cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimization-based PI/PID control for a binary distillation column

This paper presents the PI/PID control of a binary distillation column via a genetic searching algorithm (GSA). The time-domain design criterion, expressed as an integral of the squared error, is reformulated in the frequency-domain using the Parseval's relation and Pade approximation. A genetic algorithm is then used to search over the stability region in the controller parameter space for the best settings to minimize the design criterion. Our results indicate that the genetic algorithm can provide better solutions for the PI/PID control schemes as compared to those using the single-loop and multi-loop Ziegler-Nichols tuning methods. We found that the GSA is easier to use than traditional optimization techniques. In addition, no knowledge of complex mathematics is required to use the GSA effectively.
UPC benchmarking issues

UPC, or Unified Parallel C, is a parallel extension of ANSI C. UPC is developed around the distributed shared-memory programming model with constructs that can allow programmers to exploit memory locality, by placing data close to the threads that manipulate them in order to minimize remote accesses. Under the UPC memory sharing model, each thread owns a private memory and has a logical association (affinity) with a partition of the shared memory. This paper discusses an early release of UPC Bench, a benchmark designed to reveal UPC compilers performance weaknesses to uncover opportunities for compiler optimizations. The experimental results from UPC Bench over the Compaq AlphaServer SC show that UPC Bench is capable of discovering such compiler performance problems. Further, it shows that if such performance pitfalls are avoided through compiler optimizations, distributed shared memory programming paradigms can result in high-performance, while the ease of programming is enjoyed.
The Homigrade Thermometer

In principle, designing a thermometer scale is easy. The trick lies in persuading others to use your scale. The Homigrade scale is an example of a clever and useful scale that has never caught on. Students can use it as an example of how they might set up their own arbitrary temperature scales.
Mapping Russian forest biomass with data from satellites and forest inventories

The forests of Russia cover a larger area and hold more carbon than the forests of any other nation and thus have the potential for a major role in global warming. Despite a systematic inventory of these forests, however, estimates of total carbon stocks vary, and spatial variations in the stocks within large aggregated units of land are unknown, thus hampering measurement of sources and sinks of carbon. We mapped the distribution of living forest biomass for the year 2000 by developing a relationship between ground measurements of wood volume at 12 sites throughout the Russian Federation and data from the MODIS satellite bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) product (MOD43B4). Based on the results of regression-tree analyses, we used the MOD43B4 product to assign biomass values to individual 500 m × 500 m cells in areas identified as forest by two satellite-based maps of land cover. According to the analysis, the total living biomass varied between 46 and 67 Pg, largely because of different estimates of forest area. Although optical data are limited in distinguishing differences in biomass in closed canopy forests, the estimates of total living biomass obtained here varied more in response to different definitions of forest than to saturation of the optical sensing of biomass.
In Defense of Public Opinion Polling by Kenneth F. Warren

Kenneth Warren acknowledges up front that he is a pollster and that he is out to write a book to change people’s minds. His effort is commendable, but it is directed to a lay audience and falls short in a number of areas of satisfying a more sophisticated reader. In his epilogue, he describes his effort as a “sympathetic defense,” as one would expect from a practicing pollster. The difculty of such a task is highlighted in Chapter 10, which takes a look at the accuracy of preelection polls in the 2000 election. Warren’s review is a more gentle review of the pollsters’ performance than, for example, the critiques that appear after each election in Public Opinion Quarterly.While the comparison between national and state polls and those for ofces other than president are laudable, the emphasis on the magnitude of errors without discussion of their direction or the use of nal estimates from tracking polls that do not include the widely discussed variability in the Gallup tracking poll for CNN/USA Today from Labor Day to Election Day are signicant omissions. The discussion of more general issues such as the media’s love/hate relationships with polls are verywell done.Warren describes in detail both the individual and institutional imperatives that draw journalists to polls but that also make good reporting difcult. His experience in the business makes him a good judge of good and bad polls, and he devotes considerable attention to the discussion of good and bad practices, especially shopping mall polls, media call-in polls, biased interest group-polls, and push polling, a campaign strategy where negative persuasion phone calls are made under the guise of a poll. The conclusion that well conducted polls produce good data but poorly conducted polls do not seem self-evident, although the number and type of examples that Warren cites are very illustrative. The cartoons interspersed in the text are more of a distraction than a contribution to the story he wants to tell. This book provides a good introduction to the contemporary debate that rages about the appropriate role of polls in a democratic society, including how they can contribute to the process of democratization in political systems undergoing change. It is best suited to a reader who has not had much previous exposure to these issues rather than to a more knowledgeable reader.
Do existing corruption levels matter in controlling corruption? ☆ ☆☆: Cross-country quantile regression estimates

