cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Probabilistic Calculations of Groundwater Travel Time in Heterogeneous Three-Dimensional Porous Media

Groundwater travel time (GWTT) estimation at a potential high-level waste (HLW) repository is subject to various technical uncertainties. These uncertainties stem from model and data uncertainties and cannot be resolved with field tests because of the long time (>1,000 yr) and large space (>5,000 m) scales involved. Therefore, computational methods for demonstrating and determining compliance with the GWTT rule will be used. Stochastic theory based approaches constitute a natural framework for performing GWTT estimations under conditions of uncertain and/or limited data. This study employs the generation of spatially correlated hydraulic conductivity fields by the Nearest Neighbor Model (NNM). Repeated (Monte Carlo) realizations of the statistically equivalent random fields are obtained, and the saturated steady-state groundwater flow equation is solved. These results are then used to estimate GWTT along particular paths by releasing a large number of water particles at various starting points. By doing so, path variability is sampled through the realization ensemble space and also through the independent particle {open_quotes}flights{close_quotes} within a specific flow field realization. The uncertainty in predicted GWTT due to parameter variability is assessed for a data set characteristic of the saturated zone at Yucca Mountain at three levels of parameter heterogeneity. However, since several parametersmore » and the boundary conditions of the problem have been arbitrarily assumed, direct conclusions regarding the proposed Yucca Mountain site cannot be drawn from this study.« less
Contributions to Racial Disparity in Mortality among Children with Down Syndrome

Objective To evaluate whether racial differences across a variety of medical factors collected in a longitudinal clinical database at a specialty clinical for children with Down syndrome provide insight into contributors to racial disparity in mortality. Study design Comprehensive medical histories of 763 children receiving medical care at a Down syndrome specialty clinic were retrospectively reviewed regarding prenatal, postnatal, and medical issues, as well as subspecialty referrals. Frequency calculations and logistic regression were performed. The National Death Index was used to query death record databases to correlate medical histories with mortality data. Results Prenatal drug use and intubation were significantly more frequent, but hyperbilirubinemia was significantly less frequent, in black children compared with white children with Down syndrome. Among children with Down syndrome aged Conclusion Racial disparity in mortality exists, but the underlying cause remains unidentified despite use of a comprehensive, longitudinal database of individuals with Down syndrome and review of death records. Referrals to cardiology might be a clue to the underlying cause, perhaps as an indicator of access to care, but cardiac disease does not account for the disparity in mortality.
Ovarian Weight Changes in Immature Female Rats as a Function of Dose and Exposure Time to PMS

SummaryA dose-exposure time relationship was studied using PMS effect upon ovarian weight in immature female rats. The biologic activity of the hormone was neutralized by use of a potent antiserum ...
Thermoelectric Properties of RhSb3 Crystals and Thin Films

RhSb3 belongs to a class of solids called skutterudites which were recently identified as promising novel thermoelectric materials. Our intent was to explore thin film growth of RhSb3 and to assess the thermoelectric properties of such films. RhSb3 films were prepared by electron-beam deposition on silicon and sapphire substrates. Thermopower, electrical resistivity and the Hall effect were measured over the temperature range from 2K to 300K. The data are compared to measurements on single crystals of RhSb3.
Dynamic Voltage Restorer Powered by Hybrid Energy Store System

Dynamic Voltage Restorer(DVR)can compensate load voltage instantly with energy store system.Properly planning the capacity ratio of the batteries and super capacitors and designing the paralleled controller of the hybrid energy system can effectively raise the whole working characteristic and economy of DVR.With the paralleled controller,we designed the instant and short-time voltage sags,which is compensated only by super capacitors while long-time voltage interrupts were afforded by batteries.Moreover,the hardware control circuit was introduced with a core of DSP(TMS20LF2812),the software of control circuit was programmed with C language,and detection system ensured the instant and accurate acquisition of net voltage.We also presented both MATLAB simulation and experiments on the application of super capacitors/ batteries hybrid energy store used in DVR.The results prove that this hybrid energy store system can effectively raise the integral working behaviour of DVR in the conditions of both long-time-last power interrupts and frequent voltage sag.
Application of Membrane Technology to the Tiny Mineral Particle Recycling

Based on the characteristic of mineral resource in our country and the problems of the tiny mineral particle recycling,the paper introduced the principle and application present situation of membrane technology,and analyzed the advantages of membrane technology application to the tiny mineral particle recycling.The experiment of sulfur recycling from overflow showed that the membrane technology can be efficiently used in the tiny mineral recycling.
Genetic Mechanisms in Differentiation and Development

“In the study of most biological, biochemical, and molecular-genetic problems, just as in the study of many other scientific problems, a full analysis of the facts obtained by experimental investigation of actual phenomena can usually elucidate the mechanisms of the phenomenon, thereby eliminating the need for theoretical hypotheses.” (MEDVEDEV 1970). Yet the speculations are rarely saved when genetic mechanisms of differentiation and development are considered.
Ibuprofen Differentially Affects Supraspinatus Muscle and Tendon Adaptations to Exercise in a Rat Model

