cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Two-dimensional levee breaching model considering flow and sediment interaction

A two dimensionnal dam/levee breaching model was developed to simulate overtopping flows,breach development,and the related sediment transport processes. The depth-averaged 2-D flow and non-equilibrium total-load sediment transport equations were solved using an explicit finite volume method on a rectangular grid. The model consideredinteractions among transient flow,strong sediment transport and rapid bed distortion by including bed change and variable flow density in the continuity and momentum equations of flow. The HLL approximate Riemann solver was used to handle the mixed-regime flows near the breach,and different repose angles for the sediments below and above the water surface were adopted to handle the non-cohesive embankment slope avalanching. The model was checked against the laboratory experiment carried out by HR Wallingford,UK,and the results show that the developed model predicts well the breach dimension,flow hydrograph,and flow characteristics. The sensitivity analysis shows the nonlinear features of the model.
Pore evolution and gas accumulation in tight sandstone reservoir of Member 2 of Xujiahe Formation in Yuanba area of Sichuan,China

Based on the quantitative statistics of the clastics and matrixes in the reservoir and quantitative evolutional analysis of pores,and according to the homogeneous temperature of inclusions and buried history of the reservoir,this paper makes an approach to the pore evolution and the natural gas accumulation in the tight sandstone reservoir of Member 2 of Xujiahe Formation(T3x2) of Upper Triassic in the Yuanba area of Sichuan Basin.The dynamic recovery of the compacted history of the reservoir is achieved.In the early diagenetic stage,the porosity of the reservoir declined to 8.7%,meanwhile,the tight reservoir formed.Following this,a series of cementations made the primary pores decreasing.The anisotropy is heightened,too.It can be known that the gas filling time of T3x2 in the Yuanba area is in the middle diagenetic stage A when the reservoir was tightened.Totally,"first is the compaction of reservoirs,and second is natural gas accumulation".The gas moves by "piston type advancing" in the reservoir.So the gas concentration is controlled by hydrocarbon-generating intensity and high quality reservoirs.Therefore,the depressed area in the eastern of Yuanba can be regarded as a favorable area for gas exploration.
Refinement of a protocol for the induction of lactation in nonpregnant nonhuman primates by using exogenous hormone treatment.

Obtaining sufficient quantities of milk from NHP is necessary for pharmacologic and immunologic studies required for the development and safety assessment of drugs and vaccines to be used in the maternal–infant setting. We previously induced lactation in nonpregnant female rhesus macaques (RM, Macaca mulatta) and African green monkeys (AGM, Chlorocebus sabaeus) for studies of immune responses in milk, but the volume collected was variable. To improve lactation induction protocols for nonbreeding nonhuman primates, we investigated serum hormone levels and collection protocols in AGM and RM. Here, we correlated milk volume with serum levels of endogenous and administered hormones: estradiol, prolactin, progesterone, and medroxyprogesterone in RM and AGM. We also investigated whether age, parity or the timing of milk collections were associated with the volume of milk collected from the AGM and RM in which lactation was induced by using exogenous hormones. We found an inverse correlation with serum estradiol and milk volume in the RM but no significant correlation between milk volumes and the remaining serum hormone levels in the induced RM or AGM. In addition, HIL AGM had higher peak estradiol levels than did naturally lactating AGM. A revised estradiol-sparing protocol increased milk volumes in the AGM. In addition, milk volume in RM was greater in the morning than the afternoon. In conclusion, we have refined a lactation induction protocol in nonpregnant primates, which is a needed alternative to using nursing primates for the assessment of drug levels and immune responses in milk.
More Than Political Ideology: Subtle Racial Prejudice as a Predictor of Opposition to Universal Health Care Among U.S. Citizens

Political rhetoric surrounding Universal Health Care in the United States typically deals only with differences in political ideology. Research on symbolic racism, however, indicates that subtle racial prejudice may also predict attitudes toward policies like universal health care that are assumed to benefit racial minorities. This subtle racial prejudice hypothesis was supported across three studies conducted in the U.S. A measure of attitudes toward universal health care was found to be a reliable, single-dimension measure associated with political ideology (Pilot Study). Subtle racial prejudice (as measured by the Modern Racism Scale) predicted opposition to universal health care, even when statistically controlling for political ideology and attitudes toward the poor (Study 1). Moreover, reading about a Black individual (compared to a White individual) receiving universal health care benefits reduced support for universal health care, even when statistically controlling for political ideology and right-wing authoritarianism (Study 2). Being a person who takes advantage of the system (e.g., free rides) was a significant predictor of universal health care attitudes while race was not (Study 3). This work demonstrates that subtle racial prejudice plays a critical role in predicting universal health care attitudes among U.S. citizens, reflecting a long-standing history of associations between subtle racial prejudice and opposition to governmental assistance programs in the U.S.
Research on the Mandatory Transition from the Local Gaap to IFRS in Canada and its Impact on Value Relevance of Accounting Information

