cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A satellite ground station for teaching digital and wireless communications

With the advent of small satellites and affordable communications hardware, there has been an increase in academic interest in space education. Small satellites are often created with an educational purpose, and they transmit strong signals that are easy to detect. They pass over large areas of the planet a few times a day, providing increased opportunities for successful communication. On the hardware side, software-defined radio receivers can be connected to an amplifier and an antenna to create a ground station at surprisingly low cost. In this paper, our aim is to use satellite communications as a laboratory activity in already-existing courses on digital and wireless communications. These activities would supplement, rather than replace, established laboratory assignments. We believe that this has two main benefits. One is motivational: we believe students will be excited to receive and decode signals from space. The other is that, precisely since the signals come from actual devices, decoding the data will present a meaningful cognitive challenge.
Breaking Amides using Nickel Catalysis

Amides have been widely studied for decades, but their synthetic utility has remained limited in reactions that proceed with rupture of the amide C–N bond. Using Ni catalysis, we have found that amides can now be strategically employed in several important transformations: esterification, transamidation, Suzuki–Miyaura couplings, and Negishi couplings. These methodologies provide exciting new tools to build C–heteroatom and C–C bonds using an unconventional reactant (i.e., the amide), which is ideally suited for use in multi-step synthesis. It is expected that the area of amide C–N bond activation using nonprecious metals will continue to flourish and, in turn, will promote the growing use of amides as synthons in organic synthesis.
Genetic and structural analyses of affinity maturation in the humoral response to HIV‐1

Most broadly neutralizing antibodies (BNAbs) elicited in response to HIV-1 infection are extraordinarily mutated. One goal of HIV-1 vaccine development is to induce antibodies that are similar to the most potent and broad BNAbs isolated from infected subjects. The most effective BNAbs have very high mutation frequencies, indicative of the long periods of continual activation necessary to acquire the BNAb phenotype through affinity maturation. Understanding the mutational patterns that define the maturation pathways in BNAb development is critical to vaccine design efforts to recapitulate through vaccination the successful routes to neutralization breadth and potency that have occurred in natural infection. Studying the mutational changes that occur during affinity maturation, however, requires accurate partitioning of sequence data into B-cell clones and identification of the starting point of a B-cell clonal lineage, the initial V(D)J rearrangement. Here, we describe the statistical framework we have used to perform these tasks. Through the recent advancement of these and similar computational methods, many HIV-1 ancestral antibodies have been inferred, synthesized and their structures determined. This has allowed, for the first time, the investigation of the structural mechanisms underlying the affinity maturation process in HIV-1 antibody development. Here, we review what has been learned from this atomic-level structural characterization of affinity maturation in HIV-1 antibodies and the implications for vaccine design.
Intra-flow fairness in work-conserving flow aggregation

Currently, the Internet provides mainly best effort services. As multimedia applications emerge, a demand for quality of service guarantees follows. Packet-scheduling protocols, such as Virtual Clock and Weighted Fair Queuing, were designed to fulfill this demand by reserving network resources for each individual packet stream (also known as flows). This leads to a scalability problem in the core of the network, because routers are expected to maintain state information for each individual flow. One method to mitigate this problem is to merge together into a single flow those flows following a common path through the core. This drastically reduces the number of flows managed by a router. Initial flow aggregation methods were non-work conserving. This prevents flows from taking advantage of unused bandwidth, that is, from exceeding their reserved rate when the network is lightly loaded. Recently, this was remedied with the introduction of work-conserving flow aggregation methods. However, these methods are unfair, i.e., a flow that takes advantage of unused bandwidth may temporarily be denied service from the network. In this paper, we propose a flow aggregation method that is fair, and thus, flows are not punished if they exceed their reserved rate. We show that this new method still conserves the end-to-end delay guarantee of work-conserving flow aggregation. Moreover, because of its fairness, it also provides an end-to-end throughput guarantee.
Abstract 274: Carvedilol Stimulated Gαi-β-Arrestin Biased β1 Adrenergic Receptor Signaling

The β1 and β2 adrenergic receptors (βARs) are the predominant G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) subtypes expressed in the heart. It is now appreciated that ligands can induce multiple distinct “active” receptor conformations with unique downstream functional signaling profiles or efficacies. Our current understanding of GPCR signaling is that ligands can be biased toward activating either a G protein or a β-arrestin-signaling pathway, a concept known as biased ligand signaling. To identify novel biased signaling pathways mediated by β1- and β2ARs, we performed a proteomic interactome study of β1AR and β2AR using stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC). We identified several hundred proteins that distinctly bind to the β1AR or β2AR following stimulation with the unbiased full agonist, isoproterenol, or the β-arrestin-biased ligand carvedilol. We found that stimulation by the β-arrestin-biased agonist carvedilol of only β1ARs resulted in the recruitment of Gαi. No of the other ligand tested promoted Gαi recruitment, suggesting that carvedilol may be unique in its ability to activate Gαi-biased signaling. The Gαi inhibitor pertussis toxin blocked β-arrestin-dependent extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) transactivation stimulated by carvedilol, suggesting the involvement of Gαi in carvedilol-induced β-arrestin biased signaling of β1ARs. Using β1AR/β2AR chimeric receptors we show that the C-terminal tail of the β1AR is required for carvedilol stimulated Gαi recruitment, but is unable to rescue the lack of Gαi recruitment by the β2AR. Since our current conceptual framework for biased signaling is based on the “bar code hypothesis”, ongoing phosphoproteomic experiments are testing whether recruitment of Gαi by carvedilol induces a distinct phosphorylation pattern on the c-tail of the β1AR. Our study shows that activation of β-arrestin-biased signaling requires G proteins for signaling and provides a new mechanistic understanding of how biased β-blockers can activate signaling.
The effect of interactions between a bacterial strain isolated from drinking water and a pathogen surrogate on biofilms formation diverged under static vs flow conditions.

