cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interlimb coordination in Parkinson's disease

This study examined the degree to which Parkinson's disease (PD) patients could "spatially link" the upper limbs to facilitate the performance of bimanual simultaneous movements. Six right-handed PD patients, and seven normal age- and sex-matched controls performed three different tasks: (a) an isotonic elbow flexion as rapidly as possible through an angle of 30 degrees; (b) an isometric contraction of the flexor muscles at the elbow joint to 40% and 60% of maximal volitional force (MVF) for a period of 5 s; (c) an isometric contraction for 2.5 s with one limb, then simultaneously performing an isotonic flexion with the contralateral limb while maintaining the isometric contraction for 2.5 s more. As expected, PD patients were significantly slower in performing the isotonic movement and produced lower peak velocities than the controls. More importantly, the two groups were differentially affected during the bimanual condition. In normals, movement time decreased and peak velocity increased in the bimanual condition. In contrast, PD patients showed increased movement times and sometimes decreased peak velocities in the bimanual condition. The results suggest that normal subjects utilize bilateral outflow to symmetrical muscle groups to synchronize the two limbs in the bimanual task, whereas PD patients dissociate the two limbs.
Detailed multi-zone thermodynamic simulation for direct-injection diesel engine combustion:

A detailed multi-zone thermodynamic simulation has been developed for the direct-injection diesel engine combustion process. For the purpose of predicting heterogeneous-type combustion systems, the...
The effect of horizontal shear flow on geostrophic adjustment in a barotropic fluid

The effect of a basic horizontal shear flow on the linear geostrophic adjustment process in an unbounded barotropic fluid is investigated. It is shown that the basic flow is absolutely stable to axially symmetric transverse disturbances and that energy is not abstracted from the basic flow through the action of Reynolds stresses. A potential vorticity equation is derived and solved numerically in order to determine the relative amount of initial energy which is partitioned to geostrophic kinetic and available potential energy, as a function of the initial current width. It is also shown that, in contradistinction to the adjustment process in an atmosphere with a basic state at rest, a significant portion of geostrophic energy resides in the low wave-number part of the energy spectrum. This latter feature is most noticeable when a large gradient of the basic flow exists. DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1969.tb00428.x
Polyembryonic development: Insect pattern formation in a cellularized environment

The polyembryonic wasp Copidosoma floridanum produces up to 2000 individuals from a single egg. During the production of individual embryos the original anteroposterior axis of the egg is lost and axial patterning must subsequently be reestablished within each embryo. The mechanism by which this occurs is unknown. In most insects, egg polarity is established during oogenesis and early development takes place in a syncytium. In Drosophila melanogaster, the syncytium is considered essential for establishing the morphogenetic gradients that initiate segmental patterning. However, we found that development of C. floridanum occurs almost exclusively in a cellularized environment. To determine whether the D. melanogaster patterning cascade is conserved in the absence of a syncytium, we analyzed the expression of Even-skipped, Engrailed and Ultrabithorax/Abdominal-A during polyembryonic development. Here we show that in spite of the absence of a syncytium, the elements of the D. melanogaster segmentation hierarchy are conserved. The segment-polarity gene Engrailed and the homeotic genes Ultrabithorax/Abdominal-A are expressed in a conserved pattern relative to D. melanogaster. However, we detect an alteration in the expression of the Even-skipped antigen. Even-skipped is initially expressed in segmentally reiterated stripes and not in a pair-rule pattern as it is in D. melanogaster. We also observe that the expression of these regulatory proteins does not occur during the early proliferative phases of polyembryony. Our results indicate that a syncytium is not required for segmental patterning in this insect.
The phonic "EYE"

Deafness, defined simply, is the incapacity of perceiving sounds. In actuality a deaf person is capable of perceiving sound, however it is their inability to process and decipher these sounds effectively, which inhibits verbal communication. Since the 1500's the education of the deaf has been in constant debate. Throughout time the goal has been to mainstream the deaf population as much as possible, a similar feat for the population of all disabled persons. Technology has been the key factor in such integration as it has made it easier, more convenient, and less cumbersome. The Phonic "Eye" is a device that uses the latest technology and the concept of speechreading to help advance the mainstreaming of the deaf into normal situations by significantly improving their intelligibility of spoken language. The Phonic "Eye" device is designed to be used in classroom settings so that hearing-impaired students and normal hearing students can learn cohesively and simultaneously for shared experience, enhanced learning, and social equality.
POTENTIAL FACTORS INFLUENCING NEST DEFENSE IN DIURNAL NORTH AMERICAN RAPTORS

