cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A tunable concurrent 6-to-18GHz phased-array system in CMOS

This paper presents a scalable phased-array receiver system that covers a tritave bandwidth of 6-to-18 GHz implemented in a 130nm CMOS process. The single receiver element with a 10-bit phase shifting resolution achieves a maximum phase error of 2.5° within a baseband amplitude variation of 1.5dB for an arbitrary target angle. This dense interpolation provides excellent phase error/offset calibration capability in the array. A 4-element electrical array pattern is measured at 6GHz, 13.5GHz and 18GHz, showing a worst case peak-to-null ratio of 21.5dB. The EVM and phase noise improvements of the array compared with the single receiver element are also shown.
Identifying bad measurements in compressive sensing

We consider the problem of identifying bad measurements in compressive sensing. These bad measurements can be present due to malicious attacks and system malfunction. Since the system of linear equations in compressive sensing is underconstrained, errors introduced by these bad measurements can result in large changes in decoded solutions. We describe methods for identifying bad measurements so that they can be removed before decoding. In a new separation-based method we separate out top nonzero variables by ranking, eliminate the remaining variables from the system of equations, and then solve the reduced overconstrained problem to identify bad measurements. Comparing to prior methods based on direct or joint l 1 -minimization, the separation-based method can work under a much smaller number of measurements. In analyzing the method we introduce the notion of inversions which governs the separability of large nonzero variables.
Middle management involvement in strategy and its association with strategic type: A research note

This paper reports the results of a study that investigated the strategic involvement of 259 middle managers in 25 organizations. Drawing from previous clinical research, a theoretical typology of middle management roles in strategy is developed. Measures for each role are derived, and the relationship between middle management strategic involvement and Miles and Snow's (1978) strategic type is examined. Results suggest the usefulness of these measures in assessing both the level and type of middle management strategic activity. In addition, the findings show that middle managers in Prospectors report significantly higher levels of upward and divergent forms of strategic involvement than those in Analyzers and Defenders. Traditionally, middle-level managers have not been considered part of the strategy process except in providing informational inputs and directing implementation. Contemporary theory and descriptions suggest, however, that middle managers regularly attempt to influence strategy and often provide the impetus for new initiatives (Burgelman, 1983a,b; Mintzberg and Waters, 1985). Bower (1970) was one of the first to recognize the contributions of middle managers: they '... are the only men [sic] in the organization who are in a position to judge whether [strategic] issues are being considered in the proper context' (297-298). More recently, empirical research has confirmed middle management's upward influence on strategic decisions (Schilit, 1987)
Equivalent circuit modeling of ionomer and ionic polymer conductive network composite actuators containing ionic liquids

Abstract In this study, we demonstrate electrical equivalent circuits that model the complex frequency-dependent impedance of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate (EMI-Tf) containing electro-active polymer membranes and ionic polymer conductor network composite (IPCNC) devices. The devices include Nafion membrane actuators, Nafion coated with layer-by-layer (LbL) Au nanoparticle/poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) composite actuators, and Nafion with vertically aligned carbon nanotube (VA-CNT)/Nafion composite actuators. It is found that the low frequency responses of these devices indicate Warburg diffusion. Therefore, Warburg impedance is utilized to model the low frequency diffusion behavior of the devices, while the electric double layer capacitance (Cdl) represents the storage of drifting ions under electric field at high frequencies. It is found that Cdl for Nafion with 40 wt% EMI-Tf is 7.5 μF/cm2 and increases to 11.4 μF/cm2 with increasing surface area of the LbL composite electrode. Cdl increases further to above 3 × 103 μF/cm2 for an actuator with 12 μm VA-CNT/Nafion composite electrodes, while the Warburg coefficient AW remains nearly the same for all the devices. As a result, the actuation magnitude and speed increase with charges accumulated due to higher Cdl, without much increase in the contribution from the slow ion diffusion process.
Evolution of dopants and defects in silicon under various annealing sequences

Several decades of research into understanding the mechanisms responsible for diffusion and activation of group-III acceptor and group-V donor impurities in silicon has been driven by the technological need for creating electrical junctions in the S/D and extensions of transistors in semiconductor integrated circuits. It is now conclusively known that anomalous diffusion of implanted impurities during annealing results from their interaction with the non-conservative evolution of excess point-defect damage created by the original implantation, and the effect annealing ambients, co-impurities, interfaces and surfaces have on that evolution [1–8]. Early experiments shown in Ref. [2] conclusively proved this by etching away the surface region containing implant damage before annealing, and demonstrating that the anomalous behavior disappeared. Starting from the as-implanted damage, the nucleation, growth and dissolution of a sequence of larger defects at the expense of smaller ones during the anneal, sets the point defect flux and super-saturation levels (the ratio of point defect concentration to its temperature equilibrium value), which then determine the magnitude and durations of the various phases of anomalous diffusion [9].
Special Education Certification/Recertification For Regular Educators

