cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
UncertainlTg: Abstractions for Uncertain Hardware and Software

Building correct, efficient systems that reason about the approximations produced by sensors, machine learning, big data, humans, and approximate hardware and software requires new standards and abstractions. The UncertainlTg software abstraction aims to tackle these pervasive correctness, optimization, and programmability problems and guide hardware and software designers in producing estimates
Changing the spatial location of electricity generation to increase water availability in areas with drought: a feasibility study and quantification of air quality impacts in Texas

The feasibility, cost, and air quality impacts of using electrical grids to shift water use from drought-stricken regions to areas with more water availability were examined. Power plant cooling represents a large portion of freshwater withdrawals in the United States, and shifting where electricity generation occurs can allow the grid to act as a virtual water pipeline, increasing water availability in regions with drought by reducing water consumption and withdrawals for power generation. During a 2006 drought, shifting electricity generation out of the most impacted areas of South Texas ( 10% of base case generation) to other parts of the grid would have been feasible using transmission and power generation available at the time, and some areas would experience changes in air quality. Although expensive, drought-based electricity dispatch is a potential parallel strategy that can be faster to implement than other infrastructure changes, such as air cooling or water pipelines.
Noninterference for a Practical DIFC-Based Operating System

The Flume system is an implementation of decentralized information flow control (DIFC) at the operating system level. Prior work has shown Flume can be implemented as a practical extension tothe Linux operating system, allowing real Web applications to achieve useful security guarantees. However, the question remains if the Flume system is actually secure. This paper compares Flume with other recent DIFC systems like Asbestos, arguing that the latter is inherently susceptible to certain wide-bandwidth covert channels, and proving their absence in Flume by means of a noninterference proof in the Communicating Sequential Processes formalism.
Probable Vancomycin-Induced Neutropenia

OBJECTIVETo report a case of vancomycin-induced neutropenia and provide a review of the literature.CASE SUMMARYA 64-year-old white man was treated with intravenous vancomycin 1.5 g/day for finger osteomyelitis. He developed neutropenia after 21 days of vancomycin therapy. The absolute neutrophil count reached a nadir of 418 cells/mm3 during vancomycin use and returned to normal 7 days after its discontinuation. The eosinophil count was also elevated during the neutropenic episode and probably related to vancomycin. Based on the Naranjo probability scale, the reaction was probably related to vancomycin use.DISCUSSIONArticles describing cases of vancomycin-induced neutropenia were identified. All patients developed neutropenia as a result of vancomycin therapy 12 days. Neutrophil counts generally increased following discontinuation of vancomycin. One article reported successful resolution of neutropenia and infection by switching the patient's therapy to the structurally related antibiotic agent teicoplani...
A method for hexahedral mesh shape optimization

Methods for improving the quality of all-hexahedral unstructured meshes by node-movement strategies have, until recently, been lacking. Laplacian smoothing, while easily implemented and well-known, fails to guarantee improvement of mesh quality and may result in inverted elements where none existed before. A method for improving unstructured hexahedral mesh shape-quality that guarantees untangled elements is proposed. The method is based on optimization of an objective function built from the quality of individual hexahedral elements. The shape-quality measure for hexahedral elements is based on the condition number of a set of Jacobian metrics associated with the element. The theory of the condition number quality metric and of the objective function are reviewed. A numerical optimization procedure to find the improved-quality mesh is described. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the robustness of the method. We do so by giving a realistic example. The method has also been successfully applied to dozens of meshes on complex geometries. Published in 2003 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Investigating the Key Routes to Customer Delight

Recent empirical research has shown the benefits for the service firm of providing customer delight. With this link established, it is now important to garner a greater understanding of the drivers of customer delight from the customer's perspective. In response, this research addresses three focal issues: (1) evaluating the types of employee behaviors in a service encounter that lead to delight, (2) assessing consumers' expectations prior to their delightful encounter, and (3) ascertaining the differences between satisfactory and delightful encounters at the customer level. The findings indicate that employee affect and employee effort are the strongest factors in producing delight. These factors were both ranked higher than employee skills with regard to delight. Importantly, it seems that the power of these factors has not been fully revealed in previous research. Further, this research provides support for the usefulness of both the disconfirmation paradigm and the less-utilized needs-based model for ...
Preconditioning to Heat Stress by a Nontemperature Stressor

Abstract Three experiments were conducted in which 3-week-old chickens were subjected to a handling procedure for 4 days (21 to 24 days of age) and subjected to heat stress on either the 5th or 7th day (25 or 27 days of age). The heat stress episode consisted of exposure to 50 C for up to 240 min in a forced-draft chamber. In two experiments in which broiler chickens were studied, the heat stress survival time, determined at 25 days of age, was increased by the handling procedure. The same phenomenon did not occur in Leghorn chicks or broiler chickens heat stressed after a 3-day adjustment period.
Employment-based analysis: an alternative methodology for project evaluation in developing regions, with an application to agriculture in Yucatán

