cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Estimation and Extrapolation of the Thermodynamic Properties of Minerals and Solid Solutions

The thermodynamic properties are ultimately macroscopic manifestations of interactions in an atomic scale. However, detailed calculations and integration of these interactions are formidable tasks, especially for complex ionic solid solutions. Consequently, most works on the theoretical calculation of the thermodynamic properties of minerals and mineral solid solutions are semiempirical in nature. We present below a selected review of these works, which rely on relatively simple theoretical analyses. A formal discussion of the relationship between microscopic or atomic interactions and thermodynamic properties is beyond the scope of this work. However, we have attempted to provide some idea of the nature of the microscopic interactions that govern the thermodynamic properties of minerals, insofar as these concepts can be developed within the overall framework of this book.41
Mice Lacking TLR11 Exhibit Variable Salmonella typhi Susceptibility

We have reported that TLR11 contributes to the murine response to flagellin and resistance to infection with Salmonella spp., including those responsible for typhoid fever in humans (Mathur et al., 2012). Here, we respond to the Correspondence in this issue of Cell by Song et al. (2016), which claims that mice lacking TLR11 are not more susceptible to infection with Salmonella species and that TLR11 does not recognize Salmonella flagellin.
Pecan Weevil Distribution in Some Texas Soils

Pecan weevils, Curculio caryae (Horn)2, were found deeper in cultivated soils than in undisturbed sites, within the foliage canopy of the tree. No pecan weevils were found in unshaded soil outside of the tree canopy. Male and female weevils were homogenous in their vertical distribution within the soil. The depths at which weevils were found were apparently deeper than necessary to escape inclement weather at the sites studied.
Fractal Characterization of Cavity Shape Changes During Superplastic Deformation of High Strength Aluminium Alloy 7475

The fractal dimensions of cavities during superplastic deformation of high strength aluminium alloy 7475 were measured with different strain, temperature, strain rate, and grain size. The results show that the fractal dimension of cavities increases with the increase of strain. Deformation under lower temperature, higher strain rates, or for larger grain sizes corresponds to higher fractal dimensions of cavities. The higher the fractal dimension of cavities, the more complex the cavities' shapes and the more possible it is for the specimen to rupture.
Who Fought for the North in the Civil War? Concord, Massachusetts, Enlistments

By the end of the Civil War, more than two million northerners had served in the Union army. In many respects that force mirrored the society from which it was drawn. It could hardly be otherwise, considering the size of the army, the use of conscription, widespread popular support for the cause, and the length of the war. It has long been asserted that the army's occupational distribution, geographical representation, and ethnicity were similar to that of the northern population. In only one respect was the Union army clearly not representative. It was disproportionately young, with three-quarters of the soldiers under age thirty and one-quarter under twenty. Since armies traditionally have attracted the young, the age structure of the Union army has drawn little attention, and this military force has been deemed representative of the North. That conclusion, however, is undermined when occupational data are controlled for age or when enlistments are examined closely in terms of ethnicity or property holding. In other words, military participation measured by ethnicity, property holding, age, and occupation as interrelated variables reveals striking variations in rates of participation according to different socioeconomic traits.' Military service records for the Civil War record name, age, occupation, and locale. While the information is straightforward, it suffers from certain deficiencies. First, it was self-reported, and bounty jumpers, deserters, and those seeking to avoid
Adaptive Battery Management and Parameter Estimation Through Physics-Based Modeling and Experimental Verification

In this paper, adaptive battery monitoring, health, and performance analysis techniques are proposed and implemented for use in a hybrid energy storage management system. Developed through physics-based models of a lead acid and lithium ion battery cell, a chemistry detection and equivalent circuit estimation technique was accomplished using a low-frequency C/10 pulsed load. Once in operation, an adaptive coulomb counting algorithm accounts for shifts in the state of health from cycle-to-cycle using two assessment methods: estimating equivalent circuit parameters and updating the usable capacity represented by a capacitive energy model. The proposed system has the following novelties: 1) determination of the battery chemistry type and cell configuration through the use of a single standardized pulse; 2) the use of a fixed C-rate pulsed load in order to obtain a basic set of equivalent circuit parameters; 3) new voltage and temperature-based initial state of charge mechanisms for both a lead acid and a lithium ion battery; and 4) the implementation of a final control platform with chemistry detection, cell configuration, refined initial state of charge estimation, and production of a Randles equivalent circuit, regardless of the battery state of health.
FRACTURE SYSTEM MODELS OF EARTHQUAKE SEQUENCES OF M_s≥7.0 IN NORTH CHINA AND SYNTHETIC INVERSION OF FRACTURE PROCESSES

