cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ten years of measurements and modeling of soil temperature changes and their effects on permafrost in Northwestern Alaska

Abstract Multiple studies demonstrate Northwest Alaska and the Alaskan North Slope are warming. Melting permafrost causes surface destabilization and ecological changes. Here, we use thermistors permanently installed in 1996 in a borehole in northwestern Alaska to study past, present, and future ground and subsurface temperature change, and from this, forecast future permafrost degradation in the region. We measure and model Ground Surface Temperature (GST) warming trends for a 10 year period using equilibrium Temperature-Depth (TD) measurements from borehole T96-012, located near the Red Dog Mine in northwestern Alaska—part of the Arctic ecosystem where a continuous permafrost layer exists. Temperature measurements from 1996 to 2006 indicate the subsurface has clearly warmed at depths shallower than 70 m. Seasonal climate effects are visible in the data to a depth of 30 m based on a visible sinusoidal pattern in the TD plots that correlate with season patterns. Using numerical models constrained by thermal conductivity and temperature measurements at the site, we show that steady warming at depths of ~ 30 to 70 m is most likely the direct result of longer term (decadal-scale) surface warming. The analysis indicates the GST in the region is warming at ~ 0.44 ± 0.05 °C/decade, a value consistent with Surface Air Temperature (SAT) warming of ~ 1.0 ± 0.8 °C/decade observed at Red Dog Mine, but with much lower uncertainty. The high annual variability in the SAT signal produces significant uncertainty in SAT trends. The high annual variability is filtered out of the GST signal by the low thermal diffusivity of the subsurface. Comparison of our results to recent permafrost monitoring studies suggests changes in latitude in the polar regions significantly impacts warming rates. North Slope average GST warming is ~ 0.9 ± 0.5 °C/decade, double our observations at RDM, but within error. The RDM warming rate is within the warming variation observed in eastern Alaska, 0.36–0.71 °C/decade, which suggests changes in longitude produce a smaller impact but have warming variability likely related to ecosystem, elevation, microclimates, etc. changes. We also forward model future warming by assuming a 1D diffusive heat flow model and incorporating latent heat effects for permafrost melting. Our analysis indicates ~ 1 to 4 m of loss at the upper permafrost boundary, a ~ 145 ± 100% increase in the active layer thickness by 2055. If warming continues at a constant rate of ~ 0.44 ± 0.05 °C/decade, we estimate the 125 m thick zone of permafrost at this site will completely melt by ~ 2150. Permafrost is expected to melt by ~ 2200, ~ 2110, or ~ 2080, if the rate of warming is altered to 0.25, 0.90, or 2.0 °C/decade, respectively, as an array of different climate models suggest. Since our model assumes no advection of heat (a more efficient heat transport mechanism), and no accelerated warming, our current prediction of complete permafrost loss by 2150 may overestimate the residence time of permafrost in this region of Northwest Alaska.
Delamination growth in composite laminates with adhesive strips subjected to static and impact loading

Abstract Graphite/epoxy composites with adhesive strips have been subjected to static loading and dynamic low velocity impact loading to determine the adhesive crack arrest capability. A quasi-static analytical beam model was developed for the calculation of the critical strain energy release rate, G c a measure of the resistance to crack growth, for plain specimens and specimens with adhesive at a 0/90 interface. Experimentally determined static critical load and crack growth data for clamped [90 5 /0 5 /90 5 ] graphite/epoxy composite beams loaded at the mid-span was used with the beam model to determine G c . Results showed substantial increases in G c for specimens with adhesive. Experimental results obtained from instrumented drop tests indicated good agreement between static and dynamic critical load and crack growth data, substantiating the validity of the quasi-static assumptions for the beam model for impact problems when contact times were large.
Authentication technologies for the blind or visually impaired

Current research on "Usable Security" is still in its infancy and usable security solutions are often designed without paying attention to human disabilities. This paper aims to help fill this void in the realm of blind computer users. More specifically, we discuss research challenges we are faced with and the directions we can take towards developing authentication technologies suitable for the blind or visually impaired. Our focus is on two technologies: user authentication, i.e., how a blind user can securely authenticate to a device (remote or otherwise) and device authentication, i.e., how a blind user can securely establish private and authenticated communication between two wireless devices. We hope that our work would inspire other researchers to design security solutions keeping in mind not only human abilities but also their disabilities.
Hypomagnesemia and Oxidative Stress

Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body and the second most abundant intracellular divalent cation in the body, and is a cofactor for more than 300 metabolic reactions in the body. Magnesium deficiency could be related to oxidative stress and chronic inflammatory conditions, such as obesity, cancer, atherosclerosis, hypertension, osteoporosis, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Research on the effects of hypomagnesemia on the gastrointestinal tract, however, has studied less than other conditions. The focus of this chapter will be on the effects of hypomagnesemia on oxidative stress and inflammation in several chronic diseases.
Rule Based Layout Planning and Its Multiple Objectives

