cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Damage potential of grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae) on early growth stages of small-grains and canola under subarctic conditions.

We characterized the type and extent of grasshopper injury to above- and below-ground plant parts for four crops [barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), oats (Avena sativa L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and canola (Brassica campestris L.)] commonly grown, or with potential to grow, in central Alaska. Cages were placed on 48 pots containing plants in second to third leaf stages and stocked with 0, 2, 4, and 6 first-instar Melanoplus sanguinipes F. pot−1. Plants were harvested 22 d after planting. Stem growth of barley and oats was not affected except at the highest grasshopper treatment. In canola, stem biomass was reduced at the medium and high grasshopper treatments, when most of the leaves had been consumed. The highest grasshopper treatment reduced leaf area in barley and oats by ≈55%, and caused a significant reduction in dry weight of leaves, stems, and roots (41–72%). Wheat and canola plants were smaller than barley and oats across all treatments and, at the highest grasshopper density, above-ground portions of wheat and canola were completely destroyed. Length and surface area of roots of barley and oats were reduced by 20–28% again at the highest grasshopper density, whereas the reduction for wheat and canola ranged from 50 to 90%. There was little or no difference among all grasshopper densities for C-N ratio in leaf and stem tissues of all crops. The results suggest that wheat and canola are more susceptible than barley and oats and that densities ≥2 pot−1 (≈≥50 m−2) of even very small grasshoppers could cause significant damage in small-grain and oilseed crop production.
A Novel Thyroid Ultrasound Proficiency Metric Designed Through a Multidisciplinary Delphi Approach

Performance: 1, not performed or performed incorrectly; 2, adequate; 3, proficient Positioning Supine, neck extended 1 2 3 Technique Achieves good coupling, controls gain and resolution for optimal visualization 1 2 3 High frequency ( 10 MHz), linear (superficial), or curved linear (deep) transducer 1 2 3 Probe held steady, scanning movement at wrist joint 1 2 3 Exam covers relevant anatomic regions 1 2 3 Image capture Contextualizes target using nearby structures (trachea and carotid sheath contents) 1 2 3 Proper labeling 1 2 3 Measurement Calipers perpendicular, accurately measures lobes and masses along CC, transverse, AP axes 1 2 3 Accuracy and reproducibility 1 2 3 Interpretation Uses consensus guidelines for biopsy 1 2 3 Characterization (microcalcification, cysts, echogenicity, vascularity, encapsulation) 1 2 3 Identifies parathyroid adenoma 1 2 3 Characterizes location of lesion within or relative to the thyroid gland 1 2 3 Compares to prior imaging, if available 1 2 3 Total score ____/42 Vol. 221, No. 4S1, October 2015 Scientific Forum Abstracts S47
Has Pay for Performance Gone Awry? Views from a Corporate Governance Forum

Some of the most controversial governance-related issues that have arisen in recent years involve executive and employee compensation. Investors, the press, and the public have expressed concern over (1) escalating executive pay packages and (2) the growing use of stock options. This article discusses the issues raised by participants at a Corporate Governance Forum, Executive Compensation, Stock Options, and the Role of the Board of Directors, hosted by the TIAA-CREF Institute on April 5, 2001. The Forum brought together a diverse group, including corporate officers and directors, academic and other researchers, compensation consultants, corporate human resources personnel, institutional investors, regulators, and other practitioners, and provided an opportunity for an open exchange of views among groups that do not often meet together. Participants discussed current trends in compensation practice, the accounting for stock-based compensation, the appropriate use of stock options and alternatives to standard at-the-money options. They also reviewed and debated the role of shareholders in approving compensation plans, and the importance of the board of directors and board compensation committee in determining compensation policy. The article attempts to provide an overview of the comments and observations of both panel members and the audience. The article first provides a primer on stock options and related compensation issues, then generally follows the order of the conference sessions: (1) Executive Compensation and Executive Stock Options, (2) the General Use of Stock Options and Dilution Issues, and (3) the Role of the Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee. Necessarily, there is some overlap within each of the three broad topics. This article is not a transcript of the Forum, a comprehensive background on compensation programs, or a statement of best practices as it relates to compensation policies. Rather, the goal is simply to share some of the insights and information presented at the conference with a broader audience.
Peridischarge prophylactic platelet transfusions after stem cell transplant: is a tranfusion trigger needed?

