cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Immunology of Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis

Primary sclerosing cholangitis is classified as an atypical autoimmune liver disease that is strongly associated with inflammatory bowel disease of the colon, principally ulcerative colitis. Multiple immunological features suggest involvement of innate and adaptive immune responses in the immunopathogenesis of peribiliary inflammation and stricturing fibrosis of intrahepatic and/or extrahepatic bile ducts. Among the immunological features are HLA associations with susceptibility and protection, a putative autoantigen and autoantibodies, and increasing evidence that gut-primed memory T cells are important effector cells of peribiliary injury, fibrous strictures, and expanding, concentric peribiliary fibrosis that displaces the peribiliary capillary plexi from the bile ducts. The impact of chronic inflammation, cytokine and chemokine production, and progressive periductal fibrosis at variable levels of the biliary tract results in ductopenia, cholestasis, and biliary obstruction culminating in secondary biliary cirrhosis.
Photovoltaic Source Emulation

In this chapter, an overview of the PV emulators proposed in the technical literature in the last decades is presented. The most critical and interesting aspects related to their design and operation, including hardware structures, control features, dynamics, power ratings, and modularity, are emphasized. A brief survey of commercial solutions is presented too.
Resistance Mechanisms to HIV-1 Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors

HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) is essential for viral replication and is a major target for antiretroviral therapy. There are 26 FDA-approved drugs for the treatment of HIV, 12 are designed to target RT and some are the most widely prescribed agents especially as fixed-dose combinations. By inhibiting the enzyme required for copying the viral genome, viral replication can be stopped. RT is responsible for synthesizing double-stranded DNA from the viral single-stranded RNA genome during the process of reverse transcription. It is a DNA polymerase that can use RNA or DNA as a template and it also has RNase H activity, which cleaves RNA annealed to DNA [1–3].
Two-dimensional metal-organic frameworks with high thermoelectric efficiency through metal ion selection.

Two-dimensional (2D) materials have attracted much attention due to their novel properties. An exciting new class of 2D materials based on metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) has recently emerged, displaying high electrical conductivity, a rarity among organic nanoporous materials. The emergence of these materials raises intriguing questions about their fundamental electronic, optical, and thermal properties, but few studies exist in this regard. Here we present an atomistic study of the thermoelectric properties of crystalline 2D MOFs X3(HITP)2 with X = Ni, Pd or Pt, and HITP = 2,3,6,7,10,11-hexaiminotriphenylene, using both ab initio transport models and classical molecular dynamics simulations. We find that these materials have a high Seebeck coefficient and low thermal conductivity, making them promising for thermoelectric applications. Furthermore, we explore the dependence of thermoelectric transport properties on the atomic structure by comparing the calculated band structure, band alignment, and electronic density of states of the three 2D MOFs, and find that the thermoelectric transport properties strongly depend on both the interaction between the ligands and the metal ions, and the d orbital splitting of the metal ions induced by the ligands. This demonstrates that selection of the metal ion is a powerful approach to control and enhance the thermoelectric properties. Interestingly we reveal an unexpected effect where, unlike for electrons, the thermal and electrical current may not be equally carried by the holes, leading to a significant deviation from the Wiedemann–Franz law. The results of this work provide fundamental guidance to optimize the existing 2D MOFs, and to design and discover new families of MOF-like materials for thermoelectric applications.
Sovereignty, International Law, and the French Revolution

The advent of the principle of popular sovereignty during the French Revolution inspired an unintended but momentous change in international law. Edward James Kolla explains that between 1789 and 1799, the idea that peoples ought to determine their fates in international affairs, just as they were taking power domestically in France, inspired a series of new and interconnected claims to territory. Drawing on case studies from Avignon, Belgium, the Rhineland, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Italy, Kolla traces how French revolutionary diplomats and leaders gradually applied principles derived from new domestic political philosophy and law to the international stage. Instead of obtaining land via dynastic inheritance or conquest in war, the will of the people would now determine the title and status of territory. However, the principle of popular sovereignty also opened up new justifications for aggressive conquest, and this history foreshadowed some of the most controversial questions in international relations today.
Continuum robots for multi-scale motion: Micro-scale motion through equilibrium modulation

Existing robots for multi-scale motion (MSM) are unsuitable for micro-surgery in deep surgical sites where miniaturization and traversal of often tortuous anatomical passageways is required. Also, new emerging surgical paradigms for natural orifice surgery and image-based diagnosis and guidance at the micro-scale level promise to provide accurate verification of tumor resection margins. To overcome the limitations of current robot architectures, and to enable image-based biopsy and micro-surgery in confined spaces, we present a new concept of continuum robots with equilibrium modulation (CREM). CREM robots are a modification of multi-backbone continuum robots that achieve micro-motion by using indirect actuation through modulation of their static equilibrium by change of the distribution of their cross-sectional flexural rigidity. As a first step towards modeling the micro-scale kinematics of these robots, solutions for micro-motion tracking are presented and verified to achieve tracking accuracies of better than 2μm. Preliminary evaluation of the micro-motion capabilities of a first prototype demonstrates motion resolutions at 1μm level and hysteresis of less than 10μm — despite the use of inexpensive actuators with significant backlash. Finally, a demonstration of a first effort at integrating such a robot with a custom-made optical coherence tomography (OCT) probe is presented.
Integrated ocean acoustics and dynamics modeling with computer clusters