In this paper, we present a novel constructive approach for solving facility layout problems considering objectives of total flow and qualitative closeness. This approach, called Head-Tail, utilizes a set of rules to solve single and multiple row layout problems. We apply pair-wise exchange method to improve the partially constructed layouts. The computational efficiency of Head-Tail approach is examined by comparing it with Systematic Layout Planning. The results show that Head-Tail method can find efficient solution with promising quality. A bi-criteria numerical example that minimizes total flow and total qualitative closeness is also presented.
Local nonlinear performance assessment for single-controller design

Abstract A novel approach to operation-oriented nonlinearity is presented that utilizes a coherence analysis of multiple local excitations to investigate the nonlinearity of a process model in the neighborhood of a given process operation curve. By using the IMC structure with perfect control and a first order filter, a control structure is designed that exhibits a range of nonlinearity, controlled by a single parameter. This structure can then be assessed for performance and stability. Examples are given for a SISO Hammerstein model using a simplified μ -analysis.
Transmuted Gravity Wave Signals from Primordial Black Holes

Abstract Primordial black holes (PBHs) interacting with stars in binaries lead to a new class of gravity wave signatures that we explore. A small 10 − 16 – 10 − 7 M ⊙ PBH captured by a neutron star or a white dwarf will eventually consume the host. The resulting black hole will have a mass of only ∼ 0.5 – 2.5 M ⊙ , not expected from astrophysics. For a double neutron star binary system this leads to a transmutation into a black hole–neutron star binary, with a gravity wave signal detectable by the LIGO-VIRGO network. For a neutron star–white dwarf system this leads to a black hole–white dwarf binary, with a gravity wave signal detectable by LISA. Other systems, such as cataclysmic variable binaries, can also undergo transmutations. We describe gravity wave signals of the transmuted systems, stressing the differences and similarities with the original binaries. Correlating astrophysical phenomena, such as a double kilonova, can further help to distinguish these events. This setup evades constraints on solar mass PBHs and still allows for PBHs to constitute all of the DM. A lack of signal in future searches could constrain PBH parameter space.
Influence of dietary sulfur level on growth performance and digestive function in feedlot cattle.

Using ammonium sulfate, three levels of dietary S (.15, .20, and .25%, DM basis) were evaluated in a finishing trial with 108 yearling crossbred heifers (384 kg). The basal diet contained (DM basis) 4% alfalfa hay, 6% sudangrass hay, 74% steam-flaked corn, 4% yellow grease, 6% cane molasses, and 6% protein-mineral supplement. Increasing dietary S decreased ADG (quadratic effect, P .10). However, ruminal digestion of ADF and starch was slightly lower (quadratic effect, P .10) ruminal synthesis of microbial N. Increasing dietary S did not influence (P > .10) ruminal pH or lactic acid. Increasing S decreased molar proportions of acetate (quadratic effect, P < .10) and increased molar proportions of propionate (linear effect, P < .10). We conclude that S in excess of .20% of dietary DM may have detrimental effects on growth performance and dietary NE. Excessive dietary S may also compromise carcass merit by decreasing longissimus muscle area.
Europa Drum Sampler (EDuS)

Here we present a concept for sample acquisition and delivery on a future Europa lander, called Europa Drum Sampler (EDuS). The sampler is designed for unknown surface topography which requires the sampling system to be adaptable to variable surface features. The Europa surface could be composed of cryogenic water ice of different densities (very dense to very porous), salt, or frozen sulfuric acid. As such, the sampling system needs to be able to work with any of these materials. The fact that Europa’s surface is also covered by salt limits the use of obvious sampling systems such as a melt probe. Since local gravity is 1.3 m/s2, the maximum force the lander could provide will be significantly limited. The sampling system is therefore based on a roadheader design, used in road construction and mining.
Nanoscale Probing of Local Hydrogen Heterogeneity in Disordered Carbon Nitrides with Vibrational Electron Energy-Loss Spectroscopy.

In graphitic carbon nitrides, (photo)catalytic functionality is underpinned by the effect that residual hydrogen content, manifesting in amine (N–Hx) defects, has on its optoelectronic properties. Therefore, a detailed understanding of the variation in the local structure of graphitic carbon nitrides is key for understanding structure–activity relationships. Here, we apply aloof-beam vibrational electron energy-loss spectroscopy in the scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) to locally detect variations in hydrogen content in two different layered carbon nitrides with nanometer resolution. Through low dose rate TEM, we obtain atomically resolved images from crystalline and disordered carbon nitrides. By employing an aloof-beam configuration in a monochromated STEM, radiation damage can be dramatically reduced, yielding vibrational spectra from carbon nitrides to be assessed on 10’s of nanometer length scales. We find that in disordered graphitic carbon nitrides the relative amine content can vary...
Optical Absorbance Enhancement in PbS QD/Cinnamate Ligand Complexes

