cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A review of the health effects and exposure-responsible relationship of diesel particulate matter for underground mines

Abstract The increasing use of diesel-powered equipment in confined spaces (underground mines) has the potential to over expose underground miners under the threat of diesel particulate matter (DPM). Miners in underground mines can be exposed to DPM concentrations far more than works in other industries. A great number of animal and epidemiological studies have shown that both short-term and long-term DPM exposure have adverse health effect. Based on reviews of related studies, especially some recent evidence, this paper investigated the long and short-term health effects based on animal studies and epidemiological studies. The exposure-response relationship studies were also explored and compared to the current DPM regulation or standards in some countries. This paper found that the DPM health effect studies specifically for miners are not sufficient to draw solid conclusions, and a recommendation limit of DPM concentration can be put in place for better protection of miners from DPM health risk. Current animal studies lack the use of species that have similar lung functions as human for understanding the cancer mode of action in human. And finally, the DPM health hazard will continue to be a challenging topic before the mode of action and reliable exposure-response relationship are established.
Homing in on the Social: System-Level Influences on Overly Aggressive Treatments at the End of Life.

Abstract Context The American Medical System is programmed to a default setting of aggressive care for the terminally ill. Institutional norms of decision making have been shown to promote high-intensity care, regardless of consistency with patient preferences. There are myriad factors at a system, clinician, surrogate, and patient level that drive the culture of overly aggressive treatments in American hospitals. Objective The objective of this study was to understand physician perspective of the ways systems-level factors influence patient, physician, and surrogate perceptions and consequent behavior. Methods Semi-structured in-depth qualitative interviews with 42 internal medicine physicians across three American academic medical centers were conducted. This qualitative study was exploratory in nature, intended to enhance conceptual understanding of underlying phenomena that drive physician attitudes and behavior. Results The interviews revealed many factors that contributed to overly aggressive treatments at the end of life. Systemic factors, which describe underlying cultures (including institutional, professional, or community-based cultures), typical practices of care, or systemic defaults that drive patterns of care, manifested its influence both directly and through its impact on patient, surrogate, and physician behaviors and attitudes. Conclusion Institutional cultures, social norms, and systemic defaults influence both normative beliefs regarding standards of care and treatments plans that may not benefit seriously ill patients.
Placing single atoms in graphene with a scanning transmission electron microscope

We employ the sub-atomically focused beam of a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) to introduce and controllably manipulate individual dopant atoms in a 2D graphene lattice. The electron beam is used to create defects and subsequently sputter adsorbed source materials into the graphene lattice such that individual vacancy defects are controllably passivated by Si substitutional atoms. We further document that Si point defects may be directed through the lattice via e-beam control or modified (as yet, uncontrollably) to form new defects which can incorporate new atoms into the graphene lattice. These studies demonstrate the potential of STEM for atom-by-atom nanofabrication and fundamental studies of chemical reactions in 2D materials on the atomic level.
Evidence-Based Review Of Pharmacotherapy For Acute Agitation. Part 2: Safety.

Abstract Background The management of acute agitation in the emergency department often requires the administration of rapid-acting antipsychotic agents. However, there are few comparative studies and little guidance regarding the risks associated with use of such drugs in the acute setting. Objective This structured evidence-based review compared the safety of antipsychotic pharmacotherapies for acute agitation using data from randomized controlled trials identified by a literature search of the PubMed database. Results Based on findings from 34 blinded, randomized controlled trials, common acute adverse effects of second-generation antipsychotics and haloperidol were headache, dizziness, insomnia, and somnolence. There were some differences in incidence of extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS), degree of sedation, and acute QTc prolongations between agents. Conclusions The results of this review demonstrate the improved safety (particularly regarding EPS and over-sedation) of certain newer-generation antipsychotic agents compared with haloperidol and benzodiazepines for the treatment of acutely agitated patients. The risk of prolonged QT interval and torsade de pointes needs to be considered with haloperidol and some of the second-generation antipsychotics.
Knowledge of Cultures

Nurses, as well as all healthcare providers, have a mandate to become knowledgeable of patients’ health beliefs and values in order to provide culturally congruent care. Nurses should discover the beliefs and values of the patients’ cultures in a way that does not devalue their varying cultural patterns but affirms respect for them. The knowledge base peculiar to cultural competency and culturally congruent health and healthcare represents a significant paradigm shift toward concepts and language that embrace a level of competency beyond mere awareness. The attainment of cultural competence is an important prerequisite for effective care to reduce health and healthcare disparities among vulnerable individuals and groups. Quality cultural congruent care may start with awareness, knowledge, and skills relative to cultural competency, but it must also focus on creating culturally competent organizations and services through organizational responsiveness. This chapter addresses essential knowledge required for providing evidence-based culturally congruent nursing care. Cultural and anthropological concepts as well as the variant characteristics of culture are included. Recommendations for clinical practice, administration, education, and research are included.
Mechanisms of H+ injury in rabbit esophageal epithelium