After January 1, 2011, all publicly traded Canadian companies were required to switch from the Canadian GAAP to IFRS. In their 2011 annual reports, those firms were required to present restated 2010 financial statements under IFRS for comparison purpose too. Therefore, the transition year of 2010 offers a unique setting for researchers to examine two sets of accounting data under different accounting standards, and the impact of accounting regime change on the quality of financial statements. This paper examines 532 listed Canadian companies in 2011. We find that the transition has a small but statistically significant impact on certain balance sheet items, esp., total liabilities, book value of equity and property, plant and equipment. In the transition year of 2011, return on assets is found to be lower under IFRS than under the Canadian GAAP. Interestingly, companies with a negative ROA under the Canadian GAAP had even more negative ROA under IFRS in 2010. Further tests imply that they might have taken advantage of the transition period with a big bath for future reporting benefits. Lastly, we show that the partial and full earnings disclosures under the IFRS regime provide incremental information to the market and are thus value relevant. Our study addresses a timely issue and could be useful to the market regulators in Canada.
Incidence of Adverse Events During Peripheral Administration of Sodium Chloride 3.

Purpose:Traditionally, sodium chloride 3% has been administered via a central venous line (CVL) because of the perceived risk of infiltration and tissue injury due to its high osmolarity. In clinic...
DL-BAC: Distributed Ledger Based Access Control for Web Applications

Since Internet based applications have become the norm for most users, security has become a bigger concern than ever before, especially for applications like social networking and cloud based storage. Access control is one of the key techniques that can mitigate security concerns for web based applications. However, most existing access control mechanisms require a trusted party, which are vulnerable to many threats including malicious insiders and single point failure. In response to these challenges, we propose DL-BAC, a novel access control system based on the distributed ledger. DL-BAC robustly enforces access control policies without depending on a single trusted party. We also provide an extension of DL-BAC that is privacy respecting and evaluate the performance of DL-BAC to show its practicability.
Colonial and post-colonial changes and impact on pastoral women’s roles and status

The colonial experiences of pastoralist women have been largely ignored in the literature on Africa. The paper focuses on pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial periods to locate the impact of colonization on pastoral women’s roles and social status using the example of Borana women of northern Kenya. In this study, it is demonstrated that while the pre-colonial women of the Borana did not enjoy full position of status relative to men, colonialism reinforced the differences between the roles of men and women, contributing further to the waning of Borana women’s pre-colonial roles and status. The paper explores the process by which Borana society was brought into contact with the colonial economy and commercialization of their pastoralist activities. It sheds light on the impact of this integration on women’s roles. The paper concludes with areas for further research on Borana women’s roles in the post-colonial era.
Low-Energy Photoelectron Imaging Spectroscopy of Lan(benzene) (n = 1 and 2).

Lan(benzene) (n = 1 and 2) are formed in a pulsed laser-ablation molecular beam source and characterized by low-energy photoelectron imaging spectroscopy. The photoelectron spectrum of La2(benzene) displays a strong origin band, a short metal–ligand stretching progression, and a weak ring deformation band. Four isomers are considered for La2(benzene), and the preferred structure is an inverse sandwich with two La atoms residing on the opposite sides of the benzene ring. The ground electronic state of the inverse sandwich is 1A1g (D3d) with (5dxy,x2–y2 + π*)46s2 electron configuration. Ionization removes a La-based 6s electron and yields a 2A1g ion. The spectrum of La(benzene) is similar to the zero-electron kinetic energy spectrum reported previously by our group, although the spectral line width is somewhat broader. The measurement of the photoelectron angular distribution of La(benzene) confirms that the ejected electron has largely a p wave character. The metal–ligand bonding of La2(benzene) is conside...
Police Misconduct in Brooklyn, New York

Despite the recent rash of social media videos of seemingly outrageous police misconduct, as mentioned earlier, police misconduct is difficult to document. One source of data is the individual police officer or police official. However, not only is it difficult to get information from individual officers or police officials (Collins, 1998) but because of the homogenous nature of police culture, findings from research at the individual level may be mixed, ambiguous and lack variability (Grant & Grant, 1996; McManus, 1969). Though somewhat more reliable than research at the individual level (Kane & White, 2009) research at the organizational level may nonetheless reflect an organizational subculture of policies formed by administrators but executed by individual police officers. For example, some police organizations may have a “siege mentality” of “them versus us” that permits and even encourages violent misconduct by individual police officers to maintain order on the streets (Fyfe & Skolnick, 1993). In such cases research at the organizational level may also be limited by its lack of variability but more importantly may suffer from external validity, in that administrative officials and supervisors in different police organizations may differ in determining what constitutes police misconduct in their particular organization.
Moody Adults with ADHD