Aims Interactions with water bacteria affect the incorporation of pathogens into biofilms and thus pathogen control in drinking water systems. This study was to examine the impact of static vs flow conditions on interactions between a pathogen and a water bacterium on pathogen biofilm formation under laboratory settings. Methods and Results A pathogen surrogate Escherichia coli and a drinking water isolate Stenotrophomonas maltophilia was selected for this study. Biofilm growth was examined under two distinct conditions, in flow cells with continuous medium supply vs in static microtitre plates with batch culture. E. coli biofilm was greatly stimulated (c. 2–1000 times faster) with the presence of S. maltophilia in flow cells, but surprisingly inhibited (c. 65–95% less biomass) in microtitre plates. These divergent effects were explained through various aspects including surface attachment, cellular growth, extracellular signals and autoaggregation. Conclusions Interactions with the same water bacterium resulted in different effects on E. coli biofilm formation when culture conditions changed from static to flow. Significance and Impact of Study This study highlights the complexity of species interactions on biofilm formation and suggests that environmental conditions such as the flow regime can be taken into consideration for the management of microbial contamination in drinking water systems.
Be aware: Elevate your news evaluation: Emphasizing media literacy, one library’s initiative

T he following article outlines the University of California-Merced Library’s unfolding news evaluation campaign, 1 shares our strategies, and reflects on our efforts. The impetus for this campaign came when a colleague shared Vanessa Otero’s News Quality Chart, a graphic that places news sources on X and Y axes, representing quality and partisan bias. 2 Otero’s work, combined with increasing public concern and conversation about the legitimacy of news, propelled my colleagues and I to start discussing how we might emphasize media literacy, especially news evaluation. We started our discussion just prior to the spring semester, and we launched our campaign a few weeks later. Though this meant limited time for planning, we wanted to capitalize on this opportunity to promote information literacy by initiating and participating in a broader campus conversation about news evaluation.
What's It To Me? Self-Interest and Evaluations of Financial Conflicts of Interest

Disclosure has become the preferred way of addressing the threat to researcher objectivity arising from financial conflicts of interest (FCOIs). This article argues that the effectiveness of disclo...
Predicate raising and perception verb complements in Malagasy

Malagasy clauses have a bipartite structure, consisting of a predicate plus a topic-like constituent, the trigger, which specifies the argument of predication. Normally the predicate precedes the trigger. The question arises as to whether the trigger originates to the right of the predicate, or whether predicate-trigger order is derived through predicate fronting. I argue in favor of predicate fronting based on evidence from clausal complements in sentences denoting direct perception of an event. These complements closely resemble matrix clauses, but exhibit an order where the trigger precedes the predicate. I show that these complements are single constituents which pattern as tensed clauses with regard to binding and other tests. I also present evidence that the trigger in perception verb complements occupies the same position as triggers of predicate-initial clauses. It follows that the word order difference between perception verb complements and predicate-initial clauses reflects a difference in the surface position of the predicate. I propose that predicate-initial clauses include a finiteness (Fin) head in their left periphery which attracts the predicate (=TP) to check tense and EPP features, causing the predicate to raise over the trigger. In perception verb complements, which denote events rather than propositions, the Fin head is absent, and so predicate fronting fails to occur.
Thermodynamic and structural evolution of Dy2Ti2O7 pyrochlore after swift heavy ion irradiation

Abstract Utilizing a combined approach of high temperature calorimetry and neutron total scattering, we obtained critical insights into the energetics and annealing of radiation damage in swift heavy ion irradiated Dy2Ti2O7 pyrochlore. Oxide melt solution calorimetry reveals that the radiation amorphized Dy2Ti2O7 is destabilized by 243 kJ/mol compared to fully ordered, crystalline pyrochlore. Differential scanning calorimetry of the amorphized sample shows a rapid exothermic event starting at 1063 K, which, based on neutron structural analysis, is related to recrystallization. The heat release on annealing to 1473 K, –137 kJ/mol, is only about half of the total energetic difference between the ordered crystalline and amorphized samples, despite the apparent recovery of long-range pyrochlore-like ordering. Detailed neutron structural analysis confirms the persistence of residual damage in the 1473 K annealed sample. This metastability is attributed to local disorder in the form of weberite-like short-range domains in the recrystallized material. The annealing of radiation damage appears to be a complex, multistep process with decoupled short- and long-range damage recovery. Heating well above the initial recrystallization temperature does not erase all the damage, which may have important implications for the use of pyrochlores as nuclear waste forms.
Negative Autobiographical Memory in Depression Reflects Elevated Amygdala-Hippocampal Reactivity and Hippocampally Associated Emotion Regulation.