We previously postulated that active Na transport by the esophageal stratified squamous epithelium is important for maintenance of its barrier function. To investigate this further we studied the effects of HCl on the in vivo esophageal potential difference (PD), on in vitro Na transport, and on esophageal Na-K-ATPase activity. In vivo esophageal perfusion with low concentrations of HCl (20 or 40 mM) increased the PD and a high concentration (120 mM) decreased it. An intermediate concentration (80 mM) caused a biphasic response with an initial increase in PD followed by a progressive decrease in PD. In vitro transport studies were performed to explain the increased in vivo PD. In the presence of luminal H+ the increased PD resulted from H+ diffusion from lumen to blood, whereas after H+ exposure the increased PD was due largely to increased net Na transport from lumen to blood through an amiloride-sensitive mechanism. In tissues with prolonged exposure to 80 mM HCl (PD decreased 80-100%), Na-K-ATPase activity was significantly inhibited (1.94 +/- 0.32 vs. 5.12 +/- 0.73 mumol P X mg prot-1 X h-1). Thus, HCl initially increases the in vivo esophageal PD by H+ transport from lumen to blood, a process replaced by stimulated net Na transport when H+ is replaced by Na. Prolonged acid exposure ultimately decreases Na exit from cells by inhibiting Na-K-ATPase activity. This sequence suggests that alterations in Na transport could result in cell edema and necrosis via loss of cell volume regulation.
Basal friction of Ice Stream E, West Antarctica

We use surface velocity derived from sequential Landsat imagery and a control method to estimate the basal-friction distribution of a major West Antarctic ice stream. The area-averaged basal stress is approximately 1.4×10 4 Pa, or about 29% of the area-averaged driving stress of 4.9×10 4 Pa. Uncertainty of the derived area-averaged basal stress is difficult to assess and depends primarily on spatial variation of the flow-law rate factor in the constitutive law. Spatial variation associated with depth-averaged temperature variation gives an uncertainty of approximately ±10 3 Pa. Approximately 60% of the ice stream has a basal-stress magnitude less than 10 4 Pa, and approximately 30% has less than 10 3 Pa. These characteristics suggest the presence of a mechanically weak, water-charged subglacial till. Small-scale sticky spots where basal friction exceeds the area-averaged driving stress are scattered irregularly across the subglacial regime and comprise approximately 15% of the ice-stream area. Sticky spots cluster in regions where Landsat imagery suggests structural features in the underlying bedrock.
Animal Models of Multiple Sclerosis

Publisher Summary Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease in the central nervous system. MS has been proposed to be a disease caused by interactions among autoimmunity, virus infections, and/or genetic factors. The autoimmune etiology of MS has been supported by clinical findings in which myelin-specific T cells and antibodies have been found in some MS patients. Infiltration of immune cells is observed in the demyelinating lesions. Immunomodulatory drugs, such as interferon (IFN)-â or anti-very late antigen (VLA)-4 antibody, are effective in some patients. Experimentally, sensitization with CNS antigen can induce an autoimmune response, resulting in the inflammatory demyelinating disease, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Microbial infections, particularly virus infection, have also been associated with MS pathogenesis. Clinically, viruses and antiviral immune responses have been detected in some MS patients. Experimentally, demyelinating diseases can be induced by viruses, such as canine distemper virus and murine hepatitis virus. Among viral models for MS, Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) infection has been widely used since 1975. In the TMEV model, various immune cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of demyelination.
A fast analytical algorithm for solving Markov decision processes with real-valued resources

Agents often have to construct plans that obey deadlines or, more generally, resource limits for real-valued resources whose consumption can only be characterized by probability distributions, such as execution time or battery power. These planning problems can be modeled with continuous state Markov decision processes (MDPs) but existing solution methods are either inefficient or provide no guarantee on the quality of the resulting policy. We therefore present CPH, a novel solution method that solves the planning problems by first approximating with any desired accuracy the probability distributions over the resource consumptions with phasetype distributions, which use exponential distributions as building blocks. It then uses value iteration to solve the resulting MDPs by exploiting properties of exponential distributions to calculate the necessary convolutions accurately and efficiently while providing strong guarantees on the quality of the resulting policy. Our experimental feasibility study in a Mars rover domain demonstrates a substantial speedup over Lazy Approximation, which is currently the leading algorithm for solving continuous state MDPs with quality guarantees.
Community in context: Comparing brand communities and retail store communities

Abstract Most studies on community in marketing examine a branding context. Few look at community in the retailing context. The present study aimed to examine whether retail store communities exist in the same way as brand communities. We collected data via a field-based, student sample and a national panel of adult consumers. These data revealed three characteristics of community. The findings also showed that some consumers did not experience community in the retail store. Based on these findings, we discuss differences between retail store communities and brand communities.
Harnessing commercial satellite technologies to monitor our forests

