cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Morphological Variants of Aedes sollicitans From New Jersey

Morphological variants showing differences in length of median white scaled bands on the proboscises of female Aedes sollicitans (Cape May County, NJ) are described from F1 progeny of wild- caught mosquitoes. The length of the white-scaled band was classified into 5 categories: 1) large (0.53- 0.60 mm), 2) medium (0.40-0.47 mm), 3) small (0.27-0.33 mm), 4) very small (0.13-0.20 mm) band to a patch of scales on the lateral aspect, and 5) a black proboscis Misidentification of adults during surveillance can be avoided by using other species-specific characters for Ae. sollicitans lacking a white-scaled band on the proboscis.
OUTSIDE THE BOX: EXPLAINING SANCTIONS IN PURSUIT OF FOREIGN ECONOMIC GOALS*

Despite a marked increase in research on economic sanctions, empirical work has been constrained to a set of cases where sanctions are used for political or security issues, i.e., “high politics.” Since most theories of sanctions are generalizable to cases of political economy, i.e., “low politics,” this ad hoc empirical restriction is puzzling. This paper examines how well the existing theories of economic coercion can explain sanctions used to extract concessions on trade or regulatory issues. These theories are tested on a data set of 86 observations of the United States using or threatening section 301 action against a variety of target states. The results indicate that a conflict expectations approach is able to explain these cases as well as cases of high politics sanctions. Approaches stressing domestic politics or the use of sanctions as signals are of little use.
The charge distribution function in perturbation theory of classical electrodynamics

Abstract In various problems of classical electrodynamics the solution is often found by solving the Boltzmann-Vlasov equation under proper constraints in six-dimensional phase space. A perturbation representation of the charge distribution function ψ is described in this paper. This representation is derived from the unperturbed distribution function ψ 0 by using a six-dimensional displacement vector ζ . It is shown that if ζ satisfies certain constraints, then ψ = [ exp (− ▽ · ζ )]ψ 0 satisfies the Boltzmann-Vlasov equation. The constraints which ζ must satisfy are dictated by none other than the Lorentz equation of motion of a charged particle. This constitutes one proof of the equivalence between the Boltzmann-Vlasov equation and the Lorentz equation. This proof may have advantageous aspects, especially in connection with perturbation calculations. As an example, the work of Lee, Mills and Morton on multipole oscillations of a throbbing beam is discussed in detail. A new and useful form for the equation of continuity is derived. The salient features of different kinds of phase spaces are compared by considering simple relativistic particle systems.
Zero-free fortifying homomorphisms and semigroups of relations

In this paper, the concept of a fitted semigroup of binary relations is introduced. The binary operation for these semigroups is ordinary composition of relations. A particular type of homomorphism is investigated which maps a certain kind of subsemigroup of one fitted semigroup into another. The main result states that these homomorphisms are injective and gives a representation for them. This and several related results are then applied to the semigroup of all binary relations on a topological space which have a certain prescribed type of topological property. Compactness is one of these properties and the semigroup S K [X] of all compact binary relations on a Hausdorff k –space X is given special attention. It is shown that X and Y are homeomorphic if and only if a number of statements are true which relate the semigroups S K [x] and S K [y].For example, in order that X and y be homeomorphic it is both necessary and sufficient that some nonzero ideal of S K [X] be isomorphic to some nonzero ideal of S K [y].
Principle Hessian direction based parameter reduction with process variation

As CMOS technology enters the nanometer regime, the increasing process variation is bringing manifest impact on circuit performance. In this paper, we propose a principle Hessian direction (PHD) based parameter reduction approach. This new approach relies on the impact of each parameter on circuit performance to decide whether keeping or reducing the parameter. Compared with the existing principle component analysis (PCA) method, this performance based property provides us a significantly smaller set of parameters after reduction. The experimental results also support our conclusions. In all cases, an average of 53% of reduction is observed with less than 3% error in the mean value and less than 8% error in the variation.
Joint design of fixed-rate source codes and multiresolution channel codes

We propose three new design algorithms for jointly optimizing source and channel codes. Our optimality criterion is to minimize the average end-to-end distortion. For a given channel SNR and transmission rate, our joint source and channel code designs achieve an optimal allocation of bits between the source and channel coders. Our three techniques include a source-optimized channel code, a channel-optimized source code, and an iterative descent technique combining the design strategies of the other two codes. The joint designs use channel-optimized vector quantization (COVQ) for the source code and rate compatible punctured convolutional (RCPC) coding for the channel code. The optimal bit allocation reduces distortion by up to 6 dB over suboptimal allocations and by up to 4 dB relative to standard COVQ for the source data set considered. We find that all three code designs have roughly the same performance when their bit allocations are optimized. This result follows from the fact that at the optimal bit allocation the channel code removes most of the channel errors, in which case the three design techniques are roughly equivalent. We also compare the robustness of the three techniques to channel mismatch. We conclude the paper by relaxing the fixed transmission rate constraint and jointly optimizing the transmission rate, source code, and channel code.
Resolving the Generalized Bas-Relief Ambiguity by Entropy Minimization