Background:Previous studies have shown that ibuprofen is detrimental to tissue healing after acute injury; however, the effects of ibuprofen when combined with noninjurious exercise are debated.Hypothesis:Administration of ibuprofen to rats undergoing a noninjurious treadmill exercise protocol will abolish the beneficial adaptations found with exercise but will have no effect on sedentary muscle and tendon properties.Study Design:Controlled laboratory study.Methods:A total of 167 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into exercise or cage activity (sedentary) groups and acute (a single bout of exercise followed by 24 hours of rest) and chronic (2 or 8 weeks of repeated exercise) response times. Half of the rats were administered ibuprofen to investigate the effects of this drug over time when combined with different activity levels (exercise and sedentary). Supraspinatus tendons were used for mechanical testing and histologic assessment (organization, cell shape, cellularity), and supraspinatus muscles we...
Optical vs. chemical driving for molecular machines

Molecular machines use external energy to drive transport, to do mechanical, osmotic, or electrical work on the environment, and to form structure. In this paper the fundamental difference between the design principles necessary for a molecular machine to use light or external modulation of thermodynamic parameters as an energy source vs. the design principle for using an exergonic chemical reaction as a fuel will be explored. The key difference is that for catalytically-driven motors microscopic reversibility must hold arbitrarily far from equilibrium. Applying the constraints of microscopic reversibility assures that a coarse grained model is consistent with an underlying model for motion on a single time-independent potential energy surface. In contrast, light-driven processes, and processes driven by external modulation of the thermodynamic parameters of a system cannot in general be described in terms of motion on a single time-independent potential energy surface, and the rate constants are not constrained by microscopic reversibility. The results presented here call into question the value of the so-called power stroke model as an explanation of the function of autonomous chemically-driven molecular machines such as are commonly found in biology.
Abstract 3819: PPAR-delta promotes Wnt/B-catenin-driven colorectal tumorigenesis

Introduction Aberrant Wnt/B-catenin signaling activation due to mutations in the adenomatous poliposis coli gene, APC, is a critical event in colorectal cancer (CRC). However, to drive CRC tumorigenesis, aberrant Wnt/B-catenin activation requires additional enhancing regulatory mechanisms. The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta gene (PPARD), which is upregulated in CRC, is a downstream target of aberrant Wnt/B-catenin activation in human colon cancer cells. However, PPARD has also been reported to inhibit intestinal tumorigenesis in mice with germline APCmin mutations. Thus, the mechanistic interaction between PPARD and Wnt/β-catenin remains poorly understood. PPARD is a druggable protein for which agonists and antagonists are being developed. Determining PPARD effects on Wnt/B-catenin activation would define the direction of its therapeutic targeting in cancer and other diseases. Methods We developed a novel mouse model that simulates PPARD overexpression in CRC by inducing PPARD overexpression in intestinal epithelial cells via a villin promoter (villin-PPARD mice). We bred villin-PPARD mice with mice that have Apc580 mutation in intestinal epithelial cells induced by CDX2-Cre recombinase expression (Apc580mu mice) to generate Apc580mu-PPARD-Gut mice. Apc580mu-PPARD-Gut mice and Apc580mu control mice were monitored for CRC tumorigenesis. We also assessed the effects of PPARD expression modulation on Wnt/B-catenin activation in human colon cancer cell lines. Results PPARD overexpression in colonic epithelial cells increased CRC tumorigenesis in mice with Apc580 mutation. At 10 weeks of age, 100% of Apc580mu-PPARD-Gut mice but only 60% of Apc580mu mice had tumors of any size, and the mean number of tumors per Apc580mu-PPARD-Gut mouse (1.6 ± 2.5) was significantly higher than that per Apc580mu mouse (0.6 ± 0.25; P = 0.02). Tumors >3.5 mm were present in all Apc580mu-PPARD-Gut mice but only 20% of Apc580mu mice, and the mean number of tumors >3.5 mm per Apc580mu-PPARD-Gut mouse (1.4 ± 2.5) was significantly higher than that per Apc580mu mouse (0.2 ± 0.2; p = 0.005). In mice, colonic epithelial PPARD overexpression increased activated B-catenin protein levels and Wnt/B-catenin target gene mRNA levels. In human colon cancer cells, PPARD increased the levels of activated β-catenin, its nuclear localization and transcriptional activity. Conclusion Our findings indicate that PPARD augments Wnt/B-catenin signaling to promote CRC tumorigenesis and thus support the targeted inhibition of PPARD to suppress CRC tumorigenesis. Citation Format: Xiangsheng Zuo, Rui Tian, Shen Gao, Micheline J. Moussalli, Weidong Chen Chen, Ling Wu, Imad Shureiqi. PPAR-delta promotes Wnt/B-catenin-driven colorectal tumorigenesis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 3819.
Vascular Access in Hemodialysis

