cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Scaling Multi-Domain Dialogue State Tracking via Query Reformulation

We present a novel approach to dialogue state tracking and referring expression resolution tasks. Successful contextual understanding of multi-turn spoken dialogues requires resolving referring expressions across turns and tracking the entities relevant to the conversation across turns. Tracking conversational state is particularly challenging in a multi-domain scenario when there exist multiple spoken language understanding (SLU) sub-systems, and each SLU sub-system operates on its domain-specific meaning representation. While previous approaches have addressed the disparate schema issue by learning candidate transformations of the meaning representation, in this paper, we instead model the reference resolution as a dialogue context-aware user query reformulation task -- the dialog state is serialized to a sequence of natural language tokens representing the conversation. We develop our model for query reformulation using a pointer-generator network and a novel multi-task learning setup. In our experiments, we show a significant improvement in absolute F1 on an internal as well as a, soon to be released, public benchmark respectively.
Respiratory and low-temperature sweetening responses of fresh-cut potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tubers to low oxygen

Abstract Enzymatic browning (EB) has impeded the commercialization of fresh-cut (FC) potato. However, recently introduced Innate®-engineered cultivars with silenced polyphenol oxidase (PPO) have overcome this obstacle. As a supplement to refrigeration, low O2 atmosphere may extend the shelf-life of FC potato by reducing wound-induced respiration, associated dry matter loss, EB, and low-temperature sweetening (LTS). Determining the O2 concentration that minimizes these deteriorative physiological processes without invoking anaerobic metabolism is prerequisite to designing effective modified atmosphere packaging (MAP). Accordingly, FC tubers of cultivars Russet Burbank (RB), Ranger Russet (RR), and their Innate® counterparts, CultivATE®, GenerATE®, and GlaciATE®, were stored (4 °C) in ten O2 atmospheres ranging from 0 to 21 kPa to determine the lower oxygen limit (LOL) for aerobic respiration and effects on LTS and EB. FC tissue stored at 21 kPa O2 displayed a prominent cold-induced respiratory acclimation response (RAR), characterized by an initial decline in respiration rate followed by a steady increase through 48 h. The RAR decreased with O2 and was extinguished at ≤1.5 kPa. Lowering O2 from 21-7 kPa had little effect on tissue respiration; however, rates fell from 4.23 to 3.41 μg kg−1 s−1 as O2 decreased from 7 to 3.5 kPa, followed by a further 79% reduction to 0.70 μg kg−1 s−1 at 0 kPa O2. Tissue lactate profiles revealed the onset of anaerobic metabolism at ca 1.5 kPa O2 for all cultivars. Importantly, lactate and ethanol accumulation were negligible through 16 d at ≥2 kPa O2 (= LOL) but increased considerably at ≤1 kPa. Low O2 attenuated the cold-induced synthesis of sucrose and reducing sugars in FC tissue from RB, and sucrose from GlaciATE® tubers in which acid invertase is silenced. Enzymatic browning of FC RB and RR tubers was inhibited by anoxia, but extensive at ≥0.5 kPa O2. FC Innate® tubers exhibited only minor EB at all O2 concentrations. Collectively, these data inform the further development of MAP for FC potato.
Zero-shot neural decoding of visual categories without prior exemplars

Decoding information from neural responses in visual cortex demonstrates interpolation across repetitions or exemplars. Is it possible to decode novel categories from neural activity without any prior training on activity from those categories? We built zero-shot neural decoders by mapping responses from macaque inferior temporal cortex onto a deep neural network. The resulting models correctly interpreted responses to novel categories, even extrapolating from a single category.
The influence of health literacy on emergency department utilization and hospitalizations in adolescents with sickle cell disease

Objective Healthcare spending in the US is $3.2 trillion. $1.1 trillion is attributed to hospital care, including emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations. There is a relationship between ED utilization, hospitalizations, and health literacy in the general population. Health literacy may play a role in frequent ED visits and hospitalizations in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). The purpose of this paper is to describe the relationship among health literacy levels, annual hospital encounters, annual clinic visits, annual ED visits, and annual hospitalizations in 134 Black, non-Hispanic adolescents aged 10-19 years with SCD. Design This is a cross-sectional, descriptive correlational study evaluating facilitators and barriers to health literacy and clinical outcomes in adolescents with SCD. Sample Data were collected from 134 Black, non-Hispanic adolescents with SCD at a large, tertiary care center in Texas. Measurements The Newest Vital Sign and REALM-Teen health literacy instruments were used to evaluate health literacy. Results Contrasting previous studies evaluating the influence of health literacy on ED visits and hospitalizations in the general population, there were no significant relationships within this sample. Conclusions This study gives insight into future research to evaluate other potential influences on ED utilization and hospitalizations in pediatric patients with SCD.
The Incompleteness of Standards and the Potential of/for Deliberative Discourse

Approaching academic standards from a dialogical orientation has significant implications for the normative outcomes of curriculum. Mikhail Bakhtin recognized dialogue as composed of emotional-volitional, axiological perspectives that seek responses from other positions that can embody a space of shared exchange. Entering a discussion, conversation, or testimony with the development of relationships with academic standards as a priority changes the encounter. Our condition as human presents us each with a choice at every moment and in every place to be present. We can occupy that space in a manner that is generative of potentiality and opportunity for ourselves and others or in a manner that forecloses those opportunities. What occurs in school and individual classrooms is shaped by the relationship we form with academic standards. It is the intent of this paper to expose the potential of academic standards to serve as carefully constructed public dialogues.
Glenohumeral external rotation weakness partially accounts for increased humeral rotation torque in youth baseball pitchers.

