cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adaptive Step-length RRT Algorithm for Improved Coverage

This paper considers the problem of quickly identifying feasible paths in a congested environment. While there are many existing path planning algorithms, not many consider the problem of real-time replanning based on new information. As a robot moves through a given environment and new information becomes available, it is often beneficial to change the planned path to move towards a new location, for example, in target tracking applications. This paper studies a variation on the standard RRT algorithm that adapts the step size of the algorithm based on distance from the root node. This adaptive step-length RRT algorithm generates desirable paths for real-time applications that are precisely planned in the short planning horizon and coarsely planned in the longer planning horizon. These far-reaching coarse paths are generated quickly and provide a dynamic planner with more candidates when deciding on a particular path. This reach of the path is shown in this paper using a notation of coverage.
Gamifying Risk Communication: The Game of Mortality

Scholars have long recognized the difficulties of communicating risk to the public. The rise of mobile gaming presents unprecedented opportunities for risk communicators to reach millions of potential users in engaging and potentially effective ways. Gamifying risk communication may help users build knowledge bases about risk, improve risk contextualization skills, and strengthen analytical skills for evaluating risk information. In some cases, gamifying risk communication may also provide social benefits, both by increasing the public's ability to evaluate risk, and by helping narrow the risk perception gap between experts and laypeople.This paper describes the mechanics, style, and content of “Mortality,” a mobile gaming application designed to help people understand how different mortality risks compare to one another. The game structure can serve as a template for gamifying risk communication in other contexts, and for using gamification to enrich the public’s tools for risk analysis.
Stability Characteristics and Coordinated Control Strategy of Interconnected Grid Integrated With UHVDC Transmission Line from Jinping to Sunan

Based on the summer peak load operation mode,in which the interconnected power grid integrated with UHVDC transmission line from Jinping to Sunan is being operated,the influences of putting the UHVDC transmission line into operation on the stability of the interconnected power grid are studied from various sides.To cope with the DC block fault occurred in the UHVDC transmission line,a coordinated control strategy based on emergency DC power supply is researched,by which the total amount of load shedding and the number of generators to be cut off can be reduced.The backup control measure is put forward to avoid the action of the third defense line due to the failure of the coordinated control strategy.During the comparison and selection of generator tripping schemes,the voltage rise at DC bus near the sending-end after the DC block fault is taken into account.Through the analysis on excitation currents of generation units near the sending-end and the action of related generator protections after DC block fault,the influences of generator protections related to power grid on grid stability are explored.Analysis results show that after putting the UHVDC transmission line from Jinping to Sunan it is necessary to draft coordinated control strategy for sending-and receiving-ends to improve grid stability.
Computerized Agility Training Improves Change-of-Direction and Balance Performance Independently of Footwear in Young Adults.

Understanding the effects of training in different footwear on sporting performance would be useful to coaches and athletes. Purpose: This study compared the effects of computerized agility training using 3 types of footwear on change-of-direction and balance performance in young adults. Method: Thirty recreationally active young adults (Mage = 22.8 ± 3.1 years; Mheight = 1.71 ± 0.7 m; Mbodymass = 73.4 ± 10.3 kg) were randomly assigned to a 6-week computerized agility training intervention in 1 of 3 footwear groups (n = 10/group): barefoot, minimal footwear, or traditional shoes. Participants had no previous barefoot or minimal-footwear training experience. Dependent variables included change-of-direction test time to completion, Star Excursion Balance Test, and single-leg stability evaluation. Testing was performed at the start of the training program, after 2 weeks, after 4 weeks, and at the end of the training program. Results: No group or time interactions were found for any of the dependent variables...
The quest for an antibody-based HIV vaccine.

Despite major advances in our understanding of the biology of HIV-1 infection, and advances in antiretroviral therapy to treat the disease, there were 2.1 million new cases of HIV-1 infection in 2015, and 36.7 million people living with AIDS ( http://www.unaids.org/en/resources/fact-sheet ). Thus, a vaccine that can prevent HIV-infection remains a global priority. Thirty-three years after the discovery of HIV-1(1), and the demonstration it was the cause of AIDS(2) and after 6 HIV-1 vaccine efficacy trials (–8), no HIV-1 candidate vaccine has shown enough efficacy to be approved for clinical use. Of several vaccine concepts tested in efficacy trials, only one, the RV144 pox virus prime, protein boost (ALVAC/AIDSVAX B/E) vaccine, showed a low level of vaccine protection with an estimated 31% vaccine efficacy (8). Candidate vaccines have sought to elicit both antibody and T-cell responses, but to fully prevent the acquisition of infection, a major focus has been on the induction of protective antibody responses (9, 10). Hence, the focus of this issue of Immunologic Reviews is “Antibodies and Immunity to HIV”. Animal models have demonstrated that passive administration of HIV-1-- neutralizing antibodies can fully protect against infection, but the induction of such antibodies via immunization remains a major scientific challenge. With recent advances in the isolation and characterization of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) from HIV-1-infected subjects, in elucidating structures of the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (Env), in defining novel approaches to immunogen design, and in improved understanding of the immunological pathways leading to bNAb elicitation, the challenge developing an HIV-1 vaccine appears to be more tractable. The articles in this issue highlight both major areas of HIV-1 vaccine development progress and remaining obstacles, and provide context for the renewed optimism that a highly effective vaccine, while not imminent, is possible.
Predicting Academic Success With Early, Middle, and Late Semester Assessment of Student–Instructor Rapport:

