cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Doppler lidar power, aperture diameter, and FFT size trade-off study

In the design or selection of a Doppler lidar instrument for a spacecraft landing system, it is important to evaluate the balance between performance requirements and cost, weight, and power consumption. Leveraging the capability of LadarSIM, a trade-off study was performed to evaluate the interaction between the laser transmission power, aperture diameter, and FFT size in a Doppler lidar system. For this study the probabilities of detection and false alarm were calculated using LadarSIM to simulate FMCW lidar systems with varying power, aperture diameter, and FFT size. This paper reports the results of this trade-off study.
Varicella-Zoster Virus–Specific Cellular Immune Responses to the Live Attenuated Zoster Vaccine in Young and Older Adults

The incidence and severity of herpes zoster (HZ) increases with age. The live attenuated zoster vaccine generates immune responses similar to HZ. We compared the immune responses to zoster vaccine in young and older to adults to increase our understanding of the immune characteristics that may contribute to the increased susceptibility to HZ in older adults. Young (25-40 y; n = 25) and older (60-80 y; n = 33) adults had similar magnitude memory responses to varicella-zoster virus (VZV) ex vivo restimulation measured by responder cell-frequency and flow cytometry, but the responses were delayed in older compared with young adults. Only young adults had an increase in dual-function VZV-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell effectors defined by coexpression of IFN-γ, IL-2, and CD107a after vaccination. In contrast, older adults showed marginal increases in VZV-specific CD8+CD57+ senescent T cells after vaccination, which were already higher than those of young adults before vaccination. An increase in VZV-stimulated CD4+CD69+CD57+PD1+ and CD8+CD69+CD57+PD1+ T cells from baseline to postvaccination was associated with concurrent decreased VZV-memory and CD8+ effector responses, respectively, in older adults. Blocking the PD1 pathway during ex vivo VZV restimulation increased the CD4+ and CD8+ proliferation, but not the effector cytokine production, which modestly increased with TIM-3 blockade. We conclude that high proportions of senescent and exhausted VZV-specific T cells in the older adults contribute to their poor effector responses to a VZV challenge. This may underlie their inability to contain VZV reactivation and prevent the development of HZ.
In Conversation with Sindre Bangstad and Knut G. Nustad About Anthropology, Hate Speech and Incitement to Commit Genocide. House of Literature, May 14, 2013

This Chapter sees a conversation between Prof. Richard Ashby Wilson (University of Connecticut) and Sindre Bangstad and Associate Professor Knut G. Nustad (University of Oslo) about anthropology, hate speech and incitement to commit genocide . Wilson, a central scholar in the anthropology of law and human rights in recent decades, tells the story of how he first came to take an interest in this field of study while undertaking fieldwork in a Mayan Indian community in Guatemala in the late 1980s. Wilson also discusses his work on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in post-apartheid South Africa , and his more recent work on how international criminal courts established in the wake of war in the former Yugoslavia and the genocide in Rwanda have dealt with hate speech and incitement to genocide.
From Boondoggle to Settlement Colony: Hendrik Witbooi and the Evolution of Germany's Imperial Project in Southwest Africa, 1884–1894

In the span of ten years, what started as a minor commercial enterprise in a faraway African territory grew into an important extension of the German state. This article reorients our understanding of the relationship between the Kaiserreich and its overseas empire, specifically with a focus on Captain Hendrik Witbooi and on how the Witbooi Namaqua he led influenced the evolution of German imperial rule in Southwest Africa between 1884 and 1894. Witbooi's refusal to accept imperial authority compelled colonial officials to confront their administrative limitations in the colony. When the facade of imperial fantasy gave way to colonial reality, German administrators expanded the size and scope of the imperial government to subdue the Namaqua. The article emphasizes the appointments of Landeshauptmann Curt von Francois and Governor Theodor Leutwein as critical examples of Witbooi's impact on imperial policy, as well as the colonial administration's embrace of military violence to attain German supremacy in Southwest Africa. An emphasis on the Witbooi Namaqua illustrates the prominent role of Africans in German colonial history and exposes how peoples in distant places like Windhoek and Otjimbingwe manipulated official efforts to control and exploit the colony.
Organic electronics by design: the power of minor atomic and structural changes

Fundamental to the field of organic electronics is the understanding that structure begets function. For conjugated polymers, monomer structure determines overall energy levels while also influencing interchain interactions. These interchain interactions induce aggregation and creates higher order morphology, greatly influencing the ultimate performance of electronic devices. Understanding the interplay of morphological changes with device efficiency is imperative to improving the performance of organic electronics with minor differences in molecular structure, linear versus branched side-chains, carbon versus silicon bridgehead atoms or hydrogen versus fluorine substitution, having dramatic effects on the energetics, aggregation, morphology, and, ultimately, performance of these materials. This report highlights the power of minor structural changes in conjugated polymers and the associated design rules for the preparation of next generation electronic materials.
Fact Sheet for “Consistency of Modeled and Observed Temperature Trends in the Tropical Troposphere”