Abstract Objectives To examine differences in shoulder internal rotation (IR) torque among youth pitchers of above and below average relative glenohumeral (GH) rotation strength levels. It was hypothesized that differences in IR torque during the pitching motion would could be explained by differences in relative IR and external rotation (ER) strength. Design Descriptive laboratory study. Methods Isometric GH rotation strength and upper extremity pitching mechanics were assessed in 78 male youth baseball pitchers (12.7 ± 2.0 yrs; 1.63 ± 14.0 m; 56.9 ± 12.4 kg). Shoulder IR torque during the pitch was examined at maximum humeral external rotation (MER) and throughout the arm acceleration phase (ACC). Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was used to examine the differences in pitching IR torque between GH strength groups. Results A significant main effect of ER strength on the dependent variables was present after controlling for fastball velocity (λ = 0.855, F2,72 = 6.13, p = 0.003, η p 2 = 0.145). Follow up univariate tests indicated significant differences in IR torque between strength groups at MER (F1,73 = 12.36, p η p 2 = 0.145) and during ACC (F1,73 = 6.65, p = 0.012, η p 2 = 0.083). Participants who displayed ER strength at or below the group mean experienced greater IR torque at MER and greater average IR torque during ACC than participants who displayed ER strength above the group mean. Conclusions Weakness of the GH ER musculature partially accounts for increased shoulder IR torque during pitching.
Drivers of In-Hospital Costs Following Endoscopic Transphenoidal Pituitary Surgery.

OBJECTIVE To characterize the patient and clinical factors that determine variability in hospital costs following endoscopic transphenoidal pituitary surgery. METHODS All endoscopic transphenoidal pituitary surgeries performed from January 1, 2015, to October 24, 2017, with complete data were evaluated in this retrospective single-institution study. The electronic medical record was reviewed for patient factors, tumor characteristics, and cost variables during each hospital stay. Multivariate linear regression was performed using Stata software. RESULTS The analysis included 190 patients and average length of stay was 4.71 days. Average total in-hospital cost was $28,624 (95% confidence interval $25,094-$32,155) with average total direct cost of $19,444 ($17,136-$21,752) and total indirect cost of $9181 ($7592-$10,409). On multivariate regression, post-operative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak was associated with a significant increase in all cost variables, including a total cost increase of $40,981 ($15,474-$66,489, P = .002). Current smoking status was associated with an increased total cost of $20,189 ($6,638-$33,740, P = .004). Self-reported Caucasian ethnicity was associated with a significant decrease in total cost of $6646 (-$12,760 to -$532, P = .033). Post-operative DI was associated with increased costs across all variables that were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS Post-operative CSF leak, current smoking status, and non-Caucasian ethnicity were associated with significantly increased costs. Understanding of cost drivers of endoscopic transphenoidal pituitary surgery is critical for future cost control and value creation initiatives. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 3 Laryngoscope, 131:760-764, 2021.
Assessing the incidence of osteosarcoma among teriparatide users based on Medicare Part D and US State Cancer Registry Data.

Purpose During preclinical testing, teriparatide caused a dose-dependent increase in the incidence of osteosarcoma in rats. This study compared the incidence rate of osteosarcoma among patients aged ≥65 years treated with teriparatide vs a matched-comparator cohort. Methods This population-based comparative-cohort study matched exposure details for each teriparatide user, identified via Medicare Part D prescription claims, and up to four comparators based on age, sex, zip code, date of claim for filled prescription, and number of unique therapeutic classes dispensed. Outcomes were identified via linkage with participating cancer registries. All US state cancer registries were invited to participate. Results Overall, 153 316 patients in the teriparatide cohort and 613 247 in the comparator cohort were linked to 811 osteosarcoma cases from 26 participating state cancer registries (68% of US patients aged ≥65 years diagnosed 2007-2014). Analysis on a subset of cohorts revealed they were balanced for known osteosarcoma risk factors and Charlson comorbidity index. Mean duration of teriparatide treatment was 10 months. No osteosarcoma cases were observed in the teriparatide cohort; the incidence rate in the comparator cohort was consistent with the background incidence rate among adults aged ≥65 years. The incidence rate ratio was 0.0 (95% confidence interval, 0.0-3.2). Conclusions For US patients aged ≥65 years, incidence of osteosarcoma among those treated with teriparatide ranges from 0 to 3.2 times the incidence of osteosarcoma in those treated with other medications. Given low incidence of osteosarcoma, this range of effect is inconsistent with a large absolute increase in osteosarcoma risk.
CDIAC-FF: global and national CO 2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion and cement manufacture: 1751–2017

