cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High-frequency Compensation of Dynamic Distortions in Micromachining Force Measurements☆

In this paper, we present a comprehensive technique to obtain accurate three-dimensional (3D) micromachining forces for frequency bandwidths up to 25 kHz. The capability to precisely measure cutting forces is central to gaining fundamental understanding on micromachining mechanics and dynamics. Multi-axis dynamometers are used to measure 3D machining forces. Forces experienced during micromachining involve very high frequencies due to the ultra-high spindle speeds used during the process. However, the specified bandwidths of the dynamometers do not meet high frequency requirements of micromachining forces; this limitation stems from the structural-dynamics response of the dynamometers. Therefore, it is important to develop approaches to compensate for the distortions arising from the dynamic effects of the dynamometer's structure in order to accurately measure micromachining forces. This paper presents a fully 3D compensation approach to enable accurate determination of 3D micromachining forces within a wide frequency range. The presented approach involves: (1) accurate identification of 3D force measurement characteristics of the dynamometer in the form of 3x3 force-to-force frequency response functions (F2F-FRFs) matrix within a 25 kHz bandwidth, (2) design of an optimal inverse filter for post-processing the measured force data to remove the influence of structural dynamics of the dynamometer; and (3) validation of the compensation approach through impact testing where the actual applied force data acquired by the reference force sensor is compared with the corrected dynamometer measurements. Subsequently, the presented approach is demonstrated by obtaining 3D micromachining forces during micromilling of a brass workpiece. It is concluded that the presented approach is effective in high-frequency correction of dynamometer measurements for accurate measurement of 3D micromachining forces within the 0- 25 kHz frequency range.
Tricuspid Valve Replacement: A Percutaneous Transfemoral Valve-in-Ring Approach.

We describe a percutaneous transcatheter tricuspid valve-in-ring implantation using the Sapien XT prosthesis (Edward Lifesciences, Irvine, California) [(1,2)][1]. A 68-year-old woman with rheumatic heart disease and 2 previous sternotomies including tricuspid valve repair with a 32-mm Carpentier-
Practical theology : can it really help the local congregation? : original research

This article sought to demonstrate that a synthesis of various church growth methods used within the framework of Heitink's (1999:124ff.) three theory of action perspectives, namely the 'hermeneutical', 'empirical' and 'strategic', has successfully enabled the building up of one congregation both structurally and spiritually. The 'building up' concept was drawn from the practical theological subdiscipline of 'building up the local church'. This subdiscipline judges the success of God's work in a local congregation by how effective it is in mobilising its members, facilitating growth towards holistic maturity, making disciples and serving others in mission. Since 2006, St John's has moved towards this goal by mobilising its members into four new ministry teams (with 13 subsidiary teams), which appear to have achieved growth in these areas.
Effect of Ownership, Governance, and Transparency on Liquidity – Chilean Evidence

Companies with relatively thin trading, a high concentration of insider ownership, and a privatized pension system characterize Chile’s Santiago Stock Exchange. Within this setting, we study the relationship between ownership concentration, corporate governance, and stock market liquidity. Our results suggest that board independence, corporate disclosure and outside monitoring by institutions help moderate the effects that insiders have on trading costs and liquidity. We also find that market makers with inventory reduce the informational component of trading costs. Finally, the trades of insiders provide price guidance to market makers, while traders employ a follow-the-insider strategy when transparency is low.
The great beyond: higher productivity, parallel processors and the extraordinary search for a theory of expression

Embedded system on a chip (SOC) vendors of today are perpetually challenged with the following goals; provide more compute capability and reduce cost and power. Unfortunately, these goals compete rather than cooperate. In order to address this, SOC designers have turned to component specialization, where multiple specialized computing engines exist on a chip, each of which can handle one or a small subset of tasks very well. Since these engines are tuned for their task, they can be smaller, thus reducing cost, and run at a lower frequency, thus reducing power, than a similarly capable generic computing engine. Of course, this diversity does drive complexity in the system with a combination of RISC/DSP/GPU/CUSTOM engines and their corresponding OS's, tool chains, communication and IPC protocols.Concurrently, application software teams have their own perpetual challenges; lower development cost, shorten time to market and improve reliability. These goals are obviously more difficult when the software team is presented with the complexity resulting from the diverse SOC designs on which their software will run. The software task grows even more difficult with the additional requirement that it must run well over a set of SOC instantiations.In this presentation, I will explore the use of OpenCL, beyond its more typical use cases on GPU and CPU systems, as a unifying agent between the demands on SOC software teams and the demands on SOC design teams. I will discuss OpenCL use on a multicore CPU+DSP SOC, how we have extended OpenCL to increase it's acceptance and adoption within TI's software community. I will also discuss additional use cases, features and requirements of embedded software that OpenCL does not cover today, but perhaps could!
Assessing the Legal Bases for Conscientious Objection in Healthcare

