cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
How to Be a Bayesian Dogmatist

ABSTRACTRational agents have (more or less) consistent beliefs. Bayesianism is a theory of consistency for partial belief states. Rational agents also respond appropriately to experience. Dogmatism is a theory of how to respond appropriately to experience. Hence, Dogmatism and Bayesianism are theories of two very different aspects of rationality. It's surprising, then, that in recent years it has become common to claim that Dogmatism and Bayesianism are jointly inconsistent: how can two independently consistent theories with distinct subject matter be jointly inconsistent? In this essay I argue that Bayesianism and Dogmatism are inconsistent only with the addition of a specific hypothesis about how the appropriate responses to perceptual experience are to be incorporated into the formal models of the Bayesian. That hypothesis isn't essential either to Bayesianism or to Dogmatism, and so Bayesianism and Dogmatism are jointly consistent. That leaves the matter of how experiences and credences are related, a...
Breeding of Rice CMS Lines Started from Utilization of CMS Lines

Based on the traditional program and the reverse program,a new program,breeding of rice CMS lines beginning with utilization of CMS lines,was put forward.The strengths of the new program were analyzed and discussed over the other two programs.Besides,the process of developing near-isogenic lines of CMS lines was introduced.
Breast cancer screening. Benefits, risks, and current controversies.

PREVIEWBecause of the high incidence of breast cancer, screening is a vital component of overall management of the disease. In this article, Dr Barton reviews risk factors for breast cancer and current recommendations for breast cancer screening from the United States Preventive Services Task Force and professional organizations. She also discusses both accepted screening methods and newer technologies that have been studied in at-risk women but are not currently recommended for screening in the general population.
Liability for pure financial loss: revisiting the economic foundations of a legal doctrine

As generally understood in the law and economics literature, the economic loss rule states that a plaintiff cannot recover damages for a pure financial loss. The comparative study of the pure economic loss rule reveals that the recognition and significance attributed to such rule, and to the notion of ‘economic loss’, varies considerably across Western legal systems. Bussani and Palmer analyse the results of an extensive case study on the issue of pure economic loss across all national legal systems of Europe and provide an interesting grouping of the approaches followed by national courts of Europe, describing them variously as ‘liberal’, ‘pragmatic’ or ‘conservative’. The question has emerged in the European context in conjunction with the ongoing search for a common core of European private law and the consideration of a unified European civil code. Comparative legal analysis reveals that the policies and rules governing tortious liability for pure economic loss in Europe are not governed by common principles. Legal systems simply do not share a common approach to this issue. Even those that seek to preclude recoverability of pure financial loss use different definitions and follow different formulations of the problem. An interesting point recently brought to light by comparative legal analysis is that, unlike most other issues in the field of torts, the different approaches on the issue of pure economic loss do not follow the familiar common law/civil law divide.
Martyrdom in Islam: Sectarian Islam: Sunni, Shiʿite and Sufi martyrdom

A man of Banu Tamim said: I saw in this castle [Kufa] a marvel. I entered in upon ʿUbaydallah b. Ziyad as he was reclining upon an elevated seat, with two ranks of men, and upon his right was a shield with the head of Husayn b. ʿAli in it, and then I entered upon al-Mukhtar in this hall, also on this elevated seat, with the people in two ranks around him, on his right a shield with the head of ʿUbaydallah in it, then I entered in upon Musʿab in this hall and upon that elevated seat with the people in ranks around him, and to his right a shield with the head of al-Mukhtar upon it. Now I enter into ʿAbd al-Malik in this very hall, and upon that elevated seat, while the people are in ranks, and to his right a shield with the head of Musʿab. After the early Islamic conquests and the trauma of the first caliphs the Muslim community split irrevocably into two categories: those groups who upheld the hypothetical election of a caliph and supported the dynasties of caliphs that took control after 661 (the Umayyads [661–747], the ʿAbbasids [747–1258] and the Ottomans [ ca . 1517–1924]), and those who did not. Of those groups that did not accept the legitimacy of these caliphal dynasties the most important were the Shiʿites (the Sunnis did support the caliphs).
Regionalizing Africa: Patterns of Precipitation Variability in Observations and Global Climate Models

AbstractMany studies have documented dramatic climatic and environmental changes that have affected Africa over different time scales. These studies often raise questions regarding the spatial extent and regional connectivity of changes inferred from observations and proxies and/or derived from climate models. Objective regionalization offers a tool for addressing these questions. To demonstrate this potential, applications of hierarchical climate regionalizations of Africa using observations and GCM historical simulations and future projections are presented. First, Africa is regionalized based on interannual precipitation variability using Climate Hazards Group Infrared Precipitation with Stations (CHIRPS) data for the period 1981–2014. A number of data processing techniques and clustering algorithms are tested to ensure a robust definition of climate regions. These regionalization results highlight the seasonal and even month-to-month specificity of regional climate associations across the continent, e...
CXCL12 retargeting of an adenovirus vector to cancer cells using a bispecific adapter