We are seeing tree mortality increase in western U.S. forests and die-off events around the world caused by serve or interacting disturbances like logging, drought, wildfire and pine beetle infestation. Limiting our knowledge of how forests respond is a lack of data on functional vegetation states at the tree or stand level over long periods of time and broad regions. Moderate resolution satellite imagery can provide changes in percent forest cover but cannot resolve vegetation state changes (e.g. from conifer to deciduous forest). The high resolution of Planet’s Dove imaging technologies may provide an opportunity to capture response at fine scales. We aim to integrate Planet’s constellation of satellites with Landsat imagery to create a multi-scale network for forest monitoring. However, the uncalibrated nature of these systems and the variability of sensor characteristics across the constellation make this problematic. We conducted a limited investigation of radiometric and thematic data methods for linking vegetation properties across spatial scales from 3 to 30 meters. The greatest challenge arises from the variation in Dove sensor radiometric response (roughly +/- 10%) across the constellation and optical cross talk associated with their broad, overlapping Bayer filter response. Applying a spectral band adjustment factor to improve radiometric correlation requires knowledge of the actual spectral response of the sensors which is not readily available. Using a K-means clustering algorithm to bridge scales and minimize sensor differences had mixed results for low reflectance scene components – perhaps again the result of cross-talk between Dove sensor spectral bands.
An Objective Method for Evaluating Next-Generation Sequencing Panels.

Purpose:Next-generation sequencing panels are particularly useful in identifying genetic diagnoses in patients with nonspecific clinical findings by allowing for analysis of many genes at once. The...
Relationships between aggressive driving behaviors, demographics and pareidolia

Abstract A survey was conducted that had eighty-nine participants rank whether the front and back end styles of vehicles looked like faces or could be interpreted to convey expressions of anger. A covariance analysis of the data was performed. Correlations were found between demographic information, whether participants saw the vehicles as faces (visual pareidolia), and their self-reported responses to aggressive driving behaviors. The strongest conclusion was that pareidolia, or seeing vehicles anthropomorphically, increased the likelihood of response to other aggressive drivers, whether it be aggressive or defensive action. The results improve the understanding of factors related to aggressive driving situations and road safety, and suggest further work to relate perception and emotional response in drivers.
Orientation of coastal-zone Langmuir cells forced by wind, wave and mean current at variable obliquity

Langmuir circulation, a key turbulent process in the upper ocean, is mechanistically driven and sustained by imposed atmospheric wind stress and surface wave drift. In addition, and specifically in coastal zones, the presence of a mean current – whether associated with tidal currents or large-scale eddies – generates bottom-boundary-layer shear, which further modulates the physical attributes of coastal-zone Langmuir turbulence. We show that the presence of bottom-boundary-layer shear generated by oblique forcing between the mean current, atmospheric drag, and monochromatic wave field direction changes the orientation of the resultant, large-scale Langmuir cells. A model to predict this resultant orientation, based on salient parameters defining the forcing obliquity, is proposed. We also perform a systematic parametric study to isolate the ‘turning’ influence of salient parameters, which reveals that the resultant Langmuir cell orientation is always intermediate to the imposed forces. In order to provide a rigorous basis for the results, we study terms responsible for sustenance of streamwise vorticity, and provide a theoretical justification for the observed results.
Learning from the Past: a Review of Clinical Trials Targeting Amyloid, Tau and Neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease and cause of dementia. Characterized by amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles of hyperphosphorylated Tau, AD pathology has been intensively studied during the last century. After a long series of failed trials of drugs targeting amyloid or Tau deposits, currently, hope lies in the positive results of one Phase III trial, highly debated, and on other ongoing trials. In parallel, some approaches target neuroinflammation, another central feature of AD. Therapeutic strategies are initially evaluated on animal models, in which the various drugs have shown effects on the target (decreasing amyloid, Tau and neuroinflammation) and sometimes on cognitive impairment. However, it is important to keep in mind that rodent models have a less complex brain than humans and that the pathology is generally not fully represented. Although they are indispensable tools in the drug discovery process, results obtained from animal models must be viewed with caution. In this review, we focus on the current status of disease-modifying therapies targeting amyloid, Tau and neuroinflammation with particular attention on the discrepancy between positive preclinical results on animal models and failures in clinical trials.
Outcomes after progression of disease with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy for patients with advanced melanoma.