Abstract We examine the determinants of corruption using recent cross-sectional data for nearly one hundred countries. While the causes of corruption have drawn economists' interest in recent years, our main contribution is to examine the corruption determinants throughout the conditional distribution of corruption across nations. Are there different causes of corruption in highly corrupt nations compared to the least corrupt countries? For instance, we examine whether greater democracy and more economic freedom consistently reduce corruption among the most and the least corrupt. Our results for the significant determinants support some findings in the literature, but also provide new conclusions. In many cases, quantile regression estimates are quite different from those from OLS regressions. Among the most corrupt nations, larger governments and greater economic freedom do not appear to reduce corruption, but greater democracy seems to alleviate it. Our results suggest that some current corruption control policies may be reconsidered, especially among the most corrupt and least corrupt nations.
Algorithmic approaches for quantification of 60 Hz magnetic fields (from power lines)

An analytical technique for computing 60 Hz magnetic field strength in the vicinity of distribution lines and transmission lines is presented. The magnetic field density or intensity as a function of distance (horizontal or vertical) from the source and the ellipsoid contours of the magnetic field vectors are the output of the proposed algorithm. The algorithm is utilized for deducing the magnetic field of different designs of transmission and distribution facilities. Several hypothetical cases have been simulated, and the results of three cases are documented. >
Neoadjuvant bevacizumab, oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and radiation in clinical stage II-III rectal cancer

15041 Background: This study was designed to assess whether a short course of induction therapy with bevacizumab (B) and FOLFOX chemotherapy followed by concurrent B and preoperative chemoradiation...
Abstract 126: Functional Properties of Cardiac Stem Cell Niches in the Young and Old Heart

Cardiac stem cells (CSCs) are clustered in interstitial structures, in which cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts act as supporting cells. However, the effects of the niche microenvironment on the functional properties of CSCs are largely unknown and whether young and senescent myocytes affect differently CSC fate remains to be determined. To address this issue, cardiac niches were examined in young and old Fischer 344 rats. Clusters composed of two or more lineage negative CSCs were included in the analysis. Unexpectedly, from 4 to 28 months of age, the number of CSCs per niche increased nearly 2-fold. This expansion of the CSC pool took place despite the increase in the fraction of dying CSCs with age. Apoptosis of CSCs was restricted to cells expressing the senescence-associated protein p16 INK4a . However, the fraction of CSCs positive for p16 INK4a increased significantly, documenting that the process of clearance of senescent CSCs was inefficient in the old myocardium. The fraction of p16 INK4a -positive CSCs undergoing apoptosis decreased 3.5-fold with age, resulting in accumulation of senescent cells within the niche. These observations indicate that the pool of functionally competent CSCs able to contribute to myocyte turnover decreased with age. In an attempt to compensate for the higher myocyte loss occurring in aged hearts, p16 INK4a -negative CSCs proliferated 4-fold more in old than in young rats, experiencing progressive telomeric shortening. To define whether the fate of CSCs was dictated by the properties of the neighboring myocytes in the senescent heart, myocytes and CSCs were co-cultured for 3 days. With respect to CSCs plated alone, old myocytes enhanced 2.2-fold BrdU incorporation in co-cultured CSCs. This effect was less apparent with young myocytes. No significant differences in CSC apoptosis were seen. Comparable results were obtained when CSCs and myocytes were plated in Transwell systems. Importantly, old myocytes released more IGF-1 than young myocytes; blockade of IGF-1 receptor in CSCs attenuated significantly the positive impact of myocytes on CSC replication. Collectively, our findings indicate that the rate of accumulation of old CSCs is greater than the rate of their death leading to the formation of senescent niches and organ aging.
Conductivity anomaly in CuInGaO4 and CuIn2Ga2O7 ceramics

Abstract The compounds CuInGaO 4 and CuIn 2 Ga 2 O 7 crystallize in the ( Ln FeO 3 ) n FeO layer structure. In this paper, the electrical properties of CuInGaO 4 and CuIn 2 Ga 2 O 7 ceramics prepared by solid-state synthesis were examined. Both compounds exhibited a dramatic change in physical properties across a second-order phase transition at 226 K identified by calorimetry experiments. Above this temperature, the conductivity increased over four orders of magnitude and the relative permittivity increased and became strongly dispersive. These observations are explained on the basis of a hole-hopping mechanism in the Cu layers within the ( Ln FeO 3 ) n FeO crystal structure.
Telephone follow-up raise up the compliance of children rhinitis patients treated by sublingual desensitization treatment

Objective:To evaluate effects of telephone follow-up on the compliance of children rhinitis patients treated by sublingual desensitization treatment.Methods:A total of 120 allergic rhinitis patients of 4 to 18 years old were randomly divided into telephone follow-up group (80 cases),and control group (40 cases).Patients in the telephone follow-up group were followed up for 3 months by telephone on the basis of the same treatment of control group.Results:During the 3 months of sublingual desensitization therapy,71 out of the 80 patients (88.8%)in the telephone follow-up group adherence to treatment while only 25 of the 40 cases in the control group did the same.The compliance shown by the two groups during entire course of 3 months and the latter two months were significantly different (P0.05-0.01).No adverse event was observed in this study.Conclusion:As an easy and convenient way,telephone follow-up can significantly improve sublingual desensitization patient's compliance,and worth application in large scale.
Life-Threatening Complications of Betamimetic Therapy for Preterm Labor Inhibition

