cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cutaneous reactive hyperaemia is unaltered by dietary nitrate supplementation in healthy humans.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether nitrate supplementation augments cutaneous reactive hyperaemia. Seven participants were tested pre- and postnitrate supplementation (25 ml beetroot juice); participants consumed one shot per day for 3 days. Participants were instrumented with two microdialysis fibres: control (Ringer's solution) and NO synthase inhibition (20 mM L-NAME). Skin blood flow was measured via laser-Doppler flowmetry (LDF). A blood pressure cuff was placed on the experimental arm and inflated to 250 mmHg for 5 mins to occlude arterial inflow. The cuff was released, and the resultant reactive hyperaemia was measured. Blood pressure was continuously measured via plethysmography from a finger on the non-experimental arm. Cutaneous vascular conductance was calculated (LDF/MAP) and normalized to maximal vasodilatation (%CVCmax ). Only diastolic blood pressure was reduced following nitrate supplementation (71 ± 2 vs. 66 ± 1 mmHg; P<0·05). There was no effect of nitrate supplementation on peak reactive hyperaemia at control (Pre: 52 ± 3 vs. Post: 57 ± 2%CVCmax ) or L-NAME (Pre: 52 ± 2 vs. Post: 59 ± 4%CVCmax ) sites. There was no effect of nitrate supplementation on total reactive hyperaemia at either control (Pre: 4197 ± 943 vs. Post: 4523 ± 1040%CVCmax * sec) or L-NAME (Pre: 5108 ± 997 vs. Post: 5694 ± 1002%CVCmax * sec) sites. These data suggest cutaneous reactive hyperaemia is unaffected by dietary nitrate supplementation in healthy humans.
VLF Electromagnetic Radiation in a Magnetoionic Medium

We examine VLF electromagnetic radiation through an ionized gas in a permanent magnetic field (magnetoionic medium). Such a medium can be taken as a model of the ionosphere. We work from the Fourier transform of the dyadic Green's function which relates the current density and the electric field. Asymptotic expansions of the function are obtained for both small and large separation. The expansions for small separation can be used to discuss the power radiated by a current distribution (antenna). Special attention is given to the power radiated by a Hertzian dipole, and a conflict in the literature (Staras, 1964; Lee and Papas, 1965) is resolved. The expansion for large separation can be used to discuss the far field. The radiated far field is shown to propagate most strongly along the field lines of the permanent magnetic field. The far field radiated by a Hertzian dipole is considered.
Sublethal effects of the methyl benzimidazole carbamate "fungicide" thiophanate-methyl applied to prevent Diplodia shoot blight of pines.

Shoot blight, canker, and collar rot diseases caused by the fungus Diplodia sapinea damage red pine (Pinus resinosa) seedlings in forest tree nurseries in the northcentral USA. Application of fungicides, including the methyl benzimidazole carbamate chemical thiophanate-methyl (TM), have been used to reduce disease incidence. But because Diplodia sapinea is known to persist on or in asysmptomatic seedlings in sprayed beds and to subsequently proliferate and kill outplanted seedlings, we tested the effects of various concentrations of TM on D. sapinea in vitro.Mycelial growth on potato dextrose agar (PDA) was greatly inhibited at concentrations of ≥ 1 μg TM ml-1. However, frequencies of conidial germination on water agar (WA) were not reduced even at 1000 μg TM ml-1 (compared to those on non-amended WA). Although exposure to concentrations ≥ 1 μg TM ml-1 in WA resulted in deformed germ tubes and hyphae, colonies resulting from germination and growth for four hours on WA amended with up to 1000 μg TM ml-1 re...
Sheaves and Presheaves

In this chapter we shall develop the basic properties of sheaves and presheaves and shall give many of the fundamental definitions to be used throughout the book. In Sections 2 and 5 various algebraic operations on sheaves are introduced. If we are given a map between two topological spaces, then a sheaf on either space induces, in a natural way, a sheaf on the other space, and this is the topic of Section 3. Sheaves on a fixed space form a category whose morphisms are called homomorphisms. In Section 4, this fact is extended to the collection of sheaves on all topological spaces with morphisms now being maps f of spaces together with so-called f-cohomomorphisms of sheaves on these spaces. In Section 6 the basic notion of a family of supports is defined and a fundamental theorem is proved concerning the relationship between a certain type of presheaf and the cross-sections of the associated sheaf. This theorem is applied in Section 7 to show how, in certain circumstances, the classical singular, Alexander-Spanier, and de Rham cohomology theories can be described in terms of sheaves.
Dignity in the Service of Democracy

