cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Planetary protection for human missions: Options and implications

Human missions to Mars are often justified in terms of the perception that they can provide better and faster scientific returns than robotic missions alone. Alternatively, they may be justified as a means of preparing for future human colonization of Mars, where humans might “live off the land” and develop a separate node for the development of human civilization. Either way, such missions require robust and effective life support and extravehicular activity systems, in addition to a supporting cast of robotic adjuncts, to be successful. One particular science task that may be helped by human explorers could be the search for life on Mars, but there is both good news and bad news with respect to introducing autonomous microbial growth systems (i.e., human explorers) into such a search. With that conflict in mind, COSPAR has introduced several planetary protection principles under which human missions and their support systems might be judged, and which will need to be considered in mission design, development, and execution. First, safeguarding the Earth from potential back contamination is the highest planetary protection priority in Mars exploration; Second, the greater capability of human explorers can contribute to the astrobiological exploration of Mars only if human-associated contamination is controlled and understood; Third, for a landed mission conducting surface operations, it will not be possible for all human-associated processes and mission operations to be conducted within entirely closed systems; and Fourth, crewmembers exploring Mars, or their support systems, will inevitably be exposed to martian materials. Here I consider several different human-mission goals and capabilities that have been put forward by a number of space agencies and others, and discuss the problems and opportunities posed by these missions with respect to the planetary protection principles forwarded by COSPAR and under study by NASA in its NPI process for developing planetary protection requirements for future human Mars missions.
IP geolocation estimation using neural networks with stable landmarks

The ability to accurately determine the geographic location of an arbitrary IP address has potential in many applications. Previous methods based on observing the relationship between network delay and physical distance are inaccurate. Methods based on delay similarity are more accurate, but inefficient because they need information on a large number of landmark nodes near the destination to be collected and maintained. We propose a method that can overcome both problems. Our method maintains a stable collection of network observers and landmark nodes that covers the target area. Observers are network nodes from which we can issue measurement command such as ping and traceroute. Landmarks are IP addresses which are reachable from observers and for which the physical locations are well-known. With measurement results collected from these landmarks, we trained two-tier neural networks that estimated the geolocation of arbitrary IP addresses. Our experiments demonstrate that a high accuracy similar to earlier methods retained with a limited number of landmarks. More specifically, the median error of our estimation is 4.1 km on the datasets with 1547 landmarks across US territory. The median error decreased to 3.7 km on half of the test regions which contain more than 100 landmarks.
A CFD Based Algorithm for Kinetics Analysis of the Reduction of Hematite Concentrate by H 2 + CO Mixtures in a Drop Tube Reactor

A novel flash ironmaking process is under development at the University of Utah. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach, coupled with experimental results, was developed for the analysis of the kinetics of reduction of hematite concentrate by H2 + CO mixtures at 1150–1350 °C in a drop tube reactor. Rate expressions of hematite concentrate reduction by single gases (H2 or CO) were used in the analysis of the experimental data under H2 + CO mixtures. Synergistic effects, which were found in the H2 + CO mixture experiments compared with simple summation of contributions of component gases, was considered in this paper. The gas phase was treated as a continuum in the Eulerian frame of reference, and the particles are tracked using a Lagrangian approach in the evaluation of the particle residence time and temperature profile inside the reactor. The calculated reduction degrees based on this approach are in good agreement with the experimental values.
Alliances Without Nuclear Weapons? (II): The Case of the Asia-Pacific

Given the issues canvassed earlier and the arguments presented, this chapter uses the Asia-Pacific as a test case to demonstrate some of the early signs of the consequences for the USA of relying mainly on conventional systems in deterrence and extended deterrence relationships in the Asia-Pacific. Indeed, the challenges in this region are different to that of Western Europe, which is essentially a land theatre of operations. Extended deterrence may be much less stable in a maritime context as vast as the Pacific. And as the next chapter on arms control shows, these problems will be compounded by the difficulty of establishing formal multilateral arms control agreements on conventional systems, especially ballistic and cruise missiles systems. This chapter first compares and contrasts the past and current challenges to US extended deterrence in both Europe and Asia. It then covers the challenges associated with extended deterrence in a hubs and spokes system of alliances that is based in a maritime setting, where the members of the alliance are far apart from each other and the potential “red lines” of escalation and conflict are much less identifiable than they would be in a land context. It then outlines the military logistical challenges associated with US force deployment in such a setting. Given these mutually reinforcing problems, the chapter argues that US extended deterrence may not endure in the Asia-Pacific in the next two decades.
Higher Pretransplantation Hemoglobin A1c Is Associated With Greater Risk of Posttransplant Diabetes Mellitus

