cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
METHOD OF WELLBORE PRESSURE CALCULATION FOR TUBING-CASING PRODUCTION SYSTEM OF GAS WELLS

Wellbore pressure is an important parameter in gas well performance analysis. However, reports on the method of wellbore pressure calculation for tubing-casing production system (TCPS) of gas wells are rare. Applying the hydrodynamics fundamentals, the TCPS is treated as a parallel connection of tubing and casing production. Based on the wellbore pressure calculation method for the cases of tubing production system and the system of production from the annul space between the casing and the tubing, we obtained an equation describing the allocated production from the casing and the tubing. By analyzing the weighted importance of each item in the equation, a simplified production distribution equation is obtained, which translate the wellbore pressure calculation for the TCPS into one for tubing and (or) casing production system. An example is given which shows that the relative error between the result obtained by using the proposed equation and that by using the accurate production distribution equation is very small, indicating that proposed method is reliable and applicable.
Assessment value of adenosine triphosphate stress echocardiography and coronary angiography in long-term follow-up of patients with Kawasaki disease

Objectives To discuss the application value of adenosine triphosphate(ATP) stress echocardiography and coronary angiography(CAG) technique in long-term follow-up of coronary artery lesions in Kawasaki disease(KD).Methods Totally 156 children diagnosed with Kawasaki disease were performed ATP stress echocardiography in their recovery period,of who,15 patients were also performed selective CAG.Follow-up duration was from 6 months to 10 years after the acute phase.Patients were divided into coronary artery aneurysms group,coronary artery dilatation group and normal coronary arteries group by the extent of coronary lesions.Results ATP stress echocardiography results showed each group had varying degrees of reduced coronary flow reserve and(or) ventricular wall motion abnormalities in recovery period.Incidence rates of them in coronary artery aneurysms group and coronary artery dilatation group were significantly higher than that in normal coronary arteries group[75.00%(30/40) vs.44.29%(31/70) vs.21.74%(10/46),P0.01].Accordance rate of stress echocardiography and coronary angiography examination reached 93.33%(Kappa=0.04,P=0.70).Conclusions CAG can demonstrate coronary artery clearly,but cannot accurately show coronary hemodynamics or coronary microcirculation.ATP stress echocardiography can safely and reliably evaluate coronary hemodynamics..Thus,it can be used to evaluate long-term follow-up of coronary artery lesions and drugs curative effects in children with KD as a compliment to CAG.
Strains of Rats

Most studies in this laboratory have been carried out in three strains of rats: two locally inbred strains, designated DA and O-M, respectively, and the commercial CD strain from the Charles River Breeding Laboratories.
From Fledgling to Buffy

It is with Saldana’s words—paired with our love of speculative fiction—that the idea for this chapter began. Why is it that we see more strong female leads in speculative fiction, especially those from marginalized ethnic backgrounds? Why do we have to travel through time and space, through worlds and magical kingdoms, to see a woman’s potential, to see ourselves as strong female leads in our own worlds outside the ones we read about? While these questions are for a different project altogether, we begin grappling with them in this piece, understanding that there are spaces for women in texts and in classrooms that cannot and should not be overlooked.
Microfluidics with in situ Raman spectroscopy for the characterization of non-polar/aqueous interfaces

The design of microfluidics with in situ Raman spectroscopy is reported in the present work for the investigation of immiscible non-polar/aqueous interactions. A dynamic aqueous phase in contact with a static hydrophobic phase (semi-flow) was engineered on-chip by performing a force balance, and it was validated using high-resolution in situ Raman spectroscopy. The semi-flow microfluidic device isolated non-polar solvents in a series of micro-reservoirs that communicated with aqueous laminar flows via molecular diffusion. As a consequence, the inspection of concentration and density profiles from the bulk-to-bulk of toluene–, diethyl ether–, and xylenes–water were made possible. The Schlieren pattern was observed for all solvent pairs, and the bulk-to-bulk region was characterized by water rarefaction (17.5 to 23.2 μm), mixing (3.4 to 6.4 μm), and hydrophobic shockwaves (34.9 to 38.8 μm). Understanding the position, thickness, and profiles of each zone revealed new insight on the chemistry at the interface, which could someday be used to validate molecular simulations, reduce the quantities of solvents wasted during separations/purifications of compounds, and improve kinetic models for mixed mass-transfer-reaction-rate-limited and mass-transfer-limited scenarios in continuous-flow processes.
Choosing Our Religion: The Spiritual Lives of America’s Nones, by Elizabeth Drescher, New York, Oxford University Press, 2016, xvi + 328 pp., US$29.95 (hardback), ISBN 978 0 1993 4122 1

At present, the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life's ‘U.S. Religious Landscape Study’, produced from 2014 survey data, estimates that 22.8 percent of the population of the United States falls into...
Identifying community risk factors for violence against indigenous women: A framework of historical oppression and resilience

