cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
United States Taxation of Virtual World Economies: A Review of the Current Status

The taxation of virtual world economies is uncharted terrain, one that both researchers and government officials are just beginning to scrutinize. Taxes are inevitable in any economy, but what about the increasingly lucrative virtual world economies? The market for virtual goods and services in the U.S. alone is estimated to be between $2.9 and $3.5 billion annually and is predicted to grow to $5 billion by 2016. So it is no wonder that governments are beginning to take notice. Experts are divided as to the feasibility of taxation of virtual economies. Most experts agree however that there is significant ambiguity in the current U.S. Internal Revenue Code with respect to virtual worlds. It is unclear if transactions occurring in a virtual world are taxable in the U.S., and the Internal Revenue Service has to date not offered any strong guidance regarding the issue. In this chapter, we argue that virtual transactions are already subject to taxation under current U.S. law, at any point in time that the U.S. Internal Revenue Service should decide to enforce the current law, whether taking place in game worlds or unscripted worlds. This would include virtual-to-virtual transactions as well as virtual-to-real transactions, as the issue at hand is whether or not virtual activity is taxable, regardless of realization, because all goods and services have a fair market value.
Juggernaut In Kid Gloves: Inez Callaway Robb, 1900-1979

Inez Callaway Robb, in her 50-year career as a reporter, societyeditor, WWII correspondent, and columnist, wrote more than10,000 articles, syndicated to about 150 newspapers. By the 1950s,Inez Robb was a household name, and Robb was regularly billed asone of the world’s top newspaper women. Yet, few people know hername today, and scholars largely have overlooked Robb’s contributionsto journalism. This biographical essay uncovers Robb’s lifeand writings, while considering the apparent contradiction of herwork, corresponding from more than 40 countries around the world,while advocating traditional gender roles and opposing an EqualRights Amendment.
Develop Plan for Analysis of the Effluent from GCM Production.

This milestone is focused on developing a plan for the analysis of the effluent from the Sandia low temperature sintering Bi-Si-Zn oxide glass composite material (GCM) waste form for the long term storage of iodine and its capture materials.
Whence Leadership in Agriculture

Signing of the Morrill Act by President Lincoln on July 2, 1862, opened the way for establishment of the land-grant college system. Today this system provides higher education for 20% of all American college students, and its teaching, research, and extension services supply leadership for world agriculture. Many observers regard the recent changes in agricultural education, which reflect demand for increased scientific content, as one of the most significant shifts in emphasis of the postwar years. To report the intent, the potentials, and the meaning of the shift, five distinguished agricultural educators herewith present their comments for Bulletin readers. The Editor.
An introduction to nonlinear programming—III

Abstract Attention is directed to the problem of numerically determining the minimum of a function l when there are no constraints on the minimizing variables y. Assuming that l is differentiable, the minimization problem can be regarded as being essentially equivalent to the problem of solving a system of n equations involving n unknowns (i.e. ∂l / ∂ m = 0). Additionally, each solution of the equations must be tested to establish the nature of the resulting stationary point (e.g. whether it provides a minimum). There has been considerable work done on these types of problems and many algorithms have been proposed for their solution. This paper presents a discussion and statement of some of these algorithms. Both direct search (i.e. procedures that do not use derivative information) and gradient search methods are discussed and compared. While unconstrained minimization problems are themselves important, the algorithms used for their solution often provide the basis for the numerical solution of constrained optimization problems. Thus, this discussion, as does the discussion of Parts I and II, is germane to the consideration in Part IV of solution algorithms for constrained optimization problems.
Structural and reactivity properties of perfluoroalkylphosphine complexes of platinum(0)

Abstract The synthesis and structural characterization of 2- and 3-coordinate Pt(0) complexes with π-acceptor perfluoroalkylphosphine ligands (PFAP’s) is reported. (dfebp)2Pt (dfebp = (C2F5)2PtBu) was prepared in moderate yield by either thermolysis of (cod)Pt(Ph)2 in neat dfebp or, more efficiently, by the treatment of (nbe)3Pt with 2 equiv. dfebp in the presence of H2. Addition of 1 equiv. CF3CO2H to (dfebp)2Pt generates the expected Pt(II) trans-(dfebp)2Pt(O2CCF3)(H) product, while treatment with the mesitylenium acid (C6Me3H4)+B(C6F5)4− leads to phosphine loss and formation of the arene complex [(η6-C6Me3H3)Pt(dfebp)(H)]+(B(C6F5)4)−. Addition of ethylene to (dfebp)2Pt results in facile and reversible equilibria with the ethylene adducts (dfebp)2Pt(C2H4) and (dfebp)Pt(C2H4)2, which have been quantified by VT NMR spectroscopy.
Application of Acid Protease in the Production of Machine-made Yellow Rice Wine(by non-glutinous rice)