This article reports on a recent national study of the nature and extent of special education certification and recertification requirements for regular education teachers. State directors of teacher education and certification were asked to respond to questions related to teacher certification and recertification requirements, the means by which these requirements are met, and factors that might have led to changes in these requirements. Results indicated that in the last 10 years there has been a dramatic change in state special education coursework requirements for the certification of regular education teachers. The subtleties and implications of these results, as they relate to both special and regular education, are explored.
Teachers and Leaders

The teacher's ultimate goal, like the leader's, is to help people become self-reliant by honing specific skills, acquiring knowledge, and cultivating attitudes. The qualities of the best teachers naturally reflect the characteristics of great leaders. Perhaps it is time to acknowledge these similar traits, and direct our training of future teachers and leaders accordingly.
A bacterial filter protects and structures the gut microbiome of an insect

Associations with symbionts within the gut lumen of hosts are particularly prone to disruption due to the constant influx of ingested food and non-symbiotic microbes, yet we know little about how partner fidelity is maintained. Here we describe for the first time the existence of a gut morphological filter capable of protecting an animal gut microbiome from disruption. The proventriculus, a valve located between the crop and midgut of insects, functions as a micro-pore filter in the Sonoran Desert turtle ant (Cephalotes rohweri), blocking the entry of bacteria and particles ⩾0.2 μm into the midgut and hindgut while allowing passage of dissolved nutrients. Initial establishment of symbiotic gut bacteria occurs within the first few hours after pupation via oral–rectal trophallaxis, before the proventricular filter develops. Cephalotes ants are remarkable for having maintained a consistent core gut microbiome over evolutionary time and this partner fidelity is likely enabled by the proventricular filtering mechanism. In addition, the structure and function of the cephalotine proventriculus offers a new perspective on organismal resistance to pathogenic microbes, structuring of gut microbial communities, and development and maintenance of host–microbe fidelity both during the animal life cycle and over evolutionary time.
Abstract W P173: The Use of Mass Spectroscopy-Based Proteomics to Identify Novel Biomarkers of Cerebral Ischemia

Background: Cerebral ischemia and its mimics are often difficult to differentiate. While MRI is the gold standard for stroke diagnosis, a marker for TIA remains elusive. Proteomics offers a unique method to identify biomarkers of ischemic disease. Through the use of mass spectrometry-based proteomics, we analyzed the serum of patients with transient neurologic symptoms in our emergency department to determine candidate proteins to serve as indicators of cerebral ischemia. Methods: Patients with transient neurologic symptoms were prospectively enrolled and their serum was obtained. Mass spectrometry was performed on the samples, and the results were searched against the Human Uniport database to identify the most likely proteins. The student’s t-test was utilized to compare protein levels between the different clinical conditions, and significance was determined by using the Benjamini-Hochberg false discovery rate (FDR) controlling procedure for multiple comparison adjustments. Results: Twenty patients wit...
Telezoo (a): Feast or Famine?

The A case describes the start of a new business, Telezoo, and the challenges facing a start-up as it attempts to develop a unique niche for itself in the marketplace. The case describes the business and Telezoo's opportunities to simplify the purchase of telecom equipment and to better match suppliers and buyers. The case affords a discussion of the use of the Internet as an alternative channel of distribution and shows that it is complementary with other, more traditional channels. The case can be taught alone or in sequence with the B case (UVA-M-0652) and the C case (UVA-M-0662).
An On-Line Method for Interpolating Linear Reduced-Order Structural Dynamics Models

A rigorous method for interpolating a set of parameterized linear structural dynamics reduced-order models (ROMs) is presented. By design, this method does not operate on the underlying set of parameterized full-order models. Hence, it is amenable to a real-time and on-line implementation. It is based on mapping appropriately the ROM data onto a tangent space to the manifold of symmetric positive definite matrices, interpolating the mapped data in this space and mapping back the result to the aforementioned manifold. Algorithms for computing the forward and backward mappings are oered for the case where the ROMs are derived from a general Galerkin projection method and the case where they are constructed from modal reduction. The proposed interpolation method is illustrated with applications ranging from the fast dynamic characterization of a parameterized structural model to the fast evaluation of its response to a given input. In all cases, good accuracy is demonstrated at real-time processing speeds.
Some introductory comments on silver staining.