Underwater sound propagation in the ocean can be influenced by a variety of physical oceanographic processes, including ocean currents, eddies, internal gravity waves, tides, fronts, instabilities, etc. Our group at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution has been developing several numerical simulation frameworks to integrate ocean acoustic and dynamical models and implement them on computer clusters. Most of the current dynamical ocean models run on clusters, and we will review our integration approaches in this talk and also point out the requirement for nesting model domains and interpolations. Different parallelization schemes will be introduced to speed up a variety of acoustic numerical models, for example, ray-tracing, normal modes, couple modes and Parabolic-Equation approximation models. Examples of 3D sound propagation in a number of ocean environments (canyons, slopes, continental shelves and basins) with different dominating ocean processes will be demonstrated. Model performance improvement...
Improving adherence to hepatitis C screening guidelines

Background Hepatitis C (HCV) is a viral liver disease that can result in cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, liver transplantation or death. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 2.7–3.9 million Americans are living with HCV, yet the majority are unaware. Starting in 2013, both CDC and US Preventative Services Task Force guidelines agreed in recommending HCV screening for all those born between 1945 and 1965 yet many clinics have been slow to adopt screening. Objective We designed a quality improvement project seeking to improve HCV screening rates among patients seen for new or annual visits to ≥90% over a 3-year period in an academic primary care clinic. Methods Screening rates were assessed through repeated review of charts (50 per cycle or 300 charts total, roughly 35% of eligible visits) as a series of interventions were executed. Sustainability was assessed by repeating an additional 50-chart analysis 1 year after completion of the study interventions. At the conclusion of the study, a post hoc analysis of socioeconomic factors was undertaken to determine whether gender, income or ethnicity might affect screening rates. Results Over 6 cycles of interventions, screening rates improved from 24% to ≥90%. Screening rates remained at 88% 1 year after completion of the interventions. The most effective interventions used reminders built into our electronic medical record and informed providers of their personal HCV screening rates relative to the clinic as a whole. Our post hoc analysis found that lower socioeconomic standing and white race were associated with reduced likelihood of screening. Conclusions Provider adoption of new HCV screening guidelines can be markedly and sustainably increased with electronic medical record prompts as well as directed feedback informing providers of their personal screening rates compared with colleagues.
Virus vector-mediated genetic modification of brain tumor stromal cells after intravenous delivery

The malignant primary brain tumor, glioblastoma (GBM) is generally incurable. New approaches are desperately needed. Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector-mediated delivery of anti-tumor transgenes is a promising strategy, however direct injection leads to focal transgene spread in tumor and rapid tumor division dilutes out the extra-chromosomal AAV genome, limiting duration of transgene expression. Intravenous (IV) injection gives widespread distribution of AAV in normal brain, however poor transgene expression in tumor, and high expression in non-target cells which may lead to ineffective therapy and high toxicity, respectively. Delivery of transgenes encoding secreted, anti-tumor proteins to tumor stromal cells may provide a more stable and localized reservoir of therapy as they are more differentiated than fast-dividing tumor cells. Reactive astrocytes and tumor-associated macrophage/microglia (TAMs) are stromal cells that comprise a large portion of the tumor mass and are associated with tumorigenesis. In mouse models of GBM, we used IV delivery of exosome-associated AAV vectors driving green fluorescent protein expression by specific promoters (NF-κB-responsive promoter and a truncated glial fibrillary acidic protein promoter), to obtain targeted transduction of TAMs and reactive astrocytes, respectively, while avoiding transgene expression in the periphery. We used our approach to express the potent, yet toxic anti-tumor cytokine, interferon beta, in tumor stroma of a mouse model of GBM, and achieved a modest, yet significant enhancement in survival compared to controls. Noninvasive genetic modification of tumor microenvironment represents a promising approach for therapy against cancers. Additionally, the vectors described here may facilitate basic research in the study of tumor stromal cells in situ.
Atonement: The Novel’s Confessional Limit