BACKGROUND We examined the appropriateness of prophylactic peridischarge platelet (PLT) transfusions and the feasibility of lowering the prophylactic PLT transfusion threshold in transplant recipients within 24 hours of discharge at a National Cancer Institute–designated comprehensive cancer center. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS From April 2011 to June 2014, each prophylactic PLT transfusion that was administered to transplant recipients within 24 hours of discharge was identified. Each transfusion was reviewed to identify the indication and to determine if the transfusion adhered to institutional guidelines. RESULTS Of the 187 transplant patients identified, 44 patients received a prophylactic PLT transfusion within 24 hours of discharge. Of these 44 patients, transfusions were administered to fulfill a PLT count of 20 × 109/L required for discharge (n = 25 patients), for the removal of a tunneled central venous catheter (n = 16 patients), for active bleeding (n = 1 patient), or due to active anticoagulation (n = 2 patients). CONCLUSIONS The majority of PLT transfusions (95%) were appropriate, and only 5% were avoidable. If the prophylactic PLT transfusion threshold was decreased to 15 × 109/L from 20 × 109/L for central line removal and to fulfill discharge PLT count criteria, 41% of the currently appropriate PLT transfusions could have been avoided. These results suggest that a risk-adapted method to select autologous transplant recipients for prophylactic PLT transfusions may be beneficial. A future study is needed to address this issue.
Effects of Football Equipment on Thermal Balance and Energy Cost during Exercise

Abstract Central core temperature, energy cost and pulmonary ventilation, heart rate, and sweat loss were measured on 5 football players while exercising on a motor driven treadmill at 6 mph for 20 min. Comparisons were made while subjects wore a football uniform and a hospital scrub suit. Core temperature was measured by a rectal thermistor inserted 4 in. into the rectum, energy cost and pulmonary ventilation by open circuit spirometry, heart rate by telemetry, and sweat loss by pre- and postexercise weight changes. Core temperature, sweat loss, and peak exercise and end recovery heart rates while running in the uniform were significantly elevated compared to the scrub suit controls. Energy cost and pulmonary ventilation were greater (not significant) in the uniform primarily because of the added weight and, to a lesser degree, the reduction in available evaporative surface area.
Modeling Heart Rate Dynamics in Response to Changes in Exercise Intensity

This paper develops a nonlinear mathematical model to describe the heart rate response of an individual during cycling. The model is able to account for the fluctuations of an individual’s heart rate while they participate in exercise that varies in intensity. A method for estimating the model parameters using a genetic algorithm is presented and implemented, and the results show good agreement between the actual parameter values and the estimated values when tested using synthetic data.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Atomic Structure of Heterophase Boundaries

Geometric models relating the energy of heterophase boundaries to their atomic structure can be based on the static distortion wave concept. This approach allows to separate the energetic contributions of commensurate and incommensurate boundary structures and provides the physical basis for models proposed previously to predict low energy configurations of such interfaces.
Creating a New Paradigm for Teaching Personal Health

(2001). Creating a New Paradigm for Teaching Personal Health. American Journal of Health Education: Vol. 32, No. 4, pp. 243-245.
Discrepancy between theory and experiment for nonplanar symmetric (e,2e) momentum profiles of H2 (1 Sigma g+).

The theoretical (e,2e) reaction cross sections for ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ in the plane-wave impulse approximation are calculated by use of the very highly electron correlated ground-state wave function of ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ (this wave function gives 98% of molecular binding energy) and the exact Born-Oppenheimer wave functions of ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$${\mathrm{}}^{+}$ for the various electronic states. The theoretical value for the n=2 to n=1 cross-section ratio for q\ensuremath{\simeq}0.3 a.u. is in good agreement with the experiment, where n is the principal molecular-ion quantum number and q is the recoil momentum. However, the disagreement of 34% for q\ensuremath{\simeq}0.7 a.u. remains unresolved. The separate calculated cross sections for transitions to the n=2 final states remain in total disagreement with two sets of experimental data. As a result of the large disagreement, the first-order distorted-wave impulse approximation may not be able to explain such a large discrepancy. It is argued that the disagreement, as large as 10 times in the separate energy spectrum expecially for the peak observed around 30 eV assigned to 2p${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{u}$, may be due to the involvement of an autoionization process of ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$. This resembles the energetic proton spectrum reported for ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ by electron impact.
Providing Balanced Mapping for Multiple Applications in Many-Core Chip Multiprocessors

This paper addresses the problem of balancing the on-chip packet latencies in a chip multi-processor (CMP), which is simultaneously executing multiple applications. Specifically, this paper presents a balanced application-to-core mapping algorithm that aims to minimize the maximum on-chip packet latency of all running applications. The paper starts by formulating the balanced mapping problem for CMPs and proving its NP-completeness. Next it presents an efficient heuristic algorithm for solving the aforesaid problem, which utilizes the characteristics of on-chip cache and memory accesses in CMPs and takes into account the workload variations among applications. Simulation results on PARSEC benchmark suite show that the proposed algorithm lowers the maximum average packet latency of all applications by 11 percent while cutting the standard deviation of on-chip packet latencies by 99 percent. This is achieved by very little overhead in terms of the overall packet latency and power consumption averaged over all packets.
The relative importance of some factors influencing the impulse electric strength of 10-C oil

