cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Loss of a foundation forest species due to an exotic invader impacts terrestrial arthropod communities.

The hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae) is an invasive insect native to Asia that feeds on all species of hemlock (Tsuga spp.), and is rapidly spreading throughout the range of eastern hemlock (T. canadensis). Eastern hemlock is an essential component of forested communities, is particularly susceptible to the adelgid, and has already suffered extensive mortality throughout much of its range. Hemlock dominated forests in the central Appalachians are expected to shift to deciduous species following adelgid-induced hemlock mortality, leading to shifts in epigeic macroinvertebrates. In a 2-year study using pitfall traps, we compared abundance, diversity, and composition of ground dwelling arthropod taxa and feeding guilds associated with riparian zones dominated by eastern hemlock to those associated with deciduous trees in the southern Appalachians. Differences were detected for the Diplopoda (millipedes) and Isopoda (pillbugs and wood lice), and for Formicidae (ants) and Staphylinidae (rove beetles). Each was more abundant beneath deciduous canopies than eastern hemlock canopies. Our comparative evaluation of eastern hemlock and deciduous riparian zone arthropod communities depicts the potential end point of a likely successional trajectory of eastern North American forests invaded by hemlock woolly adelgid. Our results indicate probable shifts in arthropod communities as the hemlock woolly adelgid invasion progresses through the Central Appalachian region.
Production of Radioactivity by Particle Accelerators

At all accelerators with energies greater than some tens of MeV, induced radioactivity results whenever beams interact with accelerator or beam transport components. Typically these interactions occur at injection and extraction points and beam splitting stations. Losses at these points are not desirable, and great efforts are often required to reduce them. Beam losses also occur at collimators, scrapers, target areas and beam dumps; these losses are deliberate and cannot be reduced. Consequently, these are usually the most radioactive areas of the accelerator, and work near them is the largest source of radiation exposure at all laboratories. It is therefore necessary to be able to anticipate the magnitude of the problems involved in such work, in order to minimize those problems in the design of a new facility. While these loss points are common to all accelerators, the magnitude of the resulting problems depends on many factors unique to each accelerator: the type of particle accelerated, the particle energy, and the geometry and composition of the items being struck. These considerations are discussed, and a general introduction is given for those not actively involved in this area.
300-MHz 1H-NMR spectra of p-cresol-formaldehyde condensates having regular repeating structures

Preparation par autocondensation de l'hydroxy-2, methyl-5 benzenedimethanol methylene bis(hydroxy-2 methyl-5 benzenemethanol)-3,3' et (hydroxy-2 methyl-5 μ-phenylene) dimethylene-3,3,bis(hydroxy-2 methyl-5 benzenemethanol)
An Error-Cause Removal Program for Industry

This paper describes a worker-participation program to reduce human errors in an industrial plant to an acceptable minimum. It gives suggestions for initiating and carrying out the program and includes experiences of some industrial plants using worker-participation programs.
Oral Dehydroepiandrosterone Inhibits the Growth of Human Pancreatic Cancer in Nude Mice

Abstract Background. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), an androgen precursor, inhibits the induction of pancreatic cancer in some animal models. Our laboratory has previously demonstrated that the sulfated form of DHEA (DHAS), when administered by intraperitoneal injection, inhibits the growth of pancreatic cancer xenografts in nude mice. In the present study, we hypothesize that DHEA-mediated pancreatic cancer growth inhibition is associated with alterations in plasma sex hormone concentrations. Materials and Methods. Forty male, nude, athymic mice were fed either Teklad 22/5 rodent diet or diet supplemented with 0.6% DHEA ad libitum. Four weeks following the institution of the experimental diets, 1 × 10 6 MiaPaCa-2 cells were injected into the right flank of each animal. Tumor area was recorded weekly and tumor weights were measured after 5 weeks. Plasma DHAS, testosterone, and progesterone concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay. Results. Plasma DHAS, testosterone, and progesterone concentrations were all significantly elevated in the DHEA-treated group. DHEA-treated mouse plasma DHAS concentrations were approximately 50-fold higher than controls. Mean tumor weight was significantly reduced in the DHEA group (68.9 ± 39.1 vs 121.0 ± 64.3). DHEA treatment did not result in significant animal weight reductions and toxic side effects were not observed. Conclusions. Dietary supplementation with 0.6% DHEA causes significant elevations in plasma DHAS concentration. DHEA administration significantly inhibits pancreatic cancer cell growth at plasma concentrations 1 × 10 5 -fold lower than previously reported. The mechanism of action may involve elevated concentrations of sex hormones.
Formative Evaluation to Increase Availability of Healthy Snacks and Beverages in Stores Near Schools in Two Rural Oregon Counties, 2013.