Introduction Posttransplantation diabetes mellitus (PTDM) is a common complication among kidney transplant recipients and is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular events and poorer graft and patient survival. The association of pretransplantation hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) with PTDM remains unclear. Identifying recipients at greatest risk for PTDM may help guide monitoring and treatment strategies to prevent or delay the onset of PTDM. Methods We analyzed data from 1499 nondiabetic primary kidney transplant recipients with available pretransplantation HbA1c values in the United States Renal Data System (USRDS) from 2005 to 2011. Recipients with pretransplantation diabetes diagnosis or HbA1c ≥ 6.5% were excluded. We assessed the association of pretransplantation HbA1c with PTDM using Cox proportional hazards models. Pretransplantation HbA1c level as a continuous variable was modeled using restricted cubic splines with knots at the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles. Based on results from this model, pretransplantation HbA1c was further modeled using a linear spline with a single knot at 5.4%. Results A total of 395 recipients (26.4%) developed PTDM over a median follow-up of 1.8 years. Pretransplantation HbA1c was not significantly associated with risk of PTDM below 5.4%, whereas each 1% higher HbA1c above 5.4% was associated with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.84 (95% confidence interval = 1.28, 2.66; P for change in slope = 0.04). Discussion Higher pretransplantation HbA1c above 5.4% is independently associated with greater risk of PTDM among kidney transplant recipients. A continuous relationship between pretransplantation HbA1c and risk of PTDM suggests that increased risk starts at HbA1c levels well below current thresholds for prediabetes.
Anomaly Detection from Kepler Satellite Time-Series Data

Kepler satellite data is analyzed to detect anomalies within the short cadence light curve using traditional statistical algorithms and neural networks. Windowed mean division normalization is presented as a method to transform non-linear data to linear data. Modified Z-score, general extreme studentized deviate, and percentile rank algorithms were applied to initially detect anomalies. A refined windowed modified Z-score algorithm was used to determine “true anomalies” that were then used to train both a Pattern Neural Network and Recurrent Neural Network to detect anomalies. For speed in detection, trained neural networks have the clear advantage. However, the additional tuning and complexity of training means that unless speed is the primary concern traditional statistical methods are easier to use and equally effective at detection.
High-field magnetoresistance and magnetothermal e.m.f. in many-valley semiconductors with ellipsoidal energy surface

Abstract Thermomagnetic coefficients appropriate to a many-valley model of a semiconductor of the n -Germanium type are evaluated in the framework of the density matrix formalism developed earlier. These coefficients are determined for arbitrary values of the magnetic field, within the effective mass approximation. The phonon-drag contribution is not included in this work. An application is made to the four-ellipsoidal model of n -Ge under the conditions where elastic-acoustic phonon scattering is the predominant mechanism of scattering and the high-temperature limit of the phonon distribution is valid. The thermoelectric power (magneto-Seebeck effect) is found to increase with increasing values of the magnetic field except for a small region of low magnetic field values where it decreases in the longitudinal configuration only.
Intergroup dynamics in education reform: How identity, power, and emotions hinder systemic reform

This paper puts forth a theoretical framework to understand how actors at different levels of the U.S. public education system respond emotionally to systemic reform efforts and, in turn, how those emotional responses can hinder reform efforts. I begin with a brief overview of the three predominant ways scholars have thought about systemic reform implementation (i.e., skill and will, political, and cognitive lenses). I then argue that these perspectives overlook important socio-emotional factors that influence how actors in different levels of the system understand, interpret, and respond to reforms. I draw on literature from intergroup relations (specifically identity and power dynamics) to argue that the top-down reforms within the hierarchical structure of the education system exacerbate perceptions of in- groups and out-groups. In turn, actors at the school level experience emotions of anxiety, threat, and shame. Each of these emotions elicits behavioral responses that resist and hinder systemic refor...
Anxiety and ASD in Schools: School-Related Issues and Individualized Education Programs

Youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) spend a significant amount of their development in educational settings and education law mandates that they be provided an appropriate education. School staff are increasingly challenged to adequately evaluate and treat symptoms of ASD, as well as any number of secondary symptoms. Anxiety is one of the most common co-occurring difficulties of students with ASD. Anxiety-related problems are a significant concern in school settings as they can exacerbate core symptoms of ASD, disrupt learning, and interfere with other interventions. Although the large majority of studies involving anxiety and youth with ASD have been conducted in nonschool settings, many have yielded findings that are highly relevant and applicable to schools. This chapter examines anxiety and ASD in school settings, with an emphasis on research studies conducted in school settings or with school-derived samples, when available. Where school-based evidence is limited or nonexistent, data from the broader evidence-base are presented to inform the considerations and practices of educational teams. The chapter begins with an overview of how ASD is defined in clinical and educational settings, followed by a review of anxiety-related problems in youth with ASD in school settings. This is followed by a discussion of school-based assessment of anxiety in students with ASD and finally intervention development, implementation, and monitoring of anxiety symptoms using the Individualized Education Program (IEP).
Moving beyond the employee: The role of the organizational context in leader workplace aggression