Silver staining has become a versatile method for the visualization of specific cell structures and products. The similarity of the impregnation “nuclei” of reduced silver staining to the silver “specks” or “nuclei” of the latent image in photography is noted. “Physical” development (reduction of ionic silver in solution) in silver staining as compared to “chemical” development (reduction of ionic silver remaining in a silver halide crystal) in photographic procedures is briefly discussed.
Performance of Efficient Welder on Adjusting Load and Saving Electricity

详细介绍了高效节能型电焊机技术,从电力需求侧管理角度对其调荷节电效果及综合经济效益进行了定量评估,筛选出最佳方案。通过成本-效益分析可知,在工业用户中推广应用高效节能型焊接技术在经济上是可行的。最后提出了高效节能型焊机技术在推广过程中所存在的问题。
Harry Kroto (1939–2016)

Harry Kroto was part of the team that discovered buckminsterfullerene, the football-shaped carbon-60 molecule that came to be known as a buckyball. The realization that such a large molecule could self-assemble from hot carbon vapour forced a reassessment of the science of carbon. By prompting searches for other structures — carbon nanotubes and nanowires were among the materials later found — the discovery ultimately provided a foundation for nanoscience and nanotechnology.
Thyroid function in human pregnancy. V. Incidence of maternal serum low butanol-extractable iodines and of normal gestational TBG and TBPA capacities; retardation of 8-month-old infants.

Abstract Although irreversible damage to the fetal central nervous system has been attributed to intrauterine thyroid deficiency, the incidence, in uncomplicated human pregnancies, of low maternal circulating thyroxine-like compounds is not available. One or more serum butanol-extractable iodines (BEI) were measured during 1,394 pregnancies of clinic registrants at Providence Lying-In Hospital; serum thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) and thyroxine-binding prealbumin capacities (TBPA) were measured during 375 pregnancies. Eight-month-old infants were examined with the COLR form of Bayley's scales of mental and motor development. During 173 of 1,394 pregnancies BEI failed to rise to normally increased gestational concentrations but TBG and TBPA were normal gestationally during 89 of 105 of these pregnancies; in contrast only in 48 pregnancies were hyperthyroidism, high BEI, or other thyroid dysfunction diagnosed. Eighty-one per cent of 26 infants of women, given adequate Proloid after 2 low BEI, were classified “normal,” approximately the same per cent as for infants of euthyroid women; but only 48 per cent of 56 infants of women with 2 low BEI not given adequate thyroid replacement therapy were “normal.”
Ilizarov apparatus for infected pseudarthrosis of the spine: A case report

A case is presented of a 13-year-old girl with thoracic level myelomeningocele who developed an infected pseudarthrosis of the lumbar spine after an attempted kyphosectomy. The pseudarthrosis was successfully united through the use of special modifications of the Ilizarov apparatus. Rings and wires were applied to the iliac wings below and the thoracic laminae above the pseudarthrosis site. Preoperative planning was aided by a CT scan of the pelvis and spine. A cut-out foam mattress and a special wheelchair were used postoperatively to facilitate patient care.
Forces of change: the emergence of a knowledge society and new generations of learners

INTRODUCTION Nothing in the history of humankind has permeated every aspect of life and culture as deeply and as rapidly as have the computer technology and the global network of the Internet. Over the last 10 years there has been a vast infusion of technology into communications, business, politics, social interactions, the workplace, and personal lives. Jobs in all sectors of society are being redefined to accommodate the new importance of information technology in society (Long and Long, 1998). Technology has made possible new forms of communication: thousands of virtual communities exist where members can share thoughts and knowledge independent of culture, country, religion, ethnicity, and economic status. In the workplace it is possible to conduct business with partners and clients without a physical presence. Technology’s influence is both national and global. As for the national influence, technology is changing the personal and professional lives of people, the operations of businesses, the communication techniques of society, the priorities of families, and the entertainment industry. Within the next few years, the population, institutions, and government will accept the extensive saturation of technology into every aspect of society as a national reality. With respect to the global influence, technology is also changing a geographically divided world into a global society and economy. A global society peopled with empowered citizens who can synchronously or asynchronously discuss issues and share knowledge can also collaborate on activities and interests and solve pressing problems. Technology’s influence is also felt in the education system. Nationally, K-12 education and higher education institutions are undergoing dramatic changes, and the development of global education has created an opportunity for learners around the world to access needed resources and learning programs. The educational system now presents the possibility of learning-on-demand without limitation of time, place, resources, and physical facilities. The purpose of this chapter is to discuss how technology has been a key factor in the development of the knowledge society, the emergence of two new generations of learners (the Internet-generation and adult learners), and the subsequent shifts in the role and 1331 E. Chocolate Avenue, Hershey PA 17033-1117, USA Tel: 717/533-8845; Fax 717/533-8661; URL-http://www.idea-group.com IDEA GROUP PUBLISHING
Exact electromagnetic response of Landau level electrons

We present a simple method that allows us to calculate the electromagnetic response of noninteracting electrons in a strong magnetic field to arbitrary order in the gradients of external electric and magnetic fields. We illustrate the method on both nonrelativistic and massless Dirac electrons filling $N$ Landau levels. First, we derive an exact relation between the electromagnetic response of the nonrelativistic and Dirac electrons in the lowest Landau level. Next, we obtain a closed form expression for the polarization operator in the large-$N$ (or weak magnetic field) limit. We explicitly show that in the large-$N$ limit the random phase approximation (RPA) computation of the polarization tensor agrees---in leading and subleading order in $N$---with a Fermi liquid computation to all orders in the gradient expansion and for arbitrary value of the $\mathrm{g}$ factor. Finally, we show that in the large-$N$ limit the nonrelativistic polarization tensor agrees with Dirac's in the leading and subleading orders in $N$, provided that the Berry phase of the Dirac cone is taken into account via replacement $N\ensuremath{\longrightarrow}N+1/2$.
Hybrid fabrication techniques of 3-D integrated microlaser sensors