Abstract. Global- and national-scale inventories of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions are important tools as countries grapple with the need to reduce emissions to minimize the magnitude of changes in the global climate system. The longest time series dataset on global and national CO 2 emissions, with consistency over all countries and all years since 1751, has long been the dataset generated by the Carbon Dioxide Information and Analysis Center (CDIAC), formerly housed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The CDIAC dataset estimates emissions from fossil fuel combustion and cement manufacture, by fuel type, using the United Nations energy statistics and global cement production data from the United States Geological Survey. Recently, the maintenance of the CDIAC dataset was transferred to Appalachian State University, and the dataset is now identified as CDIAC-FF. This paper describes the annual update of the time series of emissions with estimates through 2017; there is typically a 2- to 3-year time lag in the processing of the two primary datasets used for the estimation of CO 2 emissions. We provide details on two changes to the approach to calculating CO 2 emissions that have been implemented in the transition from CDIAC to CDIAC-FF: refinement in the treatment of changes in stocks at the global level and changes in the procedure to calculate CO 2 emissions from cement manufacture. We compare CDIAC-FF's estimates of CO 2 emissions with other global and national datasets and illustrate the trends in emissions (1990–2015) using a decomposition analysis of the Kaya identity. The decompositions for the top 10 emitting countries show that, although similarities exist, countries have unique factors driving their patterns of emissions, suggesting the need for diverse strategies to mitigate carbon emissions to meditate anthropogenic climate change. The data for this particular version of CDIAC-FF are available at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4281271 (Gilfillan et al., 2020a).
Stem Cell Research

One of the most active areas of research in medicine today is stem cell biology. This review introduces the reader to the field of stem cell biology and its therapeutic potential. More importantly, the potential application of stem cell therapy in acute lung injury will be explored.
Commerce in Children: Slavery, Gradual Emancipation, and the Free Womb Trade in Colombia

In 1821, as the Wars of Independence drew to a close, officials of the newly created republic of Gran Colombia passed a national gradual emancipation law. At the center of it was a Free Womb law that declared legally free the children of enslaved women born after the law's promulgation, while bonding these children to their mothers’ masters until the age of 18. Yet, in addition to establishing a term limit on their legalized captivity, the law stipulated conditions for the commerce in Free Womb children, laying the groundwork for what I refer to as the Free Womb trade. This article presents the first detailed exploration of the origins, operations, and limitations of the Free Womb trade in Colombia, particularly at the level of one province: the northwestern Pacific coastal province of Choco. I argue that the trade created distinctly bounded market geographies of Free Womb children, who were actively, if at times ambiguously, incorporated into Colombia's slave economy. As a general rule, the Free Womb trade placed captive families at the mercy of their masters; yet, as one extraordinary case reveals, the full extent of the local trade's legal power was not entirely secure.
Assess FDG-PET/CT performance in characterization of renal lesions and its impact on patient management.

1312 Objectives Assess clinical significance of renal lesions detected on FDG-PET/CT during oncologic imaging for staging and Restaging work-up for a variety of malignancies. Methods This is retrospective analysis of the significance of Solid/semisolid renal lesions detected from January 1, 2014- December 1, 2015 during oncologic FDG-PET/CT imaging at University of Rochester medical center. Patients with suspicious solid/semisolid renal lesions demonstrating wide range of FDG avidity were included with the diagnosis confirmed by CECT/US, histology, and/or clinical follow-up including response to targeted therapies. Simple renal cysts and congenital renal anomalies were excluded from further analysis. Solid/semisolid lesions regardless of the degree of FDG avidity were considered suspicious for renal cell carcinoma(RCC) and more intensely hypermetabolic single or multiple renal cortical lesions as metastatic. Results 30 patients met the inclusion criteria, of which 28 were malignant (12 primary RCC, 8 metastatic, 5 lymphoma, 3 RCC recurrence) and 2 false positive. A majority (90%) RCC masses were solid/semisolid, had low-grade uptake equal to the renal parenchyma, could be easily missed if not recognized on the CT portion of the PET/CT. The metastatic lesions were metabolically more intense and often multiple. CECT showed enhancing tumors corresponding to PET/CT identified suspicious RCC, subsequently resected and confirmed on histology. Lymphoma lesions were intensely hypermetabolic, focal or diffuse, and demonstrated complete metabolic response to targeted chemotherapy. Recurrent RCC and distant metastases from RCC, contrary to the common belief were more intensely hypermetabolic. Conclusions FDG-PET/CT can play a key role in the early detection of RCC and potentially improve patient outcome with a positive predictive value of 90% (p-value <.01). Similarly detecting renal metastases (which may be the only metastatic site), and detection of RCC recurrence can influence staging/management decisions. RESEARCH SUPPORT: None
Managing Operational and Environmental Risks in the Strategic Plan of a Maritime Container Port