We studied the optical absorption enhancement in colloidal suspensions of PbS quantum dots (QD) upon ligand exchange from oleate to a series of cinnamate ligands. By combining experiments and ab initio simulations, we elucidate physical parameters that govern the optical absorption enhancement. We find that, within the cinnamate/PbS QD system, the optical absorption enhancement scales linearly with the electronic gap of the ligand, indicating that the ligand/QD coupling occurs equally efficient between the QD and ligand HOMO and their respective LUMO levels. Disruption of the conjugation that connects the aromatic ring and its substituents to the QD core causes a reduction of the electronic coupling. Our results further support the notion that the ligand/QD complex should be considered as a distinct chemical system with emergent behavior rather than a QD core with ligands whose sole purpose is to passivate surface dangling bonds and prevent agglomeration.
Management of Sexual Dysfunction in Spinally Injured Women

In health care, a basic dictum is “first things first”—i.e., survival and crisis care of the patient take priority. Sexual problems and sexual well-being, therefore, will ordinarily not receive attention from the professional until after the acute phase of any injury or the most serious aspect of an illness had been dealt with. Too often the physician delays talking about sexuality until the patient asks about it. However, today rehabilitation professionals are receiving more training and practice in sexual medicine so that the rehabilitation phase, with its relatively relaxed pace of care, has become the time to discuss sexual issues.
Kinetics of the Ventilatory and Metabolic Responses to Moderate-Intensity Exercise in Humans following Prior Exercise-Induced Metabolic Acidaemia

As the time constant of the phase 2 (o2) ventilatory response (τV'E) to moderate exercise (< lactate threshold, θL) is reduced by exogenous procedures that augment peripheral (carotid) chemosensitivity (hypoxia; chronic metabolic acidaemia), we examined whether an acute endogenous metabolic acidaemia had a similar effect. Six subjects completed two tests (A, B), each comprising two 6-min bouts separated by a 6-min “0” W recovery: A:- 90% θL, 90% θL; B:- supra-θL (50% between θL and peak V'O2), 90% θL. For Protocol A, the bout 2 sub-θL τV'E was similar to bout 1. However, for Protocol B, where the initial supra-θL metabolic acidaemia was still evident at the end of the subsequent sub-θL bout, the sub-θL τV'E was shorter; τV'E/τV'O2 and τV'E/τV'CO2 were reduced; and the transient end-tidal PO2undershoot was less marked. We conclude that an acute, endogenous metabolic acidaemia speeds o2 V'E kinetics in moderate exercise, consistent with carotid chemoreception contributing to the tightness of arterial pH-CO2 regulation and the magnitude of the transient arterial hypoxaemia.
The Acne Quality of Life Index (Acne-QOLI): development and validation of a brief instrument.

Background: Acne affects many people and can be detrimental to affected patients’ quality of life. Assessing the impact of acne on quality of life requires well-validated and reliable measures of acne-specific quality of life that are brief and easy to administer and interpret. Objectives: This paper reports on the development and validation of the Acne Quality of Life Index (Acne-QOLI) for use in clinical care, research, and product development. Methods: Focus groups consisting of people from demographically different populations were conducted to identify the most relevant domains of functioning affected by acne; on the basis of these findings, candidate items were developed. An initial item pool of 58 items was included in a survey of 480 persons with mild to severe acne ranging in age from 12 to 62 years. Factor analysis and qualitative analysis were used to reduce the item pool to 21 items. The construct validity, concurrent validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability of the items were evaluated. Results: The 21-item Acne-QOLI showed excellent face validity, content validity, concurrent validity, and construct validity. High internal consistency and test-retest reliability were also found. Conclusions: Quality of life is now recognized as an important outcome in medical care. The Acne-QOLI is a brief and easily administered and interpreted measure of acne-related quality of life that can be used in clinical care, research, and product development.
Production Planning and Control in the Factory of the Future

In this article, the concept of Concurrent Engineering and the modules of Integrated Production Systems are presented. These are essential ingredients for the success of American companies in the future. Implementation factors for proper communication and integration at both the design and production stages are also discussed.
SOLVABILITY OF NONLINEAR ODD-ORDERED DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS USING K-MONOTONICITY

This chapter discusses the solvability of nonlinear odd-ordered differential equations using K -monotonicity. It explains the existence of solutions to boundary value problems for nonlinear differential equations of the form Lx + N ( x ) = f , f ∈ H where H = L 2 [0, T ], L is an odd-ordered ordinary differential operator, and N is a nonlinear operator. The chapter presents two cases. In the first case, it presents an assumption that L is a K -positive definite operator, K being a lower degree odd-ordered operator. The chapter then presents the case of periodic boundary conditions. It presents the definition and a few properties of K -positive definite operators. The chapter presents existence results for periodic solutions to equation Lx + N ( x ) = f . The linear operator will be K -symmetric but not K -positive definite on its domain.
When does it pay to stand out as stand-up? Competitive contingencies in the corporate social performance–corporate financial performance relationship:

We develop a competitive contingency model of the relationship between corporate social performance and corporate financial performance, focusing on the moderating effects of industry-based factors...
How Lakewood's Criminal Activity Nuisance Ordinance Undermines Housing Stability and Endangers Households in Crisis