Using state-of-the-art observational datasets and results from a large archive of computer model simulations, a consortium of scientists from 12 different institutions has resolved a long-standing conundrum in climate science—the apparent discrepancy between simulated and observed temperature trends in the tropics. Research published by this group indicates that there is no fundamental discrepancy between modeled and observed tropical temperature trends when one accounts for: (1) the (currently large) uncertainties in observations; and (2) the statistical uncertainties in estimating trends from observations. These results refute a recent claim that model and observed tropical temperature trends “disagree to a statistically significant extent”. This claim was based on the application of a flawed statistical test and the use of older observational datasets.
Effects of E-Cigarette Health Warnings and Modified Risk Ad Claims on Adolescent E-Cigarette Craving and Susceptibility

Introduction A between-subjects experiment examines the effects of different warning types and modified risk e-cigarette ad claims on adolescent e-cigarette craving and future e-cigarette susceptibility for two different themes. One theme focuses on nicotine and addiction, and the other on the effects of potentially harmful constituents (eg, flavored chemicals and lung disease). Methods The effects of warning type (control, text-only, graphic health warning [GHW] and text) and modified risk e-cigarette ad claims (control, exposure reduction, risk reduction) are tested experimentally with two different arms (themes) for a sample of 1011 adolescents who had tried either e-cigarettes or cigarettes. Results For addiction, the text-only warning led to significantly less e-cigarette susceptibility than the no warning control condition. As expected, there were no differences between the GHW + text condition and text-only or control conditions for e-cigarette craving. An interaction between warning type and modified risk claims revealed significantly fewer e-cigarette cravings and less susceptibility for the text-only warning and no claim (control) condition than for any other condition. For fatal lung disease, the GHW + text condition led to fewer e-cigarette cravings and less susceptibility than the text-only warning and no warning (control) conditions. Conclusions Warning type effects can be very different under different themes (eg, addiction, fatal lung disease). In general, our results point to the effectiveness of the text-only warning for addiction and GHW + text for fatal lung disease. Relative exposure and risk modification claims (eg, less nicotine; less addicting) tend to undercut addiction warnings. Implications More than one type of e-cigarette warning may be necessary as e-cigarette research evolves. Our results show different warning type effects (eg, text-only; GHW + text) on e-cigarette craving and future susceptibility for adolescent experimenters depending on the risk theme (eg, addiction; lung disease) and presence of ad claims (eg, exposure and risk reduction). As research emerges on risks associated with e-cigarette use, it is important to first know what at-risk populations (eg, adolescents) believe about such risks. Such research will aid our understanding of what types of warnings might be most effective, especially in the presence of ad claims.
Understanding the Species Selectivity of Myeloid Cell Leukemia-1 (Mcl-1) Inhibitors.

To test for on target toxicity of a new chemical entity, it is important to have comparable binding affinities of the compound in the target proteins from humans and the test species. To evaluate our myeloid cell leukemia-1 (Mcl-1) inhibitors, we tested them against rodent Mcl-1 and found a significant loss of binding affinity when compared to that seen with human Mcl-1. To understand the affinity loss, we used sequence alignments and structures of human Mcl-1/inhibitor complexes to identify the important differences in the amino acid sequences. One difference is human L246 (F226 in rat, F227 in mouse) in the ligand binding pocket. Mutating rat F226 to a Leu restores affinity, but the mouse F227L mutant still has a ligand affinity that is lower than that of human Mcl-1. Another mutation of mouse F267, located ∼12 A from the ligand pocket, to the human/rat cysteine, F267C, improved the affinity and combined with F227L resulted in a mutant mouse protein with a binding affinity similar to that of human Mcl-1. To help understand the structural components of the affinity loss, we obtained an X-ray structure of a mouse Mcl-1/inhibitor complex and identified how the residue changes reduced compound complementarity. Finally, we tested Mcl-1 of other preclinical animal models (canine, monkey, rabbit, and ferret) that are identical to humans in terms of these two residues and found that their Mcl-1 bound our compounds with affinities comparable to that of human Mcl-1. These results have implications for understanding ligand selectivity for similar proteins and for the interpretation of preclinical toxicology studies with Mcl-1 inhibitors.
Chapter 26 – Parathyroid Hormone-Receptor Interactions