Although attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been studied for over a century, it is only in the last 3–4 decades that it has been studied in adults, along with the emotional dysregulation (ED) that often occurs with it. Increasing evidence suggests high rates of ED or mood-related psychiatric comorbidities in adults with ADHD, and marked impairment when such problems co-occur with ADHD. Experts have suggested three main approaches to understanding the relationship of ED with adult ADHD: (1) as a subtype of the ADHD, (2) as a core feature of the ADHD, or (3) as a co-travelling symptom with it. While psychobiological factors contribute to the link between ED and ADHD, the relative contribution of genetic factors or other factors is unclear. Accurate assessment of ED in an adult ADHD requires a comprehensive clinical interview verifying the symptoms, course and impairment, and to rule out other psychiatric comorbidities and organic causes having similar symptoms. Various self-report and clinician-administered measures can also be useful. Psychotherapy and/or pharmacotherapy have proven effective for treating adults with ADHD and ED. Future research is needed to clarify how ADHD and ED are related, and how clinicians can more effectively diagnose and treat adults having both disorders.
Perceptions of Agriculture and Food Corporate Social Responsibility

An online survey of 1,201 U.S. residents was conducted in April 2015 to better understand individuals’ perceptions of prominent areas of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the food supply cha...
Regional job multipliers

ABSTRACTJob multipliers are often cited as justification for economic development incentives in particular industries. In this article, we use Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages data for coun...
The ephemeral politics of feminist accompaniment networks in Mexico City

This article examines the tension in Hannah Arendt’s thought between the creativity of political action and the worldlessness of labour in light of fieldwork with feminist activists in Mexico City....
Valuation diagramming and accounting of transactive energy systems

Transactive energy (TE) systems support both economic and technical objectives of a power system including efficiency and reliability. TE systems utilize value-driven mechanisms to coordinate and balance responsive supply and demand in the power system. Economic performance of TE systems cannot be assessed without estimating their value. Estimating the potential value of transactive energy systems requires a systematic valuation methodology that can capture value exchanges among different stakeholders (i.e., actors) and ultimately estimate impact of one TE design and compare it against another one. Such a methodology can help decision makers choose the alternative that results in preferred outcomes. This paper presents a valuation methodology developed to assess value of TE systems. A TE use-case example is discussed, and metrics identified in the valuation process are quantified using a TE simulation program.
Predicting breast cancer therapeutic response

In triple-negative breast cancer, therapeutic response to carboplatin and docetaxel is similar. However, carboplatin therapy is superior to docetaxel in patients with germline BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations, but ‘BRCAness’ does not predict sensitivity to carboplatin.
Differences in university students' motivation between a required and an elective physical activity education policy.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine differences in students’ physical activity motivation, competence, and weekly exercise metabolic equivalent units (METs) between universities with di...
Improved distance analysis in RNA using network-editing techniques for overcoming errors due to spin diffusion

Multispin magnetization transfer, or spin diffusion, is a significant source of error in NOESY-derived distance measurements for the determination of nucleic acid solution structures. The BD-NOESY and CBD-NOESY experiments, which allow the measurement of interproton distances with greatly reduced contributions from spin diffusion, have been adapted to structural analysis in RNA oligonucleotides. The techniques are applied to a lead-dependent ribozyme (LZ2). We demonstrate the measurement of both aromatic proton–aromatic proton NOEs free of spin diffusion involving the intervening ribose moieties and aromatic proton–ribose proton NOEs free of the efficient cross-relaxation within the ribose ring. In LZ2, the accuracy and precision of the resulting distances are significantly improved. We also find that, by allowing the use of longer mixing times with greater sensitivity, the experimental attenuation of spin diffusion in RNA increases the distance range of interactions that can be analyzed. This effect permits measurement of important long-range distances in LZ2 that are not accessible with standard techniques. Thus, these techniques allow the simultaneous optimization of the number, accuracy, and precision of distance constraints used for RNA structure determinations.
RESPIRATORY ADAPTATION: FISHES

ABSTRACT Changes in respiration rate (oxygen consumption) in relation to environmental alteration (both natural and man induced) may reflect how well, if at all, an organism has adjusted to a given situation. The purpose of this paper is to review the recent literature on fish respiration giving special emphasis to those papers that relate respiratory adaptation to certain environmental conditions. By adaptation we mean an adjustment of respiratory rate in responses to changed conditions. We have examined the utilitarian value of some, but not all, adaptations. In our discussion of respiratory adaptation, the experimental methodology was critically examined since the organism's response may be affected significantly by the experimental technique chosen. Major topics of discussion will include: (1) the problems associated with methodology and defining the type of metabolism being measured, (2) the effects of temperature, salinity, oxygen tension, season, nutritional state, and developmental stage on oxygen consumption, and (3) the usefulness of oxygen consumption measurements in estuarine research. To stimulate discussion and research in those areas where we feel certain weaknesses exist, a critical position was taken on several subjects.
Posttraumatic Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis of the Elbow After Occult Fracture: A Literature Review.

Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) is a disease rarely found in the elbow. In the setting of previous trauma, there are no documented reports of PVNS occurring in the posttraumatic state. We report a case of elbow PVNS in a 16-year-old male with a history of traumatic injury to the supracondylar humerus and olecranon, resulting in nondisplaced fractures, diagnosed 3 years prior to presentation. We diagnosed posttraumatic PVNS of the elbow using a combination of plain radiographs, ultrasonography, and MRI, along with an infectious, hematologic, and rheumatologic workup. This workup cumulates in open elbow debridement of synovial tumor, with pathology confirming our preoperative diagnosis of PVNS. A literature search and review of PVNS in the elbow yield only 54 results, none of which is related to previous fracture. In the neurosurgery literature, however, there is a case report of a pathological fracture of the odontoid related to PVNS.
Transoral Odontoidectomy for Decompression of Basilar Invagination

The refinements of the transoral approach to the CVJ by the senior author (A.H.M.) in the late 1970s revolutionized the treatment of CVJ pathology. At the same time, a physiological approach to CVJ management was adopted at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in 1977 based on the stability and motion dynamics of the CVJ and the site of encroachment, incorporating the transoral approach for irreducible ventral CVJ pathology. Here we describe our approach for the treatment of irreducible basilar invagination and anterior compression.
The Cheke Holo: a case study from Solomon Islands on language and religion

It is fair to say that to be one of the 11,000 speakers of the Cheke Holo language of Santa Isabel, Solomon Islands, is to be an Anglican Christian. This paper is a case study of various religious ...
Innovation and Technological Change, Economics of

We review empirical findings on the determination of R&D and R&D performance, as well as key questions that remain unaddressed. This article briefly considers the Schumpeterian hypotheses relating innovation to market structure and firm size, and considers in more depth the role of firm characteristics and industry-level variables – broadly characterized as reflecting demand, technological opportunity, and demand conditions – in affecting firms' innovative activity and performance.
Short-term effects of two deep dry needling techniques on pressure pain thresholds and electromyographic amplitude of the lumbosacral multifidus in patients with low back pain - a randomized clinical trial.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of deep dry needling (DN) with and without needle manipulation on pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) and electromyographic (EMG) amplit...
Constraints on primordial black holes from big bang nucleosynthesis revisited

As space expands, the energy density in black holes increases relative to that of radiation, providing us with motivation to consider scenarios in which the early Universe contained a significant abundance of such objects. In this study, we revisit the constraints on primordial black holes derived from measurements of the light element abundances. Black holes and their Hawking evaporation products can impact the era of big bang nucleosynthesis by altering the rate of expansion at the time of neutron-proton freeze-out, as well as by radiating mesons which can convert protons into neutrons and vice versa. Such black holes can thus enhance the primordial neutron-to-proton ratio, and increase the amount of helium that is ultimately produced. Additionally, the products of Hawking evaporation can break up helium nuclei, which both reduces the helium abundance and increases the abundance of primordial deuterium. Building upon previous work, we make use of modern deuterium and helium measurements to derive stringent constraints on black holes which evaporate in ${t}_{\mathrm{evap}}\ensuremath{\sim}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ to $\ensuremath{\sim}{10}^{13}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{s}$ (corresponding to $M\ensuremath{\sim}6\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{8}$ to $\ensuremath{\sim}2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{13}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{g}$, assuming Standard Model particle content). We also consider how physics beyond the Standard Model could impact these constraints. Due to the gravitational nature of Hawking evaporation, the rate at which a black hole evaporates, and the types of particles that are produced through this process, depend on the complete particle spectrum. Within this context, we discuss scenarios which feature a large number of decoupled degrees of freedom ( i.e., large hidden sectors), as well as models of TeV-scale supersymmetry.
Primary leaf-type ferredoxin 1 participates in photosynthetic electron transport and carbon assimilation in rice.

Ferredoxins (Fds) play a crucial role in photosynthesis by regulating the distribution of electrons to downstream enzymes. Multiple Fd genes have been annotated in the Oryza sativa L. (rice) genome; however, their specific functions are not well understood. Here, we report the functional characterization of rice Fd1. Sequence alignment, phylogenetic analysis of seven rice Fd proteins and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis showed that rice Fd1 is a primary leaf-type Fd. Electron transfer assays involving NADP+ and cytochrome c indicated that Fd1 can donate electrons from photosystem I (PSI) to ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase. Loss-of-function fd1 mutants showed chlorosis and seedling lethality at the three-leaf stage. The deficiency of Fd1 impaired photosynthetic electron transport, which affected carbon assimilation. Exogenous glucose treatment partially restored the mutant phenotype, suggesting that Fd1 plays an important role in photosynthetic electron transport in rice. In addition, the transcript levels of Fd-dependent genes were affected in fd1 mutants, and the trend was similar to that observed in fdc2 plants. Together, these results suggest that OsFd1 is the primary Fd in photosynthetic electron transport and carbon assimilation in rice.
suz12 inactivation in p53- and nf1-deficient zebrafish accelerates the onset of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors and expands the spectrum of tumor types

Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) is an epigenetic regulator of gene expression that possesses histone methyltransferase activity. PRC2 trimethylates lysine 27 of histone H3 proteins (H3K27me3) as a chromatin modification associated with repressed transcription of genes frequently involved in cell proliferation or self-renewal. Loss-of-function mutations in the PRC2 core subunit SUZ12 have been identified in a variety of tumors, including malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs). To determine the consequences of SUZ12 loss in the pathogenesis of MPNST and other cancers, we used CRISPR-Cas9 to disrupt the open reading frame of each of two orthologous suz12 genes in zebrafish: suz12a and suz12b We generated these knockout alleles in the germline of our previously described p53 (also known as tp53)- and nf1-deficient zebrafish model of MPNSTs. Loss of suz12 significantly accelerated the onset and increased the penetrance of MPNSTs compared to that in control zebrafish. Moreover, in suz12-deficient zebrafish, we detected additional types of tumors besides MPNSTs, including leukemia with histological characteristics of lymphoid malignancies, soft tissue sarcoma and pancreatic adenocarcinoma, which were not detected in p53/nf1-deficient control fish, and are also contained in the human spectrum of SUZ12-deficient malignancies identified in the AACR Genie database. The suz12-knockout tumors displayed reduced or abolished H3K27me3 epigenetic marks and upregulation of gene sets reported to be targeted by PRC2. Thus, these zebrafish lines with inactivation of suz12 in combination with loss of p53/nf1 provide a model of human MPNSTs and multiple other tumor types, which will be useful for mechanistic studies of molecular pathogenesis and targeted therapy with small molecule inhibitors.
Accurate Perception for Autonomous Driving: Application of Kalman Filter for Sensor Fusion

Object tracking is a foundation task for autonomous driving. An increasing amount of work applies the sensor fusion to facilitate the tracking results. However, sensor fusion alone still cannot reach a desirable accuracy in real road conditions, because of the sensor noises and complexity of the motion dynamics. Bearing this in mind, we propose a method that applies Kalman filter on the LiDAR and radar sensor fusion to improve the accuracy in object tracking for the autonomous driving system. We evaluate our approach on the Udacity dataset. Results demonstrate that the Kalman filter drastically improves the final measurement compared to using sensor measurement alone. The work verifies the effectiveness of employment Kalman filter to facilitate the performance of sensor fusion measurements for the autonomous driving system.
Modulating Microphase Separation of Lamellae-Forming Diblock Copolymers via Ionic Junctions

We present a molecular dynamics simulation study investigating the phase behavior of lamellae-forming diblock copolymers with a single ionic junction on the backbone. Our results show qualitative a...
OscSNS: Precision neutrino measurements at the Spallation Neutron Source

The Spallation Neutron Source (SNS), located at Oak Ridge Laboratory [1] in the United States, will be coming online over the next few years. In addition to producing fluxes of high-intensity neutrons, the interaction of the proton beam with the liquid mercury target produces copious pions. The π+ and subsequent μ+ decay at rest, providing a neutrino beam comprising νμ, νe, and anti-νμ components. This neutrino beam is ideal for high-precision neutrino experiments. OscSNS [2] is a proposed multi-purpose experiment that will perform a search for light sterile neutrinos, search for beyond the Standard Model interactions using neutrino oscillations, and provide tests of Standard Model predictions through world-record precision neutrino cross section measurements. OscSNS plans to submit a full proposal for funding in 2009.
Low diagnostic yield in follow-up MR imaging in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage with a negative initial MRI.

Follow-up MRI/MRA is historically obtained as outpatient when patients with a spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) have an initial MRI/MRA that is negative for an underlying structural lesion. However, the utility of repeating MR imaging in a delayed fashion remains uncertain. We retrospectively reviewed 396 patients with spontaneous ICH admitted at our institution between 2015 and 2017 and selected those whose initial MRI/MRA was negative for an underlying structural lesion and those who underwent follow-up MR imaging in a delayed fashion. A total of 113 patients met the study criteria. The average age of those with negative follow-up MRI/MRA was 65.0 ± 12.6 (IQR: 55.0–74.0) years old. None of the 113 patients with a negative inpatient MRI/MRA had an underlying structural lesion on follow-up MRI/MRA (0%, 95% CI 0.0–0.032, p < 0.001). The mean time of the follow-up imaging from the initial study was 105.7 days (median: 62 days; IQR: 42.5–100.5). Of the 113, 83 (73.5%) underwent follow-up MRI with and without gadolinium, while 30 (26.5%) patients did not receive gadolinium. Delayed follow-up MRI in patients with a negative initial MRI/MRA for workup of spontaneous ICH was not diagnostic in any of the patients included in the study. Our study suggests that a routine follow-up MRI for this patient population is not necessary.
Revealing Safety Risks of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in Construction

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have gained their prevalent recognition in construction because of their exceptional advantages. Despite the increasing use of UAVs in the industry and their remarka...
Racial/Ethnic Differences in Socioeconomic Status and Medical Correlates of Trial of Labor After Cesarean and Vaginal Birth After Cesarean

Objectives: Black and Latinx women have higher rates of trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC) compared with White women, but lower rates of vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC). This study examined ...
Exploring the NLRB's Jurisprudence Concerning Work Rules: Guidance on the Limits of Employer Policies to Regulate Employee Activity on Social Media