The use of acid protease in the production of machine-made yellow rice wine(by non-glutinous rice) could provide nitrogen source for the growth and reproduction of microzyme and accelerate rapid reproduction of microzyme(which improve fermentation stability and capability),decompose proteins(which advanced the use of amylum in raw materials and increased wine yield),and settled the commonly existed problems of low aminophenol nitrogen content and non-sugar solids content.The clarification of fermented wine by acid protease also provided reference for settling non-biologic turbidity in product yellow rice wine.
A retrospective analysis on monitoring results of serum phenobarbital concentration in children with epilepsy

OBJECTIVE To approach the correlations of phenobarbital concentration in serum with clinical therapeutic effect,dosage,sex,age and body weight in epileptic children.METHODS Our hospital's 127 cases/times monitoring records of serum phenobarbital concentration in children with epilepsy were consulted retrospectively and data as drug concentration,sex,age etc were put into data base,which were analyzed and treated by SPSS(13.0)software.RESULTS No significant correlation was noted between serum phenobarbital concentration in epileptic children and sex,however it was correlated with dosage,age and body weight.CONCLUSION The metabolic processes of phenobarbital was concerned with age and body weight,so it's necessary to give individualized remedy according to monitoring results and patients' specific condition.
Role of ABC Transporters in the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and the most common form of age-related dementia that begins with memory loss and progresses to include severe cognitive impairment. A major pathological hallmark of AD is the accumulation of beta amyloid peptide (Aβ) in senile plaques in the brain of AD patients. The exact mechanism by which AD takes place remains unknown. However, an increasing number of studies suggests that ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, which are localized on the surface of brain endothelial cells of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and brain parenchyma, may contribute to the pathogenesis of AD. Recent studies have unraveled important roles of ABC transporters including ABCB1 (P-glycoprotein, P-gp), ABCG2 (breast cancer resistant protein, BCRP), ABCC1 (multidrug resistance protein 1, MRP1), and the cholesterol transporter ABCA1 in the pathogenesis of AD and Aβ peptides deposition inside the brain. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms by which these transporters contribute to Aβ deposition in the brain is important for the development of new therapeutic strategies against AD. This review summarizes and highlights the accumulating evidence in the literature which describe the role of altered function of various ABC transporters in the pathogenesis and progression of AD and the implications of modulating their functions for the treatment of AD.
A carbon-free lithium-ion solid dispersion redox couple with low viscosity for redox flow batteries

Abstract A new type of non-aqueous redox couple without carbon additives for flow batteries is proposed and the target anolyte chemistry is demonstrated. The so-called “Solid Dispersion Redox Couple” incorporates solid electroactive materials dispersed in organic lithium-ion battery electrolyte as its flowing suspension. In this work, a unique and systematic characterization approach has been used to study the flow battery redox couple in half cell demonstrations relative to a lithium electrode. An electrolyte laden with Li4Ti5O12 (LTO) has been characterized in multiple specially designed lithium half cell configurations. The flow battery redox couple described in this report has relatively low viscosity, especially in comparison to other flow batteries with solid active materials. The lack of carbon additive allows characterization of the electrochemical properties of the electroactive material in flow without the complication of conductive additives and unambiguous observation of the electrorheological coupling in these dispersed particle systems.
Construction of an Antirefluxing Urinary Conduit Using a Plicated Ileocecal Segment

AbstractA plicated ileocecal segment was used to construct an antirefluxing urinary conduit in 3 patients. Each patient had markedly dilated or shortened ureters that prevented conventional Leadbetter ureteral reimplantation into a colon conduit. Ascending colon was brought out as a cutaneous stoma, the ureters were anastomosed to ileum, and an antireflux mechanism was created from plicated terminal ileum and the native ileocecal valve. Significant reflux was prevented in all 3 patients. This technique provides a means to prevent urinary reflux into short or dilated ureters, and increases the versatility of the ileocecal segment for use in diversion and urinary tract reconstruction.
On the Capacity of 1-to- $K$ Broadcast Packet Erasure Channels With Channel Output Feedback

This paper focuses on the 1-to-K broadcast packet erasure channel (PEC), a generalization of the broadcast binary erasure channel from the binary symbol to a finite field G F(q) with sufficiently large q. We consider the setting in which the source node has instant feedback of the channel outputs of the K receivers after each transmission. The main results of this paper are: (i) The capacity region for general l-to-3 broadcast PECs and (ii) The capacity region for two types of 1-to-K broadcast PECs: the symmetric PECs, and the spatially independent PECs with one- sided fairness constraints. This paper also develops (iii) A pair of outer and inner bounds of the capacity region for arbitrary 1-to-K broadcast PECs, which can be easily evaluated by any linear programming solver. The proposed inner bound is proven by a new class of intersession network coding schemes, termed the packet evolution schemes, which is based on the concept of code alignment in GF(q) that is in parallel with the interference alignment techniques for the Euclidean space. Extensive numerical experiments show that the outer and inner bounds meet for almost all broadcast PECs encountered in practical scenarios and thus effectively bracket the capacity of general 1-to-K broadcast PECs with COF.
Lifecycle GHG emissions of palm biodiesel: Unintended market effects negate direct benefits of the Malaysian Economic Transformation Plan (ETP)