INTRODUCTION Children living in rural areas are at greater risk for obesity than their urban counterparts. Differences in healthy food access may contribute to this disparity. Most healthy food access initiatives target stores in urban areas. We conducted a formative evaluation to increase availability of healthy snacks and beverages in food stores near schools in rural Oregon. METHODS We assessed availability of healthy snacks and beverages in food stores (n = 15) using the SNACZ (Students Now Advocating to Create Healthy Snacking Zones) checklist and conducted in-depth interviews with food store owners (n = 6). Frequency distributions were computed for SNACZ checklist items, and interview data were analyzed by using applied thematic analysis. RESULTS Overall, availability of healthy snacks and beverages in study communities was low. Four interrelated themes regarding store owner perspectives on stocking healthy snacks and beverages emerged from the interviews: customer demand, space constraints, vendor influence, and perishability. CONCLUSION In addition to working with food store owners, efforts to increase availability of healthy snacks and beverages in rural areas should engage young people, food buyers (eg, schools), and vendors as stakeholders for identifying strategies to increase demand for and availability of these items. Further research will be needed to determine which strategies or combinations of strategies are feasible to implement in the study communities.
Origins and Consequences of Religious Restrictions: A Global Overview.

Despite the international controversies surrounding religious restrictions and freedoms, the topic has only recently received substantial research attention. Drawing on this new body of research, and multiple research projects in progress, this address explores both the origins and consequences of religious restrictions in the global arena. To understand the motives for restrictions, I propose hypotheses in three areas: the relationship or lack of relationship between institutional religion and the state, the willingness and capacity of the state to ensure freedoms, and the larger social and cultural pressures restricting freedoms, including social and political movements targeting minority religions. Turning to the consequences of religious restrictions, I explore how and why restrictions alter the religious economy (i.e., formation, supply and operation of religions) and are associated with higher levels of religious persecution, religious violence and intrastate conflict in general. Finally, I review additional areas where research is needed. Language: en
Latency and policy aware hierarchical partitioning for NFV systems

This paper explores latency-aware and policy-aware optimized placement of virtual network functions across data centers in NFV systems. A hierarchy of distributed data centers is suggested to support network function software appliances with the flexibility to place functions based on performance requirements in the hierarchy, and different test scenarios for optimal VNF placement are studied. The paper discusses options for distributed function virtualization such as hierarchical partitioning, collapsing, replication, and north/south function splitting, to explore VNF placement options in NFV systems.
Pressure–viscosity response in the inlet zone for quantitative elastohydrodynamics

Abstract The descriptions employed in classical elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) of the piezoviscous effect at low pressures characteristic of the inlet zone are simply inaccurate for low viscosity liquids. This article offers the 1952 McEwen equation for accurately describing the pressure–viscosity effect at low inlet pressures for those liquids with sufficiently high inflection pressure that the faster-than-exponential response does not significantly affect the viscosity in the inlet. The parameters of this model have significance for the classical EHL film thickness formulas and these parameters are listed for several low viscosity liquids including a refrigerant.
High-frequency seismic coda and scattering in the northwest Pacific

Data from a 1500-km linear ocean bottom hydrophone array deployment near Wake Island by the Hawaii Institute of Geophysics are used to examine seismic coda and scattering in the northwest Pacific. Two earthquakes in the Kuril Islands that occurred along the trend of the hydrophone array are analyzed in the distance range 2700 to 3700 km. The coda of the oceanic S waves (1.5 to 20 Hz) display: (1) a constant decay rate independent of distance, and (2) an increasing coda energy falloff rate with increasing frequency. Both of these observations suggest that substantial scattering is not occurring in the propagation along the array. The properties of the oceanic S coda are relatively stable when the propagation paths are nearly the same. The observations are consistent with coda generation dominated by back-scattering in the source region rather than from forward-scattering along the propagation path.
Hematopoietic stem cells with controllable tEpoR transgenes have a competitive advantage in bone marrow transplantation

In a previous study, it was found that a truncated erythropoietin receptor transgene (tEpoR tg) enables multilineage hematopoietic progenitor amplification after treatment with erythropoietin (epo) in vitro and in vivo. This study used competitive bone marrow (BM) repopulation to show that tEpoR tg facilitates transplantation by hematopoietic stem cells (HSC). Individual multilineage colonies, committed myeloid progenitor colonies, and lymphoid colonies (pre-B colony-forming units) were grown from the marrow of animals 6 months after they received a 50/50 mixture of transgene and wild-type BM cells. In epo-treated recipients, the transgene-bearing cells significantly outcompeted the wild-type cells (84%-100% versus 16%-0%, respectively). In recipients treated with phosphate-buffered saline, the repopulation was minimally different from the donor mixture (49%-64% transgene versus 51%-36% wild-type). The epo-induced repopulation advantage is maintained in secondary transplants. In addition, neither accelerated HSC depletion nor uncontrollable proliferation occurred during epo-stimulated serial transplants of transgene-containing BM. Thus, the tEpoR tg functions in a benign fashion in HSC and allows for a significant and controllable repopulation advantage in vivo without excessive HSC depletion relative to wild-type BM.
Update in Nephrology and Hypertension: Evidence Published in 2015.

