cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Expense of Expansion: Judicial Innovation at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) is a hybrid international tribunal tasked with prosecuting and punishing those responsible for the 2005 bombing that killed former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. As the first international tribunal to try purely domestic crimes, the STL is a unique judicial body that employs a number of novel procedures. One such procedural rule allowed the STL Pre-Trial Judge to submit questions on applicable law to the Appeals Chamber prior to confirming any indictments. Responding in the form of an interlocutory decision, the Appeals Chamber made the groundbreaking assertion that customary international law on terrorism had finally emerged, and that it stood to impact provisions of the Lebanese Criminal Code, which the tribunal was mandated to apply.
Debugging SDN in HPC Environments

HPC networks and campus networks are beginning to leverage various levels of network programmability ranging from programmable network configuration (e.g., NETCONF/YANG, SNMP, OF-CONFIG) to software-based controllers (e.g., OpenFlow Controllers) to dynamic function placement via network function virtualization (NFV). While programmable networks offer new capabilities, they also make the network more difficult to debug. When applications experience unexpected network behavior, there is no established method to investigate the cause in a programmable network and many of the conventional troubleshooting debugging tools (e.g., ping and traceroute) can turn out to be completely useless. This absence of troubleshooting tools that support programmability is a serious challenge for researchers trying to understand the root cause of their networking problems.This paper explores the challenges of debugging an all-campus science DMZ network that leverages SDN-based network paths for high-performance flows. We propose Flow Tracer, a light-weight, data-plane-based debugging tool for SDN-enabled networks that allows end users to dynamically discover how the network is handling their packets. In particular, we focus on solving the problem of identifying an SDN path by using actual packets from the flow being analyzed as opposed to existing expensive approaches where either probe packets are injected into the network or actual packets are duplicated for tracing purposes. Our simulation experiments show that Flow Tracer has negligible impact on the performance of monitored flows. Moreover, our tool can be extended to obtain further information about the actual switch behavior, topology, and other flow information without privileged access to the SDN control plane.
Back to the Future: Recommendations and Predictions for Greener Tax Policy

For the last ten years, I have been considering how the tax system affects the sustainability of our planet and our economy. Businesses and consumers are subject to tax-imposed costs that affect decisions about activities and investments. In some cases, Congress shifts costs by lessening the tax burden on one activity or another. These cost shifts also influence investment decisions. Congress can also influence decisions by direct action: by regulating activities or by directly funding activities through appropriations. In many cases, the tax system’s incentives are not consistent with the government’s stated goals. In fact, the tax system itself creates contradictory incentives. For example, the tax system creates incentives for using energy as well as for conserving energy. While this result may seem perverse, it should not be unexpected. This Article will address both direct and indirect connections between tax policy and carbon emissions. Any discussion of tax policy’s impact on the environment must begin with a review of how the Code can be used to encourage behavior. Accordingly, this Article will begin with a brief discussion of tax expenditures. The Article will then review tax policy recommendations in the following areas: (1) housing; (2) transportation; (3) energy and conservation incentives; and (4) carbon pricing, including carbon sequestration. For each area, I will compare past recommendations to actual changes in tax policy and make predictions about coming changes to tax policy and how it may affect carbon emissions.
A Dynamic LES Model for Turbulent Reactive Flow with Parallel Adaptive Finite Elements

An adaptive finite element method (FEM) is used for the solution of turbulent reactive flows in 3-D utilizing parallel methods for fluid dynamic and combustion modeling associated with engines. A dynamic LES method permits transition from laminar to turbulent flow without the assumptions usually required for turbulent sublayers near wall area. This capability is ideal for engine configurations where there is no equilibrium in the turbulent wall layers and the flow is not always turbulent and often in transition. The developed adaptive FEM flow solver uses “h” adaptation to provide for grid refinement. The FEM solver has been optimized for parallel processing employing the message passing interface (MPI) for clusters and high-performance computers.
ConfEx: Towards Automating Software Configuration Analytics in the Cloud

Modern cloud applications are designed in a highly configurable way to ensure increased reusability and portability. With the growing complexity of these applications, configuration errors (i.e., misconfigurations) have become major sources of service outages and disruptions. While some research has so far focused on detecting errors in configurations that are represented as well-structured key-value pairs, the configurations of cloud applications are typically stored in text files with application-specific syntax and in unlabeled file system locations, limiting the use of existing error detection tools. This paper introduces ConfEx, a framework that enables discovery and extraction of text-based configurations in multi-tenant cloud platforms and cloud image repositories for configuration analysis and validation. ConfEx uses a novel vocabulary-based technique to identify text-based configuration files in cloud system instances with unlabeled content, and leverages existing configuration parsers to extract the information in these files. We show that ConfEx achieves over 98% precision and recall in identifying configuration files on 3893 popular Docker Hub images and we also demonstrate a use case of ConfEx for detecting injected misconfigurations via outlier analysis.
Who Runs? The Importance of Depositor Characteristics in Bank Panics

