cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reflex effect of skeletal muscle mechanoreceptor stimulation on the cardiovascular system

To determine the potential for mechanical stimulation of skeletal muscle to contribute to the reflex cardiovascular response to static contraction (exercise reflex), we examined the cardiovascular effects caused by either passive stretch or external pressure applied to the triceps surae muscles. First, the triceps surae were stretched to an average developed tension of 4.8 +/- 0.3 kg. This resulted in increases in mean arterial pressure (MAP) of 28 +/- 7 mmHg, dP/dt of 1,060 +/- 676 mmHg/s, and heart rate (HR) of 6 +/- 2 beats/min (P less than 0.05). Additionally, increments of 0.3, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, and 8.0 kg of tension produced by passive stretch elicited pressor responses of -6 +/- 1, 7 +/- 1, 16 +/- 3, 21 +/- 8, 28 +/- 6, and 54 +/- 9 mmHg, respectively. External pressure, applied with a cuff to the triceps surae to produce intramuscular pressures (125-300 mmHg) that were similar to those seen during static contraction, also elicited small increases in MAP (4 +/- 1 to 10 +/- 1 mmHg) but did not alter HR. Transection of dorsal roots L5-L7 and S1 abolished the responses to passive stretch and external pressure. Moreover, when the triceps surae were stretched passively to produce a pattern and amount of tension similar to that seen during static hindlimb contraction, a significant reflex cardiovascular response occurred. During this maneuver, the pressor response averaged 51% of that seen during contraction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Effect of Asthma Call-back Survey methodology changes on work-related asthma estimates, 19 states, 2007-2012.

AbstractObjective: Asthma Call-back Survey methodology has been changed recently, as a new sampling design, weights calculation (2011–2012), and revised work-related asthma (WRA) section (2012) were implemented. To assess the effect of these changes on the WRA and possible WRA estimates among ever-employed adults with current asthma, we analyzed 2007–2012 data for 37 505 ever-employed adults (≥18 years) collected from 19 US states (representing an estimated 10 million adults each year). Methods: Using data from landline telephone (LLP) households, we calculated estimates applying poststratification weights (2007–2010) and “raking” weights (2011–2012). Also, using data from LLP/cellular telephone (CP) households combined, we calculated estimates applying “raking” weights (2012). Results: Based on LLP household data, the WRA estimates ranged from 7.8% to 9.7% during 2007–2010, was 9.1% in 2011 and 15.4% in 2012. Possible WRA estimates ranged from 35.1% to 38.1% during 2007–2010, was 38.1% in 2011 and 39.8% ...
Nutritional complexity and the structure of bee foraging bouts

Lay Summary Many plants reward pollinators with nectar (carbohydrates) and pollen (protein), yet little is known about how bees structure their collection of these 2 resources. We found that bumble bees use information about both the nutritional needs of their colony and floral resources when making decisions about which resources to collect and in what order. These findings offer insight into the ecological consequences of nutritionally diverse floral rewards.
Development of a turbulent flotation model from first principles and its validation

Abstract A first principle flotation model has been derived from the basic mechanisms involved in flotation. It consists of a set of analytical equations for various sub-processes such as bubble generation, bubble-particle collision, attachment, detachment, bubble coarsening, and froth phase recovery. A computer simulator based on the model can predict flotation from both hydrodynamic and surface chemistry parameters such as bubble size, particle size, energy dissipation rate, ζ-potentials, contact angles, etc . The model predictions are in good agreement with the flotation results obtained in both laboratory and pilot-scale tests. The model-based simulator can be used to design and diagnose flotation circuits. Typical input parameters include the size-by-class mineralogical composition of a feed, flotation cell characteristics, flow rates, and the types and dosages of reagents.
Inverse Born series for the radiative transport equation

We propose a direct reconstruction method for the inverse transport problem that is based on inversion of the Born series. We characterize the approximation error of the method and illustrate its use in numerical simulations.
Entrepreneurship EducatioN for Non-Traditional Students

The function of the land grant university system is threefold: teaching, research and extension. The Texas Agricultural Extension Service, Texas A0026;M University System, functions as an informal educational resource based on research for the citizens of Texas. Throughout the United States, land grant university extension services are providing education to help individuals start and manage small businesses. Particular emphasis has been placed on informal educational methods to convey the essential elements of decision making related to business start-up. Specialist faculty provide training to extension agents in agriculture and family and consumer sciences who then conduct programming in the local county/community. Extension education is conducted in informal settings, using adult education methods, applied technology, interactive techniques, and local resources to teach principles and practical methods related to business. Evaluation conducted at both the agent training level and the community interface provide information on the effectiveness of these methods and recently developed curricula from national collaborative efforts. National extension efforts in entrepreneurship will be discussed.
Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Receptor Signaling