It is well known in the photometric stereo literature that uncalibrated photometric stereo, where light source strength and direction are unknown, can recover the surface geometry of a Lambertian object up to a 3-parameter linear transform known as the generalized bas relief (GBR) ambiguity. Many techniques have been proposed for resolving the GBR ambiguity, typically by exploiting prior knowledge of the light sources, the object geometry, or non-Lambertian effects such as specularities. A less celebrated consequence of the GBR transformation is that the albedo at each surface point is transformed along with the geometry. Thus, it should be possible to resolve the GBR ambiguity by exploiting priors on the albedo distribution. To the best of our knowledge, the only time the albedo distribution has been used to resolve the GBR is in the case of uniform albedo. We propose a new prior on the albedo distribution : that the entropy of the distribution should be low. This prior is justified by the fact that many objects in the real-world are composed of a small finite set of albedo values.
Spatial dispersion of repolarization is a key factor in the arrhythmogenicity of long QT syndrome.

Introduction: The occurrence of significant spatial dispersion of repolarization in vivo as it relates to the mechanism of arrhythmia formation in the long QT syndrome (LQTS) continues to be questioned. Methods and Results: We investigated a guinea pig model of LQT3 using anthopleurin-A (AP-A) to study the contribution of rate-dependent spatial dispersion of repolarization in the intact heart to the arrhythmogenicity of LQTS. Optical action potentials were measured using potentiometric fluorescent dye di-4ANEPPS in Langendorff-perfused hearts with induced AV block. AP-A exacerbated the normal uniform epicardial apex-base action potential duration (APD) gradient, resulting in rate-dependent increased APD dispersion and nonuniform APD gradient. Spontaneous focal premature beats induced functional conduction block along boundaries where large nonuniform APD gradient occurred setting the stage for circulating wavefronts and ventricular tachyarrhythmia (VT). Endocardial ablation abolished spontaneous VT, but nonuniform epicardial APD gradient persisted and could be challenged by a stimulated premature stimulus to induce VT. Conclusion: The study shows that in LQT3, spatial variations in steady-state properties result in zones of nonuniform APD gradients. These provide a substrate for functional conduction block and reentrant excitation when challenged by subendocardial “early afterdepolarization-triggered” premature beats. The study emphasizes the key importance of spatial dispersion of repolarization, whether located in epicardial or intramyocardial layers, in arrhythmia formation in LQTS. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 15, pp. 323-331, March 2004)
Conformational dynamics of insulin.

We have exploited a prandial insulin analogue (insulin lispro, the active component of Humalog®; Eli Lilly and Co.) to elucidate the underlying structure and dynamics of insulin as a monomer in solution. Whereas NMR-based modeling recapitulates structural relationships of insulin crystals (T-state protomers), dynamic anomalies are revealed by amide-proton exchange kinetics in D2O. Surprisingly, the majority of hydrogen bonds observed in crystal structures are only transiently maintained in solution, including key T-state-specific inter-chain contacts. Long-lived hydrogen bonds (as defined by global exchange kinetics) exist only at a subset of four -helical sites (two per chain) flanking an internal disulfide bridge (cystine A20-B19); these sites map within the proposed folding nucleus of proinsulin. The anomalous flexibility of insulin otherwise spans its active surface and may facilitate receptor binding. Because conformational fluctuations promote the degradation of pharmaceutical formulations, we envisage that “dynamic re-engineering” of insulin may enable design of ultra-stable formulations for humanitarian use in the developing world.
Perspectives of Suicidal Veterans on Safety Planning: Findings From a Pilot Study.

AIMS: Individual interviews were conducted and analyzed to learn about the engagement of suicidal veterans in safety planning. METHOD: Twenty suicidal veterans who had recently constructed safety plans were recruited at two VA hospitals. In semistructured interviews, they discussed how they felt about constructing and using the plan and suggested changes in plan content and format that might increase engagement. RESULTS: The veterans' experiences varied widely, from reviewing plans often and noting symptom improvement to not using them at all and doubting that they would think of doing so when deeply depressed. CONCLUSION: The veterans suggested ways to enrich safety planning encounters and identified barriers to plan use. Their ideas were specific and practical. Safety planning was most meaningful and helpful to them when they experienced the clinician as a partner in exploring their concerns (e.g., fear of discussing and attending to warning signs) and collaborating with them to devise solutions. Language: en
Ab-Initio Calculations Incorporating Desirable Options for Large Molecules and Solids: a Competitive Completely General Alternative to Local Density Methods for Many Systems

In our group we have a; long standing interest in ab-initio quantum chemical calculations on large molecules from our early ab-initio SCF Gaussian calculations in 1963–1964 on diborane1
The Life of Mary Fairfax Somerville, Mathematician and Scientist: a Study in Contrasts

