cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Biomechanism of chlorogenic acid complex mediated plasma free fatty acid metabolism in rat liver

Plasma free fatty acids (FFA) are involved in blood lipid metabolism as well as many health complications. The present study was conducted to evaluate the potential role of chlorogenic acid complex from green coffee bean (CGA7) on FFA metabolism in high fat diet fed rats. Hyperlipidemia was induced in Wistar rats using high-fat diet. The animals were given CGA7/orlistat concurrently for 42 days. The parameters analysed during the study include plasma and liver total cholesterol (TC), Triglycerides (TG) and FFA. AMPK activation in the liver was analysed through ELISA. The multiple factors involved in AMPK mediated FFA metabolism were analysed using western blotting. CGA7 (50, 100, 150 mg/kg BW) decreased triglycerides (TG) and FFA levels in plasma and liver. CGA7 administration led to the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and a subsequent increase in the levels of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT-1). There was a decrease in acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) activity as evident by the increase in its phosphorylation level. Chlorogenic acids improved the blood lipid metabolism in rats by alleviating the levels of FFA and TG, modulating the multiple factors in liver through AMPK pathway. The study concludes that CGA7 complex can be promoted as an active ingredient in nutrition for obesity management.
The Characteristics of Acute and Chronic Methylphenidate, Dose, and Route on Female and Male Animal Behavior

The young and adults are treated repeatedly for prolonged periods of time with methylphenidate (MPD) as a pharmacotherapy of choice for attention deficit disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The dilemma is whether prolonged use of psychostimulants and drug therapy starting at a young age has any unwanted effects. This chapter will review the pharmacology of MPD, the dose of MPD exposure in animal studies, the route of MPD exposure, gender differences in response to MPD, and the property of repetitive MPD on animal behavior, such as behavioral sensitization and cross-sensitization with other stimulants.
Coordination Chemistry and Reactivity of Bis(aldimino)pyridine Nickel Complexes in Four Different Oxidation States

A series of nickel complexes with potentially redox active bis(aldimino)pyridine ligands [NNN] ([NNN] = 1,1′-(pyridine-2,6-diyl)bis(N-arylmethanimine), where aryl = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl, mesityl, 4-methoxyphenyl, 4-trifluoromethylphenyl, and 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl) were synthesized, and their properties and reactivities were investigated as a function of the overall oxidation state of the system. (Ni[NNN])2+ complexes of ligands featuring bulky electron-rich substituents (1a-Br2 and 1b-Br2, [NNN] = 1,1′-(pyridine-2,6-diyl)bis(N-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)methanimine) and 1,1′-(pyridine-2,6-diyl)bis(N-mesitylmethanimine), respectively) demonstrated five electrochemical reduction events, the first three of which were quasi-reversible. In contrast, only two quasi-reversible reductions were observed for the less bulky and electron-deficient N-aryl substituents 4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl and 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl. Chemical reduction of 1a-Br2 and 1b-Br2 with 1 equiv of KC8 or CoCp*2 forms (Ni[NNN]...
Association between Native American-owned casinos and the prevalence of large-for-gestational-age births.

Background A small number of studies have used a natural experiment approach to examine the health impacts of increased economic resources stemming from Native American-owned casinos. We build on this work by examining whether casinos are associated with obesity-related health in utero. Methods We examined whether casino openings or expansion (as proxy for increased economic resources) are associated with a decreased likelihood of infants being born large-for-gestational-age (LGA), an important risk factor for childhood overweight/obesity. We used repeated cross-sectional data from California birth records (1987-2011) to assess the prevalence of LGA births among Native Americans (n = 21 011). Using zip code fixed-effect regression models, we compared how prevalence of LGA births changed in association with casino openings or expansions, while controlling for secular trends through the inclusion of a comparison group of Native American newborns in zip codes that were eligible to open or expand casinos, but did not do so. In sensitivity analyses, we evaluated whether there was any change in small-for-gestational-age births (SGA). Results Average prevalence of LGA births over the period was 11%. Every one slot machine per capita increase was associated with a 0.13 percentage point decrease (95% confidence interval: -0.25, -0.01) in the prevalence of LGA births but was not associated with SGA prevalence. Conclusions Casino expansion in California is associated with a lower prevalence of LGA births. Interpreted in combination with previous work showing that California casino expansions were associated with a lower body mass index (BMI) among schoolchildren, these results suggest that casinos are associated with improvement in a surrogate marker of excess adiposity. Further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms by which casinos might be associated with obesity-related health outcomes among Native Americans.
Symbolic execution of programmable logic controller code