Four large earthquake sequences of Ms≥7.0 occurred in North China during 1966-1976. They are the Xingtai earthquake of 1966,Bohai earthquake of 1969,Haicheng earthquake of 1975 and Tangshan earthquake of 1976. The occurrence processes of these earthquakes are studied from the view point of fracture system propagation in this paper. In terms of the analyses of their activity patterns of foreshock-mainshock-aftershock,it is found that the occurrence of each earthquake sequence is the results from the propagation of the associated fracture system in which the length and geometric distribution of fractures may be different. Based on the theory of fracture propagation,four mechanical models of fracture systems suited to each earthquake sequence respectively are presented. The geometric and mechanical parameters of these models are corrected once more by means of the synthetic inversion for the data of focal mechanism solutions,variations of aftershock activity patterns during different periods and geodetic deformation using the fracture finite element method. Then,the best solutions modelling the fracture processes of the four earthquake sequence are selected. It is also found that the pattern of aftershock distribution of a large strike-slip earthquake sequence always show a Z-shape as a whole due to the propagation and combination of fracture branches when an earthquake sequence is at its final stage. It can be a mark to recognize the termination time of an earthquake sequence.
Two-Scale Modeling Approach to Predict Permeability of Fibrous Media

We previously demonstrated how one can develop a 3-D geometry to model the fibrous microstructure of a nonwoven fiberweb and use it to simulate its permeability at fiber level [1-6]. Developing 3-D models of most nonwoven fabrics (bonded fiberwebs), however, is cumbersome, as in the case of hydroentangled fabrics, for instance. In such cases, microscopic techniques are often used to generate 3-D images of the media’s microstructures. Nevertheless, whether the microstructure is modeled or obtained from 3-D imaging, extensive computational resources are required to use them in fluid flow simulations [7]. To circumvent this problem, a two-scale modeling approach is proposed here that allows us to simulate the entire thickness of a commercial fabric/filter on a personal computer. In particular, the microscale permeability of a hydroentangled nonwoven is computed using 3-D reconstructed microstructures obtained from Digital Volumetric Imaging (DVI). The resulting microstructural permeability tensors are then used in a macroscale porous model to simulate the flow through the material’s thickness and the calculation of its overall permeability.
Design and rationale of a prospective, multi-institutional registry for patients with sinonasal malignancy.

Objectives/Hypothesis Assessment of patients with sinonasal malignancy is challenging due to the low disease incidence and diverse histopathology. The current literature is composed mainly of retrospective studies with heterogeneous cohorts, and the rarity of cases limits our understanding of disease characteristics and treatment outcomes. We describe the development of a prospective, multi-institutional registry that utilizes cloud-based computing to evaluate treatment outcomes in patients with sinonasal cancer. Methods A web-based, secure database was built to prospectively capture longitudinal outcomes and quality-of-life (QoL) data in patients diagnosed with sinonasal malignancy. Demographics, tumor staging, and treatment outcomes data are being collected. The Sinonasal Outcome Test-22 and University of Washington Quality of Life Questionnaire are administered at presentation and at recurring intervals. To date, seven institutions are participating nationally. Conclusion This prospective, multi-institutional registry will provide novel oncological and QoL outcomes on patients with sinonasal malignancy to inform management decisions and disease prognostication. The application of cloud-based computing facilitates secure multi-institutional collaboration and may serve as a model for future registry development for the study of rare diseases in otolaryngology. Level of Evidence 2C. Laryngoscope, 2016
Datenbanken als Komponenten von Software-Architekturen

Die Branchenanalysten sagen ubereinstimmend, die 90er Jahre seien die Dekade der Architekturen. Einzelne Softwareprodukte werden nicht mehr isoliert oder bezogen auf einen einzelnen Fall betrachtet, sondern sie mussen in die globale, langfristige Informationsstrategie des Anwenders passen.
Status of Congo Red Stained Amyloid in Polarized Light

New advances in polarized light microscopy have been employed to image Congo red stained amyloid plaques in sharp relief. The principle diagnostic criterion of amyloidosis, established by Divry and Florkin in 1927, is the detection with a polarizing optical microscope of so-called “apple green” birefringence from CR stained tissue sections. The chapter presents a newly developed imaging system to separate the optical transmission, refractive index anisotropy, and optical extinction that are otherwise convolved to produce the ill-defined apple green birefringence. The polarizing microscope, a prototype of the MetriPol System now available from Oxford Cryosystems, is adapted with a stepper motor driven rotating polarizer, circular analyzer consisting of a linear analyzer and quarter wave plate aligned at 45°, an 8-bit monochrome CCD digital camera, and a PC. The chapter shows that the system can be used to determine the absorption anisotropy and orientation of the electric dipole transition moment.
Innate and learned cues : Scale cover selection by Aphytis melinus (Hymenoptera : Aphelinidae)