At a broad level, perhaps the most noticeable trend in Latin American constitutional law is the increasing muscularity of constitutional tribunals. Throughout the region, particularly in South America, tribunals charged with interpreting their country’s constitution are increasingly asserting themselves and inserting themselves into public controversies, from abortion to same sex marriage to the rights of political association.This heightened judicial activity can come at a cost to democracy: typically, the more social issues are decided by unelected and unaccountable judges rather than through a political process, the less the people control the resolution of those issues. The more outcomes are deemed to be constitutionally determined, the less room there is for political negotiation and change. And the more courts read into constitutional texts, the more value-laden their judgments, the less legitimacy they have.But the trend in Latin America challenges this conventional wisdom: the form that judicial activism is taking is enhancing, rather than eroding, both judicial authority and democratic decision making. And the principal engine that is driving this process is judicial invocation of the constitutional right to dignity.Latin American courts are relying on the constitutional right to human dignity to decide cases more often than one can count, and in an extraordinarily wide range of situations. The Colombian constitutional court has tried to schematize the concept of dignity, noting that the phrase “human dignity” can manifest itself in two ways: from the point of view of the concrete object of protection and from the point of view of its normative function. With respect to the first perspective, the Court has identified three clear and distinct lines: human dignity can be understood (1) as autonomy or the possibility of designing a life plan and self-determination according to his or her own desires; (2) as entailing certain concrete material conditions of life; and (3) as the intangible value of physical and moral integrity. As shorthand, it characterizes these three dimensions, respectively, as living as one wishes, living well, and living without humiliation. In Part One, this paper illustrates this schema by discussing cases from throughout the region, showing how the courts have interpreted the right to dignity to insist on protection for a wide range of interests. Part Two explores the normative function of Latin America’s dignity jurisprudence by demonstrating the mutually reinforcing connection between dignity, as described by the cases, and democratic citizenship.
Social Work Practice with Reentry from Incarceration

This chapter describes and illustrates an application of relational social work practice with individuals in transition from prison or jail to their communities and to free society.
Behavioral properties of latent inhibition

By applying the neural network described in Chapter 2 (Figures 2.1 and 2.2), this chapter compares a large number of experimental results regarding LI with computer simulations. Figure 2.3 helps to understand the basic mechanisms that explain the effects of different experimental designs on LI. All simulations were carried out with identical parameter values presented in Appendix 3.A. In addition, this chapter also presents simulations for classical conditioning paradigms other than LI.
AN IN-VITRO METHOD FOR SIMULATION OF OXYGEN TRANSPORT IN THE MICROCIRCULATION

Mathematical modeling of oxygen transport in the microcirculation normally requires the introduction of a number of simplifying assumptions to reduce the very complicated physical situation to a form that is tractable (for a review see Fletcher, 1978). Unfortunately, there are great difficulties in designing and executing experiments that will serve to test these assumptions critically, Pittman and Duling (1975b, 1977) have made substantial progress in the measurement of oxygen uptake and release by red cells in hamster cheek pouch microvessels. However, in these and other in vivo experiments, the boundary conditions and exact geometries for the diffusion problem are difficult to ascertain. We have attempted to circumvent these problems by constructing an in vitro silicone rubber capillary system which simulates the real physiological situation and also allows precise measurement of flow and transport characteristics. capillary bed can be computed by established mathematical techniques. Heineken et al. (1978) developed the technique for fabricating silicone rubber capillaries. They also made substantial progress in demonstrating the applicability of these systems for studying gas transport by the use of oxygen electrodes. We have gone one step further and are measuring directly the fractional saturation of red cells or free hemoglobin by microspectrophoto-metry. The latter detection system represents an adaptation of previous work by Sinha (1969) with stationery red cells, and by Pittman and Duling (1975a, b, 1977) with red cells flowing through micro-vessels. In our apparatus the artificial capillary is placed on the stage of a microscope, and the transmitted light is diverted to a photomultiplier for absorbance measurements.
Initial Evaluation of the Patient with Waldenström Macroglobulinemia

The initial evaluation of the patient with Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia can be challenging. Not only is it a rare disease, but the clinical features can vary greatly from patient to patient. In this article, we aim at providing concise and practical recommendations for the initial evaluation of patients with Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia, specifically regarding history taking, physical examination, laboratory testing, bone marrow aspiration, and biopsy evaluation and imaging studies. We then review the most common special clinical situations seen in patients with Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia, especially anemia, hyperviscosity, cryoglobulinemia, peripheral neuropathy, extramedullary disease, Bing-Neel syndrome, and amyloidosis.
Coaching Teachers to Detect, Prevent, and Respond to Bullying Using Mixed Reality Simulation: an Efficacy Study in Middle Schools