The problem of rights of conscience in healthcare is one of the most serious religious freedom issues in the United States. There are increasing pressures on healthcare professionals to conform their conduct to a secular vision of healthcare, even in situations when such professionals have a conscientious objection to facilitating, participating in, or performing various procedures. This paper evaluates the legal bases for conscientious objection in healthcare. Under current law, there is inadequate protection for those healthcare professionals who have religious and moral objections to governmental mandates. There is a pressing need for comprehensive protection for rights of conscience. Perhaps paradoxically, an effort to protect religious conscience has some risks because of the current pressures to privatize religion. In the long run, rebuilding a pro-life culture is the only sure protection for pro-life healthcare professionals.
Whole-Screen Metamorphosis and the Imagined Camera (Notes on Perspectival Movement in Animation):

This article uses a special kind of distortion of spatial orientation in animation, which the author calls whole-screen metamorphosis, to problematize the relation that theories of camera movement ...
Reconstructing Justice in Iraq: Promoting the Rule of Law in a Post-conflict State

Part of the US project for Iraq following its invasion was the reconstruction of the Iraqi justice system. Many projects, both military and civil were launched in support of this goal with the intention of enhancing the rule of law. Based on seven month’s experience on one such project in Iraq, the author discusses the various tensions, constraints and confusions in these reconstruction projects in the justice sector. Overall there was an absence of harmonization and coordination and these operated to the detriment of the Iraqi system. In the field of rule of law programs, aid providers generally seek to establish a western style rule oriented system similar to those prevailing in their own countries but seem unaware of how to best bring about this change. In the author’s experience, this process was exemplified in Iraq. An alternative approach to justice reconstruction is suggested that would be holistic and strategic, based on local knowledge and practice, and one that incorporates both top down and bottom up knowledges.
Large Eddy Simulation based on the Residual-based Variational Multiscale Method and Lagrangian Dynamic Smagorinsky Model

In this work, we focus on large eddy simulation (LES) using the finite element method. The use of finite elements is beneficial due to their flexibility for complex problems (e.g., complex geometry, high-order discretizations, adaptivity, parallelization). In order to achieve this, we combine aspects of the residual-based variational multiscale (RBVMS) approach, which provides the basis for stabilized finite element methods, and the dynamic Smagorinsky eddy-viscosity model. For the Smagorinsky model, we employ two dynamic procedures: one that employs spatial averaging over homogeneous directions (which is applicable to turbulent flows with statistical homogeneity) and the other is based on Lagrangian, or fluid pathline, averaging (which is applicable to inhomogeneous turbulent flows). In this study, we consider three models. One model is solely based on the RBVMS approach. The other two models combine the cross-stress terms due to the RBVMS model with the dynamic Smagorinsky eddy-viscosity model for the Reynolds stress terms. In the two combined models, we employ a different type of averaging in each model. We present results using these models on two cases: turbulent channel flow (Reτ = 590) and flow over a cylinder (ReD = 3, 900). For the turbulent channel flow, all models provide similar predictions while for the flow over a cylinder, the combined model provides a better prediction.
Functional Changes During Nutritional Repletion in Patients With Lung Disease

In conclusion, the weight loss in COPD is associated with hypermetabolism. Under these circumstances, caloric intake may be insufficient to meet increased metabolic demands, thereby contributing to progressive weight loss. This is in contrast to depleted surgical patients who have energy expenditures 5% below predicted. There is an increased VE in patients receiving a high-carbohydrate diet, secondary to an increased VCO2 that is similar to that seen in patients with neither COPD nor weight loss. Neither diet composition, whether high-carbohydrate or high-fat, nor refeeding have any effect on PaCO2. However, ventilatory drive does appear to be influenced by nutritional repletion. There was an increased sensitivity to PaCO2, independent of diet composition, during a high caloric intake. Respiratory and skeletal muscle function increased, particularly strength, endurance, and work efficiency, indicating that the increased metabolic demand can be well tolerated. It should be noted, however, that refeeding the COPD patient must be done as a preventive measure at the start of weight loss. Patients with long-term weight loss and end-stage COPD appear unable to tolerate any increase in metabolic demand; consequently, they cannot improve respiratory and skeletal muscle function through refeeding.
Ex Vivo Expansion and Selection of Human CD34+ Peripheral Blood Progenitor Cells After Introduction of a Mutated Dihydrofolate Reductase cDNA via Retroviral Gene Transfer