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the PTH/FFH-related protein (PTHrP)–receptor interactions and provides information related to PTH2 and PTH3 receptors (PTH2- and PTH3-Rc), which are structurally related to the classical PTH1 receptor. Activation of PTH1-Rc by either PTH or PTHrP stimulates multiple intracellular signaling pathways via coupling to multiple G proteins. PTH increases intracellular cAMP via G8 and it also activates phospholipase C (PLC), leading to the accumulation of IP3, which stimulates the release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores via pertussis toxin-insensitive Gq, as well as the accumulation of diacylglycerols, which stimulate membrane-associated protein kinase C. While the cAMP-protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathway seems to be responsible for almost all of the calciotropic and skeletal actions of PTH and PTHrP, the physiological role of the PKC signaling pathway is not yet fully understood. Cell surface density of the PTH1-Rc is a key determinant, independent of ligand concentration, for both AC and PLC signaling pathways in response to PTH-(1–34), with the latter functioning only at high receptor density. It may imply the dissociation between structural determinants in PTH1-Rc involved in agonist recognition and signal transduction and those involved in G protein–effector interaction. The designation of PTH2- and PTH3-Rc, as PTH receptor subtypes is based on their high level of sequence homology with PTH1-Rc, their interaction with PTH- and/or PTHrP-derived peptides, and their capacity to stimulate both PKA and PKC-dependent signaling pathways. PTH2-Rc, which has been cloned from rat and human cDNA libraries, selectively binds PTH, but not PTHrP. PTH3-Rc, have been cloned by genomic PCR from zebrafish (z) DNA, which shows higher affinity to the PTHrP analogs than to the PTH analog.
Waterbird-Mediated Dispersal and Freshwater Biodiversity: General Insights From Bryozoans

Freshwater environments are fragmented and heterogeneous in space and time. Long term persistence thus necessitates at least occasional dispersal of aquatic organisms to locate suitable habitats. However, the insubstantial movements of many require zoochory –hitchhiking a ride with more mobile animals. We review evidence for zoochory of freshwater bryozoans, a group that provides an excellent model for addressing this issue. The feasibility of long distance transport by waterbirds of bryozoan propagules (statoblasts) is evaluated in relation to statoblast resistance to extreme conditions and waterbird gut retention times, flight durations and distances. We highlight genetic evidence for colonization following waterbird-mediated transport. The consequences of zoochory for biodiversity are manifold. Taxa that release statoblasts show lower levels of genetic differentiation, genetic divergence and haplotype diversity than those whose statoblasts are retained in situ (hence less available for zoochory). Zoochory may also disseminate pathogens and parasites when infected host stages are transported. Such co-dispersal may explain some disease distributions and is supported by viability of infected statoblasts. Zoochory can also be expected to influence local and regional population and community dynamics, food web structure and stability, and organismal distributions and abundances. Finally, zoochory may influence host-parasite coevolution and disease dynamics across the landscape with the benefits to parasites depending on their life history (e.g. simple vs. complex life cycles, generalists vs. specialists). Our synthesis highlights the complex ecological and evolutionary impacts of zoochory of freshwater organisms and raises questions for future research.
An Empirical Study of Information Visualization for Decision Support in an Emergency Department Information System.

Emergency departments collect large amounts of data to make decisions regarding patient care. Implementation of decision support tools with information visualization (IV) techniques in Emergency Department Information System (EDIS) is difficult to achieve and thus an evaluation of the techniques is needed. The purpose of this study is to conduct a usability study of various IV techniques in EDIS and provide recommendations for developers. Fifty-nine participants were recruited in this study. Results indicate the density chart, tree map, and network diagram have lower times, higher usability scores, and lower mental workload ratings than the 3D scatter plot, scatter plot matrix, and parallel coordinates. Findings of this study can provide insights for the development of information visualization tools to support decision making in an emergency department information system.
Infrared Spectra and Density Functional Calculations of MO2, MO3, (O2)MO2, MO4, MO2-(M = Re, Ru, Os) and ReO3-, ReO4-in Solid Neon and Argon†

Laser-ablated rhenium, ruthenium, and osmium atoms react with O2 in excess neon and argon during condensation to form the MO2 dioxide molecules as major products. The MO3 trioxides with D3h symmetr...
Northern State University Teacher Induction: Reflections And Assessments On First-Year Teaching Experiences

The purpose of this paper is to report on the elementary and secondary school experiences of first year classroom teachers who participated in the Northern State University Teacher Induction Program during the 2007-2008 school year. Most of the participants were primarily employed as classroom teachers in large and small schools across South Dakota, with three first-year teachers located out of South Dakota. The NSU Teacher Induction Program is a follow-up support program for new teachers graduating from Northern State University and entering their first year of teaching. The Teacher Induction Program collects data reflecting the first-year experiences of new teachers, and documents trends and issues to be addressed by NSU faculty.
Heterocyclic Product Formation in Aqueous Brown Carbon Systems

Brown carbon in aerosol remains a significant source of error in global climate modeling due to its complex nature and limited product characterization. Though significant efforts have been made in the previous decade to identify the major light-absorbing brown carbon chromophores formed through the reactions of carbonyl-containing compounds with ammonium, substantial work is still required to identify the main absorbing species resulting from reactions of glyoxal, glycolaldehyde, and hydroxyacetone with ammonium sulfate (AS). Using tandem mass spectrometry and 15N experiments to confirm proposed structures and support their mechanistic pathways, compelling evidence is provided for the formation of pyrazines and imidazoles in the glyoxal + AS, glycolaldehyde + AS, and hydroxyacetone + AS systems. Through density functional theory calculations, the N-containing oligomers and aromatic heterocycles formed within these reaction systems are shown to contribute to brown carbon light absorption, thus holding sig...
Analysis of Discharge Destination After Open Versus Minimally Invasive Surgery for Lung Cancer