Ad vectors are promising delivery vehicles for cancer therapeutic interventions. However, their application is limited by promiscuous tissue tropism and hepatotoxicity. This limitation can be avoided by altering the native tropism of Ads so that they can be redirected to the target cells through alternate cellular receptors. The CXCR4 chemokine receptor belongs to a large superfamily of G-protein-coupled receptors and is known to be upregulated in a wide variety of cancers, including breast cancer and melanoma. These receptors have been associated with cancer cell survival, progression, and metastasis. In the current study, an Ad to cancer cells overexpressing CXCR4 by using a bispecific adapter, sCAR-CXCL12, was retargeted. The sCAR-CXCL12 adapter contained the soluble ectodomain form of the native Ad5 receptor (sCAR), which was fused to a mature human chemokine ligand, CXCL12, through a short peptide linker. A dramatic increase in the infectivity of cancer cells using a targeted Ad vector compared with an untargeted vector was observed. Furthermore, sCAR-CXCL12 attenuated Ad infection of liver ex vivo and in vivo and enhanced Ad vector infection of xenograft tumors implanted in immunodeficient SCID-bg mice. Thus, the sCAR-CXCL12 adapter could be used to retarget Ad vectors to chemokine receptor-positive tumors.
Elections and the failure of democratisation: how voting has made Afghanistan less democratic from the ground up

AbstractThis article provides an ethnographic analysis of shifts in the political economy of one key district in Afghanistan, in order to analyse the links between elections and shifting constellations of power at the local level. Drawing on field research before and after the elections of 2009, 2010 and 2014, it suggests that elections have enabled a small group of the ruling elite to further solidify its grasp on local political and economic resources. The resources and opportunities generated by elections have been used by political elites in order to strengthen patronage networks and consolidate local hierarchies. This outcome, essentially the obverse of the proclaimed objectives of promoting democracy through electoral processes, raises questions about the assumed relationship between elections and democratisation.
A reflexive exercise to promote cultural humility among doctoral nursing students

Background : The U.S. population is becoming increasingly diverse; however, nursing remains a predominantly Caucasian profession. To promote positive outcomes among diverse patients, nurses must rely on rigorous transcultural research. When conducting research with people different from oneself, knowledge of one’s own values and beliefs is a necessary first step. In Transcultural Nursing Research, a required doctoral course, the first assignment is a reflexive exercise followed by online discussion about one’s personal culture and the origins of values and beliefs. Objectives: To (a) examine students’ responses to a reflexive exercise for evidence of cultural self-awareness, cultural humility, and insights gained and (b) assess the effectiveness of the teaching method. Methods : The setting was online within the Learning Management System (LMS), Blackboard. Participants: The sample consisted of twelve doctoral students enrolled in Transcultural Nursing Research. Methods: Student consent was obtained after course grades were submitted. Data was extracted from the LMS, de-identified, coded, categorized and collapsed into themes. Results : Four themes emerged from the data: “different versus familiar”, “cultural experiences”, “memories” and “reflections and implications”. Conclusions : Posts reflected insight into cultural awareness, values and humility. Students identified growth opportunities for themselves and their children. Suggestions for future education and research are presented.
John Wilcock: New York years, 1954–1971: book one

Few figures are more instrumental in the creation and support of the underground press of the 1960s than John Wilcock. In an Atlantic magazine blog post, Steven Heller, a former art and book critic...
A Trimer Consisting of the Tubulin-specific Chaperone D (TBCD), Regulatory GTPase ARL2, and β-Tubulin Is Required for Maintaining the Microtubule Network

Microtubule dynamics involves the polymerization and depolymerization of tubulin dimers and is an essential and highly regulated process required for cell viability, architecture, and division. The regulation of the microtubule network also depends on the maintenance of a pool of αβ-tubulin heterodimers. These dimers are the end result of complex folding and assembly events, requiring the TCP1 Ring Complex (TriC or CCT) chaperonin and five tubulin-specific chaperones, tubulin binding cofactors A-E (TBCA-TBCE). However, models of the actions of these chaperones are incomplete or inconsistent. We previously purified TBCD from bovine tissues and showed that it tightly binds the small GTPase ARL2 but appears to be inactive. Here, in an effort to identify the functional form of TBCD and using non-denaturing gels and immunoblotting, we analyzed lysates from a number of mouse tissues and cell lines to identify the quaternary state(s) of TBCD and ARL2. We found that both proteins co-migrated in native gels in a complex of ∼200 kDa that also contained β-tubulin. Using human embryonic kidney cells enabled the purification of the TBCD·ARL2·β-tubulin trimer found in cell and tissue lysates as well as two other novel TBCD complexes. Characterization of ARL2 point mutants that disrupt binding to TBCD suggested that the ARL2-TBCD interaction is critical for proper maintenance of microtubule densities in cells. We conclude that the TBCD·ARL2·β-tubulin trimer represents a functional complex whose activity is fundamental to microtubule dynamics.
A Spatial Analysis of Florida County Governments' Unreserved General Fund Balances