Abstract Biodiesel expansion can lead to unintended effects that offset the direct GHG benefits of biofuels. Two documented unintended effects are the indirect land use change (ILUC) and indirect energy use change (IEUC). ILUC has been included in many lifecycle GHG studies of biofuels, but IEUC has remained relatively elusive. This paper presents an updated assessment of the lifecycle GHG emissions of palm biodiesel from Malaysia and, for the first time, incorporating the two estimated indirect effects simultaneously. Future GHG emissions of palm biodiesel are projected by taking into account of Malaysia's Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) that aims to reform the oil palm industry in order to achieve a high-income nation. Uncertainties associated with lifecycle GHG models were dealt with using Monte Carlo simulation in order to identify the breadth and likelihood of GHG reductions relative to petroleum-based fuels in the context of the European directives. This study has shown that the ETP, if successfully implemented, can significantly improve the direct GHG emissions of palm biodiesel, but the benefits are offset by the rise in global emissions due to ILUC and IEUC. Biofuel policies should also include IEUC, in addition to ILUC, to avoid GHG emissions leakages.
Lack of Influence of Rituximab and CNS Directed Prophylactic Therapy on CNS Relapse in High-Risk Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma

Abstract Background/method: Central nervous system (CNS) relapse in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) although uncommon, can be devastating. Conflicting reports have been published regarding the reduction in incidence of CNS relapse in post-rituximabera.We retrospectively identified all the patients with DLBCL who has received rituximab-based chemotherapy at initial presentation in our institute between 2004 and 2014. Patients were divided into two groups, ‘high risk’ group and ‘standard risk’ group, based on following definition. High risk group will have at least one of the following risk factors 1) LDH ≥ 650 U/L 2) Age adjusted International Prognostic Index (IPI) of ≥ 4 3) Involvement of > 1 extra nodal site 4) Involvement of testis 5) Breast 6) Bones 7) Kidneys 8) Adrenal glands 9) Retroperitoneal lymph nodes 10) Para-meninges or 11) Bone marrow. Patients without any of these risk factors were deemed standard risk. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the incidence of CNS relapse, patient and disease characteristics. Historically reported incidence rates were used for comparison. Results:One hundred and forty two consecutive patients with DLBCL were included in our study. One hundred and twenty two patients received rituximab-based therapy at the initial diagnosis. Forty-nine patients (40%) met the criteria for ‘high risk’ based on the above definition. Seventy-three patients (60%) qualified for standard risk group. Standard risk group received no CNS directed prophylaxis and none of these patients had CNS relapses. Thirty-one of 49 ‘high risk’ patients received CNS prophylaxis, mainly intrathecal methotrexate. Total 5 patients (4.09%) developed CNS relapse. CNS relapse in high-risk group was 10.2% (5/49). Median age at diagnosis in patients with CNS relapse was 53 years. Median time to relapse was 8.76 months. Median survival after the CNS relapse was 9.16 months. Four out of 5 patients received CNS prophylaxis with intrathecal methotrexate or systemic methotrexate or systemic cytarabine or a combination of them. Average number of doses of prophylaxis received by each patient was 3.2 (range 1-7). Only one patient who developed CNS relapse did not receive any CNS directed therapy as prophylaxis. Conclusion:No significant reduction in the incidence of CNS relapse was noted with upfront use of rituximab. Our study confirms that majority of the DLBCL patients do not need CNS directed therapy. For high risk DLBCL patients, we not only need to develop better predictive markers for CNS relapse but also need better CNS directed therapies to prevent this fatal complication of highly curable disease. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Abstract P213: Outcomes of a Postdischarge Coronary Artery Disease Management Program

Background: The coronary artery disease management (DM) program was designed to improve patient care with the same or lower costs in patients discharged from a university hospital. We tested whethe...
Using Workers' Compensation Claims Data to Characterize Occupational Injuries in the Commercial Grain Elevator Industry.

Abstract. Workplace injuries in the grain handling industry are common, yet little research has characterized worker injuries in grain elevators across all hazard types. Learning from past injuries is essential for preventing future occurrences, but the lack of injury information for the grain handling industry hinders this effort. The present study addresses this knowledge gap by using data from over 7000 workers‘ compensation claims reported from 2008 to 2016 by commercial grain handling facilities in the U.S. to characterize injury costs and severity. The total amount paid for each claim was used as a measure of injury severity. The effects of employee age and tenure, cause of injury, and body part injured on the cost of work-related injuries were investigated. Contingency tables were used to classify the variable pairs. The chi-square test and chi-square residuals were employed to evaluate the relationship between the variable pairs and identify the at-risk groups. Results showed that the employee age and tenure, cause of injury, and body part injured have a significant influence on the cost paid for the claim. Several at-risk groups were identified as a result of the analyses. Findings from the study will assist commercial grain elevators in the development of targeted safety interventions and assist grain elevator safety managers in mitigating financial and social losses from occupational injuries.
“Oh honey, don’t you know?” The Social Construction of Food Access in a Food Desert