Hemodialysis remains the primary modality of renal replacement therapy for patients reaching end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The patient’s vascular access provides the conduit that allows for successful delivery of dialysis therapy. Thus, the vascular access is truly the “lifeline” for the hemodialysis patient. There are three primary types of vascular access a hemodialysis patient can utilize for dialysis therapy: (1) arteriovenous fistula, (2) arteriovenous graft, and (3) tunneled hemodialysis catheter. Each type of vascular access provides distinct advantages and disadvantages. The ideal vascular access would be useable soon after creation with low maturation failure rates and have infrequent mechanical and infectious complications. However, the ideal vascular access does not currently exist. Thus, appropriate vascular access selection, maintenance of vascular access, and development of therapies to treat vascular access dysfunction remain critical to improving morbidity and mortality for hemodialysis patients.
Human TERT promoter mutation enables survival advantage from MGMT promoter methylation in IDH1 wild-type primary glioblastoma treated by standard chemoradiotherapy

Author(s): Nguyen, HuyTram N; Lie, Amy; Li, Tie; Chowdhury, Reshmi; Liu, Fei; Ozer, Byram; Wei, Bowen; Green, Richard M; Ellingson, Benjamin M; Wang, He-Jing; Elashoff, Robert; Liau, Linda M; Yong, William H; Nghiemphu, Phioanh L; Cloughesy, Timothy; Lai, Albert | Abstract: BackgroundPromoter mutation in the human telomerase reverse transcriptase gene (hTERT) occurs in ~75% of primary glioblastoma (GBM). Although the mutation appears to upregulate telomerase expression and contributes to the maintenance of telomere length, its clinical significance remains unclear.MethodsWe performed hTERT promoter genotyping on 303 isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 wild-type GBM tumors treated with standard chemoradiotherapy. We also stratified 190 GBM patients from the database of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) by hTERT gene expression. We analyzed overall and progression-free survival by Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression.ResultsWe detected hTERT promoter mutation in 75% of the patients. When included as the only biomarker, hTERT mutation was not prognostic in our patient cohort by Cox regression analysis. However, when hTERT and O6-DNA methylguanine-methyltransferase (MGMT) were included together, we observed an interaction between these 2 factors. To further investigate this interaction, we performed pairwise comparison of the 4 patient subcohorts grouped by hTERT-MGMT status (MUT-M, WT-M, MUT-U, and WT-U). MGMT methylated patients showed improved survival only in the presence of hTERT promoter mutation: MUT-M versus MUT-U (overall survival of 28.3 vs 15.9 mos, log-rank P l .0001 and progression-free survival of 15.4 vs 7.86 mo, log-rank P l .0001). These results were confirmed by Cox analyses. Analogously, the cohort from TCGA demonstrated survival benefit of MGMT promoter methylation only in patients with high hTERT expression. In addition, hTERT mutation was negatively prognostic in our MGMT unmethylated patients, while the analogous association with high expression was not observed in the cohort from TCGA.ConclusionThe prognostic influence of MGMT promoter methylation depends on hTERT promoter mutation. This interaction warrants further mechanistic investigation.
MicroRNA-146a Deficiency Leads to Increased Myeloid Cell Proliferation and Activation

Abstract Abstract 2815 NF-κB is a key regulator of inflammation and the immune activation against pathogens. On the other hand, constitutive and dysregulated NF-κB activation has been shown to lead to hematologic malignancies. Thus, NF-κB activity has to be properly regulated to achieve this delicate balance. Recent studies on microRNA-146a (miR-146a) suggest it to be an important negative regulator of NF-κB activation by targeting TRAF6 and IRAK1. To characterize the function of miR-146a in the context of NF-κB activation in the hematopoietic system, we have created a knockout (KO) mouse with germline deletion of miR-146a gene. We have shown that over time miR-146a KO mice develop a myeloproliferative condition in spleen and bone marrow that progresses to splenic myeloid sarcoma and bone marrow fibrosis. The myeloproliferative disease is driven by dysregulated NF-κB activation as the KO spleen and bone marrow cells show increased NF-κB activity and reduction in NF-κB level effectively rescues the myeloproliferative disease. In addition, the KO mice exhibit a chronic inflammatory state with increased cytokine production and macrophages from the KO are hyper-activated upon primary LPS stimulation and secondary re-stimulation. In this study, we have provided genetic evidence that miR-146a functions as a tumor suppressor in the hematopoietic system and highlighted the important role of miR-146a as a negative regulator of NF-κB activation and inflammation. Disclosures: Taganov: Regulus Therapeutics Inc: Employment.
Interkingdom cues by bacteria associated with conspecific and heterospecific eggs of cochliomyia macellaria and chrysomya rufifacies (diptera: Calliphoridae) potentially govern succession on carrion