This Article reviews social media decisions and NLRB advice memoranda within the relevant NLRA regulatory scheme and the standards of review imposed by precedential decisions to offer guidance to employers crafting social media policies for their employees.
Berry derived constituents in suppressing viral infection: Potential avenues for viral pandemic management

Summary Berries are acknowledged as a rich source of major dietary antioxidants and the fact that berry phenolics exhibit antioxidant property is widely accepted. Berries are abundant in Vitamin C and polyphenols such as anthocyanins, flavonoids, and phenolic acids. Polyphenols are found to have several therapeutic effects such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. Increasing studies are focusing on natural products and their components for alternative therapeutics against viral infections. In particular, berries such as elderberry, blueberry, raspberry, and cranberry have proven to be effective against viral infections. Of note, the decoction of Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) has been shown to treat viral epidemic diseases. Owing to the rich source of various antiviral constituents, berries could be an alternative source for managing viral infections. In this review, we provide insights into how berry derived components inhibit viral infection and their clinical usefulness in viral disease management.
Relation of IETS to Other Surface Studies

Today all of us are in a situation where we must find “relevance” in our research work. For surface science, catalysis has furnished an easily identifiable subject which is relevant and may be impacted by basic surface science. It has been claimed by several speakers at this conference that IETS is applicable to catalytic problems. I will not comment upon these claims, since I do not have sufficient experience or knowledge in this area. What I will address is the potential impact of IETS upon surface physics and chemistry.
BACTERICIDAL METHOD FOR THE MEASUREMENT IN NORMAL SERUM OF ANTIBODY TO GRAM-NEGATIVE BACTERIA

Landy, Maurice (National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Md.), J. Gabriel Michael, and James L. Whitby. Bactericidal method for the measurement in normal serum of antibody to gram-negative bacteria. J. Bacteriol. 83:631–640. 1962.—The bactericidal effect of normal serum on gram-negative bacteria was investigated with the objective of determining whether this antibody-complement reaction could be used for the measurement of antibody. The major variables affecting the outcome of this complement-dependent reaction were explored systematically to establish the test conditions in which specific antibody was the limiting factor. Among these were the use of an excess of absorbed human serum as a complement source, inoculum, reaction conditions, and precise enumeration of surviving bacteria. It was demonstrated that the test conditions could be controlled so as to provide a sensitive and objective assay for antibody to representative strains of various gram-negative genera.
A Brief Reflection on the Jurisprudence of Fethullah Gulen

This piece reflects on the jurisprudence of the noted Muslim thinker, Fethullah Gulen. Although Gulen is seldom explicit in his legal analysis based on classical texts, he does have an identifiable and important approach to Islamic jurisprudence.
Things/Signs, Languages/Communication, Culture and the Costs of Consciousness: On Bottom-Up Construction of Cultural Values and New Humanism

Abstract This transdisciplinary study (involving humanities, anthropology, linguistics, and philosophy) contrasts the reductionist ideological “top-down” focus on the construction of our cultural “world” with the meandering technical “bottom-up” approach, searching for forgotten or usually omitted aspects in current studies of culture. The discovery goes from the cultural “thing theory” to semiotics, to communication, and to the emergence of human language from the biosemiotic and zoosemiotic processes of communication, in order to examine the impact of these processes on human culture and cultural theories. Finally, based on “heretical ideas” of Jan Patocka and Martin Heidegger, some philosophical implications for the new humanism and for humanities are outlined. Keywords : politics of theory, communication, “thing theory,” semiotics, ostension, culture, and humanism.
k-nearest Neighbor Classification on Spatial Data Streams Using P-trees

Classification of spatial data streams is crucial, since the training dataset changes often. Building a new classifier each time can be very costly with most techniques. In this situation, k-nearest neighbor (KNN) classification is a very good choice, since no residual classifier needs to be built ahead of time. KNN is extremely simple to implement and lends itself to a wide variety of variations. We propose a new method of KNN classification for spatial data using a new, rich, data-mining-ready structure, the Peano-count-tree (P-tree). We merely perform some AND/OR operations on P-trees to find the nearest neighbors of a new sample and assign the class label. We have fast and efficient algorithms for the AND/OR operations, which reduce the classification time significantly. Instead of taking exactly the k nearest neighbors we form a closed-KNN set. Our experimental results show closed-KNN yields higher classification accuracy as well as significantly higher speed.
Cytosolic phospholipase A2 alpha amplifies early cyclooxygenase-2 expression, oxidative stress and MAP kinase phosphorylation after cerebral ischemia in mice.

