cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Recombinant monomeric CD40 ligand for delivering polymer particles to dendritic cells

Dendritic cells (DCs) are considered the most efficient antigen-presenting cells and are therefore ideal targets for in vivo delivery of antigen for vaccines. We are investigating the strategy of using CD40 ligand (CD40L) as a targeting moiety because this protein has the potential to not only target DCs, but also stimulate cell maturation, leading to more potent immune responses. We have shown that a recombinant, monomeric CD40 ligand fusion protein conjugated to polystyrene micro- and nanoparticles led to significantly enhanced uptake by DCs in vitro. This enhancement was observed for particles of both sizes and in both a murine DC cell line and primary DCs. The uptake appeared to be specifically mediated by CD40L binding to CD40 expressed on DCs. Enhanced uptake of nanoparticles in draining lymph nodes of mice was not observed, however, 48 hours after subcutaneous injection. These findings suggest that CD40 ligand may be a potentially useful targeting moiety for delivery of particulate vaccines to DCs, and that further optimization of both CD40L and the polymer carriers is necessary to achieve efficacy in vivo.
The economics of educational choice

This paper places the recent debate over choice in education into an economic framework that considers both market choice and public choice mechanisms with respect to their efficiencies in producing social and private benefits. On the basis of the evidence, a market approach to education appears to be superior in terms of private benefits, while the public choice approach appears to be superior in terms of social benefits. It is difficult to find an advantage for either system in terms of overall efficiency. The market system appears to be more efficient in terms of meeting private tastes for education, and there is evidence of a slight superiority in terms of student achievement. However, the overall costs for sustaining the information, regulation, and other parts of the market system while providing, at least, minimum social protections look high to prohibitive relative to a public choice approach.
Crystal structure of the photosensing module from a red/far-red light-absorbing plant phytochrome

Many aspects of plant photomorphogenesis are controlled by the phytochrome (Phy) family of bilin-containing photoreceptors that detect red and far-red light by photointerconversion between a dark-adapted Pr state and a photoactivated Pfr state. Whereas 3D models of prokaryotic Phys are available, models of their plant counterparts have remained elusive. Here, we present the crystal structure of the photosensing module (PSM) from a seed plant Phy in the Pr state using the PhyB isoform from Arabidopsis thaliana. The PhyB PSM crystallized as a head-to-head dimer with strong structural homology to its bacterial relatives, including a 5(Z)syn, 10(Z)syn, 15(Z)anti configuration of the phytochromobilin chromophore buried within the cGMP phosphodiesterase/adenylyl cyclase/FhlA (GAF) domain, and a well-ordered hairpin protruding from the Phy-specific domain toward the bilin pocket. However, its Per/Arnt/Sim (PAS) domain, knot region, and helical spine show distinct structural differences potentially important to signaling. Included is an elongated helical spine, an extended β-sheet connecting the GAF domain and hairpin stem, and unique interactions between the region upstream of the PAS domain knot and the bilin A and B pyrrole rings. Comparisons of this structure with those from bacterial Phys combined with mutagenic studies support a toggle model for photoconversion that engages multiple features within the PSM to stabilize the Pr and Pfr end states after rotation of the D pyrrole ring. Taken together, this Arabidopsis PhyB structure should enable molecular insights into plant Phy signaling and provide an essential scaffold to redesign their activities for agricultural benefit and as optogenetic reagents.
Automated Configuration Management on a DOD Satellite Ground System

An automated Configuration Management System (CMS) was developed at General Electric and is in use on a DOD Satellite Ground System maintenance contract. CMS improves and enhances the manual techniques for project tracking and change control and allows for reliable management of large projects. Because CMS works with any file, it can perform Configuration Management on all items in a configuration. The CMS Bookkeeping and Status Accounting forms are displayed on a terminal, and the user is guided into filling them out correctly. New configuration items or changes can be entered into the system only after approval has been supplied by the proper authority. Since a common project data base is built by CMS, visibility of current system status is available to those who are permitted project access. Standard report forms as well as user defined report forms are used when viewing the current or historic system information. CMS not only controls the configuration, but also the paperwork, change approval cycle, and the quality of the product.
An economic analysis of a methionine source comparison response model

Methionine is the first-limiting amino acid in corn and soybean meal-based poultry diets. Therefore, its supplementation level is of primary economic importance to poultry production. The responses to the methionine sources dl-methionine (DLM) and methionine-hydroxy analog-free acid (HMTBA) have been compared using various methodologies. The so-called common plateau nonlinear model has been used to estimate relative bioavailabilities of the sources. This model has a coefficient that is used as a single value to compare the relative bioavailabilities of the sources for independent technical parameters like gain and feed efficiency. This model was used previously in a meta-analysis of published experiments and found 79 and 81% relative biological efficiencies of HMTBA for DLM for ADG and feed utilization efficiency, respectively. Because different sources would have different optimal feeding levels to maximize profits, we demonstrate the challenge of calculating a single optimal level for the different methionine sources. Further, we apply an economic analysis to results of the previous meta-analysis to demonstrate that the relative values of HMTBA and DLM for BW and ADG are between 81 and 86%, depending on the value of a broiler and the costs of feed and DLM.
Uncontrolled Oxygen Administration and Respiratory Failure in Acute Asthma