We used a brief scale to measure student–instructor rapport and assessed the degree to which student’s perceived rapport at the beginning, middle, and end of the semester predicted final course gra...
Evaluating Appropriate Use of Pediatric Echocardiograms for Chest Pain in Outpatient Clinics.

Background Echocardiography is often used in the evaluation of pediatric chest pain, but the incidence of cardiac pathology is low. In 2014, the American College of Cardiology published appropriate use criteria (AUC) for echocardiography including recommendations for pediatric chest pain. We evaluated the frequency and diagnostic yield of echocardiograms performed for each AUC indication and cost associated with echocardiograms performed for indications meeting the "rarely appropriate" criteria. Methods Retrospective, single-institution study of all patients 18 years or younger undergoing an initial evaluation for chest pain by a pediatric cardiologist (2014-15). We categorized the appropriateness of indications for echocardiograms on the basis of the AUC. We used multivariable logistic regression to determine factors associated with performance of an echocardiogram with the "rarely appropriate" indication. Excess costs associated with nondiagnostic echocardiograms meeting the "rarely appropriate" criteria were estimated using the Healthcare Bluebook to estimate a fair market price. Results The cohort included 539 patients, median age 13 years (range, 3-18) and 51.0% female. With retrospective application of the AUC, echocardiogram indications were classified as "appropriate" (304/539, 56.4%), "maybe appropriate" (68/539, 12.6%), and "rarely appropriate" (167/539, 31.0%). Echocardiograms were performed in 70.5% (380/539) of patients overall and in 35.9% (60/167) of patients with "rarely appropriate" indications. Of those undergoing echocardiography, abnormal findings were present in 5.0% (19/380) and incidental findings in 2.6% (10/380); however, only one echocardiogram (0.3%) led to a diagnosis considered to be contributory to the patient's chest pain. There were no abnormal findings in the "rarely appropriate" subgroup. Provider use of echocardiography for "rarely appropriate" indications varied widely from 0 to 75% across 15 providers ( P = .004). In multivariable analysis, provider clinical experience of ≥20 years was associated with a lower rate of echocardiograms for "rarely appropriate" indications (odds ratio, 0.21 [95% CI, 0.09-0.47] vs. providers with P Conclusions Echocardiogram use in patients meeting the "rarely appropriate" indication criteria is of little diagnostic utility and contributes to additional cost to the patient and health care system.
Transoral Robotic Surgery for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

The purpose of this review is to describe the role of transoral robotic surgery (TORS) in the surgical management of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Numerous studies have examined the best techniques and efficacy of TORS for OSA as a component of multi-level surgery for OSA. The role of transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) emerged in 2008 as a novel approach for the treatment of retroglossal and supraglottic obstruction. This technique provides an alternative surgical approach for patients with obstruction in these areas. Success rates with TORS are modestly improved over alternative approaches to the tongue base and offer an added advantage of addressing neighboring regions of the airway including access to the supraglottis.
Multidimensional Decoding Networks for Trapping Set Analysis

We present a novel multidimensional network model as a means to analyze decoder failure and characterize trapping sets of graph-based codes. We identify a special class of these decoding networks, which we call transitive networks, and show how they may be used to identify trapping sets and inducing sets. Many codes have transitive decoding network representations. We conclude by investigating the decoding networks of codes arising from product, half-product, and protograph code constructions.
War, Design, and Weapons of Mass Construction

The last hundred years have seen increasing amounts of time, energy, and money dedicated to war and defense. While much of this effort has been directed toward the development of new weapons and equipment, it has also radically influenced the design of buildings. The criteria for the design of buildings for war differ significantly from those that are traditionally associated with architecture; preoccupations with “firmness, commoditie and delighte”1 are set aside in favor of the pragmatic—the development of strategic defensive systems and facilities that can be improvised quickly. Governments, politicians, and military leaders, prompted by these unusual circumstances, have frequently commissioned massive site-specific installations, extensive defenses and constructions embedded in the landscape.
Prolonged platelet storage associated with increased frequency of transfusion-related adverse events.