Programmable logic controllers (PLCs) are specialized computers for automating a wide range of cyber-physical systems. Since these systems are often safety-critical, software running on PLCs need to be free of programming errors. However, automated tools for testing PLC software are lacking despite the pervasive use of PLCs in industry. We propose a symbolic execution based method, named SymPLC, for automatically testing PLC software written in programming languages specified in the IEC 61131-3 standard. SymPLC takes the PLC source code as input and translates it into C before applying symbolic execution, to systematically generate test inputs that cover both paths in each periodic task and interleavings of these tasks. Toward this end, we propose a number of PLC-specific reduction techniques for identifying and eliminating redundant interleavings. We have evaluated SymPLC on a large set of benchmark programs with both single and multiple tasks. Our experiments show that SymPLC can handle these programs efficiently, and for multi-task PLC programs, our new reduction techniques outperform the state-of-the-art partial order reduction technique by more than two orders of magnitude.
How electoral incentives shape performance measurement efforts

Although scholars have assessed how the electoral connection of legislators and chief executives affects their support for performance measurement, we know less about how electoral considerations might influence agency administrators’ focus on performance measurement. I suggest that independently elected administrators’ attention to their agency's performance measurement system may be conditional on the likelihood that their efforts in this area will help them realize their electoral goals. Because there is a greater electoral incentive to focus on performance issues when government performance is deficient, elected administrators should be as likely as, if not more likely than, their non-elected counterparts to focus on performance measurement when the government is performing poorly and less likely to do so when the government is performing well. I find evidence that supports this expectation. This article provides insight into the implications of electoral incentives for management decisions.
How to Perform Educational Research in Reacting to the Past Settings: A Primer for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

This chapter concludes the volume by offering a brief manual regarding how to perform educational research within course settings with a specific emphasis on studying Reacting to the Past. Intended as a primer rather than a comprehensive educational research manual, the chapter reviews protocols and strategies that are easy to employ while also resulting in meaningful findings. The authors provide useful guidelines and recommendations for disseminating findings for readers interested in engaging in the scholarship of teaching and learning on RTTP and beyond.
Improvement of PVT air-cooling by the integration of a chimney tower (CT/PVT)

Abstract In this work, a bi-dimensional numerical simulation of the turbulent natural convection for cooling of the solar panel in a new concept of hybrid photovoltaic/thermal solar collector by integration of a chimney tower has been analysed. The hydrodynamic flow field is governed by the Navier–Stokes equations in the fluid region, thermal field by the energy equation. The standard k-e turbulence model is used for describing the turbulent fluctuations of velocities and scalar quantities. The Influences of the dimensionless geometric parameters, such as the collector diameter ratio (Dc∗), the absorber length (La∗) and the chimney tower diameter ratio and the chimney tower height (Dt∗, Ht∗) on the flow features and heat transfer rate are presented. The obtained results show that the optimum dimensionless geometrical parameters of the new hybrid system proposed (La∗ = 0.625, Dc∗ = 3, Ht∗ = 0.625, and Dt∗ = 2) produce an improvement in the heat transfer rate of 78.13% compared to the base case, for Ra = 5 × 106. Correlations of the average Nusselt numbers are obtained and discussed.
Preoperative enteral access is not necessary prior to multimodality treatment of esophageal cancer.

Abstract Background Surgical enteral access prior to multimodality treatment for esophageal cancer is controversial as dysphagia is often used for feeding tube referral. We hypothesized that enteral access before neoadjuvant chemoradiation for esophageal cancer provides no benefit compared to that placed during definitive esophagectomy. Methods Patients undergoing esophagectomy for esophageal malignancy from 2007 − 2014 were retrospectively identified. Clinicopathologic factors were recorded including preoperative enteral access, weight change, nutritional laboratory works, and perioperative complications. Results Of 156 identified patients, 99 (63.5%) received neoadjuvant chemoradiation and comprised the study cohort. Fifty (50.5%) underwent enteral access (gastrostomy [14], jejunostomy [32], other [4]; “Access Group”) prior to chemoradiation followed by esophagectomy and were compared to 49 “No-Access” patients who underwent enteral access during esophagectomy. Clinicopathologic variables were similar between cohorts. The Access and No-Access cohorts had similar reported dysphagia (86% vs 75.5%, respectively; P = .2) and mean preesophagectomy serum albumin (3.9 vs 4 gm/dL, respectively; P = .2). Weight loss ± 6-month periesophagectomy was similar between access versus No-Access cohorts (−11.2% vs −15.4%, respectively; P = .1). Weight loss during this period was likewise similar for patients with dysphagia in the Access (−11%) versus No-Access group (−15.2%, P = .1). No difference in complication rates was noted between Access (64%) and No-Access groups (51%, P = .2). Conclusion Despite healthcare provider bias, there seems to be no nutritional or perioperative benefit for enteral access before neoadjuvant chemoradiation for esophageal malignancy. Patients with esophageal malignancy should therefore proceed to appropriate neoadjuvant and surgical therapy with enteral access performed during definitive resection or reserved for those with frank obstruction on endoscopy.
STAT3 Knockdown Induces Tumor Formation by MDA-MB-231 Cells.

