cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interspecific variation in growth responses to climate and competition of five eastern tree species

Climate and competition are often presented from two opposing views of the dominant driver of individual tree growth and species distribution in temperate forests, such as those in the eastern United States. Previous studies have provided abundant evidence indicating that both factors influence tree growth, and we argue that these effects are not independent of one another and rather that interactions between climate, competition, and size best describe tree growth. To illustrate this point, we describe the growth responses of five common eastern tree species to interacting effects of temperature, precipitation, competition, and individual size using maximum likelihood estimation. Models that explicitly include interactions among these four factors explained over half of the variance in annual growth for four out of five species using annual climate. Expanding temperature and precipitation analyses to include seasonal interactions resulted in slightly improved models with a mean R2 of 0.61 (SD 0.10). Growth responses to individual factors as well their interactions varied greatly among species. For example, growth sensitivity to temperature for Quercus rubra increased with maximum annual precipitation, but other species showed no change in sensitivity or slightly reduced annual growth. Our results also indicate that three-way interactions among individual stem size, competition, and temperature may determine which of the five co-occurring species in our study could have the highest growth rate in a given year. Continued consideration and quantification of interactions among climate, competition, and individual-based characteristics are likely to increase understanding of key biological processes such as tree growth. Greater parameterization of interactions between traditionally segregated factors such as climate and competition may also help build a framework to reconcile drivers of individual-based processes such as growth with larger-scale patterns of species distribution.
Integrating big data and actionable health coaching to optimize wellness

The Hundred Person Wellness Project (HPWP) is a 10-month pilot study of 100 ‘well’ individuals where integrated data from whole-genome sequencing, gut microbiome, clinical laboratory tests and quantified self measures from each individual are used to provide actionable results for health coaching with the goal of optimizing wellness and minimizing disease. In a commentary in BMC Medicine, Diamandis argues that HPWP and similar projects will likely result in ‘unnecessary and potential harmful over-testing’. We argue that this new approach will ultimately lead to lower costs, better healthcare, innovation and economic growth. The central points of the HPWP are: 1) it is focused on optimizing wellness through longitudinal data collection, integration and mining of individual data clouds, enabling development of predictive models of wellness and disease that will reveal actionable possibilities; and 2) by extending this study to 100,000 well people, we will establish multiparameter, quantifiable wellness metrics and identify markers for wellness to early disease transitions for most common diseases, which will ultimately allow earlier disease intervention, eventually transitioning the individual early on from a disease back to a wellness trajectory.
Is War A Hayekian Spontaneous Institution

In his later works, the economist and philosopher, Friedrich Hayek, presented an attractive theory of social evolution that emphasized tacitly accepted expectations and rules of conduct. Hayek’s main interest was in exploring the weaknesses of rationalist policies, especially how they affected the market economy, which in his mind presented the greatest potential for both the exploitation of knowledge and the advancement of peace. Yet Hayek did not explicitly apply his theory to the problem of war. This paper provides an outline of his theory and argues that it relates well to understanding war’s nature and origins as well as the limitations faced by attempts to control or abolish war.
Carbon-based hierarchical scaffolds for myoblast differentiation: Synergy between nano-functionalization and alignment.

Abstract While several scaffolds have been proposed for skeletal muscle regeneration, multiscale hierarchical scaffolds with the complexity of extracellular matrix (ECM) haven’t been engineered successfully. By precise control over nano- and microscale features, comprehensive understanding of the effect of multiple factors on skeletal muscle regeneration can be derived. In this study, we engineered carbon-based scaffolds with hierarchical nano- and microscale architecture with controlled physico-chemical properties. More specifically, we built multiscale hierarchy by growing carbon nanotube (CNT) carpets on two types of scaffolds, namely, interconnected microporous carbon foams and aligned carbon fiber mats. Nanostructured CNT carpets offered fine control over nano-roughness and wettability facilitating myoblast adhesion, growth and differentiation into myocytes. However, microporous foam architecture failed to promote their fusion into multinucleated myotubes. On the other hand, aligned fibrous architecture stimulated formation of multinucleated myotubes. Most importantly, nanostructured CNT carpets interfaced with microscale aligned fibrous architecture significantly enhanced myocyte fusion into multinucleated mature myotubes highlighting synergy between nanoscale surface features and micro-/macroscale aligned fibrous architecture in the process of myogenesis. Statement of Significance Due to limited regenerative potential of skeletal muscle, strategies stimulating regeneration of functional muscles are important. These strategies are aimed at promoting differentiation of progenitor cells (myoblasts) into multinucleated myotubes, a key initial step in functional muscle regeneration. Recent tissue engineering approaches utilize various scaffolds ranging from decellularized matrices to aligned biomaterial scaffolds. Although, majority of them have focused on nano- or microscale organization, a systematic approach to build the multiscale hierarchy into these scaffolds is lacking. Here, we engineered multiscale hierarchy into carbon-based materials and demonstrated that the nanoscale features govern the differentiation of individual myoblasts into myocytes whereas microscale alignment cues orchestrate fusion of multiple myocytes into multinucleated myotubes underlining the importance of multiscale hierarchy in enhancing coordinated tissue regeneration.
Improved Typesetting Models for Historical OCR