We present the recent developments of mechanically, thermally, and chemically robust, 3-D monolithically integrated sustainable and versatile microlasers for various sensing applications, fabricated by ultrafast laser inscription and standard lithography processes.
The mecillinam resistome reveals a role for peptidoglycan endopeptidases in stimulating cell wall synthesis in Escherichia coli

Bacterial cells are typically surrounded by an net-like macromolecule called the cell wall constructed from the heteropolymer peptidoglycan (PG). Biogenesis of this matrix is the target of penicillin and related beta-lactams. These drugs inhibit the transpeptidase activity of PG synthases called penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs), preventing the crosslinking of nascent wall material into the existing network. The beta-lactam mecillinam specifically targets the PBP2 enzyme in the cell elongation machinery of Escherichia coli. Low-throughput selections for mecillinam resistance have historically been useful in defining mechanisms involved in cell wall biogenesis and the killing activity of beta-lactam antibiotics. Here, we used transposon-sequencing (Tn-Seq) as a high-throughput method to identify nearly all mecillinam resistance loci in the E. coli genome, providing a comprehensive resource for uncovering new mechanisms underlying PG assembly and drug resistance. Induction of the stringent response or the Rcs envelope stress response has been previously implicated in mecillinam resistance. We therefore also performed the Tn-Seq analysis in mutants defective for these responses in addition to wild-type cells. Thus, the utility of the dataset was greatly enhanced by determining the stress response dependence of each resistance locus in the resistome. Reasoning that stress response-independent resistance loci are those most likely to identify direct modulators of cell wall biogenesis, we focused our downstream analysis on this subset of the resistome. Characterization of one of these alleles led to the surprising discovery that the overproduction of endopeptidase enzymes that cleave crosslinks in the cell wall promotes mecillinam resistance by stimulating PG synthesis by a subset of PBPs. Our analysis of this activation mechanism suggests that, contrary to the prevailing view in the field, PG synthases and PG cleaving enzymes need not function in multi-enzyme complexes to expand the cell wall matrix.
Cardiovascular Health in St. Louis Bosnian-Americans

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, cardiovascular disease accounts for nearly 50% of deaths. Cardiovascular health of resettled Bosnian-Americans has not been well-characterized. Our study aimed to quantify cardiovascular risk in Bosnian-Americans in St. Louis, the largest non-European center of resettlement. Seven community screenings focused on Bosnian-Americans were held. Cardiovascular risk was calculated to stratify individuals into low ( 20%) risk. Those with self-reported coronary heart disease (CHD) or risk equivalent were considered high-risk. Two-hundred fifty Bosnian-Americans were screened; 51% (n = 128) consented to the IRB-approved study. Twenty-one percent were smokers, 33% obese, and 33% had hypertension. Excluding risk equivalent individuals, 5.7% of subjects were high-risk, increasing to 26.6% when including high-risk equivalents. Lipid abnormalities include elevated triglycerides (29.0%) and low HDL (50.0%). Compared to general American population studies, Bosnian-Americans have greater ten-year hard CHD risk. A community-based approach identified potential culturally-based lifestyle interventions including diet, exercise, and smoking.
EMR-Radiological Phenotypes in Diseases of the Optic Nerve and their Association with Visual Function.

Multi-modal analyses of diseases of the optic nerve, that combine radiological imaging with other electronic medical records (EMR), improve understanding of visual function. We conducted a study of 55 patients with glaucoma and 32 patients with thyroid eye disease (TED). We collected their visual assessments, orbital CT imaging, and EMR data. We developed an image-processing pipeline that segmented and extracted structural metrics from CT images. We derived EMR phenotype vectors with the help of PheWAS (from diagnostic codes) and ProWAS (from treatment codes). Next, we performed a principal component analysis and multiple-correspondence analysis to identify their association with visual function scores. We found that structural metrics derived from CT imaging are significantly associated with functional visual score for both glaucoma (R2 = 0.32) and TED (R2 = 0.4). Addition of EMR phenotype vectors to the model significantly improved (p < 1E−04) the R2 to 0.4 for glaucoma and 0.54 for TED.
Power analysis and maximum output-power scheme for inductively coupled resonant power receivers

Although microsensors nowadays can save money, energy, and lives, highly functional devices can exhaust a tiny battery very quickly. Harvesting ambient energy can help replenish the battery, but only when an ambient source is available. Unfortunately, many embedded microsensors are small, stationary, and enclosed, so thermal gradients, motion, and light are absent. Wireless power in these cases is often the only option left. But since the receiving coil is small and centimeters away from the transmitter, drawn power is low. Switched resonant bridges are popular in this respect because they output more power with fewer components than their non-switched and non-resonant counterparts. But still, power can be so low that losses can be overwhelming. This paper introduces a power analysis and proposes a skipping collection scheme that boosts output power. Analysis and simulations show how switched resonant bridges consume conduction and switching power and how dispersing collection times can boost output power.
Adult Spinal Ependymomas: An Epidemiologic Study.