STAT3 plays a central role in oncogenesis by mediating cell survival, growth, and differentiation. It is constitutively activated in breast cancer. We investigated the role of STAT3 in tumor development by knocking down STAT3 levels in MDA-MB-231 triple negative breast cancer cells using short hairpin RNA. The tumor forming potential of these STAT3-depleted cells was assessed by xenografts in immunocompromised NOD SCID mice. Contrary to its accepted tumor promoting role, we found STAT3 to be a negative regulator of growth in MDA-MB-231- derived tumors. Although similar observations have been made in thyroid carcinoma and lung adenocarcinoma xenograft studies, our novel results showed for the first time that the role of STAT3 in promoting tumorigenesis may be context-specific, and that STAT3 may actually be a negative regulator of certain breast-cancer types. Studies to identify the mechanisms of STAT3’s negative regulatory role may be useful in developing STAT3-based therapeutics. Abbreviations: Breast cancer, BC; triple negative breast cancer, TNBC; signal transducer and activator of transcription, STAT.
Characterization of Nuclear Factors that Regulate Alcohol Dehydrogenase Gene Expression

The anaerobic stress response is one of several well characterized examples of environmentally regulated gene controls. The regulated association of the transcription complex with the promoter DNA of the affected genes is the fundamental basis for controlled gene expression. Transcription initiation itself requires the binding of RNA polymerase, and that binding is regulated and facilitated by the prior or concomitant binding of other transcription factors. As a transcriptional gene response, the control of anaerobically induced genes should also be accomplished by mechanisms that require direct interaction of nuclear transcription regulatory factors with the promoters of the induced genes.
Voting Paradoxes and Problems of Representation

This chapter discusses the voting paradoxes and problems of representation. Institutional designers, in setting up democratic procedures, presumably seek to establish means for resolving conflicts that give equitable outcomes and have other desirable properties as well. To the extent that they are successful in achieving their goals, it is appropriate to characterize their efforts—and perhaps the institutions themselves—as rational. It has been demonstrated recently that the problems of designing robust democratic institutions such as voting procedures that are relatively invulnerable to strategic manipulations are indeed formidable. The paradox of voting has been the source of more intellectual controversy and confusion than any other paradox in the social sciences, at least as judged by the amount that has been written about it. The chapter presents a theoretical analysis of the paradox of voting and a consideration of its empirical manifestations. It also highlights specific types of voting paradoxes that arises under preferential voting systems that allow voters to rank candidates from best to worst.
A Microeconomic Analysis of the Formation and Potential Reorganization of AFA Coops

The American Fisheries Act establishes procedures under which a group of vessels and a processing plant can form a coop, the main purpose of which is to establish a rights-based regulation program that will protect the interests of both parties. The core principles for coop formation are specified, and operating procedures which must be followed in order to obtain maximum efficiency gains are derived. How the efficiency gains are split among coop members by the choice of the ex-vessel price is demonstrated. In certain circumstances, a vessel and its harvest rights may switch coops. The effects of these shifts on efficiency are analyzed in a way that separates the effects of the vessel shift and of the transfer of production, and that specifies the conditions under which there will be net efficiency gains. Finally, it is demonstrated that the quasi-rents of all members of both coops are affected by a vessel switch. This provides a reference for understanding when a vessel will agree to a shift and the ince...
Phonofilm, The Lawyers

These are the worst of times; these are the best of times. For Lee de Forest in the late 1920s, the roller coaster that is his life will reach the bottom before soaring back to the top. He begins this ride on the East Coast at his New York home and ends up at a place where he spent time in his earlier years, a place that represents hope and happiness, California. For de Forest, the post-Phonofilm period will be one of continued invention, although none of great significance. This era will mark the validation of some of his basic patents in amplification and sound-on-film, but none will result either in fame or fortune. During this period of time, he will finally discover domestic happiness. Nevertheless, there will not exist what de Forest wants most in his mature years, and that is the total and unequivocal adulation of the public and the scientific community. But make no mistake, the public does know about Lee de Forest and they do regard him as an important inventor. It just will not be enough.
Micromolar levels of intracellular calcium reduce gap junctional permeability in lens cultures.