Abstract Background Dysregulated autobiographical recall is observed in major depressive disorder (MDD). However, it is unknown whether people with MDD show abnormalities in memory-, emotion-, and control-related brain systems during reactivity to and regulation of negative autobiographical memories. Methods We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to identify neural mechanisms underlying MDD-related emotional responses to negative autobiographical memories and the ability to downregulate these responses using a cognitive regulatory strategy known as reappraisal. We compared currently depressed, medication-free patients with MDD ( n = 29) with control participants with no history of depression ( n = 23). Results Relative to healthy control participants, medication-free MDD patients reported greater negative emotion during recall but relatively intact downregulation success. They also showed elevated amygdala activity and greater amygdala-hippocampal connectivity. This connectivity mediated the effect of MDD on negative emotional experience. When reappraising memories (vs. recalling from an immersed perspective), the MDD and control groups showed comparable recruitment of the prefrontal, parietal, and temporal cortices, and comparable downregulation of the amygdala and anterior hippocampus. However, MDD patients showed greater downregulation of the posterior hippocampus, and the extent of this downregulation predicted successful reduction of negative affect in MDD patients only. Conclusions These data suggest amygdala-hippocampal connectivity and posterior hippocampal downregulation as brain mechanisms related to elevated emotional reactivity and atypical emotion regulation in MDD.
Enhanced Vancomycin Elimination in an Infant Following an Unsuccessful Gastroschisis Repair Surgery.

Objective To report the case of an infant who required high-dose vancomycin therapy after an unsuccessful gastroschisis repair surgery. Case summary An infant born at 35 weeks and 5 days of gestation underwent a gastroschisis repair on day of life 47. The repair was unsuccessful causing fluid backup and accumulation into the stomach. A replogle was placed to allow for suctioning of this fluid. During this admission, the patient received 3 courses of vancomycin. During the first course, the patient had minimal output via the replogle tube. On the infant's second and third courses of vancomycin, the infant necessitated vancomycin dosing above that of the neonatal protocol, and subsequent levels were still found to be below goal. Vancomycin was increased to a maximum of 15 mg/kg every 4 hours (90 mg/kg/d) in order to achieve serum trough levels greater than 10 mg/L. Residuals were drawn from the replogle ranging from 0.76 to 4.33 mL/kg/h during the second and third course of vancomycin. Discussion A premature male infant required up to 90 mg/kg/d of vancomycin to achieve trough levels above 10 mg/L after an unsuccessful gastroschisis repair surgery and gastric suctioning. Conclusion Clinicians should be aware of the possibility for decreased vancomycin levels and the potential need for increased monitoring in postsurgical infants receiving gastric suctioning.
Capitalizing on Cognitive Diversity in Explorations of Ethical High Ability

The attempt made in this book to build cognitive bridges between the complex bodies of work on ethics and high ability requires a big-picture assessment. Cognitive diversity, a construct from recent investigations in complexity theory, serves as a framework for analysis of the breadth of scope needed in such a project. In addition, the architectural metaphor of desire lines assists in clarification of the processes and benefits of interdisciplinary collaboration in this project and in future, similar work. Large-scale patterns in the collective insights generated by the contributing authors also are developed. Themes derived from the patterns include panoramic visions enabling perception of creative intelligence and escape from dogma, the dynamics of identity formation, and bridge building across interdisciplinary and sociocultural chasms.
How physicians and biomedical scientists in India learn information-seeking skills.

For physicians and biomediacal scientits working in the United States today, there is ample opportunity to learch information-seeking skills, because health sciences libraries access to user-friendly versions of databases and training users to become self-sufficient searchsers. MEDLINE is the most frequently searched database, and, at many institutions, its use is free to affiliated faculty and students. Health care workers and scientist in developing countries offer a striking contrast to their U.S counterparts. The objective of the study was to learch how physicians and biomedicals scientists in India learch information-seeking skills. To carry out the study, the author visited for three weeks in 1992, during which six focus-group sessions were conducted at each of two places in NewDelhi and in Bombay
Empires reconsidered: current archaeological approaches

The ancient empires are frequently examined through the lenses of theoretical models, which both provide conceptual frameworks and pose series of questions that permit cross-cultural comparisons. This paper summarizes the salient features of some of the more influential models that have been applied to archaeological inquiry over the last several decades, including the core-periphery, world systems, territorial-hegemonic, and IEMP approaches. It then examines the shifts in theoretical orientation that have arisen since the emergence of post-colonial, experiential, and materiality theory, along with the selective infusion of philosophical questions about existence, vitality, and space-time. It further explores how advances in technical analytical capacities, for example through GIS and bioarchaeology, have created hitherto unavailable data sets that are reframing the kinds of theoretical questions raised in the investigation of ancient empires.
“Pagan Politics in the 21st Century: ‘Peace and Love’ or ‘Blood and Soil’?”