The enzyme cytosolic phospholipase A2 alpha (cPLA2α) has been implicated in the progression of cerebral injury following ischemia and reperfusion. Previous studies in rodents suggest that cPLA2α enhances delayed injury extension and disruption of the blood brain barrier many hours after reperfusion. In this study we investigated the role of cPLA2α in early ischemic cerebral injury. Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was performed on cPLA2α+/+ and cPLA2α-/- mice for 2 hours followed by 0, 2, or 6 hours of reperfusion. The levels of cPLA2α, cyclooxygenase-2, neuronal morphology and reactive oxygen species in the ischemic and contralateral hemispheres were evaluated by light and fluorescent microscopy. PGE2 content was compared between genotypes and hemispheres after MCAO and MCAO and 6 hours reperfusion. Regional cerebral blood flow was measured during MCAO and phosphorylation of relevant MAPKs in brain protein homogenates was measured by Western analysis after 6 hours of reperfusion. Neuronal cPLA2α protein increased by 2-fold immediately after MCAO and returned to pre-MCAO levels after 2 hours reperfusion. Neuronal cyclooxygenase-2 induction and PGE2 concentration were greater in cPLA2α+/+ compared to cPLA2α-/- ischemic cortex. Neuronal swelling in ischemic regions was significantly greater in the cPLA2α+/+ than in cPLA2α-/- brains (+/+: 2.2 ± 0.3 fold vs. -/-: 1.7 ± 0.4 fold increase; P < 0.01). The increase in reactive oxygen species following 2 hours of ischemia was also significantly greater in the cPLA2α+/+ ischemic core than in cPLA2α-/- (+/+: 7.12 ± 1.2 fold vs. -/-: 3.1 ± 1.4 fold; P < 0.01). After 6 hours of reperfusion ischemic cortex of cPLA2α+/+, but not cPLA2α-/-, had disruption of neuron morphology and decreased PGE2 content. Phosphorylation of the MAPKs-p38, ERK 1/2, and MEK 1/2-was significantly greater in cPLA2a+/+ than in cPLA2α-/- ischemic cortex 6 hours after reperfusion. These results indicate that cPLA2α modulates the earliest molecular and injury responses after cerebral ischemia and have implications for the potential clinical use of cPLA2α inhibitors.
An Optimistic Fair Exchange E-commerce Protocol with Automated Dispute Resolution

In this paper we propose an e-commerce protocol with the following features: (1) ensures true fair exchange, (2) does not require manual dispute resolution in case of unfair behavior by any party, (3) does not require the active involvement of a trusted third party, (4) allows the customer to verify that the product he is about to receive is the one he is paying for, and (5) can be used for the fair exchange of any two digital items.
Partial identification of spread parameters

This paper analyzes partial identification of parameters that measure a distribu- tion’s spread, for example, the variance, Gini coefficient, entropy, or interquartile range. The core results are tight, two-dimensional identification regions for the ex- pectation and variance, the median and interquartile ratio, and many other com- binations of parameters. They are developed for numerous identification settings, including but not limited to cases where one can bound either the relevant cumu- lative distribution function or the relevant probability measure. Applications in- clude missing data, interval data, “short” versus “long” regressions, contaminated data, and certain forms of sensitivity analysis. The application to missing data is worked out in some detail, including closed-form worst-case bounds on some pa- rameters as well as improved bounds that rely on nonparametric restrictions on selection effects. A brief empirical application to bounds on inequality measures is provided. The bounds are very easy to compute. The ideas underlying them are explained in detail and should be readily extended to even more settings than are explicitly discussed. Keywords. Partial identification, nonparametric bounds, missing data, sensitiv- ity analysis, variance, inequality. JEL classification. C14, C24.
In vitro assembly of poliovirus: II. Evidence for the self-assembly of 14 S particles into empty capsids

Abstract A small (14S) virus-specific particle, isolated from poliovirus-infected HeLa cells, is able to self-assemble into a 73S particle. This 73S particle, when negatively stained and examined in the electron microscope, resembles the empty capsids found in infected cells. The kinetics of the self-assembly reaction was determined and found to be similar, but not identical, to the extract-mediated assembly of 14S particles into 73S particles. The self-assembly reaction, unlike the extract-mediated reaction, exexhibits a marked dependence on the initial concentration of 14S particles. The polypeptide content of 14S particles has been determined.
Using Visual Representations as Boundary Objects to Resolve Conflict in Collaborative Model-Building Approaches

In the context of facilitated, technology-supported efforts to resolve complex problems, we recognize the critical role that visual representations can play in both the content and process of collaboration. How these representations are wielded by facilitators and interpreted by participants determines whether they help resolve conflicts or close down conversations. We identify three key attributes of scripted problem-solving facilitation, as well as three key attributes of visual representations that function as boundary objects, to gain insights into pivotal experiences when group problem-solving efforts turned from collaboration to conflict and vice versa. We draw on three vignettes from facilitated group problem solving to illustrate how these attributes can be deployed to move conflict-mired conversations into collaborative discussions. This paper contributes to collaborative problem solving by using the formal sociological theory of boundary objects to offer a deeper, richer understanding of successes and shortcomings of visual representations as drivers of conflict resolution in model-building approaches. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of molybdenum 4d hole substitution in BaFe2As2