When uniform-field, impulse electric strength measurements were made in different laboratories on liquids having ostensibly the same composition, the resulting values of electric strength often differed by as much as a factor of seven. To resolve this discrepancy, a study of the problem revealed that differences in the following experimental conditions might be responsible for the divergence of results: (1) electrode shape and spacing; (2) electrode composition; (3) physical impurities in the liquid (e.g., dust content); (4) waveshape of the testing voltage; and (5) chemical impurities in the liquid samples. While the findings of Wilson (1) and Weber and Endicott (2) had demonstrated the importance of the electrode spacing and shape in determining the measured strength, it was desirable to make a survey of the relative importance of all these factors. The last named variable, viz., the effect of chemical impurities, was not investigated but merely held constant by using samples from the same batch of oil throughout the experiments. The experimental results are summarized in Figure 1.
Langasite SAW device with gas-sensitive layer

High temperature langasite SAW oxygen sensors using ZnO as a resistive sensing layer were fabricated and tested in a wired configuration up to 650°C, representing an important step toward future high temperature wireless sensor development. ZnO layers deposited by spin coating and RF sputtering methods were compared. The langasite SAW sensor with spin coated ZnO sensing film had strongly increasing surface wave attenuation from 100°C to 250°C and undetectable reflections above 250°C. The langasite SAW gas sensor with sputtered ZnO sensing film showed clear oxygen gas flow response from 500°C to 650°C.
Improved estimation of population mean using known median of auxiliary variable

ABSTRACTIn this article, we consider the problem of estimation of population mean using the known median of auxiliary variable. We proposed an estimator and its efficiency is studied analytically as well as empirically for different conditions. The proposed estimator is found to be more efficient than traditional estimators such as sample mean and linear regression estimator.
The Determination of Zirconium-95 Plus Niobium-95 By Anion-Exchange Separation From Other Fission Products

Summary A rapid and simple anion-exchange method is described for the separation of Zr 95 plus Nb 95 from other fission products. The zirconium and niobium are adsorbed onto a 7 mm diameter column 100 mm in length of Dowex-l-X4, 100–200 mesh resin from a hydrofluoric acid solution of the fission products. The resin is counted directly, using a 3-in. NaI(T1) well-type crystal and a gamma scintillation spectrometer. Yields of greater than 99.5 per cent are obtained. The activity levels of the major fission products (Ru 106 , Cs 137 and Ce 144 ) are reduced by more than 95 per cent. Distribution coefficients were established for the adsorption of zirconium and niobium from HF solutions ranging from 0.1 to 6 M in concentration. Elution characteristics are described for tracer amounts of Ru 106 , Ce 144 and Cs 137 in HF solutions alone and in the presence of macro amounts of U, Fe and Al. The maximum amount of U which can be tolerated and an estimation of the error in counting caused by the displacement of Zr and Nb by U are given.
Siderophore-Mediated Iron Transport in Microbes

Iron is an essential element for all living things (with the exception perhaps of a few bacteria in specialized environments). Incorporation of iron into biochemistry certainly occurred in the very earliest evolution of life on this planet. By changing the global surface chemistry, life also changed the availability of iron on the planet since the ferric ion present in an aerobic environment is much less readily available than the ferrous ion largely present on the surface of primordial earth. A brief review of the availability of iron, its storage and transport, is presented. The focus is especially on transport and storage systems as pertains to the virulence of microorganisms. Most aerobic and anaerobic bacteria synthesize and excrete low molecular weight compounds (siderophores) for the solubilization and transport of iron. Since the iron supply is often a limiting factor in the growth of these microbes, siderophores and their corresponding transport systems play an important role in bacterial virulence.
C-C-Bond Forming Reactions

The use of hypervalent iodine reagents in carbon-carbon bond forming reactions is summarized with particular emphasis on applications in organic synthesis. The most important recent methods involve the radical decarboxylative alkylation of organic substrates with [bis(acyloxy)iodo]arenes, spirocyclization of para- and ortho-substituted phenols, the intramolecular oxidative coupling of phenol ethers, and the reactions of iodonium salts and ylides. A significant recent research activity is centered in the area of the transition metalmediated coupling reactions of the alkenyl-, aryl-, and alkynyliodonium salts.
Suicidal Behavior and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in Emergency Departments Underestimated by Administrative Claims Data.

Abstract. Background: External causes of injury codes (E-codes) are used in administrative and claims databases for billing and often employed to estimate the number of self-injury visits to emergency departments (EDs). Aims: This study assessed the accuracy of E-codes using standardized, independently administered research assessments at the time of ED visits. Method: We recruited 254 patients at three psychiatric emergency departments in the United States between 2007 and 2011, who completed research assessments after presenting for suicide-related concerns and were classified as suicide attempters (50.4%, n = 128), nonsuicidal self-injurers (11.8%, n = 30), psychiatric controls (29.9%, n = 76), or interrupted suicide attempters (7.8%, n = 20). These classifications were compared with their E-code classifications. Results: Of the participants, 21.7% (55/254) received an E-code. In all, 36.7% of research-classified suicide attempters and 26.7% of research-classified nonsuicidal self-injurers received sel...
Assessing exchange-correlation functionals for elasticity and thermodynamics of α-ZrW2O8: A density functional perturbation theory study