This essay begins by reviewing definitions and categories of modern Paganism (also variously termed contemporary or neo-Paganism) that the author first proposed in the 2005 book Modern Paganism in World Culture and then proceeds to discuss parallels with certain political trends in Europe and America today. Particular attention will be paid to how the rising tide of pro-nativist, anti-immigrant, and anti-Muslim sentiment in contemporary European and American politics mirrors certain views and values espoused by the more ethnically oriented forms of Paganism, even though this seeming convergence of interests between Pagans and rightists at the political level is undercut at the religious level by the right wing's firm adherence to Christianity and rejection of religious diversity. The essay proceeds to examine how competing nineteenth century visions of ethnic-centered nationalism and universal humanism are replicated today in the more ethnic and traditional types of Paganism versus those that are more eclectic and universalistic in their outlook. Pagan responses to the events of August 1-12, 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia form the final topic.
Further Observations of Linear Arrays of Transition-Iron-Carbide Precipitates in Tempered 4340 Steel

4340 steel was quenched to form lath martensite and then tempered at 200 °C for 1 h. Microstructural features of a large lath were examined in detail via transmission electron microscopy, including bright-field imaging, centered-dark-field imaging, and electron diffraction. Linear arrays of transition-iron-carbide precipitate were characterized. Rodlike arrays measured about 100 nm in length and were aligned predominantly along martensite directions. The rodlike arrays consisted of small, closely spaced, nearly equiaxed transition-iron-carbide precipitates of less than 10 nm in diameter. Kinks in the rodlike arrays resulted is deviations from directions by about 20°–30°. A less-common type of linear array measured 500 nm in length. These longer features were aggregates of kinked rodlike arrays that seemed to be “attached” by kinked segments, again at 20°–30° from martensite directions. Transition-iron-carbide precipitates showed little if any association with martensite matrix dislocations that were aligned predominantly along directions. A hypothesis was offered in which precipitates aligned along martensite directions are a remnant of spinodal decomposition that develops planar modulations of high- and low-carbon regions prior to the first stage of tempering.
Assessment of Euro 5 diesel vehicle NOx emissions by laboratory and track testing

The Volkswagen scandal has promoted experimental campaigns worldwide aimed to assess the real exhaust emissions of in-use vehicles. Attention has been paid to diesel vehicle NOx emissions that are much higher than legislative type-approval limits. This paper analysed exhaust emissions of a fleet of ten Euro 5 diesel vehicles. NOx emissions were measured during laboratory and track testing. In both cases, the type-approval test was carried out with cold and warm starts. Moreover, in the laboratory, a modified type-approval test and a real urban driving cycle were executed in order to characterise emissions in multiple operating conditions, outside of the homologation boundaries. The testing environment did not influence the emissions behaviour of the tested vehicles. Track and laboratory results, in fact, were comparable when ambient conditions were comparable. The parameter which played the main role in terms of NOx emissions is the ambient temperature, fixed at 23 °C in laboratory and not controlled on the track. Above 28 °C, NOx emissions were much higher than the approval limit (almost 600 mg/km). Moreover, warm driving cycles always introduced higher NOx emissions than cold ones, because of the partial use and/or deactivation of the EGR circuit (one of effective measures to reduce NOx formation). The ratio between warm and cold emissions ranged from 2 to 5. The engine parameter which helped explain the relationship between NOx emissions and thermal engine status was the intake air temperature. For intake air temperatures below 40 °C, NOx emissions were lower than 0.2 g/km. Above 40 °C, they suddenly increased up to almost 0.6 g/km. Another issue highlighted by the experimental results was that dynamic real driving caused the highest NOx emissions (almost 1 g/km).
Chemical probes for optical bio-imaging (Conference Presentation)

Innovations in novel probes have significantly push the development of new optical spectroscopy and microscopy methods for revealing new information in biological systems. In this talk, I will discuss our recent development by introducing chemical probes to stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy that could allow multi-functional imaging at sub-cellular level. Both physical and chemical principles underlying the investigation and design of new probes when coupled to the Raman imaging modalities will be presented, as well as our efforts in biomedical applications including cancer- and neuronal- metabolism.
Authentication Circuit with Low Incorporation Barrier for COTs Manufacturers