Retroviral gene transfer into human myeloid precursor cells allows introduction of marker genes as well as genes conferring resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs. We transduced a human mutant dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) cDNA into CD34 antigen-positive peripheral blood cells from patients with breast or ovarian cancer obtained after treatment with chemotherapy and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). This mutant DHFR has been shown to confer resistance to methotrexate (MTX) in murine bone marrow. We established a transduction protocol that permitted ex vivo expansion and selection of transduced early progenitor cells. The number of progenitor cells from transduced CD34-positive cells increased 50-fold after cytokine prestimulation with interleukin-1 (IL-1), c-kit ligand (KL; stem cell factor), and IL-3 and 2 weeks in liquid culture. Transduced colony-forming unit-granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM), assayed directly after the transduction procedure, were protected completely against 2 x 10(-8) mol/L MTX, a concentration that significantly reduced the CFU-GM detected in the control population. Gene transfer of the mutant DHFR led to a twofold selective advantage for a pre-CFU population after exposure to MTX in liquid culture (P < .001). Polybrene, in contrast with protamine, significantly inhibited the expansion of progenitors. The presence of proviral DNA was monitored by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and was detected in greater than 80% of CFU-GM and ex vivo expanded pre-CFU. We have demonstrated that human hematopoietic precursor cells can be expanded extensively after retroviral gene transfer. The same population of early progenitors can be selected ex vivo with low-dose MTX. As long-term expression of transduced genes in human hematopoietic cells remains a problem in vivo, these results may have implications for future clinical trials, especially for the introduction of nonselectable genes.
Serodiscussion, Perceived Seroconcordance, and Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Dyads of Men Who Have Sex with Men Who Use Geosocial-Networking Smartphone Applications in London:

Serodiscussion-the mutual discussion of HIV statuses between sexual partners-can be viewed as an essential prerequisite for risk-reduction behaviors among men who have sex with men (MSM). The current study aimed to assess the prevalence of serodiscussion with one's most recent sexual partner and its association with sexual behaviors with these partners. Broadcast advertisements were placed on a geosocial-networking smartphone application, encouraging users to complete an online survey. A total of 200 MSM completed the survey. Serodiscussion occurred in 43.5% of dyads, and it was most common in dyads where both partners were reported to be HIV positive, χ2(5) = 60.3, P < .001. Serodiscussion was associated with engagement in both condomless insertive, χ2(1) = 3.847, P = .046, and receptive anal intercourse, χ2(1) = 6.5, P = .011. However, there were no significant differences in how recently a respondent was tested for HIV, representing potentially high-risk scenarios.
Phonon bottleneck effects in rectangular graphene quantum dots

For a graphene sheet with confining structures in the orthogonal directions of zigzag- and armchair-edge, the confined carrier states are determined. These wavefunctions and eigenvalues are used to study carrier-longitudinal optical (LO)-phonon interactions in these graphene quantum dots. The optical deformation potential is derived for these graphene quantum dots as the basis for the study of these carrier-LO-phonon interactions. Phonon bottleneck effects are identified and the Fermi golden rule transition rates are formulated.
Utilization of Mate-Pair Sequencing to Characterize Complex and Novel TCF3 Translocations

Rearrangements involving TCF3 (E2A) at 19p13.3 are a common cytogenetic abnormality in B-lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (B-LL) across all age groups accounting for at least 5% of B-LL. The most common translocation partner, PBX1 at 1q23, is associated with an unbalanced der(19) or a balanced t(1;19) in 80% vs. 20% patients, respectively, and results in a PBX1/TCF3 fusion transcriptional activator. Several other rearrangement partners have been described, and as such TCF3 is approaching the dubious status of a "promiscuous" gene partner. Clinically, our laboratory uses a dual-color, dual fusion PBX1/TCF3 FISH probe to characterize the most common gene fusion; however, this FISH strategy also allows for the identification of atypical disruptions of the TCF3 gene region, and may suggest a gene partner based on abnormal metaphases/metaphase-FISH. Interrogation of our pediatric leukemia database (ages 0-30) identified 219 patients with abnormal TCF3 FISH results. We selected 23 samples for mate-pair evaluation to test the methodology, characterize novel rearrangements and identify new TCF3 fusion partners. In total, 19 patient samples were successfully sequenced by Mate-Pair, including 13 samples with variants of the 1;19 translocation. Of the samples with TCF3/PBX1 fusion, 3 patients demonstrated novel insertional translocation events characterized by mate-pair. A total of 6 samples with undefined/unknown TCF3 partner genes were evaluated. The mate-pair results identified 5 samples with a t(12;19)(p13.31;p13.3), resulting in TCF3/ZNF384 fusion. Interestingly, two of the ZNF384 rearrangements were observed in the unbalanced form, suggesting a similar mechanism related to the der(19)t(1;19) regularly observed in the common PBX1-TCF3 rearrangement. From a karyotype perspective, since these rearrangements result in only a small portion of chromosome 12p translocated onto distal 19p, this rearrangement would "cryptic" by conventional karyotyping. One patient sample demonstrated a new TCF3 gene fusion partner (TEF), associated with a t(19;22)(p13.3;q13.2). Overall, our results demonstrate the utility of mate-pair evaluation as an adjunct methodology in the identification of novel TCF3 rearrangements in B-LL. We have successfully expanded the application of mate-pair to characterize other novel/cryptic abnormalities in various hematologic and oncologic neoplasms encountered in our laboratory. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
The Effects of Endurance and Resistance Training on Blood Pressure