Study objectives To determine if 100% oxygen administration adversely influences gas exchange in acutely ill asthmatic subjects. Design Prospective preinterventional and postinterventional comparison. Setting University hospital emergency department. Patients Thirty-seven asthmatic subjects seeking care for symptomatic exacerbations. Interventions Twenty minutes of 100% oxygen administration by face mask. Measurements and results Arterial blood gases and FEV 1 were measured before and during the last minute of oxygen administration. On presentation, the subjects had moderately severe airway obstruction (FEV 1 , 49.1 ± 3.6% of predicted); hypocarbia (Pa co 2 , 36.8 ± 1.1 mm Hg); hypoxemia (Pa o 2 , 70.2 ± 2.5 mm Hg); and respiratory alkalosis (pH, 7.43 ± 0.01). During oxygen breathing, 25 patients (67.6%) experienced elevations in Pa co 2 ranging from 1 to 10 mm Hg (mean, 4.1 ± 0.6 mm Hg; p = 0.0003). The increase was considered to be a physiologic manifestation of the Haldane effect ( ie ,≤ 2 mm Hg) in 10 subjects, but in the remaining 15 subjects (40.5% of the total studied), the elevation represented worsening gas exchange. In seven of these patients (46.7%), hypercapnic respiratory failure developed (Pa co 2 before oxygen, 39.6 ± 0.6; during oxygen, 44.7 ± 0.7 mm Hg; p = 0.005), and in six patients (40%), it worsened (Pa co 2 before oxygen, 46.8 ± 1.9; during oxygen, 52.0 ± 3.1 mm Hg; p = 0.03). In general, the tendency toward hypercarbia was the greatest in the participants with the most severe airway obstructions. Conclusions Our data demonstrate that the administration of 100% oxygen to acutely ill asthmatics may adversely influence carbon dioxide elimination.
The "Fourth Stream": the power of hidden participants to implement policy with the aid of the high courts

Due to financial constraints and a lack of bed space caused by a large influx of inmates over the last decade, the Oregon Department of Corrections has been utilizing penal policy that – in one form or another – involves the interstate import and export of prisoners. However, in order to transport, exchange or “lease” inmates to states, the Oregon Department of Corrections must utilize the Federal Interstate Compact Act, and in so doing, has entered into various interstate corrections compact. The original purpose of the Federal Interstate Compact has evolved over time and the actual legal authority allowing Oregon to transfer inmates to out-of-state prisons is quite murky. Similarly, though it appears that the evolution of interstate compacts allowing the interstate transfer of prisoners has primarily been propelled by high court decisions, the role of legislation is less clear.
Mongolian Politics in the Shadow of the Cold War: The 1964 Coup Attempt and the Sino-Soviet Split

After Nikita Khrushchev's condemnation of some of Stalin's crimes in 1956, the Mongolian People's Republic, following in the footsteps of the “fraternal” Soviet Union, also succumbed to the “thaw.” Khrushchev used de Stalinization to discredit his hardline opponents. Mongolia's leader, Yumjaagiyn Tsedenbal, was a Stalin-era holdover who came under criticism from his rivals for being unenthusiastic about political reforms. Tsedenbal had good reason to downplay de-Stalinization:He shared responsibility with Marshal Horloogiyn Choibalsan for violent repressions in the 1940s. But Tsedenbal outmaneuvered and eliminated his opponents in the late 1950s and early 1960s and consolidated his grip on power by 1964.Toward the end of that year, however, Tsedenbal once again was challenged, this time from an unexpected direction. Several members of the Central Committee of the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) used the precedent of Khrushchev's forced retirement from his leadership posts in Moscow in Octobe...
Binary stirring: self-randomizing instruction addresses of legacy x86 binary code

Unlike library code, whose instruction addresses can be randomized by address space layout randomization (ASLR), application binary code often has static instruction addresses. Attackers can exploit this limitation to craft robust shell codes for such applications, as demonstrated by a recent attack that reuses instruction gadgets from the static binary code of victim applications.This paper introduces binary stirring, a new technique that imbues x86 native code with the ability to self-randomize its instruction addresses each time it is launched. The input to STIR is only the application binary code without any source code, debug symbols, or relocation information. The output is a new binary whose basic block addresses are dynamically determined at load-time. Therefore, even if an attacker can find code gadgets in one instance of the binary, the instruction addresses in other instances are unpredictable. An array of binary transformation techniques enable STIR to transparently protect large, realistic applications that cannot be perfectly disassembled due to computed jumps, code-data interleaving, OS callbacks, dynamic linking and a variety of other difficult binary features. Evaluation of STIR for both Windows and Linux platforms shows that stirring introduces about 1.6% overhead on average to application runtimes.
In vitro anticancer evaluation of Nigerian plants used as ethnomedicines