Teachers play a critical role in bullying prevention but often struggle to identify bullying and intervene effectively, particularly in real time and in the classroom. The coaching literature suggests that ongoing, tailored supports are often needed to promote changes in teacher practices. The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of an adapted version of the Classroom Check-Up (CCU) coaching model, which utilized mixed reality simulation to allow teachers to practice addressing the detection of, prevention of, and responding to bullying in the classroom. The sample included 78 teachers within 5 middle schools, randomized to either receive coaching or serve as a comparison teacher. Teachers provided survey data regarding their perceptions about the occurrence of bullying and how they respond to bullying. Classroom observations of teacher preventive and responding practices as well as student aggression were conducted by trained observers. Regression analyses examining differences between intervention and comparison teachers, following coaching provided during one school year, indicated that intervention teachers were more likely to report responding to bullies with referrals to counselors and other staff, to intervene with the victims and perpetrators, and report that they do not perceive adults at their school do enough to address bullying in schools. Survey data regarding detection approached significance; however, observational data regarding preventive practices and responding showed no differences. Together with prior research findings showing that the intervention was acceptable and feasible, these results demonstrate the promise of this preventive intervention for increasing teachers’ responding to and detection of bullying in classrooms.
Abstract 4597: Bladder cancer patients experience circulating tumor cell number surge during intramedullary nailing procedures intended for treating pathological fractures

Introduction and Objective: The goal of this study is to evaluate if intramedullary nailing procedure of completed or impending pathologic fractures in long bones secondary to metastatic bladder cancer affects the circulating tumor cell (CTC) number. Methods: Bladder cancer patients who presented with completed or impending pathologic fracture due to metastatic disease and underwent fracture fixation were recruited in this study. During nailing procedures performed by orthopedic oncologists, blood samples were collected from peripheral vein, peripheral artery and central vein at four time points (TP). TP1 was at the time of incision; TP2 was during the passage of the first reamer; TP3 was during wound closure; and TP4 was 24 hours post-operatively. Two CTC capture technologies were used: The FAST disk is a size-selective, clog-free rare cancer cell isolation platform (Clinomics, Ulsan, South Korea). CTCs were captured by a filter and stained with immunofluorescent antibodies. The filter was then scanned using the Metafer5 (MetaSystems, V3.11.8) automated scanning system to enumerate CTCs. The second platform was the AccuCyte-CyteFinder system (RareCyte, Inc., Seattle, WA), a selection-free method to enumerate and characterize CTCs from peripheral blood samples (PB) via immunofluorescent staining and scanning. The criteria for defining a CTC is DAPI positive, CK/EpCAM positive, and CD45 negative. Results: Three nailing cases from two patients were enrolled in this study (one patient had 2 affected limbs). The surgical sites were the right humerus (2 cases) and the right femur (3rd case). The AccuCyte-CyteFinder system was used for all three cases. FAST was used for the second and the third case. With the AccuCyte-CyteFinder system (TP1/TP2/TP3/TP4), the CTC counts were: 8/3314/7/2 for the first case; 259/3616/322/548 for the second case; 755/2507/917 CTCs for the third case (no TP4 sample). With FAST disk (TP1/TP2/TP3/TP4), the CTC counts were: 5/964/28/9 CTCs for the second case; 27/523/27/13 for the third case. Many CTC clusters were seen for TP2 venous samples, but rarely seen for the other samples. Conclusions: A surge in CTC number during the nailing procedure was observed in all cases by both methods. Our data suggest that the palliative nailing procedure may contribute to further CTC dissemination. Whether the surge of CTCs results in clinical relevant disease warrants further investigation. Citation Format: Zhongyuan Zhang, Liang Dong, Stephanie Glavaris, Emily Caruso, Kenneth Pienta, Carol Morris. Bladder cancer patients experience circulating tumor cell number surge during intramedullary nailing procedures intended for treating pathological fractures [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4597.
Examining the economic impact of restenosis: implications for the cost-effectiveness of an antiproliferative stent.

Over the past decade, coronary stenting has been shown to reduce the rates of angiographic and clinical restenosis compared with conventional balloon angioplasty. Despite these improved outcomes, however, coronary stenting is still hampered by a high incidence of restenosis, with important clinical and economic consequences. Recently, the development of antiproliferative, drug-eluting stents has emerged as a promising solution for the primary prevention of restenosis. This paper summarizes the current evidence on the economic impact of coronary restenosis and explores the potential impact of introducing an antiproliferative stent on the cost-effectiveness of percutaneous coronary revascularization. A decision-analytic model based on current clinical and cost data is used to examine the potential cost-effectiveness of such stents. Although prospectively designed studies will be critical to define the true impact of drug-eluting stents on long-term survival, quality of life, and costs in a broad patient population our decision analytic model suggests that as long as these stents are reasonably priced, they may be cost saving for certain patients and cost-effective for virtually all patients undergoing PCI--at least within the U.S. healthcare system.
Brow height asymmetry before and after eyelid ptosis surgery.