ABSTRACT The life of Mary Somerville can aptly be described as a study in contrasts. How did Mary Fairfax, born into genteel poverty at a time when few women had access to formal education, eventually become the “Queen of Nineteenth Century Science”? This ordinary woman accomplished the extraordinary, yet a careful review of her life exposes many inconsistencies. What do these discrepancies tell us about Mary? What do they tell us about the time period in which she lived? An analysis of her life and work reveals that she was far more than an amateur scholar. This Victorian “popularizer” was, without question, a scientist.
An Exposition of the Box-Jenkins Transfer Function Analysis with an Application to the Advertising-Sales Relationship:

The logic underlying the Box-Jenkins transfer function analysis is developed and compared with established econometric approaches. The technique is shown to provide a safeguard against spurious eff...
Homeland Security, Organizations, and Perturbations.

One of the problems with traditional computational models of reality is that information, I, is assumed to be mostly accessible for the asking, but theory and traditional models of organizations work very poorly and are ineffective (Werck & Quinn, 1999). In contrast, we offer a physics model of uncertainty for oganizations which assumes that I is mostly inaccessible, and that organizations must be disturbed or attacked to gain I. We report on a study of this new model.
Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics Simulations of an Excess Proton in a Triethylene Glycol-Water Solution: Solvation Structure, Mechanism, and Kinetics.

We investigate the solvation shell structures, the distribution of protonic defects, mechanistic details, kinetics, and dynamics of proton transfer for an excess proton in bulk water and for an excess proton in an aqueous solution of triethylene glycol (TEG) via Car–Parrinello molecular dynamics simulations. The PW91, PBE, and PBE with the Tkatchenko–Scheffler (TS) density-dependent dispersion functionals were used and compared for bulk water and the TEG–water mixtures. The excess proton is found to reside predominantly on water molecules but also resides on hydroxyl groups of TEG. The lifetimes associated with structural diffusion time scales of the protonated water were found to be on the order of ∼1 ps. All three functionals studied support the presolvation requirement for structural diffusion. The highest level of theory shows a reduction in the free energy barrier for water–water proton transfer in TEG–water mixtures compared to bulk water. The effect of TEG shows no strong change in the kinetics for...
Comparative study of warfarin versus antiplatelet therapy in patients with a St. Jude Medical valve in the aortic position

To determine the necessity of long-term warfarin anticoagulation after St. Jude Medical aortic valve replacement in adults, we evaluated the risks of thromboembolism, valve thrombosis, anticoagulant hemorrhage, and sudden cardiac death in two groups of patients. Group I consisted of 41 patients treated with conventional long-term warfarin therapy. Forty-two patients in Group II were treated primarily with antiplatelet therapy (aspirin, dipyridamole, or both); 17 of these patients received warfarin for a short time postoperatively and seven others received it intermittently during the study period. The groups were similar with respect to age, sex, associated cardiovascular disease, and length of follow-up (mean 29 months per patient). In the warfarin-treated group, three late sudden deaths occurred, one of which was preceded by a cerebrovascular accident, for a cardiac mortality of 2.7% per patient-year. There were eight major nonfatal complications (7.3% per patient-year), of which four were hemorrhagic and four embolic. In Group II, there was one sudden cardiac death (1.1% per patient-year) and four major complications occurred (3.2% per patient-year). Two of the complications were embolic and two were episodes of valve thrombosis, both necessitating reoperation. Although the incidence of serious morbidity in the warfarin-treated group was twice that of patients treated with antiplatelet therapy, there were no statistically significant differences in the rates of sudden death or major complications. These data suggest that antiplatelet therapy may be as effective as warfarin in preventing embolism from the St Jude Medical valve in the aortic position. Valve thrombosis occurred in two patients, both receiving antiplatelet therapy (2.2% per patient-year). Whether this type of valve failure can be prevented by warfarin remains in question.
Increased Femoral Head Offset is Associated With Elevated Metal Ions in Asymptomatic Patients With Metal-on-Polyethylene Total Hip Arthroplasty