C66 Plants used for traditional medicine to sustain health, have been a major avenue of selecting plant candidates that have anticancer properties. The Nigerian flora has been noted to be a veritable source of potential therapeutics. This study was designed to test several traditionally used herbal remedies from southwestern Nigeria for their potential as anticancer agents. The crude methanolic extracts of over 30 Nigerian medicinal plants were tested against human metastatic cell lines representing breast (BT549, BT20 and MCF-7), colon (SW480), blood (JURKAT) and prostate (PC3) tissues. Trypan blue exclusion, CellTiter-Blue™ and Alamar Blue™ were methods/assays employed to evaluate the time and dose-dependent cytoxicity of the extracts. Analysis of the crude extracts has shown inhibitory activity against the cell lines with a maximum concentration of 200 μg/mL, while some of the extracts have demonstrated exceptional inhibitory effects with IC50 values ranging between 0.1-15 μg/mL, respectively.
Reporting Sexual Victimization During Incarceration: Using Ecological Theory as a Framework to Inform and Guide Future Research:

The U.S. Department of Justice estimates that between 149,200 and 209,400 incidents of sexual victimization occur annually in prisons and jails. However, very few individuals experiencing sexual victimization during incarceration report these incidents to correctional authorities. Federal-level policy recommendations derived from the Prison Rape Elimination Act suggest mechanisms for improving reporting as well as standards for the prevention, investigation, and prosecution of prison-based sexual victimization. Despite these policy recommendations, sexual assault persists in prisons and jails, with only 8% of prisoners who experience sexual assault reporting their victimization. This review focuses on gaps in the existing research about what factors influence whether adult victims in incarcerated systems will report that they have been sexually assaulted. Using ecological theory to guide this review, various levels of social ecology are incorporated, illuminating a variety of factors influencing the reporting of sexual victimization during incarceration. These factors include the role of individual-level behavior, assault characteristics, the unique aspects and processes of the prison system, and the social stigma that surrounds individuals involved in the criminal/legal system. This review concludes with recommendations for future research, policy, and practice, informed by an ecological conceptualization of reporting.
Sweater Dog

A normally happy-go-lucky dog is put into a restricting sweater by his owner, but he tries to go on with his normal everyday activities.
Quantitative assessment of chromosome instability induced through chemical disruption of mitotic progression

Most solid tumors are aneuploid, carrying an abnormal number of chromosomes, and they frequently missegregate whole chromosomes in a phenomenon termed chromosome instability (CIN). While CIN can be provoked through disruption of numerous mitotic pathways, it is not clear which of these mechanisms are most critical, or whether alternative mechanisms could also contribute significantly in vivo. One difficulty in determining the relative importance of candidate CIN regulators has been the lack of a straightforward, quantitative assay for CIN in live human cells: While gross mitotic abnormalities can be detected visually, moderate levels of CIN may not be obvious, and are thus problematic to measure. To address this issue, we have developed the first Human Artificial Chromosome (HAC)-based quantitative live-cell assay for mitotic chromosome segregation in human cells. We have produced U2OS-Phoenix cells carrying the alphoid(tetO)-HAC encoding copies of eGFP fused to the destruction box (DB) of anaphase promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) substrate hSecurin and sequences encoding the tetracycline repressor fused to mCherry (TetR-mCherry). Upon HAC missegregation, daughter cells that do not obtain a copy of the HAC are GFP negative in the subsequent interphase. The HAC can also be monitored live following the TetR-mCherry signal. U2OS-Phoenix cells show low inherent levels of CIN, which can be enhanced by agents that target mitotic progression through distinct mechanisms. This assay allows direct detection of CIN induced by clinically important agents without conspicuous mitotic defects, allowing us to score increased levels of CIN that fall below the threshold required for discernable morphological disruption.
Determination of 8 kinds of pyrethroid pesticide residues in edible fungus by capillary gas chromatography

Objective:To establish a method for simultaneous determination of 8 kinds of permethrin such as bifenthrin,fenpropathrin,cyhalothrin,permethrin,cypermethrin,baythroid,fenvalerate and deltramethrin in edible fungus by capillary gas chromatography.Methods:Pesticide residues in samples were extracted with organic solvent,cleaned up by column chromatography,enriched with stream of nitrogen and then determined by capillary gas chromatography with electron detector(ECD),Quantitation was achieved by external standard.Results:Separation of 8 kinds of Permethrin was well with resolution more than 1.5.The calibration curve had good linear relationship(r0.99),the average recovery rate ranged from 83.4% to 103.1% with relative standard deviation(RSD) from 1.6% to 4.3%(n=6).Conclusion:The method is simple and accurate,sensitive and applicable for simultaneous determination of 8 kinds of pyrethroid pesticide residues in edible fungi.
Enantioseparations by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Using Molecularly Imprinted Polymers