ABSTRACT Nesting habitat, predator type, and level of reproductive effort influence nest defense behaviors in many bird species, yet no study has examined these or other possible factors influencing nest defense in a cross-species comparison for raptors. Using data from the literature, we grouped the nest defense behaviors of 19 diurnal North American raptors into four categories based on a gradient of aggressiveness. For each species, we identified the cover types where nesting occurred, accessibility of nest location, assessed two indices of reproductive effort, and examined associations between these factors and nest-defense behavior. We also we examined responses by raptor species to different predator types including diurnal avian, nocturnal avian, mammalian (not human), and human. Most raptor species with high reproductive effort exhibited very aggressive nest defense. Most raptor species nesting in open cover types and species with accessible nests showed aggressive nest defense. While many raptors...
Energy-Based Economic Development: Prioritizing Opportunities for Developing Countries

Energy-based economic development (EBED) can provide economic, social and environmental benefits related to national economic development and sustainable growth activities. As both policy and research interests in responsible mechanisms for economic development grow, EBED benefits are becoming increasingly attractive to planners in both developed and developing countries. The incentives, trade-offs, and payoffs for developing countries, however, are not well documented. To help address that gap, this paper identifies the general scope and role of EBED in a developing economy context, and outlines opportunities and challenges for decision-makers.
Traumatic hip dislocations in children.

Seventeen cases of traumatic dislocation of the hip in children fifteen years old or younger were collected from medical records from 1950 to 1970. All dislocations were posterior and most involved the left hip. In general, the severity of injury was related to the age of the patient. Closed reduction was satisfactory in sixteen of the seventeen patients. Complications occurred in two patients. No case of avascular necrosis was seen.
Literature and the Fear of a Suicide Epidemic after Fanny von Ickstatt’s Fatal Fall in 1785

On January 14, 1785, witnesses watched in horror as seventeen-year-old Fanny von Ickstatt tumbled off the Frauenkirche in Munich and fell to her gruesome death. Ickstatt’s sudden and highly visible suicide perplexed the public, captivated the attention of newspaper presses, and led to a short-lived media sensation, all of which exacerbated pre-existing fearful attitudes concerning suicide’s increased presence in texts. News of Ickstatt’s death dovetailed with a cultural anxiety about how printed descriptions of suicide might glamorize the act and contribute to a suicide epidemic. Narratives and reports of Ickstatt’s suicide offered a new moment in eighteenth-century Germany as authors, philosophers, and historians now re-considered the purported “suicide epidemic” along gendered lines. This article traces competing discourses pertaining to Ickstatt’s suicide in order to offer a broader understanding of the multi-faceted conversations regarding suicide and gender roles in eighteenth-century Germany.
Niels Hendrik Abel and Equations of the Fifth Degree

(1995). Niels Hendrik Abel and Equations of the Fifth Degree. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 102, No. 6, pp. 495-505.
LES Analysis of Hemisphere-on-Cylinder Turret Aero-Optics

Using large eddy simulation, Mach 0.4 flow over a hemisphere-on-cylinder turret is simulated to investigate the aero-optical effects caused by turbulent density fluctuations. The height of the cylinder is 0.375 times the hemisphere diameter and the Reynolds number based on the turret diameter and free stream velocity is 460,000. Comparisons are made between calculated OPDrms and previous experimental results, which shows reasonable agreement in trend and magnitude. Using Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD), the capability of the simulation to capture spatial structures present in optical wavefronts is also discussed. The POD modes found from the simulated data contain structures similar to those in the experimental data.
Physiological thymidine reutilization in rat bone marrow.

SummaryThe measurement of DNA turnover in bone marrow of the rat is influenced by the type of labeled precursor chosen as tracer. After a single injection of H3-thymi-dine (0.1 μC/g body weight, spec. act. 1.9 C/mM) or of C14-thymidine (0.01 μC/g body weight, spec. act. 30 mC/mM). the specific activity of DNA declined from day 1 to day 9 in a simple exponential manner with a half time of approximately 2 days (46 hours). However, after injection of 5-I131-deoxyuridine (0.18 μC/g body weight, spec. act. higher than 30 C/mM), the respective half time was approximately 1.2-1.3 days (30 hours). The difference in rates of regression of DNA specific activity was discussed and attributed to reutilization of thymidine and to minimal or absent reutilization of 5-iodo-deoxyundine. The parallel regression of C14-and of H3-labeled DNA after single injection of respectively labeled precursor indicates that kinetic isotope effects do not interfere with the measurement of the reutilization pathway. The magnitude of the r...
Religion, polygenism and the early science of human origins:

American polygenism was a provocative scientific movement whose controversial claim that humankind did not share a common ancestor caused a firestorm among naturalists and the lay public beginning ...
Analysis on epidemic characteristics of severe hand-foot-and-mouth disease in Xuzhou,2014