Violence against Indigenous women tends to be disproportionately high, yet little is known about the historical and community factors that may exacerbate and perpetuate intimate partner violence (IPV). Using a framework of historical oppression, the purpose of this article is to uncover community-level risk factors identified by Indigenous women who have experienced IPV, and the professionals who work with them. As part of a larger critical ethnography, this study focused on data derived from 49 semistructured interviews with Indigenous women who had experienced IPV and the professionals who work with those affected by IPV. Critical thematic analysis identified various themes related to historical oppression, including cultural disruption, IPV imposed and then internalized as a community norm, community divides, and community inequity, which likely exacerbated or perpetuated IPV. Given the causes of IPV have historical and structural roots, interventions and solutions must be designed with these structural determinants in mind.
Examining the Hydrological Variations in an Aquaplanet World Using Wave Activity Transformation

AbstractBuilding on the recent advent of the concept of finite-amplitude wave activity, a contour-following diagnostics for column water vapor (CWV) is developed and applied to a pair of aquaplanet model simulations to understand and quantify the higher moments in the global hydrological cycle. The Lagrangian nature of the diagnostics leads to a more tractable formalism for the transient, zonally asymmetric component of the hydrological cycle, with a strong linear relation emerging between the wave activity and the wave component of precipitation minus evaporation (). The dry-versus-wet disparity in the transient hydrological cycle is measured by , and it is found to increase at a super-Clausius–Clapeyron rate at the poleward side of the mean storm track in response to a uniform sea surface temperature (SST) warming and the meridional structure of the increase can be largely attributed to the change of the meridional stirring scale of the midlatitude Rossby waves. Further scaling for indicates that the ra...
γδ T Cells: Unexpected Regulators of Cancer Development and Progression

Accumulating evidence suggests a role for gamma delta (γδ) T cells as unexpected drivers of tumor development and progression. These protumoral γδ T cells are abundant in the tumor microenvironment in both mouse and human. They promote tumor progression by: (i) inducing an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and angiogenesis via cytokine production; (ii) functioning as regulatory T (Treg)/T helper 2 (Th2)-like cells; (iii) interfering with dendritic cell (DC) effector function; and (iv) inhibiting antitumor adaptive T cell immunity via the programmed death-1 (PD-1)–programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) pathway. Understanding how these cells are regulated and what their specific role in cancer is will provide insight for the development of approaches that specifically target these cells and can thereby improve the efficacy of cancer immunotherapies.
Language Acquisition and the Explanatory Adequacy Condition

I examine John Collins’ reconstruction of the cognitive revolution in linguistics, showing that one of the main arguments for cognitivism is simply not compelling. While there is a convincing case for aiming to achieve “explanatory adequacy” in linguistics, over and above mere observational and descriptive adequacy, this aim need not be underwritten by a cognitivist conception of language. A unified theory of all human languages is desirable whether or not cognitivism is correct. Next, I point out that, although cognitivism entails that grammars are psychologically real, the reverse entailment does not hold; a grammar can be psychologically real even if the objects of the formal syntactician’s concern are public, conventional E-languages. Chomsky’s view entails that psycholinguists should seek a relatively transparent relation between the syntacticians’ grammar and the “knowledge-base” that constitutes competence—a “natural” grammar-parser combination. Progress toward this goal has been slow, in part because syntacticians are not as concerned with psycholinguistic data as a cognitivist would expect them to be. In the mainstream syntax literature, psychological reality is a distant, dimly understood, and rarely invoked desideratum. Nevertheless, a parsing model that makes direct use of independently plausible syntactic principles is the simplest and strongest theoretical option.
Observation of stimulated Brillouin scattering in Si 3 N 4 waveguides

Here, we report the first observation of stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) in Si 3 N 4 waveguides. The waveguides are designed as a line defect in a membrane phononic crystal (MPnC). The observed SBS frequency is at 1.55 GHz within the first phononic bandgap of the host MPnC.
Thermal Jamming of Ions in the Superionic State of UO2

The oxygen ions in the high temperature superionic state of uranium dioxide (UO2) are known to be in an arrested or jammed state, exhibiting characteristic features of jammed kinetics such as low dimensional string-like ion hopping and dynamical heterogeneity (DH). This thermally-jammed state entails a configurational entropic cost. Using atomistic simulations and the 2PT method, we compute the solid-like (vibrational) and hard sphere-like (configurational) contributions to the total entropy across a temperature range of 1500 K to 2800 K that envelop both the onset of superionic conduction (2000 K) and the second order λ-transition (2610 K). To properly account for the thermally jammed state of the ions, we use an equation of state that is appropriate for the metastable fluid branch. Our simulation results are in excellent agreement with the entropy data extracted from specific heat experiments with a mean error of less than 2%.
Target-based hyperspectral demixing via generalized robust PCA