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are becoming increasingly useful as chromatographic adsorbents for molecular separations, especially chiral separations, because they can be tailored to specifically recognize the target molecule including its stereochemistry. Traditionally formed MIPs (as described here) are stable under ambient conditions for years, take only days to make, and use relatively inexpensive components, with the possible exception of the template in some cases which can be reused after it is removed from the polymer to keep costs down. In addition to providing experimental details for typical synthetic methods to fabricate MIPs and pack them into HPLC columns, this chapter also gives an overview of the concepts of molecular imprinting method and discusses important factors for designing an effective imprinted polymer.
Concept Innovation in the Software Industry: 1990 - 2002

This study investigates concept innovation, when firms create new market category labels to differentiate their products. Data suggest that concept innovation is frequent. But little is known about its antecedents. This study proposes that concept innovation depends on both a firm’s technological inventions and constraints from existing classification. Firms that develop technologies that combine elements across market categories are more likely to engage in concept innovation – when categories are constraining. But when a firm’s categories are lenient, the relationship breaks down and leniency itself leads to concept innovation as firms attempt to resolve ambiguity in the environment. Results support hypotheses in a longitudinal analysis of concept innovation for 4,566 firms and 456 market categories in the software industry between 1990 and 2002.
The Political Integration of the European States

In this chapter we examine the political integration of the modern European nation states, and we relate the process of their political integration to their economic status in 1850. Our story begins in the fifteenth century, in fact, when the Portuguese launched the Age of Discovery in their quest for a sea route to the Far East. At almost the same time, and not entirely coincidentally, the Ottoman Turks conquered Constantinople. Half a century later, the Protestant Reformation began. More than any other, these three events mark the transition from the Middle Ages to the early modern era — the first because it shifted European economic focus away from the overland trade with the East; the second because effectively it destroyed the last political vestiges of the Roman Empire, the decline of which in the West had marked the beginning of the Middle Ages; and the third because it shattered the Roman Catholic Church’s control over much of the political, economic and social life of Europe. In terms of economic history, this new era was dominated by an expansion of trade that created a golden age for the merchant capitalist, a development that can be related directly to the above events.
Impact of Channel Loading to Power Distribution Network Designs

A PDN consisting of lumped elements is passive and linear to the frequency variation. However, adding active drivers to the PDN is easily distorted depending on load conditions at the end of a signal channel. Depending on two major states in a push-pull driver, pull-up versus pull-down, the load affects the passive PDN, resulting in a non-linear PDN profile. This non-linearity is demonstrated in this paper of the first time. We investigate the non-linear behavior for various signaling schemes in both frequency and time domains along with different load conditions.
The design and fabrication of microdisk resonators for terahertz frequency operation

The design and fabrication of resonators and waveguides, operating at THz frequencies are reported. Resonance frequencies, mode confinement, quality factors, and stop-bands were calculated for resonators with and without photonic elements. The estimations show that very narrow modes can exist within the propagation bandgap of a photonic lattice. Microdisk devices were designed and fabricated for high-quality whispering-gallery modes centered around 10 THz. Combined with silicon-germanium quantum wells grown by molecular beam epitaxy, these resonators are promising candidates for silicon-based miniature far-infrared lasers.
Feature Based Studies on Guided Ultrasonic Wave Modes for Anomaly Estimation in Composite Structures

This paper reports some of the recent studies on the utilization of surface waves and plate waves resonances for a quantative estimation of anomalies such as porosity, fiber volume fraction changes, fiber mis-orientation, hydro-thermal degradation in fiber reinforced composite materials. Models describing anomalies within an arbitrary layup of fiber reinforced composite laminates are coupled to generalized wave propagation models for plate waves and surface waves in such structures thus providing useful NDE tools. A feature based approach was also adopted here, for the analysis of the wave mechanics interaction with anomalies.
Comparing potential recharge estimates from three Land Surface Models across the western US

