cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Robotics in Support of Human Space Exploration: A Canadian Perspective

Space robotics is a key element of the Canadian Space Program. The Canadian Space Agency (CSA), through MD Robotics, has made a sizeable investment in space robotics to support human space exploration. Canadian robotic arms are in regular use on all Space Shuttle flights, and Canada is providing sophisticated hardware as the main robotic system to be used for the construction and operation of the International Space Station (ISS). Strategic robotic technologies are being developed to allow Canada to continue as a space robotic leader, and robotics for planetary exploration is seen as one of the main directions of evolution. This paper also highlights some of the management and financial challenges for robotics in support of human space exploration, and how these are being addressed in Canada.
Abstract 1642: Markers of Inflammation and the Risk of Developing Chronic Kidney Disease: Population-based Cohort Study

Background: Inflammatory processes are implicated in the development of diabetes and hypertension, which are risk factors of chronic kidney disease (CKD). In animal models, inflammatory processes have been shown to play an important role in kidney disease development. However, in humans, the independent relation between markers of inflammation and the risk of developing CKD is not clear. Objective: To examine the relationship of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptor2 (TNF- α R2) levels to CKD. Design: Population-based cohort in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin (aged 44 – 85 years, 49% women) with 15 year follow-up data. Setting: General community Participants: We performed 2 set of analyses: cross-sectional analysis among 4880 individuals with prevalent CKD (n=623) as the outcome-of-interest and longitudinal analysis among 1889 CKD-free individuals at baseline with 15-year incident CKD as the outcome-of-interest (n=675). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratio (OR) and 95 percent confidence intervals (CI). Main Outcome Measure: CKD, defined as estimated GFR 2 . Results: In the cross-sectional analysis, we found that both CRP (OR [95%CI] comparing highest vs. lowest tertile: 1.48 [1.17–1.88]; p-trend=0.0007) and TNF- α R2 levels (OR [95%CI] comparing highest vs. lowest tertile: 3.51 [2.19 –5.61]; p-trend α R2 levels (OR [95%CI] comparing highest vs. lowest tertile: 2.22 [1.51–3.26]; p-trend Conclusions: Results from this study support the hypothesis of an association between elevated serum TNF- α R2 levels and the risk of developing CKD, suggesting a role for inflammatory mechanisms related TNF- α in the etiology of CKD. Our results also suggest that elevated serum CRP may be a marker of heightened inflammatory processes that are activated secondary to kidney disease.
Surface Runoff Model Formulation

Hydrologic and environmental processes are distributed in space and time. Simulation of these processes is made possible through the already well-developed spatial data analysis and management techniques of a GIS. Digital maps of soils, land use, topography, and rainfall are used to compute rainfall runoff in each grid cell in the drainage network. In principle, runoff generation caused by rainfall rates exceeding infiltration rates or soil profile saturation can is simulated in this scheme. Runoff losses due to infiltration in channels can account for runoff processes typical of alluvial fans in more arid climates or due to karstic geology where fractures permit runoff arriving from upstream to percolate into the subsurface or aquifer as recharge. The objective of this chapter is to explore the model formulation and the geospatial data used to define topography, land use/cover, soils, and precipitation input within a physics-based distributed framework.
Bronchodilator effects of ipratropium bromide and albuterol sulfate among subjects with tetraplegia.

Objective: In addition to lung volume restriction, persons with chronic tetraplegia demonstrate obstructive airway physiology evinced by pharmacologically-induced bronchodilation. We previously fou...
College Student Perceptions of Hypothetical Rape Disclosures: Do Relational and Demographic Variables Pose a Risk on Disclosure Believability?

The purpose of this investigation is to examine male and female students’ perceived believability of various rape disclosures, manipulated by the relationship (e.g., best friend, neighborhood woman) between the discloser and recipient as well as by various demographic characteristics of the discloser (e.g., gender, race, age). Data were collected online from 777 college students at a large southwestern university, of which 60 students did not report their gender. Of those participants who did report their gender, 342 are men and 375 are women. The average age of the sample is 22.23 years old (SD = 5.53). Results indicate that men and women do not differ in terms of reported believability of a discloser’s false rape disclosure to serve an ulterior motive of getting revenge on a man or falsifying a rape due to pregnancy. However, an examination of male and female students’ reports of discloser believability when examining various relational and demographic factors (i.e., best friend, neighborhood woman, young boy, Indian woman, white woman, black woman), indicate that women and men significantly differ in that women are more inclined to believe the discloser of the rape than men. Within gender differences also exist in terms of believability. Discussion and future directions follow.
Is freezing in the vaccine cold chain an ongoing issue? A literature review