This paper presents micro level evidence on the importance of individual characteristics of depositors in a bank panic. We use a unique data set that provides exhaustive details on individual depositor characteristics in conjunction with a bank run to study the factors that affect depositor panic. Firstly we find that depositors with longer duration of relationship with a bank are less likely to panic. We also find that depositors that have availed of loans from a bank have a lower likelihood of withdrawing during a panic. Finally, we find that the ethnic status of depositors affects depositor panic. Our results suggest that relationships with a bank play an important role in influencing depositor panic and in turn hold important policy implications.
Autonomous materials from biomimicry

Biological entities are capable of amazing material feats, such as self-organization, self-repair, self-replication, and self-immolation. Indeed, the most intriguing feature of living biomaterials, whether they are tissues, cells, or intracellular structures, is their ability to autonomously sense, decide, and perform work without the need of a project manager. The effect is multiscale—from enzymes to full organisms, each level is capable of such autonomous activities. Further, each scale has similar energy-using units that work together to compose the larger-scale material. For instance, autonomous cells work together to create tissues. In this article, we will discuss some of the outstanding and desirable properties of active biological materials that we might consider mimicking in future materials. We will discuss how such active materials are powered and explore some fundamental lessons we can learn to direct future fundamental scientific inquiries to begin to understand and use these properties to make synthetic, autonomous materials of the future.
The Use of Narratives to Deliver Information in Direct-To-Consumer Prescription Drug Commercials: A Content Analysis

Information communicated through a narrative format is typically processed and evaluated differently compared to non-narrative formats. Therefore, differences in the use of narratives across various information categories within direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertisements (DTCA) could have significant implications for consumers' processing of that information. Such differences could have further implications regarding the "fair balance" rule put forth by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This study sought to document the presence and nature of narrative and non-narrative messages in a content analysis of 61 U.S.-based broadcast DTCA airing during 2016. Specific narrative styles (classic drama, vignette, first person, second person, third person) were distinguished from non-narrative styles (lecture, directive, endorsement, graphic/demonstration) according to key characteristics of each (chronology and character, showing versus telling). Results indicated widespread use of narrative styles in DTCA overall, but the styles used differed substantially between different types of information. Narrative styles were delivered prominently to present health condition and drug benefits information while non-narrative styles primarily reinforced drug benefits and presented drug risks. These differences offer a new frame through which to view an imbalanced presentation of drug risks and benefits and provide a foundation for future research to test the effects of various narrative and non-narrative forms on patient understanding and message recall.
Diagnostic utility of Gallium-68-somatostatin receptor PET/CT in ectopic ACTH-secreting tumors: a systematic literature review and single-center clinical experience

Tumors causing ectopic Cushing’s syndrome (ECS) are often not visible with conventional imaging. Gallium-68-DOTATATE, DOTATOC, and DOTANOC positron emission tomography/computed tomography (68Ga-SSTR PET/CT) reportedly exhibits greater sensitivity in identifying an ECS source, however, evidence is limited to mainly case reports and a few small retrospective studies. Previous systematic ECS imaging review has shown 68Ga-SSTR PET/CT sensitivity is similar to CT (81.8%) in histologically-proven cases and is 100% in covert-cases, however, the number of patients was small and no occult cases were reported. We performed a systematic literature review of 68Ga-SSTR PET/CT use in ECS patients. We also report 6 consecutive patients with confirmed active and occult ECS who underwent 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT and were followed at our institution between 2014 and 2019. We identified 33 articles (23 case-reports, 4 case-series, 5 retrospective studies and 1 prospective study) detailing 68Ga-SSTR PET/CT in 69 ECS patients. Overall 68Ga-SSTR PET/CT sensitivity was 64.0%, while in histologically confirmed cases (67 lesions), sensitivity was 76.1%. There were two false-positives cases, both in the adrenal glands. In covert cases, 68Ga-SSTR PET/CT identified 50% of lesions. There were ten occult cases where all imaging failed to identify an adrenocorticotropic hormone source; source remains unknown. In our case series, 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT showed decreased uptake in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor in one patient and did not help identify an ECS source in 5 patients. Both this systematic literature review, the largest to date, and our single- center experience demonstrate a lower than previously reported 68Ga-SSTR PET/CT sensitivity for ECS, especially in occult lesions. We suggest that the data on 68Ga-SSTR PET/CT in ECS is subject to publication bias, and false-negatives are likely underreported; it’s diagnostic value for ECS needs further study.
Haemangioma, Lymphangioma and Vascular Malformations

Vascular malformations encompass many growths found in children. The majority are benign. These include haemangiomas, lymphangiomas and arteriovenous malformations.
Stay True to Your Roots? Category Distance, Hierarchy, and the Performance of New Entrants in the Music Industry

New entrants in established markets face competing recommendations over whether it is better to establish their legitimacy by conforming to type or to differentiate themselves from incumbents by pr...
CHAPTER VII – Proteolytic Enzymes