Localizing targets of interest in a given hyperspectral (HS) image has applications ranging from remote sensing to surveillance. This task of target detection leverages the fact that each material/object possesses its own characteristic spectral response, depending upon its composition. As signatures of different materials are often correlated, matched filtering based approaches may not be appropriate in this case. In this work, we present a technique to localize targets of interest based on their spectral signatures. We also present the corresponding recovery guarantees, leveraging our recent theoretical results. To this end, we model a HS image as a superposition of a low-rank component and a dictionary sparse component, wherein the dictionary consists of the a priori known characteristic spectral responses of the target we wish to localize. Finally, we analyze the performance of the proposed approach via experimental validation on real HS data for a classification task, and compare it with related techniques.
Limb Self-Amputation Without Replantation: A Case Report and Management Considerations.

Background Major self-mutilation describes severe acts of harm to oneself, generally leading to permanent damage and loss of function in the absence of suicidal intent. The most common presentations include limb amputation, genital amputation, or auto-enucleation. Coordination of care is multidisciplinary with psychiatrists playing a pivotal role. Little literature is available with respect to managing care of patients who do not undergo replantation of a self-amputated limb. Case Presentation The authors present the case of a 20-year-old male patient after self-amputation of his upper extremity in the context of a psychotic spectrum illness and religiously preoccupied thought content. This is the first reported case to our knowledge of a patient who self-amputated an extremity and did not have replantation despite presenting with the limb in an appropriate time window. His treatment course highlights the challenges associated with these occurrences. Discussion While self-amputation most often occurs in the context of psychosis, we assert that if replantation does not occur, these individuals will have similar outcomes as their non-psychotic counterparts. Management should focus on psychiatric consultation early on to provide supportive psychotherapy and medication management. Chaplaincy consultation should be pursued early in the treatment course for hyperreligious patients. Cognitive behavioral therapy for psychosis, insight oriented therapies, family therapy, and a focus on improving resilience can also be helpful as the individual becomes more psychiatrically stable.
The trend toward evidence-based practice and the future of psychotherapy.

This paper describes how the trend toward emphasizing evidence-based practice and empirically supported treatments is likely to affect the practice of counseling and psychotherapy in the future. Se...
Ovarian Reserve and Ovarian Cysts

Ultrasound has become the most widely used and important tool in the diagnosis and treatment of infertility and IVF. Measuring the antral follicle count (AFC) is one of the best predictors for estimating ovarian reserve. This initial ultrasound exam will immediately affect the management of the patient and help determine IVF stimulation protocols. The initial exam also picks up benign and malignant ovarian masses and the most common cysts are covered in the chapter. Doppler modalities of ultrasound allow identification of the direction and magnitude of blood flow and calculation of velocity and can help distinguish benign from malignant masses. Three-dimensional (3D) transvaginal ultrasound (TVS) techniques allow the identification and quantification of hypoechoic regions within a three-dimensional ultrasound (3D) data set and provide a precise estimation of their absolute dimensions, mean diameters, and volumes. Accurate evaluation of size and volume of complex structured follicles is facilitated. This chapter is aimed to review how ultrasound is used to maximize ART outcome by evaluation of the ovary and assessing ovarian reserve.
Vehicle Routing Problem With Uncertain Demand at Nodes: The Bee System and Fuzzy Logic Approach

This paper describes an “intelligent” system designed to make “real-time” decisions regarding route shapes for situations in which locations of the depot, nodes to be served and vehicle capacity are known, and the demand at the nodes is only approximated. The model developed is based on the combination of the new computational paradigm — the Bee System and Fuzzy Logic. The results are found to be very close to the best solution assuming that the future node demand pattern is known. The system applications appear to be very promising.
Domains of Operation and Interference for Bodies in Mechanisms and Manipulators

Domains associated with one or more working bodies of a mechanism or manipulator are defined that characterize the range of operation of the bodies and interference that may occur between the equations defining domains are derived in terms of equations defining the kinematics of the mechanism and the geometry of the working bodies. Analytical criteria defining the boundaries of such domains are derived and numerical methods for computing families of generators on boundaries are outlined. The criteria and numerical methods presented are applied to planar mechanism and manipulator examples.
Resilience in Children: Developmental Perspectives

Advances in developmental resilience science are highlighted with commentary on implications for pediatric systems that aspire to promote healthy development over the life course. Resilience science is surging along with growing concerns about the consequences of adverse childhood experiences on lifelong development. Resilience is defined as the capacity of a system to adapt successfully to challenges that threaten the function, survival, or future development of the system. This definition is scalable across system levels and across disciplines, applicable to resilience in a person, a family, a health care system, a community, an economy, or other systems. Robust findings on resilience in childhood underscore the importance of exposure dose; fundamental adaptive systems embedded in the lives of individuals and their interactions with other systems; developmental timing; and the crucial role of healthcare practitioners and educators as well as family caregivers in nurturing resilience on the “front lines” of lived childhood experience. Resilience science suggests that human resilience is common, dynamic, generated through myriad interactions of multiple systems from the biological to the sociocultural, and mutable given strategic targeting and timing. Implications for pediatric practice and training are discussed.
Success in collegiate recovery programs: results from a phenomenological investigation

There has been a significant increase in the number of Collegiate Recovery Programs (CRPs) nationwide; however research in this area is limited. It is essential to demonstrate the effectiveness of ...
Narrative Ethics and Intersectionality.