Betamimetic administration for inhibition of preterm labor can result in a number of severe complications for the mother. An understanding of clinical situations that increase the risk of complications and suggested treatment of adverse effects are discussed in this review.
Developing an Intellectual Infrastructure

Ideas and concepts matter. Ideas frame theory; theory shapes concepts, and “Concepts,” writes economist Meghnad Desai (2003), “influence how the world is viewed. They shape human expectations and actions.” So does our phrasing of those ideas and concepts: Richard Musgrave observed in the 1960s that “Semantics, as the history of economic thought so well shows, is not a trivial matter” (Desmarais-Tremblay, p. 5). Public administration theory has yet to catch up with what has been happening to governance. Likewise, economic theory. Neither discipline has addressed the conceptual vacuum that leaves practitioners of public administration stranded on a fantasy island of unrealizable marketized bliss. A cogent and catalyzing concept of public economics is now called for.
Multiple Sclerosis in Women: Vitamin D and Estrogen Synergy for Autoimmune T-Cell Regulation and Demyelinating Disease Prevention

Abstract Multiple sclerosis (MS) incidence has tripled since 1950. The scope, magnitude, and rapidity of this trend imply that its origins are environmental. To discover these origins, we summarize genetic, environmental, and hormonal factors that fuel MS pathology, sex-based differences in MS, and estrogen’s mechanisms in demyelinating disease. The fine details of the incidence trend reveal that the trend is female-biased, specific for relapsing–remitting disease, and most evident at high latitudes, although it has recently emerged with a vengeance among very young Islamic women. Lifestyle changes have fueled a global epidemic of vitamin D deficiency that may be driving MS incidence upward. A female-specific mechanism requiring estrogen and vitamin D synergy for immune tolerance may explain the sex bias. An international task force designed the Mothers and Children study to determine experimentally whether vitamin D supplementation would reduce MS incidence. Implementation of their recommendations is certainly warranted.
The Cosa Nostra in the U.S. Adapting to Changes in the Social, Economic, and Political Environment After a 25-Year Prosecution Effort

Multiple mass arrests of Cosa Nostra suspects in recent years continue a 25-year surge the most significant organized crime prosecution effort in U.S. history. The reasons behind this effort, the impact of terrorism on this initiative after September 11, 2001, and the impact of the major social, political, and economic changes occurring over the same period are considered. Three keys to the short-term prospects for the Cosa Nostra in the U.S. are examined: their linkages with non-Cosa Nostra groups, shifts to fraud and other non-traditional organized crime activities, and their willingness to settle for a piece of the criminal activities of other groups. Long-term prospects for the Cosa Nostra in the U.S. are also examined, involving the entrenched challenge of corruption, generational shift, and international connections with other organized crime networks.
What is a Computer? A Survey

A critical survey of some attempts to define ‘computer’, beginning with some informal ones (from reference books, and definitions due to H. Simon, A.L. Samuel, and M. Davis), then critically evaluating those of three philosophers (J.R. Searle, P.J. Hayes, and G. Piccinini), and concluding with an examination of whether the brain and the universe are computers.
Ultrafiltration rate in conventional hemodialysis: Where are the limits and what are the consequences?

Background Ultrafiltration rate (UFR) has attracted attention as a modifiable aspect of volume management. Objective The objective of this review is to summarize the evidence that links UFR to patient outcomes and discuss UFR cut-offs proposed, and discuss possible consequences of adapting UFR as a quality metric. Results Higher UFRs has been associated with younger age, longer dialysis vintage, greater prevalence of comorbidities, higher Kt/V, lower weight, greater interdialytic weight gain, lower residual renal function, and shorter treatment times. Many of the characteristics associated with high UFRs have also been independently associated with poor patient outcomes. Four observational studies have assessed the association between UFR and patient mortality. All of them reported an association between higher UFR and greater patient mortality, though the studies differed in their definition of UFR, follow-up, and adjustment for confounding. Evidence for the association between higher UFR and potential mediations of the mortality association, such as interdialytic hypotension, cardiac remodeling, and cardiovascular events was less consistent. There was a graded association between higher UFRs and all-cause mortality; no definitive cut-off for acceptable UFR can be established based on the current evidence. Targeting UFR in isolation might result in volume expansion and worsening patient outcomes. Residual confounding likely contributed to the findings of the observational studies. No randomized controlled trials addressed the questions. Conclusion Evidence supporting UFR limits is weak and confounded. Randomized controlled trials are needed before UFR can be used as a quality of care indicator.
Ultrasound and Autism: How Disrupted Redox Homeostasis and Transient Membrane Porosity Confer Risk