The most recent Great Recession brought our attention to the issue of fiscal sustainability of local governments. Local governments often rely on their general fund balances to deal with contingencies and economic downturns. Empirical research, however, produces mixed results and is inconclusive about what determines the size of local savings. No previous research on this topic has considered strategic interactions and the spatial relationship among local governments. Using a panel dataset of all the county governments in Florida from 2007 to 2011, this study examines the factors that affect the size of unreserved fund balances and empirically tests the spatial effects concerning local fund balance policies in Florida. Empirical findings indicate the importance of the spillover effects of a county's millage rate change and reliance on intergovernmental transfers. This research contributes to the literature by accounting for the spatial effects in local fund balance behavior.
A multiple case study of teachers’ visions and reflective practice

AbstractResearchers have found that teachers’ visions of what they hope to instill in their students beyond curricular objectives are integral to their instruction and to larger decisions such as their career paths. The purpose of this research was to examine 10 in-service teachers, who taught in different geographic locations across the United States, their visions, and the ways in which these visions influenced their reflective curricular decisions and instructional actions. The researchers describe salient dimensions of visions, the actions teachers reported to enact visions, and the distance and tensions in enacting visions. Researchers used grounded theory and constant comparative analysis to analyze interviews, questionnaires, and artifacts. Findings explore the relationship between teachers’ visions and reflective practice as well as the alignment of instructional practices teachers report in supporting their respective visions. Implications for future research, theory, and practice are discussed.
Altered gene expression and metabolism in fetal umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells correspond with differences in 5-month-old infant adiposity gain

The intrauterine period is a critical time wherein developmental exposure can influence risk for chronic disease including childhood obesity. Using umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (uMSC) from offspring born to normal-weight and obese mothers, we tested the hypothesis that changes in infant body composition over the first 5 months of life correspond with differences in cellular metabolism and transcriptomic profiles at birth. Higher long-chain acylcarnitine concentrations, lipid transport gene expression, and indicators of oxidative stress in uMSC-adipocytes were related to higher adiposity at 5 months of age. In uMSC-myocytes, lower amino acid concentrations and global differential gene expression for myocyte growth, amino acid biosynthesis, and oxidative stress were related to lower infant percent fat-free mass at 5 months of age, particularly in offspring of obese mothers. This is the first evidence of human infant adipocyte- or myocyte-related alterations in cellular metabolic pathways that correspond with increased adiposity and lower fat-free mass in early infancy. These pathways might reflect the effects of an adverse maternal metabolic environment on the fetal metabolome and genome. Our findings suggest that programmed differences in infant stem cell metabolism correspond with differences in body composition in early life, a known contributor to obesity risk.
The effect of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients without local nodal metastases following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and esophagectomy for locally advanced esophageal cancer.

111Background: Neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (CRT) followed by esophagectomy is the current standard of care for patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer. The potential benefit of addi...
Korea's blacklist scandal: governmentality, culture, and creativity

This essay focuses on the relationship between culture and governance, exploring how the practice of government has invoked conflicts and crises in the Korean culture industries. The Park Geun-Hye ...
Oblique single-molecule nanoscopy for thick biological samples

We introduce oblique single-molecule nanoscopy, obSTORM, to directly image any oblique sections into depth in thicker cells and tissues without difficult z-stack acquisition. obSTORM offers unprecedented uniform super-resolution throughout a sample depth of ∼100 μm.
Providing Palliative Care in the Medical ICU: A Qualitative Study of MICU Physicians' Beliefs and Practices.

Context:With the current and projected shortage of palliative care (PC) specialists, an integrative model of PC will be needed to meet the needs of patients in intensive care units (ICUs). Prior st...
Diethyldithiocarbamate induction of cytokine release in human long-term bone marrow cultures

Diethyldithiocarbamate (DDTC) is a biochemical modulating agent that protects murine bone marrow progenitor cells from the cytotoxicity of a variety of cancer chemotherapeutic agents. However, the mechanism of this protection is not well understood. Long-term human bone marrow cultures (LTBMC) were established and at day 17 treated with 30 mumol/L DDTC for 1 hour, after which DDTC was removed and replaced with complete medium. Conditioned medium was then collected 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours later and analyzed for the presence of cytokines. A time- dependent increase in granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) (12-fold), granulocyte-CSF (G-CSF) (66-fold), interleukin (IL)- 6, (three-fold), IL-1 beta (161-fold), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)- alpha (25-fold) was observed. The maximum increase for the factors other than TNF-alpha was at 24 to 48 hours posttreatment. However, TNF- alpha peaked as early as 6 hours post-DDTC. When conditioned medium from these cultures was tested in a granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cell (GM-CFC) assay, an increase in colony formation was observed that correlated with the increased levels of cytokines in the medium. The specificity of this effect was confirmed by the fact that the closely related congener bis(hydroxyethyl)dithiocarbamate was devoid of colony- stimulating activity. The addition of antibodies for TNF-alpha and/or IL-1 alpha following DDTC treatment did not inhibit the release of GM- CSF, G-CSF, or IL-6 from the LTBMC. These results suggest that DDTC accelerates bone marrow recovery following myelotoxic drug treatment via increased production of cytokines that are known to be essential for hematopoiesis.
Old and New Unsolved Problems in Lattice-Ordered Rings that need not be f-Rings