Ian McEwan’s character-author represents a direct challenge to the Augustinian conclusion that honest confession requires God. In order to supply the measure of recompense open to her for a misdeed with tragic consequences, Briony Tallis adopts the role of author-as-God. McEwan here promotes the possibilities of art as a means to limited secular transcendence. In the process, he brilliantly explores the ethics of fiction, by way of his character’s artistic development. Yet despite demonstrating a commendable self-conscious, postmodern realism, McEwan ultimately allows his author to fall victim to the self-deception typical of the heirs of Rousseau. Against the wishes of McEwan and Briony, Atonement is ultimately a monologue, which has cut itself off from true transcendence.
Impact of Carbohydrate Intake on Obesity in Japanese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes—An Analysis of the JDCP Registry

While the clinical relevance of a low carbohydrate diet for obese patients with diabetes is still a matter of debate, the optimal amount of carbohydrates has not yet been elucidated. Therefore, we investigated the association between obesity and the carbohydrate intake while considering the physical activity (PA) levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes in a nation-wide registry who completed a lifestyle survey, but were not administered insulin therapy (N=1111, mean age 61.7 y, mean BMI 24.4 kg/m2) were included in this cross-sectional study. The carbohydrate intake and PA were evaluated by the Brief-type self-administered Diet History Questionnaire and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, respectively. Participants were stratified into two groups according to whether they were above or below the PA of 1380 MET min/week which is the level recommended by the Japan Diabetes Society and WHO, as well as into tertiles according to their carbohydrate intake. The odds ratio (OR) for obesity (defined as BMI ≥25 kg/m2) in each combined category was determined by a multivariate logistic regression model. The mean daily intake of energy, carbohydrate, protein, and fat was 1695 kcal, 233g, 69g, and 44g, respectively, and the median PA was 1386 MET min/week. ORs for obesity in participants whose carbohydrate intake was in the top tertile (≥ 253g/day) and a PA of In conclusion, a daily carbohydrate intake of more than approx. 250 g was significantly associated with obesity in combination with an inactive state in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes, even though the energy intake might have as strong impact as carbohydorate intake. Disclosure S. Matsunaga: None. H. Sone: Research Support; Self; Novo Nordisk Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, MSD K.K., Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Takeda Development Center Asia, Pte. Ltd., Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited, Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd., Sanofi, Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc., Eisai Inc.. K. Tsuda: None. Y. Oshida: None. S. Sasaki: None. J. Satoh: Speaker9s Bureau; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, MSD K.K., Novo Nordisk Inc., Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Pfizer Inc., Sanofi, Sanwa Kagaku Kenkyusho Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd., Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.. Y. Hayashino: None. R. Nishimura: Speaker9s Bureau; Self; Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Astellas Pharma US, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, Abbott, Medtronic, MSD K.K., Novo Nordisk A/S, Sanofi, Takeda Development Center Asia, Pte. Ltd., Kissei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd.. N. Tajima: None.
Analysis of Bearing Outer Ring Creep with FEM

With the developments is automobile and machine, rolling bearings are required to work under harder conditions of high speed and heavy load than before. Hard conditions may lead to a greater likelihood of happening of kinds of bearing problems. One example is the problem of ring creep, which may result in unusual noise and cause bearing wear. Ring creep is referred to a phenomenon that a bearing ring rotates slightly relatively to the housing or the shaft during the operation.
Scientific Concepts: Development in Children

This article examines the development of children's scientific understanding. It is organized into four sections: (1) Early understanding of physical and biological concepts. Even infants understand basic properties of objects and transformations involving inanimate objects and demonstrate a rudimentary knowledge of solidity, movement, force, containment, and support. Very young children also have an initial understanding of biological concepts, such as the distinction between living and nonliving things. (2) Development of understanding of physical concepts. Although preschoolers have demonstrated an early understanding of some basic physical concepts, their understanding changes profoundly with age and experience. (3) Development of understanding biological concepts. Children's grasp of biological processes, such as growth, inheritance, and illness, undergoes radical change with age. (4) Learning processes. Children learn through interacting with the physical world. Recent studies have demonstrated that the key cognitive components involved in learning physical rules are (a) noticing novel variables, (b) formulating rules that incorporate novel variables, combine variables in new ways, or ignore irrelevant variables, and (c) generalizing newly formulated rules to novel situations. Instruction also plays a key role in learning scientific principles and skills.
Thresholds of caste and nation: Mulk Raj Anand’s spatial aesthetics in Untouchable

This article argues that Mulk Raj Anand’s Untouchable employs a spatial aesthetics – premised on the politics of social spaces and the disruptive potential they hold – to illustrate the active cont...
Sex Differences in the Stress and Workload of Lexical Vigilance

Lexical vigilance requires sustained attention to lexical, verbal, and semantic information over a prolonged period of time. The perceived stress and workload that typically accompany the performance of these tasks remains relatively unknown. Thus, in the present study 213 observers were assigned to either a standard lexical vigilance task or a ‘lure’ vigilance task, which required additional decision-making criteria. The results were analyzed for sex differences between the conditions and across multiple measures of perceived stress and workload. These analyses indicated that women and men perceive the stress and workload associated with lexical vigilance tasks differently. More specifically, women reported greater post-task distress and more temporal demand associated with the task than men. Interestingly, men reported the task being more physically demanding than women. The implications of these results are discussed further.
Preexposure Prophylaxis Monitoring in New York City: A Public Health Approach.