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on proteolytic enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of proteins, proteoses, peptones, polypeptides, and synthetic peptides. The hydrolysis results in the setting free of amino groups and carboxyl groups. The action of proteolytic enzymes can be followed by various physical or chemical methods. The proteinases act on the high-molecular proteins, while the peptidases catalyze the hydrolysis of partly hydrolyzed proteins. Proteolytic enzymes can also be classified according to the pH values required for their optimum activity; upon their activation by cysteine and glutathione, and upon their activation by certain metallic ion. Papain is one of several enzymes present in the milky juice, or latex, of Carica papaya. Similar enzymes are found in the sap of the fig tree, pineapple, wheat, and in certain beans. It hydrolyzes most proteins and many proteoses and peptones. The action of papain is much like that of other proteases in that it hydrolyzes the peptide linkages of proteins. Crude papain, when activated with HCN, hydrolyzes free peptides, acylated peptides, amino acid amides, and completely substituted peptides.
Statutory corporate tax change and the stock market returns: the global experience

This study offers a global perspective on the relationship between statutory corporate tax changes and country equity index returns for 54 countries for 2002–2017. Using fixed-effect models for cou...
TRAJECTORIES AND DISTRIBUTION OF INTERSTELLAR DUST GRAINS IN THE HELIOSPHERE

The solar wind carves a bubble in the surrounding interstellar medium (ISM) known as the heliosphere. Charged interstellar dust grains (ISDG) encountering the heliosphere may be diverted around the heliopause or penetrate it depending on their charge-to-mass ratio. We present new calculations of trajectories of ISDG in the heliosphere, and the dust density distributions that result. We include up-to-date grain charging calculations using a realistic UV radiation field and full three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic fluid + kinetic models for the heliosphere. Models with two different (constant) polarities for the solar wind magnetic field (SWMF) are used, with the grain trajectory calculations done separately for each polarity. Small grains a gr 0.01 μm are completely excluded from the inner heliosphere. Large grains, a gr 1.0 μm, pass into the inner solar system and are concentrated near the Sun by its gravity. Trajectories of intermediate size grains depend strongly on the SWMF polarity. When the field has magnetic north pointing to ecliptic north, the field de-focuses the grains resulting in low densities in the inner heliosphere, while for the opposite polarity the dust is focused near the Sun. The ISDG density outside the heliosphere inferred from applying the model results to in situ dust measurements is inconsistent with local ISM depletion data for both SWMF polarities but is bracketed by them. This result points to the need to include the time variation in the SWMF polarity during grain propagation. Our results provide valuable insights for interpretation of the in situ dust observations from Ulysses.
A heterohexameric protein consisting of six linked single-domain antibodies is highly protective for BoNT/A, BoNT/B and BoNT/E exposures

Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) serotypes A, B and E cause the vast majority of human botulism cases and pose the greatest bioterrorism threats. We previously identified multiple camelid single-domain antibodies (VHHs) that each neutralize BoNT/A, BoNT/B or BoNT/E. We also demonstrated that heterodimers of linked toxin-neutralizing VHHs are much more potent than VHH monomer pools in preventing BoNT intoxication. In this study, we expressed two different heterohexamer proteins (VNA1-ABE and VNA2-ABE) of ~100 kDa secreted from mammalian host cells, each containing the same six linked anti-BoNT VHH components ordered in two different combinations. Each heterohexamer contained two VHHs that neutralize BoNT/A, BoNT/B or BoNT/E. Both heterohexameric antitoxins displayed similar strong binding properties for the three targeted BoNT serotypes by ELISA. One ug of each heterohexameric antitoxin fully protected groups of mice co-administered with 100 LD50 of BoNT/A, BoNT/B or BoNT/E, or a pool containing 100 LD50 of each of the three toxins. The results demonstrate that long chains of at least six different linked VHHs can be expressed such that all component VHHs in the multimer retain their target binding activities. These findings make more feasible the development of a BoNT antitoxin product consisting of a small pool of proteins that, in combination, neutralize all known BoNT serotypes and subtypes. Key ContributionHeteromultimeric proteins consisting of six linked, VHH antibodies, and including VHHs that neutralize BoNT/A, BoNT/B and BoNT/E, retain high potency to protect mice challenged with high doses of all three of these BoNT serotypes.
Factors Associated With Sleep Disturbances Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Older Adults With Chronic Conditions.

