cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
UNAVOIDABLE PARALLEL MINORS OF REGULAR MATROIDS

To the memory of Tom Brylawski, who contributed so much to matroid theory. Abstract. We prove that, for each positive integer k, every sufficiently large 3-connected regular matroid has a parallel minor isomorphic to M � (K3,k), M(Wk), M(Kk), the cycle matroid of the graph obtained from K2,k by adding paths through the vertices of each vertex class, or the cycle matroid of the graph obtained from K3,k by adding a complete graph on the vertex class with three vertices. For 3-connected graphs, the collections of unavoidable parallel and unavoidable series minors were determined by Chun, Ding, Oporowski, and Vertigan (3) and by Oporowski, Oxley, and Thomas (8). In this paper, we combine these results with Seymour's decomposition theorem for regular matroids (12) to determine the collection of unavoidable parallel minors for the class of 3-connected regular ma- troids. In particular, we prove that the last collection is precisely the union of the collections of unavoidable parallel minors for the classes of 3-connected graphic and 3-connected cographic matroids. The collections of unavoidable minors for binary 3-connected matroids and for all 3-connected matroids were determined in (6, 7). From the first of these, one can determine the collection of unavoidable minors for regular 3-connected matroids, although this result had been obtained earlier by Ding and Oporowski (5). We would like to extend our main theorem to find the unavoidable parallel minors for the class of binary 3-connected matroids, but this will require some new ideas. Our terminology for matroids and graphs generally follows (9) and (4). If M and N are both matroids or are both graphs, N is a parallel minor of M if N can be obtained from M by a sequence of moves each consisting of contracting an element (in the graph case, an edge) or deleting an element that is in a 2-element circuit. When M and N are both matroids, N is a series minor of M if N ∗ is a parallel minor of M ∗ . If G and H are graphs and H is a parallel minor of G, then M(H) is a parallel minor of M(G). Conversely, when G and H are loopless 3-connected graphs, if M(H) is a parallel minor of M(G), then H is a parallel minor of G. Let M be a matroid with ground set E and rank function r. The simplification of M will be denoted by si(M). The connectivity functionM of M is defined for all subsets X of E byM(X) = r(X) + r(E − X) − r(M). Equivalently, �M(X) = r(X) + r ∗ (X) − |X|. ThusM(X) = �M ∗(X). For a positive integer m, whenM(X) < m, a partition (X,Y ) of E is an m-separation if min{|X|, |Y |} ≥ m and is a vertical m-separation if min{r(X),r(Y )} ≥ m. A matroid is n-connected
Monitoring for geomagnetic induced current flow effects using existing EMS telemetering

During the solar magnetic disturbance (SMD) of March 13, 1989, which resulted in large-magnitude geomagnetic induced currents (GIC) in North America, it is believed that two phases of one of the generator step-up transformers at the Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) Salem Generating Station were damaged. Subsequent to this event, a new application program was written on PSE&G's control center energy management system (EMS) to monitor the transformers at Salem and other locations in its bulk power system for the effect of GIC flows. This monitor has successfully and accurately detected subsequent SMD-caused GIC effects in the transformers in both the Salem and Hope Creek generating stations. In turn, these measurements are used to alert the control center and generating station personnel to the hazard so that corrective action may be initiated. >
The North American Monsoon

The North American monsoon is an important feature of the atmospheric circulation over the continent, with a research literature that dates back almost 100 years. The authors review the wide range of past and current research dealing with the meteorological and climatological aspects of the North American monsoon, highlighting historical development and major research themes. The domain of the North American monsoon is large, extending over much of the western United States from its region of greatest influence in northwestern Mexico. Regarding the debate over moisture source regions and water vapor advection into southwestern North America, there is general agreement that the bulk of monsoon moisture is advected at low levels from the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of California, while the Gulf of Mexico may contribute some upper-level moisture (although mixing occurs over the Sierra Madre Occidental). Surges of low-level moisture from the Gulf of California are a significant part of intrase...
Acute sports-related traumatic brain injury and repetitive concussion

Concussions are described as functional, not structural injuries, and therefore cannot be easily detected through standard diagnostic imaging. The vast differences between individual athletes makes identifying and evaluating sport-related concussion one of the most complex and perplexing injuries faced by medical personnel. The literature, as well as most consensus statements, supports the use of a multifaceted approach to concussion evaluation on the sideline of the athletic field. Using a standardized clinical examination that is supported by objective measures of concussion-related symptoms, cognitive function, and balance provides clinicians with the ability to track recovery in an objective manner. When used in combination, these tests allow for more informed diagnosis and treatment plan, which should involve a graduated return to play progression. Establishing a comprehensive emergency action plan that can guide the on-field management of a more serious and potentially catastrophic brain injury is also essential. This review will address these management issues, as well as the recent concerns about the risk of long-term neurologic conditions believed to be associated with repetitive concussion.
Hannah Arendt Without Politics