The scale-up of preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) represents a paradigm shift in HIV prevention that poses unique challenges for public health programs. Monitoring of PrEP implementation at the popula...
The cost of being stable: Trade-offs between effort and stability across a landscape of redundant motor solutions

Current musculoskeletal modeling approaches cannot account for variability in muscle activation patterns seen across individuals, who may differ in motor experience, motor training, or neurological health. While musculoskeletal simulations typically select muscle activation patterns that minimize muscular effort, and generate unstable limb dynamics, a few studies have shown that maximum-effort solutions can improve limb stability. Although humans and animals likely adopt solutions between these two extremes, we lack principled methods to explore how effort and stability shape how muscle activation patterns differ across individuals. Here we characterized trade-offs between muscular effort and limb stability in selecting muscle activation patterns for an isometric force generation task in a musculoskeletal model of the cat hindlimb. We define effort as the sum of squared activation across all muscles, and limb stability by the maximum real part of the eigenvalues of the linearized musculoskeletal system dynamics, with more negative values being more stable. Surprisingly, stability increased rapidly with only small increases in effort from the minimum-effort solution, suggesting that very small amounts of muscle coactivation are beneficial for postural stability. Further, effort beyond 40% of the maximum possible effort did not confer further increases in stability. We also found multiple muscle activation patterns with equivalent effort and stability, which could underlie variability observed across individuals with similar motor ability. Trade-off between muscle effort and limb stability could underlie diversity in muscle activation patterns observed across individuals, disease, learning, and rehabilitation.
The Family Story Project: Narrative, Ethics and Community Collaboration between Ronald McDonald House of Durham Families and Pre-Health Undergraduates

The Family Story Project (FSP) brought together families staying at the Ronald McDonald House of Durham (RMHD) and pre-health undergraduates to co-construct narratives and visual portraits. FSP shows that narratives can be rewarding for families and offer formative, skill-building experiences for future health-care providers. FSP also demonstrates the ethical complexities surrounding community-university partnerships and health humanities, particularly regarding vulnerable populations such as children. This case study describes the FSP and lessons learned.
The onset time of balance control during walking is phase-independent, but the magnitude of the response is not

Abstract The human body is mechanically unstable during walking. Maintaining upright stability requires constant regulation of muscle force by the central nervous system to push against the ground and move the body mass in the desired way. Activation of muscles in the lower body in response to sensory or mechanical perturbations during walking is usually highly phase-dependent, because the effect any specific muscle force has on the body movement depends upon the body configuration. Yet the resulting movement patterns of the upper body after the same perturbations are largely phase-independent. This is puzzling, because any change of upper-body movement must be generated by parts of the lower body pushing against the ground. How do phase-dependent muscle activation patterns along the lower body generate phase-independent movement patterns of the upper body? We hypothesize that in response to a perceived threat to balance, the nervous system generates a functional response by pushing against the ground in any way possible with the current body configuration. This predicts that the changes in the ground reaction force patterns following a balance perturbation should be phase-independent. Here we test this hypothesis by disturbing upright balance using Galvanic vestibular stimulation at three different points in the gait cycle. We measure the resulting changes in whole-body center of mass movement and the location of the center of pressure of the ground reaction force. We find that the whole-body balance response is not phase-independent as expected: balance responses are initiated faster and are smaller following a disturbance late in the gait cycle. Somewhat paradoxically, the initial center of pressure changes are larger for perturbations late in the gait cycle. The onset of the center of pressure changes however, does not depend on the phase of the perturbation. The results partially support our hypothesis of a phase-independent functional balance response underlying the phase-dependent recruitment of different balance mechanisms at different points of the gait cycle. We conclude that the central nervous system recruits any available mechanism to push against the ground to maintain balance as fast as possible in response to a perturbation, but the different mechanisms do not have equal strength.
Facile synthesis of proline based phosphineoxazoline ligands by formation of a PN bond

Abstract A series of new PN ligands in which the phosphorus moiety is introduced by formation of a phosphorusheteroatom bond are synthesized. These ligands are based on proline with chiral centers from both proline and an oxazoline. The two chiral centers are responsible for the observed stereoselectivity. Palladium complexes of these ligands are shown to be effective in the allylation of dimethyl malonate as well as amination of allyl acetates.
Group actions, Teichmüller spaces and cobordisms