Aphytis melinus recognizes and accepts covers of its host, California red scale, Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell) (Homoptera: Diaspididae), before assessing the size or quality of the scale body beneath. We evaluated the role of a non-volatile kairomone, O-caffeoyltyrosine, and prior experience with hosts on the recognition (antennal drumming) and acceptance (ovipositor probing) of scale covers differing in age and, therefore, size. We tested several hypotheses concerning the role of experience with hosts on host recognition and acceptance. The first predicts that experience with a particular host size leads to increased selection of that host size in the future. The second predicts that the “quality” of the experience with hosts sets a threshold of quality for future acceptance. We manipulated the quality of wasp experience with hosts by exposing some wasps to high-quality hosts (large scale insects under large covers) and other wasps to low-quality hosts (small scale insects under small covers and small scale insects under large covers). Control (naive) wasps were held without experience with hosts. Wasps were then offered five size classes of covers directly after removal from the scale insects (unmanipulated) or after removing the kairomone from the covers (kairomone-free). For covers with natural levels of kairomone, no effect of experience with hosts on host recognition was observed. When the kairomone was removed, however, any experience with hosts increased recognition compared to naive wasps. Moreover, experienced wasps preferentially recognized covers of the size to which they had experience. Results for host acceptance differed from those for host recognition. Wasps given experience with large hosts accepted more covers with kairomone than wasps in other treatments, but the size preference did not vary among treatments. When the kairomone was removed, however, wasps given experience with large hosts under large covers preferred larger covers. Host recognition and acceptance are controlled by different behavioral mechanisms. Prior experience with hosts does not alter host recognition but does affect the rate of acceptance. The quality of the experience does not affect the acceptance of covers containing natural levels of kairomone but does affect host acceptance when the kairomone is removed. Experience with hosts alters the motivation of wasps to accept covers, and the direction of this effect is determined by the size (quality) of body the wasps were given during the experience.
Effectiveness of Medication Adherence Reminders Tied to "Fresh Start" Dates: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Low medication adherence is problematic.1 Well-designed reminders can increase adherence,2 but when should reminders be sent to maximize impact? Prior observational studies3 and laboratory experiments4 have shown that engagement in healthy activities increases considerably following “fresh-start” dates—life and calendar events signaling the beginning of new cycles (e.g. birthdays or New Year’s).3,4 Extending this insight, we conducted the first randomized controlled trial (RCT) examining whether sending medication adherence reminders around fresh-start dates and highlighting these dates as an opportunity for positive changes could boost reminders’ effectiveness.
Genotypic comparisons of chromosomes 01, 04, and 18 from three tetraploid species of Gossypium in topcrosses with five elite cultivars of G. hirsutum L.

Upland cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L. is the most widely planted cultivated cotton in the United States and the world. The other cultivated tetraploid species G. barbadense L. is planted on considerable less area; however, it produces extra long, strong, and fine fibers which spins into superior yarn. The wild cotton tetraploid species G. tomentosum Nuttall ex Seemann, native to the Hawaiian Archipelago also exhibits traits, such as drought tolerance, that would also be desirable to transfer to Upland cotton. Long-term breeding efforts using whole genome crosses between Upland and these species have not been successful in transferring very many desirable alleles into Upland cotton. Our chromosome substitution lines (CSL) have one chromosome or chromosome arm from an alien species backcrossed into the Upland cotton line,TM-1, via aneuploid technology. Five Upland cultivars were crossed with CS-B01, CS-T01, CS-B04, CS-T04, CS-B18 and CS-T18 and TM-1 the recurrent parent of the CSLs. This provided an opportunity to determine the effects of chromosomes 01, 04, and 18 from the three species in crosses with the five cultivars. Predicted genotypic mean effects of the parents, F2, and F3 generations for eight agronomic and fiber traits of importance were compared. The predicted hybrid mean effects for the three chromosomes from each species were different for several of the traits across cultivars. There was no single chromosome or species that was superior for all traits in crosses. Parental and hybrid lines often differed in the effect of a particular chromosome among the three species. The predicted genotypic mean effects for F2 and F3, with a few exceptions, generally agree with our previous results for additive and dominance genetic effects of these CSL.
Supporting Visual Data Exploration via Interactive Constraints

This work aims to bridge the gap between the goals of the users of information visualization systems and the techniques that are currently available to them for interacting with force-directed layouts. We propose that the benefits from applying positional constraints to graphical objects extend beyond their typical use in network graphs. In particular, a constraint-based approach can be an effective means for aiding users in exploring multivariate data that, by its nature, is difficult to present effectively. Providing easy to use and understand slider components for specifying the strength of constraints applied in a layout gives users the ability to subtly control graphic object positioning. Objects can be filtered and automatically grouped based on the value of one or more properties, with each property representing a different data variable. Applying different constraint strengths to these groups provides an effective means for identifying commonalities and patterns in multivariate data.
Sudden death mechanisms in nonischemic cardiomyopathies: Insights gleaned from clinical implantable cardioverter-defibrillator trials