The primary response to a stressful event is activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis. The stress response results in the synthesis and release of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) from the hypothalamus, followed by an increased release of proopiomelanocortin peptides (adrenocorticotropic hormone, melanocyte-stimulating hormones, and endorphins) from the pituitary gland. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) acts on the adrenal gland to cause release of glucocorticoids. The initial isolation of CRH, a 41-amino acid peptide, was based on its function as the major secretagogue of ACTH. Three more mammalian CRH-related ligands, urocortin (Ucn), urocortin II (Ucn 2), and urocortin III (Ucn 3), have now been cloned. The importance of the CRH system as a major integrator of behavioral, autonomic and endocrine responses to stress is underscored by its effects on learning and memory, Alzheimer's and Parkinson disease, appetite and weight control, addiction, cancer and a possible role in affective disorders such as melancholic depression. The diverse functions of the CRH peptides in physiology and disease is attributed to the downstream signaling pathways they modulate in a diverse number of cell types and tissues and disease states.
Effects of alcohol-based hand hygiene solutions on breath alcohol detection in the emergency department

This study aimed to investigate the effects of alcohol-based hand hygiene solution (ABHS) use by care providers on point-of-care alcohol breath analyzer interpretation under different clinically relevant conditions. Among each test condition (foam vehicle with immediate testing, gel vehicle with immediate testing, allowing hands to dry after the use of ABHS, and donning gloves after the use of ABHS), alcohol was detected in breath at 1 minute after use of ABHS. Because the use of ABHS by individuals administering breath alcohol detection may result in false-positive detection of alcohol, staff using these devices should consider traditional hand hygiene with soap and water.
PECAM-1 Is a Negative Regulator of Platelet Activation by Laminin.

Interaction of resting platelets with exposed components of the subendothelial matrix is an important activating event that takes place early on at sites of vascular injury. Platelet responses to collagen are mediated both by the integrin α2β1 and the glycoprotein (GP)VI/Fc receptor (FcR) γ chain complex. Upon collagen binding, Src family kinases phosphorylate tyrosines within Immunoreceptor Tyrosine-based Inhibitory Motifs (ITAMs) that are present within the cytoplasmic domain of the FcRγ chain. These phosphorylated ITAMs serve as docking sites for the protein-tyrosine kinase Syk, which, when recruited and activated, initiates the rapid assembly of a series of adaptor proteins and protein-tyrosine kinases that are crucial for platelet activation responses. Recently, platelet activation by laminin, which binds the related integrin α6β1, was shown to also require signaling through the GPVI/FcRγ chain complex. Because the adhesion and signaling receptor, PECAM-1, serves as a negative regulator of collagen-induced platelet activation, we sought to determine whether PECAM-1 might similarly regulate platelet activation by laminin. We found that PECAM-1 became rapidly tyrosine phosphorylated on its cytoplasmic ITIMs following adhesion of either human or murine platelets to immobilized laminin, suggesting that it may be involved in modulating platelet responses to laminin. PECAM-1-deficient murine platelets exhibited both an increased rate and extent of cell spreading on immobilized laminin compared to their PECAM-1-positive, wild-type (wt) counterparts. Granule secretion, as determined by release of serotonin, was also augmented. Taken together, these data support the notion that PECAM-1 is a negative regulator of platelet responses to laminin.
Three New Species of Rectiostoma Becker, 1982 (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Depressariidae) from Area De Conservación Guanacaste, Northwestern Costa Rica

Abstract. We describe three new species of Rectiostoma Becker, 1982 from northwestern Costa Rica: R. annemayae Heikkila and Metz, n. sp., R. eowilsoni Heikkila and Metz, n. sp., and R. philipmayi Heikkila and Metz, n. sp. We used a data set of DNA barcodes (cytochrome oxidase I) accumulated for Lepidoptera collected at Area de Conservacion Guanacaste (ACG) to initially delimit the species, then we confirmed identities with morphology of the male and female genitalia. We provide a neighbor-joining tree with supporting statistics, illustrations of adult specimens and their genitalia, and the first host plant records for Neotropical Rectiostoma species. We also include photographs of the larvae of R. annemayae and R. eowilsoni.
Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Cervical and Upper Thoracic Sympathetic Chain Neuromodulation for Upper Extremity Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Background: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) comprises a group of conditions characterized by severe, debilitating pain that is disproportionate to any inciting event and is not distributed in a specific nerve distribution or dermatome. Case Report: A 42-year-old female with a 2-year history of right upper extremity CRPS type I refractory to conventional management underwent an ultrasound-guided and fluoroscopy confirmed percutaneous peripheral nerve stimulation trial with a lead extending from the C6 to the T3 level to cover the cervical and upper thoracic sympathetic chain. The patient subsequently received a permanent ultrasound-guided lead and implantable pulse generator. At 1-month follow-up, the patient9s pain intensity had declined from a weekly average of 8/10 to 1/10 on the verbal pain scale with marked improvement in function. The patient continues to be pain-free or experiences only minimal discomfort 7 years after the implant. She experienced no complications and has discontinued all her pain medications since the implant. Conclusion: The placement of a peripheral nerve-stimulating electrode resulted in sustained suppression of intractable pain secondary to CRPS. Ultrasonography guidance enabled the nonsurgical minimally invasive percutaneous approach. Use of ultrasonography may improve the safety of the procedure by permitting direct visualization of the related anatomic structures, thereby reducing the risk of injury to the inferior thyroid artery, vertebral artery, esophagus, intervertebral disc, and pleura.
Eat Green, Get Lean: Promoting Sustainability Reduces Consumption