We discuss how the global geometry and topology of manifolds depend on different group actions of their fundamental groups, and in particular, how properties of a non-trivial compact 4-dimensional cobordism M whose interior has a complete hyperbolic structure depend on properties of the variety of discrete representations of the fundamental group of its 3-dimensional boundary ∂M. In addition to the standard conformal ergodic action of a uniformhyperbolic lattice on the round sphere S n−1 and its quasiconformal deformations in S n , we present several constructions of unusual actions of such lattices on everywhere wild spheres (boundaries of quasisymmetric embeddings of the closed n-ball into S n ), on non-trivial (n − 1)-knots in S n+1, as well as actions defining non-trivial compact cobordisms with complete hyperbolic structures in its interiors. We show that such unusual actions always correspond to discrete representations of a given hyperbolic lattice from “non-standard” components of its varieties of representations (faithful or with large kernels of defining homomorphisms).
Syndecan-mediated ligation of ECM proteins triggers proliferative arrest of disseminated tumor cells

Systemic dissemination of tumor cells often begins long before the development of overt metastases, revealing the inefficient nature of the metastatic process. Thus, already at the time of initial clinical presentation, many patients with cancer harbor a myriad disseminated tumor cells (DTC) throughout the body, most of which are found as mitotically quiescent solitary cells. This indicates that the majority of DTCs fail, for still unknown reasons, to initiate rapid proliferation after entering foreign tissue, which likely contributes significantly to the inefficiency of metastasis formation. Here, we showed that extracellular matrix (ECM) components of the host parenchyma prevented proliferation of DTCs that had recently infiltrated foreign tissue by binding to syndecan receptors expressed on the surface of these cells. This led to the recruitment of the Par-3:Par-6:atypical PKC protein complex, a critical regulator of cell polarity, to the plasma membrane and release of Par-1 kinase into the cytosol. Cytosolic Par-1 bound, phosphorylated, and inactivated KSR scaffolding proteins ultimately inhibited Ras/ERK signaling and, in turn, cell proliferation. Inhibition of the syndecan-mediated signaling restored the proliferation of otherwise dormant DTCs, enabling these cells to efficiently colonize foreign tissues. Intriguingly, naturally aggressive cancer cells overcame the antiproliferative effect of syndecan-mediated signaling either by shutting down this signaling pathway or by activating a proproliferative signaling pathway that works independent of syndecan-mediated signaling. Collectively, these observations indicate that the proliferative arrest of DTCs is attributable, in part, to the syndecan-mediated ligation of ECM proteins. SIGNIFICANCE: This study identifies a novel signaling pathway that regulates the proliferative dormancy of individual disseminated tumor cells.Graphical Abstract: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/canres/79/23/5944/F1.large.jpg.
Let the Rich Be Flooded: The Distribution of Financial Aid and Distress after Hurricane Harvey

Outside of flood hazard zones, households must decide whether to insure or rely on disaster assistance to manage flood risk. We use the quasi-random flooding generated by Hurricane Harvey, which hit Houston in August 2017, to understand the implications of flood losses for households with differing access to insurance and credit. Outside the floodplain, credit-constrained homeowners experience a 20% increase in bankruptcies and a 13% increase in the share of debt in severe delinquency in flooded blocks relative to non-flooded areas. Treatment effects are universally insignificant inside the floodplain, implying that flood insurance mitigates the financial impact of flooding across the credit distribution. Disaster assistance, on the other hand, does not appear to counteract the role of initial inequalities on post-disaster credit outcomes. We find SBA disaster loans and, more surprisingly, FEMA grants to both be regressive in allocation. Our results highlight that averages mask important heterogeneity after disasters, which challenges existing narratives of how effectively Federal disaster programs mitigate the financial burden of natural disasters.
Management of adults with coarctation of aorta

Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is a relatively common congenital cardiac defect often causing few symptoms and therefore can be challenging to diagnose. The hallmark finding on physical examination is upper extremity hypertension, and for this reason, CoA should be considered in any young hypertensive patient, justifying measurement of lower extremity blood pressure at least once in these individuals. The presence of a significant pressure gradient between the arms and legs is highly suggestive of the diagnosis. Early diagnosis and treatment are important as long-term data consistently demonstrate that patients with CoA have a reduced life expectancy and increased risk of cardiovascular complications. Surgical repair has traditionally been the mainstay of therapy for correction, although advances in endovascular technology with covered stents or stent grafts permit nonsurgical approaches for the management of older children and adults with native CoA and complications. Persistent hypertension and vascular dysfunction can lead to an increased risk of coronary disease, which, remains the greatest cause of long-term mortality. Thus, blood pressure control and periodic reassessment with transthoracic echocardiography and three-dimensional imaging (computed tomography or cardiac magnetic resonance) for should be performed regularly as cardiovascular complications may occur decades after the intervention.
Visual Priming and Framing During the 2020 Democratic Presidential Debates: Electoral Status Predicts Favorable Camera Treatment:

