cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chirp generated acoustic wavefield images

Guided waves are being considered for structural health monitoring (SHM) applications, and they can also be used to reduce subsequent inspection times once defects are detected. One proposed SHM method is to use an array of permanently attached piezoelectric transducers to generate and receive guided waves between the various transducer pairs. The interrogation can be done on a continuous or periodic basis to assess the health of the structure. Once defects are suspected in the structure, the traditional approach is to disassemble components for conventional nondestructive evaluation (NDE); however, this is an expensive and time consuming process. A less expensive alternative to conventional NDE is to record acoustic wavefield images of guided waves generated from the attached transducers. These images clearly show details of guided waves as they propagate outward from the source, reflect from structural discontinuities and specimen boundaries, and scatter from any damage sites within the structure. However, the recorded waves are typically narrowband to enable effective visualization of echoes that are relatively compact in time. In this paper, we consider wavefield images that are recorded from a chirp excitation, which offers the advantage of high quality broadband data from a single excitation. However, responses are not directly useful because the received echoes are too extended in time. Signals are post-processed to obtain multiple narrowband and broadband responses containing echoes that are more compact in time to enable visualization of guided waves interacting with structural features. This technique is demonstrated on an aluminum plate that contains attached stiffeners and glued-on piezoelectric disc transducers. Wavefield data are recorded using an air-coupled transducer scanned over the plate surface while one of the attached transducers acts as a guided wave source. Waves interacting with the stiffener and the inactive discs are analyzed via broadband and narrowband processing at multiple frequencies.
Friends of the Circuits: Interest Group Influence on Decision Making in the U.S. Courts of Appeals*

Objective. Though there is an extensive literature focused on the participation and efficacy of interest group amici curiae in the U.S. Supreme Court, there is little rigorous analysis of amici curiae in the U.S. Courts of Appeals. Here, we systematically analyze the influence of amicus curiae briefs on U.S. Court of Appeals decision making to provide insights regarding both judicial decision making and the efficacy of interest groups. Methods. We use a probit model to capture influences on appellant success in the courts of appeals from 1997–2002. Results. We find that amicus briefs filed in support of the appellant enhance the likelihood of that litigant's probability of success, but that amicus briefs filed in support of the appellee have no effect on litigation outcomes. Conclusion. Amici can help level the playing field between appellants and appellees by serving to counter the propensity to affirm in the U.S. Courts of Appeals.
The Displacement of the Thermally Grown Oxide in Thermal Barrier Systems Upon Temperature Cycling

Models that characterize the displacement instability of the thermally grown oxide (TGO) found in some thermal barrier systems are reviewed, consolidated and extended. It is demonstrated that the simulations are only consistent with the observations whenever the bond coat and TGO both undergo plastic deformation. The TGO yields at the peak temperature, during growth, while the bond coat yields on thermal cycling. The trends oppose. Namely, the TGO displacement is diminished by increasing the high temperature strength of the bond coat, but is increased upon increasing the TGO strength. The model rationalizes certain experimental trends, particularly the decrease in durability as the hot time per cycle decreases. Interactions between the instability and cracks in the thermal barrier layer are discussed.
Atrial Fibrillation: The Emerging Role of Inflammation and Oxidative Stress

Atrial fibrillation (AF) remains the most commonly encountered sustained arrhythmia in clinical practice and contributes to increased morbidity and mortality. Management of AF poses a challenge due to the refractory nature of the arrhythmia and the associated thromboembolic complications. Recent studies have implicated both systemic and local cardiac inflammation in the development as well as persistence of AF. This has been validated by the occurrence of high levels of systemic markers of inflammation in patients with post operative as well as chronic AF. High levels of markers of oxidative stress have also been found in patients with chronic AF when compared with controls, indicating a role of systemic reactive oxidative species in the perpetuation of this arrhythmia. Renin angiotension system (RAS) is believed to be unregulated in AF and may contribute to the pathogenesis of AF by producing a state of cardiac or systemic oxidative stress and /or inflammation. In this review, we aim to discuss the emerging evidence linking inflammation, and oxidative stress with AF.
Emission of cosmic rays by a dipole magnetosphere.

STUDY of the Van Allen belt may throw some light on some of the phenomena which occur in stars where plasma is trapped by strong magnetic fields. One problem which is relevant to astrophysics is the origin of the high energy trapped charged particles in the belt.
The Epidemiology of Fertility Preservation

Cancer survivors are living longer lives in ever greater numbers, due to significant improvements in cancer therapy and changes in population age structures. Thus, the focus from merely living to living well has highlighted the need for fertility preserving methods during cancer treatment. Pregnancy for women with a previous diagnosis of cancer is safe, with no evidence of increased risk of recurrence. However, offspring of such women may be susceptible to preterm delivery, low birth weight, and other perinatal morbidities. Both patients and providers alike may have poor knowledge about fertility preservation during cancer, which highlights the need for increased education in this area.
Intelligent Transportation Systems-A Frontier for Breaking Boundaries of Traditional Academic Engineering Disciplines [Education]