Autism is a group of heterogenetic conditions, comprised of syndromic and nonsyndromic phenotypes. Its heterogeneity has challenged scientists for decades in the attempt to delimit its etiological origins. In this search, focus has fallen heavily on genetics, although a growing body of research suggests a large portion of cases may have a more complex etiology than genetics can explain. Therefore, greater attention is being paid to epigenetic effectors which may play roles in the development of autism. One such teratogen is prenatal ultrasound. In this chapter, we review the current modes of use and recent deregulations surrounding ultrasound, the primary and secondary bioeffects following exposure, its relevance to the development of the brain as well as to autism, the plasticity of the biological organism and how two separate effectors can lead to a common phenotype, and our hopes for future research in this area.
An optical polarization survey for BL Lacs

We report on the design and preliminary results of an optical polarization survey for BL Lac objects. The major goal of the survey is to compile a complete, flux limited sample of BL Lacs from B = 16 to 18.5. This will allow various problems including the surface density of BL Lacs to be studied. Our survey uses optical plates obtained with the Palomar 48-inch Schmidt telescope and covers 648 square degrees of the sky. The plates are complete to B = 18.5. Two plates were taken of each field and each plate was exposed three times. Each of the three exposures through sheets of Polaroid measures a different linear polarization angle. We will be complete to 5% polarization for 17th magnitude objects and to 7.5% for 18th magnitude objects. To date, forty candidates from 72 square degrees of the sky have been followed up spectroscopically. A quasar with a redshift of z = 1.42 was found. We consider it a strong candidate to be a highly polarized quasar. Two candidate BL Lacs, objects with apparently featureless spectra, were also found.
Finally, a Minimally Invasive Option for Intrahepatic Inferior Vena Cava Invasion by Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background Major vessel invasion is a late manifestation of hepatocellular carcinoma, which may directly result in mortality if left untreated. Surgical resection may be an option for select patients; however, surgery may be contraindicated. Contraindications include multifocal disease, poor liver reserve, inability to tolerate surgery, and patient preference. Cryoablation is a minimally invasive therapy utilized for treating hepatic neoplasms by subjecting them to extreme cold temperatures. The "thermal sink" effect describes cryoablation near flowing blood such as that found in high volumes within major vascular structures. Thermodynamics dictates that proximity to the flowing intravascular compartment will decrease ice formation, and therefore, tumor destruction. Methods This report describes a novel palliative technique to induce temporary cessation of the blood flow in the intrahepatic inferior vena cava (IVC), thus enabling the operator to perform cryoablation targeting invasive cancer within. Results Adequate ablation using this technique allowed a patient with IVC invasion 9 months of survival. Conclusion Quality of life during this time was maximized, as recovery time from this procedure is minimal.
The Nonprofit Starvation Cycle: Impact of Underfed Overhead on Program Outcomes

Building on the nonprofit starvation cycle, this paper empirically tests the impact of overhead spending on nonprofits’ program outcomes. The analysis draws on a sample from the nonprofit arts and ...
“The internet is not pleased”: twitter and the 2017 Equifax data breach

The 2017 Equifax data breach left 144.5 million users digitally vulnerable to identity theft and future hacks. The organization’s failure to provide ongoing communication and information regarding ...
Neurogenic bladder is an independent risk factor for complications associated with inflatable penile prosthesis implantation.

Men with neurogenic bladder (NGB) often have concomitant erectile dysfunction and may be considered for inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) placement. However, it is unclear if NGB is a risk factor for complications associated with IPP placement. The aim of this study is to compare surgical outcomes after IPP placement in a contemporary cohort of patients with NGB to that of a non-neurogenic control group. To accomplish this, consecutive records of patients who underwent IPP implantation between 2007 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with a known neurologic lesion and documented NGB by clinical or urodynamic criteria were compared with a non-neurogenic control group of men with erectile dysfunction. We found that patients in the NGB cohort were younger (median age 48 vs. 62 years, p < 0.001) and less likely to void spontaneously prior to surgery (3% vs. 97%, p < 0.001). The most common cause for NGB was spinal cord injury (46%). There was a 24.3% overall rate of complication (infection, erosion, or mechanical failure) in the NGB cohort compared with a 7.5% rate in the non-neurogenic control group (p = 0.001). On multivariate logistic regression modeling, NGB (OR 3.47; 95% CI 1.13–10.71; p = 0.03) was independently associated with risk of IPP complication. First time penile prosthesis was associated with lower risk of IPP complication (OR 0.25 95% CI 0.09–0.71; p = 0.01). In conclusion, patients with NGB are at increased risk for complications after IPP placement. Patients should be counseled accordingly, and all efforts should be made to stabilize bladder function prior to surgery.
Changes in Glycemic Load Are Positively Associated with Small Changes in Primary Stress Markers of Allostatic Load in Puerto Rican Women.