PURPOSE To investigate in bovine and embryonic chicken lens cultures the effects of elevated intracellular calcium on the permeability of gap junctions. To determine the changes in intracellular calcium using fura-2. To detect any changes in the phosphorylation of connexin43 after ionophore treatment. METHODS Lucifer yellow was micro-injected into individual cells, and dye spread to neighboring cells was evaluated. Intracellular calcium levels were measured using the calcium indicator, fura-2. Cultures were also labeled with 32P-orthophosphate followed by immunoprecipitation with antibodies specific for the gap junction protein, connexin43. RESULTS Bovine lens cultures incubated in the presence of either A23187 or ionomycin showed a reduction in intercellular dye transfer. The intracellular calcium concentrations in bovine cells were increased from a mean value of 0.11 +/- .009 microM in the controls to a mean of 0.40 +/- .073 microM with ionomycin treatment. Subsequent addition of EGTA to the medium decreased the intracellular calcium concentrations to a mean of 0.26 +/- .113 microM and reversed the inhibition of dye spread found with ionomycin. With ionomycin in the medium, the phosphorylated form of connexin43 was not as prominent as in the controls. In contrast, these same treatments had no detectable effect on junctional permeability in the embryonic chicken lens cultures. Dye spread was equally extensive and rapid under control and ionophore conditions, even though fura studies showed an elevation in intracellular calcium levels. CONCLUSIONS In the bovine cultures, physiologically relevant changes in the levels of cytoplasmic calcium markedly reduced dye transfer. The increase in cytoplasmic calcium was correlated with a change in the phosphorylation level of connexin43. The regulation of junctional communication in the chick lens cultures appears to differ significantly from that in the bovine system.
Assessing small-stem density in northern hardwood selection system stands

Data from three uneven-aged northern hardwood stands in New York State were analyzed to assess the effects of understory American beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) density on changes of small stems w...
No Social Revolution Without Sexual Revolution

Recent studies have revealed how workers’ movements adapted republicanism into a language of anticapitalism in the nineteenth century. Much less attention has been paid, however, to the role femini...
Mitigation of Subsynchronous Resonance in power grid integrated with PV Power Station

This paper presents the alleviation of subsynchronous resonance (SSR) in the power system with large scale PV power station, in synchronous generator which is connected to series compensated transmission line. The rapid growth in utility connected PV farms has opened new possibilities, and due to its flexibility and dispatchability PV farms can handle the grid support functions more effectively, whereas its ability to mitigate the SSR is rarely investigated. In this study potential of PV farm to mitigate SSR is explored by augmenting the GSC control loop with damping controller using a control signal which is closely related to the network resonant mode, utility scale PV power stations are promising solutions to combat the increasing demand and grid functions. The simulation studies are performed in MATLAB/Simulink software using IEEE Second Benchmark Model (SBM) for SSR studies. PV farms provide more cost-effective solution compared to the FACTS devices of similar capacity for the assigned objective.
Post-Acute Care Determination for Hospitalized Older Adults

A significant percentage of hospitalized older adults are discharged to a post-acute care (PAC) setting. This review will discuss the characteristics of the main PAC options in the USA and the key evaluation criterion to be utilized in determining the most appropriate PAC setting for an older hospitalized patient. There is limited literature regarding PAC determination in the USA. However, this is a growing area of interest due to PAC costs and the growing older adult population. A standardized method of assessment for older adult patients nearing hospital discharge is presented including recent literature regarding the functional evaluation of these patients. The PAC determination process for hospitalized older adults can be challenging. A systematic evaluation procedure may reduce the complexity of this process. However, research to determine the PAC setting that will result in the optimal functional recovery of these older adults, while also minimizing their risk of readmission, is warranted.
Rehabilitation: Educating the Consumer:

Specialized community rehabilitation agencies for visually impaired persons can provide a setting where the rights, needs, and expectations of the Visually Handicapped Consumer can be satisfied. Th...
Epstein-Barr Virus-Associated Smooth Muscle Tumor of the Spine After Bone Marrow Transplant: Case Report and Review of Literature.

Background Epstein-Barr virus–associated smooth muscle tumors (SMTs) are rare neoplasms that have been found to develop in immunocompromised patients. Three distinct groups of affected patients have been described: (1) human immunodeficiency virus–infected patients, (2) post-transplant patients, and (3) patients with congenital immunodeficiency. The tumors can develop anywhere in the body, with 17 reported cases occurring in the spinal canal, all in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection. Case Description We report the first case of Epstein-Barr virus–associated SMT affecting the spinal canal in a post–bone marrow transplant adult patient. Interestingly, unlike other reported cases, the patient described here had not been receiving immunosuppressive therapy in the 2 years prior to diagnosis of the tumor. Conclusions Despite the growing number of case reports, this diagnosis presents a challenge, as the pathophysiology and optimal treatment regimens are not well understood. Results of a literature review of Epstein-Barr virus–associated SMT of the spine as well as a discussion of the presentation, management, and prognosis of this condition is presented here.
Concomitant Sacral Neuromodulation and Gynecologic Surgery: A Single-Institution Experience.