Groundwater is a major source of water in the western US. However, there are limited recharge estimates available in this region due to the complexity of recharge processes and the challenge of direct observations. Land surface Models (LSMs) could be a valuable tool for estimating current recharge and projecting changes due to future climate change. In this study, simulations of three LSMs (Noah, Mosaic and VIC) obtained from the North American Land Data Assimilation System (NLDAS-2) are used to estimate potential recharge in the western US. Modeled recharge was compared with published recharge estimates for several aquifers in the region. Annual recharge to precipitation ratios across the study basins varied from 0.01-15% for Mosaic, 3.2-42% for Noah, and 6.7-31.8% for VIC simulations. Mosaic consistently underestimates recharge across all basins. Noah captures recharge reasonably well in wetter basins, but overestimates it in drier basins. VIC slightly overestimates recharge in drier basins and slightly underestimates it for wetter basins. While the average annual recharge values vary among the models, the models were consistent in identifying high and low recharge areas in the region. Models agree in seasonality of recharge occurring dominantly during the spring across the region. Overall, our results highlight that LSMs have the potential to capture the spatial and temporal patterns as well as seasonality of recharge at large scales. Therefore, LSMs (specifically VIC and Noah) can be used as a tool for estimating future recharge rates in data limited regions.
Abstract 3257: Prevalence and Correlates of PTSD After Stroke

Background Stroke survivors may be at increased risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), yet detailed data on prevalence and contributing factors are lacking. Harlem residents and local researchers, alarmed by high rates of stroke in their community and frustrated by the difficulty of engaging stroke survivors in prevention programs, aimed to determine the prevalence and correlates of PTSD in a cohort of survivors of stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA). Methods Harlem residents and researchers employed community-based participatory research to develop a recurrent stroke prevention intervention. English and Spanish speaking adults over 40 were eligible for inclusion if they reported a stroke or TIA within the past five years. Baseline assessments included blood pressure, direct LDL cholesterol and validated self-report scales for demographics, stroke impact (modified Rankin scale), medical co-morbidities (Charlson co-morbidity index), and the widely-used 17-item PTSD Checklist Specific for stroke (PCL-S). A PCL-S score of 25 connotes a positive screening test, while a score greater than 50 is highly specific for PTSD. We recruited participants from community and clinical sites. To create a model of correlates for PTSD (PCL-S score > 50), we used logistic regression. Results The 379 enrollees had a mean age of 64 years, 62% were women, 79% were Black or Latino, 28% never completed high school, and more than half earned under $15,000 yearly. Most (75%) had PCL-S scores greater than 25, including 69 (18%) who scored above 50. Using logistic regression, and controlling for gender, race, education, and income (c-statistic of 0.835, p 100 mg/ dl (59% vs. 39%, p=0.003), both major risk factors for recurrent stroke. There was no significant difference in blood pressure control between the patients with and without PTSD. Conclusion PTSD is common after stroke, especially in younger people with more disability and more co-morbidity. We recommend that clinicians screen patients for PTSD after stroke and offer supportive therapy.
Macro-scale fatigue fracture analysis of multiphase bodies, aircraft design, and catastrophic failure: Two aircraft accidents

Abstract Slattery and Cizmas (2016) introduced macro-scale fatigue fracture analysis (including the entropy inequality), using seven relatively simple examples (such as laminates) to demonstrate that fracture/failure could be predicted. Here we apply this same analysis to very complex multicomponent, multiphase systems: aircraft that suffered structural failures. The first was an Airbus 300-605R on American Airlines flight 587 that lost its vertical stabilizer while in flight. The second was a BAE Jetstream 31 SX-SKY aircraft whose right main landing gear failed on touchdown. Possible implications of this study for aircraft structural design are posed. It was not necessary to make any judgement about possible pilot error.
Relationship between catecholamines and other hormones.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the relationship between catecholamines and other hormones. The three important catecholamines are norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine. Norepinephrine is primarily localized in the sympathetic nerves of the peripheral organs and in the nerve tracts of the brain. Noradrenergic pathways in the brain originate mainly in the cell bodies of the locus ceruleus of the brain stem. Dopamine is mainly localized in the nerve tracts of the brain. Dopamine cell bodies originate in the substantia nigra in the midbrain, and the axons course through the lateral hypothalamus and terminate in the caudate nucleus and putamen of the corpus striatum. Epinephrine is found mainly in the adrenal medulla. Recent work, however, has uncovered the presence of adrenergic tracts where cell bodies originate in the midbrain and send axons into parts of the hypothalamus. The chapter also presents the synthesis of catecholamines.
Red blood cell exchange in patients with sickle cell disease-indications and management: a review and consensus report by the therapeutic apheresis subsection of the AABB.