Background Patients express strong opinion regarding discharge destination, preferring discharge home vs elsewhere. As focus on patient satisfaction increases, we sought to understand differences in postoperative discharge destination after minimally invasive vs open anatomic lung resection for lung cancer to guide patient education and management and better understand the postoperative patient experience. Methods Procedures were identified by Current Procedural Terminology and International Classification of Diseases codes using the 2012-2017 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program dataset. Propensity score analysis was used to assess the relationship between the surgical approach and nonhome discharge destination (primary outcome) and postoperative complications; related, unplanned readmission; and mortality (secondary outcomes). Results A total of 17,303 patients underwent anatomic lung resection for lung cancer, including 10,121 (58.5%) minimally invasive and 7182 (41.5%) open resections. Patients undergoing open resection had 60% greater odds of nonhome discharge (P Conclusions The minimally invasive approach to lung resection for lung cancer offers patients a more desirable patient-centered postoperative experience, as well as more favorable clinical outcomes, and should be favored when feasible.
Inflammatory and Procoagulant Cytokine Levels During Pregnancy As Predictors of Adverse Complications

Abstract 2296 Introduction: Adverse complications of pregnancy include preterm delivery resulting from preterm labor, preeclampsia, and postpartum hemorrhage. Plasma cytokine levels and immunoregulatory proteins that are produced by gestational tissues and involved in inflammatory processes of pregnancy, have shown that perturbation of cytokine signaling networks is associated with preterm labor and preeclampsia. The purpose of this study was to identify the levels of various cytokines and other analytes associated with tissue damage, inflammation, and ischemia in maternal plasma samples taken throughout pregnancy and to determine whether these levels correlate with adverse conditions. Methods: This study examined plasma samples collected from populations of women (Hilleroed Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark) with high-risk pregnancy complications such as postpartum hemorrhage, preeclampsia, and multiple gestations (n=16), preterm delivery (n=20), and normal pregnancy (n=20). Citrated plasma samples were analyzed at different time points during pregnancy ( Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Transitional evolutionary forms and stratigraphic trends in chasmosaurine ceratopsid dinosaurs : evidence from the Campanian of New Mexico

Three new chasmosaurines from the Kirtland Formation (~75.0 - 73.4 Ma), New Mexico, form morphological and stratigraphic intermediates between Pentaceratops (~74.7 - 75Ma, Fruitland Formation, New Mexico) and Anchiceratops (~72 - 71Ma, Horseshoe Canyon Formation, Alberta). The new specimens exhibit gradual enclosure of the parietal embayment that characterizes Pentaceratops, providing support for the phylogenetic hypothesis that Pentaceratops and Anchiceratops are closely related. This stepwise change of morphologic characters observed in chasmosaurine taxa that do not overlap stratigraphically is supportive of evolution by anagenesis. Recently published hypotheses that place Pentaceratops and Anchiceratops into separate clades are not supported. This phylogenetic relationship demonstrates unrestricted movement of large-bodied taxa between hitherto purported northern and southern provinces in the Late Campanian, weakening support for the hypothesis of extreme faunal provincialism in the Late Cretaceous Western Interior.
Latino adolescents' daily bicultural stress and sleep: Gender and school context moderation.

Objective Bicultural stress (i.e., challenge arising from navigating 2 cultural contexts) has significant consequences for Latino youth's health, but researchers have yet to examine the implications of bicultural stress for adolescents' sleep. The goals of this study were to examine whether individual and day-to-day (within-person) differences in bicultural stress were associated with Latino adolescents' sleep onset latency (i.e., time to fall asleep), sleep midpoint (i.e., sleep schedule), sleep duration (i.e., time asleep), and subjective sleep quality. Method Participants were 209 Latino late adolescents (Mage = 18.10 years; 64.4% female) attending over 90 different high schools who completed 7 daily diary surveys while wearing actigraph wristwatches (N = 1,320 daily observations). Participants also reported sleep problems in a standard survey. Statistical interactions were tested to assess moderation by gender and coethnic school composition. Results On average, more bicultural stressors across the week were associated with lower average sleep duration and more sleep problems for male (compared to female) adolescents and youth attending schools with higher (compared to lower) Latino student enrollment. Regarding day-to-day differences, more daily bicultural stressors than usual predicted longer sleep onset latency that night for male adolescents, earlier sleep midpoint that night, and less sleep duration that night for youth attending higher Latino-enrollment schools. Conclusions Latino adolescents' everyday experiences of bicultural stress relate to differences in sleep duration, timing, and quality, with important variation by gender and school context. Results advance existing theory regarding social position factors that differentiate the health implications of bicultural stress for Latino youth. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
Chaperone action of a cofactor in protein folding