The 2020 Democratic presidential primary debates provide a unique opportunity to systematically evaluate network visual production choices in a multicandidate context. The joint decision of the Dem...
The Jihadist Preachers of the End Times. ISIS Apocalyptic Propaganda: by Ostřanský, Bronislav, Edinburgh, UK, Edinburgh University Press, 2019, 301pp., £80.00 (hardcover), ISBN: 9781474439237

This book represents a contribution to a series of books and studies that document the role of end-time expectations, apocalypticism, and millenarianism in the context of the religion of Islam. The...
Adapting to Climate Change in Vietnam: Insights from a Structural Model

Vietnam is increasingly exposed to climate change. The COVID-19 crisis offers an opportunity to push for green investment and climate-resilient adaptation. In this context, the paper uses a DSGE structural model, calibrated to features of the Vietnamese economy, to simulate the macroeconomic trade-offs of investing in resilient infrastructure. Compared to scenarios of a baseline no policy change and additional standard infrastructure spending, the model findings illustrate the long-term benefits of adaptation infrastructure investments on growth and public debt dynamics. Specifically, while adaptation infrastructure is initially slightly costlier during the scale-up period, it can better withstand natural disaster shocks, and over time, would have lower maintenance costs and higher return than conventional infrastructure. Other model scenarios illustrate the trade-offs of different financing sources as well as the benefits of public financial management reforms that improve investment efficiency.
The impact of learning-by-doing on the timing and costs of CO2 abatement

Abstract A particular ceiling on atmospheric CO 2 concentrations can be maintained through a variety of emission pathways. Over the past decade, there has been considerable debate over the characteristics of a least-cost pathway. Some have suggested that a gradual departure from the emissions baseline will be the most cost-effective because it reduces the pressure for premature retirement of the existing capital stock, and it provides valuable time to develop low-cost, low-carbon-emitting substitutes. Others counter that a major flaw in analyses that support this line of reasoning is that they ignore learning-by-doing (LBD). In this paper, we examine the impact of LBD on the timing and costs of emissions abatement. With regard to timing, we find that including learning-by-doing does not significantly alter the conclusions of previous studies that treated technology cost as exogenous. The analysis supports the earlier conclusion that for a wide range of stabilization ceilings, a gradual transition away from the “no policy” emissions baseline is preferable to one that requires substantial near-term reductions. We find that the major impact of including learning-by-doing is on the costs of emission abatement. Depending upon the sensitivity of costs to cumulative experience, LBD can substantially reduce the overall costs of emissions abatement.
Interaction between Discs large and GPSM2: A Comparison Across Species

The orientation of the mitotic spindle determines the direction of cell division, and therefore contributes to tissue shape and cell fate. Interaction between the multifunctional scaffolding protein Discs large (Dlg) and the canonical spindle orienting factor GPSM2 (also called Pins in Drosophila and LGN in vertebrates) has been established in bilaterian models, but its function remains unclear. We used a phylogenetic approach to test whether the interaction is obligate in animals, and in particular whether GPSM2 evolved in multicellular organisms as a Dlg-binding protein. We show that Dlg diverged in C. elegans and the syncytial sponge O. minuta and propose that this divergence may correspond to differences in spindle orientation requirements between these organisms and the canonical pathways described in bilaterians. We also demonstrate that GPSM2 is present in basal animals, but the established Dlg-interaction site cannot be found in either Placozoa or Porifera. Our results suggest that the interaction between GPSM2 and Dlg appeared in Cnidaria, and we therefore speculate that it may have evolved to promote accurate division orientation in the nervous system. This work reveals the evolutionary history of the GPSM2/Dlg interaction and suggests new possibilities for its importance in spindle orientation during epithelial and neural tissue development.
RandPiper Reconfiguration-Friendly Random Beacons with Quadratic Communication

A random beacon provides a continuous public source of randomness and its applications range from public lotteries to zero-knowledge proofs. Existing random beacon protocols sacrifice either the fault tolerance or the communication complexity for security, or ease of reconfigurability. This work overcomes the challenges with the existing works through a novel communication efficient combination of state machine replication and (Publicly) Verifiable Secret Sharing (PVSS/VSS). For a system with n nodes in the synchronous communication model and a security parameter κ, we first design an optimally resilient Byzantine fault-tolerant state machine replication protocol with O(κ n2) bits communication per consensus decision without using threshold signatures. Next, we design GRandPiper (Good Pipelined Random beacon), a random beacon protocol with bias-resistance and unpredictability, that uses PVSS and has a communication complexity of O(K n2) always, for a static adversary. However, GRandPiper allows an adaptive adversary to predict beacon values up to t+1 epochs into the future. Therefore, we design BRandPiper (Better RandPiper), that uses VSS and has a communication complexity of O(κ fn2), where f is the actual number of faults, while offering a strong unpredictability with an advantage of only a single round even for an adaptive adversary. We also provide reconfiguration mechanisms to restore the resilience of the beacon protocols while still maintaining quadratic communication complexity per epoch. We implement BRandPiper and compare it against the state-of-the-art practically deployed beacon protocol, Drand, and show that we are always better than or equal to it in performance.
Enhanced Mineral Uptake by Zea mays and Sorghum bicolor Roots Inoculated with Azospirillum brasilense.