Abstract Background Predisposing factors for trunnionosis and elevated metal ion levels in metal-on-polyethylene (MOP) total hip arthroplasty (THA) are currently unknown. Methods This retrospective cohort study enrolled 80 consecutive patients (43 males) with an asymptomatic MOP THA at 2- to 5-year follow-up and no other metal implants. Serum cobalt (Co) and chromium (Cr) levels were collected at the time of enrollment, and retrospective review was performed regarding demographic, implant, and surgical characteristics. Mean age at the time of surgery was 65.7 years (range 35.6-85.9 years), and mean postoperative follow-up was 28.7 months (range 24.4-58.9 months). Results Femoral head offset was the only evaluated factor shown to increase serum Co ion levels above baseline within the cohort. Mean difference in Co level for high and low offset implants was 0.58 ppb (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.05-1.11 ppb; P = .03). Mean difference in Cr level for high and low offset implants was 0.19 ppb (95% CI = −0.23 to 0.60 ppb; P = .37). Mean difference in Co level for small and large femoral heads was 0.20 ppb (95% CI = −0.41 to 0.81 ppb; P = .59). Mean difference in Cr level for small and large femoral heads was 0.28 ppb (95% CI = −0.18 to 0.74 ppb; P = .06). Age, gender, Harris Hip Score, and implant duration were not associated with changes in metal ion levels. Conclusion Femoral head offset appears to be an important source of elevated metal ion levels in MOP THA. Further studies will be needed to understand if increasing femoral head offset is associated with subsequent adverse local tissue reactions.
School Administrator Perceptions of Cyberbullying Facilitators and Barriers to Preventive Action: A Qualitative Study

Background. Schools are often held responsible for preventing or addressing cyberbullying, yet little is known about school administrator perceptions of cyberbullying and the challenges they face in addressing this public health issue. Aims. The goal of this study is to examine school administrators’ perceptions of the facilitators of cyberbullying and barriers to primary and secondary prevention strategies. Method. Public school administrators (N = 36) participated in in-depth interviews about bullying and discussed their experiences with cyberbullying and their perceptions of cyberbullying facilitators and barriers to prevention. Results. Three main themes arose from the analysis: (1) cyberbullying as a major challenge; (2) facilitators of cyberbullying and barriers to preventive action, including parents and technology; and (3) prevention efforts, including unclear jurisdiction for action, primary versus secondary prevention efforts, and technology attributes that facilitate school response to bullying...
Unusual nature of the martensite and ferromagnetic transitions in Ni2Mn0.4-XFeXCr0.6Ga Heusler alloys

An experimental study has been performed on a series of Ni2Mn0.4-xFexCr0.6Ga Heusler alloys. At room temperature, the alloys crystallize in either the tetragonal martensite (x < 0.1) or cubic L21 structure (x ≥ 0.1). Additionally, a Cr-Fe based face-centered cubic γ-Fe type secondary phase was found to co-exist in the samples. Magnetization and transport measurements revealed that the Curie and martensitic transition temperatures decrease as Mn is replaced with Fe. Atypical to other Ni2MnGa-derivative Heusler alloys, the transition temperatures decrease at the same rate with respect to x for x ≥ 0.1. Thus, the two transitions do not couple in to a single magnetostructural transition at any composition. Transport measurements revealed that all samples exhibit a sharp drop in resistivity during the martensitic phase transition (13 - 17 %), with the magnitude of this drop remaining relatively constant over the entire series. The possible origins of the observed experimental behavior are discussed.
Preferential generalized transduction by bacteriophage Mu

The generalized transduction by bacteriophage Mu was found to be preferential for the 0–1 min segment of the E. coli K12 chromosome. This transduction pattern is obtained with phage lysates grown on all F-, F+ and Hfr tested, and is not marker-specific.
Understanding the pros and cons of organ donation decision-making: Decisional balance and expressing donation intentions among African Americans:

Increasing public commitment to organ donation is critical to improving donor kidney availability for end-stage renal disease patients desiring transplant. This study surveyed (N = 1339) African Americans, measuring perceived pros relative to cons of organ donation, to evaluate an existing Transtheoretical Model decisional balance scale and associations between decisional balance and expressing donation intentions. Findings supported the existing scale structure. More positive decisional balance ratios were associated with 1.76 times the odds of expressing intentions (95% confidence interval = 1.52–2.04). Pros were more strongly linked to donation intentions than cons. Greater understanding of organ donation decision-making is valuable for informing interventions that encourage donation.
[Journal First] A Comparison of Program Comprehension Strategies by Blind and Sighted Programmers

Programmers who are blind use a screen reader to speak source code one word at a time, as though the code were text. This process of reading is in stark contrast to sighted programmers, who skim source code rapidly with their eyes. At present, it is not known whether the difference in these processes has effects on the program comprehension gained from reading code. These effects are important because they could reduce both the usefulness of accessibility tools and the generalizability of software engineering studies to persons with low vision. In this paper, we present an empirical study comparing the program comprehension of blind and sighted programmers. We found that both blind and sighted programmers prioritize reading method signatures over other areas of code. Both groups obtained an equal and high degree of comprehension, despite the different reading processes.
transFORM - A Cyber-Physical Environment Increasing Social Interaction and Place Attachment in Underused, Public Spaces

The emergence of social networks and apps has reduced the importance of physical space as a locus for social interaction. In response, we introduce transFORM, a cyber-physical environment installed in under-used, outdoor, public spaces. transFORM embodies our understanding of how a responsive, cyber-physical architecture can augment social relationship and increase place attachment. In this paper we critically examine the social interaction problem in the context of our increasingly digital society, present our ambition, and introduce our prototype which we will iteratively design and test. Cyber-physical interventions at large scale in public spaces are an inevitable future, and this paper serves to establish the fundamental terms of this frontier.
Racial Bias Increases False Identification of Black Suspects in Simultaneous Lineups