Summary Background In the setting of upper eyelid ptosis, asymmetric eyebrow position may be observed and may contribute to overall facial asymmetry. In this study, the authors aim to elucidate the prevalence and predictors of brow height asymmetry in the setting of ptosis and to determine the effect of eyelid surgery on brow height asymmetry to guide preoperative evaluation and informed consent. Methods In this cohort study, patients undergoing posterior approach ptosis surgery, unilateral or bilateral, with or without blepharoplasty, were included. Exclusion criteria included heterotropia, history of brow surgery, and history of previous ptosis surgery. Clinically significant eyelid asymmetry was defined as a difference greater than or equal to 1 mm between right and left margin reflex distance 1 (MRD1) values. Brow asymmetry was defined as difference in pupil-to-brow (PTB) distance of greater than or equal to 3.5 mm. Results The sample included 228 patients. Preoperative brow asymmetry was found in 17.1% of the sample. Notably, half of the patients with preoperative brow asymmetry were found to have postoperative brow asymmetry. Logistic regression indicated that preoperative brow asymmetry was a predictor of postoperative brow asymmetry (odds ratio = 17.03, p Conclusion Understanding the limitations of ptosis surgery in altering brow symmetry helps manage patient expectations, prepare informed consent, and guide surgical and postsurgical planning.
Prevalence of Financial Considerations Documented in Primary Care Encounters as Identified by Natural Language Processing Methods

Importance Quantifying patient-physician cost conversations is challenging but important as out-of-pocket spending by US patients increases and patients are increasingly interested in discussing costs with their physicians. Objective To characterize the prevalence of financial considerations documented in narrative clinical records of primary care encounters and their association with patient-level features. Design, Setting, and Participants This cohort study applied natural language processing to narrative clinical notes obtained from electronic health records for adult primary care visits. Participants included patients aged 18 years and older with at least 1 primary care visit for an annual preventive examination at outpatient clinics at a US academic health system between January 2, 2008, and July 30, 2013. Data were analyzed in March 2019. Main Outcomes and Measures Presence of financial content documented in narrative clinical notes. Results The data set included 222 457 primary care visits for 46 244 individuals aged 18 years and older; 30 556 patients (60.1%) were female, 27 869 patients (60.3%) were white, and the mean (SD) age was 51.3 (17.7) years. In total, 6058 patients (13.1%) had at least 1 narrative clinical note indicating a financial conversation with their physician. In fully adjusted regression models, the odds of having a financial note were greater among patients with Medicare (odds ratio [OR], 1.27; 95% CI, 1.15-1.41;P Conclusions and Relevance Cost considerations were more likely to be noted in annual preventive examinations than previously observed in intensive care unit admissions, but still infrequently. Associations with particular patient subgroups may indicate differential financial burden or willingness to discuss financial concerns.
Industrial exoskeletons: Need for intervention effectiveness research

Exoskeleton devices are being introduced across several industry sectors to augment, amplify, or reinforce the performance of a worker's existing body components-primarily the lower back and the upper extremity. Industrial exoskeletons may play a role in reducing work-related musculoskeletal disorders arising from lifting and handling heavy materials or from supporting heavy tools in overhead work. However, wearing an exoskeleton may pose a number of risks that are currently not well-studied. There are only a few studies about the safety and health implications of wearable exoskeletons and most of those studies involve only a small number of participants. Before the widespread implementation of industrial exoskeletons occurs, there is need for prospective interventional studies to evaluate the safety and health effectiveness of exoskeletons across various industry sectors. Developing a research strategy to fill current safety and health knowledge gaps, understanding the benefits, risks, and barriers to adoption of industrial exoskeletons, determining whether exoskeleton can be considered a type of personal protective equipment, and advancing consensus standards that address exoskeleton safety, should be major interests of both the occupational safety and health research and practice communities.
From K-O2 to K-Air Batteries: Realizing Superoxide Batteries on the Basis of Dry Ambient Air.

Although using an air cathode is the goal for superoxide-based potassium-oxygen (K-O2 ) batteries, prior studies were limited to pure oxygen. Now, the first K-air (dry) battery based on reversible superoxide electrochemistry is presented. Spectroscopic and gas chromatography analyses are applied to evaluate the reactivity of KO2 in ambient air. Although KO2 reacts with water vapor and CO2 to form KHCO3 , it is highly stable in dry air. With this knowledge, rechargeable K-air (dry) batteries were successfully demonstrated by employing dry air cathode. The reduced partial pressure of oxygen plays a critical role in boosting battery lifespan. With a more stable environment for the K anode, a K-air (dry) battery delivers over 100 cycles (>500 h) with low round-trip overpotentials and high coulombic efficiencies as opposed to traditional K-O2 battery that fails early. This work sheds light on the benefits and restrictions of employing the air cathode in superoxide-based batteries.
The application of the multi-slice CT based OMENS classification in diagnosing pediatric hemifacial microsomia