Inoculation of corn (Zea mays) seeds with Azospirillum brasilense strain Cd or Sp 7 significantly enhanced (30 to 50% over controls) the uptake of NO3−, K+, and H2PO4− into 3- to 4-day- and 2-week-old root segments. No gross changes in root morphology were observed; altered cell arrangement in the outer four or five layers of the cortex was seen in photomicrographs of cross sections of inoculated corn roots. The surface activity involved in ion uptake probably increased, as shown by the darker staining by methylene blue of the affected area. Shoot dry weight increased 20 to 30% in inoculated plants after 3 weeks, presumably by enhancement of mineral uptake. Corn and sorghum plants grown to maturity on limiting nutrients in the greenhouse showed improved growth from inoculation approaching that of plants grown on normal nutrient concentrations. Enhanced ion uptake may be a significant factor in the crop yield enhancement reported for Azospirillum inoculation.
Runoff and Pollutant Export from a LID Subdivision in North Carolina

AbstractStorm rainfall on and runoff from a 3.35-ha low-impact development (LID) residential subdivision in the Piedmont region of North Carolina were monitored for 6+ years, which included predevelopment, during-development, and postdevelopment phases. Runoff was monitored and sampled at two stations using automated samplers. Along with residences, the drainage area to one of the stations (PC1) included an undisturbed wooded riparian buffer with level spreaders to distribute runoff, while the area to the other station (PC2) included four bioretention areas, permeable pavement, a roof runoff collection system, a detention pond, and other LID measures. Monitoring results documented that the postdevelopment, runoff to rainfall ratio, and pollutant export at both stations were significantly greater than those of the predevelopment phase, during which time the land use on the site was mature woods. The total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and total suspended solids (TSS) export at both LID monitoring s...
CONSUMER ACCEPTANCE OF ELECTRON‐BEAM IRRADIATED READY‐TO‐EAT POULTRY MEATS

Sensory characteristics and consumer acceptance of electron-beam irradiated commercial samples of ready-to-eat meats (frankfurters and diced chicken) were evaluated. Samples were removed from their original packaging, repackaged in irradiation-approved packaging, vacuum-sealed, irradiated by electron-beam at 1, 2 and 3 kGy and stored at 4C for up to 32 days. Nonirradiated controls were held under similar conditions. A consumer panel (n = 50) evaluated the effects of irradiation on the samples throughout the expected shelf life of 32 days after irradiation. Overall acceptance, acceptance of flavor, juiciness, tenderness and mouthfeel of the nonirradiated diced chicken and frankfurters were significantly lower (P < 0.05) than most irradiated samples at day 18 and day 32 after irradiation, respectively. Although the quality of the irradiated samples decreased with increasing storage time, consumers perceived that the irradiated frankfurters and diced chicken maintained their acceptability for up to 32 and 18 days, respectively, after irradiation.
Scalability of RF CMOS

The scalability of advanced CMOS processes for RF applications is presented from a circuit design and system integration perspective. The impact of transistor scaling and advanced interconnects on active device performance and passive component quality is examined. Key challenges pertaining to high-level integration are assessed, including reduced supply headroom and substrate noise coupling. Effective circuit techniques and technology options for overcoming some of these limitations are reviewed. In summary, while many key RF device parameters improve with CMOS scaling, the major setbacks of lower supply voltage and higher mask cost can only be justified for products integrating RF circuits with large baseband digital blocks.
Parent-reported mild head injury history and behavioural performance in children at 6 years

AbstractObjective: Mild head and brain injuries have gained increasing attention from health professionals and researchers. Little is known about mild injuries, which may not always be diagnosed or brought to medical attention. This study examines the associations between parent-reported history of mild head injury and behavioural problems in a large community-based sample of Chinese children.Method: Subjects included 725 children from China. Parents reported on children’s head injury history and behaviour at age 6 years using the Chinese version of the Child Behavior Checklist. Mild head injury was defined as injury without loss of consciousness or hospitalization. Standardized T-scores were compared for each of the seven clinical sub-scales and three summary behavioural measures, adjusting for confounders. Logistic models were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) between head injury and behavioural problems.Results: Parents reported that 97 children (14%) had a single injury and 70 (10%) had multiple inj...
‘Sandwiched’ water molecule between pyrimidine bases and intra-molecular C–H…O hydrogen bonding in 5-nitro-l-(β- D -ribosyluronic acid)-uracil monohydrate