Abstract Objectives The COVID-19 pandemic may contribute to sleep problems among older adults with chronic conditions. We examined factors linked to pandemic-related sleep disturbances in a US sample of adults aged 50 and older with chronic conditions. Design Cross-sectional anonymous online survey between May 14 and July 9, 2020. Setting Michigan (82.3% of participants) and 33 other US states. Participants Total of 705 adults (M = 64.57 years, SD = 8.82, range = 50–94) who reported at least one chronic condition. Measurements Sociodemographic and health characteristics, physical activity, media use, pandemic-related stress, social resources, and pandemic-related sleep disturbances. Results In the fully adjusted regression models, people who reported more worry about COVID-19 infection, more financial strain, and greater loneliness reported significantly greater pandemic-related sleep disturbances. Conclusions These findings identify factors that may heighten risk of sleep problems since the COVID-19 pandemic in an especially vulnerable subgroup of older adults.
Comparison study of patient demographics and patient-related risk factors for peri-prosthetic joint infections following primary total shoulder arthroplasty

Abstract Background While studies have demonstrated favorable outcomes in utilization of primary total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) for the treatment of glenohumeral osteoarthritis (OA), adverse events such as infections can still occur. Periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) are associated with worse outcomes and patient morbidity. The purpose of this study was to: (1) compare patient demographics amongst TSA patients with and without PJIs following primary TSA; and (2) identify patient-related risk factors for PJIs following primary TSA. Methods Patients undergoing primary TSA for the treatment of glenohumeral OA were identified using the Mariner administrative claims database by CPT code 23,472. Laterality modifiers were utilized to ensure PJIs were developing in the correct laterality as those patients undergoing primary TSA. Inclusion for the study group consisted of patients who developed PJIs within 2-years after the index procedure, whereas patients who did not develop PJIs served as the comparison cohort. Primary outcomes analyzed included patient demographics and patient-related risk factors for PJIs following primary TSA. A stepwise backwards elimination multivariate binomial logistic regression analyses was performed to determine the odds (OR) of PJIs in patients undergoing primary TSA. A P value less than .05 was considered statistically significant. Results The query yielded 15,396 patients who underwent primary TSA for glenohumeral OA, of which 191 patients developed PJIs and 15,205 did not develop PJIs. The study found statistically significant differences amongst patients who did and did not develop PJIs following primary TSA with respect to age, sex, and presence of comorbid conditions. Risk factors associated with developing PJIs following primary TSA included: pathologic weight loss (OR: 2.06, P Conclusion As the number of primary TSAs for the treatment of glenohumeral OA increase worldwide, identifying modifiable risk-factors to reduce the incidence of infection is critical. The study found various modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors associated with developing PJIs following primary TSA. This study is valuable to orthopedists in order to identify and risk-stratify patients with regard to PJI in the setting of primary TSA for OA. Level of Evidence Level III; Case-Control Study
Semiconductor Cavity QED in High-Q Regimes: Exciton Polariton Boser and Nonlinear Bi-Excitonic Spectrum

A quantum-well Wannier exciton strongly coupled with a single-mode microcavity field forms new normal modes: the microcavity exciton polaritons. The effect of inhomogeneous broadening on normal mode splitting is classified into two cases: large splitting and small splitting. We will present the first experimental evidence for the boser phase transition for a large-splitting system and the (nonlinear) bi-excitonic spectrum for a small-splitting system.
Daily Fire Occurrence in Ukraine from 2002 to 2008

The spatial and temporal extent of daily fire activity in Ukraine at a 1 km × 1 km resolution from 2002 to 2008 is investigated based on active fire detections by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometers (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra and Aqua satellites. During this period about 20,000 fires were detected annually in Ukraine. Ukraine has two distinct fire seasons – spring (March, April, and May) and summer/early fall (July, August, and September). Summer and early fall was the main fire season, accounting for 77% of total active fire detections, while spring detections comprised only 17% of the total. The fire activity was mostly associated with agricultural burning; 91% of active fires were on agricultural land. The agricultural burning was dominated by burning stubble residue following ­harvest of winter wheat. The summer fire activity was highly correlated with annual wheat production (r = 0.81, p < 0.05). The minimum (2003) and maximum (2008) years of Ukraine fire activity deviated from the 7-year mean by −79% and +114% respectively, and coincided with the extremes of low and high wheat production in Ukraine during the study period (3.6 million tons in 2003 and 25.9 million tons in 2008).
Stock return variation and expected dividends

Abstract This paper examines the extent to which aggregate stock return variation is explained by variables chosen to reflect revisions in expectations of future dividends. In effect, we decompose realized dividend growth into expected and unexpected components using information in aggregate investment, dividend yield, and future returns. A parsimonious specification accounts for over 70% of annual return variation. We also conduct a cross-sectional experiment using portfolios formed on the basis of annual return performance. This analysis shows that nearly 90% of the portfolio return variation is explained by dividend and expected return variables.
Real-Time Analysis of Delay Variation for Packet Loss Prediction

The effect of packet loss on the quality of real-time audio is significant. Nevertheless, Internet measurement experiments continue to show a considerable variation of packet loss, which makes audio error recovery and concealment challenging. Our objective is to predict packet loss in real-time audio streams based on the available bandwidth and delay variation and trend, enabling proactive error recovery for real-time audio over the Internet. Our preliminary simulation and experimentation results with various sites on the Internet show the effectiveness and the accuracy of the Loss Predictor technique.
Gene therapy approaches for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

