cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Medieval Warming, Little Ice Age, and European impact on the environment during the last millennium in the lower Hudson Valley, New York, USA

Establishing natural climate variability becomes particularly important in large urban areas in anticipation of droughts. We present a welldated bi-decadal record of vegetation, climate, land use, and fire frequency from a tidal marsh in the Hudson River Estuary. The classic Medieval Warm Period is evident through striking increases in charcoal and Pinus dominance from ~800–1300 A.D., paralleling paleorecords southward along the Atlantic seaboard. Higher inputs of inorganic sediment during this interval suggest increased watershed erosion during drought conditions. The presence of the Little Ice Age ensues with increases in Picea and Tsuga, coupled with increasing organic percentages due to cooler, moister conditions. European impact is manifested by a decline in arboreal pollen due to land clearance, increased weedy plant cover (i.e., Ambrosia, Plantago, and Rumex), and an increase in inorganic particles to the watershed.
Convergence to constant states in a population genetic model with diffusion

Summary In this final section we briefly summarize the results according to the four cases described in the introduction. Case 1 (Heterozygote intermediate case). Kaa ≤ KAa ≤ KAA and Kaa Case 2 (Heterozygote superior case). Kaa ≤ KAA Case 3 (Heterozygote inferior case). KAa Case 4 (Identical carrying capacities). Kaa = KAa = KAA. There are infinitely many equilibria: p e [0, 1], N = N*, where N* is the common value of KAA, KAa and Kaa. The N-component of each regular solution converges uniformly to N* as t → ∞ (theorem 3.1). The ω-limit set set of each regular solution contains only constant equilibria (the remark after theorem 3.1). From lemma 3.2 we see that in all the cases an equilibrium is unstable if it is a local minimum point of the functionand is asymptotically stable if it is a local maximum point of .
On Quantifier Domain Restriction

In this paper, we provide a comprehensive survey of the space of possible analyses of the phenomenon of quantifier domain restriction, together with a set of considerations which militate against all but our own proposal. Among the many accounts we consider and reject are the 'explicit' approach to quantifier domain restric- tion discussed, for example, by Stephen Neale, and the pragmatic approach to quantifier domain restriction proposed by Kent Bach. Our hope is that the exhaustive discussion of this special case of context-dependence will provide guidelines for how to decide, for an arbitrary case of context-dependent discourse, whether it should be treated syn- tactically, semantically, or pragmatically.
Reaction of Sugar Alcohols with the Anthrone Reagent

SUMMARY Under appropriate conditions of acid concentration, heating time and temperature of heating, the sugar alcohols react with the anthrone reagent in a quantitative manner. Suitable conditions for reproducible quantitative results are: 0.15% anthrone in concentrated sulfuric acid and a heating time of 60 min at 99°C (in a boiling-water bath). Color measurement should be made 30 minutes after cooling the reaction tubes in an ice water bath, since the intensity of the colors increased with time. Of the various sugar alcohols tested, the order of reactivity is: Glycerol > sorbitol > mannitol > dulcitol > erythri-tol > arabitol > ribitol > xylitol. Absorption maxima occurred at 720 mμ, for mannitol, sorbitol, and dulcitol, and at 740 mμ for erythritol. Glycerol and the other sugar alcohols exhibited no sharp absorption maxima.
Structural investigations of the dipyrromethene complexes of calcium(II), nickel(II) and copper(II)

Abstract Structures of complexes formed between calcium(II), nickel(II) and copper(II) and the ligand, 3,3′,4,4′-tetrachloro-5,5′-dicarbethoxy-2,2′-dipyrromethene have been determined. The Ni(II) and Cu(II) ions are six-coordinate, with a distorted octahedral configuration consisting of the four pyrrole nitrogen atoms and two oxygen atoms of the ligand. The Ca(II) ion is eight-coordinate with a distorted dodecahedral geometry involving four pyrrole nitrogen atoms and the four carbonyl oxygen atoms of the carbethoxy groups. For each metal complex, oxygen coordination results in distortion away from the tetrahedral conformation of the ligand nitrogen donors. The Ca(II) chelate is monoclinic, space group P21/n, Z = 4, a = 11.381(2), b = 24.916(4), c = 13.410(2) A, β = 94.31(1)°, V = 3792(1) A3. The Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes are isostructural, triclinic, space group P 1 , Z = 2. For the Ni(II) chelate, a = 12.574(4), b = 14.608(3), c = 10.634(2) A, α = 96.42(2), β = 100.05(2), γ = 108.89(2)°, V = 1789.6(8) A3. For the Cu(II) chelate, a = 12.522(5), b = 14.493(6), c = 10.704(6) A, α = 96.50(5), β = 100.86(2), γ = 108.44(1)°, V = 1778.41(6) A3. The structures were solved by direct methods and refined by least-squares techniques to R = 0.043 (2531 independent reflections) for the Ca(II) chelate; R = 0.044 (3149 independent reflections) for the Ni(II) chelate; and R = 0.067 (2468 independent reflections) for the Cu(II) chelate.
Dynamic SDRAM SEFI detection and recovery test results