We present richer typesetting models that extend the unsupervised historical document recognition system of BergKirkpatrick et al. (2013). The first model breaks the independence assumption between vertical offsets of neighboring glyphs and, in experiments, substantially decreases transcription error rates. The second model simultaneously learns multiple font styles and, as a result, is able to accurately track italic and nonitalic portions of documents. Richer models complicate inference so we present a new, streamlined procedure that is over 25x faster than the method used by BergKirkpatrick et al. (2013). Our final system achieves a relative word error reduction of 22% compared to state-of-the-art results on a dataset of historical newspapers.
A Guide to UCC Damages for a Buyer's Breach of Contract

Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) governs transactions in goods, including damages for breach of contracts involving goods. This article discusses those UCC sections and Michigan cases that deal with a seller’s damages for a buyer’s breach of a contract to purchase goods.
Non-diapause Eggs of Western Corn Rootworms 1 in Artificial Field Infestations

Damage to corn from artifical infestations was not as severe with eggs from a non-diapause strain of Diabrotica virgifera LeConte as from infestations with eggs from field-collected beetles in an adjacent study. Damage was probably reduced because (1) the non-diapause eggs lost viability after infestation in the field, whereas eggs from field-collected beetles did not, and (2) the non-diapause eggs hatched 6 days earlier than those from field-collected beetles. Hatch occurred when the corn plants were still quite small; perhaps this kept many of the larvae from becoming established on the plants. Non-diapause eggs would probably not be useful for field infestations at planting time but might be useful in determining pest/host plant relationships with post-planting infestations.
Hampea sp., Host of the Boll Weevil. I. Laboratory Preference Studies

The attraction, feeding, and oviposition of Anthonamus grandis Boheman on the dioecious plant Hampea sp., was compared with Deltapine Smoothleaf cotton by laboratory bioassay. Plant parts and extracts of the male plant were comparable to cotton in attractiveness and stimulation of feeding, but extracts of female buds and capsules were significantly less attractive than extracts of male buds and cotton buds. A volatile repellent(s) in the extracts of the female buds and capsules probably masked the attractive material(s) present, but after storage at 5°C these extracts became as attractive as extracts of the male plant and of cotton freshly prepared from buds stored at −90°C. Also, female buds contained significantly less feeding stimulant than male buds and cotton buds. This lesser concentration plus the volatile repellent produced a high degree of resistance of the boll weevil (nonpreference) to female buds and capsules.
Comparison of Within-herd Genetic Evaluation Procedures for Beef Cattle Weaning Weight

The practicability of a specific procedure for within-herd genetic evaluation of beef cattle for weaning weight was tested with a data set of 503 Angus weaning weight records obtained from 1958 through 1976. Three different sets of genetic evaluations were obtained with the same model. The model included herd-year means, direct additive genetic values, maternal additive genetic values and random environmental errors. The evaluations of set 1 were best linear unbiased predictions (BLUP) with a full complement of equations, i.e., one for both the direct and maternal trait of all animals in the pedigree. To reduce computational load by eliminating predictions of little interest, either the direct or maternal equation for certain animals was deleted from the full complement. The resulting set 2 evaluations were also BLUP. A third method permitted further reduction in the number of equations and, therefore, computations, but the resulting set 3 evaluations were not BLUP. Thirty-seven and 43% less computer time was necessary to obtain evaluations of sets 2 and 3, respectively, than to obtain the set 1 evaluations. The correlations among the three sets of evaluations were very high, the average differences in rank small and the maximum absolute differences of predictions of the same genetic value small. The genetic, environmental and phenotypic trends obtained from each set of evaluations were similar. The results indicated that the genetic progress made from selection decisions based on evaluation sets 1, 2 and 3 would be similar.
The effect of early exercise intervention combine with intermitent pneumatic compression on lower deep venous thrombosis of patients with gynecological operation

Objective To evaluate the effect of early exercise intervention combined with intermitent pneumatic compression on lower deep venous thrombosis of patients with gynecological operation.Methods 120 patients with gynecological operation were randomly divided into control group(n=60)and observation group(n=60).The early exercise intervention combine with intermitent pneumatic compression were used in observation group and routine nursing was used in control group.The haemodynamics,skin temperature,lower limb pain/swelling and lower deep vein thrombosis were compared between the two groups.Results The blood flow peak velocity,the average blood flow velocity and blood flow of observation group were significantly higher than that of control group,the two groups statistically significant difference(P0.05).The incidence of skin warm,lower limb pain/swelling and lower deep vein thrombosis in observation group were significantly lower than that of control group,the two groups statistically significant difference(P0.05).Conclusion Using early exercise intervention combined with intermitent pneumatic compression can effectively improve hemodynamics,prevent gynecological postoperative lower deep vein thrombosis,worth clinical promotion.
Women's concerns with hormone replacement therapy--compliance issues.