Food deserts are demarcated areas characterized by limited food access, often defined by geographical distance from grocery stores. Literature suggests that food deserts are produced through uneven development, but also racial bias in the location of grocery stores. Socio-economic inequalities thus intersect with racialized landscapes, and this suggests that food deserts are both culturally and economically produced. Research on food desert solutions often emphasize narrow spatial analyses that privilege geographic solutions, as well as incorporate whitened understandings of access to food. We assert that food access is shaped by the racialized construction of places, and that small-scale grocery stores, which are understudied in food desert research, may be useful places to study how access to food is culturally produced. Using intercept interviews inside and outside of two small-scale grocery stores, we examined the production of social exclusion around food access in a USDA classified food desert in a small Southern city. We conclude that economic development that integrates community organizing and place-making activities are keys to mitigating social exclusion in food deserts, and call for further research on in the role of place in shaping access to food.
Anthropocene Landscape Change and the Legacy of Nineteenth- and Twentieth-Century Mining in the Fourmile Catchment, Colorado Front Range

Human impacts on earth surface processes and materials are fundamental to understanding the proposed Anthropocene epoch. This study examines the magnitude, distribution, and long-term context of ni...
A Multiyear Population-Based Study of Kindergarten Language Screening Failure Rates Using the Rice Wexler Test of Early Grammatical Impairment

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate, over 2 separate school years, the school-district-wide failure rate of kindergartners on a screener of grammatical tense marking—the Rice Wexler T...
Vitamin D and Calcium

Vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin, has received much attention because of its role in bone health and nonskeletal roles such as cell growth, cell differentiation, and several chronic disorders. Vitamin D deficiency is common worldwide including the USA. Sunlight is a major source for the vitamin, while dietary sources are limited. The clinical manifestations range from the asymptomatic to musculoskeletal pain, gait disturbances, and fracture. Vitamin D is critical for musculoskeletal health, but deficiency is now linked to the development of cancer, cardiovascular disease, heart failure, multiple sclerosis, and autoimmune diseases. Serum 25(OH)D is the best measure of status. Vitamin D is necessary for maximal calcium and phosphorus absorption via the gut. Deficiency is common in geriatric patients due to several factors such as decreased sunlight exposure, decreased skin synthesis, and low intake. New guidelines have been released from Canada and the Institute of Medicine in the USA on intakes of calcium and vitamin D. The preferred intake of calcium is food rather than supplements.
CARACTERÍSTICAS MORFOGÊNICAS DE Urochloa brizantha cv. MARANDÚ SOB DIFERENTES FONTES E DOSES DE NITROGÊNIO EM REGIME DE CORTES

No Brasil as pastagens predominantes saos gramineas do genero Urochloa . O nitrogenio e um dos principais nutrientes a ser aplicado, devido ao aumento de producao de materia seca e perfilhamento resultando em acrescimo na produtividade. Objetivou-se avaliar as caracteristicas morfologicas e produtividade da especie Uroclhoa brizantha cv . Marandu cultivadas com variadas doses e fontes de nitrogenio em regime de cortes. Foi conduzido um experimento com delineamento inteiramente casualizado com esquema fatorial 2x4x2, sendo duas fontes de nitrogenio (Ureia e Novatec), quatro niveis de adubacao (0, 75, 150 e 225 mg dm -3 de N) e dois cortes, com quatro repeticoes. Avaliou o numero de perfilhos, numero de folhas expandidas, biomassa verde e biomassa seca. Concluiu-se que, a fonte de ureia, com a dose de 225 mg dm -3 , proporcionou melhor acumulo de materia seca. O segundo corte se mostrou superior, ao primeiro em relacao a producao de materia seca. O numero de perfilhos se mostra superior quando avaliados em segundo corte. A fonte Novatec Solub 45 proporciona maior producao de biomassa seca e quantidade de folhas expandidas.
Surgery in Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is the fourth most frequently diagnosed cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in women worldwide.1 For early-stage disease, surgical removal of the uterus remains the primary treatment and has the greatest effect on long-term survival. However, abdominal (“open”) radical hysterectomy is associated with complications, including a risk of lymphedema in the legs and bladder and sexual dysfunction.2 Recently, a greater emphasis on reducing surgical morbidity has led to the development of minimally invasive techniques. Despite a paucity of randomized trials, retrospective data suggesting superior surgical and similar oncologic results led to widespread acceptance of minimally . . .
Robotic Grasp Control Policy with Target Pre-detection Based on Deep Q-learning

We present an accurate, real-time approach combined target pre-detection with robotic grasp based on deep Q-learning. Skilled robotic manipulation benefits from learning approach between target pre-detection and robotic grasp actions: target pre-detection recognizes the object and finds a good grasp rectangle in a single step; meanwhile, grasping can help displace objects to make target detection more accurate and disturbed-free. During grasping experiments in simulation scenarios, our approach rapidly learn complex actions amid challenging cases of clutter, especially achieves better grasping success rates and performs significantly better.
Chapter 48 – Is Cryoablation Here to Stay?