BACKGROUND Platelets (PLTs) have been associated with the highest rate of transfusion-associated adverse events (AEs) among all blood products. Most of PLT-associated AEs are considered to have an inflammatory mechanism. However, it is still unclear whether prolonged storage of platelets is associated with an increased rate of transfusion-related AEs, especially in the era of universal prestorage leucoreduction. METHODS/MATERIALS In this retrospective study, 52 649 PLT products consisting of about 80% apheresis PLTs and 20% whole blood-derived (WBD) PLTs were transfused to 9415 patients from July 2011 to March 2017. All the PLTs were leucoreduced prior to storage. All but 69 units of the apheresis PLTs were irradiated and none of WBD PLTs were irradiated. During this period, a total of 284 AEs that were reported to the transfusion service were analysed. RESULTS Univariate and multivariate logistic analyses showed that apheresis/irradiated PLTs and PLT age were associated with a significantly increased frequency of inflammation type AEs (OR (95% CI): 2·24 (1·32, 4·15) and 1·30 (1·12, 1·52), respectively). There was a significant increase in the frequency of inflammation AEs associated with prolonged storage of apheresis/irradiated PLTs [OR (95% CI): 1·26 (1·03, 1·53)]. In contrast, there was no association between allergic symptoms and PLT age. Moreover, the frequency of transfusion AEs associated with apheresis/irradiated PLTs (57·2/10 000) was significantly higher than that of WBD/nonirradiated PLTs (26·0/10 000) (P < 0·01). CONCLUSION Prolonged storage of apheresis/irradiated PLTs was associated with a higher frequency of inflammation AEs. Apheresis/irradiated PLTs caused more AEs than WBD/nonirradiated PLTs.
Proneness to guilt, shame, and pride in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and neurotypical children

Self-conscious emotions (e.g., guilt, shame, and pride) are complex emotions that require self-reflection and self-evaluation, and are thought to facilitate the maintenance of societal norms and personal standards. Despite the importance of self-conscious emotions, most research has focused on basic emotion processing in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Therefore, in the present study, we used the Test of Self-Conscious Affect for Children (TOSCA-C) to assess proneness to, or propensity to experience, the self-conscious emotions guilt, shame, and pride in children with ASD and neurotypical children. The TOSCA-C is designed to capture a child's natural tendency to experience a given emotion across a range of everyday situations [Tangney, Stuewig, & Mashek, 2007]. We also assessed how individual characteristics contribute to the development of proneness to self-conscious emotions, including theory of mind (ToM) and ASD symptomatology. In comparison to neurotypical children, children with ASD showed less proneness to guilt, although all children showed relatively high levels of proneness to guilt. Greater ToM ability was related to more proneness to guilt and authentic pride in children with ASD. Additionally, we found that children with ASD with more severe symptomatology were more prone to hubristic pride. Our results provide evidence of differences in proneness to self-conscious emotions in children with ASD, as well as highlight important mechanisms contributing to how children with ASD may experience self-conscious emotions. Autism Res 2018,11:883-892. ©2017 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Lay summary This research examined proneness to guilt, shame, and pride in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and neurotypical children. We found that children with ASD showed less proneness to guilt than neurotypical children. Better understanding of theory of mind was related to greater proneness to guilt and pride, but only for children with ASD. These findings are important because these complex emotions are linked with both positive and negative social behaviors towards others and oneself.
Contemporary Management of Ulcerative Colitis

We discuss the newest evidence-based data on management of ulcerative colitis (UC). We emphasize risk-stratification, optimizing medical therapies, and surgical outcomes of UC. Recent medical advances include introduction of novel agents for UC. Vedolizumab, an anti-adhesion molecule, has demonstrated efficacy in moderate to severe UC. Tofacitinib, a small molecule, has also demonstrated efficacy. Data on optimization of infliximab show the superiority of combination therapy with azathioprine over monotherapy with infliximab or azathioprine alone. Data on anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (anti-TNF) therapeutic drug monitoring also hold promise, as do preliminary data on the dose escalation of infliximab in severe hospitalized UC. Surgical outcome data are reassuring, with new fertility data showing the effectiveness of in vitro fertilization. UC management is multi-disciplinary and changing. While novel therapies hold promise, better optimization of our current arsenal will also improve outcomes.
Natural history and school screening for scoliosis.

SUMMARY In light of the questions and controversy regarding school screening for spinal deformities, should the programs be dropped? The natural history is not completely known and the results of nonoperative treatment questioned. The costs are high due to over-referral and numerous physician visits and radiographs. Would it not be best to wait until the epidemiologic questions are answered? The best approach is one in the middle ground. The program needs to be organized and strengthened. With the education of screeners, over-referral can be reduced. The treating physician must confirm the physical finding, take appropriate radiographs, and plan appropriate follow-up. In this way, the costs will be reduced. In addition, with knowledge regarding natural history, only larger curves or progressive curves will be treated. Nonoperative treatment of idiopathic scoliosis is effective. It can control progression and even result in correction of some curves. The overall effectiveness of braces and electrical stimulation needs to be constantly reviewed. How do these forms of nonoperative treatment affect the progressive curve, and do they reduce the need for surgery in idiopathic scoliosis? Only after we have more studies on natural history and on the results of nonoperative treatment can screening for scoliosis be reassessed to determine its role in the overall treatment program of spinal deformities.
Rapid Viral Symbiogenesis via Changes in Parasitoid Wasp Genome Architecture