Introduction The evolution of the modern transportation system has been instrumental in the prosperity of human civilization. Over the centuries, technological innovations have improved the performance and efficiency of transportation systems, which has in turn led us to the creation of the modern intelligent transportation system (ITS). Nonetheless, innovations in sensing, computing, analytics and communication technologies over the last few decades have vastly changed how we consume transportation services. According to the US National Academy of Engineering's report "The Engineer of 2020: Visions of Engineering in the New Century," information and communication technologies will be integrated in every process and structure in future, and these technologies will be critical to the seamless performance of every engineered product [1]. Auto makers are expected to market several vehicle models with vehicle-tovehicle (V2V) connectivity within a few years with a subsequent presence of autonomous vehicles on highways within a decade. Such breakthroughs will create new challenges for ITS professionals concerning the design and development of ITS infrastructure. Although multidisciplinary skills are essential for ITS professionals, the current pedagogy of training ITS engineers is inadequate for this new era of smart and connected transportation systems. Consequently, there is a great urgency to train a new generation of mobility professionals in traditional traffic engineering skills as well in cyberphysical systems. The focus of this article is to establish the importance of a new educational focus area in ITS at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Course-Taking Patterns of Community College Students Beginning in STEM: Using Data Mining Techniques to Reveal Viable STEM Transfer Pathways

This research focuses on course-taking patterns of beginning community college students enrolled in one or more non-remedial science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses during their first year of college, and how these patterns are mapped against upward transfer in STEM fields of study. Drawing upon postsecondary transcript data, collected as part of the Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS:04/09), this study takes advantage of data mining techniques that, although underutilized in higher education research, are powerful and appropriate analytical tools for investigating complex transcript data. Thus, focusing on a pivotal yet extremely understudied topic dealing with postsecondary STEM education and pathways, this study offers new insight into course and program features that contribute to efficient and effective academic STEM pathways for community college students.
A Free Energy Model for the Inner Loop Behavior of Pseudoelastic Shape Memory Alloys

The paper presents a free energy model for the pseudoelastic behavior of shape memory alloys. It is based on a stochastic homogenization process, which uses distributions in energy barriers and internal stresses to represent effects typically encountered in polycrystalline materials. This concept leads to a realistic desription of the rate-dependent inner loop behavior, but is characterized by rather long computation times. This is prohibitive in regard to a potential implementation into other numerical codes, such as finite element or optimal control programs or a Matlab/Simulink environment. For this purpose a parameterization method is introduced, which is derived from the concept of a representative single crystal. The approach preserves the desirable properties of the original formulation, at the same time reducing the numerical effort significantly. Finally, we show that the method can reproduce the experimentally observed behavior accurately over a large range of strain rates including the minor loop behavior.
Haptic passwords

Haptic technologies have made it possible for human users to interact with cyber systems not only via traditional interfaces like keyboards and mice but also by applying force and motion. With these extra information channels, how a user haptically interacts with a system potentially presents unique user dependent features and can thus be used for authentication purposes. In this paper, we propose a new biometric technology based on haptic interaction. Our technique leverages artificial neural network (ANN) based wavelet analysis to perform user identification. Identification and authentication are done in two steps: a discrete wavelet transform (DWT) is applied to extract features, and then the neural network is used to perform identification and authentication. The performance of the model is evaluated based on identification and authentication accuracies. The results show that our proposed haptic password system has a high identification accuracy and that it is resistant to forgery attacks.
Panel Transcript: Caperton's Next Generation -- Beyond the Bank

On November 14, 2014, a symposium entitled, "Courts, Campaigns, and Corruption: Judicial Recusal Five Years After Caperton," was held at New York University. The symposium was sponsored by the Brennan Center for Justice, the American Bar Association's Center for Professional Responsibility, and NYU's Journal of Legislation and Public Policy. This document contains the transcript from one of the four panels, and is entitled "Caperton's Next Generation: Beyond the Bank." The panel members included Professors Jed Shugerman, Debra Lyn Bassett, Gregory S. Parks, Dmitry Bam, and Rex Perschbacher.
Research on Test Method of Digital Fault Recorder

Development of smart grid makes new requests to fault recorder,for this reason,referring to DL/T 663-1999 standard the performance characteristics of digital fault recorder(DFR) based on IEC 61850 standard are summarized.According to requirements for the appraisal of digital fault recorder during system-level testing of digital substation,the testing methods for digital fault recorder are researched.In allusion to the performance test of DFR,a testing system is constructed,and combining with related standards and testing experiences the test contents to be performed in overall testing of DFR are listed.In the listed contents,technical requirements of such testing items closely related to the performance characteristics of IEC 61850 as the inspection of the standard ability of GOOSE messages,the test of abnormal bit identification of the quality of sampled data,the test of abnormal bit identification of synchronization of sampled data,the inspection of synchronization of sampled value,the inspection of decoding of sampled value,the inspection of resolution of GOOSE events,the testing of time alignment and time-keeping accuracy,alarming of real-time monitoring of message and record inspection and inspection of switch signal alteration are emphatically analyzed.Typical problems existing in the testing process of DFR are discussed and corresponding solutions are given.
Regulation of 1 Alpha,25-dihydroxy Vitamin D_3 to IL-10、IL-12 in Children with Hashmoto's Disease