Hypertension is extremely prevalent in Western society. Although medications are prescribed frequently, nonpharmacologic measures may play a role in the treatment of hypertension. Evidence suggests that endurance and resistance training may have beneficial effects on blood pressure and other cardiovascular risk factors.
The Impact of Regulation on Executive Compensation: IRC Section 162(m) and the Unexpected Exclusion of CFOs

ABSTRACT IRC §162(m) originally denied corporations tax deductions for nonperformance compensation in excess of $1 million per executive when paid to the CEO and the next four highest paid named ex...
Burkholderia cepacia complex Cervical Osteomyelitis in an Intravenous Drug User

Gram-negative vertebral osteomyelitis infections are increasing due to rising intravenous drug use but overall remain uncommon. Here, we present a case of Burkholderia cepacia complex cervical osteomyelitis in an intravenous drug user. Burkholderia cepaciacomplex vertebral osteomyelitis has been infrequently described in the literature thus far with varied antibiotic treatment regimens. A 68-year-old male presented to the emergency department with neck pain after minor trauma. He endorsed active intravenous heroin and methamphetamine use. CT and MRI imaging of the cervical spine revealed destructive changes of C5-C6 vertebral bodies consistent with osteomyelitis. Neurological exam was stable and vital signs were within normal limits; so, antibiotics were held, and he was admitted for diagnostic evaluation. Five sets of blood cultures were drawn on admission and were ultimately negative. He subsequently underwent C5-C6 corpectomy, C4-C7 anterior fusion, and C3-T1 posterior fusion with allograft placement. Deep operative tissue cultures grew Burkholderia cepacia complex. He was treated with 6 weeks of intravenous ceftazidime followed by indefinite oral minocycline due to hardware placement. Burkholderia cepacia complex should be considered among pathogenic etiologies of pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis, particularly among patients with intravenous drug use. Ceftazidime monotherapy was an effective treatment in this particular case.
Juice Clarification with Pectinase Reduces Yeast Assimilable Nitrogen in Apple Juice without Affecting the Polyphenol Composition in Cider.

The term "cider" refers to the fermented beverage produced from apples. The rapid growth in the cider industry coupled with the prominence of traditional, or craft, approaches emphasizes the need for research on cider production. A common problem in ciders is the production of sulfur off-aromas by yeast during fermentation. Prefermentation juice clarification has the potential to reduce the occurrence of unwanted sulfur off-aromas. Concerns that prefermentation juice clarification will reduce the yeast assimilable nitrogen (YAN) and polyphenols in the juice have limited the application of this practice by cider makers. In this study, 3 clarification methods were applied to 'York' apple juice, that is, static settling, centrifugation, and pectinase. Raw (control) and clarified juice were fermented to cider, and the impact of clarification on the physicochemical parameters, amino acids and polyphenol content of the juice and cider was assessed. Juice clarification by pectinase decreased YAN by 50%, while static settling and centrifugation increased the concentration of most amino acids by 83%. All clarification treatments lowered the concentration of total polyphenols in the juice (from 60% to 30%, P < 0.05) and affected the individual polyphenols in the juice but these changes were not evident in the ciders. These findings demonstrate that prefermentation juice clarification results in changes in the chemistry profiles of apple juice. These changes were however not evident in the ciders. This approach therefore has the potential to limit the production of sulfur off-aromas during cider production without adverse effects on quality. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Clarification of apple juice changes polyphenol and nitrogen contents, factors known to affect cider quality. However, these differences in the chemical profile of apple juice may not be reflected in the finished ciders. These findings demonstrate that juice clarification can be employed in cider making without affecting the quality. Cider makers should not assume that changes in apple juice imparted by clarification will be reflected in the finished ciders. Outcomes should be measured in finished ciders, rather than juice to accurately evaluate effects of the processing steps on quality.; © 2018 Institute of Food Technologists®.
Comprehensive Survey of Galvanic Coupling and Alternative Intra-Body Communication Technologies

Fundamental understanding of the processes that affect the state and well being of the human body continues to be a challenging frontier. Recent technological developments point toward the possibility of implanting sensors inside the body, thus enabling in-situ data gathering and real-time actuation with the transmission of the sensed data to other implants as well as external computational clouds. This paper aims to survey and compare the existing methods for achieving intra-body communication (IBC) covering the methods of galvanic coupling (waveguide-based), capacitive coupling (electric field-based), ultrasound (acoustic-based) and magnetic resonant coupling (magnetic field-based). The performance of each method is evaluated in terms of its physical layer characteristics, including operating frequency range, attenuation effects within the body, channel modeling methods, power consumption, achievable data rates, communication distance, and safety limits under prolonged signal exposure. Based on this metric-driven study, we identify specific scenarios where one or more of these different IBC methods are better suited. For the specific case of galvanic coupling, we provide select system designs, experimental results from a custom-designed testbed and target applications that are more appropriate for this method of IBC. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work that encapsulates the state of the art and current research trends for several different types of IBC solutions, a topic that promises to revolutionize the future of healthcare.
ACTUALISTIC NEOTAPHONOMIC RESEARCH ON BONE MODIFYING ANIMAL SPECIES: AN ANALYSIS OF THE LITERATURE