Margarethe von Trotta’s Hannah Arendt (2012) does not represent well the life and work of its protagonist. The focus on thinking in the film fails to reflect how Arendt connected it to judging, especially in the midst of modern mass society and in light of political catastrophes. Arendt’s reflections on statelessness are not explored in the film. Finally, the elimination of Karl Jaspers from the storyline results in an incomplete picture of Arendt’s stance toward the jurisdiction of the Jerusalem court. A politically relevant Arendt is obscured in the making of a personal Arendt.
DETERMINATION OF INTERNAL FRICTION OF POLYMER SOLIDS WITH THE PULSE PROPAGATION TECHNIQUE

The pulse propagation technique has been useful to determine the dynamic Young's modulus of a wide range of materials. However, the applicability of the sonic technique to internal friction measurements on solids has not been exploited fully. In this report the theoretical and experimental studies on determination of internal friction of solids with the pulse propagation method are described. New instrumentation and a procedure for internal friction measurements are discussed.The internal frictions are determined for the experimental polymer solids. Polyimid (PI), polyetherimide (Ultem), polyethersulfone (PES) and polyphenylene oxide show lower internal friction which indicates that polymers have stiff chain molecules in the structure and show high glass transition temperatures.This method will be useful for non-destructive measurement of internal friction and opening new areas of application.
Analysis of molecular dynamics based chemistry models for DSMC simulation of the atmosphere of Io

A signi cant process in the formation of the unique atmosphere of Io, a Jovian moon, is collision-induced dissociation of sulfur dioxide. The rare ed nature of the Ionian atmosphere makes its simulation by the Direct Simulation Monte Carlo method (DSMC) the method of choice. However, there is a lack of reliable data on collisions, particularly reaction and collision cross sections needed for DSMC, of Ionian species at the conditions seen in its atmosphere. As such, collisions between SO2 and O are studied through two separate methods: Molecular Dynamics/Quasi-Classical Trajectories (MD/QCT) and ReaxFF, a molecular dynamics method utitlizing a force eld for reactive systems. Five possible reaction paths are considered: atomization of the SO2 molecule, dissociation to SO, dissociation to O2, and the formation of SO3, and an exchange reaction leading to SO and O2. Relative velocities and initial SO2 internal energies relevant to Io’s atmospheric conditions are used. The results from each chemistry model are analyzed and compared to each other, in particular the reaction cross sections and equivalent variable hard sphere cross sections. In general, higher collision energies are found to cause atomization of the SO2. In addition, dissociation to SO is a signi cant process for many of the studied cases, but dissociation to O2 is mostly a negligible process. Finally, formation of SO3 occurs only at low impact velocities. The chemistry and collision models developed from the MD/QCT and ReaxFF methods are then implemented in DSMC 0-D, time-dependant and 2-D axisymmetric simulations under conditions relevent to the Ionian atmosphere. The results of these analyses are examined, and compared to results obtained using the baseline Total Collisional Energy (TCE) model and the previous results of Deng et al. It is found that the new MD/QCT and ReaxFF based models predict less SO2 dissociation than previous models, and that simulated Ionian atmospheric structure is sensitive to the total cross section model.
Generation of single-cycle THz pulses with μJ energy by tilted pulse front excitation

Generation of single-cycle THz pulses on the μJ energy range is demonstrated with optical rectification using tilted intensity front of the excitation laser pulse. Further scaling-up on the 10 μJ levels is in progress.
Equivalent Activities of Repulsive Axon Guidance Receptors.

Receptors on the growth cone at the leading edge of elongating axons play critical guidance roles by recognizing cues via their extracellular domains and transducing signals via their intracellular domains, resulting in changes in direction of growth. An important concept to have emerged in the axon guidance field is the importance of repulsion as a major guidance mechanism. Given the number and variety of different repulsive receptors, it is generally thought that there are likely to be qualitative differences in the signals they transduce. However, the nature of these possible differences is unknown. By creating chimeras using the extracellular and intracellular domains of three different Drosophila repulsive receptors, Unc5, Roundabout (Robo), and Derailed (Drl) and expressing them in defined cells within the embryonic nervous system, we examined the responses elicited by their intracellular domains systematically. Surprisingly, we found no qualitative differences in growth cone response or axon growth, suggesting that, despite their highly diverged sequences, each intracellular domain elicits repulsion via a common pathway. In terms of the signaling pathway(s) used by the repulsive receptors, mutations in the guanine nucleotide exchange factor Trio strongly enhance the repulsive activity of all three intracellular domains, suggesting that repulsion by Unc5, Robo, and Drl, and perhaps repulsion in general, involves Trio activity. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT A prevailing concept that has emerged in the axon guidance field is the importance of repulsion as a guidance mechanism for steering axons to their appropriate targets. Given the number and variety of different repulsive receptors, it is generally thought that there are differences in the signals that they transduce. However, this has never been tested directly. We have used the advanced genetics of Drosophila to compare directly the outputs of different repulsive receptors. Surprisingly, we found no qualitative differences in receptor-mediated repulsion, suggesting that, despite their highly diverged domain structure, each receptor couples to a common repulsive pathway. We went on to show that this common pathway involves Trio, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor known to promote cytoskeletal remodeling.
Vibrations transmitted from human hands to upper arm, shoulder, back, neck, and head.