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) represents a major cause of death among patients with heart failure. Although scar-based, macroreentrant ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation is the primary etiology for SCD among patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy, a more diverse set of mechanisms and substrates is likely at play for the diverse group of patients characterized by nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NICM). These causes may include scar-based reentry, but also neurohormonal stimulation (sympathetic, parasympathetic, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone), inflammation, and nonarrhythmic processes occurring in the context of a genetic predisposition. In addition to basic and translational science, observations from large randomized clinical trials of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) can also offer insight and support for specific mechanisms of SCD in these patients. This review will discuss the background of SCD in NICM, its potential mechanisms based on experimental and theoretical models, and the evidence for these mechanisms that can be derived from clinical trials of ICD therapy.
Lung volume reduction surgery in the post-National Emphysema Treatment Trial era.

Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) as means to improve the pulmonary function and quality of life of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can be traced back to the 1950’s and early work by Otto Brantigan. Joel Cooper revived this concept with pioneering work in the 1990’s. His work, along with others, led to the National Emphysema Treatment Trial (NETT) which demonstrated a quality of life and survival benefit for certain subsets of patients with emphysema. While the outcomes of carefully selected patients are excellent, with proven benefits in both quality of life and overall survival, the volume of LVRS being performed remains low. The procedure is highly regulated in the United States and is only performed in Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved programs. Programs are required to follow the NETT selection criteria. The program at Columbia University Medical Center/New York Presbyterian Hospital remains active. Utilizing the NETT criteria, we continue to perform LVRS with no operative mortality and excellent long-term outcomes.
Rod and cone interactions in the retina

We have long known that rod and cone signals interact within the retina and can even contribute to color vision, but the extent of these influences has remained unclear. New results with more powerful methods of RNA expression profiling, specific cell labeling, and single-cell recording have provided greater clarity and are showing that rod and cone signals can mix at virtually every level of signal processing. These interactions influence the integration of retinal signals and make an important contribution to visual perception.
Integrating larval connectivity with local demography reveals regional dynamics of a marine metapopulation

Many ocean species exist within what are called marine metapopulations: networks of otherwise isolated local populations connected by the exchange of larval offspring. In order to manage these species as effectively as possible (e.g., by designing and implementing effective networks of marine protected areas), we must know how many offspring are produced within each local population (i.e., local demography), and where those offspring disperse (i.e., larval connectivity). Although there is much interest in estimating connectivity in the relatively simple sense of identifying the locations of spawning parents and their settling offspring, true measures of demographic connectivity that account for among-site variation in offspring production have been lacking. We combined detailed studies of local reproductive output and larval dispersal of a coral reef fish to quantify demographic connectivity within a regional metapopulation that included four widely spaced islands in the Bahamas. We present a new method for estimating demographic connectivity when the levels of dispersal among populations are inferred by the collection of genetically "tagged" offspring. We estimated that 13.3% of recruits returned to natal islands, on average (95% CI = 1.1-50.3%), that local retention was high on one of the islands (41%, 95% CI = 6.0-97.0%), and that larval connectivity was appreciable, even between islands 129 km apart (mean = 1.6%, 95% CI = 0.20-8.8%). Our results emphasize the importance of properly integrating measurements of production with measurements of connectivity. Had we not accounted for among-site variation in offspring production, our estimates of connectivity would have been inaccurate by a factor as much as 6.5. At a generational timescale, lifetime offspring production varied substantially (a fivefold difference among islands) and the importance of each island to long-term metapopulation growth was dictated by both larval production and connectivity. At the scale of our study (local populations inhabiting 5-ha reefs), the regional metapopulation could not grow without external input. However, an exploratory analysis simulating a network of four marine protected areas suggested that reserves of >65 ha each would ensure persistence of this network. Thus, integrating studies of larval connectivity and local demography hold promise for both managing and conserving marine metapopulations effectively.
Propagation of nitric oxide pools during controlled mechanical ventilation.