Shipping trends in technology, regulation, energy and environment require maritime container ports to adapt their operations to better suit current and future conditions. This paper focuses on innovative solutions in three main areas of interest for ports: (1) clean energy technologies, (2) alternative financing and (3) automated process technologies. In this analysis, these areas of interest are explored using the Port of Virginia as a case study. Results are derived using scenario analysis methodology drawn from systems, risk and resilience analysis. Investment strategies in renewable energy sources are evaluated and project funding approaches, including the use of green bonds, are explored. AI systems relevant to port operations integration and container security are also described. The key results of this paper are twofold: (1) a demonstration ranking of initiatives for a port strategic plan and (2) a ranking of scenarios by their disruption on initiative impact. The results of the case study are of interest to the strategic planners at industrial ports and the maritime industry.
Onset of periodic oscillations as a precursor of a transition to pore-generating turbulence in laser melting

Abstract Laser melting technologies in welding and additive manufacturing, such as laser powder bed fusion, promises to revolutionize manufacturing. However, a challenge remains in preventing pore defects produced by melt pool instabilities, which degrade part quality. Using X-ray imaging synchronized with ultrahigh-speed (40 ns) absorption radiometry and coupled with high-fidelity simulations, we discovered that periodic oscillations in the melt pool's morphology existed prior to a transition to chaotic and pore-generating turbulence. Over-extension by recoil waves followed by surface-tension driven recession created temporary pores that persisted longer in a multimodal regime. This non-linear hydrodynamics exists in both shallow and deep melt pools, but most strongly affects the latter. Early prevention of this transition will help improve the quality of manufactured parts. This work demonstrates that remote sensing of these oscillations is possible by very high time resolution total light scattering measurements, which is more readily achievable in an industrial setting than 2-dimensional melt pool imaging.
Melatonin Prescribing in Assisted Living.

Abstract Objectives Aging is associated with sleep problems, which are common among assisted living (AL) residents. More than 40% of residents have insomnia, and almost 70% have a sleep disturbance of some kind. Melatonin to treat sleep disorders has become common among older adults, but its use in AL is unknown, which is concerning because melatonin may have side effects and interfere with other medications. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and correlates of melatonin prescribing in AL, to inform whether changes in care may be indicated. Design Cross-sectional chart abstracts and interviews. Settings and Participants Data were collected in 250 randomly selected AL communities among 5777 residents across 7 states in the United States and weighted to an estimated 4043 communities and 152,719 residents. Methods Charts of residents were abstracted, and AL administrators and health care supervisors were interviewed to obtain information related to case-mix, staffing, and attitudes regarding psychoactive medications. Weighted analyses primarily examined the association of melatonin prescribing with community- and resident-level characteristics. Results Melatonin was prescribed in 82% of communities, more commonly in those that had a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse on site (+7%, P = .027), and whose health care supervisor was more favorable toward nonpharmacologic practices (+18%, P = .010). On average, 9% of residents were prescribed melatonin, with prescriptions being more common among those diagnosed with dementia (+24%, P = .004); a psychiatric disorder, especially an anxiety disorder (+43%, P = .007); having behavioral expressions; and taking other psychotropics. Coprescribing was common, especially with antidepressants (OR 2.64, 95% CI 1.99, 3.48; P Conclusions and Implications This study is the first to examine melatonin prescribing in AL, and finds it to be common. Such use may be appropriate if it is as a more suitable replacement for hypnotics. The fact that use varies by organizational characteristics suggests practices may be modifiable. Research examining benefits and side effects of melatonin, overall and in relation to other medications, is indicated to promote better care for AL residents.
Prediction of World Records in Running Sixty Yards to Twenty-Six Miles

Abstract Previous attempts to formulate the mathematical relationship between velocity and elapsed time (or distance) in running records have failed to account for the sprint events and have been empirical rather than theoretical. In the present study, a velocity equation is developed which consists of the sum of three exponential terms having fatigue constants or k's characterizing the muscle energy supply systems—the alactate and lactate oxygen debts and the glycogen reserve. A subtractive exponential term represents the acceleration factor in the sprints. Using this equation, record speeds for 100 yds. and longer distances are predicted with an error of less than 1 per cent; for the 60 meter—60 yd. sprints, with errors of 2 and 3 per cent.
Generation of density gradients. Approximations to equivolumetric gradients for zonal rotors.