A simple PUF-based authentication circuit is proposed that will lower the entry barrier for counterfeit countermeasures by COTs manufacturers of integrated circuits. The on-chip fingerprint circuit does not require additional die area, I/O pins, or a separate read-out circuit. This approach to assuring integrity in the semiconductor supply chain will result in negative financial incentives for counterfeiters. An 80 bit authentication circuit which includes a 16 bit frame header has been designed in a UMC 65nm process with an area estimate of 0.01 mm2.
Extremely Stable Anthraquinone Negolytes Synthesized from Common Precursors

Summary Synthetic cost and long-term stability remain two of the most challenging barriers for the utilization of redox-active organic molecules in redox flow batteries for grid-scale energy storage. Starting from potentially inexpensive 9,10-dihydroanthracene, we developed a new synthetic approach for two extremely stable anthraquinone negolytes, i.e., 3,3′-(9,10-anthraquinone-diyl)bis(3-methylbutanoic acid) (DPivOHAQ) and 4,4′-(9,10-anthraquinone-diyl)dibutanoic acid (DBAQ). Pairing with a ferrocyanide posolyte at pH 12, DPivOHAQ and DBAQ can transfer up to 1.4 and 2 M electrons with capacity fade rates of 0.014% per day and 0.0084% per day, respectively, and exhibit 1.0 V of open-circuit voltage. By adjusting the supporting electrolytes to pH 14, DPivOHAQ exhibited a record low capacity fade rate of
Desiccation and thermal resistance of Salmonella and Enterococcus faecium NRRL B-2354 in almond meal as impacted by water activity and storage temperature

Abstract Almond products have been implicated in multiple outbreaks associated with Salmonella. In this study, the survival of Salmonella in almond meal under different water activity (aw) was evaluated over one-year storage at 4 and 22 °C. The impacts of aw during heat treatment on thermal tolerance of Salmonella and Enterococcus faecium NRRL B-2354 in almond meal were further assessed prior to and after one-year storage. Almond meal was inoculated with E. faecium or a three-strain Salmonella cocktail and equilibrated to aw 0.25 or aw 0.45 at 22 °C. The inoculated almond meal samples were subjected to isothermal treatments before or after one-year storage. Salmonella remained stable in almond meal for 1 year at 4 °C regardless of aw. Salmonella count in aw 0.25 and aw 0.45 almond meal declined by 0.8 or 1.5 log10 CFU/g in one-year storage at 22 °C. Under all the test conditions using either thermal death time (TDT) or thermal water activity (TWA) cells, the inactivation kinetics of Salmonella and E. faecium in almond meal fitted the log-linear model well; thermal tolerance of both bacteria in almond meal was inversely related to aw of almond meal. The D-values of Salmonella in almond meal of aw 0.25 obtained using TDT cells were 49.6, 18.0, and 8.5 min at 80, 85 and 90 °C, respectively, but were 27.5, 13.7, and 7.0 min in the sample with aw 0.45 under the same temperatures. The D-values of Salmonella at 85–95 °C in aw 0.25 almond meal obtained using TWA cells in which aw was relatively stable during heating were 2.0–2.4 times of those determined using TDT cells where aw was subjected to change during heating. D-values of E. faecium in almond meal obtained by TDT and TWA cells were 1.3–1.5 and 1.6–1.8 times of Salmonella, respectively, indicating that E. faecium was a suitable surrogate for Salmonella during thermal pasteurization of almond meal under constant moisture or aw. Furthermore, the thermal resistance of Salmonella in almond meal was not affected by one-year storage. The thermal resistance data provide useful information for the food industry in designing thermal pasteurization processes for almond meal and ensuring the safety of almond products.
Comparison of patient reported outcome measures after single versus two-stage revision for chronic infection of total hip arthroplasty: a retrospective propensity score matched cohort study.

Two-stage revision is the current gold standard treatment for infected total hip arthroplasties (THA) with good clinical outcomes. Single-stage revision THA offers the advantage of only a single surgical intervention, potentially leading to improved functional outcomes. This study aimed to compare the differences in patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and complications between single and two-stage revision THA for chronic periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). A total of 159 consecutive revision THA patients for chronic PJI with complete pre-and post-operative patient-reported outcome measures (PROM) was investigated. A total of 46 patients with single-stage revision THA was matched to 92 patients following two-stage revision THA using propensity score matching, yielding a total of 136 propensity score-matched patients for analysis. Single and two-stage revision THA improved PROM scores post-operatively, with significantly higher PROMs for single-stage revision THA (HOOS-PS: 50.7 vs 46.4, p = 0.04; Physical SF 10A: 42.1 vs 36.6, p < 0.001; PROMIS SF Physical: 41.4 vs 37.4, p < 0.001; PROMIS SF Mental: 52.8 vs 47.6, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between both cohorts for reinfection rates (p = 0.81) and 90-day mortality rates (p = 1.0). This study found a demonstrable functional benefit of single-stage revision compared to two-stage revision for THA with chronic periprosthetic joint infection, suggesting that single-stage revision THA may provide an effective alternative to two-stage revision in selected patients with chronic PJI. Level III, case-control retrospective analysis
Sentinel: ransomware detection in file storage