Objective. Infusing nitric oxide at a constant rate into a breathing circuit with intermittent mainstream flow causes formation of nitric oxide pools between successive breaths. We hypothesized that incomplete mixing of these pools can confound estimates of delivered nitric oxide concentrations. Methods. Nitric oxide flowed at a constant rate into the upstream end of a standard adult breathing circuit connected to a lung model. One-milliliter gas samples were obtained from various sites within the breathing system and during various phases of the breathing cycle. These samples were aspirated periodically by a microprocessor controlled apparatus and analyzed using an electrochemical sensor. Results. The pools of nitric oxide distorted into hollow parabolic cone shapes and remained unmixed during their propagation into the lungs. In our preparation, time-averaged nitric oxide concentrations were minimal 60 cm downstream of the infusion site (18 ppm) and maximal 15 cm upstream of the Y-piece (36 ppm). The concentrations were mid-range within the lung (23 ppm), yet were substantially less than predicted by assuming homogeneity of the gases (31 ppm). Generally, nitric oxide concentrations within the lung were different from all other sites tested. Conclusion. Incomplete mixing of nitric oxide confounds estimates of delivered nitric oxide concentrations. When nitric oxide is infused at a constant rate into a breathing circuit, we doubt that any sampling site outside the patient’s lungs can reliably predict delivered nitric oxide concentrations. Strategies to ensure complete mixing and representative sampling of nitric oxide should be considered carefully when designing nitric oxide delivery systems.
Hydrogen Profiling in Titanium

Measurements of the hydrogen concentration in metals using secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) can be made by monitoring either atomic hydrogen ion emission or the ratio of metal-hydride to metal ion emission. BENNINGHOVEN and co-workers [1,2] have shown that the latter approach is less susceptible to matrix effects and more quantitative. For titanium, overlap between metal-hydride and metal ion emission occurs in typical SIMS measurements because the five naturally occurring Ti isotopes have adjacent masses. This complication has led to the development of several methods to extract the TiH+/Ti+ ratio from SIMS data [3]. This paper will describe the various methods and evaluate them in terms of accuracy and data collection efficiency.
Some Dynamical and Statistical Properties of Equatorial Turbulence

Abstract In November 1984 the dissipation rate, e, on the equator in the central Pacific varied by a factor of 100 in a diurnal cycle extending much deeper than the surface mixed layer. Vertically coherent bursts of strong dissipation, occurring most often during nighttime convective deepening of the mixed layer, were the major mechanism causing the diurnal cycle. Approximate statistical confidence limits for e( p ) in this region are a factor of 3. Dissipation rates were much lower in the core, owing to the low shear, and the confidence limit decreased to a factor of 1.6. In the shear zone below the core, the mixing was dominated by too few events to establish confidence limits. Because e departed significantly from lognormality over most of the profile, lognormal statistics cannot be used with confidence to predict the likelihood that the sampling failed to sample adequately the rare intense events that dominate the average. Rather, the physics of the diurnal cycle and of the vertically coherent bursts must first be determined and related to forcing mechanisms. Equatorial turbulence exhibited a vast range of dynamic states not paralleled in mid-latitude oceans, nor in tank or numerical experiments: the “activity” parameter e/ν N 2 varied over 5½ decades. The mixing efficiency, γ mix the ratio of the buoyancy flux to e, could be estimated only with low accuracy. As a function of e/ν N 2 , γ mix nevertheless showed no systematic trend. This result also constrains the flux Richardson number; its mean was close to the critical value.
Neurohormonal Regulation of Molting and Metamorphosis in the Tobacco Hornworm, Manduca sexta

The endocrine regulation of insect postembryonic development is generally thought to involve three hormones: the prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH), a cerebral neuropeptide; the steroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone; and juvenile hormone, an aliphatic sequiterpene [1]. PTTH is produced by one neurosecretory cell in each hemisphere of the insect brain [2], while 20-hydroxyecdysone is derived from the ecdysone produced by the prothoracic glands (PG) in response to PTTH [3,4]. Juvenile hormone exists in four homologous forms (JH 0, I, II, and III) and is produced by corpora allata (CA) [5]. Although the integration of release of the hormones is critica for their roles in the regulation of insect molting and metamorphosis, the pivot of this regulatory mechanism is the periodic release of PTTH in response to environmental cues. Ecdysone is synthesized and released by the PG in response to PTTH and is then hydroxylated by peripheral tissues to 20-hydroxyecdysone, the hormone that elicits molting. JH acts in conjunction with 20-hydroxyecdysone, presumably at the level of the target tissues to determine the character of the molt [1].
Event-Triggered Modified Repetitive Control for Periodic Signal Tracking

A broad range of practical systems need to perform periodic tasks, such as the mechanical hard-drive read-write arm system, the robotic arm, certain circuitry systems, etc. Based on the internal model principle, repetitive control (RC) is proved to be effective for periodic signals/disturbances tracking/rejection. However, existing RC methods mostly require constant update of the control input, regardless of whether it is needed or not, which results in a good deal of unnecessary communication resources and wear of the actuators. To overcome this drawback, in this brief, the event-triggered strategy is for the first time considered in the repetitive control system to reduce the update frequency of the control input. A novel event-triggering condition, which takes into account both the current and last periods’ error information, is embedded in a modified repetitive control system. Thus, the control input will not be updated until the designed error signal exceeds a predefined threshold. A continuous-discrete 2-D model is adopted to model and analyze the event-triggered modified repetitive control system. The performance of the developed control scheme is then verified through the simulation results.
Reductive biotransformation as a pretreatment to enhance in situ chemical oxidation of nitroaromatic and nitroheterocyclic explosives