Since 2005, Lakewood, Ohio, has used a Criminal Activity Nuisance Ordinance (CANO) to penalize property owners for multiple emergency services visits to their properties. Lakewood continues to enforce its CANO despite 7 nearby cities amending similar laws to protect survivors of domestic violence. To better understand the implications of CANOs, we took a close look at their enforcement in multiple cities, including Lakewood. Using the 75 nuisance designations Lakewood issued from February 2014 to May 2016, we found several disturbing enforcement patterns. 1 of 3 nuisance letters are sent to survivors of domestic violence. African American households much more likely to receive a nuisance letter. Having a disability or mental health crisis is a common path to eviction. Tenants lack notice or chance to be heard. We urge Lakewood to reconsider its CANO in light of these findings.
Binding sites of cholinesterases. Alkylation by an aziridinium derivative.

1. Alkylation of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase by 2-chloro-N-(chloroethyl)-N-methyl-2-phenylethylamine was observed. This alkylating agent was more potent than related compounds previously described, and less stable (half-life 8·5min. at 23°). 2. Alkylation had effects on hydrolysis of substrates varying from activation for indophenyl acetate to inhibition for acetylcholine, and intermediate effects with five other substrates. The effects were on Vmax. and not Km. 3. Alkylation caused a variety of changes in sensitivity to inhibition by five carbamates, five organophosphates and four other inhibitors, varying from total protection against tetraethylammonium to mildly enhanced sensitivity to urea. 4. The findings suggested the existence of three binding sites, one of which was anionic and another hydrophobic, in addition to the esteratic site.
P101 Theoretical Structure of Perceived Barriers to Physical Activity Among Low-Income Hispanic Teens

Background Physical activity levels among low-income, Hispanic teens are low in the US. Many behavioral models suggest perceived barriers are contributing factors, however, little is known about the perceived barriers to physical activity (PBPA) pertinent to this audience. Objective To identify theoretical structure of PBPA among low-income Hispanic teens using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Study Design, Settings, Participants This study used a cross-sectional design. Seventy PBPA-items, identified in the literature, were rated by 9th-12th grade Hispanic teens (n = 494) from New Jersey high schools and community centers. The PBPA items were rated on a five-point Likert-type scale (1 = “never” a barrier; 5 = “always” a barrier). Measurable Outcome/Analysis Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) index and the Bartlett's sphericity tests were used to assess the data's suitability for factor analysis. An EFA using maximum likelihood estimates with an oblique (Promax) rotation was performed. Multiple criteria were used to inform the number of factors extracted, including: Kaiser-Guttman criteria (eigenvalue > 1); the Scree plot's “elbow”; interpretability criteria (eg, if items loaded on a given factor shared the same conceptual meaning, no cross-loading); parallel analysis; and minimum average partial test. Only items with factor loadings > 0.4 were retained. Results Acceptable KMO index (0.95) and the Bartlett's sphericity test (P Conclusion This nine PBPA factors identified may help nutrition educations better understand low-income Hispanic teens’ PBPAs, and develop more targeted and effective educational messages, to help them improve their physical activity levels. Funding New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station.
N, S-Double Labeling of N-Terminal Cysteines via an Alternative Conjugation Pathway with 2-Cyanobenzothiazole.

Conjugation of 2-cyanobenzothiazole (CBT) with N-terminal cysteines (NCys) typically gives a luciferin product. We herein report an alternative reaction pathway leading to an N-terminal amidine ren...
The humanitarian flying warehouse

Abstract Delivering commodities by ground vehicles to people in conflict zones risks the safety of humanitarian aid workers. Hundreds of aid workers are killed, injured, or kidnapped when delivering supplies on the road each year. We propose the humanitarian flying warehouse (HFW) as a solution to these issues. The HFW is an airship that stays at high altitudes and uses unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to deliver supplies. This innovation will enable safe and timely delivery to hard-to-reach populations in a manner that significantly exceeds the capacity of current practices. Crucially, the HFW eliminates the motivations behind many delivery disruptions. These disruptions are caused by asymmetric commons dilemmas: entities with different accessibility and power race to grab shared relief goods before others. The problem we address is the operation of HFW to make safe and timely delivery of critical items such as health supplies to the hard to reach populations. This study constitutes proof of concept for the HFW system in conflict zones through a multi-objective mathematical model. The validity of the system is verified via comparative analysis with a ground-based system in a realistic case study.
Prestige and relevance of the scholarly journals: Impressions of SIOP members