Deciphering the mechanisms that regulate animal behavior related to succession on ephemeral resources is critical for elucidating food web dynamics and nutrient recycling. Blow fly (Diptera: Calliphoridae) colonization and utilization of vertebrate carrion serve as a model for such studies, as they are the primary invertebrates that recycle this ephemeral resource. In most instances, initial colonization by blow flies results in heightened attraction and colonization by competing conspecifics and heterospecifics, thereby regulating associated arthropod succession patterns. We examined the response of Cochliomyia macellaria (native to North America) and Chrysomya rufifacies (invasive) to conspecific and heterospecific eggs. Because Ch. rufifacies is cannibalistic as well as predaceous on heterospecific larvae, we hypothesized that there would be selection for adults to recognize the presence of conspecific and heterospecific eggs and thus avoid potential predation and competition. Using a Y-tube olfactometer, we measured the residence time response of C. macellaria and Ch. rufifacies to conspecific and heterospecific eggs of three different age classes ranging from fresh to 9-h-old (close to hatching). We then examined the response of these flies to eggs that were surface sterilized and to an aqueous solution containing egg-associated microbes. High throughput sequencing was used to survey the bacteria associated with different ages of eggs from these two species. We report that C. macellaria and Ch. rufifacies exhibit differential responses to eggs of conspecifics and heterospecifics, which appears to be a result of microbial volatile-related odors. These behaviors are likely tied into the predator-prey interactions between the two species. Preliminary high throughput metagenomic analysis revealed Ch. rufifacies has a similar egg-associated fauna as C. macellaria, which may serve as a form of camouflage allowing it to colonize and thereby attract C. macellaria, a common prey for its larvae.
Pavement surface condition estimation based on geospatial modelling

ABSTRACTAll transportation management agencies face the yearly challenge of inspecting the condition of myriad miles of road surface. With routinely acquired and publicly available geospatial data and geospatial modelling techniques, there is potential to substantially reduce the number of survey sites required to characterize overall pavement surface distress condition. Using roadway pavement assets in the State of New Mexico as an example, this study investigated if overall pavement surface conditions could be estimated based on geospatial modelling. A total of 17 explanatory variables, which were extracted from three types of geospatial data, including traffic volumes, environmental conditions and topography, were used to estimate overall pavement surface distress conditions. Results show that overall pavement surface conditions can be effectively (R2 > 0.9) estimated based on the extent of geospatial data and inferential modelling techniques with fewer survey sites, substantially reducing the cost and...
The sacred and sacrality: from Eliade to evolutionary ethology

ABSTRACTEliade’s sacred seems to refer to an autonomous entity but close inspection indicates a response to experiences to which we attribute sacrality. This allows the postulation of a natural ‘sacred’ that can be defined, and become the basis for an empirical definition of religion. Such ascriptions are commonly associated with art objects, from narratives and texts to dramas and architecture. Consideration of anthropology and ethology of art reveals a relationship between skill and the sacred, which clarifies the origin and function of 'sacrality' as a cognitive experience characteristic of, but not exclusive to, religious behaviour. The same trait is operative in other behaviours, such as art and sport, but it is less restricted in art and less comprehensive sport. Nonetheless, art and sport (and other secular behaviours) do have an affinity with religious behaviour. They are consanguineous with religion – descendants of a common ancestor.
Smart Learning Environments: Potential and Pitfalls

The history of educational technology in the last 50 years contains few instances of dramatic improvements in learning based on the adoption of a particular technology. An example involving a smart learning technology occurred in the 1990s with the development of intelligent tutoring systems (ITSs). The success of ITSs was limited to constrained and straightforward learning tasks (e.g., learning how to write a LISP function; doing multi-column addition), and improvements that were observed tended to be more limited than promised (e.g., one standard deviation improvement at best rather than the promised standard deviation improvement). Still, there was some progress in terms of how to conceptualize personalized instruction. A seldom documented limitation was the notion of only viewing learning from the perspective of content and cognition (i.e., in terms of memory limitations, prior knowledge, bug libraries, learning hierarchies, and hierarchical sequences). Little attention was paid to education conceived more broadly than simply developing specific cognitive skills with highly constrained problems. Recent technologies offer the potential to create dynamic, multi-dimensional models of individual learners, and to track large data sets of learning activities, resources, interventions, and outcomes over a great many learners. Using those data to personalize learning for a particular learner as they develop knowledge, competence, and understanding in a specific domain of inquiry is now a real possibility. While the potential to make significant progress is clearly possible, the reality is less promising. There are many as yet unmet challenges and pitfalls some of which are mentioned in this paper. A persistent worry is that educational technologists and computer scientists will again promise too much, too soon, at too little cost, and with too little effort and attention to the realities in schools and universities.
Parents’ Social Comparisons of Siblings and Youth Problem Behavior: A Moderated Mediation Model

Parents compare their children to one another; those comparisons may have implications for the way mothers and fathers treat their children, as well as their children's behavior. Data were collected annually for three years with parents, firstborns, and secondborns from 385 families (Time 1 age: firstborns, 15.71, SD = 1.07, 52% female; secondborns, 13.18, SD = 1.29, 50% female). Parents' beliefs that one child was better behaved predicted differences in siblings' reports of parent-child conflict. Additionally, for siblings close in age, mothers' comparisons at Time 1 predicted youth's problem behavior at Time 3 through siblings' differential conflict with mothers. The results support and extend tenets from Social Comparison and Expectancy Value theories in regards to social comparison within families.
Cervical neck dissection without drains in well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

This study aims to review the safety of thyroidectomy combined with cervical neck dissection without drainage in well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma (WDTC). The medical records of consecutive pat...
Cigarette tax increase and media campaign cost of reducing smoking-related deaths.