Objective: To review the literature and attempt to define patient compliance with hormonal replacement therapy and physician prescription of these therapies. Design: Review of selected literature. Setting: Population studies and clinical trials. Patients: Postmenopausal and postcastration women. Interventions: Hormone replacement regimens. Main Outcome Measures: Descriptions and compliance by patients. Results: In addition to the effective control of vasomotor hot flushes and atrophic genital changes in postmenopausal women, it is now well established that the long-term use of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) or hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with estrogen and/or progestin offers prophylaxis against osteoporosis and cardiovascular arteriosclerotic disease, notably myocardial infarction
Structural Stability Theorems

This chapter describes structural stability theorems. A C 1 (time independent) flow is a function f: R × M → M such that it has continuous first partial derivatives, for each t ∈ R f t : M → M is a diffeomorphism, and it satisfies the group property f t ° f s ( x ) = f t + s ( x ). The manifold M is assumed to be compact and without boundary. A neighborhood N of ƒ in the set of C 1 flows is those g such that g restricted to [0, 1] × M is uniformly near ƒ and all the first partial derivatives are uniformly near those of ƒ. The study of diffeomorphisms is the same as that for periodic time-dependent flows. Moreover, a neighborhood N of ƒ is those g that are uniformly near ƒ pointwise and whose first partial derivatives are uniformly near those of g . It can be said that ƒ satisfies the strong transversality condition if all stable manifolds of orbits that meet another unstable manifold of an orbit do so transversally.
Usage trends and performance characteristics of a "gene expression classifier" in the management of thyroid nodules: An institutional experience.

Background The gene expression classifier (GEC; Afirma–Veracyte) has proven to be an effective triage modality in the management of thyroid nodules. We evaluate our institutional experience with GEC, specifically examining performance as a first line testing strategy versus in conjunction with repeat fine needle aspiration (FNA), usage trends based on clinical setting, and performance related to diagnostic categories of The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytology (TBSRTC). Methods All nodules undergoing GEC analysis from 1/2011 to 12/2015 at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania were identified using electronic database search methods. Corresponding cytologic diagnoses, GEC results, origin of the sample (in-house vs. satellite site), number and diagnosis of prior FNA's, and clinical and histologic follow-up were collected. Results The cohort included 294 nodules. Of these, 145 (49%) were classified as benign, 136 (46%) as suspicious, and 13 (5%) as quantity insufficient by GEC. Surgical resection was performed in 130 (130/294-44%) cases (107, 82% “suspicious” by GEC); final histopathologic diagnosis was benign in 85 (65%) and malignant in 45 (35%) cases. Three false negative diagnoses were identified in the setting of GEC analysis as a first line testing strategy. Most cases with GEC as a first line testing strategy came from satellite clinical sites (112, 66%). Conclusions The GEC showed improved performance characteristics when coupled with a repeat FNA. It continues to be of low specificity and positive predictive value in oncocytic follicular lesions. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2016;44:867–873. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A randomized, split-face, controlled, double-blind, single-centre clinical study: transient addition of a topical corticosteroid to a topical retinoid in patients with acne to reduce initial irritation.

Topical retinoids are first line medications in acne treatment but are limited by erythema, scaling, dryness, and initial worsening of acne, which contribute to discontinuation.1 2 We sought a pharmacologic strategy to decrease irritation and quicken the onset of action attempting to increase compliance. Topical corticosteroids (TCS) are commonly used for their anti-inflammatory properties, but are generally avoided on the face to prevent skin atrophy and acne induction.3 We believed TCS could be used on the face in acne patients to reduce the initial irritation from tretinoin without exacerbating acne because topical tretinoin clears oral corticosteroid-induced acne.4 Since irritation is less common after 3-4 weeks, the TCS can be withdrawn within a month. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
High altitude agriculture in the Titicaca basin (800 BCE–200 CE): Impacts on nutrition and disease load

OBJECTIVES This study investigates the biological impacts of sedentism and agriculture on humans living in the high altitude landscape of the Titicaca Basin between 800 BCE and CE 200. The transition to agriculture in other global areas resulted in increases in disease and malnutrition; the high altitude of the Titicaca Basin could have exacerbated this. Our objective is to test whether the high altitude of the Titicaca Basin created a marginal environment for early agriculturalists living there, reflected through elevated rates of malnutrition and/or disease. METHODS To test this, we analyzed human remains excavated from seven archaeological sites on the Copacabana Peninsula for markers of diet and disease. These markers included dental caries, dental abscesses, cribra orbitalia, porotic hyperostosis, periosteal reactions, osteomyelitis, and linear enamel hypoplasia. RESULTS Results showed that markers of diet did not support malnutrition or micronutrient deficiencies but instead, indicated a relatively diverse diet for all individuals. Markers of disease also did not vary significantly but were common, indicating circulation of pathogens or chronic bodily stress. CONCLUSIONS We interpret these results as an indication that while diets remained nutritious, investment in the landscape exposed populations to issues of sanitation and disease. The high-altitude of the Titicaca Basin did not exacerbate the biological impacts of agriculture in terms of increased malnutrition. Additionally, disease load was likely related to problems faced by many sedentary groups as opposed to unique challenges posed by high altitude. In sum, despite the high elevation, the Titicaca Basin is not truly a marginal environment for humans.
Quantification of the Depolarization and Anisotropy of Fluorophore Stokes-Shifted Fluorescence, On-Resonance Fluorescence, and Rayleigh Scattering.