Single event functionality interrupt (SEFI) results are presented for Hynix SDRAMS. The SEFI response threshold is below LET 9.9 Mev-cm/sup 2//mg and the saturated cross section is 6/spl times/10/sup -5/cm/sup 2/. Dynamic SEFI identification was made, and in-situ recovery restored functionality. Verification results of the identification algorithm are presented. An observed high current radiation response is also presented.
Binary Outcomes and Endogenous Explanatory Variables: Tests and Solutions with an Application to the Demand for Contraceptive Use in Tunisia*

Many demographic studies examine discrete outcomes, and researchers often suspect that some of the explanatory variables may be influenced by the same unobserved factors that determine the discrete outcome under examination. In linear models, the standard solution to this potential endogeneity bias is an estimator such as two-stage least squares. These methods have been extended to models with limited dependent variables, but there is little information on the performance of the methods in the types of data sets typically used in demographic research. This paper helps to fill this gap. It describes a simple analytic framework for estimating the effects of explanatory variables on discrete outcomes, which controls for the potential endogeneity of explanatory variables. It also discusses tests for exogeneity and joint determination of the outcomes and the explanatory variables. It summarizes the results of a Monte Carlo study of the performance of these techniques and uses these results to suggest how researchers should approach these problems in practice. We apply these methods to the examination of the impact of fertility intentions on contraceptive use, based on data from the 1988 Tunisia Demographic and Health Survey.
Is mental retardation a defect of synapse structure and function

Mental retardation is believed to be a result of alterations in molecular pathways underlying neuronal processes involved in cognitive functions. It is not fully understood, however, which molecular pathways are critical for cognitive mechanisms. Furthermore, whether mental retardation is a developmental or ongoing disorder of cognitive functions is unknown. Answering these questions will help elucidate the etiology of mental retardation and possibly lead to new therapies. Several recently published studies suggested that mental retardation might be caused by defects in synapse structure and function. Four genes mutated in families with mental retardation encode proteins known as Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor 6, oligophrenin-1, p21-activated kinase, and guanine dissociation inhibitor 1. Each of these interacts with various guanine nucleotide-binding proteins involved in signaling pathways that regulate the actin cytoskeleton, neurite outgrowth, neurotransmitter release, and dendritic spine morphology. The goal is to understand the roles of these genes in normal cognitive functions.
Statistical Mechanics of the Melting Transition in Lattice Models of Polymers

Five two-dimensional lattice models, four with rotational isomeric and excluded volume interactions and one with cross links, are used to discuss the theory of the melting transition in polymers. The models have been chosen because they are isomorphic to exactly solvable six vertex and dimer models. The orders of the thermodynamic transitions are extremely varied from model to model, including first-order, $\frac{3}{2}$ order and infinite order transitions. These models are used to test and reveal the shortcomings of the Flory-Huggins approximate theory, which is most aptly described as an infinite dimensional theory.
IMG ER

Motivation: A rapidly increasing number of microbial genomes are sequenced by organizations worldwide and are eventually included into various public genome data resources. The quality of the annotations depends largely on the original dataset providers, with erroneous or incomplete annotations often carried over into the public resources and difficult to correct. Results: We have developed an Expert Review (ER) version of the Integrated Microbial Genomes (IMG) system, with the goal of supporting systematic and efficient revision of microbial genome annotations. IMG ER provides tools for the review and curation of annotations of both new and publicly available microbial genomes within IMG's rich integrated genome framework. New genome datasets are included into IMG ER prior to their public release either with their native annotations or with annotations generated by IMG ER's annotation pipeline. IMG ER tools allow addressing annotation problems detected with IMG's comparative analysis tools, such as genes missed by gene prediction pipelines or genes without an associated function. Over the past year, IMG ER was used for improving the annotations of about 150 microbial genomes. Contact: vmmarkowitz@lbl.gov Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Observability relations and observability don't cares

The observability relation O(x,z) or the Boolean relation provides a description of all the flexibility one has in implementing a Boolean network N. The authors represent and use this flexibility in a logic synthesis system by adding a single output node to the Boolean network N. The node function for the new node is O(x,z). The newly constructed network N' (called the observability network) has only one output and computes 1 for every input x. It is shown that the observability don't cares (ODCs) for a node y/sub i/ in N' provide the maximum flexibility for implementing y/sub i/ and subsume the flexibility obtained for y/sub i/ in N even with don't cares provided at each output. This gives rise to new methods for computing complete ODCs for N' and hence for N. >
Altered peptide ligands make their entry.