Abstract Elastic and thermodynamic properties of negative thermal expansion (NTE) α -ZrW 2 O 8 have been calculated using PBEsol and PBE exchange-correlation functionals within the framework of density functional perturbation theory (DFPT). Measured elastic constants are reproduced within ∼ 2 % with PBEsol and ∼ 6 % with PBE. The thermal evolution of the Gruneisen parameter computed within the quasi-harmonic approximation exhibits negative values below the Debye temperature, consistent with observation. The standard molar heat capacity is predicted to be C P 0 = 192.2 and 193.8 J mol - 1 K - 1 with PBEsol and PBE, respectively. These results suggest superior accuracy of DFPT/PBEsol for studying the lattice dynamics, elasticity and thermodynamics of NTE materials.
Trajectory pre-compensation algorithm for improving the path accuracy of industrial robots

In this paper, a trajectory pre-compensation algorithm is proposed for improving the path accuracy of 6 D.O.F. industrial robots. Via the analysis for the dynamic behavior of robot motion, a prediction model of path deviation is derived and applied to implement path pre-compensation scheme. The scheme is not only easy compatible with the interface of industry control platform, but also is low computation complexity. The proposed method is experimentally validated on the ITRI A-type industrial robot.
Probabilistic Mechanistic-Based Pavement Damage Costs for Multitrip Overweight Vehicles

AbstractThe main objective of this paper is to present a probabilistic approach for estimating asphalt concrete (AC) pavement damage–associated costs (PDAC) attributed to overweight (OW) vehicles. ...
Synthesis and characterization of an acenaphthene–fused, π-extended tetrathiafulvalene derivative

Abstract The π-extended TTF derivative (III) containing fused acenaphthene moieties was synthesized by the P(OMe)3 mediated coupling reaction of acenaphtho[1, 2-d][1, 3]dithiol-8-one (II). Compound II was obtained in 51% yield from 1(2 H)-acenaphthylenone (I) in a single step. Crystal structures of compounds I and II reveal the presence of extended intermolecular π-π stacking interactions in the crystal lattice. TTF derivative III reacted with 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) to form a charge-transfer complex that exhibited absorption bands at 762 and 859 nm. A simplified molecular orbital diagram for III was established using density functional theory (DFT) to understand electronic transitions.
Molecular Pathology of Uncommon Carcinomas

The WHO/IASLC classification of lung carcinomas’ several broad categories that include the majority of lung carcinomas includes adenocarcinoma, squamous carcinoma, small cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinomas. Uncommon carcinomas include sarcomatoid carcinomas, tumors of salivary gland type, NUT carcinoma, lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma, and adenosquamous carcinoma. These tumors are distinguished from more common carcinomas by unique histologic patterns or by combinations of patterns not seen in the more conventional categories. Interestingly, these morphologic categories have unique molecular correlates.
Rate Distribution Modeling for Structured Heterogeneous Populations

We propose a modeling strategy for structured populations, in which individuals are not necessarily identical. The heterogeneity is obtained by modeling the population as comprising homogeneous subpopulations. By using a vector measure, we combine the subpopulations with an abstract integral to obtain the density of the population. We show that this approach leads to a semigroup formulation of the dynamics in a space of vector measures, and we develop some estimation methods for determining the initial structure from observed data.
Risk Perception and the Perceived Public

The popular press has a fondness for stories about the risks of life. Death and destruction, pollution and pestilence, murder and mayhem: the more the merrier. So it has always been. Recently, however, reporters have uncovered a new kind of threat. According to numerous psychological experiments, it now seems likely that lay people do not understand statistics well enough to make intelligent use of all this information about death and destruction, pollution and pestilence, murder and mayhem. As a writer for the Saturday Evening Post recently summed matters up, “when it comes to risk, we are idiots” (Bryson, 1988, p. 31).
Edge-to-edge repairs of P2 prolapsed mitral valves in isolated swine hearts.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY The study aim was to determine if mitral stenosis occurred after edge-to-edge (E2E) repair of P2 mitral valve prolapse. METHODS Six swine hearts were reanimated and videoscopes placed to view the mitral valve from the left atrium and left ventricle. Image analyses provided measures of the valve annulus area, orifice area, and regurgitant area. Hemodynamic data were collected (heart rates, left ventricular (LV) pressures, left atrial pressures, maximal LV dP/dt, and maximal LV -dP/dt) from three groups: (i) native functioning valve (Normal); (ii) mitral valve following excision of strut chordae from the P2 region (Prolapse); and (iii) following E2E repair. RESULTS The mitral valve annulus areas were unaffected by the creation of prolapses, or following repairs (Normal 10.50 +/- 4.22 cm2; Prolapse 9.41 +/- 3.70 cm2; E2E 9.66 +/- 3.37 cm2; p < 0.01), with similar decreases in annulus areas throughout the cardiac cycles, measured at 15 +/- 3%. The orifice areas did not change with the creation of prolapses, but decreased following repairs (Normal 4.49 +/- 2.70 cm2; Prolapse 4.13 +/- 2.16 cm2; E2E 1.99 +/- 1.19 cm2; p = 0.12). The regurgitant areas increased following induced prolapse, and returned to near-normal levels upon repair (Normal 0.20 +/- 0.16 cm2; Prolapse 0.73 +/- 0.35 cm2; E2E 0.12 +/- 0.10 cm2; p < 0.01). The max LV dP/dt measures did not decrease significantly, whereas max LV -dP/dt measures were decreased. CONCLUSION In this acute assessment of E2E repair of surgically induced mitral valve P2 prolapses, it was observed that a placed A2-P2 (Alfieri) stitch did not change the annulus area, but caused a significant decrease in the orifice area while successfully eliminating regurgitation, but without causing stenosis.
Generalizing a Data Analysis Pipeline in the Cloud to Handle Diverse Use Cases in NASA's EOSDIS