Fluorophores are important but optically complicated photonic materials as they are simultaneous photon absorbers, emitters, and scatterers. Existing studies on fluorophore optical properties have been focused almost exclusively on its photon absorption and Stokes-shifted fluorescence (SSF) with scant information on the fluorophore photon scattering and on-resonance fluorescence (ORF). Presented herein is a unified theoretical framework and experimental approach for quantification of the fluorophore SSF, ORF, and scattering depolarization and anisotropy using a combination of fluorophore UV–vis, fluorescence emission, and resonance synchronous spectroscopic spectral measurements. A mathematical model for calculating fluorophore ORF and scattering cross sections has been developed that uses polystyrene nanoparticles as the external reference. The fluorophore scattering cross section is ∼10-fold smaller than its ORF counterparts for all the six model fluorophores, but more than 6 orders of magnitude larger ...
Hepatic ZIP14-mediated zinc transport is required for adaptation to endoplasmic reticulum stress

Extensive endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress damages the liver, causing apoptosis and steatosis despite the activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR). Restriction of zinc from cells can induce ER stress, indicating that zinc is essential to maintain normal ER function. However, a role for zinc during hepatic ER stress is largely unknown despite important roles in metabolic disorders, including obesity and nonalcoholic liver disease. We have explored a role for the metal transporter ZIP14 during pharmacologically and high-fat diet-induced ER stress using Zip14-/- (KO) mice, which exhibit impaired hepatic zinc uptake. Here, we report that ZIP14-mediated hepatic zinc uptake is critical for adaptation to ER stress, preventing sustained apoptosis and steatosis. Impaired hepatic zinc uptake in Zip14 KO mice during ER stress coincides with greater expression of proapoptotic proteins. ER stress-induced Zip14 KO mice show greater levels of hepatic steatosis due to higher expression of genes involved in de novo fatty acid synthesis, which are suppressed in ER stress-induced WT mice. During ER stress, the UPR-activated transcription factors ATF4 and ATF6α transcriptionally up-regulate Zip14 expression. We propose ZIP14 mediates zinc transport into hepatocytes to inhibit protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) activity, which acts to suppress apoptosis and steatosis associated with hepatic ER stress. Zip14 KO mice showed greater hepatic PTP1B activity during ER stress. These results show the importance of zinc trafficking and functional ZIP14 transporter activity for adaptation to ER stress associated with chronic metabolic disorders.
Lazarsfeld, Paul Felix (1901–76)

Born in Vienna in 1901, Paul F. Lazarsfeld spent most of his academic career at Columbia University in the sociology department. He was a pioneer in the methodology of survey analysis, in particular the use of the longitudinal survey. He founded mass communications research and applied it to political sociology. He studied the formation of Presidential candidate and party choice in political campaigns, and discovered that personal influence in peer groups was stronger than mass media influence. He advocated collaborative research in institutes rather than solo social research and set the example with the Bureau of Applied Social Research at Columbia.
Investigation of digital alloyed AlInSb metamorphic buffers

Al1-xInxSb metamorphic step-graded buffers with Al0.6In0.4Sb terminal layers, designed to serve as a virtual substrate to support integrated InAs0.5Sb0.5 long-wave infrared absorber layers, were grown on GaSb wafers via molecular beam epitaxy. Two different structural profiles were used to define the effective composition of each buffer step: one based on digital alloys (1 nm period, ∼1.6 unit cells) and the other based on short period superlattices (10 nm period, ∼16 unit cells). Characterization via optical Nomarski microscopy, x-ray diffraction reciprocal space mapping, and transmission electron microscopy indicates that the digital alloy based structure behaves similar to that expected for a conventional bulk ternary alloy based structure, while the short period superlattice structure exhibits significantly hindered relaxation within the buffer layers.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Chronic Pain

Abstract Chronic pain is a prevalent condition that creates extensive suffering and enormous costs to society. It is widely described as a mind–body experience. Limitations of conventional treatment methods suggest that new approaches are needed. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is a popular mind–body intervention that can help patients with chronic pain cope more effectively. Mindfulness training targets multiple facets implicated in the phenomenology of pain, including attention, sensory perception, cognition, emotional processing, physiological reactivity, and unhealthy coping behaviors. This chapter describes the application of MBSR to patients with chronic pain. Conceptual foundations and empirical support are summarized. A case study illustrates how mindfulness targeted the physical, cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and spiritual elements of one patient’s experience with chronic pain. Practical issues relevant to clinicians interested in implementing MBSR for chronic pain are considered.
Elements of Homotopy Theory

This chapter and the next are adapted from a lecture published in the Proceedings of the Third Physics Workshop, held at the Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Physics, Moscow, in 1975. They focus on the uses of homotopy theory in physics, and especially on the calculation of homotopy groups. The next chapter summarizes briefly the ways in which homotopy theory can be applied to quantum field theory.
Inpatient, Outpatient, and Pharmacy Costs in Patients With and Without HIV in the US Veteran's Affairs Administration System.