This Update summarizes studies published in 2015 that the authors consider highly relevant to the practice of nephrology and hypertension.
11β-Hydroxylase deficiency in hyperandrogenism * †

Objective to determine the 11-deoxycortisol (S) response and incidence of 11 β -hydroxylase deficiency in hyperandrogenism. Design Hyperandrogenic women prospectively and consecutively underwent acute adrenal stimulation studies. Setting Tertiary institution. Patients Two hundred sixty women complaining of hirsutism and/or hyperandrogenic oligomenorrhea were studied, excluding five unrelated families (1.9% of total) suffering from 21-hydroxylase deficient late-onset adrenal hyperplasia. Forty-one healthy premenopausal eumenorrheic women served as controls. Main Outcome Measures Only two unrelated women (0.8%) had a poststimulation or net increment S level value≥threefold the upper 95th percentile of controls and were presumed to suffer from 11 β -hydroxylase deficient late-onset adrenal hyperplasia. One hundred nine (42%) of hyperandrogenic women had at least one S value above the 95th percentile of controls. These women also demonstrated higher basal (F 0 ) and stimulated Cortisol levels, but a similar increment compared with controls. Results Patients with high S measures had higher testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and androstenedione levels, but similar luteinizing hormone/follicle-stimulating hormone ratios, than hyperandrogenic cohorts with no abnormal S measures. Basal values of S (S 0 ), F 0 , or S 0 /F 0 were not useful to predict an abnormal S response to stimulation. Conclusions Although adrenocortical hyperactivity was present in 42% of our hyperandrogenic patients, only 0.8% were presumed to suffer from 11 β -hydroxylase deficient late-onset adrenal hyperplasia. A systematic search for this deficiency in hyperandrogenism is probably unwarranted.
Drugs and Devices: Comparison of European and U.S. Approval Processes

Summary The regulation of medical drugs and devices involves competing goals of assuring safety and efficacy while providing rapid movement of innovative therapies through the investigative and regulatory processes as quickly as possible. The United States and the European Union approach these challenges in different ways. Whereas the United States has always relied on a strictly centralized process through 1 agency, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Commission synchronized the regulations of 28 different countries as they combined to create the European Union. The FDA historically developed as a consumer protection agency, whereas the regulations from the European Commission arose out of a need to harmonize inter-state commercial interests while preserving national “autonomy.” Thus, whereas the FDA has the advantages of centralization and common rules, the European Union regulates medical drug and device approvals through a network of centralized and decentralized agencies throughout its member states. This study explores some of the similarities and differences in European and U.S. regulation of drugs and devices, and discusses challenges facing each.
Inhibition of GABAergic Neurotransmission by HIV-1 Tat and Opioid Treatment in the Striatum Involves μ-Opioid Receptors

Due to combined antiretroviral therapy (cART), human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is considered a chronic disease with high prevalence of mild forms of neurocognitive impairments, also referred to as HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). Although opiate drug use can exacerbate HIV-1 Tat-induced neuronal damage, it remains unknown how and to what extent opioids interact with Tat on the GABAergic system. We conducted whole-cell recordings in mouse striatal slices and examined the effects of HIV-1 Tat in the presence and absence of morphine (1 μM) and damgo (1 μM) on GABAergic neurotransmission. Results indicated a decrease in the frequency and amplitude of spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs) and miniature IPSCs (mIPSCs) by Tat (5 – 50 nM) in a concentration-dependent manner. The significant Tat-induced decrease in IPSCs was abolished when removing extracellular and/or intracellular calcium. Treatment with morphine or damgo alone significantly decreased the frequency, but not amplitude of IPSCs. Interestingly, morphine but not damgo indicated an additional downregulation of the mean frequency of mIPSCs in combination with Tat. Pretreatment with naloxone (1 μM) and CTAP (1 μM) prevented the Tat-induced decrease in sIPSCs frequency but only naloxone prevented the combined Tat and morphine effect on mIPSCs frequency. Results indicate a Tat- or opioid-induced decrease in GABAergic neurotransmission via µ-opioid receptors with combined Tat and morphine effects involving additional opioid receptor-related mechanisms. Exploring the interactions between Tat and opioids on the GABAergic system may help to guide future research on HAND in the context of opiate drug use.
Regional simulation of Indian summer monsoon intraseasonal oscillations at gray-zone resolution