Abstract The use of a “density gradient generating function” allows the concentration profile of a density gradient to be written explicitly in terms of the required distribution of sedimentation coefficients in place of the previous implicit formulations. This function, which is easily implemented in a computer program, permits calculation of density gradients for a number of applications. This approach is applied to computation of a variety of equivolumetric gradients of sucrose for zonal rotors and yields a formula for the calibration of such gradients. An accurate approximation has been found which allows the generation of virtually all equivolumetric gradients of sucrose for a given rotor using a single program for the gradient generator employed; the adjustment for different particle densities and for different concentrations at the top of the gradient is made by varying only the initial and final concentrations of sucrose used.
Inventory rules, taxation and institutions' trading decisions

This paper examines whether the trading decisions of institutional investors can be explained in part by the effects of taxation on portfolio returns. We find that advisers managing portfolios on behalf of persons who are taxable entities are 26 percent less likely to sell securities that trigger large capital gains than securities that trigger no capital gains. Also, tax considerations seem to weigh more heavily in trading decisions later in the fiscal year. The decision to sell a particular security appears to depend on the cumulative gain or loss realized by the institutions so far in the tax year. Tax-exempt institutional investors do not exhibit these tendencies. Surprisingly, all institutions are less likely to sell securities that would trigger a large loss. The inventory flow assumption adopted for tax purposes affects the size of the gain or loss realized in the sale of a block of stock. Consistent with tax planning, a HIFO (highest in, first out) inventory rule is most significant for taxable institutions; a FIFO inventory rule is most significant for non-taxable institutions.
Proximate Assays in Food Analysis

The proximate composition of foods includes moisture, ash, lipid, protein, and carbohydrate contents. These food components may be of interest in the food industry for product development, quality control (QC), or regulatory purposes. Analyses used may be rapid methods for QC or more accurate but time-consuming official methods. Sample collection and preparation must be considered carefully to ensure analysis of a homogeneous and representative sample, and to obtain accurate results. Specific methods of analysis for moisture, ash, lipid, protein, and carbohydrate are described in this article, focusing on the principle of each method, application, and sources of error.
A Depth-First Search Technique For The Valuation Of American Path-Dependent Derivatives*

Pricing path-dependent American options is difficult since the number of paths through a binomial tree grow exponentially with the number of binomial periods. In practice even moderately sized trees of 20 to 25 periods can quickly exhaust available memory on most computer systems. This paper describes a method that can be used to price path dependent American style derivatives where the amount of memory grows linearly, not exponentially, in the number of binomial periods. The method is applied to pricing Asian options, fixed income derivatives based on the Heath-Jarrow-Morton model, and corporate bonds .
EPR investigation of transition metal complexes

Abstract The complex (C5H5)2TiH2AlH2 has been detected and its EPR spectrum interpreted. Use of LiAlD4 has allowed the study of the corresponding deuterated compound. Comparison with computer-simulated spectra strongly supports the suggested structure.
An improved potential energy surface and multi-temperature quasiclassical trajectory calculations of N2 + N2 dissociation reactions

Accurate modeling of high-temperature hypersonic flows in the atmosphere requires consideration of collision-induced dissociation of molecular species and energy transfer between the translational and internal modes of the gas molecules. Here, we describe a study of the N2 + N2⟶N2 + 2N and N2 + N2⟶4N nitrogen dissociation reactions using the quasiclassical trajectory (QCT) method. The simulations used a new potential energy surface for the N4 system; the surface is an improved version of one that was presented previously. In the QCT calculations, initial conditions were determined based on a two-temperature model that approximately separates the translational-rotational temperature from the vibrational temperature of the N2 diatoms. Five values from 8000 K to 30,000 K were considered for each of the two temperatures. Over 2.4 × 10(9) trajectories were calculated. We present results for ensemble-averaged dissociation rate constants as functions of the translational-rotational temperature T and the vibrational temperature T(v). The rate constant depends more strongly on T when T(v) is low, and it depends more strongly on T(v) when T is low. Quasibound reactant states contribute significantly to the rate constants, as do exchange processes at higher temperatures. We discuss two sets of runs in detail: an equilibrium test set in which T = T(v) and a nonequilibrium test set in which T(v) < T. In the equilibrium test set, high-v and moderately-low-j molecules contribute most significantly to the overall dissociation rate, and this state specificity becomes stronger as the temperature decreases. Dissociating trajectories tend to result in a major loss of vibrational energy and a minor loss of rotational energy. In the nonequilibrium test set, as T(v) decreases while T is fixed, higher-j molecules contribute more significantly to the dissociation rate, dissociating trajectories tend to result in a greater rotational energy loss, and the dissociation probability's dependence on v weakens. In this way, as T(v) decreases, rotational energy appears to compensate for the decline in average vibrational energy in promoting dissociation. In both the equilibrium and nonequilibrium test sets, in every case, the average total internal energy loss in the dissociating trajectories is between 10.2 and 11.0 eV, slightly larger than the equilibrium potential energy change of N2 dissociation.
Evaluating the contributions of material control to insider protection