AbstractFood overconsumption contributes greatly to health problems that affect a large portion of the population while also straining the earth’s natural resources. Attempts by policy makers to encourage sustainable food practices often focus more on the role of producers and less on the role of consumers, even though a growing number of consumers are concerned about the sustainability of their food products. Yet consumers often fail to perceive any immediate, personal benefits from consuming sustainably; instead, they envision future societal-level benefits. Three studies capturing actual behavior—the consumption of food and beverages—provide evidence that food promoted as sustainable can produce individual consumer benefits through reduced consumption. Study 1 shows the effect of sustainability in lessening consumption. Study 2 demonstrates how sustainability semantically primes a prosocial focus, which is the mechanism involved in the reduction of consumption. Study 3 then shows that this effect is en...
Robustness-Oriented Controller Identification

Abstract The problem of real-time robust controller identification is posed and solved within the framework of Willems’ behavioural system theory. The theory is augmented with projection operators to accommodate partial information about signals (e.g., past only and sampling), as well as constraints introduced by feedback control. With this refinement, the Willems theory provides a precise characterization of the increment in control-relevant knowledge that results from the addition of each experimental data point to the knowledge base. Software simulations demonstrate that the theory can significantly enhance the reliability of robust controller designs by reducing reliance on a priori estimates of uncertainty size and structure.
Embedded analytics: improving decision support for humanitarian logistics operations

Analytical techniques continue to advance in efficacy, as well as complexity. However, it is sometimes unrealistic to employ complex analyses during time-constrained humanitarian disaster operations. We propose that simple, embedded analytics tools can provide an effective and practical means toward managing humanitarian operations. In this paper, we demonstrate a real-world application of our technique in a patient evacuation context. This paper contributes to literature and practice by showing how simple analytic methods and open-source imagery tools can offer significant value to the humanitarian operations literature. The application also highlights some challenges to drawing a clear picture from disparate data sources in the humanitarian operations domain.
Workplace Satisfaction Before and After Move to an Open Plan Office - Including Interactions with Gender and Introversion:

Open plan offices are both popular and controversial. We studied the response of a group moving from shared, but closed offices to an open plan office. The main data source reported here is a workp...
Real-Time Detection and Estimation of Denial of Service Attack in Connected Vehicle Systems

Advanced connectivity features in today’s smart vehicles are giving rise to several promising intelligent transportation technologies. Connected vehicle system is one among such technologies, where a set of vehicles can communicate with each other and the infrastructure via communication networks. Connected vehicles have the potential to improve the traffic throughput, minimize the risk of accidents and reduce vehicle energy consumption. Despite these promising features, connected vehicles suffer from the safety and security issues. Especially, vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication make the connected vehicles vulnerable to cyber attacks. In order to improve safety and security, advanced vehicular control systems must be designed to be resilient to such cyber attacks. The first step of designing such attack-resilient control system is detection of the occurrence of the cyber attack. In this paper, we address this need and propose a real-time scheme that can potentially 1) detect the occurrence of a particular cyber attack, namely denial of service; and 2) estimate the effect of the attack on the connected vehicle system. The scheme consists of a set of observers, which are designed using sliding mode and adaptive estimation theory. The mathematical convergence properties of the observers are analyzed via Lyapunov’s stability theory. Finally, simulation demonstrates the performance of the approach and the robustness of the scheme under several forms of uncertainties.
Core-shell magnetoelectric nanorobot – A remotely controlled probe for targeted cell manipulation

We have developed a remotely controlled dynamic process of manipulating targeted biological live cells using fabricated core-shell nanocomposites, which comprises of single crystalline ferromagnetic cores (CoFe2O4) coated with crystalline ferroelectric thin film shells (BaTiO3). We demonstrate them as a unique family of inorganic magnetoelectric nanorobots (MENRs), controlled remotely by applied a.c. or d.c. magnetic fields, to perform cell targeting, permeation, and transport. Under a.c. magnetic field excitation (50 Oe, 60 Hz), the MENR acts as a localized electric periodic pulse generator and can permeate a series of misaligned cells, while aligning them to an equipotential mono-array by inducing inter-cellular signaling. Under a.c. magnetic field (40 Oe, 30 Hz) excitation, MENRs can be dynamically driven to a targeted cell, avoiding untargeted cells in the path, irrespective of cell density. D.C. magnetic field (−50 Oe) excitation causes the MENRs to act as thrust generator and exerts motion in a group of cells.
Intolerance to Intentional Additives in Foods and Drugs