Abstract. Simulations of the Indian summer monsoon by the cloud-permitting Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model at gray-zone resolution are described in this study, with a particular emphasis on the model ability to capture the monsoon intraseasonal oscillations (MISOs). Five boreal summers are simulated from 2007 to 2011 using the ERA-Interim reanalysis as the lateral boundary forcing data. Our experimental setup relies on a horizontal grid spacing of 9 km to explicitly simulate deep convection without the use of cumulus parameterizations. When compared to simulations with coarser grid spacing (27 km) and using a cumulus scheme, the 9 km simulations reduce the biases in mean precipitation and produce more realistic low-frequency variability associated with MISOs. Results show that the model at the 9 km gray-zone resolution captures the salient features of the summer monsoon. The spatial distributions and temporal evolutions of monsoon rainfall in the WRF simulations verify qualitatively well against observations from the Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission (TRMM), with regional maxima located over Western Ghats, central India, Himalaya foothills, and the west coast of Myanmar. The onset, breaks, and withdrawal of the summer monsoon in each year are also realistically captured by the model. The MISO-phase composites of monsoon rainfall, low-level wind, and precipitable water anomalies in the simulations also agree qualitatively with the observations. Both the simulations and observations show a northeastward propagation of the MISOs, with the intensification and weakening of the Somali Jet over the Arabian Sea during the active and break phases of the Indian summer monsoon.
Pedagogical construction of a green's function from physical consideration

By invoking an elementary problem in electrostatics, the Green's function for the Poisson's equation in one dimension is obtained from physical principles. Simple in mathematical form, the physical implications of the function can readily be drawn from its graphical appearance, while the consequence of the singular nature of the source that gives rise to the electric field and the corresponding potential function can readily be recognized. Relation of the Green's function for bounded domain to that in infinite space can be seen by receding the boundary to infinity. A series representation of the function can be obtained by augmenting it to form a periodic function, followed by series expansion of the latter. The discussion borne out by this development can provide an early exposure to the concept of the Green's function that brings forth physical insight. Knowledge of ordinary differential equation and Fourier series is sufficient to comprehend the discussion.
Characterization of experimental lung metastases by contrast-enhanced microCT and F18-FDG microPET in nude mice

1686.2 Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the utility of micro-computed tomography (microCT) and F18- Fluoro-deoxyglucose (FDG) micro-positron emission tomography (microPET) for detecting anatomic localization of glucose metabolism of experimental lung metastases. Methods: Variably sized lung metastases were generated by injecting FSa-II cells (from 5000 to 30000 cells in 0.1 ml PBS) into the lateral tail vein of athymic nide mice. One hour after the administration of F18-FDG (0.4 mCi) and the long-lasting vascular contrast agent Fenestra VC™ (0.4 ml), whole-body microPET (Focus 120) and then microCT (microCAT II) scans were acquired with the mouse remaining anesthetized and fixed in position in a holder to facilitate manual registration of the microCT and microPET images. Results: The volumes of individual lung metastases (25 tumors in 10 mice) were estimated by microCT and compared to direct measurements on excised tumors. The two data sets were highly correlated (r=0.97). The smallest lung tumor detected by microCT was 0.85 mm in diameter. Fenestra VC-enhanced CT improved the discrimination between tumor and the heart and blood vessels. Anatomic localization of F18-FDG distribution in mice was identified by the fused microPET/microCT, and indicated that lung tumors as small as ~1.5 mm can be visualized by F18-FDG microPET. Conclusions: Fusion of microPET images and microCT images enhanced with the long-lived vascular contrast agent Fenestra VC™ successfully registered foci of FDG activity in tumors as well as various normal structures in a mouse model of lung tumor metastases. Identification by microCT of normal-tissue foci of FDG uptake will reduce the incidence of false-positive results in such models.
Spinal Inhibition of P2XR or p38 Signaling Disrupts Hyperalgesic Priming in Male, but not Female, Mice.

Abstract Recent studies have demonstrated sexual dimorphisms in the mechanisms contributing to the development of chronic pain. Here we tested the hypothesis that microglia might preferentially regulate hyperalgesic priming in male mice. We based this hypothesis on evidence that microglia preferentially contribute to neuropathic pain in male mice via ionotropic purinergic receptor (P2XR) or p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38) signaling. Mice given a single-priming injection of the soluble human interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6r) and then a second injection of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), which unmasks hyperalgesic priming, shows a significant increase in levels of activated microglia at 3 h following the PGE2 injection in both male and female mice. There was no change in microglia following PGE2. Intrathecal injection of the P2X3/4 inhibitor TNP-ATP blocked the initial response to IL-6r in both males and females, but only blocked hyperalgesic priming in male mice. Intrathecally applied p38 inhibitor, skepinone, had no effect on the initial response to IL-6r but attenuated hyperalgesic priming in males only. Neither TNP-ATP nor skepinone could reverse priming once it had already been established in male mice suggesting that these pathways must be inhibited early in the development of hyperalgesic priming to have an effect. Our work is consistent with previous findings that P2XR and p38 inhibition can lead to male-specific effects on pain behaviors in mice. However, given that we did not observe microglial activation at time points where these drugs were effective, our work also questions whether these effects can be completely attributed to microglia.
Judicial Review in Law