Background Greater than one-half of patients with melanoma who are treated with antibodies blocking programmed cell death protein 1 receptor (anti-PD-1) experience disease progression. The objective of the current study was to identify prognostic factors and outcomes in patients with metastatic melanoma that progressed while they were receiving anti-PD-1 therapy. Methods The authors evaluated 383 consecutively treated patients who received anti-PD-1 for advanced melanoma between 2009 and 2019. Patient and disease characteristics at baseline and at the time of progression, subsequent therapies, objective response rate (ORR), overall survival, and progression-free survival were assessed. Results Of 383 patients, 247 experienced disease progression. The median survival after progression was 6.8 months. There was no difference in survival noted after disease progression based on primary tumor subtype, receipt of prior therapy, or therapy type. However, significantly improved survival after disease progression correlated with clinical features at the time of progression, including normal lactate dehydrogenase, more favorable metastatic stage (American Joint Committee on Cancer eighth edition stage IV M1a vs M1b, M1c, or M1d), mutation status (NRAS or treatment-naive BRAF V600 vs BRAF/NRAS wild-type or treatment-experienced BRAF-mutant), decreasing tumor bulk, and progression at solely existing lesions. After progression, approximately 54.3% of patients received additional systemic therapy. A total of 41 patients received BRAF/MEK inhibition (ORR of 58.6%, including 70.4% for BRAF/MEK-naive patients), 30 patients received ipilimumab (ORR of 0%), and 11 patients received ipilimumab plus nivolumab (ORR of 27.3%). Conclusions The current study identified prognostic factors in advanced melanoma for patients who experienced disease progression while receiving anti-PD-1, including lactate dehydrogenase, stage of disease, site of disease progression, tumor size, and mutation status.
A Model of Social Eavesdropping in Communication Networks

Social eavesdropping is the gathering of information from the interactions of 2 or more people, without their expressed knowledge or expressed permission, by a third party who is ostensibly not the target audience. Grounded in uncertainty management, communication networks, and signaling theories, this article presents a theoretical framework for understanding when and how individuals are likely to eavesdrop on the interactions of others. Social eavesdropping can be actively premeditated or passively incidental, the latter spurred by a serendipitous encounter. Propositions derived from the model investigate how accessibility, information value, and social risk influence the likelihood of social eavesdropping.
Forensic Confirmation Bias: Do Jurors Discount Examiners Who Were Exposed to Task-Irrelevant Information?*,†.

Knowledge of task-irrelevant information influences judgments of forensic science evidence and thereby undermines their probative value (i.e., forensic confirmation bias). The current studies tested whether laypeople discount the opinion of a forensic examiner who had a priori knowledge of biasing information (i.e., a defendant's confession) that could have influenced his opinion. In three experiments, laypeople (N = 765) read and evaluated a trial summary which, for some, included testimony from a forensic examiner who was either unaware or aware of the defendant's confession, and either denied or admitted that it could have impacted his opinion. When the examiner admitted that the confession could have influenced his opinion, laypeople generally discounted his testimony, as evidenced by their verdicts and other ratings. However, when the examiner denied being vulnerable to bias, laypeople tended to believe him-and they weighted his testimony as strongly as that of the confession-unaware examiner. In short, laypeople generally failed to recognize the superiority of forensic science judgments made by context-blind examiners, and they instead trusted examiners who claimed to be impervious to bias. As such, our findings highlight the value of implementing context management procedures in forensic laboratories so as not to mislead fact-finders.
A bilingual advantage in memory capacity: Assessing the roles of proficiency, number of languages acquired and age of acquisition

Aims and objectives:This study examines whether different types of bilingualism modulate memory capacity differently. More specifically, the study assesses the effects of age of acquisition, number...
IPS-CiM: Enhancing Energy Efficiency of Intermittently-Powered Systems with Compute-in-Memory

Intermittently Powered Systems (IPS) have an ability to sustain computation progress across multiple power cycles in the presence of unreliable and sporadic harvested energy. However, with the emergence of data-intensive applications to be processed on energy-constrained IPS, it becomes challenging to handle large amounts of data with standard IPS architectures due to the von-Neumann bottleneck. To address this issue, we propose a compute-in-memory (CiM) engine which alleviates the memory-processor bottleneck and enhances energy-efficiency for transient computing workloads in IPS. We present a ferroelectric transistor (FEFET) based memory architecture which supports (a) nonvolatile memory (NVM) storage, (b) standard Boolean and arithmetic operations, (c) cyclic redundancy check for error detection and (d) edge-sensing for wireless sensory networks. Using the proposed CiM engine as a unified NVM, we construct an integrated IPS-CiM architecture based on the TI MSP430 microcontroller system with supply capacitances in the range of 10 nF -1 µF. We evaluate the proposed design with two baselines: hybrid SRAM+NVM and unified NVM architectures, both of which perform standard out-of-memory computing. We observe that for 1µF supply capacitance, IPS-CiM results in energy and performance benefits in the range of 35X-450X and 32X-400X, respectively over conventional microcontroller-based systems.
Problems: Sinusoidal Steady-State Analysis of Circuits Including Transformers and Magnetically Coupled Inductors