Abstract Governmental and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in developing regions increasingly recognize the links between sustainable development and environmental protection. For this reason, environmental protection efforts in these regions increasingly include sustainable community development projects. Unlike most traditional, large-scale development projects, the objective of such projects is to give local inhabitants sustainable economic alternatives to environmentally degrading activities, rather than to maximize the flow of discounted net benefits. The traditional method of project evaluation, cost-benefit analysis (CBA), does not provide useful information regarding the meeting of such objectives. The purpose of this paper is to introduce, discuss, and provide a brief example of employment-based analysis (EBA) as a means of project evaluation in developing countries. In contrast to the CBA approach of measuring a discounted flow of net benefits from economic options, EBA measures the number of jobs or population support provided by alternative activities using a given resource (typically land) over a given period of time. EBA better incorporates sustainability into project analysis by avoiding the use of discounting, directly linking project success with environmental sustainability, and penalizing economic activities that involve income inequality and income/capital flight. EBA is particularly illuminating when applied to small-scale sustainable development projects that are part of environmental conservation programs. After a brief description of the methodology, the motivation, strengths, and weaknesses of EBA are discussed. A simple application of EBA and CBA to alternative agricultural activities (traditional farming, improved farming, and cattle ranching) in Yucatan, Mexico, is then provided. This analysis indicates that, while cattle ranching has a higher benefit-cost ratio, both traditional and improved farming provide more population support and greater contributions to sustainability. This example serves to highlight the potential benefits to using EBA instead of or in conjunction with CBA in developing regions, along with highlighting some of the strengths and challenges of EBA.
Modeling with Influence Networks using influence constants: A new approach

Complex decision problems present numerous modeling and analysis challenges. A number of approaches have been devised in an effort to meet these challenges; one of them is Influence Networks. In this paper, we present a new comprehensive approach to the formalism of Influence Networks that eliminates previously existing inconsistencies and incorporates temporal issues as well. We also use the approach to evaluate a specific decision problem.
Radix-2 over-redundant digit set converters

Often radix-2 division algorithms make use of over redundant digit-set in the selection of the quotient digits. The final step in such a division algorithm is the conversion of the quotient to the conventional two's complement notation. The best approach for this conversion, in the case of non-over-redundant digit sets, is the on-the-fly technique. In this paper, we explore two different alternatives to the on-the-fly conversion algorithm, for the conversion of an integer number from the radix-2 over-redundant representation into the two's complement notation. In the direct conversion approach, the conversion is realized in one step. In the redundancy reduction approach, the conversion is achieved in two steps: a redundancy reduction step and a binary conversion step. The discussion is carried out assuming no restrictions on the sequence of radix-2 over-redundant digits. Our main conclusion is that the redundancy reduction approach is the most efficient.
Trafficking of dietary oleic, linolenic, and stearic acids in fasted or fed lean rats

Increasing evidence supports the notion that there are significant differences in the health effects of diets enriched in saturated, as opposed to monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fat. However, t...
Differences in the tolerance of metribuzin by varieties of soybeans

Summary: Resume: Zusammenfassung Metribuzin [4-amino-6-tert-butyl-3-(methylthio)-as-triazin-5(4/f)-one] has shown promise for weed control in Glycine max (L.) Merr. (soybean), but at rates effective for preemergence weed control soybean tolerance has been narrow and field observations indicated that varieties of soybeans differed in their tolerance. Treatments of 0.0,0.56,1,12 and 1,68 kg/ha an location in the Coastal Plain, Piedmont, and Limestone Valley-area of Georgia indicated that the soybean variety ‘Coker 102’ was Meterially more susceptible to metribuzin injury than were ‘Hardee’, ‘Bragg’, ‘Bienville’, ‘Hampton 266 A’, or ‘Coker 318’. The injury caused smaller soybean stands, heights, and yields. These results confirmed previous observations from field trials using this herbicide. Differences de sensibilites varietales chez le soja vis-a-vis de la metribuzine La metribuzine [4-amino-6-tert-butyl-3-(methylthio)-as-triazine-5(4H)-one] a donne des resultats prometteurs pour le Desherbage du soja Glycine max (L.) Merr. Aux doses efficacies pour le desherbage en prelevee, la resistance du soja a eteetroite et les observations faites au champ ont mis en evidence des diffearences de sensibilite entre les varietes de soja. Des traitements a raison de 0,0, 0,56, 1,12 et 1,68 kg/ha a des emplacements situfes dans les regions suivantes: Coastal Plain, Piedmont et Limestone Valley, dans l'eatat de Georgie, ont montre que la variete de soja ‘Coker 102’etait notablement plus sensible a la metribuzine que les varietes ‘Hardee’, ‘Bragg’, ‘Bienville’, ‘Hampton 266 A’ ou ‘Cocker 318′. Les degâts se traduisirent par une reduction de Ia vigueur, de lataille et du rendement. Ces resultats confirment les observations anterieures dans des essais au cham pavec cet herbicide. Unterschiede in der Toleranz von Metribuzin gegenuber Sojabohnensorten [4-Amino-6-tert.-butyl-3-(methylthio)-as-triazin-5(4H)-one] ist ein aussichtsreiches Herbizid fur die Unkrautbekampfung in Glycine max. (L.) Merr. (Sojabohne). Bei wirksamen Aufwandraengen im Vorauflaufverfahren war die Sojabohnentoleranz wenig ausgepragt und Feldbeobachtungen zeigten, dass Sojabohnensorten unterschiedlich tolerant sind. Behandlungen mit 0,0, 0,56, 1,12 und 1,68 kg/ha an Standorten in der Coastal Plain, Piedmont und der Limestone Valley-Gegend in Georgia zeigten, dass die Sojabohnensorte ‘Coker 102’ erheblich empfindlicher gegenuber Metribuzinschaden war als ‘Hardee’, ‘Bragg’, ‘Bleinville’, ‘Hampton 266 A’ oder ‘Coker 318′. Der Schaden ausserte sich in geringeren Bestandesdichten, Pflanzenhohen und niedrigeren Ertragen. Diese Ergebnisse bestatigen die schon fruher mit diesem Herbizid gemachten Beobachtungen in Freilandversuchen.
Evolution of waning, subduction-related magmatism, northern Sierra Madre Occidental, Mexico