People are better able to correctly identify the faces of individuals who belong to their own race. Research linking the cross-race effect in face recognition to racial attitudes has been limited t...
Molecular Pathogenesis of Nonchronic Myeloid Leukemia Myeloproliferative Neoplasms

Nonchronic myeloid leukemia (CML) myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), referred to as BCR/ABL1-negative MPNs, have classically been categorized as polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET), and primary myelofibrosis (PMF). Each of these MPNs represents a multipotent hematopoietic stem cell-derived clonal myeloproliferation of one or more of the myeloid lineages with the variably common features of erythrocytosis, granulocytosis, and/or thrombocytosis in peripheral blood (PB) and/or variable bone marrow (BM) fibrosis. It is generally a disease of older individuals; however, ET and PMF have been reported in children. Other than the mentioned clinical characteristics of the PB, this category of disease also possesses a tendency toward organomegaly (i.e., hepatosplenomegaly), thrombosis, and bleeding. The BM is usually hypercellular with a blast count of <10%. Although these diseases are heterogeneous, they are characterized by increased blood cell production related to cytokine hypersensitivity, virtually normal cell maturation, and progressive evolution to BM failure with an end point of fibrosis or leukemia.
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) is a second generation instrument to be installed into the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) in-orbit 5–9 years after the first launch. Together with the infra-red instrument, it will provide a large increase in capability of the observatory, and be able to replace a first generation that had failed or degraded.
The ‘Soul Making’ Theodicy

Before continuing with any attempt to solve our problem, let me emphasize one point, the lack of appreciation of which has put many people in an unreceptive frame of mind toward what might be quite legitimate solutions to the problem of evil. One must sharply distinguish between what amounts to a logically sound reply to the challenge that the theist is faced with, the inconsistent triad ‘God is omnipotent’, ‘God is omnibenevolent’ and ‘Evil exists’ and what may constitute an effective way to console a sufferer. There are suggestions which do one and not the other. When it is convincingly pointed out to a grief stricken person that things may not be as bad as they seem, that his suffering is valuable in enriching his life by deepening his understanding of good and evil, or in ultimately bringing about other benefits to himself and others, this may alleviate his pain and ‘solve’ the problem that is troubling him but has no effect whatever on blunting the acuteness of the logical problem of evil. On the other hand a solution based on abstract but sound arguments showing that an omnibenevolent being need not do away with all suffering, is logically effective in combatting the claim that consistency demands the denial of the existence of God, but not at all effective in comforting a mourner.
Benzylation of Imines with Activated Boronate Nucleophiles

Benzylation reactions of N-tosyl imines and N-tert-butanesulfinyl imines using benzylboronic acid pinacol ester are reported. s-Butyllithium was used to activate the boronic ester, rendering it nucleophilic. The reaction was compatible with electronically diverse substituents on the imine in both substrate classes. Good diastereoselectivity was observed in additions to N-tert-butylsulfinylaldimines. The diastereoselectivity observed in these reactions is consistent with an open transition state for the addition. Examples of a secondary alkylboronic ester nucleophile and an N-tert-butanesulfinyl trifluoromethylketimine electrophile are also included.
Extendable and Manufacturable Volume-less Multi-Vt Solution for 7nm Technology Node and Beyond

We demonstrated more than 3 pairs of threshold voltage (Vt) devices by volume-less multiple Vt (multi-Vt) scheme plus dual work function metals (WFM) without performance and reliability degradation on 20nm gate length FinFET CMOS devices. Vt shifts over 200 mV were achieved for both nFET and pFET. The volume-less nature of this multi-Vt scheme relieves replacement metal gate (RMG) challenges and opens the path to offer multi-Vt solution for future highly scaled technologies.
Sports Medicine of the Pediatric Foot and Ankle

With recreational adolescent sports participants’ number at over 35 million and growing in the United States, the numbers of associated sports-related injuries are increasing with lower extremity injuries presenting more frequently for care than upper extremity injuries [1]. This chapter will touch on a number of these factors and identify some of the injury patterns that can assist the sports medicine physician with assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of the athlete child.
Gradients, means, and image reconstruction

In this paper, the inverse gradient operators are considered that allow for calculating the original image from its gradients, such as gradients in the horizontal and vertical directions. Different gradient operators are considered and the image reconstruction from the gradients is presented. The presented method of image reconstruction is also applied for mean operators. Examples with images processed by different gradients are given.
Validation of the Safer Opioid Prescribing Evaluation Tool (SOPET) for Assessing Adherence to the Centers for Disease Control Opioid Prescribing Guidelines.