This chapter helps both groups of underprepared and knowledgeable students taking courses in AC electrical circuit analysis. In this chapter, the basic and advanced problems of another important subject of AC circuit analysis, that is, sinusoidal steady-state analysis of circuits including transformers and magnetically coupled inductors, are presented. Like the first chapter, the problems are categorized in different levels based on their difficulty levels (easy, normal, and hard) and calculation amounts (small, normal, and large). Additionally, the problems are ordered from the easiest problem with the smallest computations to the most difficult problems with the largest calculations.
Developing an Ophthalmology Clinical Decision Support System to Identify Patients for Low Vision Rehabilitation

Purpose The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate an electronic health record (EHR) clinical decision support system to identify patients meeting criteria for low vision rehabilitation (LVR) referral. Methods In this quality improvement project, we applied a user-centered design approach to develop an interactive electronic alert for LVR referral within the Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute. We invited 15 ophthalmology physicians from 8 subspecialties to participate in the design and implementation, and to provide user experience feedback. The three project phases incorporated development evaluation, feedback analysis, and system refinement. We report on the final alert design, firing accuracy, and user experiences. Results The alert was designed as physician-centered and patient-specific. Alert firing relied on visual acuity and International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 diagnosis (hemianopia/quadrantanopia) criteria. The alert suppression considerations included age < 5 years, recent surgeries, prior LVR visit, and related alert actions. False positive rate (firing when alert should have been suppressed or when firing criteria not met) was 0.2%. The overall false negative rate (alert not firing when visual acuity or encounter diagnosis criteria met) was 5.6%. Of the 13 physicians who completed the survey, 8 agreed that the alert is easy to use, and 12 would consider ongoing usage. Conclusions This EHR-based clinical decision support system shows reliable firing metrics in identifying patients with vision impairment and promising acceptance by ophthalmologist users to facilitate care and LVR referral. Translational Relevance The use of real-time data offers an opportunity to translate ophthalmic guidelines and best practices into systematic action for clinical care and research purposes across subspecialties.
Profitability of the Name-Your-Own-Price Channel in the Case of Risk-Averse Buyers

In this paper, I study profitability of the name-your-own-price channel (NYOP) in the presence of risk-averse buyers. First, I provide conditions that guarantee that for the monopolistic seller the NYOP is more profitable than the posted price. Second, I consider a more competitive framework where buyers with rejected bids have access to an alternative option. I show that if under the posted-price scenario there are unserved customers with low valuations, then NYOP is more profitable than the posted price. Finally, I study whether adding the posted-price option to the NYOP will further increase the seller's profit and show that for the decreasing absolute risk-aversion utility and a monopolistic seller it does not. In the presence of an alternative option, the answer depends on whether buyers consider the posted-price option and the alternative option to be close substitutes or not. Adding the posted-price option will increase the profit in the former case and will not in the latter.
Endarterectomy for symptomatic non-stenotic carotids: a systematic review and descriptive analysis.

Objective To systematically analyse prior reports of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) performed in cases of ≤50% carotid stenosis in order to understand patient tolerance and potential benefit. Methods A systematic review and descriptive analysis was performed in concordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. An English-language search was performed of online databases using librarian-selected search terms. Abstracts were reviewed for relevance which included mention of carotid endarterectomy and stenosis. Prospective or retrospective observational cohort studies that reported series of patients who underwent endarterectomy for minimal (≤50%) luminal stenosis with reported outcomes were included. Results Six studies (which included our institutional series) with a total of 143 patients met the inclusion criteria. The weighted mean age at the time of CEA was 72.3 years; 113 (79.0%) were male. 55.8% of patients with available data had recurrent ipsilateral ischaemic events despite medical therapy. Two patients out of 129 with available perioperative data (1.6%) had perioperative MRI findings of acute ischaemic stroke, both within the hemisphere contralateral to the side of CEA. Of the 138 patients with available follow-up (mean, 36 months), none had recurrent ipsilateral ischaemic events. Conclusions Endarterectomy for symptomatic carotid disease causing ≤50% stenosis may be a potentially beneficial strategy to prevent stroke recurrence. Studies with robust methodology are needed to draw more definitive conclusions in terms of the safety and efficacy of endarterectomy for minimal stenosis with vulnerable features relative to intensive medical therapy.
The Church Abuse Scandal: Processing the Pope Before the International Criminal Court