NASA's Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) is tasked with archiving and distributing Earth Observation data across a range of disciplines, including atmospheric science, oceanography, land processes, natural hazards, solar radiance and even socioeconomic aspects relating to the environment. Driven by rapidly rising data volumes, EOSDIS is migrating to a cloud computing based archive over the next few years. Although this simplifies data management somewhat, the main aim is to provide the data in an environment where end users can bring their analysis to the data rather than attempting to download and manage ever-increasing volumes. To that end, a cloud-based analysis platform is being constructed to enable data transformations, analyses and visualization without egressing the data from the cloud. In this endeavor, we expect a wide variety of users, algorithms and use cases. Consequently, the architecture of this cloud analytics platform is expressly designed to be based on open services, thus fostering an ecosystem that enables the efficient combination of common components with data-specific or analysis-specific components.
Evaluating Energy Impacts and Costs from PV Component Failures

The PV Reliability PerformanceModel (PV-RPM) tool is used to simulate the cost and energy impacts of component faults and failures for a hypothetical PV system. This model, originally developed by Sandia National Laboratories, is a new feature in the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's System Advisor Model (SAM), which performs stochastic analysissampling of probability distributions for faults, failures, and repairs. One PV system was created for this analysis to be representative of a portfolio of maintenance data maintained by Sandia National Laboratories. Fault,failure, and repair distributions from this system are varied from current baseline conditions to simulate different reliability and repair scenarios and resulting energy and cost impacts. Results highlight ways to express the uncertainty around PV system performance when considering the probabilistic behavior of components inthe system, and ways the PV-RPM model can be used to explore different failure and repair scenarios.
High levels of objectively measured physical activity across adolescence and adulthood among the Pokot pastoralists of Kenya.

Objectives Levels of physical activity (PA) across the lifespan are important predictors of physical fitness, impacting individual health, and longevity. Individuals living in industrialized societies are often characterized as more sedentary than those who live in small-scale societies, and this inactivity is generally linked with increased incidence of chronic disease, especially during aging. However, less empirical data exist regarding levels and patterns of PA across the lifespan among small-scale societies compared with industrialized societies. The goal of this study was to characterize PA among the Pokot pastoralists of rural northern Kenya. Methods PA was measured in 40 participants ranging in age from 14 to 78 years using ActiGraph wrist-worn accelerometers. Wear time spanned 24-77 hours, with a modal wear time of 50 hours. Results We show that the Pokot spend large amounts of time in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), achieving an average of 99.14 ± 7.25 minutes per day in MVPA. Males and younger participants tended to spend more time in MVPA. However, older participants were still physically active and engaged in over 50 minutes per day of MVPA. Conclusions The Pokot are highly physically active from adolescence through adulthood. Other pastoralist groups may display a similar pattern of PA. During human evolution, lifespans increased, and lifestyles were characterized by a relatively high level of physical activity. The human aging process may be adapted for activity throughout life, and lifelong activity may have played an important role in increases in human longevity during evolution.
The sporozoite’s journey through the mosquito: a critical examination of host and parasite factors required for salivary gland invasion

Although much progress has been made in the fight against malaria, the number of people that contract this disease due to the bite of an Anopheline mosquito remains unacceptably high. A better understanding of the relationship between the Plasmodium parasite and its vector is of extreme importance and may allow for the development of new tools to fight the disease. In particular, new genome editing techniques may allow the modification or removal of factors critical for parasite traversal of the vector mosquito. In this review, we aim to highlight what is known about important molecules encoded by the mosquito or parasite involved in this close interaction, focused on a specific window of the parasite life cycle inside the mosquito: from egress and release of the sporozoites from the oocyst into the hemolymph, until salivary gland penetration. While sophisticated molecular tools have already helped to understand aspects of parasite-mosquito interactions, our understanding of this brief period is still limited. Here, we discuss the evidence surrounding essential parasite and mosquito factors relating to sporozoite invasion of the salivary glands, and emphasize the areas where the lack of information is limiting the advance of strategies to manipulate the mosquito in order to block the transmission of malaria parasites.
Maximizing energy production from hydropower dams using short-term weather forecasts