AIMS Sacral Neuromodulation (SNM) is a safe and minimally invasive treatment for urinary and fecal pelvic floor disorders (PFDs). With a high prevalence of women reporting multiple PFDs, knowledge regarding concomitant surgery may inform optimal patient care. Our literature search did not identify any published data on this topic, thus we sought to report our experience with concomitant SNM and gynecologic surgery. Our primary objective was to identify the rate of adverse events among cases. Secondarily, we reviewed the anesthetics used to identify potential associations when performing combined surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS This was retrospective case series of women undergoing SNM at a single academic center from 2012 to 2018. Cases were identified using current procedural terminology codes for SNM and common gynecologic procedures. These electronic medical records were reviewed to identify cases that occurred concomitantly in addition to obtaining demographics, adverse events, type of anesthesia, and overnight hospital stay. Descriptive data analysis was performed with Excel. RESULTS Of 200 identified cases of SNM, 15 (7.5%) were concomitantly performed with another procedure. Most concomitant surgeries occurred with insertion of implantable pulse generator. Three minor adverse events occurred: two urinary tract infections and one occurrence of urinary retention. Eight (53%) cases were performed under general anesthesia while seven (46%) received monitored sedation. CONCLUSIONS No serious adverse events or anesthesia-related complications were identified in this series. While general anesthesia was used more often, it was in accordance with our standard practice for the gynecologic procedures. This study supports the safety of concomitant gynecologic and SNM surgery.
Pornography Use: What Do Cross-Cultural Patterns Tell Us?

Access to online pornography has increased greatly over the past decade. In this chapter we first review purported effects of pornography use. We then present data compiled from one source of internet pornography use, namely Pornhub, and review findings from a cross-cultural perspective. Specifically, we investigate age and gender patterns across various regions of the world and relate pornography use to a number of sociocultural indices. Results indicate changing age and gender patterns with respect to pornography use, as well as relationships with indices of human development, gender inequality, trans/homophobia, and internet access. Given that internet pornography may increasingly serve as a means of sex education in many cultures, the importance of implementing meaningful and balanced sex education that promotes healthy sexual relationships is critically important.
Single-cell analysis of Schistosoma mansoni reveals a conserved genetic program controlling germline stem cell fate

Abstract Schistosomes are parasitic flatworms causing one of the most prevalent infectious diseases from which millions of people are currently suffering. Their germline outputs many fertilized eggs, which are both the transmissible agents and the cause of the infection-associated pathology. Given its significance, the schistosome germline has been a research focus for more than a century. Nonetheless, little is known about the molecular mechanisms that regulate its development. Here, we construct a transcriptomic cell type atlas of juvenile schistosomes. This allows us to capture germline stem cells (GSCs) during de novo gonadal development. We identify a genetic program that balances the fate of GSC between proliferation and differentiation. This program is controlled by onecut, a homeobox transcription factor, and boule, an mRNA binding protein. Evaluating this genetic program in schistosome’s free-living evolutionary cousin, the planarian, shows that this germline-specific regulatory program is conserved but its function has changed significantly during evolution.
The Young Lords: A Radical History: Johanna Fernández, (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2020, $30, 480 pp.)

In December 1969, the Young Lords captured widespread public attention when they occupied the First Spanish United Methodist Church in East Harlem in order to run their numerous “serve the people” ...
Erformance Bounds on the Detection and Localization in a Stochastic Ocean

Methods for predicting the performance of a sonar for both and localization with a known propagation and clutter distribution are well known. Many oceanographic processes such as internal waves and bottom roughness require a stochastic description since they are dynamic and/or have a fine scale beyond which measurements are unrealistic. These and other processes randomize the temporal and spatial structure of signals and a single degree of freedom model for a replica is no longer applicable; hence, virtually all the single replica processing is not optimum. For example, one can have a power flux across and array from a signal with good SNR, yet still not be able to localize because the phase structure has been randomized too much by the stochastic processes of the ocean. Here we introduce a stochastic model for propagation from which the number of degrees of freedom in a signal observed by a sonar array. The objective is a model which reasonably represents the observed signal as observed by a sonar. We then apply these models to developing Chernoff bounds for detection and Cramer-Rao for localization. These models also indicate new receiver structures for a passive sonar which exploits the uncertainty rather than allow it to degrade from the optimal performance. Generally, we can infer that if the eigenspectrum of the observed signal has a “red” structure, which is the case in a partially saturated ocean, one can recover some of the performance compared to a deterministic propagation model. If the eigenspectrum, however, approaches “white” spectrum, then the performance degrades to simple energy detection and localization is not possible.
Perceived discrimination and educational attainment for U.S. Black adults: the influence of Black racial identity

Few studies have examined the role of Black racial identity as a moderator of the relation between perceived discrimination and educational attainment among Black U.S. adults. We explored this question in a sample of 370 self-identified Black adults from the Northeastern U.S. Due to the existing literature demonstrating the benefits of a positive Black racial identity, we hypothesized that centrality and private regard, components of racial identity, would moderate the relation between perceived discrimination frequency/stress and educational attainment. As expected, centrality moderated the relationship although private regard did not. Specifically, Black centrality served as a coping strategy that has a positive influence on educational attainment when individuals perceive high levels of discrimination frequency. Males reported higher levels of discrimination frequency and stress compared to females, though gender did not contribute moderation effects. The finding that younger individuals perceived higher levels of discrimination frequency and stress and lower centrality and private regard compared to their older counterparts, has important implications which are discussed.
Scenario2Vector: scenario description language based embeddings for traffic situations