Objective In adults, spinal ependymomas constitute only 3% to 6% of central nervous system tumors. Because of their rarity and poor prognosis, large population-based studies are needed to assess the epidemiology and survival risk factors associated with these tumors in the hope of improving outcome. The authors undertook this retrospective study to explore factors that may influence survival in adult patients with spinal ependymomas. Methods Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database, a prospective cancer registry, the authors retrospectively assessed survival in histologically confirmed spinal ependymomas in patients 18 years of age and older. Survival was described with Kaplan-Meier curves, and a multivariate regression analysis was used to assess the association of several variables with survival while controlling for confounding variables. Results Overall survival at 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years after diagnosis was 97.0%, 94.3%, and 93.3%, respectively. Patient age at diagnosis (hazard ratio [HR] 1.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04–1.07, P Conclusions High-grade ependymomas occurring in the spine have a much worse prognosis than do those with lower grades. Early diagnosis and surgery appear to be associated with improved survival and outcomes, whereas radiation therapy has an unclear role.
Coordination of Parallel Arrays of Binary Actuators

The objective of this study is the examination of the design and control opportunities presented by large arrays of small, simple actuators acting in parallel. An array of two-state actuators, i.e. a bundle of binary actuators acting in parallel, can be regarded as a simplified model of biological muscle. An experimental parallel array system composed of a large number of pneumatic cylinders connected between an output member and base has been constructed. Each cylinder can be either set as on or off. The parallel array is viewed as a progranunable force generator, rather than as a motion generator. In this paper, we will discuss the wrench workspace generated by the prototype parallel array and also present an efficient method for controlling the wrench generation.
A Case Study in Failed Law Reform: Arizona's Child Support Guidelines

It is hardly news to observe that a proposed legal reform is not adopted even though nearly all experts believe it would effectively advance the law's widely supported policy goals. But if this phenomenon is commonplace, that is all the more reason for trying to understand why it happens. The recent effort to reform Arizona's child support guidelines provides a particularly compelling case study of such a failed law reform effort, for several reasons. First, child support has generally not been politically contentious: Both Democrats and Republicans have for several decades combined to support changes in child support law intended to ensure that non-custodial parents contribute to the support of their children. Second, this is not merely a case of legislative inaction. In Arizona, as in many states, the state supreme court is the body assigned the task of writing the rules that establish how much child support a non-custodial parent must pay. The proposed reform would have become law had the legislature not affirmatively acted to overrule the recommendations of a series of committees the court had appointed to study the issue. Finally, all available information suggests that the proposed reforms were more consistent with the views of the Arizona electorate than the existing provisions they would have replaced. In sum, the legislature acted to prevent adoption of child support reforms proposed by the public bodies entrusted with deciding them even though the reforms were consistent with the views of the public and supported by nearly all the experts asked to study them. This Article attempts to understand why this happened. Among other things, it concludes that the reform suffered from an asymmetry in citizens' motivation to engage the political process: those who stand to gain from a reform may not work as hard for its adoption as those who stand to lose from it will work for its defeat.
The Impact of Emission Reductions on Mesoscale Acid Deposition in the Lower Ohio River Valley

The growing awareness of atmospheric pollution problems and their consequent effect on human health and the ecosystem have brought about a need for stringent control strategies. Several past studies have been conducted to test model sensitivity to emission reductions and changes in background concentrations. Studies have also focused on the effect of reduction of emissions of the primary species on the eventual deposition patterns over various regional scales. Stockwell et al. (1988) investigated non-linear coupling in the NOX-SOX - reactive organic system, and examined the extent of coupling of atmospheric acid formation rates with species that serve as important precursors of photochemical oxi-dants. Cho et al. (1989) used a one-dimensional time dependent version of the STEM II model to evaluate the effect of reduction in ambient levels of primary pollutants on and NO3 wet depositions. Recently, Misra et al. (1989) used the Acid Deposition and Oxidant Model (ADOM) to simulate wet so; deposition patterns over eastern North America and to study the non-linear response of wet deposition to emission reductions.
Combinatorics, Representation Theory and Invariant Theory

We will dwell upon the one topic of unquestioned interest and timeliness among mathematicians: gossip. Or rather, to use an acceptable euphemism, we will deal with the history of mathematics.
Rhetorical Analysis Essay Assignment

In this second major paper assigned to students in English 302M, students are asked to find and evaluate a scholarly article on a topic interesting to them in their discipline. They then carefully and closely analyze the article through a series of activities, concluding in a 1,000-word Rhetorical Analysis essay where they identify the writers’ background, expertise, and context, the article’s purpose, use of language, use of evidence, primary argument, and intended audience. This supports the English 302 Learning Outcomes: critical reading strategies , identify, evaluate, and use research sources , and analyze rhetorical situations . Included are a Reading to be discussed before the assignment, the Assignment Prompt, a Grading Rubric for the Assignment, and Instructor’s Notes on how to incorporate the assignment into the 302 Classroom.
Paraneoplastic neuronal intermediate filament autoimmunity.