In 1991 Brian Evavold, at that time a postdoctoral fellow, and Paul Allen made a seminal report by introducing altered peptide ligands (APLs) into the field of Ag presentation and T cell activation ([1][1]). Since that time, numerous studies have attempted to explain the function of an APL. Other
Native interface of the SAM domain polymer of TEL

TEL is a transcriptional repressor containing a SAM domain that forms a helical polymer. In a number of hematologic malignancies, chromosomal translocations lead to aberrant fusions of TEL-SAM to a variety of other proteins, including many tyrosine kinases. TEL-SAM polymerization results in constitutive activation of the tyrosine kinase domains to which it becomes fused, leading to cell transformation. Thus, inhibitors of TEL-SAM self-association could abrogate transformation in these cells. In previous work, we determined the structure of a mutant TEL-SAM polymer bearing a Val to Glu substitution in center of the subunit interface. It remained unclear how much the mutation affected the architecture of the polymer, however. Here we determine the structure of the native polymer interface. To accomplish this goal, we introduced mutations that block polymer extension, producing a heterodimer with a wild-type interface. We find that the structure of the wild-type polymer interface is quite similar to the mutant structure determined previously. With the structure of the native interface, it is possible to evaluate the potential for developing therapeutic inhibitors of the interaction. We find that the interacting surfaces of the protein are relatively flat, containing no obvious pockets for the design of small molecule inhibitors. Our results confirm the architecture of the TEL-SAM polymer proposed previously based on a mutant structure. The fact that the interface contains no obvious potential binding pockets suggests that it may be difficult to find small molecule inhibitors to treat malignancies in this way.
The Safety of Valproic Acid Use for Patients With Hepatitis C Infection

OBJECTIVE: Valproic acid is frequently not recommended for patients with hepatic dysfunction. The authors evaluated the association between hepatitis C and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) values during valproic acid treatment. METHOD: ALT changes in 564 individuals beginning valproic acid treatment were examined. Changes among those with positive hepatitis C status were compared with changes among patients with positive hepatitis C status who were taking other psychotropic agents. RESULTS: ALT elevations with valproic acid were significantly greater among patients with positive hepatitis C status than those with negative or unknown status. Among patients with positive hepatitis C status, ALT increases did not differ significantly between valproic acid and other medications. CONCLUSIONS: Use of valproic acid may be possible for some patients with hepatitis C. ALT increases in seropositive patients may be partially related to chronic hepatitis infection. However, ALT levels should be closely monitored in all...
BIFURCATIONS IN DYNAMICS OF SHEPHERD SYSTEMS

A small moon orbiting near the edge of a ring of particles can act as a "shepherd", keeping errant ring particles from drifting away and keeping the ring boundary sharp. This phenomenon was predicted before it was observed [Goldreich & Tremaine, 1979] and has been successfully modeled by many authors, see [Murray & Dermott, 1999]. In this paper we focus on the bifurcations that occur in the motion of a ring particle as the mass of the moon and the distance between orbits of the moon and the particle are adjusted.
Maintenance Behaviors, Expectations for Maintenance, and Satisfaction: Linking Comparison Levels to Relational Maintenance Strategies

Two studies were conducted to assess the relationship between expectancy fulfillment for the partner's use of relational maintenance activities and one's own satisfaction with the relationship. In Study 1, 478 people in romantic relationships completed questionnaires assessing their experience of their partner's use of maintenance activities relative to their expectations for the frequency with which maintenance should be performed. As interdependence theory predicts, the more one's experience with maintenance activities exceeded expectations, the more relational satisfaction was reported. The strongest predictors of satisfaction were the extent to which the partner's use of assurances and positivity exceeded one's expectations for these activities. In Study 2, 283 people in romantic relationships provided reports of their expectations for their partner's use of maintenance activities, as well as their perceptions of the frequency with which their partners actually engaged in maintenance behaviors. Result...
Functionalization of Nanomaterials utilizing Pulse Thermal Processing

Pulse Thermal Processing (PTP) using a High Density Infrared (HDI) Plasma Arc Lamp has been investigated as an enabling manufacturing tool for processing nanomaterials and thin-films. HDI is a single source lamp that offers unique capabilities of processing broad areas with power densities approaching those of a laser. The extremely high radiant energies delivered by the plasma arc lamp provides heating rates approaching 600,000°C/s through a single pulse on a millisecond time frame, thus allowing controlled diffusion on nano-meter scale. The ability to design the functionality of nanomaterials offers tremendous potential to exploit this technology for a wide range of applications based on nanotechnology. This present article discusses application of PTP using high-density plasma arc lamp to perform; a) phase transformation in FePt nanoparticle system for magnetic media applications, and b) crystallization of amorphous Si (a-Si) for photovoltaic and thin-film transistor (TFT) applications.
Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging for myocardial perfusion and diastolic function—reference control values for women