Background A prior practice survey revealed variations in the management of patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) and stressed the need for comprehensive guidelines. Here we discuss: 1) common indications for red blood cell exchange (RCE), 2) options for access, 3) how to prepare the red blood cells (RBCs) to be used for RCE, 4) target hemoglobin (Hb) and/or hematocrit (Hct) and HbS level, 5) RBC depletion/RCE, and 6) some complications that may ensue. Study design and methods Fifteen physicians actively practicing apheresis from 14 institutions representing different areas within the United States discussed how they manage RCE for patients with SCD. Results Simple transfusion is recommended to treat symptomatic anemia with Hb level of less than 9 g/dL. RCE is indicated to prevent or treat complications arising from the presence of HbS. The most important goals are reduction of HbS while also preventing hyperviscosity. The usual goals are a target HbS level of not more than 30% and Hct level of less than 30%. Conclusion Although a consensus as to protocol details may not be possible, there are areas of agreement in the management of these patients, for example, that it is optimal to avoid hyperviscosity and iron overload, that a target Hb S level in the range of 30% is generally desirable, and that RCE as an acute treatment for pain crisis in the absence of other acute or chronic conditions is ordinarily discouraged.
Addressing Challenges for Mapping Irrigated Fields in Subhumid Temperate Regions by Integrating Remote Sensing and Hydroclimatic Data

High-resolution mapping of irrigated fields is needed to better estimate water and nutrient fluxes in the landscape, food production, and local to regional climate. However, this remains a challenge in humid to subhumid regions, where irrigation has been expanding into what was largely rainfed agriculture due to trends in climate, crop prices, technologies and practices. One such region is southwestern Michigan, USA, where groundwater is the main source of irrigation water for row crops (primarily corn and soybeans). Remote sensing of irrigated areas can be difficult in these regions as rainfed areas have similar characteristics. We present methods to address this challenge and enhance the contrast between neighboring rainfed and irrigated areas, including weather-sensitive scene selection, applying recently developed composite indices and calculating spatial anomalies. We create annual, 30m-resolution maps of irrigated corn and soybeans for southwestern Michigan from 2001 to 2016 using a machine learning method (random forest). The irrigation maps reasonably capture the spatial and temporal pattern of irrigation, with accuracies that exceed available products. Analysis of the irrigation maps showed that the irrigated area in southwestern Michigan tripled in the last 16 years. We also discuss the remaining challenges for irrigation mapping in humid to subhumid areas.
Earnings Uncertainty and Attention

I document a positive relationship between earnings uncertainty and attention to subsequent earnings releases. I use the percentage of uncertain words in 10-K or 10-Q filings as the measure of ex ante earnings uncertainty. Earnings releases of high uncertainty firms are accompanied by higher Google search volume, higher Bloomberg readership, higher abnormal trading volume, and faster analyst response. Low uncertainty stocks underreact more to earnings surprises suggesting that the lower attention received by them is insufficient to fully incorporate new information immediately following earnings. The findings are consistent with attention constrained investors allocating less attention to low uncertainty firms.
Iterative Channel Estimation with Data-Aided Interference Cancellation for Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access

In the 5th generation of mobile cellular systems, non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) is being considered as a potential candidate for uplink (UL) multiple access (MA) in addition to the basic orthogonal multiple access scheme in order to support various usage scenarios including small packet transmissions, support of a massive number of users, and low latency and high reliability services. Since for NOMA, multiple users transmit uplink data packet in the same time and frequency resource, it is difficult to accurately estimate the channel coefficients from reference signals, especially if the reference signal itself suffers from interference from other users. This paper proposes a novel channel estimation algorithm which utilizes iterative interference cancellation operation in a data-aided manner in reference signal. This iterative channel estimation algorithm with data-aided interference cancellation provides improved channel estimation and overall link level performance at NOMA receiver.
Green Hope: Perspectives on Cannabis from People who Use Opioids

While states are implementing policies to legalize cannabis for medical or recreational purposes, it remains a Schedule 1 controlled substance with no medical uses according to US federal law. The perception of cannabis depends on social and cultural norms that impact political institutions involved in implementing policy. Because of negative social constructions, such as the "gateway hypothesis," legalization of cannabis has been slow and contentious. Recent studies suggest that cannabis can help combat the opioid epidemic. This paper fills a gap in our understanding of how cannabis is viewed by people who are actively misusing opioids and not in treatment. Using ethnographic methods to recruit participants living in a state that legalized cannabis and a state where cannabis was illegal, survey and interview data were analyzed informed by a social constructionist lens. Findings from their "insider perspective" suggest that for some people struggling with problematic opioid use, cannabis can be beneficial.
Benign Violation Theory

The benign violation theory argues that humor perception results from a violation appraisal, a benign appraisal, and both appraisals occurring simultaneously. The benign violation theory offers a plausible explanation for why seeming diverse stimuli, including puns, sarcasm, jokes, tickling, and slapstick all similarly elicit humor. It also helps explain why people and cultures often hold differing opinions about what is funny and what is not.
Unusual Option Activity: Is it Smart to Follow ‘Smart Money’?