Objective To assess the value of the multi-slice CT based OMENS classification in diagnosing pediatric hemifacial microsomia. Methods Eleven patients including 9 boys and 2 girls with suspicion of hemifacial microsomia underwent MSCT. Multi-planar reformation (MPR), maximum intensity projection (MIP) and volume-rendered image (VR) reconstruction were performed at the workstation. The malformations of the facial structures were analyzed respectively with the OMENS classification system.Results On CT reconstruction images, hemifacial microsomia in all 11 patients was demonstrated clearly.Nine patients were found to have unilateral lesion, including 6 on the left side and 3 on the right side. Two patients presented bilateral involvement with various severity degree. The OMENS classification system can be perfectly used to analyze the deformities. Respectively, the orbit and zygomatic arch deformity involved 8 sides in 8 cases, the mandible deformity involved 10 sides in 9 cases, the auricular deformity involved 13 sides in 11 cases, and the soft tissue deformity involved 12 sides in 11 cases. Conclusion MSCT based OMENS classification system can make accurate and comprehensive evaluation of the morphological changes in hemifacial microsomia, which provide strong imaging evidence to clinical evaluation. Key words: Facial asymmetry; Tomography, X-ray computed; Child
Food security moderates relationship between perceived food environment and diet quality among adults in communities with low access to healthy food retail.

Objective: To examine the relationship between food security status, diet quality measured using Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI-2010) scores, demographics and the following factors: perceptions of healthy food availability, healthy eating identity and perceived control of healthy eating. Design: A cross-sectional study in 2016–2017 using three 24-h dietary recalls and one psychosocial survey. Setting: Two urban communities in Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio, USA, with low access to healthy food retailers. Participants: Primary food shoppers living in the targeted geographic areas (N 450). Results: Our results indicated that high school graduates had lower HEI-2010 scores compared with participants who had some college education or more (β = –2·77, P = 0·02). Participants receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits had lower HEI-2010 scores (β = –2·69, P = 0·03). Healthy eating identity was associated with higher HEI-2010 scores (β = 1·85, P = 0·004). Food security status moderated the relationship between perception of healthy food availability and HEI-2010 scores. Among participants with very low food security (VLFS), greater perceptions of healthy food availability were associated with higher HEI-2010 scores (β = 3·25, P = 0·03), compared with food secure participants. Only 14 % of VLFS participants used a personal vehicle as transportation to their primary food shopping store. Conclusions: Findings offer targets for future intervention development and evaluation to promote community nutrition. These targets include strategies to improve the value of SNAP benefits, promote access to quality education, increase transportation options to healthy food retailers and develop nutrition programming to promote healthy eating identity.
Meeting the daily needs of adults with IDD: The importance of informal supports

Abstract Like all people, adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) use a variety of supports to meet their daily needs. Due to diminished funding for government services, most adults with IDD are left with unmet needs and, thus, turn to informal supports to meet these needs. Informal supports refer to unpaid care provided by people within the individual's social network. Throughout this chapter, we review the literature, discussing the various types of informal support and the people who provide such support. Person-centered planning is highlighted as a way to promote self-determination, grow social networks, and secure individualized supports. Finally, we present current informal support initiatives for individuals with IDD and their families. Along the way, we underline the significance of informal supports in meeting the daily needs of this population, the role of the family in providing and coordinating such supports, the need to increase the size of social networks for adults with IDD, and the strengths-based lens that must be taken to provide individualized supports. We conclude by providing recommendations to increase and sustain informal supports.
A reenvisioned agricultural system in Thailand: The growth in human capital experienced by agriculturalists after adoption of the sufficiency economic philosophy

Investments in human capital have been shown to positively influence the development of the agricultural industry in regions across the globe. After the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997, therefore, Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej (The King) adopted the Sufficiency Economic Philosophy (SEP) that empowered the country through critical investments in human capital, which led to a transformation of its agricultural system. In this case study, we examined Thai agricultural leaders’ reflections on the role of SEP in catalyzing such changes. Findings from this investigation emerged in the form of two investments that Thailand made in human capital through the SEP: (1) education, and (2) the establishment of the Royal Projects. Three outcomes also emerged that represent how growth was experienced in the nation’s agricultural system as a result of such investments: (1) individual development, (2) economic development, and (3) societal development. As a result, this investigation’s findings could help extension professionals diffuse agricultural innovations in ways that align better with the unique values of Thailand while also helping to improve the production of agricultural commodities.
Staging Based Task Execution for Data-driven, In-Situ Scientific Workflows