Abstract In the early 2000s, the Catholic Church was revealed to have been involved in a pattern of sexual abuse of children. The Church's internal policies allowed members to cover up the abuse by swearing victims to secrecy and refusing to report the abuse to authorities. This routine arguably enabled further abuse by providing abusers with continued access to children. Due, in part, to the hierarchical structure of the Church, commentators argued for the prosecution of Church leadership. Commentators focused on Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, who was, from 1971 to his elevation to the Holy See in 2005, the individual in the Catholic Church directly responsible for handling accusations of sexual abuse. In April 2010, United Nations Judge Geoffrey Robinson suggested that the Pope be prosecuted before the International Criminal Court for "crimes against humanity" for his role in the scandal. This Comment analyses the viability of a potential prosecution, considering not only the substantive legal grounds of such a prosecution, but defenses, jurisdictional obstacles, and meaningful outcomes for victims as well. While this Comment concludes that, legally, a prosecutor could make a compelling and potentially successful case, there are political and practical obstacles to obtaining jurisdiction over the Pope that will likely preclude a case from ever moving forward. Table of Contents I. Introduction 342 II. CulpabUity 345 A. The Act 345 1. Article 25 346 2. Article 28 349 B. Widespread or Systematic Attack 352 C. Dkected Against a CivUian Population 356 1. Civilian population 357 2. Dkected against 358 3. Multiple commissions of acts 359 4. State or organizational poucy 359 5. With knowledge of die attack 361 D. Conclusion on CulpabUity 362 III. Defenses 363 IV. Jurisdiction 367 A. Double Jeopardy Preemption 367 B. Non-retroactivity Ratione Personae. 369 C. Invoking Jurisdiction 370 1. State reference 370 2. Security CouncU reference 370 3. Proprio motu …
Identification of touch neurons underlying dopaminergic pleasurable touch and sexual receptivity

Abstract Pleasurable touch during social behavior is the key to building familial bonds and meaningful connections. One form of social touch occurs during sex. Although sexual behavior is initiated in part by touch, and touch is ongoing throughout copulation, the identity and role of sensory neurons that transduce sexual touch remain unknown. A population of sensory neurons labeled by the G-protein coupled receptor Mrgprb4 detect stroking touch in mice1,2. Here, we study the social relevance of this population by genetically engineering mice to allow activation or ablation of Mrgprb4-lineage neurons and reveal that these neurons are required for sexual receptivity and sufficient to activate reward circuitry. Even in social isolation, optogenetic stimulation of Mrgprb4-lineage neurons through the back skin is sufficient to induce a conditioned place preference and a striking dorsoflexion resembling the lordotic copulatory posture in females. In the absence of Mrgprb4-lineage neurons, female mice no longer find male mounts rewarding: sexual receptivity is supplanted by aggression and a coincident decline in dopaminergic release in the mesolimbic reward pathway. In addition to sexual behavior, Mrgprb4-lineage neurons are also required for social postures induced by female-to-female back touch. Together, these findings establish that Mrgprb4-lineage neurons are the first neurons of a skin-to-brain circuit encoding the rewarding quality of social touch.
Islet: Interpolation semi-Lagrangian element-based transport

Abstract. Advection of trace species (tracers), also called tracer transport, in models of the atmosphere and other physical domains is an important and potentially computationally expensive part of a model's dynamical core (dycore). Semi-Lagrangian (SL) advection methods are efficient because they permit a time step much larger than the advective stability limit for explicit Eulerian methods. Thus, to reduce the computational expense of tracer transport, dycores often use SL methods to advect passive tracers. The class of interpolation semi-Lagrangian (ISL) methods contains potentially extremely efficient SL methods. We describe a set of ISL bases for element-based transport, such as for use with atmosphere models discretized using the spectral element (SE) method. An ISL method that uses the natural polynomial interpolant on Gauss-Legendre-Lobatto (GLL) SE nodes of degree at least three is unstable on the test problem of periodic translational flow on a uniform element grid. We derive new alternative bases of up to order of accuracy nine that are stable on this test problem; we call these the Islet bases. Then we describe an atmosphere tracer transport method, the Islet method, that uses three grids that share an element grid: a dynamics grid supporting, for example, the GLL basis of degree three; a physics grid with a configurable number of finite-volume subcells per element; and a tracer grid supporting use of our Islet bases, with particular basis again configurable. This method provides extremely accurate tracer transport and excellent diagnostic values in a number of validation problems. We conclude with performance results that use up to 27,600 NVIDIA V100 GPUs on the Summit supercomputer.
Some Topics in Nuclear Rocket Optimization

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the optimization of nuclear powered vehicles moving in the field of a massive gravitating body and the optimization of some low acceleration vehicles moving in field-free space. The two most special features of nuclear propulsion systems—the independence of energy source and working fluid and the nearly unlimited availability of energy—are the two keystones to system optimization. Other areas of interest in optimization of nuclear rocket vehicles include maximizing range or payload capability with fixed vehicle mass by variation of propellant exhaust velocity during flight, and minimization of vehicle weight for given mission parameters for manned missions by appropriate choice of shield mass and reactor power level. A wealth of optimization problems are observed in low acceleration flight in field-free space, both with regard to vehicle trajectory extremization and to specification of optimal relations among internal parameters characterizing the propulsion system alone as they may influence vehicle performance.
NMR of laser-polarized 129Xe in blood foam