Vaccine exposure to temperatures below recommended ranges in the cold chain may decrease vaccine potency of freeze-sensitive vaccines leading to a loss of vaccine investments and potentially places children at risk of contracting vaccine preventable illnesses. This literature review is an update to one previously published in 2007 (Matthias et al., 2007), analyzing the prevalence of vaccine exposure to temperatures below recommendations throughout various segments of the cold chain. Overall, 45 studies included in this review assess temperature monitoring, of which 29 specifically assess 'too cold' temperatures. The storage segments alone were evaluated in 41 articles, 15 articles examined the transport segment and 4 studied outreach sessions. The sample size of the studies varied, ranging from one to 103 shipments and from three to 440 storage units. Among reviewed articles, the percentage of vaccine exposure to temperatures below recommended ranges during storage was 33% in wealthier countries and 37.1% in lower income countries. Vaccine exposure to temperatures below recommended ranges occurred during shipments in 38% of studies from higher income countries and 19.3% in lower income countries. This review highlights continuing issues of vaccine exposure to temperatures below recommended ranges during various segments of the cold chain. Studies monitoring the number of events vaccines are exposed to 'too cold' temperatures as well as the duration of these events are needed. Many reviewed studies emphasize the lack of knowledge of health workers regarding freeze damage of vaccines and how this has an effect on temperature monitoring. It is important to address this issue by educating vaccinators and cold chain staff to improve temperature maintenance and supply chain management, which will facilitate the distribution of potent vaccines to children.
Development of a series wrapping cam mechanism for energy transfer in wearable arm support applications

An estimated 17 million individuals suffer a stroke each year with over 5 million resulting in permanent disability. For many of these, the provision of gravity support to the impaired upper limb can provide significant and immediate improvement in arm mobility. This added mobility has the potential to improve arm function and user independence overall, but, so far, wearable arm supports have found only limited uptake by end-users. The reasons are unclear, but it is hypothesized that device uptake is strongly affected by aspects of arm support implementation such as added weight and volume and the effectiveness of the support provided. In the interest of reducing the size and visibility of wearable arm supports, cable driven actuation was investigated, and a device called the series wrapping cam was developed. This device uses two wrapping cams to stretch a spring as the user's arm elevation decreases. It optimally uses the range of motion of a custom latex spring in a compact mechanism. A one degree-of-freedom proof-of-concept prototype of the series wrapping cam was manufactured and tested. The torque supplied by the prototype correctly responds to shoulder elevation to balance the weight of the extended arm at any level of elevation. However, the support is unaffected by the degree of elbow flexion-extension. Shoulder joint torque is a function of both shoulder elevation and elbow flexion, suggesting further benefits could be achieved through a bi-articular design.
Varieties of vigilantism: conceptual discord, meaning and strategies

The practice of vigilantism raises a number of broader provocative questions regarding state–society relations. But before pursuing these questions, we must first ask a critical conceptual question...
Economic and environmental analyses of coal and biomass to liquid fuels

Abstract We analyzed the economic feasibility and environmental benefits of an alternative technology that converts coal and biomass to liquid fuels (CBTL), using West Virginia as a real case scenario. A mixed integer linear programming model was developed to analyze the economic feasibility. A cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment (LCA) model was also developed to analyze the environmental benefits. Sensitivity analyses on required selling price (RSP) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of CBTL fuels were conducted according to feedstock availability and price, biomass to coal mix ratio, conversion rate, internal rate of return (IRR), capital cost, operational and maintenance cost. The results showed the price of coal had a more dominant effect on RSP than that of biomass. Different mix ratios and conversion rates led to RSP ranging from $104.3 – $157.9/bbl. LCA results indicated that GHG emissions ranged from 80.62 kg CO 2 eq to 101.46 kg CO 2 eq/1000 MJ of liquid fuel at various biomass to coal mix ratios and conversion rates if carbon capture and storage (CCS) was applied. Most of the water and fossil energy were consumed in the conversion process. Compared to petroleum-derived-liquid fuels, the reduction in GHG emissions could be between −2.7% and 16.2% with CBTL substitution.
Acoustic wave directed assembly of conjugated polymers

Conjugated polymers (CP) have attracted a great deal of attention because they are flexible, light weight, economical, and highly scalable. They are widely used in organic electronics, such as organic field effect transistors, photovoltaics, thermoelectrics, spintronics and electronic skins. However, the electrical performance of CP is still limited due to the inefficient charge hopping between polymer chains.
Oceanic accumulation: Geographies of speculation, overproduction, and crisis in the global shipping economy:

Since the mid-1960s, the shipping sector has been characterized by periods of extreme economic growth and equally impressive periods of contraction. Maritime economists, analysts, and brokers refer...
Complementary and Integrative Treatments: Thyroid Disease

Complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) is defined by the National Institutes of Health as a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products not generally considered part of conventional medicine. CIM practices are grouped into 4 categories: natural products, mind and body medicine practices, manipulative practices, and body-based practices. CIM use in patients is common and a working knowledge is relevant to practicing physicians. This article presents an overview of common forms of CIM and their theoretic framework to review the data regarding CIM use in thyroid disease. The intent is to facilitate communication between patients and physicians regarding CIM.
Stimulation of lettuce productivity by manipulation of diurnal temperature and light.