Objective To describe paraneoplastic neuronal intermediate filament (NIF) autoimmunity. Methods Archived patient and control serum and CSF specimens were evaluated by tissue-based indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Autoantigens were identified by Western blot and mass spectrometry. NIF specificity was confirmed by dual tissue section staining and 5 recombinant NIF-specific HEK293 cell-based assays (CBAs, for α-internexin, neurofilament light [NfL], neurofilament medium, or neurofilament heavy chain, and peripherin). NIF–immunoglobulin Gs (IgGs) were correlated with neurologic syndromes and cancers. Results Among 65 patients, NIF-IgG-positive by IFA and CBAs, 33 were female (51%). Median symptom onset age was 62 years (range 18–88). Patients fell into 2 groups, defined by the presence of NfL-IgG (21 patients, who mostly had ≥4 NIF-IgGs detected) or its absence (44 patients, who mostly had ≤2 NIF-IgGs detected). Among NfL-IgG-positive patients, 19/21 had ≥1 subacute onset CNS disorders: cerebellar ataxia (11), encephalopathy (11), or myelopathy (2). Cancers were detected in 16 of 21 patients (77%): carcinomas of neuroendocrine lineage (10) being most common (small cell [5], Merkel cell [3], other neuroendocrine [2]). Two of 257 controls (0.8%, both with small cell carcinoma) were positive by both IFA and CBA. Five of 7 patients with immunotherapy data improved. By comparison, the 44 NfL-IgG-negative patients had findings of unclear significance: diverse nervous system disorders ( p = 0.006), as well as limited ( p = 0.003) and more diverse ( p Conclusions NIF-IgG detection by IFA, with confirmatory CBA testing that yields a profile including NfL-IgG, defines a paraneoplastic CNS disorder (usually ataxia or encephalopathy) accompanying neuroendocrine lineage neoplasia.
Bone marrow stromal cells modulate both kappa light chain and Ly1 antigen expression on Ly1+ pre-B cell lines in vitro

Murine Ly1+ pre-B cell lines, including 70Z/3 and three pre-B cell lines derived from long-term bone marrow cultures, exhibited selective adherence to bone marrow stromal cells. In contrast, splenic B cells, the A20 B-cell lymphoma, and four Ly1- B cell lines derived from long- term bone marrow cultures failed to adhere substiantially to bone marrow cultures failed to adhere substiantially to bone marrow stroma. Ly1+ pre-B cell lines were induced to express kappa light chains by exposure to either lipopolysaccharide (LPS), recombinant interleukin-1 (IL-1), or stromal cells. However, induction of kappa light chains failed to prevent pre-B cell adherence to stromal cells. Supernatants derived from primary bone marrow stromal cells decreased Ly1 expression on the Ly1+ pre-B cell lines. These experiments suggest that (1) expression of immunoglobulin light chains by developing Ly1+ pre-B cells is mediated by bone marrow stromal cells; (2) loss of specific adherence to stroma is progressive and occurs post-light chain induction; and (3) soluble products of stromal cells may downregulate expression of surface Ly1 on otherwise Ly1+ pre-B cells. The importance of these observations to the development of both the Ly1- and Ly1+ B cell lineages in the mouse is discussed.
Smart water management: can it improve accessibility and affordability of water for everyone?

By improving the operational capacity of utilities, smart water systems may enable utilities to improve access to water services and their affordability. Use of smart technologies is increasing in ...
Experimental determination of electron attenuation lengths in complex materials by means of epitaxial film growth: Advantages and challenges

Accurate electron attenuation lengths are of critical importance in using electron spectroscopic methods to quantitatively characterize complex materials. Here, the authors show that analysis of core-level and valence-band x-ray photoelectron spectra excited with monochromatic AlKα x-rays from the substrate and measured as a function of film thickness can be used to determine electron attenuation lengths in epitaxial SrTiO3 films on Ge(001). Closely lattice-matched epitaxial heterojunctions are ideal systems for determining attenuation lengths provided the films grow in a layer-by-layer fashion, leading to atomically flat surfaces, and the buried interfaces are atomically abrupt. In principle, either the rate of attenuation of substrate peak intensities or the rate of increase of film peak intensities can be used for this purpose. However, the authors find that structural nonuniformities in the films reduce the accuracy of electron attenuation lengths determined from photoelectrons that originate within the films. A more reliable source of information is found in photoelectrons from the substrate which traverse the film. By using the energy dependence of calculated electron attenuation lengths from the NIST database in combination with Ge 3d core and Ge-derived valence-band intensities, the authors determine electron attenuation length as a function of kinetic energy for SrTiO3.
Superconductivity in Ba1-XKxBiO3 Cubic Oxides