Previously, we have reported that ATP accelerates the folding and unfolding of Escherichia coli glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), which is a glycolytic enzyme utilizing NAD+ as a cofactor. Because ATP and NAD+ share the ADP moiety, we hypothesized that NAD+ also accelerates the folding of GAPDH and that the common structural motif between ATP and NAD+ is responsible for the chaperone activity. After confirming that NAD+ indeed accelerates the folding of GAPDH, we examined the chaperone activity of the structural fragments of NAD+ (ADP, AMP, adenosine, and nicotinamide monophosphate). Our finding showed that ADP and AMP significantly speed up the folding of GAPDH, while adenosine and nicotinamide monophosphate do not. ADP and AMP also dramatically speed up the unfolding of GAPDH by selectively stabilizing a transition state in which GAPDH has a partially unfolded conformation. Similar to the previously reported effect of ATP on the equilibrium unfolding of GAPDH, a partially unfolded intermediate also accumulates in the presence of ADP and AMP. Based on the effect of the structural fragments of NAD+ on the folding of GAPDH, we identified that AMP is the structural determinant of the chaperone activity of ATP and NAD+ . Also, we propose a plausible model to explain how NAD+ accelerates the folding of GAPDH through a stepwise development of molecular interactions with the protein.
Design of Rubrics for Student Outcomes in 2019-2020 ABET Criteria

ABET is the main accreditation body for engineering programs in the United States and they have recently introduced a new set of Student Outcomes. This set was reduced from 11 to 7 items by combining several outcomes into one and adding some new ones. In our electrical and computer engineering programs we decided to design a set of seven general rubrics, one for each ABET outcome. These rubrics could then be used unaltered if course content fits them, or they can be adjusted to fit a particular course. To use a common description for rubrics, we wanted to keep the Performance Criteria the same but can adjust the Performance Indicators to suit a particular course. Six rubrics are presented in detail. We also share some initial observation in practical implementation of these in course and program assessment. They have helped us identify a problem in our sophomore cornerstone class related to the quality of student designs. Similarly, in our senior capstone-related class we identified a problem with defining and understanding ethical dilemmas.
Fathers’ Language Input and Early Child Language Development

Over the past several decades, there has been an increasingly robust consideration of the roles of fathers in child language development during the early childhood years. The findings across these studies suggest that father-child interactions, and characteristics of father talk in particular, have positive associations with later child language skills above and beyond the contributions of mother-child interactions. While the majority of studies in this area have considered the experiences of fathers of typically developing children, some emerging research suggests that fathers may play a similar role in shaping the language development of young children with developmental delays and disabilities.
Parameter test and analysis for dynamic compensation devices in wind power farms

Dynamic reactive power compensation devices in Jiuquan wind power farms of 10 GW above in Gansu province include different types,Such as SVG,TCR and MCR.The lack of experimental verification for the performances is not conducive to voltage/var management and fully utilization of the compensation capacity.In order to solve the problem above,the compensation device performance test was conducted.The testing items and procedures were selected based on related national standards with the consideration of different grid structures and wind farm operation modes.The testing contents involved dynamic regulating range,active power loss,dynamic response time and harmonic voltage level.Three types of compensation devices installed in different wind farms,namely SVG,TCR and MCR,were chosen and tested.The performances were compared and analyzed according to the field test results.
Synthetic ultrawideband orbital angular momentum radar

Control of orbital angular momentum (OAM) offers the potential for increases in control and sensitivity for high-performance microwave systems. EM waves with properties dependent on spatial distribution are said to be “structured.” Control of OAM in microwave systems is an example of a wave structure that exploits EM degrees of freedom, which most conventional systems do not use. OAM is characterized by an integer OAM mode in which zero represents the case of a plane wave and nonzero OAM modes propagate with a helical wavefront. A uniform circular phased array approach is utilized to produce helix-shaped OAM wavefronts. This method offers a critical advantage over common fixed-frequency dielectric lenses; the phases of all antenna elements are programmable across a wide frequency range, which is necessary for ultrawideband (UWB) radar imaging. Simulations and laboratory experiments are performed to determine the requirements and capabilities of an UWB OAM radar that uses the circular phased array approach. Key results include OAM phase front characterization, detection of specified OAM modes, and configuration of a network analyzer UWB radar with synthetic OAM mode-control via signal post-processing.
Post-operative Anemia After Major Surgery: a Brief Review