'Salad Bowl' and 'Waldmann's Green' leaf lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) were exposed to photosynthetic photon flux densities (PPFD) of 444 or 889 micromoles s-1 m-2 for 20 hours day-1 under a diurnal temperature regime of 25 degrees C days/15 degrees nights or 20 degrees days/15 degrees nights. Leaf dry weight of both cultivars was highest under the high PPFD/warm temperature regime and lowest under the low PPFD/cool temperature regime. 'Waldmann's Green' yielded more than did 'Salad Bowl' at 889 micromoles s-1 m-2 and 25 degrees days/20 degrees nights. Under high PPFD, both cultivars yielded better with 25 degrees days/25 degrees nights than with 25 degrees days/20 degrees nights, although relative growth rates were the same under both temperature regimes.
An Experimental Study of Catastrophic Loss of Vacuum for RHIC Dipole in MAGCOOL

Experimental studies of catastrophic loss of insulating vacuum for RHIC dipoles to air and to helium have been performed in the Brookhaven MAGCOOL magnet test facility. A RHIC dipole was cooled to 4.5 Kelvin and powered to its 5000 Ampere design current prior to the test. Ambient air or helium was then introduced into the enclosure to simulate the vacuum loss conditions. The response of the cryogenic system, including the insulating vacuum, pressure, temperature and flow rate for the cooling helium, temperatures on the vacuum tank and heat shield are given as a function of time. The heat load is calculated from the sum of the heat into the magnet and the adjacent helium cooling pipes. The results indicate that for this system the heat load from a sudden loss of vacuum is of the order of 10 kW [0.086 W/cm2] for the helium test and 20 kW [0.17 W/cm2] for the air test. These are approximately one order of magnitude larger than the magnet quench heat load, and thus require special consideration of a pressure relief system for the helium cooling circuit.
Erratum for Haendiges et al., "Complete Genome Sequences of Five Salmonella enterica Strains Used in Inoculation Cocktails in Low-Moisture Food Storage Studies".

Volume 8, no. 2, e01588-18, 2019, [https://doi.org/10.1128/MRA.01588-18][1]. Page 1: The superscript letters associated with the article byline should appear as given in this erratum. [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1128/MRA.01588-18
The Antiquities Act, national monuments, and the regional economy

Abstract Large, landscape-scale national monuments have long been controversial. It has been claimed that large monuments harm local economies by restricting growth of the grazing, timber, mining, and energy industries. Others have asserted that large monuments aid economic growth by reducing reliance on volatile commodity markets and fostering tourism growth. In this study, we use a synthetic control approach to measure the average causal effect of nine national monument designations on county-level per capita income. We find no evidence that monument designation affected per capita income in any of 20 counties hosting nine large (>50,000 acres) national monuments established under the Antiquities Act (six monuments) or by legislative action (three monuments). The broad economic claims of both advocates and critics of large national monuments have little empirical support. The absence of a designation effect for large national monuments is likely due to the attributes of federal land and the legal constraints under which it is managed.
Lymph Node Sampling and Survival in Child and Adolescent Extremity Soft-Tissue Sarcoma

BACKGROUND The significance of lymph node sampling (LNS) on disease-specific survival (DSS) of extremity soft tissue sarcomas (STS) is unknown. We investigated the effect of LNS on DSS in child and adolescent extremity STS. MATERIALS AND METHODS The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry was queried for patients aged <20 y with extremity STS who underwent surgery. Patient demographics were collected and analyzed. RESULTS A total of 1550 patients were included, with findings of 10-y DSS of 74% for all extremity STS and 49% for rhabdoymyosarcoma (RMS) (P < 0.005). LNS was associated with worse DSS in patients with extremity nonrhabdomyosacrcoma soft tissue sarcomas (79% versus 84%, P = 0.036). Conversely, LNS was associated with an improved DSS in patients with extremity RMS (64% versus 49%, P = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS LNS is positively associated with an improved DSS in child and adolescent extremity RMS. Multivariate analysis found no correlation between DSS and LNS in child and adolescent extremity nonrhabdomyosarcoma soft tissue sarcomas.
A Comparison of the Wood Structure of Oenothera Stenomeres and Its Tetraploid Mutation Gigas

Page 182, second column of table 7, for "96" read "90". Page 183, last column of table 8, the broken figure is a "7
Branching-Aware Service Function Placement and Routing in Network Function Virtualization

Network Function Virtualization (NFV) is an emerging technology that promises to address issues in traditional middleboxes, providing service flexibility and reduced cost. NFV decouples network functions from the proprietary middlebox hardware, thus allowing the network providers to implement network functions on virtual machines running in standard servers. To deliver an end-to-end service in the NFV environment, Service Function Chain (SFC) is used to define the sequence of actions or Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) that needs to be applied to the data stream of a service delivery demand. Typically, the SFC is regarded as a linear topology that consists of a group of VNFs that the data stream is navigated through. However, our recent exploration on a group of real-life use cases reveals that the data stream can branch out to multiple data streams at certain VNFs (e.g., a load balancer). This branching indicates that the packet flow may be directed to multiple different paths, resulting in a more complex mesh-like service function graph. In this paper, we define the resulting problem as Branching-Aware Service Function Graph embedding and routing (B_SFG). We study how to efficiently accommodate user’s B_SFG requests in the physical network while considering the constraints of function dependency, branching requirements, computing resources of virtual nodes and bandwidth demand of the virtual links. We propose a novel algorithm, B_SFG_CM, which jointly optimizes the processes of node and link mapping of a request. B_SFG_CM employs the proposed techniques of dependency sorting and layering that effectively take into account the node dependency, branching points and the resource status of the physical network. Our experimental results show that the proposed algorithm significantly outperforms the scheme based on the traditional sequential node/link embedding in which the node and link mapping is done sequentially.
Has the New Heart Transplant Donor Allocation Policy Affected Immediate Post-Transplant Care and Outcomes? A Single Center Perspective

