cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Avoidable Maritime Conflict: Disputes Regarding Military Activities in the Exclusive Economic Zone

Approximately 36 percent of the world’s oceans are in the 200-nm Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs), 75 percent of the population lives within 100 miles of a coast and more than half of the known oil reserves are located there. It’s also the most likely area for maritime engagements, including piratical attacks and terrorist strikes. An unfortunate category of confrontations in the EEZ have occurred, not from criminals or terrorists, but as a result of varying interpretations of the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) (1982). The EP-3 and USNS IMPECCABLE incidents between the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the United States (U.S.) underscore the gravity of this relatively new, deadly and entirely avoidable issue.
Barrett esophagus-associated small cell carcinoma.

F many years, the most common malignant tumor of the esophagus was the squamous cell type; it was said to constitute more than 90% of all carcinomas in classic textbooks of pathology. In the last decade, however, there has been a dramatic change in the incidence of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. During the past 5 years, squamous cell carcinomas accounted for 60% and adenocarcinomas for 38% of all carcinomas at our institution.1 The main reason for the rise in incidence of adenocarcinoma has been the recognition of Barrett esophagus. It is now widely accepted that there is a sequence of events, starting with chronic gastroesophageal reflux, that cause inflammation and ulceration of the lower esophagus. The reparative process yields a metaplastic epithelium, socalled columnar-lined esophagus, consistent with intestinal epithelium with goblet cells (Barrett esophagus). The incidence of malignancy in patients with Barrett esophagus is about 3%.2 Most Barrett esophagus–associated cancers are adenocarcinomas; there is a small group of Barrett esophagus–
Inventing Equal Opportunity: Chapter One

In 1961, John F. Kennedy decreed that companies wanting to do business with the federal government would have to take affirmative action to end discrimination. The year after Kennedy’s assassination, Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, outlawing discrimination in education, housing, public accommodations, and employment. No one could have anticipated the effects of these mandates on the workplace. Not a single sentence remains from the corporate personnel manual of 1960. Firms have changed how they recruit, hire, discipline, evaluate, compensate, and fire workers.
Eigenvalue bounds for Schrödinger operators with complex potentials. III

Laptev and Safronov conjectured that any non-positive eigenvalue of a Schrodinger operator -Δ+V in L^2 (R^ν) with complex potential has absolute value at most a constant times ||V||^(γ+ν/2)/γ)_(γ+ν/2) for 0 < γ ≤ ν/2 in dimension ν ≥ 2. We prove this conjecture for radial potentials if 0 < γ < ν/2 and we ‘almost disprove’ it for general potentials if 1/2 < γ < ν/2. In addition, we prove various bounds that hold, in particular, for positive eigenvalues.
Genetic relationships between several autogenous and anautogenous populations of the Aedes (Stg.) scutellaris group of mosquitoes.

Genetic affinities between several species or populations of the Aedes (Stg.) scutellaris group of mosquitoes were studied by comparison of insemination rates, fecundity, egg fertility, and larva-to-adult survival of parental and crossbred populations. Results indicated that 4 autogenous populations from Niue and the Tonga islands [ Ae. cooki, Ae. tabu, Ae. sp. (Tafahi) and Ae. sp. (Niuafo'ou)] are closely related and belong to a single polymorphic species. They are specifically distinct from Ae. scutellaris malayensis , as well as from Ae. polynesiensis and Ae. pseudoscutellaris . However, they are more closely related to the latter 2 species than they are to Ae. s. malayensis . Genetic affinities are correlated with the geographic proximity of the origins of these experimental colonies.
Rorschach EB as a Predictor of Imaging Style

60 university students were administered the Rorschach inkblot test and the Verbalizer-Visualizer Questionnaire (VVQ). No significant linear relationships were found between Rorschach scores involving human movement and color responses (EB, M, Sum weighted C, and EA) and scores on the questionnaire. Also, no significant nonlinear relationship was found between Rorschach EB scores and scores on the questionnaire. Rorschach's hypothesis of a relationship between imagery types and Rorschach EB is brought into question.
The Power of Empowerment Energizing and Unleashing Human Potential

King Solomon, the icon of wisdom, is reported to have remarked that there is nothing new under the sun. Everything in God's creation has always been around us. What changes is our perception and awareness of them. At any instant, we notice some things and overlook many others. As time marches on, we stumble across (or discover!) facets of the universe we had not noticed earlier. They may appear new to us, but in fact, they are as ageless as creation itself.Empowerment is an example. Though some may proclaim it to be a new management tool, its underlying principles are, in fact, timeless—albeit largely ignored in our day-to-day conduct. It was always known that, among all the resources at management's command, it is only people who are blessed with an extraordinarily creative mind with infinite potential. There is no limit to what they can think of and accomplish. Given the right environment, they can overcome all challenges and excel at whatever they undertake to achieve. In essence, they are the real sou...
Reliability analysis of spin transfer torque based look up tables under process variations and NBTI aging