Publisher Summary Levodopa is considered gold-standard treatment by which all other therapies for the long-term treatment of PD patients are compared. Despite being an outstanding therapy, levodopa loses its usefulness because benefit is accompanied by debilitating side-effects that limit its utility. This chapter describes gene therapy approaches for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. When considering a gene therapy strategy to treat any human disease, there are two major unknowns that must be conquered. These are: (1) the safety of the gene transfer itself, and (2) the efficacy of the transgene product. Gene therapies can drive the dose of the therapeutic molecule by placing the vectors in site-specific loci and thus does not affect an unintended brain region that makes delivery of therapeutic genes superior to the delivery of pharmacological agents. For prodopaminergic gene therapy approaches, the postcommissural putamen are regarded the most critical site. Rigorous screening of patients must be conducted before the commencement of gene therapy. Some of the candidates for gene therapy in PD include trophic factors and dopamine-synthesizing enzymes. The transfection of trophic factors offer the greatest benefit, as it can prevent the progressive degeneration of the dopaminergic nigrostriatal system, while enhancing the function of surviving neurons.
Model system for plant cell biology : GFP imaging in living onion epidermal cells

The ability to visualize organelle localization and dynamics is very useful in studying cellular physiological events. Until recently, this has been accomplished using a variety of staining methods. However, staining can give inaccurate information due to nonspecific staining, diffusion of the stain or through toxic effects. The ability to target green fluorescent protein (GFP) to various organelles allows for specific labeling of organelles in vivo. The disadvantages of GFP thus far have been the time and money involved in developing stable transformants or maintaining cell cultures for transient expression. In this paper, we present a rapid transient expression system using onion epidermal peels. We have localized GFP to various cellular compartments (including the cell wall) to illustrate the utility of this method and to visualize dynamics of these compartments. The onion epidermis has large, living, transparent cells in a monolayer, making them ideal for visualizing GFP. This method is easy and inexpensive, and it allows for testing of new GFP fusion proteins in a living tissue to determine deleterious effects and the ability to express before stable transformants are attempted.
Teamtalk: a platform for multi-human-robot dialog research in coherent real and virtual spaces

Performing experiments with human-robot interfaces often requires the allocation of expensive and complex hardware and large physical spaces. Those costs constrain development and research to the currently affordable resources, and they retard the testing-and-redevelopment cycle. In order to explore research free from mundane allocation constraints and speed-up our platform development cycle, we have developed a platform for research of multi-human-robot spoken dialog in coherent real and virtual spaces. We describe the system, and speculate on how it will further research in this domain.
Essential fatty acid deficiency inhibits the in vivo generation of leukotriene B4 and suppresses levels of resident and elicited leukocytes in acute inflammation.

Essential fatty acid (EFA) deficiency exerts an anti-inflammatory effect in several models of inflammation. In an effort to understand underlying mechanisms, the effect of EFA deficiency on the generation of eicosanoids and the elicitation of leukocytes in a model of acute inflammation was examined. Acute inflammation was induced by the i.p. injection of zymosan in mice. The injection of zymosan in normal mice was followed by a short burst of eicosanoid synthesis lasting 2 hr. Leukotriene (LT)B4, LTC4, LTD4, and LTE4, thromboxane B2, and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha were detected using high pressure liquid chromatography and specific radioimmunoassays. This initial phase of eicosanoid production was followed by a more prolonged infiltration of leukocytes (predominantly polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN)) lasting 48 hr with little eicosanoid synthesis. When challenged with zymosan, EFA-deficient mice exhibited a marked decrease in the production of eicosanoids during the early phase. No LTB could be detected at all. The number of resident peritoneal macrophages in EFA-deficient mice was also substantially decreased, and the influx of PMN during the inflammatory response was markedly diminished. In order to establish that the generation of eicosanoids during the early phase of this model of acute inflammation played a causal role in the later infiltration of PMN, the effect of the mixed lipoxygenase/cyclooxygenase inhibitor, BW755C, on LTB formation and PMN influx in this model of inflammation was assessed in control animals. BW755C completely blocked LTB synthesis and inhibited the subsequent influx of PMN. In conclusion, EFA deficiency inhibits eicosanoid generation, depresses levels of resident macrophages, and markedly diminishes the influx of PMN in the acute inflammatory response. The decrease in PMN influx appears to result from the inhibition of the antecedent generation of LTB.
How the radiologist can add value in the evaluation of the pre- and post-surgical pancreas

Disease involving the pancreas can be a significant diagnostic challenge to the interpreting radiologist. Moreover, the majority of disease processes involving the pancreas carry high significant morbidity and mortality either due to their natural process or related to their treatment options. As such, it is critical for radiologists to not only provide accurate information from imaging to guide patient management, but also deliver that information in a clear manner so as to aid the referring physician. This is no better exemplified than in the case of pre-operative staging for pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Furthermore, with the changing healthcare landscape, it is now more important than ever to ensure that the value of radiology service to other providers is high. In this review, we will discuss how the radiologist can add value to the referring physician by employing novel imaging techniques in the pre-operative evaluation as well as how the information can be conveyed in the most meaningful manner through the use of structured reporting. We will also familiarize the radiologist with the imaging appearance of common complications that occur after pancreatic surgery.
Robust Control of An Active Precision Truss Structure