Objective In response to the opioid epidemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued guidelines (CDCG) in 2016 for the prescription of opioids for chronic pain. To facilitate research into whether CDCG implementation will lead to reductions in opioid prescribing and improved patient safety, we sought to validate a tool that quantifies CDCG adherence based on clinical documentation. Design The Safe Opioid Prescribing Evaluation Tool (SOPET) was developed in four phases as part of a study to improve the implementation of the CDCG in the clinical setting. Four raters with varying levels of clinical experience and expertise were trained to use the SOPET and then used it to evaluate 21 baseline patient encounters. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) estimates and their 95% confident intervals (CIs) were calculated for the total SOPET score based on a mean-rating (k = 4), absolute-agreement, two-way random-effects model. For intrarater reliability, two-way mixed-effect models were used. Results Inter-rater reliability was good, with an average-measures ICC of 0.82 (95% CI = 0.63-0.92). Intrarater reliability was excellent for the three raters, who were MDs, with average-measures ICCs as follows: 0.92 (95% CI = 0.81-0.97), 0.97 (95% CI = 0.92-0.99), 0.99 (95% CI = 0.99-0.99). However, the intrarater reliability for the non-MD rater was lower 0.69 (95% CI = 0.22-0.88). Conclusions Overall, the SOPET is useful for evaluating implementation of the CDCG in clinical documentation. It is an important first step in the design of future studies assessing whether adherence to the CDCG improves patient safety outcomes.
Autoregression and Structured Low-Rank Modeling of Sinograms

The Radon transform converts an image into a sinogram, and is often used as a model of data acquisition for many tomographic imaging modalities. Although it is well-known that sinograms possess some redundancy, we observe in this work that they can have substantial additional redundancies that can be learned directly from incomplete data. In particular, we demonstrate that sinograms approximately satisfy multiple data-dependent shift-invariant local autoregression relationships. This autoregressive structure implies that samples from the sinogram can be accurately interpolated as a shift-invariant linear combination of neighboring sinogram samples, and that a Toeplitz or Hankel matrix formed from sinogram data should be approximately low-rank. This multi-fold redundancy can be used to impute missing sinogram values or for noise reduction, as we demonstrate with real X-ray CT data.
Machine Learning for Robust Identification of Complex Nonlinear Dynamical Systems: Applications to Earth Systems Modeling.

Systems exhibiting nonlinear dynamics, including but not limited to chaos, are ubiquitous across Earth Sciences such as Meteorology, Hydrology, Climate and Ecology, as well as Biology such as neural and cardiac processes. However, System Identification remains a challenge. In climate and earth systems models, while governing equations follow from first principles and understanding of key processes has steadily improved, the largest uncertainties are often caused by parameterizations such as cloud physics, which in turn have witnessed limited improvements over the last several decades. Climate scientists have pointed to Machine Learning enhanced parameter estimation as a possible solution, with proof-of-concept methodological adaptations being examined on idealized systems. While climate science has been highlighted as a "Big Data" challenge owing to the volume and complexity of archived model-simulations and observations from remote and in-situ sensors, the parameter estimation process is often relatively a "small data" problem. A crucial question for data scientists in this context is the relevance of state-of-the-art data-driven approaches including those based on deep neural networks or kernel-based processes. Here we consider a chaotic system - two-level Lorenz-96 - used as a benchmark model in the climate science literature, adopt a methodology based on Gaussian Processes for parameter estimation and compare the gains in predictive understanding with a suite of Deep Learning and strawman Linear Regression methods. Our results show that adaptations of kernel-based Gaussian Processes can outperform other approaches under small data constraints along with uncertainty quantification; and needs to be considered as a viable approach in climate science and earth system modeling.
Hydropower under climate uncertainty: Characterizing the usable capacity of Brazilian, Colombian and Peruvian power plants under climate scenarios

Abstract Hydropower may be a low-carbon option to increase power generation in developing countries, but these countries are some of the most vulnerable to climate change. Climate change can affect hydropower generation through changes in the timing and magnitude of precipitation, rising temperatures, and glacier mass changes. Evaluating climate impacts on hydropower generally requires detailed local input data and hydrological models, which may not be available in many developing nations. Nevertheless, the need to understand the impacts is essential for the developing world. Here we present a modeling framework that relies on remotely sensed and global gridded datasets forced by an ensemble of 21 general circulation models (GCMs) under two representative concentration pathways (RCPs) to evaluate climate-induced impacts on hydropower through the 21st century. We include 134 hydropower plants (>100 MW), representing 42% of hydropower installed capacity in South America, across five regions of Brazil, Colombia, and Peru. Our results suggest the median monthly usable capacity would increase for Colombia (+2.6% to +8.4% for RCP 4.5 and 8.5, respectively) and Peru (+6.7% to +9.3% for RCP 4.5 and 8.5, respectively) by 2100 relative to the late 20th century. For Brazil, we observe a mix of reductions and increases in usable capacity. While our results suggest potential reductions for the dry season usable capacity in the Parana, Paraguay, and Southeast Atlantic regions of Brazil, we also observe slight increases in usable capacity during the rainy months for all its regions. These results can help inform future planning decisions and potential interconnections between the three countries. Additionally, the proposed framework can contribute to an increased capability to evaluate climate-induced risks to power systems in developing countries, where data and computation resources can be limited.
Does Ranked-Choice Voting Reduce Racial Polarization? A Clustering Approach to Ranked Ballot Data