Viral genome integration provides a complex route to biological innovation that has rarely but repeatedly occurred in one of the most diverse lineages of organisms on the planet, parasitoid wasps. We describe a novel endogenous virus in braconid wasps derived from pathogenic alphanudiviruses. Limited to a subset of the genus Fopius, this recent acquisition allows an unprecedented opportunity to examine early endogenization events. Massive amounts of virus-like particles (VLPs) are produced in wasp ovaries. Unlike most endogenous viruses of parasitoid wasps, the VLPs do not contain DNA, translating to major differences in parasitism-promoting strategies. Rapid changes include genomic rearrangement, loss of DNA processing proteins, and wasp control of viral gene expression. These events precede the full development of tissue-specific viral gene expression observed in older associations. These data indicate that viral endogenization can rapidly result in functional and evolutionary changes associated with genomic novelty and adaptation in parasitoids.
DeepCx: A transition-based approach for shallow semantic parsing with complex constructional triggers

This paper introduces the surface construction labeling (SCL) task, which expands the coverage of Shallow Semantic Parsing (SSP) to include frames triggered by complex constructions. We present DeepCx, a neural, transition-based system for SCL. As a test case for the approach, we apply DeepCx to the task of tagging causal language in English, which relies on a wider variety of constructions than are typically addressed in SSP. We report substantial improvements over previous tagging efforts on a causal language dataset. We also propose ways DeepCx could be extended to still more difficult constructions and to other semantic domains once appropriate datasets become available.
l -[Methyl- 11 C] Methionine-Positron-Emission Tomography (MET-PET)

Methionine (MET) dependence is a cancer-specific metabolic abnormality that is due to MET overuse for aberrant transmethylation reactions. [11C]-MET is very useful for positron-emission tomography (PET) due to MET overuse in malignant tumors. Many benefits of MET-PET have been demonstrated. MET-PET can differentiate recurrent glioma and necrosis. [11C]-MET-PET can also predict prognosis in gliomas better than [18F]-FDG PET. [11C]-MET-PET is better than MRI for predicting survival in low-grade glioma (LGG). MET-PET has greater specificity for detecting residual tumor after surgery than MRI.
The Pregnancy Pickle: Evolved Immune Compensation Due to Pregnancy Underlies Sex Differences in Human Diseases.

We hypothesize that, ancestrally, sex-specific immune modulation evolved to facilitate survival of the pregnant person in the presence of an invasive placenta and an immunologically challenging pregnancy – an idea we term the 'pregnancy compensation hypothesis' (PCH). Further, we propose that sex differences in immune function are mediated, at least in part, by the evolution of gene content and dosage on the sex chromosomes, and are regulated by reproductive hormones. Finally, we propose that changes in reproductive ecology in industrialized environments exacerbate these evolved sex differences, resulting in the increasing risk of autoimmune disease observed in females, and a counteracting reduction in diseases such as cancer that can be combated by heightened immune surveillance. The PCH generates a series of expectations that can be tested empirically and that may help to identify the mechanisms underlying sex differences in modern human diseases.
Ultrasound in dialysis access: Opportunities and challenges:

Sonography is increasingly being used by nephrologists and the field of dialysis access is no exception. Advances in technology have allowed the addition of this universally available, portable, non-invasive tool to the nephrologist's armamentarium, which provides information on both morphology and physiology without the need for contrast or radiation. Ultrasound may be used across the spectrum of dialysis access, including central venous catheter placements, vascular mapping, regional anesthesia, creation, maintenance and assessment of hemodialysis access as well as assessment of the abdominal wall and peritoneal dialysis catheter placements. However, the lack of exposure in most training programs limits incorporation of routine use of ultrasounds in nephrology practice. As our specialty embarks on the ultrasound revolution, a two-pronged approach is essential to provide ample training opportunities while ensuring establishment of basic standards for training and competency.
Abstract 795: TRAF2-GRK2 Interaction Mediates Non-Canonical Desensitization of Beta-Adrenergic Receptors to TNF-α

β- Adrenergic receptor (βAR), a prototypical G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) is a key regulator of cardiac function. Impaired G-protein coupling (desensitization) of βARs is a key hallmark of hea...
Genome-wide association study in historical and contemporary U.S. winter wheats identifies height-reducing loci