Angina, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) are more common in women and are associated with adverse cardiovascular prognosis. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) is established for assessment of left ventricular (LV) morphology and systolic function and is increasingly used to assess myocardial perfusion and diastolic function. Indeed, stress CMRI allows measurement of myocardial perfusion reserve index (MPRI) using semi-quantitative techniques, and quantification of LV volumetric filling patterns provides valuable insight into LV diastolic function. The utility of these two techniques remains limited, because reference control values for MPRI and LV diastolic function in asymptomatic middle-aged, women have not previously been established. To address this limitation, we recruited twenty women, without clinical cardiovascular disease or cardiovascular risk factors, with normal maximal Bruce protocol exercise treadmill testing. Subjects underwent CMRI (1.5 tesla) using a standardized protocol of adenosine stress and rest perfusion and LV cinematic imaging. Commercially available with automated CMRI segmentation was used for calculation of MPRI, LV filling profiles, and ejection fraction. Mean age was 54±9 years and mean body mass index was 25±4 kg/m 3 . The exercise treadmill testing results demonstrated a normotensive group with normal functional capacity and hemodynamic response. We report reference control values for semi-quantitative MPRI as well as measures of LV systolic and diastolic function including ejection fraction, stroke volume, peak filling rate (PFR), PFR adjusted for end-diastolic volume (EDV) and stroke volume, time to PFR, and EDV index. The data herein provide reference values for MPRI and diastolic function in a cohort of healthy, middle-aged of women. These reference values may be used for comparison with a variety of patient populations, including women with CMD and HFpEF.
Initial Presentation of a Pancreatic Mass.

Question: A 55-year-old African American man with a medical history of chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic mass, alcohol abuse, hypertriglyceridemia, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and essential hypertension presented to the emergency department with severe abdominal pain radiating to his back that was associated with diaphoresis and weight loss. The initial workup demonstrated acute pancreatitis. Prior radiologic studies were reviewed to better characterize the pancreatic mass. More recent computed tomography and MRI scans demonstrated an enlarging, cystic and septated mass within the pancreatic head with marked dilatation of the patient’s pancreatic, and intrahepatic and extrahepatic biliary ducts (MRI; Figure A). Additionally, there was evidence of peripancreatic fat infiltration and multiple enlarged peripancreatic lymph nodes. Ultrasonography had also shown that the mass was displacing the patient’s duodenum.
Housing Access and Risk Management: Competing Directives in the Federal Housing Administration

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) in the United States was originally established to stabilize a crippled mortgage market in the early days of the Great Depression. Seventy-five years later the agency again serves as a backstop in the most recent downturn during the financial crisis and subsequent recession in the housing market. Since inception, providing insurance to mortgage lenders and investors against loss from default has been, and continues to be, the primary instrument in the implementation of its charge. The FHA insures lenders and investors of mortgages against the risk that the borrowers of those funds default. As an agency within the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the FHA is also indirectly charged with contributing to HUD's overriding objective of providing access to affordable housing. This policy dichotomy, coupled with the recent trough in the housing cycle, threatens the future solvency and capacity of the FHA.
From urban scar to ‘park in the sky’: terrain vague, urban design, and the remaking of New York City’s High Line Park

This paper considers New York City’s High Line Park, a linear stretch of green space situated on a discontinued railroad track in Manhattan. Unveiled in 2009, the High Line has become one of the mo...
The degree profile and weight in Apollonian networks and k-trees

We investigate the degree profile and total weight in Apollonian networks. We study the distribution of the degrees of vertices as they age in the evolutionary process. Asymptotically, the (suitably-scaled) degree of a node with a fixed label has a Mittag-Leffler-like limit distribution. The degrees of nodes of later ages have different asymptotic distributions, influenced by the time of their appearance. The very late arrivals have a degenerate distribution. The result is obtained via triangular Polya urns. Also, via the Bagchi–Pal urn, we show that the number of terminal nodes asymptotically follows a Gaussian law. We prove that the total weight of the network asymptotically follows a Gaussian law, obtained via martingale methods. Similar results carry over to the sister structure of the k-trees, with minor modification in the proof methods, done mutatis mutandis.
RHIC ELECTRON LENSES UPGRADES

In the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) 100 GeV polarized proton run in 2015, two electron lenses were used to partially compensate for the head-on beam-beam effect for the first time. Here, we describe the design of the current electron lens, detailing the hardware modifications made after the 2014 commissioning run with heavy ions. A new electron gun with 15-mm diameter cathode is characterized. The electron beam transverse profile was measured using a YAG screen and fitted with a Gaussian distribution. During operation, the overlap of the electron and proton beams was achieved using the electron backscattering detector in conjunction with an automated orbit control program.
Effect of Acute Local Renal Hypoxia on Renin Activity in Renal Venous Plasma