IN the structure of crystalline 5-nitro-l-(β-D-ribosyluronic acid)-uracil monohydrate we have found a novel disposition of a water molecule—‘sandwiched’ between two parallel pyrimidine rings stacked 6.55 A apart. The water molecule is held in its place between these rings by a short O–H … OW (2.589 A) hydrogen bond from the carboxyl group of a uronic acid molecule belonging to an adjacent stack. We have also found that nitro groups adjacent to C–H bonds in the heterocyclic ring of nucleic acid bases apparently polarise these bonds and cause them to take part in strong hydrogen bonds to appropriate donors. The polarisation effect of the nitro group adjacent to the C–H bonds in pyrimidine is perhaps analogous to that of a positive charge adjacent to the C–H bonds in purines1.
Intradural-extramedullary spinal cysticercosis: MR imaging findings

A rare case with intradural-extramedullary cysticercosis is presented here. MR imaging with and without gd-DTPA were performed. There were multiple cysts in the basal cistern, cisterna magna, and cervical subarachnoid space which were isointense with cerebrospinal fluid both on T2- and T1-weighted images. Swelling and increased signal intensity in the cord parenchyma were detected on T2-weighted images. Gadolinium enhanced studies showed rim-shaped enhancement in the cysts and irregular, diffuse enhancement in the meninges.
Diffusion and point defects in Cu2O

Abstract The diffusion of 64 Cu in Cu 2 O has been measured by a serial-sectioning technique as a function of temperature (700–1153°C) and oxygen partial pressure (10 −6 −8 × 10 2 atm). The oxygen-partial-pressure and temperature dependencies of D ∗ Cu suggest that both neutral and singly charged copper vacancies contribute to cation self-diffusion. A defect model involving both neutral and singly charged copper vacancies, electron holes, and singly charged oxygen-interstitial ions is developed and fit to the tracer-diffusion data, the electrical-conductivity data (Maluenda et al .), and the stoichiometry data (O'Keeffe and Moore). The resulting defect data are quantitatively consistent with the chemical-diffusion data (Maluenda et al .) and with a correlation factor f v = 2 3 . The defect data are also quantitatively consistent with the high-temperature oxidation studies of copper metal (Iguchi et al. ) and with the copper vacancy being 10 times more mobile than the oxygen-interstitial ion at 1000†C.
Time-resolved burnout of coal particles in a fluidized bed

Abstract The mechanism of combustion of coal particles in a fluidized bed of sand was studied by injecting small batches of a Montana lignite coal into an electrically heated fluidized bed of sand. The partially burned particles were retrieved by means of a movable gauze basket and quenched in a stream of nitrogen. In this manner relationships between weight loss and time and burnout time versus oxygen concentration were obtained. Qualitative observations dealing with salient aspects of coal devolatilization and residue combustion were also recorded. The burnout histories obtained in this investigation were found to be well represented by the mathematical model of Borghi, Sarofim and Beer (presented at the 70th Annual AIChE Meeting, New York, 1977), a model that quantitatively describes the processes of devolatilization and burning of coal particles in a fluidized bed.
Balancing the lifting values to improve the numerical stability of polyhedral homotopy continuation methods

Polyhedral homotopy continuation methods exploit the sparsity of polynomial systems so that the number of solution curves to reach all isolated solutions is optimal for generic systems. The numerical stability of tracing solution curves of polyhedral homotopies is mainly determined by the height of the powers of the continuation parameter. To reduce this height, we propose a procedure that operates as an intermediate stage between the mixed-volume computation and the tracing of solution curves. This procedure computes new lifting values of the support of a polynomial system. These values preserve the structure of the mixed-cell configuration obtained from the mixed-volume computation and produce better-balanced powers of the continuation parameter in the polyhedral homotopies.
System high voltage stress degradation test in various photovoltaic modules and encapsulant sheets

The more and more solar power requirements and balance of system (BOS) cost saving issues, photovoltaic power plants have increasing system voltage, in Europe, for example, the system voltage requirements up to 1000 volts to 1500 volts. Solar module reliability expose to the high voltage stress (HVS) need reassessment. It is well-known that HVS can lower the PV power significantly that means potential induced degradation (PID) effect. However, the effects of the PID and other environmental conditions on module performance have not been included in the IEC qualification standards yet. In this paper we review various PV module type, example MG-Si, poly-Si, CIGS module and encapsulant sheets performance suffer high voltage stress effect. To evaluate module durability in the presence of continuous high voltage we used four accelerated tests to qualify the HVS effect. The first one is under room temperature, 100% relative humidity (RH), second method is room temperature and aluminum foil covered the front sheet, the third method is climatic chamber test at 85℃and 85% RH and the last one is the 60°C and 85%RH with -1000V bias applied to active layer, respectively. The I-V characteristics and Electroluminescence (EL) images have been measured after several time steps to quantify the degradation process of each module. Besides the recovery characterization was also investigation.