Abstract Some powered hand tools can generate significant vibration at frequencies below 25 Hz. It is not clear whether such vibration can be effectively transmitted to the upper arm, shoulder, neck, and head and cause adverse effects in these substructures. The objective of this study is to investigate the vibration transmission from the human hands to these substructures. Eight human subjects participated in the experiment, which was conducted on a 1-D vibration test system. Unlike many vibration transmission studies, both the right and left hand-arm systems were simultaneously exposed to the vibration to simulate a working posture in the experiment. A laser vibrometer and three accelerometers were used to measure the vibration transmitted to the substructures. The apparent mass at the palm of each hand was also measured to help in understanding the transmitted vibration and biodynamic response. This study found that the upper arm resonance frequency was 7–12 Hz, the shoulder resonance was 7–9 Hz, and the back and neck resonances were 6–7 Hz. The responses were affected by the hand-arm posture, applied hand force, and vibration magnitude. The transmissibility measured on the upper arm had a trend similar to that of the apparent mass measured at the palm in their major resonant frequency ranges. The implications of the results are discussed. Relevance to industry Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) of the shoulder and neck are important issues among many workers. Many of these workers use heavy-duty powered hand tools. The combined mechanical loads and vibration exposures are among the major factors contributing to the development of MSDs. The vibration characteristics of the body segments examined in this study can be used to help understand MSDs and to help develop more effective intervention methods.
Seeing the Light: End-of-Life Experiences—Visions, Energy Surges, and Other Death Bed Phenomena

Spiritual care is an integral part of multidimensional palliative care and a major domain of care identified in definitions and guidelines. Death bed phenomena include visions, dreams, hallucinations, and premortem energy surges, which can be deeply spiritual experiences. Death bed occurrences are often a source of consolation. However, they have been underrecognized. The last hours of life are sacred; as holistic, multidimensional practitioners, nurses should remain open to experiences not easily explained within a traditional medical model. As the most consistent caregivers, nurses assess, recognize, and validate such experiences to assist patients in finding meaning, comfort, and a peaceful end-of-life.
Women's Contraceptive Preference-Use Mismatch.

Abstract Background: Family planning research has not adequately addressed women's preferences for different contraceptive methods and whether women's contraceptive experiences match their preferences. Methods: Data were drawn from the Women's Healthcare Experiences and Preferences Study, an Internet survey of 1,078 women aged 18–55 randomly sampled from a national probability panel. Survey items assessed women's preferences for contraceptive methods, match between methods preferred and used, and perceived reasons for mismatch. We estimated predictors of contraceptive preference with multinomial logistic regression models. Results: Among women at risk for pregnancy who responded with their preferred method (n = 363), hormonal methods (non-LARC [long-acting reversible contraception]) were the most preferred method (34%), followed by no method (23%) and LARC (18%). Sociodemographic differences in contraception method preferences were noted (p-values <0.05), generally with minority, married, and older women ...
Energy Options and Scenarios for Transitioning to a Lower Carbon Economy: An Indian Perspective

Many lower carbon ways of producing energy and hydrocarbons are being developed around the world. While the contribution from solar and wind energy is rapidly increasing, biomass routes are another promising option to capture the Sun’s energy. This article describes some bio-based technologies for the production of fuels and chemicals that may be attractive for agrarian economies like India. These technologies utilize surplus agri-residue, oils derived from plants such as jatropha and pongamia, and algae. In addition to environmental benefits, these options can provide energy and hydrocarbon raw material security, lower forex outgo, while creating employment and income opportunities for the rural population.
Chondroitin Sulfate Glycosaminoglycan Matrices Promote Neural Stem Cell Maintenance and Neuroprotection Post-Traumatic Brain Injury.

There are currently no effective treatments for moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). The paracrine functions of undifferentiated neural stem cells (NSCs) are believed to play a significant role in stimulating the repair and regeneration of injured brain tissue. We therefore hypothesized that fibroblast growth factor (FGF2) enriching chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycan (CS-GAG) matrices can maintain the undifferentiated state of neural stem cells (NSCs) and facilitate brain tissue repair subacutely post-TBI. Rats subjected to a controlled cortical impactor (CCI) induced TBI were intraparenchymally injected with CS-GAG matrices alone or with CS-GAG matrices containing PKH26GL labeled allogeneic NSCs. Nissl staining of brain tissue 4 weeks post-TBI demonstrated the significantly enhanced (p < 0.05) tissue protection in CS-GAG treated animals when compared to TBI only control, and NSC only treated animals. CS-GAG-NSC treated animals demonstrated significantly enhanced (p < 0.05) FGF2 retentio...
Unusual Child–Mother Communication During Separation: A Psychoanalytic Study