This chapter examines the pertinent factors that influence the clinical usefulness of cryoablation. Percutaneous cryoablation of the prostate represents a contemporary treatment for localized prostate cancer. A sound scientific rationale has led to the evolution of this sophisticated surgical technique that exhibits reasonable rates of disease eradication with acceptable toxicity. However, general acceptance of this treatment option requires demonstration of clinically meaningful outcomes both in terms of disease eradication and toxicity. The gradual understanding of the protracted natural history of localized prostate adenocarcinoma by the urologic community has resulted in incorporation of quality of life calculations into the decision tree for treatment of this disease. Several investigators have documented the low incidence of urinary incontinence following cryoablation as primary therapy for localized prostate cancer. This is a potentially attractive situation for men with prostate cancer, since it appears that urinary function is the most influential outcome in determining satisfaction with therapy. Erectile dysfunction is a common toxicity of prostatic cryoablation even with transrectal ultrasound and temperature monitoring. The incidence of this adverse event ranges from 40% to 100%. Prostatic cryoablation appears to be cost effective when compared to the radical prostatectomy with overall lower hospital costs. The federal government has also judged the outcome data for cryoablation favorably and the procedure was assigned a current procedure terminology (CPT) code for reimbursement in January 2001.
Prolonged non-invasive ventilation in extremely low birth weight preterm infants is associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

AIM To evaluate the association between the use of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) or nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) with the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). METHODS This is a single center retrospective cohort analysis of infants born at ≤1000 grams and ≤28 weeks gestation with respiratory distress treated with nCPAP or NIPPV. Groups were compared using Student's t test or chi-square, and associations estimated by logistic regression. RESULTS Compared to nCPAP, infants who received NIPPV had a higher incidence of moderate to severe (M-S) BPD (84.2 vs 65.5%, p = 0.044) and death or severe BPD (75.0 vs 47.6%, p = 0.003). Each day on NIPPV was associated with an increased risk of M-S BPD (OR 1.08, p < 0.001) and an increased risk of death or severe BPD (OR 1.03, p = 0.006). After adjusting for days on oxygen, ventilator days, and days on all respiratory support, the odds of developing M-S BPD increased by 4.9% for each additional week on NIPPV (CI 2.1-7.7%, p = .0001). CONCLUSION In this cohort, use of NIPPV was associated with an increased risk for developing BPD when compared to infants receiving nCPAP, and each additional day on NIPPV carried significant increased risk for developing BPD.
Mechanisms, Detection, and Relevance of Protein Acetylation in Prokaryotes.

Posttranslational modification of a protein, either alone or in combination with other modifications, can control properties of that protein, such as enzymatic activity, localization, stability, or interactions with other molecules. N-e-Lysine acetylation is one such modification that has gained attention in recent years, with a prevalence and significance that rival those of phosphorylation. This review will discuss the current state of the field in bacteria and some of the work in archaea, focusing on both mechanisms of N-e-lysine acetylation and methods to identify, quantify, and characterize specific acetyllysines. Bacterial N-e-lysine acetylation depends on both enzymatic and nonenzymatic mechanisms of acetylation, and recent work has shed light into the regulation of both mechanisms. Technological advances in mass spectrometry have allowed researchers to gain insight with greater biological context by both (i) analyzing samples either with stable isotope labeling workflows or using label-free protocols and (ii) determining the true extent of acetylation on a protein population through stoichiometry measurements. Identification of acetylated lysines through these methods has led to studies that probe the biological significance of acetylation. General and diverse approaches used to determine the effect of acetylation on a specific lysine will be covered.
Mesenchymal stem cells transplanted with self-assembling scaffolds differentiated to regenerate nucleus pulposus in an ex vivo model of degenerative disc disease

Abstract Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is one of the major causes of chronic severe low back pain (LBP). IVD degeneration is characterized by changes in cell populations, and the subsequent loss of extracellular matrix (ECM) of the nucleus pulposus (NP) causing degenerative disc disease (DDD). Current treatments only address symptomatic pain rather than repairing the damaged IVDs. Therefore, there is a need for regenerative therapies that restore native tissue structure, cellularity and mechanical function to treat DDD. However, the development of cell therapeutic approaches is hindered due to the lack of availability of high quality and quantity of cells. Other problems include poor growth and differentiation of transplanted cells, and cell leakage from the site of injection in the damaged IVD. In this study, we investigated a novel strategy by combining biocompatible biomaterials and cell therapy to regenerate NP through in situ differentiation of transplanted cells using an ex vivo rabbit disc model of DDD. Results indicated that hydrogel scaffolds composed of self-assembling polyethylene glycol (PEG) functionalized with acrylate and thiol end groups promoted differentiation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into NP-like cells (NPCs) in vitro. Upon transplantation into degenerated IVDs, PEG scaffolds limited leakage and retained the cells in the NP region of IVD transplants. Both the scaffold and the ex vivo disc environment promoted differentiation of MSCs into cell types capable of producing ECM including sulfated glycoaminoglycans at levels higher than when MSCs were injected into IVD explants alone. Transplanted cells using self-assembling scaffolds also expressed chondrogenic markers, SOX9, COL2, and ACAN, as well as putative NP markers, FOXF1, K19, and VIMENTIN both at transcriptional and translational levels as determined by quantitative real-time PCR and immunostaining. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential of MSCs for regeneration of the NP using a combined strategy of biomaterials and cell therapy.
Evaluation of the Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) Standard for Representation of Knowledge Bases Encoded in the Arden Syntax.