Abstract This study explores the maximization of hydropower generation by optimizing reservoir operations based on short-term inflow forecasts derived from publicly available numerical weather prediction (NWP) models. Forecast fields from the NWP model of Global Forecast System (GFS) were used to force the Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) hydrologic model to forecast reservoir inflow for 1–16 days lead time. The optimization of reservoir operations was performed based on the forecast of inflow. The concept was demonstrated for two dams in the United States. Results showed that a significantly greater amount additional hydroelectric energy benefit can be derived consistently than the traditional operations without optimization and weather forecasts. Goals of flood control and dam safety were also not compromised when exploring opportunities for hydropower maximization. An alternate data-based technique was also demonstrated to improve the forecasting skill and efficiency. The study clearly underscores the additional value of weather forecasts that are available publicly and globally from NWP models for any dam location for hydropower maximization. Given the on-going effort to coordinate strategies for sustainable energy production from renewable energy sources, it is timely that this concept be expanded further to current hydropower dam sites around the world.
An Assessment of Blockchain Identity Solutions: Minimizing Risk and Liability of Authentication

Personally Identifiable Information (PII) is often used to perform authentication and acts as a gateway to personal and organizational information. One weak link in the architecture of identity management services is sufficient to cause exposure and risk identity. Recently, we have witnessed a shift in identity management solutions with the growth of blockchain. Blockchain—the decentralized ledger system—provides a unique answer addressing security and privacy with its embedded immutability. In a blockchain-based identity solution, the user is given the control of his/her identity by storing personal information on his/her device and having the choice of identity verification document used later to create blockchain attestations. Yet, the blockchain technology alone is not enough to produce a better identity solution. The user cannot make informed decisions as to which identity verification document to choose if he/she is not presented with tangible guidelines. In the absence of scientifically created practical guidelines, these solutions and the choices they offer may become overwhelming and even defeat the purpose of providing a more secure identity solution.We analyze different PII options given to users for authentication on current blockchain-based solutions. Based on our Identity Ecosystem model, we evaluate these options and their risk and liability of exposure. Powered by real world data of about 6,000 identity theft and fraud stories, our model recommends some authentication choices and discourages others. Our work paves the way for a truly effective identity solution based on blockchain by helping users make informed decisions and motivating blockchain identity solution providers to introduce better options to their users.CCS CONCEPTS• Security and privacy → Privacy protections; • Social and professional topics → Privacy policies; • Applied computing → Digital cash.
Introduction to the Special Edition of the Review of Black Political Economy on Revisiting the Kerner Commission Report

Revisiting the work of the Kerner Commission after 50 years offers the opportunity to explore two unresolved research and policy issues. First, many of the racial disparities that promoted widespre...
A reflection on future directions: Global international and intercultural competencies in higher education:

In the final article of the special issue, we offer a reflection on the ideas presented by the authors and recommendations for future research on implementation and assessment of Global, Internatio...
Synaptic remodeling, lessons from C. elegans.

Sydney Brenner’s choice of Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism for understanding the nervous system has accelerated discoveries of gene function in neural circuit development and behavior. I...
Determination of phosphorus and sulfur in uranium ore concentrates by triple quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

Abstract The analysis of impurities in a uranium ore concentrate (UOC) could provide information regarding the source, production history, and potential intended use of the UOC. This study involves the analysis of UOC samples for phosphorus and sulfur. Concentrations were determined by triple quadrupole inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry and compared with results from a pyrohydrolysis method as well as previously reported results. The sulfur and phosphorus concentrations, determined by the mass spectrometer, were used to explore possible trends in a series of UOC material, and the uncertainties were calculated using GUM workbench software. The triple quadrupole inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometer method allows for the removal of interferences in the analysis of species.
Rapid retooling for emergency response with hybrid manufacturing

The global manufacturing industry has served as a keystone in supporting the weight of emergency response operations during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic Development of core technologies necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including Personal Protective Equipment, infection testing kits, and vaccine research supplies, requires intensive manufacturing operations to support a population at scale The production of these items is traditionally dependent on the tool and die industry, requiring imports of steel castings from overseas suppliers The United States (U S ) manufacturing industry was left isolated and unprepared as international borders closed overnight and normal supply chains were cut This technical note provides a forward-looking approach at the benefits of hybrid manufacturing processes to provide rapid reconfiguration capabilities in the U S tool and die industry A demonstration in rapid production of new tooling is provided to illustrate these benefits Finally, emerging hybrid technologies are discussed in pursuit of more flexible manufacturing operations © This work is not subject to copyright law ASTM International
Contribution of Bremsstrahlung Emission from Lyman-alpha Clouds to the Microwave Background Fluctuations