CNBC’s “Fast Money” regularly covers unusual option activity and refers to it as “smart money”. We investigate the impact of the CNBC coverage on underlying stock prices and whether investors can profit by following the “smart money”. We document an immediate spike in trading volume and abnormal returns at the time of the CNBC coverage. We also observe patterns in underlying stock prices and trading activities, consistent with the evidence of gamma squeeze. More importantly, while options trades significantly predict stock returns prior to the CNBC coverage, there is a significant reversal in underlying stock prices following the CNBC coverage. Using similar criteria, we identify unusual option activities for a large sample of stocks from OptionMetrics. We show that options trades significantly predict underlying stock returns and there is no evidence of reversal in underlying stock price. Our findings suggest that the CNBC coverage of unusual option activity has a destabilizing effect on underlying stock prices and investors cannot profit by simply following the CNBC reporting on the “smart money”.
Learning Complex Multi-Agent Policies in Presence of an Adversary.

In recent years, there has been some outstanding work on applying deep reinforcement learning to multi-agent settings. Often in such multi-agent scenarios, adversaries can be present. We address the requirements of such a setting by implementing a graph-based multi-agent deep reinforcement learning algorithm. In this work, we consider the scenario of multi-agent deception in which multiple agents need to learn to cooperate and communicate in order to deceive an adversary. We have employed a two-stage learning process to get the cooperating agents to learn such deceptive behaviors. Our experiments show that our approach allows us to employ curriculum learning to increase the number of cooperating agents in the environment and enables a team of agents to learn complex behaviors to successfully deceive an adversary. Keywords: Multi-agent system, Graph neural network, Reinforcement learning
Hannibal at the gates: Cyberwarfare & the Solarwinds sunburst hack

The connected world economy, compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, has forced countries, companies, and organizations to pivot to digitally transforming their operations. Sophisticated, state-sponso...
Limitations of Traditional Models for Medical Decision-Making Capacity and Ethical Clinical Practice in Light of the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has upended psychiatric practice and poses unprecedented challenges for maintaining access to quality care. We discuss the ethical challenges of treating a patient with schizophrenia in need of hospitalization but who declined severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) surveillance testing. The traditional framework of capacity assessment depends on the patient's ability to weigh risks and benefits, but this framework is of limited utility in context of the COVID-19 pandemic; the personal benefits of testing for the patient are unclear and in fact may not outweigh the risk of being declined psychiatric care. Moreover, classic capacity assessment does not well account for physicians' obligations to other patients and the public health. We conclude that physicians cannot coerce surveillance testing, and we consider the implications of requiring SARS-CoV-2 testing for accessing mental health treatment.
Parental Decision-Making for Children With Medical Complexity: An Integrated Literature Review

Abstract Context Children with medical complexity (CMC) have multiple significant chronic health conditions that result in functional limitations and high health care utilization. The population of CMC is increasing and parent decision-making for this population is nuanced. Objectives To review the literature specifically related to the parent experience of medical decision-making for CMC from the parent perspective. Methods A comprehensive, systematic approach was undertaken with the goal of identifying emergent themes in the existing literature as well as implications for clinical practice and future research. PubMed and PsycInfo databases were searched for English-language articles published between 1995-2020 that focused on parent experiences/perspectives using the search terms: children with medical complexity, children with serious illness, parent decision-making, parent experience, goals of care, parental priorities, advance care planning, and shared decision-making. Results The search yielded 300 unique manuscripts; including 32 empirical articles incorporated in this review. The synthesized findings were broken down into three main sections: 1. types of decisions that parents of CMC face, 2. key factors that influence parental decision-making for CMC, and 3. reasons that the decision-making process for parents of CMC is unique. The findings suggest that parents should be considered experts in their child's care and should be incorporated in shared decision-making in a culturally appropriate manner. CMC should have their personhood valued and providers require specialized training in communication. Conclusions Parents of CMC have unique needs in their decision-making process and benefit from shared decision-making, continuity of care, collaborative communication and tailored, individualized care.
Non-orthogonal computational grids for studying dislocation motion in phase field approaches

Abstract In this work, new non-orthogonal computational grids are implemented into a phase field model called Phase Field Dislocation Dynamics (PFDD). We demonstrate that the new non-orthogonal grid can accommodate multiple slip planes in either the face centered cubic (FCC) or body centered cubic (BCC) crystallographic systems. We show that they avoid numerical errors induced when modeling glide on inclined slip planes in an orthogonal grid. The Gibbs effect that arises in the orthogonal or rotated orthogonal grids is substantially diminished when a non-orthogonal grid is employed. A few test cases demonstrate the effectiveness of using non-orthogonal grids in solving systems with multiple non-planar slip systems.
3 Cases of Superior Vena Cava Syndrome Following Percutaneous Right Ventricular Assist Device Placement

Abstract We present 3 cases of superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome following percutaneous right ventricular assist device (RVAD) placement. Each case underscores the importance of early recognition o...
Social and personality variables in compensation for altered auditory feedback