Prestigious journals are widely admired for publishing quality scholarship, yet the primary indicators of journal prestige (i.e., impact factors) do not directly assess audience admiration. Moreover, the publication landscape has changed substantially in the last 20 years, with electronic publishing changing the way we consume scientific research. Given that it has been 18 years since the publication of the last journal prestige survey of SIOP members, the authors conducted a new survey and used these results to reflect on changing practices within industrial and organizational (I-O) psychology. SIOP members (n = 557) rated the prestige and relevance of I-O and management journals. Responses were analyzed according to job setting, and were compared to a survey conducted by Zickar and Highhouse (2001) in 2000. There was considerable consistency in prestige ratings across settings (i.e., management department vs. psychology department; academic vs. applied), especially among the top journals. There was considerable variance, however, in the perceived usefulness of different journals. Results also suggested considerable consistency across the two time periods, but with some increases in prestige among OB-oriented journals. Changes in the journal landscape are discussed, including the rise of OHP as a topic of concentration in I-O. We suggest that I-O programs will continue to attract the top researchers in talent management and OHP, which should result in the use of a broader set of journals for judging I-O program impact.
The Psychology of Selling Sex: An Introduction

This chapter provides an overview of the book on the psychology of selling sex. First, we present the goals of the book. Next, we offer background information about the methodology and terminology used throughout the book. We also review some common ideological stances toward selling sex, and explain how these viewpoints inform the topics covered in this volume. Finally, we highlight a few methodological issues in the research on women who sell sex that are important to have in perspective when learning about this literature.
On Equitable List Arboricity of Graphs

Equitable list arboricity, introduced by Zhang in 2016, generalizes the notion of equitable list coloring by requiring the subgraph induced by each color class to be acyclic (instead of edgeless) in addition to the usual upper bound on the size of each color class. Graph $G$ is equitably $k$-list arborable if an equitable, arborable list coloring of $G$ exists for every list assignment for $G$ that associates with each vertex in $G$ a list of $k$ available colors. Zhang conjectured that any graph $G$ is equitably $k$-list arborable for each $k$ satisfying $k \geq \lceil (1+\Delta(G))/2 \rceil$. We verify this conjecture for powers of cycles by applying a new lemma which is a general tool for extending partial equitable, arborable list colorings. We also propose a stronger version of Zhang's Conjecture for certain connected graphs: any connected graph $G$ is equitably $k$-list arborable for each $k$ satisfying $k \geq \lceil \Delta(G)/2 \rceil$ provided $G$ is neither a cycle nor a complete graph of odd order. We verify this stronger version of Zhang's Conjecture for powers of paths, 2-degenerate graphs, and certain other graphs. We also show that if $G$ is equitably $k$-list arborable it does not necessarily follow that $G$ is equitably $(k+1)$-list arborable which addresses a question of Drgas-Burchardt, Furmanczyk, and Sidorowicz (2018).
The Kinetics of Intestinal Permeability in a Mouse Model of Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among trauma patients. Increased intestinal permeability plays an important role in the inflammatory process that accompanies TBI, and therapies that prevent this permeability change may improve outcomes in TBI patients. Different animal models have been developed to test permeability changes, but there has been no agreement on when permeability should be tested after TBI. Here, we describe a method for creating the TBI mouse model and for measuring intestinal permeability. We also detail our permeability measurements at different time points after TBI to help guide future experimental design. The TBI is made using a controlled cortical impact model with the cortical impactor set to speed 6 m/s, depth 3 mm, dwell time 0.2 s, and tip size 3 mm to produce a severe TBI. Permeability is measured at 2, 4, 6, and 24 hr after TBI by removing a piece of terminal ileum, tying the ends, filling the lumen with FITC-labeled dextran, and then measuring how much of the dextran moves into the surrounding solution bath over time using a fluorescent plate reader. Our results show that peak permeability occurs between 4 and 6 hr after TBI. We recommend that future experiments incorporate permeability measurements 4 to 6 hr after TBI in order to take advantage of this peak permeability. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol: Mouse CCI traumatic brain injury model and intestinal permeability measurement.
Scaled boundary cubature scheme for numerical integration over planar regions with affine and curved boundaries

Abstract This paper introduces the scaled boundary cubature (SBC) scheme for accurate and efficient integration of functions over polygons and two-dimensional regions bounded by parametric curves . Over two-dimensional domains, the SBC method reduces integration over a region bounded by m curves to integration over m regions (referred to as curved triangular regions), where each region is bounded by two line segments and a curve. With proper (counterclockwise) orientation of the boundary curves, the scheme is applicable to convex and nonconvex domains. Additionally, for star-convex domains, a tensor-product cubature rule with positive weights and integration points in the interior of the domain is obtained. If the integrand is homogeneous, we show that this new method reduces to the homogeneous numerical integration scheme; however, the SBC scheme is more versatile since it is equally applicable to both homogeneous and non-homogeneous functions. This paper also introduces several methods for smoothing integrands with point singularities and near-singularities. When these methods are used, highly efficient integration of weakly singular functions is realized. The SBC method is applied to a number of benchmark problems, which reveal its broad applicability and superior performance (in terms of time to generate a rule and accuracy per cubature point) when compared to existing methods for integration.
A planar piecewise continuous lumped muscle parameter model for prediction of walking gait.