Superconductivity in Ba1-XKXBiO3 is investigated within the framework of Eliashberg theory using a model of the Eliashberg function, α2F(ω). The phonon density of states (DOS) in Bal-XKXBiO3 is studied using inelastic neutron scattering and molecular-dynamics (MD) simulations. The model of α2F(ω) is based upon the MD phonon density of states. The function α (ω) is constructed using information from electron tunneling experiments, with the premise that the electron-phonon coupling constant λ≈ 1 and that strong electron-phonon coupling exists for high energy (30–60 meV) phonon modes. From a study of the reference oxygen isotope-effect exponent in the phonon DOS, the oxygen isotope-effect exponent in Tc, 2∆/kBTc, and electron tunneling spectra, we conclude that Ba1-XKXBiO3 is a weak to moderate coupling BCS superconductor. The coupling of electrons to high energy oxygen phonons provide a reasonable description of superconductivity in this material within the framework of the Eliashberg theory.
LipType: A Silent Speech Recognizer Augmented with an Independent Repair Model

Speech recognition is unreliable in noisy places, compromises privacy and security when around strangers, and inaccessible to people with speech disorders. Lip reading can mitigate many of these challenges but the existing silent speech recognizers for lip reading are error prone. Developing new recognizers and acquiring new datasets is impractical for many since it requires enormous amount of time, effort, and other resources. To address these, first, we develop LipType, an optimized version of LipNet for improved speed and accuracy. We then develop an independent repair model that processes video input for poor lighting conditions, when applicable, and corrects potential errors in output for increased accuracy. We then test this model with LipType and other speech and silent speech recognizers to demonstrate its effectiveness.
Durable responses in patients with genitourinary cancers following immune checkpoint therapy rechallenge after moderate-to-severe immune-related adverse events.

Background Immune checkpoint therapy (ICT) prolongs survival in subsets of patients with cancer but can also trigger immune-related adverse events (irAEs) requiring treatment discontinuation. Recent studies have investigated safety of ICT rechallenge after irAEs, and evidence suggests that rechallenge may be associated with improved antitumor responses. However, data are limited on response duration after ICT rechallenge, particularly after severe irAEs. Objective To evaluate safety and efficacy of ICT rechallenge after moderate-to-severe irAEs in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC), urothelial carcinoma (UC), and prostate cancer. Methods In this retrospective cohort study, medical records from September 25, 2013, to June 1, 2020, for patients with genitourinary (GU) cancers at MD Anderson Cancer Center who were rechallenged with the same or different ICT following irAEs were reviewed. Demographics, ICT exposure, irAEs (grade and treatment), ICT discontinuation or rechallenge, rates of subsequent irAEs (new or recurrent) and antitumor activity (objective response rates and response duration) were reviewed. Results Sixty-one patients with RCC, UC, and prostate cancer were rechallenged with ICT after experiencing 105 total irAEs. Objective response rates after rechallenge, that is, upgrade in response, were 14% in RCC (4/28), 21% in UC (3/14), and 0% in prostate cancer. All seven patients who achieved upgrade in response had initial grade 2 or 3 irAEs. Responses were durable among these seven patients, with median radiographic progression-free survival not reached (range: 3.7–66.4 months) as of the March 8, 2021, data cut-off (median follow-up 40.9 months (95% CI 35.3 to 46.5)). All achieved complete response except one patient who was lost to follow-up. The rate of subsequent grade 3 or 4 irAEs after rechallenge was 30%, with no fatal irAEs. The rate of recrudescence of the same irAE was 26% (16/61). 54% of patients received corticosteroids (33/61), and 21% received targeted immunosuppression (13/61) for the initial irAEs. Conclusions and relevance ICT rechallenge after moderate-to-severe irAEs was associated with deep and durable responses in a subset of patients with RCC and UC, with acceptable safety and no fatal events. Strategies to enable ICT resumption after moderate-to-severe irAEs, such targeted immunosuppression, warrant further study.
Cigarette Promotions in U.S. Pharmacies.