Ransomware is software that uses encryption to disable access to data until a ransom is paid and such attacks have increased steeply in recent times. The best current practice to minimize the impact of ransomware attacks include periodic backups and airgapped immutable copies. However, undetected attacks can corrupt data before backups, making backups unusable. Detecting ransomware attacks quickly and flagging the damaged content enables fast recovery and business continuity. We present some features of our ransomware attack detection algorithms prototyped and run on a sandboxed but realistic environment that successfully detected the live ransomware attacks from open source repositories.
Carbon emission as a result of forest land change in Islamabad, Pakistan

Abstract This study has analyzed carbon emissions as a result of forestland change due to urbanization in Islamabad, Pakistan, over the time-span of 25 years (1992–2017). Forestland change was determined by analyzing land use/land cover change (LULCC) through remote sensing and GIS imaging. The results have confirmed a 22% abridged in the forest cover for 8 years; 1992–2000, which was followed by 27% reduction from 2000 to 2008 and alarmingly 51% forestland was curtailed between 2008 and 2017. This consistent removal of the forest cover has been leading to an increased level of carbon emissions into the open atmosphere of the capital city. The percentage of forestland changes for the whole study period of 25 years (1992–2017) was 48.11%. The carbon emissions equaled to 344.96 carbon tons year−1. The issue draws prompt attention and actions to halt human-induced disaster in the form of massive urbanization on the cost of forestland degradation. The study calls for reforestation and afforestation to ratify Paris Climate Accord of which Pakistan is a signatory country.
Changes in chronic disease medication adherence following oral anticancer agent initiation in patients with multiple myeloma.

e18760Background: Improvements in treatment options for multiple myeloma (MM) have led to double-digit increases in 5-year survival rates over the past 40 years. Such extended survival has increase...
Analysis and Monitoring of Cyber-Physical Systems via Environmental Domain Knowledge & Modeling

While verifying adherence to a specification (i.e., specification-based testing) is important, the results are only as valid as the specification itself. Problematically, verifying a system specification must be done within the context of changing or even unknown environmental domain knowledge that could render the specification ineffective or incorrect. This issue is even more apparent in the context of self-adaptive systems, where uncertainty in both the system configuration and environment can impact the validity of the system. This paper introduces a method to explicitly model domain knowledge of the environment as a secondary system to enable design-time verification against documented environmental assumptions (i.e., those elements external to the system). In addition, run-time monitors are used to detect scenarios in the actual environment not specified by the modeled environmental domain knowledge. Rather than simply identifying unexpected inputs, our approach is able to identify run-time violations of the environmental domain knowledge, even when inputs appear valid based on the domain assumptions embedded in the system specification. These violations can then be used to correspondingly update the system and environmental specifications via automated run-time adaptation or subsequent design-time revisions. We illustrate our approach by applying our method to a running example of a goal-based model of a baby monitor.
Delta spike P681R mutation enhances SARS-CoV-2 fitness over Alpha variant

SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant has rapidly replaced the Alpha variant around the world. The mechanism that drives this global replacement has not been defined. Here we report that Delta spike mutation P681R plays a key role in the Alpha-to-Delta variant replacement. In a replication competition assay, Delta SARS-CoV-2 efficiently outcompeted the Alpha variant in human lung epithelial cells and primary human airway tissues. Delta SARS-CoV-2 bearing the Alpha-spike glycoprotein replicated less efficiently than the wild-type Delta variant, suggesting the importance of Delta spike in enhancing viral replication. The Delta spike has accumulated mutation P681R located at a furin cleavage site that separates the spike 1 (S1) and S2 subunits. Reverting the P681R mutation to wild-type P681 significantly reduced the replication of Delta variant, to a level lower than the Alpha variant. Mechanistically, the Delta P681R mutation enhanced the cleavage of the full-length spike to S1 and S2, leading to increased infection via cell surface entry. In contrast, the Alpha spike also has a mutation at the same amino acid (P681H), but the spike cleavage from purified Alpha virions was reduced compared to the Delta spike. Collectively, our results indicate P681R as a key mutation in enhancing Delta variant replication via increased S1/S2 cleavage. Spike mutations that potentially affect furin cleavage efficiency must be closely monitored for future variant surveillance.
Who uses probiotics and why? A survey study conducted among general gastroenterology patients.