Dr. Williams is an African American pediatrician seeing her patient Michael for his 2-month well-child visit. Michael is accompanied by his mother, Ms. Johnson, an African American single mother of...
Vertical gradients in foliar physiology of tall Picea sitchensis trees.

In tall conifers, leaf structure can vary dramatically with height due to decreasing water potential (Ψ) and increasing light availability. This variation in leaf structure can have physiological consequences such as increased respiratory costs, reduced internal carbon dioxide conductance rates and ultimately reduced maximum photosynthetic rates (Amax). In Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carriere, the leaf structure varies along the vertical gradient in ways that suggest compensatory changes to enhance photosynthesis, and this variation seems to be driven largely by light availability rather than by Ψ. These trends in leaf structure coupled with remarkably fast growth rates and dependence on moist environments inspire two important questions about P. sitchensis: (i) does foliar water uptake minimize the adverse effects of decreasing Ψ with height on leaf structure, and (ii) do trends in leaf structure increase photosynthetic rates despite increasing height? To answer these questions, we measured foliar water uptake capacity, predawn (Ψpd) and midday water potential and gas-exchange rates as they varied between 25- and 89-m heights in 300-year-old P. sitchensis trees in northwestern California. Our major findings for P. sitchensis include the following: (i) foliar water uptake capacity was quite high relative to published values for other woody species; (ii) foliar water uptake capacity increased between the crown base and treetop; (iii) wet season Ψpd was higher than predicted by the gravitational potential gradient, indicating foliar water uptake; and (iv) the maximum photosynthetic rate increased with height, presumably due to shifts in leaf structure between the crown base and treetop, mitigating height-related decreases in Amax. These findings suggest that together, the use of fog, dew and rain deposits on leaves and shifts in the leaf structure to conserve and possibly enhance photosynthetic capacity likely contribute to the rapid growth rates measured in this species.
Illustration of the current practice and outcome comparison of early versus late tracheostomy after pediatric ECMO

Objective:Pediatric extracorporeal membrane oxygenation typically necessitates protracted ventilator support, yet not much is known about the use of tracheostomy in the pediatric subpopulation. The...
Cortisol slopes and conflict: A spouse's perceived stress matters.

Abstract Background Perceived stress can lead to dysregulated cortisol patterns, including blunted peaks and flatter slopes, which are associated with increased morbidity and mortality risks. Couples’ interdependence provides a prime opportunity for partners’ stress to disrupt a healthy cortisol pattern. This study examined how individuals’ own perceived stress and their partners’ perceived stress shape cortisol levels and slopes across the day, as well as how positive and negative behaviors during conflict discussions impact associations between stress and cortisol. Methods Both partners of a married couple (n = 43 couples, 86 individuals) completed a full day in-person visit. Each partner completed the Perceived Stress Scale, and all couples engaged in a 20-min marital problem discussion which was recorded and later coded for positive and negative behaviors using the Rapid Marital Interaction Coding System (RMICS). Partners also provided five salivary cortisol samples across the day, two samples before the conflict and three after the conflict. The dyadic design and analyses provided a way to account for the interdependent nature of married couples’ data, as well as to use the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM) to assess the mutual influence of spouses’ stress on cortisol. Results Individuals with more stressed partners had flatter cortisol slopes than individuals with less stressed partners, who showed steeper and thus healthier declines across the day. Individuals’ cortisol levels at the beginning of the day were similar regardless of their partners’ perceived stress, but individuals with more stressed partners had higher cortisol levels 30-min, 1 hr, and 4 hr after the conflict discussion than those with less stressed partners. Couples’ behavior during the conflict moderated the relationship between partner perceived stress and average cortisol; when couples used more negative and less positive behaviors, individuals with more stressed partners had higher average cortisol levels than those with less stressed partners. Conclusion On a day couples experienced conflict, having a partner with higher perceived stress is associated with dysregulated cortisol patterns, including higher levels and flatter slopes, but having a partner with lower perceived stress is linked to steeper and thus healthier cortisol declines. A partner’s stress was particularly consequential for one’s own cortisol when couples used more negative and fewer positive behaviors during a conflict discussion. This research adds to the growing literature on pathways connecting marital interactions to important biorhythms and health.
Slow scholarship for social work: A praxis of resistance and creativity:

Expediency, efficiency, and rapid production within compressed time frames represent markers for research and scholarship within the neoliberal academe. Scholars who wish to resist these practices ...
Information manipulation and cognitive trust: an organizational replication and extension of IMT

This research lays out the theoretical foundations and rationale for conducting an experimentally designed replication and extension of research using information manipulation theory to explore the...
Super-Stable High-Quality Few-Layer Black Phosphorus for Photonic Applications

Few-layer black phosphorus (BP) is one of the most important 2D materials due to its strongly layer-dependent quantized band structure, which leads to wavelength tunable emission and absorption pro...
Where Have They Gone? Recruiting and Retaining Older Rural Research Participants.