A popular metric for measuring progress in autonomous driving has been the "miles per intervention". This is nowhere near a sufficient metric and it does not allow for a fair comparison between the capabilities of two autonomous vehicles (AVs). In this paper we propose Scenario2Vector - a Scenario Description Language (SDL) based embedding for traffic situations that allows us to automatically search for similar traffic situations from large AV data-sets. Our SDL embedding distills a traffic situation experienced by an AV into its canonical components - actors, actions, and the traffic scene. We can then use this embedding to evaluate similarity of different traffic situations in vector space. We have also created a first of its kind, Traffic Scenario Similarity (TSS) dataset which contains human ranking annotations for the similarity between traffic scenarios. Using the TSS data, we compare our SDL embedding -with textual caption based search methods such as Sentence2Vector. We find that Scenario2Vector outperforms Sentence2Vector by 13% ; and is a promising step towards enabling fair comparisons among AVs by inspecting how they perform in similar traffic situations. We hope that Scenario2Vector can have a similar impact to the AV community that Word2Vec/Sent2Vec have had in Natural Language Processing datasets.
Evaluation of alkali–silica reaction damage in concrete using linear and nonlinear resonance techniques

Abstract In this study, the initiation and development of alkali–silica reaction (ASR) in concrete prisms containing reactive coarse (RCA) and reactive fine (RFA) aggregates were monitored over one year using linear and nonlinear resonance techniques. Although the linear resonance test could detect initiation and development of ASR damage in RCA specimens, it failed in the RFA specimens. Petrographic analysis confirmed the presence of early-stage ASR damage and the presence of different microcracking patterns in the RFA and RCA specimens, which may explain differences in the linear resonance data. For both RCA and RFA specimens, the nonlinear resonance test results were able to detect the initiation of ASR damage and showed a strong correlation with the ASR expansion for all specimens from different mix designs. The results demonstrate the high sensitivity of the nonlinear resonance test and its potential for quantitative evaluation of the ASR damage state of concrete specimens without a baseline measurement.
Silk fibroin supraparticles created by the evaporation of colloidal Ouzo droplets

Due to its high biocompatibility and biodegradability, supraparticles made from silk fibroin—produced from Bombyx mori (B. mori) cocoons—can find various applications in biomedical fields. The evaporation of Ouzo droplets by not requiring energy nor a surfactant is an environmentally friendly, easy, and cost-effective strategy to fabricate three-dimensional supraparticles, tackling the so-called “coffee ring effect” associated with droplet evaporation. Silk fibroins are dissolved into quaternary droplets, comprised of ultrapure water, ethanol, trans-anethole oil, and formic acid. The Ouzo droplet is able to form an oil ring that facilitates the droplet contraction to create a three-dimensional supraparticle. Using the Ouzo effect to fabricate these particles from silk fibroin results in consistent macro-porous structures with a high porosity.
Safety Assessment of Broadband Laser Exposure in μOCT

Micro-optical coherence tomography ({micro}OCT) improves the spatial resolution of in vivo OCT imaging by utilizing sophisticated focusing schemes and broadband illumination. This study explores the safety of coronary and trachea tissue exposure to {micro}OCT illumination. (C) 2021 The Authors
Retail Site Selection Using GIS

This chapter illustrates the use of geographic information systems (GIS) in retail site selection. Basic theories of retail location are reviewed, and data requirements and sources are discussed. The chapter then develops trade area analysis and spatial interaction models and proposes methods for the incorporation of these models with GIS. Finally, the use of a GIS-generated gravity model to determine an optimal retail location is demonstrated.
On effectively computable realizations of choice functions: Dedicated to Professors Kenneth J. Arrow and Anil Nerode

Abstract Let X be a compact, convex subset of R n , and let 〈R(X), F R 〉 be a recursive space of alternatives, where R ( X ) is the image of X in a recursive metric space, and F R is the family of all recursive subsets of R ( X ). If C: F R → F R is a non-trivial recursively representable choice function that is rational in the sense of Richter, we prove that C has no recursive realization within Church's Thesis. Our proof is not a diagonalization argument and uses no paradoxical statements from formal systems. Instead, the proof is a Kleene-Post reduction style argument and uses the Turing equivalence between mechanical devices of computation and the recursive functions of Godel and Kleene.
Report of the Independent Expert on the Question of Human Rights and Extreme Poverty