The stratigraphic record at the Tomochic volcanic center, Chihuahua, documents a change from andesitic to rhyolite-dominated volcanism, with late extrusion of mafic lavas, during the final ∼10 m.y. of subduction-related activity in the northern Sierra Madre Occidental. Andesitic volcanism, which started before 38 Ma and continued until ∼35 Ma, was followed by eruption of large-volume rhyolite ash flows from the Las Varas (34.1 Ma) and Tomochic (31.8-31.4 Ma) calderas. Basaltic andesite, the most mafic rock type in the area, was extruded near the end of calcalkalic volcanism at ∼30 Ma. The change in style of volcanism at the Tomochic volcanic center also occurred in other parts of the northern Sierra Madre Occidental and is interpreted to reflect the evolution of waning, subduction-related magmatism, as convergence between the North American and Farallon plates slowed before it eventually ceased. Slowed plate convergence resulted in a decreased flux of mafic melts from the mantle to the crust, leading, in turn, to the stagnation and coalescence of intermediate-composition magmas similar to those that fed early andesitic eruptions. Subsequent differentiation led to growth of zoned magma reservoirs from which the rhyolite ash flows were extruded. Slowed convergence was accompanied by the onset of crustal extension, which possibly aided the coalescence of andesitic magmas and which allowed the ascent and eruption of mafic melts near the end of silicic volcanic activity. Although minor differences exist, the history of mid-Tertiary magmatism and tectonism in the northern Sierra Madre Occidental was broadly similar to that in parts of the south-western United States.
Modeling Macroevolution with Invented Creatures

Abstract Evolution is a fundamental principle in biology, yet students, teachers, and the public at large all too often misunderstand the way it works. I introduce a hands-on exercise that emphasizes tree-thinking and phylogenies to organize biodiversity. During the activity, students observe and investigate the patterns and processes of macroevolution by first building unique specimens through gradual, stepwise changes in characters. They then switch specimens with another group and, by observing shared characters, hypothesize the evolutionary relationships of the specimens by drawing phylogenies. The exercise has been used for several years, and pretest—posttest results confirm that it significantly improves student understanding of macroevolution and phylogenetics.
An Edge-Less Approach to Horizon Line Detection

Horizon line is a promising visual cue which can be exploited for robot localization or visual geo-localization. Prominent approaches to horizon line detection rely on edge detection as a pre-processing step which is inherently a non-stable approach due to parameter choices and underlying assumptions. We present a novel horizon line detection approach which uses machine learning and Dynamic Programming (DP) to extract the horizon line from a classification map instead of an edge map. The key idea is assigning a classification score to each pixel, which can be interpreted as the likelihood of the pixel belonging to the horizon line, and representing the classification map as a multi-stage graph. Using DP, the horizon line can be extracted by finding the path that maximizes the sum of classification scores. In contrast to edge maps which are typically binary (edge vs no-edge) and contain gaps, classification maps are continuous and contain no gaps, yielding significantly better solutions. Using classification maps instead of edge maps allows for removing certain assumptions such as the horizon is close to the top of the image or that the horizon forms a straight line. The purpose of these assumptions is to bias the DP solution but they fail to produce good results when they are not valid. We demonstrate our approach on three different data sets and provide comparisons with a traditional approach based on edge maps. Although our training set is comprised of a very small number of images from the same location, our results illustrate that our method generalizes well to images acquired under different conditions and geographical locations.
Centrioles and Golgi apparatus in postmeiotic spores of the myxomycete stemonitis virginiensis.