Recall that a lattice-ordered ring or l-ring A(+, •, ∨, ∧) is a set together with four binary operations such that A(+, •) is a ring, A(∨, ∧) is a lattice, and letting P = {a ∈ A : a ∨ 0 = a{, we have both P + P and P • P contained in P. For a ∈ A, we let a + = a ∨ 0, a - = (-a) and |a| = a ∨ (-a). It follows that a = a + - a -, |a| = a + + a -, and for any a, b ∈ A, |aa+b| < |a|+ |b| and |ab| < |a| |b|. As usual a < b means (b–a) ∈ P. We leave it to the reader to fill in what is meant by a lattice-ordered algebra over a totally ordered field.
Role of the E2 core in the dominant mechanisms of regulatory control of mammalian pyruvate dehydrogenase complex

The mammalian pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) is a large assembly composed of six components with nine distinct subunits. Four of these components execute the overall reaction through a series of steps linked by cofactor-mediated active site coupling: the pyruvate dehydrogenase component (E1); the dihydrolipoyl acetyltransferase component (E2); the dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase component (E3); and the E3-binding component (E3BP, previously protein X) (reviewed: Patel and Roche, 1990; Reed and Hackert, 1990; Perham, 1991). The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex has a central and strategic role in metabolism. Control of the PDC reaction is critically important for regulating cellular fuel utilization. PDC activity is controlled primarily by an intricately regulated phosphorylation-dephosphorylation cycle. This regulatory cycle is carried out by dedicated kinase and phosphatase components that operate to decrease and increase the activity of the complex through phosphorylating and dephosphorylating the E1 component, respectively. Here, E1a is used to designate the active form of E1 and E1b to designate the phosphorylated, inactive form.
Peopled Parks: Forest Change in India’s Protected Landscapes

Understanding forest change in the densely populated, forested landscapes of India poses a challenge. Although India has an established approach toward conservation that is focused on protected areas, the long history of human settlement, high population density, and human use of forests and the diversity of biophysical, ecological, social, and institutional conditions create a challenging context for forest protection. In this chapter, we synthesize information from a number of case studies of land-use/land-cover change in India, and examine four case studies in detail to provide insights into the drivers of forest clearing and regrowth in peopled parks. We find that protected areas are an important influence on the rural Indian landscape and have been reasonably successful in maintaining forest cover within their core areas. There is, however, considerable forest change taking place at the periphery of protected areas, with substantial clearing near settlements and accessible locations. In urbanizing landscapes, protected areas continue to play a dominant role, but forest availability has a major influence on vegetation change, with the human footprint expanding to cover distant, hitherto inaccessible areas. This has extremely worrisome implications for the future of forests in an increasingly urbanizing country that represents the second most populous nation in the world.
Influence of multi-walled carbon nanotubes on the residual performance of concrete exposed to high temperatures

Abstract Residual mechanical properties of lightweight concrete (LWC) and normal strength concrete (NSC) containing multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) after exposure to high temperatures are presented. Mechanical properties such as compressive strength (f’c,T), tensile strength (f't,T), stress-strain response, compressive toughness (Tc) and mass loss of the analyzed formulations were studied and have been elaborately discussed. A heating ramp of 5 °C per minute was selected to expose the cylindrical specimens to target temperatures up to 800 °C. The test data indicated that the inclusion of nano-reinforcements in concrete can significantly improve the residual mechanical properties. Morphological changes in microstructure, crack formation and interfacial interaction between aggregate and mortar were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, the data obtained from high temperature material property tests were utilized to develop mathematical relationships for expressing residual mechanical properties of CNTs modified concrete as a function of temperature.
Surgical Resection for Recurrence After Two-Stage Hepatectomy for Colorectal Liver Metastases Is Feasible, Is Safe, and Improves Survival.

Recurrence rates are high for patients who have undergone two-stage hepatectomy (TSH) for bilateral colorectal liver metastases, and there is no established treatment approach for recurrent disease. This study aimed to determine the feasibility, safety, and prognostic impact of surgical resection for recurrence after TSH and the prognostic role of RAS mutation in this cohort. The study included 137 patients intended to undergo TSH for bilateral colorectal metastases during 2003–2016. Clinicopathologic factors were compared using univariate and multivariate analyses. One hundred eleven patients (81%) completed TSH. The median recurrence-free survival in these patients was 12 months. Of the 83 patients with subsequent recurrence, 31 (37%) underwent resection for recurrence, and 11 underwent multiple resections for recurrence. Forty-eight operations were performed for recurrence: 23 repeat hepatectomies, 14 pulmonary resections, 5 locoregional resections, and 6 concurrent resections in multiple organ sites. The median overall survival (OS) among patients with recurrence was 143 months for patients who underwent resection and 49 months for those who did not (P < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, resection for recurrence (hazard ratio [HR] 0.25; 95% CI 0.10–0.54, P < 0.001) was associated with better OS, whereas RAS mutation (HR 2.25; 95% CI 1.16–4.50, P = 0.016) and first recurrence in multiple sites (HR 2.28; 95% CI 1.17–4.37, P = 0.016) were independent predictors of worse overall survival. In patients who have undergone TSH for bilateral colorectal liver metastases, recurrence is frequent and should be treated with resection whenever possible. Patients with wild-type RAS fare particularly well with resection for recurrence.
Plutonium binding affinity to sediments increases with contact time