Facilities handling nuclear material must be adequately protected against a spectrum of threats including insiders, outsiders, and collusion among insider and outsider adversaries. To counter these threats, facilities implement an integrated system of physical protection (PP), material control (MC), and material accountability (MA). (Personnel security assurance programs are also used to help deter and detect potential insider adversaries.) Naturally, the contribution of each of these systems to protection against the different threats varies. Material control plays an important role in protecting against the insider threat and in assuring that material is where it should be. Evaluating its contributions however, to the overall protection is challenging. This paper addresses these challenges, describes approaches we have developed to help assess the adequacy of protection, and demonstrates their use in evaluating the contribution of alternative configurations of MC systems. This paper focuses on one of the modules of the ASSESS code- a state-of-the-art safeguards evaluation tool developed jointly with Sandia National Laboratories-and discusses its use for assessing the contributions of MC to an overall insider protection program and for evaluating the safeguards benefits of new MC technologies.
Tricarbonyl(cyclohexadienyl)iron Tetrafluoroborate

[33678-01-2] C9H7BF4FeO3 (MW 305.82) InChI = 1S/C6H7.3CO.BF4.Fe/c1-2-4-6-5-3-1;3*1-2;2-1(3,4)5;/h1-5H,6H2;;;;;/q+1;;;;-1; InChIKey = KNUIMJXEIAQTIM-UHFFFAOYSA-N (mild electrophile capable of reacting with a wide range of nucleophiles under mild conditions1, 2) Physical Data: mp 193 °C (dec). Solubility: readily sol H2O, DMSO, DMF, MeNO2; difficult in nonpolar solvents. Form Supplied in: yellow solid; widely available. Preparative Methods: readily obtained from tricarbonylcyclohexadieneiron by hydride abstraction with trityl fluoroborate in methylene chloride followed by precipitation of the salt with ether. Salts of this type are invariably yellow microcrystalline involatile solids. Handling, Storage, and Precautions: this solid is stable to air and moisture.
A new way to detect the danger: Lysosomal cell death induced by a bacterial ribosomal protein.

The death of immune cells in response to pathogens often dictates the outcome of an infection. In some contexts, pathogens specifically kill immune cells by producing highly potent toxins or by triggering host cell death pathways, thus ensuring successful infections. But for intracellular pathogens and viruses, the death of host cells normally is disastrous for their intracellular life cycle. Our recent experiments with the pathogen Legionella pneumophila revealed that the bacterial ribosomal protein RpsL is able to trigger lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP) and the subsequent macrophage cell death. Interestingly, a lysine to arginine mutation at the 88 th residue, which also confers resistance to the antibiotic streptomycin, substantially impaired the cell death inducing activity of RpsL and allowed L. pneumophila to succeed in intracellular replication, suggesting the convergence of resistance mechanisms to innate immunity and antibiotics. The discovery of lysosomal cell death as an immune response to a bacterial ligand has expanded the spectrum of reactions that host cells can mount against bacterial infection; these observations provide a model to study the pathways that lead to the induction of LMP, a currently poorly understood cellular process involved in the development of many diseases. Journal of Nature and Science, 1(6):e107, 2015
Elevated α-fetoprotein levels in Van Wyk-Grumbach syndrome: a case report and review of literature

The association between primary hypothyroidism and precocious puberty secondary to ovarian hyperstimulation has been recognized for over a century. Here, we report the case of a 9-year-old girl with severe primary hypothyroidism, who presented with premature menarche, enlarged pituitary gland, enlarged ovaries with multiple cysts, and elevated prolactin and alpha-feto protein levels. Pituitary and ovarian radiology findings, and alpha-feto protein levels normalized a few weeks after hypothyroidism treatment was started. Reviewing the literature we found several reports of increased levels of tumor markers in girls with this association. Thyroid function tests should be always part of the evaluation of patients with precocious puberty especially if the bone age is delayed. Tumor markers and liver function tests may be abnormal in patients with severe hypothyroidism and improve soon after thyroid hormone replacement is started.
Effects of Fatigue on Muscle Groups under Dynamic Exertions

The present study was a quantitative investigation into the substitution patterns and other fatigue-related characteristics of the muscles of the upper leg during dynamic activity. Subjects performed fatigue-inducing leg extensions under varied force and velocity conditions. Electromyographic (EMG) data revealed subject dependent muscle substitution patterns that varied as a function of force/velocity combinations. The results also indicate an interaction between leg angle dependent variables and fatigue. Explanations for these effects are discussed.
Experimental parameter estimation for nonproportional cyclic viscoplasticity: Nonlinear kinematic hardening rules for two waspaloy microstructures at 650°C

Abstract An earlier reported approach for estimating backstress from uninterrupted, biaxial strain-controlled, nonproportional tests is applied to two different heat treatments of Waspaloy at 650°C. These results are then used to compute backstress histories from cyclic proportional tests. Information regarding the appropriate number of nonlinear kinematic hardening rules for use in viscoplasticity models as well as estimates of the values of the parameters in the kinematic hardening rules are obtained from direct analysis of the experimental data. Complete sets of isothermal model parameters are presented for both heat treatments, and model results are compared with experimental results for several nonproportional, cyclic, strain-controlled test histories. It is shown that the nonlinear kinematic hardening rules determined using the presented methods allow a faithful description of the subtle differences in stress space response paths for the two different heat treatments. Isotropic hardening for the two heat treatments under the experimental conditions is also discussed.
A high-Q birdbath resonator gyroscope (BRG)