Laser-polarized 129Xe dissolved in a foam preparation of fresh human blood was investigated. The NMR signal of 129Xe dissolved in blood was enhanced by creating a foam in which the dissolved 129Xe exchanged with a large reservoir of gaseous laser-polarized 129Xe. The dissolved 129Xe T1 in this system was found to be significantly shorter in oxygenated blood than in deoxygenated blood. The T1 of 129Xe dissolved in oxygenated blood foam was found to be approximately 21 (+/-5) s, and in deoxygenated blood foam to be greater than 40 s. To understand the oxygenation trend, T1 measurements were also made on plasma and hemoglobin foam preparations. The measurement technique using a foam gas-liquid exchange interface may also be useful for studying foam coarsening and other liquid physical properties.
Physical layer identification: methodology, security, and origin of variation

It is common practice to limit solutions for most problems in computer and network security to the purview of the digital domain. Certainly, digital solutions offer much in the way of addressing the security concerns associated with computer and network monitoring and access control. In many areas, however, the available techniques are limited because of their digital nature: authentication schemes are vulnerable to the theft of digital tokens; intrusion detection systems can be thwarted by spoofing or impersonating devices; forensic analysis is incapable of demonstrably tying a particular device to a specific network connection after the fact; and assurance monitoring systems can only provide notification of failures rather than impending failures. In order to address these concerns researchers have proposed, in work falling under the general heading of physical layer identification (PLI), that the signaling behavior of digital devices manifested at the physical layer be used for identification and monitoring purposes. This work presents a secure methodology, capable of reliably identifying and tracking wired Ethernet cards of the same make and model to a high degree of accuracy, which may be used to corroborate higher layer mechanisms used in authentication and intrusion detection. A framework is also devised, and applied to this methodology, to judge the security of a PLI scheme by determining how resistant it is to forgery attacks using arbitrary waveform generators. While a PLI scheme must be resistant to attack, it must also be able to identify the preponderance of devices within a given population to be of any practical value. Therefore, a technique, based upon the signalling behaviour specified for Ethernet devices in the IEEE 802.3 standard, is set forth for estimating the theoretical number of devices the methodology is capable of distinguishing between. Finally, if it can be understood how the individual components of a device give rise to differences in device behaviour, it should be possible to not only model devices for the purposes of creating new identification and tracking methodologies, but perhaps also allow the community to determine exactly which components should be modified to create device signals resistant to forgery. With this in mind, a methodology is proposed that describes how a device component should be measured to create a model that captures its signalling behaviour, as well as how it can be determined whether or not, and to what extent, the component shapes the device's identity.
Incidence of Mitral Valve Prolapse in Adolescent Scoliosis and Thoracic Hypokyphosis

Seventy-four patients with adolescent scoliosis underwent cardiac examination and M-mode echocardiography to detect the presence of mitral valve prolapse (MVP). Twenty-one (28%) had echocardiographic evidence of MVP, whereas 18 had auscultatory findings of a nonejection click or late systolic murmur. A subset of 41 patients had a family history of scoliosis and 37% had MVP. The incidence of MVP increased to 41% when a first degree relative, such as a sibling, parent, or offspring, had scoliosis. Thirty-six patients with scoliosis had additional thoracic hypokyphosis (straight back) and 13 (36%) had MVP. The incidence of MVP was 48% when the scoliosis and hypokyphosis were hereditary and increased to 53% when a familial history of skeletal abnormality was present. This study indicates a high incidence of MVP in patients with scoliosis and hypokyphosis, especially when the cardiac and skeletal systems may be affected by a generalized soft-tissue defect.
Uterine vascular response to prostacyclin in nonpregnant sheep

Two effects of prostacyclin (PGI2) on uterine blood flow were investigated in nonpregnant, castrated ewes with chronically implanted polyvinyl catheters and electromagnetic flow probes. Intra-arterial infusion of PGI2 resulted immediately in increased uterine blood flow, which returned rapidly to baseline after termination of the infusion. A dose-response curve was constructed and demonstrated that a uterine arterial PGI2 concentration of 1.2 times 10(-6)M (0.5 microgram/ml) produced flows 50% of those achieved by a reference dose of 1 microgram of 17 beta-estradiol. Increases in uterine blood flow were not associated with changes in mean systemic arterial pressure. These findings demonstrate that PGI2 has a vasodilatory effect on the uterine circulation and suggest that this substance has a role in the regulation of uterine blood flow.
Toward a real-time framework for solving the kinodynamic motion planning problem