Judicial review is the institutional capacity of courts of law to determine the constitutional validity of actions taken by either coordinate or inferior branches of government. It is an outgrowth of efforts to limit the powers of those authorized to interpret both sacred and secular texts, and to ensure that laws, and the acts of those empowered to enforce them, will be consistent with the basic values of a society and its basic governing structures. Enabling government while at the same time protecting against the potential abuse of governmental power is an age-old, and continuing, dilemma of a constitutional democracies. In modern democracies, however, judicial review presents its own dilemma—how to rationalize limits on majority rule. This recognition of the inherent tensions between democracy and the rule of law, is often referred to—at least in the American context—as the ‘counter-majoritarian difficulty.’ But as judicial review and constitutionalism have expanded to a large number of countries, and with the rise of supranational courts, attempts to achieve a workable and legitimate balance that respects both democratic values and individual rights are now a worldwide phenomenon.
Preservation of potential biosignatures in the shallow subsurface of Europa

Jupiter’s moon Europa, which is thought to possess a large liquid water ocean beneath its icy crust, is one of the most compelling targets in the search for life beyond Earth. Its geologically young surface, along with a number of surface features, indicate that material from Europa’s interior may be emplaced on the surface. However, the surface is affected by the harsh radiation environment of Jupiter’s magnetosphere, which over time may lead to chemical alteration and destruction of potential biosignatures. We show that radiation dose rates are highly dependent on surface location. Radiation processing and destruction of potential biosignatures is found to be significant down to depths of ~1 cm in mid- to high-latitude regions, and to depths of 10–20 cm within ‘radiation lenses’ centred on the leading and trailing hemispheres. These results indicate that future missions to Europa’s surface do not need to excavate material to great depths to investigate the composition of endogenic material and search for potential biosignatures. A model reconstructs the radiation dose from both protons and electrons on Europa’s surface. Using laboratory data on irradiated amino acids, it shows that organics can be preserved at detectable levels at depths of just a few centimetres at mid-to-high latitudes and in young (<10-Myr-old) terrains.
Whistler modes in highly nonuniform magnetic fields. III. Propagation near mirror and cusp fields

The properties of helicon modes in highly nonuniform magnetic fields are studied experimentally. The waves propagate in an essentially unbounded uniform laboratory plasma. Helicons with mode number m = 1 are excited with a magnetic loop with dipole moment across the dc magnetic field. The wave fields are measured with a three-component magnetic probe movable in three orthogonal directions so as to resolve the spatial and temporal wave properties. The ambient magnetic field has the topology of a mirror or a cusp, produced by the superposition of a uniform axial field B0 and the field of a current-carrying loop with the axis along B0. The novel finding is the reflection of whistlers by a strong mirror magnetic field. The reflection arises when the magnetic field changes on a scale length shorter than the whistler wavelength. The simplest explanation for the reflection mechanism is the strong gradient of the refractive index which depends on the density and magnetic field. More detailed observations show that the incident wave splits when the k vector makes an angle larger than 90° with respect to B0 which produces a parallel phase velocity component opposite to that of the incident wave. The reflection coefficient has been estimated to be close to unity. Interference between reflected and incident waves creates nodes in which the whistler mode becomes linearly polarized. When the magnetic field topology is that of a reversed field configuration (FRC), the incident wave is absorbed near the three-dimensional (3D) magnetic null point which prevents wave reflections. However, waves outside the separatrix are not absorbed and continue to propagate around the null point. When waves are excited inside the FRC, their polarization and helicon mode are reversed. Implications of these observations on research in space plasmas and helicon sources are pointed out.The properties of helicon modes in highly nonuniform magnetic fields are studied experimentally. The waves propagate in an essentially unbounded uniform laboratory plasma. Helicons with mode number m = 1 are excited with a magnetic loop with dipole moment across the dc magnetic field. The wave fields are measured with a three-component magnetic probe movable in three orthogonal directions so as to resolve the spatial and temporal wave properties. The ambient magnetic field has the topology of a mirror or a cusp, produced by the superposition of a uniform axial field B0 and the field of a current-carrying loop with the axis along B0. The novel finding is the reflection of whistlers by a strong mirror magnetic field. The reflection arises when the magnetic field changes on a scale length shorter than the whistler wavelength. The simplest explanation for the reflection mechanism is the strong gradient of the refractive index which depends on the density and magnetic field. More detailed observations show tha...
Responsible innovation and education: integrating values and technology in the classroom

Educational systems in the US are varied and undergoing constant change, with new values and methods infusing iterations of education development over time. This essay argues that by explicitly ack...
Adoption of an incident learning system in a regionally expanding academic radiation oncology department.