Abstract Spin transfer torque (STT) switching realized using a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) device has shown great potential for low power and non-volatile storage. A prime application of MTJs is in building non-volatile look up tables (LUT) used in reconfigurable logic. Such LUTs use a hybrid integration of CMOS transistors and MTJ devices. This paper discusses the reliability of STT based LUTs under transistor and MTJ variations in nano-scale. The sources of process variations include both the CMOS device related variations and the MTJ variations. A key part of the STT based LUTs is the sense amplifier needed for reading out the MTJ state. We compare the voltage and current based sensing schemes in terms of the power, performance, and reliability metrics. Based on our simulation results in a 16 nm bulk CMOS, for the same total device area, the voltage sensing scheme offers 17% to 28% lower failure rates under combined intra-die transistor and MTJ variations, comparable delay, and 56% lower active power compared to the current sensing scheme. Moreover, we compare the reliability of the two sensing schemes under negative bias temperature instability (NBTI) of PMOS transistors. Our results indicate that the failures rates increase over time by transistor aging for both designs, and the voltage sensing scheme maintains its improved failure rate over to the current sensing scheme.
Contribution of Paretic and Nonparetic Limb Peak Propulsive Forces to Changes in Walking Speed in Individuals Poststroke

Background. Recent rehabilitation efforts after stroke often focus on increasing walking speed because it is associated with quality of life. For individuals poststroke, propulsive force generated ...
Epidemiological analysis of HIV/AIDS in Yongjia County,Zhejiang Province,during 2004-2011

Objective To provide scientific evidences for the work of HIV/AIDS control by analysis of AIDS epidemic in Yongjia County.Methods Data of AIDS cases of Yongjia County during 2004-2011 educed from Diseases Reporting Information System were analyzed by Excel and SPSS.Results AIDS epidemic was on the rise significantly.Most of migrant population were civilian workers and commercial service providers,between 20 to 39 years old,which had insufficient educational background.The main communication way was heterosexual intercourse.Conclusions There is an obvious rising trend in AIDS prevalence.We should strengthen interventions to those civilian workers and commercial service providers with insufficient educational background,enhance the publicity on the knowledge of prevention and control of AIDS,and popularize condoms use to control the AIDS epidemic.
Determination of dicyandiamide in milk and dairy products using porous graphitic carbon column and high performance liquid chromatography- triple quadrupole mass spectrometry

Objective A rapid HPLC-MS /MS method is established for the quantification of dicyandiamide in milk and dairy products. Methods After sample was extracted with acetonitrile – H2O( 8∶ 2,v / v),the extraction was cleaned-up by passing through a NH2SPE cartridge. The dicyandiamide was separated on a hypercarb column( porous graphitic carbon) using gradient elution with methanol and 2. 0 mmol / L ammonium acetate in water,detected by the positive electrospray ionization-MS /MS method under MRM mode,and quantified by a stable isotope dilution method using the dicyandiamide-15N4 as the internal standard. Results The average recoveries were 84. 2% ~ 90. 5%,96. 4% ~ 105% and 97. 5% ~ 101% for dicyandiamide in formula baby milk powder,sweetened whole milk powder and milk,with RSDs of 2. 3% ~ 5. 6%,2. 7% ~ 7. 5% and 2. 4% ~3. 4%( n = 6),respectively. The quantitation limits of the dicyandiamide in both of formula baby milk powder and sweetened whole milk powder were 10 μg / kg,and that in milk was 5 μg / kg. Conclusion The method was sensitive and selective,it has been successfully applied to the measurement of dicyandiamide in milk and dairy products.
Receptors that couple to 2 classes of G proteins increase cAMP and activate CFTR expressed in Xenopus oocytes

The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), a Cl- channel activated by phosphorylation, was expressed in Xenopus oocytes along with various combinations of several other components of the cAMP signalling pathway. Activation of the coexpressed beta 2 adrenergic receptor increased cAMP and led to CFTR activation. The activation of CFTR (1) requires only short (15 s) exposure to isoproterenol, (2) occurs for agonist concentrations 100-1000 fold lower than those that produce cAMP increases detectable by a radioimmunoassay, (3) requires injection of only 5 pg of receptor cRNA per oocyte, and (4) can be increased further by coexpression of cRNA for adenylyl cyclase type II or III or for Gs alpha. In addition, CFTR activation and cAMP increases by beta 2 activation were enhanced by activation of the coexpressed 5HT1A receptor, which is thought to couple to Gi. The additional activation by the 5HT1A receptor was enhanced by coexpression of adenylyl cyclase type II but not with type III and may proceed via the beta gamma subunits of a G protein. The sensitivity of the assay system is also demonstrated by responses to vasoactive intestinal peptide and to pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide in oocytes injected with cerebral cortex mRNA.
A proposal for monitoring patients with heart failure via “smart phone technology”-based electrocardiograms

