopropyl-, pinacolyl- and cyclohexylmethylphosphonic acids, key diagnostic degradation products of the nerve agents sarin, soman and cyclosarin respectively, in six different types of soil matrices is presented. The method involves the in situ conversion of the phosphonic acids to their respective methyl esters using trimethyloxonium tetrafluoroborate when present in the soils at low levels (10 μg g−1) without any prior extractions or soil preparation. The soils employed in our study were Nebraska EPA soil, Georgia soil, silt, Virginia type A soil, regular sand and Ottawa sand and were chosen for their vast differences in composition and physical features. Appealing attributes of the protocol include its rapidity (t
Mission Profile based Reliability Analysis of a Three-Phase PV Inverter Considering the Influence of High dv/dt on Parasitic Filter Elements

Silicon Carbide (SiC) power semiconductor devices in medium voltage (MV) applications have facilitated the use of power converters at distribution voltage level. In these applications, the semiconductor devices are exposed to a high peak stress (of up to 15 kV) and a very high dv/dt (of up to 100 kV/µs). The increasing use of these power devices has made the effects of the parasitic elements in the filter more prominent, due to the high dv/dt experienced by the passive filter elements during device switching transients. The parasitic elements in the filter inductors causes an increased switching loss in the devices. This paper analyses the effect of these additional losses on the lifetime of the device. A thermal analysis based on a mission profile (solar irradiance and temperature) is provided to account for the additional junction temperature rise due to the high dv/dt and the parasitic filter elements. Rainflow counting method has been used to identify the mean and amplitude of each thermal cycle. An analytical device model and Palgrem Miner rule is used to quantify the damage in the device. Comparisons have been carried out on basis of lifetime, for cases with and without the influence of parasitic capacitances. This analysis can be helpful in validating the importance of the design of filter inductors in these MV applications.
Joint power distribution does not change within the contralateral limb one year after unilateral limb loss.

Abstract Background To assist with forward progression during gait, persons with unilateral lower-limb amputation typically perform more work within the unaffected versus affected limb. However, prior cross-sectional (>2years post-amputation) studies cannot necessarily elucidate the origin or evolution of these compensatory mechanics. Research question Do lower limb joint kinetics change during the initial stages of independent ambulation among persons with lower-limb amputation? Methods Nine males with unilateral lower-limb amputation (6 transtibial; 3 transfemoral) completed instrumented gait analyses (speed = 1.2 m/s) at 2 and 12-months post-independent ambulation. Within the unaffected limb, sagittal and frontal plane total positive and negative work, peak power, average positive power, and percent contribution of each joint were compared between time points using paired t-tests. Results No differences existed between time points in total positive or negative work, at any joint (p > 0.038) in either plane. Similarly, there were no differences in percent contribution by each joint to total average power by sagittal (p > 0.15) or frontal (p > 0.32) planes. Significance Persons with unilateral lower-limb amputation do not alter power distribution among joints within the unaffected limb during initial independent ambulation. However, compared to previous cross-sectional reports, smaller peak powers in the unaffected hip and knee here suggest mechanical work increases with time since amputation. Future research should longitudinally monitor segment mechanics to determine when deleterious strategies develop, as these have implications for joint degeneration and pain.
Ceṭṭiyār Vedānta: Fashioning Hindu Selves in Colonial South India

This article seeks to pluralize current scholarly perceptions of what constitutes Advaita Vedānta in colonial India. It suggests, in particular, that the tendency to concentrate on the so-called “neo-Vedānta” of a handful of cosmopolitan reformers has obscured other kinds of innovative Vedānta-inspired discourses that have significantly shaped the formation of modern Hindu consciousness. These discourses are indebted, in ways that are only beginning to be understood, to religious traditions rooted in particular regions and vernacular languages. The article illustrates this argument with reference to the Kōvilūr Ātīṉam, a Vedānta-affiliated monastic institution in Tamil-speaking South India founded by Mutturāmaliṅka Nāṉatēcika Cuvāmikaḷ (1791–1847). Examining the significance of this figure’s life story for the wealthy Nāṭṭukkōṭṭai Ceṭṭiyār merchant community that comprises the Ātīṉam’s social base, the article explores how social aspirations, traditions of monastic authority, and vernacular Vedāntic literature contribute toward a colonial project of caste self-fashioning that I refer to as “Ceṭṭiyār Vedānta”.
Comparison Against Task Driven Artificial Neural Networks Reveals Functional Organization of Mouse Visual Cortex

Partially inspired by features of computation in visual cortex, deep neural networks compute hierarchical representations of their inputs. While these networks have been highly successful in machine learning, it remains unclear to what extent they can aid our understanding of cortical function. Several groups have developed metrics that provide a quantitative comparison between representations computed by networks and representations measured in cortex. At the same time, neuroscience is well into an unprecedented phase of large-scale data collection, as evidenced by projects such as the Allen Brain Observatory. Despite the magnitude of these efforts, in a given experiment only a fraction of units are recorded, limiting the information available about the cortical representation. Moreover, only a finite number of stimuli can be shown to an animal over the course of a realistic experiment. These limitations raise the question of how and whether metrics that compare representations of deep networks are meaningful on these datasets. Here, we empirically quantify the capabilities and limitations of these metrics due to limited image presentations and neuron samples. We find that the comparison procedure is robust to different choices of stimuli set and the level of subsampling that one might expect in a large-scale brain survey with thousands of neurons. Using these results, we compare the representations measured in the Allen Brain Observatory in response to natural image presentations to deep neural network. We show that the visual cortical areas are relatively high order representations (in that they map to deeper layers of convolutional neural networks). Furthermore, we see evidence of a broad, more parallel organization rather than a sequential hierarchy, with the primary area VISp(V1) being lower order relative to the other areas.
Taxing Multinationals - The GloBE Proposal for a Global Minimum Tax