We report a three-dimensional (3-D) micro-scale shell gyroscope made of fused silica (FS), called the birdbath resonator gyroscope (BRG). The BRG operates at 10.45 kHz, far above most environmental noise frequencies, and offers high mechanical quality factor (Qn=2 = 249 k) and low stiffness and damping anisotropy (Δfn = 2 = 14 Hz, Δ1/τn=2 = 4.1 mHz). The birdbath (BB) resonator can be fabricated with good structural symmetry because its anchor is self-aligned to the rest of the structure. The BB resonator also has large frequency separation between the n=2 wineglass modes and the closest parasitic mode (|fparasitic - fn=2|/fn=2 = 0.3), which makes the gyro less sensitive to vibration. The BRG is fabricated using a 3-D μ-blow-torching process and assembly on an electrode substrate made with the Silicon-On-Glass (SOG) process. The BRG is operated in the force-rebalance mode at 400 deg/sec, an angle random walk (ARW) of 0.106 deg/√hr and a bias stability of 1 deg/hr.
Inter-organizational Workflow Modeling and Analysis of Incident Command Systems

Incident command systems (ICS) play a critical role in saving human lives and minimizing the damages to various types of properties in the event of incidents such as flood and terrorist attack. Formal modeling of incident command and control workflows allows the examination of potential issues in the incident response procedures. In our previous work we introduced WIFA, a formalism that supports modeling, verification and enactment of workflows. In this paper, we extend WIFA to inter-organizational workflows to better address the needs of ICS workflows, because an ICS typically involves multiple agencies' effort.
Help, Likability, and Social Influence1

What factors affect an aid-giver's perceived helpfulness and likeability and the amount of positive and negative social influence he is able to exert? In experiment I, subjects performing a difficult task expected or did not expect to receive help which they subsequently received or did not receive. No significant differences were found in reactions to the aid-giver in the two expectancy confirmation conditions. However, reactions were markedly different in the two disconfirmation conditions-very positive when unexpected help was received and very negative when expected help was not received. The two hypothesized main effects were found (p < .05) on the negative social influence, or counter-conformity, measure. In experiment II, the perceived nature of the task was varied. Subjects received or did not receive unexpected help on a relatively unimportant task which yielded only extrinsic rewards or on an intelligence test which yielded only intrinsic, ego-rewards. This time, social influence and counter-conformity measures both showed predicted interaction effects (p < .05), while attitudinal measures did not.
Political Waffling: Its Effects on the Evaluations of Observers1

Politicians sometimes shift the stances that they take on issues. An experiment investigated the effect of such a shift upon observers' perceptions of and feelings about an ostensible candidate for public office. The target issue (private ownership of handguns) was chosen as being relatively emotional for some subjects and unemotional for others. Subjects were also selected (independently) as being either pro or con on the issue. The position taken by the stimulus person (who, in contrast to previous research, was identified as a candidate for office) was portrayed as initially being either similar or dissimilar to that of the subject. An assessment of the candidate's position 6 months later indicated either no change or a reversal of the initial position. Subjects' evaluations of the candidate on a variety of dimensions yielded a consistent pattern. The combination of initial agreement and final agreement was viewed more favorably than any other combination. Taken together, the data suggest two conclusions. First, there was no support in this context for the notion that a shift from disagreement to agreement would be especially valued (i.e., there was no “gain” effect). Second, in the realm of politics, people value consistent agreement with their own position—but they do not reward consistency per se.
Generation of 50 ps 308 nm pulses by means of truncated stimulated brillouin scattering

Abstract A frequency doubled dye laser system, incorporating a single longitudinal mode oscillator, followed by a single stage XeCl amplifier has yielded truncated stimulated Brillouin scattering (TRUBS) pulses of ≈50 ps duration and is potentially capable of providing significantly shorter pulses.
Nanoparticles: Self-assembly finds its own limits

Inorganic nanoparticles can self-assemble into uniformly sized supraparticles in a process governed by competition between electrostatic and van der Waals forces.
Effect of understory management on phenological responses of eastern black walnut on an alluvial Arkansas soil

Black walnut (Juglans nigra L.) is commonly grown in agroforestry practices for nuts and/or timber with little knowledge of how understory herbage management might affect tree phenology. We compared black walnut plant type (variety and wild-type) for phenological response in date of budburst, leaf area index (LAI), quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), radial stem growth, and total chlorophyll concentration in response to understory herbage N fertilization and herbage suppression in an agroforestry practice on an alluvial soil. Herbage treatments generally had little impact on phenological responses, although N fertilization increased herbage yield that delayed budburst. Radial stem growth commenced at about budburst (mid-April) and virtually ceased in late October, about 30 days before leaf drop. Early-season radial stem growth was greater for the wild-type than the variety, while the variety had more rapid late-season growth. The wild-type had consistently greater LAI than the variety at any given day-of-year (DOY), and usually had greater LAI than the variety regardless of herbage treatment. Leaves of both plant types maintained a high Fv/Fm during most of the growing season, but total chlorophyll concentration decreased across DOY regardless of plant type. N fertilizer should be applied with understory herbage suppression to avoid delay of budburst. Further study is needed of phenological responses during longer growth periods, or as affected by latitude, soil water, and soil fertility.
Rational expectations in the overlapping generations model