The ubiquitous smart phone/device technology (SPT) has enabled the safe acquisition/transmission (A/T) of clinical and laboratory patient data, including the electrocardiogram (ECG). SPT-based A/T of the ECG has been found useful in the detection of atrial fibrillation, in monitoring of the QTc interval, in patients undergoing antiarrhythmic drug loading, and in management of patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Previous work has shown a relationship between changes in the voltage of the ECG QRS complexes, with perturbations in the edematous state of various etiologies, including heart failure (HF). It is proposed herein to employ serially SPT-based 3-lead ECG A/T for the monitoring and management of patients with HF in their ambient environment. The proposed method will enable patients with HF to acquire/transmit their 3-lead ECG to the caring HF team, using only their smart phone and it takes into consideration the advanced degrees of physical incapacitation and age-related infirmities inherent to the HF population.
On the Observation of Squeezing and Sub-Poissonian Photon Statistics by Homodyne Detection

Let a be the photon annihilation operator of a fixed radiation mode of frequency ω, and write a = a1 + ia2 for selfadjoint a1,a2.
THE ROLE OF PANAMANIAN GRANDMOTHERS IN FAMILY SYSTEMS THAT INCLUDE GRANDCHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

With the increased emphasis on identifying support sources when crises occur in the family, grandparents are emerging as having the potential to fulfill this role. In the United States, the literature indicates that grandparents are willing to assume an increased role with regard to fostering health, emotional well‐being, and developmental needs of their grandchildren. In Panama, grandmothers are living in closer proximity to their families and are more accessible to their grandchild. Does this result in changes in grandmothers’ involvement when there is a child with disability? To investigate this question, we interviewed 30 grandmothers of grandchildren with disabilities, and their roles were explored. Results indicated that Panamanian grandmothers were involved in many aspects of care, were not initially informed about the grandchild's condition, expressed sorrow and concerns for the future of their grandchild, and they reported love and affection as the most effective way of reaching the child. On the...
Collaboration at the Heart of Innovation

Much has been written regarding the long history of collaboration between the pharmaceutical industry and academia. These collaborations have led to the production, Food and Drug Administration (FDA)2 approval, and widespread use of a myriad of pharmaceutical agents. Traditionally, industry has primarily relied upon academia for the identification of novel drug targets and subsequently to conduct clinical trials to evaluate the safety and efficacy of manufactured products. Academia and industry have differing primary motivations—dissemination vs profit—but share the common goal of advancing healthcare. In the emerging age of “open-access” science, new models for partnership have evolved. Private-public partnerships (PPPs) and mixed consortiums are gaining strength and are examples of how “shared science” can accelerate the rate of discovery and innovation. …
Ultra-high throughput detection (1 million droplets per second) of fluorescent droplets using a cell phone camera and time domain encoded optofluidics

Droplet-based assays—in which ultra-sensitive molecular measurements are made by performing millions of parallel experiments in picoliter droplets—have generated enormous enthusiasm due to their single molecule resolution and robustness to reaction conditions. These assays have great untapped potential for point of care diagnostics but are currently confined to laboratory settings due to the instrumentation necessary to serially generate, control, and measure tens of millions of droplets. To address this challenge, we have developed the microdroplet megascale detector (μMD) that can generate and detect the fluorescence of millions of droplets per second (1000× faster than conventional approaches) using only a conventional cell phone camera. The key innovation of our approach is borrowed from the telecommunications industry, wherein we modulate the excitation light with a pseudorandom sequence that enables individual droplets to be resolved that would otherwise overlap due to the limited frame rate of digital cameras. Using this approach, the μMD measures droplets at a rate of 106 droplets per sec (ϕ = 166 mL h−1) in 120 parallel microfluidic channels and achieves a limit of detection LOD = 1 μM Rhodamine dye, sufficient for typical droplet based assays. We incorporate this new droplet detection technology with our previously reported parallelized droplet production strategy, incorporating 200 parallel droplet makers and only one set of continuous and droplet phase inputs and one output line. By miniaturizing and integrating droplet based diagnostics into a handheld format, the μMD platform can translate ultra-sensitive droplet based assays into a self-contained platform for practical use in clinical and industrial settings.
Understanding the impact of membrane properties and transport phenomena on the energetic performance of membrane distillation desalination