Objective To find out prevalence characteristics of hand-foot-and-mouth disease and the dynamics of the epidemic in Xuzhou,and to improve our investigation and actual monitoring,detection capability of hand-foot-and-mouth disease,and then to provide evidence for prevention and treatment of this disease.Methods Surveillance data and epidemiological surveys among 82 children with severe hand-foot-and-mouth disease were analysed.Results There were 82 cases underwent severe hand-foot-and-mouth disease at Xuzhou City in 2014,in which all patients were children under 5 years old,with a ratio of 183 males to 100 females.80 patients of them were cured and 2 died.Children could fall ill all the year,and it reached their peak in April.The major pathogen was enterovirus71(EV71)(74.71%).At the same time,the patients were mainly scattered in rural areas(73.17%).Conclusion During the period from March to July the morbidity of hand-foot-and-mouth disease reached its peak in Xuzhou 2014.The patients were mainly children under 5years old,particularly under 3 years old.Among them male patients are more than the female.At the same time the incidence was much higher in country than in city.In order to control the spread of infectious diseases effectively,we should not only strengthen the health propaganda in the aspect of life-style of rural dwellers,hygiene and the environment,but also strengthen early census,early examination and early cure.
Analysis on monitoring results of tableware disinfection in Tianhe district of Guangzhou from 2009 to 2010

Objective To understand the situation of the tableware disinfection in Tianhe and take some specific measures to supervise food safety.Methods 513 catering units in the whole district from 2009 to 2010 were investigated and the results were analyzed.Results In the 513 catering units,305 units were unqualified and the unqualified rate of Coliform group was 59.4%;the rate has not definite differences in years and different type catering units.The unqualified rate in first,second,third,fourth quarter of a year was respectively 65.7%,57.9%,26.8%,63.0%,there was definite differences between third quarter and other quarters of a year.Conclusion The unqualified rate of catering units was high in Tianhe.We should enhance the supervision for catering units in order to guarantee the people's health.
Evolution Equations on ℛn

Under the assumption that the future time behavior of a physical system can be accurately described by a differential “equation of evolution,” we wish to be able to use this equation to predict the future for that physical system, given initial data about the “initial state” of the system, as well as data about the “future” of all external agents that affect the system. We believe that any physical system has a future, which is necessarily of infinite extent unless the system can “explode.” We further believe that, at least on a macroscopic level, sufficient data of the aforementioned type determine a unique future for the system.
Neuroprotective actions of 1-aminocyclopropanecarboxylic acid (ACPC): A partial agonist at strychnine-insensitive glycine sites

Abstract1-Aminocyclopropanecarboxylic acid is a high affinity ligand with partial agonist properties at strychnine-insensitive glycine sites associated with the N-methyl-D-aspartate subtype of glutamate receptors. Since occupation of these sites appears required for operation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor coupled cation channels, it was hypothesized that a glycine partial agonist could function as an N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist. This hypothesis was examined by evaluating the in vivo and in vitro neuroprotective actions of 1-aminocyclopropanecarboxylic acid. 1-Aminocyclopropanecarboxlic acid (150-600 mg kg~1) administered to gerbils five minutes following twenty minutes of forebrain ischemia significantly improved seven day survival; the optimal dose (300 mg kg~1) increased 7 day survival >4-fold, from 20% to 92%. Survival of hippocampal CA1 neurons (quantitated 7 days post-ischemia) was significantly (~ 3-fold) increased by the 600 mg kg~1 dose. Seven day survival was not significantly increased wh...
On the Relationship between Quality Index and Fatigue Life Distributions in B201 and D357 Alloy Aerospace Castings

Tensile and fatigue testing results of premium quality B201 and D357 alloys reported in the literature have been reanalyzed by using Weibull statistics. When tensile data are used as a measure of the structural quality, which are converted into quality index, QT, a distinct relationship has been observed between expected fatigue life and quality index. Moreover, probability of survival in fatigue life was found to be directly linked to the proportion of the elongation (quality index) distribution in a region where premature fracture is caused by old oxides and pores, providing further evidence about the relationship between elongation and fatigue performance.
Temporal and spectral properties of esophageal mucosal blood perfusion: a comparison between normal subjects and nutcracker esophagus patients.

Background The mechanism of esophageal pain in patients with nutcracker esophagus (NE) and other esophageal motor disorders is not known. Our recent study shows that baseline esophageal mucosal perfusion, measured by laser Doppler perfusion monitoring, is lower in NE patients compared to controls. The goal of our current study was to perform a more detailed analysis of esophageal mucosal blood perfusion (EMBP) waveform of NE patients and controls to determine the optimal EMBP biomarkers that combined with suitable statistical learning models produce robust discrimination between the two groups. Methods Laser Doppler recordings of 10 normal subjects (mean age 43 ± 15 years, 8 males) and 10 patients (mean age 47 ± 5.5 years., 8 males) with NE were analyzed. Time and frequency domain features were extracted from the first twenty-minute recordings of the EMBP waveforms, statistically ranked according to four independent evaluation criterions, and analyzed using two statistical learning models, namely, logistic regression (LR) and support vector machines (SVM). Key Results The top three ranked predictors between the two groups were the 0.5 and 0.75 perfusion quantile values followed by the surface of the EMBP power spectrum in the frequency domain. ROC curve ranking produced a cross-validated AUC (area under the curve) of 0.93 for SVM and 0.90 for LR. Conclusions & Inferences We show that as a group NE patients have lower perfusion values compared to controls, however, there is an overlap between the two groups, suggesting that not all NE patients suffer from low mucosal perfusion levels.
The quantification of synkinesis and facial paralysis.