Anemia is a very common complication in the post-operative period. Post-operative anemia is associated with poor outcomes including but not limited to infections, increased length of stay, circulatory overload, and mortality. The strategy of patient blood management focuses on three pillars that include the detection and treatment of pre-operative anemia; reduction of peri-operative blood loss; and harnessing and optimizing the patient-specific physiological reserve of anemia. Multiple studies in surgical patients have been conducted to study various methods of management of post-operative anemia. Recent advances in surgical techniques have also been studied to minimize blood loss. There is a widespread consensus on the use of intravenous iron in hospitalized post-operative patients after major surgery. We discuss the most common causes of post-operative anemia and management focusing on measures to reduce blood loss and measures to increase red blood cell (RBC) mass. In this brief review, we present updates from the most relevant articles in the past 5 years and include updates from the 2018 international consensus statement on the management of post-operative anemia after major surgical procedures.
Cinematic adventures: An interview with liliana cavani

In the following interview, which was conducted during the COVID-19 shut-down in December 2020, Liliana Cavani reflects on her cinema and its underlying aesthetics, on current issues such as diversity and gender equality. She reminisces on her formative years and the impact of her anti-fascist grandparents as well as of those open-minded RAI executives who hired her as a freelance professional. She discusses her historical documentaries, her approach to the revolutionary experience of Francis and Clare of Assisi, and her stage production of Eduardo De Filippo’s Filumena Marturano (2016). Of special interest are the director’s comments on the new release of a re-mastered DVD of The Night Porter in England and some critics’ attempts to re-categorize her as a filmmaker obsessed with the corporeality of Eros. She also introduces her new screenplay, written in collaboration with physicist Carlo Rovelli.1. © 2021 Intellect Ltd Interview. English language. https://doi.org.
Clinical characteristics and outcomes of infants compared with children diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma: Analysis of surveillance, epidemiology and end results data from 2000 to 2016.

BACKGROUND Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft-tissue sarcoma of childhood, but occurs infrequently in infants (<1 year). Historically, infants with RMS have worse overall survival compared to other pediatric age groups. AIM This study aims to assess the clinical features and treatment factors associated with survival comparing infants to children aged 1-9 years diagnosed with RMS. METHODS Children aged <10 years diagnosed with RMS between 2000 and 2016 were identified using the SEER database. Descriptive statistics were used to assess demographic, clinical, and treatment characteristics of infants and children with RMS. Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox proportional hazards regression were performed to assess for factors associated with survival. RESULTS Age <1 year was independently associated with an increased risk of mortality. Compared to children aged 1-9 years, fewer infants received standard of care therapy, that is, chemotherapy combined with local control (surgery and/or radiation; 86.8 vs. 75.7%; p = .009). In comparing the frequency of specific treatment modalities (used alone or in combination with other modalities), infants were less likely to receive radiation therapy (34.0 vs. 66.4%; p < .001) and more likely to receive surgery (68.9 vs. 57.5%; p = .02) than children aged 1-9 years. Across age groups, chemotherapy combined with local control was significantly associated with reduced mortality. Alveolar histology, metastatic disease, and Hispanic ethnicity were negatively associated with survival. CONCLUSIONS Age of <1 year was an independent risk factor for increased mortality from RMS compared to ages 1-9 years. Fewer infants were treated with chemotherapy combined with local control, the therapy associated with best survival in all age groups. Other factors contributing to differences in survival should be further explored.
ANALYZING THE IMPACT OF ROADSIDE FEATURES ON INJURY SEVERITY

The design and implementation of a multimodal transportation system must address the issue of mobility and sustainability with the objective of making transportation safer, better, faster, and more reliable. Roadway safety hardware which has been provided as a countermeasure to reduce the severity of highway crashes may have a contributing effect to injury severities on the highway. This emphasizes the need to evaluate the effects of roadside features on injury severity along rural and urban roadways. The study examines the effectiveness of roadside hardware in twenty-four (24) counties in the State of Maryland using the vehicular crash data for the years 2016 to 2018. The relationship between accident occurrence and the traffic and control characteristics of roadway was investigated to develop a Multinomial Logit Model to identify the factors determining the severity of vehicle crashes in relation to roadside features. Findings showed that roadside features such as trees may increase the propensity of a fatal and serious injury relative to a property damage.
The Relationship Between Atopy and Cystic Fibrosis

The incidence and clinical significance of allergy in cystic fibrosis have been discussed. There is little evidence that the high prevalence of positive allergy skin tests in CF is a clinical manifestation of a hypersensitivity lung disease complicating the primary pulmonary disorder, except in the special case of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. The lung disease of CF appears to be caused by excessive bronchial secretions and recurrent infection that are the result of abnormal ion transport across the apical membrane of the respiratory epithelial cell. There are two important questions concerning the allergic reactions: Are they clinically significant, and, why do they occur? The former question is partly resolved by the data presented, although well-controlled studies of intervention would help to resolve it further. The cause of these reactions, which occur particularly in relationship to the moldAspergillus fumigatus, is unknown but the author is inclined to the view that they are the result of recurrent infection that induces heightened immunologic reactivity to inhaled allergens. The significance ofAF may be simply that this mold has a “predilection for diseased airways” or may be more complex; for example, owing to abnormal ion composition in respiratory secretions, abnormal lectin expression by CF respiratory epithelial cells, or selective filtration by the airways based on particle size.
A Look-Ahead Driver Model for Autonomous Cruising on Highways