Abstract Direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) is a thermal desalination process that is capable of treating high salinity waters using low-grade heat. As a water treatment process, DCMD has several advantages, including the utilization of waste heat (below 100 ℃ ), perfect rejection of nonvolatile solutes, low areal footprint, and high scalability. However, the energy efficiency of DCMD is relatively low compared to other work-based and thermal desalination processes. In this study, we aim to quantify how membrane properties and process conditions affect the exergy or second-law efficiency ( η II ) of a DCMD desalination system with external heat recovery. In particular, we analyze how the membrane permeability coefficient ( B ) and thermal conduction coefficient ( K ) impact MD performance. We show that increasing the B value of a membrane by reducing its thickness, initially leads to an increase in η II before conductive heat loss through the membrane causes η II to fall. For a typical MD membrane with a porosity of 0.90 , material thermal conductivity of 0.20 W m − 1 K − 1 , and a nominal pore diameter of 0.6 μ m , we find that the optimal permeability coefficient is 1.59 × 10 − 6 kg m − 2 s − 1 Pa − 1 ( 572 kg m − 2 h − 1 bar − 1 ). This value corresponds to an optimal membrane thickness of around 95 μ m . Our analysis stresses the importance of effective heat recovery in DCMD. We show that an external heat exchanger with a minimum approach temperature of 5 ℃ reduces energy consumption by 72 % . Finally, we demonstrate that increasing the ratio B / K , rather than just the B value, is key to increasing the exergy efficiency of DCMD desalination. For example, increasing membrane porosity from 0.70 to 0.90 , which yields a 160 % increase in B / K , leads to a 42 % increase in η II from 5.3 % to 7.6 % . The advantages of reducing the bulk pressure ( P ) in the membrane pores are also explored. For a typical membrane, halving P from 1.0 bar to 0.5 ⁢ bar , results in a 21 % increase in η II from 7.0 % to 9.2 % . We conclude by identifying that the maximum exergy efficiency achievable as membrane porosity tends to unity is 10 % for a bulk membrane pressure of 1.0 bar and 12 % for a bulk membrane pressure of 0.5 bar , given perfect heat recovery.
Second generation multiple reaction monitoring assays for enhanced detection of ultra-low abundance Mycobacterium tuberculosis peptides in human serum

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is the causative agent of Tuberculosis (TB), the number one cause of death due to an infectious disease. TB diagnosis is performed by microscopy, culture or PCR amplification of bacterial DNA, all of which require patient sputum or the biopsy of infected tissue. Detection of mycobacterial products in serum, as biomarkers of diagnosis or disease status would provide an improvement over current methods. Due to the low-abundance of mycobacterial products in serum, we have explored exosome enrichment to improve sensitivity. Mtb resides intracellularly where its secreted proteins have been shown to be packaged into host exosomes and released into the bloodstream. Exosomes can be readily purified assuring an enrichment of mycobacterial analytes from the complex mix of host serum proteins. Multiple reaction monitoring assays were optimized for the enhanced detection of 41 Mtb peptides in exosomes purified from the serum of individuals with TB. Exosomes isolated from the serum of healthy individuals was used to create and validate a unique data analysis algorithm and identify filters to reduce the rate of false positives, attributed to host m/z interference. The final optimized method was tested in 40 exosome samples from TB positive patients. Our enhanced methods provide limit of detection and quantification averaging in the low femtomolar range for detection of mycobacterial products in serum. At least one mycobacterial peptide was identified in 92.5% of the TB positive patients. Four peptides from the Mtb proteins, Cfp2, Mpt32, Mpt64 and BfrB, show normalized total peak areas significantly higher in individuals with active TB as compared to healthy controls; three of the peptides from these proteins have not previously been associated with serum exosomes from individuals with active TB disease. Some of the detected peptides were significantly associated with specific geographical locations, highlighting potential markers that can be linked to the Mtb strains circulating within each given region. An enhanced MRM method to detect ultra-low abundance Mtb peptides in human serum exosomes is demonstrated, highlighting the potential of this methodology for TB diagnostic biomarker development.
2-Chlorofatty acids induce Weibel-Palade body mobilization

Abstract Endothelial dysfunction is a hallmark of multiple inflammatory diseases. Leukocyte interactions with the endothelium have significant effects on vascular wall biology and pathophysiology. Myeloperoxidase (MPO)-derived oxidant products released from leukocytes are potential mediators of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. 2-Chlorofatty acids (2-ClFAs) are produced as a result of MPO-derived HOCl targeting plasmalogen phospholipids. Chlorinated lipids have been shown to be associated with multiple inflammatory diseases, but their impact on surrounding endothelial cells has not been examined. This study tested the biological properties of the 2-ClFA molecular species 2-chlorohexadecanoic acid (2-ClHA) on endothelial cells. A synthetic alkyne analog of 2-ClHA, 2-chlorohexadec-15-ynoic acid (2-ClHyA), was used to examine the subcellular localization of 2-ClFA in human coronary artery endothelial cells. Click chemistry experiments revealed that 2-ClHyA localizes to Weibel-Palade bodies. 2-ClHA and 2-ClHyA promote the release of P-selectin, von Willebrand factor, and angiopoietin-2 from endothelial cells. Functionally, 2-ClHA and 2-ClHyA cause neutrophils to adhere to and platelets to aggregate on the endothelium, as well as increase permeability of the endothelial barrier which has been tied to the release of angiopoietin-2. These findings suggest that 2-ClFAs promote endothelial cell dysfunction, which may lead to broad implications in inflammation, thrombosis, and blood vessel stability.
Leveraging spectral sparsity to realize enhanced separation of gas-phase ion populations