Abstract In Situ Chemical Oxidation (ISCO) is increasingly being used to remediate a variety of organic contaminants in soil and groundwater. Explosives, such as 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT), 2,4-dintroanisole (DNAN), and 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO), are not easily oxidized due to the presence of nitro groups in their structures. However, these nitro groups can be reduced to amino groups by soil microorganisms, making them more prone to oxidation. In this study, we propose bioreduction as a pretreatment to ISCO. The oxidation of DNAN, DNT, NTO, and their respective reduced transformation products, 2-methoxy-5-nitroaniline (MENA), 4-amino-2-nitrotoluene (NAT), and 3-amino-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (ATO), by potassium permanganate showed that lower permanganate concentrations and shorter time-scales are needed to oxidize the compounds once they are reduced. Significant fractions of the daughter products were mineralized to CO2 (30% and 22% for MENA and NAT, respectively, using 2.5 mM permanganate, and 48% for ATO using 1.0 mM permanganate). The bioreductive pretreatment was demonstrated by incubating 1.0 mM NTO anaerobically using soil as inoculum and pyruvate as electron donor. Once NTO was completely reduced to ATO, 1.0 mM permanganate was added, immediately oxidizing 86% of the compound. In controls without pretreatment, no oxidation was observed. NTO and ATO oxidation was tested in soils that differed in organic matter content. The results indicate that natural organic matter decreases the efficiency of NTO oxidation. However, ATO oxidation was not affected by the presence of soil. Our results suggest that the proposed reductive pretreatment followed by ISCO presents a safe and cost-effective alternative for explosives remediation.
An Overview of Scientific Reproducibility: Consideration of Relevant Issues for Behavior Science/Analysis.

For over a decade, the failure to reproduce findings in several disciplines, including the biomedical, behavioral, and social sciences, have led some authors to claim that there is a so-called “replication (or reproducibility) crisis” in those disciplines. The current article examines: (a) various aspects of the reproducibility of scientific studies, including definitions of reproducibility; (b) published concerns about reproducibility in the scientific literature and public press; (c) variables involved in assessing the success of attempts to reproduce a study; (d) suggested factors responsible for reproducibility failures; (e) types of validity of experimental studies and threats to validity as they relate to reproducibility; and (f) evidence for threats to reproducibility in the behavior science/analysis literature. Suggestions for improving the reproducibility of studies in behavior science and analysis are described throughout.
srcPtr: a framework for implementing static pointer analysis approaches

A lightweight pointer-analysis framework, srcPtr, is presented to support the implementation and comparison of points-to analysis algorithms. It differentiates itself from existing tools by performing the analysis directly on the abstract syntax tree, as opposed to an intermediate representation (e.g., LLVM IR), by using srcML, an XML representation of source code. Working with srcML and the abstract syntax allows easy access to the actual source code as the programmer views it, thus better supporting comprehension. Currently the framework provides example implementations for both Andersen's and Steensgaard's pointer-analysis algorithms. It also allows for easy integration of other points-to algorithms for comparison of accuracy/speed. The approach is very scalable and can generate pointer dependencies for a 750 KLOC program in less than a minute.
Stereotactic laser anterior corpus callosotomy for Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.

Objective Corpus callosotomy is an effective palliative treatment for drug-resistant Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS). Laser interstitial thermal therapy has been increasingly used in the treatment of epilepsy. Here, we assess the safety and effectiveness of minimally invasive stereotactic laser anterior corpus callosotomy (SLACC) for drop attacks in LGS. Methods We reviewed sequential cases of patients with medically intractable LGS who underwent SLACC using a two-cannula technique between November 2014 and July 2019. Pre- and postoperative magnetic resonance imaging was used to measure the anteroposterior length of callosal ablation (contrast-enhancing lesion) and estimated disconnection (gap in tract projections on diffusion tensor imaging). Patients were followed longitudinally to assess clinical outcomes. Results Ten patients were included in this study. The median age was 33 (range = 11-52) years, median duration of epilepsy was 26 (range = 10-49) years, and median duration of postoperative follow-up was 19 (range = 6-40) months. In the anteroposterior direction, 53 ± 7% (mean ± SD) of the corpus callosum was ablated and 62 ± 19% of the corpus callosum was estimated to be disconnected. Six (60%) of 10 patients achieved >80% seizure reduction, two (20%) of whom became seizure-free. Eight (80%) patients had >80% reduction in drop attacks, five (50%) of whom became free of drop attacks. Three patients subsequently underwent laser posterior callosotomy with further improvement in drop attacks and/or overall seizure frequency. One patient had an asymptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage along the cannula tract. One patient developed significant aggression after becoming seizure-free. Significance Seizure outcomes following SLACC were comparable to previously reported outcomes of open callosotomy, with reasonable safety profile. SLACC appears to be an effective alternative to open anterior corpus callosotomy with minimal postoperative discomfort and a short recovery period.
Conclusion: Innovative Research