Stringent pointing and shape accuracy requirements necessitate advances in the control of flexible structures. These precision truss structures will be flexible in the micron regime, and their vibration modes will be densely spaced throughout the frequency range of interest. Such attributes pose a great challenge for the control design to attenuate vibration in one frequency range while not destabilizing other flexible modes outside this range. The problem is further compounded by the inaccuracy of models which requires the control law to be robust to a variety of modeling uncertainties. This paper describes the efforts in control of an active precision truss structure experiment at JPL. The control objective is to provide vibration suppression to selected modes of the structure subject to a band-limited disturbance and modeling errors. Based on performance requirements and uncertainty description, several control laws using H ? optimization method are synthesized. These controllers are implemented on the experimental facility. Preliminary experimental results are also presented.
Respiratory muscle training reduces the work of breathing at depth

Resistance respiratory muscle training (RRMT) increases respiratory muscle and swimming performance at depths down to 17 msw. It is unknown if RRMT improves swimming performance at greater depths and if the improvements are associated with a reduced work of breathing (WOB), altered respiratory mechanics and/or improved respiratory muscle performance. Eight male subjects (30.3 +/- 6.0 years) were tested swimming underwater in a hyperbaric chamber at 37 m of depth against a pre-determined load (70% VO(2)) until exhausted. End expiratory lung volume (EELV) was determined by subtracting inspiratory capacity from total lung capacity throughout the swims. The mechanical WOB on the lung was calculated as the integrated product of the transpulmonary pressure and ventilatory flow. Maximal expiratory (P EMAX) and inspiratory pressures (P IMAX) were measured pre- and post-RRMT. RRMT was performed every 30 s against spring loaded inspiratory and expiratory valves 30 min/day, 5 days/week, for 4 weeks. RRMT increased P (IMAX) and P (EMAX) by 40% (110 +/- 11 cmH2O (SD) vs. 155 +/- 22, p < 0.001) and 30% (148 +/- 33 cmH2O vs. 192 +/- 49, p < 0.001), respectively, respiratory endurance by 75% (19.7 +/- 15.4 min vs. 34.4 +/- 27.3, p = 0.010), and swimming endurance by 87% (26.4 +/- 9.7 min vs. 49.4 +/- 21.6, p = 0.004). The longer swimming time was associated with reduced V(E) and V(A) (p < 0.001), f(b) (p < 0.001), V(CO(2)) (p < 0.001) and WOB (p < 0.001). There were no changes in EELV post-RRMT. These results suggest the improved exercise performance post-RRMT was associated with stronger respiratory muscles, a decreased f b, and a reduced WOB.
Suitability Assessment of Non-Potable Water to Meet the Electricity Generation Demands in 2030.

Large amounts of water are required for electricity generation, and demand for thermoelectric power is predicted to increase significantly over the next several decades. Of concern, is that nearly half of this new demand is in regions currently subject to fresh water shortages due to over-appropriation, drought, and climatic drivers. This study explores the suitability of using non-traditional sources of water, namely wastewater and brackish ground water for future thermoelectric cooling in 22 continental Electricity Market Module Regions. Both sources pose unique financial, technical, and management challenges, but are widely available and in the majority of instances economically feasible. While neither resource can meet all future demand by thermoelectric generation, when added to the existing water supply and management portfolio, they provide significant augmentation to existing traditional water supplies.
Regulatory T cells vary over bleeding segments in asthmatic and non-asthmatic women

Abstract Sex hormones may play an important role in observed gender differences in asthma incidence and severity. Regulatory T cells (Treg cells) are presumed to be involved in asthma and may vary with hormone levels. To investigate the effects of sex hormones on levels of Treg cells (percentage of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ lymphocytes that are CD127−), a cohort of 13 women (6 with and 7 without an asthma diagnosis) had blood drawn multiple times over the course of a bleeding segment (bleeding interval plus the following bleeding-free interval) and collected urine samples daily for measurement of estrogen (estrone E1C) and progesterone (pregnanediol-glucuronide PDG) metabolites. The samples from non-asthmatic women indicated no association between bleeding segment day and Treg cells. Asthmatic women showed a 3% increase in Treg cell percentage with each successive day over the bleeding segment. Among non-asthmatic women, Treg cell percentages were not associated with PDG levels on the same day, or 1, 2 or 3 days before Treg cell measurement. E1C was positively correlated with the Treg cell percentage measured only on the same day – a 5% increase in E1C was associated with a 1.4% increase in Treg cell percentage. Among asthmatic women, only E1C was associated with Treg cell percentages after adjusting for PDG on the same day and 1 and 2 days before Treg cell measurement. A 5% increase in E1C was associated with a 2.3% increase in Treg cell percentage. A larger study of contiguous cycles to better determine within-woman cyclicity of the observed patterns is needed.
Effect of dietary omega-3 fatty acids on retinal function of very-low-birth-weight neonates.