Background Tobacco use results in 500,000 premature deaths annually. Most smokers begin using tobacco before age 21, so the greatest impact on preventing smoking-related mortality is likely to come from campaigns targeting youths. This study estimates the cost-effectiveness of an anti-smoking media campaign and $1 per pack increase in cigarette taxes on the lifetime decrease in smoking-attributable mortality among the cohort of all 18-year-olds in the United States during the year 2000. Methods Cost-effectiveness analysis conducted from a societal perspective. Results The combined effects of a media campaign and $1 per pack tax increase will result in a societal savings of between $590,000 per life-year saved, at a 3% discount rate and $1.4 million per life year saved, at a 7% discount rate. Conclusions A media campaign and $1 per pack cigarette tax increase will reduce overall smoking prevalence, significantly decrease smoking-attributable mortality, and decrease net societal costs.
Radiation and Second Primary Thyroid Cancer Following Index Head and Neck Cancer

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS Radiation is thought to increase risk of developing second primary thyroid cancer (SPTC). This study estimated the rate of SPTC following index head and neck cancer (HNC) and determined whether radiation treatment among HNC survivors increased SPTC risk. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective data analysis. METHOD The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (1975-2014) was queried for cases of index HNC (N = 127,563) that developed SPTC. Adjusted multivariable competing risk proportional hazards model tested risk of developing a SPTC following index HNC. Sensitivity analyses using proportional hazards models were also performed restricting data to patients who 1) received both radiation and chemotherapy and 2) radiation alone. RESULTS Only 0.2% of index HNC survivors (n = 229) developed SPTC, yielding a rate of 26.1 per 100,000 person-years. For every increasing year of age at diagnosis, patients were 3% less likely to develop an SPTC (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.96-0.98). Males were also less likely to develop an SPTC (aHR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.55-0.96). Radiation (aHR = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.68-1.25), surgery (aHR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.56-1.11), and chemotherapy (aHR = 1.13, 95% CI: 0.76-1.69) were not significantly associated with developing SPTC. The sensitivity models also did not find an association between treatment and risk of SPTC. CONCLUSIONS Rate of developing SPTC following index HNC was very low, and previous exposure to radiation did not significantly increase risk in our study population. More studies are needed to understand the increasing incidence of thyroid cancer across the United States. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE NA Laryngoscope, 129:1014-1020, 2019.
Autocorrelation of Pitch-Event Vectors in Meter Finding

Computational researchers often use autocorrelation techniques to identify the meter of a musical passage, tracking the ebs and flows of loudness or –if using symbolic data– peaks and valleys of note attacks. This paper investigates the relative success of various harmonic and pitch events compared to a note-attack model when identifying musical meter using autocorrelation. This study implements such a process using several different parameters: note attacks, pitch class change, set class probabilities, and scale-degree set probabilities. These outputs are measured against a ground truth derived from each piece’s notated time signature. The relative success of each parameter is tracked using F scores. While the study shows that loudness-oriented parameters are overall more successful, the paper discusses how its findings add to our understanding of musical meter and the role played by pitch parameters in metric accents.
HAT1 Coordinates Histone Production and Acetylation via H4 Promoter Binding

The energetic costs of duplicating chromatin are large and therefore likely depend on nutrient sensing checkpoints and metabolic inputs. By studying chromatin modifiers regulated by epithelial growth factor, we identified histone acetyltransferase 1 (HAT1) as an induced gene that enhances proliferation through coordinating histone production, acetylation, and glucose metabolism. In addition to its canonical role as a cytoplasmic histone H4 acetyltransferase, we isolated a HAT1-containing complex bound specifically at promoters of H4 genes. HAT1-dependent transcription of H4 genes required an acetate-sensitive promoter element. HAT1 expression was critical for S-phase progression and maintenance of H3 lysine 9 acetylation at proliferation-associated genes, including histone genes. Therefore, these data describe a feedforward circuit whereby HAT1 captures acetyl groups on nascent histones and drives H4 production by chromatin binding to support chromatin replication and acetylation. These findings have important implications for human disease, since high HAT1 levels associate with poor outcomes across multiple cancer types.
Cocycles and Mañe sequences with an application to ideal fluids

Abstract Exponential dichotomy of a strongly continuous cocycle Φ is proved to be equivalent to existence of a Mane sequence either for Φ or for its adjoint. As a consequence we extend some of the classical results to general Banach bundles. The dynamical spectrum of a product of two cocycles, one of which is scalar, is investigated and applied to describe the essential spectrum of the Euler equation in an arbitrary spacial dimension.
Osteochondral Allograft Cartilage Transplantation for a Full-Thickness Femoral Condyle Chondral Lesion