Abstract Previous research has shown that Pu binds strongly to mineral surfaces and that its tendency to desorb decreases with time. However, the mechanisms behind this aging process are not well understood, have not been conducted under controlled laboratory conditions, and have not considered natural samples aged for long durations. In this work, sediments aged for 32 years in the presence of Pu were used to investigate the reversibility of sorption with time. Experiments utilized these aged sediments to examine the fate of Pu via multi-isotope adsorption and desorption experiments and selective extractions in the presence of a suite of ligands. None of the ligands (desferrioxamine B siderophore, fulvic acid, citric acid) or elevated concentrations of salts (NaF, NaCl, CaCl2, Na2PO4) promoted desorption of significant amounts of Pu from the surface after 32 years of aging or significantly reduced sorption of freshly added Pu. Together, these results highlight that Pu has a significantly greater affinity for binding to sediment surfaces than ligand complexation, regardless of aging period. A surface complexation model further corroborated these experimental data. However, selective extractions show that Pu on the solid phase may be redistributing into a more recalcitrant fraction with time due to an aging effect. Not including long-term Pu aging effects on sediments in risk models may lead to overestimating Pu mobility in the aqueous phase while underestimating Pu mobility in the colloidal phase.
Chapter 27: Reactions of Interest in Medicinal Chemistry

Publisher Summary This chapter describes various reactions in medicinal chemistry. The possibilities and limitations of using computer literature searches to find particular kinds of synthetic reactions are reviewed. Tertiary phosphines have been shown to be good catalysts for Michael reactions, offering a useful alternative to alkoxide or hydroxide catalysis. Lithium amides have been used to form enolates and carbanions at 78°C for a variety of synthetic purposes. Acetylene is normally a very sluggish dienophile in Diels–Alder reactions, but two acetylene synthons, vinylene thionocarbonate and 2-phenyl-1, 3-dioxol-4-ene, have been reported to be very reactive. A new class of mixed cuprate (I) reagents, Het(R)CuLi, allows selective alkyl group transfer. Lithium diorganocuprates add to primary tosylates in high yields, but secondary tosylates give somewhat lower yields. Intramolecular Wittig reactions have been used to form new C=C bonds in high yields. Disubstituted acetylenes may be obtained in high yields by treating lithioalkynes with alkyl halides.
LeFort I Osteotomy

Not long ago, maxillary advancement seemed a formidable procedure to many surgeons. Cleft patients with Class III malocclusion often were treated by the more familiar method of mandibular setback, even though the problem, by clinical and cephalometric examination, could be shown to be in the maxilla.
Barriers and Facilitators for Adherence to Physical Activity Recommendations among Adults and Children in a Multi-Site Cross-Sectional Study

Qualitative research on barriers and facilitators to meeting the physical activity recommendations (PAR) among adults and children are limited. Most studies focused on correlates of children’s physical activity and sedentary behavior. The goal of this research was to examine the barriers and facilitators to following federal PAR among adults and children enrolled in a multi-site study. Adult’s reported barriers included lack of motivation (interest), time, and competing life demands. Although financial constraints were a reported barrier, the predominant barrier was chaotic life events that limited time available to adhere to the PAR. Children reported competing activities, health and psychological limitations as barriers to meeting the PAR. Adults perceived health benefits as a facilitator to being physically active. And children reported peer support and ways to be physically active as facilitators. Barriers and facilitators to following PAR reported by adults and children should be taken into consideration when designing interventions.
A Multiphysics Simulation of the Thermal Runaway in Large-Format Lithium-ion Batteries