(1972). Centrioles and Golgi Apparatus in Postmeiotic Spores of the Myxomycete Stemonitis Virginiensis. Mycologia: Vol. 64, No. 2, pp. 452-456.
Interpersonal Affect Dynamics: It Takes Two (and Time) to Tango

Everything is constantly changing. Our emotions are one of the primary ways we track, evaluate, organize, and motivate responsive action to those changes. Furthermore, emotions are inherently interpersonal. We learn what to feel from others, especially when we are children. We “catch” other people’s emotions just by being around them. We get caught in escalating response–counterresponse emotional sequences. This all takes place in time, generating complex patterns of interpersonal emotional dynamics. This review summarizes theory, empirical findings, and key challenges for future research regarding three processes that contribute to interpersonal affective dynamics: (a) Convergence of social partners’ emotional responses to the external world, (b) emotional reactivity of social partners to each other, and (c) interpersonal emotion regulation.
Umbilical Uptake of Substrates and their Role in Fetal Metabolism

The nutrients which the mammalian fetus receives to meet both its growth requirements and its fuel requirements are represented by the umbilical uptake of carbohydrates, amino acids, and fats. This composite substrate flow into the umbilical circulation may be considered the “fetal milk” upon which the fetus grows and develops. In many respects this unique arrangement by which the fetus receives its nutrients through its umbilical cord permits far more precise studies of nutrition and metabolism in a growing organism than is possible in postnatal life when one must consider variations in gastrointestinal absorption to arrive at net substrate flow to the liver and other organs. One can measure the umbilical uptake of substrates by an application of the Fick Principle in which umbilical blood flow and the arteriovenous difference of whole blood concentrations of solutes are determined simultaneously. The product of these two measurements represents the net uptake of substrates by the fetus. A fairly complete description of the composition of this “fetal milk” has been provided for at least one mammalian fetus, the fetal lamb, under unstressed steady state conditions. Similarly, the fetal calf and horse have also been studied fairly extensively in terms of the composition of substrate flow into the fetal umbilical circulation. These data have recently been reviewed and a carbon and nitrogen balance sheet prepared for the ovine fetus based upon these direct measurements of carbon and nitrogen uptake (1, 4). For this reason, I shall not dwell upon these aspects of fetal nutrition and metabolism, but center the paper upon a consideration of the data stemming from several different sources supporting the fact that amino acids play a major role, not only as building blocks for protein synthesis, but as metabolic fuels as well.
Interventional Treatment of Pulmonary Lymphatic Anomalies.

Pulmonary lymphatic diseases have been recognized for many years and have been referred as pulmonary lymphangiectasia, pulmonary lymphangiomatosis, plastic bronchitis, and idiopathic chylothorax or chylopericardium. The lymphatic etiology of these conditions has been determined by detection of cystic lymphatic structures on biopsy or postmortem examination. Development of new imaging techniques such as dynamic contrast–enhanced magnetic resonance lymphangiography has allowed better understanding of pathophysiology of these conditions. Dynamic contrast–enhanced magnetic resonance lymphangiography demonstrated that the common denominator of these disorders is an abnormal pulmonary lymphatic flow from the thoracic duct toward pulmonary parenchyma. This abnormal lymphatic flow propagates into mediastinum, lung parenchyma, pleural surfaces, and bronchial submucosa and has been termed as pulmonary lymphatic perfusion syndrome (PLPS). Known clinical presentation of PLPS includes spontaneous chylothorax or pericardium, neonatal chylous effusions, and plastic bronchitis. PLPS has been observed in all age groups and can be considered as a congenital anatomical lymphatic variant. The onset of the clinical symptoms can be provoked by increase of the lymphatic flow owing to elevated central venous pressure that results in lymphatic distention, trauma, and severe upper respiratory infection. Reported treatment of PLPS is obliteration of these abnormal lymphatic pathways by percutaneous embolization, a technique similar to thoracic duct embolization in chylothorax.
iSeq: A New Double-Barcode Method for Detecting Dynamic Genetic Interactions in Yeast.

Systematic screens for genetic interactions are a cornerstone of both network and systems biology. However, most screens have been limited to characterizing interaction networks in a single environment. Moving beyond this static view of the cell requires a major technological advance to increase the throughput and ease of replication in these assays. Here, we introduce iSeq—a platform to build large double barcode libraries and rapidly assay genetic interactions across environments. We use iSeq in yeast to measure fitness in three conditions of nearly 400 clonal strains, representing 45 possible single or double gene deletions, including multiple replicate strains per genotype. We show that iSeq fitness and interaction scores are highly reproducible for the same clonal strain across replicate cultures. However, consistent with previous work, we find that replicates with the same putative genotype have highly variable genetic interaction scores. By whole-genome sequencing 102 of our strains, we find that segregating variation and de novo mutations, including aneuploidy, occur frequently during strain construction, and can have large effects on genetic interaction scores. Additionally, we uncover several new environment-dependent genetic interactions, suggesting that barcode-based genetic interaction assays have the potential to significantly expand our knowledge of genetic interaction networks.
Specificity and flexibility of social influence on spatial choice