Abstract Management and psychology scholars are increasingly seeking to examine how organizational characteristics that contextualize leadership shape the occurrence, impact, and prevention of leader workplace aggression. However, a comprehensive review of this literature has not yet been conducted, so a systematic understanding is lacking regarding questions including: (1) when, why and how is such aggression more likely to occur; (2) how do contextual factors enable or constrain effects of these leader behaviors on employees; and (3) how can organizations proactively manage their internal dynamics to prevent or reduce such incidences? Drawing on Porter and McLaughlin's (2006) components of organizational context, I review existing leader aggression research that intersects with seven categories: (1) culture/climate; (2) goals/purposes; (3) people/composition; (4) processes; (5) state/condition; (6) structure; and (7) time. I then offer theoretical propositions for future work, which are grounded in the roles and responsibilities inherent to the nature of leadership and coupled with the changing nature of organizational life. As a result, I set the research agenda for the next decade of organizational context × leader workplace aggression studies.
High throughput nonparametric probability density estimation

In high throughput applications, such as those found in bioinformatics and finance, it is important to determine accurate probability distribution functions despite only minimal information about data characteristics, and without using human subjectivity. Such an automated process for univariate data is implemented to achieve this goal by merging the maximum entropy method with single order statistics and maximum likelihood. The only required properties of the random variables are that they are continuous and that they are, or can be approximated as, independent and identically distributed. A quasi-log-likelihood function based on single order statistics for sampled uniform random data is used to empirically construct a sample size invariant universal scoring function. Then a probability density estimate is determined by iteratively improving trial cumulative distribution functions, where better estimates are quantified by the scoring function that identifies atypical fluctuations. This criterion resists under and over fitting data as an alternative to employing the Bayesian or Akaike information criterion. Multiple estimates for the probability density reflect uncertainties due to statistical fluctuations in random samples. Scaled quantile residual plots are also introduced as an effective diagnostic to visualize the quality of the estimated probability densities. Benchmark tests show that estimates for the probability density function (PDF) converge to the true PDF as sample size increases on particularly difficult test probability densities that include cases with discontinuities, multi-resolution scales, heavy tails, and singularities. These results indicate the method has general applicability for high throughput statistical inference.
Department of Athletics

American colleges and universities may or may not offer particular academic disciplines for their undergraduate and/or graduate students to earn a major or minor in such as within departments of mathematics, religion, and science, or divisions of business, economics, and education. Any schools with intercollegiate athletics, however, have a Department of Athletics (DOA). Besides fulltime faculty and the students enrolled in classes to study for careers in physical education, sport management, or sport medicine, most DOAs include an athletic director (AD), coaches, and other personnel who operate various sports programs. In fact, there are tables of data in Chap. 2 that indicate which men and women team sports were sponsored by schools in Division I, II, and III of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) during recent academic or fiscal years.
Platanthera L., Introduction

Preliminary descriptions of pollination mechanisms, breeding systems, floral morphology, and pollinator behavior are provided for the genus Platanthera. Viscidia separation and spur length reflect divergent selection for pollinators that extract pollinaria on their proboscises or compound eyes. Reproductive success is often limited by the availability of pollinators and suitable microsites for seedling recruitment. Evolutionary changes in viscidia placement, principal pollinators, flower color, fringing of the labellum, and nectar-spur length are discussed.
Homogeneous Motions of Simple Bodies

The constitutive equation of a simple material, Open image in new window makes it plain that the response of a simple body to the class of all homogeneous motions, motions of the form $$ \mathop x\limits_ \sim = \mathop F\limits_ \sim \left( t \right)\left( {\mathop X\limits_ \sim - {{\mathop X\limits_ \sim }_{0}}} \right) + \mathop x\limits_ \sim \left( t \right), $$ (3.24)
Abstract 4316: Disruption and restoration of pioneer transcription factor hub function in bladder cancer