Objectives:To evaluate the association between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients and medical costs (inpatient, outpatient, pharmacy, total) using a national cohort of HIV-infected Veteran...
Difference in vasoconstrictors: oxymetazoline vs. brimonidine.

Topical oxymetazoline and brimonidine are the only medications approved for treating persistent facial erythema of rosacea. This review aims to investigate the efficacy, safety, pharmacodynamics, a...
Conceptual Idealism Revisited

Idealism, broadly speaking, is the doctrine that reality is somehow mind-correlative or mind-coordinated.1 However, the specifically conceptual idealism which concerns us here stands in contrast to an ontological doctrine to the effect that mind somehow constitutes or produces the worl’s materials. Instead, it maintains that any adequate descriptive characterization of physical (‘material’) reality must involve an implicit reference to mental operations — that some commerce with mental characteristics and operations always occurs in any viable explanatory exposition of “the real world.” The central thesis of this position is that the mind is responsible for nature-as-we-understand-it, not, to be sure, by making nature itself, but rather through its role in the mode-and-manner determining categories in whose terms we conceive of it. On its approach, the constitutive role of mind in nature is thus to be thought of neither in ontological nor in causal terms, but hermeneutically by way of concept explication. It is not that mind produces nature, but rather that the way in which we conceptualize of nature involves the analogy of mind — that we conceive of the real in mind-correlative terms of reference.
PL05.1 Priorities for research and programmes for trans communities

Trans communities across the world are disproportionately burdened by HIV and STIs. Structural, institutional, social, and individual factors have been implicated as drivers of HIV/STI vulnerability. This plenary presentation will summarize the global epidemiology of HIV/STIs and their multi-level drivers among trans populations. Relationships between stigma, sex work, and co-occurring syndemics of substance use, violence, HIV/STIs will be described. Data on effective behavioral and biomedical interventions to prevent HIV/STI acquisition among transgender adolescents and adult will be reviewed. The impact of gender-affirming medical interventions on HIV/STI acquisition risk will be discussed as well as the latest data on pre-exposure prophylaxis uptake, adherence, and drug-drug interactions. More research is needed on HIV/STI epidemiology among trans masculine and gender non-binary individuals, and gaps remain in basic data from trans communities in sub-Saharan Africa and Eastern Europe/Central Asia. Where epidemiologic data exist, implementation science studies are needed to inform how best to implement and scale up multi-component, high impact, prevention care and treatment interventions that address multilevel barriers to HIV/STI prevention and treatment. Disclosure No significant relationships.
Concluding Remarks: Data Collection in FCV Environments

Environments characterized by fragility, conflict, and violence (FCV) are very heterogenous, comprising countries as different as Togo and Tuvalu, but also Syria or Chad. Despite this heterogeneity, there are major commonalities. All fragile countries are characterized by limited administrative capacities, country situations are volatile and uncertain, and there is a high degree of data deprivation. Many, but not all, fragile countries are affected by violence.
Identifying Potential Patient Safety Issues From the Federal Electronic Health Record Surveillance Program.

This study uses Department of Health and Human Services data to analyze surveillance of electronic health records for patient safety issues to identify those with a potential for patient harm, and the frequency of these issues.
Social license to operate during Wyoming's coalbed methane boom: Implications of private participation

Abstract Unconventional oil and gas (UOG) projects have emerged as fundamental, yet often controversial, components of contemporary energy systems. In contrast to the prevailing academic focus on sites of conflict, this paper explores why and how the social license to operate succeeds in UOG settings, or how private landowners accept or accommodate development. This paper applies the concept of social license to operate to landowner-industry relations during an episode of coalbed methane (CBM) development in the Powder River Basin, Wyoming. Conclusions draw on forty semi-structured interviews with stakeholders, including industry personnel, oil and gas attorneys, and surface owners that hosted CBM development. The findings indicate that mutual respect, procedural fairness, and trust were necessary preconditions of social license. These three preconditions created an opening for surface owners to effectively engage in private participation and advocate for their instrumental priorities. However, the key priority of surface owners to retain energy infrastructure, instead of demanding reclamation, has contributed to the existing U.S. land-use phenomenon of energy sprawl. Therefore, reclamation policy should aim to secure positive personal outcomes for private surface owners while mitigating against the cumulative environmental impacts of energy production.
Secure Groupcast with Shared Keys.