The yellow dye tartrazine, which is used as a colorant in foods, beverages, and drugs, frequently induces Pseudoallergic reactions. Ingestion of this dye is a common cause of acute urticaria and may exacerbate chronic urticaria (Juhlin et al. 1972). According to Warin and Smith (1982), the incidence of reactions to tartrazine in patients with chronic urticaria is about 10%. However, once the urticaria has been clear for some time, patients no longer react to tartrazine.
Demographic Change and Rural-Urban Inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa: Theory and Trends

Insofar as demographic and economic outcomes are interrelated, demographic trends can signal or portend change in rural-urban inequality. This paper examines trends in the demographic differentiation and demographic exchanges between rural and urban communities of Africa, as these countries advance in their fertility transitions. We find that rural and urban communities are becoming increasingly dissimilar in birth rates, age structure, and educational composition. Even as demographic exchange, in the form of child fosterage, may continue to buffer inequality, the observed patterns of demographic differentiation raise concern about growing rural-urban inequality, especially at a time of selective globalization.
CAPTCHA: Machine or Human Solvers? A Game-Theoretical Analysis

CAPTCHAs have become an ubiquitous defense used to protect open web resources from being exploited at scale. Traditionally, attackers have developed automatic programs known as CAPTCHA solvers to bypass the mechanism. With the presence of cheap labor in developing countries, hackers now have options to use human solvers. In this research, we develop a game theoretical framework to model the interactions between the defender and the attacker regarding the design and countermeasure of CAPTCHA system. With the result of equilibrium analysis, both parties can determine the optimal allocation of software-based or human-based CAPTCHA solvers. Counterintuitively, instead of the traditional wisdom of making CAPTCHA harder and harder, it may be of best interest of the defender to make CAPTCHA easier. We further suggest a welfare-improving CAPTCHA business model by involving decentralized cryptocurrency computation.
Molecular dynamics modeling of Pseudomonas aeruginosa outer membranes

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common Gram-negative bacterium and opportunistic human pathogen. The distinctive structure of its outer membrane (OM) and outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) plays a fundamental role in bacterial virulence, colonization ability, and antibiotic resistance. To provide critical insights into OM and OMV functionality, we conducted an all-atom molecular dynamics study of asymmetric membranes that are biologically relevant to P. aeruginosa. We hybridized a GLYCAM06-based lipopolysaccharides force field with the Stockholm lipids force field (Slipids) to model bilayer membranes with Lipid A molecules in one leaflet and physiologically relevant phospholipid molecules in the other, including 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DPPE), 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DOPE), 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoglycerol (DPPG), and 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoglycerol (DOPG). In particular, a membrane with phospholipid composition representing the P. aeruginosa OM was constructed and modeled by mixing the physiologically dominant components. The detailed structure of membranes was characterized by area per lipid, transmembrane mass and charge densities, radial distribution function (RDF), deuterium order parameter (SCD) of acyl chains, and inclination angles of phosphates and disaccharide in Lipid A. The membrane fluidity in equilibrium and the hydration of functional groups were probed and characterized quantitatively. The consistent properties of the Lipid A leaflets in different membranes demonstrate its compatibility with various phospholipids present in the P. aeruginosa OM. The more ordered acyl chains of Lipid A compared to the cytoplasmic cell membrane contribute to the low permeability of bacterial outer membrane. The findings of this computational investigation of P. aeruginosa OM will further the understanding of microbial pathogenesis and enable future study of OMV biogenesis.
Trump, Sen, and Social Work: Some Reflections

This review essay applies insights from Amartya Sen's Collective Choice and Social Welfare, to consider the rise of and support for President Trump as well as the concomitant increase in uncivil po...
The Pursuit of Technological Superiority

Lake analyzes US security policy since the beginning of the Cold War, demonstrating the pattern of trying to leverage or develop superior technology to solve military problems. After considering the possibility that the search for technological superiority is a rational choice, Lake argues that it is really rooted in American culture. American culture has a strong pro-technology bias, and the establishment of a large peacetime military after World War II allowed the military to import the general American pro-technology orientation into American strategic culture and the service cultures.
Polymodal Sensory Thalamic Inputs to the Rat Lateral Amygdala are Facilitated by Chronic Ethanol Exposure and Regulate Withdrawal-associated Anxiety

Thalamic projections to the lateral amygdala regulate the acquisition of conditioned aversive and reward-related behaviors. Recent work suggests that exposure to chronic ethanol up-regulates presynaptic function of lateral amygdala stria terminalis inputs which contain projections from somatosensory thalamic nuclei. To understand potential contributions by thalamic inputs and their role in the expression of withdrawal-associated aversive behaviors, we integrated optogenetic and chemogenetic approaches with in vitro measures of synaptic function and anxiety-like behavior. We found that expression of Channelrhodopsin in the caudal extension of the posterior thalamic group (cPO) produced monosynaptic glutamatergic synaptic responses in lateral amygdala principal neurons that could be inhibited by co-expression of the hM4-Gi-DREADD. Chronic ethanol exposure increased glutamate release from these cPO terminals but did not impact inhibition by the DREADD agonist, CNO. Systemic injection of CNO specifically reduced withdrawal-related increases in anxiety-like behaviors in animals expressing the Gi-DREADD in cPO. And, microinjection of CNO directly into the lateral amygdala mimicked this anti-anxiety effect. These findings suggest that the cPO-LA circuit is vulnerable to chronic ethanol exposure and plays an important role in regulating anxiety-like behavior following chronic ethanol exposure.
Management of Patients With Fever and Neutropenia Through the Arc of Time: A Narrative Review