SummarySamples of renal venous plasma were obtained from dogs in which a lung from another dog was interposed in the renal artery. The lung was ventilated with various gas mixtures. In this way it was possible to locally alter the oxygen tension and flow rate of the perfusing blood. Reduction of oxygen tension to 6 mm Hg for 17 min was without effect on renin activity. Reduction of blood flow raised renin activity and superimposition of near anoxia failed to alter this changed activity. Therefore, these studies do not provide evidence for an acute local effect of hypoxia on renin secretion.
The Utility of Colorimetry as a Quality Control Tool for the Identification of Pharmaceutical Tablets

There is an ongoing need for new or alternate approaches to identify innovative pharmaceutical products and distinguish them from counterfeit medicines. In this study we present data that demonstrate how quantitative measurement of the color on the surface of tablets could be used to accomplish this objective. Several proof-of-concept studies were performed in which ColorQuest XE colorimeter was used to measure the tristimulus L*, a*, and b* color values from the surface of pharmaceutical tablets. These values represent the red to green scale (a*), the blue to yellow scale (b*), and the lightness extreme (L*). In a preliminary experiment, significant differences were observed in the surface color of visually identical white tablets from four different products. These differences were found to be product and not batch specific. The utility of colorimetry in identifying imitator products was then demonstrated by comparing the color signatures of the innovator Viagra® tablets to imitator Sildenafil tablets, which were procured from nine different online suppliers. While it is not a fool proof technique, data in this study demonstrates that colorimetry could be used as a simple inexpensive technique to identify innovative products and potentially alleviate the pandemic of counterfeit medicines, especially in areas around the world where counterfeiting is prevalent while sophisticated tools for their detection are not readily available.
Levamisole-Contaminated Cocaine Use in HIV-Infected and Uninfected Unstably Housed Women.

Abstract A growing number of case reports cite serious health complications linked to the cocaine adulterant, levamisole and women are disproportionately affected; however, the clinical effects are not well established. Between April and October of 2010, we conducted a cross-sectional study among 222 homeless and unstably housed women (116 human immunodeficiency virus [HIV]-infected and 106 HIV-uninfected). Immune markers and behavioral factors were compared in separate models by cocaine and levamisole exposure. Overall, 63% of participants were toxicology positive for cocaine/benzoylecgonine, 85% of whom also tested positive for levamisole. Differences in immune markers did not reach levels of significance among HIV-uninfected persons. Compared to HIV-infected persons who were negative for both cocaine and levamisole, the adjusted odds of low white blood cell count were significantly higher among HIV-infected persons positive for both (p = 0.03), but not for those positive for cocaine only. Neutrophil co...
Ischemic modulation of myocardial innervation.

This article focuses on the interplay existing between the autonomic nervous system and the myocardium, with novel observations related to arrhythmogenesis. Myocardial ischemia and infarction produce an efferent denervation involving both limbs of the autonomic nervous system. As a consequence of the sympathetic denervation, the myocardial norepinephrine content is reduced to a major extent. As a logical consequence, this is followed by the phenomenon called "denervation supersensitivity", i.e. the tissue deprived of its nerve supply responds to the neural mediator in an exaggerated fashion. This is manifested by an exaggerated shortening of the effective refractory period during infusion of norepinephrine and by increased propensity for arrhythmias. With time, denervation is followed by reinnervation. An interesting counterpart of these findings is the possibility to document in patients after myocardial infarction if denervation has occurred using the MIBG technique. Not only efferent but also afferent denervation does occur and this might be involved in painless ischemia. In another series of studies we have provided the evidence that the pericardium is not a mere inert sac but it actively acts as a functional membrane. Pericardial prostaglandins released into the pericardial fluid alter electrophysiologic properties by modulating mostly the sympathetic effects; this may serve as a physiologic negative feedback control mechanism regulating sympathetic effects on the heart contributing to prevention of ischemic arrhythmias.
Modeling the Brain

Publisher Summary This chapter introduces the major concepts of system-level modeling. It illustrates the brain models of the web (BMW), links to empirical data, and downloadable code for almost all the models. It also discusses modeling issues and parietal-promoter interactions in the control of grasping, basal ganglia, cerebellum, hippocampus, parietal cortex, and navigation. Brain theory not only includes the use of computational techniques to model biological neural networks, but also attempts to understand the brain and its functions in terms of structural and functional networks, whose units are at scales both coarser and finer than those of the neuron. A model comprises a single top-level module, composed of a number of different modules, which themselves may or may not be further decomposable. The parietal-promoter interactions in the control of grasping model show how the view of an object may be processed to yield an appropriate action for grasping it, and explain the shifting patterns of neural activity in a variety of brain regions.
The influence of gut-derived CD39 regulatory T cells in CNS demyelinating disease