A convergence of economic, technological, policy, and scientific forces are driving changes in the nature and scope of cancer rehabilitation services, who receives and provides them, and where they are provided. The possibilities for cancer rehabilitation service provision created by shifts away from fee-for-service are profound. They open the door to a radical reconceptualization of healthcare delivery, and create a pressing need for evidence to inform strategies to render care delivery more patient-centric while simultaneously preserving effectiveness and enhancing value. Remote and hybrid (combination remote-center based) approaches have been validated that evaluate, educate, and treat patients with cancer to address diverse clinical targets. For example, two randomized controlled trials that provided collaborative telecare via phone calls and web-based interfaces noted clinically meaningfully benefits and were cost effective. “Big data,” or population-level aggregated data collected in the course of care delivery and billing, has held the attention of clinical researchers for over a decade, but that interest and related expectations have intensified. Current efforts to systematically collect functional and rehabilitation-related outcome data through the electronic health records will likely fuel future AI-based approaches. Multimodal pain management with an emphasis on nonpharmacological approaches has become a renewed topic of investigative attention. In addition to new analgesic molecule and device development, current research efforts are developing new approaches to care delivery that may prove highly relevant to cancer rehabilitation.
Energy-efficient control adaptation with safety guarantees for learning-enabled cyber-physical systems

Neural networks have been increasingly applied to control in learning-enabled cyber-physical systems (LE-CPSs) and demonstrated great promises in improving system performance and efficiency, as well as reducing the need for complex physical models. However, the lack of safety guarantees for such neural network based controllers has significantly impeded their adoption in safety-critical CPSs. In this work, we propose a controller adaptation approach that automatically switches among multiple controllers, including neural network controllers, to guarantee system safety and improve energy efficiency. Our approach includes two key components based on formal methods and machine learning. First, we approximate each controller with a Bernstein-polynomial based hybrid system model under bounded disturbance, and compute a safe invariant set for each controller based on its corresponding hybrid system. Intuitively, the invariant set of a controller defines the state space where the system can always remain safe under its control. The union of the controllers' invariants sets then define a safe adaptation space that is larger than (or equal to) that of each controller. Second, we develop a deep reinforcement learning method to learn a controller switching strategy for reducing the control/actuation energy cost, while with the help of a safety guard rule, ensuring that the system stays within the safe space. Experiments on a linear adaptive cruise control system and a non-linear Van der Pol's oscillator demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach on energy saving and safety enhancement.
Management of Patients Undergoing Radiation Treatment for Head and Neck Cancer During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Clinical Guidelines and Perspectives

The COVID-19 pandemic has created challenges in providing health care throughout the United States. Despite limitations in in-person clinical care aimed at reducing transmission risk and preserving...
Gender diversity on corporate boards: Evaluating the effectiveness of shareholder activism

Abstract In this paper, we examine the effectiveness of shareholder activism as a change mechanism for improving gender diversity on corporate boards. We provide evidence that shareholders use both internal pressure through private negotiations that lead to a withdrawn proposal, and external pressure by submitting a proposal to vote in the annual shareholders’ meeting to draw public attention. While both are impactful, we find that improvement in board gender diversity is more responsive to private negotiations than to social pressure. We also find that shareholders’ votes in favor of diversity proposals are higher when a board is less diverse; but it’s the very existence of a proposal that matters and not how many votes it receives. Finally, we find that proposals sponsored by institutional investors are more effective in bringing gender diversity to corporate boards.
Surgical referral for cholecystectomy in patients with atypical symptoms.