We consider a transmitter and $K$ receivers, each of which shares a key variable with the transmitter. Through a noiseless broadcast channel, the transmitter wishes to send a common message $W$ securely to $N$ out of the $K$ receivers while the remaining $K-N$ receivers learn no information about $W$. We are interested in the maximum message rate, i.e., the maximum number of bits of $W$ that can be securely groupcast to the legitimate receivers per key block and the minimum broadcast bandwidth, i.e., the minimum number of bits of the broadcast information required to securely groupcast the message bits. We focus on the setting of combinatorial keys, where every subset of the $K$ receivers share an independent key of arbitrary size. Under this combinatorial key setting, the maximum message rate is characterized for the following scenarios - 1) $N=1$ or $N=K-1$, i.e., secure unicast to 1 receiver with $K-1$ eavesdroppers or secure groupcast to $K-1$ receivers with $1$ eavesdropper, 2) $N=2, K=4$, i.e., secure groupcast to $2$ out of 4 receivers, and 3) the symmetric setting where the key size for any subset of the same cardinality is equal for any $N,K$. Further, for the latter two cases, the minimum broadcast bandwidth for the maximum message rate is characterized.
Euthanasia and health distributive justice: contributions to moral discussion on the right to good death

This paper reviews moral arguments related to the distribution of scarce health resources and the bioethical problems linked to a new law on Physician-Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia in Chile.
The effectiveness of interventions to reduce COVID-19 transmission in a large urban jail

ABSTRACT Objectives To estimate the impact of various mitigation strategies on COVID-19 transmission in a U.S. jail beyond those offered in national guidelines. Methods We developed a stochastic dynamic transmission model of COVID-19 in one large urban U.S. jail among staff and incarcerated individuals. We divided the outbreak into four intervention phases: the start of the outbreak, depopulation of the jail, increased proportion of people in single cells, and asymptomatic testing. We used the next generation method to estimate the basic reproduction ratio, R0, in each phase. We estimated the fraction of new cases, hospitalizations, and deaths averted by these interventions along with the standard measures of sanitization, masking, and social distancing interventions. Results For the first outbreak phase, the estimated R0 was 8.23 (95% CrI: 5.01-12.90), and for the subsequent phases, R0,phase 2 = 3.58 (95% CrI: 2.46-5.08), R0,phase 3 = 1.72 (95% CrI: 1.41-2.12), and R0,phase 4 = 0.45 (95% CrI: 0.32-0.59). In total, the jail’s interventions prevented approximately 83% of projected cases and hospitalizations and 89% of deaths over 83 days. Conclusions Depopulation, single celling, and asymptomatic testing within jails can be effective strategies to mitigate COVID-19 transmission in addition to standard public health measures. Policy Implications Decision-makers should prioritize reductions in the jail population, single celling, and testing asymptomatic populations, as additional measures to manage COVID-19 within correctional settings.
Machinability and Surface Integrity Characterization in Hard Turning of AISI 4320 Bearing Steel Using Different CBN Inserts

Abstract The thermomechanical interaction between the cutting tool and the workpiece in any material removal process is a key factor in defining the efficiency and productivity of the process. It is especially important in cutting hard-to-machine materials such as titanium- and nickel-based alloys or hardened steels. The productivity of the process can be defined in terms of machining time, intervals of tool change (due to tool wear) and surface integrity characteristics such as dimensional tolerances, surface roughness and the machining-affected zone. The objective of this work is to conduct a comprehensive study of the performance of three different industrial-grade CBN cutting inserts during hard turning of AISI 4320 case-carburized steel. The CBN inserts all had the same geometry but used different edge preparation and coating technologies. To quantify tool performance, the cutting forces and tool wear were measured at consistent intervals and the surface integrity of the workpiece was characterized in terms of surface roughness, white and dark layer depths, micro-hardness and residual stresses. Results show that the stability of the cutting edge on two of the tested inserts plays an important role in determining tool life (where 60% higher tool life was achieved compared to the other tested insert with unstable cutting edge), cutting force stability and the formation of compressive residual stresses on the surface of the turned workpiece
Collapse and revivals for systems of short-range phase coherence

We predict the existence of novel collapse and revival oscillations that are a distinctive signature of the short-range off-diagonal coherence. Starting with an atomic Mott state in a one-dimensional optical lattice, suddenly raising the lattice depth freezes particle?hole pairs in place and induces phase oscillations. The peak of the quasi-momentum distribution, revealed through time-of-flight interference, oscillates between a maximum occupation at zero quasi-momentum (the ? point) and the edge of the Brillouin zone. We show that the population enhancements at the edge of the Brillouin zone are due to short-range coherence due to particle?hole pairs, and we find similar effects for fermions and Bose?Fermi mixtures in a lattice. Our results open a new dynamic probe for strongly correlated many-body states with short-range phase coherence that is distinct from the matter?wave collapse and revivals previously observed in the long-range coherent superfluid regime.
Results of a systematic study of dijet suppression measured at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider

Background: There has been much recent investigation into dijets at the Large Hadron Collider, but predictions for dijets at Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) scales are lacking.Purpose: We present a systematic study of the dijet suppression at RHIC using the VNI/Bass-M\"uller-Srivastava parton cascade.Methods: We examine the modification of the dijet asymmetry ${A}_{j}$ and the within-cone transverse energy distribution (jet shape) along with partonic fragmentation distributions $z$ and ${j}_{t}$ in terms of $\stackrel{\ifmmode \hat{}\else \^{}\fi{}}{q}$, the path length of leading and subleading jets, cuts on the jet energy distributions, the jet cone angle, and the jet-medium interaction mechanism.Results: We find that ${A}_{j}$ is most sensitive to $\stackrel{\ifmmode \hat{}\else \^{}\fi{}}{q}$ and relatively insensitive to the nature of the jet-medium interaction mechanism. The jet profile is dominated by $\stackrel{\ifmmode \hat{}\else \^{}\fi{}}{q}$ and the nature of the interaction mechanism. The partonic fragmentation distributions clearly show the jet modification and differentiate between elastic and radiative plus elastic modes.Conclusions: Dijets at RHIC scales are strongly modified by a quark-gluon plasma medium; measurements of their suppression will provide a vital additional data point for understanding the modification of hard probes.
Tale of a Black Heart

Abstract Alkaptonuria is a rare condition of inborn error of metabolism. Association with aortic stenosis has been described; however, diagnosis at the time of valve replacement is infrequent. Recognition of this condition has potential management implications as the durability of prosthetic valves in such cases is unknown. We describe a case report which depicts these unique aspects.
Survivors' Experiences of Intimate Partner Violence and Shelter Utilization During COVID-19.

This paper examines the effects of COVID-19 on service-engaged female survivors of IPV and makes recommendations for service providers based on these survivors' voices. The researchers adopted an exploratory, descriptive, and qualitative approach to inquiry due to the novelty of the research questions during the early days of the COVID-19 in March 2020. Semi-structured interviews with service-engaged survivors were analyzed using inductive and deductive coding processes. Two categories arose from our qualitative questions. The first category, related to experiences with service providers, included the themes of varying levels of support and isolation. Within the theme of isolation, survivors discussed both positive and negative aspects of isolation. The second category refers to the impact of COVID-19 on survivors' daily lives and focused on the theme of escalation. The theme of escalation had two subthemes 1) escalation of life-generated risks and 2) escalation of partner-generated risks. Given that the pandemic will continue until vaccines are fully distributed and that future public health emergencies may mirror many of the challenges identified in the current context, survivors residing at home will continue to need services, and agencies will continue to need additional resources to provide them. Therefore, we discuss recommendations that can have a bearing on services offered in the future.
Evaluation of COVID-19 Mortality and Adverse Outcomes in US Patients With or Without Cancer.

Importance: As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, understanding the clinical outcomes of patients with cancer and COVID-19 has become critically important. Objective: To compare the outcomes of patients with or without cancer who were diagnosed with COVID-19 and to identify the factors associated with mortality, mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and hospitalization. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study obtained data from the Optum de-identified COVID-19 electronic health record data set. More than 500â¯000 US adults who were diagnosed with COVID-19 from January 1 to December 31, 2020, were analyzed. Exposures: The patient groups were (1) patients without cancer, (2) patients with no recent cancer treatment, and (3) patients with recent cancer treatment (within 3 months before COVID-19 diagnosis) consisting of radiation therapy or systemic therapy. Main Outcomes and Measures: Mortality, mechanical ventilation, ICU stay, and hospitalization within 30 days of COVID-19 diagnosis were the main outcomes. Unadjusted rates and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of adverse outcomes were presented according to exposure group. Results: A total of 507â¯307 patients with COVID-19 were identified (mean [SD] age, 48.4 [18.4] years; 281 165 women [55.4%]), of whom 493â¯020 (97.2%) did not have cancer. Among the 14â¯287 (2.8%) patients with cancer, 9991 (69.9%) did not receive recent treatment and 4296 (30.1%) received recent treatment. In unadjusted analyses, patients with cancer, regardless of recent treatment received, were more likely to have adverse outcomes compared with patients without cancer (eg, mortality rate: 1.6% for patients without cancer, 5.0% for patients with no recent cancer treatment, and 7.8% for patients with recent cancer treatment). After adjustment, patients with no recent cancer treatment had similar or better outcomes than patients without cancer (eg, mortality OR, 0.93 [95% CI, 0.84-1.02]; mechanical ventilation OR, 0.61 [95% CI, 0.54-0.68]). In contrast, a higher risk of death (OR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.54-1.96), ICU stay (OR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.54-1.87), and hospitalization (OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.11-1.27) was observed in patients with recent cancer treatment. Compared with patients with nonmetastatic solid tumors, those with metastatic solid tumors and hematologic malignant neoplasms had worse outcomes (eg, mortality OR, 2.36 [95% CI, 1.96-2.84]; mechanical ventilation OR, 0.87 [95% CI, 0.70-1.08]). Recent chemotherapy and chemoimmunotherapy were also associated with worse outcomes (eg, chemotherapy mortality OR, 1.84 [95% CI, 1.51-2.26]). Conclusions and Relevance: This cohort study found that patients with recent cancer treatment and COVID-19 had a significantly higher risk of adverse outcomes, and patients with no recent cancer treatment had similar outcomes to those without cancer. The findings have risk stratification and resource use implications for patients, clinicians, and health systems.
Exploring chemistry with single-molecule and -particle fluorescence microscopy