There is considerable interest in trying to understand the importance of the gut microbiome in human diseases. The association between dysbiosis, an altered microbial composition, as related to human disease is being explored in the context of different autoimmune conditions, including multiple sclerosis (MS). Recent studies suggest that MS affects the composition of the gut microbiota by altering the relative abundances of specific bacteria and archaea species. Remarkably, some of the bacterial species shown reduced in the gut of MS patients are known to promote immunosuppressive regulatory T cells (Tregs). In MS, the function of a phenotype of Tregs that express CD39, an ectoenzyme involved in the catabolism of adenosine triphosphate as immunomodulatory cells, appears to be reduced. In this review, we discuss the involvement of the gut microbiota in the regulation of experimental models of central nervous system inflammatory demyelination and review the evidence that link the gut microbiome with MS. Further, we hypothesize that the gut microbiome is an essential organ for the control of tolerance in MS patients and a potential source for safer novel therapeutics.
Computational ferrying: Efficient scheduling of computation on a mobile high performance computer

Abstract Mobile devices are often expected to perform computational tasks that may be beyond their processing or battery capability. Cloud computing techniques have been proposed as a means to offload a mobile device’s computation to more powerful resources. In this paper, we consider the case where powerful computing resources are employed on a vehicle. This vehicle can be re-positioned in real time to receive computational tasks from user-carried devices. This scenario finds application in challenged environments and may be used in a military or disaster relief setting. It is further enabled by increasing feasibility of constructing a Mobile High Performance Computer (MHPC) using rugged computer hardware with form factors that can be deployed in vehicles. By analogy to prior work on message ferries and data mules, one can refer to the use of MHPCs as computational ferrying. After illustrating and motivating the computational ferrying concept, we turn our attention into the challenges facing such a deployment. These include the well-known challenges of operating an opportunistic and intermittently connected network using message ferries – such as devising an efficient mobility plan for MHPCs and developing techniques for proximity awareness. In this paper, first we propose an architecture for the system components to be deployed on the mobile users and the MHPCs. We then focus on defining and solving the MHPC movement scheduling problem with sufficient generality to describe a number of plausible deployment scenarios. We conduct a number of experiments that provide an understanding of how the performance of the system using MHPCs is affected by various parameters.
Automated ingest of digital records from electronic records management systems

The amount of vital electronic records created at the agencies grows constantly, as does the need for efficient methods and tools which help to transfer records into trusted long-term repositories. This paper describes a tool called the Universal Archiving Module (UAM) which simplifies and automates the process of preparing records and their metadata for transfers into long-term repositories. Developed by the National Archives of Estonia the tool speeds up the transfer process by reusing already available records management metadata and by automating technical validation and normalisation processes.
Short hold times in dynamic vapor sorption measurements mischaracterize the equilibrium moisture content of wood

Recently, the dynamic vapor sorption (DVS) technique has been used to measure sorption isotherms and develop moisture-mechanics models for wood and cellulosic materials. This method typically involves measuring the time-dependent mass response of a sample following step changes in relative humidity (RH), fitting a kinetic model to the data, and extrapolating the asymptotic mass. A series of steps covering the full RH range is used to generate the sorption isotherm. The majority of prior DVS data were taken with hold times of either 60 min or until the change in moisture content was <0.002% per minute over a 10-min period. Here, DVS measurements on wood and isolated wood polymers are presented where the hold times at certain relative humidity steps were much longer, ranging between 24 and 50 h. The data clearly show that the criteria for hold time in previous DVS measurements result in significant errors in prediction of the asymptotic mass. Although the data at short times are consistent with previous measurements, the data exhibit slow sorption behavior with characteristic times on the order of 500–2000 min that cannot be identified with shorter hold times. The results suggest that new hold time criteria need to be developed for dynamic vapor sorption measurements in wood.
Analyzing Students' Interaction Based on Their Response to Determine Their Learning Outcomes.