As scientific workflows increasingly use extreme-scale resources, the imbalance between higher computational capabilities, generated data volumes, and available I/O bandwidth is limiting the ability to translate these scales into insights. Insitu workflows (and the in-situ approach) are leveraging storage levels close to the computation in novel ways in order to reduce the required I/O. However, to be effective, it is important that the mapping and execution of such in-situ workflows adopts a data-driven approach, enabling in-situ tasks to be executed flexibly based upon data content. This paper first explores the design space for data-driven in-situ workflows. Specifically, it presents a model that captures different factors that influence the mapping, execution, and performance of data-driven in-situ workflows and experimentally studies the impact of different mapping decisions and execution patterns. The paper then presents the design, implementation, and experimental evaluation of a data-driven in-situ workflow execution framework that leverages in-memory distributed data management and user-defined task-triggers to enable efficient and scalable in-situ workflow execution.
Tight-binding study of beryllium

Abstract We have applied the Naval Research Laboratory Tight-binding (NRL-TB) Method to the hcp alkaline-earth metal Beryllium. This approach consists of fitting to energy band and total energy data generated by the Linearized Augmented Plane Wave (LAPW) for the fcc, bcc, sc, and hcp structures as a function of volume. First, we found that using the Generalized Gradient Approximation (GGA) for the input data secures a better agreement to experimental volumes than the LDA. Second, we found that including small volumes to the fit is needed to get TB parameters that are transferable enough to successfully predict the energies of structures that were not fitted, and to perform molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The non-orthogonal Hamiltonian obtained, is successful in correctly predicting the hcp lattice as the ground state of Be and finding eight other structures, that were not fitted to LAPW, positioned at higher energies. In addition, the NRL-TB produces accurate energy bands, densities of states, elastic constants, the Bain path and several quantities derived from MD simulations.
Supply Chain Resilience in a Pandemic: The Need for Revised Contingency Planning

Organizations have worked over the years to develop efficiencies to their supply chains, which includes efforts to reduce waste, lower costs, consolidate suppliers and distributors, better manage costs of goods sold and inventory, develop efficiencies in packaging, storage, and shipping of product, as well as utilizing digital analytics to manage consumer choices and demands. These are all by-products of world-class manufacturing which have promoted systematic organizational and supply chain efficiencies. However, under economic shocks that are sustained over longer periods of time (e.g., Covid-19 Pandemic) and that affect supply chains from a variety of disruptions, a supply chain that is not prepared or adaptable may be broken or at a minimum weigh down the organization. Therefore, the ability to manage and control risk is a key aspect of effective supply chain management. However, the literature on pandemic risk mitigation is nascent. Thus, this paper offers a review of the extant literature, provides a strategic mitigation model covering five dimensions: leadership, preparedness, digitalization, resilience, and pivoting. These dimensions are designed to help organizations in the future to be more adaptive to events such as global pandemics and other large-scale disruptions and discuss implications for future research.
Topological supersymmetry breaking: The definition and stochastic generalization of chaos and the limit of applicability of statistics

The concept of deterministic dynamical chaos has a long history and is well established by now. Nevertheless, its field theoretic essence and its stochastic generalization have been revealed only very recently. Within the newly found supersymmetric theory of stochastics (STS), all stochastic differential equations (SDEs) possess topological or de Rahm supersymmetry and stochastic chaos is the phenomenon of its spontaneous breakdown. Even though the STS is free of approximations and thus is technically solid, it is still missing a firm interpretational basis in order to be physically sound. Here, we make a few important steps toward the construction of the interpretational foundation for the STS. In particular, we discuss that one way to understand why the ground states of chaotic SDEs are conditional (not total) probability distributions, is that some of the variables have infinite memory of initial conditions and thus are not “thermalized”, i.e., cannot be described by the initial-conditions-independent ...
Solenoid architecture of HUWE1 contributes to ligase activity and substrate recognition.

Summary HECT ubiquitin ligases play essential roles in metazoan development and physiology. The HECT ligase HUWE1 is central to the cellular stress response by mediating degradation of key death or survival factors, including Mcl1, p53, DDIT4, and Myc. Although mutations in HUWE1 and related HECT ligases are widely implicated in human disease, our molecular understanding remains limited. Here we present a comprehensive investigation of full-length HUWE1, deepening our understanding of this class of enzymes. The N-terminal ∼3,900 amino acids of HUWE1 are indispensable for proper ligase function, and our cryo-EM structures of HUWE1 offer a complete molecular picture of this large HECT ubiquitin ligase. HUWE1 forms an alpha solenoid-shaped assembly with a central pore decorated with protein interaction modules. Structures of HUWE1 variants linked to neurodevelopmental disorders as well as of HUWE1 bound to a model substrate link the functions of this essential enzyme to its three-dimensional organization.
Children’s Behavioral Challenges in Head Start Classrooms: Links to Teacher Well-Being and Intent to Leave