The association between fever and neutropenia and the risk for life-threatening infections in patients receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy has been known for 50 years. Indeed, infectious complications have been a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with cancer. This review chronicles the progress in defining and developing approaches to the management of fever and neutropenia through observational and controlled clinical trials done by single institutions, as well as by national and international collaborative groups. The resultant data have led to recommendations and guidelines from professional societies and frame the current principles of management. Recommendations include those guiding new treatment options (from monotherapy to oral antibiotic therapy) and use of prophylactic antimicrobial regimens in high-risk patients. Of note, risk factors have changed with the advent of hematopoietic cytokines (especially granulocyte colony-stimulating factor) in shortening the duration of neutropenia, as well as with the discovery of more targeted cancer treatments that do not result in cytotoxicity, although these are still the exception. Most guiding principles that were developed decades ago-about when to begin empirical treatment after a neutropenic patient becomes febrile, whether and how to modify the initial treatment regimen (especially in patients with protracted neutropenia), and how long to continue antimicrobial therapy-are still used today. This review describes how the treatment principles related to the management of fever and neutropenia have responded to changes in the patients at risk, the microbes responsible, and the tools for their treatment, while still being sustained over the arc of time.
Headache and Air Travel Following Lumbar Puncture

The opinions or assertions contained herein are the private views of the authors and are not to be construed as official or as reflecting the views of the Department of the Army or the Department of Defense.
Post-transplant cyclophosphamide in matched and haploidentical transplant recipients receiving myeloablative timed sequential busulfan conditioning regimen: Results of a phase II study.

7007Background: Myeloablative stem cell transplants have a lower rate of relapse than reduced intensity regimens. Timed sequential busulfan (TSB) with fludarabine (Flu) is a promising myeloablative...
Linking inhibition and anxiety symptoms following sleep restriction: The moderating role of prior sleep efficiency.

Abstract Although sleep loss increases state anxiety, the effects of partial sleep restriction on specific anxiety symptoms and mechanisms that may influence this relation remain unknown. It is also unknown whether prior sleep buffers the impact of sleep restriction on anxiety symptoms. Thus, the present study examined the relations between inhibition and repetitive negative thinking (RNT), obsessions, and other OCD symptoms following sleep restriction and the moderating role of prior night's sleep efficiency. Healthy sleeping adults (n = 73) completed measures of inhibition, anxiety symptoms, and sleep before and after one night of sleep restriction (4 h between 4:00am and 8:00am). Results indicate significant associations between decreased post-sleep restriction inhibition and increased post-sleep restriction RNT and obsessions. Prior night's subjective and objective sleep efficiency significantly moderated these relations, such that the highest post-sleep restriction anxiety symptoms were reported by those with the lowest post-sleep restriction inhibition and the lowest pre-sleep restriction sleep efficiency. These findings suggest decreased inhibition may be one mechanism by which sleep loss affects anxiety, and those with worse sleep prior to acute sleep loss may be particularly vulnerable. The implications for the prevention and treatment of anxiety-related disorders characterized by intrusive cognition are discussed.
Biased Auditory Nerve Central Synaptopathy Exacerbates Age-related Hearing Loss

Sound information is transmitted from the cochlea to the brain by different subtypes of spiral ganglion neurons (SGN), which show varying degrees of vulnerbility under pathological conditions. It remains unclear how information from these SGNs reassemble among target neurons in the cochlear nucleus (CN) at the auditory nerve (AN) central synapses, and how different synapses change during hearing loss. Combining immunohistochemistry with electrophysiology, we investigated the giant endbulb of Held synapses and their postsynaptic bushy neurons in mice under normal hearing and age-related hearing loss (ARHL). We found that calretinin-expressing and non-calretinin-expressing endbulbs converge at continuously different ratios onto bushy neurons with varying physiological properties. Endbulbs degenerate during ARHL, and the degeneration is more severe in non-calretinin-expressing synapses, which correlates with a gradual decrease in neuronal subpopulation predominantly innervated by these inputs. Our findings suggest that biased AN central synaptopathy and shifted CN neuronal composition underlie reduced auditory input and altered central auditory processing during ARHL.
High-redshift active galactic nuclei and the next decade of Chandra and XMM-Newton

We briefly review how X-ray observations of high-redshift active galactic nuclei (AGNs) at z = 4–7 have played a critical role in understanding their basic demographics as well as their physical processes; for example, absorption by nuclear material and winds, accretion rates, and jet emission. We point out some key remaining areas of uncertainty, highlighting where further Chandra and XMM-Newton observations/analyses, combined with new multiwavelength survey data, can advance understanding over the next decade.
An analytical inverse kinematics solution with joint limits avoidance of 7-DOF anthropomorphic manipulators without offset