Any effective system of grading the paralyzed face must account for the disturbances in both the quantity and quality of motor function. Since adequate force is required for visible animation, the quantity of muscle contraction is the more critical of these two parameters in the face or in any other motor system. The total quantity of force in the facial muscles can be estimated objectively with the linear measurement index (LMI), a conglomerate of point measurements taken from key landmarks during different mimetic expressions [1]. This system of facial grading has been adapted to clinical situations and compares favorably with subjective schemes of facial grading [2, 3].
Two-dimensional DOA estimation using parallel coprime subarrays

A conventional coprime array is a linear array, which consists of two uniform linear subarrays to construct an effective difference coarray with certain desirable characteristics. In this paper, we propose a parallel coprime array structure and a novel algorithm for two-dimensional (2-D) direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation. By vectorizing the cross-covariance matrix of subarray data, the resulting virtual difference coarray enables resolving more signals than the number of antennas. The 2-D DOA estimation problem is cast as two separate one-dimensional DOA estimation problems, where the estimated azimuth and elevation angles can be properly associated. Compared with other methods, such as, the propagator method (PM) and the rank-reduction (RARE) based algorithms, the proposed method resolves more signals and achieves improved estimation performance.
Occult Primary Neuroendocrine Tumor Metastasis to the Breast Detected on Screening Mammogram

Metastatic tumors are rare in the breast. Well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (WDNETs) are slow-growing neoplasms that arise from neuroendocrine cells, particularly in the gastrointestinal tract and bronchial tree. Metastatic WDNET to the breast is a rare entity. We present a case report of ileal WDNET metastatic to the breast which was initially identified as a small mass in the patient's left breast on screening mammography. Targeted ultrasound identified a suspicious mass, and ultrasound-guided percutaneous core biopsy was performed. Pathology revealed metastatic WDNET. Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was then performed and demonstrated left axillary Level 2 lymphadenopathy, and liver lesions were suspicious for metastasis. The patient underwent abdominal computed tomography (CT) to evaluate for distant metastatic disease. A spiculated mass was found near the ileocecal valve, suggestive of primary ileal WDNET. In addition, CT identified multiple liver lesions, most compatible with metastasis. Indium 111 OctreoScan confirmed radiotracer uptake in the ileum consistent with primary neuroendocrine tumor. In this report, we review the imaging characteristics of metastatic WDNET to the breast by different imaging modalities including mammogram, ultrasound, and breast MRI.
Anti-Coagulation Agents Provide a Mechanism to Inhibit Tumor Cells From Hijacking the Angiogenic Potential of Platelets

Abstract Abstract 1149 While an association between cancer and platelets has been long recognized, the cause and effect relationship linking the two remains unclear. Provocatively, recent studies suggest that anti-platelet agents can increase overall survival and decrease metastatic disease in cancer patients. Because angiogenesis is crucial for tumor growth beyond 1–2 mm3, one view is that platelets may regulate new blood vessel growth through release of the vast array of angiogenesis promoters and stimulators stored in platelet alpha granules. We previously demonstrated that physiological agonists as well as tumor cells (MCF-7 breast cancer cells) could direct the preferential release of pro-angiogenic regulatory proteins from platelets, providing a mechanism for how tumor cells may promote new blood vessel growth in the tumor microenvironment (Battinelli et. al Blood, 2011). In line with these observations, we recently showed that the pro-angiogenic potential of platelets could be attenuated by the anti-platelet agent aspirin providing one mechanism by which platelet inhibitors may attenuate metastatic spread. These observations motivated the hypothesis that agents with anti-thrombotic effects, including LMWH, may also alter the release of angiogenesis regulatory proteins from platelets. Our results reveal that platelets pretreated with daltaparin (a LMWH) showed significant decreases in the amount of VEGF released in response to activation by either the platelet agonist ADP (0.633+/−0.63 with dalteparin vs. 55.71+/−13.92 without dalteparin, p Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Rapid Evolution of Cool Season, Low-CAPE Severe Thunderstorm Environments

AbstractLow-CAPE (i.e., CAPE ≤ 1000 J kg−1) severe thunderstorms are common in the greater southeastern United States (including the Tennessee and Ohio valleys). These events are often poorly forecasted, and the environments in which they occur may rapidly evolve. Real-data simulations of 11 low-CAPE severe events and 6 low-CAPE nonsevere events were performed at convection-allowing resolution. Some amount of surface-based destabilization occurred during all simulated events over the 3-h period prior to convection. Most simulated severe events experienced comparatively large destabilization relative to the nonsevere events as a result of surface warming, cooling aloft, and surface moistening. The release of potential instability by large-scale forcing for ascent likely influenced the cooling aloft in some cases. Surface warming was attributable primarily to warm advection and appeared to be an important discriminator between severe and nonsevere simulated events. Severe events were also found to have larg...
A decision theoretic model for stress recognition and user assistance