Abstract When coupled with mass spectrometry, gas-phase ion mobility can enable the separation of isomers provided sufficient resolution. However, traditional limits on drift tube ion mobility resolution have been imposed by thermal diffusion and the duration of the initial ion gate pulse width. We demonstrate the first application of a post processing technique, specifically basis pursuit denoising (BPDN), for multiplexed IMS–MS experiments that not only minimizes data acquisition times, but realizes resolutions that exceed traditional predicted values. The multiplexing waveform used was based upon linear frequency modulation of the ion gate producing an ion gate pulsing sequence with a 50% duty cycle. This pulsing sequence further maximizes ion transmission and improved ion statistics in the m/z domain. Traditional, single pulse (signal averaged) and multiplexing IMS acquisitions demonstrate lowered resolution at extended ion gate pulse widths and minimizing this parameter results in decreased sensitivity from gate depletion effects and lowered ion gate duty cycle. Signal processing techniques involving BPDN was demonstrated on experimentally acquired IMS–MS data using the diastereoisomer ractopamine which exhibits two distinct gas-phase conformations with K0 values differing by 0.022 cm2 V−1 s−1. Systematically adjusting the experimental parameters related to effective ion gate pulse width, we illustrate the capacity of this method to yield peak resolutions >1.0 for ion gate pulse widths that routinely yield unresolved arrival time distributions utilizing standard deconvolution procedures or equivalent gate pulse widths that utilize traditional signal averaged IMS datasets. When viewed from the perspective of a single peak, BPDN can increase the observed resolving power by more than a factor of 2. Because resolution and ion throughput are simultaneously maximized, the application of this optimization method represents a fundamentally different approach to multiplexed IMS signal processing.
Automated Telephone Counseling for Parents of Overweight Children A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background Interactive technologies have the potential to increase the reach and frequency of practical clinical interventions that assist the parents of overweight and at-risk children to promote healthy lifestyle behaviors for their families. Design A practical RCT evaluated the relative effectiveness of three interventions to support parents of overweight or at-risk children to change the home environment to foster more healthful child eating and activity behaviors, thereby reducing child BMI and BMI z-scores. A secondary purpose was to determine the patterns of use and potential dose effect for the highest-intensity intervention. Setting/participants Parent-and-child (aged 8–12 years) dyads (N=220) who received care from Kaiser Permanente Colorado were assigned randomly to one of the three Family Connections (FC) interventions: FC-workbook, FC-group, or FC-interactive voice response (IVR) counseling. Main outcome measures Child BMI z-scores, as well as symptoms of eating disorders and body image, were assessed at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Results The BMI z-scores of children assigned to the FC-IVR intervention were the only ones that decreased from baseline to 6 months (0.07 SD) and from baseline to 12 months (0.08 SD, p Conclusions This trial demonstrated that automated telephone counseling can support the parents of overweight children to reduce the extent to which their children are overweight. Trial registration NCT00433901
The Power of Algorithms: The Accuracy of Algorithms and How People Perceive Them

Technological advances have changed the information processing power of organizations, collecting and analyzing more "big data" than ever before. As these new tools proliferate it becomes critical ...
Managemt of Apple Blister Spot Caused by Streptomycin-Resistant Populations of Pseudomonas Syringae pv. papulans

In 1992, 34% of the Pseudomonas syringae pv. papulans (PSP) were resistant to streptomycin in a Mutsu apple orchard where streptomycin was regularly sprayed. The resistance determinant in PSP was detected on plasmids of either 94 or 132 kb which transferred among PSP at very iow frequencies or not at all In contrast, prominent resistance plasmids of 83 or 93 kb were carried by a common foliar and fruit epiphyte (a non fluorescent yellow Pseudomonas sp., closely related to P. syringae) and were transferred to PSP at very high frequencies (> 10-1(H per recipient). Applications of streptomycin in the orchard reduced the total number of epiphytic PSP and increased the proportion of resistant strains up to 99.3%. The proportion significantly declined after overwintering in both streptomycin-treated and untreated plots indicating that resistant strains have reduced fitness. Treatments were tested for control of PSP in the orchard four years after the last use of streptomycin (12.8% of PSP resistant). Aiiette plus streptomycin and streptomycin plus terramycin gave the best control. Aliette plus potassium bicarbonate and streptomycin alone also provided satisfactory control. Aliette and Quest, a water conditioning agent, demonstrated strong bactericidal effect on P. syringae pv. papulans in vitro. Buffers and commercial spray compounds were tested for their effect on the bactericidal activity of streptomycin. Activity was greatly reduced when streptomycin was dissolved in phosphate (0.02 M) containing liquids or when mixed with Cor-Ciear (34.5% Ca), Quest, or Nutra-Phos 24 (a foliar fertilizer).
Predicting Rutting Performance of Flexible Airfield Pavements Using a Coupled Viscoelastic-Viscoplastic-Cap Constitutive Relationship

AbstractRutting performance of airfield pavements is predicted using mechanistic-based constitutive relationships for both asphalt and granular layers. Pavement analysis using nonlinear damage appr...
A Reinforcement Learning Based Resource Management Approach for Time-critical Workloads in Distributed Computing Environment