Urothelial bladder cancer is characterized by the failure to complete transitional epithelial-differentiation. The mechanisms underlying this failure are unknown. To address this gap in knowledge, we analyzed 2000 genes differentially expressed between normal bladder vs. bladder cancer (BLCA) (n=426, TCGA RNA sequencing). Remarkably, genes suppressed in BLCA are found in embryonic stem cells (ESC) in compacted chromatin (decreased H3K4me3, increased CpG methylation), while upregulated genes in BLCA are found in ESCs in open chromatin (H1 ESC Encode).This striking property of genes suppressed in BLCA suggested loss-of-function of pioneer transcription factor (TF) function in BLCA, as pioneer TFs access compacted chromatin to initiate the necessary remodeling for subsequent gene activation. The pioneer master TF hub containing FOXA1, GATA4/6 is highly expressed in normal bladder, and these master TFs were frequently haploinsufficient in BLCA, 32%, 56%, and 24% respectively. To better understand why target genes of FOXA1, the most expressed bladder master TF, are unremodeled and repressed, we pulled down endogenous FOXA1 from UM-UC-6 and -3 BLCA cells and used mass spectrometry and Western blot to analyze interacting coregulators, which execute the biochemical work of chromatin remodeling. These analyses revealed enrichment for corepressors, e.g., DNMT1, in the FOXA1 interactome over coactivators, e.g., ARID1A. Genetic analysis of BLCA show frequent mutation/deletion of coactivators: 43% bi-allelic ARID1A inactivation, while corepressors SMARCA5 and DNMT1 were amplified or unaltered to remain functional. Restoration of ARID1A into ARID1A haploinsufficient BLCA (UC-6) upregulated epithelial-differentiation genes and induced terminal epithelial-differentiation, downregulation of MYC and upregulation of p27 protein. To translate into therapy, we restored coactivator/corepressor balance by pharmacologic corepressor depletion: we used the clinical drug decitabine to deplete DNMT1, to compensate for genetic coactivator inactivation. Decitabine recapitulated the effects of ARID1A introduction, inducing terminal epithelial-differentiation of BLCA cells. This was also seen in vivo in a xenograft model of BLCA (UC-6). Decitabine combined with an inhibitor of its in vivo degradation, tetrahydrouridine, decreased tumor size significantly with vehicle tumor size 917.8 mm3 to treated tumor size 321.0 mm3 (p Citation Format: Caroline Schuerger, Yogen Saunthararajah. Disruption and restoration of pioneer transcription factor hub function in bladder cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4316.
The earlier the better: the role of palliative care consultation on aggressive end of life care, hospice utilization, and advance care planning documentation among gynecologic oncology patients

To evaluate the role of specialty palliative care consultation (PCC) on end of life care outcomes among terminally ill gynecologic oncology patients. Retrospective chart review of currently deceased gynecologic oncology patients seen at a single, academic institution between October 2006 and October 2016. Clinical characteristics and outcomes were examined using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Two hundred and four patients were eligible. Forty-one percent underwent at least one marker of aggressive care at the end of life. Most (53%) had a PCC prior to death, and of these most were inpatient (89%). Patients with a PCC had higher odds of hospice enrollment before death (OR 2.55, p = 0.016) and higher odds of advance care planning documentation before death (OR 6.79, p = < 0.001). Among patients with an inpatient PCC, 44% underwent a marker of aggressive medical care at the end of life and 82% enrolled in hospice before death. Among patients with an outpatient PCC, 25% underwent a marker of aggressive medical care at the end of life and 92% enrolled in hospice before death. Patients with outpatient PCC were engaged in palliative care longer than patients with inpatient PCC (median 106 days vs. 33 days prior to death). PCC increased hospice enrollment and advance care planning documentation. Patients with outpatient PCC had lower rates of aggressive medical care and higher rates of hospice enrollment when compared to inpatient PCC. Location of initial PCC plays an important role in end of life care outcomes.
Examining the Wide Range of Business Models Currently in Use in Online Businesses: How to Understand a New Business Using Existing Frameworks

The net has facilitated the digital transformation of everything . Not surprisingly, since most human needs have not changed dramatically over the past twenty-five years, most of the activities transformed by the net have been the activities that humans have pursued since the beginning of time. We still eat, protect our families, seek shelter, make purchases, travel, read, and need entertainment. Our desire for these activities has not changed much in the few short years since the development of information technology. To a large extent, we use the net to facilitate the same things we always did. The digital transformation of everything has not resulted in the digital elimination or even the digital replacement of everything. Still, there are entirely new online businesses with entirely new online products and services. The net does allow us to do things we couldn’t do previously, rather than simply making it easier for us to do what we always did before. This chapter discusses Digitally Transformed Business Models and Fully Digital Business Models . It introduces eleven proven online business models, from the traditional (selling real stuff), through the virtual (selling virtual experiences, from games to higher education), and ends with those that monetize private information.
Use of three summary measures of pediatric vaccination for studying the safety of the childhood immunization schedule.

Abstract Background Summary measures such as number of vaccine antigens, number of vaccines, and vaccine aluminum exposure by the 2nd birth day are directly related to parents’ concerns that children receive too many vaccines over a brief period. High correlation among summary measures could cause problems in regression models that examine their associations with outcomes. Objectives To evaluate the performance of multiple regression models using summary measures as risk factors to simulated binary outcomes. Methods We calculated summary measures for a cohort of 232,627 children born between 1/1/2003 and 9/31/2013. Correlation and variance inflation factors (VIFs) were calculated. We conducted simulations (1) to examine the extent to which an association can be detected using a summary measure other than the true risk factor; (2) to evaluate the performance of multiple regression models including true and redundant risk factors; (3) to evaluate the performance of multiple regression models when all three were risk factors; (4) to examine the performance of multiple regression models with incorrect relationship between risk factors and outcome. Results These summary measures were highly correlated. VIFs were 7.14, 6.25 and 2.17 for number of vaccine antigens, number of vaccines, and vaccine aluminum exposure, respectively. In simulations, an association would be detected if a summary measure other than the true risk factor was used. The power to detect the association between the true risk factor and outcome significantly decreased if redundant risk factors were included. When all three were risk factors, multiple regression model was appropriate to detect the stronger risk factor. Correctly specifying the relationship between risk factors and the outcome was crucial. Conclusions Multiple regression models can be used to examine the association between summary measures and outcome despite of high correlation among summary measures. It is important to correctly specify the relationship between risk factors and outcome.
Clinical Validation of a Cell-Free DNA Gene Panel