The volume of literature on taphonomic modifications to faunal remains created by a particular animal species in an actualistic neotaphonomic (ANT) context has grown rapidly since the 1960s. A sample of 454 investigations on the taphonomic traces created by bone modifying animal species published starting in 1911 and through mid-2018 includes studies of 115 species of mammal and 78 species of bird. The most frequently studied bone modifying mammal species is spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta) and the most studied bird is barn owl (Tyto alba). One-hundred seventy two of 609 individuals (28.2%) have authored more than one investigation. One-hundred eight of 417 texts (25.9%) compare faunal remains accumulated and modified by ≥ 2 species in an effort to establish signature criteria—modifications to carcasses and bones diagnostic of a particular bone modifying species. Two hundred and four texts (of 417 [48.9%]) document how one or more animal species modify bones, many with the unelaborated warrant that such documentation has paleozoological implications. Commonly reported variables include the kinds of modifications to bones (238 of 417 [57.1%] texts) and skeletal part frequencies (217 of 417 [52.0%] texts). Thoughtful consideration of taphonomic variables chosen for measurement and construction of interpretive models having dynamic sufficiency (the model includes the correct processes and variables to account for the field of inquiry), empirical sufficiency (included variables can be measured in the real world), and agreed upon tolerance limits (the model matches the empirical record sufficiently closely to be analytical useful) will enhance the value of ANT research.
Prevalence, risk factors, and burden of disease for falls and balance or walking problems among older adults in the U.S.

Abstract This study assesses the prevalence of falls, factors predicting future falls, and health impacts of falls and balance or walking problems for U.S. older adults. Data were from participants ≥65 years in the Medicare Health Outcomes Survey Cohort 15 (baseline survey in 2012; follow-up survey in 2014; n = 164,597). We examined baseline factors predicting falls at follow-up and estimated the impact of falls and balance/walking problems on health-related quality of life (HRQOL), mortality, and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). About 23% reported falls and 34% reported balance/walking problems in the past 12 months. The strongest predictors of falls were previous falls [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 2.9] and balance/walking problems (OR = 1.7). Many self-reported chronic conditions (e.g., depression, stroke, and diabetes), geriatric symptoms (e.g., urine leakage), and limitations of activities of daily living (e.g., transferring and walking) also predicted falls, but at a smaller magnitude (ORs = 1.1–1.3). Having balance/walking problems was associated with a greater decrease in HRQOL scores (0.195 points) than falls (0.077 points), while falls were associated with a greater increase in mortality [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) = 1.5] than balance/walking problems (HR = 1.1). Falls were associated with a 4.6-year (48%) decrease in QALYs, while balance/walking problems was associated with a 7.3-year (62%) decrease in QALYs. Falls are a major problem for U.S. elderly and will continue to have an even greater impact as the population ages. The nearly 50% decrease in QALYs for falls and >60% decrease for balance or walking problems demonstrates the substantial burden associated with these problems among older Americans.
1403-P: Functional Data Analysis Reveals Differences in Temporal Glucose Profiles Associated with Large for Gestational Age: A Secondary Analysis of the CONCEPTT Study

Background: Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) provides far greater detail about fetal exposure to maternal glucose across the 24 hour day, but recommended summary statistics give no dynamic information about the glucose profile across 24 hours. Aim: To examine whether differences in temporal glucose control occur in women with type 1 diabetes who develop large for gestational age infants (LGA). Research Design and Methods: CGM data was available from 200 pregnant women (100 CGM intervention; 100 controls) in the CONCEPTT study, at baseline, 24 and 34 weeks gestation. All women were being treated to tight glycemic targets (mean HbA1c 6.4% at 34 weeks gestation). Functional data analysis (FDA) was applied to determine differences in temporal glucose profiles. LGA was defined as birth weight ≥90th percentile adjusted for infant sex, gestational age, maternal BMI, ethnicity and parity. Results: 122/200 women had a LGA infant (61%). FDA revealed that those women who gave birth to a LGA infant ran a significantly higher glucose (by 9-14mg/dL; 0.5-0.8 mmol/l) for 16.5 hours of the day compared to those women who did not have a LGA infant (see fig). Conclusion: Women who go on to have LGA infants have significantly higher fetal exposure to glucose across the 24 hour day, despite being treated to tight glucose targets. Disclosure E.M. Scott: Advisory Panel; Self; Abbott. Speaker9s Bureau; Self; Abbott, Eli Lilly and Company. H.R. Murphy: Advisory Panel; Self; Medtronic MiniMed, Inc. D. Feig: Advisory Panel; Self; Medtronic. Speaker9s Bureau; Self; Medtronic. G. Law: None. Funding JDRF; Canadian Clinical Trials Network; National Institute for Health Research
Goal-conditioned Imitation Learning