Context Arden Syntax is a standard that encodes knowledge as Medical Logic Modules (MLMs) but lacks a standard query data model and terminology. Objective Assess to what extent FHIR can represent MLMs. Method A convenience sample of 340 MLMs were examined and tabulated for representation using the PlanDefinition resource. Result While alignment between structured subsections is uneven, the PlanDefinition resource adequately represents procedural medical knowledge encoded as MLMs. Conclusion FHIR adequately represents Arden Syntax MLMs.
A 2.2μm stacked back side illuminated voltage domain global shutter CMOS image sensor

this paper presents a 2.2µm pixel pitch back side illuminated (BSI) Voltage Domain Global Shutter (VDGS) image sensor with Stacked Pixel Level Connection (SPLC) and full backside Deep Trench Isolation (DTI). With these cutting edge technologies, Full Well Capacity (FWC) more than 12,000 electrons and parasitic light sensitivity (PLS) larger than 100 dB are reached. A 38% Quantum Efficiency (QE) and 60% of Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) at 940nm, half Nyquist frequency (Ny/2) is demonstrated.
Modeling of a Mill for Processing a Turbine Blade

The aim of the study is to model the cutting edges, front and rear surfaces of the cutter with a constructive feed for machining a turbine blade. In the modeling process, we used the method of compiling mathematical models of technological processes for obtaining surfaces of parts using cutting. As a result, equations of the cutting edge of the mill, equations of the producing surface were obtained, parametric equations of the rear and front surfaces of the cutting teeth were constructed, and it was also proposed to introduce corrections to reduce the profile distortion after regrinding into the insertion motion parameter.
Coastal lives: nature, capital, and the struggle for artisanal fisheries in Peru: by Maximilian Viatori and Héctor Andrés Bombiella Medina, Tucson, University of Arizona Press, 2019, 240 pp., US$50.00 (cloth), ISBN 9780816539291

The waters off the Peruvian coast have long been the engine of its national economy, most notably during the guano era of the nineteenth century. Since the end of World War II, Peru has developed t...
Enhanced Grid Stability through GIC elimination and Grid Support

Geomagnetic Disturbances (GMDs) lead to the flow of Geomagnetically Induced Currents (GICs) in power systems. The GICs compromise the reliability of a power network by causing mis-operation or even damage to certain power equipment. The wye-grounded three-phase power transformers in transmission network provide the most appropriate path for the flow of GICs. This paper proposes a novel GIC mitigation approach that utilizes a power electronic circuitry integrated between the neutral point and earth ground of power transformers. In addition to automatic GIC mitigation, the device provides voltage regulation, voltage unbalance removal and harmonic isolation as added features. The proposed approach converts the traditional transformers into smarter one, thus, providing a step forward towards realization of the much-needed smart grids. The simulation results in Typhoon Hardware-in-the Loop (HIL) real-time simulator verify the efficacy of the proposed approach on a 765kV/345kV power transformer.
Clinical analysis of blood glucose and insulin levels in critically ill children

Objective To analyse the changes of blood glucose and insulin levels in children with critical illness,and to investigate the mechanism of hyperglycemia in critical illness.Methods Blood glucose and insulin levels were detected among 51 critically ill children hospitalized in our PICU from January to December,2007,which were compared with those of 15 healthy children.Results (1) All the patients had hyperglycemia after admission within 2Ah,septic shock patients showed the highest level with the maximum value of 27.30 mmol/L The dally mean blood glucose levels of the first 5 days after admission peaked on the admission day.(2) Within 24 h after admission,the blood insulin levels of patients with pulmonary infection,intracranial infection,septic shock and congenital heart disease were(17.65±16.85) mU/L,(13.45±7.33) mU/L,(16.24±12.41) mU/L,(6.75±3.22) mU/L respectively.The blood insulin levels of all the patients within the first 5 days after admission wrere higher than that of healthy children[(8.70±6.57) mU/L].According to blood glucose level on admission day,the patients were divided into normoglycemia and hyperglycemia group,and the blood insulin levels of the former and the letter were(5.44 ± 3.38) mU/L and (14.22±12.29) mU/L respectively.(3) The mean of PIM Ⅱscore of the patients averaged 12.96±16.82,and the mortality rate was 15.6%.The blood glucose level and the insulin level within 24 h after admission were(10.97±5.76) mmol/L and(49.46±90.35) mU/L in dead cases and(8.73±2.58) mmol/L and(11.91±11.24) mU/L for the survivals,and both the blood glucose level and insulin level had significant difference between the dead cases and survivals(P ＜0.05).(4) The scatter graphic analysis did not show significant linear relation between blood glucose and insulin,nor did it show significant linear relation between PIM Ⅱ and insulin levei,or blood glucose.Condusion Hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia are common in critical illness,which reflects indirectly the severity and prognosis of the disease.Hyperglycemia may be related to relative insulin insufficiency or insulin resistance;however,the definite relationship can not be confirmed until more reliable clinical data were available in the future. Key words: Critical illness; Hyperglycemia; Insulin resistance; Prognosis; Children
In vivo selection of nanobodies to target the tumor immune microenvironment for immunotherapy development