Abstract Goal This work aims to develop a planar piecewise continuous lumped muscle parameter (PPCLMP) model that can utilize inputs that can be obtained in a clinical or home setting using simple tools (e.g. video cameras and inertial sensors) to predict human walking gait. Methods The model characterizes the sagittal-plane movement of the lower limbs during the single stance phase as an inverted pendulum, the double stance phase as a kinematic chain, and the swing phase as a double pendulum. The joint angles and angular velocities at the end of one phase are used as the initial conditions of the next phase. The model predicts the gait cycle based on the initial joint angles and angular velocities via forward dynamics. The errors between the initial and end conditions are minimized by changing the input initial joint angles and angular velocities of the gait cycle. Results Sensitivity analysis showed that the errors between the initial and end conditions of a gait cycle were sensitive to the initial joint angles. The step length was sensitive to subject stature. The model only works for a certain range of initial conditions. Conclusions The model can predict gait cycles based on forward dynamics and selects initial conditions that minimize the errors between the initial and end conditions of the gait cycle. The model utilizes 2-D representations of lower limbs and simplified representations of joint torques to reduce the required inputs for gait prediction and builds the foundation of gait assessment tools.
Testimony of Erik F. Gerding, 'Industrial Loan Companies, Fintech Charters, and Eroding the Separation between Banking and Commerce,' for a Hearing before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Financial Services, Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions on “Banking Innovation or Regulation Evasion?: Exploring Modern Trends in Financial Institution Charters”

The 2020 Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation reopening of deposit insurance to industrial loan companies (“ILCs”) threatens to: ¶ create risks to financial stability; ¶ distort competition in commercial markets; ¶ distort competition in banking markets and promote greater risk-taking; ¶ generate conflicts of interest in lending; and ¶ compromise consumer protections. The FDIC’s ability to map and respond to these risks is limited by the fact that ILCs and the conglomerates that own them are not subject to consolidated supervision. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency's new fintech charter contravenes the text, purpose, and structure of the National Bank Act and other core federal banking statutes. Conferring banking privileges on non-deposit taking firms provides them with competitive advantages over commercial rivals that distorts markets. The OCC’s fintech charter seems designed mainly to preempt state financial laws without authorization from Congress. It would also open up exemptions from important federal financial laws for favored firms. Congress should reverse these actions and close destructive loopholes in banking law by: ¶ ending the ILC exemption to the Bank Holding Company; and ¶ removing the Comptroller’s ability to issue future charters to non-deposit taking firms. Congress should reinforce the walls separating commerce from banking, which: ¶ guard against concentrations of financial, economic, and political power in the largest banking, retail, and tech conglomerates; ¶ prevent distortions and unfair competition in commercial markets; ¶ safeguard financial stability; ¶ reduce conflicts of interest in credit; and ¶ protect consumers.
Treprostinil alleviates hepatic mitochondrial injury during rat renal ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Abstract Background Renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) causes acute kidney injury as well as liver injury. Renal IRI depletes hepatic antioxidants, promotes hepatic inflammation and dysfunction through Tlr9 upregulation. There is no treatment available for liver injury during renal IRI. This study examines the hepatoprotective role of treprostinil, a prostacyclin analog, during renal IRI. Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: control, sham, IRI-placebo, or IRI-treprostinil and subjected to bilateral ischemia (45 min) followed by reperfusion (1–72 h). Placebo or treprostinil (100 ng/kg/min) was administered subcutaneously via an osmotic minipump. Results Treprostinil significantly reduced peak serum creatinine, BUN, ALT and AST levels vs. IRI-placebo. Treprostinil also restored hepatic levels of superoxide dismutase, glutathione, catalase, and Gclc expression to baseline, while reducing lipid peroxidation vs. IRI-placebo. Additionally, treprostinil significantly reduced elevated hepatic Tlr9, Il-1β, Ccl2, Vcam1, and Serpine1 mRNA expression. Renal IRI increased hepatic apoptosis which was inhibited by treprostinil through reduced cytochrome c and cleaved caspase-3 protein expression. Treprostinil enhanced hepatic ATP concentrations and mitochondrial DNA copy number and improved mitochondrial dynamics by restoring Pgc-1α expression and significantly upregulating Mfn1, Mfn2, and Sirt3 levels, while reducing Drp-1 protein vs. IRI-placebo. Non-targeted semi-quantitative proteomics showed improved oxidative stress indices and ATP subunits in the IRI-treprostinil group. Conclusions Treprostinil improved hepatic function and antioxidant levels, while suppressing the inflammatory response and alleviating Tlr9-mediated apoptotic injury during renal IRI. Our study provides evidence of treprostinil’s hepatoprotective effect, which supports the therapeutic potential of treprostinil in reducing hepatic injury during renal IRI.
Targeting Treg-expressed STAT3 enhances NK-mediated surveillance of metastasis and improves therapeutic response in pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