In this report, the United Nations independent expert on the question of human rights and extreme poverty focuses on non-contributory pensions or so-called social pensions. Social pensions consist of cash benefits received by persons above a given age that do not require prior compulsory contributions from beneficiaries, employers or the State. Social pensions are an important dimension of social security systems. States are obliged progressively to ensure the right to social security and the right to an adequate standard of living to all individuals within the country. These rights are enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and several international human rights treaties and International Labour Organization conventions. Considering the vulnerability of older persons, States must take appropriate measures to establish social security schemes that provide benefits to all older persons without discrimination of any kind and ensure equal rights for men and women. Today, large proportions of the population work outside the formal employment sector and traditional informal support systems for older people are changing under the pressure of increased longevity, widespread poverty, the impact of HIV/AIDS and migration. Contributory pension schemes (e.g. employment-based pensions) do not reach all older persons. Therefore, States must recognize that social pensions are critical elements for the progressive realization of the right to social security for older people. Non-contributory pensions can significantly reduce poverty and vulnerability among old people, in particular for women, who live longer and are less likely to benefit from contributory systems. The report provides recommendations on how to ensure that non-contributory pensions comply with core human rights standards. It also addresses the role of international assistance and cooperation in the field of social security.
Biological pacemakers based on I(f).

Biological pacemaking as a replacement for or adjunct to electronic pacemakers has been a subject of interest since the 1990s. In the following pages, we discuss the rational for and progress made using a hyperpolarization activated, cyclic nucleotide gated channel isoform to carry the I f pacemaker current in gene and cell therapy approaches. Both strategies have resulted in effective biological pacemaker function over a period of weeks in intact animals. Moreover, the use of adult human mesenchymal stem cells as a platform for carrying pacemaker genes has resulted in the formation of functional gap junctions with cardiac myocytes in situ leading to effective and persistent propagation of pacemaker current. The approaches described are encouraging, suggesting that biological pacemakers based on this strategy can be brought to clinical testing.
3-D FDTD modeling of ULF/ELF propagation within the global Earth-ionosphere cavity using an optimized geodesic grid

We discuss an emerging application of finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) computational electrodynamics: modeling transient ultra-low frequency (ULF) and extremely low frequency (ELF) propagation within the global Earth-ionosphere cavity. This permits for the first time a direct, three-dimensional, time-domain calculation of round-the-world ULV/ELF propagation accounting for arbitrary horizontal as well as vertical geometrical and electrical inhomogeneities and anisotropies of the excitation, ionosphere, lithosphere, and oceans.
A paradigm for community-based human computer interaction education

With the pervasiveness of computers throughout our environment, there is a growing demand for diligent Human Computer Interaction (HCI) education of graduate and undergraduate students to satisfy the growing needs of a multiplicity of organizations. This paper describes one approach to teaching HCI while requiring students to develop systems for various city, school, and university organizations. The benefits derived by the students and the clients receiving their services are many. There is wide range of opportunities for community-based HCI education. The various client applications provide a plethora of learning scenarios that may be explored in a classroom setting. The process, experience, and results are presented in this paper.
Probabilistic Search and Pursuit Evasion on a Graph

This paper presents an approach to locate an adversarial, mobile evader in an indoor environment using motion planning of mobile pursuers. The approach presented in this paper uses motion planning of mobile robots to search a target in a graph and clear the workspace. The algorithm used is Partially Observable Markov Decision Process (POMDP), a probabilistic search method to clear the indoor workspace in a pursuit evasion domain. In this paper, the indoor environment is assumed to be known beforehand and the mobile evader to be adversarial with no motion model given. The workspace is first discretized and then converted to a graph, whose nodes represent the rooms and corridors and edges represent connection between them. The task of pursuer is to clear the whole graph with no contaminated node left in minimum possible steps. Such path planning problems are NP-hard and the problem scales exponentially with increased number of pursuers and complex graph.
On robust clusters of minimum cardinality in networks

This paper studies two clique relaxation models, k-blocks and k-robust 2-clubs, used to describe structurally cohesive clusters with good robustness and reachability properties. The minimization version of the two problems are shown to be hard to approximate for $$k \ge 3$$ and $$k \ge 4$$ , respectively. Integer programming formulations are proposed and a polyhedral study is presented. The results of sample numerical experiments on several graph instances are also reported.
The calmodulin and F-actin binding sites of smooth muscle caldesmon lie in the carboxyl-terminal domain whereas the molecular weight heterogeneity lies in the middle of the molecule.

Abstract Caldesmons are major Ca2+-calmodulin regulated F-actin binding proteins of smooth and non-muscle cells that have been implicated as components of a thin filament regulatory system. Chicken gizzard caldesmons are monomeric proteins of Mr 140,000 and 135,000. We have employed enzymatic and chemical cleavage methods in order to dissect the protein to locate the Ca2+-calmodulin and F-actin binding domain and the site of molecular weight heterogeneity. Using a novel mapping procedure that employs partial chemical cleavage at cysteine residues, we show that both caldesmon polypeptides contain 2 cysteine residues located approximately 28,000 from the protein's amino terminus and the second approximately 25,000 from the carboxyl terminus. Identification of the composition of partial cleavage products with region-specific antibodies is consistent with this derived map. The apparent molecular weight heterogeneity was found to lie in the approximately 80,000 region between the 2 cysteine residues and therefore is not due to proteolytic processing. Digestion with alpha-chymotrypsin yields a relatively stable basic Mr 40,000 Ca2+-calmodulin and F-actin binding fragment that we have purified and characterized. The chymotryptic 40,000 fragment contains the 25,000 carboxyl-terminal fragment and therefore is derived from the carboxyl-terminal region of caldesmon. The 25,000 fragment obtained after chemical cleavage at cysteine under native conditions has also been purified and shown to bind F-actin and Ca2+-calmodulin. Surprisingly, the purified carboxyl 25,000 fragment, unlike the reduced intact monomer, cross-links F-actin into tightly ordered bundles in which the filaments are in register.
Boiling on the Shellside of Horizontal Tube Bundles