In this paper we propose a framework combining techniques from sampling-based motion planning, machine learning, and trajectory optimization to address the kinodynamic motion planning problem in real-time environments. This framework relies on a look-up table that stores precomputed optimal solutions to boundary value problems (assuming no obstacles), which form the directed edges of a precomputed motion planning roadmap. A sampling-based motion planning algorithm then leverages such a precomputed roadmap to compute online an obstacle-free trajectory. Machine learning techniques are employed to minimize the number of online solutions to boundary value problems required to compute the neighborhoods of the start state and goal regions. This approach is demonstrated to reduce online planning times up to six orders of magnitude. Simulation results are presented and discussed. Problem-specific framework modifications are then discussed that would allow further computation time reductions.
Family and Physical Health

While clinical studies tend to define “family and physical health” in terms of disease patterns among individuals sharing close biological or hereditary ties, the social sciences conceptualize this phenomenon in the broader context of culture, history, and macrolevel socioeconomic and political structures. Thus, in medical anthropology, “family and physical health” denotes all beliefs, behaviors, values, and roles which promote, sustain, or restore well-being among a broad kin group that is linked by blood, marriage, contractual obligations, or mutual agreement. Thus, there exists significant variance between biomedical and cross-cultural understandings of both physical health and family. Keywords: family; caregiving; cross-cultural; health; medical anthropology
Performance Evaluation of a Database System in Multiple Backend Configurations

The aim of this performance evaluation is twofold: (1) to devise benchmarking strategies for and apply benchmarking methodologies to the measurement of a prototyped database system in multiple backend configurations, and (2) to verify the performance claims as projected or predicted by the designer and implementor of the mufti-backend database system known as MBDS.
Skepticism About Practical Reason in Literature and the Law

I begin with three stories about the fourth century B.C. Greek philosopher Pyrrho,1 the founder of skepticism in the Western philosophical tradition.2 These stories were handed down by the ancient biographer Diogenes Laertius; they exemplify the way in which semimythical tales about the founder are used to illuminate aspects of the skeptical way of life a life without commitment to definite normative beliefs.
Specificity and Promiscuity in Small Molecule Binding to Intrinsically Disordered Protein Regions

Intrinsically disordered (ID) proteins lack stable secondary and tertiary structure in substantial regions (or throughout) existing instead as ensembles of rapidly fluctuating structures. In eukary...
Radon-222 concentrations in a mountain canyon environment

Measurements of222Rn concentrations near the mouth of a mountain canyon show diurnal changes consistent with the accepted model of canyon winds wherein surface air moving downslope at night accumulates radon, resulting in a steady increase in radon concentration and a decrease in air temperature. Maximum levels of approximately 0.5 picocurie/liter can occur. With the onset of up-canyon wind after surface heating in the morning, the radon level near the mouth of the canyon drops rapidly to nearly one tenth of the nocturnal maximum. The steady nighttime buildup can be interrupted by wind patterns that intercept the mountain at levels well below the mountaintop or by turbulent mixing induced by lee waves or other dynamic processes that increase temperature and decrease radon concentrations of the canyon air during the night. Measurements on a vertical section of the canyon near its mouth indicate high concentrations on the canyon floor under conditions of positive temperature lapse. Diurnal concentration patterns of radon at the top of the mountain ridge above the canyon show maxima in late moring and again in the early night hours.
The effects of radar on avian behavior: Implications for wildlife management at airports

Abstract Airports often contain foraging, breeding, and roosting resources for wildlife. Airports also have different types of radars to assist with air traffic control, monitoring weather, and tracking wildlife that could become a risk for collision with aircraft. The effect of radar electromagnetic radiation on wildlife behavior is not well understood. The goal of this study was to determine whether bird behavior is affected by radar in two contexts: stationary radar (e.g., surveillance radar) and approaching radar (e.g., aircraft weather radar). We used brown-headed cowbirds ( Molothrus ater ) as a model species as they are common at airports. We hypothesized that radar challenges attention mechanisms and thus might distract birds from foraging or avoiding threats (i.e. aircraft). In the stationary radar context, we performed one experiment in the summer and one in the winter. In the summer, we found indication of changes in vigilance and movement behaviors during and after exposure to stationary radar. For example, movement rate increased from before to during radar exposure in the summer ( t 101 =−3.21, P =0.002). In the winter, we also found that stationary radar increased movement behaviors. In the approaching radar context, we found that birds exposed to an approaching vehicle with radar showed earlier escape responses ( t 56.3 =−2.66, P =0.010) or escape flights that dodged sideways more than with the radar off ( t 41.5 =−2.67, P =0.011). Taking these findings together, we suggest that birds might avoid stationary radar units, and moving radar units (e.g., aircraft) might enhance escape responses at low vehicle speeds during taxi, but likely not at higher speeds during take-off, landing, and flight.