Background The rapid growth of the probiotic industry suggests patients will continue to seek advice from gastroenterologists about probiotics. To best address patient questions and concerns, we must first understand who uses probiotics and why. Methods This was a cross-sectional study conducted in the endoscopy suite of an academic hospital from June to October of 2019. Surveys were anonymous and contained a combination of multiple choice, free text and Likert scale questions. Participants privately completed a paper survey in English or Spanish and the results were reviewed with them by study personnel to clarify responses. Descriptive statistics were generated and multivariable logistic regression modelling was used to compare characteristics of probiotic users versus non-users. Results During the 5-month study period, 600 patients were approached and 537 (90%) agreed to participate. Among participants, 89% completed at least 24 survey items and were included in the analysis. Overall, 27% of patients reported probiotic use. Bloating, rather than diarrhoea, was the main gastrointestinal symptom associated with use of probiotics (aOR 2.59, 95% CI 1.52 to 4.44 for bloating; aOR 1.03, 95% CI 0.55 to 1.94 for diarrhoea). Frequent reasons cited for taking probiotics were the beliefs that they improved overall health and longevity (54%) and that they improved gastrointestinal symptoms (45%). Conclusions Probiotic use is common among general gastroenterology patients, many of whom believe that probiotics confer general rather than specific gastrointestinal health benefits. Symptoms—especially bloating—and not sociodemographic factors seem to motivate probiotic use. By understanding patient expectations for probiotics, clinicians can better advise them.
Haskellian Coordinates in Analysis: Searching for Pattern

The concept of pattern has an important role in many aspects of human endeavor. There is an important distinction to be made, however, between the purposeful generation of pattern and the discovery of pattern in nature. Art, music, and design exemplify the former; science, and scientific research exemplify the latter. The following brief discussion of pattern is organized around three questions: Where does “pattern” fit in the research process? What is the concept of pattern about? How does one look for patterns?
The role of ICT in Arab spring movements

Over the past 25 years, social movements have actively sought out and used new information and communication technologies (ICT), such as the Internet and mobile phones, to give voice to their concerns. The growth of access and use of ICT in the Middle East and North Africa provided resources for protesters and governments to influence political and social events. The widespread availability of the Internet and mobile phones to facilitate organization and action raises the research question of how ICT affects protest movements.
Hereditary hyperparathyroidism-jaw tumor syndrome: The endocrine tumor gene HRPT2 maps to chromosome 1q21-q31

The syndrome of hereditary hyperparathyroidism and jaw tumors (HPT-JT) is characterized by inheritance, in an autosomal dominant pattern, of recurrent parathyroid adenomas, fibro-osseous tumors of the mandible and/or maxilla, Wilms tumor, and parathyroid carcinoma. This syndrome is clinically and genetically distinct from other endocrine neoplasia syndromes and appears to result from mutation of an endocrine tumor gene designated “HRPT2.” We studied five HPT-JT families (59 persons, 20 affected); using PCR-based markers, we instituted a genomewide linkage search after excluding several candidate genes. Lod scores were calculated at various recombination fractions (θ), penetrance 90%. We mapped HRPT2 to the long arm of chromosome 1 (1q21-q31). The maximal lod score was 6.10 at θ = .0 with marker D1S212, or >106 odds in favor of linkage. In six hereditary Wilms tumor families (96 persons, 29 affected), we found no linkage to 1q markers closely linked with HRPT2 (lod scores −15.6 [D1S191] and −17.8 [D1S196], θ = .001). Nine parathyroid adenomas and one Wilms tumor from nine members of three HPT-JT families were examined for loss of heterozygosity at linked loci. The parathyroid adenomas and Wilms tumor showed no loss of heterozygosity for these DNA markers. Our data establish that HRPT2, an endocrine tumor gene on the long arm of chromosome 1, is responsible for the HPT-JT syndrome but not for the classical hereditary Wilms tumor syndrome.
Stochastic Control in Insurance

We outline the structure of stochastic control problems that appear in insurance models. These are classified according to the type of modeling used, the nature of the controls involved, and the objectives, such as ruin probability minimization or dividend optimization. We describe the procedure of the solution via the dynamic programming principle and list the recent advances in this area. Keywords: stochastic control; reinsurance; dynamic programming; Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman equation; singular control; impulse control
SCINTILLATION SCANNING IN PEDIATRICS

Organ scanning is one of the newer, more exciting developments in radiology. The principles of liver, cardiac, renal, and brain scanning and their application to pediatrics are discussed. Estimates of dose delivered to the whole body and target organs are presented. The doses are usually lower than from commonly performed gastrointestinal or urographic radiographic examinations. Organ scanning can be used in pediatrics in the same manner as any procedure entailing a potential risk. One must weigh the potential risk with the information that can be derived from the procedure.
Influence of mobilized peripheral blood cells on the hematopoietic recovery by autologous marrow and recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor after high-dose cyclophosphamide, etoposide, and cisplatin.