This paper describes a look-ahead driver model with potential applications to the autonomous cruising of vehicles on highways. The driver model has two physically meaningful parameters: the look-ahead distance and the steering sensitivity. Time-domain computer simulations are used to verify the concept.
Mechanisms of pulmonary clearance of inhaled plutonium dioxide an autoradiographic study and particle size analysis

Abstract An autoradiographic technique is described for measuring particle size distributions of inhaled 239PuO2 in alveoli of dogs and rats at various periods of time after exposure. Additional data are presented for the tracheo-bronchial tree of rats and lymphoid tissue of dogs. In rat alveoli, an early (6 hr) decrease in MMD is followed by a rise (2 days) and a second decrease (7 to 32 days). A similar cyclic change in CMD in dog alveoli is found with a different time sequence (1 to 406 days). The implications of these and other observations are discussed.
A complete set of rotationally and translationally invariant features for images

We propose a new set of rotationally and translationally invariant features for image or pattern recognition and classification. The new features are cubic polynomials in the pixel intensities and have the unusual property that up to numerical error and a bandwidth limit they are complete, in the sense that they uniquely determine the original image modulo rigid transformations. Our construction is based on the generalization of the concept of bispectrum to the three-dimensional rotation group SO(3), and a projection of the image onto the sphere.
The motion induced between radially extensional plates with one or both plates shrinking

Abstract Flow between the radial extensional motion of parallel plates is studied for two cases. In the first case one plate stretches at rate a while the other plate shrinks at rate b and in the second case both plates shrink. Both cases can be considered by defining stretching ratio as σ = b / | a | . When both plates shrink one can find solutions in the region σ − 1 from those found in the region − 1 ≤ σ ≤ 0 . This feature is not available when one plate stretches and the other shrinks and thus σ must be varied over the region σ ≤ 0 to cover all possible solutions. Solutions are also dependent on a Reynolds number R = | a | h 2 / ν where h is the plate separation distance and ν is the kinematic viscosity of the fluid. For both problems studied, we have determined the R=0 solutions and their large-R asymptotic behaviors. Using two numerical techniques, no bifurcated solutions were encountered. Results are presented in graphical form for the radial pressure gradient, lower and upper wall shear stresses, and velocity profiles for these axisymmetric flows. A region of zero wall shear stress exists for stretching/shrinking plates whilst the wall shear stresses for shrinking/shrinking plates are never zero. An interesting singular limit in solution behavior as R → ∞ is found for the shrinking/shrinking plate flow.
Chapter 9 Surface Antigens Involved in Interactions of Embryonic Sea Urchin Cells

Publisher Summary This chapter explores the specificity hypothesis, with the intent to show the way the cell surface might contribute to the process of gastrulation. It discusses two lines of research—namely, (1) data on the formation of cell–cell contacts is presented to demonstrate an array of age-specific and tissue-specific recognition capabilities available to embryonic cells, (2) immunochemical data shows age-specific and tissue-specific differences in cell surface antigens during the early development of the sea urchin. A species-specific pattern of cellular recognition is identified experimentally between the embryonic cells of Lytechinus variegatus and Tripneustes esculentus . Hybrid embryos, formed as a cross between these two species, are studied to determine their pattern of cellular recognition. Prior to gastrulation, hybrid cells adhered to the cells of maternal genotype only. After gastrulation had begun in the hybrid embryos, hybrid cells adhered to the cells of both maternal and paternal genotype. A serological study identified a similar pattern of cell surface antigen expression; paternal antigens are first observed on hybrid cell surfaces at the gastrula stage. The study further identified four classes of antigens present on embryonic cell surfaces—namely, (1) maternal antigens present on cleavage-stage cells, (2) embryonic antigens appearing at gastrulation and specified by embryonic templates, (3) ectoderm-specific antigens, and (4) endoderm-specific antigens.
Methamphetamine laboratory explosions: a new and emerging burn injury.

The proliferation of clandestine methamphetamine laboratories (meth labs) as a result of the growing popularity of the drug has resulted in an increasing incidence of burn injuries associated with laboratory accidents. We undertook this study to characterize these injuries. Fifteen consecutive patients were identified and case-matched by age and TBSA to 45 control subjects. Most meth lab patients were men, Caucasian, unemployed, and positive for polysubstance abuse. Resuscitation requirements were 1.8 times greater in these patients. There was a higher incidence of inhalational injury corresponding to higher intubation and tracheostomy rate and longer ventilator days among meth lab patients. The rate of nosocomial pneumonia, skin graft loss, and mortality were not different between the two groups. Meth lab injury is unique and requires more critical care resources. It also is associated with lack of insurance coverage and poor follow-up after injury. This injury has a significant impact not only on patients but also on the healthcare system. Language: en
Electrochemical corrosion of titanium and titanium-based alloys.