Effect of Dietary Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Retinal Function of Very-Low-Birth-Weight Neonates
Studies of the Neural Basis of Evasive Flight Behavior in Response to Acoustic Stimulation in Heliothis zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae): Organization of the Tympanic Nerves

The organization of the tympanic nerve within the thoracic ganglia of Heliothis zea (Boddie) was investigated. Cobalt chloride infiltration of cut axons was used to investigate the central terminations of the tympanic nerves. The axonal terminals of the A2 acoustic cell were confined to the meso-metathoracic ganglia, whereas the A1 acoustic and the nonacoustic B cell were found in the thoracic ganglia. The relevance of this organization for neural circuitry of evasive flight behavior to acoustic stimulation is discussed.
Is Global Warming Mainly Due to Anthropogenic Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Abstract Although there is little controversy about global warming, there is still a debate regarding whether global warming is mainly due to anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Many researchers strongly believe that global warming is mainly due to greenhouse gas emissions. However, other scientists argue that the standard models overstate the importance of CO2 emissions. We propose a reduced-form regression-based test. With the temperature and CO2 emissions data from the U.S., we find little evidence in support of the notion that recent global warming is mainly due to CO2 emissions. Our results, therefore, call for more research on the causes of recent global warming.
Calculations of the radiation doses to the electronic equipment and magnet coil insulation in the PEP-II tunnel

The PEP-II collaboration is a new physics project at SLAC that utilizes an existing tunnel to house two accelerator storage rings; a low-energy positron ring (4 GeV, called the LER) atop a high-energy electron ring (10 GeV, called the HER). Both rings are being designed to permit a high circulating current of 3 A, corresponding to a beam particle number of 1.38 × 1014. Dose calculations were made to estimate the potential for radiation damages to the electronics and magnet coil insulation in the arc section of the tunnel. An analytical code, SHIELD11, was used to calculate the dose from photon and neutron radiations resulting from beam losses in various modes of operation. Several EGS4 Monte Carlo user codes were developed to calculate the dose from the synchrotron radiation escaping the vacuum chamber in stored beam mode. Two different LER vacuum chamber designs were studied: a 0.35-cm-thick copper wall chamber and a 1-cm-thick aluminum wall chamber with a copper absorber 6 m downstream of every dipole to absorb the synchrotron radiation in a local spot. The HER has a 0.5-cm-thick copper vacuum chamber. Shielding from the 5.4-m-long, C-shaped iron bending magnet for the HER was considered for the beam radiation, while no other structural shielding was assumed for the LER. Furthermore, the dose from all radiations scattering back from the tunnel concrete wall were also estimated using the albedo method or the MORSE code. The results of the dose estimations are presented.
Principal magnetic susceptibilities and uniaxial stress experiments in CoO

Using a single crystal from which nonstoichiometries have been removed, the principal susceptibilities, ${\ensuremath{\chi}}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}}$ and ${\ensuremath{\chi}}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}$, of CoO have been determined in the temperature range of 4.2 to 350 K, bracketing ${T}_{N}\ensuremath{\simeq}289$ K. A stress \ensuremath{\simeq} 210 bars along [001] was applied during measurements and in cooling through ${T}_{N}$ (to remove $T$ domains), and the initial $\ensuremath{\chi}$ was measured for $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{H}}\ensuremath{\parallel}[001]$ and $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{H}}\ensuremath{\perp}[001]$ at $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{H}}=250$ Oe. These measured $\ensuremath{\chi}$'s are then related to ${\ensuremath{\chi}}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}}$ and ${\ensuremath{\chi}}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}$ using the known magnetic structure of CoO, from which ${\ensuremath{\chi}}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}}$ and ${\ensuremath{\chi}}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}$ at various temperatures are determined. Then, using the relation ${\ensuremath{\chi}}_{p}=\frac{({\ensuremath{\chi}}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}}+2{\ensuremath{\chi}}_{\ensuremath{\perp}})}{3}$, the calculated ${\ensuremath{\chi}}_{p}$ (powder) is found to agree well with the measured ${\ensuremath{\chi}}_{p}$ at all temperatures, thus providing a consistency check on the procedures used in this work. For $T\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0$ K, the experimental ${\ensuremath{\chi}}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}}(0)\ensuremath{\simeq}39.5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}6}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$/g. This value is about 50% higher than the only available theoretical estimate by Tachiki [although his estimates of ${\ensuremath{\chi}}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}$ (0) and $\ensuremath{\chi}({T}_{N})$ are in good agreement with our measured values]. Various sources for this discrepancy are examined, and it is suggested that further theoretical work is needed to explain this discrepancy as well as the observed temperature dependence of ${\ensuremath{\chi}}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}}$ and ${\ensuremath{\chi}}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}$. A comparison with the recent results of a similar study in MnO is also made.
Japanese Mini-Banks: Retail Banking Services through Convenience Stores