Issue Rural-dwelling elderly have been shown to suffer from health disparities when compared to the general population. Research involving these individuals is important, and to have meaningful results, sample sizes must be adequate. Recruiting and retaining these individuals pose significant challenges. Context Nurse researchers in the rural northwestern United States conducted a 4-part educational intervention aimed at increasing general and complementary and alternative health care literacy of older rural dwellers. Significant challenges were faced in both recruiting and retaining participants over the 6-month study period. Despite careful planning and community selection, the team had to double the number of communities in which they carried out the project to meet recruitment goals. Retention was also a challenge. Of 127 participants initially enrolled in the study, only 52 remained to the end. Lessons learned Challenges of recruiting and retaining are complex and compounded when the target population is rural, older and the study is longitudinal. Recruitment challenges included reaching older adults, offering a compelling program, and offering it in an acceptable format at a convenient time and place. A variety of outreach activities were conducted including in-person presentations, advertising or public interest stories in local newspapers or radio stations, and flyers on bulletin boards in restaurants, clinics, churches, community centers, and libraries. A project champion, an individual well known and connected within the community and committed to the success of the proposed study, is a major asset. Retention strategies included developing relationships with the participants and maintaining contact with them over the course of the study through such mechanisms as appointment cards, e-mail or regular mail, telephone reminders, and thank you cards. Oversampling was important as factors beyond the control of the researcher occurred; for example, illness, death, family crises, unexpected relocations, and weather events that prevented travel to scheduled research events.
The Role of Familial Predisposition in Imaging-Confirmed Atraumatic Rotator Cuff Tears.

ABSTRACT Background The etiology of atraumatic rotator cuff tears is not completely understood. Limited data suggests the role of genetic and familial predisposition in the etiology of rotator cuff tears. The purpose of this study was to assess whether there is an increased likelihood of rotator cuff tears in family members of patients with rotator cuff tears versus those without tears. This would provide evidence for whether there is an association between familial predisposition and rotator cuff tearing. Methods Patients presenting to a shoulder clinic were recruited in this study. They provided information on personal medical history, shoulder symptoms, and family history of rotator cuff tears. The diagnosis of rotator cuff tears was based on imaging (MRI or CT arthrogram) confirmation of a structural defect in the rotator cuff. The association between family history of rotator cuff problems and the likelihood of an imaging-confirmed rotator cuff tear diagnosis was evaluated using multivariate logistic regression, adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, cigarette smoking, hypertension, diabetes, and depression. Results In our cohort of 2,335 patients, 52.6% (n=1,229) of patients had a rotator cuff tear. Among patients with tears, 17.9% (n=220) of patients reported a family history of rotator cuff issues versus 11.1% (n=123) in patients without tears. A family history of rotator cuff problems was significantly associated with the diagnosis of an imaging-confirmed rotator cuff tear (Odds Ratio=2.24, 95% CI = 1.71, 2.95). Other confounding variables such as increasing age (Odds Ratio=1.06, 95% CI = 1.05, 1.07) and Hispanic race/ethnicity as compared to non-Hispanic white race/ethnicity (Odds Ratio=1.48, 95% CI = 1.07, 2.05) were significantly associated with rotator cuff tears. Sex, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, and depression were not significantly associated with rotator cuff tearing. Conclusion Our study shows that individuals with rotator cuff tears were over two times as likely to have a family member with a tear as compared to patients without tears. Increasing age and patients who identified as being of Hispanic ancestry were also significantly associated with higher odds of rotator cuff tears.
Cross-testing of direct-action antivirals, universal vaccines, or search for host-level antivirals: what will sooner lead to a generic capability to combat the emerging viral pandemics?