Abstract Plant height has been a major target for selection of high-yielding varieties in wheat. Two height-reducing loci (Rht-B1 and Rht-D1) have been widely used since the Green Revolution. However, these genes also negatively affect other agronomic traits such as kernel weight. Identifying alternative height-reducing loci could benefit wheat improvement. This study focused on the genetics of plant height in 260 historical and contemporary winter wheat accessions via genome-wide association studies using 38,693 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers generated through genotyping by sequencing, two Kompetitive Allele Specific Polymorphism markers, and phenotypic data recorded in two seasons (2016 and 2018). The 260 accessions showed wide variation in plant height. Most accessions developed after 1960 were shorter than earlier accessions. The broad-sense heritability for plant height was high (H2 = 0.82), which was also supported by a high correlation (r = 0.82, P
Ogyū Sorai and the Forty-Seven Rōnin

This paper explores Ogyū Sorai’s 荻生徂徠 (1666–1728) thinking on the most sensational and controversial incident of eighteenth-century Japan, and perhaps the most well-known in all Japanese history, the forty-seven rōnin incident of 1701–1703. Viewed in relation to his lifework, Sorai’s views on the incident are significant insofar as they reveal the extent to which his philosophical thinking was occasionally shaped decisively by neither ancient Chinese nor later Confucian texts, Neo- or otherwise, but instead by formative life-experiences he had as a youth living in exile. No doubt, Confucian and Neo-Confucian notions, which Sorai knew in-depth, helped him filter, epistemologically, events, issues, and most importantly what he understood to be righteous and just behaviour in a polity. Yet ironically enough, Sorai’s thinking on the rōnin incident shows that however philosophically erudite, cosmopolitan, and urbane he was as an intellectual, his appraisals of things sometimes harked back to rural experiences he had early on with some of the most primitive and foundational expressions of human agency, civilization, and socio-political ethics in early-eighteenth century Japan. In the process, Sorai’s essay reveals, through its later resonance with some Meiji thought, how his views on those same primitive expressions remained relevant even in modern contexts.
Distinct dermatomyositis populations are detected with different autoantibody assay platforms

Objectives To compare autoantibody-defined dermatomyositis sub-populations using immunoprecipitation-based assays, a commercially available line immunoblot assay and alternate commercial ELISA assays. Methods Banked plasma from 261 carefully phenotyped dermatomyositis patients was studied. Immunoprecipitation-based assays were used to detect antibodies against Mi2, TIF1-γ MDA5, NXP2, SAE1 and PM-Scl, while anti-Jo1 antibodies were assayed using ELISA. These data were compared with that obtained using a commercial line immunoblot, and, additionally, for Mi2, TIF1-γ, MDA5, commercially available ELISA kits. Test agreement was measured using Cohen's kappa statistic, and phenotypic differences between differentially identified groups are described. Results Line immunoblot, immunoprecipitation, and ELISA detected increasingly larger nested pools of anti-TIF1-γ samples, with increasing frequency of concurrent anti-Mi2 reactivity and decreasing incidence of malignancy. Line immunoblot and immunoprecipitation showed fair concordance for identifying anti-NXP2 antibodies (Cohen's kappa=0.71) but very good agreement for identifying antibodies against Mi2, MDA5, and SAE1 (Cohen's κ=0.9, 0.94, 0.88, respectively). Anti-PM-Scl results showed moderate agreement (Cohen's κ=0.48) between immunoblot and immunoprecipitation. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that for some specificities, especially anti-TIF1-γ, antibody results obtained using different assay platforms vary, and identify significantly different patient populations. These findings highlight the need for standard adoption of carefully validated platforms to detect dermatomyositis autoantibodies.
Megaflooding associated with glacial Lake Agassiz

Abstract Significant baseline and episodic megaflooding from glacial Lake Agassiz was routed to the south, east and north coasts of North America over the lake’s nearly 6000 year history. The five phases of lake-level change were controlled by which outlet was active, which in turn was controlled by ice margin position and glacioisostatic adjustment. The southern outlet is the oldest and best understood outlet, while successively younger outlets are progressively less understood. Eastern drainage synchronous with the Younger Dryas chronozone had been assumed by most studies, but a spillway to accommodate the ∼90 m drop in lake level is yet to be described. With the south and east outlets unable to accommodate the necessary lake level drawdown, the northwest outlet has become the default outlet with Arctic Ocean Core data supporting it. However, extant terrestrial data from the continent only provides data for a large flood from the Fort McMurray area closer to the end of the Younger Dryas, coinciding with the timing of the Preboreal Oscillation. The challenge remains to find agreement between the marine and terrestrial records. Uncontroversial is the geomorphic and sedimentologic evidence for flooding into and out of the lake consisting of large spillways, large boulders, and in places giant current ripples composed of boulders. Flood discharge estimates into and out of the lake range from 0.04 to ∼1 Sv, with final subglacial drainage into the Tyrell Sea estimated at ∼5 Sv, sufficient to raise global sea level by 0.18 m and initiate the 8.2 ka stadial.
Developing Globally Competent Teacher Candidates Through Cross-Cultural Experiential Learning