Online learning platforms such as Moodle and MOOC (Coursera, edX, etc) have become popular in higher education. These platforms provide information that are potentially useful in developing new student learning models. One source of information provided by these platforms is in the form of student interaction with one another, instructors, and the platform itself. These interactions contain various activities such as: participation in forum discussion, how frequently a student is logged into their account, and frequency of reading posted activities, etc. Using Data Mining techniques, namely clustering algorithms to find students with similar behavior patterns, our goal is to develop a student model that can be conducted by learning these interaction patterns. In doing so, we aim to develop a method by which to provide students with different guidelines and instructions that will help to improve their performance. This research is in progress and our data include Moodle online courses in computer science in different semesters.
Best Practices: Infant Death Scene Recreation and Investigation:

This manuscript will discuss Best Practices for Death Investigation when conducting Infant Death Scene Investigations. The autopsy starts at the scene, a thorough investigation cannot be done witho...
Using Scientific Computing to Advance Wildland Fire Monitoring and Prediction

New technologies have transformed our understanding of wildland fire behavior, providing a better ability to observe them from a variety of platforms, simulate their growth with computational models, and interpret their frequency and controls in a global context. These tools have shown how wildland fires are among the extremes of weather events and can produce behaviors such as fire whirls, blow-ups, bursts of flame along the surface, and winds ten times stronger than ambient conditions, all of which result from the interactions between a fire and its atmospheric environment. I will highlight current research in integrated weather -- wildland fire computational modeling, fire detection, and observation, and their application to understanding and prediction. Coupled weather-wildland fire models tie numerical weather prediction models to wildland fire behavior modules to simulate the impact of a fire on the atmosphere and the subsequent feedback of these fire-induced winds on fire behavior, i.e. how a fire "creates its own weather". NCAR's CAWFE® modeling system has been used to explain fundamental fire phenomena and reproduce the unfolding of past fire events. Recent work, in which CAWFE has been integrated with satellite-based active fire detection data, addresses the challenges of applying it as an operational forecast tool. This newer generation of tools brought many goals within sight -- rapid fire detection, nearly ubiquitous monitoring, and recognition that many of the distinctive characteristics of fire events are reproducible and perhaps predictable in real time. Concurrently, these more complex tools raise new challenges. I conclude with innovative model-data fusion approaches to overcome some of these remaining puzzles.
At the Crossroads of Control: The Intersection of Artificial Intelligence in Autonomous Weapon Systems with International Humanitarian Law

This Article explores the interaction of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning with international humanitarian law (IHL) in autonomous weapon systems (AWS). Lawyers and scientists repeatedly express a need for practical and objective substantive guidance on the lawful development of autonomy in weapon systems. This Article proposes five foundational principles to enable development of responsible AWS policy. The findings emerged from a research project conducted by a team of military and civilian professors at the Stockton Center for the Study of International Law at the U.S. Naval War College. The study is informed by experts in computer sciences, government and military, non-governmental organizations, think tanks, and academia. Advances in AI will likely produce AWS that are different in kind from existing weapon systems and thus require a fresh approach to evaluating IHL compliance. First, this Article describes the technological details pertinent to understanding the distinction between current and future systems. It argues that the technological evaluation of the spectrum of autonomy should focus on the combination of authorities granted to the computer that controls an AWS, while also taking into account the physical capabilities of the system. Second, it argues that a key issue bearing on IHL compliance is whether an AWS has been granted some combination of authorities and capabilities that functionally delegate the decision to kill from human to machine. Third, it posits that predictability must be at the core of an evaluation into whether a particular AWS breaches this delegation threshold and examines how AI handles uncertainty, a critical component of the predictability analysis. Finally, the Article proposes five foundational principles to guide the development of AWS policy.
Effect of friction on CMP in-situ brush cleaning

Post CMP in-situ cleaning plays a critical role in the yield enhancement at sub 14nm semiconductor manufacturing. CMP in-situ cleaning is conducted in the CMP equipment at post polishing. Typically CMP equipment has a brush scrubber cleaner module to remove post polish byproducts, with the fundamental mechanism of particle removal by using physical force. Therefore, high friction and high contact are considered as effective conditions for cleaning wafers post polishing, however, cross contamination effect occurs during this process. Furthermore, the dynamic process of brush cleaning makes it difficult to optimize brush cleaning conditions. In this study, brush torque (friction) is monitored during brush cleaning and effects of frictional behavior of brush on post CMP defects is explored. Experimental results suggest optimized friction force with minimized friction variation during brush cleaning is important to post CMP defect reduction. These results also show torque monitoring is important for brush cleaning efficiency control.
The determination of the axial Young's modulus of honeycomb specimens under bending

For solid specimens, Young's modulus is commonly determined from straightforward uniaxial tension experiments. However, honeycomb specimens are far more challenging to test in tension, and it is therefore desirable to conduct bending experiments to determine Young's modulus. The premise of this work is that the bending response of honeycomb specimens may be significantly different from that of solid specimens, and therefore it is necessary to establish a sound protocol for the determination of the axial Young's modulus of honeycomb specimens under bending. Toward this goal, we present results of a study that combines experimental, finite element simulation, and classical beam theory approaches. These results confirm that accurate measurements of Young's modulus of honeycombs require careful consideration of the specimen geometry and analysis of the data. We demonstrate that the use of conventional Bernoulli-Euler's beam theory to interpret the data requires very slender specimens. We also show that less slender specimens can be used if the experimental data is interpreted on the basis of three-dimensional elasticity theory and numerical simulations. A third option is to use a combination of moderately slender specimens and Timoshenko's beam theory.
Examination of the Bureau of Land Management's implementation of the Wild, Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act at Red Rock National Conservation Area