The use of liquid biopsies to identify driver mutations in patients with solid tumors holds great promise for performing targeted therapy selection, monitoring disease progression, and detecting treatment resistance mechanisms. We describe herein the development and clinical validation of a 28-gene cell-free DNA panel that targets the most common genetic alterations in solid tumors. Bioinformatic and variant filtering solutions were developed to improve test sensitivity and specificity. The panel and these tools were used to analyze commercially available controls, allowing establishment of a limit of detection allele fraction cutoff of 0.25%, with 100% (95% CI, 81.5%–100%) specificity and 89.8% (95% CI, 81.0%–94.9%) sensitivity. In addition, we analyzed a total of 163 blood samples from patients with metastatic cancer (n = 123) and demonstrated a >90% sensitivity for detecting previously identified expected mutations. Longitudinal monitoring of patients revealed a strong correlation of variant allele frequency changes and clinical outcome. Additional clinically relevant information included identification of resistance mutations in patients receiving targeted treatment and detection of complex patterns of mutational heterogeneity. Achieving lower limits of detection will require additional improvements to molecular barcoding; however, these data strongly support clinical implementation of cell-free DNA panels in advanced cancer patients.
The effects of alcohol on the fetus.

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is defined by a pattern of characteristics that include prenatal and postnatal growth deficiencies, short eyelid slits, abnormal jaw protrusion, altered palmar crease p...
Uber and urban crime

Abstract This paper investigates the association of Uber, a substantial transportation innovation, with crime counts in urban areas that have accepted the program. I find the introduction of Uber to be associated with a large and significant reduction of personal crimes by 5% in treated cities (about 43 personal crimes a month, roughly 41 assaults), and discuss several mechanisms through which Uber may be enacting this change. The detailed data set allows us to identify that this crime reduction is equally significant on the weekends, when Uber is expected to deliver the most rides to and from bars. Furthermore, the significant personal crime reduction is almost entirely composed of assaults, which are known to typically be alcohol-related, while no significant reduction occurs in the plausibly irrelevant crimes against property, society, or other personal crimes. These estimates suggests that such ride-sharing programs may have positive effects toward crime reduction that otherwise may not inherently be taken into account by policy makers.
Non-lytic M13 phage-based highly sensitive impedimetric cytosensor for detection of coliforms.

Abstract A highly sensitive and selective non-lytic M13 phage-based electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) cytosensor for early detection of coliforms is introduced for the first time. Gold nanoparticles were electrochemically deposited on the surface of glassy carbon electrode, and the M13 phage particles were immobilized on them using 3-mercaptopropionic acid linker and zero-length crosslinking chemistry (EDC/NHS). Next, the sensor surface was blocked to avoid non-specific binding. The M13-EIS cytosensor was tested for detection of F+ pili Escherichia coli species, using XL1-Blue and K12 strains, as examples of coliforms. The selectivity against non-host strains was demonstrated using Pseudomonas Chlororaphis. The binding of E. coli to the M13 phage on the cytosensor surface increased the charge transfer resistance, enabling detection of coliforms. The biosensor achieved a limit of detection (LOD) of 14 CFU/mL, the lowest reported to-date using EIS-phage sensors, and exhibited a high selectivity towards the tested coliforms. The SEM micrographs confirmed the successful capturing of E. coli on the M13-based EIS cytosensor. Moreover, the sensor showed almost the same sensitivity in the simulated river water samples as in phosphate buffer, reflecting its applicability to real samples. On the other hand, this sensor system exhibited high stability under harsh environmental conditions of pH (3.0–10.0) and temperature as high as 45 °C for up to two weeks. Overall, this sensor system has excellent potential for real field detection of fecal coliforms.
Assessment of Field-Reversed-Configuration Stability

The field line geometry of the Field Reversed Configuration (FRC) can be pictured as follows: Imagine a pure Z pinch with its current surrounded by circular field lines. Next wrap the current around an axis to form a torus, and then stretch it out along the axis to form an oblate torus called the FRC. Given the resemblance to a Z-pinch, it should not be surprising MHD stability analysis predicts unstable modes linked basically to the unfavourable curvature of the confining field. What is surprising are the many experimental studies that do not show the expected modes of instability.
3 – SUPPLY, DEMAND, AND THE MARKET PROCESS