Abstract Aim and Background We describe a successful implementation of a departmental incident learning system (ILS) across a regionally expanding academic radiation oncology department, dovetailing with a structured integration of the safety and quality program across clinical sites. Materials and methods m Over 6 years between 2011 and 2017, a long-standing departmental ILS was deployed to 4 clinical locations beyond the primary clinical location where it had been established. We queried all events reported to the ILS during this period and analyzed trends in reporting by clinical site. The chi-square test was used to determine whether differences over time in the rate of reporting were statistically significant. We describe a synchronous development of a common safety and quality program over the same period. Results There was an overall increase in the number of event reports from each location over the time period from 2011 to 2017. The percentage increase in reported events from the first year of implementation to 2017 was 457% in site 1, 166.7% in site 2, 194.3% in site 3, 1025% in site 4, and 633.3% in site 5, with an overall increase of 677.7%. A statistically significant increase in the rate of reporting was seen from the first year of implementation to 2017 (p Conclusions We observed significant increases in event reporting over a 6-year period across 5 regional sites within a large academic radiation oncology department, during which time we expanded and enhanced our safety and quality program, including regional integration. Implementing an ILS and structuring a safety and quality program together result in the successful integration of the ILS into existing departmental infrastructure.
Detection and repair of architectural inconsistencies in Java

Java is one of the most widely used programming languages. However, the absence of explicit support for architectural constructs, such as software components, in the programming language itself has prevented software developers from achieving the many benefits that come with architecture-based development. To address this issue, Java 9 has introduced the Java Platform Module System (JPMS), resulting in the first instance of encapsulation of modules with rich software architectural interfaces added to a mainstream programming language. The primary goal of JPMS is to construct and maintain large applications efficiently---as well as improve the encapsulation, security, and maintainability of Java applications in general and the JDK itself. A challenge, however, is that module declarations do not necessarily reflect actual usage of modules in an application, allowing developers to mistakenly specify inconsistent dependencies among the modules. In this paper, we formally define 8 inconsistent modular dependencies that may arise in Java-9 applications. We also present Darcy, an approach that leverages these definitions and static program analyses to automatically (1) detect the specified inconsistent dependencies within Java applications and (2) repair those identified inconsistencies. The results of our experiments, conducted over 38 open-source Java-9 applications, indicate that architectural inconsistencies are widespread and demonstrate the benefits of Darcy in automated detection and repair of these inconsistencies.
The complete chloroplast genome of an endangered species Cymbidium mastersii (Orchidaceae).

Cymbidium nanulum Y.S.Wu & S.C.Chen is an IUCN Red listed Endangered species and distributes in South-Central China and Hainan. Here, we report the complete chloroplast (cp) genome sequence and the...
Forecast: Changing Mathematics Curriculum and Increasing Pressure for Higher-Level Thinking Skills.

(NCTM 1989) and has particular interest in developing a curriculum that integrates science, mathematics, and technology. work force, changing not only the skills that are needed but also the level of those skills. Thus, the education of those workers assuming the newly defined positions must reflect the changes. Yet reports, including Everybody Counts (1989), have identified widespread agreement that curricula and instruction do not reflect the increased demand for higherorder-thinking skills and that technology, including calculators and computers, has had virtually no impact. The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics supports revising the mathematics curriculum toward "a coherent vision of what it means to be
Is Group-Centered Better than Classroom Instruction for Teaching Reading? The Need for a Group-Centered Approach. Testing Two Group Methods

This study tests group-centered interventions, which combine reading, writing, spelling, and comprehension as ways to correct reading failure while encouraging intrinsic (internal) motivation with at-risk students. This chapter looks at 2 week-long after-school interventions rather than a year-long program. Two approaches for preparing students for end-of-the-year testing are examined. All subjects were first through third grade students labeled as at-risk of failing due to their inability to read at grade level. Both test-prep groups used group instruction rather than one-on-one tutoring. The traditional group used direct instruction, worksheets, and practice tests. The intervention group used a group-centered hands-on teaching/counseling approach. Pre- and post-tests showed significant improvement in spelling, recognition of sight words, and age-level oral reading for the group-centered approach. Students in the group-centered intervention group continued to show improvements in reading and sight word recognition 6 weeks after the 1-week intervention.
Reducing Permission Requests in Mobile Apps

Users of mobile apps sometimes express discomfort or concerns with what they see as unnecessary or intrusive permission requests by certain apps. However encouraging mobile app developers to request fewer permissions is challenging because there are many reasons why permissions are requested; furthermore, prior work [25] has shown it is hard to disambiguate the purpose of a particular permission with high certainty.In this work we describe a novel, algorithmic mechanism intended to discourage mobile-app developers from asking for unnecessary permissions. Developers are incentivized by an automated alert, or "nudge", shown in the Google Play Console when their apps ask for permissions that are requested by very few functionally-similar apps---in other words, by their competition. Empirically, this incentive is effective, with significant developer response since its deployment. Permissions have been redacted by 59% of apps that were warned, and this attenuation has occurred broadly across both app categories and app popularity levels. Importantly, billions of users' app installs from the Google Play have benefited from these redactions.
ROS-TiPlEx: How to make experts in A.I. Planning and Robotics talk together and be happy