Using the nationally representative Head Start Family and Child Experiences Survey 2014 (FACES 2014), this study examined the associations of Head Start children’s behavioral challenges with teachers’ well-being (i.e., depressive symptoms, job commitment) and intent to leave, controlling for teacher characteristics. We sought to explore the direct and indirect associations of Head Start children’s behavioral challenges with teachers’ intent to leave, potentially mediated by teacher well-being. The results indicate that children’s behavioral challenges were not directly associated with Head Start teachers’ intent to leave. However, these behavioral challenges were indirectly associated with teachers’ intent to leave through their link to teachers’ depressive symptoms and commitment. This study provides insight for policy and practice as the field aims to build a healthy and sustainable workforce committed to a high-quality early care and education experience critical to children’s development.
A robust distributed system incremental cost estimation algorithm for smart grid economic dispatch with communications information losses

With an increasing number of controllable distributed energy resources deployed and integrated into the power system, how to economically manage these distributed resources will become a challenge for the future smart grid. To solve the issue, consensus based distributed economic dispatch algorithms have been introduced in the literature as computationally scalable approaches. However, in real-world applications with imperfect communications networks, the performance of consensus-based economic dispatch algorithms degrades when information losses occur. In this paper, a robust distributed system incremental cost estimation (RICE) algorithm is introduced to solve the Economic Dispatch Problem (EDP) in a smart grid environment in a distributed way considering communications information losses. Unlike the existing consensus-based algorithms to solve EDP, RICE algorithm has two updating layers running in parallel in each distributed controller: one layer uses the gossip updating rule to estimate the system's average power mismatch, while the other layer uses the consensus updating rule to update the system Incremental Cost (IC) estimation. In this approach, the vulnerability of consensus-based algorithms to communications information losses is eliminated. The convergence and optimality of the algorithm are guaranteed as long as the undirected communications topology among local controllers is connected. Several case studies are presented to illustrate the performance of the proposed algorithm, and show the robustness under different information loss scenarios with different communications topologies. Display Omitted The classic Economic Dispatch Problem is solved in a distributed manner.The proposed RICE algorithm is robust to communication information losses.The proposed RICE algorithm is highly scalable.Rigorous analysis is provided to prove the convergency and optimality.
An eigenvalue problem

Consider the eigenvalue problem $${r^2}R'' + rR' + \lambda \cdot \frac{{{{\left( {{r^4} + 1} \right)}^2}}}{{{r^2}}} \cdot R = \left( {{n^2} - 32} \right)R,$$ where R = R(r), r ∈ [0, r o], r 0 a fixed real number and n = 1, 2, 3,..., with boundary condition R(r 0) = 0 and R ∈ C p 2 [0, r 0] where C p 2 stands for piecewise C 2 functions. Compute an upper bound of the sum of the dimensions of the eigenspaces corresponding to the negative eigenvalues of this eigenvalue problem as a function of r 0.
Adenovirus E1A 13S gene product upregulates tumor necrosis factor gene

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a potential mediator of adenovirus-mediated lung inflammation. I postulated that early genes of adenovirus transactivate the TNF gene as a possible mechanism. To examine this hypothesis, I transfected T-lymphocyte-like Jurkat cells and monocyte/macrophage-like THP-1 cells with plasmids coding for adenovirus E1A 12S or 13S proteins along with a plasmid containing the TNF promoter linked to chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT). In unstimulated Jurkat cells, E1A 13S increased TNF CAT activity 21-fold over cells transfected with control E1A plasmid, whereas 12S had a minimal effect. In unstimulated THP-1 cells, 13S increased TNF CAT activity by almost twofold over cells transfected with the control E1A plasmid; 12S had no effect. The effect of 13S was present in both cell lines when stimulated [Jurkat cells by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate; THP-1 cells, by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)]. E1A 13S also increased endogenous TNF mRNA production in LPS-stimulated THP-1 cells. These studies show adenovirus E1A 13S stimulates the TNF gene in inflammatory cell lines.
Returns to Single-Family Owner-Occupied Housing

This study examines the rate of return and risk on single-family, owner-occupied housing nationally and at the MSA level. The homeowner using no leverage, and a 28% tax rate, earned an 11.81% annual return, 5.85% from implicit rental savings and 5.63% from price appreciation from 1978:1 to 2001:4. The use of leverage increased rates of returns as well as risk, and longer holding periods offered higher returns and lower risk. With an 80% loan-to-value ratio, homeownership returns were between Treasury bonds and stocks, although with more risk than either. Among the 42 MSAs, return and risk varied as much as threefold.
Membrane-derived microvesicles from embryonic stem cells as a new tool to improve ex vivo expansion and maintenance of hematopoietic stem cells