Publisher Summary According to the basic postulate of economics, an increase in the cost of an alternative will reduce the likelihood that it will be chosen. This basic postulate implies that higher prices will discourage consumption. Lower prices will reduce the cost of choosing goods, stimulating their consumption. This inverse relationship between the price of goods and the amount of good that consumers choose to buy is called the law of demand. Some commodities may be much more responsive to a change in price than others. Other goods may be much less responsive to a change in price. However, despite differences in the degree of responsiveness, the fundamental law of demand holds for all goods. A price increase will induce consumers to turn to substitutes, leading to a reduction in the amount purchased. A price reduction will make a commodity relatively cheaper, inducing consumers to purchase more of it as they substitute it for other goods. This chapter provides an overview of markets, and the coordination of supply and demand. Consumer-buyers and producer-sellers make decisions independent of each other, but markets coordinate their choices and direct their actions. To an economist, a market is not a physical location. A market is an abstract concept that encompasses the forces generated by the buying and selling decisions of economic participants. A balance between the amount supplied and the amount demanded is the only prerequisite for market equilibrium in the short run. However, if the current market price is going to persist in the future, an additional condition must be present—that is, the opportunity cost of producing the product must also be equal to the market price.
Implications of future climate- and land-change scenarios on grassland bird abundance and biodiversity in the Upper Missouri River Basin

Over the past decades, numerous threats from climate- and land-use change to ecosystems have been identified. Grassland ecosystems are among the most endangered in the world and ongoing grassland declines in the Great Plains have been a major concern for avian biodiversity conservation. Threat mitigation may include biofuel cultivation, CO2 emissions reductions, and land conservation strategies. However, spatially explicit and species-specific population responses to future scenarios remain unknown. We show how future land-use and climate scenarios may affect abundance and biodiversity patterns for grassland birds in the Upper Missouri River Basin. We used georeferenced abundance records, 20 environmental predictors, and gradient boosting machines to create spatial abundance models for 24 grassland bird species. Models were scored to current conditions and seven future landcover/climate-change scenarios to spatially predict changes in bird abundance for 2050. Model accuracy varied by species (0.2% ≤ NRMSE ≤ 39.3%) but spatial predictions were highly accurate (.03 ≤ MAE ≤ 7.67). Mean abundances declined for eight species in at least one scenario, whereas abundances increased for 16 species. Multi-species change analyses identified areas of decreasing abundance, particularly in the southeast, whereas increasing were predicted at higher elevations to the west. Important predictors included temperature, forest distance, and elevation. Predicted abundances varied by species and geography. Abundances and distributions expanded for most species, but multi-species declines also occurred in many low-elevation areas. These models may improve understanding of species-specific responses to environmental change by identifying emerging areas of avian conservation concern.
Therapy-resistant dysphagia successfully treated using pharyngeal electrical stimulation in a patient with the pharyngeal-cervical-brachial variant of the Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Abstract Pharyngeal electrical stimulation (PES) is a novel treatment for oropharyngeal dysphagia resulting from neurogenic causes such as stroke, prolonged intubation, tracheostomy, or multiple sclerosis, and may be effective in other medical conditions such as Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS). A 74-year-old male patient with a pharyngeal-cervical-brachial (PCB) variant of GBS, who had been tracheotomised due to severe and persistent swallowing difficulties (dysphagia) unresponsive to traditional speech and language therapy, received PES therapy as a final treatment option. Swallow performance evaluated before and after PES using fibreoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing, videofluoroscopy and clinical bedside assessment, showed significant improvement in swallowing resulting in safe tracheostomy decannulation 18 days after PES. In PCB GBS, we present the potential benefit of PES for the treatment of persistent dysphagia and faster tracheostomy decannulation. PES was safe and may be beneficial in other neurologic disorders, where traditional dysphagia therapies have proved unsuccessful.
Density driven damage mechanics (D3-M) model for concrete II: fully coupled chemo-mechanical damage

In Part I, a density driven damage mechanics (D3-M) approach and its application to model mechanical damage in concrete are presented. In this study, chemical and chemo-mechanical damage in concret...
Adaptation of Dictionary Learning for Electrode Displacement Elastography

Microwave ablation has become a common treatment method for liver cancers. Unfortunately, microwave ablation success is correlated with clinician’s ability for proper electrode placement and assess ablative margins, requiring accurate imaging of liver tumors and ablated zones. Conventionally, ultrasound and computed tomography are utilized for this purpose, yet both have their respective drawbacks. As an alternate approach, electrode displacement elastography offers promise but is still plagued by decorrelation artifacts reducing lesion depiction and visualization. A recent filtering method, namely dictionary representation, has improved contrast-to-noise ratios without reducing delineation contrast. As a supplement to this recent work, this paper evaluates adaptations on this initial dictionary-learning algorithm and applies them to an EDE phantom and 15 in-vivo patient datasets. Two new adaptations of dictionary representations were evaluated, namely a combined dictionary and magnitude-based dictionary representation. When comparing numerical results, the combined dictionary representation algorithm outperforms the previous developed dictionary representation in signal-to-noise (1.54 dB) and contrast-to-noise (0.67 dB) ratios, while a magnitude dictionary representation produces higher noise levels, but improves visualized strain tensor resolution.
Ultrafast laser-absorption spectroscopy for single-shot, mid-infrared measurements of temperature, CO, and CH4 in flames