This paper presents a novel comprehensive framework called ROS-TiPlEx (Timeline-based Planning and Execution with ROS) to provide a shared environment in which experts in robotics and planning can easily interact to, respectively, encode information about low-level robot control and define task planning and execution models. ROS-TiPlEx aims at facilitating the interaction between both kind of experts, thus, enhancing and possibly speeding up the process of an integrated control design. ROS-TiPlEx is the first tool addressing the connection of ROS and timeline-based planning.
Assessing Employee Health Policies for Reporting and Excluding Ill Food Employees in Restaurants within the United States.

ABSTRACT Preventing ill food employees from spreading pathogens to food and food contact surfaces remains an important objective of retail food safety policy in the United States. Since 2005, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recommended food establishments implement employee health policies that include requirements for the exclusion or restriction of ill food employees and reporting, to the person in charge, symptoms or diagnosis of certain diseases transmitted by food. However, the incorporation of this recommendation has not been widely studied. The purpose of this exploratory study was to assess the presence and prevalence of employee health policies at fast-food and full-service restaurants in the United States. More than 50% of fast-food and full-service restaurants were found to have nonexistent employee health policies for each of the five recommended components specified in the FDA Food Code. Results showed 17.41% of fast-food restaurants and 12.88% of full-service restaurants had all five recommended components. Moreover, most restaurants with all five recommended employee health policy components were part of a multiple-unit operation and were found to have more developed food safety management systems than restaurants with none of the recommended components. Further attention and research into the impediments associated with developing and implementing employee health policies in restaurants is warranted. HIGHLIGHTS
A protocol for chronic pain outcome measurement enhancement by linking PROMIS-29 scale to legacy measures and improving chronic pain stratification.

Substantial investment has gone into research on the efficacy and effectiveness of pharmaceutical and nonpharmacologic interventions for chronic pain. However, synthesizing this extensive literature is challenging because of differences in the outcome measures used in studies of similar or competing interventions. The absence of a common metric makes it difficult to replicate findings, pool data from multiple studies, resolve conflicting conclusions, or reach consensus when interpreting findings. This study has a seven-member Advisory Council of chronic pain experts. Preliminary analyses will be performed on data from several large existing datasets; intermediate analyses will be performed using primary data collected from Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (MTurk); and cross-validation will use primary data collected from a nationally-representative, probability-based panel. Target sample size for both primary datasets is 1500. The three study aims are as follows: The accomplishment of Aims 1 and 2 will allow direct comparison of results across past and future studies of chronic pain. These comparisons will help us to understand different results from seemingly similar studies, and to determine the relative effectiveness of all pharmaceutical and nonpharmacologic interventions for chronic pain across different trials. Aim 3 findings will provide valuable information to researchers about the pros and cons of using the MTurk platform for research-based data collection. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04426812 ; June 10, 2020.
Recipe for Survival: What You Can Do to Live a Healthier and More Environmentally Friendly Life

What can you do to improve your health and at the same time improve the health of our home planet? Do you want to be a healthier and more sustainable consumer? In this straightforward, easy-to-understand and entertaining book, dietitian and environmentalist Dr. Dana Ellis Hunnes outlines the actions we can all take. Many people feel overwhelmed by the scope of climate change and believe that only large, sweeping changes will make any difference. Yet the choices we make every day can have effects on climate change, the oceans, the land, and other species. This book outlines the problems we are facing, and then presents ideas or 'recipes' to empower us, to help us all make a difference. Recipe For Survival provides the guidance that you can use right now to improve your health, your family's health, and the health of the environment simultaneously.
Petroleum wellhead burning: A review of the basic science for burn efficiency prediction

Abstract While wellhead burning has been a hazard for generations, the development of reliable, safe capping practices suggests that wellhead burning can be used as an oil spill mitigation tool. But, there are technical issues that need consideration during spill management planning before intentional wellhead ignition is applied as an standard spill response tactic. This review provides an abbreviated historical perspective of recent work, the practical implications of current policy, and then topically examines the maturity of the fundamental science underlying wellhead ignition and burning that scientists, engineers, and policy makers should consider. To anchor to this work to reality, a wellhead blowout scenario is examined over a range of flow rates. The regimes of two-phase pipe flows, their dependence on wellbore velocities and gas–liquid ratios, and how those regimes might influence the burn efficiency, with particular focus on annular flows, are also examined. The current state of the basic research topics underlying wellbore flow, wellhead ejection, and two-phase fuel plume combustion that remain to be fully explored to accurately predict discharge and burn behavior are then examined and discussed. Among the critical findings presented is that the worst-case discharge flow rate cannot be assumed the worst-case spill scenario. An examination of burn efficiency analyses reveals that there is no body of experimental measurements upon which they are based and validated. It was also found that these oft-cited analyses assume the oil is fully entrained, which is the most ideal, instead of considering other possible two-phase flow regimes.
Clinical Characteristics and Fracture Patterns Among Postmenopausal Women with Isolated Osteoporosis at the Forearm