This paper describes two vignettes from psychoanalytic work with a mother who experienced unusual communication with her baby when they were apart. These episodes suggest there are sensory cues or an extrasensory perceptual awareness between individuals separated by physical distance. This paper attempts to describe these “thought transferences” in order to better understand communication phenomena that have not been described in the scientific literature.
Gyrase A Mutations in Campylobacter Associated with Decreased Susceptibility to Different Fluoroquinolones

Campylobacter is a leading cause of foodborne diarrheal illness worldwide, and the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant strains is a major global public health concern. The goal of this study was to compare the activity of different fluoroquinolone antibiotics against ciprofloxacin-resistant Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli. Isolates from retail meats collected between 2002 and 2009 were selected based on their in vitro susceptibility testing results against ciprofloxacin. In total, 289 C. jejuni and 165 C. coli were collected and analyzed. All ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates had a single mutation (Thr86Ile) in their gyrase A (gyrA) gene and exhibited decreased susceptibility to all eight fluoroquinolones tested. Gatifloxacin, enrofloxacin, and levofloxacin showed greater activity than the other fluoroquinolone drugs in both ciprofloxacin-sensitive and -resistant strains.
A Classification of Interface Treatments for FSI

This paper proposes a taxonomy of methods for the treatment of the fluid-structure interface in FSI coupled problems. The top-level classification is based on the presence or absence of Additional Interface Variables (AIV) as well as their type. Associated prototype methods: Direct Force Motion Transfer (DFMT), Mortar and Localized Lagrange Multipliers (LLM) are defined. These are later studied in more detail using a specific FSI benchmark problem used in Ross’ 2006 thesis. Desirable attributes of the interfacing methods are stated and commented upon.
Experiments on Frequency Dependence of the Deflection of Light in Yang-Mills Gravity

In Yang-Mills gravity based on flat space-time, the eikonal equation for a light ray is derived from the modified Maxwell’s wave equations in the geometric-optics limit. One obtains a Hamilton-Jacobi type equation, G L µv ∂ µ Ψ ∂ v Ψ = 0 with an effective Riemannian metric tensor G L µv . According to Yang-Mills gravity, light rays (and macroscopic objects) move as if they were in an effective curved space-time with a metric tensor. The deflection angle of a light ray by the sun is about 1.53″ for experiments with optical frequencies ≈ 10 14 Hz. It is roughly 12% smaller than the usual value 1.75″. However, the experimental data in the past 100 years for the deflection of light by the sun in optical frequencies have uncertainties of (10-20)% due to large systematic errors. If one does not take the geometric-optics limit, one has the equation, G L µv [ ∂ µ Ψ ∂ v Ψ cos Ψ+ ( ∂ µ ∂ v Ψ) sin Ψ] = 0, which suggests that the deflection angle could be frequency-dependent, according to Yang-Mills gravity. Nowadays, one has very accurate data in the radio frequencies ≈ 10 9 Hz with uncertainties less than 0.1%. Thus, one can test this suggestion by using frequencies ≈ 10 12 Hz, which could have a small uncertainty 0.1% due to the absence of systematic errors in the very long baseline interferometry.
Immediate operation for acute type A aortic dissection complicated by visceral or peripheral malperfusion

Abstract Objective To evaluate the effect of visceral, renal, or peripheral malperfusion on the outcome of acute type A aortic dissection. Methods We performed a retrospective review of the acute type A aortic dissection experience at Stanford Hospital between January 2005 and December 2015. Inverse probability weighting was used to account for differences between patients who experienced malperfusion syndromes and those who did not. Weighted logistic regression was used to evaluate in-hospital mortality, and midterm survival was assessed with the restricted mean survival time and weighted Cox regression. Reintervention was assessed with death as a competing risk. Results There were 305 patients with type A dissection extending beyond the ascending aorta, and 82 (26.9%) presented with a malperfusion syndrome. In-hospital mortality in the malperfusion subgroup was no different compared with patients without malperfusion in weighted logistic regression, odds ratio, 1.50 (95% confidence interval, 0.65-3.47; P = .3). There was no difference in midterm survival using restricted mean survival time, −50.2 days (95% CI, −366.8 to 266.4; P = .8) in patients with malperfusion compared with patients without malperfusion at 8 years. Patients with malperfusion had an increased risk of interventions (12.5%) on aortic branches compared with patients without (5.7%) in weighted analysis at 10-years, hazard ratio, 3.06 (95% CI, 1.24-7.56; P = .02). The median time to reintervention on aortic branches was 2 days for patients with malperfusion compared with 230 days without malperfusion, P = .01. Conclusions Immediate operation for acute type A aortic dissection complicated by malperfusion is associated with good results.
Modeling the influence of coupled mass transfer processes on mass flux downgradient of heterogeneous DNAPL source zones.