Designing rewards for Reinforcement Learning (RL) is challenging because it needs to convey the desired task, be efficient to optimize, and be easy to compute. The latter is particularly problematic when applying RL to robotics, where detecting whether the desired configuration is reached might require considerable supervision and instrumentation. Furthermore, we are often interested in being able to reach a wide range of configurations, hence setting up a different reward every time might be unpractical. Methods like Hindsight Experience Replay (HER) have recently shown promise to learn policies able to reach many goals, without the need of a reward. Unfortunately, without tricks like resetting to points along the trajectory, HER might require many samples to discover how to reach certain areas of the state-space. In this work we investigate different approaches to incorporate demonstrations to drastically speed up the convergence to a policy able to reach any goal, also surpassing the performance of an agent trained with other Imitation Learning algorithms. Furthermore, we show our method can also be used when the available expert trajectories do not contain the actions, which can leverage kinesthetic or third person demonstration. The code is available at this https URL.
Tornado-days in the United States by phase of the Madden–Julian oscillation and global wind oscillation

Tornado activity in the United States varies over multiple time scales. The Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) and global wind oscillation (GWO) are sources of climate variability at the seasonal and subseasonal scales. The univariate distributions of tornado-days across the phases of these oscillations have been documented, but the bivariate distribution of tornado-days across both oscillations has not been. Here, the bivariate distribution of tornado-days across the phases of the MJO and GWO is documented and analyzed. Results herein refine the previously reported univariate distributions and highlight variability across the phases of one of the oscillations while holding the phase of the other constant (e.g., tornado-days are more likely during phase 2 of the GWO, but the likelihood varies across the phase of MJO).
Surgical Outcomes after Abdominoperineal Resection with Sacrectomy and Soft Tissue Reconstruction: Lessons Learned.

Background Abdominoperineal resection (APR), which involves resection of the rectum, anal canal, and perianal skin, results in a large dead space in the pelvis, devascularized tissues, and high bacterial loads. This predisposes to wound complications, especially in the setting of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Additional sacral resection further compounds these effects. We aimed to assess perineal wound outcomes and complications in patients who underwent flap reconstruction for APR with sacrectomy (APRS) at our institution. Methods We reviewed the charts of all patients who underwent flap reconstruction for APRS over a 20-year period (1999–2018). Medical comorbidities, details of the surgical procedure, and major and minor wound complications were recorded and analyzed. Results Forty-six patients underwent flap reconstruction following APRS—28 (60%) for colorectal cancer, 8 (17%) for sacral chordoma, and 10 diagnosed with other malignant histologies. Rectus abdominis myocutaneous (RAM) flap reconstruction was used in 42 patients (91%). The median time to the first major perineal complication was 111 days (interquartile range: 22–660 days). Half of our cohort (n = 23) experienced a major perineal complication. No significant differences were found in major or minor perineal or abdominal wall complications between RAM flap and other flaps. APR with high sacrectomy was performed in 27 patients (59%) and was associated with significantly increased full-thickness dehiscence in the perineal region when compared with APR with low sacrectomy, 33 versus 0%, respectively (p = 0.0076). Complete flap loss occurred in one patient. Conclusion The RAM flap was the workhorse flap for pelvic reconstruction following APRS in our cohort. Wound complications are common following APRS. High sacrectomy is associated with higher incidence of complications compared with low sacrectomy. Optimal surgical planning and patient counseling is fundamental to improve current surgical outcomes.
Sensory Tricks Are Associated with Higher Sleep-Related Quality of Life in Cervical Dystonia.

Background Sensory tricks are compensatory gestures that cervical dystonia (CD) patients use to reduce abnormal neck posture and movements. Although sensory tricks are common in CD, little is known about whether trick efficacy changes over time or has effect on quality of life. Methods We analyzed clinical data and video recordings from 188 patients with isolated CD. We calculated the duration of CD and assessed the Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating Scales and the Cervical Dystonia Impact Profile (CDIP-58). Results A longer duration of CD corresponded to a less effective sensory trick (r(187) = 0.1901, p = 0.009). Patients who demonstrated more effective sensory tricks reported higher sleep-related quality of life than patients with less effective sensory tricks (r(187) = 0.1680, p = 0.0212). There were no significant relationships between the effectiveness of a sensory trick and the other aspects of quality of life as measured by the CDIP-58. Discussion Patients who have had CD longer had less effective sensory tricks consistent with patients' verbal reports of previously having a trick that no longer works. Patients should be apprised of a wide variety of sensory tricks because their previous tricks may lose efficacy over time and because more effective tricks are associated with higher sleep-related quality of life.
Immunity Passports and Moral Hazard

The idea of using â€œimmunity passportsâ€ to restart the economy before the arrival of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine has attracted increasing attention as the Covid-19 cris
Unravelling the mechanisms of blood–brain barrier dysfunction in repetitive mild head injury

This scientific commentary refers to ‘Slow blood-to-brain transport underlies enduring barrier dysfunction in American football players’, by Veksler et al. (doi: 10.1093/brain/awaa140 ).
Pearls & Oy-sters: Leukoencephalopathy in critically ill patients with COVID-19.