Lithium-ion batteries (LIB) have found a wide range of applications in many consumer products in the last 25 years. The United States Navy and Marine Corps have various applications using LIB, and safe battery technologies are critically needed. While many consumer applications typically utilize smaller, high volume cells, military applications can utilize specialty large-format cells in their LIB packs. One of the most important safety considerations for LIB cells is their thermal stability under various abuses such as exposure to heat, nail penetration, external short circuit, crushing, and so on. Several exothermic reactions can occur as the inner cell temperature increases, and if the heat generation is larger than the dissipated heat to the surroundings, this leads to heat accumulation in the cell and acceleration of the chemical reactions, which can then lead to a thermal runaway. Since the behavior of batteries is strongly affected by the interaction of physics on varying length and time scales: a multi-physics and multi-scale model is needed to simulate this process. While many approaches have been reported in literature, they are not directly applicable in large-format LIB cells and the development of multi-scale and multi-physics models are relatively limited and still computationally expensive. For example, in large formatted battery cells, the uniformity of the electrical potential along the current collectors in the cell composites is no longer given. Additionally, due to the inhomogeneity of the distribution of the temperature field with respect to the cell geometry, thermal dynamics must also be taken into account. This study reports the recently developed multi-scale and multi-physics models for simulating the thermal runway inside a lithium-ion battery using COMSOL software. For the electrochemical processes, the porous electrode theory with contributions coming from exothermic side reactions is used to model abuse mechanisms, which could lead to a thermal runaway. For the thermal-mechanical processes, models of thermal abuse reactions that occur at specific elevated temperatures have been simulated. Prior experimental data on a large-scale lithium-ion battery tested at NSWCCD has been used to construct and validate the model with good agreement.
Attachment as a Predictor of Psychological and Sexual Wellbeing Among Transgender Women in New York City

Transgender women are disproportionately affected by HIV and experience high rates of depression and anxiety. The importance of secure attachment in buffering against negative sexual and mental hea...
A 20-year experiment on the effects of deer and hare on eastern hemlock regeneration

Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carriere) is a shade-tolerant, slow-growing tree once common in forests across the Great Lakes region. It was heavily exploited in the late 19th and early 20t...
Physically constrained spatiotemporal modeling: generating clear-sky constructions of land surface temperature from sparse, remotely sensed satellite data

Satellite remote-sensing is used to collect important atmospheric and geophysical data at various spatial resolutions, providing insight into spatiotemporal surface and climate variability globally...
The influenza NS1 protein modulates RIG-I activation via a strain-specific direct interaction with the second CARD of RIG-I.

A critical role of influenza A virus nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) is to antagonize the host cellular antiviral response. NS1 accomplishes this role through numerous interactions with host proteins, including the cytoplasmic pathogen recognition receptor, retinoic acid–inducible gene I (RIG-I). Although the consequences of this interaction have been studied, the complete mechanism by which NS1 antagonizes RIG-I signaling remains unclear. We demonstrated previously that the NS1 RNA-binding domain (NS1RBD) interacts directly with the second caspase activation and recruitment domain (CARD) of RIG-I. We also identified that a single strain-specific polymorphism in the NS1RBD (R21Q) completely abrogates this interaction. Here we investigate the functional consequences of an R21Q mutation on NS1's ability to antagonize RIG-I signaling. We observed that an influenza virus harboring the R21Q mutation in NS1 results in significant up-regulation of RIG-I signaling. In support of this, we determined that an R21Q mutation in NS1 results in a marked deficit in NS1's ability to antagonize TRIM25-mediated ubiquitination of the RIG-I CARDs, a critical step in RIG-I activation. We also observed that WT NS1 is capable of binding directly to the tandem RIG-I CARDs, whereas the R21Q mutation in NS1 significantly inhibits this interaction. Furthermore, we determined that the R21Q mutation does not impede the interaction between NS1 and TRIM25 or NS1RBD's ability to bind RNA. The data presented here offer significant insights into NS1 antagonism of RIG-I and illustrate the importance of understanding the role of strain-specific polymorphisms in the context of this specific NS1 function.
Effect of iron and silica nanoparticles’ size on in vitro human skin binding and penetration:

This in vitro skin study determined absorption, diffusion, and binding rates of four [14C]-labeled nanoparticles (NPs): 12 nm Fe3O4, 32 nm Fe3O4@SiO2, 33 nm SiO2, and 78 nm SiO2 in each layer of hu...
Investigating Velopharyngeal Closure Force with Linear Regression

Cleft palate is a common birth defect worldwide. Children diagnosed with this abnormality face difficulties during feeding, hearing, and especially speech. Although surgical methods exist to repair cleft palate, subsequent corrective surgeries are often necessary since children are unable to gain full speech capabilities due to velopharyngeal inadequacy. Investigating the velopharyngeal system in normal patients can help speech pathologists, surgeons, and other medical professionals understand the effects of velopharyngeal anatomy on velopharyngeal function and improve patient diagnosis and treatment. Earlier studies visualized the velum using two-and-three dimensional modeling, but these studies did not adequately investigate the variability in velopharyngeal muscle measures nor their impact on normal and abnormal velopharyngeal function. To remedy these shortcomings, this paper investigates the effects of muscles in the velopharyngeal system on closure force with a novel application of the multiple linear regression machine learning technique. Incorporating multiple anatomical features, multiple linear regression was used to predict closure force values and their direction. The results of this study reveal that multiple linear regression was found to be an effective tool for accurately predicting velopharyngeal closure force for any set of anatomical parameters. Furthermore, these results demonstrated that the velum had a major influence on closure force challenging previous claims that the levator veli palatini muscle was responsible for generating closure force.
Prediction of Short Time Qubit Readout via Measurement of the Next Quantum Jump of a Coupled Damped Driven Harmonic Oscillator

The dynamics of the next quantum jump for a qubit [two level system] coupled to a readout resonator [damped driven harmonic oscillator] is calculated. A quantum mechanical treatment of readout resonator reveals nonexponential short time behavior which could facilitate detection of the state of the qubit faster than the resonator lifetime.
Patient Interest in Video Integration for After-Hours Telemedicine.