Background Puerto Ricans experience a high prevalence of type 2 diabetes. Dietary glycemic load (GL) and allostatic load (AL) have been linked with diabetes. AL, the wear and tear on the body from chronic stress, starts with secretion of primary stress markers from activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, sympathetic nervous system (SNS), and immune system. GL can act as a physiological stressor, contributing to the primary AL response. Objective We examined the relation between GL and a composite score of primary stress markers of AL in Puerto Rican adults. Methods Data were from the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study, a cohort study of Puerto Ricans, aged 45-75 y, including 262 men and 697 women with complete data at baseline and 2-y follow-up. GL was calculated from dietary intake obtained with an FFQ. Sex-specific composite primary AL scores included markers of the HPA axis (cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate), SNS (epinephrine and norepinephrine), and immune system (C-reactive protein). Linear regression models were stratified by sex and adjusted for covariates. Results Mean ± SD baseline GL score was 155 ± 28 for men and 135 ± 34 for women. Mean primary stress AL score was 1.25 ± 1.14 for men and 1.25 ± 1.06 for women. GL was not associated with AL score in men. In women, increasing GL from baseline to 2 y was significantly associated with increasing AL, after adjusting for sociodemographics, physical activity, smoking, BMI, menopause, and baseline AL score (β = 0.03; P = 0.049). Results became marginally significant after further adjustment for chronic diseases (P = 0.06) and intake of fats (P values: saturated fats = 0.08; trans fats = 0.06; unsaturated fats = 0.07), but the magnitude of the association remained unchanged. Conclusions Increasing GL over 2 y was positively associated with increasing composite score of primary markers of AL in Puerto Rican women. More studies are needed to confirm our findings.
An Empirical Study of Cryptographic Libraries for MPI Communications

As High Performance Computing (HPC) applications with data security requirements are increasingly moving to execute in the public cloud, there is a demand that the cloud infrastructure for HPC should support privacy and integrity. Incorporating privacy and integrity mechanisms in the communication infrastructure of today’s public cloud is challenging because recent advances in the networking infrastructure in data centers have shifted the communication bottleneck from the network links to the network end points and because encryption is computationally intensive.In this work, we consider incorporating encryption to support privacy and integrity in the Message Passing Interface (MPI) library, which is widely used in HPC applications. We empirically study four contemporary cryptographic libraries, OpenSSL, BoringSSL, Libsodium, and CryptoPP using micro-benchmarks and NAS parallel benchmarks to evaluate their overheads for encrypting MPI messages on two different networking technologies, 10Gbps Ethernet and 40Gbps InfiniBand. The results indicate that (1) the performance differs drastically across cryptographic libraries, and (2) effectively supporting privacy and integrity in MPI communications on high speed data center networks is challenging—even with the most efficient cryptographic library, encryption can still introduce very significant overheads in some scenarios such as a single MPI communication operation on InfiniBand, but (3) the overall overhead may not be prohibitive for practical uses since there can be multiple concurrent communications.
Intra-species recombination among strains of the ampelovirus Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 4.

Grapevine leafroll disease is one of the most economically important viral diseases affecting grape production worldwide. Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 4 (GLRaV-4, genus Ampelovirus, family Closteroviridae) is one of the six GLRaV species documented in grapevines (Vitis spp.). GLRaV-4 is made up of several distinct strains that were previously considered as putative species. Currently known strains of GLRaV-4 stand apart from other GLRaV species in lacking the minor coat protein. In this study, the complete genome sequence of three strains of GLRaV-4 from Washington State vineyards was determined using a combination of high-throughput sequencing, Sanger sequencing and RACE. The genome sequence of these three strains was compared with corresponding sequences of GLRaV-4 strains reported from other grapevine-growing regions. Phylogenetic analysis and SimPlot and Recombination Detection Program (RDP) were used to identify putative recombination events among GLRaV-4 strains. The genome size of GLRaV-4 strain 4 (isolate WAMR-4), strain 5 (isolate WASB-5) and strain 9 (isolate WALA-9) from Washington State vineyards was determined to be 13,824 nucleotides (nt), 13,820 nt, and 13,850 nt, respectively. Multiple sequence alignments showed that a 11-nt sequence (5′-GTAATCTTTTG-3′) towards 5′ terminus of the 5′ non-translated region (NTR) and a 10-nt sequence (5′-ATCCAGGACC-3′) towards 3′ end of the 3′ NTR are conserved among the currently known GLRaV-4 strains. LR-106 isolate of strain 4 and Estellat isolate of strain 6 were identified as recombinants due to putative recombination events involving divergent sequences in the ORF1a from strain 5 and strain Pr. Genome-wide analyses showed for the first time that recombinantion can occur between distinct strains of GLRaV-4 resulting in the emergence of genetically stable and biologically successful chimeric viruses. Although the origin of recombinant strains of GLRaV-4 remains elusive, intra-species recombination could be playing an important role in shaping genetic diversity and evolution of the virus and modulating the biology and epidemiology of GLRaV-4 strains.
Fracture in nanoporous gold: An integrated computational and experimental study

Abstract We present simulation/experimental integrated study examining crack propagation in nanoporous gold. We utilized a simulation technique that combines continuum fracture mechanics with molecular dynamics. We applied this to a large atomistic digital sample of nanoporous gold to implement mode-1 crack propagation. Crack propagation tests were also conducted on an experimental sample, prepared via chemical dealloying and observed via in-situ TEM microscopy. We observed cracks in both samples propagating by the same mechanisms of sequential individual ligament failure. A series of nanowire computational deformation tests were also conducted to understand individual ligament behavior, and how this influences the overall sample fracture. This iterative direct experiment/simulation comparison provides new insight into the failure response of nanoporous gold.
Stability boundary and optimal operating parameter identification in milling using Bayesian learning