I calculate the contribution of Bremsstrahlung emission from Lyman-alpha absorption clouds to the brightness of the microwave sky. The calculation is based only on the assumption that the clouds below the Lyman-limit are in photoionization equilibrium with a UV background radiation, and avoids any uncertainty about the clumpiness of the gas. I predict a minimum fluctuation amplitude in the Rayleigh-Jeans regime of DeltaT/T = 10^{-5.5+-0.4}*J_21*(L/5cm)^2, which varies over characteristic angular scales of 1-100'', where L is the observed wavelength and J_21 is a weighted redshift average of the UV background intensity at the Lyman-limit in units of 10^{-21} erg cm^{-2} s^{-1} Hz^{-1} sr^{-1}. Detection of this signal can be used to map the intergalactic hydrogen distribution and to calibrate the UV background at high redshifts. Existing VLA observations constrain J_21<10^{1.3+-0.4}, unless some of the extended flat-spectrum sources which were detected are Lyman-alpha absorption systems.
‘Physical Culture Is Good for Body and Soul’: Recreational Physical Culture in Interwar Ireland

Where Chaps. 6 and 7 discuss institutional forms of physical culture, Chap. 5 opens with a discussion of recreational physical culture in the interwar period. It was within this realm that the impact of partition was not as keenly felt. In Free State, and Northern Irish communities, commonalities could be found in exercisers’ interests and commerce. Differences did exist, a point discussed at length, but far more similarities were prevalent. Here older trends discussed in Chap. 2 are contrasted with new developments such as Perfect Man competitions, communal working-class gymnasiums and expansive forms of female physical culture.
Empathy and Common Ground

Critics of empathy—the capacity to share the mental lives of others—have charged that empathy is intrinsically biased. It occurs between no more than two people, and its key function is arguably to coordinate and align feelings, thoughts, and responses between those who are often already in close personal relationships. Because of this, critics claim that empathy is morally unnecessary at best and morally harmful at worst. This paper argues, however, that it is precisely because of its ability to connect people by coordinating and aligning their feelings, thoughts, and responses, that empathy is especially well suited to perform one particular moral task that has been largely overlooked in moral philosophical discussions. That is, helping people, including those who are antagonistically opposed on matters of moral, social, and political importance—what I call antagonistic moral opponents—find common ground: a set of shared beliefs, attitudes, values, or experiences that lays the requisite ground for even minimally positive relationships. Doing so can contribute to a number of morally, practically, and epistemically important outcomes, including resolving fraught disagreements, mitigating antagonism, promoting cooperation, learning from differences, and even forging positive relationships of various sorts. Contra critics, I therefore maintain that empathy is important for at least one area of the moral life.
Polycentropus aileenae n. sp. (Trichoptera: Polycentropodidae), a caddisfly species from the eastern Nearctic, with new state records for members of the Polycentropus confusus Species Group.

A new eastern Nearctic species of tube-making caddisfly of the genus Polycentropus Curtis 1835 (Trichoptera: Polycentropodidae) is described and illustrated based on adult males and females. Polycentropus aileenae n. sp., a member of the Polycentropus confusus Species Group, is reported from the Canadian province Nova Scotia and the U.S. states Tennessee and Pennsylvania. The species is diagnosed based on multiple aspects of the male genitalia, including inflection of the dorsal processes of the preanal appendages and the slightly recurved dorsum of the apex of the phallus. New U.S. state records of P. confusus Hagen 1861 and P. elarus Ross 1944 from Florida, and P. thaxtoni Hamilton & Holzenthal 1986 from Alabama, are also provided.
Legal-Bibliographical Roots: Fragments of a Green Bag Origin Story

A couple of the most interesting English literary and legal periodicals of the late 19th century may have been behind — or at least have been the inspirations for — one of the most interesting American literary and legal periodicals of the late 19th century. This short paper offers clues, analysis, and a conclusion, none of which are unassailably strong.
Songs of the Body

The heart: an apple, half eaten. At the white core are eyes. A window. Someone is tapping. My hair will circle his throat. He doesn't recognize his reflection, face pocked by raindrops, he will examine my sex, I will hold him within it. Step closer. I'm here in the glass and beyond it. I press my hand to the ghost of itself, cover the man who loves wind in the trees, their nervous, rustling speech. Not the sounds a woman makes. Not the man as he enters her body.
Magnetic ordering in [Co(γ-Ch3C5H4NO)6](ClO4)2. I. Crystal structure and superexchange pathways

Abstract The crystal structure of the title compound is reported, where the ligand is γ-methylpyridine N-oxide. The crystal data are: space group P 2 1 / c , Z = 2, a = 9.498(2) A , b = 10.761(3) A , c = 20.523(7) A , and β = 92.46(2)° . The structure consists of octahedrally-coordinated [Co(γ-CH3C5H4NO)6]2+ ions in a largely two-dimensional network, together with perchlorate ions which exhibit two-fold positional disorder. Likely superexchange paths are discussed.
Necrotizing Soft-Tissue Infections

The hallmarks of necrotizing fasciitis are friable superficial fascia, gray exudate without pus, and widespread tissue destruction. The infection is either polymicrobial or monomicrobial. Early surgical debridement and appropriate antibiotics are crucial for recovery.
A prostaglandin omega-hydroxylase cytochrome P-450 (P-450PG-omega) purified from lungs of pregnant rabbits.