This paper presents 4 male, adult cases of leukoencephalopathy following COVID-19 infection at New York University Langone Health-associated hospitals between 2 and 29 April 2020 Their clinical data, laboratory values, treatment and outcome are described, and the possible mechanisms that could lead to leukoencephalopathy are discussed
Antihero Care: On Fieldwork and Anthropology

“Antihero care” offers an approach to anthropology that emphasizes the importance of fallibility over mastery and social connections over individually acquired knowledge. I draw together Le Guin’s Carrier Bag Theory of Fiction and Mol, Pols, and Moser’s Care in Practice to analyze the challenge of carrying out fieldwork with my children in highland Guatemala. I describe how an everyday accident led me to refuse the “killer story” of the hero and to instead embrace a script that emphasized dependency and incompletion. In my case, antihero care has changed the way I engage with holism and biomedicine in my research and writing. More broadly, reframing limitations on knowledge as a strength—not a drawback—of the discipline usefully unsettles the boundaries between fieldwork and care work.
The impact of temperature, chlorides and sulfate-reducing bacteria on the corrosion of steel in soil

This investigation aimed to study the corrosion performance of low-carbon steel in a soil environment at different temperatures. The steel specimens in the soil were treated at three temperatures: ...
Deep compressed imaging via optimized pattern scanning

The need for high-speed imaging in applications such as biomedicine, surveillance, and consumer electronics has called for new developments of imaging systems. While the industrial effort continuously pushes the advance of silicon focal plane array image sensors, imaging through a single-pixel detector has gained significant interest thanks to the development of computational algorithms. Here, we present a new imaging modality, deep compressed imaging via optimized-pattern scanning, which can significantly increase the acquisition speed for a single-detector-based imaging system. We project and scan an illumination pattern across the object and collect the sampling signal with a single-pixel detector. We develop an innovative end-to-end optimized auto-encoder, using a deep neural network and compressed sensing algorithm, to optimize the illumination pattern, which allows us to reconstruct faithfully the image from a small number of measurements, with a high frame rate. Compared with the conventional switching-mask-based single-pixel camera and point-scanning imaging systems, our method achieves a much higher imaging speed, while retaining a similar imaging quality. We experimentally validated this imaging modality in the settings of both continuous-wave illumination and pulsed light illumination and showed high-quality image reconstructions with a high compressed sampling rate. This new compressed sensing modality could be widely applied in different imaging systems, enabling new applications that require high imaging speeds.
Firm Boundaries and Regulation: The Case of Greek Trucking

This paper studies the implications that arise when regulation imposes constraints on firms’ decisions about their boundaries in the context of the Greek trucking sector. I document how a regulatory cap on the number of for-hire vehicles compelled producers to acquire and operate own-account trucks within their firms, leading to a larger, underutilized commercial vehicle fleet relative to the European average. I then specify and estimate a structural dynamic model for firms’ make versus buy choice for product transportation, allowing for taste heterogeneity and transaction costs, and find evidence that the regulation steered firms to own-account carriage. Using the estimated model and data on commercial vehicle movements, I quantify the effects of the regulation through counterfactual. I find that in the absence of the regulation, the total commercial fleet is 23.6% smaller and the average truck utilization improves by 3.05 percentage points. I also find that the regulation led to 5.1% more vehicle-kilometres traveled and removing it brings a reduction in the sector’s carbon dioxide emissions by 5.9%.
Accuracy of contrast-enhanced spectral mammography compared with MRI for invasive breast cancers: Prospective study in population of predominantly underrepresented minorities.

Abstract Objectives This prospective study compares contrast-enhanced spectral mammography (CESM) with contrast-enhanced breast MRI in assessing the extent of newly diagnosed breast cancer in a multiethnic cohort. Methods This study includes 41 patients with invasive breast cancer detected by mammography or conventional ultrasound imaging from May 2017 to March 2020. CESM and MRI scans were performed prior to any treatment. Results are compared with each other and to histopathology. Detection of the malignant lesion was assessed by sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV. Consistency of malignant tumor size measurement was compared between modalities using Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC). Results In a multiethnic cohort with over 65% Hispanic and African-American women, the sensitivity of detecting malignant lesions for CESM is 93.1% (77.23%, 99.15%) and MRI is 96.55% (82.24%, 99.91%). The PPV for CESM 96.43% (81.65%, 99.91%) is better compared to MRI 82.35% (65.47%, 93.24%). CESM is as effective as MRI in evaluating index cancers and multifocal/multicentric/contralateral disease. CESM has greater specificity and PPV since MRI tends to overcall benign lesions. There is a good agreement of tumor size between CESM to surgery and MRI to surgery with ICC of 0.85 (95% CI 0.69, 0.93) and 0.87 (95% CI 0.74, 0.94), respectively. There is good agreement of malignancy detection between CESM and MRI with Kappa of 0.74 (95% CI 0.52, 0.95). Conclusions CESM is an effective imaging modality for evaluating the extent of disease in newly diagnosed invasive breast cancers and a good alternative to MRI in a multiethnic population.
BET Inhibition Targets Radiation Resistance in H3K27me3-Deficient Medulloblastoma