This paper documents that variation in one’s personal sense of empowerment is related to one’s phonetic response to altered auditory feedback. We see this as related to the actuation of sound change, identifying a personal characteristic of individuals who are likely to introduce a change variant. Many speakers react to gradual alteration of auditory feedback by compensating for the manipulation – for example, by raising the frequency of a vowel’s F2 as it is reduced in auditory feedback. However, prior research has found that there is substantial individual variability in the degree of compensation. To test our hypothesis that this variability may be linked to social or personality factors, we investigated the relationship between participants’ responses to altered auditory feedback and their answers on questionnaires measuring a number of personality variables. A significant negative correlation was discovered: the more empowered subjects felt, the less they compensated.
Cultural and political traditions and their impact on the transfer and use of scientific information

Cultural and political differences between peoples and countries have a significant impact on the transfer of information. A number of these differences are reviewed: language, government attitudes toward control over information both for developed and less developed countries, democratic traditions, the role of printed material in the culture and nationalism. Some consequences for information marketing are discussed.
Effects of data requirements on planning: Case studies of environmental impact assessment and community development block grants

Abstract Requirements for agencies to produce and publish data, according to studies reported on here, can help implement legislated policy, make planning better informed, and encourage public officials to be more responsive to underrepresented interests and broad public concerns. Observers often fail to identify such effects because these data are seldom used directly in decisions. Indeed data requirements have increasingly come to be viewed as little more than wasteful paperwork. Field research on Community Development Block Grant Planning and California Environmental Impact Review suggests that although data do occasionally play a direct role in decisions, the data, along with the system for producing and debating them, have more significant indirect influence by shaping the planning process itself. The data requirements change the taken for granted framework of planning—the standard operating procedures, the leverage of participants, and the values that underlie decisions. The requirements help assure the employment of professionals and the development of data bases, which, in turn increase the analytic activities of the agency and the opportunities and capability of citizens to use data. The requirements also redistribute power, lending authority and legitimacy to planners, giving citizens a place in the discussions, and permitting challenges to the status quo. These changes ultimately reshape the terms of the planning debates as the data and the newly empowered participants call attention to issues, assuring that they are on the agenda, and legitimize the criteria they reflect. Moreover the requirements create a norm that data should be used in discussion.
Corrected Transposition of the Great Arteries Causing Complete Heart Block in an Adult Treatment with an Artificial Pacemaker

Abstract Corrected transposition of the great arteries was found in a 40 year old man with congestive heart failure and complete heart block. Treatment with an implanted artificial pacemaker resulted in temporary subjective improvement, but hemodynamic measurements essentially were unchanged and the patient eventually died with congestive heart failure. Autopsy disclosed, in addition to corrected transposition of the great arteries, multiple small pulmonary emboli and an abnormality of the left atrioventricular valve. This report illustrates the natural history of corrected transposition in an adult patient.
'Known secure sensor measurements' for critical infrastructure systems: detecting falsification of system state

This paper describes a first investigation on a low cost and low false alarm, reliable mechanism for detecting manipulation of critical physical processes and falsification of system state. We call this novel mechanism Known Secure Sensor Measurements (KSSM). The method moves beyond analysis of network traffic and host based state information, in fact it uses physical measurements of the process being controlled to detect falsification of state. KSSM is intended to be incorporated into the design of new, resilient, cost effective critical infrastructure control systems. It can also be included in incremental upgrades of already installed systems for enhanced resilience. KSSM is based on known secure physical measurements for assessing the likelihood of an attack and will demonstrate a practical approach to creating, transmitting, and using the known secure measurements for detection.
BMPs: time to murder and create?

The olfactory epithelium produces new neurons throughout life. Shou et al. show that BMPs can inhibit this process by inducing degradation of the transcription factor MASH1.
An evolutionary behavior programming system with dynamic networks for mobile robots in dynamic environments

A behavior-based approach has been effectively applied for the design of robot control systems, and evolutionary algorithms have been implemented as an approach to generate the robot control systems automatically. In this paper, we propose the integration of both concepts as an automatic behavior programming system. By adapting the idea of behavior analysis, behavioral modules and interactions are presented in order to be able to represent behavior-based control systems in a programming paradigm. Then, by manipulating the program codes without human intervention, the processes of Genetic Programming (GP) are applied to discover the possible behavior-based control systems, which successfully solve the given problems. Moreover, with the intention of improving the learning performance in dynamic environments, the new idea of turning on/off each node in the network stochastically, called a Dynamic Network (DN), is applied. Experimental results show the potential of our approach.
Mass Resolution Corrections at the LHC

The utility of jet spectroscopy at the LHC is compromised by the existence of multiple interactions within a bunch crossing. The energy deposits from these interactions at the design luminosity of the LHC may degrade the dijet mass resolution unless great care is taken. Energy clusters making up the jet can be required to have an energy flow with respect to the jet axis which resembles QCD. In addition, subsidiary information such as the jet mass or the out of jet cone mass or transverse momentum can be deployed so as to alleviate the adverse effects of pileup.