Abstract This paper describes a novel Bayesian learning approach for stability boundary and optimal parameter identification in milling without the knowledge of the underlying tool dynamics or material cutting force coefficients. The paper is divided into two parts. First, a Bayesian learning method for stability lobe identification using test results is described. Each axial depth and spindle speed combination is characterized by a probability of stability which is updated using Bayes’ rule when a test result (stable or unstable) is made available. A novel likelihood function is defined which incorporates knowledge of the stability behavior. Numerical results show convergence to the analytical stability lobe diagram. Second, an adaptive experimental strategy to identify optimal operating parameters that maximize material removal rate is described. Numerical evaluation shows convergence to the optimal operating point with error less than 15 % within ten tests on average. The approach is validated using experimental results. Results show that the proposed method is an efficient and robust learning method to identify the stability lobe diagram and optimal operating parameters with a limited number of tests/data points.
Systemic therapy options following first-line chemoimmunotherapy in small-cell lung cancer

Nearly all patients with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) relapse following first-line etoposide plus platinum (EP) with or without immune checkpoint inhibition. Topotecan and amrubicin are chemotherapies approved for these patients. The toxicities of these chemotherapies are significant and survival when treated with these regimens is minimal. The programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitors nivolumab and pembrolizumab are unlikely to be effective for patients who develop progressive disease on first-line chemoimmunotherapy. Newer systemic therapies (e.g., lurbinectedin and temozolomide plus poly-ADP ribose polymerase inhibition) have demonstrated greater response rates than topotecan, amrubicin or PD-1 inhibitors. The data on these newer systemic therapies and other agents that may soon enter clinic are reviewed in this manuscript. Additionally, some of the key questions arising following clinical trials of these newer agents are highlighted.
Beaches and Muslim belonging in France: liberty, equality, but not the burkini!:

Drawing on Marco Antonsich’s framework for analyzing belonging while also engaging critical legal geographies, this article applies a legal lens to Muslim belonging. It does so through discourse an...
Deaths, Injuries, Damages, and Total Costs

The total costs to a household of a natural hazard event consist of all the burdens incurred because of the event minus any benefits that may have accrued. When we recognize that the burdens can cover a miscellaneous congeries of troubles, only some of which can be translated into monetary terms, then the task of estimating costs becomes formidable. Benefits present no less a problem for measurement. Indeed, because the benefits from a disaster are likely to be indirect or to occur as side effects, they may be difficult to detect at all.
Novel isodamping dynamometer accurately measures plantar flexor function.

Abstract Isokinetic dynamometers are the gold standard tools used to assess in vivo joint and muscle function in human subjects, however, the large size and high cost of these devices prevents their widespread use outside of traditonal biomechanics labs. In this study, we developed a mobile dynamometer to allow for field measurements of joint level function. To ensure subject safety, we designed a new “isodamping” dynamometer that acted as passive energy sink which constrains velocity by forcing incompressible oil through an orifice with an adjustable diameter. We validated the performance of this device by testing plantar flexor function in six healthy adults on both a commercial isokinetic dynamometer and this novel device at three velocities/damper settings and at three different effort levels. During maximal effort contraction, measurements of peak moment and velocity at peak moment of the novel device and the commercial device were strongly correlated along the predicted quadratic line (R2 > 0.708, p ≤ 0.008). The setting of the damper prescribed the relationship between peak moment and velocity at peak moment across all subjects and effort levels (R2 > 0.910, p
Preventing the Onset of Anxiety Disorders in Offspring of Anxious Parents: A Six-Year Follow-up

This study examined the effects of a family-based intervention Coping and Promoting Strength (CAPS) relative to a control condition, information-monitoring (IM), to prevent the onset of anxiety disorders in offspring of anxious parents six years after their initial assessment. One hundred thirty six families participated in the original randomized trial; 113 (83%) completed the one time follow-up assessment. Presence of anxiety disorders and severity of symptoms in offspring were assessed by masked evaluators using the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule; parents and offspring also completed questionnaires assessing offspring anxiety. Using the intention to treat sample from the original trial, Cox regression models showed significant intervention main effects in the rate of onset of anxiety disorders from baseline to follow-up (anxiety disorder: hazard ratio (HR) = 2.55, 95% CI: 1.54, 4.21) but growth curves suggest effects occurred within the first year after program completion. No group differences were found in the cumulative incidence of anxiety disorders at the six-year follow-up. Additional intervention appears needed to maintain the initial positive effects long-term to reduce the risk for downstream disability. Clinical Trials Registration: NCT00847561
Beyond Sustainable: Architecture's Evolving Environments of Habitation