Abstract Background Cholelithiasis referrals often present with concomitant or isolated atypical symptoms such as reflux, bloating, or epigastric pain. We sought to identify the impact of preoperative symptomatology of atypical or dyspepsia-type biliary colic on operative and non-operative clinical outcomes. Methods A retrospective review of patients referred for gallstone disease from 2014 to 2018 at a single institution in Los Angeles County was performed. Results Of 746 patients evaluated for gallstone disease, 87.4% (n = 652) underwent cholecystectomy – 90.8% (n = 592) had symptom resolution postoperatively whereas 9.2% (n = 60) did not. Over half presented with concomitant atypical and/or dyspepsia symptoms (n = 411). Heartburn/reflux was significantly associated with unresolved symptoms postoperatively (OR 2.1,1.0–4.4, p = 0.04). Overall, 11.1% (n = 83) of all 746 patients and 20.2% of patients with atypical and/or dyspepsia symptoms improved with medical management of gastritis or Helicobacter pylori triple therapy pre/post-operatively. Conclusion Atypical biliary colic and/or dyspepsia is associated with unresolved symptoms following cholecystectomy. Such patients may benefit from H. pylori testing or PPI trial prior to cholecystectomy.
A MYT1L Syndrome mouse model recapitulates patient phenotypes and reveals altered brain development due to disrupted neuronal maturation

Human genetics have defined a new autism-associated syndrome caused by loss-of-function mutations in MYT1L, a transcription factor known for enabling fibroblast-to-neuron conversions. However, how MYT1L mutation causes autism, ADHD, intellectual disability, obesity, and brain anomalies is unknown. Here, we develop a mouse model of this syndrome. Physically, Myt1l haploinsufficiency causes obesity, white-matter thinning, and microcephaly in the mice, mimicking clinical phenotypes. Studies during brain development reveal disrupted gene expression, mediated in part by loss of Myt1l gene target activation, and highlight precocious neuronal differentiation as the mechanism for microcephaly. In contrast, adult studies reveal mutation results in failure of transcriptional and chromatin maturation, echoed in disruptions in baseline physiological properties of neurons. This results in behavioral features including hyperactivity, hypotonia, and social alterations, with more severe phenotypes in males. Overall, these studies provide insight into the mechanistic underpinnings of this disorder and enable future preclinical studies.
Low-Force Friction Surfacing for Crack Repair in 304L Stainless Steel

The objective of this research is to evaluate low-force friction surfacing as a means for repairing cracks in 304L stainless steel canisters. The motivation for reducing process forces is to allow for portability and miniaturization of the system to perform in-field repairs in confined spaces. 304L austenitic stainless steel rod was deposited over a substrate of the same alloy using a CNC machine tool in position control mode while observing the process forces on the back side of the repair. Friction surfacing was performed at spindle speeds up to 20,000 rpm. A fine grain structure was observed in the plastically deformed material. Axial pressures measured during the process showed a significant reduction when tests were performed at 20,000 rpm as compared to lower speeds. Friction surfacing was performed on simulated cracks followed by helium leak testing to evaluate the ability to create an acceptable repair. Closing of cracks near the interface of the substrate and deposit was observed after microstructural analyses. Acceptable helium leak rates through the repair can be achieved.
A Robust Economic, as Opposed to Industry Classification Nomenclature for Identification and Study of Corporate Diversification

It is well established that Tobin's q is more a measure of average productivity than marginal productivity. This study arrives at two conditions that, satisfied, transform Tobin's q into a robust qualitative - well ordered - measure for firms' marginal productivity. First, in presence of continuity of efficiency of internal capital markets, model predictions show absence of a diversification discount feasibly tatonnes into emergence of a diversification discount. Efficiency of internal capital markets then is shown to be robustly deducible from performance effects of arrival of a beneficial shock in opportunity set of a division of a diversified firm that is characterized by `soft' information. Second, the formal theory establishes necessity of a new economic nomenclature for identification of diversified firms. In presence of the new economic nomenclature, a firm operating in two different industry segments has, conditional on asymptotic equality of segment marginal productivities, classification as a focused firm.
Treatment of Fractures and Tendon Injuries in the Field

Fractures involving the limbs are common in farm animals, are most commonly found in young stock, and often occur subsequent to trauma during dystocia. The most common fractures diagnosed in food animals include metacarpus and metatarsus (~50%), tibia (~12%), radius and ulna (~7%), femur (<5%), humerus (<5%), pelvis (<5%), and phalanges (<1%). Occasionally, fractures of the axial skeleton (mandible, vertebra, ribs, pelvis) are found. Food animals are considered to be excellent patients for treatment of orthopedic injuries because they spend a majority of time lying down, have a tremendous osteogenic potential, are more resistant to contralateral limb breakdown and stress laminitis, and usually do not resist having orthopedic appliances on their limbs. The decision to treat a fracture in a food animal is made by considering the cost of the treatment, the success rate of the treatment, the perceived or potential economic or genetic value of the animal, and the location and type of fracture. Most owners will elect to pursue inexpensive treatment for fractures with a high success rate, but owners also often elect to pursue costly fracture treatment despite poor success rates when cattle are perceived to have high economic or genetic potential.
High-dose lenalidomide and melphalan as conditioning for autologous stem cell transplantation in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.

8021Background: Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) remains a standard of care of eligible patients with multiple myeloma, despite the many novel therapies introduced over the past decade. ...