Rats searched for food in a situation that allowed them to determine which locations contained food after searching a small number of them, but not which of the baited locations contained more-preferred food rather than a less-preferred food. During some experimental trials, the latter information was available from the choices of model rats making choices together with the subject rats, because some of the model rats tended to choose the locations baited with more-preferred food. On the surface, the results suggest that social influence specified the locations of more-preferred food to the subject rats. However, more detailed analysis and data from a second experiment indicate that the social influence can be explained by a general tendency to approach another rat making choices, acquired if rats are exposed to a contingency between social approach and increased foraging success.
Small Bowel Diverticulosis and Jejunal Perforation in Marfan Syndrome

Marfan syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder involving mutation in the FBN1 gene, which encodes fibrillin-1, a protein critical to maintain the integrity of connective tissue. A mutation in this gene can affect multiple organ systems, but it is not classically associated with gastrointestinal complications. We describe a man with Marfan syndrome with multiple small bowel diverticula leading to small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and recurrent small bowel perforations.
Analysis of Opinion Spread through Migration and Adoption in Agent Communities

Agent based simulation can be an important tool for enhancing our understanding of the dynamics of complex systems. This paper studies the migration and behavior adoption patterns of agents in a system of agents situated in geographically distributed communities. We consider two agent types with binary and continuous states. Agents either probabilistically adopt the predominant state in their community or migrate to another community more consistent with their state. This adoption and migration model is specified with few parameters but can support a wide range of interesting behaviors and emergent phenomena. We investigate the conditions for the convergence of communities to different states and the role of migration and adoption on convergence. We experiment with different migration probability distributions and adoption rates and analyze the resulting patterns of population and state distributions.
The Science of Qualitative Research: Hermeneutics and the Project for a Human Science

The hallmark of the “linguistic revolution” of the twentieth century, from Saussure and Wittgenstein to contemporary literary theory, is the recognition that meaning is not simply something “expressed” or “reflected” in language: it is actually produced by it. Eagleton, 1983, p. 60 If we are to rethink the use of the interview as a tool in qualitative research, we must ask some fundamental questions. What does it mean to understand what someone says? What does it mean to understand a text? What is the “meaning” of a text? What is the relationship between a text and its author’s subjective experience? The coding approach to analysis assumes that the answers to these questions can be found in the conduit metaphor for language. This metaphor implies that words or short phrases “represent” objects and events, that experience is “put into” words, that to understand is to “unpack” this content from the form, and that this “meaning” can be repackaged in language that avoids indexicality. We have seen how unsatisfactory these answers are. But these answers are not the only ones possible. These questions have been asked for hundreds of years, and a variety of answers have been proposed. For 200 years, they have been topics of scholarly debate in philosophy, literary theory, and religion, in the field known as hermeneutics. Ironically, research with qualitative materials today more closely resembles the way people thought about these matters in the 18th century than it does contemporary views. The objective study of subjectivity has much in common with what is known as “Romanticist” hermeneutics. Yet the Romanticist view of interpretation, although very influential in the 1700s and for a considerable period afterward, searched for something unreachable. It required an endless circle of interpretation, or empathic leaps of identification with an author, or the appeal to a metaphysical notion of a universal life-force unfolding toward an objective end point.
Transient measurements of lattice oxygen in photocatalytic decomposition of formic acid on TiO2

In the absence of gas-phase O2, formic acid extracted lattice oxygen from TiO2 during photocatalytic decomposition (PCD) at room temperature. The amount of oxygen extracted was determined by interrupting PCD of a monolayer of formic acid after various reaction times and measuring O2 uptake in the dark. After surface oxygen was depleted by PCD, oxygen diffused from the bulk to replenish the surface oxygen vacancies. The rate of oxygen diffusion to the surface was determined by measuring O2 uptake after various dark times. A small fraction of the CO2 that formed during PCD remained on the reduced sites of the TiO2 surface, but this CO2 was displaced by O2 adsorption at room temperature.
Ajax Integration Approach for Collaborative Calendar-Server Web Services.

The proliferation of the impressive web technologies provides developers with a way to produce performance efficient, usable, rich and interactive web based applications. A set of new technologies called AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) for the browser based applications is gaining the web developer’s interest. In this paper we present a generic and performance efficient framework for integrating AJAX models into the iCalendar based Collaborative Calendar-Server Web Services system.
Calorimetry of Phase, Schottky and other Transitions