Boiling on the shellside of horizontal tube bundles is widely used in industry. However, the open literature concerning detailed knowledge about local heat transfer and two-phase flow in such tube bundles is sparse. The following review summarizes what the state of knowledge is on prediction of heat transfer coefficients, the critical heat flux condition, and pressure drop in multitube bundles, the use of enhanced heat transfer surfaces in kettle reboilers and modelling of the thermal hydraulics in kettle reboilers. Recommendations are made for some predictive methods and correlations for use in horizontal tube bundles but the lack of research prevents strong recommendations for any predictive method for any of the heat transfer or two-phase flow processes.
Follow-up of NICU Graduates: Why, What, and by Whom

Follow-up of the graduates of neonatal intensive care is an important component of the provision of such care. However, the objectives of these programs and their data-collection strategies vary widely. This report describes the potential objectives and different data-collection strategies. It then reviews briefly what is known about the outcomes of very low birth weight infants to guide the development of assessment packets: Finally, we describe the operation of our program and activities of our team to illustrate the follow-up experience in a large multi-institution program.
MIT Virtual Source RF Model as a Tool for GaN-Based LNA and Oscillator Design

This work demonstrates the usefulness of the physics-based MIT Virtual Source GaNFET (MVSG) model in the design of GaN based RF low noise amplifiers (LNAs) and oscillators. The model with its accurate representation of small and large signal device characteristics along with RF- and low frequency noise behavior can be used for the design of LNAs with the required noise figure (NF) and oscillators with the desired frequency response including the close-in phase noise performance. The MVSG model is benchmarked against device terminal DC-, small-signal S- parameter- and noise figure measurements and is used to design an LNA with antenna switches, which achieves 3.7 dB NF with 12 V supply voltage at 5.9 GHz (IEEE 802.11p standard) [1]. A 3-stage GaN pseudo-invertor ring oscillator, delivering 21 dBm at 1.4 GHz is designed using the MVSG model to determine its accurate estimation of large-signal device-switching behavior along with the device- flicker (1/f) noise-dominated phase noise. The dependence of phase noise level on the DC component of the impulse sensitivity function (ISF) [2, 3] is confirmed using the model and measurements. In this work, the physics of carrier charge and transport in a GaN-HEMT along with device-level noise is translated into functional RF-circuit elements using the MVSG model.
A resonant switched-capacitor converter with GaN transistors for series-stacked processors with 99.8% power delivery efficiency

The series-stacked architecture provides a method to increase power delivery efficiency to multiple processors. With a series-stack, Differential Power Processing (DPP) is needed to ensure that processor voltages remain within design limits as the individual loads vary. This work demonstrates a switched-capacitor (SC) converter to balance a stack of four ARM® Cortex-A8 based embedded computers. We investigate hard-switched and resonant modes of operation in a ladder SC DPP converter, implemented with GaN transistors. Excellent 5 V regulation of each embedded computer is demonstrated in a 4-series-stack configuration, with realistic computational work loads. Moreover, we demonstrate hot-swapping of individual computers with maintained voltage regulation at all nodes. A peak stack power delivery of 99.8% is demonstrated, and DPP switching frequencies from 250kHz to 2MHz.
Evaluation of certain integrals using stochastic formulation of the lossy wave equation

The relationship between the solution of a lossy wave equation and that of a lossless wave equation established via the Poisson process is exploited to derive some new integral identities.
Is the outcome of local excision for rectal cancer predictable?: Blumberg d, paty pb, guillem jg, et al. all patients with small intramural rectal cancers are at risk for lymph node metastasis. dis colon rectum 1999;42:881–5.

Local excision of rectal cancer for early stage lesions has been an attractive alternative to more radical procedures such as proctectomy with permanent colostomy. Criteria for this approach have included small (<4 cm), well-differentiated lesions not penetrating the muscularis (T1 or T2) within reach of the surgeon via the transanal approach (<10 cm from anal verge). However, after initial favorable early reports, recurrence rates appear to be 15%. The majority are locoregional recurrences, which can be salvaged surgically in no more than 50% of cases. These are thought to be caused by, particularly, unrecognized lymph node metastasis. These lesions can be diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasound or computed tomography.