We investigate the thermodynamic and transport properties of molybdenum-doped BaFe${}_{2}$As${}_{2}$ (122) crystals, the first report of hole doping using a 4$d$ element. The chemical substitution of Mo in place of Fe is possible up to \ensuremath{\sim} 7$%$. For Ba(Fe${}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}$Mo${}_{x}$)${}_{2}$As${}_{2}$, the suppression rate of the magnetic transition temperature with $x$ is the same as in 3$d$ Cr-doped 122 and is independent of the unit cell changes. This illustrates that the temperature-composition phase diagram for hole-doped 122 can be simply parameterized by $x$, similar to the electron-doped 122 systems found in the literature. Compared to 122 with a coupled antiferromagnetic order (${T}_{N}$) and orthorhombic structural transition (${T}_{0}$) at \ensuremath{\approx}132 K, 1.3$%$ Mo-doped 122 ($x=0.013$) gives ${T}_{N}={T}_{0}=125(1)$ K according to neutron diffraction results and features in specific heat, magnetic susceptibility, and electrical resistivity. The cell volume expands by \ensuremath{\sim}1$%$ with maximum Mo doping and ${T}_{N}$ is reduced to \ensuremath{\approx}90 K. There is a ${T}^{*}$ feature that is identified for lightly Cr- or Mo-doped 122 crystals, which is $x$ dependent. This low-temperature transition may be a trace of superconductivity.
On groundwater fluctuations, evapotranspiration, and understory removal in riparian corridors

[1] This study utilizes 7 years of continuously monitored groundwater-level data from four sites along the Rio Grande riparian corridor in central New Mexico to calculate evapotranspiration from groundwater and assess impacts of understory vegetation removal during a restoration project. Diurnal groundwater fluctuation measurements were used to compare the well-known White method for estimating evapotranspiration from groundwater (ETg) to colocated measurements of total riparian evapotranspiration (ET) measured using the eddy covariance method. On average, the two methods were linearly correlated and had similar variability, but groundwater hydrograph estimates of ETg tended to be larger than tower ET estimates. Average ETg estimates for two wells at one site ranged from 91.45% to 164.77% of measured tower ET estimates, but were also shown to range from 57.35% to 254.34% at another site. Comparisons between the methods improved with deeper water tables, reduced groundwater and river connectivity, and where soil profiles were dominated by coarse-sized particles. Using a range of texture-based estimates of specific yield (Sy) with water table position improves the field application of the White method. River-induced fluctuations in groundwater increased the variability of ETg measurements. Removal of understory vegetation at one site resulted in a small but significant reduction in diel groundwater fluctuation amplitude of 19–21%. Caution is required when understory vegetation removal is used as a means to decrease overall riparian ET. Diel groundwater fluctuation amplitudes can be useful in gauging the hydrological effects of vegetation removal. Riparian groundwater hydrographs are critical to investigating the hydrologic connectivity between river and shallow groundwater, the temporal patterns of vegetative consumption, and monitoring changes to the vegetation community.
Playful tools, serious questions

The Interactive Multimedia Playroom is a tool for investigating the perception tool for investigating our perception of various acoustic properties of sounds triggered by the user through barcode technology. 3 different 3-D grids sorting bins in Playroom sort the clips by mood, properties, sound-image interaction, and by indicating color associations. The tool function at various levels such as to encourage users to discriminate between subtle differences in acoustic properties of sound and to test the relevance and accuracy of descriptors used by acoustic researchers. The design installation has various components such as computers and software for triggering the playing of the media, databases, sorting labels, explanatory texts, reference material, illustrative props, and video camera. Playroom project also includes more automated data collection, easier re-assignments of clips, newer database forms for clip information, and clarification of terminology.
Revised Version of the Guessing-Strategy Hypothesis for the Bransford-Franks Paradigm:

The guessing-strategy hypothesis for the Bransford-Franks paradigm was tested by using both old and new items derived from concepts which differed in the number of elements each contained (“concept size”). Subjects clearly discriminated old from new items across sizes; moreover the pattern of recognition ratings for new items was approximately the inverse of ratings for old items. Since these findings did not accord with the guessing-strategy hypothesis, a revised version was offered which takes into account the ability of subjects to recognize specific items.
Engineered microbial systems for enhanced conversion of lignocellulosic biomass

In order for plant biomass to become a viable feedstock for meeting the future demand for liquid fuels, efficient and cost-effective processes must exist to breakdown cellulosic materials into their primary components. A one-pot conversion strategy or, consolidated bioprocessing, of biomass into ethanol would provide the most cost-effective route to renewable fuels and the realization of this technology is being actively pursued by both multi-disciplinary research centers and industrialists working at the very cutting edge of the field. Although a diverse range of bacteria and fungi possess the enzymatic machinery capable of hydrolyzing plant-derived polymers, none discovered so far meet the requirements for an industrial strength biocatalyst for the direct conversion of biomass to combustible fuels. Synthetic biology combined with a better fundamental understanding of enzymatic cellulose hydrolysis at the molecular level is enabling the rational engineering of microorganisms for utilizing cellulosic materials with simultaneous conversion to fuel.