Purpose To understand patient attitudes, access toward video calling to enhance efficiency of after-hours triage calls. Methods We surveyed patients aged 18 to 89 years. Questions included demographics, preferences, access to video calling devices, and perceived advantages and disadvantages of this technology. Answers were entered into Qualtrics database and analyzed using JMP 11 (SAS, Cary, NC). Results Two hundred ninety-eight patients agreed to participate. Mean age was 47.9 years; 71.6% were female; and 75.1% had access to video calling device. Device proficiency was inversely related to age and greatest in 18-to-32-years group (χ2 = 71.18, P Conclusions Patients seem to have access and interest in video communication for after-hours calls. Further studies are needed to evaluate whether addition of video component to after-hours triage calls will help reduce unnecessary emergency department visits.
Few Shot Dialogue State Tracking using Meta-learning

Dialogue State Tracking (DST) forms a core component of automated chatbot based systems designed for specific goals like hotel, taxi reservation, tourist information, etc. With the increasing need to deploy such systems in new domains, solving the problem of zero/few-shot DST has become necessary. There has been a rising trend for learning to transfer knowledge from resource-rich domains to unknown domains with minimal need for additional data. In this work, we explore the merits of meta-learning algorithms for this transfer and hence, propose a meta-learner D-REPTILE specific to the DST problem. With extensive experimentation, we provide clear evidence of benefits over conventional approaches across different domains, methods, base models, and datasets with significant (5-25%) improvement over the baseline in a low-data setting. Our proposed meta-learner is agnostic of the underlying model and hence any existing state-of-the-art DST system can improve its performance on unknown domains using our training strategy.
Utility of skull X-rays in identifying recurrence of coiled cerebral aneurysms.

OBJECTIVE A high rate of cerebral aneurysm recurrence following endovascular coiling has prompted the use of digital subtraction angiography (DSA) for interval follow-up. However, the utility of skull x-rays as an alternative screening method for aneurysm recurrence is unproperly characterized. METHODS Retrospective review of a prospective registry of ruptured and unruptured cerebral aneurysms. Anteroposterior and lateral skull x-rays were obtained immediately at the end of the procedure and at 6-month follow-up. Aneurysm recurrence was defined by comparing post-procedure and 6-month DSA imaging. A true positive was defined as a change in coil mass morphology on at least one projection with aneurysm recurrence on DSA, and a true negative defined as a stable coil mass on both projections and no recurrence on DSA. Receiver operating characteristic area under the curve (AUC) statistics was used to assess the performance of skull x-rays in identifying aneurysm recurrence. RESULTS A total of 118 cerebral aneurysms were evaluated with DSA imaging and skull x-rays. A change in coil mass morphology on one projection of skull x-rays correctly detected all true recurrences with a sensitivity of 100% (95% confidence interval [CI], 91-100%). Skull x-rays failed to identify a stable aneurysm coil mass in 15 cases, with a specificity of 79% (68-88%). Skull x-rays performed with AUC 0.8958 (95% CI, 0.8490-0.9431) in identifying aneurysm recurrence. CONCLUSIONS The findings of our study suggest that skull x-rays may represent a lowcost, non-invasive screening tool to rule out aneurysm recurrence, which can potentially aid in decreasing the utilization of DSA in the follow-up of patients with coiled cerebral aneurysms.
Mechanisms of PrO x Performance Enhancement of Oxygen Electrodes for Low Temperature Solid Oxide Cells

Recent developments in solid oxide cells focus on decreasing operating temperatures below 600 °C for improved cost and electrochemical stability in order to improve viability for commercialization. In this work, we improve the performance and stability of La0.6Sr0.40.2Fe0.8O3-δ (LSCF) and a recently developed electrode material, SrTi0.3Fe0.55Co0.15O3-δ (STFC), with addition of PrOx nanoparticles. Single-step PrOx infiltration improves performance of both LSCF and STFC across all tested temperatures (450 to 650 °C) with the most significant enhancements at lower temperatures. STFC modified with PrOx yields the best overall performance and stability, with the initial polarization resistance of 0.20 Ω·cm2 at 550 °C increasing over ~ 800 hours before stabilizing at 0.27 Ω·cm2. This represents a factor of ~ 10 resistance decrease compared to the LSCF electrode at 550 °C. A distribution of relaxation timesanalysis sheds light on the electrochemical mechanisms impacted by PrOx.
Beyond Preemption, Toward Metropolitan Governance