The 135 member countries in the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework on BEPS are considering the adoption of a global minimum corporate income tax for taxing multinationals as part of the Pillar Two (GloBE) proposals for taxing the digital economy. This article provides a detailed analysis of the global minimum tax proposal, discusses its benefits and costs, and provides policy recommendations.
Total Variation Denoising for Optical Coherence Tomography

This paper introduces a new method of combining total variation denoising (TVD) and median filtering to reduce noise in optical coherence tomography (OCT) image volumes. Both noise from image acquisition and digital processing severely degrade the quality of the OCT volumes. The OCT volume consists of the anatomical structures of interest and speckle noise. For denoising purposes we model speckle noise as a combination of additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) and sparse salt and pepper noise. The proposed method recovers the anatomical structures of interest by using a Median filter to remove the sparse salt and pepper noise and by using TVD to remove the AWGN while preserving the edges in the image. The proposed method reduces noise without much loss in structural detail. When compared to other leading methods, our method produces similar results significantly faster.
Antioxidants, oxidative stress, and preeclampsia in diabetes

Abstract Preeclampsia (PE), a pregnancy-specific hypertensive disorder, is a significant cause of maternal and perinatal mortality worldwide. While the underlying causes of this maternal syndrome are not clearly understood, oxidative stress, especially in the placenta, is considered a biologically plausible contributor. Oxidative stress is enhanced in pregnancies complicated by type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), and diabetes is associated with a fourfold higher prevalence of PE. In human pregnancies complicated by diabetes, observational studies correlate multivitamin use with decreased risk of birth defects. In contrast, the largest clinical trial of antioxidant vitamin supplementation (vitamin C and E) in pregnancy in women with T1DM found no effect on the incidence of PE. Several emerging studies show benefits of probiotics, omega-3 fatty acids and green tea phytochemicals in improving oxidative stress and metabolic profiles in gestational diabetes, and these compounds deserve further investigation for efficacy against PE in pregnant T1DM women.
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2: Genomic Observations and Emerging Therapies

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the etiologic agent of the disease COVID-19, first emerged in late December 2019 in China, and has subsequently become a pandemic with ...
Difluoroethane Inhalant Abuse, Skeletal Fluorosis, and Withdrawal

Prolonged or excessive use of the central nervous system depressant difluoroethane, which is an easily acquired and inexpensive volatile substance that can be inhaled recreationally, is associated with toxicity, and abrupt cessation can induce withdrawal.
Biclustering with Alternating K-Means.

Biclustering is the task of simultaneously clustering the rows and columns of the data matrix into different subgroups such that the rows and columns within a subgroup exhibit similar patterns. In this paper, we consider the case of producing exclusive row and column biclusters. We provide a new formulation of the biclustering problem based on the idea of minimizing the empirical clustering risk. We develop and prove a consistency result with respect to the empirical clustering risk. Since the optimization problem is combinatorial in nature, finding the global minimum is computationally intractable. In light of this fact, we propose a simple and novel algorithm that finds a local minimum by alternating the use of an adapted version of the k-means clustering algorithm between columns and rows. We evaluate and compare the performance of our algorithm to other related biclustering methods on both simulated data and real-world gene expression data sets. The results demonstrate that our algorithm is able to detect meaningful structures in the data and outperform other competing biclustering methods in various settings and situations.
Nucleic acid biohybrid nanocarriers with high-therapeutic payload and controllable extended release of daunomycin for cancer therapy

We have developed a novel, nanosized drug carrier with high-therapeutic payload, controllable release, and the potential for active tumor targeting. It consists of a 15 nm gold nanoparticle with dense surface loading of DNA duplexes. We utilize the natural intercalating behavior of daunomycin to load the drug between DNA base pairs. We obtained a high-therapeutic payload of >1,000 drug molecules per gold nanoparticle (AuNP), one of the highest loadings reported in literature to date. We have engineered unique DNA sequences to control release of daunomycin for over 48 hr and show higher cell death compared to equivalent concentrations of free daunomycin. We have also explored cell internalization mechanisms to identify the pathways by which our gold nanoparticles enter the cell. This nanocarrier is in the ideal size range of 16-100 nm in diameter to utilize the enhanced permeability and retention effect for passive targeting to tumors. Our AuNP platform is effective as a therapeutic drug delivery device and can easily incorporate any aptamer of choice through complementary base pairing. Our work has produced an innovative nanoscale drug-delivery platform potentially leading to personalized cancer therapies through careful selection of aptamers and an adjustable drug release profile.
Insomnia in Pregnancy

Insomnia may present as a primary disorder or as a symptom of other medical conditions particular to pregnancy including acid reflux, nocturia, anxiety, depression, obstructive sleep apnea, and restless legs syndrome. The criteria for diagnosis are difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, or early awakening despite the opportunity for sleep. These symptoms must be associated with impaired daytime functioning and occur at least three times per week for at least 1 month (Am Fam Physician, 92(12):1058–1064, 2015). Identifying the predisposing, precipitating, and perpetuating factors will facilitate treatment. Developing the skills for managing insomnia in pregnancy with non-pharmacologic interventions is highly recommended, as medication safety is not well-established.