Abstract Statement of problem. Two varieties of unalloyed titanium, Ti-6Al-4V and NiTi, commonly are used in medical and dental fields. Several other types of alloys for potential use in these fields have been developed, including Ti-4.5Al-3V-2Mo-2Fe and vanadium-free alloys (Ti-5Al-2.5Fe and Ti-5Al-3Mo-4Zr). The corrosion of these alloys under simulated physiologic conditions is not known. Purpose. This study compared the corrosion behaviors of 6 titanium materials through electrochemical polarization tests in 37°C Ringer's solution. Material and methods. The applied voltage was potentiostatically scanned from −0.6 to 1.0 V. From polarization curves, the corrosion rate (averaged over 3 samples) for each alloy was calculated and compared with that of other alloys. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the Student-Newman-Keuls multiple range test were performed at a 95% overall confidence level to identify statistically significance differences in corrosion rates. Surface oxide films were identified by electron diffraction, and the electrolyte medium was analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry after each alloy was tested. Results. Commercially pure titanium and Ti-5Al-2.5Fe were the most resistant to corrosion; Ti-5Al-3Mo-4Zr, Ti-6Al-4V, and NiTi were the least resistant to corrosion. NiTi exhibited pitting corrosion along with transpassivation. Conclusion. Electron diffraction patterns indicated that all titanium alloys were covered mainly with rutile-type oxide (TiO 2 ) after corrosion tests. The oxides that formed on Ti-5Al-2.5Fe were identified as a mixture of TiO 2 and Ti 9 O 17 , and those that formed on NiTi were identified as a mixture of TiO 2 and Ni 2 Ti 4 O. (J Prosthet Dent 2001;85:195-202.)
Boron-doped diamond microelectrodes for use in capillary electrophoresis with electrochemical detection.

The fabrication and characterization of boron-doped diamond microelectrodes for use in electrochemical detection coupled with capillary electrophoresis (CE−EC) is discussed. The microelectrodes were prepared by coating thin films of polycrystalline diamond on electrochemically sharpened platinum wires (76-, 25-, and 10-μm diameter), using microwave-assisted chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The diamond-coated wires were attached to copper wires (current collectors), and several methods were explored to insulate the cylindrical portion of the electrode: nail polish, epoxy, polyimide, and polypropylene coatings. The microelectrodes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. They exhibited low and stable background currents and sigmoidally shaped voltammetric curves for Ru(NH3)63+/2+ and Fe(CN)63-/4- at low scan rates. The microelectrodes formed with the large diameter Pt and sealed in polypropylene pipet tips were employed for end-column detection in CE. ...
Performance analysis for FMCW ranging using photon-counting detectors

We analyze the performance of FMCW ranging with photon-counting detectors. We derive the Cramer-Rao bound, then determine the optimal fraction of signal-arm photons, given a fixed mean number of source-generated photons.
The Effects of Farm Refrigeration on Marketable Quality of Eggs

Abstract MANY egg producers sell their eggs on a graded basis. These producers are usually paid on the basis of egg size, shell condition and candled appearance. Egg size and outside condition of shell are readily apparent or detectable by handlers or ultimate users, while interior quality of the unbroken egg is detected only by those individuals candling the eggs. Consumers, however, are the only real judges of actual quality of the edible portion of eggs. Satisfaction of these consumers is essential for continued high level consumption of eggs and for maximum prices received. Eggs require proper care while on the farm as well as when they are in all channels of distribution. Once quality is lost, it cannot be regained and the place to begin proper care is on the farm. The changes which take place in interior egg quality are affected by the temperature and relative humidity of the …
Investigation on the role of air in the dynamical evolution and thermodynamic state of a laser-induced aluminium plasma by spatial- and time-resolved spectroscopy

Abstract The amount and the spatial distribution of air atoms and ions in a laser-induced plasma in ambient air provide important information about the formation of the plasma and its successive evolution history. For this reason, in the present work, the air mixing in a laser-induced plasma in air at atmospheric pressure and its influence on its thermodynamic evolution were studied. Information about spatial distributions of atoms and ions from Al, N and O were achieved by Abel-inverted spectra in the plume. The occurrence of LTE in the plume was also assessed by the utilization of theoretical criteria, and by the analysis of experimental spectra. Aluminium atoms and ions were found to be in LTE, while nitrogen and oxygen were not because of their longer times of relaxation toward equilibrium. Nitrogen was found to be over-ionized with respect to Saha–Eggert equilibrium, indicating that the plasma is recombining. Experimental observations suggest that the concentration of air species in the plasma is larger than that of aluminium, even in the region closer to the target, where the aluminium lines are stronger. In the front part of the plume only emission lines from air species were observed. The results suggest that a Laser-Supported Detonation (LSD) regime occurs during the trailing part of the laser pulse, resulting in the strong inclusion into the plasma of air elements. In this scenario, also the thermodynamic history of the plume is affected by the predominance of air species.