Purpose The new UNOS donor heart allocation policy began in October 2018 and prioritized the sickest patients on the heart transplant waitlist. Patients on ECMO and on temporary assist devices now have priority over those less sick patients who are on intravenous inotropes. As a consequence of transplanting sicker patients, post-transplant care and outcomes may be affected. We sought to address this question in our large single-center study. Methods We assessed 116 patients undergoing heart transplantation in the six months prior to October 2018 who were transplanted under status 1A (n=46) compared to patients transplanted the following six months as status 1, 2 or 3 (n=70). Endpoints for comparison in both groups include perioperative mortality, days in the ICU, overall hospital stays and 6-month survival, and the need for transient hemodialysis. Results We saw an increase in the total number of transplants done from 46 prior to the change to 70 after the allocation change. However, the proportion of patient done under urgent status did not change 78.3% vs. 80%. We did however observe an increase in ECMO (0% to 10%) and IABP utilization (11% to 17%). Despite the increase in device use outcome measures didn't show any difference in one year survival 100% pre vs. 92.7% post p=0.1. No statistical differences in ICU LOS, hospital LOS and need for dialysis were observed. Conclusion We observed that the total proportion of urgent transplant did not vary after the change however the use of temporary devices especially ECMO increased post change. This change did not however result in a negative effect of survival or ICU and hospital LOS. More time and a larger patient population is required to fully determine the impact of the new allocation changes on temporary device use and outcome but as of now there doesn't seem to be a negative effect of the increase temporary device use in our large single center institution.
Whole Egg Consumption Decreases Cumulative Weight Gain in Diet-Induced Obese Rats.

Background Whole egg (WE) consumption has been demonstrated to attenuate body weight (BW) gain and adiposity in genetic animal models of type 2 diabetes (T2D). This finding was accompanied by increased food consumption. Objectives This study aimed to examine the effects of long-term WE intake on BW gain, fat distribution, and food intake in a rat model of diet-induced obesity (DIO). Methods Male Sprague Dawley rats (n = 24) were obtained at 5 wk of age and were randomly weight-matched across 1 of 4 dietary intervention groups (6 rats per group): a casein-based diet (CAS), a high-fat high-sucrose CAS diet (HFHS CAS), a whole egg–based diet (EGG), or a high-fat high-sucrose EGG diet (HFHS EGG). All diets provided 20% (w/w) protein and were provided for 33 wk. HFHS diets provided ∼61% of kilocalories from fat and 10% from sucrose. Daily weight gain and food intake were recorded, biochemical parameters were measured via ELISA, and epididymal fat pad weights were recorded at the end of the study. Results At 33 wk, cumulative BW gain in DIO rats fed HFHS EGG resulted in 23% lower weight gain compared with DIO rats fed HFHS CAS (P < 0.0001), but no significant differences in BW gain were observed between the HFHS EGG group and the control EGG and CAS groups (P = 0.71 and P = 0.61, respectively). Relative food intake (grams per kilogram BW) was 23% lower (P < 0.0001) in rats fed HFHS CAS compared with CAS, whereas there was no difference in food intake within the EGG dietary groups. DIO rats fed HFHS EGG exhibited a 22% decrease in epididymal fat weight compared with their counterparts fed the HFHS CAS. Conclusions Our data demonstrate that consumption of a WE-based diet reduced BW gain and visceral fat in the DIO rat, similar to our previous findings in a genetic rat model with T2D.
Gradient optimization of multi-layered density-graded foam laminates for footwear material design.

Abstract Several sports-related injuries and orthopedic treatments need the necessity of corrective shoes that can assuage the excessive pressure on sensitive locations of the foot. In the present work, we study the mechanical and energy absorption characteristics of density-graded foams designed for shoe midsoles. The stress-strain responses of polyurea foams with relative densities (nominal density of foam divided by the density of water) of 0.095, 0.23, and 0.35 are obtained experimentally and used as input to a semi-analytical model. Using this model, three-layered foam laminates with various gradients are designed and characterized in terms of their weight, strength, and energy absorption properties. We show that, in comparison with monolithic foams, significant improvement in strength and energy absorption performance can be achieved through density gradation. Our findings also suggest that there is not a single gradient that offers a superior combination of strength, energy absorption, and weight. Rather, an optimal gradient depends on the plantar location and pressure. Depending on the magnitude of the local plantar pressure, density gradients that lead to the highest specific energy absorption are identified for normal walking and running conditions.
N6-Methyladenosine modification of hepatitis B and C viral RNAs attenuates host innate immunity via RIG-I signaling.