Interleukin-12、IL-10,as one of cytokines of type Th1,Th2 respectively,to analysis the tiny change of IL-12,IL-10 under intervention of 1α,25-dihydroxy vitamin D_3 at the level of monocytes in children with hashmoto's thyroiditis(HT),and to study the important regulative role of 1α,25-dihydroxy witamin D_3 for HT.Human peripheral blood monocytes(PBMCs) from 27 HT patients and 17 healthy children isolated from heparinized peripheral blood by density gradient centrifugation with Ficoll-Paque were isolated furtherly to get monocytes,cultured under the condition in the presence or absence of 1α,25(OH)_2D_3 respectively,then collected the culture supernatant in sterility.IL-10 and IL-12 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)in the culture supernatant.Meanwhile serum was gotten from another part of the peripheral blood,then 25(OH)D_3 was extracted and estimated by radioimmunoassay(RIA).The results demonstrated the level of 25(OH)D_3 decreased strongly compared with healthy controls in HT,(21.85±5.73)ng/mL vs(27.56±7.46)ng/mL(P0.01)respectively,the level of IL-12 was significantly increased compared with healthy controls,(119.18±28.65)pg/mL vs(102.84±23.86)pg/mL(P0.01)respectively,while IL-10 decreased significently,(132.99±12.04)pg/mL vs(171.41±35.72)pg/mL(P0.01) respectively.And most important,in the presence of 1α,25(OH)_2D_3,IL-12 was dramatically down-regulated in HT,(98.57±11.98)pg/mL(P0.01),however,IL-10 both in HT and in control group widespreadly increased,(184.15±35.34)pg/mL(P0.01),(223.77±53.36)pg/mL(P0.01) respectively,so the patients with HT had a higher ratio of ρ(IL-10)/ρ(IL-12)in response to 1,25(OH)_2D_3.The level of 25(OH)D_3 was deficient seriously in HT,1α,25(OH)_2D_3 took part in the accommodation process of cytokines secretion from monocytes;it could inhibit the increased Th1 cytokines IL-12,increase IL-10,so it could correct the imbalance of Th1/Th2 cytokines of HT.
Pre-record: a High-Efficiency Dynamic Process Migration Algorithm

Post-copy algorithm needs process to resume running while address space is incomplete. Due to the frequently occurring page faults, it would cause process executing intermittently which may significantly reduce migration efficiency. So,a newmigration algorithm named as Pre-record was proposed to solve this problem. Based on the proposed algorithm,process execution on host node would be prolonged and the visited memory pages would be recorded. Host node will migrate these recorded pages preferentially,and then continue to push the rest of the address space. This can guarantee that the needed memory pages could have been acquired at the beginning phase of process resume running in which phase page faults have the highest frequency. Analysis and simulation experiments showthat Pre-record algorithm can reduce the occurrence rate of page faults effectively and improve the efficiency of process migration,and it also has the advantages of short freeze time and less residual dependence.
A simplified benchmarking model for the assessment of dimensional accuracy in FDM processes

As the number of applications for additive manufacturing has increased in recent years, so has the number of benchmarking objects used in the assessment of additive manufacturing processes. These objects enable the assessment of printer and material performance in a number of areas, one of which is dimensional accuracy. Many of these objects, however, take considerable time and material to produce. Further, a large proportion of the volume of these test objects does not directly contribute to the assessment of dimensional accuracy. This paper proposes a new benchmarking object that addresses these issues. The object proposed in this paper is compared with two other commonly used benchmarking objects in the areas of mass, print time, volume, proportion of volume dedicated to measurable test features, and feature quantity. Further, conditions under which a simplified benchmarking object might be employed are evaluated.
Petrogenetic relations among titanium‐rich minerals in an anatectic high‐P mafic granulite