PURPOSE Metastasis remains a major hurdle in treating aggressive malignancies such as pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Improving response to treatment, therefore, requires a more detailed characterization of the cellular populations involved in controlling metastatic burden. METHODS Patient PDAC tissue samples were subjected to RNA sequencing analysis to identify changes in immune infiltration following RT. Genetically engineered mouse strains in combination with orthotopic tumor models of PDAC were used to characterize disease progression. Flow cytometry was used to analyze tumor infiltrating, circulating, and nodal immune populations. RESULTS We demonstrate that although RT increases the infiltration and activation of DCs, it also increases the infiltration of Tregs while failing to recruit NK and CD8 T cells in PDAC patient samples. In murine orthotopic tumor models, we show that genetic and pharmacologic depletion of Tregs and NK cells enhances and attenuates response to RT, respectively. We further demonstrate that targeted inhibition of STAT3 on Tregs results in improved control of local and distant disease progression and enhanced NK-mediated immunosurveillance of metastasis. Moreover, combination treatment of STAT3 ASO and RT invigorated systemic immune activation and conferred a survival advantage in orthotopic and metastatic tumor models. Finally, we show the response to STAT3 ASO + RT treatment is dependent on NK and DC subsets. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest targeting Treg-mediated immunosuppression is a critical step in mediating a response to treatment and identify NK cells as not only a prognostic marker of improved survival, but also as an effector population that functions to combat metastasis.
Chapter 8 Discrete Mathematics

Elementary number theory offers many opportunities to experiment, look for patterns, and test conjectures, often requiring only fairly simple programs. In this section we look at some easy examples.
Palliative Care Screening and Assessment in the Emergency Department: A Systematic Review

Abstract Context Emergency department (ED) providers and policy makers are increasingly interested in developing palliative care (PC) interventions for ED patients. Many patients in the ED may benefit from PC screening and referral. Multiple ED-based PC screening projects have been undertaken, but there has been no study of these projects or their effects. Objectives To conduct a systematic review and critical analysis to evaluate the methods, tools, and outcomes of PC screening and referral projects in the ED. Methods Three reviewers independently selected eligible studies from the PubMed database. Eligible studies evaluated a PC screening tool, assessment, or referral modality aimed at identifying patients appropriate for PC. Four reviewers independently evaluated the final articles. Two reviewers extracted data on study characteristics, methodological quality, and outcomes. Results Seven studies met inclusion criteria. Each was reviewed for methodological quality and strength. The studies were synthesized using a narrative approach. Each study developed an independent screening or evaluation tool for PC needs. Each required additional ED personnel to perform screening and referral, and success was limited by availability of specialized personnel. All the studies were successful in increasing rates of PC referral. Conclusion We have identified multiple studies demonstrating that screening and referral for PC consultation are feasible in the ED setting. The strengths and limitations of these studies were explored. Further evidence for the development of an effective, evidence-based PC screening, and referral process is needed. We recommend a screening framework based on a synthesis of available evidence.
Locating interrupted hydrogen bonding in the secondary structure of PM2 circular DNA by comparative denaturation mapping.

Previous studies with HCHO have revealed a reaction with superhelical DNA that strongly suggests that this DNA consists of small regions of interrupted secondary structure. To map these sites in PM2 DNA, the following set of experiments was performed using electron microscopy. A denaturation map of nicked form II was obtained using Inman's alkaline-HCHO conditions. The superhelical form I was reacted with HCHO at 30 C until equilibrium was achieved at the interrupted sites (3.6 percent reactivity). The excess HCHO was removed rapidly and x-ray treatment was employed to nick these prereacted molecules. These form II molecules containing HCHO (form II HCHO) were also subjected to denaturation mapping. It would be expected that the HCHO-unpaired regions would serve as induction sites for the propagation of melting. Hence, depending on the location of the induction sites, we would anticipate either the creation of new regions of melting or a normal denaturation map shifted to lower pH values. Comparison of the development of progressive denaturation of form II and form II HCHO reveals that the latter is the case. The denaturation maps of form II are highly organized patterns of adenine-thymine (AT)-rich regions, with a total of five regions at extreme pHmore » conditions. There are six highly organized regions for form II HCHO, i.e., smaller adjacent loops, at low denaturation conditions where no denaturation is seen for form II. These coalesce into the pattern for form II containing four of five A-T-rich regions observed for form II. Hence we conclude that the regions of altered hydrogen bonding in superhelical PM2 DNA are four to six in number and they map in the A-T-rich regions of the DNA. (auth)« less
Deriving Mutual Benefits from Offshore Outsourcing: The 24-Hour Knowledge Factory Scenario

The concept of outsourcing has been addressed from different vantage points by various researchers. The ACM Job Migration Task Force analyzed the impact of outsourcing on jobs [1]. This report and others examining the impact of outsourcing on employment have received significant coverage in the press. Wiederhold et al [12] look at intellectual property and tax implications when a software company operates in multiple countries. This article takes an entirely different perspective. What are new computer-based techniques that can be employed to yield innovative solutions that can benefit both developed and developing environments? What is the long-term vision for conducting work in a global economy? Is there an end scenario for offshore outsourcing?
Modeling for Plastic and Reconstructive Breast Surgery