We present a general unified probabilistic decisiontheoretic model based on Influence Diagrams for simultaneously modeling both user stress recognition and user assistance. Stress recognition is achieved through dynamic probabilistic inference from the available sensory data from multiple-modality sources. User assistance is automatically achieved by balancing the benefits of improving user performance and the costs of performing user assistance. In addition, a non-invasive real-time system is built to validate the proposed framework. Utilizing the evidences from four modalities (physical appearance features, physiological measures, user performance and behavioral data), the system can successfully recognize human stress and provide timely and appropriate assistance in a task-specific environment.
Neural Network-WPCA Based Method for Multi-Objective Optimal Redundancy Allocation

For systems with multiple redundancies, reliability evaluation in the redundancy allocation problem (RAP) constitutes a computational complexity. It has been demonstrated that neural network training provides an efficient approach to estimate the complex system reliability function. When executing the neural network algorithm, there are many parameters that need to be determined for improving the training performance. Therefore, robust experimental design method can be used to determine the neural network parameters. The traditional robust design methods are intended for a single response variable. However, the application of neural network method includes more than one measurement, such as estimation accuracy and time efficiency. In this paper, utility function is first estimated by neural network training, in which the algorithm parameters are determined by weighted principal component (WPCA)-based multi-response optimization which simultaneously optimizes more than one training performance measurements. Moreover, it is always desirable to simultaneously optimize several objectives in designing a system, such as reliability, cost, etc. Therefore, continuous WPCA-based multi-response design is then applied to obtain the best design of redundancies in RAP, which simultaneously optimize multiple objectives by taking into account the correlations between them.
Composite Pheochromocytoma/Paraganglioma-Ganglioneuroma: A Clinicopathologic Study of Eight Cases with Analysis of Succinate Dehydrogenase.

Ganglioneuromas represent the most well-differentiated spectrum of neoplasia arising from the sympathetic nervous system, while neuroblastomas represent the most poorly differentiated counterpart, and ganglioneuroblastomas represent intermediate stages of differentiation. Small series of cases have documented the co-occurrence of ganglioneuroma with a pheochromocytoma (Pheo)/paraganglioma (PGL) component. We report the clinicopathologic features of eight such cases, diagnosed between 2003 and 2015 with a mean follow-up of 22 months (1–47), which were evaluated for syndrome associations, SDHB expression, and clinical outcome. Mutations of the succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) complex subunits (A, B, C, D, and SDHAF2) have been implicated in predicting metastatic behavior and in identifying possible paraganglioma syndromes. The proliferative index was calculated by manual quantification of Ki-67-positive cells at selected hot-spots using ImageJ (NIH). In our series, composite Pheo/PGL-ganglioneuromas predominantly involved the adrenal gland (Pheo 7, PGL 1). The cases had an equal gender distribution (males 4, females 4), with a mean age at diagnosis of 67 years (range 53 to 86 years), an average size of 5.2 cm (range 2 to 8.2 cm), an average weight of 49.3 g (7.8 to 144.7 g, n = 6), and the majority were functionally active (7 of 8, 88%). The mean Ki67 proliferation rate was 2% (range 0.3 to 3%), and all cases retained SDHB expression (8/8, 100%). No patient (0/8, 0%) developed metastatic disease on follow-up. One patient had a retroperitoneal composite PGL-ganglioneuroma in the setting of neurofibromatosis type 1. No recurrent disease or other associations were identified. In our study, composite Pheo/PGL-ganglioneuromas predominantly affected the adrenal gland in older patients, showed no loss of SDHB, and no disease recurrence was identified.
S-22 : RNA adenosine deaminase ADAR1 and RNA-dependent protein kinase PKR: Opposing modulators of antiviral innate immunity

ADAR1, an interferon inducible adenosine deaminase acting on RNA, catalyzes the C6 deamination of adenosine (A) to produce inosine (I) in RNA substrates with double-stranded character, leading to genetic recoding and altered RNA structure. Adar1 expression occurs from multiple promoters and encodes either an IFN-inducible p150 cytoplasmic protein or a constitutively expressed N-terminally truncated p110 nuclear protein. The roles of ADAR1 p150 and p110 in uninfected cells and during virus infection were examined using human cell clones made stably deficient in ADAR1, mouse cells genetically deficient in ADAR1, and by complementation strategies. The effects of ADAR1 deficiency on virus growth, IFNb induction, and stress responses including formation of stress granules (SG) and cell death were opposite to those established for dsRNA-dependent PKR kinase deficiency. Exemplified by measles virus (MV) infection, ADAR1 suppressed activation of PKR and IRF3 and protected cells from SG formation and cytopathic damage. MV-induced SG formation was PKR-dependent and impaired by catalytically active p150 but not p110 ADAR1. C KO mutant MV was an effective inducer of IFNb by IPS-1-dependent signaling that was amplified by PKR. RNA expression profiles were characterized by qPCR and RNA deep sequencing, with differences found between C KO mutant and parental MV, and untreated and IFN-treated cells. Significant amounts of dsRNA accumulate during C KO mutant infection. Results obtained with mouse cells genetically deficient in either adar1 or the related deaminase adar2 , or stat1 or stat2 , suggest a central role of ADAR1 in overall A-to-I editing and p150 in the IFN-induced editing. In summary, ADAR1 behaved as an anti-apoptotic host factor that, in some instances, suppressed innate immune activities and was pro-viral. Our findings furthermore implicate a balanced interplay between PKR and ADAR1 in modulating IFNb protein production and stress responses following virus infection. (Supported by NIAID, NIH).
Plasma etching of GaN and related materials