Cytochrome P-450-dependent prostaglandin omega-hydroxylation is induced over 100-fold during late gestation in rabbit pulmonary microsomes (Powell, W.S. (1978) J. Biol. Chem. 253, 6711-6716). Purification of cytochromes P-450 from lung microsomes of pregnant rabbits yielded three fractions. Two of these fractions correspond to rabbit lung P-450I (LM2) and P-450II (LM5), which together constitute 70-97% of total cytochrome P-450 in lung microsomes from nonpregnant rabbits. The third form, which we designate rabbit cytochrome P-450PG-omega, regioselectively hydroxylates prostaglandins at the omega-position in reconstituted systems with a turnover of 1-5 min-1. Titration with purified pig liver cytochrome b5, demonstrated a 4-fold maximum stimulation at a cytochrome b5 to a P-450 molar ratio of 1-2. Rabbit lung P-450PG-omega formed a typical type I binding spectrum upon the addition of prostaglandin E1 with a calculated K8 of 1 microM, which agreed reasonably well with the kinetically calculated Km of 3 microM. Cytochrome P-450PG-omega was isolated as a low-spin isozyme with a lambda max (450 nm) in the CO-difference spectrum distinguishable from P-450I (451 nm) and P-450II (449 nm). Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide slab gel electrophoresis demonstrated that although purified P-450PG-omega had a relatively low specific content (12.1 nmol mg-1), it appeared homogeneous with a calculated minimum Mr of 56,000, intermediate between rabbit LM4 and LM6. When lung microsomes from pregnant and nonpregnant rabbit were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, a protein band, with a Mr identical to P-450PG-omega, was observed in the pregnant rabbit, whereas this band appeared to be very faint or absent in microsomes from the nonpregnant rabbit. Purification of cytochromes P-450 from nonpregnant rabbit lung yielded only P-450I and P-450II. P-450PG-omega appears to be a novel rabbit P-450, possessing high activity towards omega-hydroxylation of prostaglandins, and is greatly induced during pregnancy in rabbit lung.
Dynamic Control Models of a Robot for High Speed and High Precision Assembly with Tolerance Constraints

A dynamic control model has been developed for robot motors controlling a high speed and high precision assembly process. This model includes the effects of parts tolerances and the tolerances of their associated assembly robots on assembly operations leading to the optimal allocation and distribution of tolerances to the workpieces and the robots. The application of modern control theory with constraints on state variables to the real time control of robots with displacement and motion constraints is generally difficult because of current limitations in controller processing time. The control model has been developed to facilitate the implementation of digital control algorithms using microprocessors with simple algebraic processing and yet satisfy robot constraints. Numerical examples are used to demonstrate the feasibility of the above near optimal control method. The simulation results show that high assembly speeds can be achieved with displacement, velocity and acceleration constraints and the computation required for real time implementation is relatively moderate.
Cloning of genes encoding extracellular metalloproteases from Erwinia chrysanthemi EC16.

Abstract A 14-kilobase BamHI-EcoRI DNA fragment cloned from Erwinia chrysanthemi EC16 contained a gene encoding a metalloprotease inhibitor as well as three tandem prt genes encoding metalloproteases. The prt genes were separated from the inhibitor gene by a ca. 4-kilobase region that was necessary for extracellular secretion of the proteases. When individually subcloned downstream from vector promoters, the three prt genes each led to substantial extracellular secretion of the proteases by Escherichia coli cells, provided that the 4-kilobase required region was supplied in cis or trans. One of the protease structural genes, prtC, was sequenced and had high homology to a metalloprotease gene previously described from Serratia species as well as to the prtB gene of E. chrysanthemi B374. Marker exchange mutants of E. chrysanthemi EC16 defective in production of one or all of the extracellular proteases were not impaired in virulence on plant tissue.
Ground-level concentrations of atmospheric methane in southwest Greenland evaluated using open-path laser spectroscopy and cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy

Abstract Portable open-path laser (OPL) instruments provide a way to measure real-time, in situ atmospheric methane (CH4) concentrations at a variety of spatial and temporal scales. Our results suggest that OPL instruments may be simple and effective tools for monitoring atmospheric CH4 dynamics near ground-level in Arctic landscapes. We used a CH4 detecting OPL instrument at seven different field sites in southwest Greenland during the summer of 2012 to monitor atmospheric CH4 concentrations in the presence of local CH4 sources and sinks. Measurements with the OPL were conducted for deployments between 0.4 and 40 h over path lengths between 10 and 300 m. These measurements were checked against periodic grab samples analyzed in the field lab using cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy. Mean concentrations of atmospheric CH4 measured with the OPL across all field sites ranged from 1.72 (±0.12) to 1.88 (±0.15) ppm by volume (ppmv). The median atmospheric CH4 concentration measured using cavity-enhanced ab...