N6-Methyladenosine (m6A), the methylation of the adenosine base at the nitrogen 6 position, is the most common epitranscriptomic modification of mRNA that affects a wide variety of biological functions. We have previously reported that hepatitis B viral RNAs are m6A-modified, displaying a dual functional role in the viral life cycle. Here, we show that cellular m6A machinery regulates host innate immunity against hepatitis B and C viral infections by inducing m6A modification of viral transcripts. The depletion of the m6A writer enzymes (METTL3 and METTL14) leads to an increase in viral RNA recognition by retinoic acid–inducible gene I (RIG-I), thereby stimulating type I interferon production. This is reversed in cells in which m6A METTL3 and METTL14 are overexpressed. The m6A modification of viral RNAs renders RIG-I signaling less effective, whereas single nucleotide mutation of m6A consensus motif of viral RNAs enhances RIG-I sensing activity. Importantly, m6A reader proteins (YTHDF2 and YTHDF3) inhibit RIG-I–transduced signaling activated by viral RNAs by occupying m6A-modified RNAs and inhibiting RIG-I recognition. Collectively, our results provide new insights into the mechanism of immune evasion via m6A modification of viral RNAs.
“Them Cuffs Keep Them Quiet”: Facebook Users’ Reactions to Live Arrests During Racial Justice Protests

This study examines public, digitally focused reactions to civilian arrests in the aftermath of the police killing of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in July 2016. We employ a qualitative content analysis to investigate 302 comments from six Facebook Live videos streamed by local news organizations during racial justice protests following Sterling’s death. We first categorize users’ comments according to two broad and divergent themes around appeals for authoritarian order and for social justice. From these themes, analyses revealed subthemes that illustrate the bases for commenters’ ideological alignments in the immediate aftermath of Sterling’s shooting and the protests that followed. Our findings suggest that online comments reflect existing social inequalities and offline divisions that are still felt in Baton Rouge, a functionally segregated city in the Southern United States. This research contributes to our understanding of online distant witnessing as opposing groups react to live-streamed videos of arrests by police on one of the nation’s most divisive issues.
A Pan-Cancer Study of Somatic TERT Promoter Mutations and Amplification in 30,773 Tumors Profiled By Clinical Genomic Sequencing

TERT gene promoter mutations are known in multiple cancer types. Other TERT alterations remain poorly characterized. Sequencing data from 30,773 tumors analyzed by a hybridization capture next-generation sequencing assay (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Integrated Mutation Profiling of Actionable Cancer Targets) were analyzed for the presence of TERT alterations. Promoter rearrangements (500 bases upstream of the transcriptional start site), hypermethylation (n = 57), and gene expression (n = 155) were evaluated for a subset of cases. Mutually exclusive and recurrent promoter mutations were identified at three hot spots upstream of the transcriptional start site in 11.3% of cases (−124: 74%; −146: 24%; and −138:
RecA-independent recombination: Dependence on the Escherichia coli RarA protein.

Most, but not all, homologous genetic recombination in bacteria is mediated by the RecA recombinase. The mechanistic origin of RecA-independent recombination has remained enigmatic. Here, we demonstrate that the RarA protein makes a major enzymatic contribution to RecA-independent recombination. In particular, RarA makes substantial contributions to intermolecular recombination and to recombination events involving relatively short (<200 bp) homologous sequences, where RecA-mediated recombination is inefficient. The effects are seen here in plasmid-based recombination assays and in vivo cloning processes. Vestigial levels of recombination remain even when both RecA and RarA are absent. Additional pathways for RecA-independent recombination, possibly mediated by helicases, are suppressed by exonucleases ExoI and RecJ. Translesion DNA polymerases may also contribute. Our results provide additional substance to a previous report of a functional overlap between RecA and RarA.
Risk of COVID-19-related bullying, harassment and stigma among healthcare workers: an analytical cross-sectional global study.

Objectives Essential healthcare workers (HCW) uniquely serve as both COVID-19 healers and, potentially, as carriers of SARS-CoV-2. We assessed COVID-19-related stigma and bullying against HCW controlling for social, psychological, medical and community variables. Design We nested an analytical cross-sectional study of COVID-19-related stigma and bullying among HCW within a larger mixed-methods effort assessing COVID-19-related lived experience and impact. Adjusted OR (aOR) and 95% CIs evaluated the association between working in healthcare settings and experience of COVID-19-related bullying and stigma, controlling for confounders. Thematic qualitative analysis provided insight into lived experience of COVID-19-related bullying. Setting We recruited potential participants in four languages (English, Spanish, French, Italian) through Amazon Mechanical Turk’s online workforce and Facebook. Participants Our sample included 7411 people from 173 countries who were aged 18 years or over. Findings HCW significantly experienced more COVID-19-related bullying after controlling for the confounding effects of job-related, personal, geographic and sociocultural variables (aOR: 1.5; 95% CI 1.2 to 2.0). HCW more frequently believed that people gossip about others with COVID-19 (OR: 2.2; 95% CI 1.9 to 2.6) and that people with COVID-19 lose respect in the community (OR: 2.3; 95% CI 2.0 to 2.7), both which elevate bullying risk (OR: 2.7; 95% CI 2.3 to 3.2, and OR: 3.5; 95% CI 2.9 to 4.2, respectively). The lived experience of COVID-19-related bullying relates frequently to public identities as HCW traverse through the community, intersecting with other domains (eg, police, racism, violence). Interpretation After controlling for a range of confounding factors, HCW are significantly more likely to experience COVID-19-related stigma and bullying, often in the intersectional context of racism, violence and police involvement in community settings.
Stock Returns, Leverage, and the COVID-19 Pandemic