Abstract Cancer immunotherapy has changed the landscape of treatment for some cancers, but variable responses reflect limitations imposed by the tumor microenvironment (TME)1-3. To facilitate the development of novel immunotherapies, we used an unbiased in vivo selection approach using a VHH nanobody library to identify immunologic targets in the TME. Using next generation sequencing (NGS), we demonstrate the parallel enrichment of immune cell-binding nanobodies that target immune cell subsets within the TME. We selected from enriched nanobodies – Cl.1 and Cl.2 – that bind to the CD11b+ and CD11c+ populations and we identified the desmosome complex as the target for Cl.1, suggesting the nanobodies can target key immune populations and may involve unvalidated targets. To demonstrate nanobodies could functionally alter target immune cells in vivo, we showed by single cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) that enriched nanobodies can increase activation transcripts in CD8+ T cells and dendritic cells. This approach is being used to develop novel cancer immunotherapies, but the methods can be broadly applicable to biologic discovery experiments in various physiologic or pathologic contexts.
Basal-Luminal Hybrid Cells Emerge as a New Dormant, Androgen Pathway Directed Therapy-Resistant Population in Patient-Derived Prostate Cancer Organoids

Advanced prostate cancer (PCa) patients with bone metastases are treated standardly with Androgen Pathway Directed Therapy (APDT), however, they invariably become APDT-resistant. To elucidate resistance mechanisms and to provide more predictive pre-clinical research platforms reflecting tumor heterogeneity, w e established organoids from patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models of bone metastatic prostate cancer. APDT-resistant PDX-derived organoids (PDOs) emerged when cultured without androgen or with the anti-androgen, enzalutamide. Transcriptomics revealed up-regulation of neurogenic and steroidogenic genes and down-regulation of DNA repair, cell cycle, circadian pathways and the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV-2 host viral entry factors, ACE2 and TMPRSS2. These experiments demonstrated that PDOs can be used to develop therapies targeting dormant APDT-resistant cells and host factors required for SARS-CoV-2 viral entry. Enzalutamide treatment decreased androgen receptor (AR) protein and induced dormant, hybrid basal-luminal cells as shown here for the first time in live organoids using the Fucci2BL fluorescent cell cycle tracker system.
The Last Laugh: A Case Study in Copyright of Comedy and the Virtual Identity Standard

Initially, courts have deferred to standard copyright analysis to judge the infringement of jokes. However, now that jokes are becoming more diverse, courts are differentiating their analyses accordingly, applying different standards for different jokes. One such standard, the virtual identity standard, is beginning to gain traction as a viable solution to determine substantial similarity of a certain category of jokes: those grounded in facts rather than fantasy. The virtual identity standard found its momentum in the recently settled case Kaseberg v. Conaco, LLC, where a freelance comedian sued Conan O’Brien alleging joke theft. This paper argues that the virtual identity standard is the correct standard to judge infringement of those fact-based jokes and yields positive implications for the comedy industry. While virtual identity requires a higher bar for plaintiff-comedians claiming infringement, it ultimately incentivizes creativity among joke creators and facilitates open expression of comedy.
Automated Supervised Feature Selection for Differentiated Patterns of Care.

An automated feature selection pipeline was developed using several state-of-the-art feature selection techniques to select optimal features for Differentiating Patterns of Care (DPOC). The pipeline included three types of feature selection techniques; Filters, Wrappers and Embedded methods to select the top K features. Five different datasets with binary dependent variables were used and their different top K optimal features selected. The selected features were tested in the existing multi-dimensional subset scanning (MDSS) where the most anomalous subpopulations, most anomalous subsets, propensity scores, and effect of measures were recorded to test their performance. This performance was compared with four similar metrics gained after using all covariates in the dataset in the MDSS pipeline. We found out that despite the different feature selection techniques used, the data distribution is key to note when determining the technique to use.
MO-F-CAMPUS-T-03: Verification of Range, SOBP Width, and Output for Passive-Scattering Proton Beams Using a Liquid Scintillator Detector