The petrogenetic relations among Ti-rich minerals in high-grade metabasites is illuminated here through a detailed petrological investigation of an anatectic garnet–clinopyroxene granulite from the Grenville Province, Ontario, Canada containing rutile, titanite and ilmenite in distinct microtextural settings. Garnet porphyroblasts exhibit zoned Ti concentrations (up to 0.15 wt% TiO2 in their cores), as well as a variety of rutile inclusion types, including clusters of small, variably elongate grains and thin (≤1 μm) oriented needles. Calcite inclusions in garnet, commonly observed surrounding garnet cores containing quartz and clinozoisite, indicate the presence of evolving C–O–H fluids during garnet growth and suggest that the rutile clusters may have formed from subsequent Ti diffusion and rutile precipitation within existing fluid inclusions. Titanite forms large subhedral crystals and typically occurs where the primary garnet–clinopyroxene assemblage is in contact with leucosome containing megacrystic hornblende, silvialitic scapolite and calcic plagioclase. Many titanite crystals exhibit marginal subgrains that correspond with sharp changes in their major and trace element composition, likely related to a dissolution–precipitation or recrystallization process following primary crystallization. Clinopyroxene–ilmenite symplectite coronas surround titanite in most locations, likely forming from reaction with the hornblende-plagioclase matrix (±fluids/melt). Integration of multi-equilibria thermobarometry and Zr thermometry in rutile and titanite with phase equilibrium modelling allows definition of a clockwise P–T path evolving to peak pressures of ~1.5 GPa at ~750°C during garnet and rutile growth, followed by peak temperature conditions of ~1.2 GPa and ~820–880°C associated with melt-present titanite growth, and finally cooling and decompression to regional amphibolite facies conditions (~1.0 GPa and ~750°C) associated with the formation of clinopyroxene–ilmenite symplectites surrounding titanite. P–T pseudosections calculated for the pristine (leucosome- and titanite -free) metabasite bulk composition reproduce much of the prograde phase relations, but predict rutile as the stable Ti-rich mineral at the peak thermal conditions associated with melt-present titanite growth. The P–M(CaO) and T–M(CaO) models show that bulk CaO concentrations have a significant effect on the stability ranges of titanite and rutile. Increased bulk CaO tends to stabilize titanite to higher pressure and temperature at the expense of rutile, with a ≥15% increase in CaO producing the observed titanite-bearing assemblage at high-P granulite facies conditions. Thus, the model results are consistent with the textural observations, which suggest that titanite stability is associated with a chemical exchange between the host metabasite and a Ca-rich melt.
Thirty Years after Al-Khazraji: Revisiting Employment Discrimination Under Section 1981

Many scholars have written about the racialization process experienced by people of Southwest Asia and North African (SWANA) descent, emphasizing the increased discrimination experienced by those perceived as Middle Eastern or SWANA. There is very little scholarship, however, concentrating specifically on employment discrimination faced by those of SWANA descent in the United States. Although much § 1981 literature exists, few scholars have surveyed the § 1981 landscape that has developed after two landmark Supreme Court cases: Saint Francis College v. Al-Khazraji and Shaare Tefila v. Cobb. Using Iranian plaintiffs as a case study, this Comment argues that § 1981’s outdated notion of race creates a theoretical distinction between categories such as race, color, ancestry, ethnicity, and national origin in situations where no such distinction exists. I argue that as a result of the Court’s inability to recognize or articulate the differences between these distinctions, groups such as SWANA are inappropriately excluded from protection and that national origin should be included under § 1981.
Analytical model for information flow propagation wave under an information relay control strategy in a congested vehicle-to-vehicle communication environment

Abstract: Vehicular traffic congestion in a vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication environment can lead to congestion effects for information flow propagation. Such congestion effects can impact whether a specific information packet of interest can reach a desired location, and if so, in a timely manner to influence the traffic system performance. Motivated by the usefulness and timeliness of information propagation, this paper aims to characterize the information flow propagation wave (IFPW) for an information packet in a congested V2V communication environment under an information relay control strategy. This strategy seeks to exclude information that is dated in the communication buffer under a first-in, first-out queue discipline, from being relayed if the information flow regime is congested. It trades off the need to enable the dissemination of every information packet as far as possible, against the congestion effects that accrue because of the presence of multiple information packets. A macroscopic two-layer model is proposed to characterize the IFPW. The upper layer is formulated as integro-differential equations to characterize the information dissemination in space and time under this control strategy. The lower layer adopts the Lighthill-Whitham-Richards model to capture the traffic flow dynamics. Based on the upper layer model, a necessary condition is derived which quantifies the expected time length that needs to be reserved for broadcasting the information packet of interest so as to ensure the formation of an IFPW under a given density of V2V-equipped vehicles. When the necessary condition is satisfied under homogeneous conditions, it is shown that the information packet can be propagated at an asymptotic speed whose value can be derived analytically. Besides, under the proposed control strategy, only a proportion of vehicles (labeled asymptotic density of informed vehicles) can receive the specific information packet, which can be estimated by solving a nonlinear equation. The asymptotic IFPW speed, the asymptotic density of informed vehicles, and the necessary condition for the IFPW, help in evaluating the timeliness of information propagation and the influence of traffic dynamics on information propagation. In addition, the proposed model can be used to numerically estimate the IFPW speed for heterogeneous conditions, which can aid in the design of traffic management strategies built upon the timely propagation of information through V2V communication.
The future of digital games for HIV prevention and care