The evolution of single-molecule and -particle fluorescence microscopy imaging techniques for the investigation of chemical reactions has yielded achievements at all fronts, from synthetic organic chemistry to materials science. The removal of averaging effects uncovers unique, otherwise hidden reaction intermediates, reactivity, and kinetics. Thus, new insights can be obtained even for well-explored chemical reactions and processes. The aim of this article is to serve as a guide and a source of inspiration for scientists who wish to develop single-molecule and -particle fluorescence microscopy to answer questions in chemistry. We describe the current status of technical accomplishments in the field and point out technical and conceptual obstacles to overcome in the near future, with focus on improvement of bench-scale synthetic reactions.
Measurement of Off-Body Velocity, Pressure, and Temperature in an Unseeded Supersonic Air Vortex by Stimulated Raman Scattering

A noninvasive optical method is used to make time-averaged (30 sec) off-body measurements in a supersonic airflow. Seeding of tracer particles is not required. One spatial component of velocity, static pressure, and static temperature are measured with stimulated Raman scattering. The three flow parameters are determined simultaneously from a common sample volume (0.3 by 0.3 by 15 mm) using concurrent measurements of the forward and backward scattered line shapes of a N2 vibrational Raman transition. The capability of this technique is illustrated with laboratory and large-scale wind tunnel testing that demonstrate 5-10% measurement uncertainties. Because the spatial resolution of the present work was improved to 1.5 cm (compared to 20 cm in previous work), it was possible to demonstrate a modest one-dimensional profiling of cross-flow velocity, pressure, and translational temperature through the low-density core of a stream-wise vortex (delta-wing model at Mach 2.8 in NASA Langley's Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel).
Influence of Ply Waviness on Fatigue Life of Tapered Composite Flexbeam Laminates

Nonlinear tapered flexbeam laminates, with significant ply waviness, were cut from a full-size composite rotor hub flexbeam. The specimens were tested under combined axial tension and cyclic bending loads. All of the specimens had wavy plies through the center and near the surfaces (termed marcelled areas), although for some of the specimens the surface marcels were very obvious, and for others they were much smaller. The specimens failed by first developing cracks through the marcels at the surfaces, and then delaminations grew from those cracks, in both directions. Delamination failure occurred in these specimens at significantly shorter fatigue lives than similar specimens without waviness, tested in ref. 2. A 2D finite element model was developed which closely approximated the flexbeam geometry, boundary conditions, and loading. In addition, the FE model duplicated the waviness observed in one of the test specimens. The model was analyzed using a geometrically nonlinear FE code. Modifications were made to the original model to reduce the amplitude of the marcels near the surfaces. The analysis was repeated for each modification. Comparisons of the interlaminar normal stresses, interlaminar normal stress in FE model, MPa, in the various models showed that under combined axial-tension and cyclic-bending loading, for marcels of the same aspect ratio, interlaminar normas stress in FE model,MPa stresses increased as the distance along the taper, from thick to thin end, increased. For marcels of the same aspect ratio and at the same X-location along the taper, interlaminar normal stress in FE model, MPa stresses decreased as the distance from the surface into the flexbeam interior increased. A technique was presented for determining the smallest acceptable marcel aspect ratio at various locations in the flexbeam.
[17] Synthesis and expression of synthetic genes: Applications to structure-function studies of receptors

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses synthesis and expression of synthetic genes. While a number of methods are available for site-directed mutagenesis, the use of a properly designed synthetic gene offers many advantages, particularly where extensive mutagenesis is planned. A synthetic gene used for heterologous expression codes for the correct amino acid sequence but contains an artificial nucleotide sequence. The nucleotide sequence is generally designed to contain a large number of unique restriction endonuclease cleavage sites. The degeneracy of the genetic code and the large number of available restriction enzymes allows on the order of 40 unique restriction sites to be introduced for a synthetic gene of 1-kb pairs in length. Gene synthesis has been particularly useful in the study of G protein-coupled receptors. The superfamily of G protein-coupled receptors consists of a large number of related seven-transmembrane segment plasma membrane proteins. In studying receptor function by heterologous expression of mutant receptors, it is often useful to create chimeric receptors in which putative functional domains are exchanged.