This Letter describes the development of an ultrafast (i.e., femtosecond), mid-infrared (mid-IR), laser-absorption diagnostic and its initial application to measuring temperature, CO, and ${{\rm CH}_4}$CH4 in flames. The diagnostic employs a Ti:sapphire oscillator emitting 55 fs pulses near 800 nm that were amplified and converted into the mid-IR though optical parametric amplification at a repetition rate of 5 kHz. The pulses were directed through the test gas and into a high-speed mid-IR spectrograph to image spectra across a ${\approx} 30\,\,{\rm nm}$≈30nm bandwidth with a spectral resolution of ${\approx} 0.3\,\,{\rm nm}$≈0.3nm. Gas properties were determined by least-squares fitting simulated absorbance spectra to measured single-shot absorbance spectra. The diagnostic was validated with measurements of temperature, CO, and ${{\rm CH}_4}$CH4 in a static-gas cell with an accuracy of 0.7% to 1.8% of known values. Single-shot, 5 kHz measurements of temperature and CO column density were acquired near 4.9 µm in a laser-ignited HMX (i.e., 1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazoctane) flame and exhibited $1-\sigma$1−σ precisions of 0.4% and 2.3%, respectively, at ${\approx} 2700\,\,{\rm K}$≈2700K. Further, temperature and ${{\rm CH}_4}$CH4 column density measurements were acquired near 3.3 µm in a partially premixed ${{\rm CH}_4}$CH4-air flame produced by a Hencken burner and exhibited $1-\sigma$1−σ precisions of 0.3% and 1% respectively, at ${\approx} 1000\,\,{\rm K}$≈1000K.
More than Just an Academic Exercise: Conjoining Critical Policy Analysis and Community-Engaged Research as an Embodiment of Political Action

Critical policy analysis (CPA) is a means by which to critique policy and promote agency, equity, and justice. However, most CPA scholars examine political discourse from a distance rather than act...
A Step-By-Step Process for Selecting Technology Tools for Students With ADHD:

A nearly unlimited number of technology tools and applications exist to support students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). However, finding these tools, researching their effect...
Exchange Rate Exposures of U.S. Banks: A Cash Flow-Based Methodology

Using a cash flow-based framework, we decompose exchange rate into short-term and long-term elements for 105 individual U.S. banks over 1988-1998. We show that significant long-term exposure is more prevalent than significant short-term exposure, reflecting the difficulty in recognizing, modeling, and managing the longer-term effects of exchange rate risk. Our analyses reveal that 72% of internationally-oriented and 88% of domestically-oriented banks in the sample have significant exposure to at least one of five currency pairs. This result supports the theory that domestic banks are exposed and should be concerned about the indirect impact of exchange rate risk. Furthermore, we provide some evidence that economies of scale may exist for institutions with extensive international operations.
Viscoelastic Coagulation Monitor (VCMVet) Reference Intervals and Sex Differences in Mature Adult Mice

INTRODUCTION Viscoelastic coagulation tests are useful to assess coagulation status in the clinical setting and to aid in understanding underlying pathophysiological mechanisms that affect coagulation status. Such tests also are useful for coagulation research. Because mouse models are widely used to study molecular mechanisms in fine detail, a simple viscoelastic coagulation test requiring small blood volumes would be convenient for such studies in mice. METHODS We tested viscoelastic coagulation properties of normal healthy adult mice using a novel veterinary clinical point-of-care device, Viscoelastic Coagulation Monitor (VCM Vet™; Entegrion Corp.). Fresh whole blood was collected from 63 healthy mature adult C57 black 6N mice, with ultimately 54 mice, equal numbers of male and females, used to determine reference intervals (RIs) for VCM test parameters. RESULTS RIs were determined for equal numbers of male and female mice: clot time: 43.0-353.0 s; clot formation time: 49.4-137.6 s; alpha angle: 54.4-62.2°; A10: 25.0-49.6 VCM units; A20: 31.0-56.5 VCM units; maximum clot firmness: 37.6-62.8 VCM units; Lysis Index 30 (Li30): 99.8-100.0%; and Li45: 99.7-100.0%. Significant differences were found between male and female subgroups, where females had higher mean A10 and A20 and median MCF values, indicating greater clot firmness in female versus male mice. CONCLUSION VCM Vet is a feasible viscoelastic coagulation test device for studies with mature adult mice, including studying inherent sex differences in coagulation parameters. Inherent differences in coagulability of male and female mice warrant further investigation to determine if such differences underlie greater coagulopathic, hemorrhagic, or thromboembolic risk during trauma or other pathophysiologic conditions.
CASI LA VERDAD: SILENCIOS Y SECRETOS EN LA POSDICTADURA DEL GENERAL AUGUSTO PINOCHET EN CHILE