Abstract Sequestered mass in low permeability zones has been increasingly recognized as an important source of organic chemical contamination that acts to sustain downgradient plume concentrations above regulated levels. However, few modeling studies have investigated the influence of this sequestered mass and associated (coupled) mass transfer processes on plume persistence in complex dense nonaqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) source zones. This paper employs a multiphase flow and transport simulator (a modified version of the modular transport simulator MT3DMS) to explore the two- and three-dimensional evolution of source zone mass distribution and near-source plume persistence for two ensembles of highly heterogeneous DNAPL source zone realizations. Simulations reveal the strong influence of subsurface heterogeneity on the complexity of DNAPL and sequestered (immobile/sorbed) mass distribution. Small zones of entrapped DNAPL are shown to serve as a persistent source of low concentration plumes, difficult to distinguish from other (sorbed and immobile dissolved) sequestered mass sources. Results suggest that the presence of DNAPL tends to control plume longevity in the near-source area; for the examined scenarios, a substantial fraction (43.3–99.2%) of plume life was sustained by DNAPL dissolution processes. The presence of sorptive media and the extent of sorption non-ideality are shown to greatly affect predictions of near-source plume persistence following DNAPL depletion, with plume persistence varying one to two orders of magnitude with the selected sorption model. Results demonstrate the importance of sorption-controlled back diffusion from low permeability zones and reveal the importance of selecting the appropriate sorption model for accurate prediction of plume longevity. Large discrepancies for both DNAPL depletion time and plume longevity were observed between 2-D and 3-D model simulations. Differences between 2- and 3-D predictions increased in the presence of sorption, especially for the case of non-ideal sorption, demonstrating the limitations of employing 2-D predictions for field-scale modeling.
Evaluating scenarios of locations and capacities for vaccine storage in Nigeria.

Abstract Many developing countries still face the prevalence of preventable childhood diseases because their vaccine supply chain systems are inadequate by design or structure to meet the needs of their populations. Currently, Nigeria is evaluating options in the redesign of the country’s vaccine supply chain. Using Nigeria as a case study, the objective is to evaluate different regional supply chain scenarios to identify the cost minimizing optimal hub locations and storage capacities for doses of different vaccines to achieve a 100% fill rate. First, we employ a shortest-path optimization routine to determine hub locations. Second, we develop a total cost minimizing routine based on stochastic optimization to determine the optimal capacities at the hubs. This model uses vaccine supply data between 2011 and 2014 provided by Nigeria’s National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) on Tuberculosis, Polio, Yellow Fever, Tetanus Toxoid, and Hepatitis B. We find that a two-regional system with no central hub (NC2) cut costs by 23% to achieve a 100% fill rate when compared to optimizing the existing chain of six regions with a central hub (EC6). While the government’s leading redesign alternative – no central three-hub system (Gov NC3) – reduces costs by 21% compared with the current EC6, it is more expensive than our NC2 system by 3%. In terms of capacity increases, optimizing the current system requires 42% more capacity than our NC2 system. Although the proposed Gov NC3 system requires the least increase in storage capacity, it requires the most distance to achieve a 100% coverage and about 15% more than our NC2. Overall, we find that improving the current system with a central hub and all its variants, even with optimal regional hub locations, require more storage capacities and are costlier than systems without a central hub. While this analysis prescribes the no central hub with two regions (NC2) as the least cost scenario, it is imperative to note that other configurations have benefits and comparative tradeoffs. Our approach and results offer some guidance for future vaccine supply chain redesigns in countries with similar layouts to Nigeria’s.
Nanomaterial-Based Biosensors for Detection of Pesticides and Explosives

In this chapter, we describe nanomaterial-based biosensors for detecting OP pesticides and explosives. CNTs and functionalized silica nanoparticles have been chosen for this study. The biosensors were combined with the flow-injection system, providing great advantages for onsite, real-time, and continuous detection of environmental pollutants such as OPs and TNT. The sensors take advantage of the electrocatalytic properties of CNTs, which makes it feasible to achieve a sensitive electrochemical detection of the products from enzymatic reactions at low potential. This approach uses a large aspect ratio of silica nanoparticles, which can be used as a carrier for loading a large amount of electroactive species, such as poly(guanine), for amplified detection of explosives. These methods offer a new environmental monitoring tool for rapid, inexpensive, and highly sensitive detection of OPs or TNT compounds.
Electrochemical Studies of Triangular Niobium Cluster, Nb3O2(SO4)6 · 3H2O5−, in Sulfuric Acid

The electrochemical properties of Nb3O2(SO4)6 · 3H2O5− cluster anion in 9 M sulfuric acid were investigated using DC polarography, cyclic voltammetry, spectroelectrochemistry, and constant potential electrolysis. It was found that Nb3O2(SO4)6 · 3H2O5− in 9 M H2SO4 displays a reduction wave at E = −1.30 V vs. Hg/Hg2 SO4 electrode, and a large irreversible oxidation wave at Epa = −0.30 V. Cyclic voltammetry indicates that the reduction wave involves a reversible one-electron process. Controlled potential electrolysis at E = −1.4 V produces a green Nb(3.33) anion, Nb3O2(SO4)6 · 3H2O6− which is stable on the time scale of bulk electrolysis. Electrochemical reoxidation of Nb(3.33) anion Nb3O2(SO4)6 · 3H2O6− at E = −0.75 V consumes 1 mol e/ mol Nb3 cluster and regenerates the red Nb(3.66) Nb3O2(SO4)6 · 3H2O5− anion. Further oxidation at −0.2 V involves an irreversible four electron process to form Nb(V) species.
Performance Characterization of Monolithically Integrated mmW Phased Arrays