Beyond Sustainable discusses the relationship between human-beings and the constructed environments of habitation we create living in the Anthropocene, an increasingly volatile and unpredictable landscape of certain change. This volume accepts that human-beings have reached a moment beyond climatological and ecological crisis. It asks not how we resolve the crisis but, rather, how we can cope with, or adapt to, the irreversible changes in the earth-system by rethinking how we choose to inhabit the world-ecology. Through an examination of numerous historical and contemporary projects of architecture and art, as well as observations in philosophy, ecology, evolutionary biology, genetics, neurobiology and psychology, this book reimagines architecture capable of influencing and impacting who we are, how we live, what we feel and even how we evolve. Beyond Sustainable provides students and academics with a single comprehensive overview of this architectural reconceptualization, which is grounded in an ecologically inclusive and co-productive understanding of architecture.
Molecular features of adenylyl cyclase isoforms and cAMP signaling: A link between adenylyl cyclase 7 and depression

Abstract Adenylyl cyclases (ACs) are proteins that catalyze the reaction producing cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) from adenosine triphosphate (ATP). There are 10 isoforms of ACs expressed in humans, 9 of which are membrane-bound proteins. The actions of clinically used antidepressants are thought to modulate AC activity indirectly. Accordingly, activation of the cAMP signaling pathway has been correlated with antidepressant effects. Adenylyl cyclase 7 (AC7) is an AC isoform of interest particularly for the suggested link between its overactivity and the onset of depressive disorders. Though the downstream effects of ACs are being researched and studied, directly targeting these proteins for therapeutic purposes is still a challenge and most AC isoforms, including AC7, do not have selective inhibitors. In this chapter, we will review the biochemistry of ACs and discuss the evidence linking cAMP signaling with depressive disorders with a focus on AC7.
Impact of hospital safety-net status on clinical outcomes following carotid artery revascularization.

Abstract Background High hospital safety-net burden has been associated with inferior clinical outcomes. We aimed to characterize the association of safety-net burden with outcomes in a national cohort of patients undergoing carotid interventions. Methods The 2010–2017 Nationwide Readmissions Database was used to identify adults undergoing carotid endarterectomy and carotid artery stenting. Hospitals were classified as low (LBH), medium, or high safety-net burden (HBH) based on the proportion of uninsured or Medicaid patients. Multivariable models were developed to evaluate associations between HBH and outcomes. Results Of an estimated 540,558 hospitalizations for a carotid intervention, 28.5% were at HBH. Patients treated at HBH were more likely to be admitted non-electively (28.7% vs 20.2%, P Conclusion HBH was associated with postoperative stroke, non-home discharge, readmissions, and increased hospitalization costs after carotid revascularization. Further studies are warranted to alleviate healthcare inequality and improve outcomes at safety-net hospitals.
Baseline renal function and adverse outcomes in pregnancies complicated by pregestational diabetes

To examine the relationship between baseline renal function (serum creatinine, urine protein to creatinine ratio) in women with diabetes and adverse pregnancy outcomes.This was a retrospective coho...
A Historical Overview of the 21st-Century Protectionism

The main goal of this paper is to situate current trade policy debates in a proper historical context by analyzing the main trade policy milestones of the 21st-century. It does not attempt to offer an extensive historical overview of trade policy, which has been done masterfully by other scholars, but to analyze the events that have led to a stagnation of the multilateral trade system and rising protectionism. This paper begins with the winding road of trade liberalization since World War II, briefly tracing how we arrived from the early stages of the Bretton Wood System to the current moment of stagnation of the multilateral system and rising protectionism. It then turns to four key events to understand the current new reality: China’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001, the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) of 2008 to 2009, the trade war between the United States and China, and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in trade policy dynamics. It concludes with some final comments on the relevance of understanding current trade debates from a historical perspective.
Effects of Temperature and Temperature-Nutrient Interactions on Phytoplankton Growth

Temperature effects on growth were studied with turbidostat and chemostat cultures of Scenedesmus sp. and Asterionella formosa. Under nutrient-sufficient conditions, growth rate (µmT) is a linear function of temperature. Intracellular nutrient concentrations, or cell quotas (q), increase with decreasing temperature and 1/q is linearly related to temperature within the range examined.
How to Integrate Administrative Law and Tort Law: The Regulation of Stem Cell Products