An emerging imperative for teacher preparation programs is the development of globally competent teacher candidates. Employing a convergent parallel mixed methods design, the researchers analyzed data from Asia Society’s Global Competencies (2008) survey, critical reflection journals, course assignments, and field notes of 124 undergraduate teacher candidates enrolled in two teacher preparation courses during three academic years. Findings demonstrate candidates’ perceptions of learning experiences and the extent to which the experiences contributed to the development of global competencies. For educators, the study provides examples of cross-cultural experiential learning that contribute to the development of globally competent teacher candidates.
Design Research in Food Science: Keynote Introduction

Design science research (DSR) seeks to grow technology and science knowledge bases via the creation of innovative artifacts that solve problems and improve the environments in which they are instantiated. The field of food science offers many opportunities for the use of DSR to design innovations with a goal of improving the effectiveness and efficiencies of food-related products, services, and delivery. The rigorous interplay of DSR and Data Engineering is an important research direction.
Theory of Coupled Harmonics and Its Application to Resonant and Non-Resonant Electro-Optic Modulators

We present a unified theory for analyzing the frequency conversion between an RF voltage and an optical carrier in an electro-optic modulator. Our new approach results in the electro-optic coupled harmonic equation (EOCHE) that encompasses the electro-optic behavior of common types of modulators (lumped, traveling wave, and resonant) and effortlessly provides closed-form solutions for the small-signal frequency response and the large-signal intermodulation effects. In particular, the small-signal electro-optic frequency responses of lumped and traveling-wave Mach--Zehnder modulators, and resonant microring modulators are derived. We show that the concept of velocity-mismatch only applies to special cases when designing traveling-wave modulators. Therefore, to generalize the design of electro-optic modulators we propose a universal concept called the “effective RF phase” that governs how the optical power is exchanged between different RF harmonics of light. Using the EOCHE, we also propose a generalization of the widely used transfer matrix method for photonic circuits to fully capture the RF mixing effects in integrated photonic circuits, which is analogous to the steady-state AC analysis of electrical circuits. The simplicity and versatility of our approach make it a holistic tool for designing high-speed electro-optic modulators.
Conformational changes in the nucleotide-binding domains of P-glycoprotein induced by ATP hydrolysis

P-glycoprotein (Pgp) is a member of the ABC transporter superfamily with high physiological importance. Pgp nucleotide-binding domains (NBDs) drive the transport cycle through ATP binding and hydrolysis. We use molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the ATP hydrolysis-induced conformational changes in NBDs. Five systems, including all possible ATP/ADP combinations in the NBDs and the APO system, are simulated. ATP/ADP exchange induces conformational changes mostly within the conserved signature motif of the NBDs, resulting in relative orientational changes in the NBDs. Nucleotide removal leads to additional orientational changes in the NBDs, allowing their dissociation. Furthermore, we capture putative hydrolysis-competent configurations in which the conserved glutamate in the Walker-B motif acts as a catalytic base capturing a water molecule likely initiating ATP hydrolysis.
Knot homology via derived categories of coherent sheaves II, \mathfrak{sl}_{m} case

Using derived categories of equivariant coherent sheaves we construct a knot homology theory which categorifies the quantum $\mathfrak{sl}_{m}$ knot polynomial. Our knot homology naturally satisfies the categorified MOY relations and is conjecturally isomorphic to Khovanov–Rozansky homology. Our construction is motivated by the geometric Satake correspondence and is related to Manolescu’s by homological mirror symmetry.
How advocacy affects Twitter migraine conversations: A pilot cross-sectional survey of Northeast American “migraine” landscape on Twitter from May to June 2020:

Background:Twitter is a leading microblogging platform, with over 126 million daily active users as of 2019, which allows for large-scale analysis of tweets related to migraine. June 2020 encompass...
Revealing micro-scale doping variations in thin-films via simultaneous luminescence and current collection measurements

Doping thin films used for photovoltaic absorbers is both critical to maximize device voltage and challenging due to complex interactions between point defects in these materials. Such interactions can result in compensation of the intended dopant species, meaning that the active charge-carrier concentration is lower than the concentration incorporated dopants. Charge-carrier compensation is directly related to the open-circuit voltage (VOC) deficit, or magnitude of VOC relative to the theoretical limit. Understanding how the carrier concentration varies within thin-films is necessary to design material processing schedules to minimize this VOC deficit and produce more efficient devices. Unfortunately, measurements of the free carrier concentration are generally relevant at the device level and cannot resolve local differences. Resolving local doping differences in thin-films such as Cd(Se,Te), CZTS, and CIGSe requires techniques with micron or sub-micron spatial resolution due to the polycrystalline structure as well as intended and unintended composition variations in these materials. In this contribution, we show how simultaneous measurement of cathodoluminescence (CL) and electron-beam-induced current (EBIC) can be used to expose doping variations in Cd(Se,Te) thin-films. Simultaneous collection of these signals reveals unexpected differences in the electric field strength through the device thickness due to spatial variation in the carrier concentration.
Predicting demand for air taxi urban aviation services using machine learning algorithms