Publisher Summary GaN and related alloys are used in applications such as fabrication of blue/green/UV emitters and high-temperature, high-power electronic devices. The emitter technology is relatively mature. The applications for the emitter devices lie in full-color displays, optical data storage, white-light sources, covert communications, and electronic devices suited to high-power switches and microwave power generation. Dry plasma etching has become the dominant patterning technique for the group III nitrides because of the shortcomings of wet chemical etching. Plasma etching proceeds by physical sputtering, chemical reaction, or a combination of the two, often referred to as “ion-assisted plasma etching.” Physical sputtering is dominated by the acceleration of energetic ions formed in the plasma to the substrate surface at relatively high energies, typically >200 eV. Because of the transfer of energy and momentum to the substrate, material is ejected from the surface. This sputter mechanism tends to yield anisotropic profiles with significant damage, rough surface morphology, trenching, poor selectivity, and nonstoichiometric surfaces, thus minimizing device performance.
Differences in the characteristics of younger and older MSI-H colorectal cancer (CRC) as determined by universal reflex testing.

3593Background: DNA mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) or microsatellite instability high (MSI-H) CRC is found in ~15% of early stage and ~5% of metastatic disease. Universal or reflex testing to ide...
Approximating solutions of linear elliptic PDE's on a smooth manifold using local kernel

Abstract A mesh-free numerical method for solving linear elliptic PDE's using the local kernel theory that was developed for manifold learning is proposed. In particular, this novel approach exploits the local kernel theory which allows one to approximate the Kolmogorov operator associated with Ito diffusion processes on compact Riemannian manifolds without boundary or with Neumann boundary conditions using an integral operator. Theoretical justification for the convergence of this numerical technique is provided under the standard conditions for the existence of the weak solutions of the PDEs. Numerical results on various instructive examples, ranging from PDE's defined on flat and non-flat manifolds with known and unknown embedding functions show accurate approximation with error on the order of the kernel bandwidth parameter.
Mapping Mountain Peatlands and Wet Meadows Using Multi-Date, Multi-Sensor Remote Sensing in the Cordillera Blanca, Peru

Wetlands (called bofedales in the Andes of Peru) are abundant and important components of many mountain ecosystems across the globe. They provide many benefits including water storage, high quality habitat, pasture, nutrient sinks and transformations, and carbon storage. The remote and rugged setting of mountain wetlands creates challenges for mapping, typically leading to misclassification and underestimates of wetland extent. We used multi-date, multi-sensor radar and optical imagery (Landsat TM/PALSAR/RADARSAT-1/SRTM DEM-TPI) combined with ground truthing for mapping wetlands in Huascaran National Park, Peru. We mapped bofedales into major wetland types: 1) cushion plant peatlands, 2) cushion plant wet meadows, and 3) graminoid wet meadows with an overall accuracy of 92%. A fourth wetland type was found (graminoid peatlands) but was too rare to map accurately, thus it was combined with cushion peatland to form a single peatland class. Total wetland area mapped in the National Park is 38,444 ha, which is 11% of the park area. Peatlands were the most abundant wetland type occupying 6.3% of the park, followed by graminoid wet meadows (3.5%) and cushion wet meadows (1.3%). These maps will serve as the foundation for improved management, including restoration, and estimates of landscape carbon stocks.
Adaptive Control for Mitigating Sensor and Actuator Attacks in Connected Autonomous Vehicle Platoons

In this paper, we develop an adaptive control algorithm for addressing security for a class of networked vehicles that comprise n human-driven vehicles sharing kinematic data and an autonomous vehicle in the aft of the vehicle formation receiving data from the preceding vehicles by wireless vehicle-to-vehicle communication devices. Specifically, we develop an adaptive controller for mitigating time-invariant, state-dependent adversarial sensor and actuator attacks while guaranteeing uniform ultimate boundedness of the closed-loop networked system. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is demonstrated by an illustrative numerical example involving a platoon of connected vehicles.
The resilience of men: quality of life after prostate cancer.