This paper investigates how firm debt disproportionately impacted the stock returns of firms who were highly exposed to the economic consequences of social distancing. Specifically, I use a difference-in-difference design to causally identify the impact that higher levels of firm debt had for firms who were more exposed to social distancing requirements. I find that the effects on stock returns are economically meaningful. I also show that both the sign and magnitude of this effect vary as the pandemic unfolds. In the period from February 20, 2020-March 20, 2020, when the stock market was declining significantly, increased debt caused lower stock returns for firms less able to transition their workers to teleworking relative to those who were more able to comply with social distancing. This effect abruptly reverses when the Federal Reserve announces their major intervention into the corporate bond market on March 23, 2020. In the period from March 23, 2020-March 24, 2020 I document that increased debt caused higher stock returns for firms more affected by COVID-19. My results illustrate how real economic shocks interact with firm financial positions and translate into stock market returns. Also, my results highlight how Federal Reserve policy causally impacted stock market returns, giving us a window into the market's perceptions of the Federal Reserve's unprecedented intervention into the corporate bond market.
Older adults in skilled nursing facilities demonstrate low physical activity during and after discharge.

This study sought to quantify physical activity and sedentary time among older adults during a skilled nursing facility (SNF) stay and after the transition home, a critical period when patients are...
Youth Circulations: Tracing the Real and Imagined Circulations of Global Youth

This chapter discusses the development of Youth Circulations (www.youthcirculations.com), an online exhibit that traces real and imagined circulations of global youth. It does so via a curated media archive, art, and writing by im/migrant youth themselves, and also by international journalists, and multidisciplinary scholars. As editors and curators, Heidbrink and Statz seek to hold themselves and other adults who claim to speak for youth—even, or most often, as youths’ “advocates”—accountable to the agentive, diverse, transnational lives of global youth. The result is a fluid experiment in the politics of representation, one that spans artistic, legal, media, policy, and scholarly understandings. The authors discuss this experiment in the chapter and also reflect on its origins in their individual research. They consider the challenges of applied work, and the unanticipated discoveries they have made, including the committed and generous energy of diverse individuals and collectives.
Surgical Management of Reproductive Emergencies

Birthing in llamas and alpacas is a rapid process. Studies in South America documented that> 80% of crias (neonatal llama or alpaca) are born between 6 am and 1 pm. Stage II labor ( expulsion of the cria) occurs over a period of 10 to 15 minutes (range, six to 47 minutes). Dystocia is an uncommon event in llamas and alpacas. Studies in South America found that dystocia in alpacas (1660 birthings observed) occurred in 1.6% of birthings and that 25% of these occurred in primiparous females. Data in a smaller number of llamas (234 birthings observed) demonstrated dystocia in only one female (0.4%). Interestingly, causes of dystocia differ in South America and North America. Uterine torsion is rarely found in descriptions of dystocia in South America. Causes of dystocia in these populations include fetal malpositioning, with 30% of those occurring with the fetus in a posterior presentation and 70% in anterior presentation. Markedly less information is available documenting causes of dystocia in North American herds. What data is available seems to indicate that uterine torsion is a common cause for veterinary intervention of dystocia. The author's opinion is that fetal malpositioning is associated with the majority of dystocia in llamas and alpacas and that uterine torsion is over-represented in the literature, because these cases are more likely to be presented to teaching hospitals for treatment.
Risk of endometrial cancer meriting surgical lymph node assessment in women with a preoperative diagnosis of an endometrial pre-cancerous lesion

Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the proportion of patients treated with hysterectomy for a pre-invasive endometrial lesion who meet an established intra-operative criteria (Mayo) on final pathology for lymph node assessment. Methods: In this institutional review board (IRB)-approved retrospective cohort study, all women who underwent hysterectomy for complex atypical hyperplasia (CAH) or endometrial intra-epithelial neoplasia (EIN) between 2009-2019 at two affiliated institutions were included. Parametric and non-parametric testing were utilized to test the associations between patient, operative, and pathologic characteristics. Results: Of the 141 patients who met inclusion criteria, 51 (36%) had a final diagnosis of cancer, the majority (96%) of which were grade 1, stage IA. The median age was 54, and the median BMI was 32.5kg/m2. Seven patients (5.0% total, 13.7% cancer) met established criteria for lymph node dissection on final pathology. Six of these patients underwent frozen section, with two (33%) being identified as meeting Mayo criteria on intra-operative frozen section. Of the patients that underwent lymph node dissection, none had positive lymph nodes. A history of diabetes (p=0.016), Lynch syndrome (p=0.039), surgeon use of frozen section (p=0.047) and use of tamoxifen or hormone replacement therapy (p=0.023) were associated with a cancer diagnosis. Age >55 was predictive of meeting Mayo criteria (p=0.007). BMI, race, parity, menopausal status, time interval between diagnosis and surgery, mechanism of diagnosis, and endometrial thickness on pre-operative ultrasound were not significant predictors of a cancer diagnosis or meeting Mayo criteria. No recurrences in the cancer cohort were documented across a mean/median follow up of 41.4/24.3 months. Conclusions: Patients with pre-operative CAH/EIN have a low risk of meeting Mayo criteria for lymph node dissection upon final pathology. These data suggest that universal surgical assessment of lymph nodes in this presumed pre-invasive population is of limited clinical utility.
The Burden of Drowning: Issues in Selected Countries – South and Southeast Asia

South Asia and Southeast Asia have a geography that is filled with rivers, resulting in pervasive exposure to water. With a significant proportion of the regional population living in rural areas, the inherent risks of unintentional drowning are constantly elevated. This is further exacerbated by near-annual flooding resulting from heavy monsoon rains that occur across much of South Asia [1–3]. In recent years, natural calamities have further heightened the death toll attributed to drowning, as seen during the 2004 and 2011 tsunamis centered in the Pacific Ocean, unprecedented flooding in Pakistan, and devastating cyclones hitting coastal Bangladesh and India [4–6]. According to the 2004 Global Burden of Disease data, high fatal drowning rates are documented for both South Asian and Southeast Asian countries [7, 8]. Specifically, World Health Organization (WHO) data show that Southeast Asian males drown at rates of 7.3/100,000 population and females at 5.2/100,000 population [9].
Bombing and Psychopathy: An Integrative Review

A review of the research on the motivations and behaviors of bombers is presented. The methodology consisted of a computer search of eight databases, book reviews, and telephonic interviews with local and federal law enforcement. The data were then compared to the substantial research on psychopathy. The authors conclude that a federally funded research effort is necessary, and should incorporate various structured interviews, history gathering, and psychological and physiological tests of incarcerated bombers, theoretically guided by the concordance between the known motivations and behavior of bombers and the concurrent and predictive validity of the construct, psychopathy.
Dietary fiber supplementation for fecal incontinence: a randomized clinical trial

Dietary fiber supplements are used to manage fecal incontinence (FI), but little is known about the fiber type to recommend or the level of effectiveness of such supplements, which appears related to the fermentability of the fiber. The aim of this single-blind, randomized controlled trial was to compare the effects of three dietary fiber supplements (carboxymethylcellulose [CMC], gum arabic [GA], or psyllium) with differing levels of fermentability to a placebo in community-living individuals incontinent of loose/liquid feces. The primary outcome was FI frequency; secondary outcomes included FI amount and consistency, supplement intolerance, and quality of life (QoL). Possible mechanisms underlying supplement effects were also examined. After a 14-day baseline, 189 subjects consumed a placebo or 16 g total fiber/day of one of the fiber supplements for 32 days. FI frequency significantly decreased after psyllium supplementation versus placebo, in both intent-to-treat and per-protocol mixed model analyses. CMC increased FI frequency. In intent-to-treat analysis, the number of FI episodes/week after supplementation was estimated to be 5.5 for Placebo, 2.5 for Psyllium, 4.3 for GA, and 6.2 for CMC. Only psyllium consumption resulted in a gel in feces. Supplement intolerance was low. QoL scores did not differ among groups. Patients with FI may experience a reduction in FI frequency after psyllium supplementation, and decreased FI frequency has been shown to be an important personal goal of treatment for patients with FI. Formation of a gel in feces appears to be a mechanism by which residual psyllium improved FI.
Distributed Estimation under Bandwidth and Energy Constraints

In parameter estimation problems a sequence of observations {x(n)}n=1 is used to estimate a random or deterministic parameter of interest s. Optimal estimation exploits the statistical correlation between x(n) and s that is described either by the joint probability distribution function (pdf) p(x(n), s) when s is assumed random; or by a family of observation pdfs p(x(n); s) parameterized by s when s is assumed deterministic. The optimal estimator function producing an estimate ŝ for a given set of observations {x(n)}n=1 is different for random and deterministic parameters. It also depends on the joint pdf p(x(n), s) (or family of pdfs p(x(n); s)) and the degree of knowledge about them; i.e., whether they are known, dependent on some other (nuisance) parameters, or completely unknown (Kay 1993). The distributed nature of a wireless sensor network (WSN) implies that observations are collected at different sensors and consequently it dictates that between collection and estimation a communication is present. If bandwidth and power were unlimited, the x(n) observations could be conveyed with arbitrary accuracy and, intuitively, no major impact would be expected. However, bandwidth and power are limited, and the seemingly innocuous communication stage turns out to have a significant impact on the design of optimal estimators and their performance assessed by the estimator variance. On the one hand, if digital communications are to be employed individual observations have to be quantized, transforming the estimation problem into that of estimating s using a set of quantized observations – certainly different from estimating s using the original analogamplitude observations. On the other hand, since components of the (vector) observation x(n) are
Mechanical regulation of fibroblast migration and collagen remodelling in healing myocardial infarcts