INTRODUCTION Mitigation of future viral pandemics is an enormous technical problem, but its solution is essential for preservation of life, economic well-being, and social stability. The author examined host-level, direct action antiviral, and universal vaccine approaches while presenting a specific screening proposal. AREAS COVERED The author examined the most recent biomedical literature publicly available in the databases and identified the publications supporting the principle of cross-applicability of direct-action antivirals (DAA) within similar viral families and at greater phylogenetic distances. EXPERT OPINION Comparing different approaches, the author showed that the cocktails of DAAs, including parent compounds that passed Phase I trials need to be preemptively tested for all major viral families, approved, and stockpiled (or dual-use production facilities designated). The quick distribution of the pre-approved and pre-positioned antiviral cocktails (even of moderate efficiency) reduces mortality and economic damage many-fold, resulting in the trillion-scale savings in a pandemic context. This pre-positioning approach is only one in the combinatorial toolkit that needs to be included in the plan for all viral families of importance. A dedicated international public-private initiative can achieve savings in these proactive preparedness efforts, as well as to keep the focus of politicians and public on the problem.
Utility of Facebook's Social Connectedness Index in Modeling COVID-19 Spread: An Exponential Random Graph Modeling Study.

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 (the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus) pandemic has underscored the need for additional data, tools, and methods that can be used to combat emerging and existing public health concerns. Since March 2020, there has been great interest in utilizing social media data to both understand and intervene in the pandemic. Researchers from many disciplines have recently found a relationship between COVID-19 and a new data set from Facebook called the Social Connectedness Index (SCI). OBJECTIVE Building off this work, we sought to use the SCI to examine how social similarity of Missouri counties could explain similarities of COVID-19 cases over time. Additionally, we aimed to add to the body of literature on the utility of the SCI by using a novel modeling technique. METHODS In September 2020 we conducted this cross-sectional study using publicly available data to test the association between the SCI and COVID-19 spread in Missouri using exponential random graph modeling (ERGM). ERGMs model relational data and the outcome variable must be binary; representing the presence or absence of a relationship. In our model, this was the presence or absence of a highly correlated COVID-19 case count trajectory between two given counties in Missouri. Covariates included each county's total population, percent rurality, and distance between each county pair. RESULTS We found that all covariates were significantly associated with two counties having highly correlated COVID-19 case count trajectories. As the log of a county's total population increased, the odds of two counties has having highly correlated COVID-19 case count trajectories increased by 66% (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.43-1.92). As the percent of a county classified as rural increased, the odds of two counties has having highly correlated COVID-19 case count trajectories increased by 1% (OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.00-1.01). As the distance (in miles) between two counties increased, the odds of two counties has having highly correlated COVID-19 case count trajectories decreased by 43% (OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.43-0.77). Lastly, as the log of the Social Connectedness Index increased between two Missouri counties increases, the odds of those two counties having highly correlated COVID-19 case count trajectories significantly increased by 17% (OR 1.17; 95% CI 1.09-1.26). CONCLUSIONS These results could suggest that two counties with a greater likelihood of sharing Facebook friendships means residents of those counties have a higher likelihood of sharing similar belief systems, in particular as they relate to COVID-19 and public health practices. Another possibility is that the SCI is picking up travel or movement data among county residents. This suggests the SCI is capturing a unique phenomenon relevant to COVID-19 and that it may be worth adding to other COVID-19 models. Additional research is needed to better understand what the SCI is capturing practically and what it means for public health policies and prevention practices. CLINICALTRIAL
A process for leaching citric acid from apple pomace fermented with Aspergillus niger in solid-state culture

A multiple contact countercurrent process was developed for leaching citric acid from apple pomace fermented withAspergillus niger in solid-state culture. Acetone was found to be the most efficient among the different solvents examined as it yielded the greatest amount of citric acid in the leachate and gave an extraction efficiency of 90%.
The Right to Marry

In rural Zanzibar, both lay people and legal professionals argue that women’s options in marriage could be improved by closer adherence to Islamic law. This argument is usually made to critique the authority of elders in marriage negotiations. Although there is a strong norm of daughters adhering to elders’ authority in marriage, this norm does not go uncontested: by asserting rights under Islamic law, women critique and sometimes even challenge elder authority in court. Based on my ethnographic research in an Islamic court and the surrounding community, I first examine how women and men talk about elder authority in marriage, and then explore legal challenges to their authority in court. I argue that there are two patterns in the way women reference Islam to talk about their rights in marriage. Whereas some women use their knowledge of Islamic law to assert rights in court, others reference their piety as Muslims to explain why they choose not to assert certain rights.
Estimates of conserved microsynteny among the genomes of Glycine max , Medicago truncatula and Arabidopsis thaliana