Cartilage lesions of the knee pose a difficult challenge for orthopaedic surgeons. Osteochondral allograft transplantation is an option in the setting of large chondral or osseous defects, or after failure of other treatment options1-3. The use of allograft offers the benefit of utilizing both viable hyaline cartilage and bone4. Fresh allografts are usually transplanted into the femoral condyle, although they can also be used in the patella, tibial plateau, or femoral trochlea1. Research has shown that patients who undergo this procedure for the treatment of focal and diffuse chondral defects have favorable outcomes and satisfaction scores1. The procedure is performed as follows. (1) Preoperative evaluation: patients are evaluated for a cartilage procedure after obtaining history, examination, and imaging (radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging). (2) Approach: a longitudinal parapatellar tendon arthrotomy is performed. (3) Debridement: the lesion is identified, and unstable cartilage is debrided back to stable cartilage. (4) Measure defect: the recipient site depth is measured in 4 positions, as on the face of a clock (12, 3, 6, and 9 o'clock). (5) Template allograft: a sizer is used to template the allograft hemicondyle. (6) Secure and harvest allograft: the allograft is secured in the Osteochondral Allograft Transplantation Surgery (OATS) Workstation (Arthrex) and harvested from cadaver bone. (7) Measure depth: the recipient depth measurements are marked on the allograft. (8) Cut graft: the graft is held with allograft-holding forceps while graft is cut with a saw. (9) Check measurements: allograft measurements are checked to ensure that they match recipient measurements. (10) Round edges: the osseous ends are rounded to assist with insertion of graft. (11) Irrigate: the allograft is irrigated after final cuts. (12) Graft insertion: the graft is inserted after lining up the 12-o'clock position recipient and donor reference marks and is held in place with a press fit. (13) Closure: standard closure in layers is performed.
Teaming up Authentications to Balance Anonymity and Efficiency of Vehicular Networks

The type of the utilized authentication framework in internet of vehicles/vehicular network reduces the number of cars that can simultaneously seize the wireless channel. Some frameworks have less communication overhead while others have more anonymous traits; therefore, using a single authentication is a biased stance. In this work, we introduce an authentication interchange scheme that intermingles between three frameworks: Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), Group Signature (GS), and our Identity-based Cryptographic (IBC) authentication. Our scheme is context-aware, i.e., every certain time interval, the PKI vehicle checks its context; if the vehicle encounters a crowded neighborhood, it switches to a lower-overhead IBC authentication. If the car’s context is sparse, it alters to a more anonymous GS framework. We prove the scheme security by a valid argument using the strategies of attacker games and forking lemmas. To analyze the effectiveness of the scheme, we define several performance metrics as well as the communication scenario. The results prove that the interchanged scheme is more effective than the case of having one pure secure authentication throughout the network lifetime; our approach is computably fast and does not compromise the autos’ anonymity. Also, the scheme achieves less vehicle drop rate compared with the available pure frameworks.
Chief marketing officer presence and firm performance: assessing conditions under which the presence of other C-level functional executives matters

This research extends understanding of the relationship between chief marketing officer (CMO) presence and firm performance by investigating how it is affected by the presence of three other functional heads (or CXOs) under various environmental and strategic contingencies. Results based on a panel of 401 U.S. manufacturers reaffirm the positive CMO presence–firm performance relationship and establish that the linkage is (a) strengthened by chief sales officer presence when industry sales volatility is high, (b) strengthened (weakened) by chief technology officer presence when industry innovation and firm differentiation (cost leadership) are high, and (c) strengthened (weakened) by chief supply chain officer presence when firm diversification (differentiation) is high. The study: expands top management team research by investigating executive dyads formed by the pairing of heads of functions advocated in the organizationally embedded view of marketing; delineates CXOs’ roles and orientations to clarify mechanisms that aid or hamper the CMO; and, identifies industry and firm-level contexts that affect the CMO–CXO interfaces. Additionally, the findings underscore the importance of appointing CMOs and, of CMOs spanning organizational silos.
The Relationship between Trait Mindfulness and Emotional Reactivity Following Mood Manipulation

Trait mindfulness can be used to refer to one’s predisposition toward present-moment attention and awareness in everyday life. Increases in trait mindfulness are thought to result from states of heightened mindfulness achieved during practice over time. A significant amount of research has examined the effects of mindfulness practice on psychological well-being, including improved emotion regulation. However, it is not well understood whether this improved emotion regulation is associated with an increase or decrease in emotional reactivity when facing a negatively valenced stressor. We conducted two studies (N = 88; N = 95, and N = 65) to assess the relationship between trait mindfulness (assessed using the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire) and emotional reactivity to an induced stressor in the laboratory. In study 1, individuals with higher levels of Acting with Awareness exhibited less negatively valenced emotional reactivity in response to the induced stressor. In study 2, individuals with higher levels of overall trait mindfulness represented by acting with awareness, non-reactivity, and non-judgment exhibited less negatively valenced emotional reactivity in response to the induced stressor. Results from both studies suggest that certain qualities of mindfulness may provide individuals with the ability to notice and engage with stress-induced emotions in an adaptive way, resulting in reduced negatively valenced emotions.
Optimizing the Rigid or Compliant Behavior of a Novel Parallel-Actuated Architecture for Exoskeleton Robot Applications