Purpose: Liquid scintillators have been shown to provide fast and high-resolution measurements of radiation beams. However, their linear energy transfer-dependent response (quenching) limits their use in proton beams. The purpose of this study was to develop a simple and fast method to verify the range, spread-out Bragg peak (SOBP) width, and output of a passive-scattering proton beam with a liquid scintillator detector, without the need for quenching correction. Methods: The light signal from a 20×20×20 cm3 liquid scintillator tank was collected with a CCD camera. Reproducible landmarks on the SOBP depth-light curve were identified which possessed a linear relationship with the beam range and SOBP width. The depth-light profiles for three beam energies (140, 160 and 180 MeV) with six SOBP widths at each energy were measured with the detector. Beam range and SOBP width calibration factors were obtained by comparing the depth-light curve landmarks with the nominal range and SOBP width for each beam setting. The daily output stability of the liquid scintillator detector was also studied by making eight repeated output measurements in a cobalt-60 beam over the course of two weeks. Results: The mean difference between the measured and nominal beam ranges was 0.6 mm (σ=0.2 mm), with a maximum difference of 0.9 mm. The mean difference between the measured and nominal SOBP widths was 0.1 mm (σ=1.8 mm), with a maximum difference of 4.0 mm. Finally an output variation of 0.14% was observed for 8 measurements performed over 2 weeks. Conclusion: A method has been developed to determine the range and SOBP width of a passive-scattering proton beam in a liquid scintillator without the need for quenching correction. In addition to providing rapid and accurate beam range and SOBP measurements, the detector is capable of measuring the output consistency with a high degree of precision. This project was supported in part by award number CA182450 from the National Cancer Institute.
Sacrifice and Civic Membership: The War on Terror

This paper explores efforts on the part of immigrants and LGBT individuals to leverage citizenship and fuller civic membership for themselves through their own military service or (in the case of immigrants) the military service of their family members. Through an investigation of the relationship between service and sacrifice on the one hand and civic membership on the other, readers will be better situated to think through the meaning of sacrifice in the current set of military engagements and how this builds on a long tradition in American history. The paper critically questions the relationship between civic status and civic performance.
Stochastic daily solar irradiance for biological modeling applications1Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, Journal Series No. R-06278.1

Abstract Stochastic daily weather generators commonly used for biological modeling applications do not adequately reproduce empirical distributions of global solar irradiance. The daily clearness index, the ratio of daily global-to-extraterrestrial irradiance, captures the stochastic component of solar irradiance due to atmospheric conditions. Three alternative models of daily solar irradiance (truncated Gaussian distributions, a proposed modification based on logit-transformed relative clearness, and a family of empirically derived distributions) conditioned on the occurrence of rain are described and evaluated using data from 10 U.S. locations. These models are presented in terms of monthly cumulative distributions and density functions of clearness. Strong non-normality of distributions of clearness, and improved fits obtained with a logit transformation, are demonstrated. The proposed model, based on a logit transformation of relative clearness, was superior to the other two in terms of Akaike's information criterion, and generally superior to the standard model based on truncated Gaussian distributions in terms of goodness of fit between observed and generated irradiances. Based on this evidence, the proposed model is recommended for stochastic generation of daily irradiance conditioned on daily rainfall occurrence and temperature extremes.
Successful publishing in scholarly journals

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Cause-specific trends in neonatal mortality among black and white infants, United States, 1980-1995.

Objective: Although neonatal mortality has been declining more rapidly than postneonatal mortality in recent decades, neonatal mortality continues to account for close to two-thirds of all infant deaths. This report uses U.S. vital statistics data to describe national trends in the major causes of neonatal mortality among black and white infants from 1980 to 1995. Methods: Mortality rates were estimated as the number of deaths due to each cause (based on International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, codes) divided by the number of live births during the same time period. Linear regression models and smoothed rates were used to describe trends. Results: During the study period, neonatal mortality declined 4.0% per year for white infants and 2.2% per year for black infants, and the black–white gap increased from 2.0 to 2.4. By 1995, disorders relating to short gestation and low birth weight were the number one cause of neonatal death for black infants and the number two cause for white infants, had the highest black–white disparity (4.6, up from 3.3 in 1980), and accounted for almost 40% of excess deaths to black infants (up from 24% in 1980). Congenital anomalies were the number two cause of neonatal death for black infants and the highest ranked cause for white infants in 1995, and it is the only cause for which there was not a substantial excess risk to black infants. Conclusions: Large declines in neonatal mortality have been achieved in recent years, but not in the black–white gap, which has increased. Declines were slower for black than white infants overall and for almost all causes. Prevention of preterm delivery and low birth weight continue to be a priority for reducing neonatal mortality, particularly among black infants. Although congenital anomalies do not contribute substantially to the black–white gap, their diagnosis, treatment, and prevention is critical to reducing overall neonatal mortality.
Controller design and stability analysis of VSC based HVDC transmission system

The chief advantage of VSC based HVDC links over conventional HVDC is the controllability it offers on both the rectifier and inverter ends. The DC voltage, AC voltage, frequency, active and reactive power can be controlled on either side, which has been studied. Thereafter, stability analysis for the two- terminal VSC based HVDC transmission system is performed. For the integration of VSC based HVDC links into the networks consisting of large wind farms and other industrial systems, the VSC based link has been checked for transient stability, voltage stability and frequency stability. All simulations are performed using MATLAB. Further, small signal stability of the link is studied to ensure that it is stable under small disturbances. For this analysis, both cases of lossless converter and converter with losses are considered.