A growing body of research indicates that microsynteny is common among dicot genomes. However, most studies focus on just one or a few genomic regions, so the extent of microsynteny across entire genomes remains poorly characterized. To estimate the level of microsynteny between Medicago truncatula (Mt) and Glycine max (soybean), and also among homoeologous segments of soybean, we used a hybridization strategy involving bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) contigs. A Mt BAC library consisting of 30,720 clones was screened with a total of 187 soybean BAC subclones and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) probes. These probes came from 50 soybean contig groups, defined as one or more related BAC contigs anchored by the same low-copy probe. In addition, 92 whole soybean BAC clones were hybridized to filters of HindIII-digested Mt BAC DNA to identify additional cases of cross-hybridization after removal of those soybean BACs found to be repetitive in Mt. Microsynteny was inferred when at least two low-copy probes from a single soybean contig hybridized to the same Mt BAC or when a soybean BAC clone hybridized to three or more low-copy fragments from a single Mt BAC. Of the 50 soybean contig groups examined, 54% showed microsynteny to Mt. The degree of conservation among 37 groups of soybean contigs was also investigated. The results indicated substantial conservation among soybean contigs in the same group, with 86.5% of the groups showing at least some level of microsynteny. One contig group was examined in detail by a combination of physical mapping and comparative sequencing of homoeologous segments. A TBLASTX similarity search was performed between 1,085 soybean sequences on the 50 BAC contig groups and the entire Arabidopsis genome. Based on a criterion of sequence homologues <100 kb apart, each with an expected value of ≤1e-07, seven of the 50 soybean contig groups (14%) exhibited microsynteny with Arabidopsis.
Sampling based approach for one-hit and multi-hit models in quantal bioassay

Bayesian methods for estimating the dose response curves with the one-hit model, the gamma multi-hit model, and their modified versions with Abbott‘s correction are studied. The Gibbs sampling approach with data augmentation and with the Metropolis algorithm is employed to compute the Bayes estimates of the potency curves. In addition, estimation of the ’relative additional risk‘ and the ’virtually safe dose‘ is studied. Model selection based on conditional predictive ordinates from cross-validated data is developed.
Representations or people

Most guidelines and proposals for Internet research ethics are based on regulations for human subjects research. In the related research, Internet material is viewed as animate and described as people. Humanities researchers have rarely been a part of the debate about Internet research ethics and the practices of these scholars have not been taken into consideration when drafting most of the guidelines. This threatens to limit the kinds of Internet research that can be performed – critical strategies are particularly discouraged – and the ways that researchers and other users understand the Internet. Researchers who use human subjects models have not fully acknowledged computer mediation, the constructed aspects of Internet representations, and the screen. If we view Internet material as cultural production then the models for Internet research would be Art History and Visual Culture, English and Literary Studies, Film and Media Studies, Music and Sound Studies, and Theatre and Performance Studies. A more complete integration of these approaches into Internet Studies – either as a sole investigatory strategy or in tandem with other forms of inquiry – would change researchers' ethical questions. It would also show instances in which human subjects guidelines do not apply to complex Internet material. It is imperative to demonstrate that Internet material is not people because this conception makes highly constructed words and images seem natural and stereotyped representations appear to be real.
chapter 19 – SPECIAL RELATIVITY

Publisher Summary The theories of special relativity and general relativity together represent one of mankind's greatest intellectual achievements. This chapter presents the development or measurement of the theory of special relativity in constant-velocity reference frames. Special relativity has had a major impact on the field of physics, in the calculation and understanding of high-velocity phenomena. It has also had consequences that go beyond physics. The chapter presents special relativity as a generalization of Galilean relativity, a generalization that is required for speeds comparable to the speed of light. The chapter introduces the 20th-century physics. Special relativity enables one to study dynamics from a 20th-century viewpoint. Special relativity is one of the most fascinating topics in physics. It involves re-educating one's common sense to bring it into agreement with experimental facts.
Automatic Temporal Verification of Buffer Systems

In this paper we have presented a formal model for processes that communicate through fifo message buffers and have given a sound automatic proof system for verifying RTL definable properties of such systems. The proof method is modular. Although our method is not complete, we feel, as illustrated by the example, that it can be applied to some practical examples. Theorem 3.1 holds for any fragment L of temporal logic as long as the formulae in L do not distinguish between two computations one of which is a stuttered extension of the other. In this case, we can use our approach for proving properties given by formulae in L as long as the theory of fifo buffers in the logic L is decidable.
Presumptive Taxation of the Hard-to-

Abstract This contribution considers the role of presumptive taxation in taxing the hard-to-tax sectors (small businesses and small agricultural producers). This chapter provides an overview of presumptive methods and considers the role of presumptive taxation as part of the architecture of the tax system. The specific types of presumptive methods that can be used for the hard to tax are considered. It also focuses on the agricultural sector and on small businesses. The following methods have been explored: the contractual method; the percentage-of-gross-receipts method; imposition of a fixed amount based on profession or trade; and the standard assessment guide.
Evidence for two phosphonate degradative pathways in Enterobacter aerogenes