Purpose of reviewAlthough there has been a significant increase in mHealth interventions addressing the HIV prevention and care continuum, interventions using game mechanics have been less explored. Digital games are rapidly becoming an important tool for improving health behaviors and supporting th
Direct Splanchnic Perfusion Safely Avoids Deep Hypothermia

Deep hypothermia for the operative correction of congenital cardiac lesions protects hypoperfused organs, mostly because of its effect on lowering metabolic demand and oxygen requirement. Deleterious cerebral and extracranial side effects of deep hypothermia itself calls for a reexamination of the therapeutic value of hypothermia, and has led to the development of alternative perfusion strategies. Here we describe the potential advantages of milder hypothermia over deep hypothermia and our method of a practical and reproducible implementation of multisite perfusion under mild hypothermia (32°C).
Radiation dose dependence on subject size in abdominal computed tomography: Water phantom and patient model comparison.

Purpose Development of patient organ dose evaluation method in computed tomography (CT) needs to model the correlation between organ dose and patient size, under various conditions of scan length, tube current lineshape, and organ location. To facilitate this task, this work was to perform a comprehensive study of the relationship between the dose to water phantom and its diameter under various settings of phantom axis, scan length, and the location across or beyond the scanned range. Methods A dose calculation algorithm and the published data by Li et al. [Med. Phys. 39, 5347-5352 (2012); 40, 031903 (2013); 43, 5878-5888 (2016)] were used to calculate longitudinal dose distribution DL (z) in 10- to 50-cm diameter water phantoms undergoing constant tube current scans. The relationship between dose and phantom diameter was examined on three phantom axes (center, cross-sectional average, periphery), at seven scan lengths from 15 to 70 cm, and at eight longitudinal locations within or beyond each scan range. The water phantom results were compared to those of patient models of eight previous studies. Results For the water phantoms matching the abdominal perimeters (36.3-124.5 cm) of the GSF family of voxelized phantoms, the median and range of DL (z)(water) across scan range were consistent with those of the organ doses from the GSF phantom abdominal scans of a previous study. In 41 water phantoms (diameters 10-50 cm), DL (z)(water) at locations inside scan range decreased with increasing phantom diameters. Exponential regression analysis of the above trend yielded regression parameters approximately consistent with those of phantom or patient models of eight previous studies. However, the usual exponential function might not be optimal for modeling the dose dependence on subject size. Inside scan range, the log(dose) vs diameter curve was non-linear on a semilogarithmic graph. Outside of scan range, dose might increase with larger subject sizes, contradicting to the exponential attenuation law. In the CT examinations of a patient population, direct modeling of organ dose dependence on patient size would be more challenging due to varying scan lengths and changing organ distances to the scan range centers. Conclusion An efficient approach to take into account the abdominal organ dose dependences on other factors is to calculate DL (z)(water) with the water equivalent diameter, scan length, and tube current lineshape from the patient examinations, and to evaluate the organ dose to DL (z)(water) ratio, where z is at the organ's longitudinal location. The ratio may be used for abdominal organ dose evaluation in the patient examinations. How to make use of DL (z)(water) for organ dose evaluation in other body regions may be explored in the future.
Critical Evidence for Proving Causality (i.e., Causation) to Non-Statisticians in Court

No contemporary guide exists for using statistics to prove causality in court. We outline a new theory explaining comprehension of causal graphs, and claim four hallmarks of causality are critical: Association, Prediction, Exclusion of Alternative Explanations, and Dose Dependence. We test our theory in 63 smoking lawsuits, finding that movants who use all four hallmarks are significantly more likely to prevail (p
Production of a Q{sup 2}Q{sup 2} state in J/{psi}{yields}{gamma}{omega}{phi}

The possibility of the resonance discovered in J/{psi}{yields}{gamma}{omega}{phi} by BESII as a candidate of 0{sup ++} Q{sup 2}Q{sup 2} state f{sub 0}(1810) is investigated. Tests on the Q{sup 2}Q{sup 2} nature of f{sub 0}(1810) are found: f{sub 0}(1810){yields}{omega}{phi}, K*K* are the two dominant decay channels and f{sub 0}(1810){yields}KK, {eta}{eta}, {eta}{eta}{sup '} are suppressed. The cross sections of {gamma}{gamma}{yields}f{sub 0}(1810){yields}{omega}{phi}, K*K* are estimated.
The World Health Organization Code and exclusive breastfeeding in China, India, and Vietnam