Abstract The inverse solution calculation speed and the configuration control are very important for anthropomorphic manipulators with 7 degree-of-freedom (DOF). In order to realize the combined control of global arm configuration manifolds and local self-motion of 7-DOF anthropomorphic manipulators without offset, an analytical inverse kinematics solution method is proposed in this paper. By defining a new arm reference plane for 7-DOF anthropomorphic manipulators, it uses arm angle to deal with local self-motion and orientation control to deal with global arm configuration manifolds. All possible inverse kinematics solutions for target pose can be intuitively expressed with the assistance of the parameters of arm angle and orientation control. Meanwhile, the corresponding singularity is also taken into account and a detection metric is provided. Furthermore, the problem of joint limits avoidance is mapped to the selection of arm angle in null space, and the Self-Adaptive Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm is introduced to obtain the optimal arm angle that can maximize the avoidance of joint limits. Simulation results show the proposed method has such advantages as fast calculation speed, high precision and high stability.
RLAD: Time Series Anomaly Detection through Reinforcement Learning and Active Learning.

We introduce a new semi-supervised, time series anomaly detection algorithm that uses deep reinforcement learning (DRL) and active learning to efficiently learn and adapt to anomalies in real-world time series data. Our model - called RLAD - makes no assumption about the underlying mechanism that produces the observation sequence and continuously adapts the detection model based on experience with anomalous patterns. In addition, it requires no manual tuning of parameters and outperforms all state-of-art methods we compare with, both unsupervised and semi-supervised, across several figures of merit. More specifically, we outperform the best unsupervised approach by a factor of 1.58 on the F1 score, with only 1% of labels and up to around 4.4x on another real-world dataset with only 0.1% of labels. We compare RLAD with seven deep-learning based algorithms across two common anomaly detection datasets with up to around 3M data points and between 0.28% to 2.65% anomalies.We outperform all of them across several important performance metrics.
Impact of Gd-153 scanning line source attenuation correction on downstream invasive testing

Attenuation correction (AC) using hardware and software solutions has been shown to increase the specificity of SPECT MPI by decreasing false positive results and improving prognostic ability. Theoretically this should reduce downstream testing and unnecessary costs. We sought to assess the consequences of the use of Gd-153 scanning line source attenuation correction during SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) on downstream invasive testing. All patients who underwent a clinically indicated Tc-99m stress SPECT MPI study from 2013 to 2015 at five hospitals (2 with AC and 3 without) were retrospectively reviewed. Patient demographics, results of testing, subsequent coronary angiography within 3 months, and revascularization were recorded. The results of the MPI studies, downstream angiogram utilization, and results of angiography were compared and a propensity matched subgroup analysis was performed. A total of 9968 patients underwent SPECT MPI during the study time period (6106 performed with AC and 3862 without). Out of 3928 patients included in the propensity matched cohort, there was no difference in the proportion of abnormal MPI results between the two groups (31.5% vs 30.4%, P = 0.47), however, more patients underwent coronary angiography within 90 days in the AC group (10.6% vs 8.7%, P = 0.05). There was no significant difference in the proportion of patients with angiographically significant obstructive disease (53.4% vs 56.1%, P = 0.19), however, fewer patients in the AC group with obstructive coronary disease were revascularized (36.1% vs 46.8%, P = 0.04). The findings remained consistent after sub-group analysis in patients without known coronary disease. The use of scanning line source AC did not meaningfully influence the rate of abnormal MPI results or downstream invasive testing in this cohort. The clinical utility of scanning line source AC may be limited to facilitating stress-first imaging protocols.
Identification of binaural integration deficits in children with the Competing Words Subtest: Standard score versus interaural asymmetry: Identificación del déficit de integración binaural en niños, utilizando la prueba competitiva con palabras: calificación estándar vs asimetría interaural

The Competing Words Subtest is a commonly used dichotic listening test for assessing binaural integration in children suspected of having an auditory processing disorder. In 124 children, standard scores from the subtest suggested a binaural integration deficit in 23% of the children tested. Because standard scores are derived from the combined scores of both ears during the test, children with normal performance in one ear and weak performance in the other ear may be overlooked. For these children, a measure of interaural asymmetry may be a more sensitive indicator of a binaural integration deficit. When an age-appropriate criterion for interaural asymmetry from the Competing Words Subtest was used, the incidence of a binaural integration deficit increased to 51% of the children tested. Four typical patterns of dichotic listening performance were identified based on results from the two scoring techniques.
Urban air mobility: A comprehensive review and comparative analysis with autonomous and electric ground transportation for informing future research