Abstract This research focuses on predicting the demand for air taxi urban air mobility (UAM) services during different times of the day in various geographic regions of New York City using machine learning algorithms (MLAs). Several ride-related factors (such as month of the year, day of the week and time of the day) and weather-related variables (such as temperature, weather conditions and visibility) are used as predictors for four popular MLAs, namely, logistic regression, artificial neural networks, random forests, and gradient boosting. Experimental results suggest gradient boosting to consistently provide higher prediction performance. Specific locations, certain time periods and weekdays consistently emerged as critical predictors.
Covid-19 driven advances in automation and artificial intelligence risk exacerbating economic inequality.

Anton Korinek and Joseph E Stiglitz make the case for a deliberate effort to steer technological advances in a direction that enhances the role of human workers
Introduction to Luminescence Signals and Models

In this introductory chapter we introduce two types of thermally and optically stimulated luminescence signals, which are commonly used for luminescence dosimetry and luminescence dating. Phenomena such as thermoluminescence (TL), optically stimulated luminescence (OSL), and radioluminescence (RL) usually take place in a time scale of seconds, while time-resolved (TR) luminescence phenomena usually take place in a ms or μs scale. We provide an overview of commonly used luminescence models, based on delocalized and localized transitions, and discuss optical absorption (OA) and electron spin resonance (ESR) experiments, and their connection and importance in luminescence dosimetry. This chapter concludes with a brief discussion of what types of information researchers typically extract from the experimental data described in this chapter.
Price, Neil Children of Ash and Elm: A History of the Vikings: New York: Basic Books, 624 pp., $35.00, ISBN 9780465096985, Publication Date: August 2020

For the university instructor, teaching a course on the Vikings and their world presents a wide variety of challenges. For starters, there is the daunting complexity of the historical sources, whic...
Germination and early establishment of dryland grasses and shrubs on intact and wind-eroded soils under greenhouse conditions

Grassland-to-shrubland transition is a common form of land degradation in drylands worldwide. It is often attributed to changes in disturbance regimes, particularly overgrazing. A myriad of direct and indirect effects (e.g., accelerated soil erosion) of grazing may favor shrubs over grasses, but their relative importance is unclear. We tested the hypothesis that topsoil “winnowing” by wind erosion would differentially affect grass and shrub seedling establishment to promote shrub recruitment over that of grass. We monitored germination and seedling growth of contrasting perennial grass (Bouteloua eriopoda, Sporobolus airoides, and Aristida purpurea) and shrub (Prosopis glandulosa, Atriplex canescens, and Larrea tridentata) functional groups on field-collected non-winnowed and winnowed soils under well-watered greenhouse conditions. Non-winnowed soils were finer-textured and had higher nutrient contents than winnowed soils, but based on desorption curves, winnowed soils had more plant-available moisture. Contrary to expectations, seed germination and seedling growth on winnowed and non-winnowed soils were comparable within a given species. The N2-fixing deciduous shrub P. glandulosa was first to emerge and complete germination, and had the greatest biomass accumulation of all species. Germination and early seedling growth of grasses and shrubs on winnowed soils were not adversely nor differentially affected comparing with that observed on non-winnowed soils under well-watered greenhouse conditions. Early germination and rapid growth may give P. glandulosa a competitive advantage over grasses and other shrub species at the establishment stage in grazed grasslands. Field establishment experiments are needed to confirm our findings in these controlled environment trials.
What is National Belonging in a Nation that Doesn’t Belong?

While doing the research that would eventually go into the book Bengali Harlem, I was struck by the richness of the conceptual framework of “overlapping diasporas,” introduced by the historian Earl...
Human Angiopoietin-like Protein 3/ANGPTL3 Antibodies: Adding to the Armamentarium in the Management of Dyslipidemia.

ABSTRACT Cardiovascular (CV) disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States. In addition to lifestyle modifications, current guidelines primarily focus on lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) to reduce atherosclerotic CV disease risk. However, despite aggressive management, a degree of residual risk remains, suggesting that focusing on lowering LDL-C alone may be inadequate and that other lipid parameters may need to be targeted. In patients who remain at high risk despite current pharmacologic options either because of inadequate response, elevated levels of other lipoproteins, or those who have genetic variants predisposing them to atherosclerotic CV disease, additional treatment strategies continue to be sought. One such group is the homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia population, especially those patients carrying the null low-density lipoprotein receptor mutation as they often fail to derive the same benefit from traditional LDL-C lower strategies such as statins and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors that work by upregulating the LDL receptor. Emerging data also suggest that patients with increased levels of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins are also at increased risk as elevated levels are proposed to have a role in various pathways promoting atherogenesis. Angiopoietin-life protein 3 (ANGLTPL3) has recently become a target of interest because of the discovery that inhibiting its action leads to reductions in lipid parameters. Although the mechanism of action of ANGLTPL3 inhibitors is independent of the LDL receptor, their ability to significantly lower triglycerides and LDL-C make them an attractive option particularly in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia. The efficacy and safety of 2 ANGLTPL3 inhibitor agents have been evaluated in clinical trials. In this review, the lipid lowering, metabolic effects, and safety are reported. Ongoing trials assessing CV outcomes as well as long-term safety data are still needed to provide a more definitive role for these agents in the overall management in these populations.
Hip Abductor Rate of Torque Development as Opposed to Isometric Strength Predicts Peak Knee Valgus During Landing: Implications for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury.