Promoting exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is a highly feasible and cost-effective means of improving child health. Regulating the marketing of breastmilk substitutes is critical to protecting EBF. In 1981, the World Health Assembly adopted the World Health Organization International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes (the Code), prohibiting the unethical advertising and promotion of breastmilk substitutes. This comparative study aimed to (a) explore the relationships among Code enforcement and legislation, infant formula sales, and EBF in India, Vietnam, and China; (b) identify best practices for Code operationalization; and (c) identify pathways by which Code implementation may influence EBF. We conducted secondary descriptive analysis of available national-level data and seven high level key informant interviews. Findings indicate that the implementation of the Code is a necessary but insufficient step alone to improve breastfeeding outcomes. Other enabling factors, such as adequate maternity leave, training on breastfeeding for health professionals, health systems strengthening through the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative, and breastfeeding counselling for mothers, are needed. Several infant formula industry strategies with strong conflict of interest were identified as harmful to EBF. Transitioning breastfeeding programmes from donor-led to government-owned is essential for long-term sustainability of Code implementation and enforcement. We conclude that the relationships among the Code, infant formula sales, and EBF in India, Vietnam, and China are dependent on countries' engagement with implementation strategies and the presence of other enabling factors.
A Review of Recent Efforts to Improve Access to Effective Psychotherapies

A sampling of recent efforts to increase access to empirically supported psychotherapies and related interventions is reviewed. Recommendations to aid clinicians in decision making are included.
Renewable Energy: The Trillion Dollar Opportunity for Chinese Overseas Investment

This paper compares the global flows of Chinese overseas investment in power plants with renewable energy investment potential embodied in “Nationally Determined Contributions.” With over US$1tn (671 GW) in Nationally Determined Contributions renewable energy investment potential in developing countries, we estimate the total level of power plant investments from China's policy banks and commercial entities since the early 2000s at US$216bn (158 GW). Although past investment has mainly been directed at fossil fuels and hydroelectric power, we argue that China is uniquely poised to lead renewable energy global investments for three reasons: (i) China's solar and wind industries are globally competitive; (ii) Chinese policy banks can give domestic firms advantages in financing global expansion; and (iii) renewable energy investment opportunities still exist in developing countries with less sovereign risk than for traditional energy investments. The Chinese government should provide special incentives for the policy banks to capitalize on these investment opportunities by deploying Chinese solar and wind technologies to Belt and Road countries and beyond.
Risk Assessment in Patients With a Left Ventricular Assist Device Across INTERMACS Profiles Using Bayesian Analysis

Current risk stratification models to predict outcomes after a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) are limited in scope. We assessed the performance of Bayesian models to stratify post-LVAD mortality across various International Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (INTERMACS or IM) Profiles, device types, and implant strategies. We performed a retrospective analysis of 10,206 LVAD patients recorded in the IM registry from 2012 to 2016. Using derived Bayesian algorithms from 8,222 patients (derivation cohort), we applied the risk-prediction algorithms to the remaining 2,055 patients (validation cohort). Risk of mortality was assessed at 1, 3, and 12 months post implant according to disease severity (IM profiles), device type (axial versus centrifugal) and strategy (bridge to transplantation or destination therapy). Fifteen percentage (n = 308) were categorized as IM profile 1, 36% (n = 752) as profile 2, 33% (n = 672) as profile 3, and 15% (n = 311) as profile 4-7 in the validation cohort. The Bayesian algorithms showed good discrimination for both short-term (1 and 3 months) and long-term (1 year) mortality for patients with severe HF (Profiles 1-3), with the receiver operating characteristic area under the curve (AUC) between 0.63 and 0.74. The algorithms performed reasonably well in both axial and centrifugal devices (AUC, 0.68-0.74), as well as bridge to transplantation or destination therapy indication (AUC, 0.66-0.73). The performance of the Bayesian models at 1 year was superior to the existing risk models. Bayesian algorithms allow for risk stratification after LVAD implantation across different IM profiles, device types, and implant strategies.
Thermal evolution of the Scandian hinterland, Naver nappe, northern Scotland

The Northern Highlands Terrane of Scotland hosts several thrust nappes that were deformed and metamorphosed during the Silurian Scandian orogeny. Quantitative petrological analysis of metamorphic assemblages indicates that the hinterland-positioned Naver nappe experienced decompression heating from 8–9 kbar and 600°C to 6–7 kbar and 700°C. Monazite–xenotime thermometry and geochronology delineate a detailed temperature–time history for the Naver nappe. Monazite often exhibits compositional zoning, which is used to establish multiple temperature–time points in several samples. These data indicate that the Naver nappe experienced relatively fast heating (c. 50°C myr−1) and relatively slow cooling (15–20°C myr−1), with peak temperatures occurring at c. 425 Ma. This temperature–time evolution is compatible with the early Emsian (407–403 Ma) deposition of unmetamorphosed conglomerates that rest on high-grade metamorphic rocks in the Naver nappe, but requires an acceleration in the cooling rate to 40–50°C myr−1 at 420–410 Ma. Geochronological constraints from this study and previous work suggest that deformation and metamorphism in the hinterland of the Scandian orogen in northern mainland Scotland are younger than the c. 430 Ma deformation in the foreland-positioned Moine thrust zone. We postulate that heat from pervasive granitic intrusions in the Naver nappe weakened the crust, allowing deformation to retreat to the hinterland of the orogen. Supplementary material: A description of our analytical methods, all U–Pb-trace element data, additional figures explaining our petrological analysis and other relevant data are available at: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.4458041
Most animals hear acoustic flow instead of pressure; we should too