Purpose/Objective(s) Medulloblastoma has been categorized into four subgroups based on genetic and epigenetic profiling. However, molecular pathways determining radiotherapy response in this tumor remain unknown. Here, we investigated the role of the EZH2-dependent histone H3K27 tri-methylation in radiation response in medulloblastoma. Materials/Methods We analyzed the H3K27me3 expression medulloblastoma tumor samples and determined the correlation between the H3K27me3 status and PFS and OS in 36 non-WNT/SHH medulloblastoma patients. We used an ex vivo mouse model of group 3 medulloblastoma to elucidate the molecular mechanism of radiation resistance in H3K27me3-deficient tumors and develop an approach to target radiotherapy resistance. Results We demonstrate that 47.2% of group 3 and 4 medulloblastoma patients have H3K27me3-deficient tumors. Loss of H3K27me3 was associated with a radioresistant phenotype, high relapse rates and poor overall survival. We show that an epigenetic switch from H3K27me3 to H3K27ac occurs at certain genomic loci in H3K27me3-deficient medulloblastoma cells altering the transcriptional profile. The resulting up-regulation of EPHA2 (ephrin type-A receptor 2) stimulates an over-activation of the pro-survival AKT signaling pathway leading to radiotherapy resistance. We show that BET inhibitors target radiation resistance in H3K27me3-deficient medulloblastoma by suppressing H3K27ac levels, blunting EPHA2 overexpression and mitigating the excessive AKT signaling. Additionally, BET inhibition sensitizes medulloblastoma cells to radiation by enhancing apoptotic response through suppression of Bcl-XL and up-regulation of Bim expression. Conclusion Our work demonstrates a novel mechanism of radiation resistance in medulloblastoma and identifies an epigenetic marker predictive of radiotherapy response. Based on these findings we propose an epigenetically guided personalized treatment approach to target radiotherapy resistance in medulloblastoma patients.
Behavioral Inventory Management

Behavioral inventory-management research leverages ideas and methodologies commonly used in behavioral economics and psychology to advance our understanding of the role of human behavior in inventory management. In this chapter, we first review some of the early papers in this area organized by problem setting. We describe the history and notable papers in the two largest streams: the newsvendor and serial supply chain settings. We then discuss how behavioral science can advance inventory research by describing three different pathways for improving inventory performance: correcting sub-optimal decision behavior, responding to others’ behavioral patterns, and designing processes and systems for behavioral regularities. For each pathway, we provide recent examples from the literature. We conclude by discussing contemporary research opportunities in this sub-field involving other types of human decisions, beyond the inventory decisions typically considered.
Poetry and Diplomacy in the Zuozhuan

Zuozhuan (ca. fourth century BC) records many instances of statesmen who recite or chant odes ( fushi ), mostly from the extant Shijing , to convey their political vision, policy recommendation, or diplomatic finesse. This essay examines the implications of this confluence of poetry and diplomacy. Scholars have focused on fushi as seamless political communication, the celebration of a common cultural heritage, and the formalization of ritual judgment. I discuss how the practice of fushi negotiates political and cultural differences. How does it bear on the distinction of “Chinese” and “barbarians”? How does it define the struggle for supremacy, push for political advantage, and cover up weakness? Does the manipulation of meanings and interpretations indicate anxieties about the power of ritual propriety to correct political failures?
Population amalgamation and genetic variation: observations on artificially agglomerated tribal populations of Central and South America.

Abstract The interpretation of data on genetic variation with regard to the relative roles of different evolutionary factors that produce and maintain genetic variation depends critically on our assumptions concerning effective population size and the level of migration between neighboring populations. In humans, recent population growth and movements of specific ethnic groups across wide geographic areas mean that any theory based on assumptions of constant population size and absence of substructure is generally untenable. We examine the effects of population subdivision on the pattern of protein genetic variation in a total sample drawn from an artificial agglomerate of 12 tribal populations of Central and South America, analyzing the pooled sample as though it were a single population. Several striking findings emerge. (1) Mean heterozygosity is not sensitive to agglomeration, but the number of different alleles (allele count) is inflated, relative to neutral mutation/drift/equilibrium expectation. (2) The inflation is most serious for rare alleles, especially those which originally occurred as tribally restricted "private" polymorphisms. (3) The degree of inflation is an increasing function of both the number of populations encompassed by the sample and of the genetic divergence among them. (4) Treating an agglomerated population as though it were a panmictic unit of long standing can lead to serious biases in estimates of mutation rates, selection pressures, and effective population sizes. Current DNA studies indicate the presence of numerous genetic variants in human populations. The findings and conclusions of this paper are all fully applicable to the study of genetic variation at the DNA level as well.