In this paper, we present the modeling and estimation aspects of a virtual reality system for plastic and reconstructive breast surgery. Our system has two modes, a model creation mode and a model fitting mode. The model creation mode allows a surgeon to interactively adjust the shape of a virtual breast by varying key shape variables, analogous to the aesthetic and structural elements surgeons inherently vary manually during breast reconstruction. Our contribution is a set of global deformations with very intuitive parameters that a surgeon can apply to a generic geometric primitive in order to model the breast of his/her patient for pre-operative planning purposes and for communicating this plan to the patient. The model fitting mode allows the system to automatically fit a generic deformable model to patient specific three-dimensional breast surface measurements using a physically-based framework. We have tested the accuracy of our technique using both synthetic and real input data with very encouraging results.
The human cytomegalovirus mtrII colinear region in strain Tanaka is transformation defective.

Abstract The morphological transforming region II (mtrII) of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) strain Towne has been localized to a 980-base-pair fragment containing three putative open reading frames (ORFs) of 79, 83, and 34 amino acids (aa). In addition, noncoding DNA sequence elements which have the potential to form stem-loop structures were also observed within mtrII. To determine what elements within HCMV Towne mtrII are important in transformation, colinear regions in other HCMV strains (AD169 and Tanaka) were isolated and a comparison of transforming potential was performed. The results indicated that the 2.2-kilobase colinear region in strain AD169 was transforming, whereas the colinear mtrII region in strain Tanaka showed significantly reduced transforming potential. Analysis of the nucleotide sequence data of these colinear regions revealed the presence of the 79-aa ORF in strains Towne and AD169 and its absence in strain Tanaka. In addition, BglII-digested Towne mtrII, which was cleaved within the 79-aa ORF, was shown to display significantly reduced transforming potential. Since the 83- and 34-aa coding sequences were interrupted in both the transforming AD169 colinear region and the nontransforming Tanaka strains, these ORFs were thought not to be important in transformation. Analysis of the stem-loop structures within each of the mtrII colinear regions did not reveal significant changes among the transforming and nontransforming colinear fragments. Thus, the comparative data indicate an important role for the 79-aa ORF in transformation.
A Ghost in the Machine: The Important Role of Workplace Spirituality

In today's multi-cultural business organizations, management paradigms must be shifted and expanded to include a broader spectrum of variables, particularly when these paradigms affect decisions that significantly impact the organization's culture. As research has demonstrated, the sum total of all employee's perceptions and behaviors constitute the organization's culture. Consequently, important managerial decisions must include variables that hinge on their employee's emotional intelligence, academic intelligence, and spiritual intelligence. Both emotional intelligence and academic intelligence have been thoroughly researched in the past and this paper will concentrate on employee spiritual intelligence as it relates to workplace spirituality. Developing and encouraging workplace spirituality promises to provide several positive outcomes related to organizational performance including higher productivity, increased job satisfaction, lower turnover rates, positive ethical values, better attendance rates, and higher customer satisfaction. Consequently, developing an organizational culture that is founded upon workplace spirituality is of tremendous importance to leaders due to its positive implications toward organizational performance. This paper focuses on the various aspects of workplace spirituality which as the title calls "A Ghost in the Machine", its relationship to organizational culture, and its implications on productivity and performance.
Teaching East European Anthropology

Katherine Verdery (Johns Hopkins University) shares her ideas for teaching a course in East European Anthropology. following her introduction and annotations written specifically for newsletter readers, we reproduce her syllabus in its entirety. We hope this is the first in a series on the subject. If you teach such a course, send us your ideas and syllabi. If-you don't teach such a course, why don't you?
TROPICS with feedback

Summary form only given. In 1995, Y.J. Ding et al. proposed a novel optical parametric geometry which has since been assigned the acronym TROPICS: TRansverse Optical Parametric Infrared Conversion Structure. Other work has considered the large-signal regime, and examined the effects of a pump beam with a Gaussian profile, rather than a plane wave excitation. That investigation modeled the Gaussian pump beam as a sum of plane waves, each of which interacted with the generated signal and idler beams to provide the total output. Such an analysis is necessary in this configuration, because the generated beams traverse the pump beam wavefront. Of concern was the discovery that the multiple plane waves, some of which were not exactly resonant with the phasematched interaction, inhibited operation of the system as a true optical parametric oscillator. There was no physically realizable conversion of the pump beam without the insertion of at least some seed power at one of the generated wavelengths. This new work shows that the addition of facet mirrors to provide feedback at the generated wavelengths removes that restriction.
Blastomyces Antigen Detection for Diagnosis and Management of Blastomycosis

Blastomyces spp. antigen testing was evaluated over a 10-year period in an area where blastomycosis is endemic. Antigen testing was less sensitive than previously reported, but serial urine testing was useful in monitoring disease resolution or progression. Culture and cytopathology remain the gold standard for diagnosis and exclusion of this infection.