Peak knee valgus has been shown to predict anterior cruciate ligament injury. The purpose of the current study was to compare peak rate of torque development (RTD) to peak isometric torque as a predictor of peak knee valgus during landing. Twenty-three healthy females participated. Hip abductor muscle performance was quantified using 2 types of isometric contractions: sustained and rapid. Peak isometric torque was calculated from the sustained isometric contraction. Peak RTD was calculated from the rapid isometric contraction (0-50 and 0-200 ms after force initiation). Kinematic data were collected during the deceleration phase of a double-leg drop jump task. Linear regression was used to assess the ability of hip abductor muscle performance variables to predict peak knee valgus. Increased peak RTD during the 0 to 50 milliseconds window after force initiation was found to significantly predict lower peak knee valgus (P = .011, R2 = .32). In contrast, neither peak RTD from 0 to 200 milliseconds after force initiation window (P = .45, R2 = .03) nor peak isometric torque (P = .49, R2 = .03) predicted peak knee valgus. The inability of the hip abductors to rapidly generate muscular force may be more indicative of "at-risk" movement behavior in females than measures of maximum strength.
A Review of Post-treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome and Chronic Lyme Disease for the Practicing Immunologist.

Lyme disease is an infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, which is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected Ixodes tick. The majority of patients recover without complications with antibiotic therapy. However, for a minority of patients, accompanying non-specific symptoms can persist for months following completion of therapy. The constellation of symptoms such as fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, and musculoskeletal pain that persist beyond 6 months and are associated with disability have been termed post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS), a subset of a broader term "chronic Lyme disease." Chronic Lyme disease is a broad, vaguely defined term that is used to describe patients with non-specific symptoms that are attributed to a presumed persistent Borrelia burgdorferi infection in patients who may or may not have evidence of either previous or current Lyme disease. The diagnoses of chronic Lyme disease and of PTLDS have become increasingly relevant to the practice of immunologists due to referrals for consultation or for intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment. This review aims to explore the relationship between chronic Lyme disease, post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome, and the immune system. Here, we review the current literature on (1) issues in conventional and alternative diagnostic testing for Lyme disease, (2) the hypothesis that B. burgdorferi infection can persist despite appropriate use of recommended antibiotics, (3) current theories regarding B. burgdorferi's role in causing both immune dysregulation and protracted symptoms, and (4) the use of IVIG for the treatment of Lyme disease.
Purification and Partial Characterization of an Acyl Carrier Protein from Euglena gracilis

Abstract Acyl carrier protein from Euglena gracilis strain Z was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity. The molecular weight was estimated to be 10,400. An amino acid composition was done and related to those of similar proteins from other sources. The activity in the CO2-malonyl coenzyme A exchange reaction with fatty acid synthetase enzymes (type II) from Euglena was less than that of Escherichia coli acyl carrier protein.
Toward Mission Capable Legged Robots through Biological Inspiration

Insects provide good models for the design and control of mission capable legged robots. We are using intelligent biological inspiration to extract the features important for locomotion from insect neuromechanical designs and implement them into legged robots. Each new model in our series of robots represents an advance in agility, strength, or energy efficiency, which are all important for performing missions. Robot IV is being constructed with a cockroach mechanical design. It features a lightweight exoskeleton structure and McKibben artificial muscles for passive joint stiffness. Our self-contained microrobot has rear legs that are inspired by cricket. Its diminutive size required us to custom fabricate almost all of its parts, including its McKibben actuators.
Correlation of Finite Element with Experimental Results of the Small‐Scale Vibration Response of a Damaged Ceramic Beam

Finite element analysis results are compared to experimental results obtained during impact-excitation testing of a small ceramic beam. The experimental data were obtained by monitoring the transient vibration response ofthe beam using a non-contact pressure transducer (a microphone). Impact excitation was achieved by dropping a small metal sphere on the test beam. Making small cuts of various sizes using a metallurgical-sectioning saw simulated defects in the beam. The finite-element analysis data were reduced for comparison with the experimental data using a state-space model written in the software program Matlab®. Conclusions are made concerning the use of finite element models in precise modal analysis studies and the viability of the described experimental technique for the nondestructive evaluation of small ceramic components.