Political scientists have long examined if ranked-choice voting (RCV) yields moderation in racial and ethnic conflict in the electoral arena. We advance the literature by introducing novel empirical and theoretical perspectives to analyze individual ranked ballots in RCV to answer this long-debated question. By applying cluster analysis and ecological inference to more than 5.5 million ranked preferences and 13,635 precinct-level data from Bay Area mayoral elections from 1990 to 2020, we quantify the degree of racially polarized voting in a manner that is comparable across electoral systems. We show that switching from first-past-the-post to RCV election does not seem to reduce the level of racially polarized voting for the overall electorate and for all pairs of racial and ethnic groups examined. We also examine the impact of strategic ballot concentration known as plumping on the analysis of rank ballot data, shedding new light on the research of RCV and political behavior.
Transitioning to Remote Clinic Visits in a Smoking Cessation Trial During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Mixed Methods Evaluation.

BACKGROUND: The pandemic of SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, has caused disruptions in ongoing clinical trials and is expected to accelerate interest in conducting research studies remotely. OBJECTIVE: A quasi-experimental, mixed methods approach was used to examine the rates of visit completion as well as the opinions and experiences of participants enrolled in an ongoing clinical trial of smoking cessation who were required to change from in-person clinic visits to remote visits using video or telephone conferencing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: For quantitative comparisons, we used a quasi-experimental design, comparing a cohort of participants followed during the pandemic (n=23, COVID-19 cohort) to a comparable cohort of participants followed over a similar time period in the calendar years 2018 and 2019 (n=51, pre-COVID-19 cohort) to examine the rates of completion of scheduled visits and biospecimen collection. For the qualitative component, interviews were conducted with participants who experienced the transition from in-person to remote visits. RESULTS: Participants in the COVID-19 cohort completed an average of 83.6% of remote clinic visits (95% CI 73.1%-91.2%), which was not significantly different than the in-person completion rate of 89.8% in the pre-COVID-19 cohort. Participants in the COVID-19 cohort returned an average of 93.2% (95% CI 83.5%-98.1%) of saliva specimens for remote clinic visits completed, which was not significantly different than the in-person saliva specimen completion rate of 100% in the pre-COVID-19 cohort. Two broad themes emerged from the qualitative data: (1) the benefits of remote visits and (2) the challenges of remote counseling compared to in-person counseling. Despite limited experience with telehealth prior to this transition, most participants expressed a willingness to engage in remote visits in the future. CONCLUSIONS: Even in the context of a rapid transition from in-person to remote visits necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, rates of visit completion and return of biospecimens remained high. Participants were generally accepting of the transition. Further research is needed to identify the optimal mix of in-person and remote visits beyond the pandemic context and to better understand how these changes may impact study outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03262662; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT03262662.
Challenges in simulating economic effects of climate change on global agricultural markets

Many approaches have been used to investigate climate change impacts on agriculture. However, several caveats remain in this field: (i) analyses focus only on a few major crops, (ii) large differences in yield impacts are observed between projections from site-based crops models and Global Gridded Crop Models (GGCMs), (iii) climate change impacts on livestock are rarely quantified, and (iv) several causal relations among biophysical, environmental, and socioeconomic aspects are usually not taken into account. We investigate how assumptions about these four aspects affect agricultural markets, food supply, consumer well-being, and land use at global level by deploying a large-scale socioeconomic model of the global economy with detailed representation of the agricultural sector. We find global welfare impacts several times larger when climate impacts all crops and all livestock compared to a scenario with impacts limited to major crops. At the regional level, food budget can decrease by 10 to 25% in developing countries, challenging food security. The role of land area expansion as a major source of adaptation is highlighted. Climate impacts on crop yields from site-based process crop models generate more challenging socioeconomic outcomes than those from GGCMs. We conclude that the agricultural research community should expand efforts to estimate climate impacts on many more crops and livestock. Also, careful comparison of the GGCMs and traditional site-based process crop models is needed to understand their major implications for agricultural and food markets.
In vitro studies of ulcerative ileojejunitis.