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 45, 2004 2792 Membrane-derived vesicles (MV) are released from the surface of activated eukaryocytic cells and, as we demonstrated recently, MV derived from platelets are physiological components of the hematopoietic environment, exerting pleiotropic effects on surrounding cells ( Blood 2001, 98, 3143; Exp. Hematol 2002, 30, 450) . Since the development of embryoid bodies is regulated by close cell-to-cell interactions among embryonic stem cells (ES) (by membrane-expressed molecules), we hypothesized that MV derived from ES (ES-MV) could express stem cell-specific molecules that affect self-renewal and expansion of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC). We found that ES-MV (10 μg/ml) isolated from murine ES cells (ES-D3) in serum-free cultures significantly i) enhanced survival and improved expansion of murine Sca-1+ early HSC and, when cultured for 7 days, survived significantly better and formed more CFU-Mix, CFU-GM, BFU-E and CFU-GM colonies than control cells (p<0.0001). Further, at the molecular level, ES-MV strongly stimulated in murine Sca-1+ and human CD34+ cells phosphorylation of MAPK p42/44 and serine-threonine kinase AKT and upregulated expression of mRNA for early embryonic/hematopoietic transcription factors such as Oct-4, HoxB4 and GATA-2. Moreover, Western-blot analysis revealed that ES-MV express the Wnt protein suggesting that Wnt signaling plays an essential role in cell expansion. Encouraged by these observations we employed ES-MV as a new tool to expand umbilical cord blood (UCB)-derived HSC responsible for long-term engraftment in vivo . In these experiments UCB CD34+ cells were cultured in a serum-free medium, QBSF-60, containing ES-MV (10 μg/ml) or a combination of optimal doses of SCF, FLT-3, TPO, IL-3, IL-6, IL-11, G-CSF and EPO. We found that ES-MV were as effective in expanding CD34+ CD38- DR- cells as the optimal combination which was of SCF + FLT-3 + TPO + IL-6. Since ES-MV allowed efficient expansion of HSC we postulate that they could find clinical application for expansion of HSC from UCB. Studies to identify which biologically active protein/lipid components of ES-MV and which stem cell-expressed and perhaps unique regulatory molecules/ligands are expressed by ES-MV in addition to Wnt are in progress.
Low-Level Ideal Signatures and General Integrity Idealization

Recently we showed how to justify a Dolev-Yao type model of cryptography as used in virtually all automated protocol provers under active attacks and in arbitrary protocol environments. The justification was done by defining an ideal system handling Dolev-Yao-style terms and a cryptographic realization with the same user interface, and by showing that the realization is as secure as the ideal system in the sense of reactive simulatability. This holds the standard model of cryptography and under standard assumptions of adaptively secure primitives. While treating a term algebra is the point of that paper, a natural question is whether the proof could be more modular, e.g., by using a low-level idealization of signature schemes similar to the treatment of encryption. We present a low-level ideal signature system that we tried to use as a lower layer in prior versions of the library proof. It may be of independent interest for cryptography because idealizing signature schemes has proved surprisingly error-prone. However, we also explain why using it makes the overall proof of the justification of the Dolev-Yao type model more complicated instead of simpler.
Performance optimization of a class of discrete event dynamic systems using calculus of variations techniques

We explore an approach involving the use of calculus of variations techniques for discrete event dynamic system (DEDS) performance optimization problems. The approach is motivated by the observation that such problems can be described by separable cost functions and recursive dynamics of the same form as that used to describe conventional discrete-time continuous-variable optimal control problems. Three important difficulties are that DEDS are generally stochastic, their dynamics typically involve max and min operations, which are not everywhere differentiable, and the state variables are often discrete. We demonstrate how to overcome these difficulties by applying the approach to a transportation problem, modeled as a polling system, where we are able to derive an explicit and intuitive analytic expression for an optimal control policy.
University Data Policies and Library Data Services: Who Owns Your Data?

EDITOR'S SUMMARY A review of research data and library data services presented on the websites of 206 top research universities as of July 2014 provided insights into policies and practices. Limited to publicly accessible information, the review indicated about half of the surveyed libraries offer some type of data services beyond a resource guide, about four in 10 had a librarian fully or partly dedicated to data management support and about one in 10 had a dedicated data repository. Institutions are likely to have a specific data policy if they are more involved in research and have higher research spending, have larger faculties and offer data services or a data librarian. Significant concern about data ownership and other legal issues is apparent. There is need for broad further development of policies, best practices and education about library data services, with librarians as the appropriate leaders.
Studies on the mechanism of action of proliferation inhibitory factor (PIF).

Abstract Preliminary studies on the mechanism of action of the proliferation inhibitory factor (PIF) are described. The proliferation inhibitory factor does not appear to alter the culture medium or to interfere with the growth-enhancing effect of serum. Inhibition of cellular proliferation is not absolute and can readily be reversed if the PIF is removed. There is a rapid attainment of the normal doubling time with a lag period of about 24 hr or less. A synchronized population of cells was utilized to show that all treated cells go through one cell division before the inhibitory effect is seen. Experiments designed to examine the effect of PIF at different times in the cell cycle demonstrated that the inhibitor was most effective when present during mitosis, and that treating cells during G1 had negligible effect.