We present initial characterization of a novel, mono-lithically integrated multilayer mmW phased array architecture that can be seamlessly incorporated with large-scale fabrication of transceiver chipsets. Exhibiting an estimated radiation efficiency over 60% for the impedance bandwidth covering 35–75 GHz band, the ultra-wideband array topology offers a cost-effective realization with much improved on-chip performance. Moreover, the proposed array is an ideal candidate for conformal and mobile applications thanks to its low profile with the overall height of 500 µm and on-chip footprint of 7mm×3mm, exhibiting 5 dB realized gain.
The shell and the mechanism of its closure in the Indian pond terrapin

The author describes in detail the mechanism for the occlusion of the corselet orifices inLissemys punctata punctata. The following features described by him are new: (1) The marginals, unlike those inLissemys punctata granosa, are reduced to five. They are <-shaped, but differ amongst themselves in the relative development of the two arms. 2) The so-called ‘callosities’ on the plastron are not real callosities, but representextra-plastral plates, belonging perhaps to theepithecal layer of Versluys. (3) The lines of movement in the shell are described in detail and it is shown that there are six mobile parts. (4) The prenucho-nuchal connection is ligamental in all individuals up to 215 mm. in carapace length, but becomes sutural later on. (5) The nuchal shows a transverse groove at the anterior border of its ventral surface and two wing-like projections. The groove serves to accommodate a muscle, themusculus nucho-prenuchalis, not described before, while the lateral projections serve for the origin of a muscle inserted on the plastron. (6) The prenuchal lobe is moved by thenucho-prenuchalis muscle, not hitherto described. (7) The mechanism of the anterior plastral lobe has been studied. It is found that its closure is effected partly by cutaneous tension, but mainly by a new muscle, themusculus nucho-epiplastralis. (8) The femoral valves possess a cartilage inside and are connected to the shank by a ligament, not so far known. The closing of these valves is effected by the drawing in of this ligament during the retraction of the leg. (9) The tail is extremely short and is very feebly retractile. (10) A peculiar muscle—M. margino-infracaudalis—arises from the last pair of marginals and is inserted on the infra-caudal valve. This is responsible for the closure of the caudal orifice.
Population genomic analysis of mango (Mangifera indica) suggests a complex history of domestication

Humans have domesticated diverse species from across the plant kingdom, yet much of our foundational knowledge of domestication has come from studies investigating relatively few of the most important annual food crops. Here, we examine the impacts of domestication on genetic diversity in a tropical perennial fruit species, mango (Mangifera indica). We used restriction site associated DNA sequencing to generate genomic single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data from 106 mango cultivars from seven geographical regions along with 52 samples of closely related species and unidentified cultivars to identify centers of mango genetic diversity and examine how post-domestication dispersal shaped the geographical distribution of diversity. We identify two gene pools of cultivated mango, representing Indian and Southeast Asian germplasm. We found no significant genetic bottleneck associated with the introduction of mango into new regions of the world. By contrast, we show that mango populations in introduced regions have elevated levels of diversity. Our results suggest that mango has a more complex history of domestication than previously supposed, perhaps including multiple domestication events, hybridization and regional selection. Our work has direct implications for mango breeding and genebank management, and also builds on recent efforts to understand how woody perennial crops respond to domestication.
Correction to: Potatoes, Nutrition and Health

In the original article the author’s affiliations were incomplete and conflict of interest disclosure was missing. The author discloses that she is a paid consultant for Fleishman-Hillard, Inc, whose clients include for Potatoes USA.
Lesser curve approach to gastric peroral endoscopic myotomy: a case series

Background and Aims Gastric peroral endoscopic myotomy (GPOEM) is a promising treatment for refractory gastroparesis. Initially, endoscopists performed GPOEM along the greater curve of the stomach. We, herein, present a novel modification with a lesser curve approach that offers the advantages of shorter tunnel and possibly better myotomy. Methods Three patients with refractory gastroparesis underwent GPOEM by use of the lesser curve approach. Two of the patients had a prior GPOEM by the traditional greater curve approach. All procedures were performed with the patient under general anesthesia. The specific tools used for incision, dissection, and myotomy are described. The patients were followed up closely, and the gastroparesis cardinal symptom index (GCSI) was calculated before, and 4 weeks after, the procedure. Results The pyloric ring was exposed very well with the lesser curve approach. The mean procedure time was 48 ± 12 minutes. No immediate or late adverse events were observed. All patients had significant improvement in the GCSI 4 weeks after GPOEM, with resolution of gastroparesis symptoms. The mean follow-up time was 6 months. Conclusion The lesser curve approach to GPOEM provides an excellent exposure to the pyloric ring and can be used as a primary or a salvage technique for the treatment of refractory gastroparesis.
When to Perform a Cholecystectomy After Percutaneous Cholecystostomy Tube Placement