Abstract Urban air mobility (UAM), if successful, will disrupt urban transportation. UAM is not the first disruptive technology in transportation, with recent examples including electric ground vehicles (EVs), autonomous ground vehicles (AVs), and sharing services. In this paper, we conduct a meta-analysis of about 800 articles in the UAM, EV, and AV areas that have been published from January 2015 to June 2020, and compare and contrast research thrusts in order to inform future UAM research. Alongside this effort, we conduct an in-depth review of articles related to demand modeling, operations, and integration with existing infrastructure. We use insights from the meta-analysis and comprehensive review to inform future UAM research directions. Some of the potential research directions we identify include: (1) developing more refined demand models that incorporate the timing of when individuals will adopt UAM; (2) developing high-fidelity simulation models for UAM operations that capture interactions among vertiport locations, vertiport topology, demand, pricing, dispatching, and airspace restrictions; (3) explicitly considering one-way demand and parking constraints in demand and operational models; and (4) developing more realistic time-of-day energy profiles for UAM vehicles in order to assess whether the current electrical grid can support UAM operations.
Analysis of Pathologic Complete Response Rates Between Different Neoadjuvant Radiation Treatment Regimens for Rectal Cancer.

Purpose/Objective(s) The standard of care for rectal cancer is either long or short course radiation followed by surgery with or without adjuvant chemotherapy. Recently, total neoadjuvant therapy, an approach consisting of giving all chemotherapy and radiotherapy prior to definitive surgery, has been a promising alternative. This study aims to assess the pathologic complete response (pCR) rates among different neoadjuvant treatment regimens and determine if neoadjuvant chemotherapy improves pCR rates. Materials/Methods Electronic medical databases were queried to identify rectal cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant therapy at our institution from 2006-2019. Patients were grouped according to neoadjuvant therapy received: long-course chemoradiation (CRT), long-course chemoradiation with chemotherapy (CRT TNT), short-course radiation (SCRT), and short-course radiation with chemotherapy (SCRT TNT). Patients without follow-up data or surgical pathology reports were excluded. pCR was defined as no evidence of disease at surgery. pCR rates were determined and compared using Chi-square analysis. Results A total of 249 patients were analyzed. Table 1 shows treatment characteristics in each group. There were 200 (80.3%) patients who received CRT, 26 (10.4%) who received CRT TNT, 13 (5.2%) who received SCRT, and 10 (4%) who received SCRT TNT. Initial stage was different between groups, with metastatic patients more likely to receive SCRT TNT (P Conclusion Total neoadjuvant treatment for rectal cancer did not improve pCR rates over standard chemoradiation or short course radiation alone, which is contrary to what published series suggest. These results maybe be explained in part by the fact that chemotherapy was delivered first and the time from completing radiation to the time of surgery was not significantly different between groups. These data suggest that meaningful gains in pCR rates may be achieve by sequencing chemoradiation earlier in the TNT course. Future studies are needed to investigate this hypothesis.
Sprint/United Management Co. V. Mendelsohn: The Supreme Court Appears to Have Punted on the Admissibility of “Me Too” Evidence of Discrimination. But Did It?

This Essay discusses the use of me too evidence where parties, usually plaintiff's, seek to buttress their case by pointing to other employees who assert that they were infected by the same disease of discrimination as well as the U.S. Supreme Court's first decision discussing this critically important issue, Sprint/United Management Co. v. Mendelsohn. The use of me too evidence has proven to be controversial. Indeed, employment discrimination cases often turn on whether a plaintiff has been able to come up with an appropriate comparator who was treated differently than he or she was. Though scholars who have had the opportunity to opine about the Sprint case have characterized the U.S. Supreme Court decision as a judicial punt because of its remand on procedural grounds, this Essay asserts that this decision is going to turn out to be significant to the developing jurisprudence involving employment discrimination. This is principally because of dicta in Justice Thomas' unanimous per curiam opinion which implicitly approves of the use of such evidence. While it may be difficult to precisely define the line between admissible and inadmissible me too evidence, it is clear that the Court rejected any type of rule which would flatly prohibit the introduction of such evidence simply because the putative witnesses did not share the same supervisor as the plaintiff.
Pseudohypoparathyroidism Type Ib (PHP-Ib): PTH-Resistant Hypocalcemia and Hyperphosphatemia Due to Abnormal GNAS Methylation

Pseudohypoparathyroidism type Ib (PHP-Ib) is a rare disorder characterized by PTH resistance in the proximal renal tubules, which leads to hypocalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, and an elevated serum PTH level. Resistance to other hormones that mediate their actions through G protein-coupled receptors and evidence for AHO can also be observed but are much less frequently than in pseudohypoparathyroidism type Ia (PHP-Ia). Most variants of PHP-Ib are associated with GNAS methylation changes, thereby reducing maternal expression of the stimulatory G protein (Gsα) in few tissues, where paternal expression of this signaling protein is silenced through as-of-yet unknown mechanisms. In familial PHP-Ib cases, these epigenetic changes are caused by deletions within or upstream of GNAS. Duplication of large portions of the paternal chromosome 20q is observed in a few patients with the sporadic form of the disease, but most of these PHP-Ib cases remain undefined at the molecular level.
Effect of variable inlet guide vanes on the operating characteristics of a tilt nacelle inlet/powered fan model

The effects of a variable inlet guide vane (VIGV) assembly on the operating characteristics of a V/STOL inlet and on the performance of a 20-in. (0.508-m) diameter fan engine were investigated. The data indicate that the VIGVs are effective thrust modulators over a wide range of free-stream velocities, nacelle angles of attack, and fan speeds. The thrust modulation ranges, including choking limits, fan stall limits, and inlet separation boundaries are presented. The presence of the VIGV assembly causes significant losses in inlet angle-of-attack capability and generally increases the blade stress levels at all limit conditions except at high angle of attack and high free-stream velocity. Reducing the fan nozzle exit area limited the positive VIGV actuation range and consequently decreased the range of thrust modulation at all limit conditions except at both high free-stream velocity and high angle of attack conditions.
DNA hybridization for assessment of response of Plasmodium falciparum to chloroquine therapy.