With an eye toward direct estimation of thermophysical properties we consider the morphology of heat-capacity curves and the major contributions thereto (i.e., lattice-vibration, magnetic, and electronic state contibutions) as well as first and second order transitions, order-disorder transitions, etc. Then we note that the besetting problem of resolution of excess heat capacities of many types of transitions—whether structural or electronic, or otherwise—requires a reliable estimate of the lattice contribution. We see that corresponding state theories have been less than satisfactory; but Lindemann schemes are suggestive. The Latimer scheme has been widely used. For chemical thermodynamic purposes use of a volume-weighted scheme over the range where entropy development largely occurs is demonstrated to provide resolution of Schottky contributions for Ln(OH)3 and LnCl3 systems and has been shown to be superior to other approaches. The lanthanide sesquioxides, sesquisulfides, halides, and especially the trihydroxides provide exemplary models in which the Schottky contributions (occasioned by the crystal-field splitting of the ground state manifold) provide an excellent basis for testing the resolution of the lattice heat-capacity contribution, since the Schottky contribution can be evaluated both by spectroscopy and by thermophysical data. Agreement of the excess contribution then provides basis for judging the quality of the lattice contribution resolution.
Essential Capabilities for Nuclear Security: A National Program for Nonproliferation and Verification Technology Development

Abstract This chapter makes the case that a new, integrated, multiagency program to develop nonproliferation verification, and monitoring technologies for nuclear security should be initiated without delay in the United States. These capabilities are essential to verify compliance with current and anticipated nuclear arms agreements, prevent nuclear terrorism and nuclear proliferation, and move safely toward a world without nuclear weapons. The program should be funded as a core aspect of the US nuclear infrastructure modernization plan, and thus implemented jointly by the National Nuclear Security Administration and the Department of Defense, with guidance from the State Department, the intelligence community, and the National Academy of Sciences. Such a program is affordable at a fraction of the cost of other nuclear infrastructure modernization tasks, and is needed to maintain nuclear security in an evolving security environment.
Anionic Surfactant–Induced Changes in Skin Permeability

Abstract Anionic surfactants compromise skin's barrier function by damaging stratum corneum lipids and proteins. The objective of this study was to examine anionic surfactant–induced changes in the skin's polar and transcellular pathways and the resulting impact on surfactant penetration into the skin. Three anionic surfactant formulations and one control formulation were each applied to split-thickness human cadaver skin in vitro for 24 h. Electrical conductivity of the skin, determined using a four-terminal resistance method, and water permeation across the skin, determined using a radiolabeled water tracer, were simultaneously measured at several points over the experimental period. Surfactant permeation across the skin was similarly measured using a radiolabeled sodium dodecyl sulfate tracer. Anionic surfactants rapidly enhanced skin electrical conductivity and water permeability in the excised human skin, resulting in nonlinear enhancements in surfactant permeation across the skin over time. Surfactant penetration into the skin was found to increase linearly with increasing surfactant monomer concentration. Surfactant zeta potential was found to correlate well with skin conductivity, water permeation across the skin, and surfactant permeation across the skin, particularly with long surfactant exposures. Micelle charge is a significant predictor of anionic surfactant–induced damage to the human skin, with more highly charged surfactants inducing the most damage.
Coretet: A 21 st Century Virtual Reality Musical Instrument for Solo and Networked Ensemble Performance

Coretet is a virtual reality instrument that explores the translation of performance gesture and mechanic from traditional bowed string instruments into an inherently non-physical implementation. Built using the Unreal Engine 4 and Pure Data, Coretet offers musicians a flexible and articulate musical instrument to play as well as a networked performance environment capable of supporting and presenting a traditional four-member string quartet. This paper discusses the technical implementation of Coretet and explores the musical and performative possibilities through the translation of physical instrument design into virtual reality.
Mechanism of Activation and Role of Extracellular Signal Regulated Kinase in ADP-Induced Thromboxane A2 Generation in Platelets.

Abstract We have previously shown that ADP-induced thromboxane A2 generation in platelets requires co-ordinated signaling events from the Gq-coupled P2Y1 receptor and the Gi-coupled P2Y12 receptor in addition to outside-in signaling. It is also known that ADP-induced thromboxane A2 generation is completely abolished in the presence of extracellular calcium, but the mechanism of this negative regulation is not known. In this study we sought to identify the important signaling molecules in ADP-induced thromboxane A2 generation in platelets and characterize the regulation of these molecules by extracellular calcium. Erk2 activation occurred when outside-in signaling was blocked, indicating that it is a downstream event from the P2Y receptors. However, blockade of either P2Y1 or the P2Y12 receptors with corresponding antagonists completely abolished Erk phosphorylation, indicating that both P2Y receptors are required for ADP-induced Erk activation. However, blockade of Erk upstream kinase MEK had not effect on ADP-induced aggregation in aspirin-treated platelets, but dramatically inhibited aggregation as well as secretion in non-aspirinated platelets, suggesting that Erk might be important for thromboxane A2 generation. Finally, PP1 and PP2, inhibitors of Src family kinases, but not PP3, an inactive analog, abolished ADP-induced Erk phosphorylation and thromboxane A2 generation. Interestingly, ADP-induced Erk phosphorylation was completely inhibited in the presence of extracellular calcium, indicating that Erk is a key signaling molecule regulated by extracellular calcium in the negative regulation of thromboxane A2 generation. We conclude that Erk2 is activated downstream of P2Y receptors through a complex mechanism involving Src kinases and plays an important role in ADP-induced thromboxane A2 generation. We also conclude that extracellular calcium blocks ADP-induced thromboxane A2 generation through the inhibition of Erk activation.
Long-term naturalistic follow-up of chronic pain in adults with prescription opioid use disorder.