This chapter explores the complexities of cholecystectomy after percutaneous cholecystostomy tube for management of acute cholecystitis. Indications for and timing of PCT placement are covered, using the 2018 Tokyo Guidelines to stratify patients. Next we discuss outpatient management of cholecystostomy tubes and an algorithm for tube removal or interval cholecystectomy. We provide specific recommendations for timing of tube removal, timing of cholecystectomy, and clinical pitfalls that surgeons encounter in the management of these patients.
Kynurenine pathway, NAD+ synthesis, and mitochondrial function: Targeting tryptophan metabolism to promote longevity and healthspan

Aging is characterized by a progressive decline in the normal physiological functions of an organism, ultimately leading to mortality. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is an essential cofactor that plays a critical role in mitochondrial energy production as well as many enzymatic redox reactions. Age-associated decline in NAD+ is implicated as a driving factor in several categories of age-associated disease, including metabolic and neurodegenerative disease, as well as deficiency in the mechanisms of cellular defense against oxidative stress. The kynurenine metabolic pathway is the sole de novo NAD+ biosynthetic pathway, generating NAD+ from ingested tryptophan. Altered kynurenine pathway activity is associated with both aging and a variety of age-associated diseases. Kynurenine pathway interventions can extend lifespan in both fruit flies and nematodes, and altered NAD+ metabolism represents one potential mediating mechanism. Recent studies demonstrate that supplementation with NAD+ or NAD+-precursors increase longevity and promote healthy aging in fruit flies, nematodes, and mice. NAD+ levels and the intrinsic relationship to mitochondrial function have been widely studied in the context of aging. Mitochondrial function and dynamics have both been implicated in longevity determination in a range of organisms from yeast to humans, at least in part due to their intimate link to regulating an organism's cellular energy economy and capacity to resist oxidative stress. Recent findings support the idea that complex communication between the mitochondria and the nucleus orchestrates a series of events and stress responses involving mitophagy, mitochondrial number, mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt), and mitochondria fission and fusion events. In this review, we discuss how mitochondrial morphological changes and dynamics operate during aging, and how altered metabolism of tryptophan to NAD+ through the kynurenine pathway interacts with these processes.
An unsupervised deep learning approach for 4DCT lung deformable image registration

Traditional deformable image registration (DIR) algorithms such as optical flow and demons are iterative and slow especially for large 4D-CT datasets. In order to quickly register the 4D-CT lung images for treatment planning and target definition, the computational speed of the current DIRs needs to be improved. Deep learning-based DIR methods that enable direct transformation prediction are promising alternatives for 4D-CT DIR. In this study, we propose to integrate dilated inception module (DIM) model and self-attention gate (Self-AG) into deep learning framework for 4DCT lung DIR. To overcome the shortage of manually aligned ‘ground truth’ training datasets, the network was designed to train in an unsupervised manner. Instead of using only the fixed and moving images as input, we also included the gradient images in x, y, z directions of the fixed and moving images as input to provide the network additional information to help the transformation prediction. The DIM was able to extract multi-scale structural features for robust feature learning. Self-AG were applied at different scales throughout the encoding and decoding pathways to highlight the structure representing feature differences between moving image and fixed image. The network was trained using pairs of 3D image patches that were extracted from any two random phases of one 4D-CT images. The loss function of the proposed network contains three parts which are image similarity loss, adversarial loss and a regularization loss. The network was trained and tested on 25 patients’ 4D-CT datasets using five-fold out cross validation. The proposed method was evaluated using Mean absolute error (MAE), peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR) and normalized cross correlation (NCC) between the deformed image and the fixed image. MAE, PSNR and NCC were 19.2±6.5, 35.4±3.0 and 0.995±0.002 respectively. Target registration errors (TREs) were calculated using manually selected landmark pairs. The average TRE was 3.38 ± 2.36 mm, which was comparable to traditional DIR algorithms. To summarize, the proposed method was able to achieve comparable performance to that of the traditional DIRs while being orders of magnitude faster (less than a minute).
Patent text similarity and cross-cultural venture-backed innovation

Abstract Portfolio companies with cross-cultural venture-backing that produce patents which are textually more similar to industry peers also produce more patents and higher quality patents. 4.9 million cosine similarity measures between the patents of 958 venture-backed portfolio companies from 28 different nations provide results that are able to generalize beyond the English language with the addition of a cultural-linguistic distance measure. Latent Dirichlet allocation topic modeling applied to the patent text validates these categories, making these results robust against deviation between industries. The results provide a textual measure that venture capital firms from all nations can use to determine if the patents produced by their portfolio companies are the type that encourage greater innovation.
Cognitive Flexibility Deficits in Rats with Dorsomedial Striatal 6-OHDA Lesions Tested Using a 3-Choice Serial Reaction Time Task with Reversal Learning