We studied the accuracy of PFR1-AP, a synthetic DNA hybridization probe conjugated to alkaline phosphatase, in monitoring Plasmodium falciparum parasitemia during in vivo drug susceptibility surveys. Duplicate blood samples were collected from six children enrolled in a 14-day in vivo chloroquine study in Rwanda. Results obtained by microscopic examination of Giemsa-stained thick blood smears and by DNA hybridization were compared. Both techniques successfully monitored an infection with chloroquine-susceptible parasites and infections exhibiting various levels of resistance to treatment. For each patient, temporal evolution of the microscopic parasite counts and the DNA hybridization signals were closely parallel, although a wide range of rapidly changing levels of parasitemia occurred through the course of the study. This suggests that DNA hybridization assay using PFR1-AP detects P. falciparum parasites sensitively and specifically and is a valuable tool for drug resistance surveys. Images
HOW BIG AND HOW CLOSE? HABITAT PATCH SIZE AND SPACING TO CONSERVE A THREATENED SPECIES

We present results of a spatially explicit, individual-based stochastic dispersal model (HexSim) to evaluate effects of size and spacing of patches of habitat of Northern Spotted Owls (NSO; Strix occidentalis cau- rina) in Pacific Northwest, USA, to help advise recovery planning efforts. We modeled 31 artificial landscape scenarios representing combinations of NSO habitat cluster size (range 4-49 NSO pairs per cluster) and edge-to- edge cluster spacing (range 7-101 km), and an all-habitat landscape. We ran scenarios using empirical estimates of NSO dispersal dynamics and distances and stage class vital rates (representing current population declines) and un- der adult survival rates adjusted to achieve an initially stationary population. Results suggested that long-term (100-yr) habitat occupancy rates are signif- icantly higher with habitat clusters supporting ≥25 NSO pairs and ≤15 km spacing, and with overall landscapes of ≥35-40% habitat. Although habitat provision is key to NSO recovery, no habitat configuration provided for long- term population persistence when coupled with currently observed vital rates. Results also suggested a key role of floaters (unpaired, nonterritorial, dis- persing owls) in recolonizing vacant habitat, and that the floater population segment becomes increasingly depleted with greater population declines. We suggest additional areas of modeling research on this and other threatened species.
Copyright and Product Differentiation

Existing analyses of the economics of copyright have largely overlooked the implications of the somewhat unusual economics of product differentiation. The omission is unfortunate, because adoption of a differentiated products approach yields significant insights that the current theories cannot provide. First, the differentiated products approach offers a better account for many features of real-world markets for copyrighted works. Second, it reveals that nonrivalry in consumption - widely regarded as the distinguishing economic feature of copyright - may not play as central role in the analysis as generally believed. Third, it reveals that the supposed tension between providing access to creative works and providing sufficient incentives to support their creation may not be as irreconcilable as generally believed. Instead, it shows how both considerations can be promoted simultaneously by facilitating entry by close substitutes for existing works. This approach contradicts the conventional wisdom, which holds that copyright protection should be kept to the lowest possible level that still permits creation of the works in question, and instead suggests that both sides of the access-incentives tradeoff can be promoted by strengthening some (but not all) aspects of copyright protection. Fourth, it allows for a more nuanced approach to copyright that can isolate the effect of three different ways in which copyright protection can be strengthened or weakened. This contrasts starkly with the current approach, which lumps all aspects of copyright protection into a single variable.
Halomethyl-metal compounds : XXVIII. Phenyl(dibromochloromethyl)mercury as a bromochlorocarbene source☆

Abstract A number of gem-bromochlorocyclopropanes has been prepared by the reaction of PhHgCClBr2-derived bromochlorocarbene with olefins (cyclohexene, cyclooctene, 1-heptene, tetramethylethylene, cis- and trans-2-butene, styrene, acrylonitrile, vinyl acetate, allyltrimethylsilane, vinyltrimethylsilane, cis- and trans-1,2-dichloroethylene). Reaction of phenyl(dibromochloromethyl)mercury with 2,5-dihydrofuran gave an equimolar amount of the expected CC addition product and the CH insertion product, 2-(bromochloromethyl)-2,5-dihydrofuran. Similar CH insertion was observed with tetrahydrofuran. With cumene CClBr insertion occurred exclusively into the benzylic position.