Abstract Patients found to have isolated osteoporosis at the 1/3 radius (1/3RO) represent a therapeutic dilemma. It is unknown whether 1/3RO is associated with an increased risk of fragility fractures, and is therefore unclear whether these patients should be treated similarly to those with osteoporosis at central sites. This retrospective study investigated the clinical significance of 1/3RO by comparing medical history, fracture prevalence, areal BMD, and Trabecular Bone Score in postmenopausal women with 1/3RO (n = 107) to age-matched women with osteoporosis at the hip and/or spine (PMO, n = 214), and to controls without osteoporosis at any site (n = 214). We then compared the clinical and densitometric characteristics among women with 1/3RO according to fracture history. The mean age of the 535 women included in the study was 71 ± 8 yr. Women with 1/3RO had BMD in the osteopenic range at all other sites (mean spine T-score = -1.0, total hip = -1.4, femoral neck = -1.7). Women with 1/3RO reported similar calcium and vitamin D intake, prevalence of primary hyperparathyroidism, chronic kidney disease, and other comorbidities compared to the other groups. The prevalence of an osteoporotic fracture of the spine, hip, wrist, or humerus tended to be higher among women with PMO compared to 1/3RO or controls (PMO: 31%, 1/3RO: 21%, Controls: 23%, p = 0.07). Among women with 1/3RO, fracture prevalence was related to older age. No other clinical characteristic distinguished women with and without fracture. Neither BMD at other sites nor TBS differed according to fracture history. Among postmenopausal women with 1/3RO, those who are older are at an increased risk of fracture, even when T-scores at other sites are well above the osteoporosis threshold. Additional research is needed to confirm our results, and to assess whether treatment should be considered to reduce fracture risk in older women with 1/3RO.
Direct Synthesis of Tri-/Difluoromethyl Ketones from Carboxylic Acids by Cross-Coupling with Acyloxyphosphonium Ions.

A simple and straightforward approach to the synthesis of trifluoromethyl and difluoromethyl ketones from widely available carboxylic acids is disclosed. The transformation utilizes an acyloxyphosphonium ion as the active electrophile, conveniently generated in situ from the carboxylic acid substrate by using commodity chemicals. The utility of the reaction system is exemplified by its chemoselectivity, with tolerance to a variety of important functional groups. The late-stage functionalization of carboxylic acid active pharmaceutical ingredients and pharmaceutically relevant compounds is also discussed.
Ischemic Preconditioning May Be Transferable via Whole Blood Transfusion: Preliminary Evidence

This research was designed to test the hypothesis that ischemic preconditioning can be transferred between animals via whole blood transfusion. Preconditioning at a distance refers to the reduction in myocardial infarct size seen when coronary artery occlusion is preceded by brief ischemic episodes of noncardiac tissue. Isolation of the trigger signal responsible for this effect may be useful in the diagnosis and treatment of acute coronary occlusive syndromes. Rabbits were paired by crossmatching blood samples prior to experimentation. Crossmatched pairs were placed into either preconditioned (P) or control sets. Rabbits in the preconditioned sets were further divided into donor (PD) and acceptor (PA) animals. PD animals underwent five episodes of circumflex and renal artery occlusion followed by reperfusion. Before and after each preconditioning episode, a whole blood exchange was performed between PD and PA animals. Alternatively, control rabbits underwent the same surgical procedures and time-sequenced transfusion without preconditioning. All animals then underwent prolonged circumflex occlusion (60 minutes) followed by reperfusion (30 minutes). The area of myocardium at risk (R) was determined by isotope-labeled microsphere injection. Infarct size (I) was determined by NBT staining. The percent infarct within the risk area (I/R) was then compared. The I/R was significantly lower in the PA (14.0% +/- 12.2) and PD (14.3% +/- 11.2) groups as compared with controls (61% +/- 20. 6). There was no significant difference between the tPA and TPD groups. In conclusion, the ischemic preconditioning effect can be transferred to nonpreconditioned animals via whole blood transfusion, suggesting a humoral mechanism for preconditioning at a distance.
Extensive Representations and Algorithms for Nonlinear Filtering and Estimation

Most estimation problems in robotics are difficult because of (a) the nonlinearity in observation models; and (b) the lack of suitable probabilistic models for the process and observation noise. In this paper we develop a set-valued approach to estimation that overcomes both these limitations and illustrates the application to localization of multiple, mobile sensor platforms with range sensors.