For unknown reasons horses went extinct on the North American continent approximately ten thousand years ago and were subsequently reintroduced by Spanish settlers in the 1400's. As European settlers moved westward, horses were perceived as competition for grasslands and their numbers were curtailed. Wild horses were granted Federal protection in 1959 with the passage of the 'Wild Horse Annie' law and further protected with the passage of the Wild, Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act of 1971. Through the Department of the Interior, the Bureau of Land Management was charged with management of wild horses on public lands. Physical searches of Bureau of Land Management files were conducted to determine if Bureau of Land Management officials were adhering to the tenents of the Wild, Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act with respect to the Red Rock Herd Management Area. It was discovered that records pertaining to management of the Red Rock herds were incomplete and erratic. Three areas of focus are examined, population, health, and education. It was determined that Bureau of Land Management has conducted population counts, but not as required by the Act. Herd health records have not been kept, and no educational facilities or programs have as of yet been undertaken. Although Bureau of Land Management has been managing the Red Rock herds, its level of adherence to the Wild, Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act cannot be documented.
Contact dermatitis and patch testing for the allergist

Abstract Objective Contact dermatitis (CD) is a common disease seen by allergists. Although underutilized, patch testing (PT) remains the gold standard in the diagnosis of allergic CD. It is not difficult to perform, however, the interpretation of the PT, proper classification of the results and determination of their relevance, need an appropriate level of expertise. The objective of this article is to provide a review of CD and its key allergens and provide updates and recommendations for the practicing allergist. Data Sources Through the use of various scientific search engines (e.g., PubMed and Medline) we reviewed literature on CD, PT, key allergens, occupational dermatitis and treatment. Study Selections: Studies on CD, important allergens, and PT were considered. Results Contact induced dermatitis may be due to allergic CD, irritant CD, systemic CD, contact urticaria and protein CD. Key allergens include metals (nickel, gold), topical medicaments (topical corticosteroids), and cosmetics and personal care products (fragrances and preservatives such as methyl- and methylchloro-isothiazolinone). Present relevance of a positive PT is the combination of definite, probable, and possible relevance and should be correlated with the patient's history and physical examination. Treatment of allergic CD includes identification of relevant allergens, patient education, avoidance and provision of alternative products the patient can use. Conclusion CD is a common inflammatory skin disease and should be suspected in patients presenting acute, subacute or chronic dermatitis. The gold standard for diagnosing allergic CD is PT. This article provides practical recommendations for the diagnosis and management of CD commonly seen by the allergist in their practice.
Abstract B24: Stem cell lineage infidelity drives wound repair and cancer

Human adult tissues harbor resident stem cells (SCs) responsible for homeostasis and wound repair. Tumorigenesis arises when normal SCs accumulate mutations that cause them to derail, shifting their homeostatic balance to favor tissue growth at the expense of differentiation. In contrast to wound repair, where the growth:differentiation imbalance is transient, cancers are refractory to tissue restoration cues, seemingly hijacking these normal cellular programs to fuel their molecular thirst for uncontrolled growth. The notion that a “cancer is a wound that never heals” has origins dating back to Rudolf Virchow in the 1800s. Since then, intimate connections between wounds and tumors have also been drawn at the molecular level. Although intriguing, it remains unclear which of the normal SC remodeling pathways are exploited by tumor SCs and how cancers rewire preinstalled regulatory networks to support malignancy. Here, we investigate such a phenomenon in the skin, where during homeostasis, stem cells of epidermis and hair follicle fuel their respective tissues. We find that breakdown of stem cell lineage confinement--granting privileges associated with both fates--is not only a hallmark but also functional in cancer development. We show that lineage plasticity is critical in wound repair, where it operates transiently to redirect fates. Probing the mechanism, we discover that irrespective of cellular origin, lineage infidelity occurs in wounding when stress-responsive enhancers become activated and override homeostatic enhancers that govern lineage specificity. In cancer, stress-responsive transcription factor levels rise, causing lineage commanders to reach excess. When lineage and stress factors collaborate, they activate new oncogenic enhancers that distinguish cancers from wounds. Citation Format: Yejing Ge, Elaine Fuchs. Stem cell lineage infidelity drives wound repair and cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Advances in Modeling Cancer in Mice: Technology, Biology, and Beyond; 2017 Sep 24-27; Orlando, Florida. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(10 Suppl):Abstract nr B24.