Peripheral blood cells (PBC) can hasten hematopoietic recovery after high-dose chemotherapy. To determine if PBC apheresed after mobilization further enhance hematopoietic recovery over that achieved with autologous bone marrow (ABM) and recombinant human granulocyte- macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF), 14 patients with metastatic solid tumors were supported by ABM and rhGM-CSF during the first course of high doses of cyclophosphamide, etoposide, and cisplatin (CVP) and 11 of these 14 patients by mobilized PBC with ABM and rhGM-CSF during the second CVP. Each patient served as his or her own control. Identical doses of CVP were administered in both courses: cyclophosphamide 5.25 g/m2, etoposide 1,200 mg/m2, and cisplatin 165 to 180 mg/m2. PBC were collected on day 10 after mobilization with cyclophosphamide (3 g/m2) intravenously (IV) on day 1, doxorubicin (50 mg/m2) as a continuous IV infusion over 48 hours starting day 2, and rhGM-CSF as a daily 4-hour IV infusion starting day 4 at 0.6 mg/m2 for 14 days. Comparing recovery in the 11 patients to receive two cycles of therapy, the median days to an absolute neutrophil count of 0.1 x 10(9)/L and 0.5 x 10(9)/L were not statistically significant between the two courses; neither was there a difference in the incidence of fever and bacteremia. The median number of days to platelet count of 0.02 x 10(12)/L unmaintained by platelet transfusion was 20 from marrow infusion for course 1 and 16 for course 2 (P = .059). The median number of days to a platelet count of 0.05 x 10(12)/L was significantly shortened: 24 and 19 days for courses 1 and 2, respectively (P = .045). Patients who received PBC required fewer number of platelet transfusions. Extramedullary toxicities were not different between the groups. Our finding of enhanced early recovery of platelets and reduced platelet transfusion requirement is in concordance with other studies.
Philosophy and Formal Semantics

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the convergence that has recently been taking place between work in formal semantics—a branch of symbolic logic—and traditional problems and issues within speculative philosophy. In formal semantics, one seeks a mathematical theory of this kind, and so one takes a formalized language and seeks to relate it to mathematical representations of possible states of affairs. The first successful theories in formal semantics were designed to account for mathematical languages (e.g., formalized theories of arithmetic or set theory) and were so successful that they underwent very rapid development as scientific disciplines and soon became accessible only to specialists and interesting only to mathematicians. The wave of ideas generated in the origin of modern symbolic logic was very influential on philosophers. But most philosophers, even those who also were logicians, treated the logical theories developed to account for mathematical language as given and immutable.
Privilege and confidentiality in 12-step self-help programs. Believing the promises could be hazardous to an addict's freedom.

A wide gap exists between perception and reality on the question of whether an individual can prevent others from revealing statements he or she made while dealing with addiction in a 12-step self-...
Resolving patent disputes in a global economy

The patent industries have discovered the global marketplace. While the practice of patented technologies is now international, patent rights remain territorial. Various international developments facilitate the acquisition of patent rights around the world. However, dispute resolution (including enforcement) remains a difficult problem. This Chapter begins by considering the ways that the problems posed by territoriality are alleviated by traditional legal practices, such as extraterritorial application of local law, consolidation of foreign and domestic claims and private agreements. It ends by describing alternative mechanisms, including deep harmonization and an agreement on a procedural framework for coordinating multinational litigation and judgment recognition.
The dynamics of corporate change: management's evaluation of stakeholder characteristics

In an era of globalization, rapid technological changes and intense competition, new forms of organizational designs and networks have replaced traditional forms of organizations. Interconnections among businesses and their various stakeholders including suppliers, customers providers, employees and others are now more rapid and complex as they are facilitated by advanced information technology and systems. This research addresses these changes by examining managers’ perceptions of the stakeholders that were viewed as responsible for initiating change and innovation in their respective organizations. This paper presents the results of an empirical research project of 218 managers from major companies. Particular focus is placed on identifying which specific groups were critical stakeholders for the changes, and assessing their legitimacy, power and authority in relation to specific change initiatives and outcomes. Implications of the findings are discussed regarding process changes and reengineering within organizations and business networks.
Class warfare and middle class decline in America

Modern ideas about class war come primarily from the writings of Karl Marx. One key idea in Marxism is that of the class struggle between two classes. Notions of class and class struggle never took root in the United States in the same way it did in Europe. Inequities in wealth and income distribution, however, have developed over the past decades, and subtly promoted a different kind of class conflict, but one confirmed largely to the labor-dependant group. The battlegrounds for intra-class conflict in America is the federal government and the private marketplace, the key institutions which determine the distribution of income and wealth. Political and economic power are the instruments of class welfare. The paper addresses the question of what needs to be done to reverse the drift toward more inequality in the distribution of income and wealth.
Deep‐level dominated rectifying contacts for n‐type GaN films

Rectifying contacts to n-type GaN formed with sputter deposited films of Au, Cu, Cr, Ni and Pt were studied using current–voltage and capacitance–voltage measurements. These rectifying contacts were non-ideal as seen from the non-linearity of the semilogarithmic plots of the forward characteristics. Also, the high ideality factors as determined from the approximately linear region of the plots were much greater than one. The non-ideal behavior cannot be understood in terms of thermionic emission simply by excluding the effects of a series resistance and recombination current. This deviation from thermionic emission has been interpreted to be due to space charge limited current conduction in the presence of deep-level states. A simple analysis of these characteristics has been used to identify the deep-level states in the energy range 0.27–0.43 eV below the conduction band minimum and with an approximate concentration between 1015 and 1016/cm3. (© 2004 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)