A patient with ulcerative ileojejunitis was studied by determination of HL-A phenotype, by measurement of jejunal IgA synthesis using a labeled amino acid incorporation technique, and by in vitro organ culture. The patient carried the HL-A8 phenotype in common with 87.5% of patients with gluten-sensitive enteropathy. During a period of exposure to dietary gluten, jejunal tissue from the patient exhibited a high IgA synthetic rate. In organ culture of the jejunal biopsy specimen there was an increase in alkaline phosphatase activity in the absence, but not in the presence, of gluten peptides. The synthetic rate value and the organ culture behavior are similar to those observed in patients with gluten-sensitive enteropathy in exacerbation. During a period in which the patient was not exposed to dietary gluten, including a prolonged period of intravenous alimentation, jejunal IgA synthesis and organ culture behavior were studied repeatedly. In contrast to patients with gluten-sensitive enteropathy in remission (i.e., on a gluten-free diet), jejunal IgA synthesis did not decline. However, in organ culture in the patient's tissue now behaved like that of other patients with gluten-sensitive enteropathy in remission: alkaline phosphatase activity increased during culture in the presence and absence of gluten peptides. These studies support the concept that ulcerative ileojejunitis is a complication of gluten-sensitive enteropathy in which escape from control by gluten restriction has occurred. They suggest that ulcerative ileojejunitis is due to a supervening pathological process which is, at least in part, immunological in nature.
A New Classification of U.S. Environmental Laws

A database of U.S. environmental and related laws now includes over 700 statutes ranging in date from 1789 (The Northwest Ordinance Act, signed by George Washington) to 2011.The new classification system facilitates identification of historical trends. Supplementary tables include the histories of cabinet departments, bureaus, and agencies.Study of environmental law and policy history aided by the database reveals cyclic trends in U.S. lawmaking and government performance. Early laws under the first six presidents delegated operational policymaking to federal officials or agencies, whose leaders as well as employees were generally appointed on the basis of competence.The spoils system initiated by Andrew Jackson (1829-37) resulted in deterioration in government functions, reaching a peak in the administration of Ulysses S. Grant (1869-77). Lack of trust in government officials and agencies led to extreme micromanagement in Congressional lawmaking.Federal agencies gained public respect as a result of the reform movement of the late 19th Century. Congress responded by delegating authority for formulating operating policy to agencies. Administrative laws rarely exceeded 20 pages in length.The cooperative system between Congress and federal agencies broke down after WWII as a consequence of turbulent events in the 1960s. Pathbreaking environmental laws in 1970s transferred leadership for detailed regulatory policy from professional agencies to Congress, resulting in dramatic increase in the length and complexity of laws.
A cross-layer joint optimization approach for multihop routing in TDD-CDMA wireless mesh networks

A cross-layer joint optimization approach is proposed for multihop routing in time-division duplex code-division multiple-access wireless mesh networks. Two timeslot scheduling schemes are investigated for time-division duplex operations. The routing at the network layer, the packet delay at the medium access control layer, and the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio at the physical layer are jointly optimized in a cross-layer manner. The results show that the proposed cross-layer optimization algorithm significantly outperforms the shortest-path routing algorithm with respect to overall network performance. The maximum throughput of the whole mesh network can be optimized by jointly taking into account the end-to-end delay and successful packet rate. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mass Loss from Close Binaries, 1941-68

The history of studies of two types of mass loss — particle ejection and gradual loss caused by evolutionary expansion — is discussed briefly. Difficulties are encountered when we try to compare the true shapes of close binaries with theoretical models. In particular, the evidence at present indicates the W UMa systems are not ‘contact’ binaries as has been generally assumed, although the results of narrow-band observations or theoretical developments in rectification may change this picture. The question is raised of the possible importance of pre-main-sequence evolution in understanding present peculiarities. Finally, the importance of observing systems such as ζ Aur for possible secular changes is discussed.
Protein-DNA cross-linking reveals dramatic variation in RNA polymerase II density on different histone repeats of Drosophila melanogaster.

Abstract In Drosophila melanogaster the five histone genes are within a 5-kilobase region which is repeated 100 times at a single chromosomal site. These 5-kilobase repeats are of two distinct classes, short and long, that differ by approximately 200 base pairs of DNA in the spacer region between the H1 and H3 genes. Since the mRNA-homologous regions of the repeats are highly conserved, one cannot examine differential expression of the repeats by classical hybridization methods. In this study, we assessed their transcriptional activity by measuring in vivo the relative amounts of RNA polymerase II that were cross-linked by UV irradiation to the two different histone repeats. The RNA polymerase II density on the long repeat in Schneider line 2 cells was strikingly lower (10-fold) than the density on the short repeat. The magnitude of this difference cannot be accounted for by reduced transcription of only one or two genes of the repeat. The density of topoisomerase I, an indicator of transcriptional activity, was also much higher on the short repeat than on the long repeat of line 2 cells. In contrast, the RNA polymerase II density was slightly higher on the long repeat than on the short repeat in a second cell line, KcH. The major difference between active (KcH) and inactive (S2) long repeats resides in the H1-H3 nontranscribed spacer. This portion of the spacer may contain a component necessary for expression that can act over a moderate distance and affect multiple genes of the repeat.