BACKGROUND The sale of tobacco products within American pharmacies has generated controversy for several decades, leading two US states and 45 municipalities to adopt tobacco-free pharmacy policies. While previous research has reported cheaper cigarette prices in pharmacies, compared to other retailers, little is known about cigarette promotions in pharmacies, which are associated with increased youth smoking and unplanned cigarette purchases among adults. METHODS Between May and August 2015, trained data collectors conducted store audits at 2128 tobacco retailers located within 97 US counties in 40 states. Observations were made for three types of cigarette promotions: special price (e.g., $0.30 off/pack), multi-pack promotions (e.g., buy one pack, get one free), and cross-product promotions (e.g., buy a pack of cigarettes and a get free can of snus). We calculated weighted estimates of the proportion of pharmacies and other retailer types with cigarette promotions and used weighted multivariable logistic regression to compare cigarette promotions by tobacco retailer type, accounting for clustering at the county level and controlling for county-level demographic characteristics. RESULTS Cigarette promotions were observed in 94.0% of pharmacies, more than any other retailer type (e.g., convenience stores: 82.0%, tobacco stores: 77.0%). All retailer types had lower odds of promotions for Marlboro, Newport, Camel, menthol, or any interior cigarette promotion, compared to pharmacies. CONCLUSIONS Nearly all pharmacies offered in-store cigarette promotions and pharmacies had greater odds of offering cigarette promotions than all other retailer types. Whether voluntarily or legislatively, tobacco-free pharmacies would eliminate a prevalent retail source of cigarette promotions. IMPLICATIONS This is the first known national study to examine prevalence of cigarette promotions in US pharmacies compared to other retailer types. Nearly all pharmacies offered in-store cigarette promotions and pharmacies had greater odds of offering cigarette promotions than all other retailer types. These findings underscore the inherent contradiction of pharmacies serving both as an important component of the healthcare system, but also as purveyors and promotors of addictive and lethal tobacco products. Whether voluntarily or legislatively, tobacco-free pharmacy policies would eliminate a prevalent retail source of cigarette promotions.
Microglia do not restrict SARS-CoV-2 replication following infection of the central nervous system of K18-hACE2 transgenic mice

Unlike SARS-CoV-1 and MERS-CoV, infection with SARS-CoV-2, the viral pathogen responsible for COVID-19, is often associated with neurologic symptoms that range from mild to severe, yet increasing evidence argues the virus does not exhibit extensive neuroinvasive properties. We demonstrate SARS-CoV-2 can infect and replicate in human iPSC-derived neurons and that infection shows limited anti-viral and inflammatory responses but increased activation of EIF2 signaling following infection as determined by RNA sequencing. Intranasal infection of K18 human ACE2 transgenic mice (K18-hACE2) with SARS-CoV-2 resulted in lung pathology associated with viral replication and immune cell infiltration. In addition, ~50% of infected mice exhibited CNS infection characterized by wide-spread viral replication in neurons accompanied by increased expression of chemokine ( Cxcl9, Cxcl10, Ccl2, Ccl5 and Ccl19 ) and cytokine ( Ifn-lambda and Tnf-alpha ) transcripts associated with microgliosis and a neuroinflammatory response consisting primarily of monocytes/macrophages. Microglia depletion via administration of colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor inhibitor, PLX5622, in SARS-CoV-2 infected mice did not affect survival or viral replication but did result in dampened expression of proinflammatory cytokine/chemokine transcripts and a reduction in monocyte/macrophage infiltration. These results argue that microglia are dispensable in terms of controlling SARS-CoV-2 replication in in the K18-hACE2 model but do contribute to an inflammatory response through expression of pro-inflammatory genes. Collectively, these findings contribute to previous work demonstrating the ability of SARS-CoV-2 to infect neurons as well as emphasizing the potential use of the K18-hACE2 model to study immunological and neuropathological aspects related to SARS-CoV-2-induced neurologic disease. Importance: Understanding the immunological mechanisms contributing to both host defense and disease following viral infection of the CNS is of critical importance given the increasing number of viruses that are capable of infecting and replicating within the nervous system. With this in mind, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the role of microglia in aiding in host defense following experimental infection of the central nervous system (CNS) of K18-hACE2 with SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19. Neurologic symptoms that range in severity are common in COVID-19 patients and understanding immune responses that contribute to restricting neurologic disease can provide important insight into better understanding consequences associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection of the CNS.
Detection of Random Process Failures by Human Monitors

This paper considers the interaction of human monitors with systems of a stochastic nature. The problem, i.e. the dilemma, of the human monitor is that of determining when a process is operating correctly. Monitoring is an important aspect of many human activities and, with the likely proliferation of automatic systems utilizing microprocessors, monitoring is likely to be even more important for safe and reliable operation of these systems. Monitoring for failure detection and performance assessment may fruitfully be considered as a special case of decision making: “Is the system working correctly?”.
Congress and the Politics of Problem Solving

How do issues end up on the agenda? Why do lawmakers routinely invest in program oversight and broad policy development? What considerations drive legislative policy change? For many, Congress is an institution consumed by partisan bickering and gridlock. Yet the institution's long history of addressing significant societal problems - even in recent years - seems to contradict this view. Congress and the Politics of Problem Solving argues that the willingness of many voters to hold elected officials accountable for societal conditions is central to appreciating why Congress responds to problems despite the many reasons mustered for why it cannot. The authors show that, across decades of policy making, problem-solving motivations explain why bipartisanship is a common pattern of congressional behavior and offer the best explanation for legislative issue attention and policy change.