Many data analyzing applications highly rely on timely response from execution, and are referred as time-critical data analyzing applications. Due to frequent appearing of gigantic amount of data and analytical computations, running them on large scale distributed computing environments is often advantageous. The workload of big data applications is often hybrid, i.e., contains a combination of time-critical and regular non-time-critical applications. Resource management for hybrid workloads in complex distributed computing environment is becoming more critical and needs more studies. However, it is difficult to design rule-based approaches best suited for such complex scenarios because many complicated characteristics need to be taken into account.Therefore, we present an innovative reinforcement learning (RL) based resource management approach for hybrid workloads in distributed computing environment. We utilize neural networks to capture desired resource management model, use reinforcement learning with designed value definition to gradually improve the model and use e-greedy methodology to extend exploration along the reinforcement process. The extensive experiments show that our obtained resource management solution through reinforcement learning is able to greatly surpass the baseline rule-based models. Specifically, the model is good at reducing both the missing deadline occurrences for time-critical applications and lowering average job delay for all jobs in the hybrid workloads. Our reinforcement learning based approach has been demonstrated to be able to provide an efficient resource manager for desired scenarios.
Food insecurity, childhood hunger and caregiver life experiences among households with children in South Carolina, USA.

Objective We explored how positive and negative life experiences of caregivers are associated with household food insecurity. Design The Midlands Family Study (MFS) was a cross-sectional study with three levels of household food security: food secure, food insecure without child hunger and food insecure with child hunger. Ordinal logistic regression analysis was used for analyses of negative and positive life experiences (number, impact, type) associated with food insecurity. Setting An eight-county region in South Carolina, USA, in 2012-2013. Participants Caregivers (n 511) in households with children. Results Caregivers who reported greater numbers of negative life experiences and greater perceived impact had increased odds of household food insecurity and reporting their children experienced hunger. Each additional negative life experience count of the caregiver was associated with a 16 % greater odds of food insecurity without child hunger and a 28 % greater odds of child hunger. Each one-unit increase in the negative impact score (e.g. a worsening) was associated with 8 % higher odds of food insecurity without child hunger and 12 % higher odds of child hunger. Negative work experiences or financial instability had the strongest association (OR = 1·8; 95 % CI 1·5, 2·2) with child hunger. Positive life experiences were generally not associated with food security status, with one exception: for each unit increase in the number of positive experiences involving family and other relationships, the odds of child hunger decreased by 22 %. Conclusions More research is needed to understand approaches to build resilience against negative life experiences and strengthen positive familial, community and social relationships.
Deep Intact Proteoform Characterization in Human Cell Lysate Using High-pH and Low-pH Reversed-Phase Liquid Chromatography

Post-translational modifications (PTMs) play critical roles in biological processes and have significant effects on the structures and dynamics of proteins. Top-down proteomics methods were developed for and applied to the study of intact proteins and their PTMs in human samples. However, the large dynamic range and complexity of human samples makes the study of human proteins challenging. To address these challenges, we developed a 2D pH RP/RPLC-MS/MS technique that fuses high-resolution separation and intact protein characterization to study the human proteins in HeLa cell lysate. Our results provide a deep coverage of soluble proteins in human cancer cells. Compared to 225 proteoforms from 124 proteins identified when 1D separation was used, 2778 proteoforms from 628 proteins were detected and characterized using our 2D separation method. Many proteoforms with critically functional PTMs including phosphorylation were characterized. Additionally, we present the first detection of intact human GcvH proteoforms with rare modifications such as octanoylation and lipoylation. Overall, the increase in the number of proteoforms identified using 2DLC separation is largely due to the reduction in sample complexity through improved separation resolution, which enables the detection of low-abundance PTM-modified proteoforms. We demonstrate here that 2D pH RP/RPLC is an effective technique to analyze complex protein samples using top-down proteomics.
Risk factors for delirium after esophagectomy.

INTRODUCTION Postoperative delirium is a common complication after major surgical procedures and affects outcomes and long-term survival. We identified factors associated with postoperative delirium in patients undergoing esophagectomy. METHODS Retrospective cohort analysis of 378 patients undergoing esophagectomy. We examined the association between postoperative delirium (DSM-V) criteria with respect to baseline variables and postoperative complications. RESULTS Postoperative delirium was diagnosed in 64 (16.93%) patients and associated with increasing age (P < .05), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (P = .07), pneumonia (P = .01), transfusion intraoperatively or within 72 hours of surgery (P < .001), and sepsis (P = .001). Unplanned intubation and increased length of stay (median, 14 days) were significant in patients with delirium (P = .001 and P < .001, respectively). In a secondary analysis, surgical technique and operative approach were associated with delirium. Modified McKeown (three-hole) esophagectomy was twice more likely to develop delirium compared with Ivor Lewis (odds ratio [OR], 2.09; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-4.23). The strongest association was found between delirium and open techniques (thoracotomy and laparotomy) as compared with minimally invasive techniques (thoracoscopy and laparoscopy) (OR, 2.66; 95% CI, 1.22-5.76). Survival was similar between both groups. CONCLUSIONS Postoperative delirium is common and associated with complications following esophagectomy. Identification of predisposing factors such as age and pre-existing pulmonary diseases and proper selection of surgical treatment may reduce delirium and improve surgical outcomes.
Analysis of fission product distribution and composition in the TRISO layers of AGR-2 fuel