This paper analyzes how leading Japanese convenience stores (CVS) have organized themselves over the last two decades to offer services more typical of retail banks. These stores act as mini-banks and offer loan repayments, utility bill collections, online purchase payments, funds transfers and credit cards. In addition, most stores offer more sophisticated financial services through automated teller machines and multimedia kiosks, often leveraging partner relationships. The main drivers in the evolution of mini-banks are CVS’ strength in the strategic application of information technology, opportunities in the Japanese financial sector resulting from a series of government-initiated reforms and the continued weakness of many Japanese banks following the collapse of the Bubble. Leading CVS have strategically combined these drivers in developing their mini-banks, while exploiting their 24 × 7 advantage. This mini-bank model creates value for CVS in three ways. First, it generates commissions from financial transactions. Second, it increases store traffic. Finally, it enhances customer loyalty through unique services for which customers come back to a particular CVS chain. This different business model thus potentially offers an interesting banking paradigm that could be replicated in other parts of the world if similar environments and opportunities exist. 7-Eleven appears to be experimenting with this in the US.
Solid Cell Nests in Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis Sharing Features with Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma

Solid cell nests (SCN) associated with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis may show some atypical nuclear features including prominent nuclear grooves, enlarged overlapping nuclei and nuclear clearing. These features are sometimes mistaken for papillary thyroid microcarcinomas especially when the SCN are numerous. We reviewed SCN associated with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis in 12 patients selected from 1,420 archival routinely processed formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded thyroid specimens of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis in which there was more than ten SCN per slide. In addition to the atypical nuclear features, there was a distinct eosinophilic basement membrane surrounding the SCN. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that the SCN were strongly positive for p63, stained weakly for TTF-1 and were negative for thyroglobulin, HBME-1, and calcitonin. This was compared to papillary thyroid microcarcinomas which were strongly positive for thyroglobulin, TTF-1, HBME-1, and variably positive for p63, while calcitonin and chromogranin were negative. These histological and immunophenotypic features can be used to distinguish SCN from papillary thyroid microcarcinomas associated with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
Differential high pressure survival in stationary-phase Escherichia coli MG1655

Hydrostatic pressure exerts a profound influence on nearly all facets of cellular structure and function with exposures to sufficiently high pressure leading to microbial inactivation. We report the first observation of a persistent, pressure-resistant subpopulation within stationary-phase samples of Escherichia coli MG1655, a mesophilic bacterium adapted to surface pressure. This high pressure-resistant subpopulation exhibits pressure survival ranging from 0.6 to 2.0 orders of magnitude greater survival than high pressure treatments at pressures of 225–400 MPa. We also examine some aspects of pressure treatment protocol that may influence the measurements of high pressure survival.
Mount for a Large Potassium Bromide Beamsplitter in a Cryogenic, Space Application

This paper describes an approach to mounting Potassium Bromide (KBr) optical elements that are expected to survive launch vibrations and a cryogenic environment. These KBr optics constitute the beamsplitter and compensator for a high-resolution, infrared Fourier transform spectrometer. This spectrometer is part of the Tropospheric Emissions Spectrometer (TES) instrument which will operate in the 3.2 to 15.4 micrometers spectral range. TES is part of NASA's Earth Observing System initiative to better understand our Earth's environment. TES is designed to obtain data on tropospheric ozone and other gas molecules that lead to ozone formation. These data will be used to create a 3D model describing the global distribution of these gases to better understand global warming and ozone depletion. TES uses a Connes interferometer where the clear aperture (CA) responsible for splitting the science beam is distinct and separated by 108 mm from the CA with recombines the split beams. KBr has a low elastic limit and a high coefficient of thermal expansion, is highly soluble in water and is susceptible to degradation from humidity. These characteristics make it a rather difficult optical material to mount and protect from environments typically resisted by glass optics. The design described here uses a diameter to thickness aspect ratio of 6:1 (based on a 190 mm diameter) resulting in a rather massive element. Due to instrument mass and volume constraints in the interferometer, a pseudo-rectangular shape for the optical elements was devised and a graphite/cyanate ester support structure was designed to minimize the mass of the entire beamsplitter assembly. Vibration isolation of the optical elements was provided by RTV silicone pads, which were also designed to meet thermal stress concerns for the 180 K operating environment. Both structural and thermal analyses were performed to verify the initial design. Further vibration and thermal testing of development units is expected to uncover any unforeseen problems and to verify compliance in areas of concern. This paper addresses RTV silicone material properties required to properly support the KBr optics and predicted KBr stresses and RTV preloads and deflections derived from an analytical model of the design configuration. Results from thermal and vibration testing of development units will also be presented (if available) and compared to preliminary thermal and structural models.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.