The purpose of this work is to optimize the rigid or compliant behavior of a new type of parallel-actuated robot architecture developed for exoskeleton robot applications. This is done in an effort to provide those that utilize the architecture with the means to maximize, minimize, or simply adjust its stiffness property so as to optimize it for particular tasks, such as augmented lifting or impact absorption. This research even provides the means to produce non-homogeneous stiffness properties for applications that may require non-homogeneous dynamic behavior. In this work, the new architecture is demonstrated in the form of a shoulder exoskeleton. An analytical stiffness model for the shoulder exoskeleton is created and validated experimentally. The model is then used, along with a method of bounded nonlinear multi-objective optimization to configure the parallel substructures for desired rigidity, compliance or nonhomogeneous stiffness behavior. The stiffness model and its optimization can be applied beyond the shoulder to any embodiment of the new parallel architecture, including hip, wrist and ankle robot applications. In order to exemplify this, we present the rigidity optimization for a theoretical hip exoskeleton.
Initial efficacy of a web-based alcohol and emotion regulation intervention for college women with sexual assault histories.

OBJECTIVE College women with sexual assault histories report greater heavy drinking relative to those without histories of assault. Moreover, individuals with sexual assault histories often have difficulty regulating emotions and tolerating distress, which can lead to a problematic pattern of drinking to cope. Thus, we evaluated the initial efficacy of a web-based alcohol intervention that included strategies to reduce drinking and improve regulatory skills for heavy drinking college women with sexual assault histories. METHOD The sample comprised college women (N = 200) who were 20.9 (SD = 2.8) years old and primarily White (69%). They were randomized to an assessment-only control or intervention and completed 14 daily diary assessments, pre- and posttreatment surveys, and 1- and 6-month follow-up surveys. During daily diary, the intervention group received a brief (5-10 min) alcohol reduction or regulatory skill module each day. RESULTS Reductions in drinking quantity and heavy episodic drinking were found for the intervention group at posttreatment and 1-month follow-up relative to controls. Improved regulatory skills and reduced posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms were reported at posttreatment for women who received the intervention compared to controls. Although gains were maintained, the intervention group no longer differed from controls by 6-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Results suggest this web-based intervention may result in short-term reductions in drinking and PTSD symptoms as well as improvements in regulatory abilities for college women with sexual assault histories. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
Earth’s Magnetosphere: A Cosmic Wave-Particle Laboratory

It has been one of the longstanding issues in astrophysics to understand how particles in the plasma domain can be boosted up in energy to relativistic energies on short time scales. Such prompt and efficient acceleration is believed to occur in a wide variety of astrophysical contexts. Certainly, we are able to observe remotely solar active regions, distant planetary magnetospheres, stellar activity cycles, and huge cosmic structures such as extragalactic radio jets because of highly energetic particles moving within regions of strong magnetic fields. Space flight missions have demonstrated through in situ observations that electrons at energies to over 10 megaelectron volts (MeV) can be produced within the Earth’s outer radiation belt on timescales as short as a few minutes. The key to such rapid acceleration is the interaction of low-energy "seed" populations of electrons (tens to hundreds of keV in energy) with electromagnetic waves in the lower band whistler-mode chorus frequency range. MMS (Magnetospheric Multiscale) data show that "source" electrons (in a typical energy range of one to a few tens of keV energy) produced during magnetospheric substorms play a central role in amplifying the chorus waves in the magnetosphere (Baker et al., 2016). Chorus waves then rapidly heat and accelerate the seed electrons up to much higher energies. Geomagnetic ultra-relativistic electron production through the intermediary step of waves produced during such activity driven by strong solar storms (coronal mass ejections, or CMEs) almost invariably leads to intense substorms (Baker et al., 2016). It has proven to be extremely valuable to explore wave-particle interactions in essentially all parts of the Earth’s space environment using modern particle and wave sensing experiments. Having the ability to carry out such investigations without the interference of confining chamber walls makes near-Earth space a perfect plasma physics laboratory. Well-instrumented space missions such as the Van Allen Probes dual-satellite pair and the four-spacecraft MMS constellation have greatly improved our understanding of fundamental acceleration processes. From such results we see that wave-particle interactions are of key importance over a broad range of energies and in virtually all regions of the magnetosphere. This presentation provides a summary of the rich variety of the wave modes and particle interactions that have been examined with the MMS and Van Allen Probes spacecraft missions. We show case studies of electron acceleration events observed with these missions and we also examine in some detail that local losses of magnetospheric particles due to intense wave-particle scattering interactions.
Laboratory diagnosis of bacterial meningitis by direct detection, serotyping and Next Generation Sequencing: How 10 years of testing in New York State has evolved to improve laboratory diagnosis and public health