Abstract The Advanced Gas Reactor Fuel Qualification and Development Program's second irradiation experiment focuses on the performance of fuel particles produced in an industrial-scale coating system. Ongoing post-irradiation examination efforts include exploration of tristructural-isotropic (TRISO)-coated particle fuel in the as-irradiated state and subjected to elevated temperatures to simulate accident conditions (safety testing). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis with energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) was used to show the distribution of fission products within the TRISO layers. The SEM analysis showed a variation of fission product distribution within the TRISO layers based on irradiation temperature, burnup, individual particle fission product inventory retention, safety testing history and kernel composition. A key observation is that particles which likely experienced higher temperature showed a greater diversity and distribution of fission products and actinides in the IPyC and SiC layers, implying that temperature is a dominant variable influencing the transport of radionuclides in TRISO particles.
Stability and robustness analysis of minmax solutions for differential graphical games

Abstract Recent studies have shown that, in general, Nash equilibrium cannot be achieved by the players of a differential graphical game by using distributed control policies. Alternative solution concepts that do not necessarily lead to Nash equilibrium can be proposed to allow the players in the game determine distributed optimal strategies. This paper analyzes the performance properties of the solution concept regarded as minmax strategies. The minmax formulation is shown to provide distributed control policies for linear systems under mild assumptions. The stability and robustness characteristics of the proposed solution are studied in terms of gain and phase margins, and related to the robustness properties of the single-agent LQR controller. The results of our analysis are finally tested by means of a simulation example.
Multiplex recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) assay developed using unique genomic regions and coupled with a lateral flow device for rapid on-site detection of genus Clavibacter and C. nebraskensis

ABSTRACT Clavibacter is an agriculturally important bacterial genus comprising nine host-specific species/subspecies including C. nebraskensis (Cn), which causes Goss’s wilt and blight of maize. A robust, simple, and field-deployable method is required to specifically detect Cn in infected plants and distinguish it from other Clavibacter species for quarantine purposes and timely disease management. A multiplex Recombinase Polymerase Amplification (RPA) coupled with a Lateral Flow Device (LFD) was developed for sensitive and rapid detection of Clavibacter and Cn directly from infected host. Unique and conserved genomic regions, the ABC transporter ATP-binding protein CDS/ABC-transporter permease and the MFS transporter gene, were used to design primers/probes for specific detection of genus Clavibacter and Cn, respectively. The assay was evaluated using 52 strains, representing all nine species/subspecies of Clavibacter, other closely related bacterial species, and naturally- and artificially-infected plant samples; no false positives or negatives were detected. The RPA reactions were also incubated in a closed hand at body temperature; results were again specific. The assay does not require DNA isolation and can be directly performed using host sap. The detection limit of 10 pg and 100 fg was determined for Clavibacter- and Cn-specific primers/probes, respectively. The detection limit for Cn-specific primer/probe set was decreased to 1,000 fg when 1 µL of host sap was added into the RPA reaction containing 10-fold serially diluted genomic DNA; though no effect was observed on Clavibacter-specific primer/probe set. The assay is accurate and has applications at point-of-need diagnostics. This is the first multiplex RPA for any plant pathogen. IMPORTANCE Clavibacter species are prevalent worldwide as have the potential to result in systemic infection. In the past, detection attempts have relied on both molecular- and immunological-based assays; however, current detection methods are time consuming and laborious. Field-deployable tests are desirable to identify potential samples infected with Clavibacter species. This study demonstrates that the field-deployable isothermal multi-target recombinase polymerase amplification can be performed for the simultaneous detection of the genus Clavibacter in general (all species), and C. nebraskensis, in particular, without specialized equipment. Additionally, the multiplex RPA coupled with a LFD may confer the benefits of faster detection and discrimination of Clavibacter species that affect critical regions susceptible to infection. This user-friendly format offers a flexible assay to complement both nucleic acid amplification and novel diagnosis methods without the need for DNA purification; this assay may serve as a point-of-reference for developing multiplex RPA assay for other plant pathogens.
Clinical performance of the aptima HPV assay in 4196 women with positive high-risk HPV and ASC-US cytology: A large women hospital experience.