Abstract This paper reports results on the character of the rational expectations equilibria of a stochastic overlapping generations model with heterogenous markets. The model considered is a stationary overlapping generations model in which the endowments of young agents are subject to i.i.d. random shocks. The main result shown is that if there are l > 1 commodities traded in every period, then for most preferences, the rational expectations equilibrium stochastic process of prices and allocations necessarily exhibits serial correlation. This is in marked contrast to the one commodity model in which there always exists an equilibrium which is measure isomorphic to the endowment process.
Synaptic and Golgi membrane recycling in cochlear hair cells.

Membrane recycling in the mechanoreceptive sensory cells of the mammalian cochlea was studied by observing membrane-bound horseradish peroxidase (HRP) reaction product following briefin vivo exposure to the enzyme. In the inner hair cell (IHC), peroxidase was taken up into coated vesicles and became incorporated into synaptic vesicles surrounding presynaptic bodies, but much HRP was also transported to the apical zone where reaction product appeared in all components of the Golgi complex. Neither the subsurface cisternae nor a tubular network associated with clusters of mitochondria were labelled. Outer hair cells (OHCs) showed considerably less membrane-bound reaction product than IHCs, indicating less rapid plasmalemmal recycling. Most membrane-bound reaction product was contained in coated vesicles and small vacuoles in the synaptic zone, but was occasionally seen in multivesicular bodies in the most apical zone. No labelled organelles were detected in the large central region of the OHC. A diffuse staining of the cytoplasm, particularly pronounced in OHCs, often interfered with the evaluation of membrane-bound reaction product in OHCs. This staining pattern could be qualitatively reproduced in both IHCs and OHCs by incubating fixed segments of the organ of Corti in oxidized diaminobenzidine. The presence of labelled synaptic vesicles associated with presynaptic bodies of IHCs and OHCs suggests that they are formed from membrane retrieved from the plasmalemma. We found no evidence that the subsurface cisternae of IHCs or the laminated cisternae of OHCs are derived from the cell surface as they never contained reaction product.
Raman microprobe study of a superconducting (Tc = 120K) Tl2Ca2Ba2Cu3O10 thin film

Abstract We report Raman microprobe spectra taken from a single Tl2Ca2Ba2Cu3O10 crystal on a superconducting film (Tc = 120K) with the phase identify confirmed by electron microprobe analysis and x-ray diffraction. The CuO bond bending mode of B1g symmetry is identified with the peak at 237 cm−1. All other modes are found to have A1g symmetry.
The representations of the arithmetic operations include functional relationships

Current theories of mathematical problem solving propose that people select a mathematical operation as the solution to a problem on the basis of a structure mapping between their problem representation and the representation of the mathematical operations. The structure-mapping hypothesis requires that the problem and the mathematical representations contain analogous relations. Past research has demonstrated that the problem representation consists of functional relationships, orprinciples. The present study tested whether people represent analogous principles for each arithmetic operation (i.e., addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division). For each operation, college (Experiments 1 and 2) and 8th grade (Experiment 2) participants were asked to rate the degree to which a set of completed problems was a good attempt at the operation. The pattern of presented answers either violated one of four principles or did not violate any principles. The distance of the presented answers from the correct answers was independently manipulated. Consistent with the hypothesis that people represent the principles, (1) violations of the principles were rated as poorer attempts at the operation, (2) operations that are learned first (e.g., addition) had more extensive principle representations than did operations learned later (multiplication), and (3) principles that are more frequently in evidence developed more quickly. In Experiment 3, college participants rated the degree to which statements were indicative of each operation. The statements were either consistent or inconsistent with one of two principles. The participants’ ratings showed that operations with longer developmental histories had strong principle representations. The implications for a structure-mapping approach to mathematical problem solving are discussed.
Sindbis virus induced fusion of tissue cultured Aedes albopictus ( mosquito) cells

Abstract The alphavirus Sindbis was tested for its ability to mediate cell fusion of tissue cultured invertebrate cells. It was found that Sindbis virus grown in BHK-21 cells produced optimal fusion of BHK-21 cell monolayers after brief exposure to pH 5.3. Fusion of mosquito cells by the same virus occurred optimally at pH 4.6 (a pH which results in the destruction of the virus particle) if the cells were cultured in Eagle MEM. Mosquito cells cultured in insect cell medium could not be fused at any pH tested (as low as 4.0). The differences in the response to pH were not due to an inhibitory component in the media and cells cultured in alternate media required several days to weeks to assume the fusion characteristics of cells maintained in that media. All cells in all media were infected by Sindbis with equal efficiency, as determined by infectious center assay. These data suggest that the pH requirement for initiating the virus mediated fusion event does not reside with the virus alone.