We screened mini-Mu plasmid libraries from Enterobacter aerogenes IFO 12010 for plasmids that complement Escherichia coli phn mutants that cannot use phosphonates (Pn) as the sole source of phosphorus (P). We isolated two kinds of plasmids that, unexpectedly, encode genes for different metabolic pathways. One kind complements E. coli mutants with both Pn transport and Pn catalysis genes deleted; these plasmids allow degradation of the 2-carbon-substituted Pn alpha-aminoethylphosphonate but not of unsubstituted alkyl Pn. This substrate specificity is characteristic of a phosphonatase pathway, which is absent in E. coli. The other kind complements E. coli mutants with Pn catalysis genes deleted but not those with both transport and catalysis genes deleted; these plasmids allow degradation of both substituted and unsubstituted Pn. Such a broad substrate specificity is characteristic of a carbon-phosphorus (C-P) lyase pathway, which is common in gram-negative bacteria, including E. coli. Further proof that the two kinds of plasmids encode genes for different pathways was demonstrated by the lack of DNA homology between the plasmids. In particular, the phosphonatase clone from E. aerogenes failed to hybridize to the E. coli phnCDEFGHIJKLMNOP gene cluster for Pn uptake and degradation, while the E. aerogenes C-P lyase clone hybridized strongly to the E. coli phnGHIJKLM genes encoding C-P lyase but not to the E. coli phnCDE genes encoding Pn transport. Specific hybridization by the E. aerogenes C-P lyase plasmid to the E. coli phnF, phnN, phnO, and phnP genes was not determined. Furthermore, we showed that one or more genes encoding the apparent E. aerogenes phosphonatase pathway, like the E. coli phnC-to-phnP gene cluster, is under phosphate regulon control in E. coli. This highlights the importance of Pn in bacterial P assimilation in nature.
Human factors comparison of a procedural and a nonprocedural query language

Two experiments testing the ability of subjects to write queries in two different query languages were run. The two languages, SQL and TABLET, differ primarily in their procedurality; both languages use the relational data model, and their Halstead levels are similar. Constructs in the languages which do not affect their procedurality are identical. The two languages were learned by the experimental subjects almost exclusively from manuals presenting the same examples and problems ordered identically for both languages. The results of the experiments show that subjects using the more procedural language wrote difficult queries better than subjects using the less procedural language. The results of the experiments are also used to compare corresponding constructs in the two languages and to recommend improvements for these constructs.
Trace Analysis of Zn(II), Be(II), and Bi(III) by Enzyme-Catalyzed Chemiluminescence

A novel technique for the trace analysis of metal ions Zn(II), Be(II), and Bi(III) in bulk solutions is discussed. This technique involves the generation of a chemiluminescence signal from alkaline phosphatase catalyzed hydrolysis of a phosphate derivative of 1,2-dioxetane. Zn(II) can be determined by two methods, reactivation of the alkaline phosphatase apoenzyme and inhibition of the native enzyme. Be(II) and Bi(III) can be determined quantitatively by inhibition of the native enzyme. Subppb to ppm level detection of Zn(II), Be(II), and Bi(III) has been achieved. Initial studies with mixed metals are also reported. The technique described is rapid and sensitive and can be readily applied to the microassay of heavy metal ions.
Parallel Programming of Resistive Cross-point Array for Synaptic Plasticity

Abstract This paper proposes a parallel programming scheme for the cross-point array with resistive random access memory (RRAM). Synaptic plasticity in unsupervised learning is realized by tuning the conductance of each RRAM cell. Inspired by the spike-timing-dependent-plasticity (STDP), the programming strength is encoded into the spike firing rate (i.e., pulse frequency) and the overlap time (i.e., duty cycle) of the pre-synaptic node and post-synaptic node, and simultaneously applied to all RRAM cells in the cross-point array. Such an approach achieves parallel programming of the entire RRAM array, only requiring local information from pre-synaptic and post-synaptic nodes to each RRAM cell. As demonstrated by digital peripheral circuits implemented in 65 nm CMOS, the programming time of a 40 kb RRAM array is 84 ns, indicating 900X speedup as compared to state-of-the-art software approach of sparse coding in image feature extraction.
Solute Specificity and Transport Kinetics of the Urea Channel from Helicobacter Pylori

Helicobacter pylori's unique ability to colonize and survive in the acidic environment of the stomach is critically dependent on uptake of urea through the urea channel, HpUreI. Hence, HpUreI may represent a promising target for the development of specific drugs against this human pathogen. To obtain insight into the structure-function relationship of this channel, we developed conditions for the high-yield expression and purification of stable recombinant HpUreI. Urea efflux was measured in HpUreI-containing proteoliposomes using stopped-flow spectrometry to determine the kinetics and selectivity of the urea channel. The kinetic analyses revealed that urea conduction in HpUreI is pH-sensitive and saturable with a half-saturation concentration (or K(0.5)) of ∼163 mM. The solute selectivity analysis indicated that HpUreI is highly selective for urea and hydroxyurea. Removing either amino group of urea molecules diminishes their permeability through HpUreI. Similar to urea conduction, diffusion of water through HpUreI is pH-dependent with low water permeability at neutral pH. Finally, a new model for HpUreI function is presented which accounts for these and other recently published data.