Ourstudy, AlmosttheTruth: Silences and Secrets in General Augusto Pinochet's dictatorship in Chile, examines intelligentsia, militaryand civilian staff's judicial testimonies, accused of participating in crimes committed during the Augusto Pinochet's dictatorship (1973-1990). Our aim is to interrogate the social role played by this silence influenced, we argue, by a persisting military culture. In these confessions, we identify subordination to the Armed Forces and not the acknowledgement for responsibilities for the crimes committed.
Challenges for complete creature architectures

In recent years there has been a move within the artificial intelligence and robotics communities towards building complete autonomous creatures that operate in the physical world. Certain approaches have proven quite successful, and have caused a re-analysis within the field of artificial intelligence of what components are necessary in the intellectual architecture of such creatures. However nothing built thus far yet comes close the dreams that many people hold dearly. Furthermore there has been quite some criticism of the new approaches for lacking adequate theoretical justification. In this paper we outline some of the more obvious challenges that remain for these new approaches, and suggest new ways of thinking about the tasks ahead, in order to decompose the field into a number of manageable sub-areas that can be used to shape further research.
Contact binary stars

Ultraviolet and X-ray surveys of the W Ursae Majoris type stars are reviewed. These systems exhibit extended coronas and transition regions that are confined close to the optically determined surfaces. Correlations of X-ray activity with period or rotational velocity indicate a turn-over or saturation of emission at the short periods or high velocities found in the W UMa-type systems. For a number of systems, ultraviolet emission appears to be anti-correlated with the strength of X-ray emission. These observations are discussed in terms of solar structures, activity, and evolution.
Integrated transformer baluns for RF low noise and power amplifiers

On-chip transformer baluns integrated with an RF front-end architecture for medium power WLAN is presented. Method of measuring and characterizing a 3-port balun with a 2-port network analyzer is discussed. Implemented in 0.18/spl mu/m CMOS, the receive path including a switch, an input transformer and a differential LNA, achieves S/sub 21/ of 17dB, NF of 4.1dB, and IIP3 of 0dBm at 2.45GHz; the transmit path of a differential PA with an output transformer, achieves P/sub sat/ of 21dBm, P/sub 1dB/ of 17dBm, and max PAE of 21%.
Heterogeneous Response of Aluminum and Lithium Niobate to Shock Waves

Heterogeneous shock effects were studied in aluminum (6061-T6) and single crystal lithium niobate (Z-cut) in the range 0.7–4.5 GPa by means of holographic interferometry. Heterogeneous yielding in lithium niobate was observed directly for the first time. In addition, nucleation or activation of defects were observed in both aluminum and lithium niobate. The single crystal data indicate that a defect-dominated fracture process constitutes a reasonable model for shock compression. The polycrystalline data suggest that a similar pattern will prevail at a sufficiently high pressure.
Strongly bound excitons in gapless two-dimensional structures

Common wisdom asserts that bound excitons cannot form in high-dimensional ($dg1$) metallic structures because of their overwhelming screening and the unavoidable resonance with nearby continuous bands. Strikingly we illustrate that this prevalent assumption is not quite true. A key ingredient has been overlooked: Destructive coherent effects are capable of thwarting the formation of resonance. As an example of this general mechanism, we focus on an experimentally relevant material and predict bound excitons in twisted bilayer graphene, which is a two-dimensional gapless structure that exhibits metallic screening. The binding energies calculated by first-principles simulations are surprisingly large. The low-energy effective model reveals that these bound states are produced by a unique destructive coherence between two alike subband resonant excitons. In particular, this coherent effect is not sensitive to the screening and dimensionality, and hence may persist as a general mechanism for creating bound excitons in various metallic structures, opening the door for excitonic applications based on metallic structures.
Knowledge-Based 3D Reconstruction and Visualization of Human Ribcage and Lungs

To help mimic some of the useful features of CT scans for early detection of diseases like lung cancer at a fraction of the cost, a knowledge‐assisted interactive 3D ribcage and lung reconstruction algorithm is proposed. The ribcage and lung reconstructions are both based on the typical PA (rear) and Lateral (side) X‐ray images that are already being acquired during preemptive screenings for lung cancer. Shared domain knowledge of human anatomy and solid modeling techniques are combined with knowledge automatically extracted from the X‐ray images through computer vision algorithms to transform a series of primitive template meshes into reconstructed ribs and lungs despite the fact that much of the 3D information is lost during the X‐ray process. An example of how the reconstructed lung geometry can be used to clip the portion of an approximate volume reconstruction to provide a supplementary interface to search for potential diseased areas is presented.