Background Despite Aptima assay as the latest US Food Drug Administration (FDA)-approved high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) test has been implemented as an adjunct in cervical cancer screening for years, histological follow-up data remain limited with respect to its performance in women with ASC-US Pap tests and positive hrHPV results. Methods Cases with results of ASC-US cytology and positive hrHPV by Aptima assay during the period 06/ 2015-02/2017 were retrieved from archived pathology reports. Immediate histological follow-up results were analyzed within 6 months interval after cotesting. Results Among 4196 women with ASC-US Pap tests and positive hrHPV, 51.1% of them had the immediate histological follow-up within 6 months. With positive Aptima hrHPV as the adjunct, 46.5% (95%CI 46.2-46.8) of ASC-US women were found to have cervical intraepithelial neoplasia type 1 (CIN1); 8.8% (95%CI 8.1-9.5) women were detected CIN2+ lesion including eight adenocarcinoma in-situ (AIS)s. CIN2+ detection rates were highest in women under 25 (15.4%, n = 65), when comparison with different age cutoffs, younger age women had higher CIN2+ lesion detection rate than that in older group (P Conclusion This is by far one of the largest retrospective studies to analyze the histological follow-up results of ASC-US women with positive hrHPV tested by Aptima hrHPV mRNA assay. The results indicated that younger women with ASC-US and positive hrHPV testing have highest risk of developing high grade CIN lesions as compared to the older women. Lastly, with positive HPV as the adjunct, 55.3% (1186/2145) of ASC-US women will result in the positive finding on histological follow-up.
Complicated Double-Orifice Mitral Regurgitation: Combined Hemodynamic Assessment Using Echocardiography and Four-Dimensional Flow Magnetic Resonance Imaging

A 57-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for surgical repair of her mitral valve. She was diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse at the age of 18. Three years previous to this presentation, she was asymptomatic and able to run 10 to 15 miles at an 8-min pace. She now reported being able to run only 1 mile at a 10-min pace but otherwise denied symptoms. She had a family history of sudden cardiac death (both father and mother) and a personal history of several syncopal episodes with palpitations, most recently 3 years earlier. Twelve-lead electrocardiography (Figure 1) demonstrated a prolonged corrected QT interval (497 msec) but was otherwise unremarkable. Open in a separate window Figure 1 Electrocardiogram demonstrating prolonged QT interval of 452 msec (corrected QT interval 497 msec).
A Rotating Double Layer Capacitive Slip Ring Concept for Power & Heat Transfer in Machines using an Ionic Conducting Working Fluid

Doubly fed induction machines, wound field synchronous machines and DC homopolar machines all require a slip ring connection to the rotor conductors. This connection inherently limits the performance and/or lifespan of these machines. Noncontact methods, such as brushless exciters and high frequency wireless power transfer, have been used to support some of these machines types but can be physically large and/or overly reliant on power electronics. Additionally, these methods do not support the cooling of the rotor conductors since they are purely electrical structures. This paper proposes a rotating electric double layer capacitor, or supercapacitor, to form a noncontact, slip-ring-like, AC electrical connection between the stator and rotor while simultaneously providing a rotor cooling platform. Here, a double layer capacitor is formed between a hydrostatic bronze bushing and the rotating shaft via flowing electrolytic liquid. The flowing electrolyte also serves as a heat transfer mechanism to remove heat from the shaft. Experimental results demonstrate increases in coupling capacitance and throughput A/Hz over prior work by factors of 100,000 and 100, respectively. The ability to simultaneously cool the shaft is demonstrated and measured as well.
A Convolutional Neural Network Ensemble for Flower Image Classification

Accuracy classification of flower species is a key step for the management of flower breeding. At present, convolutional neural networks are efficient feature representation learning algorithms that are widely used to improve the accuracy of flower image classification. However, there are some limitations in selecting appropriate network structures, parameters, and algorithms, and in the requirement for huge training times for optimal recognition performance in real-world applications. To overcome these difficulties, we developed a convolutional neural network ensemble method for flower species classification. The method has three steps: (1) MobileNet models pre-trained on the ILSVRC-2012-CLS image classification dataset were used as the single classifiers for feature extraction; (2) the models were transferred to flower datasets to train several different classifiers and a re-sampling strategy was used to enhance the diversity of individual models; and (3) an ensemble model was constructed using the weighted average method. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, classification experiments were performed on two flower image datasets. The results showed that the proposed convolutional neural network ensemble was feasible and effective, and had better generalization ability and higher recognition rate than the single classifiers. The convolutional neural network ensemble can also be used and modified for the classification of other crop images.
Effects of Big Tech Acquisitions on Start-up Funding and Innovation

This paper investigates the effects of acquisitions by “big techs” on venture capital (VC) funding for start-up companies. Because of the strong association between VC investment and innovation, this approach also sheds light on the repercussions of big tech start-up acquisitions on innovation. We analyze observations on more than 32,000 venture capital deals in 173 different segments of the technology industry and nearly 400 tech start-up acquisitions made worldwide between 2010 and 2020 by Google, Facebook, Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft. Results obtained with fixed effects panel and differences-in-differences estimators reveal a positive, causal impact of big tech start-up acquisitions on venture capital activity. However, the findings suggest that the effects are transient and fade away after several quarters. These insights are relevant for the current policy discussions on limiting the ability of big tech companies to acquire start-ups.