The majority of animals that hear sound do so by detecting the minute fluctuations in the velocity of the medium. They do this by sensing the deflection of thin hairs that are driven by viscous forces in the acoustic medium. This is in contrast to the detection of sound pressure, as is used in some animals, including humans. Nearly all microphones respond to sound through the use of a thin diaphragm or membrane designed to experience a net fluctuating pressure in a sound field. Here, we explore technologies for achieving precise detection of sound using a mechanical structure that is driven by viscous forces associated with the fluctuating velocity of the medium. In one example, this has been shown to result in a directional microphone with flat response from 1 Hz to 50 kHz [Zhou et al., “Sensing fluctuating airflow with spider silk,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 201710559(2017)]. Methods of creating extremely compliant, viscous-driven velocity sensors are discussed along with a new technique for capacitive transduction to achieve an electronic output.The majority of animals that hear sound do so by detecting the minute fluctuations in the velocity of the medium. They do this by sensing the deflection of thin hairs that are driven by viscous forces in the acoustic medium. This is in contrast to the detection of sound pressure, as is used in some animals, including humans. Nearly all microphones respond to sound through the use of a thin diaphragm or membrane designed to experience a net fluctuating pressure in a sound field. Here, we explore technologies for achieving precise detection of sound using a mechanical structure that is driven by viscous forces associated with the fluctuating velocity of the medium. In one example, this has been shown to result in a directional microphone with flat response from 1 Hz to 50 kHz [Zhou et al., “Sensing fluctuating airflow with spider silk,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 201710559(2017)]. Methods of creating extremely compliant, viscous-driven velocity sensors are discussed along with a new technique for capacitive tr...
Expanded access for cancer patients: The 5-year FDA CBER experience.

e18158Background: Expanded access (EA) refers to the use of an investigational drug when the primary purpose is to diagnose, monitor, or treat a patient’s disease rather than to generate scientific...
Sexual dimorphism in upper gastrointestinal motility is dependent on duration of fast, time of day, age, and strain of mice.

Background An important limitation of gastrointestinal motility testing is high variability. Conditions that could contribute to variability, including the duration of pretest fasting and time of day, are rarely reported and have not been examined systematically. This study aimed to explore whether these conditions, as well as age, sex, and strain of mice, affect the results of a standard laboratory test of upper gastrointestinal motility. Methods Male and female 8-week-old C57BL/6J mice received a gastric gavage of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated dextran. FITC-dextran distribution was measured 30 minutes later. Mean geometric centers (MGCs) were calculated to determine the effects of short versus prolonged fasting and morning versus afternoon testing. The influence of age was assessed in 2- to 10-week-old animals, and the influence of strain was determined in C57BL/6J, BALB/c, and CD-1 mice. Key results Motility was sexually dimorphic. MGC progressed 19% further in 8-week-old C57BL/6J males versus females when tested in the morning after a short fast. Similar patterns were observed in morning or afternoon testing after overnight fasting. In males, motility was unaffected by time of day; however, MGC progressed 31% further in females tested in the afternoon versus morning after a short fast. Sex differences also were present in CD-1 but not BALB/c mice. Testing in neonates revealed strikingly low variability and no sex differences. Conclusions & inferences Fasting duration, time of day, age, sex, and strain of mice all influence upper gastrointestinal motility testing. Sex differences are not present in neonatal pups, but develop soon after weaning.
Food Fortification: Programs

The need for a mass-fortification program is based on evidence or assumption that micronutrient deficiency exists in the population and that fortification will produce a health benefit for this population.
In-situ Direct Magnetic Loss Measurement in a DC-DC Converter

It is a challenging task to accurately measure power loss of an inductor in-situ in a DC-DC power converter, mainly due to measurement difficulties, e.g., channel timing skews in an oscilloscope and additionally introduced measurement parasitics. In an effort to avoid such difficulties, one of the work-around approaches is usually taken: estimating inductor loss by deducting all loss mechanisms from input power; calorimeter; or testing an inductor in an independent platform to extract parameters for Steinmetz equation or one of its many variations. However, these methods have well-known shortcomings, e.g., necessity of precise modeling on all components except for the inductor, limited validity of parameters in a design space, etc. In this paper, an in-situ direct measurement of inductor loss is explored. The most demanding challenge in in-situ power loss measurement – timing skew between measurement channels – is analyzed for a typical DC-DC converter, and a novel method to generate precise loss measurement under the presence of timing skew is proposed. Index Terms—Direct, In-situ, Magnetic, Inductor, Power, Loss,
Lower Extremity Ischemia

Lower extremity limb pain is a common complaint among patients, particularly the elderly. The first step is to define the cause of the lower extremity pain and, in reference to the topic at hand, determine whether ischemic arterial vascular disease is the causal factor. Once other common causes of limb pain such as arthritis, low back pain, and musculoskeletal and neurologic causes are eliminated, the workup for ischemic vascular disease should commence. Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is by far the most common disease manifestation of systemic atherosclerosis in patients, apart from coronary heart disease, and is estimated to occur in up to 15% of persons older than 55 years [1]. Risk factors for PAD are the same as those for coronary heart disease and include increasing age, tobacco use, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, male gender, hyperhomocystinemia, and diabetes. Other less common causes of lower extremity vascular occlusive disease symptoms include Buerger’s disease (primary small-vessel obliterative arteriopathy associated with tobacco use) and systemic arteritides such as Takayasu’s arteritis.
Polypharmacy in Older Adults Hospitalized for Heart Failure.