Abstract Since 2005, the Wadsworth Center (WC) has provided molecular testing on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and whole blood specimens in close collaboration with epidemiologists in New York State and New York City. In this study, we analyzed 10 years of data to demonstrate the significant value of utilizing molecular methods to assess patient specimens for etiologic agents of bacterial meningitis. A comprehensive molecular testing algorithm to detect and serotype/serogroup bacterial agents known to cause bacterial meningitis (Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus agalactiae) has evolved, and retrospective specimen testing has been essential for each improvement. Over a ten-year span from 2010 to 2019 the WC received 831 specimens from 634 patients with suspected bacterial meningitis. Real-time PCR was positive for at least one of the agents in 223 (27%) specimens from 183 patients (29%). Of the 223 positives, 146 (66%) were further characterized by real-time PCR into serogroup/serotype. Additionally, examination of 131 paired specimens of CSF and whole blood from the same patients found better detection in CSF, but whole blood is a useful alternative for diagnosis when CSF is not available. For specimens initially PCR-negative, 16S rDNA Sanger sequencing was requested by the submitter for 146 cases resulting in the identification of bacterial agents in an additional 24 (16%) specimens. In a retrospective study, Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) was evaluated for the detection of pathogens in 53 previously tested PCR-negative CSF specimens and identified bacteria in 14 (26%) specimens. This molecular testing algorithm has provided clinicians a diagnosis when culture is negative with the potential to guide therapy. It has also aided public health in determining when antibiotic prophylaxis was needed, augmented surveillance data to yield a fuller picture of community prevalence, and highlighted gaps in the spectrum of agents that cause bacterial meningitis.
INTERACTIONS AND FEEDBACKS BETWEEN CLIMATE AND DRYLAND VEGETATIONS

Interactions and feedbacks between terrestrial ecosystem processes and climate mainly take effect through biophysical and biogeochemical processes and affect atmospheric circulation, regional water cycles, and the carbon budget. In biophysical processes, the atmosphere and the land surface exchange radiation, heat, and momentum fluxes, as well as water vapor. Biophysical feedbacks affect atmospheric conditions by modifying surface albedo, soil moisture, soil temperature, evaporation, runoff, energy partitioning between latent heat and sensible heat fluxes, and upward radiation fluxes. Biogeochemical processes affect climate by altering atmospheric composition and the atmospheric radiation balance, especially by modifying exchange of trace gases, such as carbon dioxide and aerosols, between terrestrial ecosystems and the atmosphere. Figure 7.1 is a schematic diagram showing the exchange processes between land and atmosphere. This chapter mainly focuses on the biophysical feedback.
Response of wetland soil carbon to groundwater conservation: Probabilistic outcomes from error propagation

Abstract Water loss compromises functions performed by wetland ecosystems. Efforts to rehabilitate wetland function typically begin with attempts to reestablish hydrology. These activities are often not monitored, so tools to extract information from them could partly offset the lost opportunity to learn from whole-ecosystem hydrological manipulation. In 2002, groundwater abstraction was lessened by 35% throughout 1700 km2 of west-central Florida (USA). I assembled a pathway of correlations to project how this hydrological manipulation affected water levels and soil carbon (C) storage in overlying wetlands. Parameter values and residual error in these statistical models were resampled from known variances, thereby propagating uncertainty through the pathway of relationships, and expressing the response of soil C probabilistically. Projected soil C probability distributions were most distinguishable between full and moderate (30% less) abstraction. With more severe abstraction cutbacks, gains in projected soil C became more marginal and uncertain, suggesting that wetland soil C pools are not notably impacted by low-volume groundwater abstraction. Reducing uncertainty in projected soil C will require better understanding the dynamic response of soil C to increases in the amount of time that wetland soil is inundated. The step-by-step error propagation routine presented here is a platform for assimilating information from diverse sources in order to project probabilistic responses of ecosystem function to wetland restoration attempts, and it helps identify where further certainty is most wanted in a pathway of cause–effect relationships.
Restriction in IgM expression--I. The VH regions of equine anti-lactose antibodies.

Abstract The phenomenon of affinity maturation, characteristic of the IgG response, is generally limited or absent in the induced IgM response. This observation has led to the proposal that IgM is restricted to the expression of germ-line V region genes whereas IgG utilizes both germ-line genes and their somatic variants. In this study the V H regions prepared from purified anti-lactose IgM antibody of six horses were compared by analytical isoelectric focusing (IEF). The six patterns were virtually identical with respect to their complexity (about 30 bands), the isoelectric points of the bands and their relative intensities. This finding is predicted from the assumption of germ-line restriction. The V H regions from normal equine IgM and antiSIII IgM exhibited a similar complexity but different intensity distributions. The parallel complexity is attributed to the degeneracy of the number of distinguishable isoelectric points observable by IEF for a large number (e.g. 1350) of different compositions of charged amino acids. A cellular model is proposed for the germ-line restriction in the expression of IgM antibody based on the assumption that secondary (memory) B cells are not involved in IgM production. The consequent limitation to a primary response for IgM precludes the utilization of the expanded repertoire generated by somatic variants because these variants are unable to undergo sufficient clonal expansion to yield adequate numbers of IgM-producing plasma cells.