Lesions of the dorsomedial striatum elicit deficits in cognitive flexibility that are an early feature of Parkinson9s disease (PD), and presumably reflect alterations in frontostriatal processing. The current study aimed to examine deficits in cognitive flexibility in rats with bilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesions in the dorsomedial striatum. While deficits in cognitive flexibility have previously been examined in rodent PD models using the cross-maze, T-maze, and a food-digging task, the current study is the first to examine such deficits using a 3-choice serial reaction time task (3-CSRT) with reversal learning (3-CSRT-R). Although the rate of acquisition in 3-CSRT was slower in lesioned compared to control rats, lesioned animals were able to acquire a level of accuracy comparable to that of control animals following 16 days of training. In contrast, substantial and persistent deficits were apparent during the reversal learning phase. Our results demonstrate that deficits in cognitive flexibility can be robustly unmasked by reversal learning in the 3-CSRT-R paradigm, which can be a useful test for evaluating effects of dorsomedial striatal deafferentation.
Adherence to Pre-exposure Prophylaxis in Black Men Who Have Sex with Men and Transgender Women in a Community Setting in Harlem, NY.

While oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has proven efficacious for HIV prevention, consistent use is necessary to achieve its intended impact. We compared effectiveness of enhanced PrEP (enPrEP) adherence support to standard of care (sPrEP) among Black MSM and TGW attending a community clinic in Harlem, NY. EnPrEP included peer navigation, in-person/online support groups, and SMS messages. Self-reported adherence over previous 30 days, collected in quarterly interviews, was defined as ≥ 57%. Crude and adjusted analyses examined factors associated with adherence. A total of 204 participants were enrolled and randomized; 35% were lost to follow-up. PrEP adherence was 30% at 12-months; no intervention effect was observed (p = 0.69). Multivariable regression analysis found that lower adherence was associated with low education and depressive symptoms. We found that an enhanced adherence intervention did not improve PrEP adherence. Findings point to the need for innovative methods to improve PrEP adherence among Black MSM and TGW. Clinical Trial Registration NCT02167386, June 19, 2014
Kappa opioid receptors mediate an initial aversive component of paclitaxel-induced neuropathy.

Cancer patients receiving the antineoplastic drug paclitaxel report higher incidences and longer duration of treatment-resistant depression than patients receiving other classes of chemotherapeutics. Rodents treated with paclitaxel exhibit a suite of changes in affect-like behaviors. Further, paclitaxel causes chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) in humans and rodents. Kappa opioid receptors (KOR) have a well-established role in depression and neuropathy. The contributions of KOR signaling to paclitaxel-induced aversive-like state and CIPN in rodents remain to be explored. We aimed to investigate whether dysregulation of the KOR/dynorphin system is associated with paclitaxel-mediated pain-like behavior and depression-like behavior. Cancer-free male C57BL/6J mice were treated with four injections of vehicle or paclitaxel (32 mg/kg cumulative). The effects of the selective KOR antagonist norbinaltorphimine (norBNI) on paclitaxel-induced sucrose preference deficits and mechanical hypersensitivity were measured. Prodynorphin mRNA and receptor-mediated G protein activation were measured at two time points following the last paclitaxel injection using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and agonist-stimulated [35S]guanosine-5′-O′-(γ-thio)-triphosphate ([35S]GTPγS) binding, respectively, in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), caudate-putamen, amygdala, and spinal cord. Paclitaxel produced a norBNI-reversible sucrose preference deficit, whereas mechanical hypersensitivity was not reversed by norBNI. Paclitaxel treatment increased the levels of mRNA for prodynorphin, a precursor for endogenous KOR agonists, in the NAc. Paclitaxel also had time-dependent effects on KOR-mediated G protein activation in the NAc. These results suggest that KOR signaling mediates an initial aversive component of paclitaxel, but not necessarily paclitaxel-induced mechanical hypersensitivity.
Operational Risk Management: A Stochastic Control Framework with Preventive and Corrective Controls

Financial services firms are subject to various types of risks. In particular, operational risk is difficult to assess and can be devastating, although it is often perceived by a firm's management ...
Static and dynamic characterization of a focused laser differential interferometer

A focused laser differential interferometer (FLDI) is experimentally characterized via static and dynamic benchtop testing. The static response is probed using a steady, laminar helium jet, and the dynamic response is investigated using an ultrasonic acoustic beam. In the case of the jet, the refractive index field is independently measured using a Mach-Zehnder interferometer operating simultaneously integrated with FLDI. The experimental data for the static response are compared with numerical simulations of the FLDI based on geometric optics and a ray-tracing algorithm, while the dynamic response is compared with an analytical transfer function derived from the same theory. Close quantitative agreement is found between experiment and theory, validating this approach to modeling FLDI performance. Emphasis is given to quantification of the spatial sensitivity of the system which is a key characteristic of FLDI, especially when applied to hypervelocity ground testing facilities where turbulent flow exists in shear or boundary layers outside the core flow.