Health-related quality of life encompasses a wide range of experiences and is especially relevant for men with prostate cancer. A recent study reports that across disease stages, overall self-reported health status and urinary and bowel function were good, but sexual function was poor. Overall, men face prostate cancer with resilience.
A Variational Bayes Approach to Adaptive Channel-gain Cartography

Channel-gain cartography relies on sensor measurements to construct maps providing the attenuation profile between arbitrary transmitter-receiver locations. State-of-the-art on this subject includes tomography-based approaches, where shadowing effects are modeled by the weighted integral of a spatial loss field (SLF) that captures the propagation environment. To learn SLFs exhibiting statistical heterogeneity induced by spatially diverse propagation environments, the present work develops a Bayesian approach comprising a piecewise homogeneous SLF with an underlying hidden Markov random field model. Built on a variational Bayes scheme, the novel approach yields efficient field estimators at affordable complexity. In addition, a data-adaptive sensor selection algorithm is developed to collect informative measurements for effective learning of the SLF. Numerical tests demonstrate the capabilities of the novel approach.
The manifold roles of microbial ribosomal peptide–based natural products in physiology and ecology

The ribosomally synthesized and posttranslationally modified peptides (RiPPs), also called ribosomal peptide natural products (RPNPs), form a growing superfamily of natural products that are produced by many different organisms and particularly by bacteria. They are derived from precursor polypeptides whose modification by various dedicated enzymes helps to establish a vast array of chemical motifs. RiPPs have attracted much interest as a source of potential therapeutic agents, and in particular as alternatives to conventional antibiotics to address the bacterial resistance crisis. However, their ecological roles in nature are poorly understood and explored. The present review describes major RiPP actors in competition within microbial communities, the main ecological and physiological functions currently evidenced for RiPPs, and the microbial ecosystems that are the sites for these functions. We envision that the study of RiPPs may lead to discoveries of new biological functions and highlight that a better knowledge of how bacterial RiPPs mediate inter-/intraspecies and interkingdom interactions will hold promise for devising alternative strategies in antibiotic development.
Genomic rearrangements in lung adenocarcinoma: Lineage relationships between the in situ and invasive components.

7568 Background: The molecular events in the initiation and progression of invasive lung adenocarcinoma remain poorly characterized. These tumors are thought to develop through an adenocarcinoma in...
Performance of High Stopping Power Bismuth-Loaded Plastic Scintillators for Radiation Portal Monitors

Plastic scintillators are widely used in radiation portal monitors because of their low cost and availability in large sizes. However, due to their low density and low effective atomic number ( Z ), they offer low intrinsic efficiency and little spectroscopic information. The addition of high- Z constituents to these plastics can greatly increase both their total stopping power and the amount of photoelectric absorption, leading to full-energy deposition and thus useful gamma spectra. In this article, we present the performance of the latest formulation of Bi-loaded plastic scintillators showing their useful spectroscopic information up to relatively high energy (~1 MeV) due to their high stopping power compared to the current commercially available plastics. These Bi-loaded plastics use 20 weight percent (wt%) Bi-pivalate (8 wt% elemental Bi) dissolved in polyvinyltoluene (PVT) matrix and conventional fast fluors (~10 ns decay time). These Bi-loaded plastics achieve up to approximately 6000 photons/MeV and have been produced in sizes up to 17 in3. The performance of these Bi-loaded plastics is also demonstrated in the existing portal monitor hardware (Rapiscan Model TSA Trainer 770) showing the possibility to provide improved sensitivity as a drop-in replacement with continued scale-up.
An improved part-load airflow and power model for fan-powered terminal units with electronically commutated motors

Part-load performance models for fans driven by electronically commutated motors in fan-powered terminal units were developed based on the analysis of data from 36 series and parallel units provide...
Relative age and investment in human capital

Abstract This article provides evidence from four studies in Mexico on how the age of children relative to their school class—their “relative age”—produces an illusory gap in academic skills and affects the experiences of students, their choices, self-concept, and expectations. The first study shows that relative age confers an advantage in achievement tests at ages 12–15 that makes older students look academically better than their younger peers. The advantage would disappear if students were tested at the exact same age. The second study shows that, when 15-year-olds participate in a competitive merit-based mechanism to be allocated to public high schools, older students aim at and are more likely to be admitted to higher-quality schools. The third study shows that, during high school, age confers an advantage in GPA that decreases but does not disappear as students reach age 18. Lastly, the fourth study shows that, at age 18, relatively older students score higher in achievement tests and character skills scales, and they have better labor market expectations and more ambitious educational aspirations—a novel result. To the world and themselves, relatively older students appear worthy of greater human capital investment. Some implications of these results are discussed.
Feedback cues improve the alignment and technique of children performing ACL injury prevention exercises