Although U.S. metropolitan areas are increasingly economically and culturally inter-connected, legal authority over core substantive areas remains largely decentralized, divided, and uncoordinated. Scholars have long recognized that this configuration can yield substantial benefits, but also exacerbates social problems that transcend local boundaries, such as traffic congestion, pollution, and segregation. Though some have called for state preemption or the formation of metropolitan governments, such reforms have proved elusive and may often be normatively undesirable. More recent theories of “metropolitan governance” lack a comprehensive framework for describing and assessing such authority, and neglect the role of formal legal strategies in inducing effective governance. Building on insights from literatures on institutional design and governance, this Article reveals the traces of an alternative approach. Based on three in-depth case studies involving housing, water pollution, and transportation, it identifies misunderstood and underexplored reallocations of authority that destabilize existing municipal incentives. Each case illustrates how states have set standards for local governments, and promoted implementation and attainment of these standards, by establishing third-party enforcement rights and/or instruments for intergovernmental coordination. Such targeted reallocations may be more politically plausible than broader institutional changes and more likely to simultaneously leverage the benefits of local and more centralized institutions. More broadly, the Article argues that distinguishing the extent authority is centralized from the levels of overlap and coordination better facilitates assessment of the potential tradeoffs among different institutional configurations. Ultimately, this framework reveals a range of opportunities that may better promote more effective metropolitan governance.
Psychopathy, Borderline Personality Disorder, and Substance Use in Incarcerated Females:

Psychopathy and borderline personality disorder (BPD) are commonly associated with an increased propensity toward substance use. However, few studies have accounted for shared variance between psyc...
Comparison of Portable Oxygen Concentrators and Inspired Oxygen Levels Using a Simulation of COPD

Background: Portable oxygen concentrators (POCs) have shown efficacy in delivering adequate oxygen for various patient scenarios; however, there is a lack of research on POCs’ efficacy across different respiratory rates specifically among COPD patients. Methods: This bench study was conducted using the IngMar Medical Active Servo Lung 5000 attached to flexible tubing, which simulated an adult patient’s nares. An oxygen analyzer (Maxtec Handi+) was connected to the tubing 6 inches below the nares to estimate the inspired oxygen concentration at the adult trachea. A standard nasal cannula was placed in the simulated patient nares, which was also attached to each POC. The IngMar Lung was programmed to simulate a COPD patient at the following respiratory rates: 15, 20, 30, and 40 breaths/min. POC devices were then compared to an oxygen wall outlet and a standard oxygen concentrator (non-portable CAIRE device). The POCs included the CAIRE FreeStyle Comfort (with Autosat), CAIRE FreeStyle Comfort (without Autosat), Inogen G4, Inogen G5, Phillips SimplyGo Mini, GCE Zen-O lite, Drive Medical iGo2, and Kingon POCs. Descriptive statistics and ANOVAs were computed to determine statistically significant differences between POCS and control devices (wall oxygen and standalone oxygen concentrator). Results: Across most respiratory rate scenarios, the wall oxygen and standalone oxygen concentrator (control group) resulted higher oxygen measurements compared to the POCs. Among the POCs on setting 2, the highest oxygen measurement for 15, 30, and 40 breaths/min was the CAIRE FreeStyle Comfort with AutoSat on sensitivity 5 (24.43%, 24.81%, and 25.0%, respectively). On setting 2, the 20 breaths/min highest oxygen measurement was the Inogen G4 (24.43%). For setting 5, the highest oxygen measurement for 15 breaths/min and 40 breaths/min was the CAIRE FreeStyle Comfort without AutoSat (31.56% and 26.13%, respectively), while the highest oxygen measurement for 20 breaths/min was the Inogen G5 (30.26%), and the highest oxygen measurement for 30 breaths/min was the CAIRE FreeStyle Comfort with AutoSat on sensitivity level 5 (27.89%). Conclusions: The oxygen administered through the wall and the standalone CAIRE oxygen concentrator all delivered higher oxygen levels compared to the POCs (with the exception of the 40 breaths/min scenario on setting 2). However, among the POCs, the CAIRE Freestyle Comfort with AutoSat, CAIRE Freestyle Comfort without AutoSat, and the Inogen G4 all performed the best among the various breathing rate scenarios.
Multimodality imaging of Surgicel®, an important mimic of post-operative complication in the thorax

Absorbable hemostatic agents such as Surgicel are hemostatic materials composed of an oxidized cellulose polymer used to control post-surgical bleeding and cause coagulation. This material is somet...
The convergence of upstream collocation in the Buckley-Leverett problem

Upstream collocation is a fast and accurate scheme for stimulating multiphase flows in oil reservoirs. In contrast to standard orthogonal collocation, upstream collocation yields numerical solutions to the Buckley-Leverett problem that converge to physically correct solutions. The failure of standard orthogonal collocation is not surprising, since the Buckley-Leverett problem as commonly stated is incompletely posed. The equal-area rule of Buckley and Leverett and the Welge tangent construction both specify additional constraints needed to close the problem properly. An error analysis of upstream collocation shows that this method forces convergence through an artificial dissipative term analogous to the ''vanishing viscosity'' used in shock fitting. This constraint is mathematically equivalent to the more familiar constructions and should prove beneficial in simulating enhanced recovery schemes based on frontal displacement.