This article offers a proposal for the regulation of stem cell products by the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) that corresponds to a specialized product liability scheme. It shows how product liability and administrative law can be successfully integrated to create a comprehensive legal and regulatory system that will promote the safety and efficiency of stem cell products both before and after market entry. The article first scrutinizes some suggested regulatory solutions and offers a way to improve them. It then builds on a scheme, articulated and defended elsewhere, for handling legal liability for harm caused by defective stem cell products. The article’s larger point is that the effective regulation of stem cell products is intimately connected to the best legal regime for stem cell product liability. Although there are not yet many stem cell products on the market in the United States, this current paucity is likely temporary. Vigorous FDA oversight will be necessary once applications to approve these products and place them on the market arrive in large numbers. Because stem cell products differ from other FDA-approved products, effective oversight of stem cell products requires a revamping of administrative law and a specialized regime of product liability. Owing to the interrelated nature of the administrative revamping and the product liability scheme, each must take account of the other as part of a larger legal and regulatory framework. The regulatory and product liability proposals that I articulate here accomplish this objective because they are complementary, well-suited to each other, and are mutually reinforcing.Although the solutions I propose in this article are narrowly tailored to the unique problems of stem cell products, their broad reform of administrative and product liability law reveals them to be applicable to other fields, such as toxic substances and nanotechnology. Thus, the solutions advanced here provide an object lesson in how to integrate administrative law with areas of tort law beyond the realm of defective stem cell products. My solutions achieve this ambitious aim without stifling the scientific innovation crucial to this emerging field.
The incidence of injury in light infantry soldiers.

U.S. Army soldiers lose substantial training hours as a result of musculoskeletal injuries. Most military injury data have focused on basic trainee populations. This study examines activities associated with injuries in operational infantry soldiers. We conducted a randomized, retrospective medical record review of 339 records from a total of 3,195 light infantry soldiers over 13 months. The annualized incidence of injuries was 95 per 100 soldiers per year vs. 74 per 100 for illness. There were 372 injuries, representing 56% of sick-call diagnoses. Physical training caused 50% of all injuries, and 30% of those were linked to running. Injuries caused nearly 10 times the number of limited duty days as illness. Soldiers with lower extremity running injuries spent seven times more days on profile than those with nonrunning injuries. We conclude that physical training is related to a high number of injuries in infantry soldiers. This study provides important data on activities and injuries in operational infantry soldiers.
Crystallography of Gram-Positive Bacterial Adhesins

Both Gram-negative and Gram-positive pathogens display a multitude of proteins and protein assemblies (pili or fimbriae) on their cell surfaces, which are often used for adherence and initiate colonization and pathogenesis. Adhesive proteins known as MSCRAMMs (microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules), anchored by a specific enzyme called sortase in Gram-positive bacteria, target the host’s extracellular matrix proteins (ECM) like collagen, fibrinogen and fibronectin. In the past decade, structural analysis by X-ray crystallography has enhanced our understanding of the interactions between MSCRAMMs and the host ECM by revealing several novel structural features that dictate surface protein assembly and the mode of their adhesion to host tissue. The latest focus is on the recently discovered Gram-positive bacterial pili, assembly of which is assisted by yet another specific sortase. Novel features like inter- and intra-molecular isopeptide bonds that facilitate the stability of the pilins, and intra-molecular donor strand complementation to stabilize the adhesin-target interactions are specific to Gram-positive bacteria. This chapter describes and discusses the common structural details between surface proteins and pilins of Gram-positive bacteria and biological implications emanating from these structures.
Differences in expression patterns between mouse connexin-30.2 (Cx30.2) and its putative human orthologue, connexin-31.91

A novel gap junction forming protein, mouse connexin-30.2 (Cx30.2) contains 278 amino acid residues, and is 79% identical to human Cx31.9 (GJA11). Northern analysis showed that Cx30.2 is ubiquitously expressed, most prominently in testis. Polyclonal antibodies against Cx30.2 detected a 30 kDa protein in cells overexpressing Cx30.2, and in mouse testis. Immunofluorescence showed that Cx30.2 was expressed in vascular smooth muscle, but also in cell types where Cx31.9 was not detected. These data demonstrate that Cx30.2 is a bona fide gene, and suggest that it is the orthologue of Cx31.9, but that it may have additional roles compared with Cx31.9.
A pseudo-BiCMOS high gain-bandwidth low noise operational amplifier using a Darlington input stage

A high gain-bandwidth low noise operational amplifier using lateral PNP bipolar transistors in the input stage has been fabricated in a standard 1.2 /spl mu/m digital n-well CMOS process. The op amp has an area of 0.216 mm/sup 2/ with E/sub u/=7.3 nV//spl radic/(Hz), I/sub n/=0.20 pA//spl radic/(Hz), E/sub n/ and I/sub n/ 1/f noise corner frequencies less than 25 Hz, a -3 dB bandwidth of 4.5 MHz with a closed loop gain of 53 dB, a minimum PSRR (DC) of 68 dB, a CMRR (DC) of 100 dB, a minimum output slew rate of 39 V//spl mu/s, and a quiescent current of 2.1 mA at supply voltages of /spl plusmn/2.5 V.
Development of adjustment factors for the EPA city and highway MPG values

This paper describes the development of adjustment factors applicable to the EPA City and Highway MPG values. The paper discusses the data bases used, and the analytical methods employed to arrive at adjustment factors of 0.90 for the EPA City MPG value and 0.78 for the EPA Highway MPG value.
Ignition and Burn Criteria for D-3He Tokamak and Spherical Torus Reactors

The D-3He ignition and burn criteria for tokamaks and spherical torus reactors are examined in a global analysis with profile corrections. Particle confinement and ash buildup effects are included ...