Objectives The appropriateness of neuromuscular training exercises across different age groups has not yet been investigated, particularly in younger children. The purpose of this study was to determine which neuromuscular training exercises can be performed with proper neutral alignment in various age groups. Methods Seven exercises were selected for evaluation in children ranging from 8 to 17 years of age who were recruited from schools and youth sports organisations. Participants completed two trials of each exercise and were judged on maintaining neutral body alignment after receiving visual/verbal instruction on the first trial and feedback cues on the second trial. Three evaluators judged each exercise, which was deemed as correct when at least two evaluators agreed that neutral alignment was maintained. Comparisons were made across ages and between sex using the χ² test or Fisher's exact test. The proportions of participants who performed the exercise correctly were also compared before and after feedback cues were provided. Results A total of 360 participants were evaluated (8–11 years: 165, 54% female; 12–15 years: 136, 40% female, 16–17 years: 59, 53% female). There were no significant differences in performance across ages and sex for nearly all exercises. The majority of children were not able to complete the exercises with proper alignment. The use of feedback cues significantly increased the proportion of participants who correctly completed the exercise (p Conclusions These results demonstrate the importance of training coaches and physical education teachers to provide cues that reinforce proper technique during anterior cruciate ligament injury prevention exercises. Children should perform common neuromuscular training exercises with feedback on proper technique. Level of evidence IV (case series).
Intellectuals, Universities, and the State in Western Modern Societies

(1989). Intellectuals, Universities, and the State in Western Modern Societies. The Journal of Higher Education: Vol. 60, No. 4, pp. 475-478.
Why Does Symmetry Cause Deadlocks

Abstract Collision avoidance for multirobot systems has been studied thoroughly. Recently, control barrier functions (CBFs) have been proposed to mediate between collision avoidance and goal achievement for multiple robots. However, it has been noted that reactive controllers (such as CBFs) are prone to deadlock, an equilibrium that causes the robots to stall before reaching their goals. In this paper, we formally analyze two and three robot systems and discover circumstances under which CBFs cause deadlocks using duality theory. For the two robot system, we consider mutually heterogeneous robots (such as one more vigorous or closer to its goal than the other) and prove that this heterogeneity does not help in preventing deadlock. We then consider three robots, and conclude from these two scenarios that the geometric symmetry resulting from robots’ initial positions and goals constrains CBFs to generate velocities that render deadlock stable. Thus, conferring skewness to the system can help evade deadlock.
A differential emissivity imaging technique for measuring hydrometeor mass and type

Abstract. The Differential Emissivity Imaging Disdrometer (DEID) is a new evaporation-based optical and thermal instrument designed to measure the mass, size, density and type of individual hydrometeors as well as their bulk properties. Hydrometeor spatial dimensions are measured on a heated metal plate using an infrared camera by exploiting the much higher thermal emissivity of water compared with metal. As a melted hydrometeor evaporates, its mass can be directly related to the loss of heat from the hotplate assuming energy conservation across the hydrometeor. The heat loss required to evaporate a hydrometeor is found to be independent of environmental conditions including ambient wind velocity, moisture level and temperature. The difference in heat loss for snow vs. rain for a given mass offers a method for discriminating precipitation phase. The DEID measures hydrometeors at sampling frequencies of up to 1 Hz with masses and effective diameters greater than 1 µ g and 200 µ m, respectively, determined by the size of the hotplate and the thermal camera specifications. Measurable snow water equivalent (SWE) precipitation rates range from 0.001 to 200 mm h −1 , as validated against a standard weighing bucket. Preliminary field experiment measurements of snow and rain from the winters of 2019 and 2020 provided continuous automated measurements of precipitation rate, snow density and visibility. Measured hydrometeor size distributions agree well with canonical results described in the literature.
Developmental Delay and School Performance Among Retinoblastoma Survivors: Development/school morbidity among retinoblastoma survivors.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to describe the academic performance of childhood retinoblastoma (RB) survivors. Design Retrospective cohort study. Methods Retrospective chart review of children followed in a survivorship clinic. Results A total of 73 patients with RB (median age at diagnosis: 9.97 months; range: 0.29-65.1) were followed for a median of 6.4 years (0.2-1.76). A total of 48 patients (65.8%) had unilateral RB; 43 patients (63.0%) received systemic chemotherapy; and 57 patients (78.1%) underwent enucleation. At last follow-up, 5 children (6.8%) had bilateral visual acuity (VA) Conclusions Academic difficulties in childhood RB survivors are associated with chemotherapy treatment, a risk factor independent of VA.
The De-licensing of Occupations in the United States: A Shifting Trend?

Occupational licensing continues to receive attention from both researchers and policymakers. In this article we document and analyze cases of de-licensing in the US over the period 2015 to 2020. We find that the number of cases of successful de-licensing has significantly increased over that of previous years. A total of thirty-five occupations have been de-licensed in the last five years compared to just nine from about 1970 to 2015.
Performance analysis of lidar for smart wind turbines

In the technology of smart wind turbine, one of the fundamental requirements is the availability of real-time data of wind speed. The lidar anemometry has several advantages over the conventional ones, especially in the remote marine environment. Thus it may become an important component in the future offshore wind farms. Toward practical applications, the impact of atmospheric interference on optical signals must be well understood first. In this paper, the performance of a generic lidar subject to turbulence and fog is investigated. Several closed-form metrics for evaluating performance are derived. Numerical examples are presented.