Abstract Background Chronic pain is common in patients with prescription opioid use disorder (OUD), and pain severity has been shown to predict opioid use for those with chronic pain. However, recent research suggests that focusing on pain status (i.e., the presence or absence of chronic pain) at treatment initiation may not reflect the clinical significance of pain over the long-term course of OUD. Reports of variability in chronic pain and its clinical significance over time have yet to be investigated in patients with prescription OUD. The present study examined variability in chronic pain status from entry into prescription OUD treatment through 3.5-year follow-up. Additionally, we examined the association between concurrent chronic pain and opioid use at three follow-up time points. Methods This secondary analysis (N = 309) of a national, randomized, controlled trial of prescription OUD treatment used generalized estimating equations to assess variability in the prevalence of chronic pain from study entry to 3.5-year follow-up, and the association between chronic pain status and concurrent opioid use. Results Fifty-three percent of participants reported variability in chronic pain status over time. The prevalence of chronic pain decreased from study entry through follow-up (aOR = 0.47, p Conclusions Chronic pain status may vary over time in those with prescription OUD, and chronic pain appears to be associated with concurrent opioid use. The present findings highlight the importance of assessing chronic pain throughout the course of prescription OUD.
Brasília Unsettled in João Almino’s Cidade Livre

This chapter argues that Almino’s Cidade Livre—the fifth novel his Brasilia quintet—approaches the creative right to the city by considering who has the power to publicly represent the capital in writing, both fictional and nonfictional. The novel addresses the impact of foundational texts in interpreting Brasilia and the use of fiction as a type of social criticism that contests totalizing narratives of the capital. After a reflection on the Brasilia quintet, this chapter’s subsequent sections analyze how specific literary techniques generate greater attentiveness to inequities regarding who has the opportunity to represent (and thus interpret) the capital in writing. The sections examine disruptive narration; metanarrative; historical truth claims and juxtapositions; and literary allusions.
Zieve’s Syndrome: an Unusual Cause of Anemia

Zieve’s syndrome (ZS) is a rare condition that includes alcoholic hepatitis, hyperlipidemia, and hemolytic anemia. We describe a severe case of ZS in a 39-year-old female patient with refractory symptoms who ultimately succumbed to her liver injury 6 weeks from her initial presentation to the hospital despite multiple attempts at alcohol cessation rehabilitation. Clinicians need to maintain a high index of suspicion for ZS in patients with alcoholic hepatitis who have transfusion refractory anemia. Alcohol abstinence is essential for recovery. The major challenge with this syndrome remains early diagnosis, and our goal is that increased case reporting will raise clinician awareness.
Vascular Stenosis Detection Using Temporal-Spectral Differences in Correlated Acoustic Measurements

Central venous stenosis is often undiagnosed in patients with hemodialysis vascular access, partly due to imaging difficulties. Noninvasive, point-of-care detection could rely on detecting regions of turbulent blood flow caused by blood velocity changes. Here we present flexible microphone arrays for time-correlated measures of blood flow sounds and a new signal processing approach to calculate time correlation between spectral features. Continuous wavelet transform was used to produce an auditory spectral flux analytic signal, which was thresholded to identify systolic start and end phases. Microphone arrays were tested on pulsatile flow phantoms with blood flow rates of 850–1,200 mL/min and simulated stenosis from 10–85%. Measured results showed an inversion in the time onset of systolic spectral content for sites proximal and distal to stenosis for hemodynamically significant stenoses (+22 ms for stenosis 50%). Equivalent blood velocity increases were calculated as 142–155 cm/s in stenotic phantoms, which are within the physiologic range as measured by ultrasound.
Cryoanalgesia Reduces Postoperative Pneumonia in Patients Undergoing Double Lung Transplantation Compared to Thoracic Paravertebral Catheters and Traditional Opiate Based Analgesia