Background: Despite potential harm that can result from polypharmacy, real-world data on polypharmacy in the setting of heart failure (HF) are limited. We sought to address this knowledge gap by st...
Psychological Mechanisms Underlying the Populist Threat to Democracy

Authoritarian populism is spreading through the United States, Western and Eastern Europe, threatening long existing democracies. This is a response to social change and to the economic consequences of the 2008 recession. Donald Trump is riding the crest of this social movement and undermining American democracy in profoundly disturbing ways. His relentless use of fear, anger, lies, and intimidation places him very much in the mode of Adolph Hitler.
Observations from the one year electric field Study-North Slope of Alaska (OYES-NSA) field campaign, and their implications for observing the distribution of global electrified cloud activity

Abstract For over a century, the electric Potential Gradient (PG) of the atmosphere has been measured and studied. The local vertical electric field (Ez) is strongly influenced by the presence of lightning, electrified clouds, rainfall, aerosols, and many others. The One Year Electric Field Study-North Slope of Alaska (OYES-NSA) field campaign was established in the summer of 2017 to measure the vertical electric field at the ARM site in Barrow, Alaska alongside a wide array of supplementary instrumentation, including a Micro-Pulse Lidar and upward facing Ka-band radar. Two years of observations (072017-062019) have shown the possibility to quantify the local effects from aerosols and clouds observed by the Lidar and Radar on the measured EZ. Throughout the manuscript, the physics convention of negative downward fair-weather electric fields is used. Three cases (convective clouds, high concentration of near surface aerosols, and blowing snow) are used to demonstrate the localized effects on the measured EZ. Utilizing the relationships between EZ and backscatter/reflectivity, we have developed a methodology to distinguish samples with local influences. A fair-weather (FW) condition is determined to be associated with a low Lidar backscattering (less than 15 km−1sr−1), in the presence of no significant cloud activity (radar reflectivity less than −10dBZ). The samples satisfying these criteria are found with a 5-min averaged standard deviation of less than 15 V/m, and EZ between −250 V/m to −50 V/m. Using only properties of the EZ measurements allows for the simultaneous comparisons of FW at multiple sites, without the need for supplementary information of local weather conditions. Simultaneous EZ measurements from 8 FW cases are shown between Barrow, AK and Corpus Christi, TX on the timescale of minutes to hours. Similar variation patterns in the FW EZ are shown at both sites, providing evidence of the global nature of the atmospheric electric system. Furthermore, the seasonal-diurnal variability of FW at multiple sites shows similar distributions of the PG.
Development of vaccines for influenza disease: Opportunity costs of the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Influenza infections declined drastically in North and South America after lockdowns for COVID-19. • Selection of influenza strains for vaccine is done early in the opposing hemisphere influenza season. • Limited circulation of influenza may make strain selection difficult resulting in poor matches. • Reliance on egg-based influenza vaccines may result in widespread influenza in this scenario. • Improvements to influenza vaccines are necessary.
Bioenergy Feedstock Types and Properties

Various woody, herbaceous, and municipal solid waste (MSW) biomass feedstocks such as such as lodgepole pine, hybrid poplar, corn stover, other agricultural straws, switchgrass, miscanthus, and other forms of MSW are available for bioenergy applications. All of these have different feedstock physical and chemical compositions. The focus of this chapter is to understand the physical properties of these biomass feedstock sources, such as bulk density, chemical composition (i.e., proximate and ultimate composition, energy content, and biochemical composition), and calorific value. This chapter also discusses the biomass types based on ISO standards, as well as providing information regarding the various standard methods that are available for measuring the raw and densified biomass physical properties, chemical, and biochemical composition.
Supporting Literacy and Positive Identity Negotiations with Multimodal Comic Composing

This study explores how an alternative writing unit with a focus on comics, choice, and publishing supported positive identity development in a fourth-grade classroom. Many traditional literacy practices with an emphasis on skills marginalize students from under-represented populations. This study reports literacy practices that countered the production of previously established unequal relationships and instead supported bilingual students’ negotiation of positive identities. We conducted an analysis of two bilingual case studies to examine the ways in which the shift from traditional literacy skills/practices to multimodal formats provided opportunities for students who were traditionally marginalized to renegotiate identities as experts and authors.