Effective management of healing and remodelling after myocardial infarction is an important problem in modern cardiology practice. We have recently shown that the level of infarct anisotropy is a critical determinant of heart function following a large anterior infarction, which suggests that therapeutic gains may be realized by controlling infarct anisotropy. However, factors regulating infarct anisotropy are not well understood. Mechanical, structural and chemical guidance cues have all been shown to regulate alignment of fibroblasts and collagen in vitro, and prior studies have proposed that each of these cues could regulate anisotropy of infarct scar tissue, but understanding of fibroblast behaviour in the complex environment of a healing infarct is lacking. We developed an agent-based model of infarct healing that accounted for the combined influence of these cues on fibroblast alignment, collagen deposition and collagen remodelling. We pooled published experimental data from several sources in order to determine parameter values, then used the model to test the importance of each cue for predicting collagen alignment measurements from a set of recent cryoinfarction experiments. We found that although chemokine gradients and pre-existing matrix structures had important effects on collagen organization, a response of fibroblasts to mechanical cues was critical for correctly predicting collagen alignment in infarct scar. Many proposed therapies for myocardial infarction, such as injection of cells or polymers, alter the mechanics of the infarct region. Our modelling results suggest that such therapies could change the anisotropy of the healing infarct, which could have important functional consequences. This model is therefore a potentially important tool for predicting how such interventions change healing outcomes.
Detecting packet-dropping faults in mobile ad-hoc networks

Mobile ad-hoc networks are inherently prone to security attacks, with node mobility being the primary cause in allowing security breaches. This makes the network susceptible to Byzantyne faults with packets getting misrouted, corrupted or dropped. In this paper we propose solutions using an unobtrusive monitoring technique using the "detection manager" to locate malicious or faulty nodes that misroute, corrupt or drop packets. The unobtrusive monitoring technique is similar to an intrusion detection system that monitors system activity logs to determine if the system is under attack. This technique uses information from different network layers to detect malicious nodes. The detection manager we are developing for mobile ad-hoc networks stores several rules for responding to different situations. Any single node in the network can use unobtrusive monitoring without relying on the cooperation of other nodes, which makes unobtrusive monitoring easy to implement and deploy. Simulations of mobile ad-hoc networks that contain malicious nodes indicate that unobtrusive monitoring has a high detection effectiveness with low false positive rate.
Optimizing Mars Airplane Trajectory with the Application Navigation System

Planning complex missions requires a number of programs to be executed in concert. The Application Navigation System (ANS), developed in the NAS Division, can execute many interdependent programs in a distributed environment. We show that the ANS simplifies user effort and reduces time in optimization of the trajectory of a martian airplane. We use a software package, Cart3D, to evaluate trajectories and a shortest path algorithm to determine the optimal trajectory. ANS employs the GridScape to represent the dynamic state of the available computer resources. Then, ANS uses a scheduler to dynamically assign ready task to machine resources and the GridScape for tracking available resources and forecasting completion time of running tasks. We demonstrate system capability to schedule and run the trajectory optimization application with efficiency exceeding 60% on 64 processors.
Pussy Riot!: A Punk Prayer for Freedom. Ed. Amy Scholder

Like many radically minded academics, I was hypnotized by the frenzy of pro–Pussy Riot sentiment that inundated social media for several months last year. Of course, as news cycles fade and more im...
Synthesis and characterization of dialkylaluminum arylimine complexes

Abstract A series of six new aluminum(III) complexes with o-metalated arylimine ligands [o-C6H4(CH NR') (R' = 2,6-iPr2C6H3, 2,6-Me2C6H3)] have been synthesized from the reactions of R2AlCl (R = Me, Et) with o-C6H4(CH NR')Li (R' = 2,6-iPr2C6H3, 2,6-Me2C6H3, t-Bu) in pentane. The complexes all have 4 coordinate pseudo-tetrahedral aluminum centers ligated by two alkyl groups and one bidentate ligand moiety. All six complexes 2a–4b have been fully characterized by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy and the molecular structures of 2b and 3a were determined by X-ray crystallography.
Inverse Problem for Non-Viscous Mean Field Control: Example From Traffic

This paper presents an inverse problem for mean field games where we find the mean field problem statement for which the given dynamics is the solution. We use distributed traffic as an example and derive the classic Lighthill Whitham Richards (LWR) model as a solution of the non-viscous mean field game. We also derive the same model by choosing a different problem where we use travel time, which is a distributed parameter, as the cost for the optimal control. We then study the stationary versions of these two problems and provide numerical solutions for the same.