Purpose Postoperative pain for bilateral lung transplant patients is often poorly controlled and may negatively impact recovery. Intercostal cryoanalgesia (IC-CRYO) may provide an additional modality to pain control. We hypothesize that IC-CRYO may enhance recovery compared to traditional opiate based analgesia (OBA) and thoracic paravertebral catheter (TPVC) analgesia. Methods Consecutive patients from January 2015 to May 2019 receiving a double lung transplant were included in this retrospective review. Pediatric age, single lung and redo lung transplants were excluded. TPCV group received 4 bilateral catheters at T4 and T8 levels postoperatively in the intensive care unit. IC-CRYO was performed intraoperatively by the surgeon from intercostal nerves 3-7 bilaterally. Results A total of 66 patients received IC-CRYO, 51 patients received OBA, and 89 received TPVC. The IC-CRYO group was significantly older (59 vs 52; p = 0.01) and had higher BMI (25.8 vs 24.2; p = 0.05) compared to OBA. Both the restrictive lung disease patients (62% IC-CRYO, 46% TPVC and 47% OBA) and the lung allocation scores (52 IC-CRYO, 47 TPVC and 51 OBA) were higher in IC-CRYO. There were no differences in time on the ventilator, ICU or hospital length of stay. There was a trend to lesser need for tracheostomy in IC-CRYO compared to OBA (5% vs 16%; p = value 0.06). IC-CRYO showed a significant decrease in post operative pneumonia compared to OBA (3% vs 22%; p = 0.03) and to TPVC (3% vs 17%; p = 0.03). There were no complications related to TPVC or IC-CRYO. Conclusion The present data suggest IC-CRYO and TPVC are effective as adjuncts to pain control for patients undergoing bilateral lung transplant. The data suggest IC-CRYO is strongly associated with functional improvements in patient recovery from bilateral lung transplant when compared with TPVC and OBA for postoperative pain control.
Invasive Lobular Breast Carcinoma Can Be a Challenging Diagnosis Without the Use of Tumor Markers.

Invasive lobular carcinoma is often challenging to diagnose due to the lack of physical examination findings and macrocalcifications on mammography. The cells of invasive lobular carcinoma form a distinct single file pattern that can be identified on histology slides. Often, when patients present, there is metastasis to the bones, lymph nodes, and gastrointestinal tract. Tumor markers are a valuable tool in identification, especially the loss of E-cadherin protein. However, if E-cadherin protein is not available, epidermal membrane antigen, which inhibits E-cadherin, can prove to be a significant diagnostic tool. Epidermal membrane antigen was the key tumor marker in our patient case. Other tumor markers and histology stains can drive treatment plans and help predict prognosis.
The effect of race on lateral moves to coach central positions

Racial discrimination in the coaching labor market has garnered substantial attention among researchers; however, scholars have struggled to empirically answer the question of why these disparities...
Air pollution, SARS-CoV-2 transmission, and COVID-19 outcomes: A state-of-the-science review of a rapidly evolving research area

Abstract Background As the coronavirus pandemic rages on, 692,000 (August 7, 2020) human lives and counting have been lost worldwide to COVID-19. Understanding the relationship between short- and long-term exposure to air pollution and adverse COVID-19 health outcomes is crucial for developing solutions to this global crisis. Objectives To conduct a scoping review of epidemiologic research on the link between short- and long-term exposure to air pollution and COVID-19 health outcomes. Method We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane, MedRxiv, and BioRxiv for preliminary epidemiological studies of the association between air pollution and COVID-19 health outcomes. 28 papers were finally selected after applying our inclusion/exclusion criteria; we categorized these studies as long-term studies, short-term time-series studies, or short-term cross-sectional studies. One study included both short-term time-series and a cross-sectional study design. Results 27 studies of the 28 reported evidence of statistically significant positive associations between air pollutant exposure and adverse COVID-19 health outcomes; 11 of 12 long-term studies and all 16 short-term studies reported statistically significant positive associations. The 28 identified studies included various confounders, spatial and temporal resolutions of pollution concentrations, and COVID-19 health outcomes. Discussion We discuss methodological challenges and highlight additional research areas based on our findings. Challenges include data quality issues, ecological study design limitations, improved adjustment for confounders, exposure errors related to spatial resolution, geographic variability in testing, mitigation measures and pandemic stage, clustering of health outcomes, and a lack of publicly available data and code.
The Legal Dimensions of Oil and Gas in Iraq: A Primer on the Federal Model Exploration and Production Contracts and the Kurdistan Regional Government's Model Production-Sharing Contract

INTRODUCTION There may be a great deal of controversy and divisive posturing when it comes to the political acceptability in the Iraqi national parliament of the February 15, 2007, oil and gas framework law. And despite the criticism that the current actions of the Ministry of Oil in negotiating certain kinds of oil and gas development agreements on the basis of preexisting, Saddam-era laws evidences a disregard for some of the goals and objectives reflected in that February measure, the Ministry continues to move forward to fulfill its aim of boosting Iraqi oil production as rapidly as is consistent with sound practice, technical feasibility, and productive capacity. Against this backdrop, it is interesting to review the thinking of the federal government on model forms of exploration and production contracts, and the basic terms of production-sharing contracts (PSC) used by the KRG. Oil and gas field service providers and major international oil companies desirous of exploring development opportunities throughout Iraq, as well as those who study the contractual legal structure of resource-rich countries that host overseas extractive operations, would find such a review more than worthwhile. In that connection, it should be observed that, although the KRG has made its standard form of model PSC publicly available, indications are that at the time of this writing, the authorities in Baghdad continue to work on finalizing the precise structure and wording of their own model forms of exploration and production contracts.
Percent Body Fat Content Measured by Plethysmography in Infants Randomized to High- or Usual-Volume Feeding after Very Preterm Birth.

We measured percent body fat by air-displacement plethysmography in 86 infants born at Trial registration ClincialTrials.gov : NCT02377050 .